WEBVTT

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 Good morning. Open up your Bibles to Philippians.

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 So obviously me preaching this morning was a backup for Nathan.

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! So I'm sorry, college students.

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 This will be probably the third time you've heard me in the span of a week.

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 But when he asked me, I didn't really have too much hesitation.

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 And the reason is, at our elder meeting last month, or beginning of this month, excuse me,

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 we were all talking about how Philippians is such a warm and familiar letter.

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 And it feels like going back to an old friend when you open it.

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 We started this church a long time ago by preaching through Philippians.

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 And so it's a very familiar and warm text to go to.

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 So it wasn't like picking into some obscure text in Scripture.

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 It was like, oh, Philippians, yes, we got that.

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 And the joy that is a theme in Philippians, we thought would be especially applicable during our time, during our day,

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 when so much seems to be focused on the brokenness of the world.

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 And so much so that it can bring great sorrow to us.

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 And all of us that are in Christ know that he gives us a joy that is not of this world.

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 And we can have that by having Christ in our lives.

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 So we just started Philippians last week.

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 So if you're new on the scene, you haven't missed too much.

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 But we're only going to pick up in verse 3 today.

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 But let's just begin by backing up.

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 There's only two verses ahead of this.

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 Our text today is going to be 3 through 11.

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 But starting in chapter 1, we read,

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 I thank you, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,

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 with the overseers and deacons, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 I thank my God in all remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine,

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 for you all making my prayer with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

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 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.

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 It is right for me to feel this way about you all because I hold you in my heart.

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 For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel.

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 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you with all the affection of Christ Jesus.

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 And that is my prayer that your love may abound more and more.

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 With the knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent.

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 And so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

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 Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.

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 To the glory and praise of God.

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 Join me in prayer again.

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 Lord, we just submit this time to you this morning.

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 Pray that you would speak to us through your word and by your Holy Spirit.

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 Challenge, build up, have your way with us this morning.

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 May your word be exalted and may we leave here not just being hearers, but doers of your word.

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 We ask that in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, as we talked about, I love Philippians because there's a lot of cool history just in the idea of Philippi and the Roman Empire.

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 But I'll spare you all that this morning.

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 But you ought to go online and look up some of the cool pictures of Philippi.

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 It actually was named after Philip of Macedon, which is Alexander the Great's father.

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 And it was called the mini-Rome.

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 It really was like taking the city of Rome and just making a miniature version of it almost.

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 But it had an amphitheater, an acropolis.

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 It had a forum for shopping and all that.

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 So it was like a mini-Rome.

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 And it was settled by many Roman legionaries who were discharged from service after the Battle of Actium,

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 which is where Augustus Caesar defeated Anthony and baby cakes Cleopatra in 31 B.C.

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 So it was largely a Macedonian population and had a small Jewish population.

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 So that's the context.

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 But the occasion is Paul is writing from his imprisonment, as we see in our text, in Rome.

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 And Paul probably had much worse imprisonments than this one.

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 More than likely, according to the end of Acts, Acts 28, it was either some form of house arrest

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 or he had some form of a suitable jail cell because he was a Roman citizen.

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 He had his own quarters and he was allowed people could come and go as they pleased to talk to him.

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 And so he said that he shared the gospel unhindered at the end of the book of Acts.

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 So this is his first imprisonment in Rome, not his second one.

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 And even Paul mentions that he feels confident that he'll be released from this imprisonment.

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 He says that in chapter 1, verse 13, and then later on in chapter 4, verse 22.

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 But he was awaiting trial, hopefully, to be heard by the emperor,

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 which would have been Nero at the time, but more than likely.

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 He actually probably wasn't heard, but he was acquitted.

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 And I could go through all the arguments for why I believe that.

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 But we can go to the purpose of the letter.

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 And the letter has a lot of purposes, but I would say the mood or the tone of Paul's letter,

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 again, is like warm, affectionate, casual, informal.

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 And it was a type of ancient letter called a letter of friendship.

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 And he's celebrating his longstanding partnership with the Philippian believers.

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 And that word partnership in our text today is the Greek word koinonia.

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 I know a lot of us are aware of that word.

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 But it's a divinely intimate, holy fellowship, unity among believers with each other,

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 but also that unity that exists with Christ.

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 So our unity with Christ, when we become one with him, and by faith, we become one with each other.

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 We become a part of the same body as believers.

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 And we're participating together in the grace of our salvation in him.

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 So it's a heartfelt letter celebrating their common joy in Christ and God's genuine work in them as a church.

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 You know, in ministry, there's a lot of different people that you get concerned about,

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 that you always feel like you have to kind of watch.

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 And then there's those that are always just like refreshing when you're around them.

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 And they build you up when you're around them.

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 And you feel like you can just kind of let your guard down and just be yourself.

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 And that's kind of how Paul, I think, really felt with the Philippian church.

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 And so we can begin looking at verse 3, just a little introduction here.

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 There's going to be a specific focus of our time, but I don't want to skip over the rest of it.

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 But in verse 3, Paul says,

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 My God, I thank my God.

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 So his first phrase here is this personal intimate relationship with Christ.

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 And why is that important?

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 Luther said a long time ago that Christianity is a matter of personal pronouns.

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 And if we can't confess that truly, then something is wrong in our relationship with Christ.

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 So he is my God.

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 Remember when Jesus said, after he rose from the dead,

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 he said to the disciples,

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 I'm ascending to my Father and your Father,

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 my God and your God.

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 And so this is all about knowing Christ.

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 And we only belong to each other through Christ.

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 But I want to point out just briefly, by way of introduction,

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 three indications of genuine Christian love.

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 Maybe how do I even practice koinonia?

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 Three indications of genuine Christian love.

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 And the first one is,

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 Paul has them on his mind.

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 So if you see verse 3,

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 I thank God in all remembrance of you.

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 So we are to think about one another.

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 We're to ponder one another.

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 We're to bring each other to mind

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 and seek the good and welfare of one another as believers.

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 So we have a lot of different ways to remind ourselves

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 of all the people that we're surrounded with in the body.

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 But Paul has them on his mind.

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 So that's one way.

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 We have to think about them.

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 And sometimes we need help being reminded.

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 But he remembers them.

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 So that's the first one.

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 Secondly, he has them in his heart.

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 You can see that in verse 7.

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 It is right for me to feel this way about you

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 because I hold you in my heart.

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 Then verse 8.

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 For God is my witness how I yearn for you

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 with all the affection of Christ.

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 So Christ gives his people a deep, real, ardent love,

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 not just for him but for one another.

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 It's impossible to say I love Christ but I hate his church

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 or I dislike his church.

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 And we belong to one another.

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 And that love, hatred is evidence of blindness to the light.

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 But love is evidence that sight has been given to the blind.

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 Like we love one another because of what Christ has done for us.

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 Indeed, he said, all the world will know that you are my disciples

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 by your love for one another.

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 And it sounds kind of far-fetched.

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 Like we can't really reciprocate that kind of love.

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 It sounds impossible.

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 No, you can't reciprocate it on your own.

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 This is the miracle that comes from being born again by the Spirit of God.

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 He gives us his love so that we may love one another.

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 It's empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we can love as Christ has loved.

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 So, he has them on his mind.

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 He has them in his heart.

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 And then lastly and thirdly, he has them in his prayers.

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 So verse 4,

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 Always in every prayer of mine,

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 for you are making all my prayer with joy.

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 And then look at verse 9.

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 It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more

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 with all knowledge and discernment.

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 And so, we don't just think about one another.

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 We don't just have feelings for one another.

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 But that should lead us to prayer for one another.

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 And I know that it's a habit of many people,

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 and I'll put myself in that category,

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 to kind of pass by and sort of say,

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 Hey, I'll pray for you.

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 I'm going to pray for that.

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 And it's a verse in 1 Samuel 12.

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 The nation of Israel is pleading with Samuel as a prophet to intercede for them

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 on their behalf to God.

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 And Samuel says this,

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 and it's just convicting.

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 He says,

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 Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.

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 Let's connect that together.

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 So, it's a sinful response for us to not pray for one another,

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 to cease to pray for one another.

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 And, that's verse 1 Samuel 12, 23, if you want to look that up.

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 But, we have each other in our minds.

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 We're remembering each other in our hearts.

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 And He has them in His prayers.

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 So, those are three ways that we can practice genuine Christian love and fellowship among one another.

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 But, the main focus of the message today, I wanted to get particularly to verse 6.

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 And, because I know that many of us are very tired and weary a lot of the time.

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 Even though we've been saved by God, and we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus,

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 the fullness of that salvation still isn't fully realized.

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 And, even as followers of Christ, we face the devastating effects of sin in our lives,

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 and we see it in the world around us.

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 We hear Christ calling us to follow Him, to deny ourselves, to pick up our cross and follow Him,

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 and to love Him, love our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

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 But, somehow, we just never arise to the totality of that in this life.

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 And, we lose sight of the gospel promises.

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 It's easy for us to get weighed down by our own sin and the brokenness in the world around us.

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 And, a lot of us, including myself to some degree,

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 have a tendency to focus more on our lacking imperfections,

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 the things that the remaining sin in our lives,

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 rather than rejoice at what God has done.

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 And, so, we fall into a lot of the same sins, temptations, and it grieves us.

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 We kind of cry out, how long, O Lord, must we endure this?

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 And, I'm sure all of us have had seasons like that,

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 where we just wonder, are we going to make it?

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 Because it's so tiring.

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 I'm so overwhelmed.

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 I mean, I get overwhelmed by looking in the brokenness in the world,

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 and being like, I'm just one guy.

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 There's nothing I can really do to help.

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 And, weariness of ministry.

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 And, due to my own sin and shortcomings, insufficiencies,

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 I can feel just helpless to even continue on the mission.

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 And, just beg Christ to come back and end it.

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 There's even times, you know, that I've sympathized a little bit with Elijah,

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 when he said, Lord, take my life from me, because I'm no better than my father's.

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 I've felt that way before.

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 Where he said, I'm not going to take my own life,

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 but Lord, if you would take it, I would appreciate it.

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 We've all been there, or some of us have been there to that point.

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 And, we just feel like we can't go on, we won't survive.

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 But, God is faithful to us.

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 And, I wanted to read this one short quote to you.

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 But, a Puritan writer, John Flavel,

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 this is something that has meant a lot to me over the years, this statement.

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 He says,

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 And, the main focus of the message today is to look at three different points

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 to help Paul's joy relate to us,

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 to have the same joy he had for our weary souls.

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 And, it's a focus on God's persevering work in our salvation.

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 We, in Christ, are kept by God's power.

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 We will persevere.

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 We will continue to fight on,

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 even until the end, until we die,

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 and go home to be the Lord until Christ returns.

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 He's going to preserve us, and keep us.

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 And, that gives us strength to keep going.

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 And, so, we're going to talk about this in terms of tenses,

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 like past, present, future.

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 But, number one,

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 God started a good work in us.

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 That's the past tense.

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 So, look at verse 5.

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 He says,

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 Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

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 And then look at verse 6.

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 For I am sure of this,

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 that he who began a good work.

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 So, from the first day,

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 when he started the good work,

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 is the past tense.

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 Now, I want you to think,

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 when you came to know the Lord,

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 what happened?

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 What were the events leading up to that?

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 Was it a season of time,

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 or was it more of a moment?

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 And, what happened?

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 Did we just all of a sudden wise up,

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 and decided to turn over a new leaf,

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 and live better lives,

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 and be good Christians,

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 and, you know,

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 be moral people?

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 The truth is, no.

00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:32.759
 Scripture does not teach that

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.140
 about our former state

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:35.600
 before we were in Christ.

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:38.060
 It says that

00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:41.120
 we were dead in our trespasses and sin.

00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:42.940
 It says that we were under

00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:44.840
 the power and influence

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:46.120
 of Satan.

00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.379
 It says that we followed

00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:50.519
 the strong current of this world,

00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:53.559
 and that we were slaves

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:56.039
 to the fallen passions of our flesh,

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:59.239
 being defiant and disobedient to God.

00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:02.059
 It's a situation that's helpless.

00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.819
 Nothing we could even do about it.

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:06.119
 But this is all in Ephesians 2.

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:09.119
 But, Ephesians 2, verse 4,

00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:10.919
 there's a change.

00:18:11.459 --> 00:18:12.719
 It talks about our lost state.

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.500
 But then it says,

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.359
 but God, being rich,

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.639
 and mercy,

00:18:17.219 --> 00:18:18.500
 because of the great love

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.859
 with which He loved us,

00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:21.479
 not that we loved Him,

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.539
 that He loved us,

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.479
 even when we were dead

00:18:24.479 --> 00:18:25.619
 in our trespasses,

00:18:26.219 --> 00:18:28.459
 made us alive together with Christ.

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:31.359
 By grace, you have been saved.

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.079
 So our spiritual life began

00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:36.979
 by God's sovereign initiating grace.

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.699
 In 1 John,

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.939
 this is mentioned a lot,

00:18:41.719 --> 00:18:43.039
 1 John 4, verse 10,

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.859
 and this is love,

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:48.700
 not that we had loved God,

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:51.740
 but that He had loved us

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:53.460
 and sent His Son

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.819
 to be a propitiation

00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:56.000
 for our sins.

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:58.799
 And in verse 19 of chapter 4,

00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:03.019
 we love because He first loved us.

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.839
 So if you look back in your life,

00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:06.039
 you'll see God working

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:06.899
 in His providence

00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.819
 through different people,

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:08.879
 different circumstances

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:10.860
 to bring you to faith.

00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:11.480
 You'll see Him

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.820
 underneath everything

00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:14.140
 going on.

00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:16.320
 And He wasn't

00:19:16.320 --> 00:19:18.660
 just kind of standing idly by.

00:19:18.760 --> 00:19:19.960
 He was hunting you down.

00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:21.320
 He was pursuing you.

00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:23.680
 And we should be grateful for that

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.460
 because of His great mercy

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:27.960
 for which He loved us.

00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:31.800
 So God started a good work,

00:19:31.800 --> 00:19:32.600
 past tense.

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:34.799
 Second point,

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:38.579
 God is continuing

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:40.779
 a good work in us.

00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.419
 So, present tense.

00:19:43.699 --> 00:19:44.879
 Look at verse 5.

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.879
 Because of your partnership

00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.559
 in the gospel

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.980
 from the first day until now.

00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:51.159
 Verse 7.

00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:52.439
 It is right for me

00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.579
 to feel this way about you

00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.959
 because I hold you in my heart

00:19:54.959 --> 00:19:56.079
 for we are all

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.279
 partakers

00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:00.599
 with me of grace.

00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:02.639
 Look at verse 11.

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.279
 They would be filled

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.579
 with the fruit of righteousness

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.599
 that comes through

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:08.079
 Jesus Christ.

00:20:08.699 --> 00:20:09.980
 So He's pointing out

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:12.199
 present evidences

00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:13.599
 of grace in them.

00:20:14.219 --> 00:20:15.339
 Like God is working

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.419
 in you right now.

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:18.319
 We are actively participating

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:20.279
 in the grace of God

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:20.779
 together.

00:20:21.719 --> 00:20:22.759
 So, firstly,

00:20:23.459 --> 00:20:24.639
 He points out

00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.839
 their financial support

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.579
 that they gave Him.

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:29.119
 And to advance the gospel,

00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.799
 the partnership

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.319
 is synonymous

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.319
 with almsgiving

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:35.139
 and contributions,

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.019
 heartfelt,

00:20:36.239 --> 00:20:37.479
 sympathetic cooperation.

00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.039
 And it had been

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.659
 a while since

00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:40.579
 their last donation.

00:20:40.679 --> 00:20:41.119
 I think it might have

00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.899
 been 10 years.

00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:42.599
 But they finally,

00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:43.739
 but only because

00:20:43.739 --> 00:20:44.899
 they lacked the opportunity

00:20:44.899 --> 00:20:46.979
 to help Paul financially.

00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:49.419
 But they found a way

00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.379
 and they gave to him.

00:20:50.979 --> 00:20:52.039
 They also sent

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.899
 a papertitis

00:20:53.459 --> 00:20:54.619
 to deliver the money

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.219
 to Paul

00:20:55.219 --> 00:20:56.139
 and to care for him

00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:56.779
 personally.

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:58.799
 because being in prison,

00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.220
 as I guess today too,

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:02.559
 is a shameful thing

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.480
 in the ancient world.

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.480
 But they wanted

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.680
 to stand by him

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.619
 and support him

00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:08.319
 regardless of that shame.

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.000
 They really wanted

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.740
 to care for his well-being.

00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:13.299
 And they wanted

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.980
 to support Paul

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.920
 in his defense

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:17.420
 and confirmation

00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:18.440
 of the gospel

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:20.059
 where he was declaring

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:20.839
 the good news,

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:22.700
 seeking to persuade others,

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.740
 pleading with others

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:26.799
 to see the salvation

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.740
 that's in Christ.

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:29.579
 So he expressed that

00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.680
 presently active,

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:32.880
 partakers of Christ.

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:34.339
 So,

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:36.120
 all resorting

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:38.319
 to the glory

00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.779
 and praise of God.

00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:41.500
 So flip over

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:43.220
 to chapter 2

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.799
 really quickly.

00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:44.700
 Philippians 2.

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.200
 I just want to read

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.359
 a couple verses here.

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.019
 It isn't just,

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.579
 I used to have

00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.559
 this wrong mentality

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.519
 a lot of my life

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.039
 that was

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:54.460
 God started this,

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.600
 God did his part.

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.220
 He saved you.

00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.299
 Now you've got to do your part.

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.240
 Go.

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:58.759
 And,

00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:00.740
 like this sort of cooperation

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:02.640
 where I'm going to

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.559
 finish the job.

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.799
 And Paul's words

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.960
 in Galatians is,

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.779
 are you foolish?

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.420
 Have you,

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.960
 now having begun

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.640
 by the Spirit,

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.440
 are you now being

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.860
 perfected by the flesh?

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.840
 And that was convicting.

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.380
 But in

00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.559
 Philippians 2,

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.220
 verse 12,

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.819
 it says,

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.200
 therefore,

00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:22.059
 my beloved,

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.319
 as you have

00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.179
 always obeyed,

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.740
 so now,

00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:26.159
 not only in my presence,

00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:26.940
 but much more

00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:27.679
 in my absence,

00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:29.819
 work out your salvation

00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:31.079
 with fear and tripling.

00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:32.779
 So,

00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.039
 verse 13,

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.039
 look at the present tense,

00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:37.000
 for it is God

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.000
 who works in you,

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.539
 both to will

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.359
 and to work

00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:42.059
 for his good pleasure.

00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:43.599
 So not

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:45.000
 save yourself,

00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:46.139
 justify yourself,

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.200
 adopt yourself,

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.440
 make yourself

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.000
 acceptable

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.980
 to God,

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.140
 but

00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:53.079
 bring to completion,

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.079
 carry out,

00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.019
 in light of what God

00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.960
 has done in you,

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.240
 continue to press

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.660
 into that,

00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:00.019
 good old charismatic work,

00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:01.160
 press into that,

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.279
 in the fullness

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.740
 of who you actually are

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.279
 in Christ.

00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.299
 He has done this work

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.779
 in you.

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.019
 That's who you are.

00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:07.660
 You've been made

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.460
 a new creation.

00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.099
 You've been given

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.500
 a new identity.

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.519
 It's who you are,

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:13.059
 so now be who you are.

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.500
 Don't,

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:16.079
 God has done the work,

00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.380
 right?

00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.640
 And so,

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.560
 it's this mystery

00:23:18.560 --> 00:23:19.560
 of sanctification

00:23:19.560 --> 00:23:21.660
 where it's our responsibility

00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.360
 to work,

00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:23.640
 labor,

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.040
 toil,

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.540
 struggle,

00:23:28.260 --> 00:23:29.500
 but somehow,

00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.300
 God's,

00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:31.840
 it's not by our own strength,

00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.840
 but God's strength

00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:34.600
 that works powerfully

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.460
 within us.

00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:37.480
 Write down

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.340
 Colossians 1,

00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:39.260
 29 for that.

00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:40.500
 But,

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.880
 what fuels us

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:44.180
 is the grace of God.

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:44.640
 And,

00:23:45.020 --> 00:23:45.860
 there was a pastor,

00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:47.619
 I really respect

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.159
 the good old

00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:50.319
 Presbyterian brother,

00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.639
 but he also likes history,

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.240
 so that's how I got

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.899
 connected to him.

00:23:53.459 --> 00:23:54.559
 His name is Harry Reader.

00:23:55.719 --> 00:23:56.439
 This old guy.

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.259
 I don't know how old

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:58.659
 he is now.

00:23:58.719 --> 00:23:59.539
 He must be close to 80.

00:24:00.459 --> 00:24:00.839
 But,

00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:02.139
 he wrote

00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:03.619
 this about,

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:03.839
 like,

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.740
 the active work

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.139
 of God

00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:05.879
 in our lives.

00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.500
 He says,

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.299
 when I was 16,

00:24:08.479 --> 00:24:09.359
 my father bought me

00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:09.839
 a car

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.039
 at an auction

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.899
 for $75.

00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:14.300
 It was a pink

00:24:14.300 --> 00:24:16.340
 57 Ford,

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.540
 which dad insisted

00:24:17.540 --> 00:24:18.240
 was coral.

00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:20.060
 I couldn't drive

00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:20.720
 a pink car

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.259
 to school.

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.960
 I then heard

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.000
 the words that,

00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:25.620
 in the not too distant future,

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.800
 my children would say,

00:24:27.540 --> 00:24:27.860
 son,

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.600
 a poor ride

00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:29.000
 is better

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.060
 than a proud walk.

00:24:31.340 --> 00:24:32.259
 He just said,

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:34.620
 that's probably

00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.740
 in the Bible somewhere,

00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:36.920
 a poor ride

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.280
 is better

00:24:37.280 --> 00:24:38.200
 than a proud walk.

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.900
 So then he says,

00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.680
 then dad opened

00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.279
 the hood

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.400
 and to my surprise,

00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:43.940
 underneath

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:46.380
 was a 390 engine

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.700
 with two

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.380
 four-barrel

00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.200
 carburetors.

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.640
 The car

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.360
 had been

00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:52.360
 a South Carolina

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.580
 state interceptor,

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.519
 a highway patrol car.

00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:56.680
 Nothing

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.819
 had more power

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.580
 under the hood.

00:24:59.519 --> 00:24:59.960
 Space

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.799
 and conviction

00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:02.080
 prevents me

00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:02.799
 from detailing

00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.840
 all the surprise

00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:04.460
 that I gave

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.259
 to Corvettes

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.539
 on the highway

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.160
 because he would

00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.880
 pull up beside him

00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:09.120
 and rev his engine

00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:09.620
 and he would

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.060
 just like

00:25:10.060 --> 00:25:10.680
 beat him.

00:25:11.020 --> 00:25:12.940
 So he said,

00:25:13.040 --> 00:25:15.740
 my pink

00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.800
 57 Ford

00:25:16.800 --> 00:25:18.360
 didn't really

00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:19.200
 look like much

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.980
 on the outside

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.800
 but there was

00:25:20.800 --> 00:25:21.680
 power under

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.160
 the hood.

00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:23.900
 And

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.920
 same way,

00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.280
 we don't look

00:25:26.280 --> 00:25:26.900
 like a lot

00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.780
 at all

00:25:27.780 --> 00:25:29.320
 on the outside

00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:29.840
 but because

00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:30.360
 of the work

00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:30.840
 of Christ

00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:31.340
 in us,

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.000
 the regenerating

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.300
 power of his

00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:33.680
 spirit,

00:25:33.800 --> 00:25:34.500
 there is power

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.600
 under the hood.

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:38.240
 thirdly

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:38.980
 and lastly,

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.379
 so

00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:41.259
 the past,

00:25:41.459 --> 00:25:41.759
 present,

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.799
 future

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.059
 is God

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.799
 will finish

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.539
 the good work

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.319
 in us.

00:25:46.459 --> 00:25:47.039
 Future tense.

00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:48.419
 Verse 6,

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.299
 I am sure

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.740
 of this,

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.779
 I am confident

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:52.079
 of this,

00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:52.879
 I am certain

00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:54.240
 that he

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.039
 who began

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.759
 a good work

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.119
 in you

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.939
 will bring it

00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:58.179
 to completion

00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:58.919
 as a day

00:25:58.919 --> 00:25:59.799
 of Christ Jesus.

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:01.379
 so,

00:26:02.159 --> 00:26:02.779
 it isn't just

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.680
 God started it

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.079
 and now he's

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.639
 backing away,

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.399
 he's going to

00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:05.859
 finish it,

00:26:05.899 --> 00:26:06.619
 he's confident,

00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.019
 he is sure

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.859
 of this

00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:10.000
 and

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.079
 we have a

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.740
 promise given

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.539
 to us

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.740
 as believers

00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.480
 in Christ

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.659
 even though

00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:16.200
 we suffer

00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:17.039
 greatly in

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:17.599
 this life.

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.559
 Jesus said

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.599
 again,

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.599
 familiar verse

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.139
 John 10,

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.220
 my sheep

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.019
 hear my voice,

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.819
 I know them

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.519
 and they follow

00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:25.819
 me.

00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.399
 I give them

00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:28.359
 eternal life

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.079
 and they will

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:30.299
 never perish

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.819
 and no one

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.339
 will snatch

00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:32.779
 them out of

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.299
 my hand.

00:26:34.179 --> 00:26:34.859
 My father

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.460
 who has given

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.139
 them to me

00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:36.740
 is greater

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.679
 than all

00:26:37.679 --> 00:26:39.240
 and no one

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.659
 is able

00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:41.379
 to snatch

00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:41.819
 them out

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.539
 of my father's

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.879
 hand.

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:45.119
 I and the

00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:46.460
 father are

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:46.839
 one.

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.220
 Imagine you

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.000
 got a chance

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.500
 to go on

00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:50.919
 a dream

00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:51.500
 vacation,

00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.079
 you saved

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.500
 for it,

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:52.939
 you planned

00:26:52.939 --> 00:26:53.379
 on it,

00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:54.159
 and you

00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:55.779
 finally flew

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.139
 to your

00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.559
 desired

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.279
 destination

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.839
 and

00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:00.159
 the airport

00:27:00.159 --> 00:27:00.720
 was far

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.159
 away from

00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.399
 where you

00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:01.759
 wanted to

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:03.039
 go and

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.119
 a taxi

00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:04.539
 came up

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:04.819
 and said

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:05.000
 hey,

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.579
 ten bucks

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.659
 to get

00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:06.919
 to your

00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:07.459
 destination

00:27:07.459 --> 00:27:08.839
 and what

00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.179
 if one

00:27:09.179 --> 00:27:09.379
 of you

00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:09.819
 just said

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.139
 that's

00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:10.659
 absurd,

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.000
 I'm not

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:11.279
 paying

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.079
 ten dollars

00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:12.559
 to get

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.500
 to go

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:13.819
 there

00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:15.919
 and your

00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:16.480
 spouse,

00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.059
 probably your

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.959
 wife would

00:27:18.959 --> 00:27:19.759
 say that's

00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.220
 crazy,

00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:20.759
 we've come

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.339
 all this

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:21.799
 way,

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:22.939
 ten more

00:27:22.939 --> 00:27:23.500
 dollars is

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:23.879
 no big

00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.559
 deal to

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:24.859
 get where

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.099
 we want

00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.419
 to go,

00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:26.740
 right?

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.680
 very

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.200
 similarly,

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:29.920
 do you

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.259
 really

00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:30.759
 think

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.960
 that

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.299
 God

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.500
 the

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:32.859
 Father

00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:34.039
 would

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.519
 watch

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:34.779
 his

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.180
 son

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:35.539
 go

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.019
 through

00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:36.400
 what

00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:36.539
 he

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:36.799
 went

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.099
 through

00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:39.059
 for no

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.480
 reason?

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.480
 Do you

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:41.819
 really

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.380
 think

00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:42.880
 that

00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.839
 it was

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.220
 to bring

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:44.480
 about

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.720
 some

00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.319
 potential

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.519
 I hope

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.019
 this will

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.380
 work?

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.599
 Is the

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:51.140
 son saying

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:51.700
 I died

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.099
 for these

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:52.500
 people,

00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.000
 but the

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.660
 father saying

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:55.240
 well I

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:56.140
 just hope

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.800
 that some

00:27:56.800 --> 00:27:57.200
 of them

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:58.240
 take

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.660
 advantage

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.080
 of it.

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:00.860
 None of

00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.180
 us would

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.759
 allow a

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.120
 loved one

00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:02.600
 to suffer

00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.220
 in vain,

00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:04.420
 especially

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:04.840
 the way

00:28:04.840 --> 00:28:05.320
 that Christ

00:28:05.320 --> 00:28:05.660
 did.

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:06.840
 Christ

00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:07.519
 is going

00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.140
 to see

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:09.860
 the work

00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.320
 through.

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.240
 His blood

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.680
 will not

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.240
 be shed

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.779
 in vain.

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:13.860
 He's going

00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:14.519
 to continue

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.040
 the good

00:28:15.040 --> 00:28:15.560
 work that

00:28:15.560 --> 00:28:16.060
 he started

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:16.800
 in us.

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:17.920
 God

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.360
 has a

00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:18.740
 great

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.200
 desire

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.840
 to finish

00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:20.200
 what he

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.580
 started.

00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:21.720
 If you

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.060
 go to a

00:28:22.060 --> 00:28:22.380
 lot of

00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:22.700
 different

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.220
 shops

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.620
 throughout the

00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:23.840
 world,

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.379
 like a

00:28:24.379 --> 00:28:24.799
 wood shop

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.319
 for example,

00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.220
 you'll find

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.740
 some cool

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.240
 pieces of

00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:27.619
 furniture,

00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:28.339
 chairs,

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:29.019
 shelves,

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:29.959
 you might

00:28:29.959 --> 00:28:30.359
 find some

00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:30.859
 things laying

00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:31.139
 there that

00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:31.679
 are unfinished.

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.319
 I've got

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:33.859
 several of

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.119
 those.

00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.599
 And it's

00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.379
 either because

00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:37.179
 they lacked

00:28:37.179 --> 00:28:37.919
 the desire

00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:38.459
 to finish,

00:28:39.159 --> 00:28:39.679
 they ran

00:28:39.679 --> 00:28:39.980
 out of

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.579
 resources,

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.319
 and so

00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:42.599
 they didn't

00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:42.919
 get to

00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:43.279
 finish the

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:43.559
 job.

00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:44.220
 But God

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.659
 is not

00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:45.039
 the same

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.459
 way.

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.419
 God

00:28:46.419 --> 00:28:46.740
 doesn't

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.259
 lack

00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:48.539
 the ability

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.099
 or the

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.980
 desire to

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.379
 finish

00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:50.959
 what he

00:28:50.959 --> 00:28:51.379
 started.

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.359
 And he

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.240
 will finish

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.459
 it.

00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.879
 So,

00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:55.740
 that's

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.199
 something for

00:28:56.199 --> 00:28:56.439
 us to

00:28:56.439 --> 00:28:57.439
 take comfort

00:28:57.439 --> 00:28:57.639
 in.

00:28:57.679 --> 00:28:58.179
 He's going

00:28:58.179 --> 00:28:59.079
 to accomplish

00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.379
 it.

00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:02.179
 Look at,

00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.819
 this is in

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.159
 closing,

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:03.519
 look at

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:05.179
 Psalm 138.

00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:12.859
 Psalm 138,

00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:14.000
 verse 6.

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.359
 Psalm 138,

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:14.119
 verse 6.

00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:39.839
 For though the

00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.619
 Lord is

00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:40.619


00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.079
 high,

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:43.179
 he regards

00:29:43.179 --> 00:29:44.039
 the lowly,

00:29:44.679 --> 00:29:45.980
 but the

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.559
 haughty he

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.220
 knows from

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:47.679
 afar.

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.319
 And though I

00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.119
 walk in the

00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:50.539
 midst of

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:50.879
 trouble,

00:29:51.699 --> 00:29:52.319
 you preserve

00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.019
 my life.

00:29:53.659 --> 00:29:54.019
 See the

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.419
 connections?

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.740
 You stretch

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.259
 out your

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.159
 hand against

00:29:57.159 --> 00:29:57.759
 the wrath

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.220
 of my

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.720
 enemies,

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.159
 and your

00:30:00.159 --> 00:30:00.919
 right hand

00:30:00.919 --> 00:30:01.939
 delivers me.

00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:04.839
 Mark this,

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:06.299
 the Lord

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.599
 will fulfill

00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.419
 his purpose

00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:09.059
 for me.

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.220
 Your

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.419
 steadfast love,

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.139
 O Lord,

00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.359
 endures forever.

00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:15.000
 Do not

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:16.000
 forsake the

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.619
 work of

00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.179
 your hands.

00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:19.639
 Join me in

00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:19.799
 prayer.

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.639
 Do not

00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:21.919
 not

00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:21.919


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