WEBVTT

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 If you have a Bible, please open with me to Colossians chapter 3.

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 Let's just bow our heads again and pray for the Word.

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 Holy Spirit, we look to you to give sight to the blind,

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 to enable us to see the beauty that has been revealed to the person of Jesus.

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 And we pray that what we see would change us from the inside to the outside,

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 and that we would look a lot more like Him.

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 So the world could know Him through us.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Well, we're going to look at Colossians 3, and really we're going to focus on this evening.

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 If you look down to verse 24, I've got the ESV in front of me.

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 This sentence, you are serving the Lord Christ.

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 I don't know your experience of work.

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 My experience is that on a given Monday or Tuesday,

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 most of what I do is very tedious.

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 The kind of work that fills our days, it's often washing dishes,

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 filling out paperwork, just listening to another conversation.

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 And if you think about your typical work week,

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 honestly, most of what you're doing, I would guess, is probably invisible.

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 It's not the kind of stuff that people are recording for the annals of history,

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 or so that people can write your biography.

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 You're just getting through another day.

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 And honestly, I would guess that often your tasks, they feel somewhat meaningless.

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 You know, it's not just teachers that give students busy work.

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 How many people in the last year have had managers just set up Zoom meetings

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 just to make sure that the manager's schedule is busy during COVID?

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 If we just look at our work life, often it fills us with frustration.

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 We don't have the kind of deep purpose and passion that we read about in airport bestsellers

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 that we should have.

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 Again, there's a sense of lack of fulfillment.

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 Sometimes we look at our peers and we think,

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 that person has a great life.

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 Why am I stuck with this job?

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 You know, underlying all of this is this problem,

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 because as you listen to podcasts,

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 the message is that, you know, you can change your life,

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 that you can discover this purpose,

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 that there's a passion that you can unfold.

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 But honestly, as we look at our lives,

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 often we're kind of stuck with where we are.

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 Isn't it frustrating that you spend your young life

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 trying to figure out what you really want to do,

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 and then often by the time you discover that,

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 the train's already left the station.

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 And you're just thinking about trying to pay the bills.

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 Now again, if we listen to the world,

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 basically the secular advice is,

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 okay, well, if you want to be happy with your work,

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 adjust your circumstances.

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 You've got to change them so, again,

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 they're in alignment with your passion.

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 And maybe there's a few of you tonight

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 that you can pursue that path and that's open for you,

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 and by all means do.

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 But actually the message of the gospel

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 is so much more radical than this.

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 Because if you're paying attention to what Paul

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 is saying in chapter 3 to these bond servants in particular,

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 these are people that have no capacity

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 to change the circumstances of their lives.

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 And so he says something much more revolutionary,

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 that we don't have to adjust our circumstances,

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 that rather what we need to do as Christians

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 is to frame the circumstances.

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 That if you can just understand who Jesus is

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 and what he's done,

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 and if that's the backdrop of your life,

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 then all of a sudden it doesn't really matter

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 so much what you're doing.

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 How you do it can be fundamentally changed.

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 And so what I want us to do,

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 I want us to take up this simple sentence

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 that you serve the Lord Christ

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 and just ask what would happen

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 if we actually believe this?

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 Well, here's one thing that would happen.

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 Is our lives would all of a sudden

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 have an unbelievable sense of dignity and worth.

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 You know, there's something about Roman slavery

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 that we probably don't think in terms of.

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 You see, for the Roman slave,

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 their sense of dignity or worth

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 was basically determined by two things.

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 Who they belonged to

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 and what their role was in that person's house.

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 Not every slave was treated equally in that society.

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 You know, if you were just a slave of Joe Bloggs

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 who was some sort of farmer on a croft

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 outside in a rural district outside of Rome,

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 well then, if you're just cleaning up the barn,

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 that's one thing.

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 However, if you're a slave

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 and you happen to belong to someone like Julius Caesar

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 or Pompey the Great or Cicero,

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 and let's just say that maybe you manage his accounts,

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 that you're in charge of his properties,

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 well you actually could have a dignity

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 that surpasses that of a lot of free people

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 in that society.

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 Now I would guess that in this church

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 that Paul's writing to,

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 there were probably bond servants

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 doing all kinds of things.

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 But when you read this letter,

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 one thing you have to pay attention to

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 is the way from the outset

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 Paul is trying to expand

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 what these Christians know about Jesus.

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 So if you have a Bible,

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 go back to chapter 1,

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 look at verses 15 to 18.

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 What is Paul telling them about Jesus?

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 He's telling them that Jesus,

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 he's the image of the invisible God,

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 that he's the firstborn over all of creation,

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 that he is the Lord of lords,

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 he's the King of kings,

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 that actually he is above everything

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 in heaven on earth,

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 visible and invisible,

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 that these things were actually created

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 through him,

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 and they belong for him.

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 You've got to connect all that

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 to what he's saying in chapter 3.

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 Because what Paul is saying

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 is something that's actually so radical.

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 It can change our lives.

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 He's telling this bond servant,

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 I don't care who you belong to.

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 I don't care what your occupation is.

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 I don't care what your role is

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 in that person's house.

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 None of that defines your worth.

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 Because you're a servant of the Lord Christ.

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 I mean, he just blows the ceiling off

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 every notion of status

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 you could possibly think in terms of.

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 This is why Paul was so free

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 of all anxiety

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 about what people thought about him.

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 If you go to 1 Corinthians chapter 4,

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 what does he say?

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 He says that he's a servant of Christ.

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 And then he goes on to say,

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 you know, I don't care if you judge me,

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 and I don't care if human courts judge me.

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 I don't even judge myself.

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 Because he knows that the only one

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 that matters is Jesus,

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 and it's who he is in relation to him

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 that determines his identity.

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 And so this is a radical message

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 that we have here.

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 It's a message that could have convinced

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 a slave who was just scrubbing

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 the bathrooms,

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 that actually that's not what defines them.

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 that their worth is determined

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 by their relationship with the Lord Christ

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 and the fact that they belong to his household

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 as a brother or a sister of the Lord.

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 This can change us too.

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 I love Francis of Assisi

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 for the reason that he so grasped this sense

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 that his identity was in Christ.

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 There's a famous story

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 where a bunch of bandits,

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 they come across Francis on a road in Italy,

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 and they say,

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 Who are you?

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 Francis, he's dressed in rags.

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 He looks like a beggar.

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 You know what he says?

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 I am the herald of a great king.

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 They think he's mad.

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 They think he's crazy,

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 but he wasn't.

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 He just grasped that,

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 Hey, my worth's not determined

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 by my clothing or my occupation.

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 You see, I know this guy, Jesus.

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 He's the high king,

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 and I'm a herald of him.

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 So Francis, in a sense,

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 that was not without humility,

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 but he walked the streets

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 with a sense of security

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 with who he was.

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 That's exactly what can happen to us

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 if we grasp this simple phrase

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 that we serve the Lord Christ.

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 Now, let's flip it around.

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 Let's think about it from another angle.

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 This truth of serving the Lord Christ,

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 this can be a source of unbelievable joy.

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 Now, wouldn't you agree

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 that most tasks are joyless?

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 That most of what you do in your day

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 is not that exciting?

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 I love how Elizabeth Elliot,

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 you know, she's the widow of Jim Elliot,

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 the famous martyr, missionary.

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 You know, she served on mission

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 after her husband Jim was dead.

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 I love how Elizabeth talks about

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 the life of a missionary.

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 She says, you know,

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 your day as a missionary

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 is not filled with these big campaigns

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 and seeing thousands of people saved

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 or, you know, doing,

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 seeing miracles happen before your eyes.

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 The typical day of a missionary,

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 it's washing dishes,

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 it's scrubbing floors,

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 it's making meals,

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 it's visiting the sick.

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 It's so ordinary,

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 just like us.

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 And so how do you actually find joy

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 in the midst of tasks

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 that in and of themselves,

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 they're just monotonous?

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 Well, Paul gives us an answer.

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 Look again at verse 24.

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 He's telling them to serve the Lord Christ,

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 but look at what he says first,

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 knowing that from the Lord,

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 you will receive the inheritance

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 as your reward.

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 Think about how it changes

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 to have great expectations.

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 Right now I'm reading that old novel

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 by Charles Dickens.

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 You've got this character, Pip.

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 He's poor.

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 He would love to be a gentleman.

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 He's got no chance to be a gentleman.

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 He's training to be a blacksmith.

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 He has no future.

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 And then there's this surprise.

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 He finds out that actually

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 there's this legacy

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 that he's inheriting.

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 And just imagine

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 if you're just this boy, Pip,

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 and you're in the forge,

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 how your attitude changes

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 when you realize

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 that just in a week

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 or just in a month

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 or just in a year,

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 there's this incredible inheritance

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 that's going to be given to you.

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 It's not the same mindset

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 that Paul's committing

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 to these bond servants and slaves.

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 Okay, yeah,

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 your day job

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 might just be digging ditches.

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 It might be tilling fields

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 that nobody's ever

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 going to take note of.

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 But just around the corner,

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 there's this inheritance

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 that the Lord Jesus

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 is going to give you.

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 He's going to give you

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 eternal life.

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 He's going to give you

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 a place within his family.

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 He's going to resurrect you

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 with a new body.

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 He's going to give you

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 a place in his heavens

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 and earth

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 where you're going to reign

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 with him.

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 And Paul would have them know

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 these bond servants and slaves

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 realize he's positioned you

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 where you are.

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 And so can you hang on

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 just a little bit longer,

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 digging the ditch,

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 plowing the field,

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 filling out the Excel spreadsheet,

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 going on another Zoom meeting,

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 knowing that this isn't your future.

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 But there's an inheritance

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 that he's going to give you.

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 Knowing that that's the case,

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 how does it change your attitude?

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 Especially if you connect the dots

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 and realize that the one

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 that you're serving today

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 is the one that's going to give you

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 that inheritance.

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 In other words,

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 you're not doing the spreadsheet

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 for your boss.

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 You're doing it for Jesus.

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 If Jesus, who's given you

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 forgiveness for your sin,

00:11:36.940 --> 00:11:39.060
 and who's going to give you

00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:39.860
 eternal life,

00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:41.540
 if he asked you,

00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:44.240
 would you till that field over there?

00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:46.280
 Would you be reluctant?

00:11:47.560 --> 00:11:47.960
 If he said,

00:11:48.020 --> 00:11:49.340
 would you just make another lunch

00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:50.080
 for your kids

00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.880
 and do the laundry?

00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:53.980
 Would you do it for him?

00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:56.060
 That's the mentality.

00:11:56.880 --> 00:11:58.040
 That the monotonous

00:11:58.040 --> 00:11:59.280
 can be filled with joy

00:11:59.280 --> 00:12:00.160
 when we realize

00:12:00.160 --> 00:12:01.080
 we're serving

00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:03.020
 the Lord Christ.

00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:05.379
 Now let's flip it again.

00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:05.860
 Let's look at it

00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:07.240
 from yet another angle.

00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:09.779
 How we can be changed

00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:10.939
 simply by seeing this truth

00:12:10.939 --> 00:12:11.799
 that you're serving

00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:13.079
 the Lord Christ.

00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.500
 That this can be a source

00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:16.159
 of deep integrity

00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.000
 in our lives.

00:12:19.199 --> 00:12:20.419
 I would guess that you're tempted

00:12:20.419 --> 00:12:21.399
 in the same way I'm tempted.

00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:23.120
 If somebody's looking

00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:23.860
 over my shoulder,

00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:25.519
 watching me,

00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:27.139
 I've got a very high standard.

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:28.899
 At the moment,

00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:30.120
 I feel like nobody's watching

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:32.079
 and the task is meaningless.

00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:33.820
 All of a sudden,

00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:34.860
 I start to settle

00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:37.259
 for something that's really

00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:38.700
 of kind of subpar

00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:40.320
 mediocre work.

00:12:41.520 --> 00:12:42.920
 Now part of what Paul

00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:44.320
 is committing to us here

00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:45.940
 is what we see

00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:46.660
 through the whole

00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.480
 of the New Testament,

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:49.080
 that we are called

00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:51.540
 to an exceeding righteousness.

00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:54.340
 See, the way that the world

00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.540
 operates is it always

00:12:55.540 --> 00:12:56.500
 settles for less.

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:57.120
 I mean, just think of

00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:57.940
 the Sermon on the Mount.

00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:59.280
 What does Jesus talk about

00:12:59.280 --> 00:12:59.940
 in the Sermon on the Mount?

00:13:00.020 --> 00:13:01.440
 Don't be like those people.

00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.340
 They do their charitable deeds

00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.520
 to be seen by men.

00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:07.600
 They've got their reward.

00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.340
 When you do a charitable reward,

00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:11.420
 don't let your left hand

00:13:11.420 --> 00:13:12.259
 know what your right hand

00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:12.620
 is doing.

00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:12.920
 Why?

00:13:13.040 --> 00:13:14.060
 Because your Father

00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:15.879
 who sees in secret.

00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:17.720
 You see,

00:13:17.780 --> 00:13:18.639
 you're not doing it

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.460
 for the eyes of men.

00:13:19.520 --> 00:13:21.340
 You're doing it for God.

00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:22.980
 And He's watching.

00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.300
 He's there.

00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:26.440
 Jesus says the same thing.

00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:26.980
 When you pray,

00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:27.180
 you know,

00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:28.360
 don't stand on the street corner.

00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:29.500
 Don't blast a trumpet.

00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:30.560
 You know,

00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:31.700
 don't go position yourself

00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:32.320
 into the church

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:33.460
 where everybody can see you.

00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:35.019
 You go into your room.

00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:35.899
 You close the door

00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:36.820
 and you pray to your Father

00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:37.360
 in secret.

00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:38.080
 And your Father

00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:39.060
 who sees in secret,

00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:41.460
 He'll reward you openly.

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.180
 Part of what's so stunning

00:13:44.180 --> 00:13:45.440
 about the Christian life

00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:47.500
 is we're not just concerned

00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.539
 about the exterior.

00:13:49.680 --> 00:13:50.600
 We're not just trying

00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.120
 to do it for the praise of men.

00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:53.620
 And look,

00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:54.779
 this is exactly what Paul

00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:55.860
 says in verse 22.

00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:58.000
 He's telling these bond servants

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:58.980
 something very difficult.

00:13:59.180 --> 00:13:59.940
 Obey in everything

00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:00.519
 those who are

00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.379
 your earthly masters.

00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:01.899
 But how?

00:14:02.180 --> 00:14:04.340
 Not by way of eye service.

00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:07.379
 Don't do it as people pleasers.

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.460
 But do it with sincerity

00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:11.820
 of heart,

00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.899
 fearing the Lord.

00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:16.980
 It's a beautiful psalm.

00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:18.259
 You probably know it's

00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:21.000
 Psalm 136 or 139.

00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:22.139
 You know,

00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.800
 that reminds us,

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.259
 first of all,

00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:25.279
 just of the presence of God

00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.579
 that wherever we go

00:14:26.579 --> 00:14:27.299
 in our rising,

00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.059
 in our sleeping,

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.919
 no matter where we travel,

00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:31.860
 that God is always there.

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:34.059
 And as soon as you grasp

00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.120
 hold of this truth

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.539
 that He's always present

00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:38.199
 and that He's watching,

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:39.980
 that can't but change

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.659
 your attitude

00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:42.980
 concerning how you're

00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:43.839
 going to do things.

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.279
 Because as Paul says here,

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.199
 it's ultimately out of reverence

00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:49.019
 for Him.

00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:50.299
 You know,

00:14:50.339 --> 00:14:51.079
 you're digging that ditch

00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:51.579
 in the field.

00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.480
 Your supervisor's probably

00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.279
 never going to look.

00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:55.560
 You're never going to get evaluated.

00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.399
 Why on earth would you care

00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:58.120
 about this ditch?

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.379
 Only one reason.

00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:01.120
 Because the Father sees

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.539
 and it delights Him

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.940
 when you pour your heart

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:05.860
 into this simple task.

00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:07.700
 And if you do this heartily

00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:08.600
 unto the Lord

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.500
 and not to men,

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:11.860
 it's not just the angels

00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:12.539
 that rejoice.

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:14.879
 So does Jesus.

00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.960
 So does the Father.

00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.100
 And so you do see the way

00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:19.860
 in which when you realize

00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.759
 that you're serving

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.679
 the Lord Christ.

00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:23.279
 That's why you're doing

00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:23.879
 the laundry.

00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.299
 That's why you're doing

00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:25.720
 the dishes.

00:15:26.439 --> 00:15:27.299
 That's why you're cutting

00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:27.899
 the grass.

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.500
 That's why you're doing

00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.139
 the spreadsheet.

00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:31.799
 That all of a sudden,

00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:32.819
 again, it matters

00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:34.500
 even if

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:37.259
 no one's going to ever see it.

00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:38.939
 And one of the most

00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:40.179
 interesting features

00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:41.700
 of the medieval cathedrals

00:15:41.700 --> 00:15:42.919
 are how if you would go

00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.779
 on top

00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.960
 and look from above,

00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:45.899
 a vantage that

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:46.960
 no one will see,

00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:48.559
 you'll see craftsmanship

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.739
 and you'll see carving.

00:15:50.839 --> 00:15:51.479
 Why on earth

00:15:51.479 --> 00:15:52.179
 did they do that?

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.179
 Certainly wasn't for men.

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.000
 They were doing it

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.979
 unto the Lord.

00:15:57.979 --> 00:15:58.679
 And that's the kind

00:15:58.679 --> 00:15:59.199
 of work ethic

00:15:59.199 --> 00:16:00.219
 we're called to here.

00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.399
 Now let's flip it again.

00:16:02.479 --> 00:16:03.039
 Let's see it from yet

00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:03.899
 another angle.

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.579
 The way in which this

00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:07.139
 serving the Lord Christ,

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.319
 that this is a source

00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:10.739
 of long suffering.

00:16:11.739 --> 00:16:12.639
 It's a source

00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.539
 of patience.

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.139
 Look at verse 25.

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.759
 Paul says something

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.840
 that might sound

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.779
 a little bit scary

00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.480
 at first.

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.740
 It's hard to understand

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.600
 it in its context

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.840
 but it's worth understanding.

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.220
 He tells us

00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.039
 that the wrongdoer

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.039
 will be paid back

00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:29.159
 for the wrong he has done

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:29.919
 for there is

00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:31.799
 no partiality.

00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.220
 Why is he saying this?

00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:36.639
 I would guess

00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.799
 that you've probably seen

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:39.340
 injustice before

00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.700
 in the workplace.

00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:42.919
 It wasn't just

00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.600
 the ancient world

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.600
 that struggled with this.

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:46.500
 no matter how hard

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:46.899
 we try,

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.879
 there's still prejudice,

00:16:48.040 --> 00:16:48.820
 there's still biases

00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.659
 in the workplace.

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.159
 You know,

00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:52.259
 people don't get positions,

00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:53.220
 somebody who's more

00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:53.820
 attractive,

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.360
 somebody who's got

00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.860
 a more dynamic personality,

00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:57.180
 somebody who's younger,

00:16:57.540 --> 00:16:58.300
 someone with a different

00:16:58.300 --> 00:16:59.180
 set of beliefs.

00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:00.600
 All of these things

00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:02.460
 bring in all kinds

00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.000
 of injustice

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.879
 in the workplace.

00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.180
 The question comes in,

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.819
 what do you do

00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:07.819
 if you find yourself

00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:09.339
 under somebody's authority

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.579
 and you've got

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.700
 no legal remedy?

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:14.019
 Well,

00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:14.580
 think about these

00:17:14.580 --> 00:17:15.440
 bond servers.

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:16.240
 Think about these

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:16.940
 slaves.

00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:18.720
 What would they do

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.819
 if they're being mistreated

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.120
 by their master?

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.460
 You might say,

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:22.580
 well,

00:17:22.600 --> 00:17:23.220
 go to the courts,

00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.259
 go to the magistrate.

00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:25.519
 Well,

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.920
 what if the magistrate

00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:28.039
 is a friend

00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.980
 of the friend

00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.799
 of your master

00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.600
 so that you know

00:17:31.600 --> 00:17:32.140
 you're not going

00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:33.200
 to get a fair hearing?

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.140
 What do you do

00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.220
 if deep down

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.000
 there's a real

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.120
 sense of injustice,

00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:39.419
 but there's nothing

00:17:39.419 --> 00:17:40.179
 you can do

00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:40.919
 to remedy

00:17:40.919 --> 00:17:41.779
 your circumstance?

00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.719
 That's why Paul

00:17:44.719 --> 00:17:45.259
 writes this

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.159
 in verse 25.

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.599
 He wants us to know

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:50.139
 that there is a seat

00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.599
 that's impartial.

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:54.099
 That Jesus is not

00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:55.619
 a respecter of persons

00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.119
 in the sense

00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:56.919
 that he treats

00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:57.839
 billionaires

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.279
 different from the poor.

00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:01.319
 That he treats

00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:01.979
 one person

00:18:01.979 --> 00:18:03.039
 with one skin color

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.500
 different than

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.339
 another person

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.519
 with a different skin color.

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.819
 that that's not

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.839
 how he operates.

00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:10.639
 That when he comes,

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:11.900
 he will bring

00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:12.720
 real justice.

00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:13.859
 And that's why

00:18:13.859 --> 00:18:15.299
 when we're in positions

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:16.920
 where we can't

00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:18.339
 establish justice

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.319
 for ourselves,

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.779
 we can do

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.460
 what Jesus told us

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:22.700
 to do.

00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:24.119
 Blessed are the meek

00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:24.920
 or the patient,

00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:25.940
 for they will

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.720
 inherit the earth.

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.680
 And we wait

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.879
 on Christ

00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:29.700
 to bring the

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.980
 righteous judgment

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:32.119
 that only he

00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:32.879
 can bring.

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.559
 Friends,

00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:35.339
 this is an important

00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.579
 verse to remember

00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:37.379
 in a time like this

00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:37.959
 where we think

00:18:37.959 --> 00:18:38.539
 of Christians,

00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:38.919
 say,

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.659
 in a place like

00:18:39.659 --> 00:18:40.359
 Afghanistan.

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.359
 What do you do

00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:43.119
 when you're surrounded

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:43.839
 with injustice?

00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:45.599
 When you're surrounded

00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.379
 with oppression?

00:18:47.179 --> 00:18:48.199
 And there's no place

00:18:48.199 --> 00:18:49.259
 you can go for help.

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.459
 Well, you can cling

00:18:50.459 --> 00:18:51.740
 to this verse.

00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:53.879
 It's not bad news

00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:54.819
 for the Christian.

00:18:54.959 --> 00:18:55.500
 It's good news

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.179
 that one day

00:18:56.179 --> 00:18:57.139
 the wrongdoer,

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.399
 that that wrong

00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:00.220
 will be righted,

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.439
 that Jesus will turn

00:19:01.439 --> 00:19:03.119
 the world right side up

00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.679
 in that he won't

00:19:04.679 --> 00:19:05.299
 be partial

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.399
 to any particular

00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:07.359
 government regime

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.579
 or to any person,

00:19:08.739 --> 00:19:09.319
 but it will be

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:11.039
 a perfect justice.

00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:13.039
 And that can create

00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.139
 great patience

00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:15.619
 when you're in a hard

00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.159
 place

00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:17.219
 and you're just

00:19:17.219 --> 00:19:18.939
 having to persevere.

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.719
 And there's one more

00:19:21.719 --> 00:19:22.199
 way that we can

00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:22.979
 think about this.

00:19:24.239 --> 00:19:24.699
 Again,

00:19:24.739 --> 00:19:26.139
 the same sentence,

00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:27.959
 that we're serving

00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:28.779
 the Lord Christ.

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:28.879
 Christ,

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:32.480
 this truth is also

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.559
 a source

00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:36.279
 of great humility.

00:19:37.899 --> 00:19:38.339
 Really,

00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:38.859
 we see this

00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:39.279
 if you look at

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:40.379
 verse 1 of chapter 4.

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.039
 Masters,

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.240
 treat your bondservants

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.319
 justly and fairly,

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:46.079
 knowing that you also

00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:46.940
 have a master

00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:48.139
 in heaven.

00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:50.700
 Power is dangerous.

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.019
 There's that old adage,

00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:53.879
 power corrupts,

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.259
 absolute power corrupts,

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.720
 absolutely.

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.539
 There's a lot of truth

00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.160
 in that statement.

00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:00.460
 There's a reason why

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.420
 when we read through

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:03.139
 verse 18 on

00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:04.160
 in chapter 3

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.079
 that we get a little

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.799
 bit fidgety.

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:08.200
 It scares us

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:09.079
 a little bit to hear

00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:09.940
 that wives are told

00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:11.059
 to submit to their husbands

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.859
 because we know

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:12.940
 how easy it is

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.720
 for a husband

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.119
 in a position of authority

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.920
 to abuse that authority.

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.139
 Again,

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.920
 we're a little bit

00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:21.839
 put off by that statement

00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.639
 that children obey

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:23.220
 their parents

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.879
 and then this statement

00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:25.480
 really about to fathers

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.779
 in verse 21

00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.180
 because again,

00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.059
 fatherhood

00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.759
 is something

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.879
 that has been used

00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:31.419
 so damagingly

00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:32.720
 to so many children.

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.720
 Of course,

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.559
 you've got this situation

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.759
 with masters as well.

00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:39.359
 And so what do we do?

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.379
 What is the truth

00:20:40.379 --> 00:20:41.740
 that protects us

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:43.779
 from abusing power

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:45.799
 because we find ourselves

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:48.119
 in positions of authority?

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:51.480
 It's exactly what Paul says

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:54.539
 in verse 1 of chapter 4

00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:57.039
 that we've got to remember

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:58.339
 that we are always

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.240
 a servant

00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:01.079
 before we're in a position

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:02.200
 of authority.

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.339
 I know this sounds

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.059
 kind of strange

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.379
 but if you really think

00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.399
 through this passage,

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:11.139
 how should husbands operate?

00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:13.879
 Husbands should remember

00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:15.779
 that even before

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.579
 they're a husband,

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.700
 they're a wife

00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:20.680
 because every Christian

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.080
 is the bride of Jesus

00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:24.360
 which means you can't have

00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:25.340
 any kind of authority

00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:25.920
 in the home

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:27.200
 unless you are coming under

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:27.880
 and submitting

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:29.080
 and yielding yourself

00:21:29.080 --> 00:21:30.160
 to Christ.

00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.840
 What's your greatest protection

00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:33.500
 as a father?

00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.680
 It's knowing that you're

00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.840
 actually a child.

00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:39.160
 That you can't exercise

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.059
 that role

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:42.059
 with any goodness

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:43.740
 unless you realize

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:45.039
 that you are absolutely

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.759
 dependent

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.659
 and under

00:21:46.659 --> 00:21:47.980
 a heavenly father

00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:49.480
 and that you've got

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.440
 to look to him

00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.980
 to discover the character

00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.920
 that then you've got

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.559
 to reflect

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.539
 to whoever's

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.619
 under your care.

00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:58.180
 What does Paul say

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.839
 to masters

00:21:58.839 --> 00:22:00.500
 which although

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.299
 we may not have

00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:02.460
 this really role

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.220
 in our society

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.879
 you could say it

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:05.299
 equally of employers

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:07.119
 that if you are going

00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:08.119
 to be the kind

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:08.920
 of employer

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:09.460
 if you're going

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.599
 to be in any position

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.139
 where you've got

00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:12.460
 some sort of mastery

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.399
 over others

00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:14.259
 that you've got

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.619
 to begin by recognizing

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.539
 no that you are

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.960
 actually a bondservant

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:21.779
 and that your first rule

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:23.099
 is to seek to honor

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.200
 your master

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.960
 before you exercise

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:27.079
 any authority

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:29.319
 over anyone else.

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.759
 I want to pull out

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.319
 to end just one difficulty

00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:35.359
 that I think as we read

00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.599
 through this passage

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.720
 you know it arises

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.519
 there'd be other ones

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.059
 but this is one

00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.720
 that I think is important

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.400
 to pick out.

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.680
 You know if you're thinking

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:44.059
 deeply about this passage

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.619
 and you're thinking

00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:45.480
 about you know

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.319
 verse 22

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.679
 of not doing things

00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:48.779
 according to eye service

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.740
 as people pleasers

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.539
 but with sincerity

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.440
 fearing the Lord

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:51.960
 you're looking at

00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.679
 verse 23

00:22:52.679 --> 00:22:54.159
 whatever you do

00:22:54.159 --> 00:22:55.079
 work heartily

00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.079
 as to the Lord

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.200
 and not to men

00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.379
 this could easily

00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.579
 land you in a place

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.759
 of great anxiety.

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:04.000
 How on earth

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.919
 is this not

00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:06.379
 a recipe

00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:08.019
 to feel like

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.859
 you are under

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:09.919
 a relentless

00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:11.220
 taskmaster

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.600
 that there's

00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:13.819
 constant surveillance

00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:15.019
 there's constant

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.620
 measurement

00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:16.779
 so that you can

00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.819
 never do enough

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.500
 and you can

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.440
 never rest.

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.660
 How does it not

00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.299
 result there?

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.259
 There's two things

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.660
 I'd say.

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:27.380
 The first is

00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:29.160
 that we've got

00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:29.799
 to recognize

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.980
 the incredible

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.660
 freedom

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.660
 that comes

00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.500
 from only

00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.279
 having

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.039
 one

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.000
 audience

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.720
 to please.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:38.839
 If you were

00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.100
 to look

00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:39.579
 in your life

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.000
 I guarantee

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.420
 you've probably

00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:40.860
 got a hundred

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:41.380
 people you're

00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:41.680
 trying to

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.100
 please all

00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:42.559
 the time.

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.880
 You've got

00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:44.600
 some memory

00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.240
 of your father

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.960
 or your mother

00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.900
 or your grandparents

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:48.880
 you're trying

00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.400
 to please

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:49.960
 maybe some

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.480
 friends

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:50.839
 and some

00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:51.259
 colleagues

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.079
 you've got

00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.759
 that boss

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.360
 or that line

00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:53.779
 manager

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.400
 you've got

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:54.799
 all those

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.579
 expectations

00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.039
 they're kind

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.279
 of it's

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.240
 anonymous crowd

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.799
 but just

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.440
 living in a

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:58.960
 society

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.740
 or living

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.400
 in a neighborhood

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.420
 makes you feel

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.880
 like you have

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.440
 to conform

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.019
 to people's

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.700
 expectation

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.400
 and it goes

00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:05.299
 on and

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.120
 on and

00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:06.980
 on and

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.420
 on.

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:09.940
 How wonderful

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.259
 would it be

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.519
 if somebody

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.140
 said actually

00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.480
 there's only

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:11.940
 one set

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.240
 of eyes

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.720
 that matter

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.759
 and if you

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.420
 please him

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.160
 everything else

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.380
 is going

00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:16.700
 to fall

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.360
 into place.

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:18.759
 Now that's

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.259
 one piece

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.900
 of the puzzle

00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:20.140
 but we've

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.480
 got to add

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:20.980
 a second

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:22.220
 and the

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.680
 second is

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.100
 this

00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:25.039
 it's the

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.519
 heart

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.960
 of the one

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.220
 that you

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.620
 have to

00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.080
 please.

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.039
 It's when

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.600
 you realize

00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:30.900
 that the

00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:32.120
 only one

00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:32.799
 you have

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.680
 to please

00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:35.400
 is the

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:35.960
 person who

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.580
 said come

00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:37.120
 to me

00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:39.340
 all you

00:24:39.340 --> 00:24:39.860
 who are

00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:40.340
 weary

00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:41.060
 and heavy

00:24:41.060 --> 00:24:41.560
 laden

00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:43.420
 and I

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:43.820
 will give

00:24:43.820 --> 00:24:44.440
 you rest

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:46.080
 take my

00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:46.700
 yoke upon

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.320
 you learn

00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:47.980
 from me

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.320
 for I am

00:24:49.320 --> 00:24:49.799
 gentle

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.000
 and lowly

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.539
 in spirit

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.279
 and you

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.900
 will find

00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.779
 rest

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:56.620
 for your

00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:57.420
 soul.

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.840
 When you

00:24:58.840 --> 00:24:59.519
 realize the

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.380
 only one

00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:00.880
 you have

00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.620
 to please

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.320
 is the

00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:02.620
 one who

00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.580
 gave himself

00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.419
 absolutely

00:25:04.419 --> 00:25:05.539
 for you

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.119
 and the

00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.539
 one who

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.359
 is constantly

00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:07.899
 working

00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.799
 for you

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.879
 to encourage

00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:11.240
 to sustain

00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.159
 to hold

00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:12.740
 you up

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.339
 when you

00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:13.919
 realize that

00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.819
 he's working

00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.699
 his strength

00:25:15.699 --> 00:25:16.419
 in you

00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:18.019
 that he's a

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.879
 kind and

00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:19.439
 gracious

00:25:19.439 --> 00:25:20.439
 and merciful

00:25:20.439 --> 00:25:21.259
 shepherd

00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:23.159
 that's what

00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:23.779
 removes that

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.480
 surveillance

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:26.220
 that endless

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.139
 taskmaster

00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:29.019
 and all of a

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.439
 sudden you can

00:25:29.439 --> 00:25:30.460
 rest before him

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.740
 and say

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.539
 okay Jesus

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.360
 what does

00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:32.740
 it look

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.220
 like for

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.079
 me to

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.799
 live this

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.680
 day for

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.079
 you

00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.660
 and that's

00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.180
 the only

00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.779
 question

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.240
 that you have

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.620
 to answer

00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:40.819
 in the

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.079
 morning

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:43.000
 what relief

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.840
 what peace

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.980
 could that

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.400
 bring to

00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:46.799
 us

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:48.620
 and so let's

00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.180
 pray that this

00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:49.799
 week that God

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.559
 will enable us

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.079
 not just to

00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:51.860
 think in these

00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:52.279
 terms

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.579
 but to live

00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.120
 this out

00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.519
 that incredible

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.059
 truth

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.379
 that no matter

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:57.859
 what we're

00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.179
 doing

00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:59.519
 that we

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.799
 serve the

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.220
 Lord

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.079
 Christ

00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.679
 let's pray

00:26:03.679 --> 00:26:06.559
 father we

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.679
 just rejoice

00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:08.379
 in the

00:26:08.379 --> 00:26:08.779
 gospel

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:11.559
 it's so

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.039
 incredible

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:13.299
 it's so much

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:13.879
 better than the

00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:14.419
 advice of the

00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:14.759
 world

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:16.500
 we don't have

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.919
 to do anything

00:26:16.919 --> 00:26:17.359
 radical

00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.740
 we don't have

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.159
 to abandon

00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:19.720
 our families

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.059
 we don't have

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.419
 to change

00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:21.059
 our career

00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:23.220
 we can just

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.079
 frame our

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:24.700
 lives against

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.339
 the backdrop

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.480
 of truth

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.559
 Jesus is

00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:28.919
 king

00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:30.539
 he's going

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:30.980
 to reward

00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.379
 us with the

00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:32.079
 inheritance

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.819
 that the only

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.359
 question

00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:35.419
 that we have

00:26:35.419 --> 00:26:35.720
 to think

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.019
 about

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.779
 is how

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.299
 do we

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:38.919
 live

00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:39.980
 and abide

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:41.159
 and serve

00:26:41.159 --> 00:26:41.759
 him

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.399
 help us

00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.199
 to simplify

00:26:44.199 --> 00:26:45.759
 the confusion

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.819
 of our

00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:47.299
 lives

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.619
 and help

00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.079
 us to

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.759
 accept

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.779
 that invitation

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:52.240
 that's there

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.720
 today

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:54.419
 come to

00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:55.099
 me all

00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:55.699
 you who

00:26:55.699 --> 00:26:56.359
 are weary

00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.240
 and heavy

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:57.699
 laden

00:26:57.699 --> 00:26:58.919
 and I

00:26:58.919 --> 00:26:59.959
 will give

00:26:59.959 --> 00:27:01.219
 you rest

00:27:01.219 --> 00:27:02.980
 show us

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.199
 how to

00:27:03.199 --> 00:27:03.859
 take his

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.359
 yoke

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.500
 upon us

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.619
 we ask

00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:06.919
 this

00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:07.719
 in his

00:27:07.719 --> 00:27:08.059
 name

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:09.039
 amen

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.980
 let's

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.420
 you

00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:22.799
 as

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.259
 you