WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.500 It's good to be back. I'm a little wired. I had a little bit of a five hour energy a little while ago. 00:00:05.500 --> 00:00:15.500 I had a long drive home from Birmingham and I made the mistake of eating fast food on the way home and it just made me like just falling asleep at the wheel. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:26.700 But I've been in Birmingham the last few days just getting my stuff done at UAB, just a procedure I had to have done on Tuesday and a clinic visit Wednesday. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:32.299 So it's been good to get back for the whole few hours I've been back. 00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:43.159 So this is a pretty amazing text we have tonight and I do really feel the weight of this text. 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:50.799 And I hope that you're able to walk away with a greater sense of what God was trying to convey to us in this. 00:00:54.059 --> 00:01:00.259 Well, I could say back in the day, but I don't know if like four or five years back in the day. 00:01:00.519 --> 00:01:07.939 But back in the day when I was in school and Nathan and Wes, Sam and Liz were at North Georgia. 00:01:07.939 --> 00:01:14.239 And we had started this Bible study and we were meeting in the Red Door apartments. 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:16.400 What road is that off of? Like Happy Hollow? 00:01:17.459 --> 00:01:18.900 Okay, down that way. 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:19.259 Okay. 00:01:20.099 --> 00:01:22.959 And so we were meeting in the apartments there. 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:35.739 So around 2008, roughly, we were doing Bible study there and we were kind of really urging each other and encouraging each other to just teach the Word of God. 00:01:35.839 --> 00:01:42.679 And at that time I taught, Nathan taught, and Wes taught, and we would just kind of flip-flop every third time. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:49.820 But a book that we, a second book that we had done on Thursday nights was Philippians. 00:01:50.240 --> 00:01:58.400 And this came at a time when I was really deteriorating health-wise really, really fast. 00:01:58.900 --> 00:02:05.040 And I have, most of you know this, but I have cystic fibrosis, which is a lung disease. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:12.700 I could tell you more about it later, but not to get into all that, but just over time I was losing, like, all my lung function due to the disease. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:23.000 And around this time I had about, roughly about 20, 25 percent of lung function, my lung function. 00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:25.759 You would have 100 if you smoked. 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:29.659 You might have something in the 90s or a really bad smoker in the 80s. 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:37.620 But it's really not that much to where you can barely walk across a room and do any physical activity. 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:47.099 And it seemed like I was going to the hospital every two to three weeks and staying for two weeks for IV medications and treatments and stuff. 00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:55.539 And it got to be a point where I was frequently spitting blood up and just a lot of bad things, not getting enough oxygen. 00:02:55.539 --> 00:02:57.919 And so I would sleep with oxygen on. 00:02:58.019 --> 00:03:00.060 I would wear it kind of off and on throughout the day. 00:03:00.979 --> 00:03:05.039 I was just too ornery, I guess, to wear it the whole day. 00:03:05.180 --> 00:03:09.359 I was going to do something without it because I just thought, like, maybe this is wrong thinking, 00:03:09.459 --> 00:03:13.519 but I just thought if I can just be active and do a lot of things without oxygen, 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:19.219 my body will build up, like, a greater ability to, like, you know, press on without oxygen. 00:03:19.359 --> 00:03:20.840 I didn't want to be, like, dependent on it. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:22.960 But in reality, I was. 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:32.680 And so, but on these Thursday nights, I was having to teach this Bible study wearing oxygen a lot of times. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:40.120 And so these texts in Philippians are very, very, like, vivid in my memory just reading through these 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:44.039 and what I was feeling at the time because this was the stuff that was on my mind. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:48.039 I had just gotten on a lung transplant list at UAB. 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:49.939 I thought I'd wear the shirt tonight. 00:03:50.799 --> 00:03:53.759 For some reason, I had, I got my lung at UAB. 00:03:54.359 --> 00:03:57.819 So I had Jamie draw an S on to that because I got two and not one. 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:06.219 So, but this was the book in Scripture we were studying, 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:10.340 and it meant a lot to me as I was going through all this stuff. 00:04:10.399 --> 00:04:16.339 So it's very, very, speaks even now, very powerful. 00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:22.419 And having just come back from there and reminding myself, like, when you look at certain places and see certain people, 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:26.599 it reminds you that, wow, I was here for almost a year and a half, you know. 00:04:26.799 --> 00:04:32.079 I spent almost a year and a half of my life here and through some difficult times. 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:37.059 So I hope that this text will speak to you. 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:42.759 And I was pondering a lot in my own life and death and those things. 00:04:42.980 --> 00:04:45.699 I had to plan my memorial service. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:46.420 I remember that. 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:51.060 I remember sitting at Crimson Moon with Wes and Liz and talking about a lot of that. 00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:57.300 And so we're going to talk about four things that are in this text tonight. 00:04:57.300 --> 00:05:03.560 And the first one, number one, is what is Paul's dilemma? 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:06.160 What is Paul's dilemma? 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:11.620 And we're going to see this in verse 22 through 24. 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:12.379 He says, 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:35.000 So what is the dilemma here? 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:45.000 Remember, he's under house arrest in Rome and he's kind of like, he's kind of doesn't really think he's going to be executed or put to death at this time. 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:46.160 He thinks he's going to be released. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:52.259 But he's aware of just his own physical mortality, if you want to call it that. 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:55.040 And so he's pondering a lot of these things. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:06:02.180 And so the key word phrase we're looking at is in verse 23 where it says, I'm hard pressed between the two. 00:06:02.379 --> 00:06:14.020 So hard pressed is a phrase that referred to like a traveler going on a very narrow path to where like it seemed like there's like a rock wall on both sides. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:16.280 And you can't go anywhere but just straight forward. 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:18.320 You're just kind of hard pressed. 00:06:18.320 --> 00:06:24.340 So if you hike or climb, you've been in like situations like that where there's no other way than just this way. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:27.400 And you're just kind of pressed in. 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:30.840 And he's stuck between two desires that he has. 00:06:30.960 --> 00:06:42.140 And the first desire is he really desires to remain alive and to continue to love, to minister, to serve, and to give his life away to the church and the believers. 00:06:43.320 --> 00:06:44.879 He has a deep longing for that. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:52.780 He wants to enable the Philippians to just grow further in their walk with Christ and see them mature in the faith. 00:06:52.779 --> 00:06:55.299 And that's his first desire. 00:06:55.399 --> 00:07:00.519 But the second one is he really desires just to pack it up and leave this world. 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:04.199 He really wants to go and be with Christ. 00:07:05.299 --> 00:07:09.419 He is just to a point where he's tired of the fallen flesh. 00:07:09.419 --> 00:07:13.459 He's tired of seeing the devastating effects of sin. 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:20.039 But a greater desire is he really just wants to be with Christ and dwell in Christ's presence for all eternity. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:22.579 That's really what his true desire is. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:24.139 And so he's saying, I'm hard pressed here. 00:07:25.219 --> 00:07:32.740 And in his mind, going to be with Christ is far more attractive at the moment. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:37.939 But yet, he really doesn't have the right to decide what he's going to do. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:39.860 So he recognizes that. 00:07:40.400 --> 00:07:46.060 He knows that God is the one who's going to sovereignly decide if he's going to live or if he's going to die. 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:52.780 And so he's basically just like, Lord, I will joyfully accept whatever it is you bring my way. 00:07:52.779 --> 00:07:59.019 And so what probably happened is he's confident of his release. 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:04.259 Back in the first message of this series, we got into this. 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:05.899 This is around 61 A.D. 00:08:06.059 --> 00:08:11.439 And at this time, Christianity wasn't outlawed in the Roman Empire, not at this point. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:18.500 And he was hoping to go and appear before the emperor and be heard by the emperor in trial, 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:24.579 which would have been Nero, but Nero liked his parties and he liked his wine, women, and song. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:29.000 And if something just kind of rolled around that wasn't that important, he wouldn't deal with it. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:34.080 He would just delegate it to, at this time, the empire, the commander of the Praetorian Guard. 00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:37.360 And ten other advisors, they would hear the case. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:46.200 And so, but most people and most Roman officials didn't consider things like these weird teachings 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:49.520 coming out of a little desert land called Judea, any kind of threat. 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:51.560 So they didn't really worry about it. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:54.700 Just as Pilate couldn't really find any fault with Jesus, 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:59.080 and people couldn't find anything wrong with Paul multiple times. 00:08:59.400 --> 00:09:07.700 So he's confident that though he does believe he's going to be released 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:11.780 and remain to minister to them, he's not afraid of death. 00:09:11.820 --> 00:09:13.360 And so he just kind of turned it over to God. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:15.420 Look at verse 19. 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:20.480 For I know that through your prayers and help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 00:09:20.660 --> 00:09:22.879 this will turn out for my deliverance. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.660 And then jump to verse 25 at the end. 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:26.080 He says, 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:28.120 Convinced of this, 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:34.360 I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 00:09:34.900 --> 00:09:40.040 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus because of my coming to you again. 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:49.099 So he's pretty confident that he's going to be set free and he's going to continue to minister to the believers there. 00:09:49.100 --> 00:10:01.080 But I want to just kind of highlight just two reasons underneath why Paul desires to stay in the flesh. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:06.480 But number one, this is still underneath number one, Paul's dilemma. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:08.840 For the furtherance of the gospel. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:14.680 You can see that if you rewind a little bit and look at verse 12, he talks about the furtherance of the gospel. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:16.379 He's basically saying, 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:21.399 If I live longer, I want to be advancing the gospel of Christ. 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:26.360 I want to be proclaiming salvation in Christ to people that I'm around. 00:10:26.539 --> 00:10:28.820 I want to stay here for the advancement of the kingdom. 00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:32.460 And so he is ready for that. 00:10:32.539 --> 00:10:38.320 He's ready to kind of go all out and just declare Christ to the lost world. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.939 And so he longs for that. 00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:44.080 So this is a motivation that he has, a strong motivation. 00:10:44.900 --> 00:10:51.020 And so many people are longing for deliverance from darkness and sin and death. 00:10:51.680 --> 00:10:57.440 And I long to see many people come to know Christ. 00:10:57.560 --> 00:11:01.160 I was just pondering this on the drive home when I was awake on the drive home. 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:07.860 Like, I long to, like, see some people come to Christ. 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:12.120 It gets personal and it gets even beyond that. 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:21.759 I long to see men and women and students at North Georgia be set free and have salvation in Christ. 00:11:21.959 --> 00:11:28.079 I long for my oldest friend that I have literally since the cradle, Chris Edwards, 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:31.780 to have his eyes open to see the glory of Christ. 00:11:31.900 --> 00:11:36.560 As long as my brother Lee, one of my best friends, is without Christ. 00:11:36.680 --> 00:11:41.639 And I long to see him set free from the bondage of sin and death. 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:46.420 And if I think that I wouldn't be here to help him that, it would just grieve me. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:54.080 It would just make me, I want to stay here and proclaim Christ to them as long as God will allow me. 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:59.580 And I want to see the nations come to know Christ. 00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:04.259 Those who live in a place where Christ is not allowed to be spoken. 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:11.840 Our people don't know anything of Christ that live in complete darkness with no hope to be saved by the blood of Christ. 00:12:12.020 --> 00:12:16.139 So, this is a large motivation for why Paul was to stay. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:20.600 And it definitely is one of mine because I had to ponder these things. 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:26.100 And so, that's the first one is just a motivation of his. 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:28.139 He wants to stay to see the gospel advance. 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:32.139 He wants to, the Lord's like, there's a fight going on down here. 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:33.080 I'm advancing my kingdom. 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:35.580 Paul's like, I'll stay as long as you want me to. 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.060 Get me in that fight. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:40.399 That's kind of how he's thinking here. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:49.139 But, further on, you see that he, you read this at the end of verse 25. 00:12:49.439 --> 00:12:53.299 He wants to stay for their progress and joy in the faith. 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:56.139 So, not just for the lost, but for the believers. 00:12:56.259 --> 00:12:58.340 He wants to see them grow and mature in Christ. 00:12:58.340 --> 00:13:04.500 And so, as your faith increases and as your faith strengthens in Christ, so does your joy. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:05.879 They're like connected. 00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:13.019 So, your joy in Christ grows stronger and stronger as your faith in him increases. 00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:17.120 And he wants to stay to encourage that in them. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:21.960 And, like, I long to see that. 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:30.200 Like, it makes me so joyful when I see some of you even in here tonight and even people from the past that have just kind of come and gone. 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:37.560 It gives me a lot of joy to see them just, like, running hard after Christ and laying their lives down. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:44.419 And reaching out to the lost and just being heartbroken over their sin and taking complete joy in Christ. 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:49.519 And kind of just living with this reckless abandon for the glory of God. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:56.059 Like, that just brings me so much joy to know that God used me in some tiny way to impact them. 00:13:56.539 --> 00:14:01.879 And so, he wants to stay to see their faith progress. 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:06.959 And so, he's basically just saying, like, God, I'm going to just offer this up to you. 00:14:06.959 --> 00:14:13.079 Whatever you sovereignly ordain, I will gladly just accept. 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:15.120 As if he had the choice anyway. 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:18.020 But, he's saying, I'm going to gladly, just joyfully. 00:14:18.160 --> 00:14:19.440 Like, your will be done. 00:14:20.780 --> 00:14:24.120 Like, in Peter, 1 Peter 4, 19, he said, Peter says, 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:32.940 Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good. 00:14:33.020 --> 00:14:36.800 So, he's just aware that I'm just going to entrust my soul to God. 00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:40.340 Turn to, hold your hand and flip me, turn to 2 Corinthians 5. 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:42.220 Real fast. 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:46.800 And go to verse 6. 00:14:47.680 --> 00:14:53.139 This is just kind of a mindset Paul has throughout a lot of the things that he does. 00:14:56.139 --> 00:14:59.259 Philippians 2 Corinthians 5, verse 6. 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:02.759 So, we are always of good courage. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:08.439 We know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:11.340 So, that's us right now. 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:14.600 For we walk by faith and not by sight. 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:17.019 Yes, we are of good courage. 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:21.539 And we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:30.399 So, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him or to honor him, to give him joy. 00:15:31.819 --> 00:15:32.219 Verse 10. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:41.799 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or for evil. 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:52.819 So, Paul is like saying, like, whenever we are in the body or we are at the way of the Lord, we make it our goal, our aim, our purpose to honor him, to please him. 00:15:53.319 --> 00:15:59.219 And this is just a mindset he had throughout his life. 00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:10.019 And so, I'm aware that even in this moment, like, God has allowed me to, like, stand here in front of you. 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:12.899 And some of you have witnessed this stuff over the years. 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:26.960 But I'm excited to be here to see you progress in the faith and to, like, love Christ more and more and to despise the things of this world more and more. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.840 And it brings me just a lot of joy. 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:30.860 It really does. 00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:43.400 God has given such a privilege to many of you to see this in the lives of other people you're around, to see them grow for their joy and progress in their faith. 00:16:44.300 --> 00:16:48.040 And I wouldn't trade what I do for anything. 00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:49.740 I really wouldn't. 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:56.940 So, as long as I have breath, I'm going to declare to you the glories of Christ. 00:16:57.220 --> 00:17:03.000 And as long as I'm here, I'm going to live and fight and die for the kingdom. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:07.120 And until the Lord is like, you're done, come home now. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:09.959 And this is a mindset Paul has. 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:14.899 And I only have just a few places to turn tonight. 00:17:14.979 --> 00:17:16.039 But turn to Acts 20. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:25.939 I think these few verses are such, like, a beautiful picture of what our lives should be like. 00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:29.699 Our life statement, if you even want to call it that. 00:17:29.699 --> 00:17:29.759 Amen. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:29.879 Amen. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:39.879 Acts 20, verse 22, Paul talking. 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:48.879 And now, behold, I'm going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 00:17:49.479 --> 00:17:55.159 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city and imprisonment that afflictions await me. 00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:57.179 So Paul understands. 00:17:58.139 --> 00:18:03.159 He doesn't know exactly what's going to happen for some people who tend to over-spiritualize matters. 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.340 Paul's not getting, like, a word from God saying, if you go to Jerusalem, you're going to die. 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:14.640 He just is aware that, like, wherever he goes, there's going to be affliction and suffering and pain. 00:18:14.800 --> 00:18:16.420 And so this is what happened. 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:19.680 This is where he was finally arrested for good in Jerusalem. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.320 So verse 24, 00:18:22.320 --> 00:18:33.640 But I do not account my life of any value, nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course in the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:38.240 to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:41.259 And that's such an awesome focus. 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:48.060 And this is in light of him going to a place where he knows he's going to, like, get some serious affliction and persecution. 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:50.480 And he's like, I don't count my life of any value. 00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:53.960 I just want Christ to be glorified. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:59.720 I want to finish the course in the ministry he has given me on this earth and testify of his grace. 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:03.480 So this is Paul's dilemma. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.099 He's stuck. 00:19:04.659 --> 00:19:12.159 But these are the reasons he wants to remain behind is the advancement of the gospel and seeing believers grow in joy in their faith. 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:19.920 So the second thing of all this is what is the chief aim of Paul's existence? 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:23.300 What is the chief aim of Paul's existence? 00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:26.660 And back in Philippians, look at verse 20. 00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:28.340 We're going to see this. 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:33.200 And this is one of those passages that require memorization. 00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:33.820 They're amazing. 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:35.379 Verse 20. 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:50.039 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all be put ashamed, but that with full courage, now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 00:19:51.159 --> 00:19:55.319 And so this is the aim of Paul's existence. 00:19:55.319 --> 00:20:00.519 And look at that phrase there, my eager expectation and hope. 00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:14.839 It means that he's readily, fervently, keenly anticipating the future to where I think it kind of refers to like somebody who's like kind of like going like this and really trying to look to see like what is coming. 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:23.480 Like he's eagerly waiting for this hope that he has in Christ and the promises he has in Christ to be fulfilled. 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:27.360 But then he says that Christ would be honored. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:34.099 Or you could insert a word glorified or magnified or exalted. 00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:42.079 And this is his aim in life that no matter what happens, Christ would be magnified, glorified. 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:46.920 And so his all-embracing passion was to see the glory of Christ. 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.180 Come what may, it doesn't matter. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:50.599 I want to see Christ glorified. 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:54.819 And he recognized that he and us exist for that purpose. 00:20:54.939 --> 00:20:55.899 That's what we're made for. 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.859 That's what we're wired for. 00:20:57.439 --> 00:20:59.980 We were made for the glory of God. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:05.439 And God is worthy of all praise and honor and adoration. 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:13.679 And as it says in Revelation 4.11, this is one of my number one go-to verses when you're talking about the glory of God. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:18.400 And verse 11, Revelation 4. 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:23.560 Worthy are you, our Lord and our God, that receive glory, honor, and power. 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:28.779 For you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:31.740 So he made us, and we were his. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:41.119 And back in the, way back in the day, not when I was around, but in the 1600s, the Puritans in England wrote their catechism out. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:46.299 And one of them was, which we have a modern-day version of here that we do with our kids, is, 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:49.319 what is the chief and highest end of man? 00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:50.740 Like, what are we here for? 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:53.779 What is the purpose and aim of man? 00:21:54.559 --> 00:22:00.759 And the answer is, man's chief and highest end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:03.980 So they coexist, because that's what you were made for. 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:10.799 When you seek a life that glorifies Christ, you receive joy as a result. 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:12.039 And that's what you were made for. 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:17.039 Achieve and highest end of man to glorify God and enjoy him forever. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:20.279 So honored or magnified. 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:26.539 And I'll put a pause right here and just tell you that a lot of the stuff I'm saying tonight, 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:30.240 a book that I would recommend that you read at some point in your life, 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.980 and it might take some time to work through, 00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:42.019 but probably in the top two or three life-altering books I've read is Desiring God by John Piper, 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:47.240 and he talks a lot about this, just how we were made for to glorify God and to enjoy him, 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:49.059 and how they coexist. 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:51.599 You can't really have one without the other, 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:55.579 and how to glorify Christ in different areas of your life and find joy. 00:22:56.119 --> 00:23:01.680 And so a lot of things I'm saying tonight are very Piperian things. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:07.740 So, but this is probably the best. 00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:11.400 I actually found somebody else that wrote this before, Piper. 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.840 I was kind of shocked. 00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:19.019 But you can use the word magnify like in two different ways. 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:22.940 You can use it when you're referring to a microscope or a telescope. 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:28.160 And a microscope magnifies things that in reality are really, really tiny 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:31.299 and make them a lot bigger than they are. 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:37.340 And a telescope makes things like planets and stars, which are in reality enormous, 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.799 but that we have a hard time seeing. 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:43.480 It magnifies them to look more like they really are, 00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:47.259 look bigger to us, to the naked eye. 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:53.819 And so most people, so you want to be a telescope for Christ, not a microscope, 00:23:54.720 --> 00:24:01.180 because Christ is huge, indescribable, and he's the greatest thing. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:05.160 But a lot of people that you're around and people you know, 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:12.140 Christ is just like a misty figure from history, a good moral teacher, a prophet. 00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:15.200 They have no idea that he exists out there at all. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:21.100 And so when they put their eye to the telescope of your life, 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:23.700 they can see Christ for who he actually is. 00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:27.539 And he's magnified by how you live and what you do. 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:31.960 And you display the greatness of Christ in all spheres of your life. 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:39.600 And they see this, and they see that he's glorious and beautiful and majestic and incomparable. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:45.839 And so this is what it really means, I guess, magnify Christ. 00:24:46.199 --> 00:24:52.980 And when we do that, because of what we were created for, joy is the result. 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:58.980 And so we seek to find that place in our life that will magnify Christ the most. 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:02.559 And we search that place out. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:05.160 Maybe places, maybe not just one place. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:13.440 So that's the second thing is what is Paul's aim in his existence. 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:16.480 And thirdly, how does Paul honor Christ? 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.440 We're going to break this down. 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:17.940 Excuse me. 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:24.700 So he talks about glorifying Christ in two areas, life and death. 00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:27.360 Okay, so we're going to break that down. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:30.559 Number three, how does Paul honor Christ in life? 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.940 And look at verse 21. 00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:34.900 And he says, 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:38.279 For to me to live is Christ. 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:45.759 And so Paul's very being, his purpose, everything in him was found in Christ. 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:49.700 Christ was his portion and his joy, and that's why he lived. 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:55.059 And so he sought to honor and to magnify Christ in his life and in his actions. 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:58.299 But we're going to jump ahead a little bit. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.500 Look at Philippians 3. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:05.799 Just go ahead a few chapters in Philippians 3 and look at verse 7. 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:12.980 And so this text has a general meaning as well as a specific meaning. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:19.220 And we're going to talk about the general meaning of it tonight and in the future more in context to what he's referring to. 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:21.839 But Philippians 3, verse 7. 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:26.639 Whatever gain I had, I count it as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:33.839 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:41.500 For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I might gain Christ. 00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:50.059 So this is a picture, I guess the clearest one we could get, of how do we glorify Christ in life. 00:26:50.059 --> 00:27:00.899 So this is done by having Christ, loving Christ, valuing Christ, treasuring Christ above everything in your life. 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.319 Above everything. 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:07.799 And displaying his word for all people to see. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:12.000 And so this does literally mean everything. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:19.019 We have things in our life, relationships, money, possessions, food, even things like that. 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:24.059 We have those things to display that they are not like what is most valuable to us. 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:25.680 And they're not what we love the most. 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.599 But Christ is. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:35.200 And that we should often try to, not just as they come, but even deliberately think out things like, 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:38.980 how can I display the glory of Christ in this situation? 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:41.059 What can I do? 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:47.980 Jonathan Edwards, definitely one of my heroes, a guy back in the 1700s. 00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:52.120 He wrote, he had these resolutions that he wrote out for his life. 00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:55.799 And just sought to like follow those things daily. 00:27:55.940 --> 00:28:01.480 But one of the first ones he wrote about was how he just desired to glorify Christ above all things. 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:04.160 To do all things to the glory of God. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:07.620 But he gets down to resolution 23 and he says, 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:16.940 Resolved frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God. 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:22.340 And to trace it back to its original intention, designs and ends. 00:28:22.540 --> 00:28:26.600 And to find, and if I do not find it for the glory of God, to repute it. 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:32.980 So this idea of like, I'm going to deliberately seek out ways to glorify Christ. 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:39.659 And what people wouldn't normally expect, I'm going to take, I'm going to do it to glorify Christ. 00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:42.299 And I'm going to seek this out. 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:56.180 So money and other things, money is given to us that we use in a way that can be clearly seen by other people that is not the most important thing to us, that Christ is. 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:59.940 And possessions, the same thing. 00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:03.279 We're to use them in a way that magnifies Christ. 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:13.980 And in relationships, and the people that we live with, our friends, our family, were to live with them in a way that shows that they're not the most important thing to us. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:17.799 A marriage being a huge picture of something like that. 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:21.599 That Christ is to be exalted in every relationship. 00:29:22.339 --> 00:29:24.700 That they are not what's the most important thing to us. 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.740 And so it would just be obvious. 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:32.680 I remember, I hope he doesn't get mad at me for this, and he's not going to lose his reward. 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:39.299 But a long time ago, Nathan and Wes worked at the Outdoor World in Dawsonville. 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.779 I believe they changed the name of that. 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.920 They changed the name of it? 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:46.059 Okay. 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.359 It's okay. 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.500 It's between you and God. 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:53.759 But they got commissions if they sold kayaks. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:59.839 And there was a girl that worked with them who just, I guess she just wasn't a good salesman or something. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.799 But she just could never get a commission. 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.920 She never could sell a kayak. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:10.480 And Nathan being the slide businessman he is, he was just pumping out some nice kayaks. 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:16.240 And this girl came in and was just like, did you just sell, huh? 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:17.420 What? 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.940 I know. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.440 I know. 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:21.700 I'm telling you. 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:24.900 And so I was just like, or not I, excuse me. 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:32.200 Nathan, this girl came in the store and was just saying like, did you just sell another one? 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:35.779 And he was like, yeah, I did. 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:38.240 And she's like, man, I'd never sell anything. 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:40.380 It just really was kind of broken. 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:47.360 But he just kind of told whoever it was in charge of this, hey, just put that commission like under her name. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:50.639 You know, because I really want her to have that money. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:54.319 And she was kind of shocked by that. 00:30:54.439 --> 00:30:56.079 And she asked him why. 00:30:56.659 --> 00:31:00.599 And he said, because money is not my God. 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.859 Christ is. 00:31:02.179 --> 00:31:02.339 You know. 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:08.619 And that just really was a deliberate action that he took to display the glory of Christ. 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:11.959 And so we should think that way. 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:16.859 We should think in what situations can I like show the worth of Christ here? 00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:19.099 And whatever you come across. 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:21.500 So that's honoring Christ in life. 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:25.919 To look at everything and count it as loss in comparison to knowing Christ. 00:31:27.439 --> 00:31:35.779 That word, you know, for rubbish, as it says in verse 8, is dung, refuge. 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:40.539 So he's like saying in comparison to Christ, even the best things in this world are that. 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.619 That's kind of like what he's saying. 00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:46.980 And so that's how we honor Christ in life. 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:49.880 So lastly, how do we honor Christ? 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.180 Or excuse me. 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:55.279 What does Paul, how does Paul honor Christ in death? 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:57.180 So I've had life. 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:59.140 Now we're going to look at death. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:01.360 Look at back in chapter 1 again. 00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:03.680 Chapter 1 again. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.539 In verse 21. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:11.019 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:12.740 Verse 23. 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.599 Jump ahead. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:19.639 My desire is to depart and be with Christ for that is far better. 00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:29.059 And there's some really cool ways in which this term depart is used. 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.980 There's about five. 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:31.559 I just picked. 00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:33.119 I'm not going to go through all of those. 00:32:33.119 --> 00:32:38.599 But for one, Greek for depart, they're all metaphors. 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:44.299 One means like a military camp kind of breaking up and like moving to a different location. 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.899 Kind of breaking down the tents. 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:50.879 Which is a good analogy because like this, our bodies are called tents. 00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:55.119 And 2 Corinthians, it's a temporal dwelling place. 00:32:55.159 --> 00:32:57.939 And it's being moved away to a different location. 00:32:57.940 --> 00:33:05.620 But an awesome metaphor is it was also used for sailors who were on their ships and they loosened the sails. 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.820 To set sails, like out of a harbor. 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:10.559 We're going to depart now kind of idea. 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:15.099 And a picture of like a ship's commander who's like in a foreign port. 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:18.179 And he's on business there or something. 00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:26.940 But he has a strong desire to go back to like his native country and to his people and his family. 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:35.160 But his desire is kind of counterbalanced by his conviction that he needs to stay in his port and conclude the business. 00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:43.100 And he's going to wait until he receives orders from the superior to return home. 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:44.820 So it's kind of like this. 00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:47.259 And then he will depart and go back to his home country. 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:49.360 So his heart's at home. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:54.620 But like he's here for his mission and because he hasn't received orders to return. 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:58.619 And awesome nautical metaphor there. 00:33:59.239 --> 00:34:02.719 But thirdly, it also means setting free of a prisoner. 00:34:03.959 --> 00:34:13.619 And believers, if you truly know Christ, there's a huge part of you that just longs to like be set free from this. 00:34:13.819 --> 00:34:16.500 And like you hate it when you sin. 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.139 You hate it. 00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:18.319 You hate it. 00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.179 You despise it. 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:24.099 And you're sick of having to fight temptation everywhere you look. 00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:28.299 And you're tired of like the physical limitations the body has. 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:31.259 And you're like Paul in Romans 7. 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:35.480 And you long to just go and like be with Christ. 00:34:35.799 --> 00:34:41.219 And to shed the limitations of the body and temptations of the flesh. 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:46.679 And so he understands that like dying is like to be set free from that. 00:34:47.279 --> 00:34:50.639 And so he desires to depart and to be with Christ. 00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:52.759 Another metaphor there. 00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:56.099 And where he says to be with Christ is far better. 00:34:57.519 --> 00:35:01.000 It's like this phrase like much, much more better. 00:35:01.359 --> 00:35:02.699 Like that's kind of like what it's saying. 00:35:02.799 --> 00:35:04.519 This is not just a little better. 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:06.719 It's like not even comparison better. 00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:08.500 And this is what I desire. 00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:12.579 Like I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ. 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:18.879 A great pastor back in the 1800s in Scotland, Robert Murray McShane. 00:35:19.419 --> 00:35:20.159 He wrote, 00:35:20.839 --> 00:35:29.199 I long for love without any coldness, light without dimness, impurity without spot or wrinkle. 00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:35.659 I long to be at the feet of Jesus and tell him I am his and will ever be. 00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:42.839 And like that's, man, just to be in the presence of Christ and to kind of shed this. 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:48.319 I was, when I was in Ireland this summer, I was praying and I was just, I was out in the middle of nowhere. 00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:50.619 So nothing around me to distract me. 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:56.839 But like my heart just kept thinking about all these worldly things while I was trying to pray. 00:35:57.199 --> 00:36:00.099 I was trying to focus on the Lord and trying to pray. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:02.440 But these just stupid things were just coming to my mind. 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:05.159 And I was just having to like, just redirect my attention. 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:06.019 You know what I'm talking about? 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:08.240 Like you're just, that kind of stuff just bombarding you. 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:11.260 And I was just, I just got, I was just broken. 00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:15.940 I'm like, God, how can I, how can I not just focus on you right now? 00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.740 This kills me. 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:17.539 I hate this. 00:36:17.700 --> 00:36:19.820 Help me to, to focus on you. 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.820 And I was just grieved. 00:36:20.820 --> 00:36:26.940 And because in this life, we're not able to embrace the fullness of who we are in Christ. 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:35.000 We're not able to just attain the, the, the fullness of who we will be in the glorified state. 00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:37.220 And it breaks our hearts. 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:41.700 And that's why Jesus said, blessed are those who mourn for you will be comforted. 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:43.780 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:45.500 You will be filled. 00:36:45.600 --> 00:36:47.980 And so he's saying like, these are healthy symptoms. 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:52.019 If you're in this life, if you feel that way, like this is, this is weird. 00:36:52.139 --> 00:36:53.880 And this is not my home. 00:36:53.960 --> 00:37:01.639 And I long to go and to be with Christ so I can be set free from this and to dwell in his presence forever. 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:07.360 So you long to be at the feet of Jesus and tell him that you're his and will ever be. 00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:14.820 So, so Paul glorifies Christ by seeing his death as gain. 00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:25.559 And so when that day comes for you, if you have the privilege of having that, that time to like premeditate your death a little bit. 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:30.680 Some of you just, some people say I'm going to get killed by a horse and nothing's going to, I'm just going to go out. 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:34.059 So I've had a lot of people tell me that for some reason. 00:37:34.860 --> 00:37:36.920 I've had some bad horsing accidents before. 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:45.720 But, but most times I've experienced near death and this, I've lost count now. 00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:47.920 I've had time to think about it a little bit. 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:58.260 And what glorifying Christ in your death looks like is being able to, to let everything go. 00:37:58.380 --> 00:38:04.440 To look at your friends, your family, those that you love the closest, the things you love doing. 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:13.579 And, and being able to say joyfully, not like, oh well, this stinks, I want to stay here kind of thing. 00:38:13.940 --> 00:38:18.380 But, but joyfully leave it all behind to go and be with Christ. 00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:22.019 And to look at those people in the eye and be like, it's all right. 00:38:22.260 --> 00:38:24.820 Like I'm, I'm, I'm good. 00:38:25.220 --> 00:38:27.920 And it is well with my soul. 00:38:28.139 --> 00:38:31.220 And I'm going to be in the presence of Christ. 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:31.960 It's, it's okay. 00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:36.579 I'm going to, as David wrote, I'm going, I'm going to God, my exceeding joy. 00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:39.980 And that's like what you, you can say at your deathbed. 00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:43.000 To be with Christ in paradise. 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:46.360 And so there's like this greater desire in you to go. 00:38:46.760 --> 00:38:49.579 Like just to, to leave and go and be the Lord. 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:52.059 And you see it as gain and not loss. 00:38:52.460 --> 00:38:55.440 And I'm not saying you should be indifferent. 00:38:55.780 --> 00:38:59.559 I mean, sure, you're going to miss people here and miss things you do. 00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:04.679 But, but I can promise that once you cross over, you're just not going to care anymore. 00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:07.900 You're just going to be pretty happy, pretty joyful. 00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:11.019 Being in the presence of Christ forever. 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:19.099 Because it says in Psalm 16, in God's presence is fullness of joy, not pieces of joy. 00:39:20.059 --> 00:39:22.659 And in his right hand there are pleasures forevermore. 00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:25.179 And who's at the right hand of God? 00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:27.139 You know, you're going to make that connection. 00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:29.440 And Christ is at the right hand of God. 00:39:30.139 --> 00:39:33.799 So pleasures forevermore are found in Christ. 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:38.719 And so we glorify Christ in our death by seeing death as gain. 00:39:38.819 --> 00:39:44.779 And having a desire to, a greater desire to depart and be with Christ in eternity. 00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:51.040 And so, last place just to look at, look at Psalm 96. 00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:57.700 Psalm 96 and go to verse 6. 00:39:57.699 --> 00:40:11.539 This is just a picture of the glory of God and the joy of being in his presence. 00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:17.079 Splendor and majesty are before him. 00:40:17.259 --> 00:40:19.839 Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 00:40:20.899 --> 00:40:23.939 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples. 00:40:23.940 --> 00:40:26.980 Ascribe to the Lord, O Lord, O glory and strength. 00:40:27.860 --> 00:40:30.320 Ascribe to the Lord, O glory due to his name. 00:40:31.139 --> 00:40:33.400 Bring an offering and come into his courts. 00:40:34.260 --> 00:40:36.980 Worship the Lord in splendor of his holiness. 00:40:37.800 --> 00:40:39.639 Tremble before him, all the earth. 00:40:40.300 --> 00:40:43.220 Say among the nations, the Lord reigns. 00:40:43.219 --> 00:40:47.139 Yes, the world is established and it shall never be moved. 00:40:47.659 --> 00:40:49.579 He will judge the people with equity. 00:40:50.399 --> 00:40:52.899 Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice. 00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:55.919 Let the sea roar and all that fills it. 00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:58.619 Let the field exult and everything in it. 00:40:59.459 --> 00:41:02.359 Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 00:41:02.839 --> 00:41:07.439 Before the Lord, before he comes, before he comes to judge the earth. 00:41:07.919 --> 00:41:12.119 He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. 00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:20.099 And just longing to like go and be in God's presence and to make God known. 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:25.799 I think this should be our prayer. 00:41:28.659 --> 00:41:30.199 That we would come to the Lord. 00:41:30.319 --> 00:41:32.299 And this is not easy to pray this. 00:41:32.300 --> 00:41:44.420 But to go to the Lord and to say, Father, grant me, if you please, any life and any death that will allow me to know you more. 00:41:45.120 --> 00:41:49.860 And that will allow me to make you known among the lost. 00:41:50.200 --> 00:41:53.680 And if you please, give me this. 00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:55.660 And that's a hard prayer to pray. 00:41:55.780 --> 00:41:58.160 Any life and any death that will glorify Christ. 00:41:58.159 --> 00:42:05.019 If you're serious, then God could do some amazing things. 00:42:05.179 --> 00:42:09.319 Just to bring honor to his name and his temporal life that we are in. 00:42:10.219 --> 00:42:11.799 And so may that be our prayer. 00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:15.579 Let me just pray for us and then we're just going to respond and sing a little bit. 00:42:15.659 --> 00:42:16.719 So I already got started late. 00:42:16.819 --> 00:42:19.319 We had some problems with the sound in the back. 00:42:19.339 --> 00:42:21.799 And I think it's like bed night for some fraternities. 00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:24.460 But I had a lot of texts from God saying, I can't be here tonight. 00:42:24.539 --> 00:42:25.120 I can't be here tonight. 00:42:25.220 --> 00:42:26.260 So it's funny. 00:42:26.340 --> 00:42:28.080 People are like, let me know that I can't be here. 00:42:28.180 --> 00:42:28.740 It's like, it's okay. 00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:31.280 Do what you got to do. 00:42:32.140 --> 00:42:35.600 So let's pray and then we'll respond and sing. 00:42:35.740 --> 00:42:39.940 God, you are holy and you are exalted. 00:42:40.440 --> 00:42:44.620 And we desire to declare with our lives that you do reign. 00:42:44.619 --> 00:42:54.259 And Lord, that we, I pray that people here will feel hard press. 00:42:55.339 --> 00:43:03.619 That they will have a desire to stay here and to proclaim your salvation to the lost. 00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:07.639 And to see the church grow in joy and in faith. 00:43:08.059 --> 00:43:11.599 To see you flourish in a disciple's life. 00:43:11.599 --> 00:43:18.219 And God, that when we wake up every morning, we would just be keenly aware. 00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:26.380 That you hadn't just allowed us to live throughout the night just so we could live any way we wanted that day. 00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:30.699 It's not for our own sinful pleasure. 00:43:31.279 --> 00:43:38.639 It's, you've sustained us on our beds, Lord, to know you in a deeper way that day and to make you known. 00:43:38.880 --> 00:43:40.819 There's no other reason for our existence. 00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:48.779 And so God, help us to seek out those things, whether by life or by death, that you would be magnified. 00:43:48.780 --> 00:43:58.540 And that if we're afraid of death or afraid of losing things in this life, that we would see it as gain. 00:43:58.680 --> 00:44:04.519 And that you would overcome all fear and doubt and anxiety. 00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:10.680 And glory, glorify your name and bring honor to yourself, Lord, just through our lives. 00:44:10.679 --> 00:44:16.139 And when the time comes, Lord, through our deaths in whatever way you see fit. 00:44:16.539 --> 00:44:18.419 And we wait upon you. 00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:23.159 We entrust our souls to you, our good and faithful sovereign creator. 00:44:24.379 --> 00:44:26.539 Be glorified in Christ's name. 00:44:26.819 --> 00:44:26.980 Amen.