WEBVTT

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 Good morning again, and welcome to Church of the Advent.

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 My name's Jeff, I'm one of the pastors here,

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 and I hope that you are thawing out from your journey

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 to church this morning on this cold day.

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 If you have a Bible or a phone,

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 I would invite you to turn to 1 Corinthians 7,

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 starting in verse eight.

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 It's always good to have our Bibles open

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 as we listen to somebody preach a sermon,

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 but especially this morning,

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 I think Paul's argument here in this chapter

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 I think is especially nuanced and careful and detailed,

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 and I think it's helpful if you have your Bible open

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 to follow along.

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 Here in 1 Corinthians 7,

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 Paul has a lot to say here about calling, about calling.

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 I think many people who use the word calling today

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 are often thinking about it or referring to it

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 through a secular lens.

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 They often talk about it in terms of finding their passion.

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 Maybe you've heard somebody say along the way in your life,

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 you need to find your passion.

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 You need to find a work or a job that you're passionate about.

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 This is about a sense of self-actualization,

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 how a certain kind of work or an opportunity

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 is supposed to give us a sense of fulfillment in life

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 and to help us grow as a person.

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 And a lot of people in our modern culture

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 spend a lot of time and money

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 orienting their lives around this.

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 They spend a lot of time and effort

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 to get into the right schools,

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 to work at the right institutions,

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 to network at the right meetings,

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 all trying to find their passion

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 through their career or through their work.

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 Still, some other people, I think,

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 think through calling primarily

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 primarily through a religious lens.

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 So to have a calling from God

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 means that you are involved in ministry.

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 You're a missionary, you're a pastor,

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 you're a priest or a deacon.

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 But how should we think about calling

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 and how do we figure not only what our calling is,

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 but how to make a change,

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 how to make a move in our different callings that we have?

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 Should I stay in this job?

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 Should I find a new one?

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 Should I move to a new city?

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 Who should I date?

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 Should I marry this person that I'm dating?

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 Should I even get married?

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 Should I stay married?

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 I think a lot of us from time to time

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 have asked questions like these

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 and people in the Corinthian church

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 in the first century

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 were actually asking similar questions.

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 Many of them were new Christians.

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 They had believed the gospel

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 when Paul had come and preached Christ to them.

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 But as new believers,

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 many of them had questions

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 about how their newfound faith

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 impacted the various situations in their lives,

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 their marriages, their singleness,

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 their jobs, their social positions.

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 And in chapter seven,

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 Paul is taking time in his letter

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 to answer some of these questions directly.

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 And we know this from verse one,

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 where he says,

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 he begins the section by saying,

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 now for the matters that you wrote about.

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 And so he's answering

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 some specific questions that they had.

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 And in this section here in chapter seven,

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 we learn a few things about calling.

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 We learn what calling is,

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 how to discern our calling,

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 and the freedom that calling brings.

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 What calling is,

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 how to discern our calling,

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 and the freedom that calling brings.

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 So first of all,

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 let's look at what calling is,

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 how Paul defines calling here.

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 Both the secular view,

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 find your passion,

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 and the religious view,

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 callings about ministry,

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 have the same problem.

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 The problem is that they suffer from elitism.

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 They exclude the vast majority of people.

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 The secular view excludes people

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 who don't have the resources,

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 or the opportunities,

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 or the networks

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 to do what they are passionate about for a living,

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 to do what they're passionate about for a job.

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 A lot of people

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 work jobs or careers

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 that they don't feel passionate about.

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 A lot of people work jobs

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 they don't feel called to.

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 The religious view, on the other hand,

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 excludes people who work as electricians,

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 and business owners,

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 and teachers, and engineers.

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 If calling is for missionaries and clergy,

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 then what about everybody else?

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 So both of these views suffer from the same problem,

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 but the way that Paul talks about calling here

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 in this chapter includes everybody.

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 It includes all of us who profess faith in Christ.

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 No matter their social situation,

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 or their job status,

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 it includes everybody.

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 And I want you to see how he uses the word calling

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 in two distinct ways.

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 Two inseparable, but distinct ways.

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 First, he uses calling

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 to talk about God's calling people

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 to salvation in him.

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 We see this in verse 18,

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 where he says,

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 was anybody circumcised when they were called?

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 This is about the calling from God

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 that comes in conversion

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 and salvation through Jesus Christ.

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 But he uses it a second way,

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 then in verses 17 and 24,

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 when he talks about the situations

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 and the circumstances

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 that God has called us to.

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 So calling is both about salvation and conversion,

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 and it's also about the situations in our lives.

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 And this is why theologians over the centuries

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 have talked about primary and secondary callings.

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 Primary and secondary callings.

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 And again, these are distinct and yet inseparable.

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 In our primary calling,

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 God calls us to salvation

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 through repentance in Jesus,

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 faith and repentance in Jesus through the gospel.

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 And through union with him,

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 through faith in him,

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 he calls us to be in a relationship with him

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 where we're transformed more and more

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 to love God and love our neighbors.

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 That's our primary calling.

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 And this is,

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 when you see the word calling in scripture,

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 this is primarily what it's referring to.

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 Let me give you a couple examples.

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 In Ephesians 1.18,

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 Paul is praying for the Ephesians.

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 And he says,

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 I pray that you would have the eyes of your hearts enlightened,

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 that you may know the hope to which he has called you.

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 That you may know the hope to which he has called you.

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 Calling here is about the hope of eternal life

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 that comes with salvation.

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 Let me give you one more example.

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 2 Peter 1, verse 3.

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 His divine power has granted to us all things

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 that pertain to life and godliness

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 through the knowledge of him who called us

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 to his own glory and excellence.

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 So calling here is about transformation.

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 It's about growing in holiness to be more like Jesus.

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 So that's our primary calling.

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 And our secondary calling flows from that.

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 In our secondary calling,

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 God assigns us situations and circumstances

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 to live out our primary calling.

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 And specifically,

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 to live out our secondary calling,

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 he gives us gifts.

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 He gives us roles.

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 He gives us relationships.

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 He gives us gifts like hospitality,

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 or teaching,

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 or administration,

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 or writing,

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 or mercy,

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 or prayer.

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 He gives us relationships like family,

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 like spouses,

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 like friendships,

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 neighbors,

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 roommates,

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 coworkers.

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 And he gives us roles to play,

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 like parents,

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 or spouses,

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 or software developers,

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 or neighbors,

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 or police officers.

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 That's our secondary calling.

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 But in both our primary calling

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 and our secondary calling,

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 it's important to see

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 that it is God who does the calling.

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 It's not a line of work,

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 a job,

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 or career.

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 It's not an inner subjective voice inside of us

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 telling us to find our passion.

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 It's about God.

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 God is the one who is doing the calling.

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 And therefore,

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 calling is not about finding our passion.

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 It's not about finding our dream job.

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 And it's also not just for pastors

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 or missionaries.

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 Calling is about God.

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 It starts and it ends with God.

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 It's about the God who calls us

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 and invites us to salvation in him

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 through fellowship with his son

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 by the power of the spirit.

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 And it is about the God who assigns us

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 gifts and situations

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 and relationships and roles

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 to live out that new life

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 that he has given us.

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 So that's how Paul defines calling.

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 That's how Paul,

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 how he talks about our primary

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 and our secondary calling.

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 But that raises a question for us

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 that's very practical for us,

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 that in our secondary callings,

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 in the places God has assigned us,

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 how do we discern God's leading?

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 How do we discern God's call in those places?

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 And specifically,

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 how do we know

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 when it's right to make a change?

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 How do we know when it's right

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 to make a move in our circumstances?

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 How do we know

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 whether to persevere

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 in a hard job situation

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 or to move on?

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 What if we want to get married

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 and have kids,

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 but our hopes are,

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 our hopes for that are growing dim?

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 How do we know how to discern

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 what our secondary calling is?

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 And that's what I want to look at secondly.

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 Three times in this passage,

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 Paul repeats a principle

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 that he applies to various situations.

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 And I want you to,

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 he repeats it three times.

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 Verse 17,

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 only let each person lead the life

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 that the Lord has assigned him

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 and to which God has called him.

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 He says relatively the same thing in verse 20.

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 Each one should remain

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 in the condition in which he was called.

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 And then he basically repeats

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 the same thing again in verse 24.

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 What he's saying is,

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 stay where you are,

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 remain where you are

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 because God has assigned you

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 that situation.

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 Now, this isn't some kind of radical fatalism

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 about God's will for our lives.

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 There are exceptions.

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 There are good reasons

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 to change our circumstances.

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 And Paul gives this principle.

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 He says,

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 the general rule is stay.

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 The general principle is to remain

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 unless,

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 because.

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 Stay,

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 unless,

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 because.

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 And I want you to see this

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 here in these three different situations.

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 So in verses six through nine,

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 Paul is addressing single people

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 and he's gonna tell them,

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 stay,

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 unless,

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 because.

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 There were some people who were single

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 who were wondering,

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 now that I'm a Christian,

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 should I get married?

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 Uh,

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 this is a legitimate question.

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 After all,

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 marriage is a picture of the gospel.

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 It's a picture of Christ in the church.

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 And so some of them were probably wondering,

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 is marriage in a better way to serve God?

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 Is it a better way,

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 a higher way to serve God's calling in my life?

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 And Paul says to people who are unmarried,

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 some who have never been married,

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 some who are widows.

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 And he says,

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 stay where you are.

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 Unless,

00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:54.919
 unless there's a good reason to get married,

00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:56.939
 unless you find somebody to marry,

00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:58.259
 or as he says in verse nine,

00:11:58.699 --> 00:12:00.779
 if you're living in sexual sin already

00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:02.799
 and you can't control your desires,

00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:05.480
 getting married is better than being single

00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:07.959
 and continuing to live in sin.

00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:09.980
 So stay single,

00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:13.539
 unless there's a good reason not to,

00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:14.439
 because.

00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:16.100
 Because,

00:12:16.199 --> 00:12:16.759
 he says,

00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:19.439
 singleness is just as much a gift from God

00:12:19.439 --> 00:12:21.019
 as marriage is.

00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:23.220
 He talks about this in verses eight through nine

00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:24.199
 and then later in chapter seven.

00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.819
 So stay,

00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:27.360
 unless,

00:12:27.699 --> 00:12:28.159
 because.

00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.860
 Let's look at the second situation.

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:31.860
 In verses 10 through 16,

00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.639
 Paul is addressing people

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:35.519
 who were married to an unbeliever.

00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:36.279
 And they had a,

00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:39.600
 they also had a question about their situation.

00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.100
 Some people who were,

00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:44.319
 who had become Christians through Paul's preaching

00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:48.340
 had spouses who did not become Christians also.

00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:49.200
 They were unbelievers.

00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:51.120
 And so their question was,

00:12:51.260 --> 00:12:52.160
 now that I'm a Christian,

00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:56.100
 should I divorce my spouse who's not a believer?

00:12:57.140 --> 00:12:58.540
 And Paul tells them,

00:12:59.900 --> 00:13:00.320
 stay,

00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:02.140
 unless,

00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:03.320
 because.

00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.460
 Stay in your marriage,

00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:08.720
 unless there's a good reason to divorce.

00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.220
 And he,

00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:09.960
 in verse 15,

00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:13.379
 he listens abandonment of the marriage

00:13:13.379 --> 00:13:15.399
 by the other person as a good reason for divorce.

00:13:16.040 --> 00:13:17.080
 Stay in your marriage,

00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:18.820
 unless there's a good reason,

00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:19.540
 because,

00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:21.200
 in verses 16 and 17,

00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:24.480
 that God may use your marriage

00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:27.480
 to draw your spouse to faith.

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:27.879
 Also,

00:13:28.040 --> 00:13:30.680
 your kids have a special covenant status.

00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:31.440
 They are holy,

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.779
 because you're a believer.

00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:35.300
 Stay in your marriage,

00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:37.720
 unless there's a good reason not to,

00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:40.879
 because God might use your marriage

00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.960
 to impact your spouse.

00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:44.500
 Let's look at the third and final situation.

00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:46.080
 In the third situation,

00:13:47.540 --> 00:13:50.460
 Paul is addressing bond servants or slaves.

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:52.040
 And he tells them,

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.480
 remain as a slave,

00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:55.980
 unless you can gain your freedom,

00:13:56.800 --> 00:13:58.639
 because if you belong to Jesus,

00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.480
 you're really free.

00:14:00.040 --> 00:14:02.139
 You don't ultimately belong to your master,

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.440
 but you belong to God.

00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.440
 Now,

00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.840
 we have to do a brief aside here,

00:14:07.900 --> 00:14:09.440
 because Paul is addressing slaves.

00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:12.200
 Anytime we see slavery in Scripture,

00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:14.660
 we have to address this.

00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:16.060
 It's important to say

00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:18.380
 that Paul here is not addressing,

00:14:18.760 --> 00:14:20.140
 he's not condoning slavery

00:14:20.140 --> 00:14:21.600
 as an institution,

00:14:21.780 --> 00:14:22.860
 especially the kind of slavery

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:25.300
 that happened throughout American history.

00:14:25.800 --> 00:14:26.720
 We know from history

00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:28.080
 that the kind of slavery

00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:31.420
 that happened in the Greco-Roman world

00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:32.120
 in the first century

00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:34.000
 was a lot closer

00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.820
 on the spectrum

00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:37.240
 to indentured servitude.

00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:38.800
 Slaves in Paul's day

00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:41.280
 enjoyed a relatively decent social status.

00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:43.240
 They could hold prestigious jobs

00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:44.680
 and own money and property,

00:14:45.160 --> 00:14:47.379
 and many could even buy their freedom.

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.420
 And that is exactly

00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:50.420
 what Paul encourages

00:14:50.420 --> 00:14:52.240
 these people to do

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.900
 if they're able to.

00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:54.899
 But more significant

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:56.939
 than the historical context

00:14:56.939 --> 00:14:57.840
 is the theology

00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.840
 that he lays down here

00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:00.360
 in verses 22 and 23.

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:02.059
 And he tells slaves

00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:04.720
 that because you're in Jesus Christ,

00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.860
 that you are actually free.

00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:07.959
 That your fundamental identity

00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:08.919
 is that you are free.

00:15:09.579 --> 00:15:10.959
 And that people who are free

00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:11.939
 in the eyes of the world

00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:14.000
 become slaves to Jesus Christ.

00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:16.100
 And he's giving them

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:19.199
 this counterintuitive paradox

00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:20.019
 because he says,

00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:21.179
 all of you,

00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:23.120
 whether in the eyes of the world

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.059
 you're a slave or free,

00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.919
 you are all equally called by Jesus

00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:27.299
 and you are all equally

00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.159
 under his authority.

00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:30.559
 Now there's probably a lot more

00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:31.179
 that we could say

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:32.279
 about why Scripture

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:34.059
 doesn't condone slavery,

00:15:34.739 --> 00:15:35.699
 but it's important

00:15:35.699 --> 00:15:36.339
 to at least say

00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:37.719
 that it's passages like this

00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:39.859
 that would eventually sow seeds

00:15:39.859 --> 00:15:42.099
 for the abolition of the slave trade

00:15:42.099 --> 00:15:43.519
 in places like America

00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.739
 and England centuries later.

00:15:45.959 --> 00:15:47.519
 So what do we see in this section?

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:49.719
 We see that Paul says

00:15:49.719 --> 00:15:50.659
 to single people,

00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:52.679
 and to married people,

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.239
 and to slaves,

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.859
 stay where you are

00:15:56.859 --> 00:15:58.859
 unless,

00:15:59.739 --> 00:16:00.259
 because.

00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.000
 And the whole point

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.099
 of what Paul is trying to communicate

00:16:03.099 --> 00:16:04.199
 is that when it comes

00:16:04.199 --> 00:16:05.479
 to following God

00:16:05.479 --> 00:16:06.139
 and living out

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:07.219
 our secondary calling,

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:09.259
 is that in general

00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.379
 we shouldn't worry

00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.279
 or be anxious

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.259
 about our situation.

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.679
 Because our situation,

00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:16.000
 our circumstances,

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.120
 don't sanctify us.

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:19.919
 Our circumstances

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:21.740
 don't make us more holy.

00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.220
 Our certain walks of life

00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:24.399
 don't allow us

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.159
 to serve God

00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:25.940
 more faithfully

00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:27.019
 than others.

00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.620
 Our marital status,

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.320
 our job situation,

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.919
 where we live,

00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:33.820
 it's not that these things

00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:34.519
 are unimportant,

00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.679
 it's that they're irrelevant

00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.799
 when it comes to serving God

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.860
 faithfully.

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.700
 Being married

00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:41.519
 is not superior

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.259
 to being single.

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:44.180
 Being a pastor

00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:44.919
 is not superior

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.240
 to being a layperson.

00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:47.940
 Having an advanced degree

00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:49.460
 is not superior

00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:51.639
 to having a high school education.

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:52.519
 Being a CEO

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.480
 is not superior

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:56.019
 to being an entry-level employee.

00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:57.740
 And therefore,

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:59.120
 when we're discerning

00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.720
 various decisions

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.919
 about our secondary calling,

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.299
 when we're asking questions like,

00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:07.000
 should we move cities?

00:17:07.159 --> 00:17:08.359
 Should I change my job?

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.319
 Should I change

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.240
 my marital status?

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.879
 We should have a strong bias.

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:17.240
 Our first inclination

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:20.039
 should be to stay

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.899
 where we are.

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:24.079
 To bloom where God

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.899
 has planted us.

00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:26.799
 To serve God wholeheartedly

00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:28.240
 in whatever situation

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.240
 that we find ourselves in.

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.480
 To not be overly anxious

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.119
 or concerned

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.079
 about our circumstances.

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:33.940
 Why?

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.920
 Because we believe

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:36.120
 in a sovereign God

00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:39.220
 who in his infinitely wise providence

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:40.640
 calls people to himself

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.160
 and assigns to them

00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:43.820
 places and roles

00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.380
 and gifts

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:45.160
 and responsibilities.

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.920
 The gifts that we have,

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.080
 the relationships that we have,

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:50.340
 the places that we live,

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.840
 all come to us

00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:55.019
 through the sovereign

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:57.320
 providence of God.

00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.140
 Just as God's primary calling

00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:00.820
 on your life

00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:02.100
 through salvation

00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.039
 in Jesus Christ

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.119
 is not a random accident,

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.619
 so it is with his secondary calling

00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:10.019
 on the circumstances

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.619
 of your life.

00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.740
 They come from the hand

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:13.200
 of a sovereign God.

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.799
 Does this mean

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.440
 we should never

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.500
 change our situation?

00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:18.799
 No.

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.720
 That is clear

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.480
 from this text.

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.519
 There are good reasons

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.799
 to take a new job

00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.019
 or move.

00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.819
 There are good reasons

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.460
 to get married.

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:27.299
 The principle is

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:28.480
 stay

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:30.240
 unless.

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.440
 Now,

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.480
 I fully admit that

00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:34.259
 this probably sounds

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.240
 pretty challenging

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.160
 to many of us.

00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.039
 It sounds challenging

00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.460
 to me

00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.660
 because we live

00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.319
 in a modern culture

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.200
 where staying put

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.779
 is hard.

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.440
 We want to be free

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.819
 to change our situation

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:45.940
 whenever we want

00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:47.019
 and as often

00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.660
 as we want.

00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:49.480
 But what I want

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:49.980
 to invite you

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.540
 to see

00:18:50.540 --> 00:18:51.060
 is that

00:18:51.060 --> 00:18:51.860
 what may

00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:53.300
 initially sound

00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:54.660
 restrictive

00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:55.560
 or limiting

00:18:55.560 --> 00:18:56.640
 or constraining

00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:58.420
 to our modern ears

00:18:58.420 --> 00:19:00.500
 is actually meant

00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.380
 to bring us freedom.

00:19:02.340 --> 00:19:03.320
 It's actually meant

00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:04.320
 to bring us rest.

00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.400
 It's actually meant

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:06.700
 to bring us joy

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.140
 and that's what

00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:08.019
 I want to look at next.

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.560
 I want to look at

00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:10.080
 the freedom

00:19:10.080 --> 00:19:11.279
 that calling brings.

00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:12.400
 The freedom

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.160
 that calling brings

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:13.860
 and I want to look at it

00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:14.560
 from two angles.

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.619
 And the first is this,

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.679
 that this understanding

00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:19.539
 of calling

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:21.759
 frees us

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:24.240
 to see both marriage

00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.179
 and singleness

00:19:25.179 --> 00:19:27.559
 as equal gifts.

00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.980
 Because our secondary callings

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:31.539
 flow from our primary callings

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.700
 and because it's God

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.599
 who sanctifies us,

00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.500
 not our circumstances,

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:37.079
 being single

00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:38.960
 is not a junior varsity way

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.599
 to serve God.

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.419
 In fact,

00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.419
 Paul says that singleness

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:43.519
 in many ways

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.539
 is preferable to marriage.

00:19:45.419 --> 00:19:46.559
 And he says this

00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.379
 at length in chapters,

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.559
 later on in chapter seven,

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.679
 that single people

00:19:49.679 --> 00:19:51.480
 have many advantages

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.960
 to serving God

00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:54.359
 that married people do not.

00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:54.899
 That they're able

00:19:54.899 --> 00:19:55.460
 to serve God

00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.759
 with a kind of freedom

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.819
 and flexibility

00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:59.220
 and single-mindedness

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.559
 that married people

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:01.079
 don't have.

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.059
 I think we see this

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.500
 as we look across

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.099
 church history.

00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:05.899
 Many of the most

00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:06.799
 influential

00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.700
 and impactful people

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.639
 in church history

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:09.960
 have been single.

00:20:10.419 --> 00:20:11.039
 So whether we think

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.359
 about Hannah Moore,

00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.119
 who is a British author

00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:14.759
 and reformer

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.379
 who worked with

00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:16.419
 William Wilberforce

00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:18.139
 to end the slave trade.

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.379
 We think about

00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.279
 Amy Carmichael,

00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:21.699
 who was an influential

00:20:21.699 --> 00:20:22.899
 missionary in India

00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:23.679
 for 40 years,

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:25.119
 who helped young women

00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.659
 recover out of the

00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:27.679
 sex trafficking trade.

00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.479
 If you think about

00:20:28.479 --> 00:20:29.759
 someone like C.S. Lewis,

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.599
 who was only married

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.659
 for three years of his life.

00:20:32.419 --> 00:20:33.000
 Lottie Moon,

00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:33.759
 who served Christ

00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.319
 as a missionary

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.579
 in China for 40 years.

00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:37.059
 Dietrich Bonhoeffer,

00:20:37.199 --> 00:20:37.959
 the German pastor

00:20:37.959 --> 00:20:38.559
 and theologian

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.859
 who built an underground

00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:41.439
 seminary during World War II

00:20:41.439 --> 00:20:43.619
 and resisted the Nazis.

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.459
 Not to mention

00:20:45.459 --> 00:20:46.419
 the Apostle Paul

00:20:46.419 --> 00:20:49.019
 and the Lord Jesus himself.

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:50.319
 It is often single people

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.379
 who model for us

00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:52.619
 what a wholehearted

00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:54.379
 response to serving God

00:20:54.379 --> 00:20:55.399
 looks like.

00:20:56.959 --> 00:20:57.759
 And even though

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.819
 we might know this

00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:00.059
 theologically,

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.679
 that singleness

00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:01.359
 is as equal

00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:01.899
 as a calling

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.500
 as marriage,

00:21:03.979 --> 00:21:04.919
 it doesn't always

00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:05.740
 feel like that,

00:21:05.979 --> 00:21:06.359
 does it?

00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.099
 It can often feel

00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:09.179
 painful and lonely.

00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.379
 And I think

00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.339
 to not acknowledge

00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:12.679
 that would be a mistake.

00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.059
 And yet,

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.959
 single friends

00:21:16.959 --> 00:21:17.399
 in the room,

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.039
 I hope that you

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.980
 are encouraged

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.319
 by the freedom

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:21.159
 that is found

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:22.039
 here in this text.

00:21:22.699 --> 00:21:23.339
 That because of

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:23.919
 how Scripture

00:21:23.919 --> 00:21:24.859
 defines calling,

00:21:26.199 --> 00:21:27.099
 you are not

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:28.419
 second class.

00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:29.599
 You're not on

00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.339
 the JV team.

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:31.439
 You're not in

00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.480
 a holding pattern

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.679
 on the tarmac

00:21:33.679 --> 00:21:34.259
 of life,

00:21:34.639 --> 00:21:35.500
 waiting for God's

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.319
 call on your life

00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:36.980
 to take off.

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.459
 No,

00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.160
 God's call

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.620
 on your life

00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.400
 is right now

00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:41.160
 to serve Him

00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:42.140
 wholeheartedly.

00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.440
 You have

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:45.259
 unique gifts

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.140
 and capacities

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:48.740
 that only you

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.220
 can give

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.880
 that our church

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.440
 needs.

00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.279
 And our church

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.160
 and the church

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.539
 would be impoverished

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.000
 without you.

00:21:55.840 --> 00:21:56.180
 So I think

00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:56.640
 that's the first

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.220
 thing that we see

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.420
 that this view

00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:58.840
 of calling

00:21:58.840 --> 00:21:59.519
 frees us

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.059
 to see both

00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.420
 singleness

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.740
 and marriage

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:03.299
 as equal gifts.

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:03.940
 And secondly,

00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:05.920
 this understanding

00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.420
 of calling

00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.420
 frees us

00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:09.920
 to serve God

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.019
 in whatever we do,

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.380
 whether it's

00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.460
 in our jobs

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.200
 or as a parent

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.800
 or as a neighbor.

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.640
 It frees us

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.220
 to serve God

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.340
 in whatever we do

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:21.759
 without seeking

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.360
 salvation

00:22:22.360 --> 00:22:23.620
 through our circumstances.

00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.340
 I think part of

00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:26.120
 why this text

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:27.060
 is so challenging

00:22:27.060 --> 00:22:28.279
 to modern people

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.740
 like us

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.779
 is because we live

00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.620
 in a time

00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.340
 of unprecedented

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:32.240
 social mobility.

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.720
 people change

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.740
 cities and jobs

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.319
 and spouses

00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.539
 more today

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.220
 than ever before.

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.380
 Now there is

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.160
 a lot of good

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.539
 that comes with that

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.279
 but it also comes

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.839
 with a cost.

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.960
 There's the illusion

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.200
 that there is

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.500
 an infinite number

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.400
 of options out there

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.140
 in terms of

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:50.099
 where to live,

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:50.819
 where to work

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.460
 and who to marry

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:53.079
 and therefore

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.720
 it always seems

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.140
 like there's

00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:57.059
 someone or something

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.759
 better out there

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.380
 for us

00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.279
 than our current

00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.779
 situation.

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:02.119
 and that can

00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.519
 leave us

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.420
 feeling restless

00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:05.920
 and rootless

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:06.579
 and aimless.

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.700
 Always wondering

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.399
 if there's something

00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:10.339
 better out there

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:11.180
 for us

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.519
 that will fulfill

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.000
 us more.

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.680
 If I could only

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.420
 get married

00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:16.599
 then I would

00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.379
 finally be content.

00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.240
 If I could only

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.039
 find a job

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.059
 that would fulfill

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:24.200
 my passion

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.379
 then I would

00:23:25.379 --> 00:23:26.059
 finally be happy.

00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:28.139
 If I could only

00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:30.540
 fill in the blank

00:23:30.540 --> 00:23:30.960
 for you.

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.220
 That is a restless

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.900
 place to be

00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.500
 and many of us

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.000
 have been there.

00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:36.340
 It's so easy

00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:36.680
 to believe

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.360
 that a change

00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.180
 in our situation

00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.400
 is the thing

00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.580
 that will make us

00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.400
 finally free

00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:41.900
 and happy.

00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:44.660
 But to do so

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:46.020
 is to make

00:23:46.020 --> 00:23:46.520
 an idol

00:23:46.520 --> 00:23:47.460
 of our circumstances.

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.020
 To do so

00:23:49.020 --> 00:23:49.680
 is to treat

00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.360
 our circumstances

00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.740
 as a functional

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.120
 savior.

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.960
 To look to them

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.120
 for only what

00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:55.040
 God can give us.

00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:56.520
 If calling

00:23:56.520 --> 00:23:57.480
 is about finding

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.059
 your passion

00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.400
 in life

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.140
 if it's about

00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.640
 finding your

00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.339
 dream job

00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.700
 you'll never

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.180
 be free

00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:03.980
 because there

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.539
 will always be

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.400
 something better

00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:05.960
 out there

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:07.019
 for you.

00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.940
 Not only do

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.620
 our circumstances

00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.980
 not sanctify us

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.420
 they also

00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.500
 can never

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:15.059
 satisfy us.

00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:16.240
 They will always

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.819
 leave us feeling

00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.700
 restless and anxious.

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.059
 But if calling

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.059
 is about the God

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:22.200
 who calls us

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.559
 first to himself

00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.099
 and second

00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:24.980
 to our situations

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:27.000
 then we are

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.120
 free to serve

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.019
 him wherever

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:29.579
 we are.

00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:31.819
 In our

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.360
 workplaces

00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:33.279
 as parents

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.220
 as students

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.819
 as friends

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.319
 as neighbors

00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.819
 we're free

00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.339
 to serve him

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:38.039
 wherever we are

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.720
 because ultimately

00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.720
 we belong to him.

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.700
 And that is why

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.460
 Christ came.

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:45.380
 And he came

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.240
 to set us free

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.980
 regardless of

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.599
 what our situation

00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.000
 is

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.140
 even ones that

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:49.599
 are difficult.

00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.400
 Jesus Christ

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:51.980
 himself

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:53.400
 embraced a calling

00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:53.860
 from God

00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:54.360
 that had the

00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.120
 most difficult

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:55.800
 circumstances

00:24:55.800 --> 00:24:56.300
 of all.

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.320
 Rejection,

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:58.920
 betrayal,

00:24:59.200 --> 00:24:59.680
 and suffering

00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.140
 and death

00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.720
 on a cross.

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.120
 Jesus was

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.600
 called

00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:05.380
 to be a slave

00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:07.660
 so that you

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.360
 could be called

00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:09.280
 to freedom.

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.720
 To the freedom

00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.700
 of serving God

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.800
 wherever he

00:25:13.800 --> 00:25:14.440
 in his sovereign

00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:14.820
 wisdom

00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:16.040
 has placed you.

00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.840
 To bloom

00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.500
 where you're planted

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.340
 to serve him

00:25:19.340 --> 00:25:20.400
 wholeheartedly.

00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:22.900
 Can we pray

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.400
 for better

00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.000
 situations?

00:25:24.580 --> 00:25:25.080
 Yes.

00:25:26.040 --> 00:25:26.740
 And God

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.360
 may in fact

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.000
 answer some

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.580
 of those prayers.

00:25:29.040 --> 00:25:29.540
 Sometimes

00:25:29.540 --> 00:25:30.519
 God changes

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.200
 our situations

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.500
 but most often

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:34.600
 he works

00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:35.680
 through our

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.259
 situations.

00:25:37.080 --> 00:25:38.100
 To call us

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:38.680
 more deeply

00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:40.060
 into our

00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:40.860
 primary calling

00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.440
 to belong

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:41.940
 to him

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.460
 to deeper

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:42.840
 faith

00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:43.259
 to deeper

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:43.640
 love

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.480
 to deeper

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:44.900
 dependence

00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.400
 upon him.

00:25:47.040 --> 00:25:47.640
 Brothers

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.180
 and sisters

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.220
 God has

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.340
 placed a

00:25:50.340 --> 00:25:50.700
 calling

00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.039
 on your

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.460
 life

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:53.340
 but it's

00:25:53.340 --> 00:25:53.759
 not to

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.440
 find your

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:54.799
 passion.

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.080
 It's not

00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:56.539
 to find a

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.180
 dream job.

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.940
 It's to a

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.299
 person.

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:00.900
 God has

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.259
 called you

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.960
 to himself

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.820
 to a

00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:03.440
 savior who

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.519
 can give you

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.200
 contentment

00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:05.880
 and joy

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.740
 and hope

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.340
 and purpose

00:26:07.340 --> 00:26:08.799
 that no

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.259
 circumstance

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:09.700
 could ever

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.120
 give you.

00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:12.640
 And if you

00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.240
 find your

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:13.740
 calling

00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.519
 first and

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:14.860
 foremost

00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.400
 in him

00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.600
 then you

00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:17.940
 will be

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.360
 free

00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:19.640
 to serve

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.000
 him

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.900
 wherever

00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.580
 you are

00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:22.940
 this time

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:23.340
 tomorrow.

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.140
 Let's pray.

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.600
 Our God

00:26:27.600 --> 00:26:27.980
 and Father

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:30.300
 we praise

00:26:30.300 --> 00:26:30.640
 you and

00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:30.980
 thank you

00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.320
 that you

00:26:31.320 --> 00:26:31.820
 have called

00:26:31.820 --> 00:26:32.100
 us to

00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:32.560
 yourself

00:26:32.560 --> 00:26:34.340
 and second

00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:34.700
 you have

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.140
 called us

00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:35.560
 to the

00:26:35.560 --> 00:26:36.320
 places

00:26:36.320 --> 00:26:36.740
 and roles

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:36.940
 that you

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:37.320
 have assigned

00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:37.640
 us.

00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.280
 Lord

00:26:39.280 --> 00:26:39.720
 give us

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.180
 freedom

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:40.640
 give us

00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.160
 joy

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:42.660
 to serve

00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.000
 you where

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.440
 we are.

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:45.600
 help us

00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:45.940
 to do

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.279
 so

00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.880
 wholeheartedly.

00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:50.720
 Lord

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.100
 give us

00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:51.460
 grace

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:51.960
 to know

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:53.340
 what it

00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:53.580
 means

00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:53.860
 to be

00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:54.160
 faithful

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.700
 to you

00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.600
 where we

00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.039
 are today

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.360
 and to

00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:56.680
 live out

00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.100
 the calling

00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:57.299
 you've

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:57.779
 given us.

00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:58.860
 In

00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.220
 Christ's

00:26:59.220 --> 00:26:59.380
 name

00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.000
 Amen.