WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.200 Good morning. 00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:08.300 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the assistant pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:10.720 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you. 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:15.419 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us today. 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:17.199 We're glad you're here. 00:00:17.820 --> 00:00:21.440 And we're glad you're here not because we are trying to fill as many seats as possible, 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:25.620 but we're glad you're here because we're following after Jesus together as one community. 00:00:25.660 --> 00:00:29.760 And we're convinced that there's no one so good that they don't need God's grace. 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:32.320 And no one's so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:39.480 And so we're glad for everyone to be here because we believe that everyone needs to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:43.640 If you've been with us, you know that we're going through the book of Philippians, 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:45.480 and you know that Philippians is a letter. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:51.579 It's a letter that's written by a man named Paul, and he's writing it to a church that's in Philippi. 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:53.480 It's a church much like our church. 00:00:54.179 --> 00:00:57.260 And you know that this church is in a city much like our city. 00:00:58.239 --> 00:01:03.559 And you know that this is a book about partnership in the gospel, that we are together. 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:04.359 We have a partnership. 00:01:04.539 --> 00:01:07.980 We're heading towards the same treasure together, and that that treasure is the gospel. 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:11.579 It's the news about Jesus and his death and his life and his resurrection. 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:14.700 And that we can't take those two and separate them apart. 00:01:15.539 --> 00:01:18.780 And we've been focusing heavily on the partnership in chapters 1 and 2. 00:01:18.859 --> 00:01:23.459 And now that we're in chapter 3, we talked about last week, we're focusing more on the gospel. 00:01:23.579 --> 00:01:24.819 Now these things are always related. 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:25.579 They're always together. 00:01:25.679 --> 00:01:27.060 So we're not going to separate them. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:31.159 But there's going to be an emphasis more sometimes on one than the other. 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:36.479 And if you remember from last week, as we focused on the gospel, we saw that there are only two ways to live. 00:01:38.019 --> 00:01:44.640 Paul tells this church in Philippi that they can either live in the flesh or they can live in the spirit. 00:01:45.399 --> 00:01:49.859 Living by the flesh is what we've talked about saying, be good like I'm good. 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:52.739 What I do and what I can do in and of myself is enough. 00:01:53.199 --> 00:01:54.459 I can be good enough. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:55.599 I can do enough. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:59.519 Living by the spirit is saying, no one is good. 00:01:59.579 --> 00:02:00.519 Only Jesus is good. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:01.559 I can't do enough. 00:02:01.919 --> 00:02:03.519 And I need Jesus to help me. 00:02:04.399 --> 00:02:06.399 To help me become more and more like him. 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:09.919 And so while our culture says there's three ways to live. 00:02:10.019 --> 00:02:14.000 There's good people that are models that are exceptionally good. 00:02:14.079 --> 00:02:16.079 Bad people and then just normal average people. 00:02:16.620 --> 00:02:18.859 The Bible tells us there are only two kinds of people. 00:02:18.859 --> 00:02:23.240 People who are looking to Jesus knowing that they need him and people who are not. 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:27.560 And so as we continue talking about the gospel here in chapter 3. 00:02:27.700 --> 00:02:31.740 As we've looked at the difference between living in the spirit and living in the flesh. 00:02:32.200 --> 00:02:34.680 As we end chapter 3 we're going to ask this question. 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:37.620 What does it look like to live in the spirit? 00:02:38.760 --> 00:02:43.480 If we've made that choice that we are not going to rely on ourselves. 00:02:43.480 --> 00:02:48.540 Remember people who lived by the flesh were people who reduced what needed to be done into this life. 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:50.320 Into a very manageable set of rules. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:54.139 If we've said no to that and we've said yes to Jesus in his way. 00:02:54.459 --> 00:02:55.599 What is it that we do? 00:02:55.639 --> 00:02:56.680 What do our lives look like? 00:02:57.519 --> 00:03:00.979 And that's what Paul is going to talk about at the end of this chapter. 00:03:02.659 --> 00:03:04.979 We are going to be starting at verse 12. 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:06.740 And we're in chapter 3 of Philippians. 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:07.840 You can turn there in your Bible. 00:03:07.959 --> 00:03:10.539 It's also printed in your worship guide near the very end. 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:12.319 The entire passage. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:15.419 And as we come to it remember that this is God's word. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:19.199 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold. 00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:20.939 Even the finest gold. 00:03:21.539 --> 00:03:23.439 And that it is sweeter than honey. 00:03:24.139 --> 00:03:26.719 Even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:30.459 And so read with me now starting at verse 12. 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:56.879 Verse 15. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:09.500 Verse 17. 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:16.959 Brothers, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:46.939 Verse 17. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:54.000 body by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Please pray with me as we 00:04:54.000 --> 00:05:04.279 come to this portion of God's word. Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that again and again you come 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:11.919 to us, you communicate to us, that you're with us, that you want us to know what you love and you want 00:05:11.919 --> 00:05:16.859 us to love it as well, that you don't just leave us to figure out things by ourselves, but you walk 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:22.600 with us. We ask that you would do that again this morning, that you would send your Holy Spirit to 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:28.540 help us, that we would be able to hear clearly everything that you have to say about yourself 00:05:28.540 --> 00:05:39.460 and your word. We ask all these things in the name of your son. Amen. So it's the first Sunday in 00:05:39.460 --> 00:05:46.840 November, which means we're quickly getting into Christmas season, and families in America all 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:52.519 often fall into two different categories when it comes to Christmas, either fake tree people or 00:05:52.519 --> 00:06:02.079 real tree people. And growing up, my family is very strongly in the real tree camp. However, there were 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:07.579 a few years when I was very young that we would have these very short trees, like two or three feet tall. 00:06:08.859 --> 00:06:14.399 And so for the first time when I was probably about two years old, we finally got a real size tree. 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:20.419 This tree was six feet tall. And of course, I was not six feet tall at the time, being two. 00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:25.699 But one of the things we had to figure out every year was how are we going to get the star on the top 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:31.019 of the tree? And it's very exciting because only one person is going to be able to put the star on 00:06:31.019 --> 00:06:35.779 the top of the tree. And I had two brothers, and so obviously not every one of us were going to get to 00:06:35.779 --> 00:06:41.579 do it every year. But for whatever reason, when I was two years old, it was my year. And so, of course, 00:06:41.579 --> 00:06:46.419 how am I going to get this star to the top of the tree when I'm two years old and it's a six foot tall 00:06:46.419 --> 00:06:53.120 tree? Well, I've told you about my uncle before who works for the State Department. He's partially 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:58.000 involved in the fake rain jackets I told you about. But he used to not be abroad. He used to live close 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:03.139 to us, and we loved this uncle. We loved Uncle Rich. And he would come over to our house, and he'd play 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:07.319 with us, and we just thought it was the best thing that had ever happened to us. And so one time when he 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:12.259 came over, Uncle Rich was the one who helped me get to the top of the tree. So we have this picture 00:07:12.259 --> 00:07:17.300 in the Capone Family Christmas book, and my Uncle Rich is holding me up like this. So he's got one hand 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:23.420 below my chest, and then the other hand pulling out my onesie to keep me in place. And he's about six 00:07:23.420 --> 00:07:29.959 feet tall. So he lifts me up all the way to the top of the tree. And you can see me like looking down, 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.860 and my eyes are just focused on the top, and I have this star in my hand. There's only one thing in my mind, 00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:38.920 which is that I'm going to get to be able to put that star on the very top of the tree. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:48.520 As Paul is talking to the Philippians, that is what he is saying about his relationship with God. 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:53.900 That is what it looks like for him to live by the Spirit. And you see in verse 12, 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:58.920 not that I have already obtained this, or I'm already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, 00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:06.240 because Christ Jesus has made me his own. In other words, my eyes are on everything that I just told 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:13.040 you about. Everything in verses 8 through 11. Knowing Christ, gaining Christ, being found in him, 00:08:13.540 --> 00:08:18.340 being able to stand at the resurrection. But the only way I'm able to focus on that 00:08:18.340 --> 00:08:26.000 is because God is already holding me. He's already holding me up. He's already sustaining me. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:32.779 And so I'm reaching out with my little hand, not in my own strength. I'm not doing this. I'm not 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:37.179 earning something. I'm not earning salvation. I'm not earning anything from God, but I'm doing what 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:44.860 he has made me able to do. He's holding on to me. And so I'm going towards everything that I want 00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:50.980 that's ahead of me. This is what he's talking about in verse 13. I do not consider that I've made it my 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:55.480 own, but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 00:08:55.480 --> 00:09:00.139 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:06.899 In other words, I want everything that I know is waiting for me in the future now. 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:18.120 I want everything that God is doing to restore the world. I want as much of the future as I can get. 00:09:19.180 --> 00:09:22.320 And so it's avoiding two mistakes on the one hand. One would be living 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:27.760 by the flesh and saying, I'm going to do it in and of myself. That would be like two-year-old Matthew 00:09:27.760 --> 00:09:32.760 deciding he's going to get to the top of the six-foot tree with the star, which would just end in 00:09:32.760 --> 00:09:37.640 tragedy for me. Remember last week we talked about living by the flesh is not just a mistake. It actually 00:09:37.640 --> 00:09:42.760 ends in destruction. You can imagine me trying to climb up this six-foot tree and pulling it down on 00:09:42.760 --> 00:09:49.020 myself. And so one mistake is believing we can reach the top by ourselves. And the other mistake is 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:56.699 believing that nothing that we do matters. That if God has saved us, that we don't have to worry 00:09:56.699 --> 00:10:02.179 about anything else. We don't have to think about anything else or do anything else. But if God has 00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:07.259 saved us, then the reality that's true of Paul should be true of us as well. If we've admitted 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:12.720 that the world is not as it should be and we are not as it should be, then it's our longing and our hope 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:17.860 that everything would be made right. Everything would be set back to the way that it's supposed to be. 00:10:17.860 --> 00:10:25.639 And so that is what Paul is pressing on towards. He's pressing on towards something that he knows 00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:33.740 that he cannot have by himself. And so living by the Spirit means, first of all, that Paul is 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:38.200 looking for this thing. He's looking for the future. He's looking for all the things that God is going to 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:45.980 restore, and he's longing for it. Being a Christian is being like someone who's having our taste buds 00:10:45.980 --> 00:10:52.060 slowly changed over time. You know, as children grow older, their taste buds change, and they begin 00:10:52.060 --> 00:10:57.720 to appreciate flavors and experiences they would not have appreciated at a younger age. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:03.360 And that's the kind of growth that Paul is looking for here. He wants to love more and more 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:08.840 the things that God loves and hate more and more the things that God hates. And he wants to see 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:16.259 God's kingdom more and more on this earth. I'm going to jump ahead just a little bit. So his goal is 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:22.080 what he's already talked about in verses 8 through 11, this knowing Christ being found in him, 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:26.500 experiencing the resurrection from the dead, seeing things that are dead brought to life. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:34.320 But it's also seeing this citizenship that he talks about in verse 20. He's longing for that, 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:39.460 but it's not just that he knows God, but he sees what happens in the world when God is in control. 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:48.780 And so he's pressing on. He's moving forward. And this race image he's using is not saying that he's 00:11:48.780 --> 00:11:53.660 trying to win and others will lose. He's simply saying, like a runner, I want to be completely 00:11:53.660 --> 00:11:59.320 focused on what's in front of me. I want my longing and my desire and my hope more and more to be for 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:09.860 this upward call of God in Christ Jesus. I want everything to be made right. I want it for myself 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:16.300 and I want it for this world. I want this citizenship that's in heaven. And I know that I don't have it 00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:22.640 now. I haven't obtained it. I'm not already perfect. By the way, in verse 12, this already perfect in the 00:12:22.640 --> 00:12:28.120 original language is actually a passive verb. I have not yet been made perfect. He's not saying that he is 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:34.600 striving to do for himself, but he knows that God is doing for him. God is the one who's taken hold of 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:43.080 him. And so he longs to see that become true more and more. And so he's pressing on. He knows that he 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:51.659 hasn't made it yet, but he's pressing on. And so what does it look like to live in the spirit and not the 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:58.679 flesh? Living in the spirit and not the flesh means that we want what we know is in the future. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:04.100 When Jesus comes again and makes everything right, we want the future to be present. 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:09.059 We want as much of the future as we can have right now. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:18.019 Everyone agrees. Not everyone agrees with Christianity, with the claims of Jesus, but everyone agrees that 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:26.659 there's something wrong with the world. And everyone has their own sort of solution for what would make 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:33.899 things right. And so living by the spirit is not just acknowledging that something's wrong with the 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:37.379 world, which is something that everyone acknowledges, right? If we've lived long enough. 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:41.559 But it's acknowledging that we are part of the problem. 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:46.399 And we are not the ones ultimately who are going to make it right. 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:53.279 But our only hope is that Jesus is going to come back and make all things right. 00:13:54.739 --> 00:13:59.819 And so the person who lives in the spirit, by the way, that's what's going on in verse 20, that 00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:04.819 this citizenship is going to happen, that Jesus is going to come back and make everything right in 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:10.339 his kingdom. And so the person who lives in the spirit wants that reality more and more. They want more 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:15.860 and more of the future and the present. But they also recognize that they cannot have the future 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:24.940 and the present unless God does it. And so everyone in this world, in some way, is looking for some kind 00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:31.259 of future in their minds to become present. But living by the spirit means we know that only God can 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:39.660 bring it about. It's only Jesus who, by his death and his resurrection, is able to make all things right. 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:45.379 And so this is part of the problem of living in the flesh is that we reduce the problems in our 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:50.280 world to something that we are able to make right. We're actually not honest about how broken the 00:14:50.280 --> 00:14:55.740 world is. But living in the spirit allows us to be honest about how broken the world is because we 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:58.300 know how powerful the solution is. 00:14:58.299 --> 00:15:06.759 And so we can press on because we know that God is holding on to us. 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:16.459 And so Paul is pushing forward every inch of his body, wanting to see this more and more be true. 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:25.740 And he talks in verse 15 about those who are mature think this way. 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:29.980 And then things get a little confusing in verse 15 and 16. 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.860 Let those of us who are mature think this way. 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:35.720 And if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.800 Wait, what? 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:43.620 First, we have to understand what Paul is saying by mature. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:47.259 What he's saying is this. The mature Christian 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:50.759 is someone who is living in this way. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:55.859 It's someone who more and more wants the future to be present. 00:15:57.959 --> 00:16:00.759 And someone who more and more realizes they can't do it on their own. 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:06.439 And so as we've talked about before, knowledge is necessary but not sufficient. 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:12.080 The mature Christian is not necessarily the person who has the most knowledge about the Bible. 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:17.480 It's not necessarily the person who understands the most theologically. 00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:25.679 But in Paul's mind here, Christian maturity is recognizing that you have not arrived. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.580 Remember in verse 12, 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:32.240 I have not obtained this or am already perfect. 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:33.600 Verse 13, 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:35.879 I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:16:37.420 --> 00:16:42.000 In other words, Paul knows that he does not know enough of God yet. 00:16:43.020 --> 00:16:44.940 And Paul knows that he has not arrived. 00:16:46.160 --> 00:16:47.900 And if Paul has not arrived, 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:52.400 then I think we can confidently say none of us have arrived either. 00:16:54.400 --> 00:16:56.100 Paul who actually saw Jesus, 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:58.160 Jesus who blinded him and then restored him. 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:03.759 Paul who wrote these books that have been inspired by the Holy Spirit admits that he has not arrived. 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:06.500 And that that is the model for Christian maturity. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:11.659 Christian maturity is recognizing that we have not arrived on the one hand. 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:17.299 And continuing to long and work for everything that God has for us. 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:20.579 wanting more and more to love the things that God loves. 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:23.079 And hate the things that he hates. 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:26.279 And so what Paul is saying in this confusing verse is, 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.379 when he says, 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.680 if in anything you think otherwise, 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:30.379 God will reveal that also to you. 00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:31.319 He's saying, 00:17:31.399 --> 00:17:34.079 if you think Christian maturity is something different than this, 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.700 as you grow, 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:37.259 you'll finally begin to understand 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:39.480 that I'm actually telling you the truth. 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:43.940 Don't worry if you disagree with me, 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.160 God will reveal it to you eventually. 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:52.220 It's probably one of the more blunt lines that Paul has here in Philippians. 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.460 And then he has some advice. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.339 If you don't agree with me, 00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:56.819 if you don't think that this is Christian maturity, 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.299 first of all, 00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:58.819 God's going to reveal that to you eventually. 00:17:59.660 --> 00:18:00.960 If you grow as a Christian, 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:03.059 you'll begin to understand that you haven't arrived. 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.500 Number one. 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:05.740 And number two, 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.399 while you're waiting, 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.639 trying to figure that out, 00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.659 I have some advice for you. 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.519 See in verse 17, 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:14.980 brothers, 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:16.240 join in imitating me 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.240 and keep your eyes on those who walk 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:20.059 according to the example you have in us. 00:18:22.159 --> 00:18:25.619 I told you this was going to be a focus on the gospel in chapter three, 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:27.299 but we're not going to lose the partnership. 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.879 And so on the one hand, 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.940 walking in the spirit 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:34.240 means wanting what is in the future 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:36.259 to become more and more true now 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:39.000 and knowing that only God can do that. 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.680 But it also means walking with people 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.700 who walk by the spirit. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:46.420 And if this sounds familiar at all, 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.360 from chapter two, 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:49.940 remember we talked about Timothy and Epaphroditus, 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:51.279 if this sounds like the same thing, 00:18:52.600 --> 00:18:53.039 yes. 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:56.759 Paul is repeating himself here in verse 17. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.299 Join in imitating me 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.420 and making it more explicit. 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.100 Look, 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:01.240 if you are trying to figure out 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.240 how to walk by the spirit, 00:19:02.439 --> 00:19:03.339 find someone else 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.359 close to you 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:05.339 who knows these things, 00:19:05.399 --> 00:19:06.259 who understands them 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.539 and walk close to them. 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.779 We talked before 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.799 about question people 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.619 and answer people, 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.919 especially in chapter two. 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.539 And in chapter two, 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:15.519 the emphasis was heavy 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.179 on the partnership. 00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:16.699 And so, 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:18.659 the emphasis on question and answer people 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:19.359 was heavy on 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.859 people who understood the partnership. 00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:21.240 Remember, 00:19:21.399 --> 00:19:21.959 question people 00:19:21.959 --> 00:19:23.019 were people who were asking 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.779 about the needs 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.779 of others around them. 00:19:25.179 --> 00:19:25.740 They were focused 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.839 on what other people needed. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.339 Answer people 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.099 were people they thought 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.679 that they had arrived. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.500 And here we have 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.899 a slightly different kind of answer 00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:34.639 and question person. 00:19:36.199 --> 00:19:36.359 So, 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.699 we have answer people 00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:38.500 would be people here 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.399 in this situation 00:19:39.399 --> 00:19:40.579 who are smug. 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.279 They think they know everything. 00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.720 They've been there. 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.500 They've done that 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.480 in the Christian life. 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:50.779 They don't think 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.839 they have anything new to learn. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.699 They don't see places 00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:55.759 where God could be at work 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.259 in their life. 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.000 They're not growing 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.519 into what Paul becomes 00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.379 near the end of his life 00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:00.500 where he describes himself 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.459 as the chief of sinners. 00:20:02.679 --> 00:20:04.099 But question people here 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:05.139 are people who know 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:05.799 what Paul says 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:07.539 in verses 12 and 13. 00:20:07.679 --> 00:20:08.379 They know that they have 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:09.519 not already obtained 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.939 everything that God has for them. 00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:12.619 They're not already perfect. 00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:15.559 They know that they haven't 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.259 made it their own. 00:20:16.959 --> 00:20:18.240 But they're pressing on. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.539 They're continuing. 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.480 They're trying to grow. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.559 And so, 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.480 we live in the Spirit 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.839 first when we want 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:26.900 God's future now 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:28.079 as much as possible. 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.620 And we know that 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.640 we can't do it by ourselves. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.940 But we also live by the Spirit 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:33.559 when we find people 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.319 who have learned 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.240 to live by the Spirit. 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.920 When we find people 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.519 like Paul 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.400 who are able to say, 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.559 I have not arrived. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.259 But I'm following 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:43.940 after Jesus. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.880 I'm looking to Him. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.120 I'm seeking to grow. 00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:48.839 I want to know 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.400 more and more. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:54.839 You may or may not know 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.380 there was some 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.680 pretty big news 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:59.059 in the Colorado Springs 00:20:59.059 --> 00:21:00.319 hiking world recently. 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:02.120 This is probably 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:03.819 once in a quarter decade news. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.319 Which is that 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:08.559 I meant 25 years. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.120 Quarter century. 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.640 Once in probably 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:11.620 25 years news. 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.480 Maybe once in 15. 00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.440 But there's a new trail 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.200 that opened up 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.120 that goes all the way up 00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:16.180 to the top of Cheyenne Mountain. 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:19.220 And this has been 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.920 a place that's been 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.759 relatively hard 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.720 to reach in the past. 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.799 This trail has been 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.440 anticipated for a long time. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.400 They started working on it 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.259 about probably 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.320 about 15 years ago. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:27.920 And there's a lot of 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.460 legal issues 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.160 they had to get through. 00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:30.120 And so it finally 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:31.019 opened last month. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:34.580 Now this trail 00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:35.080 and of course 00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:35.920 when I found out about it 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.740 I thought I have to hike this. 00:21:36.820 --> 00:21:37.519 I have to get to the top 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.100 of Cheyenne Mountain. 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.140 We look at it every day 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:39.840 from our church. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:42.779 But this trail 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:44.000 probably starts 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.819 I mean the elevation 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.679 of where it starts 00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:46.899 is higher than 00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:48.519 the highest mountain 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.399 on the east coast. 00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:53.199 And if you know me 00:21:53.199 --> 00:21:53.759 you know that I'm 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.839 an east coast boy 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.500 through and through. 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.500 So this whole 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.139 Colorado thing 00:21:57.139 --> 00:21:57.699 has been new. 00:21:59.079 --> 00:21:59.959 And the point is this 00:21:59.959 --> 00:22:00.699 I have no idea 00:22:00.699 --> 00:22:01.259 what I'm doing. 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.399 And I know 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:05.939 you're looking forward 00:22:05.939 --> 00:22:06.939 to some great story 00:22:06.939 --> 00:22:07.339 right about how 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.079 I did something stupid. 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.019 The reality is 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.740 I was smart enough 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.859 to know what I didn't know 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.779 in this situation. 00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.339 Now that hasn't 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.059 always happened 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.400 but in this situation 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.099 I've been in Colorado 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:17.259 long enough to think 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.059 I probably really 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.660 want to do this 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.279 and I shouldn't do it 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:19.799 by myself. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.880 So I teamed up 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.480 with two people 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.759 who were born in Colorado. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:24.880 I thought that was 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:25.500 a smart decision. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.339 And people who 00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:28.500 had been experienced 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.339 hikers here in the region 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:29.819 for a while. 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.380 So we went out 00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:30.960 last weekend 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.200 and there were 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:32.940 a lot of times 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:34.640 where we got to places 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.539 where it wasn't clear 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.279 which way the trail 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:36.740 was going. 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:40.460 And so I just hung back 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.940 and I would let 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:42.759 these two experienced 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.319 hikers kind of 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.059 crawl around 00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.640 and look 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.480 and look for 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.339 different trail markers 00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.039 here and there. 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.539 They would look for 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:50.160 small piles of rocks 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:50.980 that people had put up 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.839 to show us the way. 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.900 And because of that 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.120 I made it back down safely. 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.839 Now I was pretty sore. 00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:00.339 I wasn't sure 00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:01.779 if I was going to be able 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.519 to walk at all 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.240 the next day 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.700 which happened to be 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.279 last Sunday. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.259 Thankfully I was. 00:23:07.899 --> 00:23:09.039 But I was able to stick 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.000 with those who are mature. 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:13.160 And so I wasn't sure 00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:14.460 what to do 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:16.500 or how to proceed next. 00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.519 I just let them go ahead 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.359 and figure out the way. 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.819 And so Paul here again 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.579 is telling us 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.339 what we have already 00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:23.899 talked about 00:23:23.899 --> 00:23:25.319 and what he has told us before 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.680 which is that 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.480 when we are trying 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.619 to live the Christian life 00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.420 if we're not sure 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.019 what to do 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.039 he's given us 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.980 people around us 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.399 who do. 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.839 Who know the way. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.879 Who have walked it before. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:38.579 Who know what they don't know. 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.200 Right? 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:39.839 Part of what made 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.839 these other hikers 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.379 so skilled 00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:41.980 is that they've 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.059 been in this situation 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.519 before. 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.339 They had never been 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.319 on this trail before 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.720 so they were aware 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.539 of their ignorance 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.680 but they also knew 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.220 the signs 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.259 to look for. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.279 Paul is telling us 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.420 in verse 17 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:55.259 keep your eyes 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.879 on people who know 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.399 the signs. 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.240 Join in imitating me 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.059 and keep your eyes 00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.879 on those who walk 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.920 according to the example 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.680 you have in us. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:03.799 So how do we walk 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.400 by the spirit? 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.240 How do we stay true 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.820 to the gospel? 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.460 Well big surprise 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:10.600 again we stick 00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.200 with the partnership 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:14.019 and so we walk 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.759 by the spirit 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:17.400 when we want 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.019 to see 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.560 God's reign 00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:20.220 and his rule 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.080 become more 00:24:21.080 --> 00:24:21.940 and more in our lives 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.620 and we know that 00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:23.740 we can't bring 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.279 that to bear 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.840 and we walk 00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:26.480 by the spirit 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.140 and we walk 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:27.680 with people 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.700 who have walked 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.240 with the spirit 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.100 for a long time. 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.960 And then Paul 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.640 begins to tell us 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.680 what this future 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.279 looks like. 00:24:38.580 --> 00:24:39.039 What it is 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.440 that we're headed 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.140 towards together. 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.279 We can join 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.180 in imitating those 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:43.860 who know the way 00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:44.559 verse 17 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:46.620 or verse 18 00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.120 there are those 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:47.900 who don't know the way. 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.519 They walk 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:50.940 as enemies 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.860 of the cross of Christ 00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.819 their end is destruction 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.080 their God 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.640 is their belly 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.240 and they glory 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.860 in their shame 00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:56.480 with minds 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.600 set on earthly things. 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:01.319 Now Paul 00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:01.980 is not saying 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.920 there's a temptation 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.480 when we talk 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.559 about the phrase 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.240 the flesh 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.860 or earthly things 00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.880 there's a temptation 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.600 for some Christians 00:25:08.600 --> 00:25:08.940 to think 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.480 this world 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.080 doesn't matter 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:12.100 or earthly existence 00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:12.779 doesn't matter 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:15.120 or if I have a job 00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:17.279 and it has nothing 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:19.360 to do immediately 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:20.200 with the church 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.880 then it must not 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.620 be very important. 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:24.100 Paul is not saying that. 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:25.420 When Paul says 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.200 earthly things 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:26.740 we have to take 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.720 his definition. 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:30.339 Okay so his definition 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.400 of earthly things 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:33.339 comes from Colossians. 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:33.819 When he talks 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.559 about earthly things 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.299 he means people 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.759 who are not interested 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:38.400 in Jesus' rule 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.000 and his reign. 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.480 So Colossians 3 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.200 has a long list 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.059 of earthly things. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.600 This by the way 00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:43.279 is another letter 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.960 that Paul wrote 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:45.640 to the people in Colossi. 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.960 It includes things 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:48.299 like sexual immorality 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.660 covetousness 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.360 anger 00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.279 wrath 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.160 malice 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:53.079 slander 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:54.440 obscene talk. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.700 And so Paul's not saying 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.980 physical things are bad 00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:59.120 or the earthly reality 00:25:59.120 --> 00:25:59.559 is bad 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.480 what he's saying is 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:02.420 there are people 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:03.559 who want the future 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:06.259 and they want to bring it 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.880 into the present. 00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:10.000 But then there are people 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.200 as one person puts it 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.059 who want things 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.620 that are present 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.380 to become eternal. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:15.980 They're obsessed 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.539 not with 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:18.500 things becoming right 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.160 in this world 00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:20.319 but things being comfortable 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.680 and good for them. 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.720 They're interested in pleasure 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.580 rather than joy. 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:25.740 And so again 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.720 there are only two ways 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.099 to live. 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.319 There's walking towards 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.179 Jesus and the cross 00:26:29.179 --> 00:26:29.720 or walking 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.980 away from him. 00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:33.119 And as we saw last week 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.579 we see here in verse 19 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.199 this doesn't 00:26:35.199 --> 00:26:36.679 just end in a mistake 00:26:36.679 --> 00:26:37.559 it ends in destruction. 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.379 Verse 19 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.579 their end is destruction. 00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:43.199 But there's something 00:26:43.199 --> 00:26:44.579 more glorious 00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:47.079 for the Christian. 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:48.759 Because it says 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.419 in verse 20 00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.160 our citizenship 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.820 is in heaven 00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:51.880 and from it 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:52.840 we await a savior 00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:54.000 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:55.160 Now I'm going to pause 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.880 here for a second. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.120 When we think citizenship 00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:58.740 we might think 00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.720 a variety of things. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.240 But we have to remember 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.039 that Philippi 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.680 was a city 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.480 that was proud 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.279 of its citizenship. 00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:07.000 It was a Roman colony 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.759 in a land 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.700 that was not Roman. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.140 They were in Macedonia 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.720 not Italy. 00:27:12.800 --> 00:27:13.800 And not every city 00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:14.860 had Roman citizenship 00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.880 and not every city 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:16.820 was a colony 00:27:16.820 --> 00:27:17.660 but they were. 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:19.300 And so unlike 00:27:19.300 --> 00:27:20.340 the cities around them 00:27:20.340 --> 00:27:21.120 Latin was their 00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:21.980 official language. 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.480 The whole city 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.560 was actually constructed 00:27:24.560 --> 00:27:25.360 to look like 00:27:25.360 --> 00:27:26.300 a miniature Rome. 00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:28.080 So as you were traveling 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:30.140 in this non-Roman area 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.900 you could come 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.620 to Philippi 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.160 and feel like 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.540 you know I'm not in Italy 00:27:33.540 --> 00:27:34.940 but I feel like 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.460 I'm at home. 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.560 People had reduced 00:27:37.560 --> 00:27:38.300 taxes there 00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:38.740 and so there was 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:40.000 incredible pride 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.480 in being a citizen 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.259 of Philippi. 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:44.340 And they would often 00:27:44.340 --> 00:27:45.560 refer to the ruler 00:27:45.560 --> 00:27:46.360 of the Roman Empire 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:47.140 as a savior. 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:49.620 because he was the one 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:50.540 who protected them 00:27:50.540 --> 00:27:52.940 and cared for them. 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.440 And so Paul is saying 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.080 this city 00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:58.860 is thrilled 00:27:58.860 --> 00:28:01.060 with its Roman citizenship 00:28:01.060 --> 00:28:03.860 but your hope 00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.660 is in the future 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:06.920 in your heavenly citizenship. 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:11.060 And you think 00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:12.160 lower taxes 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.720 is good? 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.980 Let me tell you 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:15.920 about something different. 00:28:17.800 --> 00:28:19.460 So the earthly savior 00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:20.680 Caesar can give you 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.320 lower taxes 00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:22.200 guess what the heavenly 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:23.080 savior can do? 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.240 Verse 21 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:38.519 lower taxes 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:38.799 lower taxes 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:40.299 is not a great deal 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:40.700 compared 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:42.299 with a different savior. 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.819 A savior who's going 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.380 to give you 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.920 a whole new body. 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.740 Who's going 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.980 to restore the world 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.539 to what it was 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.779 originally meant to be. 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:54.240 And so it's not that 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.920 you put your eyes 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.639 on things that are 00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:58.180 too much. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.859 It's that you want 00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.420 too little. 00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:02.879 Reminds me of a quote 00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:04.559 from C.S. Lewis 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.059 from his book 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.799 The Weight of Glory. 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.539 He says this, 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:09.240 It would seem 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.960 that our Lord 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:11.019 finds our desires 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:12.039 not too strong 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:13.480 but too weak. 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:16.000 We are half-hearted 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.579 creatures 00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:18.139 fooling about 00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.799 with drink 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.099 and sex 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.299 and ambition 00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:23.180 when infinite joy 00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:23.980 is offered us 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.460 like an ignorant 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.440 child who wants 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:27.279 to go on making 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.019 mud pies 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.839 in a slum 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:30.599 because he cannot 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.240 imagine 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.420 what is meant 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.079 by the offer 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.799 of a holiday 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.379 at the sea. 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.599 We are far 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:38.199 too easily 00:29:38.199 --> 00:29:39.099 pleased. 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.299 And so what Paul 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:43.879 is saying is 00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:45.159 don't be too easily 00:29:45.159 --> 00:29:45.699 pleased 00:29:45.699 --> 00:29:47.799 with the things 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.559 that those around 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.299 you are pleased 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:49.659 with. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:51.959 But look 00:29:51.959 --> 00:29:53.000 to this great 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.419 future 00:29:53.419 --> 00:29:55.599 because we know 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.319 what Jesus did 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.159 in his first coming 00:29:57.159 --> 00:29:57.919 and in his second 00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:58.279 coming. 00:29:59.399 --> 00:30:00.019 He is going 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.839 to return 00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:02.439 and what has 00:30:02.439 --> 00:30:03.000 been true 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.439 of him 00:30:03.439 --> 00:30:03.819 will become 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.559 true of you 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.000 as well. 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.839 Just as Jesus 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.679 has a resurrection 00:30:06.679 --> 00:30:07.139 body 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:08.919 so you will 00:30:08.919 --> 00:30:09.220 be given 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:09.759 a new body 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.299 as well. 00:30:13.199 --> 00:30:14.079 Just as Jesus 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.699 is going to 00:30:14.699 --> 00:30:15.740 come and bring 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.639 justice on the 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:16.959 earth 00:30:16.959 --> 00:30:18.480 so you too 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.199 will experience 00:30:19.199 --> 00:30:19.959 that ultimate 00:30:19.959 --> 00:30:20.539 justice. 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.539 Just as you 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.199 struggle with 00:30:25.199 --> 00:30:26.000 sin 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.759 and sickness 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.359 and death 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.419 Jesus is going 00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:28.879 to come 00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.319 and make an 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:30.099 end of all 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.379 of that 00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:30.759 forever. 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:30.859 forever. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:34.980 And so 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.900 look to that 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:37.279 because it's 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:37.819 a greater 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.839 and more 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.460 powerful 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.339 future 00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:41.799 than anything 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.660 that the 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.279 Roman Empire 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:43.759 can offer 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.019 you. 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.140 And so 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.379 when we 00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:50.000 live by the 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.319 spirit 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:52.000 living by the 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.599 spirit means 00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:53.259 we're looking 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.519 to our 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:54.859 heavenly 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.460 citizenship. 00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:57.299 Doesn't mean 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:57.720 that we 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:59.200 despise this 00:30:59.200 --> 00:30:59.879 world that God 00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:00.300 created. 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:00.840 He gave it 00:31:00.840 --> 00:31:01.300 to us. 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.320 He gave it 00:31:02.320 --> 00:31:02.580 to us 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:02.920 perfect. 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.200 But we 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.620 know that 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:04.900 he's going 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.440 to come 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:05.900 and make 00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.420 everything 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.180 right that 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:07.660 is wrong. 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.360 And so 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:09.820 we look 00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:10.420 forward to 00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:10.840 that as 00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:11.360 our future 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:11.660 as we 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.160 live in 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:12.640 the present. 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:14.120 Like Romans 00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:15.400 and Philippi 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:15.800 who wanted 00:31:15.800 --> 00:31:16.260 to make 00:31:16.260 --> 00:31:16.740 their city 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.400 look as 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:18.620 much like 00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.120 Rome as 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.560 possible. 00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:20.760 Even down 00:31:20.760 --> 00:31:21.060 to the 00:31:21.060 --> 00:31:21.460 layout of 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.060 its streets. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.520 Paul is 00:31:24.520 --> 00:31:24.880 telling us 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.220 that people 00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.740 who live 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.100 by the 00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.920 spirit want 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:27.540 what is 00:31:27.540 --> 00:31:28.380 true of 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:28.900 us now 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.460 to look 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.259 as much 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.120 like God's 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.539 kingdom as 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:31.940 possible. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.259 He wants 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:33.940 our churches 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.279 and our 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.720 families and 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.180 our communities 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.019 to be places 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.440 of his 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:36.980 goodness and 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.559 his justice 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.340 and his 00:31:38.340 --> 00:31:38.680 mercy. 00:31:40.100 --> 00:31:40.600 And we 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:41.140 look to that 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:41.720 now even 00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.819 when the 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.340 powers and 00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:43.779 the authorities 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.299 around us 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:44.640 are not 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.180 interested in 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:45.380 that. 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:50.980 If you 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.680 drive enough 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.340 around Colorado 00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:54.059 Springs or 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:55.120 really any 00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:55.759 major city in 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.160 the U.S. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.540 you'll see 00:31:56.540 --> 00:31:57.160 all kinds 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.560 of grocery 00:31:58.560 --> 00:31:59.019 stores that 00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.320 are ethnic 00:31:59.320 --> 00:31:59.980 grocery stores 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.500 whether it's 00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:02.580 an Asian 00:32:02.580 --> 00:32:04.900 market or 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:05.300 an Italian 00:32:05.300 --> 00:32:06.019 grocery store. 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:08.220 And there's 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:08.779 lots of people 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.120 who aren't 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:09.460 from those 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:09.940 countries that 00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.340 go there. 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:10.519 They're 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.040 interested in 00:32:11.040 --> 00:32:11.980 what's to 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.440 be sold. 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.580 But the 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:14.940 people who 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.360 are really 00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:16.060 interested there 00:32:16.060 --> 00:32:16.440 are people 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:16.800 for whom 00:32:16.800 --> 00:32:17.160 that's their 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:17.820 home country. 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.019 That's the 00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.400 place they 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.019 came from. 00:32:22.040 --> 00:32:22.580 Because if 00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:22.960 you're in a 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.600 new land you 00:32:23.600 --> 00:32:23.980 know one of 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.319 the things 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:24.900 that's hardest 00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:26.019 is not 00:32:26.019 --> 00:32:26.900 having the 00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:27.339 food that 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:27.700 you're used 00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:27.940 to. 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.400 Not cooking 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:30.200 the meals of 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:30.740 your culture 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.039 and the 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.440 place that 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:31.819 you came 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.160 from. 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.700 That's one 00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.059 of the first 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.380 things you 00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.000 might experience 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.440 is culture 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.039 shock in a 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.620 new place. 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:38.059 And so it's 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:38.620 important when 00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:39.079 there's enough 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:39.640 people of a 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.180 community to 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:40.620 make sure 00:32:40.620 --> 00:32:40.960 there's a 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.380 place where 00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:41.620 they can 00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:42.200 find the 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.599 things of 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:42.920 their home 00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:43.279 country. 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.539 So they 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.220 can cook the 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:46.660 meals that 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.140 they're familiar 00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:47.460 with the 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:47.880 things that 00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:48.039 they're 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.660 accustomed to. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.099 And what 00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:50.779 Paul is 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.500 telling us is 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:51.860 this. 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.160 When we 00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.900 live by the 00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:57.040 spirit, we 00:32:57.040 --> 00:32:57.880 want more 00:32:57.880 --> 00:32:58.460 and more 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.400 to make 00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:00.040 the dishes 00:33:00.040 --> 00:33:00.960 and the 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.400 food of 00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:02.000 the place 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.259 that we 00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:02.940 belong to. 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.480 Because we're 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:07.019 longing and 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:08.019 looking for 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:08.580 Jesus when 00:33:08.580 --> 00:33:09.100 he comes 00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:10.100 back again. 00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:11.720 And we 00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.160 know we 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:12.500 can't get 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:12.820 there by 00:33:12.820 --> 00:33:13.300 ourselves. 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.180 So we 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:15.040 look to 00:33:15.040 --> 00:33:15.860 Jesus to 00:33:15.860 --> 00:33:16.220 do it. 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:18.140 Please pray 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.500 with me. 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:23.859 dear father 00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:24.259 in heaven, 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:26.200 we thank 00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.480 you that 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:26.900 you have 00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:28.119 adopted 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:29.480 us and 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:29.880 made us 00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.339 your children 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:30.799 for those 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.140 of us who 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:31.720 follow after 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.000 you. 00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:33.740 That we 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:34.160 are a part 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:34.440 of your 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:34.740 kingdom. 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.680 Even as we 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.259 struggle with 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.839 life in this 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.279 world, we 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.859 struggle still 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:38.180 with the 00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:38.700 presence of 00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:38.920 sin. 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.500 We know 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:40.799 that the 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:41.259 future that 00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:41.599 you've given 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.059 to us. 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:42.599 So we 00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:42.880 ask that 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:43.019 you'd 00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:43.579 encourage us 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.460 with it. 00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:45.619 Father, for 00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:45.980 those of us 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.200 who have 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.759 doubts and 00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.640 questions and 00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:48.279 objections to 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.000 Christianity, we 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.539 ask that you 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.539 would continue 00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:51.680 to show the 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:52.539 glory and the 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.160 beauty of the 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.599 kingdom that 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:54.019 you're bringing. 00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:56.259 We ask all 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.839 these things in 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.180 the name of 00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:57.599 your son. 00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:58.900 Amen.