WEBVTT

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 Okay, this morning I'm going to talk to you about the kingdom of God and all of life together.

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 Kingdom of God and all of life together.

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 This is the mission of our church.

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 The mission of our church is the kingdom of God and all of life together.

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 So for those newbies who are here, you're wondering what our church is about.

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 I came on the right Sunday.

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 This is what our church is about.

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 Take it or leave it.

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 Kingdom of God and all of life together.

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 And as I talk about this, the goal part of this is to make sure that we're all on the same page.

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 Because if we're not on the same page as a church, Mark 3.25 says,

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 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

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 We have to be on the same page.

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 We have to be in agreement.

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 We have to be in unity.

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 Philippians 1.27, it says,

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 So that's really what I'm talking about here.

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 Standing firm in one spirit, with one line, and then striving side by side.

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 Oftentimes it's easy, you know, to be a part of church.

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 It's just like, well, you've got the paid professionals.

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 You've got the leaders.

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 They're doing their thing.

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 Then we just kind of fall in line.

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 We're just attenders.

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 We're just observers.

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 We're spectators.

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 But those are the people who are really doing the ministry.

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 Those are the people who are really doing the stuff, so to speak.

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 We have no desire to do that.

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 We have no desire to be that in any way, shape, or form.

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 We desire to be participants and partners together.

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 And this visual of striving side by side for the faith of the gospel is what we desire to do.

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 Because that's what Christ desires for us to do.

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 Amos 3.3 in the New King James says,

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 Can two walk together unless they are agreed?

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 Okay?

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 Can two walk together unless they are agreed?

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 It's a rhetorical question.

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 They can't.

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 Right?

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 They have to be agreed in order to walk together.

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 We call the members of our church partners.

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 And if you look at the dictionary definition of partner, one of the definitions is one who shares.

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 Okay?

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 And so, as a church, we want to share in priorities.

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 We want to share in vision.

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 We want to share in responsibility.

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 Okay?

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 We want to share priorities, share vision, and share responsibility.

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 And that's, I think, the sweet spot of where God wants his church.

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 So, let's look at those three different things.

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 The first one.

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 Shared priorities.

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 Okay?

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 The kingdom of God.

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 The kingdom of God is the thing that brings us this shared priority.

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 Jesus taught that we should seek first the kingdom of God and that our hearts follow what we treasure.

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 Okay?

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 Matthew 6.33 says, seek first the kingdom of God.

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 It doesn't say, seek second.

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 Seek third.

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 It doesn't say, seek your convenience first.

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 Make sure that the kingdom is, you know, up there.

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 It's near the top of your priority list.

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 It says, seek first the kingdom of God.

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 And then it says, where your treasure is in Matthew 6.21, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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 Okay?

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 So, when we treasure and seek first the kingdom, our hearts end up in the same place when we share the same priorities.

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 Okay?

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 You can try to put your heart someplace where your priorities are not, and it'll never work.

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 Where your treasure is or where your priority is, where you, the things you value, the things you treasure, the things you prioritize, is where your heart goes.

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 One of the reasons we end up failing at things in life is because we are trying to put our energies into a place where our heart isn't.

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 Well, why?

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 Because we have a different priority than the thing that we're trying to do.

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 Where your treasure is or your priority is, your heart follows.

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 And when we are trying to be a church that doesn't prioritize the same things, that doesn't treasure the same things, and then be one heart, it's never going to happen.

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 You can't have a church that has, whose heart is together, if we don't have the same priority.

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 You follow me there?

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 Okay, so we have to share the same priority of the kingdom of God.

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 The kingdom of God is what he says to seek first.

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 It's basically treasuring Christ and his rule.

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 What is the kingdom of God?

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 I like to define it as what God wants and the way he wants it.

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 We're on earth as it is in heaven, right?

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 But he asks us to pray.

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 What God wants, the way he wants it.

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 One author said it's God's rule over everything, everywhere, for all time and eternity.

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 Wilkins Simpson describes it as the realm of God's uncontested rule.

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 Okay?

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 That's what we're seeking.

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 We're seeking the rule of God.

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 We're seeking God to rule over everything, everywhere, for all time and eternity.

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 Not just a couple hours on a Sunday morning.

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 Not just a couple hours on a small group, house, church, missional community, on a Wednesday night or this night or the other.

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 We're looking for God to rule and reign over every aspect of our life, everywhere, for all time.

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 And it starts in our households, extends into our churches, and then it goes everywhere else.

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 We're not content with a little bit here and a little bit there.

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 We want Jesus to be seen for who he is and to be submitted to him in who he is, that he is the ruler.

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 He's not content with a part of us.

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 He doesn't just want a little bit of us.

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 And he's certainly not content for us to sprinkle a little Jesus into our life and call that Christianity.

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 He is the Lord and he is the King.

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 And for you to profess that he is your Savior and not believe that he is your King and Lord is actually hypocrisy.

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 Because the only way he has the authority to save you is if he's King and Lord.

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 So to profess saving faith without a faith that believes in his Lordship and his Kingdom rule is not a faith that can save you.

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 Okay?

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 He has to be God.

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 He has to be King.

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 He has to be Lord in order to have the authority to save you.

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 Otherwise, he's just a good guy with good intentions.

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 And that's not what he is.

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 He is the Lord.

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 And he is King.

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 And we cannot separate him into little separate pieces as if he can be dissected into different attributes that we can, like, I'll take that part of you, Jesus, but not so much that part of you.

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 When you believe he is who he is, you have to believe all of who he is.

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 And that's what the Kingdom of God is all about.

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 It's believing and submitting to the rule of God in everything.

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 Like I said, it starts in your household.

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 Are we seeking first the Kingdom of God in our own households?

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 Does Jesus rule over every aspect of our household?

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 To do that, we have to ask the question, what does God want in my household?

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 Not what do I want, not what is most convenient to me.

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 What does God want?

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 And it's easy to sanctify our own selfish desires and call that what God wants.

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 And sometimes we just don't even want to ask the question.

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 We don't want to ask the question sometimes what God wants.

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 We don't want to ask the question what he wants in our household.

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 What does God want in my marriage?

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 What does God want in my single life?

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 What does God want in my parenting?

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 What does God want for my kids' bedtime?

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 What if it's inconvenient for me?

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 What does God want for your kids' bedtime?

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 What does God want in my home?

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 What does God want me to spend my time on in my home?

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 What does God even want for the home that I live in?

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 I'm asking the Lord for all these things.

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 How we do life together.

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 How we relate as a family.

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 I want the kingdom of God to come into my household.

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 I want the kingdom of God to come in my church.

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 We're not giving God a section of our life a little bit here and there.

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 We're setting up.

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 We want to be the vessel that you created that the gates of hell shall not prevail against

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 to bring the kingdom of God on the earth.

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 There is no plan B.

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 People want to build movements?

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 You can build movements all you want, but there's only one movement that Jesus said that he's committed to.

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 He said, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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 This is the only thing he said he would build.

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 Are you giving yourself to the thing that God said he would build?

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 Are we giving ourselves to the movement that God said he would be behind?

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 Otherwise, we have to sustain it ourselves.

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 The great thing about the church is we don't have to sustain it ourselves.

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 We can trust that the thing we are giving ourselves to and sacrificing for is the very thing that Christ is building.

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 We're seeking his kingdom.

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 In our household, in the church, and in the world around us, in our job, in our neighborhood.

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 Seeking to bring the kingdom of God by preaching the gospel to people.

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 Not just being comfortable with a few Christians.

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 Not just being comfortable with our friends and the group of people we want our kids to grow up with and to grow old with.

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 We're constantly getting out of our comfort zone looking for opportunities to seek and save those who are lost, just like Jesus.

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 And Jesus, he didn't even let himself get comfortable.

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 In fact, when everybody's starting to come to him and they're looking for healing and they're looking for all the things that Jesus had.

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 And the disciples are thinking, okay, here it is.

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 Finally get our ministry.

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 We finally get our name.

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 He's like, I'm going to the next town.

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 Whoa, hold on.

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 Jesus, we got a good thing going on here.

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 Where are you going?

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 Jesus is always pushing out of comfortability.

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 Always pushing further in and further out.

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 Saying, I have to preach the gospel.

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 And us saying that our mission is the kingdom of God means our mission is to preach the gospel.

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 And to preach the gospel will always be an affront to our pride and our comfort and our selfishness.

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 It will offend us.

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 It will jostle us.

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 It will shake us.

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 And if that's not happening, you've got to ask, am I really seeking first the kingdom?

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 If my pride is never offended.

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 If my world is never shaken.

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 If things that I've always held and thought that were good, if those things aren't allowed to be put before the furnace of who God is and his word.

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 Then I've got to ask, am I seeking first the kingdom?

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 Or am I seeking some superficial hallelujah Christianity?

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 You know?

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 But what Mike not called happy smiles and half sympathies.

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 Where we just kind of go through life experiencing some subpar existence of relationship.

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 Where I'm free to live my selfish, comfortable life.

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 Without saying, no Jesus.

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 I'm not content to do that.

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 I want your kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

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 Not just in my little world.

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 Not just in my little church, but all the world.

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 I want to see the kingdom go where we don't see it right now.

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 I want to see people one to Christ.

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 I want to get into uncomfortable relationships and situations where the gospel is not so that I can preach it.

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 And I'm willing to sacrifice to do that.

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 Are we willing?

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 What are we withholding?

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 Does Jesus have everything?

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 If we're talking about the kingdom, we're talking about Jesus having everything.

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 That means we can't hold anything back.

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 Are we fully bought in the priority of the kingdom of God?

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 Are we fully bought in?

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 It's easy to say, yeah, that's a good idea.

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 Yeah, I know what you're talking about.

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 I've been to church before.

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 But are you fully bought in that there is no greater priority than the kingdom of God?

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 That all other things are subservient to this thing.

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 To seek first the king's rule.

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 God's rule over everyone everywhere.

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 Prayer.

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 That that is the ultimate goal for which I exist.

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 Is to see his rule extended.

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 And actuated in the earth.

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 Am I fully bought into the priority of that?

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 Or is that too radical?

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 Is that too extreme?

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 Is that too much?

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 We must be fully bought in.

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 And why do we do that?

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 It's like, yeah.

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 Be bought in on something that costs me everything?

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 No thanks.

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 I like the everything I have.

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 Why would I want to give it up?

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 It would have to be for something really good.

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 Thankfully, the scriptures speak to that.

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 We buy in because we're bought.

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 1 Corinthians 6, 19 to 20 says,

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 You are not your own.

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 For you were bought with a price.

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 So glorify God with your body.

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 You're not your own.

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 So glorify God with your body.

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 You were bought with a price.

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 When we've been bought, then we buy in.

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 You buy in to the degree you know that you're bought.

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 And the implications of what that means.

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 Jesus describes this in Matthew 13, 44 through 46.

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 He says,

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 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.

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 Which a man found and covered up.

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 Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

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 This is what the kingdom of heaven is like.

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 We're talking about the kingdom.

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 We're talking about you sacrificing the little you have for the everything he has.

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 It's a pretty good deal when it comes down to it.

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 It's an easy sell when you look at it.

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 When you look at what you have and you're not looking at who God is

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 and what our inheritance in him is,

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 if we forget that part, it looks like a raw deal.

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 It looks like I've got to hold on to things.

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 I can't give you everything because then I lose.

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 We don't understand that the beauty of this parable is in his joy, it says.

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 Let me ask you the question.

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 When I talk about the kingdom of God,

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 when I talk about sacrifice,

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 when I talk about giving and not withholding,

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 do you hear that with joy or do you hear that with burden?

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 Do you hear that and say,

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 Oh gosh, one of these guys again?

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 We're going to hear him just hammering on this

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 and hammering on what God wants.

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 Is it joy to you?

00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:34.560
 Is it joy to lose all?

00:13:35.160 --> 00:13:36.400
 Has it ever been joy to you?

00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:39.920
 Was it joy at one time and it's become drudgery at some point in time?

00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:42.019
 Is it joy to you now?

00:13:42.579 --> 00:13:44.819
 When you look at what you have to give up,

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:46.559
 when you look at what you have to sell,

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:50.179
 and you look at Jesus and what you receive,

00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:52.459
 eternal life with him,

00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:55.539
 is that joy to give everything you have for that?

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.599
 Is it a joy to do that?

00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.819
 Unless your revelation of the treasure

00:14:02.819 --> 00:14:04.759
 exceeds your revelation of what you have,

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.799
 you'll never give altogether.

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:09.019
 Unless your revelation of the treasure

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:10.980
 exceeds your revelation of what you have,

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.899
 you'll never give what you have to get it.

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.879
 This is why he says,

00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:15.899
 In his joy,

00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.819
 he sells all that he has.

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.120
 Why?

00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:21.360
 Because all that he has is worth less than what he's buying.

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.840
 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant

00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.159
 in search of fine pearls.

00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:29.439
 One finding one pearl of great value

00:14:29.439 --> 00:14:31.319
 went and sold all that he had

00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:32.159
 and bought it.

00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:38.480
 Are you fully bought into the priority of the kingdom of God?

00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:42.039
 Are you fully bought into the priority of the kingdom of God?

00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.539
 When you look at what you have,

00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:45.120
 does it pain you?

00:14:45.579 --> 00:14:46.500
 Or is it your joy?

00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:48.659
 Is it your joy to give up?

00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.299
 Is it your joy to sacrifice?

00:14:50.939 --> 00:14:53.100
 Knowing what your inheritance in the Lord is.

00:14:53.219 --> 00:14:54.959
 Knowing who Jesus is

00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:56.399
 and what you get in him.

00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:57.939
 Is it a joy?

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.300
 If it's not,

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.480
 we need to repent

00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.760
 and believe the good news.

00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.500
 The Bible says repent

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.800
 for the kingdom of God is near.

00:15:05.260 --> 00:15:06.620
 If we're seeking first the kingdom,

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.780
 we have to repent.

00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:09.280
 We have to repent.

00:15:09.380 --> 00:15:09.920
 We have to say,

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:13.880
 I am going to change my mind.

00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.580
 I was going this way.

00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:16.660
 I'm going to go the opposite way.

00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:18.120
 I'm going to believe what you say

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:20.600
 about the supremacy of Christ and his kingdom.

00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:22.600
 And I'm going to give all together.

00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:23.860
 I'm going to believe that.

00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:24.680
 I'm going to trust that.

00:15:25.020 --> 00:15:25.560
 I'm going to repent

00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:26.740
 for the kingdom of God is near.

00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:27.659
 I'm going to repent

00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:28.799
 from thinking that other things

00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:29.480
 are more important.

00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:30.340
 I'm going to repent

00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:31.639
 for thinking that these things

00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.639
 that I grit,

00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.620
 that I held on to

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:35.360
 for identity and worth,

00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:36.399
 that those things

00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:37.759
 are account and loss

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:39.200
 compared to the surpassing greatness

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:39.919
 of knowing you.

00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:41.639
 I'm letting go of those things.

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:44.159
 Secondly,

00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.759
 shared vision.

00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:46.740
 Okay?

00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:47.560
 Shared vision.

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:49.720
 If we don't have shared priorities,

00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:51.060
 then we won't have our heart together.

00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:52.419
 If you have one priority

00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:53.340
 and I have another priority,

00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.740
 your heart goes that way,

00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:55.680
 my heart goes this way,

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.340
 there's no unity.

00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:57.279
 Okay?

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.879
 But if we have the same priorities

00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.580
 of the kingdom of God,

00:15:59.639 --> 00:15:59.899
 we say,

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.159
 okay,

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.279
 we have the same priorities

00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.320
 of the kingdom of God,

00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:03.580
 but we don't have a shared vision

00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:05.820
 of how those priorities flesh out,

00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.539
 then we're also not going to have unity.

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.259
 Right?

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.539
 It's easy to meet Christians

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:09.799
 and say,

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.159
 yes,

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:10.980
 we are,

00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.940
 we're kingdom people.

00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:13.659
 We believe in the priority

00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.580
 of the kingdom of God.

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.820
 But the vision

00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:17.500
 of how that gets fleshed out,

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.720
 if that's not the same,

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:20.159
 if we don't have a shared vision

00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:20.580
 of that,

00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:22.659
 then we'll have division,

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:23.600
 division,

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:24.659
 two visions.

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:25.339
 Okay?

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.500
 And a house divided,

00:16:26.579 --> 00:16:27.240
 like we read before,

00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:27.959
 can't stand.

00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:29.699
 We have to have the same vision

00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:31.579
 of how the kingdom of God

00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:32.679
 fleshes itself out.

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.899
 And I want to present to you

00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.759
 that I believe that the way

00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.579
 the Bible teaches

00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:38.120
 that this vision of the kingdom

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.219
 of God gets fleshed out

00:16:39.219 --> 00:16:40.259
 is in all of life.

00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:41.819
 In all of life.

00:16:42.219 --> 00:16:42.899
 If our vision,

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.959
 we each have a vision

00:16:43.959 --> 00:16:44.779
 of all of life,

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.719
 then there'll be unity.

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.460
 If some of us say,

00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:46.759
 well,

00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.019
 it's part of my life,

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.800
 and others say,

00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.879
 it's all of my life,

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.440
 there will always be division.

00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:52.519
 Okay?

00:16:53.540 --> 00:16:54.240
 The Bible says

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.240
 to always give yourselves

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:56.480
 fully to the work of the Lord.

00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.220
 And when we share a vision

00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.180
 for kingdom priorities

00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:00.200
 being fleshed out

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.160
 in all of life,

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:03.139
 rather than just parts of life,

00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:05.200
 it multiplies our opportunities

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:05.960
 for ministry

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.579
 by removing the limitations

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:09.019
 of when and where

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:10.279
 we can do the Lord's work.

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.720
 It takes the pressure

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.720
 off of meetings

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.039
 being our main source

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:16.120
 of life in church experience.

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:16.940
 Okay?

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:17.980
 And we love meetings.

00:17:18.100 --> 00:17:18.940
 We think Sunday mornings

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.480
 are important.

00:17:19.620 --> 00:17:20.519
 We think other gatherings

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.079
 are important.

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:23.319
 But we should never be constrained

00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.700
 to meetings

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.880
 for our life in God.

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.120
 Our experience

00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:29.600
 of our life in God together

00:17:29.600 --> 00:17:30.279
 should be wherever

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.000
 the people are.

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.860
 Church is not just

00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:33.660
 a group of meetings.

00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:36.000
 Church is a group of people.

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:36.880
 Okay?

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:37.940
 And when those people

00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:38.539
 are together,

00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.100
 those people constitute

00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:40.700
 the church.

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:43.299
 It begs the question,

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:44.360
 what part of our life

00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:44.940
 is ours?

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.319
 What part of our life

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.539
 is off limits

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.660
 to Jesus and the church?

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:49.900
 You can have this,

00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:50.680
 you can have this,

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.720
 but you can't have that.

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.259
 You can have this part

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:53.740
 of my life,

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.279
 but man,

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:56.279
 I'm not giving you that.

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:56.839
 It's not,

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.600
 it's that temptation

00:17:58.600 --> 00:17:58.980
 to say,

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.799
 I don't want it to be

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.620
 an all-life thing.

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.380
 I'll give you this much,

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.019
 I'll give you this

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:04.640
 many nights a week,

00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:05.120
 Lord,

00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.759
 but these nights are mine.

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.680
 I'll give you this much

00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.120
 of my money,

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.059
 but this part of my money

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:09.480
 is mine.

00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.660
 I'll give you this part,

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.860
 much of my marriage,

00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.380
 but you know,

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.580
 then this is my me time.

00:18:14.080 --> 00:18:14.759
 This is me,

00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.620
 this is me.

00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.160
 And we have this kind

00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.340
 of limits sometimes

00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:19.060
 that we can put.

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.580
 I'll give you this much,

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.320
 but not all.

00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:24.560
 And 1 Corinthians 15,

00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.420
 58 says,

00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:27.360
 always give yourselves

00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.940
 fully to the work

00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.380
 of the Lord,

00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.840
 knowing that your labor

00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:31.180
 in the Lord

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:31.840
 is not vain.

00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:33.279
 How often?

00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:34.400
 Always.

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.320
 Okay?

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:37.740
 How much?

00:18:38.060 --> 00:18:38.380
 Fully.

00:18:39.300 --> 00:18:39.540
 Okay?

00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.220
 To what?

00:18:41.300 --> 00:18:42.040
 To the work of the Lord.

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:42.960
 Always and fully

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.900
 to the work of the Lord.

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.019
 Always and fully.

00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:46.160
 Well,

00:18:46.280 --> 00:18:47.019
 what about this time?

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.500
 Always.

00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:49.160
 What about this much?

00:18:49.540 --> 00:18:49.880
 Fully

00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:51.240
 to the work of the Lord.

00:18:51.320 --> 00:18:52.019
 This is the measure

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:53.960
 which Paul put here

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:55.080
 in 1 Corinthians 15,

00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:55.620
 58.

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.140
 Are you always giving

00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.880
 yourselves fully

00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.900
 to the work of the Lord?

00:18:59.780 --> 00:19:00.740
 Knowing that your labor

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.060
 in the Lord

00:19:01.060 --> 00:19:01.680
 is not in vain.

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.420
 It's not in vain.

00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:04.300
 It will reap a harvest

00:19:04.300 --> 00:19:05.279
 if you don't give up.

00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.460
 Mark 8, 35 says,

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.720
 whoever would save his life

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.360
 will lose it.

00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:11.039
 Whatever loses his life

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.840
 for my sake

00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.800
 and the Gospels

00:19:12.800 --> 00:19:13.940
 will save it.

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.840
 Whoever loses his life

00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:16.600
 for my sake

00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.660
 and the Gospels

00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:19.000
 will save it.

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.320
 We're looking for opportunities

00:19:20.320 --> 00:19:21.100
 to say,

00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:21.380
 God,

00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.519
 I want to lose my life

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.320
 for your sake

00:19:23.320 --> 00:19:24.340
 and for the Gospels.

00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:25.620
 I love it.

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.220
 In Mark there,

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:26.580
 he says,

00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:28.400
 not just for your sake,

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.680
 but also for the Gospels.

00:19:30.300 --> 00:19:30.900
 To be able to say,

00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:32.400
 I want to give my life

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:32.700
 to Jesus.

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.300
 Some people say,

00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:33.780
 I have,

00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:34.680
 it's all given to you,

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:34.980
 Jesus.

00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:36.880
 When it comes to evangelism,

00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.900
 not so much.

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.080
 Lord,

00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:39.759
 you can have everything

00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.400
 in my life,

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.640
 but evangelizing

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.180
 to strangers,

00:19:42.560 --> 00:19:43.180
 no thanks.

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:45.040
 You can have all my life

00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:45.880
 but talking to my neighbors

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:46.460
 about Jesus,

00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.540
 no thanks.

00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:49.460
 Whoever would save

00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.259
 his life will lose it,

00:19:50.300 --> 00:19:50.940
 but whoever loses

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:52.019
 his life for my sake

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:53.400
 and the Gospels

00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.740
 will save him.

00:19:55.280 --> 00:19:56.240
 We lost our life

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.840
 for the Gospel.

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:59.119
 I can't think of any way

00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:00.079
 that preaching the Gospel

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.220
 doesn't cause us,

00:20:01.459 --> 00:20:02.759
 doesn't pull on us

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.339
 to sacrifice.

00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:05.379
 It is much more convenient

00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:06.419
 not to preach the Gospel.

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:08.139
 It is much more convenient

00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:09.699
 to avoid preaching the Gospel,

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:11.259
 not talking to our neighbors,

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.179
 not risking them hating us,

00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:14.059
 not risking them

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:15.159
 not liking us.

00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:16.319
 It is much more convenient

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:18.039
 not to talk to strangers

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:19.539
 in grocery stores,

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.919
 in coffee shops,

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:23.420
 and in all other places.

00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:24.539
 It is much more convenient

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.759
 not to go out of your way

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.620
 to preach the Gospel

00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.200
 to someone,

00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:28.220
 to preach something

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:29.019
 that could be offensive

00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.480
 to them.

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.940
 It is much more convenient.

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.300
 God causes us

00:20:32.300 --> 00:20:32.980
 to lose our life

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.660
 not just for him

00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.460
 but for the Gospel.

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.840
 And when there is a church

00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.500
 that says,

00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:38.440
 we want to do that

00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.039
 in all of life.

00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:40.840
 We want all of life,

00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.900
 not a part of our life.

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.080
 It looks like

00:20:43.080 --> 00:20:44.180
 1 Thessalonians 2,

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.740
 verse 8.

00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:46.740
 Paul said of the Thessalonians,

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:48.120
 being affectionately

00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:49.279
 desirous of you,

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.639
 we were ready to share

00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:51.319
 with you not only

00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:52.420
 the Gospel of God

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:54.220
 but also our own selves

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.619
 because you had become

00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:56.980
 very dear to us.

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.359
 When was the last time

00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.720
 you described your church

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.220
 and said,

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.160
 these people,

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.180
 I am affectionately

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.180
 desirous of them.

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.299
 They had become

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:06.359
 very dear to me.

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.740
 That's the only context

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.759
 with which you not only

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:11.259
 give, share the Gospel

00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.359
 but your very lives.

00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.660
 It's easy to just

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.440
 share platitudes

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.700
 or to share good things

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.579
 or encouragements.

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.720
 It's difficult

00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:19.099
 to share your whole life.

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.619
 The only way you do that

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.539
 is if you're affectionately

00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.180
 desirous.

00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.359
 It's when people

00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.599
 become very dear to you

00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.599
 and they become

00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.420
 very dear to you

00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:28.000
 when you realize

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.099
 how dear they are to Christ.

00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.819
 They become very dear to you

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:32.440
 when we have lost our life

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.379
 for the sake of the Gospel

00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:34.000
 and realize,

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.599
 when I think of

00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.740
 how Jesus Christ

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.420
 welcomed me,

00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.359
 how much more

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.379
 do I want to welcome others?

00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.960
 How much labor

00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.579
 will I put,

00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.399
 how much effort

00:21:42.399 --> 00:21:43.359
 will I put into

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:45.220
 connecting with people

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.899
 for them to understand

00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:48.000
 not just by word

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.839
 but indeed

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.880
 that they are

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:52.019
 affectionately loved?

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.920
 That I love them

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.539
 to the point

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.539
 of pushing through

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.220
 their weirdness.

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.140
 That I love them

00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:57.720
 to the point

00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.779
 of pushing through

00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.619
 the inconvenience

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.380
 of a relationship

00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:01.740
 that feels like

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.799
 it keeps hitting up

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.400
 against the wall.

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.500
 That I love them

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:04.980
 to the point

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:05.680
 that I will keep

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.579
 pursuing them

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:08.380
 and pursuing relationship

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.900
 and connecting with them

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.279
 for the long haul

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.480
 even if it takes years.

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.200
 because some relationships

00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.019
 do take years

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.740
 to win trust.

00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:16.839
 Some relationships

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.819
 do take years

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.900
 to break through.

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.819
 We want that kind

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.319
 of church

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.279
 that could literally

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.160
 be in for the long haul

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:23.460
 that says,

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.860
 I'm willing to go years

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.799
 to connect with you

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.880
 because I see that

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.700
 you are dear to me

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.720
 and I want us

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.559
 to be mutually,

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.360
 affectionately desirous

00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:31.960
 of one another

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.720
 so that we share

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.519
 not just the Gospel

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.660
 but our very lives.

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.120
 We're not looking

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.660
 to just share

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.380
 the Gospel of another.

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.079
 We're not just looking

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.159
 to hear sermons together.

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:40.980
 We're looking

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.579
 to be a church

00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.119
 that's a church

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.839
 in all of life

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.839
 that shares lives

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.439
 with one another.

00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.519
 The nitty gritty,

00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:46.259
 the hard things,

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.199
 the difficult things,

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.059
 the fun things,

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.500
 all of those things.

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.339
 This is what Paul said.

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.419
 In Acts 20,

00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:55.339
 chapter 20,

00:22:55.419 --> 00:22:56.619
 verses 20 and 24,

00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.399
 Paul in verse 20

00:22:58.399 --> 00:22:59.500
 was teaching in public

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.799
 and from house to house.

00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.399
 Okay?

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.799
 He wasn't just teaching

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.299
 in public,

00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.099
 he was going

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:05.059
 from house to house.

00:23:05.679 --> 00:23:06.379
 Some people say

00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:07.059
 the house to house

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.799
 is only valuable.

00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:08.960
 Some people say,

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.600
 no, the public,

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:11.240
 getting behind this thing

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.440
 is what's important, right?

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.860
 Well, what did Paul do?

00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.440
 He taught publicly

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:17.180
 and he taught house to house.

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.559
 We don't want to be

00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.259
 a church that just

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.019
 teaches publicly

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.360
 and is a Sunday morning ministry.

00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.500
 We don't want to be

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.100
 a church that's

00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:24.019
 just house to house.

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.360
 We want to be a church

00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.240
 that does public

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.600
 and does house to house.

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.740
 We want to be a church

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.059
 that does all of life together,

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:31.480
 just like Jesus did.

00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.400
 In fact,

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.200
 if you look at the way

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.259
 Jesus made disciples,

00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.819
 at the end of his life,

00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.940
 did he have 12 disciples

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:38.799
 or did he have 144 disciples?

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:41.539
 He had 144 disciples.

00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:42.640
 Well, we know

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.519
 how he made the 12.

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.680
 He made the 12

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.279
 in the context

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.620
 of really small groups, right?

00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:47.740
 12 people,

00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:48.600
 focused even on

00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.759
 three specifically,

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:50.819
 right?

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.519
 In that context

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.319
 of discipleship,

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.220
 that was more intense.

00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:55.400
 But it doesn't say

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.180
 at the end of his life

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.299
 that he had 12 disciples.

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:57.980
 It said that he had

00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:59.240
 144 disciples.

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.420
 How did he make

00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.140
 those other

00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:03.039
 132?

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.019
 Did I get the math right?

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.500
 How did he make

00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:08.299
 the other 132 disciples

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.379
 that he wasn't doing

00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:10.519
 that smaller setting with?

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:12.279
 He did it by preaching

00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.240
 in larger settings.

00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:14.299
 He did it by ministering

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.099
 in larger settings.

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.539
 And that same thing

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.440
 was true in Paul's life.

00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.559
 He not only spoke publicly,

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.759
 but he went house to house.

00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.139
 He didn't just share

00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:22.059
 the gospel with him,

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.519
 but he shared his very life.

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.139
 And we seek to do

00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:25.899
 the same thing

00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:26.480
 because that's what

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.159
 the Bible teaches.

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.620
 The Bible teaches

00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:30.660
 a life-on-life Christianity

00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.920
 that shares all of life.

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:32.759
 I don't know how

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.100
 you could read

00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:33.660
 the New Testament

00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.580
 and not see that.

00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:37.360
 1 Corinthians 9, 22,

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:37.920
 Paul says,

00:24:38.060 --> 00:24:39.400
 I have become all things

00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.580
 to all people

00:24:40.580 --> 00:24:42.100
 that by all means

00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:43.460
 I might save some.

00:24:43.800 --> 00:24:44.300
 Well, that's pretty

00:24:44.300 --> 00:24:45.920
 all-encompassing, right?

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.900
 How many things

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:48.259
 should we become

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.080
 to reach people?

00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:49.920
 All things.

00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:51.860
 How many kind of people

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.420
 should we reach?

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.140
 All people.

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.100
 And what means

00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:55.640
 should we use?

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.300
 All means.

00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:58.680
 All things to all people

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.599
 that by all means.

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.000
 This is what Paul did.

00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.240
 There wasn't any part

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.159
 of his life

00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:03.960
 that was off-limits

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.539
 where he's like,

00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:05.619
 I'm not willing to go there.

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.879
 He was willing to go there.

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.379
 He was willing to lose his life

00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:11.639
 for the sake of the gospel.

00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:16.119
 Colossians 3, verse 4 says,

00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:18.119
 Christ who is your life.

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.720
 The greatest way

00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.639
 to make church weird

00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.619
 is to try to do church

00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.079
 with people

00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.819
 who don't believe

00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.919
 that Christ is their life.

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.779
 You want to make church weird?

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.859
 Try to do church

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.359
 with people

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.460
 who think that church

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.420
 is a part of their life.

00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:30.399
 It's going to get weird

00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:31.579
 and divisive really quick.

00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:32.759
 You're not going to have

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.359
 much in common

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.420
 if Christ is your life

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.879
 trying to relate to people

00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:37.099
 in the context of church

00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:38.079
 and mission

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.240
 if other people

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.220
 don't also believe

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.299
 that Christ is their life.

00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.879
 Jesus doesn't want

00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.460
 to be treated

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.379
 like an accessory

00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:46.220
 to your life

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.220
 because Jesus

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.160
 isn't an accessory.

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.519
 He's Lord

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.279
 or he's nothing.

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.899
 He's King

00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:52.639
 or he's nothing.

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:54.220
 You can't take

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:55.500
 another version of Jesus.

00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.500
 The Bible calls that

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.240
 another Jesus

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.200
 and it doesn't speak

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.860
 highly of it.

00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:00.920
 The Jesus of the Bible,

00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:02.300
 the Jesus who is God

00:26:02.300 --> 00:26:03.660
 is King and Lord.

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.200
 He is our life.

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.960
 And when we try

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.560
 to do church

00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:07.080
 with people

00:26:07.080 --> 00:26:08.100
 where some people

00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:08.960
 believe is their life

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.980
 and some people don't,

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.820
 it gets weird

00:26:10.820 --> 00:26:11.460
 really fast.

00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.520
 It gets awkward

00:26:12.520 --> 00:26:13.200
 really fast.

00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:14.140
 It gets uncomfortable

00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:14.860
 really fast

00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:16.100
 because we're trying

00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:17.440
 to take two visions

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.220
 and make them one

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.340
 and it'll never work.

00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:21.000
 That's the vision.

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.319
 It doesn't happen.

00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.519
 That's why we seek

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.259
 to have an open

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.039
 vulnerable heart,

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.660
 an open hospitable home,

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.559
 and an open

00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.579
 flexible schedule.

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.420
 How can we have

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.059
 life together

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:32.799
 if those things

00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.279
 aren't open?

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.920
 If I have an open

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.819
 vulnerable heart,

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.759
 I let people

00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.339
 into my heart.

00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:37.940
 If I have an open

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.819
 hospitable home,

00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:39.700
 that is where

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:41.059
 so much of life happens

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:43.500
 around kitchen tables

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:45.099
 and living room rugs,

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.460
 right?

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.579
 Like those are

00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.980
 where life happens.

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.960
 Backyard barbecues.

00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.860
 That's where life happens.

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.759
 If we don't have

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.940
 an open flexible schedule,

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.380
 you're not going

00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:54.740
 to make it

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.420
 into someone's home

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.900
 and you're certainly

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.420
 not going to make

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.220
 it into anybody's heart.

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.620
 This is an

00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.360
 all of life thing.

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.259
 Do you have

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.079
 a shared vision

00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:02.039
 of it being

00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.640
 all of life

00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.279
 and how are you

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.200
 laboring towards

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.860
 all of life?

00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.180
 Are you laboring

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.680
 towards this?

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.279
 Are you exerting

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.559
 an effort towards

00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:09.900
 our experience

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.380
 of church

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.319
 being all of life?

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.840
 And thirdly,

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:14.660
 so if you've got

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.420
 shared priorities,

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.220
 seeking first

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.579
 the kingdom,

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.220
 you say yes,

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.220
 I agree with the vision

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.079
 of it being

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:19.940
 in all of life.

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.880
 The third thing is,

00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:23.500
 do we have

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.600
 shared responsibility

00:27:24.600 --> 00:27:26.279
 in the togetherness

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.240
 of how that happens?

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.360
 The New Testament

00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.180
 is littered

00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.079
 with the language

00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.039
 of togetherness.

00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.480
 We take ownership

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.360
 and responsibility

00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:34.079
 for the kingdom

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.660
 priorities being

00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:36.180
 fleshed out

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:36.940
 in all of life,

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:38.420
 specifically in a way

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.240
 that insists on

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.339
 doing things together

00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:41.900
 rather than on our own.

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.299
 It maximizes

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:44.100
 our impact,

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.480
 increases our joy,

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.539
 and lightens

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:46.980
 our load

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.519
 because we're

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.480
 carrying it together.

00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:50.500
 All this stuff,

00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.319
 when we say this stuff

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.660
 and we're not

00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.339
 doing it together,

00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.539
 it falls short

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.460
 of the New Testament

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:54.839
 norm.

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.960
 It falls short

00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.539
 of that which

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:58.000
 you would sell

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.299
 all in your joy

00:27:59.299 --> 00:27:59.759
 to get.

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.220
 The togetherness

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:01.759
 is key.

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.420
 Just listen to,

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.120
 read through

00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:04.900
 a handful of verses

00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.440
 here and just

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.400
 listen to this

00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.440
 togetherness vision

00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.059
 of the scriptures.

00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.860
 Acts 2,

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.980
 44,

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.660
 and all who believed

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.579
 were together

00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.859
 and had all things

00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.359
 in common.

00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:17.000
 1 Corinthians 1,

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:17.339
 2,

00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.899
 called to be saints

00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.539
 together.

00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.379
 1 Corinthians 12,

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:21.839
 26,

00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:22.639
 if one member

00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.159
 suffers,

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:25.240
 all suffer together.

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.119
 If one member

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:26.679
 is honored,

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.399
 all suffer together.

00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:28.919
 I mean,

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.899
 all rejoice together.

00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:30.819
 Okay?

00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:31.679
 All suffer together,

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.599
 all rejoice together.

00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.500
 2 Corinthians 7,

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.939
 3,

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.119
 Paul appealing

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.779
 to some believers

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.139
 says,

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.460
 you are in our hearts

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.919
 to die together

00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:40.919
 and to live together.

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.199
 To die together

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.039
 and to live together.

00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.559
 Ephesians 2,

00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.340
 22 says,

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.519
 in him you also

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.860
 are being built

00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:50.360
 together into a

00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:51.460
 dwelling place for God

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.200
 by the Spirit.

00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:53.900
 The church should

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:55.000
 always be being,

00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:55.700
 being,

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.960
 being built

00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.580
 together.

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:58.700
 Okay?

00:28:58.900 --> 00:29:00.000
 It's an active

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.660
 work of God

00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:02.000
 that God is working

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.380
 us to be built

00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:04.480
 together with people.

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.680
 That takes,

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.500
 that takes a high

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.620
 level of intentionality.

00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.279
 Some people,

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:09.960
 you know,

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:11.480
 get down on a high

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.279
 level of intentionality

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.700
 and church.

00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.099
 Say,

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.839
 that's too much.

00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:14.899
 Well,

00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.660
 how can we be built

00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.619
 together if we don't

00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.259
 have a high level

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.079
 of intentionality?

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.259
 That requires

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.879
 coordination.

00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.500
 Have you ever built

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:20.980
 a house?

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.819
 Have you ever rehabbed

00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:24.299
 a portion of your house

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.379
 and you have to build

00:29:25.379 --> 00:29:26.240
 all those things

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.680
 together?

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.220
 The wood,

00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:27.920
 the drywall,

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.460
 the screws,

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.019
 the mud,

00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.539
 the tape,

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:29.960
 the plumbing,

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.639
 the electrical,

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.039
 all that stuff,

00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:32.619
 the flooring.

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.759
 How do we do that?

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.279
 How do we build

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:34.940
 that together

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:36.720
 without a high level

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.480
 of intentionality?

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.240
 There has to be.

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.779
 Jesus is building

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.359
 us together

00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:41.039
 and he asks

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.579
 that we would be

00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.680
 co-laborers with him.

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.559
 1 Corinthians,

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.180
 or I'm sorry,

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.079
 Hebrews 10.25

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.460
 says,

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.420
 not neglecting

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.720
 to meet together.

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.799
 1 Corinthians 12.21

00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:52.259
 says that,

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.620
 I cannot say to the hand,

00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.940
 I have no need of you,

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.660
 nor again the head

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.220
 to the feet,

00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.740
 I have no need of you.

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.019
 It's a togetherness

00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.839
 that says we need

00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.740
 each and every part.

00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.779
 I don't just need

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:03.039
 the parts that I really enjoy

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.019
 and are really similar

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.819
 to my personality

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.259
 and gifting.

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.359
 I need the people

00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.539
 that I don't enjoy as much

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.680
 and aren't similar to me

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.539
 and don't have the same

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.319
 giftings as me.

00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:11.539
 I need those

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.359
 and I need to realize

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:12.960
 that those parts

00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:13.659
 are indispensable.

00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.879
 Can't say I have no need of you.

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.980
 Proverbs 18.1 says,

00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:20.279
 whoever isolates himself

00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:21.659
 seeks his own desire,

00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:22.859
 he breaks out

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:24.319
 against all sound judgment.

00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.079
 When you look

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.659
 at these scriptures

00:30:26.659 --> 00:30:28.019
 and you see the togetherness,

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.539
 that if we're seeking

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.319
 first his kingdom

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.460
 and we have a vision

00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:32.279
 to do it all in life,

00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.139
 there has to be

00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:34.240
 a shared responsibility

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.319
 or we get burned out.

00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:36.960
 We can't have a version

00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.420
 of church

00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.340
 where a couple

00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:39.180
 of paid professionals

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.980
 do all the work.

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.500
 That was never meant

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.240
 to be that way.

00:30:42.360 --> 00:30:42.940
 In fact,

00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:44.700
 the Ephesians 4 gifts,

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.299
 they don't say

00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:47.039
 that they're supposed

00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:47.920
 to do all the ministry,

00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.860
 that the verse

00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:50.460
 in Ephesians 4 and 11 and 12,

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.420
 what does it say?

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.539
 They're supposed

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.920
 to equip the saints

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.440
 for the work

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.000
 of the ministry.

00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.059
 They're not supposed

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.559
 to be the people

00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.559
 who do all the ministry.

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.440
 They're supposed

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.519
 to be equipping the saints

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.380
 to do all the ministry,

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.559
 which gives us

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.100
 an understanding

00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:03.400
 that the ministry

00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:03.900
 of the church

00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.920
 should be done together,

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:06.060
 which again,

00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.820
 that language

00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:07.279
 is littered

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.640
 all throughout

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.279
 the New Testament.

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.400
 There has to be

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.620
 a shared responsibility.

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:11.759
 When there's

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.740
 a shared responsibility

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.420
 where it says,

00:31:13.820 --> 00:31:14.800
 when I walk into a room

00:31:14.800 --> 00:31:15.620
 and I see a brother

00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.140
 or a sister

00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.640
 and I know,

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.940
 this person has

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.600
 as much mind

00:31:18.600 --> 00:31:19.259
 as I do,

00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:21.400
 there's a deep sense

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:22.300
 of connection there.

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.800
 There's a deep sense

00:31:23.800 --> 00:31:24.800
 of affection there.

00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:25.779
 When I walk in,

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:26.640
 you know this is

00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.279
 the truth of anything.

00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:29.420
 When you've had a job

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.720
 or even in your own family,

00:31:30.820 --> 00:31:31.160
 when you know

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.220
 that one other person

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.259
 that is tasked

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.420
 to do something with you

00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.539
 that they're not bought in

00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:36.259
 as much as you,

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.759
 if you know that,

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.620
 that they're not bought in

00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:39.259
 as much as you,

00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.200
 what does your heart

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.900
 immediately do?

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.360
 Texan knows that.

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.200
 Man, I am not motivated

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:45.019
 to do this with you.

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.440
 To do something

00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:47.019
 with a person

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.680
 who's bought in

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.319
 less than me,

00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:49.200
 I know what's going

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:49.940
 to end up happening.

00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.059
 I'm going to do

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:51.640
 all the work.

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.440
 Remember this

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.579
 when you do science projects

00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.240
 together in school?

00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:55.640
 Right?

00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:56.960
 Like, okay,

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.740
 I know who's going to be,

00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:59.200
 I got put with that guy?

00:31:59.360 --> 00:32:00.360
 Yeah, I know who's doing

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:01.319
 all the work in this group.

00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.140
 Then when you get picked

00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:03.759
 with that person

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.779
 who's passionate about it

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.420
 like you are,

00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:06.860
 who has the same vision

00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.819
 as you do and says,

00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:08.980
 oh, we're going to do

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.579
 this together,

00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:10.980
 your heart leaps.

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.059
 You feel lighter.

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:12.880
 You feel like,

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:14.059
 I'm excited to do this.

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.180
 That's the way church

00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:15.940
 is supposed to be.

00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:16.980
 We're supposed to look

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.559
 across the room

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.519
 as brothers and sisters,

00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:20.319
 see hard situations,

00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:22.620
 see the ravages of sin

00:32:22.620 --> 00:32:23.799
 and the destruction of sin,

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:25.240
 and see how people's lives

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.980
 have been destroyed,

00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:29.180
 and us being in the business,

00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:29.759
 so to speak,

00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.640
 of restoration.

00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:33.299
 And looking across the aisle

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.279
 to our brother and sister

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:34.779
 and saying,

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.099
 that person's bought in

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:37.359
 as much as I am.

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:40.160
 That person has the same priorities.

00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:41.640
 That person has the same vision,

00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:43.240
 and they have a shared level

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.960
 of responsibility.

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:46.299
 I have every reason to believe

00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.220
 for the restoration

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.240
 with which we see.

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.460
 I have every bit of a reason

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:52.019
 to believe that their gift

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.700
 and my gift

00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:53.420
 and their gift

00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:53.920
 and their gift

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.720
 all together,

00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.980
 that God is going

00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:57.120
 to manifest His grace

00:32:57.120 --> 00:32:57.920
 in such a way

00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:59.079
 that He's going to see

00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:00.079
 this person restored.

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:00.900
 He's going to see

00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.759
 this person delivered.

00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:02.640
 He's going to see

00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.700
 this person set free.

00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:04.539
 He's going to see

00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:05.600
 this person saved.

00:33:05.860 --> 00:33:06.640
 And I don't feel like

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.559
 there's this huge burden

00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:08.180
 on me

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.220
 because I'm carrying it

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:10.039
 together with my brothers

00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.600
 and sisters.

00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.799
 And I don't say things like,

00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:14.460
 I don't want to be

00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.339
 a burden to you

00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:16.600
 because the Bible says

00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:17.259
 we're supposed to bear

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.160
 one another's burdens.

00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:19.000
 Okay?

00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:20.420
 We should be able to say,

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.779
 thank you for letting me

00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.740
 be a burden to you,

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.819
 and I know darn well

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.779
 you've been a burden to me,

00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.960
 so let's do it together.

00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:27.700
 That's what we are.

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.599
 We are burdens

00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:29.200
 to one another.

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:30.359
 We're burdens to people.

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.900
 If you have the audacity

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.519
 and the arrogance

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.420
 to think that you've never

00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:34.400
 been a burden to people,

00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.380
 number one,

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.019
 you've never done

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.980
 real church before.

00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:37.980
 Number two,

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:39.620
 you're very conceited

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.700
 in how you view yourself.

00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:42.039
 You don't really realize

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.359
 that to somebody,

00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:43.880
 somewhere,

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.799
 you are a burden.

00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.000
 And you don't have

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.099
 to apologize for that.

00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.299
 That's what the church does.

00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:49.220
 We carry one another's

00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:49.859
 burdens together.

00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.240
 We realize that

00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.359
 at any given point in time,

00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:53.259
 we could be a burden.

00:33:53.639 --> 00:33:54.539
 And that's what everyone

00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.519
 knows and understands

00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.699
 is what our job is to do,

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.859
 is to carry one another's burdens.

00:33:58.719 --> 00:33:59.799
 And that we're to bear

00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:01.919
 with one another in love.

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:03.439
 If I'm bearing with one another,

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.299
 I'm going to carry that.

00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.559
 How are we working

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.959
 or laboring towards together?

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:10.519
 What are we doing together?

00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.480
 How are we working

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:11.940
 to make say,

00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:13.339
 I don't want to get tempted

00:34:13.339 --> 00:34:14.380
 into my selfish,

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.839
 individualistic life.

00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:16.799
 I want to make sure

00:34:16.799 --> 00:34:17.759
 I'm laboring towards

00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.699
 doing things together.

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.159
 What if it takes longer?

00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.339
 I'm still laboring

00:34:21.339 --> 00:34:22.679
 towards doing things together.

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:24.199
 Well, what if it's harder?

00:34:24.319 --> 00:34:24.980
 I'm still laboring

00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:26.119
 towards doing things together.

00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.639
 There's no such thing

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.579
 as a version of church

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.399
 that doesn't labor

00:34:29.399 --> 00:34:31.500
 towards doing things together.

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.480
 That's not church

00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.000
 in the sense

00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.039
 that the Bible describes

00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:35.619
 if we're not actively

00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:37.079
 laboring towards

00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:37.940
 working together.

00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.619
 1 Corinthians 15,

00:34:39.759 --> 00:34:40.599
 10 says,

00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:41.279
 I worked harder

00:34:41.279 --> 00:34:42.179
 than any of them,

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.319
 but it was not I

00:34:43.319 --> 00:34:44.199
 but the grace of God

00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:45.019
 that was within me.

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.039
 Paul was saying,

00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:47.279
 I worked hard for this.

00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:49.199
 I was constantly working hard

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.839
 and laboring

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:51.500
 towards these things.

00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:53.319
 He said in Colossians 1,

00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.420
 28 to 29,

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.759
 Him we proclaim,

00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:56.699
 warning everyone

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.739
 and teaching everyone

00:34:57.739 --> 00:34:58.940
 with all wisdom

00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.980
 that we may present

00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:01.639
 everyone mature in Christ.

00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:03.480
 For this I toil,

00:35:04.299 --> 00:35:05.960
 struggling with all his energy

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:07.539
 that he powerfully works

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.139
 within me.

00:35:08.879 --> 00:35:10.619
 So he was toiling this,

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:12.519
 struggling with all the energy

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:14.039
 of Christ that worked in him.

00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.339
 To do what?

00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:16.219
 To warn everyone

00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:17.059
 and teach everyone

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:18.159
 so that you could see

00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:19.359
 people mature in Christ.

00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:20.440
 That's our goal

00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:21.139
 is to see people

00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:21.960
 mature in Christ.

00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:23.199
 How do we get there?

00:35:23.759 --> 00:35:24.239
 Struggle,

00:35:25.339 --> 00:35:25.759
 toil,

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:28.139
 in God's power,

00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:29.599
 with God's energy.

00:35:30.339 --> 00:35:31.199
 Do we realize that?

00:35:31.779 --> 00:35:32.940
 If this doesn't drive us

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.559
 to the cross

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.480
 and it doesn't drive us

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.500
 to our need for Christ,

00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.440
 then again,

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.279
 we're trying something

00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:38.019
 that's too easy

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.740
 and that's not

00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:40.440
 what God has called us to.

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:41.840
 God has never called us

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:42.780
 to something we could do.

00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.620
 God has never called us

00:35:44.620 --> 00:35:45.360
 to something we could do

00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:46.080
 apart from Him.

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.300
 God has never called us

00:35:47.300 --> 00:35:48.200
 to do something we could do

00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:49.160
 apart from His power.

00:35:50.060 --> 00:35:51.120
 If we're not attempting

00:35:51.120 --> 00:35:51.980
 to do something

00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:53.200
 that in the flesh

00:35:53.200 --> 00:35:54.180
 seems impossible

00:35:54.180 --> 00:35:55.580
 and grates against us,

00:35:55.620 --> 00:35:56.380
 we are not attempting

00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.300
 to do the right thing.

00:35:58.080 --> 00:35:59.260
 The thing we should be

00:35:59.260 --> 00:36:00.140
 attempting to do

00:36:00.140 --> 00:36:01.660
 and to accomplish in Christ

00:36:01.660 --> 00:36:02.720
 should be that

00:36:02.720 --> 00:36:04.019
 which only Christ can do.

00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:05.780
 by His power,

00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:06.539
 by His strength,

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.380
 by His energy.

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:09.880
 But it takes us

00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:10.539
 striving together.

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:12.139
 Romans 15, 30 says,

00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.259
 I appeal to you,

00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:13.579
 brothers,

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.920
 by our Lord Jesus Christ

00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:15.940
 and by the love of the Spirit

00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:17.440
 to strive together

00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.800
 with me in your prayers

00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:20.300
 to God on my behalf.

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.900
 Are we striving together

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.719
 in our prayers?

00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:24.320
 Even sometimes in prayers

00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:25.019
 when we get individualistic.

00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:27.280
 We can sit in prayer meeting

00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:28.739
 and we can only think about

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:29.900
 what I want to pray.

00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:30.800
 We can think about

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.559
 my burdens.

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.480
 We can think about

00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:33.779
 the things that are bothering me.

00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:34.519
 We can think about

00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.299
 the things that I want

00:36:35.299 --> 00:36:35.860
 from the Lord.

00:36:36.179 --> 00:36:36.779
 We can ignore

00:36:36.779 --> 00:36:37.880
 what's going on in the room

00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:38.539
 and what other people

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.059
 are praying.

00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.199
 We can ignore

00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:42.279
 other needs in the room.

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:42.860
 We can ignore

00:36:42.860 --> 00:36:44.000
 what God is saying

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.619
 and speaking.

00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:46.420
 You see, Paul here,

00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:46.679
 he said,

00:36:46.779 --> 00:36:48.059
 I want to be striving

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:49.099
 together with you

00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:50.199
 in your prayers.

00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:51.179
 We want to strive together.

00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.159
 He's appealing

00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:53.259
 that people strive together

00:36:53.259 --> 00:36:54.579
 with Him in prayers.

00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:56.739
 Do we have a togetherness

00:36:56.739 --> 00:36:57.219
 in prayer?

00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.759
 Do we have a labor

00:36:58.759 --> 00:36:59.679
 side by side

00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:01.159
 like Philippians 4, 3 says?

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.460
 I ask you also,

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.199
 true companion,

00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:04.099
 help these women

00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:05.179
 who have labored

00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:06.079
 side by side

00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:07.059
 with me in the gospel

00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:07.579
 together

00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:08.659
 with Clement

00:37:08.659 --> 00:37:09.219
 and the rest

00:37:09.219 --> 00:37:10.279
 of my fellow workers.

00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:11.099
 Okay?

00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:11.699
 Who have labored

00:37:11.699 --> 00:37:12.500
 side by side

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.460
 with me in the gospel

00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:13.920
 together.

00:37:14.279 --> 00:37:15.320
 That's the kind of labor

00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:16.259
 that we're looking for.

00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:17.880
 In closing,

00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:20.119
 I'm asking that we consider

00:37:20.119 --> 00:37:21.920
 exerting maximum effort

00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:23.119
 to seek first

00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:24.000
 the kingdom of God

00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:25.219
 and all life together.

00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:27.779
 maximum effort exerted

00:37:27.779 --> 00:37:28.459
 to seek first

00:37:28.459 --> 00:37:29.099
 the kingdom of God

00:37:29.099 --> 00:37:30.059
 and all together.

00:37:30.759 --> 00:37:31.799
 And if we ever think,

00:37:31.919 --> 00:37:33.539
 oh, we're asking too much,

00:37:33.899 --> 00:37:35.279
 we just have to think,

00:37:35.379 --> 00:37:36.539
 am I forgetting the gospel?

00:37:37.359 --> 00:37:38.699
 Am I forgetting the gospel?

00:37:39.359 --> 00:37:40.199
 What does it mean

00:37:40.199 --> 00:37:41.019
 to be in Christ?

00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:42.539
 Where did He take me from?

00:37:43.399 --> 00:37:45.119
 Was my sin bad enough

00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:46.899
 that the only legitimate,

00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:48.419
 fair, and just punishment

00:37:48.419 --> 00:37:49.219
 for my sin

00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:50.059
 was hell?

00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.619
 Or is that too extreme?

00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:54.039
 Do I sometimes wonder,

00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:55.340
 is hell too extreme

00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:56.420
 a punishment for sin?

00:37:56.739 --> 00:37:58.000
 Is that a little over the top?

00:37:58.599 --> 00:37:59.279
 Or do I believe

00:37:59.279 --> 00:38:01.139
 that my sin is so wicked,

00:38:01.279 --> 00:38:01.960
 so bad,

00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:03.239
 that the only just

00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:03.940
 and right punishment

00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:05.860
 would be a place

00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:06.460
 where the fire

00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:07.340
 never goes out

00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:08.360
 eternally?

00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:09.880
 Is that the only

00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.539
 just punishment

00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:11.340
 for my sin?

00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:13.259
 Until I believe

00:38:13.259 --> 00:38:14.139
 that that is the only

00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:14.779
 just punishment

00:38:14.779 --> 00:38:15.579
 for my sin,

00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:17.539
 I might feel a little bit

00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:18.860
 like God's asking too much.

00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:20.099
 I might feel a little bit

00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:21.280
 like I'm getting ripped off.

00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:22.340
 I might feel a little bit

00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:24.039
 like church is too much

00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:24.440
 for me.

00:38:24.740 --> 00:38:25.640
 But when I believe

00:38:25.640 --> 00:38:26.440
 that my sin,

00:38:26.640 --> 00:38:27.660
 that I was justly

00:38:27.660 --> 00:38:28.019
 and rightly

00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:29.099
 under the wrath of God,

00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:30.099
 that my sin,

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.620
 even my sins

00:38:31.620 --> 00:38:32.840
 of self-righteousness,

00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:34.320
 not just unrighteousness,

00:38:34.680 --> 00:38:35.440
 but my thinking

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:36.420
 that I'm not as bad

00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:37.059
 as other people

00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:38.200
 and maybe I'm good enough

00:38:38.200 --> 00:38:39.500
 to earn heaven,

00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:40.920
 that those sins

00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:41.960
 of self-righteousness

00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:42.960
 and unrighteousness

00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:44.280
 justly put me

00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:45.400
 under the wrath of God.

00:38:45.740 --> 00:38:46.820
 And my only hope

00:38:46.820 --> 00:38:47.559
 for salvation

00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:48.920
 was to believe in

00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.599
 and trust on

00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:50.199
 a righteousness

00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:51.360
 that was not mine,

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:53.380
 a work that I didn't accomplish,

00:38:53.779 --> 00:38:54.759
 would be given to me

00:38:54.759 --> 00:38:55.619
 and credit to me

00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:56.340
 in Christ

00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:57.940
 because He lived,

00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.519
 He died,

00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.199
 He was buried,

00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:00.440
 and He rose again

00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:01.659
 so that the life

00:39:01.659 --> 00:39:02.159
 He lived

00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:02.820
 and the righteousness

00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:03.500
 He earned

00:39:03.500 --> 00:39:04.119
 could be credited

00:39:04.119 --> 00:39:04.980
 to my account

00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:06.199
 so that my sins

00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:07.159
 could be washed clean

00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:08.099
 and that I could be

00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:09.099
 declared righteous.

00:39:09.659 --> 00:39:10.299
 And when the enemy

00:39:10.299 --> 00:39:11.219
 accuses me,

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:12.400
 the one who stands

00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:13.159
 day and night

00:39:13.159 --> 00:39:14.619
 before me,

00:39:15.400 --> 00:39:16.219
 making intercession

00:39:16.219 --> 00:39:17.359
 for us would say,

00:39:17.579 --> 00:39:18.959
 not guilty.

00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:20.559
 When the Father

00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:21.259
 looks on us,

00:39:21.319 --> 00:39:23.500
 He sees the spotless Lamb

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:25.000
 and He declares us

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:25.719
 to be righteous.

00:39:26.699 --> 00:39:27.619
 And He declares us

00:39:27.619 --> 00:39:29.259
 to be in Him,

00:39:29.819 --> 00:39:31.079
 cleansed and free

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.859
 from the dominion of sin

00:39:32.859 --> 00:39:33.699
 with the promise

00:39:33.699 --> 00:39:34.419
 of eternal life

00:39:34.419 --> 00:39:34.859
 to come.

00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:36.039
 When we know that,

00:39:36.119 --> 00:39:37.059
 we believe that.

00:39:37.359 --> 00:39:37.919
 We don't look

00:39:37.919 --> 00:39:38.919
 at the commands of God.

00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.599
 We don't look

00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:41.199
 at the requirements of God

00:39:41.199 --> 00:39:41.559
 and say,

00:39:41.639 --> 00:39:42.480
 too much, God,

00:39:42.559 --> 00:39:43.199
 too much.

00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:44.480
 We look at it

00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:44.800
 and say,

00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:45.860
 God, where do I start?

00:39:46.380 --> 00:39:47.000
 We look at it

00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:47.500
 and we say,

00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:48.800
 in my joy, God,

00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:50.199
 how soon can I,

00:39:50.280 --> 00:39:51.480
 how quickly can I,

00:39:51.780 --> 00:39:53.240
 how extravagantly can I

00:39:53.240 --> 00:39:54.639
 sell everything I have

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.440
 to get the prize,

00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:56.880
 to get the treasure?

00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:58.480
 What you've given me

00:39:58.480 --> 00:39:59.679
 is infinitely greater

00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:00.260
 than everything

00:40:00.260 --> 00:40:01.320
 I could give to you

00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:02.599
 and it is my joy,

00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:03.860
 it is my pleasure,

00:40:04.219 --> 00:40:05.360
 it is my privilege

00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:06.500
 to give all,

00:40:06.619 --> 00:40:07.260
 every day,

00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:08.280
 here on for the end

00:40:08.280 --> 00:40:08.719
 of the earth

00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:09.800
 and to do it together

00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:10.340
 with my brothers

00:40:10.340 --> 00:40:10.900
 and sisters.

00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:13.180
 I don't want to just

00:40:13.180 --> 00:40:14.780
 seek you as an accessory

00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:15.440
 to my life,

00:40:15.780 --> 00:40:17.099
 you alone are king

00:40:17.099 --> 00:40:18.500
 and I will seek you first.

00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:19.660
 I will do it

00:40:19.660 --> 00:40:20.619
 in all of my life

00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:21.579
 and I want to do it

00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:22.579
 together with the saints.

00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:23.840
 As hard as it is,

00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:25.000
 as much perseverance

00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:25.740
 as it takes,

00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:26.700
 as much work

00:40:26.700 --> 00:40:27.340
 as it takes,

00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:28.539
 I want to do that

00:40:28.539 --> 00:40:29.360
 and I want to be

00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:30.220
 a group of people

00:40:30.220 --> 00:40:31.059
 who is like

00:40:31.059 --> 00:40:33.639
 a well-oiled army

00:40:33.639 --> 00:40:34.260
 and platoon

00:40:34.260 --> 00:40:35.099
 that goes out

00:40:35.099 --> 00:40:35.920
 and seeks to save,

00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:36.940
 seek and save

00:40:36.940 --> 00:40:37.680
 those who are lost,

00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:38.720
 that they might hear

00:40:38.720 --> 00:40:39.539
 the same gospel

00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:40.119
 that I heard,

00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:41.159
 that they might hear

00:40:41.159 --> 00:40:42.000
 the same good news

00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:42.500
 that I heard.

00:40:42.859 --> 00:40:43.659
 So I'm not living

00:40:43.659 --> 00:40:44.739
 for my own life

00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:46.159
 and the next trinket

00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:47.079
 and the next show

00:40:47.079 --> 00:40:47.839
 that I'm going to watch.

00:40:48.099 --> 00:40:49.239
 I'm living to see

00:40:49.239 --> 00:40:50.279
 people in darkness

00:40:50.279 --> 00:40:51.299
 go to the light.

00:40:51.420 --> 00:40:52.179
 I'm living to see

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:53.500
 people who are

00:40:53.500 --> 00:40:54.719
 on their way to hell

00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:55.519
 be saved

00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:56.119
 and snatched

00:40:56.119 --> 00:40:56.759
 from the flames,

00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:58.179
 even hating the clothing

00:40:58.179 --> 00:40:59.699
 corrupted by simple desires,

00:41:00.299 --> 00:41:01.259
 as it says in Jude.

00:41:01.739 --> 00:41:02.759
 That's the kind of church

00:41:02.759 --> 00:41:03.659
 I want to be a part of.

00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:04.799
 That's the kind of church

00:41:04.799 --> 00:41:05.420
 we want to be.

00:41:05.659 --> 00:41:06.659
 That's the kind of thing

00:41:06.659 --> 00:41:08.219
 that Jesus describes

00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:08.980
 in the scriptures,

00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:10.099
 the kind of church

00:41:10.099 --> 00:41:10.799
 that he's building

00:41:10.799 --> 00:41:11.559
 that the gates of hell

00:41:11.559 --> 00:41:12.679
 shall not prevail against.

00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:13.739
 It's those who are

00:41:13.739 --> 00:41:14.679
 seeking first the kingdom

00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:15.759
 and all of life together.

00:41:16.259 --> 00:41:17.139
 That's not even

00:41:17.139 --> 00:41:18.239
 a Christ church thing.

00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:19.539
 That's just a Bible thing.

00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:21.079
 It's just a Bible thing.

00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:22.440
 My question to us

00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:23.420
 this morning is,

00:41:23.759 --> 00:41:24.559
 are we exerting

00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:25.400
 in joy,

00:41:26.059 --> 00:41:26.659
 in joy,

00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:28.179
 a maximum effort

00:41:28.179 --> 00:41:28.819
 towards that?

00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:29.739
 And if we're not,

00:41:29.799 --> 00:41:30.940
 there's only one response.

00:41:31.460 --> 00:41:32.219
 Joyful repentance.

00:41:33.279 --> 00:41:34.139
 Joyful repentance.

00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:36.059
 Thank God for his grace.

00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:36.840
 I repent.

00:41:36.980 --> 00:41:38.559
 I turn from these areas

00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:39.880
 where I'm holding back,

00:41:40.239 --> 00:41:41.000
 where I'm not believing

00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:41.719
 you're the priority,

00:41:42.099 --> 00:41:43.779
 where I'm trying to keep my life,

00:41:43.860 --> 00:41:44.659
 where I'm not doing it

00:41:44.659 --> 00:41:45.559
 together with the saints.

00:41:45.779 --> 00:41:47.139
 I repent from those things.

00:41:47.279 --> 00:41:47.860
 I turn.

00:41:48.139 --> 00:41:48.799
 I trust you.

00:41:48.900 --> 00:41:50.239
 And I move into obedience.

00:41:50.659 --> 00:41:50.880
 Amen?

00:41:51.699 --> 00:41:52.139
 Amen.

00:41:52.139 --> 00:41:52.759
 Let's stand.

00:41:52.760 --> 00:41:53.760
 Amen.

00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:53.760


00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:53.760


00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:53.760


00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:53.760