WEBVTT

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 We'll read God's word today, trusting that it is his inspired, infallible, inerrant, clear, and sufficient word.

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 It's God's very own word for you, his people.

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 In verse 12, we begin reading.

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 I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happen to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.

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 So that it has become evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ.

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 And most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

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 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill.

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 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add to my affliction and my chains.

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 But the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

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 What then?

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 Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached.

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 And in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

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 The word of the Lord for the people of God.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 You may be seated.

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 The grass withers, the flower fades, the word of the Lord stands forever.

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 Let's pray.

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 Let's pray.

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, I ask that by the illumination of your Holy Spirit, the Spirit that dwells in every true believer,

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 the Spirit of God that breathed out these words of Scripture,

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 by the power of that Spirit, Lord, will you please minister Christ to his people today.

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 May Christ be so near to us in these moments that we'll share next, Lord, under your word.

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 May we know what it means to be in Christ, especially through suffering.

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 We ask this for your glory.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, everyone who is a human being suffers.

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 Everyone suffers.

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 In verse 13, Paul describes his suffering once again as his chains.

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 His chains.

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 And his suffering is a physical suffering in the body, away from the church, in solitude, loneliness.

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 Seeing all the problems of the early church all around him.

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 What a picture of the Christian life.

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 It's such a mix, isn't it?

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 There's profound joy and there's deep sweetness in the Christian life.

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 But there's true suffering, true pain.

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 It's a mix.

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 I know many of you are suffering today.

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 We're grieving.

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 We're healing.

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 We're worried about the future.

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 For Paul, he called it my chains.

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 Some of you might feel trapped to a job or a desk.

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 Another is maybe it's the exhausting task of parenting and raising little ones.

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 Feels like you're always around the sink doing dishes.

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 Others of you have been laid up in bed.

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 You've been sick.

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 You've been not able to get around.

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 Depending on others.

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 So humbling.

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 And my encouragement is that in Hebrews 5, 7,

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 in the days of his flesh,

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 though Jesus Christ was the Son of God,

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 yet he learned obedience by the things he suffered.

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 Psalm 119, verse 71,

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 the psalmist adds his testimony to God's faithfulness,

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 and he says,

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 My suffering was good for me

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 because it taught me to pay attention to God's decrees.

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 And he prays this to the Lord.

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 Thank you for the suffering

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 and what you taught me through it.

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 So everyone suffers,

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 but the only ones who are happy

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 through the suffering

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 are you whom God teaches

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 to suffer in Christ.

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 So beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 my encouragement for you today

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 is what suffering in Christ does.

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 Suffering in Christ does something

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 in you and through you.

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 And I hope you'll be encouraged by these verses.

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 Number one,

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 what does it mean to suffer in Christ?

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 Look at verse 12.

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 Paul says,

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 These things that happened to me.

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 He's referring briefly in a few words

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 to what we read in Acts chapter 21 through 24.

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 If you want to get a deep dive picture

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 of these things that happened to Paul,

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 read those chapters.

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 Acts 21 through 24.

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 Or I'll summarize it in three lines for you.

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 After going on the missionary journeys,

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 Paul came back to Jerusalem

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 and he preached the gospel.

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 And he said,

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 I was one dragging Christians

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 out of their fellowship,

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 putting them in chains,

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 having them unjustly arrested.

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 I'm the chief of sinners.

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 But Christ died for sinners like you and me.

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 That's what he stood up

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 and preached in Jerusalem.

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 Well, because he brought with him some Greeks

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 on this trip,

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 even though they didn't go into the temple,

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 Paul was arrested on the false accusation

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 that he had defiled the temple,

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 even though Christ had already torn the veil in half.

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 So he was unjustly arrested.

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 And as he was carried away,

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 he had the opportunity to preach once more

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 as he's being accused

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 and all these false witnesses

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 whose stories don't even match.

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 And Paul preached to them and he said,

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 you continue to reject Jesus Christ.

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 And Paul says,

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 Jesus Christ,

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 who you tied up

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 and unjustly threw into the trial

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 and then whipped and put on the cross

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 and you killed.

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 This is the Christ,

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 the Son of God

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 that I'm preaching to you.

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 He's alive.

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 He is risen.

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 And Paul is now following

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 in those exact footsteps of Jesus Christ,

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 identifying with Christ,

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 almost play by play

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 in the suffering of his Lord.

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 See, so Paul is not the Messiah here.

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 Paul is merely a disciple

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 following the footsteps of Jesus.

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 Well, then Paul is tied up

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 and they say,

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 let's torture him by whipping him

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 until he tells us what he really did.

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 He's going to be flogged

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 without a trial.

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 And in that moment,

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 Paul appeals to Caesar

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 because he's a Roman citizen by birth.

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 He's elite among the empire of Rome.

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 From that moment on,

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 they put a chain from Paul

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 to a Roman soldier.

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 And those soldiers would take shifts

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 who would be on the other end

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 of that chain attached to Paul.

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 From Paul's perspective,

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 when he was arrested,

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 carried all the way to Rome,

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 and then left there in house arrest,

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 he's had a chain attaching him

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 to a Roman guard

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 24-7,

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 365 days a year

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 for two years.

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 And he says in verse 13

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 of our sermon text,

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 my chains are in Christ.

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 Not my chains are for Christ.

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 He says in verse 13,

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 it has become evident

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 that my chains are in Christ.

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 What does that mean?

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 What does it mean to suffer in Christ?

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 This is an odd Greek phrase,

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 and I'm no scholar,

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 just enough to understand the basics.

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 But listening to other commentators

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 on the Greek language,

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 the word-for-word translation is this,

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 the bonds of me,

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 that's my chains,

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 apparent,

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 that's,

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 it has become evident,

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 in anointed,

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 that's in Christ,

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 to be becoming.

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 That's how the Greek reads word-for-word.

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 It's not easy to interpret that.

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 Maybe the best summary in English would be this,

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 my chains manifest

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 in Christ became.

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 This strange language construction

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 forces us,

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 as this Greek scholar put it,

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 it forces us to rest

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 and pause and reflect

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 on every word

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 in its turn.

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 So let's walk through those three phrases.

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 My chains,

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 number one.

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 Number two, manifest.

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 Number three, in Christ.

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 Number one, my chains.

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 These are the instruments used by the Lord

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 to spread the gospel

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 among and beyond

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 those Roman guards.

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 My chains.

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 He says,

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 my chains manifest something.

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 They reveal

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 to these guards

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 something

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 of how

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 precious

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 Christ is to Paul.

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 See,

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 these guards,

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 they were getting a good read on Paul.

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 And they knew

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 when they look at Paul,

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 there's something

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 very precious to Paul,

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 and it's Christ.

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 It's Christ being manifested

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 through the chains,

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 through this picture

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 of his suffering.

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 And in Christ,

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 he says,

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 his chains are part

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 of what is entailed

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 for Paul

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 to be united

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 to his Lord.

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 The chains come with

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 being a disciple.

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 So for Paul

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 to live

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 in Christ

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 means chains

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 for two years.

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 Could you turn with me

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 to Philippians chapter 3,

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 verse 10?

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 I think here

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 we have a great insight

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 into what Paul means

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 to suffer

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 in Christ.

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 In Philippians 3,

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 10,

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 Paul writes that

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 he wants to know him

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 and the power

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 of his resurrection

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 and the fellowship

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 of Christ's suffering,

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 being conformed

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 to his death.

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 You see,

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 for Paul,

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 the greatest blessing

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 is to be able

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 to identify

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 with his Savior

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 in the suffering

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 that his Savior

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 bore for him.

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 That's what it means

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 to suffer

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 in Christ.

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 It means that

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 you get to share

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 in the sufferings

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 of Jesus

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 and to know him

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 even better.

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 whenever a child

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 gets sick,

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 you'll often hear

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 the mother

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 or the grandmother

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 say,

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 I just wish

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 I could be sick

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 in your place.

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 I wish I could

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 share in your sufferings.

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 If a loved one

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 of yours

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 is going through

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 something like that,

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 you want to know them

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 and relate to them

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 so deeply

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 that you're feeling

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 what they're feeling.

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 Do you see

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 how Christ suffered

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 for his people?

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 And there's no

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 greater blessing

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 than to know Christ

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 at that level

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 to identify

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 with your Savior

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 in his suffering

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 for you.

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 So your union

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 and communion

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 to Christ

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 become visible

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 in suffering

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 when you suffer

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 in Christ.

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 That's what it means

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 to suffer

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 in Christ.

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 Now what does

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 suffering in Christ

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 do?

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 When you suffer

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 in Christ,

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 here's one thing.

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 You tell

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 of God's providence

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 to his family.

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 When you suffer

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 in Christ,

00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:15.800
 it does something

00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:16.120
 in you

00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:16.639
 that makes you

00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.420
 want to look back

00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:18.639
 and tell the story

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.680
 of how he

00:13:19.680 --> 00:13:20.820
 had you all along.

00:13:21.180 --> 00:13:21.840
 It was his good

00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:22.639
 hand over you.

00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:23.940
 And you want to share

00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:25.200
 that with his family.

00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:26.779
 Another testimony

00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:28.340
 added to the providence

00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:29.300
 of God.

00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:31.080
 Look at how Paul

00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.180
 does this in verse 12.

00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:32.539
 He says,

00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.519
 I want you to know,

00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:33.920
 brethren,

00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:34.940
 that the things

00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:35.980
 which happened to me

00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:37.659
 have actually turned out

00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.819
 for the furtherance

00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:39.459
 of the gospel.

00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:41.759
 Yes, he's suffering,

00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:42.659
 but he wants the church

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.319
 in Philippi

00:13:43.319 --> 00:13:44.539
 who he calls brethren,

00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:45.699
 my family,

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.319
 and the Lord.

00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:47.500
 You need to know

00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.339
 all those things

00:13:48.339 --> 00:13:48.779
 that happened,

00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:50.059
 here's how they turned out.

00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:52.219
 God's gospel advanced.

00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:56.259
 We can infer that

00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.299
 when Paul was with

00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:58.360
 the church in Philippi,

00:13:58.439 --> 00:13:59.399
 he had shared with them

00:13:59.399 --> 00:13:59.980
 his heart.

00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:01.179
 That's what Paul does.

00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:02.179
 He had a vision

00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:03.159
 of going through Rome

00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:04.600
 and not to stop in Rome.

00:14:04.699 --> 00:14:05.319
 If you read the letter

00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:05.940
 to the Romans,

00:14:06.260 --> 00:14:07.379
 it's to let them

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:07.840
 take joy

00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:08.760
 and also sending him

00:14:08.760 --> 00:14:09.420
 on to Spain.

00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:11.500
 And you get to be

00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:12.240
 part of this church.

00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:13.160
 Look what God is doing.

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.600
 His kingdom is advancing.

00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:17.080
 Oh, but Paul wanted

00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:17.879
 to go to Rome.

00:14:18.760 --> 00:14:19.620
 He wanted to preach

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:22.180
 to Caesar Augustus himself.

00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:24.100
 This is the time

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.980
 of the Roman peace,

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.360
 the Pax Romana.

00:14:27.520 --> 00:14:28.640
 And this was the great

00:14:28.640 --> 00:14:29.800
 Augustus Caesar

00:14:29.800 --> 00:14:31.300
 who had unified the empire.

00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:33.400
 He had annexed Egypt,

00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:34.720
 parts of Spain,

00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.759
 and Central Europe

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:37.660
 under one great empire.

00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:40.100
 And Paul couldn't be

00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:40.700
 more excited

00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.680
 to get to Rome,

00:14:42.040 --> 00:14:43.860
 the capital of the entire empire,

00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:45.120
 and preach the gospel.

00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.139
 He had done this

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:46.800
 at Little Rome,

00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:47.560
 Philippi,

00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:49.279
 and now how will he get

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:49.820
 to do this

00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:51.360
 in the big capital itself?

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.660
 He says,

00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.840
 I want you to know, brethren,

00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:56.800
 the things which happened to me

00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:58.120
 didn't set any

00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.120
 of those dreams back.

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:00.660
 In fact,

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:02.019
 that's what God used

00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:03.000
 to actually turn out

00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.120
 in fulfilling all of that.

00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.820
 when he says

00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.139
 they actually turned out

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:07.720
 this way.

00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.060
 He's telling

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:11.639
 of God's providence

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:13.139
 to the family of God.

00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:15.899
 What is God's providence?

00:15:16.180 --> 00:15:17.160
 This is a big word.

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:18.920
 God's providence

00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:20.600
 means His sovereign hand

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.160
 governing,

00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:23.080
 ruling over all things.

00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:24.100
 Our confession

00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.200
 describes it this way.

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.780
 God,

00:15:26.900 --> 00:15:27.780
 the good creator

00:15:27.780 --> 00:15:28.879
 of all things,

00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:30.340
 in His infinite power

00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:31.120
 and wisdom,

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.920
 He does uphold,

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.759
 direct,

00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:34.500
 dispose,

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.540
 and govern

00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:36.600
 all creatures

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.420
 and things

00:15:37.420 --> 00:15:38.440
 from the greatest

00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:39.580
 to the least

00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:40.940
 by His most wise

00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:42.460
 and holy providence

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.780
 to the end

00:15:43.780 --> 00:15:45.080
 for which they were created

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:46.300
 according to His

00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:48.140
 infallible foreknowledge

00:15:48.140 --> 00:15:49.220
 and the free

00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:50.660
 and immutable counsel

00:15:50.660 --> 00:15:51.780
 of His own will

00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.919
 to the praise

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.899
 of the glory

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:54.980
 of His wisdom,

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.699
 power,

00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:56.579
 justice,

00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:57.879
 infinite goodness,

00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:58.860
 and mercy.

00:15:59.939 --> 00:16:01.419
 That's God's providence.

00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:04.919
 And Paul says,

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.740
 all that happened to me

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:08.000
 actually turned out

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.539
 for the furtherance

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:10.439
 of the gospel.

00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.559
 See that phrase

00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.319
 in verse 12,

00:16:12.839 --> 00:16:13.559
 the furtherance,

00:16:14.079 --> 00:16:15.059
 the advance

00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:17.199
 for the greater progress

00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:18.199
 of the gospel.

00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:21.719
 That word is a military term,

00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.639
 the advance

00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:25.359
 or the furtherance.

00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:26.799
 And remember,

00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:27.739
 in Philippi,

00:16:27.839 --> 00:16:28.259
 Little Rome,

00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:28.699
 there would have been

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:29.639
 many veterans

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:31.619
 of the Roman Empire.

00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.939
 These were veteran soldiers.

00:16:33.479 --> 00:16:33.879
 They would have been

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.799
 very patriotic.

00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:35.779
 And when he uses

00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:37.179
 a military term like that,

00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:37.979
 you can imagine

00:16:37.979 --> 00:16:38.699
 that congregation

00:16:38.699 --> 00:16:39.639
 receiving this

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.659
 as encouragement.

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:42.980
 Here's what that term means.

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.059
 To advance.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.240
 The Roman Empire

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.899
 would send out scouts

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:50.079
 ahead of the invading army

00:16:50.079 --> 00:16:51.600
 to take a new territory.

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.480
 Those scouts

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.899
 would clear the path

00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:56.379
 through a dense forest.

00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.959
 They would make a way

00:16:57.959 --> 00:16:58.959
 for the rest of the troops

00:16:58.959 --> 00:16:59.919
 to follow.

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.839
 They would also scout out

00:17:01.839 --> 00:17:02.339
 the land.

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:04.519
 See, here's a strategic inland.

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.519
 Here's a point

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.440
 where we can get access

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.619
 and it'll open up

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:08.079
 and we'll be able

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.099
 to conquer this region.

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:11.159
 You come back

00:17:11.159 --> 00:17:11.980
 and you tell the army,

00:17:12.419 --> 00:17:12.959
 this will be

00:17:12.959 --> 00:17:14.539
 the most favorable terrain

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.500
 for you to march on.

00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:17.219
 This is how we can advance

00:17:17.219 --> 00:17:18.519
 our army

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.679
 and what we're claiming.

00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:23.599
 When you come back

00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.519
 and you hear this report

00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.259
 from a scout,

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.859
 you feel strengthened.

00:17:29.219 --> 00:17:30.459
 You want to stand up

00:17:30.459 --> 00:17:31.059
 as a soldier

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:32.099
 and march onward,

00:17:32.439 --> 00:17:33.159
 hasten onward.

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.799
 The kingdom is advancing.

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.459
 Let's follow

00:17:35.459 --> 00:17:36.099
 where these scouts

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.939
 have gone next.

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:40.519
 And so that's what Paul says

00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.140
 that everything

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:41.980
 that I suffered

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.779
 up to this point,

00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:44.180
 it revealed God's sovereignty

00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:46.340
 and if I die in chains here,

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.059
 which he does,

00:17:47.580 --> 00:17:48.140
 you church,

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.640
 you come as the next army

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.600
 pushing on

00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:51.980
 and planting the church here

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.019
 and establishing,

00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:54.160
 furthering the gospel

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.640
 mission of King Jesus.

00:17:58.360 --> 00:17:59.900
 So when you suffer in Christ,

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:01.640
 you tell of his providence

00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:02.940
 to his family

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:05.120
 and it encourages them.

00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:07.119
 See, Paul's not attaching

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:07.919
 any of their hope

00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:08.839
 to Paul himself.

00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.739
 Paul is pointing

00:18:10.739 --> 00:18:11.519
 to the gospel.

00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:13.279
 It's the gospel

00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:14.639
 of the living Jesus Christ

00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:15.879
 who through his Holy Spirit

00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:17.019
 he will advance.

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.119
 Our confidence

00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:21.000
 is not in man,

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.739
 even the apostle Paul.

00:18:22.959 --> 00:18:23.739
 It's in the gospel

00:18:23.739 --> 00:18:24.500
 carried on

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.500
 through the word of God.

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.459
 I want to prove this.

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.759
 You can turn to

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.379
 2 Timothy 2.9.

00:18:32.159 --> 00:18:33.639
 2 Timothy 2.9.

00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:37.820
 If you don't want

00:18:37.820 --> 00:18:38.200
 to turn there,

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:39.020
 you can also listen.

00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:39.540
 Here's what

00:18:39.540 --> 00:18:41.340
 2 Timothy 2.9 says.

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.060
 And to give you

00:18:44.060 --> 00:18:45.140
 a point of reference,

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.300
 Philippians is one

00:18:46.300 --> 00:18:47.600
 of Paul's earlier letters

00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:48.060
 that he wrote

00:18:48.060 --> 00:18:48.620
 from prison.

00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:50.780
 And it's so joyful.

00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:51.640
 You might think,

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:53.120
 well, this is just him

00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:53.860
 thinking he won't be

00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:54.600
 there too long.

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:57.440
 2 Timothy is the last letter

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.300
 we have from Paul.

00:18:58.920 --> 00:18:59.700
 The very end

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.640
 of his time in prison.

00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.460
 Notice what he says

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.960
 in 2 Timothy 2.9.

00:19:04.840 --> 00:19:05.780
 I am suffering

00:19:05.780 --> 00:19:08.160
 bound with chains

00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.120
 as a criminal.

00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:12.440
 But the word of God

00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:14.200
 is not bound.

00:19:15.280 --> 00:19:16.600
 The word of God

00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.820
 is not in a chain.

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.380
 See, their confidence

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.560
 should be in the advance

00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:23.380
 of the gospel

00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:24.440
 through the word.

00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:25.180
 It's not tied

00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:26.640
 to any one man.

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.500
 It's God's word

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.540
 that advances

00:19:29.540 --> 00:19:30.660
 his gospel.

00:19:31.620 --> 00:19:32.460
 And Paul joyfully

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.780
 goes out as the scout.

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.500
 That's where he'll

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.140
 end his life.

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.680
 He'll never get

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.440
 to go to Spain.

00:19:37.800 --> 00:19:38.900
 But the word of God

00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:39.940
 will march onward

00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:41.040
 through his church.

00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.320
 And with every step

00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:42.820
 of the way,

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:43.759
 you bear witness.

00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:44.720
 Look, even through

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.380
 my suffering,

00:19:45.800 --> 00:19:46.800
 see God's providence

00:19:46.800 --> 00:19:48.060
 advancing his kingdom.

00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:49.780
 We get to do that

00:19:49.780 --> 00:19:50.640
 when we suffer

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.720
 in Christ as well.

00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:54.120
 Number three.

00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:56.599
 What does suffering

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.659
 in Christ do?

00:19:58.859 --> 00:19:59.500
 When you suffer

00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.099
 in Christ,

00:20:00.919 --> 00:20:01.879
 the life of God

00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:02.659
 in you

00:20:02.659 --> 00:20:04.679
 becomes evident

00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:05.459
 to others.

00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.199
 When you suffer

00:20:08.199 --> 00:20:09.059
 in Christ,

00:20:09.939 --> 00:20:11.219
 the life of God

00:20:11.219 --> 00:20:12.259
 in you

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.879
 becomes evident

00:20:13.879 --> 00:20:14.859
 to others.

00:20:16.179 --> 00:20:17.599
 Look at verse 13.

00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:21.059
 It has become evident,

00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:21.759
 Paul wrote,

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.940
 to the whole

00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:24.759
 Petrarian guard,

00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.119
 the whole palace guard,

00:20:26.379 --> 00:20:27.660
 and to all the rest

00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:29.039
 that my chains

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.660
 are in Christ.

00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.740
 It has become

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.660
 evident to them.

00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.579
 Who were these guards?

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.440
 Well, I've mentioned briefly,

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.420
 these were the elite

00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.579
 Roman soldiers

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.460
 that worked

00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.859
 for the emperor himself.

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.220
 They were estimated

00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:47.039
 to be 9,000

00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:47.920
 of these guards

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.759
 called the

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:50.500
 Petrariani.

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:54.839
 In Christ,

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:55.980
 in Paul,

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.519
 through Paul's suffering,

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:58.700
 is evident

00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.500
 to these guards

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.680
 one by one

00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.339
 by one.

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:04.059
 See,

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:04.960
 from their perspective,

00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:05.559
 they see

00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.579
 an old

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:08.299
 minister of the word,

00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:09.079
 a Jew,

00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:10.640
 now in Rome,

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:13.160
 who's trapped

00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:14.180
 to a chain.

00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.579
 From Paul's perspective,

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.759
 suffering in Christ,

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:20.279
 Christ is being revealed

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.279
 through his suffering.

00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:22.879
 He says,

00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.619
 I'm the one here

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.359
 who is free

00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:26.160
 to preach the gospel

00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.960
 to you.

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.680
 And you're chained

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.279
 on to me.

00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:30.539
 You have to listen.

00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:33.279
 Imagine what that would be like

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.079
 to be one of these

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.980
 elite guards.

00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.480
 You work for the biggest empire

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.640
 the world has ever known.

00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.400
 You don't just work

00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:40.960
 on the army

00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:42.420
 in some outskirt colony.

00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:44.400
 You work in Rome.

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.980
 Not just in Rome.

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.599
 You work for the emperor,

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.980
 Caesar himself.

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.519
 You're among the elite.

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:53.339
 And part of your rotation

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:53.920
 is going to be

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:55.420
 to spend a watch,

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:58.039
 a quarter of a 24-hour shift

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:59.640
 with this old minister.

00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:02.339
 Imagine what that handoff

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:02.799
 is like.

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.980
 Many of us have jobs

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:05.059
 where you rotate a shift

00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.720
 and you check in,

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.319
 you check out.

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:08.160
 And it's part of the job

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.740
 of a nurse

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.599
 or someone else

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.099
 with a shift

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:10.880
 to get the report

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.579
 from that shift

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:12.640
 so I can be ready

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.400
 for the next one.

00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:15.380
 And these guards

00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:16.140
 would know each other

00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:17.019
 and you can just see it

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:18.000
 in this man's face.

00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:19.540
 One of the toughest,

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.840
 most hardened soldiers

00:22:20.840 --> 00:22:21.759
 around.

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.780
 He's the alpha.

00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.840
 And you just see

00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:28.280
 his face looks peaceful.

00:22:29.580 --> 00:22:31.000
 And you see a calmness

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.600
 in this man.

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.900
 He's always trying

00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.860
 to prove to everyone

00:22:33.860 --> 00:22:34.720
 he's the tough guy.

00:22:35.560 --> 00:22:37.340
 And he's just so relaxed now.

00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.780
 What has happened?

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.680
 You don't even know

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.820
 what's coming up for you.

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:44.039
 That chain goes on to you

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.599
 as the guard

00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.519
 and it's your shift.

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.220
 Paul starts telling you

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:50.480
 of God himself

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:53.200
 who created you

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:56.619
 and how you have no hope

00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:58.279
 standing before the holy God

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.919
 in your sin.

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.679
 But God himself

00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:02.679
 took on flesh

00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:05.639
 and he fulfilled his own law

00:23:05.639 --> 00:23:06.460
 for his people.

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.099
 And it's not just good news

00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:08.539
 for them,

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.799
 it's good news for you

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:11.759
 if you believe in him.

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:14.439
 And the kingdom of God

00:23:14.439 --> 00:23:14.980
 advances.

00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.579
 When you suffer in Christ,

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.659
 the life of God in you

00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:26.559
 becomes evident to others.

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.079
 How could it not?

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.559
 It's God himself

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.359
 inside of you.

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.519
 We read in verse 13,

00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:34.279
 it wasn't just

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.419
 the Petroirian guard,

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.099
 it was also

00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:37.139
 all the rest.

00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:39.039
 Word spreads

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:41.359
 that my chains

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.259
 are in Christ.

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.700
 Who are all the rest?

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.940
 We can connect

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.819
 a dot here

00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:48.579
 that was so cool

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.299
 for me to see.

00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:49.940
 Would you turn

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.599
 in your Bible

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.720
 to Philippians 4?

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.099
 You're in Philippians 1.

00:23:53.659 --> 00:23:54.539
 Flip the page there.

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.019
 Who might be part

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.940
 of all the rest

00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:58.460
 who hear

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.940
 of the precious Christ

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:01.740
 through Paul's ministry?

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:05.359
 Philippians 4.22.

00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:07.859
 As he's writing

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.599
 to the church

00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:09.779
 back in Philippi,

00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:12.440
 Philippians 4.22,

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:12.960
 he says,

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.059
 all the saints,

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.799
 all the believers,

00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:17.460
 everyone in Rome

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.279
 within the church,

00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.539
 those who have visited me,

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:21.039
 or even those here

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.740
 that are part of the guard,

00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.700
 they greet you,

00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.740
 church in Philippi,

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.920
 especially those

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:30.039
 who are of Caesar's household.

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.420
 Do you see

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.339
 how that desire

00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.140
 for Paul

00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:34.839
 to go to Rome

00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:35.740
 and preach to Caesar

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.220
 and preach

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.359
 to the great capital,

00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.160
 it's being fulfilled

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:41.160
 through the suffering,

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.980
 through the chain.

00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.920
 As he's back in Philippi

00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:45.579
 looking out

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:47.000
 at the Roman Empire,

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:47.740
 man,

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.680
 wouldn't it be amazing,

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.000
 church,

00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:49.460
 let's pray

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.299
 that God's gospel

00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:51.059
 will reach

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.319
 the Roman army,

00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.799
 the greatest army

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.440
 in the world

00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.820
 that they would believe

00:24:55.820 --> 00:24:57.100
 and that the emperor,

00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:57.500
 Caesar,

00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.180
 would believe.

00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.299
 Let's pray,

00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:00.180
 church in Philippi,

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.200
 that God would do that

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:03.539
 and look at how God did it.

00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:05.320
 It's through his chain.

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.460
 Christ speaks

00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.360
 through Paul

00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:14.080
 and through his word

00:25:14.080 --> 00:25:17.279
 and listening to Christ's voice

00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:18.080
 as we sing,

00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:19.779
 new life,

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.160
 the dead receive,

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:22.299
 the mournful,

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:24.080
 broken hearts rejoice,

00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:26.740
 the humble poor believe.

00:25:30.320 --> 00:25:31.980
 Second Timothy 2.9,

00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:33.240
 Paul said,

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.160
 I am suffering,

00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.559
 bound with chains

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.380
 as a criminal,

00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.980
 but the word of God

00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:39.299
 is not bound.

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.240
 The life of God

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.820
 is in you

00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:44.960
 who believe

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.980
 just that same way,

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.120
 just as powerfully.

00:25:50.120 --> 00:25:50.980
 There's a book

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.500
 that Jonathan mentioned

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.200
 in Sunday school

00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.240
 and I enjoyed reading it

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.700
 this week.

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.319
 It's called

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.259
 The Life of God

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.279
 in the Soul of Man.

00:25:58.960 --> 00:25:59.960
 And that's exactly

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.440
 what it is

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.180
 to be a Christian.

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:03.619
 The life of God himself

00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:05.420
 dwells in the soul

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.460
 of man.

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.140
 This book quoted

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:08.880
 an old poet

00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.700
 who described

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:11.119
 the gospel that way.

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.380
 The love of God

00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:16.299
 shot all these golden arrows

00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:17.079
 at man,

00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:19.200
 but nothing could penetrate

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.579
 man's heart of stone.

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:22.740
 So the God of love

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.559
 put himself

00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.759
 in his bow

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:26.319
 and shot himself

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.839
 at your heart

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.480
 to shatter your heart

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:29.980
 of stone

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:32.579
 and overwhelm you

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.539
 with his love.

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:37.019
 And when you suffer

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.599
 in Christ,

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.679
 the life of God

00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:39.399
 in you,

00:26:39.939 --> 00:26:41.059
 it becomes evident

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:42.099
 to others.

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.359
 Number four,

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.019
 what else does

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.159
 suffering in Christ do?

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:50.259
 When you suffer

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.779
 in Christ,

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:52.140
 God uses your life

00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:53.460
 to embolden

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.220
 his family.

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.360
 When you suffer

00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:56.920
 in Christ,

00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:58.220
 God uses your life

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.380
 to embolden

00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.480
 his family.

00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:02.140
 Look at verse 14.

00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:03.880
 Philippians 1.14.

00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.540
 Most of the brethren

00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:07.120
 in the Lord,

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.460
 having become confident

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.560
 of my chains,

00:27:10.040 --> 00:27:12.000
 are much more bold

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.640
 to speak the word

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.880
 without fear.

00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:24.620
 God uses the suffering

00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.400
 of his people

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:27.120
 to embolden Christians,

00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.100
 to embolden

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:28.960
 the church.

00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:30.780
 From the world's

00:27:30.780 --> 00:27:31.280
 perspective,

00:27:32.280 --> 00:27:33.780
 if we can just make life

00:27:33.780 --> 00:27:34.540
 hard for Christians,

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.700
 if we can persecute

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.560
 and shut them down

00:27:36.560 --> 00:27:37.400
 and not let them meet,

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.660
 not let them gather

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.500
 in the name of Jesus,

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.340
 not let them preach

00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:40.840
 the gospel

00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.660
 or at least censure

00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.580
 what they're going to say,

00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.880
 we can stop

00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:45.260
 the spread of Christianity.

00:27:45.800 --> 00:27:46.540
 That's what Satan's

00:27:46.540 --> 00:27:47.020
 trying to do

00:27:47.020 --> 00:27:47.700
 through the world.

00:27:49.260 --> 00:27:50.220
 We can look at

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.340
 even recent history

00:27:51.340 --> 00:27:52.140
 and see it's just

00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:52.820
 the opposite.

00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:55.600
 In 1949,

00:27:56.040 --> 00:27:56.760
 the population

00:27:56.760 --> 00:27:57.620
 of China

00:27:57.620 --> 00:28:01.780
 was 542 million people.

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.420
 Out of those

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:06.980
 540 million Chinese,

00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:08.020
 only 1 million

00:28:08.020 --> 00:28:09.100
 were believers.

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.980
 30 years later,

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:15.339
 that 1 million Christians

00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.759
 went to 12 million.

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.680
 What makes this remarkable

00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:20.180
 is it's during the time

00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:21.000
 when all the churches

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.920
 were shut down,

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.480
 when it was illegal

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.500
 to preach the gospel,

00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:25.519
 where the Bible

00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.420
 had to be smuggled

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.059
 into China.

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:29.000
 The church exploded.

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.160
 Today,

00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:32.960
 the population of China

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:34.920
 is 1.5 billion

00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:38.019
 with 100 million Christians,

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:40.000
 mostly worshiping God

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.539
 underground.

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:44.899
 100 times

00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:46.200
 the growth

00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:48.720
 in this one country

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.859
 during the most

00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.579
 intense times

00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.259
 of persecution

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.299
 in modern history

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.980
 in just a period

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.339
 of 75 years.

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:57.039
 That's what our God does.

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.680
 As the Christians

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.480
 are persecuted,

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.200
 the brethren,

00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.460
 the family of the Lord,

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.579
 gets much more bold

00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:06.839
 to speak the word

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.799
 without fear

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:09.519
 and His kingdom advances.

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.819
 And that's why

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.579
 2 Timothy,

00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.680
 that same letter,

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.519
 that last one

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.440
 from prison,

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.579
 2 Timothy 4,

00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.519
 verses 1 and 2,

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.299
 Paul wrote with confidence

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.379
 to Timothy,

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.619
 the church in Ephesus

00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.619
 and to all of us,

00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.959
 I charge you,

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.559
 therefore,

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:25.559
 before God

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.779
 and the Lord Jesus Christ

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.859
 who will judge

00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.799
 the living and the dead

00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.919
 at His appearing

00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:31.079
 and His kingdom,

00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.919
 preach the word,

00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:34.639
 be ready in season

00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.699
 and out of season,

00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:36.639
 convince,

00:29:36.879 --> 00:29:37.319
 rebuke,

00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:38.159
 exhort,

00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:39.179
 and teach

00:29:39.179 --> 00:29:41.439
 with all long suffering.

00:29:42.979 --> 00:29:44.159
 That's what suffering

00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:45.359
 in Christ does.

00:29:46.739 --> 00:29:48.139
 God uses your life

00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:49.099
 through suffering

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:49.839
 to embolden

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.959
 His family.

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:53.360
 Number five,

00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.180
 what else does it

00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.620
 do

00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.980
 to suffer in Christ?

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:01.059
 Of all of these verses,

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.819
 these are the ones

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.480
 that were the most

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.500
 convicting to me,

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.779
 the most work God

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.519
 still has to do

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.240
 in my own heart.

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.980
 Here's the doctrine I see.

00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:10.779
 When evil motives

00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:11.720
 become evident,

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.319
 you identify

00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.880
 even more with Christ

00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:15.779
 in His suffering.

00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:18.480
 Evil motives

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.600
 are everywhere

00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.119
 and we see them.

00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:23.019
 Sometimes we suspect them

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:23.679
 and then other times

00:30:23.679 --> 00:30:24.679
 they become very clear.

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:27.059
 But when evil motives

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:28.579
 become evident,

00:30:29.419 --> 00:30:31.099
 you feel that injustice.

00:30:31.719 --> 00:30:33.240
 You feel that sense of wrong

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.240
 in the name of Christ.

00:30:34.899 --> 00:30:36.579
 You identify even more

00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:37.119
 with Christ

00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:37.859
 in His suffering.

00:30:38.959 --> 00:30:40.259
 Let's read verses 15,

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.459
 16, and 17.

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:43.240
 Some indeed

00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:44.140
 preach Christ

00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:45.360
 even from envy

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.160
 and strife

00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.880
 and some also

00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:48.680
 from goodwill.

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.779
 The former

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.400
 preach Christ

00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.600
 from selfish ambition,

00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.980
 not sincerely

00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:55.700
 supposing to add

00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.840
 to my affliction

00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:58.860
 in my chains,

00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:00.180
 but the latter

00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:00.980
 out of love,

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.360
 knowing that I am

00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:02.799
 appointed

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.640
 for the defense

00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.360
 of the gospel.

00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:06.960
 Paul spent

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.640
 serious time

00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.200
 reflecting

00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:10.019
 on the early church.

00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:13.480
 The early church

00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.160
 is no better

00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.839
 or worse

00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.680
 really than the church

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.039
 today.

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.440
 Sometimes we want to

00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.799
 make it like a golden era.

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.619
 We should just be more

00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.539
 like the early church,

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:22.039
 full of envy

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.700
 and strife

00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:24.759
 and selfish ambition,

00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:26.139
 not sincere.

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.879
 That's not the early church

00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:28.700
 we should go back to.

00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.440
 It's the same.

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.400
 It's the same church

00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:31.920
 as today.

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.940
 There's much wrong

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.480
 going on

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.500
 in the name of Christ.

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.740
 You felt it.

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.339
 You've seen it.

00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:39.859
 And it should bother us.

00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:40.619
 It bothered Paul.

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.659
 He's naming it

00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:42.599
 very specifically.

00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:44.599
 Three verses of this.

00:31:44.919 --> 00:31:45.679
 It's clearly been

00:31:45.679 --> 00:31:46.699
 something heavy on him.

00:31:47.959 --> 00:31:48.959
 I'd like to walk you

00:31:48.959 --> 00:31:49.639
 through these words

00:31:49.639 --> 00:31:50.179
 he uses.

00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:51.799
 In verse 15

00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.599
 he uses the word

00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.000
 envy.

00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:54.919
 Envy means

00:31:54.919 --> 00:31:56.099
 to be discontent

00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:57.559
 at the sight

00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:59.159
 of the reputation

00:31:59.159 --> 00:32:00.039
 or happiness

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.079
 enjoyed by another.

00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:03.179
 To grieve yourself

00:32:03.179 --> 00:32:04.480
 at the superiority

00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.240
 of another

00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:06.500
 and to hate him

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.500
 on that account.

00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.539
 In Mark 15.10

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.400
 we read that

00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.420
 our Lord Jesus Christ

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.920
 knew that the chief priest

00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:16.000
 had delivered him

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:17.480
 for envy.

00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:21.259
 And Paul

00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:22.059
 is identifying

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.819
 with Christ

00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:23.859
 in his suffering.

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:25.920
 There are many

00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:27.059
 wanting to preach Christ

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:28.539
 even preach correct doctrine

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:30.900
 because they wanted

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:31.539
 the attention

00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.460
 and the fame

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:32.980
 that Paul

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.120
 got as an apostle.

00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:36.419
 He uses the word

00:32:36.419 --> 00:32:37.099
 strife.

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.399
 It can be translated

00:32:38.399 --> 00:32:39.179
 as rivalry

00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:40.839
 in verse 15 as well.

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:42.159
 It's contention

00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:43.719
 debate

00:32:43.719 --> 00:32:45.179
 variance

00:32:45.179 --> 00:32:46.359
 for the sake

00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:47.819
 of arguing.

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.359
 It's to struggle

00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:51.339
 and to vie

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.459
 for superiority

00:32:52.459 --> 00:32:53.719
 over others.

00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.500
 You see what

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.399
 all these have in common

00:32:56.399 --> 00:32:57.000
 is they're looking

00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:57.559
 at man.

00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.839
 They're not looking

00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.399
 at the glory

00:33:00.399 --> 00:33:00.979
 of Christ.

00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.059
 Christ.

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.480
 In verse 16

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.160
 he describes

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:05.519
 the wrong motives

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.940
 of selfish ambition.

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.200
 This was a reference

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:11.079
 to political campaigns

00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:12.339
 in the Roman Empire.

00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:13.579
 Electioneering.

00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:15.160
 Partisanship.

00:33:15.860 --> 00:33:16.279
 Political

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.599
 self-promotion.

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.380
 It was the practice

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:20.400
 of Roman candidates

00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:20.960
 for office

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.579
 who went about

00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.079
 the city

00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:23.519
 to solicit votes.

00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:24.779
 Do you get the picture

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.839
 of what was going on

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.720
 among these churches

00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.180
 in Rome?

00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:31.240
 In verse 16

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:32.000
 Paul describes

00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.259
 those troublemakers

00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:34.700
 as insincere.

00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:36.799
 Preaching Christ

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.940
 but trying to do it

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.820
 so that Paul

00:33:38.820 --> 00:33:39.880
 will suffer even more.

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:41.960
 He says

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.779
 insincerely

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.460
 to add

00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.720
 to affliction

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:46.140
 of my chains.

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:47.960
 It means

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.400
 to be

00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.440
 raising up

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.100
 even more

00:33:50.100 --> 00:33:51.080
 accusations

00:33:51.080 --> 00:33:51.900
 against Paul

00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.980
 to push Paul down.

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.480
 It's the opposite

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.200
 of clean

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:56.880
 and pure.

00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:58.860
 In verse 18

00:33:58.860 --> 00:33:59.539
 he describes

00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:00.740
 the preaching

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.759
 as being done

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.940
 in pretense.

00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:04.600
 Pretense

00:34:04.600 --> 00:34:05.400
 is to cloak

00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:06.600
 or color something

00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:08.039
 like put makeup

00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:08.880
 on something

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.559
 purely for

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.300
 outward show.

00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:13.360
 Jesus

00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.199
 spelt this too

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.960
 and he preached

00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:15.579
 against it.

00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:16.960
 In Matthew 23

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.880
 14 he said

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:18.579
 woe to you

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.820
 scribes and Pharisees

00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.820
 hypocrites

00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:22.139
 for you devour

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.699
 the weak

00:34:22.699 --> 00:34:24.360
 and for a pretense

00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:25.579
 you make long

00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:26.880
 public prayers.

00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:27.920
 Therefore

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:29.019
 you will receive

00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:29.920
 greater

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:31.000
 condemnation.

00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:34.519
 How is it

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.380
 that this can happen

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:36.480
 that so much evil

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.619
 such evil

00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:38.400
 motives can be

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:38.900
 rewarded

00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:40.119
 and celebrated

00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.860
 and permitted

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.980
 within churches

00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:43.219
 that call themselves

00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:43.719
 Christian

00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.840
 in the name of

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.799
 Christ who suffered

00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:47.119
 and made himself low.

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:48.259
 How can this happen?

00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.519
 Well I think

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:51.259
 Paul was wrestling

00:34:51.259 --> 00:34:52.319
 with that very question

00:34:52.319 --> 00:34:52.980
 and that's what

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.639
 he cautioned

00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:54.460
 in that same

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.059
 last letter

00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:55.619
 from prison

00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:57.079
 2 Timothy 2

00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:57.440
 3

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.760
 he warned

00:34:58.760 --> 00:34:59.860
 the time will come

00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.840
 when they

00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.980
 these congregations

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.679
 people like you

00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:03.039
 and me

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:04.420
 we will endure

00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:05.980
 sound doctrine

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.639
 no longer

00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:08.420
 but instead

00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.380
 according to

00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:10.400
 our own desires

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.440
 because we have

00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.179
 itching ears

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:13.219
 we will heap up

00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:14.199
 for ourselves

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:14.659
 teachers

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:15.559
 that will do

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.079
 just that.

00:35:17.740 --> 00:35:18.740
 So we need to

00:35:18.740 --> 00:35:19.240
 guard against

00:35:19.240 --> 00:35:19.820
 this church

00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:20.980
 we're just as

00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.320
 vulnerable

00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:21.920
 as the early

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.480
 church was

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:22.960
 to this.

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.220
 I want to

00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:24.660
 encourage you

00:35:24.660 --> 00:35:25.019
 in our

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:26.519
 constitution

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.059
 it calls

00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:27.740
 for vows

00:35:27.740 --> 00:35:28.519
 for elders

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.140
 just as

00:35:29.140 --> 00:35:29.960
 members make

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.559
 vows to the

00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.080
 congregation.

00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:32.080
 Here are two

00:35:32.080 --> 00:35:32.660
 of the questions

00:35:32.660 --> 00:35:33.720
 that potential

00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:34.800
 elders are asked

00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:35.720
 that I believe

00:35:35.720 --> 00:35:36.480
 get at the heart

00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.380
 of what Paul

00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:37.920
 is addressing.

00:35:40.080 --> 00:35:40.960
 Number one

00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:42.220
 have you been

00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:43.100
 moved

00:35:43.100 --> 00:35:45.100
 as far as

00:35:45.100 --> 00:35:45.420
 you know

00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:46.160
 your own heart

00:35:46.160 --> 00:35:47.140
 to seek

00:35:47.140 --> 00:35:47.860
 the office

00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:48.539
 of the holy

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.039
 ministry

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.760
 from love

00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:50.380
 to God

00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:51.640
 and a sincere

00:35:51.640 --> 00:35:52.460
 desire to

00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:52.840
 promote

00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:53.820
 his glory

00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:55.079
 and the

00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.720
 gospel of

00:35:55.720 --> 00:35:56.180
 his son.

00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:58.440
 A potential

00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:58.860
 elder will

00:35:58.860 --> 00:35:59.440
 have to stand

00:35:59.440 --> 00:35:59.840
 here and

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.780
 vow to you

00:36:00.780 --> 00:36:01.140
 yes

00:36:01.140 --> 00:36:02.260
 that's my

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:02.640
 motive.

00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:04.099
 Number two

00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:04.800
 do you promise

00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.680
 to be zealous

00:36:05.680 --> 00:36:06.860
 and faithful

00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:08.079
 in maintaining

00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:08.740
 the truths

00:36:08.740 --> 00:36:09.640
 of the gospel

00:36:09.640 --> 00:36:10.840
 and the purity

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.960
 the peace

00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.720
 and the unity

00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:13.360
 of the church

00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:14.480
 whatever opposition

00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.800
 may arise

00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:16.860
 unto you

00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.680
 on that account

00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:19.579
 you must say

00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:20.119
 I do.

00:36:22.319 --> 00:36:23.339
 When the evil

00:36:23.339 --> 00:36:24.099
 motives become

00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:24.579
 evident

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.859
 to Christians

00:36:25.859 --> 00:36:27.059
 we identify

00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.199
 with Christ

00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:28.960
 in his suffering

00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:30.500
 and we hunker

00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:31.279
 down as a

00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:31.819
 congregation

00:36:31.819 --> 00:36:33.379
 back to his

00:36:33.379 --> 00:36:33.699
 word

00:36:33.699 --> 00:36:34.659
 back to our

00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:35.019
 purpose

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.559
 which is

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.659
 to glorify

00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:37.699
 and enjoy

00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:38.419
 God

00:36:38.419 --> 00:36:39.039
 together.

00:36:39.339 --> 00:36:39.559
 Amen?

00:36:42.279 --> 00:36:43.119
 Well those

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:43.639
 are the things

00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:44.519
 I see in this

00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.339
 passage that God

00:36:45.339 --> 00:36:45.940
 does

00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:47.599
 as we suffer

00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.220
 in Christ

00:36:48.220 --> 00:36:50.599
 and I love

00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:51.000
 how Paul

00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:51.440
 leaves us

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:51.840
 with such

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.519
 a sweet

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:53.579
 taste in the

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:53.880
 mouth

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.500
 in verse

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.059
 18.

00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:56.960
 After wrestling

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.460
 through that

00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:57.920
 you see what

00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.400
 he asks

00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.139
 rhetorically

00:36:59.139 --> 00:37:00.340
 he says

00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:01.679
 what then

00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:03.260
 what

00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:05.099
 yes this is

00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:05.500
 all going

00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.039
 on what are

00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:06.400
 you going to

00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:06.720
 do it

00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:07.500
 in Philippi

00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:07.840
 what are you

00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:08.179
 going to do

00:37:08.179 --> 00:37:08.579
 about it

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.320
 what am I

00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:09.639
 going to do

00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:10.000
 about it

00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:10.280
 here

00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:11.179
 in chains

00:37:11.179 --> 00:37:11.599
 in Rome

00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:13.059
 what then

00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:15.559
 and here's

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.179
 the conclusion

00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:16.819
 that by the

00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:17.440
 grace of God

00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:17.880
 the spirit

00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:18.619
 taught Paul

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.679
 I hope he'll

00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:20.259
 teach this to

00:37:20.259 --> 00:37:20.940
 me before he

00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.480
 takes me on

00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:21.940
 to glory

00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:24.319
 in every way

00:37:24.319 --> 00:37:26.259
 whether in

00:37:26.259 --> 00:37:26.900
 pretense or

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.519
 in truth

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.599
 Christ

00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:30.500
 is preached

00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:32.819
 Christ

00:37:32.819 --> 00:37:35.400
 not financial

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:36.079
 prosperity

00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:38.219
 nor Christian

00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:38.920
 nationalism

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:40.680
 but Christ

00:37:40.680 --> 00:37:41.460
 and Christ

00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:42.000
 alone

00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:42.539
 must be

00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:42.940
 preached

00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:44.500
 Christ

00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:45.340
 is preached

00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:47.880
 not legalism

00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:49.840
 nor licentiousness

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:51.440
 but Christ

00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:52.420
 and Christ

00:37:52.420 --> 00:37:52.880
 alone

00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.900
 must be

00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:54.300
 preached

00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:56.900
 Christ

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:57.940
 is preached

00:37:57.940 --> 00:37:59.220
 not your

00:37:59.220 --> 00:37:59.740
 works

00:37:59.740 --> 00:38:01.340
 not God's

00:38:01.340 --> 00:38:01.579
 grace

00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:02.180
 plus your

00:38:02.180 --> 00:38:02.579
 works

00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:03.940
 but Christ

00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:04.700
 and Christ

00:38:04.700 --> 00:38:05.220
 alone

00:38:05.220 --> 00:38:06.380
 must be

00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:06.820
 preached

00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:09.280
 Christ

00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:10.740
 of the

00:38:10.740 --> 00:38:11.200
 Nicene

00:38:11.200 --> 00:38:11.519
 Creed

00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:11.840
 that we

00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.080
 say

00:38:12.080 --> 00:38:12.539
 together

00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:13.420
 and we

00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:13.580
 have

00:38:13.580 --> 00:38:13.820
 held

00:38:13.820 --> 00:38:14.160
 with the

00:38:14.160 --> 00:38:14.460
 church

00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:15.940
 ever since

00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:17.860
 he's the

00:38:17.860 --> 00:38:18.200
 one

00:38:18.200 --> 00:38:18.940
 and only

00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:19.340
 Lord

00:38:19.340 --> 00:38:19.820
 of the

00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:20.100
 church

00:38:20.100 --> 00:38:20.320
 the

00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:20.740
 promised

00:38:20.740 --> 00:38:21.100
 one

00:38:21.100 --> 00:38:22.220
 he is

00:38:22.220 --> 00:38:22.500
 who we

00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:22.920
 preach

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:24.100
 and Paul

00:38:24.100 --> 00:38:24.420
 writes

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.120
 in this

00:38:25.120 --> 00:38:26.320
 I rejoice

00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:27.840
 Christ

00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:29.200
 the God

00:38:29.200 --> 00:38:29.740
 of God

00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:30.320
 light

00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:30.860
 of light

00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:31.380
 true

00:38:31.380 --> 00:38:31.780
 God

00:38:31.780 --> 00:38:32.280
 of true

00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:32.660
 God

00:38:32.660 --> 00:38:33.380
 he is

00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:33.840
 preached

00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.700
 and in

00:38:34.700 --> 00:38:35.059
 this

00:38:35.059 --> 00:38:35.920
 I rejoice

00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:37.599
 Christ

00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:38.860
 creator of

00:38:38.860 --> 00:38:39.059
 all

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.480
 who came

00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:39.900
 down

00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:40.500
 who was

00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:40.780
 made

00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:41.320
 flesh

00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:42.099
 he is

00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:42.559
 preached

00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:43.400
 and in

00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:43.780
 Christ

00:38:43.780 --> 00:38:44.579
 being preached

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.619
 we rejoice

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:47.079
 Christ

00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:47.700
 who entered

00:38:47.700 --> 00:38:48.180
 humanity

00:38:48.180 --> 00:38:49.059
 for us

00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:50.059
 for our

00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:50.599
 salvation

00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.460
 he is

00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:51.760
 preached

00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:52.220
 freely

00:38:52.220 --> 00:38:53.099
 to anyone

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:53.480
 who will

00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:53.780
 come

00:38:53.780 --> 00:38:54.680
 come

00:38:54.680 --> 00:38:55.400
 and welcome

00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.019
 come

00:38:56.019 --> 00:38:56.220
 oh

00:38:56.220 --> 00:38:56.539
 sinners

00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:58.200
 and rejoice

00:38:58.200 --> 00:39:00.000
 Christ

00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:00.700
 who suffered

00:39:00.700 --> 00:39:01.480
 died

00:39:01.480 --> 00:39:02.360
 and rose

00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:02.760
 again

00:39:02.760 --> 00:39:03.639
 and ascended

00:39:03.639 --> 00:39:04.460
 to heaven

00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:05.079
 he is

00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:05.500
 preached

00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:06.599
 he rules

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:06.920
 he is

00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:07.420
 the king

00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:08.019
 and lord

00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:08.460
 of all

00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.320
 and we

00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:09.760
 rejoice

00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:10.639
 when he is

00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.119
 proclaimed

00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:13.220
 Christ

00:39:13.220 --> 00:39:13.720
 is coming

00:39:13.720 --> 00:39:14.300
 to judge

00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:14.800
 the living

00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:15.800
 and the dead

00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:17.320
 the full

00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:17.740
 gospel

00:39:17.740 --> 00:39:18.519
 of Christ

00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.539
 is preached

00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.699
 and we

00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:21.280
 rejoice

00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:24.139
 Paul says

00:39:24.139 --> 00:39:24.800
 in this

00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:25.820
 I rejoice

00:39:25.820 --> 00:39:26.280
 yes

00:39:26.280 --> 00:39:27.340
 and I will

00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:28.119
 rejoice

00:39:28.119 --> 00:39:29.220
 every time

00:39:29.220 --> 00:39:29.720
 I hear

00:39:29.720 --> 00:39:30.220
 the name

00:39:30.220 --> 00:39:30.800
 of Jesus

00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:32.240
 being proclaimed

00:39:32.240 --> 00:39:33.179
 and preached

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:34.019
 I rejoice

00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:35.460
 and I resolve

00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.199
 I continue

00:39:36.199 --> 00:39:37.099
 to rejoice

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:37.860
 in Christ

00:39:37.860 --> 00:39:39.880
 because though

00:39:39.880 --> 00:39:40.679
 I am suffering

00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:42.300
 I am bound

00:39:42.300 --> 00:39:42.780
 with chains

00:39:42.780 --> 00:39:43.400
 as a criminal

00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:44.539
 the word

00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.239
 of God

00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:45.880
 is not

00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:46.360
 bound

00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:48.639
 so dear

00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:49.519
 brothers and

00:39:49.519 --> 00:39:49.920
 sisters

00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:51.739
 you too

00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:52.199
 suffer

00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:56.599
 but suffering

00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.460
 in Christ

00:39:57.460 --> 00:39:58.940
 does powerful

00:39:58.940 --> 00:39:59.579
 works through

00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.139
 his people

00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:02.099
 I encourage

00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:02.279
 you

00:40:02.279 --> 00:40:02.779
 through your

00:40:02.779 --> 00:40:03.199
 suffering

00:40:03.199 --> 00:40:04.139
 tell of

00:40:04.139 --> 00:40:04.460
 God's

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:05.000
 providence

00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:06.019
 to others

00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:08.159
 trust him

00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:09.059
 to reveal

00:40:09.059 --> 00:40:09.559
 the life

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:09.920
 of God

00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:10.519
 inside of

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:10.699
 you

00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:11.579
 through your

00:40:11.579 --> 00:40:11.980
 suffering

00:40:11.980 --> 00:40:12.659
 to others

00:40:12.659 --> 00:40:16.719
 I pray

00:40:16.719 --> 00:40:17.000
 Lord

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:18.099
 that as we

00:40:18.099 --> 00:40:18.420
 suffer

00:40:18.420 --> 00:40:18.839
 with one

00:40:18.839 --> 00:40:19.179
 another

00:40:19.179 --> 00:40:19.659
 bear one

00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:20.099
 another's

00:40:20.099 --> 00:40:20.460
 burdens

00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:21.739
 we cry

00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:22.159
 together

00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:22.719
 we pray

00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:23.119
 together

00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:24.500
 as we do

00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:24.719
 that

00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.000
 that we

00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:25.279
 will be

00:40:25.279 --> 00:40:25.980
 emboldened

00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:26.699
 as a

00:40:26.699 --> 00:40:27.079
 church

00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:28.559
 we will

00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:29.059
 identify

00:40:29.059 --> 00:40:29.719
 even more

00:40:29.719 --> 00:40:30.259
 with him

00:40:30.259 --> 00:40:30.719
 in his

00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:31.119
 suffering

00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:32.099
 we'll trust

00:40:32.099 --> 00:40:32.359
 him that

00:40:32.359 --> 00:40:32.859
 even through

00:40:32.859 --> 00:40:33.399
 the suffering

00:40:33.399 --> 00:40:33.859
 somehow

00:40:33.859 --> 00:40:35.139
 he's advancing

00:40:35.139 --> 00:40:36.119
 his gospel

00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:36.699
 purpose

00:40:36.699 --> 00:40:38.899
 and together

00:40:38.899 --> 00:40:39.839
 every time

00:40:39.839 --> 00:40:40.239
 the name

00:40:40.239 --> 00:40:40.719
 of Jesus

00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:41.559
 is proclaimed

00:40:41.559 --> 00:40:42.699
 and named

00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:43.679
 and prayed

00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:44.119
 under

00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:45.299
 we rejoice

00:40:45.299 --> 00:40:45.839
 together

00:40:45.839 --> 00:40:48.219
 Psalm 119

00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:48.839
 71

00:40:48.839 --> 00:40:50.659
 you can testify

00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:51.239
 as well

00:40:51.239 --> 00:40:52.399
 my suffering

00:40:52.399 --> 00:40:53.299
 was good

00:40:53.299 --> 00:40:53.699
 for me

00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:54.659
 because it

00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:55.079
 taught me

00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:55.779
 to pay

00:40:55.779 --> 00:40:56.239
 attention

00:40:56.239 --> 00:40:57.439
 to the good

00:40:57.439 --> 00:40:58.119
 Lord

00:40:58.119 --> 00:40:59.079
 who gives me

00:40:59.079 --> 00:40:59.779
 his loving

00:40:59.779 --> 00:41:01.259
 lordship

00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:01.980
 with Christ

00:41:01.980 --> 00:41:02.579
 my king

00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:03.199
 and his law

00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:05.199
 we settle

00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:05.980
 we're under

00:41:05.980 --> 00:41:06.279
 him

00:41:06.280 --> 00:41:07.320
 we're not

00:41:07.320 --> 00:41:08.160
 a prisoner

00:41:08.160 --> 00:41:08.780
 to Rome

00:41:08.780 --> 00:41:09.540
 we're not

00:41:09.540 --> 00:41:09.920
 under the

00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:10.360
 chains

00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:11.080
 of our

00:41:11.080 --> 00:41:11.519
 suffering

00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:12.440
 we're slaves

00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:13.000
 to Christ

00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:13.820
 and his

00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:14.200
 word is

00:41:14.200 --> 00:41:14.680
 unbound

00:41:14.680 --> 00:41:16.700
 everyone

00:41:16.700 --> 00:41:17.240
 suffers

00:41:17.240 --> 00:41:17.820
 but happy

00:41:17.820 --> 00:41:18.260
 are you

00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:19.019
 whom God

00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:19.360
 teaches

00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:20.000
 to suffer

00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:21.220
 in Christ

00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:22.980
 let's spend

00:41:22.980 --> 00:41:23.360
 a moment

00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:23.960
 reflecting

00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:24.420
 and asking

00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:24.880
 God to

00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.220
 minister

00:41:25.220 --> 00:41:25.820
 this truth

00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:26.160
 to our

00:41:26.160 --> 00:41:26.500
 hearts