WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading comes from Philippians chapter 1, starting in verse 18b.

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 Please follow along on the screen or your Bible.

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 Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus

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 Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will

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 not at all be ashamed, but that with full courage, now, as always, Christ will be honored in my body,

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 whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the

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 flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard-pressed

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 between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain

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 in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and

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 continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause

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 to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. This is the word of God.

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 Thank you, Kathy, for reading the passage. Sounds so much better when you read it than when I say it

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 in my head. Good morning again. My name is Oscar. I'm one of the leaders here at Watermark, and it's

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 really a privilege to be sharing the message with everyone today. Let me pray for us.

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 Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, just pray that you have your way over the next 30 or so minutes,

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 God, that your spirit would help me with clarity of thoughts and speech, that the message would be

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 clear and concise. And I pray for all of us listening, tuning in, that our hearts would be soft and

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 accepting of your word, God, and I just pray that it would fall on fertile soil. Help us to see this

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 incredible Jesus that Paul loved, to see the beauty of Christ so much more clearly. Have your way,

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 God, today. In Jesus' name. Amen. When I was young, my ambition was to be a professional tennis player.

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 From the age of 11 years old, I spent probably up to 25 hours a week on the court training, in the gym,

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 and on weekends playing tennis tournaments. My parents spent an enormous amount of time,

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 energy, and money on my tennis. I didn't have much of a social life when I was a teenager. In fact,

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 if you ask me now, what did teenagers do in the 90s? I actually have no idea. I didn't do any of those

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 things. Our ambition drives us to do many things. Our ambition drives us to work hard, to make sacrifices,

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 to change our behavior because we think it would benefit us long term. Our ambition pushes us to

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 persevere in the face of adversity because we have a vision, a goal, or a prize that we are striving

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 towards. For some of us, maybe our ambition is to make money and retire. Perhaps if you are a university

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 student, your ambition is to graduate, find a good job, and make a name for yourself in the world.

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 Or maybe your ambition is to get married and have a family. As we continue our sermon series on the

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 book of Philippians, in today's passage, we'll look at Paul's ambition. Paul lays out his life school

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 very clearly. In verse 20, he says, it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all be

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 ashamed, but that with full courage, now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life

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 or by death. If Paul had a mission statement, this would be it. This was his reason to exist, that Jesus

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 Christ would be honored in his body, in life, and in death. The word honored can be translated as

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 exalted, i.e. lifted high, or magnified, i.e. made big. In a word, Paul's ambition was that the name of

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 Jesus would be glorified, glorified through him. He deeply desired that all who knew him, from the

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 disciples that he planted at those churches, to the prison officials who guarded him day and night,

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 that they would see through Paul a glimpse of the beauty, the kindness, as well as the sovereignty and

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 majesty of Jesus. And how did Paul go about doing this? How did he glorify the name of Jesus?

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 Jesus by doing two things, by loving Jesus and by loving those around him. Sounds simple, but if we're

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 honest, they're both pretty difficult to execute. And so, Christ-centered ambition, if we were to define it,

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 is to glorify the name of Jesus Christ through loving him and loving others. And this morning, we'll

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 try to unpack these verses and see what that looks like in Paul's life and in our lives.

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 Now, if you look again at the end of verse 20, Paul desired that Christ would be honored in my body,

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 whether by life or by death. And then in verse 21, he follows it up by saying,

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 for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. In Paul's life, we can pretty easily imagine how he

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 glorified Jesus. He spent all of his time spreading the gospel. He suffered for the sake of Jesus. And

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 he did all of this joyfully, not out of guilt or compulsion, but because he had a deep love for his

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 Lord Jesus. But then he says this interesting thing in verse 21. He says, and to die is gain.

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 How does dying glorify the name of Jesus? How would he be able to preach the gospel if he died?

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 Well, let's read on to see what Paul says about his own death. In verse 23, he says, I'm hard pressed

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 between the two, i.e. living and dying. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far

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 better. Now, is Paul saying that he desired death because his life of suffering and persecution were

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 too much to bear and therefore death would be a release? Or is he saying that he desired death

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 because he believed that in heaven, in paradise, he'd be able to experience all those worldly carnal

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 pleasures that he gave up to be in ministry for most of his life? Well, of course, Paul is not saying

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 either of these things. Paul said, to die is gain because in death, he would finally be face to face

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 with Jesus Christ, the one he loved and the one he adored above everything else he had ever experienced

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 in the world. Can you sense Paul's deep love, adoration and desire for Jesus?

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 And so for the Christian, one way that Jesus is glorified is when we love him so much

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 that we consider death as gain because we gain Christ.

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 Now, let's not kid ourselves here. This is extremely challenging. I myself have been preparing this

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 sermon for a little while now and this idea that death is gain is still very difficult for me to swallow

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 because by definition, in death, we are forced to give up all that we deem as good and valuable,

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 fun and exciting. Goodbye to all those worldly ambitions. No more retirement, playing golf and tennis

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 every day. No more beach vacations in Thailand or Vietnam, which I personally love.

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 Your shoe or watch collection, they will return to dust. No more marriages. No more having children.

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 But Paul says to die is gain because in heaven, there is something infinitely greater than any of the

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 greatest experiences or relationships that this world has to offer. So now the question is,

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 what did Paul see or experience that gave him such an incredible level of conviction in and love for Jesus?

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 Well, it's because Paul experienced Jesus. He had an intimate relationship with his Lord. He knew Jesus.

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 Now, I'm sure Paul experienced Jesus in many ways. Let me just highlight two ways. First, he experienced

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 the grace of Jesus. In your Bible, if you turn back a few books from Philippians to the book of Acts,

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 in Acts chapter 7, there's a story about the stoning of a man named Stephen who was a disciple of Jesus.

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 Paul was there at the stoning of Stephen, but not defending Stephen, but actually persecuting him,

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 encouraging his murder. Paul was a murderer. By any objective measure before he came to know Jesus,

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 he was a terrible person. But upon repenting and giving his life to Jesus, he experienced the wonderful

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 mercy and grace that only Jesus can offer. But Paul only experienced grace because he knew the depths

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 of his own sin. In 1 Timothy 15, Paul says, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am

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 the worst. The Bible's greatest evangelist, the man who wrote a lot of the New Testament, confessed,

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 I am the worst of sinners. But instead of moping around, feeling depressed and ashamed of his past sins,

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 Paul lists the eyes of his heart up to the risen Christ. He sees the scars on the hands and feet of Jesus,

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 and he rejoices knowing that his sins are not only forgiven, they're wiped from the face of the earth.

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 And not because of anything Paul did, but only because of what our Lord Jesus did on the cross when he gave his life for us.

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 That is grace, undeserved and unearned. And Paul experienced that.

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 And second, Paul experienced joy in Jesus. We know from last Sunday's sermon that Jeremy gave,

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 that Paul wrote Philippians from prison. And it wasn't, it was probably not a white collar,

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 nice prison with three hot meals a day and a big screen TV. It was probably a dank, dark, disgusting,

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 rat infested prison. And Paul was on death row throughout his life of ministry. Paul was beaten.

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 He was stoned. He was persecuted. He suffered tremendously. And yet, look how joyful he was all

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 the time. It's incredible when I think about it. Nothing, absolutely nothing can depress or bog him down.

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 If you look at this beginning of the passage in verse 18, Paul starts out with saying,

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 yes, and I will rejoice. He's rejoicing because the gospel is being preached,

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 even though some of those doing the preaching are doing so out of selfish ambition.

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 Now, Paul could have said, hey, let's stop those guys from preaching. Their intention is wrong.

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 After all, they were probably diluting Paul's own message while he was stuck in jail. But instead,

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 Paul sees God redeeming a bad situation for good. And for that, he rejoices.

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 Now, you and I, we can't escape suffering and challenges in this life. When one challenge goes away,

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 another comes. But what the life of Paul and the entire Bible shows us is that in Christ,

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 we can experience joy in all seasons. Now, most of us will probably not face the type of suffering that

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 Paul faced, although some of us might. But we all do suffer and struggle in our own ways, don't we?

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 For me, this season has been a particularly challenging time for my job and career.

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 If you didn't know, I don't work at Watermark. I've been working in finance for the past 15 or so years.

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 And just a few months ago, I was notified by my employer that I've been losing my job.

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 Now, if I'm honest, when I first got that call, I was pretty upset. I was angry. I was blaming

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 everything I possibly could. But then after speaking to my wife, Celeste, and praying with her,

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 and then doing the same with the Watermark elders and a number of other brothers in Christ,

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 honestly, the sense that I've been feeling in my heart is one of peace and joy.

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 Sometimes when I tell a friend that I've lost my job, they look at me like,

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 why aren't you more angry or anxious or upset?

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 You have three children to feed and educate in Hong Kong. Are you crazy?

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 Maybe I am crazy. But I can just be honest with you that I feel great.

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 I feel that God would take care of me because he's able to do immeasurably more than all I could

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 ever ask or imagine according to the power that is at work within us.

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 I've lost my place here. I'm sorry.

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 Excuse me.

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 When we suffer or lose something like a job or a boyfriend or girlfriend, or when we lose

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 control of our teenage child, our natural response is to worry. But what the Bible teaches us is to

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 respond in a very different way by running to Jesus and experiencing his joy. How? By getting on

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 our knees in prayer. By asking our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with us, to pray

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 for us, to intercede with God on our behalf.

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 Look at Paul. In verse 19, he writes,

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 through your prayers and the help of the spirit of Jesus Christ,

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 this, i.e. his time in jail,

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 will turn out for my deliverance.

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 Paul was a man of great faith, no doubt, but even Paul knew that

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 he needed the prayer coverage of the saints and the power of God's spirit to carry him through

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 his time in prison. I don't think suffering in jail was that easy for Paul. But he knew that joy

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 doesn't come simply from positive thinking. It can only come, deep joy can only come from the one who

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 created joy, and that is Jesus Christ.

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 So, what did Paul experience in Jesus that made him love him so much?

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 One, he experienced the grace of Jesus,

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 and two, he experienced joy in Jesus.

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 And part of Christ-centered ambition

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 is to glorify the name of Jesus

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 by loving him through experiencing his grace and joy,

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 as we've just said.

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 But it's also through loving our neighbors.

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 It's both upward to God and outward to those around us.

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 Although Paul desired to depart and to be with Jesus,

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 he knew God was calling him to remain in this world for some time,

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 to love and care for the church,

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 to love and care for his disciples and anyone else

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 that he met along the way.

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 In verse 24,

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 Paul says,

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 To remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

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 Convinced of this,

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 I know that I will remain and continue with you all

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 for your progress and joy in the faith.

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 Ever said to yourself,

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 I want to help my spouse,

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 my CG member,

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 or my friend have more joy in Jesus?

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 Ever thought about that?

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 Well, Paul did.

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 He was ambitious about spreading joy.

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 He himself had this deep sense of joy rooted in Christ

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 and his joy was highly contagious

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 because he rejoiced in all circumstances,

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 even in prison.

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 And that was a great encouragement to the church.

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 But Paul was also intentional about spreading joy.

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 And he did this by serving others,

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 putting their needs above his own.

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 Paul prayed for the church.

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 He visited the church.

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 He wrote them letters.

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 Paul prayed for the church.

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 While in jail.

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 He loved others and wanted those around him

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 to receive the joy that he experienced.

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 But loving others is not always convenient.

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 In the midst of being persecuted in prison,

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 Paul didn't just look inward at himself,

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 which he could have.

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 He was in a tough spot.

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 Instead, he looked outward at those around him

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 and said,

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 God has called me to help you receive the grace and joy

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 that I have experienced.

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 Perhaps some of us think that before we can care for a Christian,

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 before we can share the gospel to our friend,

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 that we need to have our lives perfectly sorted first,

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 that we need to have a stable job and income,

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 or to have sent our kids off to university,

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 before we have the mental and physical capacity to care for another person.

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 But Paul is teaching us in this passage actually the exact opposite.

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 In the midst of suffering,

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 in the midst of huge uncertainty,

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 in all seasons,

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 God is calling us to glorify his name through loving others.

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 Paul's life was messy.

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 Our lives are messy.

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 My life is incredibly messy.

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 But it's exactly when your life is a mess

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 that God can use you and I most effectively,

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 because then it's not our glory,

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 it's his glory.

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 Now, I don't mean to pretend that we don't have pain or suffering,

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 particularly in this time of coronavirus,

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 what's happening in our city of Hong Kong.

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 But what I do believe very strongly

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 is that as we struggle and wrestle through our challenges that we face,

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 God actually wants to bless us with his joy.

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 And if we can come to a place

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 where in the midst of our struggles,

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 we rejoice in God,

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 and we can care for somebody else,

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 man, that is an incredible way

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 of glorifying in the name of Jesus,

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 is it not?

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 But there's also often a cost

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 when we love others.

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 Paul said,

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 my desire is to depart and be with Christ,

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 for that is far better.

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 Counterintuitively,

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 Paul actually preferred death over life

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 because in death,

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 he'd be in the presence of his beloved Jesus.

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 But he submits to God's authority

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 to remain in the flesh

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 because he knew that God would be able to bless others through him.

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 And Paul can freely submit to God's will

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 for his very existence,

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 despite the cost to him,

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 because he saw Jesus as the ultimate example

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 of one who surrendered.

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 In Philippians 2,

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 which we will study next Sunday,

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 Paul writes that Jesus,

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 who is equal to the majesty in heaven

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 in all respects,

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 he gave up his sovereignty,

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 becoming just a man.

00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:35.200
 And if that wasn't enough,

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.240
 Jesus gave his very life

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:39.599
 as he suffered on that cross

00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:41.119
 for you and I,

00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.779
 the truest,

00:20:43.219 --> 00:20:43.719
 purest,

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:45.439
 ultimate example

00:20:45.439 --> 00:20:46.159
 of sacrifice

00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:47.339
 and submission.

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.159
 And so for us,

00:20:49.239 --> 00:20:49.719
 at times,

00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:51.319
 God calls us to love others

00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:52.939
 despite the risk

00:20:52.939 --> 00:20:54.079
 and the cost.

00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.979
 I think of my wife,

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.439
 Celeste.

00:20:57.199 --> 00:20:57.979
 A few months ago,

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.179
 she was chatting with her boss

00:20:59.179 --> 00:21:01.000
 and the topic of faith

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.619
 and religion

00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.399
 came up.

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:05.340
 And Celeste quickly decided

00:21:05.340 --> 00:21:06.700
 to share her testimony

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.600
 of how she fell in love

00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:09.180
 with Jesus.

00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:10.259
 Now,

00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:12.060
 was that risky

00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:14.160
 to share her faith

00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.080
 in her workplace

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:15.740
 with her boss?

00:21:16.320 --> 00:21:16.840
 Possibly.

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.440
 But was it worth it

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:20.240
 to magnify,

00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.800
 to make Jesus known

00:21:21.800 --> 00:21:22.440
 in her workplace?

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.460
 Absolutely.

00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:26.759
 And how about for some of us

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.720
 who are married?

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:31.080
 Sometimes between husband and wife,

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:33.559
 when we fight with each other,

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:35.319
 there's really no right or wrong.

00:21:36.439 --> 00:21:39.240
 And yet we get so frustrated

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:39.839
 and angry.

00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:41.879
 How about instead of trying

00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:42.759
 to rack our brains

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:44.179
 to figure out why I'm right

00:21:44.179 --> 00:21:46.480
 and why my spouse is wrong,

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:48.859
 we can actually approach our spouse

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.359
 and say,

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.379
 Honey,

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.299
 I'm sorry.

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:54.480
 Sorry I made you upset and angry.

00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.259
 Can you forgive me?

00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.899
 Can we pray together?

00:21:58.939 --> 00:22:00.439
 How about in our community groups?

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.079
 There are conflicts

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.839
 in our community groups,

00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:03.039
 right,

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.720
 if we're honest.

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.659
 But how about

00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:05.679
 when we have a conflict?

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.980
 Instead of approaching it

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.179
 with the mentality of

00:22:08.179 --> 00:22:09.619
 I'm right and you're wrong,

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.439
 we can approach it and say,

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:11.740
 Hey,

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:13.500
 I made some mistakes.

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.960
 You approach that person,

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.259
 you say,

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:15.460
 Hey,

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.159
 I've wronged you.

00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:18.019
 I confess.

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.179
 Will you forgive me?

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.259
 You see,

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.000
 humbling ourselves

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.119
 and apologizing

00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:25.919
 is costly

00:22:25.919 --> 00:22:26.460
 because,

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:27.339
 well,

00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.279
 it hurts our pride.

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.980
 But in Jesus,

00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.980
 we don't apologize

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.079
 out of fear,

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.399
 but actually

00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.379
 out of a deep sense

00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.099
 of security,

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.299
 knowing that Jesus

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.240
 will honor

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.359
 our sacrifice

00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.059
 and our humility

00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.759
 because he was the one

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.700
 who humbled himself

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.460
 on that cross

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.759
 to a far greater extent

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.680
 than we will ever

00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.700
 comprehend.

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.619
 And when

00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:51.379
 we share the gospel

00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:52.839
 with someone

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:54.539
 despite the risk,

00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:55.619
 and when

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.420
 we apologize

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.720
 and reconcile

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:59.579
 despite the cost,

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.039
 when we encourage,

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.759
 care for,

00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:03.099
 and pray for someone

00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:04.220
 and help them see

00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.200
 the beauty of Jesus

00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:07.259
 despite the inconvenience,

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:07.859
 but help them see

00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:08.599
 the joy

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.659
 that you have

00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.700
 and receive joy,

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.119
 man,

00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:13.599
 we actually ourselves

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:15.059
 experience joy

00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:16.039
 in Jesus.

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.099
 We help someone

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:19.359
 receive joy

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:21.240
 and then we receive joy

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.240
 in return.

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.559
 this is how

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.259
 the ecosystem

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.859
 of the gospel works.

00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:29.640
 So now we've seen

00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:31.160
 how Christ-centered ambition

00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.299
 is to glorify

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.559
 the name of Jesus Christ

00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.859
 through loving him

00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:36.599
 and loving other people.

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.259
 But what about

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.380
 our other ambitions?

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.380
 Can Christ-centered ambition

00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.359
 coexist

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:44.400
 with my other ambitions

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.079
 such as

00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:46.140
 having a good career

00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:48.099
 or raising a family?

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.720
 Well,

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.599
 it's really a matter

00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.419
 of priorities.

00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:54.439
 At work

00:23:54.439 --> 00:23:55.779
 is our sole

00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.859
 and most important

00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:57.519
 ambition

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.679
 to make money

00:23:58.679 --> 00:24:00.219
 or

00:24:00.219 --> 00:24:01.419
 can we work hard

00:24:01.419 --> 00:24:01.939
 because

00:24:01.939 --> 00:24:03.199
 we honor God

00:24:03.199 --> 00:24:03.980
 with our work

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:05.500
 but our priority,

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.039
 what is most important

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.539
 to us

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.500
 is that at work

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.399
 we build meaningful

00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:10.219
 relationships

00:24:10.219 --> 00:24:11.619
 such that we can

00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.019
 ultimately

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.579
 share the gospel

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.439
 with our colleagues.

00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:17.599
 And with our kids

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.019
 is our main ambition

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:19.859
 for them to

00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:20.859
 get good grades

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.319
 and to go

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.199
 to a good university

00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:23.740
 to find a name

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.240
 for themselves

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:24.959
 in the world.

00:24:25.459 --> 00:24:26.219
 Or is the beauty

00:24:26.219 --> 00:24:26.679
 of Jesus

00:24:26.679 --> 00:24:27.479
 so precious

00:24:27.479 --> 00:24:28.519
 to us

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.619
 as parents

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.659
 that above all

00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:32.879
 we prioritize

00:24:32.879 --> 00:24:34.559
 our children's

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.619
 spiritual life

00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:36.519
 over their

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.859
 academic life

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.959
 by actually

00:24:38.959 --> 00:24:39.779
 spending time

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.639
 teaching them

00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.039
 about the love

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.659
 of Jesus.

00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.459
 Or in relationships,

00:24:44.659 --> 00:24:45.199
 do we only

00:24:45.199 --> 00:24:46.159
 build relationships

00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:47.639
 that can benefit us?

00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.860
 Or do we

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:49.480
 prayerfully

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.740
 and intentionally

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:52.080
 look to

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.060
 invest in

00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:53.780
 relationships

00:24:53.780 --> 00:24:55.220
 through hospitality

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.920
 or discipleship

00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:58.080
 or through

00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:59.220
 sharing the gospel?

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:02.180
 God calls us,

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.620
 God calls us,

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.040
 Watermark,

00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:04.840
 to be a people

00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:05.980
 who put the gospel

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.560
 ambition

00:25:06.560 --> 00:25:09.060
 above our own ambition

00:25:09.060 --> 00:25:10.200
 because Jesus

00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:11.220
 is the prize

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.520
 that we strive

00:25:12.520 --> 00:25:13.100
 towards

00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:14.100
 and glorifying

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:14.400
 him

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.620
 is our goal.

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:18.679
 because at the

00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:19.579
 end of the day,

00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:21.319
 worldly ambition,

00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.239
 stuff that we

00:25:22.239 --> 00:25:22.839
 are striving for

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.339
 every day,

00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:23.879
 it will never

00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:24.719
 satisfy us

00:25:24.719 --> 00:25:26.039
 like Jesus can.

00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.619
 Look at Paul.

00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.219
 I imagine that

00:25:29.219 --> 00:25:29.779
 he was a pretty

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.899
 ambitious guy.

00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.259
 Prior to meeting

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.559
 Jesus,

00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.379
 he was moving up

00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:34.419
 that religious ladder

00:25:34.419 --> 00:25:35.259
 pretty quickly.

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.539
 But after meeting

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.219
 Christ,

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.699
 Paul said,

00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:42.519
 whatever was

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.299
 to my profit,

00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:45.079
 I now consider

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.659
 loss,

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.180
 nothing

00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.940
 for the sake

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.519
 of Christ.

00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.720
 What happened?

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:52.220
 He experienced

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.759
 Jesus.

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.319
 He met Jesus,

00:25:53.399 --> 00:25:54.119
 he experienced

00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:55.480
 Jesus and soon

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.259
 realized his

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.200
 worldly ambitions

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.500
 would never

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.519
 satisfy him

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.680
 like Jesus

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.039
 could.

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.359
 And I think

00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.139
 if we're honest,

00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.759
 most of us

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.180
 would say the

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:05.700
 same thing.

00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:07.619
 If our ambition

00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:08.200
 is to make

00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.099
 money,

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:09.859
 to make a lot

00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.279
 of money,

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.059
 once we get

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.759
 to that number

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.299
 we think will

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:12.980
 make us happy,

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.460
 it never does.

00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.539
 We always

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.180
 want more.

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:17.940
 If our ambition

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.599
 is to set up

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.119
 our lives

00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:19.740
 to have as much

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.839
 comfort and

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:21.680
 pleasure as we

00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:22.619
 possibly can,

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.339
 we'll never get

00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:24.740
 there because

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.579
 there are always

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.639
 diminishing returns

00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:27.899
 in worldly

00:26:27.899 --> 00:26:28.440
 pleasure.

00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:30.460
 Once you eat

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:30.960
 at a one

00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.480
 Michelin star

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.899
 restaurant,

00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.680
 you go to

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:32.919
 the two

00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.460
 Michelin star

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.240
 and then the

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.559
 three.

00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:35.899
 Pretty soon

00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.220
 you'll have to

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.740
 make ten

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.339
 Michelin star

00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:38.019
 restaurants and

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.599
 even those

00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:38.899
 will never

00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:39.559
 satisfy the

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.399
 most experienced

00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:41.059
 palate.

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:43.339
 because as

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.659
 C.S.

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:45.179
 Lewis famously

00:26:45.179 --> 00:26:45.679
 said,

00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:46.859
 if we find

00:26:46.859 --> 00:26:47.879
 ourselves with

00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:48.599
 a desire that

00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.240
 nothing in this

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.119
 world can

00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:50.720
 satisfy,

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.059
 the most

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:52.399
 probable

00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.980
 explanation is

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.399
 that we were

00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:55.279
 made for

00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.220
 another world.

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.139
 No ambition

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:59.159
 in this world

00:26:59.159 --> 00:27:00.220
 can truly

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.599
 satisfy our

00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:03.119
 souls except

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:04.119
 the creator

00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:04.720
 himself,

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.299
 Jesus Christ.

00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:08.339
 the world

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:08.839
 will say to

00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:08.940
 you,

00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.579
 be ambitious,

00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:10.680
 prove yourself

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:10.980
 to me,

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:11.919
 accomplish more,

00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:12.859
 look better,

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:13.940
 and then I

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.359
 will love

00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:14.599
 you.

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:15.980
 What does

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.559
 Jesus say?

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.159
 Jesus says,

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.379
 you have nothing

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:19.980
 to prove to

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.180
 me,

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.000
 I already

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.500
 know you,

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.799
 I forged

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.319
 you in your

00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:24.019
 mother's womb,

00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.659
 I know you

00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:27.000
 better than

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.659
 anyone else

00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:28.079
 does,

00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.240
 and I love

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:29.480
 you.

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.339
 The world

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:31.919
 says have

00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:32.319
 goals,

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.220
 work harder,

00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:34.099
 do more,

00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.019
 sacrifice,

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.940
 and then

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.200
 you'll be

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.539
 happy.

00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.559
 Jesus says,

00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.019
 come to

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.240
 me,

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.960
 all those

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.359
 who are

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.559
 burdened,

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.539
 burnt out,

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.900
 worried and

00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.599
 anxious about

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.200
 their future

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.900
 because of all

00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:47.519
 this uncertainty,

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.039
 and Jesus

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.359
 says,

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:48.819
 come to

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.099
 me,

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:49.779
 and in

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.700
 me you

00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.099
 will find

00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:51.639
 rest,

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.379
 and peace,

00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.619
 and joy,

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.440
 and everlasting

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.160
 satisfaction.

00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.099
 You and I

00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:00.500
 were created

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:00.879
 to know

00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:01.420
 this Jesus.

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.799
 We were

00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.339
 created to

00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.200
 experience

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:04.940
 Jesus,

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.519
 to experience

00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.139
 the joy

00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:07.180
 and grace

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:08.379
 of Jesus.

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.920
 But to

00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.519
 know Jesus

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.059
 and to

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.619
 experience

00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:12.819
 him,

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.299
 we must

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:13.879
 prioritize

00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.839
 him in

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.440
 our lives.

00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.539
 When I

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:16.720
 played

00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.000
 tennis,

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:18.000
 I missed

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.740
 so many

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:20.139
 school events

00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:20.619
 because I

00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:20.960
 was off

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.259
 playing a

00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.440
 tennis

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:21.740
 tournament.

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.680
 In fact,

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.059
 I even

00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.440
 missed my

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:23.720
 college

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.259
 graduation

00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.779
 ceremony.

00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:26.180
 But I

00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:26.819
 believed it

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.259
 was totally

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.680
 worth it

00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.099
 because I

00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:28.420
 love

00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:28.799
 tennis.

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.440
 I put

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.039
 it above

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.500
 most

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.359
 things in

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:31.539
 my

00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.019
 life.

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:37.420
 In the

00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.000
 same way,

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.000
 if we

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.279
 want to

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.879
 experience

00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.299
 Jesus,

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.180
 if we

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:41.460
 want to

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:42.019
 experience

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.339
 his grace

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.759
 and joy

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:46.279
 and satisfaction

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.759
 in him,

00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.200
 we need to

00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.139
 prioritize him

00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:48.779
 in our

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.259
 lives.

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.440
 Our love

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:51.900
 for Jesus

00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:53.680
 grows day

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.319
 by day

00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:54.740
 as we

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.259
 meditate on

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:55.839
 his word,

00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:56.599
 as we

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.139
 pray and

00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:57.579
 fast,

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:57.980
 as we

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.779
 spend time

00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.379
 sharing our

00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.220
 lives with

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.440
 our

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:00.920
 community.

00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.380
 In

00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:02.600
 tennis,

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.079
 it took

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.579
 me years

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:03.940
 and hitting

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.500
 thousands

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.059
 of tennis

00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.900
 balls before

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.259
 I was good

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.579
 enough to

00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:06.920
 play in

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.400
 university.

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.460
 And in

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.860
 our faith,

00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:09.220
 it does

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:09.880
 take time

00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:11.079
 as well.

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.559
 And every

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.120
 time we

00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:14.680
 experience a

00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.000
 little bit

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.059
 of the joy

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.620
 of Christ,

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.299
 a little bit

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.819
 of the grace

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.400
 of Christ,

00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.620
 every time we

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.799
 wake up and

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.440
 we pray and

00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.079
 we're satisfied

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.660
 in him,

00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.100
 it's like we

00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:23.559
 put a brick

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.100
 down and

00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.600
 then brick

00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.700
 by brick

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.339
 by brick

00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:27.019
 until those

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.680
 bricks become

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.240
 a tower.

00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.240
 And that is

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.539
 how our

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.519
 love for

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:30.819
 our beloved

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.779
 Jesus grows,

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:32.819
 but we

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:34.500
 must prioritize

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.000
 him.

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.440
 Let me

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.980
 close here.

00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:40.940
 The world

00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.460
 is constantly

00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.119
 telling us

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.500
 to be

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:42.960
 ambitious

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.700
 for

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.379
 ourselves,

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.839
 to glorify

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.779
 ourselves,

00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:48.180
 but that is

00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.619
 the way to

00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:49.379
 lose everything

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.399
 both in

00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:51.059
 this life

00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:51.960
 and the

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.279
 next.

00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.000
 As this

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.259
 passage from

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:55.740
 Philippians

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.579
 teaches us,

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.539
 Christ-centered

00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.420
 ambition is to

00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:59.180
 glorify the

00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.740
 great name

00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.100
 of Jesus

00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:00.740
 Christ above

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.779
 all things

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.600
 through loving

00:30:02.600 --> 00:30:04.140
 him and

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.600
 through loving

00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:06.080
 those, loving

00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:07.000
 people around

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.519
 us.

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.320
 It's the greatest

00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:10.560
 commandment to

00:30:10.560 --> 00:30:11.259
 love the Lord

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.240
 your God with

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.060
 all your heart,

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.880
 soul, mind,

00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:15.900
 and strength,

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:16.980
 and to love our

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:18.180
 neighbors as

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.799
 ourselves.

00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:20.660
 And as we

00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:22.200
 prioritize Jesus

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:23.320
 in our lives,

00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.820
 we experience him

00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:25.740
 more and we

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.320
 grow to love

00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:26.899
 him more.

00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:28.339
 We experience

00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:28.799
 more of his

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.439
 grace and

00:30:29.439 --> 00:30:30.299
 joy and

00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:30.720
 become more

00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.919
 satisfied in

00:30:31.919 --> 00:30:32.439
 him and less

00:30:32.439 --> 00:30:33.339
 satisfied in

00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:34.439
 the stuff of

00:30:34.439 --> 00:30:35.059
 the world.

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.399
 And as his

00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:37.899
 love sinks

00:30:37.899 --> 00:30:38.799
 deeper into

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.419
 our hearts,

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.259
 like Paul,

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.000
 we are compelled

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.579
 to love those

00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.720
 around us.

00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.799
 It'll be

00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.379
 inconvenient,

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:49.220
 it'll be risky

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.460
 and costly

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.299
 at times,

00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:52.599
 but for the

00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:53.099
 glory of the

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.679
 name of Jesus,

00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.980
 it'll be worth

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.299
 it.

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.240
 Watermark,

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:58.140
 may our

00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:58.960
 greatest ambition

00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:00.560
 be to glorify

00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:01.120
 the name of

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:01.940
 Jesus Christ

00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:03.019
 in our city

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:04.220
 and in our

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.600
 world.

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.100
 Let's pray.

00:31:09.320 --> 00:31:09.920
 Father,

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.120
 Jesus,

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:12.640
 Holy Spirit,

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.740
 thank you for

00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.480
 your word,

00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:16.400
 which is so

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:16.940
 powerful.

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:19.500
 It changes

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:19.940
 hearts,

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.560
 it impacts

00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:21.140
 lives,

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.100
 it turns

00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:23.139
 dead people

00:31:23.139 --> 00:31:23.799
 into life,

00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:24.699
 sleepy Christians

00:31:24.699 --> 00:31:25.539
 to those that

00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.059
 are alive and

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.819
 on fire for

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:27.079
 you.

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:28.579
 God,

00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:29.159
 as we

00:31:29.159 --> 00:31:30.619
 continue to

00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.399
 meditate on

00:31:31.399 --> 00:31:32.179
 your word,

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.339
 not what I've

00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:33.480
 said,

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.079
 but your word,

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.399
 Father,

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:34.819
 your Holy

00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:35.099
 Scripture,

00:31:35.199 --> 00:31:35.619
 I pray,

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:35.939
 God,

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.119
 that you

00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.339
 would do

00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:37.719
 an amazing

00:31:37.719 --> 00:31:38.139
 work in

00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.299
 us,

00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:38.619
 Father.

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.740
 Help us

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.439
 to love

00:31:41.439 --> 00:31:41.839
 Jesus,

00:31:41.959 --> 00:31:42.679
 to see him,

00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.000
 God,

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.819
 as Paul did,

00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:44.419
 to love

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:45.199
 Jesus with

00:31:45.199 --> 00:31:46.359
 an undying

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:46.859
 love,

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:47.500
 Father,

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:48.559
 and to

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.480
 experience

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:51.079
 joy in

00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.359
 him,

00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:52.699
 to experience

00:31:52.699 --> 00:31:52.960
 more of

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.539
 his grace,

00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.679
 to be more

00:31:54.679 --> 00:31:55.559
 satisfied in

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:55.919
 him,

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.159
 such that

00:31:57.159 --> 00:31:58.079
 the stuff

00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.399
 that we're

00:31:58.399 --> 00:31:59.099
 pursuing in

00:31:59.099 --> 00:31:59.699
 this world,

00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.299
 all our

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:01.059
 worldly ambitions

00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.819
 would fade

00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:02.220
 away,

00:32:02.379 --> 00:32:02.639
 God.

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:05.679
 Come,

00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:06.079
 Lord Jesus,

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.579
 help us,

00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:06.819
 Father.

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:07.220
 And I pray,

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:07.379
 God,

00:32:07.419 --> 00:32:08.359
 as that happens

00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:08.919
 in our lives,

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:09.199
 Lord,

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.119
 we'd be a

00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:11.199
 church that

00:32:11.199 --> 00:32:12.279
 would sacrificially

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.059
 love others,

00:32:13.159 --> 00:32:13.279
 God,

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:13.799
 despite the

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:14.179
 cost,

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:14.699
 the risk,

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.539
 the inconvenience,

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.019
 and all those

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:16.419
 things.

00:32:17.139 --> 00:32:17.559
 Help us,

00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:17.699
 God,

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.199
 to do so,

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.980
 not because

00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.659
 we feel

00:32:19.659 --> 00:32:20.059
 guilty,

00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:20.759
 but because

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.259
 we love

00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:21.980
 you so much,

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:22.619
 we want

00:32:22.619 --> 00:32:23.059
 this good

00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:23.839
 news to

00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:25.399
 reach everyone,

00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:25.720
 God,

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.220
 that we know,

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:26.619
 Father.

00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:28.460
 Lord,

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:28.839
 may you be

00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:30.179
 glorified in

00:32:30.179 --> 00:32:30.539
 our city,

00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:31.619
 in our world.

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.019
 We love

00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.240
 you.

00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:35.079
 Pray this in

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.480
 your name.

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.259
 Amen.

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:37.359
 Amen.