WEBVTT

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 Good morning. Is the microphone working? I took it off during worship because I didn't know if I had to if it was on or not. I thought it would be a tragedy if you guys heard me sing.

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 So I put it on and so it seems to be working. My name is Mark Carter. I do not go to church here. I was the speaker for D-Now in kind of a roundabout way.

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 In October of last year, I was the speaker at a BSM, a Baptist student ministry retreat at Camp Chaparral where several colleges from around Texas showed up and I was friends with one of the BSM leaders.

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 And so we'd gone to church together. He actually got saved in our church and now he's a missionary to one of the colleges, the one in commerce, Texas A&M Commerce.

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 And so he asked if I would speak and so I spoke and we had this really incredible worship band that was there.

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 And that's how I met Jared. Jared was part of it. He helped lead worship for that.

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 And so back many, many months ago, he said, would you consider speaking at our D-Now for our church?

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 And I said, yes, I'd be happy to. And then and here it is.

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 I'll be honest. At that moment, I did not know I was preaching to you on Sunday morning.

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 So I'm but I am happy to be here.

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 My wife is here with me. If you would talk to her after church, she makes me look better and you'll like me more if you meet her.

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 And then my son is there. He is pretty great as well.

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 So I told him this morning as we were getting ready, I'm like, hey, church is kind of weird.

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 They're going to ask you to come up and you have to speak. You have to give a testimony.

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 And he was like, you've got to be kidding me.

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 So at this time, you can come up and give your testimony.

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 I am I work for a family in Wichita Falls.

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 That's how I got here. I grew up in East Texas.

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 I was a son of a pastor. And after I went to a Christian university and got a church ministries degree and I was a full time associate pastor for many years.

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 And then we were part of a church plant in Tyler in East Texas for 10 years.

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 And it was an unpaid position. And so I had to get a job so we could eat.

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 And so that job is the same job I have now.

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 And I work for a family in Wichita Falls.

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 And so 10 years ago, they asked if I would move to Wichita Falls to their corporate office.

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 So here I am.

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 So I'm an elder at Fairway Baptist Church.

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 And we have multiple elders there.

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 It's just another word for pastor.

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 But I'm a non-employed, not employed by a church pastor at Fairway.

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 And so I probably speak every other month at Fairway.

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 So thank you for having me.

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 I'm honored to be here.

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 And so if you have your Bible, would you turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 4?

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 And so as you turn in your Bible, I'll kind of give you some time to look for it.

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 I was super impressed with your youth pastor, with Jared.

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 When I was a youth pastor, I'll be honest, I hated overnight trips.

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 The whole D-Now weekend, I got saved at church camp.

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 I see its value.

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 It's wonderful.

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 Organizing it as a youth pastor is just like probably being a coach running a track meet.

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 It's just chaos, right?

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 I thought Jared was prepared, organized.

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 I thought his leaders were great.

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 And so really cool.

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 God has been kind to you to fill up four rows of youth for this.

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 I was also, I think, as a parent of a teenager, I would want to hear this too.

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 I was super impressed how loud your teenagers sing.

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 It's like we worship.

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 This is my fourth time to speak to them.

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 I told them this morning, I'm about out of material.

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 And that's not true.

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 There's a whole Bible.

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 But all my good jokes and illustrations have been used.

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 It was really cool.

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 We were in a small room, and there was worship, and they sang.

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 Like they actually sang loud.

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 And how cool is that, that you're teenagers, that you guys, you sang so loud.

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 It was really cool to hear them worship.

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 There's something that stirs your affections for Jesus hearing other people sing loud.

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 One thing we'll say often is saved people sing.

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 We will sing in heaven.

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 It will be a good day.

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 All right.

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 2 Corinthians chapter 4.

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 Now we'll read from verse 7 through 18.

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 But we have this treasure in jars of clay.

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 What treasure?

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 Well, if you back up one sentence, it says,

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 For God, who said,

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 Let light shine out of darkness,

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 has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God

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 in the face of Jesus Christ.

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 So the revelation of Jesus Christ, this is the treasure.

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 That light shining in us.

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 We have this treasure, but in jars of clay.

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 Jars of clay was always referenced as a fragile thing.

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 And as I get older in my mid-40s, that has never been more true.

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 I've never felt so fragile.

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 I just wake up some mornings and it appears I got hurt while I slept.

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 We have this treasure in bodies that are fragile.

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 And you say amen, right?

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 To show the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

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 What a cool sentence.

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 Like this treasure, the glory of God that lives in you,

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 is just another reason to show that God is great and you are not.

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 Is that this great glorious truth is in something so fragile like you.

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 And we are afflicted, Paul says, in every way, but not crushed.

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 Perplexed, but not driven to despair.

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 Persecuted, but not forsaken.

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 Struck down, but not destroyed.

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 Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,

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 so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

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 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake,

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 so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

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 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

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 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written,

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 I believed and so I spoke, we also believe.

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 And so we also speak, knowing that he who raised Jesus will raise us also with Jesus

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 and bring us with you into his presence.

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 For it is all for your sake, so that his grace extends more and more people,

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 to more and more people, it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God.

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 Verse 16.

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 So we don't lose hope.

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 Though our outer self is wasting away,

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 our inner self is being renewed day by day.

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 For this light and momentary affliction

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 is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

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 As we look not to the things that are seen,

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 but to the things that are unseen.

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 For the things that are seen are transient,

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 but the things that are unseen are eternal.

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 This weekend, I was kind of tasked with this idea of surrender, right?

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 Even the shirts that they're wearing say total surrender.

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 And so just systematically, I tried to build,

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 they probably had no idea,

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 but I tried to build on the first sermon was about pride, right?

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 And when you get saved,

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 truly, it is just God making you the second most important person in your life.

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 Prior to salvation, the fall is simply this.

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 The fall is that we dethrone the rightful king in our heart.

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 And who did you put on the throne?

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 What is the fall?

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 You.

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 Oh, come on.

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 Trust me.

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 It is from birth too, right?

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 I mean, all of us parents who have toddlers

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 know that our toddler thinks who their king is,

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 them, right?

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 It doesn't take long for your two-year-old to say,

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 stop and don't boss me around, right?

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 I'm going to do what I want.

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 And you, at 70, are still struggling with the same thing.

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 Don't mess with my kingdom, right?

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 Don't tell me what to do.

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 And the ultimate rebellion is to God.

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 Don't tell me what to do.

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 I'm the king.

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 And salvation, in its simplest form, is just this.

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 You're king.

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 You have the throne.

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 And honestly, it's probably, if you're being honest,

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 it looked like you got dethroned.

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 You didn't give him your throne.

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 He kicked you off, right?

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 Kicking and screaming.

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 And then sanctification, all your life,

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 is just you trying to claw back the throne

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 and him saying no.

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 And so that is pride, right?

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 The dethronement of ourselves is God's kindness to us.

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 And oh, the joy that comes when you don't have to be a big deal.

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 Oh, the goodness of God that you don't have to be the point.

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 This humility that comes when God gets to be king and you aren't.

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 There is joy there unspeakable.

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 How are you content in every situation, Paul?

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 It's because he's not the point of his own life anymore.

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 So that was our first sermon.

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 And then the second sermon about surrendering,

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 we looked at the prodigal son.

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 We actually looked at this sermon about two brothers.

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 The first brother, the prodigal son,

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 this is one we always think we are and you probably are, right?

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 You came to your senses and you came back to Christ.

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 But there's another boy in that story.

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 The older brother.

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 And what does the older brother say?

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 When the son comes home after squandering his life,

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 his inheritance on reckless living,

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 after telling his father, you're dead to me,

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 give me my inheritance.

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 And then squandering it and then coming home.

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 You can hear in the older brother's voice,

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 the same thing that would be in our voice.

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 Like, how dare you throw a party for this guy?

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 I've been working.

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 Like the story says that he came in from the field, right?

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 Like he's been working on his father's property.

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 So if you just follow the analogy,

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 this is the religious person that's been working on behalf of God.

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 The older brother is working on his father's property and says,

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 how dare you throw a party for this guy?

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 I deserve a party.

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 You didn't even throw a, you didn't even kill a goat for me.

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 And he gets the fattened calf.

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 He can't celebrate his younger brother coming home because all he sees is himself.

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 Oh, it doesn't, I mean, it plays, right?

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 I'm not trying to be mean to you.

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 I'm looking in a mirror.

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 How often can we not rejoice for others because all we see is ourself?

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 How often, even times with God, you're like, oh, you're going to throw him a party?

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 So total surrender, right?

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 We surrender our pride.

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 We surrender our entitlement, which is really just pride.

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 The whole weekend was about pride.

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 And then last night we looked at Abraham.

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 This weird story that God asked him to kill his own son, to sacrifice his son.

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 We looked at how it's really a story of grace.

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 You remember the story?

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 Abraham gives Isaac, he carries the wood up a hill for the sacrifice.

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 And it said, you're going to kill your son whom you love.

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 Your only son.

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 We talked about how idols eat us.

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 That anything that you love more than God, whether that be like making sourdough bread or heroin,

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 that anything that you love more than God will ultimately ruin you.

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 Not only just ruin you, it will eat you.

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 And you'll never be able to enjoy it.

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 And that was a story of grace.

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 That Abraham was given his son back after he was able to say, God, I love you most.

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 It's only in that situation.

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 When you love God most, then you can enjoy the things you love.

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 Like it's not bad to love your wife or love your kids or love your job.

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 It's not bad to love sourdough bread.

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 But if you love it more than Jesus, that thing you will never be able to enjoy.

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 Even if it's a good thing.

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 Idols eat you.

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 Idols eat you.

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 And you can't enjoy them.

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 And often your idol probably, because you look like a pretty good group of people,

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 is probably not an immoral thing.

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 It's probably a morally neutral thing.

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 But do you love it more than Jesus?

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 If you sow, if you do, it will rot like wet bread.

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 You'll never be able to enjoy it.

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 And then Abraham got his son back.

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 And then, in that state, he gets his son.

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 There's also another parallel to this story.

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 It's a few, and this is what I didn't say last night.

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 There's another son.

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 There's another firstborn son that carries wood.

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 Up a hill.

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 And God does not stop his hand on that firstborn son.

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 It's a picture of Jesus.

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 So surrender.

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 So we get to this morning, and I guess the task is like surrendering our future.

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 We surrendered our pride.

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 We surrendered our idols.

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 And this morning, we surrender the rest of my life.

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 This is my best attempt at this.

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 And I would like to contend this morning that the American church is seeing a decline

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 because of its attempt to divorce itself from suffering.

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 And I'm not talking about cancer or sickness, that kind of suffering.

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 That's a different sermon.

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 I'm talking about a particular kind of difficulty that should mark Christians who are loving each other

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 in such a radical kind of self-sacrificing way that you go to bed tired.

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 In my office in Wichita Falls, I have the world, like a map of the world, and it's framed upside down.

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 And it's super subtle.

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 And I will have worked with people for like two years, and they'll come in and say,

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 is that world upside down?

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 Like, ha, it is.

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 If Sheila bought it for me, it's like 23 years old.

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 Sheila bought it for me when I graduated college.

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 And to me, it is this example, this constant reminder day in and day out

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 of what it looks like to live in the kingdom of God.

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 It is the gospel to me.

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 It's what it looks like to live in the kingdom of God.

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 Upside down, backwards, doesn't make sense.

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 You wouldn't make it up.

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 Right?

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 Part of the reason I believe the scriptures to be true is this is not what you would come up with.

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 You would come up with your own planet and unlimited virgins.

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 Right?

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 You wouldn't come up with things like the greatest among you is the least among you.

00:16:15.739 --> 00:16:18.339
 The last, they're actually first.

00:16:19.239 --> 00:16:22.639
 The poor in this kingdom, they're rich.

00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:27.979
 The kingdom of God is so upside down and backwards.

00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:35.879
 Imagine a kingdom where a beggar gets to sit next to Abraham at the heavenly feast.

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:38.580
 You remember that story?

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:42.159
 They could not get their head around it.

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:49.600
 That a beggar gets to sit next to Abraham in heaven at the marriage feast.

00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:51.179
 But that's our kingdom.

00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:56.659
 Imagine a kingdom where the least among us are treated with the same honor and interest

00:16:56.659 --> 00:17:00.559
 as the most charismatic and successful.

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.360
 That's our kingdom.

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:09.579
 Oh man, when I first got this job like 20 years ago, I didn't even own like slacks.

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.819
 I had to go buy slacks.

00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:14.400
 I mean, we were like youth pastors, poor.

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:19.920
 And I would go to these like oil and gas conferences where there's a bunch of like important people

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:24.660
 and me, like 30-year-old Mark that had no idea what I was doing.

00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:29.840
 And I am outgoing enough where I would start a conversation, and I'm not kidding.

00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:33.759
 These very successful businessmen, I would be like, hey, I'm Mark.

00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:34.400
 Nice to meet you.

00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.300
 And they'd be like, hey.

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:39.320
 There was nobody on the other side.

00:17:39.800 --> 00:17:41.160
 They would just turn around.

00:17:42.540 --> 00:17:44.000
 That's the kingdom of the world.

00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:45.759
 You talk to important people.

00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:48.640
 And you don't waste your time on those that aren't.

00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:56.460
 But in this kingdom, this is the kind of kingdom where Jesus says, no, you don't turn the kids away from me.

00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:59.140
 They're just as important as that guy.

00:18:02.840 --> 00:18:07.580
 Imagine a kingdom where each of us look not only to our own interests, but the interest of others.

00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:12.740
 Imagine a kingdom where we do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit,

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:16.000
 but in humility we count others more significant than the self.

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:18.900
 A place where mouths speak life.

00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:24.299
 Because the giver of life lives in our heart, and our mouths reflect our heart.

00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.579
 And if life lives here, your mouth should speak life.

00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:31.160
 And if it speaks death, what's living in your heart?

00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:36.359
 But in the kingdom, this is the kind, this is what we do.

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:39.859
 We gossip about people's virtues.

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.759
 Like, did you see what they did?

00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:45.240
 They were faithful to their wife.

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.599
 And they're a good dad, too.

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.119
 Like, it's upside down.

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.740
 It's backwards.

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:57.700
 A kingdom where a lost world is confused by us.

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:04.500
 Because they've never seen a group of people who love each other so fiercely.

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:12.259
 This was the greatest missionary, this is the greatest missional thing the early church did.

00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:19.299
 Is the world looked in at this weird group of people and said there's something so strange about them

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:21.299
 because they love each other so fiercely.

00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.720
 And unselfishly.

00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:26.600
 And it brought people into the kingdom.

00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:30.980
 This is not hypothetical.

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:38.360
 This is not me living some ethereal fantasy in my head.

00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:44.819
 This is the kingdom that Jesus commands us to live in and be a part of.

00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:49.579
 This is who he's making us.

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.399
 He's redeemed.

00:19:51.400 --> 00:20:01.340
 And it is in this kingdom where the king is described in scripture as the holiest of holy.

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:04.120
 But also a humble servant.

00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:11.379
 Who loved you on your darkest day as much as he loves the cleaned up version of you.

00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:16.239
 Who took the wrath of God on your behalf.

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:18.679
 And is your righteousness.

00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:20.719
 Your satisfier.

00:20:20.919 --> 00:20:24.000
 And in his presence it says there is fullness of joy.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:31.920
 Jesus not only came to save you from your sins but also into Jesus Christ for good work.

00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.500
 For God.

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.000
 That God prepared beforehand.

00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:36.200
 That we should walk in him.

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.460
 So here's my thesis.

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:43.339
 There is a particular type of exhaustion.

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.480
 A unique kind of difficulty.

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:51.079
 A type of suffering that comes from following Jesus.

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.480
 And here's my point.

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.160
 It doesn't produce death.

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.779
 On the contrary.

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.480
 I contend that it produces in you deep affections for Jesus.

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.519
 And for each other.

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:15.200
 And it will produce in you a type of joy and peace that passes all worldly understanding.

00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:17.039
 And how dare we.

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:20.420
 I know I'm yelling at a bunch of people I've never seen before.

00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:21.799
 Thanks for listening.

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:25.539
 How dare we try to take that away from people.

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:29.440
 With soft messages that say something like.

00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:31.779
 Jesus wants you to be happy, healthy, and comfortable.

00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:36.619
 Because that's not in the New Testament, my friends.

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:42.160
 When did Jesus ever offer us the invitation to be comfortable?

00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:46.660
 On the contrary.

00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:49.180
 He offered us to come and die.

00:21:53.580 --> 00:21:55.360
 And in that death, he says.

00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:56.920
 Then.

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.400
 You're going to find life.

00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:03.720
 He offers us to carry a cross.

00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:06.120
 And he says.

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.960
 And if you do.

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.880
 You'll live.

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:11.080
 And then you'll know joy.

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.580
 If you live for my glory.

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.579
 You'll live for my glory.

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:14.579


00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:14.579


00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.579
 You'll live for my glory.

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.939
 So this is what I'm offering you today.

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:20.439
 Let us come and lay our lives down.

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:23.220
 Completely surrender.

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.839
 Lay our lives at his feet.

00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.079
 And here's what I can promise you.

00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.720
 You'll be tired.

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.500
 You'll go to bed tired.

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:37.839
 And there will be a particular type of difficulty.

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.779
 That comes with dying.

00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:45.180
 But you're going to get Jesus.

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.220
 In a particular.

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.740
 Wonderful way that you won't.

00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:50.440
 Otherwise.

00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:52.700
 Let me say that again.

00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:55.319
 If you will lay your life down.

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:57.660
 You will get Jesus.

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.240
 In a particular.

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:01.259
 More wonderful way than you would.

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:01.920
 Otherwise.

00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:02.980
 And look at me.

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.480
 He's worth it.

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:07.839
 He's worth it.

00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:10.039
 And I suspect.

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.779
 Not many people in here.

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:12.819
 Are warring.

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.039
 With the idea.

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:15.680
 Whether Jesus rose from the dead or not.

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.960
 But I suspect.

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.259
 There's many of us.

00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.299
 Myself included.

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:22.440
 That is warring with this idea.

00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:24.299
 That I'll find joy.

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.519
 If I come and die.

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.980
 That takes more faith.

00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.240
 In this moment for me.

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:33.099
 Than it does.

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.480
 To believe Jesus rose from the dead.

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:37.980
 That if I lay my life down.

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:41.860
 That Jesus is worth it.

00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:45.199
 But he is.

00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.659
 He is.

00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:53.079
 So let us not lose heart.

00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:56.159
 And let us not grow weary in doing good.

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:02.039
 Paul wrote this passage in 2 Corinthians.

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:03.039
 1 Corinthians.

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.039
 From Macedonia.

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.279
 From Macedonia.

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.579
 Around AD 55.

00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:09.019
 A year or so after he wrote 1 Corinthians.

00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:11.759
 And a year before he wrote the letter to the Romans.

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:17.700
 2 Corinthians is perhaps one of the most personal of all of Paul's letters.

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.700
 Paul's opponents.

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:21.019
 It's filled with deep emotion.

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:24.580
 Paul's opponents had argued that Paul suffered.

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.259
 Listen.

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:29.440
 Paul's opponents had offered that maybe he wasn't doing the right thing.

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.860
 Because he suffered too much.

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:36.640
 Paul's opponents had argued that he suffered too much to be a spirit filled apostle.

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:38.560
 Of the risen Christ.

00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:43.640
 And Paul called them deceitful workmen.

00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:45.540
 In chapter 11.

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.660
 All right.

00:24:49.060 --> 00:24:49.860
 Real heady.

00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.720
 For just a couple of minutes.

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:55.120
 There's two major themes of this book.

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:57.299
 Endurance amid adversity.

00:24:57.860 --> 00:24:58.960
 And Christ-like behavior.

00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:01.640
 Both made possible by the grace of God.

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.980
 And modeled by Paul himself.

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.700
 He says.

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:06.120
 Endurance amid adversity.

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:07.319
 And Christ-like behavior.

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.980
 Are the greatest display of God's presence.

00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:11.160
 Power and glory.

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.140
 In the fallen world.

00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:14.839
 The other key theme.

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:17.880
 Is that the presence and the power of the spirit.

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.279
 Transforms believers.

00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:21.019
 Into the image of God.

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.879
 God seen in Christ.

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.759
 Which is the dawning of the new creation.

00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:26.900
 Characterized by the righteousness of God.

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.819
 It's a big sentence.

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.319
 Believers are therefore embodied.

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:33.799
 Embody the new creation of the new covenant.

00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:35.379
 By living for the sake of others.

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:37.940
 This is made possible by the reconciliation of God.

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:38.819
 Brought about the cross.

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:40.119
 Let me sum that up.

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.079
 If you were to put them together.

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.759
 The book's main theme.

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:47.680
 Is that the spirit transforms believers.

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:49.039
 Into the image of God.

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:51.859
 In this new creation.

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:55.940
 Is marked by living for the sake of others.

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.859
 And living for others.

00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.279
 Is only made possible.

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:03.359
 Because God reconciled us to God.

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.079
 Through the cross.

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.139
 So.

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.879
 If we live for others.

00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:11.059
 By modeling Christ.

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:12.879
 Paul says.

00:26:12.879 --> 00:26:15.720
 You will endure adversity.

00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:18.799
 But.

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.639
 This adversity.

00:26:21.159 --> 00:26:22.259
 You can endure.

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.139
 Because he lives in you.

00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:27.079
 And we see this in Paul.

00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:27.659
 Right?

00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.339
 Like.

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.819
 When you think about that theme.

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.799
 If you're living for others.

00:26:31.919 --> 00:26:33.259
 You're going to endure adversity.

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.819
 Paul gives some examples.

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:36.919
 And I don't think.

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.500
 This is any of your story.

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.559
 But my goodness.

00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:42.159
 In 2nd Corinthians chapter 11.

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.299
 Paul says.

00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:45.059
 He's pouring out his life for Christ.

00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:47.379
 And in chapter 11.

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.059
 Verse 24.

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.480
 He says.

00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.259
 Five times.

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.740
 I received by the hands of the Jews.

00:26:50.879 --> 00:26:51.639
 Forty lashes.

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.299
 Less one.

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.679
 Five times.

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.240
 Can you imagine.

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.379
 What his back looked like?

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.460
 Thirty nine lashes.

00:27:00.679 --> 00:27:01.439
 Five times.

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:03.740
 Three times.

00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.820
 I was beaten with rods.

00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.840
 I mean.

00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:08.380
 Once I was stoned.

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.360
 Three times.

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.519
 I was shipwrecked.

00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.100
 A night.

00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.759
 And a day.

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.840
 I was adrift at sea.

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.480
 I was on frequent journeys.

00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.680
 In dangers from river.

00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.840
 Dangers from robbers.

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.100
 Dangers from my own people.

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.539
 Dangers from Gentile.

00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.480
 Danger in the city.

00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:22.420
 Danger in the wilderness.

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.340
 Danger at sea.

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.620
 Danger from false brothers.

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.340
 In toil and hardship.

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:29.340
 Though many a sleepless night.

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.420
 In hunger and thirst.

00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:31.740
 Often without food.

00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.940
 And cold and exposure.

00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.759
 And apart from all of this.

00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:36.519
 There's my daily pressure.

00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:37.960
 My anxiety for my churches.

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.880
 And why does he face these kind of trials?

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:46.580
 We see in our chapter that we read.

00:27:46.820 --> 00:27:47.759
 In verse 15.

00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:50.759
 For it is all for your sake.

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.000
 He writes to the church.

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:56.480
 So that grace extends to more and more people.

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:59.360
 Paul is living for the sake of others.

00:27:59.360 --> 00:28:00.620
 For the glory of God.

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:03.940
 And he has experienced a particular type of adversity.

00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:09.079
 Paul is not trying to gloss over the crushing weight of living for others.

00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:10.519
 Or for the glory of God.

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:14.299
 Paul is saying we can't do it by ourselves and our own strength.

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:17.099
 And he uses, like I talked about, a jar of clay.

00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:21.759
 This is a common metaphor in the ancient world for human weakness.

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:26.460
 The idea of being afflicted in every way but not crushed.

00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:31.759
 These verses show the paradox of living as a believer in the present evil age.

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:31.799
 Church.

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:36.519
 You're not strong enough to do this.

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.700
 But he is.

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:45.680
 Church is a place where it's okay to not be okay.

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:49.220
 My marriage is struggling.

00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:50.640
 My kids are wearing me out.

00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:54.220
 If I get asked to work the nursery one more time.

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.599
 You are not strong enough.

00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:59.579
 But he is.

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:02.579
 This is what we corporately acknowledge.

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.619
 That we are jars of clay.

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:10.519
 And as we begin to pour our lives out for the gospel.

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.000
 Here's my experience.

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:16.740
 As we begin to pour our lives out for the gospel.

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:25.419
 It probably in you will reveal how much you actually depend on your own strength.

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:30.820
 And again, a mirror.

00:29:31.080 --> 00:29:31.980
 Preaching this to myself.

00:29:33.860 --> 00:29:36.300
 Or how much I've fallen in love with my own comfort.

00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.900
 But think of this goodness.

00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.840
 Less of you.

00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:50.900
 Forcing you to lean into him for strength.

00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:54.840
 That is worth it.

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.660
 Less of you.

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.820
 At the end of the day.

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:03.259
 If your adversity causes you to know him more.

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:06.400
 It will be worth it.

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:10.980
 Last night I said.

00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:11.780
 I already talked about this.

00:30:11.840 --> 00:30:12.580
 We looked at Abraham.

00:30:14.040 --> 00:30:16.500
 And how likely God took Isaac from him.

00:30:16.560 --> 00:30:17.380
 Because he had grown.

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:18.920
 From.

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.800
 Affection to adoration.

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.840
 Of Isaac.

00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:25.500
 That he loved Isaac more than God.

00:30:25.540 --> 00:30:27.500
 And we looked how it was actually grace to Abraham.

00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.940
 To take from him his idol.

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:31.040
 Because idols enslave us.

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:35.680
 We've already kind of made the point about morally neutral.

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.099
 But.

00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:37.759
 Man.

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.399
 I.

00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:43.220
 I struggle with the idol of comfort.

00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:48.420
 Look it's easy man.

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:48.940
 To like.

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:51.019
 Point it like.

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.019
 Like big sins.

00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:55.379
 Like oh look at those idols.

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:58.460
 But man in my own life.

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.860
 How often.

00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:02.180
 I don't want to pour my life out for Jesus.

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:05.259
 Simply because I don't want to be inconvenienced.

00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:10.819
 I am.

00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:14.579
 I'm missing more of him.

00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:16.000
 For what?

00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:18.140
 A nap?

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.880
 In 16 through 18.

00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:26.779
 It says so we do not lose heart.

00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:29.539
 Though our outer self is wasting away.

00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:31.579
 Our inner self is being renewed day by day.

00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:34.960
 For this light and momentary affliction.

00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:36.160
 Is preparing for us.

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.319
 An eternal weight of glory.

00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:38.399
 Beyond all comparison.

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:41.460
 As we look not to the things that are seen.

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.539
 But the things that are unseen.

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:44.200
 For the things that are seen are transient.

00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:46.660
 But the things that are unseen are eternal.

00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:48.779
 How?

00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:51.399
 How did the first century Christians.

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.720
 Go to their death singing?

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.920
 Have you heard those stories?

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:58.920
 You know Nero used to drop Christians in oil.

00:31:59.140 --> 00:31:59.880
 And then put them.

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.940
 Hang them on poles.

00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:02.200
 And light them on fire.

00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.279
 By the road.

00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:06.860
 He would use Christians as street lamps.

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.960
 And there are stories.

00:32:10.380 --> 00:32:11.740
 That we know are accurate.

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:14.200
 Where they would go to their death singing.

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.320
 How?

00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:22.279
 How does Paul call being beaten with rods and stoned.

00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:25.379
 A light and momentary affliction.

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:29.000
 Doesn't feel like getting whipped five times.

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.879
 Is light and momentary.

00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:35.759
 Unless you put these things up.

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:37.119
 And compare them to eternity.

00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:41.319
 And this takes maturity.

00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:44.839
 It takes maturity to see scale.

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:45.759
 Doesn't it?

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:49.960
 He is saying that compared to the eternal weight of glory.

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:50.939
 Compared to that.

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:53.139
 Everything pales.

00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:54.899
 Like.

00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:56.819
 You ever tried to.

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.460
 You can't trade with a baby.

00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:00.480
 I know how dumb that sounds.

00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.899
 But you get my point.

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:04.379
 Have you ever tried to barter with a baby?

00:33:05.179 --> 00:33:07.059
 I'll give you a million dollars.

00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:09.059
 For that cookie.

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.619
 And they won't do it.

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:13.859
 Right?

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.159
 I mean.

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:15.399
 You've bartered with your kid.

00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:16.059
 I promise.

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.339
 When they won't stop screaming.

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.259
 In the middle of the night.

00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:18.559
 Like.

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.859
 I'll buy you a car.

00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.639
 At 16.

00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.559
 I promise.

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.179
 If you'll just stop crying.

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:26.359
 You can't barter with a baby.

00:33:27.639 --> 00:33:28.059
 But man.

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.799
 We're the baby.

00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:31.559
 When we actually look at eternity.

00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:33.220
 Like.

00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:34.980
 This is offered to you.

00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.940
 An eternal.

00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:38.019
 Weight.

00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:39.139
 Of glory.

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.799
 And we.

00:33:42.919 --> 00:33:43.359
 As Lewis.

00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:43.980
 Would say.

00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:45.759
 Just settle for mud pies.

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.440
 In the slums.

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.519
 Like.

00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:50.539
 I'll keep my cookie.

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.139
 The baby.

00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:56.599
 Cannot see past.

00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:57.259
 The abyss.

00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:57.960
 Of the present.

00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.220
 And so often.

00:34:00.419 --> 00:34:01.779
 This is true for us.

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:09.400
 And this idea.

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.420
 For you teenagers.

00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:11.860
 Of like.

00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:12.860
 Surrendering.

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.900
 For the rest of your life.

00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:17.179
 One of my favorite preachers.

00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:18.659
 This really put him in the mat.

00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:19.759
 Put him on the mat.

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.480
 So in the year 2000.

00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.660
 At our passion conference.

00:34:23.180 --> 00:34:23.800
 This really.

00:34:24.600 --> 00:34:25.360
 Goofy looking.

00:34:26.060 --> 00:34:26.500
 Guy.

00:34:26.620 --> 00:34:27.460
 Stands up to preach.

00:34:27.520 --> 00:34:28.440
 His name was John Piper.

00:34:28.540 --> 00:34:29.760
 Nobody really knew who he was.

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:31.020
 And he stands up to preach.

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.020
 And this like.

00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:33.820
 Puts him on the mat.

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.900
 This one story.

00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:36.500
 And so I'll do my best to tell it.

00:34:36.560 --> 00:34:37.800
 To kind of recreate it.

00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.160
 Piper.

00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:39.279
 Piper.

00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:40.199
 Gets up.

00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:41.319
 He's got this crazy hair.

00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:42.219
 And giant hands.

00:34:42.359 --> 00:34:43.679
 And big glasses.

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.899
 And he's preaching to like.

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.219
 40,000 teenagers.

00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:47.399
 Just.

00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:48.699
 The fact that this.

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.440
 Anyway.

00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.099
 It's just cool.

00:34:51.299 --> 00:34:52.039
 And he says.

00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.519
 Something to the effect of like.

00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.759
 Last week at my church.

00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:57.899
 I got noticed that two women died.

00:34:58.719 --> 00:34:59.159
 Serving.

00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.379
 The poor.

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.379
 And the lame.

00:35:01.379 --> 00:35:02.199
 And the sick.

00:35:02.399 --> 00:35:03.619
 In the poorest places in the world.

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.259
 In Cameroon.

00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:05.920
 And he says.

00:35:06.399 --> 00:35:06.960
 Three weeks ago.

00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:08.000
 We got news at our church.

00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:09.000
 That Ruby Eliasson.

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.800
 And Laura Edwards.

00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.920
 Were killed in Cameroon.

00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:12.159
 Ruby Ellison.

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:13.139
 Over 80.

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.539
 Single all her life.

00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.179
 A nurse.

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.760
 Poured out her life.

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.440
 For one thing.

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.739
 To make Jesus Christ known.

00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:19.460
 Among the sick.

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:19.960
 And the poor.

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.539
 And the hardest.

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:21.800
 And the most unreached places.

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.360
 He says.

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.039
 Laura Edwards.

00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:24.940
 A medical doctor.

00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:25.780
 In the Twin Cities.

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:27.500
 And in her retirement.

00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.880
 Partnering up with Ruby.

00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:30.400
 Also pushing 80.

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.719
 Going from village to village.

00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:32.440
 In Cameroon.

00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:33.900
 He says.

00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:35.400
 They're riding in a car.

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.480
 The brakes go out.

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.500
 They go over a cliff.

00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.420
 And they die instantly.

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.280
 Piper goes.

00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:41.860
 And I ask my congregation.

00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:42.780
 Is that a tragedy?

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.099
 Is that a tragedy?

00:35:47.179 --> 00:35:48.360
 That puts him on the map.

00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:50.420
 And he yells in his crazy way.

00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:50.840
 He's like.

00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.119
 No.

00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:52.199
 That's not a tragedy.

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:56.679
 He says.

00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:56.980
 No.

00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:58.460
 Two women in their 80s.

00:35:58.879 --> 00:35:59.599
 Their whole life.

00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.859
 Devoted to one idea.

00:36:01.239 --> 00:36:01.960
 Jesus Christ.

00:36:02.259 --> 00:36:03.399
 Magnified among the poor.

00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:03.939
 The sick.

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.859
 And the hardest places.

00:36:05.879 --> 00:36:06.599
 In 20 years.

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.699
 After most Americans.

00:36:08.399 --> 00:36:10.219
 Had begun to throw their wives away.

00:36:10.299 --> 00:36:11.179
 For trivialities.

00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:11.759
 In Florida.

00:36:11.839 --> 00:36:12.399
 And New Mexico.

00:36:12.759 --> 00:36:14.039
 They find an eternity.

00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.739
 In a moment.

00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.019
 He's like.

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.779
 Is that a tragedy?

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:17.779
 No.

00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:18.700
 That's not a tragedy.

00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:19.360
 And then Piper.

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.420
 He goes.

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:23.420
 Let me tell you what a tragedy is.

00:36:23.640 --> 00:36:23.800
 And then.

00:36:24.140 --> 00:36:25.700
 To a 40,000 teenager.

00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:26.460
 He pulls out.

00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:28.580
 A.

00:36:29.060 --> 00:36:31.060
 A reader's digest article.

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:34.420
 And he read it to them.

00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:34.980
 And he read.

00:36:35.219 --> 00:36:35.840
 Bob and Penny.

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.779
 Took early retirement.

00:36:36.779 --> 00:36:37.480
 From their jobs.

00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:38.219
 In the northeast.

00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:38.980
 Five years ago.

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:40.340
 When they were 59 and 51.

00:36:41.139 --> 00:36:42.039
 They live in Florida.

00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:43.380
 Where they cruise.

00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:44.420
 On their 30 foot boat.

00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.219
 Play softball.

00:36:45.279 --> 00:36:46.079
 And collect shells.

00:36:46.820 --> 00:36:47.679
 And then Piper yells.

00:36:47.779 --> 00:36:48.380
 At these teenagers.

00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:48.900
 And he goes.

00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.119
 That's a tragedy.

00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:53.400
 That's a tragedy.

00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:57.400
 There are people.

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:57.980
 In this country.

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:58.619
 That are spending.

00:36:58.840 --> 00:36:59.779
 Billions of dollars.

00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:00.900
 To get you to buy it.

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:04.079
 Don't buy it.

00:37:06.579 --> 00:37:07.719
 With all my heart.

00:37:07.779 --> 00:37:08.420
 I plead to you.

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.559
 Don't buy that dream.

00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:14.840
 As the last chapter.

00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:15.539
 Before you stand.

00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:16.320
 Before the creator.

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:16.920
 Of the universe.

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:18.159
 And give an account.

00:37:18.299 --> 00:37:19.119
 For what you've done.

00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:20.920
 Please don't say.

00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:21.960
 Here it is Lord.

00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.500
 My shell collection.

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.880
 And I shoot two under par.

00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:37.559
 As Christians.

00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:39.320
 We have the unique opportunity.

00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:40.159
 And advantage.

00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:42.239
 And the particular chance.

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:43.500
 At a type of fulfillment.

00:37:43.779 --> 00:37:44.579
 And satisfaction.

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:47.099
 That is not offered.

00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:47.699
 To the world.

00:37:47.699 --> 00:37:50.919
 We get to see the world.

00:37:50.919 --> 00:37:52.199
 Through the lens of eternity.

00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.199
 And God.

00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:56.919
 And the Holy Spirit.

00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:58.019
 Enables you.

00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:02.019
 To not be a child.

00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.759
 And to not keep your cookie.

00:38:05.819 --> 00:38:06.739
 But to trade.

00:38:07.359 --> 00:38:08.339
 To make a good trade.

00:38:09.919 --> 00:38:11.599
 Jesus says things like this.

00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:12.719
 Whoever gives.

00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.500
 You're welcome to come up.

00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.059
 And play the guitar.

00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:15.500
 If you want.

00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:18.659
 A little background music.

00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:19.239
 Would be great.

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.900
 Jesus says things like this.

00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.940
 If you're a Christian.

00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:28.659
 Here is the type of joy.

00:38:28.780 --> 00:38:29.480
 You get to have.

00:38:29.639 --> 00:38:31.219
 That non-Christians do not.

00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:33.039
 Jesus says this.

00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:34.199
 And whoever gives.

00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:35.099
 One of these little ones.

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:36.460
 Even a cup of cold water.

00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:37.780
 Because he's my disciple.

00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:38.860
 Truly I say to you.

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.820
 He will by no means.

00:38:40.820 --> 00:38:41.599
 Lose his reward.

00:38:42.199 --> 00:38:42.639
 Jesus.

00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:43.659
 To translate this.

00:38:43.659 --> 00:38:44.559
 Jesus is saying.

00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:45.719
 If you do.

00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:48.139
 The easiest thing in the world.

00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:50.359
 To the most nobody.

00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:51.920
 Person in the world.

00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:54.839
 You don't get any credit for it.

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:56.960
 Nobody's going to sing your praises.

00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:58.500
 Except for me.

00:38:59.279 --> 00:39:00.440
 And I see it.

00:39:00.779 --> 00:39:01.859
 And I don't forget.

00:39:03.319 --> 00:39:04.679
 If you do the little.

00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:06.279
 If you pick up a piece of trash.

00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:07.619
 In the middle of nowhere.

00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:09.420
 For the name of Jesus.

00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:10.900
 For the glory of God.

00:39:11.099 --> 00:39:11.940
 He sees it.

00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:13.480
 And you will not lose your reward.

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:15.019
 What we have.

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:16.299
 That nobody else has.

00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:17.519
 Is we have eternity.

00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:19.000
 If you're redeemed.

00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:20.839
 And that makes.

00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:22.259
 Everything significant.

00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:24.519
 You do anything in his name.

00:39:24.799 --> 00:39:25.639
 He sees it.

00:39:25.859 --> 00:39:27.159
 And 10 million years from now.

00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:27.659
 You'll think.

00:39:27.859 --> 00:39:29.079
 I'm glad I did that thing.

00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:33.880
 Eternity brings beauty.

00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:34.719
 To the ordinary.

00:39:34.719 --> 00:39:36.139
 So yeah.

00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:37.199
 You'll go to bed tired.

00:39:37.559 --> 00:39:38.839
 You probably won't get whipped.

00:39:38.939 --> 00:39:39.539
 Five times.

00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:40.659
 But if you do.

00:39:42.379 --> 00:39:43.459
 One day you'll say.

00:39:43.579 --> 00:39:44.299
 It was worth it.

00:39:45.219 --> 00:39:46.339
 Light and momentary.

00:39:47.799 --> 00:39:49.500
 Compared to this eternal weight of glory.

00:39:50.459 --> 00:39:51.619
 Light and momentary.

00:39:55.879 --> 00:39:57.539
 The smallest act of kindness.

00:40:00.219 --> 00:40:01.019
 He'll remember.

00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:04.860
 Eternity brings beauty.

00:40:04.860 --> 00:40:05.659
 And significance.

00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:06.559
 To the ordinary.

00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:07.780
 Mundane world.

00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:09.599
 Like nothing else.

00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:12.440
 So when you keep the nursery.

00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:13.559
 For the glory of God.

00:40:13.800 --> 00:40:14.539
 It matters.

00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:15.679
 And he sees.

00:40:15.940 --> 00:40:16.559
 And it's eternal.

00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:19.179
 When you buy flowers.

00:40:19.179 --> 00:40:19.920
 For your wife.

00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.920
 To love her well.

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.940
 Because Jesus tells you.

00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:23.579
 To love her well.

00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:24.639
 It matters.

00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:25.900
 It's eternal.

00:40:27.699 --> 00:40:28.820
 When you listen.

00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:30.340
 Instead of talking so much.

00:40:30.340 --> 00:40:32.740
 For the glory of God.

00:40:33.360 --> 00:40:34.380
 When you listen to someone.

00:40:34.460 --> 00:40:35.600
 You really don't want to listen to.

00:40:37.019 --> 00:40:37.980
 To be kind.

00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:39.960
 He sees.

00:40:43.160 --> 00:40:44.360
 When you pick up trash.

00:40:44.360 --> 00:40:45.300
 After a church fellowship.

00:40:45.640 --> 00:40:47.539
 Or sleep in a dorm room.

00:40:47.640 --> 00:40:48.620
 At Camp Cheperell.

00:40:50.680 --> 00:40:52.220
 You might think it goes unnoticed.

00:40:52.300 --> 00:40:52.880
 But it doesn't.

00:40:53.579 --> 00:40:54.620
 And a turtle set of eyes.

00:40:54.720 --> 00:40:55.180
 Saw it.

00:40:55.740 --> 00:40:56.519
 And what you did.

00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:58.200
 Will matter 10,000 years from now.

00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:59.879
 When you get up to a crying child.

00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:01.079
 When you are kind.

00:41:01.179 --> 00:41:02.319
 To a patient in the hospital.

00:41:02.319 --> 00:41:04.579
 When you love the terrible kid in your class.

00:41:04.799 --> 00:41:06.759
 Who's wrecked by violence in his home.

00:41:07.379 --> 00:41:08.500
 When you love each other.

00:41:08.579 --> 00:41:09.659
 When you deny your flesh.

00:41:09.899 --> 00:41:10.659
 He sees.

00:41:10.919 --> 00:41:12.059
 And he doesn't forget.

00:41:12.899 --> 00:41:13.279
 Therefore.

00:41:13.599 --> 00:41:14.000
 Therefore.

00:41:15.039 --> 00:41:16.199
 Do not lose heart.

00:41:18.099 --> 00:41:20.299
 Though our outer selves are wasting away.

00:41:20.579 --> 00:41:22.319
 Our inner selves are being renewed.

00:41:22.799 --> 00:41:24.179
 Day by day.

00:41:24.179 --> 00:41:26.539
 For this light.

00:41:26.659 --> 00:41:27.859
 And momentary affliction.

00:41:28.279 --> 00:41:29.659
 Is preparing for us.

00:41:29.739 --> 00:41:30.859
 An eternal weight of glory.

00:41:31.299 --> 00:41:32.399
 Beyond all comparison.

00:41:33.659 --> 00:41:34.599
 Even Jesus.

00:41:34.779 --> 00:41:35.819
 In Hebrews chapter 2.

00:41:35.899 --> 00:41:37.019
 Chapter 12 verse 2.

00:41:37.399 --> 00:41:37.859
 It says.

00:41:38.219 --> 00:41:38.839
 Looking to Jesus.

00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:40.599
 The founder and perfecter of our faith.

00:41:40.879 --> 00:41:41.839
 Who for the joy.

00:41:42.299 --> 00:41:43.480
 Set before him.

00:41:43.960 --> 00:41:44.719
 Even Jesus.

00:41:44.859 --> 00:41:45.619
 Look to eternity.

00:41:46.319 --> 00:41:47.179
 Endured the cross.

00:41:47.179 --> 00:41:47.279
 Jesus.

00:41:50.279 --> 00:41:51.960
 So let us not.

00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:53.039
 Grow weary.

00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:54.879
 In doing good.

00:41:58.099 --> 00:41:59.440
 For in due season.

00:41:59.619 --> 00:42:00.039
 We'll reap.

00:42:00.980 --> 00:42:02.179
 If we don't give up.

00:42:05.039 --> 00:42:06.399
 So here's my prayer for you.

00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:09.779
 I hope you go to bed tired.

00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:13.500
 Because you poured your life out for Jesus.

00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:16.820
 I hope when you're exhausted.

00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:19.599
 You comfort each other.

00:42:20.280 --> 00:42:22.300
 Pushing each other to do good works.

00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:23.000
 Through.

00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:25.559
 Through encouraging.

00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:26.840
 And loving each other.

00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:31.500
 I hope you get to experience the joy of unselfishness.

00:42:34.940 --> 00:42:36.260
 And in your exhaustion.

00:42:37.099 --> 00:42:40.619
 I hope you experience a particular kind of intimacy with Jesus.

00:42:41.579 --> 00:42:43.119
 That you would have never had otherwise.

00:42:44.460 --> 00:42:45.239
 Let me pray.

00:42:49.059 --> 00:42:50.360
 Jesus you are worth it.

00:42:51.300 --> 00:42:52.340
 And we love you.

00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:55.519
 We love you more.

00:42:56.519 --> 00:42:57.940
 Than we love ourselves.

00:42:59.400 --> 00:43:00.960
 But as stubborn children.

00:43:01.840 --> 00:43:04.380
 God would you just continue to remind us.

00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:06.880
 To see our lives through eternity.

00:43:11.219 --> 00:43:12.400
 We love you so much.

00:43:12.500 --> 00:43:13.079
 In Jesus name.

00:43:14.199 --> 00:43:14.199


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