WEBVTT

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 of any area of life where a person arrives at perfection

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 and no longer needs to continue to move forward,

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 grow, improve.

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 I can't.

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 You think about an athlete, a successful athlete.

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 He or she knows that last week's winning performance

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 will not guarantee a win next game.

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 And so good athletes, no matter how well they function yesterday,

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 they're going to continue to work, to practice, to get better.

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 They know what's required if they want to continue to be successful.

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 Now I know we've got some scholars in this room,

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 some of you in college, 4.0.

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 I always had a 4.0 when you added two semesters together.

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 Some of you, middle school, high school, elementary school,

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 you make all A's.

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 I know some of you do.

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 Well, if you made all A's or that 4.0 last semester,

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 that does not just automatically transfer to this semester, does it?

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 If you're a good student, if you're a smart student,

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 you know you've got to study now.

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 You've got to work now to maintain, to keep on making those kinds of grades.

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 Now every Christian, let me rephrase that,

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 every mature Christian knows that no matter how much we grow,

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 no matter how close we are to the Lord,

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 no matter how effective we are in serving Him,

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 we've got to continue on.

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 We can't rest on yesterday's faithfulness.

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 We've got to grow spiritually.

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 It's a lifelong process.

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 And mature Christians know that.

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 How do I know?

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 Because the Apostle Paul,

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 one of the most mature Christians we will ever read or know about,

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 he emphasizes in Philippians chapter 3

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 what a lot of the great saints that you have read about have said.

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 The closer you are to the Lord,

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 the more conscious you are of your own sinfulness.

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 The more conscious you are that you've got a long way to go

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 to be like Jesus.

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 Philippians chapter 3,

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 verses 12 through 16 is where we're going to look today.

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 Paul is describing how he knows he's not where he needs to be.

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 And he is going to put forth every ounce of effort

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 that God graciously allows him to put forth

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 to know Christ better,

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 to be closer to Him,

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 and to serve Him,

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 make a difference in other people's lives.

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 Read with me.

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 Philippians 3,

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 beginning in verse 12.

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 Not that I have already obtained this,

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 or am already perfect,

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 but I press on to make it my own,

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 because Christ Jesus has made me His own.

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 Brothers,

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 I do not consider that I have made it my own,

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 but one thing I do,

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 forgetting what lies behind

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 and straining forward to what lies ahead.

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 I press on toward the goal for the prize

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 of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

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 Let those of us who are mature think this way.

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 And if in anything you think otherwise,

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 God will reveal that to you also.

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 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

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 We are moving through the book of Philippians.

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 We're coming to a part where Paul's sort of bearing his soul to us.

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 He's admitting he comes short of where he wants to be and needs to be.

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 So as we look at this,

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 let's look at it with the idea that

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 through Paul's example,

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 we're going to evaluate

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 our own need to grow spiritually.

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 And then we're going to come back next week in particular

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 and see how we can actually accomplish

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 a greater, more intimate,

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 more meaningful relationship with the Lord

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 and service to Him.

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 Let's look first now, verse 12.

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 The way to know if you need to grow spiritually.

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 The way you need to grow spiritually.

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 The way to know.

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 We're going to look from Paul's experience.

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 If you need to grow spiritually.

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 Paul knew that he had not arrived.

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 That he needed to continue to grow

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 because of what was lacking in his life.

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 I want you to note two things.

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 First, Paul had not obtained his spiritual goals.

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 He says in the first part of verse 12,

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 not that I have already obtained this.

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 This is what he's been talking about

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 in verses 10 and 11 in particular.

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 We read that last week.

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 What I want us to do right now for sake of time

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 is just look at two of the things

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 that he talked about in verse 10

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 that he has not obtained.

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 Look at it in verse 10.

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 That I may know him

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 and the power of his resurrection.

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 Paul had not obtained the goal

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 of knowing Christ

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 like he wanted to.

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 Now I want you to think about

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 what that man said.

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 Paul has walked with the Lord

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 probably for 30 years now.

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 I mean, God has used him

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 in a tremendous way.

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 But what he's telling us here is

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 his relationship with the Lord

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 wasn't as close, as deep

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 as he wanted

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 and as he knew the Lord wanted it to be.

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 He wanted more.

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 The other goal that Paul had not obtained

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 was to experience the power of God in his life,

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 the kind of power that God had demonstrated

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 when he raised Jesus from the dead.

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 That's life-changing power, isn't it?

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 Transforming power.

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 So what Paul is doing here,

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 he is describing two of his greatest desires

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 that he has not obtained.

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 He wants to know Christ and be like him.

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 He wants to know him better.

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 Be more like him.

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 And Paul wants to experience

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 God's transforming power in his own life.

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 Paul's not perfect.

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 He struggles just like you and me.

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 He's a sinner.

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 I don't know this.

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 This is a guess.

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 But just reading some of the things he said,

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 the way he broke in last week

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 and said, beware the dogs.

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 Paul may have had to battle anger some.

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 Don't you think?

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 And what he's wanting to experience in his life

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 is more of God's transforming power,

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 the kind of power it raised Jesus from the dead

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 to help him to overcome his sins,

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 his failures,

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 to become more like Jesus,

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 but also to be more effective

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 in other people's lives

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 through his teaching and preaching interaction.

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 You know,

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 Paul was a star in that day

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 in terms of the way the Lord used him.

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 I mean, he was the greatest theologian,

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 the evangelist,

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 the missionary,

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 the church planter.

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 He went into these places

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 where nobody ever heard the gospel,

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 a lot of them,

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 preached,

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 people believed,

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 they started a church.

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 He got them started.

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 But it didn't take long

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 in a lot of these churches

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 that problems happened.

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 You know,

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 everywhere there's people,

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 there's problems.

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 Isn't that true?

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 Even in the early churches.

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 And a lot of the things

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 that Paul wrote in his letters

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 was to correct a problem.

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 And so,

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 one of the things he is praying about,

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 about that,

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 experiencing God's power

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 that brought Jesus from the dead,

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 Paul wants to experience that power

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 to be more effective

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 and maybe in grounding those churches,

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 helping them to get off

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 to such a good start

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 that they didn't have

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 the kind of problems,

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 the future churches he started,

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 like some of the past churches

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 he started.

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 Now, the other reason Paul gave

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 for knowing he needed to grow

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 was this.

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 It's real simple.

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 He was not perfect.

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 Look at the other part of verse 12.

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 Not that I've already obtained this

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 or I'm already perfect.

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 Paul was well aware.

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 This is not some kind of,

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 you know,

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 he's not sharing a secret here.

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 He knew it

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 and everyone who knew it,

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 who knew him knew it.

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 He was well aware

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 that he was not perfect.

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 He had not overcome

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 all the struggles in his life.

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 He had not developed

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 Christ-like character

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 to the point

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 that he thought he should.

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 Now, you may be thinking,

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 well, nobody's perfect.

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 No one

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 or will ever be perfect

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 in this world

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 and that's absolutely true.

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 No Christian

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 will ever reach the point

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 of sinless perfection

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 this side of heaven.

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 No one.

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 Paul didn't.

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 So,

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 what does that mean?

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 What does it mean

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 for you to admit to yourself,

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 well, I know

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 I'm never going to be perfect.

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 I know I'm never going to overcome

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 all the sin in my life,

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 all the struggles.

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 I'm never going to develop

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 full Christ-like character.

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 Does that mean

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 that you ought to just,

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 well,

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 what's the use?

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 Let's just don't worry about it.

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 If I'm never going to be perfect,

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 if I'm never going to totally

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 get rid of this anger,

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 this mouth,

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 I'm never perfectly

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 going to be able

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 to demonstrate self-control,

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 be kind in situations

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 where it's hard to be kind,

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 what's the use?

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 We can't do that.

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 We can never just sort of

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 shrug our shoulders and say,

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 if I can't be perfect,

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 I'm just not going to worry about it.

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 That's like saying,

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 well,

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 I'll just not worry

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 if I am angry,

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 if I mistreat the people

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 in my life,

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 if I never truly develop

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 the kind of Christ-like character

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 that will enable me

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 to be a positive influence

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 in my home

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 and in my circle of friends.

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 We know better than that,

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 don't we?

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 The fact that we are

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 not perfect

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 means we must always work on

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 overcoming our sinful attitudes

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 and our actions.

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 We still have got to strive for it.

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 We must always work on developing

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 Christ-like character.

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 Because we'll never achieve

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 sinless perfection

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 does not mean

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 that we should not seek

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 to grow spiritually.

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 It doesn't mean

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 that we should settle

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 and just sort of

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 take it for granted

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 we're going to be mediocre.

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 That is not

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 what you can do

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 and be a faithful Christian.

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 You cannot walk with God

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 and just resolve yourself

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 to just being bland,

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 mediocre,

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 not too bad,

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 but certainly

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 not more like Jesus.

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 What Paul said about himself,

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 about his need to grow,

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 understanding his failures,

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 that's true about

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 every one of us

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 in this room.

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 That's why we need

00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.920
 to make spiritual growth

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 our priority,

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 a true desire

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 of our heart.

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 You know,

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 there's a difference

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 between knowing

00:12:34.280 --> 00:12:35.899
 you need to grow spiritually.

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 I mean,

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 let's just,

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 if you're a Christian,

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 only a moron

00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:41.940
 would not understand

00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:43.139
 I need to grow spiritually.

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:43.740
 Isn't that right?

00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:44.840
 I mean,

00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:45.639
 nobody in this room

00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:46.480
 is so arrogant

00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:47.200
 as to think,

00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:48.080
 you know,

00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:48.879
 I'm where I need to be.

00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.659
 If you don't see,

00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:51.340
 at least see,

00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:51.860
 identify,

00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:53.960
 there's something wrong

00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.340
 with you.

00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:55.279
 And a counselor

00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:55.899
 can't help you

00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:57.240
 if you're that far,

00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:57.899
 you know,

00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:59.159
 just that dumb

00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:00.379
 that you don't understand.

00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:02.259
 I am lacking

00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.220
 in spiritual growth.

00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:06.480
 But that does not make you

00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.700
 desire it,

00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.060
 does it?

00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:11.619
 Does it make you

00:13:11.619 --> 00:13:13.239
 make that a priority?

00:13:16.319 --> 00:13:18.599
 I know I need to lose

00:13:18.599 --> 00:13:20.619
 10 or 15 pounds

00:13:20.619 --> 00:13:23.219
 because I see it

00:13:23.219 --> 00:13:24.019
 every day.

00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:25.659
 Right there.

00:13:27.319 --> 00:13:28.459
 I see it.

00:13:29.219 --> 00:13:30.439
 I don't like it.

00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:33.059
 I like to get rid of it.

00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:35.819
 It's not probably good for me.

00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.679
 But I just have to admit,

00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:39.839
 I don't do one thing

00:13:39.839 --> 00:13:40.239
 about it.

00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:44.459
 I'd like to get rid

00:13:44.459 --> 00:13:45.039
 of this gut.

00:13:46.099 --> 00:13:47.299
 But I've not made

00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:48.199
 losing weight,

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:49.279
 getting in shape,

00:13:49.359 --> 00:13:50.259
 and getting rid of it

00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:51.059
 a priority.

00:13:53.199 --> 00:13:53.919
 And so,

00:13:54.239 --> 00:13:56.199
 what good does it really do

00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:57.079
 for me to say,

00:13:57.599 --> 00:13:58.459
 I know I need to?

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.279
 Now,

00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:02.859
 your spiritual growth,

00:14:03.859 --> 00:14:04.879
 it's not enough

00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.139
 just to know you need to

00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:08.100
 are you making it

00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:08.699
 a priority?

00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:10.799
 Do you have

00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.039
 a heartfelt desire

00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:13.580
 to know Jesus Christ

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.139
 better?

00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:15.980
 To be closer

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.919
 to Him?

00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:20.340
 Do you really

00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:20.799
 and truly

00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:22.840
 want to overcome

00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:23.759
 the sin

00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.080
 in your life

00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:26.419
 that is preventing you

00:14:26.419 --> 00:14:27.039
 from enjoying

00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.379
 closeness with God?

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.439
 And let's be honest,

00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.259
 there's probably

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.439
 some sin in your life

00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:32.919
 if you're not

00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:33.740
 dealing with it,

00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:35.379
 it's preventing you

00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.019
 from enjoying

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:36.960
 some closeness

00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:37.639
 with the people

00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:38.700
 that you live with,

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.980
 that you work with,

00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:43.700
 that you play with.

00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:45.419
 You know,

00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:47.899
 sins,

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.439
 especially certain sins,

00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.960
 relational type sins,

00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:52.799
 they don't just hinder

00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.340
 our relationship

00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:53.899
 with God,

00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:55.360
 they hinder

00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:56.200
 our relationships

00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:57.019
 with everybody

00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:58.379
 around us,

00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.320
 whether you realize

00:14:59.320 --> 00:14:59.919
 it or not.

00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:02.299
 And so,

00:15:02.699 --> 00:15:03.479
 we need,

00:15:04.199 --> 00:15:05.339
 in order to please God,

00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:05.919
 in order to be

00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:07.620
 the better

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.719
 husband,

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.299
 wife,

00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:09.819
 parent,

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:10.639
 child,

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:11.319
 friend,

00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:14.039
 we need to desire

00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:15.779
 to grow spiritually

00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:16.459
 and overcome

00:15:16.459 --> 00:15:17.699
 our sins

00:15:17.699 --> 00:15:20.599
 and truly develop

00:15:20.599 --> 00:15:22.319
 more Christ-like character.

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.379
 But let me ask you this,

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.120
 do you also desire

00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.279
 to see God's power

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.019
 at work

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.939
 in your life?

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.179
 And that will mainly

00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:30.460
 be,

00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:30.939
 I think,

00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:32.360
 or a lot of that

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.159
 will be in answer

00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:33.899
 to your prayers.

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.240
 I don't know

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.079
 too many real

00:15:39.079 --> 00:15:40.659
 miracle workers.

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.840
 I don't know any.

00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.360
 But I do know

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:44.939
 some people

00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:46.899
 who truly

00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:48.000
 walk with the Lord

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.220
 and they

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.399
 are effective

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.139
 in prayer.

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.740
 They pray

00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.659
 according to God's

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.039
 will.

00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.319
 They're seeking

00:15:59.319 --> 00:16:00.199
 God's glory,

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:01.299
 seeking to honor Him.

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:02.899
 They're seeking

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:03.699
 what's best

00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:04.459
 in God's

00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:05.600
 overall plan

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.379
 for their life,

00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:07.439
 other people's lives.

00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:08.659
 And they pray

00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.199
 accordingly

00:16:09.199 --> 00:16:12.100
 and they see

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:14.539
 people change,

00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:16.419
 situations change.

00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:18.399
 Do you want to see

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.000
 God's power

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.799
 at work in your life,

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.319
 especially in

00:16:20.319 --> 00:16:21.120
 after your prayers?

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:25.259
 Let's pause here

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.639
 for a minute.

00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.139
 Have you ever

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.700
 thought about how

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.220
 God

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:30.740
 saved you

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:32.840
 for the very

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.460
 purpose

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:35.039
 of making you

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.980
 more like Jesus,

00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:38.019
 enabling you

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:38.740
 to experience

00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.580
 His presence

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.259
 and power

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.539
 in your life?

00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.060
 Well,

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:44.060
 Paul never forgot

00:16:44.060 --> 00:16:46.000
 how the Lord

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.539
 broke into his life

00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:49.699
 and not only

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:50.299
 called him

00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:51.039
 to himself

00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:52.459
 but set about

00:16:52.459 --> 00:16:53.699
 to change Paul

00:16:53.699 --> 00:16:54.259
 this way.

00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:55.360
 For those of you

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.919
 who may not know,

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.819
 the Apostle Paul

00:16:56.819 --> 00:16:57.679
 at one time

00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.759
 was an enemy

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.480
 of Jesus

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.299
 and the church.

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.500
 He did everything

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.240
 in his power

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.139
 to stop

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.799
 the spread

00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.440
 of Christianity.

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:05.879
 He hunted

00:17:05.879 --> 00:17:06.859
 down Christians.

00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.180
 He had them

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:08.720
 put in jail.

00:17:08.879 --> 00:17:09.700
 He was responsible

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.519
 for some people

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.440
 being put to death

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.200
 all because

00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.079
 they were Christians.

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.799
 On one of his trips

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.000
 up to the town

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.899
 of Damascus

00:17:17.899 --> 00:17:19.619
 to arrest

00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:20.899
 Christians,

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:23.399
 the Lord Jesus

00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:24.500
 just broke

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.759
 into his life,

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:27.980
 knocked him

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.500
 to the ground,

00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:30.079
 temporarily blinded

00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.419
 him

00:17:30.419 --> 00:17:32.779
 and called

00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.259
 him

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:35.460
 to trust

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.419
 Jesus

00:17:36.419 --> 00:17:37.079
 as his Lord

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:37.440
 and Savior.

00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:39.460
 The Lord

00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.379
 broke into his life

00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:41.059
 and completely

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:42.539
 transformed him,

00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.779
 turned him around,

00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:44.680
 set him on a

00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.619
 different direction

00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:48.859
 I want you

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.379
 to look

00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:51.000
 at how Paul

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.679
 described,

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.519
 he just alludes

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.059
 to this

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.639
 in the latter part

00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:55.279
 of verse 12

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.939
 or just to read

00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:56.579
 verse 12.

00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.399
 Paul said,

00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:00.359
 I press on

00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:01.159
 to make it

00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:01.959
 my own

00:18:01.959 --> 00:18:03.159
 because Christ

00:18:03.159 --> 00:18:03.859
 Jesus has

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:05.079
 made me

00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:06.339
 his own.

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.739
 Jesus

00:18:08.739 --> 00:18:09.699
 intervened

00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:10.399
 in his life,

00:18:12.419 --> 00:18:12.979
 called him

00:18:12.979 --> 00:18:13.599
 to himself,

00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:15.199
 but the NIV

00:18:15.199 --> 00:18:15.980
 makes that

00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.559
 clearer.

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.279
 Look at this,

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.679
 I press on

00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.339
 to take hold

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:19.959
 of that

00:18:19.959 --> 00:18:20.639
 for which

00:18:20.639 --> 00:18:21.359
 Christ Jesus

00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.000
 took hold

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.519
 of me.

00:18:22.919 --> 00:18:23.319
 And then the

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:23.779
 New Living

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.240
 translation

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:24.699
 makes it

00:18:24.699 --> 00:18:25.319
 even clearer,

00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:27.039
 I press on

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.539
 to possess

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.779
 that perfection

00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:30.059
 for which

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.839
 Christ Jesus

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.719
 first

00:18:31.719 --> 00:18:32.659
 possessed

00:18:32.659 --> 00:18:33.500
 me.

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:36.680
 never forget

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.480
 if you're

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:37.940
 a Christian,

00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.940
 you're a

00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:40.160
 Christian

00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:40.759
 because the

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.200
 Lord

00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.380
 first

00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.980
 chose you

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.420
 out of

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:45.980
 his grace,

00:18:46.619 --> 00:18:47.240
 out of

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.799
 his love,

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:48.880
 and called

00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.380
 you

00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:51.500
 to himself,

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:52.920
 to be

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.380
 his

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.480
 child,

00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:55.759
 to be

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.500
 his follower,

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:58.000
 and he did

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.519
 it for a

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:58.960
 purpose.

00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:00.900
 Now sometimes

00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:02.400
 the New Testament

00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.200
 describes this

00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.500
 call as

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.040
 coming from

00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:05.380
 Jesus.

00:19:06.540 --> 00:19:07.380
 The Apostle

00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:08.220
 Paul's initial

00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.200
 call came from

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.320
 Jesus on the

00:19:10.320 --> 00:19:10.640
 road to

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:11.140
 Damascus.

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:11.900
 Well,

00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.860
 Jesus

00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:14.120
 himself

00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:15.840
 describes

00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:16.480
 to his

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:16.960
 disciples

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.640
 how he

00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.140
 called them.

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:19.700
 Look at this.

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.440
 Jesus said

00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:21.780
 to them,

00:19:22.780 --> 00:19:23.220
 you do not

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.860
 choose me,

00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:25.740
 but I chose

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.140
 you,

00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:27.640
 and appointed

00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:28.200
 you,

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.340
 so that you

00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:30.519
 might go and

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.359
 bear fruit,

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.980
 fruit that

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.740
 will last.

00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:36.160
 I mean,

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.759
 Jesus is

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.619
 emphasizing to

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.220
 those disciples,

00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:40.160
 you are a

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.720
 follower of me

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.339
 because I

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.180
 chose you.

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.759
 I called

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.480
 you to be

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.220
 with me,

00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.099
 to be mine,

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.379
 and I

00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.139
 called you

00:19:48.139 --> 00:19:49.000
 not just to

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.420
 be mine,

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:49.940
 but to do

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.500
 such a work

00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.160
 in your life

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.539
 that it

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:52.839
 makes a

00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.099
 difference

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:53.500
 in how you

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:53.900
 live,

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:54.819
 and you

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.700
 produce

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:57.599
 spiritual

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.119
 fruit.

00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:58.980
 You

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.539
 demonstrate

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.000
 that you're

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.480
 mine by

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:00.779
 the way

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.059
 that you

00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:01.680
 live is

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:01.920
 what he's

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:02.460
 talking about.

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:04.500
 But more

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:04.980
 often than

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.420
 not,

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:06.359
 when the

00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:06.720
 New Testament

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.460
 describes our

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.099
 call,

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:08.920
 it describes

00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.380
 it as coming

00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:09.779
 from God

00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.259
 the Father.

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.220
 A good

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.319
 example is

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:12.819
 Romans 8,

00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:13.180
 29,

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.599
 and 30.

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:13.920
 I want you

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.200
 to look at

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:14.460
 this.

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.599
 For those

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.140
 whom he

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.640
 foreknew,

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.220
 talking about

00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:18.619
 God,

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.319
 for those

00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:20.759
 whom he,

00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.200
 God the

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.500
 Father,

00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.099
 foreknew,

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.359
 he also

00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:24.440
 predestined

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.339
 to be

00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.200
 conformed

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:26.559
 to the

00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.000
 image of

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.599
 his Son,

00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.439
 in order

00:20:28.439 --> 00:20:28.779
 that he

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.219
 might be

00:20:29.219 --> 00:20:29.799
 the firstborn

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.319
 among many

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:30.740
 brothers.

00:20:31.199 --> 00:20:31.639
 And those

00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.159
 whom he

00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:32.980
 predestined,

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.839
 he also

00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.339
 called.

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:34.919
 And those

00:20:34.919 --> 00:20:35.219
 whom he

00:20:35.219 --> 00:20:35.599
 called,

00:20:35.679 --> 00:20:36.059
 he also

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.639
 justified.

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.359
 And those

00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:37.679
 whom he

00:20:37.679 --> 00:20:38.079
 justified,

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:38.659
 he also

00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:39.719
 glorified.

00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.099
 Strong

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:42.799
 emphasis on

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:45.199
 God's work

00:20:45.199 --> 00:20:46.819
 in us to

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.259
 call us to

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.719
 himself.

00:20:49.159 --> 00:20:49.559
 But what I

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:49.899
 want us to

00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:50.179
 note in

00:20:50.179 --> 00:20:51.500
 this is that

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.559
 God's call is

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.579
 always for a

00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.059
 purpose.

00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:55.779
 Jesus said,

00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:56.179
 look at it

00:20:56.179 --> 00:20:56.440
 again,

00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:58.000
 I chose

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.319
 you and

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.039
 appointed you

00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.700
 so that you

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.599
 might go and

00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.519
 bear fruit,

00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.179
 fruit that

00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:02.720
 will last.

00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:03.740
 God the

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.139
 Father,

00:21:04.679 --> 00:21:05.279
 his call,

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:05.720
 look at it,

00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.259
 for those

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:06.619
 whom he

00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.139
 foreknew,

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:07.819
 he also

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.759
 predestined

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.619
 to be

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.720
 conformed

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.639
 to the

00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:11.960
 image of

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.339
 his Son.

00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:13.720
 If you

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.039
 are a

00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:14.399
 Christian,

00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:16.059
 and you

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.440
 look at

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:16.859
 this,

00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.679
 what these

00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:18.039
 statements

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.500
 say,

00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.079
 you should

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.039
 take comfort

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.700
 in knowing

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:23.740
 that God

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.799
 just out

00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.180
 of his

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.980
 grace and

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:26.420
 mercy and

00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.779
 love chose

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.640
 you.

00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:31.299
 He called

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:31.840
 you to be

00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:33.000
 his child

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:36.000
 by trusting

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.799
 in Jesus as

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.340
 your Lord and

00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:37.580
 Savior.

00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:41.240
 You didn't

00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:41.880
 deserve it.

00:21:43.340 --> 00:21:44.120
 You didn't

00:21:44.120 --> 00:21:44.580
 do anything

00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:45.500
 to earn it.

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:48.220
 Your salvation

00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.680
 was

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.880
 completely

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.840
 a gift

00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.360
 of God's

00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:53.740
 grace.

00:21:55.100 --> 00:21:55.460
 I want you

00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:55.800
 to look at

00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:57.120
 a couple

00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:57.500
 of verses

00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.200
 that should

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.580
 be real

00:21:58.580 --> 00:21:59.080
 familiar to

00:21:59.080 --> 00:21:59.620
 most of us

00:21:59.620 --> 00:21:59.840
 in this

00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:00.100
 room,

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.240
 but it

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.740
 emphasizes

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.040
 what we're

00:22:02.040 --> 00:22:02.540
 talking about.

00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:03.280
 It's important

00:22:03.280 --> 00:22:03.660
 for us to

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.120
 get this

00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:04.740
 and let it

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.280
 sink in.

00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:06.880
 Paul says,

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.680
 for by grace

00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.660
 you have been

00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.760
 saved through

00:22:09.760 --> 00:22:10.280
 faith,

00:22:11.060 --> 00:22:11.540
 and this is

00:22:11.540 --> 00:22:12.200
 not your own

00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.500
 doing.

00:22:12.760 --> 00:22:13.120
 You don't

00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:13.820
 save yourself.

00:22:16.040 --> 00:22:16.840
 It is the

00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.720
 gift of God,

00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:19.780
 not a result

00:22:19.780 --> 00:22:20.460
 of works.

00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.860
 so that no

00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:22.760
 one may

00:22:22.760 --> 00:22:23.900
 boast.

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.060
 We're

00:22:28.060 --> 00:22:29.140
 chosen,

00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:29.860
 called,

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.620
 saved by

00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:31.960
 the grace

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:32.400
 of God

00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.660
 through faith

00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:34.000
 in Jesus

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.480
 Christ,

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.640
 but it's

00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:36.660
 equally important

00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.060
 for us to

00:22:37.060 --> 00:22:38.980
 understand that

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.780
 we're chosen

00:22:39.780 --> 00:22:41.180
 for a purpose.

00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.360
 Look at the

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:42.840
 very next

00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.300
 verse in

00:22:43.300 --> 00:22:43.960
 Ephesians 2.

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.400
 For we are

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.320
 his workmanship,

00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:47.940
 created in Christ

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.860
 Jesus for

00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.779
 good works,

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:50.940
 which God

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.519
 prepared

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.740
 beforehand,

00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:53.900
 that we

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.380
 should walk

00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:54.840
 in them.

00:22:56.340 --> 00:22:56.880
 Saved by

00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.220
 grace,

00:22:57.320 --> 00:22:57.920
 through faith,

00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.160
 through faith in

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.480
 Jesus,

00:22:59.480 --> 00:22:59.880
 but we're

00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:01.720
 saved to

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.220
 work,

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.980
 to fulfill the

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.580
 purpose God

00:23:04.580 --> 00:23:05.940
 created us

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.380
 for.

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.620
 Go back to

00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.019
 what Jesus

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.360
 said.

00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.840
 He chose

00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:10.340
 us,

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:10.900
 he chose his

00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.480
 disciples to

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:11.940
 bear fruit,

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.460
 fruit that will

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:12.740
 last,

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.579
 and God

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:15.160
 chose us

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.039
 and is

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.539
 working in

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:16.940
 us to

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.920
 conform us

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.200
 to the

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.640
 likeness of

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.180
 his son.

00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.039
 As we

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.420
 live in

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.240
 this world,

00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:23.940
 as husbands

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.859
 and wives,

00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:26.160
 parents and

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:26.620
 children,

00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:27.859
 employers and

00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.480
 employees,

00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.680
 athletes,

00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.299
 musicians,

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:30.819
 or whatever

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:32.240
 it is that

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.980
 we are and

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.200
 do,

00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.539
 God calls

00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:36.019
 us to be

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.920
 his faithful

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:38.859
 children who

00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:40.120
 do all kinds

00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:41.279
 of good works

00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.839
 that are

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.440
 evident to

00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:42.899
 everybody,

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.299
 that we

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:44.779
 bear forth

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.460
 all kinds

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.139
 of good

00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:46.879
 fruit that's

00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:48.299
 obvious we're

00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.899
 children of

00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:49.200
 God,

00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:51.480
 and that we

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:53.759
 are growing

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.379
 and becoming

00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:54.879
 more and more

00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:55.359
 like Jesus

00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:57.399
 every day in

00:23:57.399 --> 00:23:57.920
 terms of

00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.559
 character

00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.259
 development.

00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.440
 Now,

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.200
 none of us

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.720
 have done that

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.500
 perfectly for

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.200
 one single

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.559
 day,

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.759
 and what that

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.359
 means is we've

00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:08.879
 got a lot of

00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:09.859
 work to do.

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.000
 The good

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.559
 news is that

00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.119
 God will help

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:13.599
 us both

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.980
 inwardly by

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.559
 giving us the

00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.039
 desire,

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.819
 the motivation,

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.279
 and he will

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:19.879
 help us

00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.980
 outwardly by

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:22.480
 enabling us to

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.160
 see some

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.740
 success,

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.339
 to make

00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.039
 progress.

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.399
 We looked at

00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:26.859
 this a couple

00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:27.399
 of weeks or a

00:24:27.399 --> 00:24:28.119
 few weeks ago,

00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:29.359
 Philippians 2.13,

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.240
 for it is God

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:30.859
 who works in

00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.539
 you both to

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:31.960
 will and to

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.720
 work for his

00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.160
 good pleasure.

00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:33.559
 See,

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.579
 salvation is all

00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.000
 of grace.

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:35.920
 God chooses

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.759
 us, calls us,

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.759
 and he works in

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.779
 us by his grace

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.359
 to give us the

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.200
 desire and ability

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.259
 to please him.

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.920
 We have every

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.519
 reason to be

00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:46.240
 confident that we

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.000
 can grow spiritually.

00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:47.940
 You, if you're a

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:49.720
 Christian, I don't

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.220
 care who you are,

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:52.779
 what you do, how

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.480
 much is going on

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.740
 in your life, if

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.279
 you're a Christian,

00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:56.759
 you have every

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.319
 reason to be

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.100
 confident that you

00:24:58.100 --> 00:24:59.080
 can grow spiritually.

00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.860
 So let's start

00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:02.480
 looking now at what

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.240
 spiritual growth

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.980
 results.

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:05.440
 Number two, the

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.700
 way to respond is,

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.440
 and I've changed

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.140
 this, this has been

00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:09.059
 on the screen, the

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.180
 way to respond is

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.600
 when you get

00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:13.480
 serious about

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.259
 growing spiritually.

00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:16.060
 As I said,

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:18.220
 everybody knows

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.600
 they need to

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.680
 grow if you're a

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:19.940
 Christian.

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.080
 We're going to

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.940
 look at now the

00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:23.019
 way to respond when

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:24.000
 you get serious

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.620
 about growing

00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.560
 spiritually.

00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.120
 I want you to

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.580
 look at the

00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:30.120
 action words that

00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.080
 Paul uses to

00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:32.180
 describe the

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:34.259
 effort that he

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:36.340
 put forward to

00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:37.080
 be what God has

00:25:37.080 --> 00:25:37.779
 called him to be.

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.620
 Look at this, in

00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.659
 verse 12, I

00:25:39.659 --> 00:25:41.359
 press on to

00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:41.739
 make it my

00:25:41.739 --> 00:25:42.019
 own.

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:44.019
 13, straining

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.539
 forward to what

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.139
 lies ahead.

00:25:46.699 --> 00:25:47.699
 Verse 14, I

00:25:47.699 --> 00:25:49.179
 press on toward

00:25:49.179 --> 00:25:50.859
 the goal for the

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.399
 prize.

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.519
 You know,

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.099
 should know,

00:25:55.219 --> 00:25:55.799
 Paul's not

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.559
 talking about

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.359
 working for

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:59.459
 salvation, but

00:25:59.459 --> 00:26:00.039
 he is talking

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:01.779
 about disciplining

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:04.439
 ourselves and

00:26:04.439 --> 00:26:05.239
 cooperating with

00:26:05.239 --> 00:26:06.459
 God as he works

00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:08.400
 in us to make

00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:08.860
 us more like

00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:09.140
 Jesus.

00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:10.819
 Let's go back to

00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.680
 that example about

00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:13.319
 me needing to

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.819
 lose weight.

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.340
 Do you know the

00:26:16.340 --> 00:26:18.340
 reason why I have

00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.539
 not lost this gut

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.279
 even though I'd

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.720
 like to?

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.240
 Be honest.

00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:23.759
 I'll just be

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.019
 honest.

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:24.900
 I have not

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:26.880
 exercised any

00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:29.220
 self-control or

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.240
 personal discipline

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:32.700
 in what I eat at

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:34.180
 night between

00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:34.779
 supper and

00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.200
 bedtime.

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.019
 that's my

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.680
 downfall.

00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:37.740
 I know that.

00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:41.220
 I love to eat

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:41.819
 potato chips.

00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:45.019
 I love little

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.180
 Debbie square

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:46.920
 cakes.

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:47.840
 If Will and

00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.940
 Olivia don't get

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:51.160
 them all, I

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.880
 love to eat one

00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:53.559
 of those at

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:53.900
 night.

00:26:55.580 --> 00:26:56.840
 Now, some

00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:59.120
 nights after

00:26:59.120 --> 00:27:01.279
 supper, I start

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:03.200
 thinking, I'm not

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.580
 going to do that

00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:03.879
 tonight.

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.339
 I'm not going to

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:06.819
 eat a single

00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.199
 chip.

00:27:07.339 --> 00:27:07.779
 I'm not going to

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.939
 eat one little

00:27:08.939 --> 00:27:09.699
 cake.

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.980
 But at some

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:13.519
 point, I hear

00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.099
 little Debbie

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:15.039
 calling my name.

00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.559
 At some point,

00:27:18.699 --> 00:27:19.519
 these, what would

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:19.919
 you call them,

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:22.519
 fat cells start

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.460
 crying out for

00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.199
 potato chips.

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:27.000
 that's a silly

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.779
 illustration, I

00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.080
 know.

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:30.880
 But it can

00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:32.100
 shine light on

00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:33.600
 the spiritual

00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:34.740
 warfare, the

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:36.759
 real serious

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.740
 warfare that

00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.299
 every Christian

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.840
 experiences.

00:27:39.840 --> 00:27:40.580
 Paul describes

00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:40.779
 it in

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.319
 Galatians 5,

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:41.799
 17.

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:42.740
 I want you to

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.240
 look at this.

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.180
 This is what's

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:44.640
 going on in

00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.100
 every Christian

00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:45.460
 life.

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.480
 For the

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.100
 desires of the

00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:48.080
 flesh, that

00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:48.420
 could be

00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:49.279
 translated sinful

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.700
 nature.

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.180
 That's what he's

00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.539
 talking about.

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.460
 For the desires

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.059
 of our sinful

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.240
 nature are

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.960
 against the

00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.460
 spirit, the

00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.139
 indwelling Holy

00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:56.799
 Spirit who is

00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.440
 seeking to make

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.440
 us more like

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:58.740
 Jesus.

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.159
 For the desires

00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:00.819
 of the flesh are

00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.319
 against the

00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.859
 spirit, and the

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.519
 desires of the

00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.180
 spirit are against

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:03.720
 the flesh.

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.039
 For these are

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.240
 opposed to each

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.799
 other to keep

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.440
 you from doing

00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:09.839
 the things that

00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.319
 you want.

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.420
 Your sinful

00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:14.559
 nature does not

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.420
 want you to grow

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.159
 spiritually.

00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:18.039
 That's why you

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.700
 have so many

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.720
 temptations to do

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.500
 sinful things.

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.680
 I mean you

00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.460
 think about it.

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.839
 The temptations

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.779
 that you encounter.

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.319
 You know what

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.880
 your weaknesses

00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:29.400
 are, what we

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:30.140
 might call pet

00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:31.119
 sins are, what

00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:32.099
 some of those

00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:33.700
 habits that really

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.380
 bring you down.

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:34.900
 You know what

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.640
 they are, and you

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.259
 know how often you

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.079
 get tempted by

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.339
 that.

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.259
 But you know

00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:42.440
 sometimes we're

00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:44.160
 tempted to allow

00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:47.460
 neutral things to

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:49.059
 distract us and

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.279
 take us away from

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.200
 things that really

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.460
 matter.

00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:51.940
 Give you an

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.319
 example.

00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.539
 Sometimes on

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.859
 Saturday mornings or

00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.940
 other times during

00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:59.399
 the week, I will

00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:00.299
 sit down to read

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:00.700
 the Bible.

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.399
 And as I sit down

00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:04.000
 to read the Bible,

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.299
 if I didn't do this

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.639
 the night before, it

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.259
 can be early in the

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.920
 morning, I'll think.

00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:09.720
 If it's during

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.500
 football season,

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.680
 Friday, if it's on

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.740
 Saturday morning, I

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.160
 wonder if Pickens

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:13.899
 won last night.

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:16.480
 I wonder if the

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.720
 team I'm sort of

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.740
 keeping up with in

00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.480
 college, I wonder if

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.060
 they won last night.

00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.820
 I wonder this and

00:29:21.820 --> 00:29:22.080
 that.

00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:24.519
 Nothing in the world

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.320
 wrong with it.

00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:27.860
 And I want to be

00:29:27.860 --> 00:29:28.220
 honest with you,

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:30.519
 sometimes I'll pull

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.220
 out that phone or

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:32.280
 open up that computer

00:29:32.280 --> 00:29:32.980
 and I'll check the

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.340
 scores.

00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:36.320
 But when I do that,

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:38.400
 I don't just see if

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.200
 Pickens won.

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:41.980
 I keep up with all

00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:43.080
 high school teams in

00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:44.039
 upstate at least.

00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:44.960
 I'll look at every

00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.299
 score.

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.259
 I'll look at

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:49.340
 everything on ESPN

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:49.960
 about college

00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:50.319
 football.

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:52.640
 And before you know

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:54.759
 it, the times pass,

00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:55.620
 I got something else

00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.299
 I've got to do.

00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:59.259
 And my temptation

00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.019
 wasn't to do

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:01.420
 something sinful in

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.460
 and of itself, check

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:05.500
 scores, but it was

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:08.319
 sinful for me to give

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.180
 in to that distraction

00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:11.480
 and take me away

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:13.380
 from spending time

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.120
 with the Lord when I

00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:15.480
 had just that time

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.420
 to do it.

00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.360
 We've got to be on

00:30:18.360 --> 00:30:18.759
 guard.

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:20.880
 The only way we can

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.640
 overcome the sinful

00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:23.180
 nature is to be

00:30:23.820 --> 00:30:24.640
 sensitive to the

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:25.299
 presence of the Holy

00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:27.200
 Spirit within us and

00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:28.400
 then be obedient as

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.080
 He leads us.

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.720
 Look at this.

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.180
 The verse before

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.039
 what we just read,

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.519
 Paul says live by

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.940
 the Spirit, walk by

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.460
 the Spirit.

00:30:37.580 --> 00:30:38.779
 Be sensitive to the

00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.279
 Holy Spirit's

00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:41.079
 presence and

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:41.539
 obedient to His

00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:41.879
 leadership.

00:30:42.379 --> 00:30:43.160
 Walk by the Spirit

00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.160
 and you will not

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.519
 gratify the desires

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.480
 of the sinful nature.

00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.599
 That's the NIV.

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:50.119
 That takes discipline.

00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:51.980
 And that's what Paul

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.819
 is telling us in

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:54.160
 verses 12 through 14

00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:54.700
 that we're going to

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.500
 come back and look at

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.859
 in more detail next

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.819
 week and some other

00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.379
 things.

00:30:59.039 --> 00:30:59.720
 But right now I want

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.440
 to close by just

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.839
 a simple question.

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.680
 Do you want to grow

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.079
 spiritually?

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:08.139
 Not do you know you

00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:10.659
 need to because if you

00:31:10.659 --> 00:31:12.480
 are a Christian you

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.179
 know it.

00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:16.019
 Do you really want,

00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:17.019
 do you desire to grow

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.359
 spiritually?

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.639
 Do you want to develop

00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:20.439
 more Christ-like

00:31:20.439 --> 00:31:20.899
 character?

00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.899
 Do you really want to

00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:26.019
 please God by doing His

00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.319
 will?

00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:28.559
 Be honest.

00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:31.460
 God knows the desires of

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:31.900
 your heart.

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.600
 If you don't want to

00:31:34.600 --> 00:31:36.960
 grow spiritually, if

00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:37.819
 you're not willing to

00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:39.100
 make the commitment and

00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:42.579
 discipline yourself, ask

00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:44.579
 God to help you

00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:46.000
 understand why it's

00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.440
 that way.

00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:51.299
 If you have never, and

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.019
 the whole thing I'm

00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.480
 preaching about this

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.640
 morning, it's just a

00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.420
 turn off to you.

00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:56.220
 You have no desire to

00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:56.880
 grow spiritually.

00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.380
 You can't be a

00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:58.700
 Christian.

00:31:58.700 --> 00:32:01.819
 The Spirit of God

00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:05.039
 cannot live in you and

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:06.880
 never convict you,

00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.940
 prompt you, encourage

00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:10.420
 you to draw closer to

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:12.559
 the Lord, to serve Him

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:14.420
 more faithfully, to

00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:15.319
 overcome the sin in your

00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:15.480
 life.

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.059
 That just will not

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.360
 happen.

00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:21.200
 But it could be that you

00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:24.920
 are a Christian and you

00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:25.900
 have those desires.

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:29.580
 And you used to do

00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:30.580
 something about it.

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.660
 But you've allowed the

00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:35.140
 busyness of your life,

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:39.000
 other people, other

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:43.240
 demands, or sinful

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:45.700
 habits to quench the

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:45.940
 Spirit.

00:32:47.840 --> 00:32:49.160
 You've not acted on it,

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:51.660
 and so the desire has

00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:51.900
 dwindled.

00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:52.500
 dwindled.

00:32:55.580 --> 00:32:56.460
 I want you to

00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.700
 understand that's

00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.300
 serious.

00:32:59.300 --> 00:33:01.120
 When you have sensed the

00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:02.300
 closeness of God, the

00:33:02.300 --> 00:33:06.019
 presence of God, but you

00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.620
 don't now.

00:33:08.820 --> 00:33:10.300
 I would encourage you, if

00:33:10.300 --> 00:33:13.600
 that's you, spend some

00:33:13.600 --> 00:33:15.200
 time with the Lord today.

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:19.759
 Admit your sin, your

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.080
 selfishness, your

00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:22.119
 preoccupation with

00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:23.819
 whatever else it is that

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:25.559
 has hindered you, gotten

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.099
 in the way of your

00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:26.619
 relationship with the

00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:26.819
 Lord.

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.319
 And draw back close to

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:29.519
 Him.

00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:32.519
 Ask Him to help you to

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:35.919
 rearrange your schedule,

00:33:36.179 --> 00:33:36.939
 to make some new

00:33:36.939 --> 00:33:38.960
 priorities, and to make

00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:42.399
 Him first on the list as

00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:44.099
 far as spending time with,

00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:46.460
 getting to know better,

00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:48.339
 becoming more like Jesus.

00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:53.899
 Think about, where are you

00:33:53.899 --> 00:33:54.419
 right now in your

00:33:54.419 --> 00:33:55.299
 relationship with God?

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.299
 Where do you need to be?

00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:01.759
 Make the commitment to

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.879
 obey God and move in the

00:34:03.879 --> 00:34:05.019
 direction He's calling you.

00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:06.119
 Let's pray together.

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:11.480
 Dear God, first I pray for

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.420
 anyone in this room who is

00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.079
 not a Christian.

00:34:13.799 --> 00:34:14.980
 Maybe you just revealed it to

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:16.159
 them today or maybe they've

00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:17.019
 always known.

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.079
 But Lord, I pray that you

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:23.420
 will convict them, show

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:26.880
 them their need for

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.420
 salvation.

00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:31.179
 Create within them a desire

00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:35.579
 to turn from their sin, to

00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:37.280
 truly trust Jesus as their

00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:42.300
 Savior and Lord, and surrender

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:46.060
 their lives to Him and follow

00:34:46.060 --> 00:34:46.440
 Him.

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.400
 Father, if there are Christians

00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:52.820
 in this room whose desire is

00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.980
 not as strong as it used to

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:56.400
 be, disturb them over that,

00:34:58.060 --> 00:34:59.380
 cause them to realize that

00:34:59.380 --> 00:35:03.900
 they're on shaky ground, and

00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:06.720
 call them back in confession,

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:08.680
 in repentance, in renewed

00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:09.339
 commitment.

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:14.099
 Whet their appetite, dear God,

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:17.099
 for the things of God.

00:35:18.839 --> 00:35:20.279
 Father, for Christians in this

00:35:20.279 --> 00:35:25.460
 room who are mature, who are

00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:27.000
 growing, who desire to grow

00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:29.339
 more, encourage them, dear God.

00:35:30.919 --> 00:35:33.219
 Encourage them when they see the

00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:36.179
 closer they get to you, the more

00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:37.859
 aware they are of the sin and

00:35:37.859 --> 00:35:39.879
 shortcomings in their life.

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:43.759
 Help them to see this is a sign

00:35:43.759 --> 00:35:45.339
 of being a mature Christian, being

00:35:45.339 --> 00:35:46.500
 more like the Apostle Paul.

00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:49.519
 And help them, dear God, to just

00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:54.139
 keep on, to remain faithful, and to

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:58.339
 see how you do enable them to

00:35:58.339 --> 00:36:01.960
 become more like Jesus, love you

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:04.179
 more, and serve you more effectively

00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.079
 in the days to come.

00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.619
 It's just all an attitude of

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:08.899
 prayer, listen to the Lord, and

00:36:08.899 --> 00:36:10.059
 respond to Him this morning.

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.179
 Amen.

00:36:10.179 --> 00:36:10.199
 Amen.

00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:10.219
 Amen.

00:36:10.219 --> 00:36:10.239
 Amen.

00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:10.279
 Amen.

00:36:10.279 --> 00:36:10.339
 Amen.

00:36:10.339 --> 00:36:10.359
 Amen.

00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:10.399
 Amen.

00:36:10.399 --> 00:36:10.419
 Amen.

00:36:10.419 --> 00:36:10.460
 Amen.

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:10.480
 Amen.

00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:10.539
 Amen.