WEBVTT

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 Turn in your Bibles to Philippians.

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 Philippians chapter 1.

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! This is our fourth week in starting the book of Philippians.

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 Verse 28 through 31.

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 It's around 61 A.D.

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 It's the end of his third missionary journey.

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 And we, you know, again a long time ago

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 when we were talking about what to preach on Sunday mornings,

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 we, I think Philippians is just one hands down

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 because it's been a really difficult year for many of us

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 and we really needed to kind of anchor our soul

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 on something that really talked about joy in Christ.

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 And Philippians is that book.

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 And it's a rarity because it's a letter written to a local church

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 that Paul cares deeply about.

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 And he's not necessarily calling to,

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 writing them to correct them or rebuke them for anything.

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 He is very, very well pleased with them.

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 And so the mood of this letter is warm and affectionate.

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 This type of ancient letter you would call a letter of friendship.

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 And he celebrates this long-standing partnership with them in the gospel

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 and the fellowship they have in Jesus Christ together.

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 And so last week we talked about how in God's providence,

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 he had been put in prison in Rome,

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 but he said that this didn't slow the advancement of the gospel.

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 It didn't hinder the gospel going forward,

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 but rather it served to advance the gospel.

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 And that's in verse 12.

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 And so we'll read our text today.

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 We're picking up in verse 18.

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 Well, the first part of 18, the last part of 18.

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 So Paul just says,

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 Yes, I will rejoice.

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 Verse 19.

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 For I know that though through your prayers

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 and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

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 this will turn out for my deliverance.

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 As it is my eager expectation and hope

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 that I will not at all be ashamed,

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 but that with full courage,

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 now as always,

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 Christ will be honored in my body,

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 whether by life or by death.

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 For to me, to live is Christ,

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 and to die is gain.

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 If I am to live in the flesh,

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 this means fruitful labor for me.

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 Yet which shall I choose?

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 I cannot tell.

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 I am hard-pressed between the two.

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 My desire is to depart and be with Christ,

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 for that is far better.

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 But to remain in the flesh

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 is more necessary on your account.

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 Convinced of this,

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 I know that I will remain

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 and continue with you all

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 for your progress and joy in the faith,

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 so that in me you may have ample cause

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 to glory in Christ Jesus

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 because of my coming to you again.

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 So, around the winter of 2008,

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 I had just sort of graduated from North Georgia

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 around May 2007,

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 and Nathan and Sam,

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 Wes and Liz and myself,

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 we had a college Bible study

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 that we had on Thursday nights

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 from back in the old apartments

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 down past the baseball field,

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 and it's kind of just carried on

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 in many ways.

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 But at the time, in 2008,

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 my cystic fibrosis,

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 my lung disease

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 was just really hitting me pretty hard,

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 and my health was deteriorating rapidly.

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 I think my lung function

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 was around 20, 25%,

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 and I was just really weak,

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 and I was in this phase

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 where I was going in and out of the hospital

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 almost every three weeks

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 and staying for about two weeks at a time

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 for treatments and antibiotics.

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 I spat up a lot of blood,

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 and the oxygen I just wore off and on

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 throughout the day,

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 and I slept with it.

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 And I was waiting on a lung transplant

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 from UAB Hospital in Birmingham,

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 but at that time,

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 at that Bible study,

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 we actually were studying Philippians,

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 and I just happened to sort of land

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 on this text during that time,

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 the same text.

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 And I had the opportunity to teach on it,

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 and it's just forever been stuck

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 in my mind

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 surrounding those events

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 and what the Lord was taking me through

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 as I kind of pondered

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 my own death

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 and the possibility of just going home

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 to be with the Lord.

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 So I hope that

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 in some similar way

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 I can encourage you today

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 so this text means a lot to me.

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 And so I've tried to think through

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 the best way to walk through it,

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 but we'll do it just in terms

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 of a few questions.

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 But question number one

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 is what is Paul's dilemma?

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 What is Paul's dilemma?

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 You see this in verse 22.

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 He says,

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 If I am to live in the flesh,

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 that means fruitful labor for me,

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 yet I do not,

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 yet which I shall not choose,

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 I cannot tell.

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 I am hard pressed

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 between the two.

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 My desire to depart

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 and be with Christ

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 for that is far better,

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 but to remain in the flesh

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 is more necessary

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 on your account.

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 So that term hard pressed

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 in verse 23,

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 it means like someone

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 who's traveling

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 on a tight, narrow path

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 and all of a sudden

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 they just feel pushed,

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 sandwiched, crushed

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 between two rock faces

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 if you want to think of it

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 that way,

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 and they have nowhere to go

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 except forward.

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 That's kind of how he feels.

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 He feels caught

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 between these two

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 competing desires.

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 He's torn.

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 But the first desire

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 is that he would remain alive

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 in this world

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 and continue

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 serving, loving,

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 and giving his life away

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 for the sake of gospel ministry

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 and to enable him

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 to help the Philippians

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 and other churches

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 just grow in their faith.

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 So to remain behind

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 for the sake of gospel ministry.

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 But the second desire,

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 it says he desires

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 to leave

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 this fallen world,

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 leave this awful,

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 broken, sinful world

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 to be reunited with Christ.

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 And he says

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 that is

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 what his greatest desire

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 really is.

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 And if it wasn't up

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 for the sake of other people,

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 that would win hands down

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 because that's what he says.

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 To depart and be with Christ

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 is far better.

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 But he also knows

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 that that choice

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 really isn't his.

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 He knows that God

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 is completely sovereign,

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 in control of his life,

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 whether he lives or dies,

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 and he will joyfully accept

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 whatever God chooses for him.

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 As it says in James, right,

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 if the Lord wills,

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 we will live

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 and do

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 this or that.

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 So,

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 he's confident

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 of his release,

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 though,

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 however.

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 He knows that God

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 is the giver and taker of life,

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 but he kind of humbly

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 just says,

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 but I think,

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 I'm pretty sure,

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 that I will be released

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 from this current imprisonment.

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 You see that in verse 19,

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 right?

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 He says,

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 for I know that

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 through your prayers

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 and the help of the Spirit

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 of Jesus,

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 this will turn out

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 for my deliverance.

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 In verse 25,

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 he says,

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 convinced of this,

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 I know that I will remain

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 and continue

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 with you all.

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 And he hopes that

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 such a joyful reunion

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 with the Philippians

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 will give them cause,

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 right,

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 in verse 26,

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 cause to glory

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 in Christ Jesus

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 because of my coming

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 to you.

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 And upon seeing

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 those prayers answered.

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 So,

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 if Paul is

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 to remain in the flesh,

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 if he is to remain

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 on this earth,

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 like,

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 what is the purpose?

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 Why?

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 To what end

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 should he continue

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 living?

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 You see in verse 22,

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 if I am in the flesh,

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 this means fruitful,

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 abundant,

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 rich,

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 rewarding labor

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 for me.

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 Remaining on earth

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 a little longer

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 in this temporal realm

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 and continuing

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 the work of ministry.

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 And in the case

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 of the Philippians,

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 it was joyful,

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 fruitful labor.

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 And should God

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 allow him

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 to continue living,

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 he is aware,

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 if you look at verse 24,

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 it is not on his own account.

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 He is wanting that

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 for the sake of others.

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 It is more necessary

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 for him to remain behind

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 for the sake

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 of others.

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 So,

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 there is two parts

00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:23.500
 of that

00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:24.919
 gospel ministry,

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 if you want to think

00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:26.039
 of it that way.

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 Like,

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 why would he want

00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:28.500
 to remain behind?

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 But the first one

00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:31.139
 we talked about

00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:31.980
 a lot last week,

00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:32.560
 but he wants

00:09:32.560 --> 00:09:33.279
 to remain behind

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 for the furtherance

00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:35.940
 of the gospel.

00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:36.600
 That God

00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:37.620
 would let him live

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 to advance

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 the cause

00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:40.680
 of the gospel.

00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:40.759
 gospel.

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 So,

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 if I am to remain

00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:44.159
 behind

00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:45.479
 to continue

00:09:45.479 --> 00:09:46.799
 preaching the gospel,

00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:48.919
 this is what

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 I will do

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 until my last breath.

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 And I hope

00:09:52.739 --> 00:09:53.120
 that

00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:54.979
 if you have

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 a desire

00:09:55.479 --> 00:09:56.359
 to remain here

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 on this earth,

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 that is one

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 of the foremost

00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:00.659
 things in your mind.

00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:01.839
 How can I

00:10:01.839 --> 00:10:03.000
 advance

00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:03.759
 the gospel

00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:04.519
 of Christ?

00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:06.779
 Do you have

00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:07.759
 a lot of friends

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 and family

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 that you long

00:10:09.699 --> 00:10:10.159
 to see

00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:11.279
 to come

00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:12.179
 to know Christ?

00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:14.840
 When I first

00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:15.539
 taught on this

00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:16.100
 years ago

00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:17.579
 and in today,

00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:18.799
 I really just

00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:19.360
 want to see

00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:20.240
 so many young

00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:21.039
 college students

00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.460
 come to know

00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:22.879
 Christ.

00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:24.659
 I want my

00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:25.519
 oldest friend,

00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:27.120
 Chris Edwards,

00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:27.819
 since I've known

00:10:27.819 --> 00:10:28.539
 from the cradle,

00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:29.299
 to come to know

00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:29.740
 Christ.

00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:29.860
 Christ.

00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:31.279
 And I want

00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:32.419
 my older brother,

00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:33.840
 Lee,

00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:34.899
 who's my best friend,

00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:35.620
 come to know

00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:36.680
 Jesus as well.

00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:38.879
 And I know

00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:39.519
 that one of the

00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:40.360
 reasons that God

00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:41.279
 has left me behind

00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.899
 is for the cause

00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:43.519
 of the gospel

00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.480
 in those areas.

00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:46.480
 But underneath

00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:47.000
 that,

00:10:48.100 --> 00:10:49.299
 he wants to remain

00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:50.080
 behind for the

00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:50.919
 discipleship

00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:51.759
 or the progress

00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:52.680
 of their joy

00:10:52.680 --> 00:10:53.919
 in the faith.

00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:54.620
 He wants to see

00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.299
 them grow

00:10:55.299 --> 00:10:56.600
 in their faith

00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:57.340
 in Christ

00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.799
 for the necessity

00:10:58.799 --> 00:10:59.620
 of helping them

00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.240
 know Jesus

00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:00.860
 better and

00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:01.399
 follow him

00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:01.740
 more.

00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:02.639
 That's what he

00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.139
 says in verse

00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:03.659
 24,

00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:05.139
 to remain the

00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:05.759
 flesh and more

00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.620
 necessary on

00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:07.600
 your account.

00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:09.259
 And the verse

00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.200
 25,

00:11:10.940 --> 00:11:12.139
 for your progress

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:13.000
 in joy

00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:13.879
 and the faith.

00:11:14.919 --> 00:11:15.440
 So the more

00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:16.259
 we progress,

00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:17.340
 more progress

00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:18.120
 we make

00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.080
 in the faith,

00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:20.840
 the more joy

00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:21.480
 or happiness

00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:22.139
 we'll have

00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:22.820
 in Christ

00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:24.340
 in this life.

00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:25.600
 Growing

00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.460
 and knowing

00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.159
 Christ.

00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:28.799
 And

00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.519
 many of us

00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:31.799
 have experienced

00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:34.279
 the great joy

00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:34.979
 of seeing young

00:11:34.979 --> 00:11:35.819
 believers grow

00:11:35.819 --> 00:11:36.439
 up in their

00:11:36.439 --> 00:11:38.339
 faith and

00:11:38.339 --> 00:11:39.120
 in their love

00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:39.679
 and devotion

00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:40.419
 to Christ.

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.299
 And again,

00:11:42.359 --> 00:11:42.919
 I'm aware

00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:43.679
 that even in

00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:44.459
 this moment,

00:11:44.719 --> 00:11:45.319
 as I was

00:11:45.319 --> 00:11:45.939
 looking back

00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:47.159
 over those

00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:47.719
 old notes

00:11:47.719 --> 00:11:48.159
 that I wrote

00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.039
 in 2008,

00:11:49.839 --> 00:11:50.500
 I actually

00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:51.179
 asked people

00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:52.319
 to like put

00:11:52.319 --> 00:11:52.699
 their hand

00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:53.319
 on their chest

00:11:53.319 --> 00:11:53.939
 and just feel

00:11:53.939 --> 00:11:54.359
 their heart

00:11:54.359 --> 00:11:54.679
 beating

00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:55.979
 and just

00:11:55.979 --> 00:11:56.799
 to realize

00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:58.819
 that that's

00:11:58.819 --> 00:11:59.679
 being sustained

00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.079
 by the power

00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:02.579
 of God

00:12:02.579 --> 00:12:04.819
 and that

00:12:04.819 --> 00:12:05.759
 in His hand

00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:06.359
 is the life

00:12:06.359 --> 00:12:06.879
 of every

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.620
 living thing

00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:09.079
 in the breath

00:12:09.079 --> 00:12:09.579
 of all

00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:10.279
 mankind.

00:12:11.479 --> 00:12:12.199
 And He's

00:12:12.199 --> 00:12:12.979
 allowing us

00:12:12.979 --> 00:12:13.620
 to live.

00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:14.639
 We're not just

00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.219
 existing.

00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:18.379
 And if we

00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:18.920
 are to remain

00:12:18.920 --> 00:12:19.399
 behind,

00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:20.840
 I pray

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:21.320
 that it is

00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:21.779
 for the

00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.200
 progression

00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:22.639
 of the

00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.040
 gospel

00:12:23.040 --> 00:12:24.100
 and the

00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:24.440
 progression

00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:24.820
 of seeing

00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:25.340
 others come

00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:25.700
 to know

00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:26.200
 Christ in

00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:26.540
 a deeper

00:12:26.540 --> 00:12:26.920
 way

00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:27.240
 through the

00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:27.840
 work of

00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:28.840
 discipleship.

00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:31.080
 during this

00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:32.580
 time in

00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:33.300
 2008,

00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:35.639
 I had a

00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:36.200
 huge burden

00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:36.700
 to reach

00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:38.500
 my unbelieving

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.060
 friends that

00:12:39.060 --> 00:12:39.340
 I went to

00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:39.700
 high school

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.080
 with.

00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:41.879
 Kind of a

00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.320
 mixture of

00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.180
 athletes and

00:12:43.180 --> 00:12:43.800
 good old

00:12:43.800 --> 00:12:44.680
 boys and

00:12:44.680 --> 00:12:46.300
 football,

00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:46.899
 baseball,

00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:47.420
 basketball

00:12:47.420 --> 00:12:48.060
 players,

00:12:49.040 --> 00:12:49.620
 deer hunters,

00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:50.680
 those kind

00:12:50.680 --> 00:12:51.100
 of guys.

00:12:51.180 --> 00:12:51.560
 That's who I

00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:52.639
 spent a lot

00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.160
 of time with

00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:53.740
 in high school.

00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:56.560
 And I

00:12:56.560 --> 00:12:57.080
 wasn't doing

00:12:57.080 --> 00:12:57.460
 good.

00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.019
 I was really

00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.400
 sick.

00:12:58.840 --> 00:12:59.460
 And I

00:12:59.460 --> 00:12:59.920
 knew that

00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:00.420
 we were all

00:13:00.420 --> 00:13:00.740
 going to get

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.200
 together,

00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:02.200
 come back

00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:02.540
 from wherever

00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:03.120
 we were to

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:03.480
 watch the

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:03.879
 Georgia,

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:04.519
 Georgia Tech

00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:05.200
 football game.

00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:06.680
 And I

00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:06.879
 thought,

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.180
 man, I

00:13:07.180 --> 00:13:07.399
 don't know

00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:07.879
 how this is

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.080
 going to

00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.399
 happen,

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:08.899
 but man,

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:10.519
 I doubt

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.080
 I'll get all

00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:11.500
 these guys

00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.280
 together again

00:13:12.280 --> 00:13:12.780
 at the same

00:13:12.780 --> 00:13:13.180
 time.

00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:14.320
 And I

00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:15.040
 really just

00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:15.660
 wanted to

00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:17.980
 share about

00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:18.580
 Christ with

00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:18.820
 them.

00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:20.840
 Not the

00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:21.759
 best context.

00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:22.860
 Unless I

00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.080
 was just

00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:23.500
 turning the

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:23.860
 game off

00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.200
 and saying,

00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:24.840
 shut up and

00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.400
 listen to me.

00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:25.639
 I don't

00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:25.920
 know how

00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:26.460
 it was going

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:26.820
 to happen.

00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:28.040
 But

00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:30.159
 I kind

00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:30.839
 of left

00:13:30.839 --> 00:13:31.219
 that whole

00:13:31.219 --> 00:13:31.719
 experience

00:13:31.719 --> 00:13:32.539
 pretty discouraged

00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.659
 because I

00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:34.699
 just couldn't

00:13:34.699 --> 00:13:35.959
 sit any of

00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:36.459
 them down to

00:13:36.459 --> 00:13:36.799
 talk.

00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:39.740
 And from

00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.480
 that day,

00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:41.039
 later that

00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:41.419
 day, I

00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:42.299
 got so sick

00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:44.000
 that my

00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:44.539
 dad drove

00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:44.860
 me to

00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:45.240
 Birmingham

00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:45.759
 to the

00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.219
 hospital.

00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.039
 And I

00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:48.919
 was just

00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:49.459
 barely able

00:13:49.459 --> 00:13:50.059
 to sit up

00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:51.079
 straight and

00:13:51.079 --> 00:13:51.500
 breathe.

00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:53.200
 I was so

00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:53.820
 discouraged

00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:54.100
 that I

00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:54.500
 just didn't

00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:55.059
 get a chance

00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:55.480
 to share

00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:55.879
 with some

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.100
 of my

00:13:56.100 --> 00:13:56.480
 friends.

00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.179
 And feeling

00:13:59.179 --> 00:13:59.600
 the weight

00:13:59.600 --> 00:13:59.940
 of this

00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:00.320
 text,

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.960
 but this

00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:03.440
 past week

00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:03.840
 actually was

00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:04.259
 in Birmingham

00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:06.080
 again for

00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:06.960
 some procedures.

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.620
 And while I

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.080
 was there,

00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:09.620
 one of my

00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.159
 friends called

00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:11.500
 me to check

00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:11.799
 on me.

00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:12.139
 His name

00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.960
 is Michael

00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:14.320
 Sugar.

00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.559
 He lives

00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:15.960
 in New

00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:16.320
 Orleans.

00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:19.100
 and he

00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.420
 was at

00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:20.620
 that gathering

00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:21.240
 a long time

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:21.540
 ago.

00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:22.040
 And he

00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:22.600
 asked me,

00:14:23.160 --> 00:14:23.720
 hey man,

00:14:23.760 --> 00:14:24.100
 I just heard

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.440
 you went to

00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:24.900
 the hospital.

00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:25.340
 Was everything

00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:25.680
 cool?

00:14:26.040 --> 00:14:27.320
 And I

00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:27.560
 thought I

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.060
 was just

00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:28.680
 kind of

00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.440
 fighting to

00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:30.340
 keep going.

00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:32.560
 And he

00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:32.840
 goes, well

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:33.180
 man, I just

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:33.460
 want you to

00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:33.600
 know I've

00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.000
 been praying

00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:34.379
 for you

00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:34.660
 lately.

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:34.940
 And I

00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:35.240
 was just

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:35.500
 like,

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:35.920
 you're

00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:36.520
 praying for

00:14:36.520 --> 00:14:36.760
 me?

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:37.900
 Kind of

00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:38.300
 caught off

00:14:38.300 --> 00:14:38.760
 guard by

00:14:38.760 --> 00:14:39.340
 that phrase.

00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:39.600
 And he

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:39.960
 goes, yeah,

00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:40.220
 I've just

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:42.000
 been paying

00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:42.820
 closer attention

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.320
 to my

00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:44.400
 spiritual life

00:14:44.400 --> 00:14:44.740
 lately.

00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:46.080
 And I

00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:46.460
 just told

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.039
 him, man,

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:47.539
 I've been

00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.440
 dying to

00:14:48.440 --> 00:14:48.799
 have that

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:49.379
 conversation

00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:49.840
 with you.

00:14:50.180 --> 00:14:50.980
 Like, I

00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:51.539
 really hoped

00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:51.860
 we could

00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:53.039
 have when

00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:53.240
 we were

00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:53.779
 all together.

00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:54.960
 And he

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.279
 goes, well,

00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:55.759
 hey man,

00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:57.340
 like, Birmingham's

00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:57.779
 on the way to

00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:58.220
 New Orleans.

00:14:58.320 --> 00:14:58.700
 I'll see you

00:14:58.700 --> 00:14:58.980
 in a few

00:14:58.980 --> 00:14:59.340
 hours.

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.759
 So he

00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.860
 stopped by

00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:02.340
 Birmingham

00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:03.899
 on his way

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:04.399
 back to New

00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:04.720
 Orleans.

00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:04.960
 He was

00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:05.720
 wearing scrubs

00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:05.980
 because he

00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.299
 worked in

00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:06.740
 the hospital.

00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:07.060
 He does

00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:07.379
 stuff with

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:07.940
 pacemakers.

00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:08.200
 He's one

00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:08.620
 of the smart

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.019
 guys with

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.279
 the Georgia

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.560
 Tech.

00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:10.960
 So he

00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:11.360
 showed up

00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:11.519
 and they

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:11.779
 just let

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.039
 him come

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.480
 right in

00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.560
 to the

00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.679
 hospital and

00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.219
 to that

00:15:15.219 --> 00:15:15.699
 place where

00:15:15.699 --> 00:15:16.099
 I was.

00:15:16.339 --> 00:15:17.899
 And this

00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.299
 week he

00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:18.699
 shared with

00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:18.859
 me, like,

00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:19.539
 man, I

00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.039
 remember you

00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:20.519
 sitting on

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.079
 that bed

00:15:21.079 --> 00:15:23.039
 wearing oxygen

00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:23.479
 and just

00:15:23.479 --> 00:15:24.419
 sharing the

00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:24.979
 gospel with

00:15:24.979 --> 00:15:25.199
 me.

00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.500
 And he

00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:27.859
 said, you

00:15:27.859 --> 00:15:28.259
 went in and

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:28.679
 out a lot,

00:15:28.739 --> 00:15:29.179
 even like

00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:29.899
 fell asleep

00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:30.299
 in a mid

00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:30.779
 sentence and

00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.119
 like came

00:15:31.119 --> 00:15:31.679
 back out

00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.019
 and just

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.579
 kept going.

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:35.479
 And I

00:15:35.479 --> 00:15:35.939
 don't even

00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:37.259
 remember that.

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:39.319
 but I

00:15:39.319 --> 00:15:39.879
 was just so

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.840
 encouraged that

00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:42.080
 I do

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.600
 remember him

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:43.179
 sitting there

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:43.519
 and saying,

00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:45.240
 wow, this

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.059
 is unbelievable.

00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:48.259
 And from

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:48.740
 that time

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.379
 forward, really

00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:49.960
 Michael gave

00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.460
 his life to

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:50.960
 Christ and

00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:51.980
 still today

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.360
 is walking

00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:53.980
 with Christ.

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.319
 And he

00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:54.740
 shared with

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.120
 me this

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.600
 past week,

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:56.059
 that's when

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.620
 I marked

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:58.059
 that time

00:15:58.059 --> 00:15:58.720
 from when

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.319
 Christ really

00:15:59.319 --> 00:15:59.779
 got a hold

00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:01.039
 of me and

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:01.439
 how God

00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.299
 somehow used

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:02.819
 you in

00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:03.379
 that moment.

00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:04.759
 So just

00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.379
 feeling this,

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:05.860
 if I'm going

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.360
 to remain

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.060
 behind, I've

00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:07.560
 got to

00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:09.379
 share Christ

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:09.820
 with my

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.659
 friends and

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.220
 my family.

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:14.139
 And so I

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:14.680
 hope that

00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:15.240
 that weighs

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:15.680
 on you,

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.320
 that if you

00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:18.180
 are indeed a

00:16:18.180 --> 00:16:18.659
 follower of

00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.159
 Christ, you

00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:19.980
 would recognize

00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:20.440
 one of your

00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:21.279
 major reasons

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.639
 for your

00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:22.820
 existence today,

00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.200
 that God is

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.039
 allowing you

00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:25.879
 to breathe,

00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:26.820
 is for the

00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:27.620
 advancement of

00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.100
 the gospel.

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.240
 And that if

00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:30.740
 you live

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.519
 another day,

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.180
 it's also to

00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:32.600
 help other

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.220
 people grow

00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:33.820
 spiritually.

00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:35.200
 Whether it's

00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:35.980
 your classmate,

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.560
 co-worker,

00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:37.759
 the children

00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.340
 in your own

00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:38.940
 household,

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:40.860
 anybody.

00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:42.620
 But Paul

00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.200
 says in

00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:43.840
 Acts 20,

00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:44.360
 I do not

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:44.940
 account my

00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:45.440
 life of

00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:46.240
 any value,

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.980
 nor as

00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:48.720
 precious to

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.320
 myself,

00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:50.940
 if I only

00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:51.539
 may finish

00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:52.220
 my course

00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:52.560
 in the

00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:53.000
 ministry

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.080
 that I

00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:54.580
 have received

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:54.920
 from the

00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:55.560
 Lord Jesus

00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:57.100
 to testify

00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.779
 to the

00:16:57.779 --> 00:16:58.320
 gospel of

00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:58.800
 the grace

00:16:58.800 --> 00:16:59.480
 of God.

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.399
 So,

00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.100
 that's

00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.500
 Paul's

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:02.779
 dilemma.

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.399
 He's torn.

00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.299
 He wants

00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:04.740
 to go,

00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.220
 but he

00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.379
 remains to

00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:06.879
 do gospel

00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:07.419
 ministry.

00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:08.759
 Secondly,

00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:11.259
 second question

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.759
 is,

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.480
 what is the

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.299
 chief aim

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:15.000
 of Paul's

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.579
 existence?

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.139
 We see this

00:17:17.139 --> 00:17:17.480
 in verse

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:17.859
 20.

00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.480
 He says,

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:20.799
 it is my

00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:21.180
 eager

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.740
 expectation

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.399
 and hope

00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:24.559
 that I

00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.039
 will not

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:25.720
 at all

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.519
 be ashamed,

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.000
 but that

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:28.579
 with full

00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.180
 courage,

00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:29.859
 now as

00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:30.419
 always,

00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:30.980
 Christ

00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.039
 will be

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.519
 honored

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.240
 in my

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:33.680
 body,

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.120
 whether by

00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:35.840
 my life

00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:36.960
 or by

00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.340
 death.

00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:38.519
 So,

00:17:38.560 --> 00:17:39.080
 Paul's

00:17:39.080 --> 00:17:39.740
 eager,

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.400
 earnest,

00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.320
 fervent,

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.560
 persistent

00:17:42.560 --> 00:17:43.500
 expectation

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.240
 and hope

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.660
 is that

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.080
 when this

00:17:46.080 --> 00:17:46.759
 present life

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.240
 is over,

00:17:47.300 --> 00:17:47.560
 when he

00:17:47.560 --> 00:17:48.220
 leaves this

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:48.680
 world,

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.000
 he will

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.720
 depart from

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.279
 it not

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:51.840
 ashamed,

00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:52.580
 not carrying

00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.400
 any regret,

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.920
 not carrying

00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:55.759
 any disgrace

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.320
 or guilt

00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:56.900
 with him.

00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:59.960
 if you

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.340
 knew that

00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:00.560
 you were

00:18:00.560 --> 00:18:00.820
 going to

00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:01.340
 pass away

00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:01.920
 between now

00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.300
 and next

00:18:02.300 --> 00:18:02.700
 Sunday,

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.560
 would you

00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:04.980
 carry a

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.220
 lot of

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.519
 regret

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:05.920
 into the

00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:06.120
 next

00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:06.480
 life?

00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:08.759
 Would you

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:10.000
 carry shame

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.280
 into the

00:18:11.280 --> 00:18:11.900
 next life?

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:13.620
 Paul's

00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:14.000
 prayer is

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.200
 that he

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.700
 would not

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.259
 at all

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:15.980
 carry that

00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.440
 into the

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.060
 next life,

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:18.120
 but that

00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:18.600
 with full

00:18:18.600 --> 00:18:19.100
 courage,

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:19.700
 now as

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:20.259
 always,

00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:20.900
 he says,

00:18:21.600 --> 00:18:22.160
 that he

00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:22.400
 would have

00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:22.880
 a clean

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.400
 conscience

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.860
 that he

00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.380
 did all

00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:25.940
 he could

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.460
 to honor

00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.240
 Christ,

00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.420
 magnify

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:28.900
 Christ,

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.720
 glorify

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.039
 Christ

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.180
 in his

00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:32.640
 body.

00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:33.940
 So his

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.460
 singular,

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.380
 all-embracing

00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:36.380
 passion was

00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.660
 for us,

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.240
 the same

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.819
 for us,

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.000
 is that we

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.660
 would live

00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:42.220
 our whole

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.140
 lives for

00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:43.700
 the purpose,

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.319
 the single

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.660
 purpose of

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.680
 honoring Christ

00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.100
 and bringing

00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:47.940
 glory to

00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:48.259
 God.

00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:49.740
 He is

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.680
 worthy of

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.480
 our lives.

00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:52.860
 And so,

00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:54.840
 also in

00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:55.279
 college I

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:55.680
 read a book

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.100
 called Don't

00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:56.440
 Waste Your

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:56.920
 Life by

00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.600
 John Piper,

00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.559
 who's the

00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.120
 first person

00:18:59.120 --> 00:18:59.460
 I ever

00:18:59.460 --> 00:18:59.940
 heard to

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.500
 explain this

00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:00.799
 text,

00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.019
 so it's

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.759
 impossible to

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.039
 get him

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.519
 out when

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:03.860
 I think

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:04.340
 about it.

00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.660
 And we've

00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.559
 gone over

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.000
 this many

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.840
 times at

00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.600
 Christ's

00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:08.860
 family,

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.740
 but magnify,

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.200
 the word

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.100
 magnify or

00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:11.480
 honor,

00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:11.900
 right,

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.680
 is used in

00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.799
 a couple

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.220
 of different

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.680
 ways,

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.180
 but one

00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:15.539
 is a

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.140
 telescope

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:17.519
 magnifies

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.059
 distant

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.600
 things,

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:19.840
 right,

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:20.340
 that are

00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:21.340
 actually big

00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:21.920
 in reality,

00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:22.519
 but we can't

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.120
 really see it

00:19:23.120 --> 00:19:23.640
 because of our

00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:24.279
 naked eye.

00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.279
 So it

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.680
 brings it

00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.240
 in closer

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.460
 to make it

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:27.920
 look more

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.279
 like it

00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.220
 actually is.

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:30.460
 And a

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:30.859
 telescope,

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.700
 or excuse me,

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.319
 a microscope

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.559
 magnifies tiny

00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.259
 things that

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.660
 are tiny and

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.220
 makes them look

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:37.359
 bigger than

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:37.819
 they are.

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:40.220
 we should be

00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:41.079
 more like a

00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.079
 telescope to

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:42.500
 Christ.

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:43.879
 He is big

00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:44.519
 in reality,

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.419
 he is huge,

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:46.919
 but just to

00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:47.539
 many people

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.279
 walking around,

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.339
 you know,

00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:50.059
 all around us,

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.700
 they don't see

00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.200
 him for who

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:51.819
 he actually

00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.319
 is,

00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:52.759
 and so when

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.079
 they look

00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.419
 through the

00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.659
 lens of

00:19:54.659 --> 00:19:55.339
 our life,

00:19:55.399 --> 00:19:55.939
 they can see

00:19:55.939 --> 00:19:56.159
 him,

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.839
 they can see

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.859
 him at

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.579
 work in

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.039
 us.

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.419
 And so

00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:01.139
 Paul's

00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:02.079
 passion

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.519
 was that in

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.079
 everything,

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.079
 Christ would

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:06.200
 be honored.

00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:08.240
 Colossians 3

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.700
 17,

00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:09.360
 whatever you

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:09.720
 do in

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.160
 word or

00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:10.480
 deed,

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.000
 do everything

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.860
 in the name

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.279
 of the

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.080
 Lord Jesus.

00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:15.960
 Look at our

00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:16.840
 text again.

00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.720
 Notice how

00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.600
 live and

00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:22.259
 die in

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:22.960
 verse 21

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.220
 correspond to

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.100
 life and

00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:27.680
 death in

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.240
 verse 20.

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.059
 So,

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.799
 there's two

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.299
 parts of

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:31.480
 this.

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:31.620
 It's

00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.600
 Christ's

00:20:32.600 --> 00:20:33.000
 goal,

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:33.720
 or excuse

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:33.900
 me,

00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.519
 Paul's goal

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:34.900
 is to

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.740
 glorify or

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.059
 honor

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.599
 Christ.

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.700
 He says

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.419
 by life

00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:39.940
 or by

00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.339
 death.

00:20:41.379 --> 00:20:41.599
 So,

00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.339
 there's two

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:42.839
 sides of

00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.099
 that.

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.319
 This is

00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:45.039
 question number

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.440
 three.

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.220
 How does

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.839
 Paul honor

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.619
 Christ in

00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:49.079
 life?

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.940
 How does

00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.379
 Paul honor

00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:52.960
 Christ in

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.299
 life?

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:54.740
 We see in

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.559
 verse 21,

00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:56.519
 for to me,

00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.019
 to live

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.419
 is Christ.

00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:00.980
 So,

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.740
 the very

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.639
 purpose for

00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:03.139
 his being,

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.659
 his whole

00:21:03.659 --> 00:21:04.220
 existence,

00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:05.720
 was wrapped

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.880
 up in

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.740
 living for

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.339
 Christ.

00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:09.720
 Not for

00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.100
 the sake,

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.420
 again,

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:10.779
 of his

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.400
 own personal

00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:11.819
 comfort,

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.220
 for the

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.539
 sake of

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.000
 his own

00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.579
 advancement,

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.660
 but for

00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.160
 the sake

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:16.360
 of Christ.

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.920
 He understood

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.559
 that Jesus

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.420
 just isn't up

00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:19.860
 in heaven

00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:20.400
 and physically

00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.240
 just separated

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.319
 from his

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:22.700
 people,

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.720
 but that

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:25.339
 Christ is

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:26.440
 living his

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.579
 resurrected life

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.400
 in and through

00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:29.039
 his people.

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.460
 and by

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.159
 faith we

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:31.819
 are united

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.759
 to him

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.759
 in Christ

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.000
 and that

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.559
 resurrection

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.200
 life.

00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.359
 We're all

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:38.099
 familiar with

00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:38.920
 Galatians 2,

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.279
 verse 20,

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.740
 I have been

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:43.019
 crucified with

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.480
 Christ.

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.680
 It is no

00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.319
 longer I

00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:45.960
 who live,

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.319
 but Christ

00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:47.940
 who lives

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.480
 in me.

00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:49.759
 And the

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.559
 life I now

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.279
 live, I live

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.960
 in the flesh,

00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:52.700
 I live by

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.539
 faith in the

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.519
 Son of God

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.839
 who loved

00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.420
 me and gave

00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.920
 himself for

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.200
 me.

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.480
 So Paul

00:21:59.480 --> 00:21:59.840
 is saying

00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:00.380
 as long

00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:00.720
 as I

00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.940
 live, I

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.519
 belong to

00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:02.840
 Christ.

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.320
 I'm his

00:22:03.320 --> 00:22:04.600
 servant, he

00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.160
 is all that

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.620
 I need.

00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:07.120
 If I die

00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:07.720
 a gruesome

00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.539
 death, bearing

00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.160
 witness to

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.700
 the gospel,

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.120
 I will

00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:11.680
 count it

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.580
 as gain.

00:22:12.820 --> 00:22:13.740
 But if

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.279
 he allows

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:14.860
 me to

00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:16.680
 live, I

00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.320
 will continue

00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:18.000
 to make

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.539
 my whole

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:20.140
 life all

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.700
 about him.

00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.300
 And in

00:22:22.300 --> 00:22:22.940
 either case,

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.539
 I can lose

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:25.000
 nothing because

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.539
 I have

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.039
 Christ.

00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:27.300
 And so his

00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:27.779
 ongoing

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.460
 life and

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.259
 ministry was

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.799
 to make

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.399
 him closer

00:22:30.399 --> 00:22:31.440
 and closer

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.279
 to Christ,

00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:33.639
 especially if

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:33.839
 you read

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.599
 Philippians 2,

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.359
 1-11,

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.279
 especially through

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:36.819
 suffering,

00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:38.980
 especially through

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:41.019
 experiencing the

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.700
 sufferings of

00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.259
 Jesus and

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.099
 his sacrificial

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:44.039
 servitude.

00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.539
 And so if

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.160
 you flip over

00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.940
 to chapter 3

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.579
 really quickly,

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.500
 Philippians 3,

00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.639
 we get another

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.399
 glimpse of how

00:22:51.399 --> 00:22:52.000
 we can honor

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.819
 Christ in our

00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:53.240
 life.

00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.079
 Philippians 3,

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:55.759
 verse 7,

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:58.099
 Paul says,

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.519
 so in the

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:58.859
 context,

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.420
 he's talking

00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:00.960
 about the

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.420
 things he

00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:01.980
 used to

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:02.480
 take hope

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.660
 in to

00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:04.059
 make him

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:04.500
 righteous

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.480
 before God.

00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:06.539
 But we

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.019
 can kind of

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.900
 clean another

00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.539
 meaning from

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:08.859
 that.

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.339
 But he

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:10.660
 says in

00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.099
 verse 7,

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.899
 whatever gain

00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:12.539
 I had,

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.279
 I count it

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.959
 as loss

00:23:13.959 --> 00:23:14.359
 for the

00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.719
 sake of

00:23:15.719 --> 00:23:16.199
 Christ.

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.399
 Indeed,

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:17.919
 I count

00:23:17.919 --> 00:23:18.500
 everything

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.500
 as loss

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.480
 because of

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.259
 the surpassing

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.619
 worth of

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.519
 knowing Christ

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.339
 Jesus my

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:24.740
 Lord.

00:23:25.459 --> 00:23:25.980
 For his

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.579
 sake I

00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.019
 have suffered

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.579
 the loss

00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.099
 of all

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:28.819
 things and

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.480
 count them

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.919
 as rubbish

00:23:30.919 --> 00:23:31.679
 in order

00:23:31.679 --> 00:23:32.859
 that I

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.719
 might gain

00:23:33.719 --> 00:23:34.659
 Christ.

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.679
 So,

00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:37.480
 so much

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.039
 to take away

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.539
 from that.

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.399
 But he

00:23:39.399 --> 00:23:39.960
 is saying,

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.980
 there's a

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.420
 few parts

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:42.759
 of this,

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.039
 if we

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.799
 honor Christ

00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.119
 in our

00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:44.559
 life,

00:23:44.899 --> 00:23:45.480
 we do

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:45.960
 it by

00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.519
 loving

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:46.940
 him,

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.420
 treasuring

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:48.700
 him,

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.019
 and being

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.639
 satisfied

00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.279
 in him

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.000
 above all

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.399
 other

00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:52.200
 things in

00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:52.819
 this life.

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.480
 Alright?

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.440
 And then

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:55.839
 secondly,

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.500
 under that,

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:57.519
 we make

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.119
 deliberate

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.559
 and often

00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.259
 prayerful

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.200
 choices

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.940
 in this

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.379
 life

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.859
 that display

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.579
 that worth

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.059
 for all

00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:05.759
 people to

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.059
 see.

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.319
 Where people

00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:08.559
 go,

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.839
 why did

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.119
 you do

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.439
 that?

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.119
 Where did

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:11.559
 that come

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:11.879
 from?

00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:12.700
 And there's

00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.019
 no other

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.599
 explanation

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.240
 for it

00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.519
 other than

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.059
 Christ.

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.720
 And so

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.460
 he says,

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.819
 all these

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.419
 things that

00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:21.000
 I have,

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.619
 I think

00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.019
 that they're

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.779
 like garbage,

00:24:23.939 --> 00:24:24.299
 they're like

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.019
 dung in

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.079
 comparison to

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.559
 knowing

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.919
 Christ Jesus.

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.539
 And so,

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.200
 example,

00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:31.980
 just a few

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.500
 walkthroughs,

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:34.879
 again,

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.539
 this is

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.379
 a man

00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:37.799
 who taught

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.099
 on this

00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.559
 years ago

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.099
 ringing in

00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:39.519
 my ear,

00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:39.819
 but he

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.180
 says,

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.619
 money is

00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.159
 given to

00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:43.599
 you so

00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:43.859
 that you

00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.480
 may use

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.039
 money in

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.500
 a way

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.159
 and in

00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:46.539
 a manner

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.240
 that shows

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.759
 that money

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.500
 is not

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.700
 your treasure,

00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:50.980
 but Christ

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.299
 is.

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.279
 Possessions,

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:53.799
 the things

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.519
 that we own,

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.359
 we're to use

00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.539
 them in

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.180
 such a way

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:57.899
 that shows

00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.720
 everyone

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.559
 around us

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.399
 that those

00:25:00.399 --> 00:25:01.000
 possessions

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.960
 and that

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.619
 stuff

00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:03.960
 is not

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.619
 our treasure,

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.420
 but Christ

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:05.740
 is.

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.019
 Relationships

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.279
 and the

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.700
 people that

00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.140
 we live

00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:09.519
 with,

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.579
 we're to

00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.400
 treat them

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:11.900
 and live

00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:12.240
 with them

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:12.640
 in such

00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.079
 a way

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:14.000
 that it

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.240
 would be

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.779
 plain to

00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.200
 everyone

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.940
 looking on

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.359
 that they

00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:16.799
 are not

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.440
 our treasure,

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.740
 but Christ

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.099
 is.

00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:20.519
 And on

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:20.960
 and on,

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:21.819
 like we,

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:22.500
 and that

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.599
 takes intentionality,

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:23.940
 it takes

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.319
 prayer,

00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:24.880
 how can we

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:26.559
 display this

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.380
 worth of

00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:27.859
 Christ?

00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:29.399
 So,

00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:31.019
 wherever it

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.240
 is,

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.559
 we want

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.039
 to reflect

00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.319
 that

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:32.659
 greatness,

00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.000
 we want

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.439
 to honor

00:25:33.439 --> 00:25:34.559
 him in

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.199
 this life.

00:25:36.199 --> 00:25:36.659
 Spurgeon

00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:37.459
 said this,

00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:39.879
 this is

00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.899
 our exaltation,

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:41.500
 this is

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.179
 our joy

00:25:42.179 --> 00:25:43.079
 and triumph.

00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.339
 If we

00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:45.299
 can promote

00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.079
 his glory,

00:25:46.959 --> 00:25:47.479
 the best

00:25:47.479 --> 00:25:47.979
 place where

00:25:47.979 --> 00:25:48.379
 we can

00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.000
 promote it,

00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:49.619
 it shall

00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.000
 be our

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.299
 heaven.

00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.339
 The

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:51.619
 sick

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.019
 bed,

00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:52.939
 the

00:25:52.939 --> 00:25:53.479
 hospital,

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.619
 or the

00:25:54.619 --> 00:25:54.859
 poor

00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.319
 house

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.299
 shall be

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:56.500
 our

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:56.779
 heaven.

00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:58.139
 If we

00:25:58.139 --> 00:25:58.799
 can there,

00:25:58.960 --> 00:25:59.420
 best serve

00:25:59.420 --> 00:25:59.779
 the Lord

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.180
 Jesus,

00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:00.740
 who is

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:00.920
 our

00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:01.279
 King

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.539
 of

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:01.980
 glory.

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.500
 So,

00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:04.559
 it's how

00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:04.940
 we honor

00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.519
 Christ in

00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:05.859
 life,

00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.079
 by treasuring

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:07.519
 him above

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:07.980
 all other

00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.460
 things in

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:08.799
 life,

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.660
 making much

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.039
 of him.

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.579
 The

00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:12.839
 fourth

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:13.279
 question,

00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:13.519
 and the

00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:13.759
 last

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.160
 question,

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.579
 so that's

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:15.980
 the life

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.200
 part,

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.619
 what about

00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.039
 the death

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:17.359
 part?

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:17.879
 Because most

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:18.399
 of us may

00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:18.799
 not really

00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.259
 think about

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.480
 that,

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.480
 but how

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.980
 does Paul

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.839
 honor Christ

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.579
 in death?

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:24.539
 Verse

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:24.920
 21,

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:25.720
 for to me

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.099
 to live

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:26.579
 as Christ

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:26.939
 and to

00:26:26.939 --> 00:26:27.419
 die

00:26:27.419 --> 00:26:28.859
 is gain.

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:30.859
 Verse 23,

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.759
 my desire

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.079
 is to

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.500
 depart

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.039
 and be

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.279
 with

00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:33.759
 Christ,

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.059
 for that

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.819
 is far

00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.960
 better.

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.299
 Have you

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.779
 ever stopped

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.119
 to really

00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:41.599
 think about

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:41.799
 it?

00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:42.779
 Like,

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.159
 how can

00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:43.619
 you make

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.079
 Christ

00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:44.819
 look great

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.179
 in your

00:26:45.179 --> 00:26:45.619
 death?

00:26:47.679 --> 00:26:48.359
 Most of

00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:48.759
 us are

00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.960
 scared to

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.339
 even go

00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:51.039
 there in

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.579
 our heads.

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.319
 But,

00:26:53.439 --> 00:26:53.859
 let me

00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.159
 give you

00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:55.220
 three metaphors

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.559
 that.

00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.240
 This language,

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:56.700
 at least

00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:58.680
 in Greek,

00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.600
 this word

00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:00.120
 depart,

00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:01.480
 my desire

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.740
 is to

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.240
 depart

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.600
 and be

00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.100
 with Christ.

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.500
 One of them

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.100
 is a military

00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:05.600
 term.

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.000
 It means

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.420
 to break

00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:06.839
 camp,

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:07.779
 to leave

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.059
 where you

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.319
 are,

00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:08.799
 to pull up

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.240
 your tents

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.799
 and move

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.319
 to another

00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.100
 encampment.

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.220
 Paul calls

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.920
 our bodies

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:16.800
 earthly tents

00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.820
 that are

00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.480
 taken away

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:18.960
 at death

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.240
 and the

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.860
 spirit goes

00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:20.400
 home to

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:20.980
 be with

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.480
 Christ.

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.620
 That's in

00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.860
 2 Corinthians

00:27:23.860 --> 00:27:24.440
 5,

00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.840
 1-8.

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.800
 It's also

00:27:27.800 --> 00:27:28.420
 a sailing

00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:28.880
 term,

00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:30.860
 a metaphor

00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.340
 of a

00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:31.779
 commander

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.140
 of a

00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:32.440
 ship

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.480
 who's

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:33.840
 docked

00:27:33.840 --> 00:27:34.100
 in a

00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:34.420
 foreign

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:34.960
 port

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.539
 on business

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.960
 and he

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.820
 longs to

00:27:38.820 --> 00:27:39.440
 set sail

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.100
 to depart

00:27:40.100 --> 00:27:40.740
 and return

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.300
 back

00:27:41.300 --> 00:27:42.440
 to his

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.039
 own country

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.359
 and his

00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.019
 own family.

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.599
 But yet,

00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.399
 that desire

00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:47.460
 is counterbalanced

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.960
 with the

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.579
 understanding

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:49.920
 that to

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.619
 remain behind

00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:50.879
 in the

00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:51.279
 port a

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.879
 little longer

00:27:51.879 --> 00:27:52.299
 would be

00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:53.000
 more beneficial

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.859
 and so

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.819
 he contents

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.379
 himself,

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.279
 he's patient

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.440
 because he

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:59.139
 hasn't received

00:27:59.139 --> 00:27:59.799
 orders from

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.440
 his superior

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.379
 to depart

00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.159
 to go

00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:02.680
 home yet.

00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.059
 But he's

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:05.279
 longing for

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.619
 home,

00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:06.379
 but he

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:07.279
 patiently waits

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.680
 because he

00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.240
 hasn't received

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.700
 the order

00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.440
 to go home.

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.559
 You see

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:10.740
 it?

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.500
 Third way

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:13.960
 is used,

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.440
 freeing

00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:14.720
 of a

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.079
 prisoner.

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:16.599
 So

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.099
 believers

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.940
 long to

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.379
 be set

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.799
 free

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.339
 from the

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:19.980
 limitations

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:21.799
 and fallenness

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.119
 of our

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.680
 bodies

00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:24.339
 and we

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:25.079
 long to

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.639
 leave

00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:26.879
 and be

00:28:26.879 --> 00:28:27.460
 set free

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:27.920
 from this

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.579
 body of

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:28.980
 death.

00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:29.779
 Romans 8,

00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.859
 18-23.

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.579
 So Paul

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:32.839
 says,

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.519
 my desire

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.359
 to depart

00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.680
 and to

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.079
 be with

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.440
 Christ

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.200
 because

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.200
 that is

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.839
 far better.

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.779
 One

00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.259
 phrase of

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.639
 this means

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.220
 much more

00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.539
 better.

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.779
 It's

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.319
 much more

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:44.960
 better to

00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.420
 depart

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.059
 and be

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.440
 with

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.940
 Christ.

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.200
 He

00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.740
 reminds them

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.099
 in chapter

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.659
 3 that we

00:28:49.659 --> 00:28:50.240
 are citizens

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.159
 of heaven,

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.659
 not citizens

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:53.279
 of earth.

00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.019
 So seeing

00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.700
 how we

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.339
 honor Christ

00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:56.720
 in our

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.119
 death,

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.279
 the simple

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.920
 answer is by

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.339
 looking at

00:28:59.339 --> 00:28:59.879
 your death

00:28:59.879 --> 00:29:00.819
 as gain.

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.599
 We honor

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.680
 him when

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.220
 we die

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.799
 by counting

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.519
 our death

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.759
 as gain.

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.359
 Free from

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:08.879
 all the

00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:09.339
 stuff in

00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:09.879
 this world

00:29:09.879 --> 00:29:11.139
 to leave

00:29:11.139 --> 00:29:11.759
 it gladly

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.539
 behind and

00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.159
 go home

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:13.639
 to be

00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:13.940
 with

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.379
 Christ.

00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.539
 Being

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:15.960
 able to

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.279
 let go

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.440
 of

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:16.859
 everything,

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.339
 can we

00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:17.779
 do that?

00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.039
 Can we

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.299
 look at

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.460
 our

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:18.940
 family,

00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.119
 our

00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:20.639
 friends,

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:20.960
 and our

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.200
 loved

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.619
 ones,

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.159
 and gladly

00:29:23.159 --> 00:29:24.139
 say,

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.720
 it's okay,

00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.359
 I'm going

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.879
 home to

00:29:27.879 --> 00:29:28.740
 be with

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.220
 Christ,

00:29:29.659 --> 00:29:30.339
 to dwell

00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:30.720
 in his

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.299
 presence

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.500
 forever.

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.240
 Not

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.879
 holding on

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.139
 to this

00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:35.399
 world,

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.059
 not weeping

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.480
 over the

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:36.799
 stuff that

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.059
 you're just

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.279
 going to

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.879
 leave here,

00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:40.420
 but to

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:40.860
 see your

00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:41.400
 death is

00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.140
 gain because

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:42.780
 you know

00:29:42.780 --> 00:29:43.420
 it means

00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:43.880
 going to

00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:44.340
 be with

00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:44.760
 Christ

00:29:44.760 --> 00:29:45.760
 forever.

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.420
 And as

00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:46.900
 Paul says,

00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.240
 that is

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.440
 far better,

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:50.180
 much more

00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.620
 better.

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.260
 It's

00:29:52.260 --> 00:29:52.580
 okay.

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:53.880
 So,

00:29:54.520 --> 00:29:55.120
 as much as

00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:55.480
 some of the

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:55.840
 things in

00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:56.260
 this world

00:29:56.260 --> 00:29:56.720
 may hold

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:56.940
 our

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.820
 affections,

00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:00.300
 do you

00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:00.620
 have a

00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:00.880
 greater

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.460
 desire?

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.000
 Are you

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.920
 cultivating a

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.200
 greater

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:06.000
 desire to

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.640
 depart from

00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.259
 this world

00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:07.759
 to be

00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:08.440
 with Christ?

00:30:09.580 --> 00:30:09.900
 And in

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.320
 the hour

00:30:10.320 --> 00:30:10.740
 of your

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.160
 death,

00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.580
 could you

00:30:11.580 --> 00:30:12.480
 go gladly

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.520
 and confidently

00:30:13.520 --> 00:30:14.900
 to be in

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.440
 the presence

00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:15.940
 of your

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.240
 Savior?

00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.300
 So,

00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.860
 there's

00:30:19.860 --> 00:30:21.640
 one example

00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.120
 I will

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.860
 give of

00:30:22.860 --> 00:30:23.200
 this.

00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:26.920
 So,

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.259
 most of

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.440
 you are

00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.000
 aware that

00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.400
 on

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.840
 December

00:30:29.840 --> 00:30:30.640
 22nd,

00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:31.180
 my dad

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.320
 passed

00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:34.060
 away to

00:30:34.060 --> 00:30:34.460
 go home

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:34.880
 to be

00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.380
 with the

00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:35.660
 Lord.

00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.080
 And

00:30:37.080 --> 00:30:37.360
 though I

00:30:37.360 --> 00:30:37.860
 miss him

00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:40.300
 dearly,

00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:40.820
 I know

00:30:40.820 --> 00:30:41.160
 that he

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:41.640
 was ready

00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:42.340
 to depart

00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:43.640
 from this

00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.220
 life to

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.700
 go be

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.480
 with Christ.

00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:47.660
 There was

00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:48.080
 a time I

00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:48.580
 talked to

00:30:48.580 --> 00:30:49.180
 him and

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:51.360
 I remember

00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:51.740
 what he

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.500
 said very

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.300
 clearly as I

00:30:53.300 --> 00:30:53.600
 wrote it

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:53.920
 down.

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.759
 But he

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.160
 knew his

00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:56.580
 time was

00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:57.020
 close,

00:30:57.100 --> 00:30:57.360
 he knew

00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:57.920
 his days

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.600
 were short,

00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.000
 he had

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:00.480
 been battling

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.300
 this autoimmune

00:31:01.300 --> 00:31:01.900
 disease for

00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.320
 almost a

00:31:02.320 --> 00:31:02.720
 decade,

00:31:04.020 --> 00:31:04.980
 and he

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.300
 knew it

00:31:05.300 --> 00:31:05.660
 just didn't

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.200
 look good

00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:07.320
 for getting

00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:07.700
 better,

00:31:08.040 --> 00:31:08.420
 he knew

00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:08.640
 it was

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.100
 close,

00:31:10.300 --> 00:31:10.759
 but he

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.519
 died well,

00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:13.100
 and he

00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:13.720
 made Christ

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.440
 look very

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:14.800
 good.

00:31:16.080 --> 00:31:16.759
 This is

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.279
 something that

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.740
 he said

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:19.900
 in his own

00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:20.620
 simple way,

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.380
 he said,

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.040
 God knows

00:31:23.040 --> 00:31:23.320
 me,

00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.540
 and he

00:31:24.540 --> 00:31:25.120
 loves me,

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.660
 and he'll

00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.259
 be the one

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:27.800
 to decide

00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:28.259
 whether I

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.660
 go or

00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:28.980
 stay.

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:30.799
 I'm not

00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:31.240
 concerned

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:31.900
 about that.

00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:32.519
 If I

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:32.980
 went right

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.299
 now,

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:33.799
 I know

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.120
 I would

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.779
 be okay

00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:35.740
 because I

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.440
 know where

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:36.940
 I'm going.

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:39.000
 I pray

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.599
 that the

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:39.940
 Lord will

00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:40.259
 give me

00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.720
 some more

00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.099
 days,

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.700
 but whatever

00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.460
 he decides,

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:43.839
 it'll be

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.259
 okay.

00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.599
 My concern

00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:47.599
 is for those

00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:48.079
 who don't

00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.559
 know him.

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.279
 I believe

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.839
 that he may

00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.420
 be calling

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.000
 a lot of

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.500
 people to

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.019
 himself

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.660
 during all

00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:54.079
 these things

00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.700
 going on.

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:56.980
 And I

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.720
 mean,

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.039
 it's like

00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.319
 he took

00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:58.559
 it right

00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:58.779
 out of

00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.200
 Philippians,

00:31:59.279 --> 00:31:59.860
 not realizing

00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:00.100
 it.

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.340
 He had

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:02.100
 a desire

00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:02.779
 to depart

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.340
 and be

00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:04.000
 with Christ,

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.160
 but wanted

00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:05.640
 to remain

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.420
 behind for

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:06.880
 the sake

00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.360
 of others.

00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:09.960
 So he

00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.759
 gladly went

00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.120
 on the

00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:11.700
 22nd,

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:11.900
 in the

00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.259
 morning of

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.840
 the 22nd,

00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.519
 just peacefully

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.960
 to be home

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.900
 with Christ.

00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:17.779
 Turn in

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.180
 your Bibles

00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.440
 to 2 Corinthians

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.259
 chapter 5,

00:32:20.360 --> 00:32:20.680
 and we'll

00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.799
 end with

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.220
 this.

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:28.660
 2 Corinthians

00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:29.440
 chapter 5,

00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:29.720
 let's look

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:30.480
 at verse 6.

00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:32.980
 Very

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.380
 similar

00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:33.980
 language.

00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.559
 Paul says

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:37.900
 in chapter

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.880
 5,

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.380
 verse 6,

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:39.940
 so we

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:41.460
 are always

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.100
 of good

00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:42.799
 courage.

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.160
 We know

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:44.799
 that while

00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.319
 we are at

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:46.059
 home in

00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:46.559
 the body,

00:32:46.840 --> 00:32:47.680
 we are

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.720
 away from

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.259
 the Lord.

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.539
 For we

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.140
 walk by

00:32:51.140 --> 00:32:51.980
 faith and

00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:52.400
 not by

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:52.819
 sight.

00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:54.019
 Yes,

00:32:54.080 --> 00:32:54.600
 we are of

00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:54.919
 good

00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.679
 courage.

00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.379
 And we

00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:57.980
 would rather

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:59.039
 be away

00:32:59.039 --> 00:32:59.439
 from the

00:32:59.439 --> 00:33:00.779
 body and

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.459
 at home

00:33:01.459 --> 00:33:02.199
 with the

00:33:02.199 --> 00:33:02.519
 Lord.

00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.079
 So whether

00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:04.699
 we are at

00:33:04.699 --> 00:33:05.299
 home or

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.519
 away, we

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:06.980
 make it

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.699
 our aim,

00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:08.699
 our goal

00:33:08.699 --> 00:33:09.740
 to please

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.039
 him.

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.799
 For we

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.480
 must all

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.319
 appear before

00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:13.879
 the judgment

00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.359
 seat of

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:14.799
 Christ,

00:33:15.699 --> 00:33:16.259
 so that

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.439
 each one

00:33:17.439 --> 00:33:18.059
 may receive

00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:18.419
 what is

00:33:18.419 --> 00:33:19.379
 due for

00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:19.699
 what he

00:33:19.699 --> 00:33:20.219
 has done

00:33:20.219 --> 00:33:20.639
 in the

00:33:20.639 --> 00:33:21.019
 body,

00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:21.839
 whether

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.939
 good or

00:33:22.939 --> 00:33:23.259
 evil.

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.640
 God

00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:25.140
 will

00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:25.259
 be

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.640
 with the

00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:26.140
 Lord.

00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:26.200
 I pray

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:28.059
 that you

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.220
 would cultivate

00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:29.980
 our desire

00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:31.319
 to depart

00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:31.960
 this world

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:33.720
 and to be

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.299
 with Christ,

00:33:34.379 --> 00:33:34.779
 a greater

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.279
 desire,

00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:36.039
 but for the

00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.660
 only reason

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.359
 you want to

00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:38.039
 remain behind

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:39.140
 is for the

00:33:39.140 --> 00:33:39.500
 sake of

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:39.839
 others.

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:40.940
 Not for

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.220
 your own

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:41.619
 pleasure,

00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:42.299
 your own

00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:44.039
 pleasure or

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.640
 contentment,

00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.119
 but just for

00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:45.700
 the sake of

00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:45.980
 others.

00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:46.519
 That is the

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.220
 main reason

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:47.960
 you desire

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:49.279
 to remain

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:49.720
 behind.

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.160
 And when

00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:50.640
 that time

00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.319
 comes,

00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:53.000
 you will

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.779
 gladly look

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.460
 upon death

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:54.960
 as gain,

00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.500
 which is not

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.000
 a natural

00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.340
 thing.

00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:56.759
 It has to

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.019
 be the

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.380
 work of

00:33:57.380 --> 00:33:58.620
 Christ to

00:33:58.620 --> 00:33:59.160
 actually look

00:33:59.160 --> 00:33:59.539
 at death

00:33:59.539 --> 00:33:59.840
 and say

00:33:59.840 --> 00:34:00.059
 it will

00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:01.259
 be gain

00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:01.840
 because I'm

00:34:01.840 --> 00:34:03.299
 leaving all

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:03.960
 this behind

00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.500
 and going

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.160
 to be

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:06.120
 with Christ.

00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:07.680
 So that's

00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:08.099
 my prayer

00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:08.519
 for y'all

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.360
 and myself.

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.380
 So let's

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:10.940
 pray together.

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.079
 Amen.

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.079


00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:13.079
 Amen.

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:13.079


00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:15.079
 Amen.