WEBVTT

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 Our prayer for our time together in the study of 1 Thessalonians is that we get some opportunities

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! to be real with one another about where we are.

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 So that we take the truths of the scripture and we don't just banter them around and discuss

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 the accuracy of our interpretation but that we take what we know and we actually put it to work.

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 That's why we exist. We exist to be representatives of Jesus, not just to know what he says but to

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 actually put it to work in our lives. And I think that's what's kind of refreshing to be honest with

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 you when I look at this church of Thessalonica. I mean, we're talking about a church that is brand

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 new. Paul is, it was only there for just a few weeks. We don't know exactly how long but he talks

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 about in Acts chapter 17 that he only preached there for three weeks in the synagogue and then

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 through the course of events was kind of propelled out of the city. In about six to ten months, maybe

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 a year later, he writes this letter to this church. So they're no more than a year old at this point.

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 And yet, here is a church that we can learn something from. This infant fledgling church

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 has something to say to you. This infant fledgling church has this fresh zeal for Jesus

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 that has absolutely transformed everything about their lives. Now certainly they're growing in their

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 faith. They're growing in their knowledge but they're putting it to work. And that's what I want

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 for my life and I'm sure that's what you want in your life as well. You want to be a person who knows

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 the truth and reflects that truth to others around you. I want to point you to just a couple of things

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 that we're going to be looking at through the course of this study. And in a couple of weeks from now,

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 we're going to concentrate on the last part of chapter one. But I want to just point you there

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 briefly for just a moment. Beginning in verse eight of chapter one. First Thessalonians chapter one,

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 verse eight. If you're a guest with us this morning, it's on page 986 in the pew in front of you.

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 I want you to see how transformational this church was. It says,

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 for not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in

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 God has gone forth everywhere so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning

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 us the kind of reception we had among you and how you turn to God from idols to serve the living

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 and true God. Now when you think about the church and you think about the kind of impact

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 that you want the church to have, you think that's a little how you would describe it? You want all of

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 Columbus and perhaps all of Ohio to know and to recognize the wonder of the gospel so that no

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 person is unaffected by that message and the testimony that you have had in their life because of this

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 Christ-exalting change that's taken place for you?

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 Then if you turn to chapter four, you can begin to see this coming again.

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 Chapter four, verse nine says this,

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 Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you.

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 For you yourselves have been taught to God to love one another, for

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 that indeed is what you are doing

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 to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.

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 I mean, can you get it?

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 Let's not forget,

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 this church is only a year old

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 and it is having this kind of impact.

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 The little truth they knew,

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 they embraced.

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 And what they embraced was so distinctive

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 that the entire region of Macedonia and Achaia

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 had at least heard the message of Jesus.

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 And all of the brothers and sisters in that entire region

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 had been affected in some way

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 by the outpouring of love from this church.

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 This just blows me away.

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 Because, frankly,

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 I don't know that many people here,

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 even in the other end of Trebu Road,

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 knows that Maranatha exists.

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 It could be.

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 But what about the churches in Worthington?

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 What about the brothers and sisters who are in Toledo?

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 Is there the kind of impact

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 that God is having for you personally

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 that begins to affect the world around you?

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 It begins here.

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 And then God begins to work the change in your life

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 to begin to affect the people who see you.

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 Because they're not seeing you anymore.

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 They're beginning to see Christ in you.

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 That's what we're working towards.

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 That's what we want.

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 And that's, by the way,

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 what Paul begins to commend here

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 at the very outset of this letter.

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 Because if you remember where Paul was

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 before coming to Thessalonica,

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 he was in Philippi.

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 And you know what happened in Philippi.

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 Things were not very happy in Philippi.

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 At least not towards the end.

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 Paul and Silas were beaten

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 for a service they did

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 to this slave girl

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 in casting out a demon.

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 And because the owners of this slave girl

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 were no longer profiting off of her,

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 they made an appeal

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 and made a complaint

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 and they were beaten and thrown in prison.

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 That didn't seem to faze Paul and Silas.

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 Their backs bloodied

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 in this prison cell.

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 And what do they do?

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 They sing.

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 They sing and praise the Lord

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 and the Holy Spirit shakes

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 the prison doors off their hinges.

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 And a revival begins

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 with the prison guard

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 and his entire family.

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 But as a result,

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 Paul and Silas and Timothy

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 have to make their way

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 now to the next city.

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 And they come their way

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 to Thessalonica

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 and things in Thessalonica

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 aren't a whole lot better

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 than they were in Philippi.

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 This entire region

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 was experiencing

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 a lot of the same upheaval.

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 And so for the church

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 of Thessalonica

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 who was just beginning

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 in their comprehension

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 of the truth of the gospel

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 is experiencing

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 as a fledgling church

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 some significant persecution.

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 So what does the heart

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 of a pastor

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 do

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 to encourage himself

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 when he knows

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 the difficulties

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 that are in store

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 for these people

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 he's begun to love

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 and he knows

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 the potential

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 for disruption

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 of faith

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 to take place?

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 How does he encourage

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 his heart?

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 What does he point

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 his attention to?

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 What does he begin

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 to emphasize

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 and to draw out?

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 Well we see that here

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 in chapter 1

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 verses 1 to 3

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 and that's where

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 we want to concentrate

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 our attention

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 this morning

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 because these

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 three words

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 these three

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 characteristics

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 are not only

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 the core characteristics

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 of every believer

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 but these are the things

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 that he carries along

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 through the course

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 of the rest of this letter

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 and begins to help shape

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 and direct their attention

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 to why these things

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 are important for them

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 as a body.

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 Let me read this for us

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 and we'll begin

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 in our study this morning.

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 Paul, Silvanus,

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 and Timothy

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 to the church

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 of Thessalonica

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 in God the Father

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 in the Lord Jesus Christ

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 grace to you

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 and peace.

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 We give thanks

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 to God always

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 for all of you

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 constantly mentioning you

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 in our prayers

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 remembering before

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 our God and Father

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 your work of faith

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 and labor of love

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 and steadfastness

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 of hope

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 in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 If you're looking

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 at the back

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 you can easily

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 fill in the outline

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 as you read

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 through these verses

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 it's very clear

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 where we're going

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 in the flow

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 of this study.

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 And it'd be easy

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 for us just to

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 talk about

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 the significance

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 of work

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 excuse me

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 the work of faith

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 and labor of love

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 and steadfastness

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 of hope.

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 We know about faith

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 hope and love.

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 Paul identifies

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 these as kind of

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 the core component

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 of every true believer.

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 In 1 Corinthians

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 chapter 13

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 he says

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 now abides faith

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 hope

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 love

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 these three

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 but the greatest

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 of these is love.

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 We recognize

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 that these are

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 the main components

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 that should

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 represent

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 every true believer.

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 But I want to

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 step through them

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 one at a time today.

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 I want us

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 to take

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 some moments

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 not just to know

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 what the truths

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 are

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 but maybe a bit

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 different than what

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 we've done

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 in the past

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 I want to give you

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 some time

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 to actually think

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 it through

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 for yourself.

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 How does God

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 want you to be

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 a more faithful

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 person?

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 But let's look

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 at this together.

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 First I want to talk

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 about the fruit

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 of faith.

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 I want to talk

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 about the fruit

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 of faith.

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 He begins here

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 by mentioning

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 this work

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 of faith.

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 Now what should

00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:00.159
 be going through

00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:00.519
 your mind

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 immediately

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 the first question

00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:02.799
 that should come

00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:03.519
 to your mind

00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:05.059
 is wait a second

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 time out

00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:07.399
 work of faith?

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 What does he

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 mean by that?

00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:10.820
 Because I know

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 there are at least

00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:12.259
 a couple of verses

00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:13.960
 in the other parts

00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:15.139
 of the scripture

00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:16.200
 that would also

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 use some same

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.080
 language and say

00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:19.480
 that work and

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 faith don't go

00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:20.660
 together.

00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:21.660
 Right?

00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:23.980
 And we understand

00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:24.879
 the continuity

00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.620
 of the scripture.

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.120
 We understand

00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:28.139
 that the scripture

00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:29.160
 does not contradict

00:11:29.160 --> 00:11:29.759
 each other.

00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.160
 So we have to

00:11:31.160 --> 00:11:32.540
 begin to appreciate

00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:33.600
 and understand

00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:35.120
 the flow of

00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:36.019
 what's taking place

00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:37.139
 here in the context

00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:37.900
 of the rest

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 of the scripture.

00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:39.980
 We can only come

00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:40.560
 to appreciate

00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:41.100
 and understand

00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:41.740
 what the Bible

00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:43.000
 says as we

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:43.659
 compare scripture

00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.139
 to scripture.

00:11:45.560 --> 00:11:47.460
 So what two

00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:48.159
 verses would

00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:48.799
 come to your

00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:49.399
 mind about

00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:50.379
 faith and works?

00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:52.740
 Probably Ephesians

00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.419
 chapter 2

00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:54.519
 verses 8 and 9

00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:55.779
 which says

00:11:55.779 --> 00:11:57.060
 for by grace

00:11:57.060 --> 00:11:57.740
 are you saved

00:11:57.740 --> 00:11:58.539
 through faith

00:11:58.539 --> 00:11:59.440
 and that not

00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:00.440
 of your works

00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:01.039
 it's a gift

00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:01.659
 of God

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 excuse me

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 let me go back

00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:05.019
 for by grace

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 you say through

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 faith and that

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 not of yourselves

00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:08.419
 it is the gift

00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:08.940
 of God

00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:09.980
 not of works

00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:11.039
 so that no one

00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:11.580
 can boast.

00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:13.379
 So what do we

00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:14.279
 find out about

00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:14.659
 this?

00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:17.500
 Faith stands

00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:18.139
 alone.

00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:19.919
 It comes

00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.060
 only

00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:21.879
 through the

00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.940
 grace of God

00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:23.820
 as a gift

00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:24.740
 to those

00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:25.740
 who believe

00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:26.620
 in Jesus Christ

00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:27.539
 for salvation.

00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:29.440
 There is no

00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:30.159
 merit

00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:31.279
 there is no

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:32.120
 worthiness

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:32.560
 in us

00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:33.320
 there's nothing

00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:34.399
 that we can do

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.560
 to achieve

00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.620
 God's favor

00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:39.000
 to get

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:39.700
 or receive

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.379
 God's favor

00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:40.879
 in any way.

00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.180
 It is

00:12:42.180 --> 00:12:43.279
 only

00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.779
 the grace

00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:45.259
 of God

00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:45.860
 to us.

00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.180
 Now a

00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:47.600
 companion

00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:48.519
 verse to that

00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:49.100
 is in Titus

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:49.659
 chapter 3

00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:50.480
 verse 5

00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:51.480
 which says

00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:52.399
 not by works

00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.100
 of righteousness

00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:53.879
 which you have

00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.259
 done

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.379
 but according

00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:56.100
 to his mercy

00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:57.159
 he saved us

00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:58.000
 by the washing

00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:58.560
 of regeneration

00:12:58.560 --> 00:12:59.840
 and renewing

00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:00.860
 of the Holy Ghost.

00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:02.279
 Now

00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:03.480
 you may be

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:03.960
 asking yourself

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:04.500
 the question

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:04.899
 okay well

00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:05.799
 it's the same

00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:06.320
 English word

00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:06.639
 but maybe

00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.460
 it's a different

00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:08.019
 Greek word

00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:08.500
 that's there.

00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:09.799
 Well

00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:11.799
 I wish I could

00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:12.279
 say it was

00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:12.480
 that would

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:12.819
 make things

00:13:12.819 --> 00:13:13.340
 really easy

00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:14.860
 but it's not.

00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:16.039
 It's the same

00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:16.600
 Greek word

00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:16.960
 ergon

00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:18.460
 that we find

00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:19.059
 in all three

00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:19.759
 verses here

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:21.059
 in 1 Thessalonians

00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:21.899
 and those two

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.259
 as well.

00:13:23.079 --> 00:13:23.960
 So what are we

00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:24.480
 talking about?

00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:25.579
 When we talk

00:13:25.579 --> 00:13:26.679
 about the work

00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.759
 of faith

00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:28.259
 what are we

00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:28.879
 referring to?

00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:30.519
 Well the

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.139
 Greek word

00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:31.579
 itself

00:13:31.579 --> 00:13:32.139
 actually

00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:33.899
 only refers

00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:35.080
 to a deed

00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:36.019
 or an act

00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:37.179
 an activity.

00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:38.939
 We might

00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:39.960
 say that it

00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:40.340
 is

00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:41.759
 it's a walk

00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:43.600
 it's not

00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.659
 necessarily a process

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.799
 but it is

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.639
 the expression

00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:48.019
 of true faith

00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:48.679
 in a life.

00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:52.299
 Paul uses it

00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:54.679
 in 1 Thessalonians

00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:55.759
 a couple of times

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.139
 when he talks

00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:57.860
 about work.

00:13:58.580 --> 00:13:59.240
 At the end

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.559
 of 1 Thessalonians

00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:01.360
 he talks about

00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.620
 esteem them

00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.379
 speaking of

00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:04.220
 your leaders

00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:05.240
 very highly

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:05.779
 in love

00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:06.620
 because of

00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:07.200
 their work

00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.480
 referring specifically

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.820
 to their deed

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:11.580
 their activity

00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:14.519
 what they do

00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.480
 in terms of

00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.779
 labor for

00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.860
 the church.

00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:21.000
 So to bring

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.680
 this together

00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:23.320
 what is

00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:24.539
 Paul talking

00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:24.980
 about when he

00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:25.420
 is referring

00:14:25.420 --> 00:14:26.700
 to the work

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.600
 of faith?

00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:29.100
 What he is

00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:29.980
 referring to

00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:31.200
 is the

00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.960
 evidence

00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:34.240
 of true

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:34.920
 faith

00:14:34.920 --> 00:14:35.980
 showing up

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.860
 in your life

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.940
 and bearing

00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:38.500
 witness

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.220
 of what you

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:39.879
 truly believe.

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:41.920
 In Hebrews

00:14:41.920 --> 00:14:42.900
 chapter 11

00:14:42.900 --> 00:14:43.580
 verse 1

00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:44.759
 we find

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.640
 now faith

00:14:45.640 --> 00:14:46.600
 is the evidence

00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.340
 of things

00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:47.900
 not seen.

00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:50.460
 Faith

00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.280
 your true

00:14:51.280 --> 00:14:51.700
 faith

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.500
 shows up

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:53.280
 in how you

00:14:53.280 --> 00:14:53.500
 live.

00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:54.580
 Now we

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:56.160
 spend a lot

00:14:56.160 --> 00:14:56.580
 of time

00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:57.660
 in 1 John

00:14:57.660 --> 00:14:58.300
 talking about

00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:58.479
 that.

00:14:58.579 --> 00:14:59.519
 We use

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.259
 the phrase

00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.799
 you are

00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:01.120
 what you

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:01.519
 believe

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.779
 and what

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.559
 I mean

00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:03.979
 by that

00:15:03.979 --> 00:15:04.399
 is not

00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.039
 that you

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:05.539
 can just

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.000
 believe

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.599
 anything

00:15:06.599 --> 00:15:07.599
 you can

00:15:07.599 --> 00:15:08.219
 believe

00:15:08.219 --> 00:15:08.779
 that you

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.099
 can be

00:15:09.099 --> 00:15:09.659
 a Christian

00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:10.439
 and do

00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:10.819
 all of

00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:11.199
 these other

00:15:11.199 --> 00:15:11.699
 things.

00:15:11.859 --> 00:15:12.299
 That's not

00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:12.519
 what I'm

00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:13.000
 talking about.

00:15:13.099 --> 00:15:13.599
 What I'm

00:15:13.599 --> 00:15:14.159
 talking about

00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:14.539
 is there's

00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:15.120
 a difference

00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:15.679
 between

00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.819
 what your

00:15:16.819 --> 00:15:17.500
 confession

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.179
 of faith

00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:18.620
 is

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:19.339
 and what

00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:19.939
 you truly

00:15:19.939 --> 00:15:20.539
 believe

00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.419
 because it

00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:21.899
 will actually

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.519
 work its

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:23.099
 way out

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.220
 in true

00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:24.500
 living.

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:26.980
 What you

00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.860
 truly believe

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.440
 will show

00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.480
 up in

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:29.820
 how you

00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.100
 live.

00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.080
 It's

00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:31.680
 inescapable.

00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:33.139
 And that's

00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:34.560
 what Paul

00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:35.040
 is talking

00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:35.580
 about here.

00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:37.899
 There is

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.759
 a component

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.440
 of faith

00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:40.639
 a true

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.620
 component

00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.200
 of faith

00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:42.840
 that showed

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:43.259
 up in

00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:43.840
 their life

00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.860
 that produced

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:46.320
 something

00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.840
 that was

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.519
 only

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.279
 possible

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.320
 because of

00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.040
 God's work

00:15:51.040 --> 00:15:51.960
 in their

00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.399
 life.

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:56.540
 we find

00:15:56.540 --> 00:15:58.320
 from another

00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.100
 source in

00:15:59.100 --> 00:15:59.860
 James,

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:00.480
 not talking

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.019
 about Paul

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.340
 anymore,

00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:01.840
 but now

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.620
 in the

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:02.960
 book of

00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:03.320
 James,

00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:03.980
 we find

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:04.639
 that faith

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.820
 without works

00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:06.740
 is dead.

00:16:08.300 --> 00:16:08.800
 And now

00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:09.220
 we're beginning

00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:09.940
 to understand

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:11.180
 that faith

00:16:11.180 --> 00:16:13.180
 does create

00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:14.159
 a measure

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:14.779
 of action

00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.100
 in our

00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:15.500
 life.

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:17.420
 That just

00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.000
 because you

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.379
 have a

00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.080
 certain belief

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:19.639
 system,

00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.500
 just because

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:21.040
 you have a

00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:21.840
 certain doctrine

00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.000
 doesn't mean

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.500
 that you

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.139
 actually live

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:24.460
 your life

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.159
 according to

00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.039
 that doctrine.

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.740
 How many

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.220
 of us

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:30.899
 believe in

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:31.419
 the sovereignty

00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:32.000
 of God?

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.539
 We know

00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:34.000
 that God

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.200
 is always

00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.080
 present

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.539
 with this

00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:39.159
 omnipresence

00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:39.639
 of God

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.080
 in the

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.460
 sovereignty

00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:40.960
 of God

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.419
 in terms

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.120
 of his

00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.700
 lordship

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.159
 of my

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.500
 life.

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:45.039
 I ascribe

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.019
 those truths

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.720
 but then

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.740
 how often

00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.279
 in a given

00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:48.919
 week,

00:16:49.659 --> 00:16:50.059
 even though

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:50.419
 I know

00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:50.879
 that God

00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.539
 is there,

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.539
 there is

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.559
 still this

00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:54.120
 rebellion

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:54.819
 in my

00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:55.339
 heart

00:16:55.339 --> 00:16:55.939
 in

00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:56.599
 relationship

00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.240
 to my

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:57.839
 surroundings.

00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:00.399
 Or there's

00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.819
 anxiety in

00:17:01.819 --> 00:17:02.319
 my heart

00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.279
 about what's

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.079
 taking place.

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.519
 Do I really

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.019
 believe that

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.539
 he's sovereign?

00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:06.980
 Well,

00:17:08.399 --> 00:17:09.460
 I'm working

00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:11.740
 to grow

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.480
 in my

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.299
 knowledge

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:13.639
 of who

00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.059
 God is

00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:15.119
 and committing

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:15.779
 that to my

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.460
 life but

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.680
 so often

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:17.960
 there is

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.500
 a disconnect

00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:20.340
 from my

00:17:20.340 --> 00:17:21.060
 confession of

00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:21.539
 faith in

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.700
 what I

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.200
 actually

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.560
 demonstrate

00:17:24.560 --> 00:17:25.680
 as the

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.019
 fruit of

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.539
 my life

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.400
 as a

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:27.860
 result of

00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:28.140
 faith.

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.279
 I want

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.120
 to just

00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:31.620
 point out

00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:32.279
 for our

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.660
 benefit

00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:33.560
 the verses

00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:35.440
 in 1 Thessalonians

00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:35.920
 that point

00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:36.820
 to faith

00:17:36.820 --> 00:17:37.740
 to see

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.700
 how

00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:41.140
 important

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:41.759
 this subject

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.580
 was to

00:17:42.580 --> 00:17:43.220
 the Apostle

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.440
 Paul.

00:17:44.600 --> 00:17:45.100
 We see

00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:45.220
 it,

00:17:45.360 --> 00:17:45.640
 of course,

00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:46.279
 here in

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.299
 verse 3.

00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.320
 But we

00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:48.880
 also see

00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:49.279
 it in

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:49.840
 chapter 1

00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:50.460
 verse 8.

00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.100
 Notice

00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:52.779
 what he

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.460
 says towards

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:53.900
 the end.

00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:54.360
 He says,

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.480
 your faith

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:56.660
 towards God

00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:57.420
 has gone

00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:59.000
 out so

00:17:59.000 --> 00:17:59.240
 that we

00:17:59.240 --> 00:17:59.519
 do not

00:17:59.519 --> 00:17:59.820
 need to

00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:00.259
 say anything.

00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:04.120
 Now,

00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:04.880
 how does

00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.600
 doctrine go

00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:05.900
 out?

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:06.940
 Well,

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.460
 it doesn't.

00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:07.900
 That's what

00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.220
 we're talking

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:08.460
 about.

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:09.900
 But what

00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:10.480
 they truly

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.140
 believed

00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.920
 showed up

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.360
 so remarkably

00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:14.080
 in their

00:18:14.080 --> 00:18:15.039
 life that

00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.620
 all the

00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.259
 people could

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:16.920
 talk about

00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.220
 was,

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:17.860
 have you

00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:18.420
 seen the

00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:18.820
 church

00:18:18.820 --> 00:18:19.300
 of

00:18:19.300 --> 00:18:20.100
 Thessalonica?

00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:20.920
 It's

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:21.480
 amazing

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:22.000
 what God

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.580
 has done.

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:25.860
 Which

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.700
 pointed to

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.300
 the

00:18:28.300 --> 00:18:29.259
 foundation

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.120
 of faith

00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:30.420
 that they

00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:30.700
 had,

00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.019
 that led

00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:32.500
 them to

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.860
 a certain

00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:33.400
 activity.

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:35.820
 It was

00:18:35.820 --> 00:18:36.279
 visible

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.039
 because it

00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.480
 produced

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.160
 action in

00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:38.680
 their life.

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.420
 Chapter 3,

00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.019
 verses 2

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.740
 and 5

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.940
 and 6

00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:47.180
 and 7

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:48.120
 and 10

00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.660
 all talk

00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:49.980
 about the

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.360
 significance

00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:50.980
 of faith.

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.000
 Paul is

00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.960
 concerned about

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.440
 this church

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:55.860
 because he

00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:56.539
 knows the

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.320
 adversity that

00:18:57.320 --> 00:18:57.660
 they're

00:18:57.660 --> 00:18:59.080
 confronted with

00:18:59.080 --> 00:18:59.920
 and so he

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.779
 sends Timothy

00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:02.100
 to find out

00:19:02.100 --> 00:19:02.600
 about their

00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:03.080
 faith

00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:06.800
 and to

00:19:06.800 --> 00:19:07.380
 encourage

00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:08.240
 them to

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.200
 grow in

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:09.779
 their faith.

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:09.839
 faith.

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:11.799
 And when

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.619
 he hears

00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:13.279
 about their

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:13.980
 true faith

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.019
 and Timothy

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.599
 brings a

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.240
 report back,

00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:17.920
 this letter

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.559
 is the

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.379
 outflow of

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.359
 his enthusiasm.

00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:21.440
 He is

00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.000
 bubbling

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.579
 with excitement

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.460
 because of

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.099
 the testimony

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:26.359
 of Timothy

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.399
 and the

00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:28.019
 faith that

00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:30.079
 has produced

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:30.980
 action in

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.359
 the lives

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:31.680
 of this

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:31.960
 church.

00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:34.680
 And perhaps

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:36.399
 the verse

00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:36.759
 that we could

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.460
 go to for

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:37.900
 faith,

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.220
 hope,

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:38.720
 and love

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:40.400
 in this

00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.420
 little epistle

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:41.940
 is in

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:42.759
 chapter 5

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.319
 verse 8.

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:43.840
 Let me read

00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:44.819
 that for us.

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.160
 1 Thessalonians

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:46.819
 chapter 5

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.559
 verse 8.

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.059
 Let those,

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.640
 excuse me,

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.579
 but let us

00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.480
 who are of

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:54.819
 the day

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.460
 be sober,

00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.380
 putting on

00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:58.120
 the breast

00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:59.180
 plate of

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.660
 faith

00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.819
 and love

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:02.220
 and as a

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.519
 helmet

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.900
 the hope

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:05.120
 of salvation.

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:07.419
 not only

00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:09.000
 is faith,

00:20:09.459 --> 00:20:09.699
 love,

00:20:09.739 --> 00:20:10.279
 and hope

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:11.819
 the beginnings

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:14.179
 of your

00:20:14.179 --> 00:20:14.939
 experience

00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:15.779
 in relationship

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.219
 with God

00:20:16.219 --> 00:20:16.739
 but it is

00:20:16.739 --> 00:20:17.799
 also the

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.139
 thing that

00:20:18.139 --> 00:20:18.819
 will protect

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.219
 you and

00:20:19.219 --> 00:20:19.839
 arm you

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.339
 against

00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.719
 the dangers

00:20:21.719 --> 00:20:22.159
 you will

00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:22.579
 face in

00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:22.919
 the Christian

00:20:22.919 --> 00:20:23.239
 life.

00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:27.599
 So let's

00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.239
 begin to

00:20:28.239 --> 00:20:30.259
 talk in

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.979
 practicality.

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.839
 How does

00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:35.159
 God want

00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:36.079
 to refine

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:36.619
 your faith

00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:36.919
 today?

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.599
 What is

00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.459
 the evidence

00:20:39.459 --> 00:20:40.919
 of faith

00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:41.899
 in your

00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:42.259
 life?

00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.139
 As we

00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:45.639
 will begin

00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:46.099
 to or

00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:46.619
 continue to

00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.480
 look throughout

00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:49.839
 1 Thessalonians

00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.899
 and as we

00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:51.359
 are going to

00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:52.039
 be encouraged

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:53.220
 to see

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:54.319
 how Paul

00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:55.039
 sent Timothy

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.799
 to go

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:57.000
 help refine

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.519
 and strengthen

00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.000
 the faith

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.599
 of this church,

00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.919
 we are

00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.639
 struck with

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.039
 the fact

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.700
 that faith

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:03.180
 must grow

00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.299
 in every

00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:04.779
 Christian

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.220
 life.

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:06.779
 Faith

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.399
 cannot

00:21:07.399 --> 00:21:08.079
 be

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.700
 stagnant.

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.700
 So,

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:14.460
 how does

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:14.920
 God want

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.440
 to increase

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.079
 your faith

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.559
 tomorrow?

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.619
 What is

00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:21.420
 God speaking

00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.379
 into your

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:24.039
 life that

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.539
 he wants

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.539
 to change

00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.259
 today?

00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:28.579
 How has

00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:29.000
 God been

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.359
 trying to

00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.599
 get your

00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:29.979
 attention?

00:21:30.719 --> 00:21:31.399
 Maybe over

00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:31.859
 the past

00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.279
 couple of

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:32.379
 weeks,

00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:32.939
 maybe over

00:21:32.939 --> 00:21:33.379
 the past

00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:33.779
 couple of

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.099
 months,

00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:35.459
 as you've

00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:35.919
 been reading

00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:36.679
 the scriptures,

00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:37.359
 as you've

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:37.879
 been spending

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.559
 time in

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:38.819
 prayer,

00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:40.079
 God has

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.699
 been tapping

00:21:40.699 --> 00:21:41.339
 your shoulder

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.539
 and trying

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.179
 to inform

00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:43.779
 your heart

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.740
 that something

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.599
 must change

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.240
 about you.

00:21:47.979 --> 00:21:48.559
 And up to

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:49.000
 this point,

00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:49.839
 for whatever

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.319
 reason,

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.319
 either it's

00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:51.639
 not been

00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:52.500
 convenient or

00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:52.959
 it's just

00:21:52.959 --> 00:21:54.159
 not felt

00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:54.899
 very necessary,

00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:56.399
 you've put

00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:56.839
 it off.

00:21:56.839 --> 00:22:00.359
 God can't

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.699
 walk us

00:22:01.699 --> 00:22:02.259
 and step

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.720
 us into

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.099
 the next

00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:03.879
 area of

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.759
 faith until

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.799
 we begin

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.079
 to be

00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.859
 obedient in

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.459
 the initial

00:22:07.459 --> 00:22:07.939
 steps.

00:22:09.459 --> 00:22:10.119
 How does

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.099
 God want

00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:11.779
 to refine

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.379
 your faith

00:22:12.379 --> 00:22:12.799
 today?

00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.939
 What is

00:22:14.939 --> 00:22:16.019
 that next

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.799
 step?

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.279
 How is

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:18.759
 he trying

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.539
 to realign

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.419
 your priorities?

00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:21.039
 How is

00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:21.359
 he trying

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:21.919
 to move

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.480
 you to

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:22.899
 courage?

00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:23.579
 How is

00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:23.899
 he trying

00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.319
 to help

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:24.959
 relieve

00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.400
 those fears

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:26.920
 that you

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.140
 have,

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.059
 those pressures

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.140
 that mount

00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:29.759
 from day

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.059
 to day?

00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.799
 How does

00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:33.980
 he want

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.220
 to move

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.480
 you to

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:34.860
 action?

00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:36.819
 The process

00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:37.620
 of putting

00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:39.079
 off and

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:39.539
 putting on.

00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:42.079
 Well,

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.840
 perhaps one

00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.259
 of the reasons

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.900
 why it's

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.620
 difficult to

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.600
 maybe even

00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:46.220
 hear God's

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.640
 voice is

00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.059
 because we're

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.559
 just not in

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.180
 tune with

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.380
 him.

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.799
 I found

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.140
 that to be

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.420
 true in

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:50.700
 my own

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.500
 life so

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.200
 many times.

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.380
 Is the

00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:54.860
 tempter,

00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:56.680
 the evil

00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.000
 one,

00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:58.940
 the adversary

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.640
 of your

00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.080
 soul,

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.680
 is he

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.300
 coming in

00:23:02.300 --> 00:23:02.760
 the way

00:23:02.760 --> 00:23:04.140
 of you

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.700
 listening to

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.040
 the voice

00:23:05.040 --> 00:23:05.420
 of God?

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.880
 Are there

00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:09.480
 areas of

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.900
 your life

00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:10.240
 where you

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.680
 know there

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.240
 are clear

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.920
 mandates

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.020
 that you're

00:23:13.020 --> 00:23:13.940
 just ignoring?

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:16.020
 Sin that

00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:16.560
 has settled

00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:17.240
 in and you've

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.040
 become comfortable

00:23:18.040 --> 00:23:19.280
 with and you've

00:23:19.280 --> 00:23:19.680
 decided,

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:22.100
 I just enjoy

00:23:22.100 --> 00:23:22.520
 this a bit

00:23:22.520 --> 00:23:23.220
 too much

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.100
 right now.

00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:25.840
 Well,

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.100
 that will

00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.640
 certainly

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:28.040
 deafen the

00:23:28.040 --> 00:23:28.520
 voice of

00:23:28.520 --> 00:23:28.880
 God in

00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.880
 your heart.

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:31.720
 Perhaps

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.580
 you are not

00:23:32.580 --> 00:23:33.240
 in community

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.880
 with God's

00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.560
 people on a

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.120
 regular basis

00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:35.680
 as you should.

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.060
 And what

00:23:37.060 --> 00:23:37.640
 we'll find

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.020
 throughout

00:23:38.020 --> 00:23:38.720
 scripture is

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.800
 God uses

00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:40.400
 his people

00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:41.240
 to often

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.420
 speak through

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:42.920
 his word

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.580
 to us.

00:23:45.060 --> 00:23:45.400
 And one

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:45.700
 of the

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.480
 outlets of

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:46.900
 that for

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.460
 us is the

00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:47.960
 small group

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.540
 experience.

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.020
 And so I'm

00:23:50.020 --> 00:23:51.100
 encouraged that

00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:51.600
 this church

00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.160
 has the

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:52.680
 small group

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.100
 so that we

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:54.000
 can grow

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.860
 in relationship

00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:55.560
 and we

00:23:55.560 --> 00:23:56.039
 can stir

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.400
 one another

00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:56.900
 up to love

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.180
 and good

00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.480
 deeds.

00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:58.519
 There is

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.080
 accountability.

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.539
 There is

00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.360
 conversation.

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.380
 There is

00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:02.759
 perhaps

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.320
 sometimes

00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:04.019
 confrontation

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:05.340
 that happens

00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:05.560
 there.

00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.019
 But it's

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.620
 all a

00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:08.240
 grace to

00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.740
 you and a

00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.320
 grace to

00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:09.700
 me when

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.240
 that happens.

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.660
 We've got

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.140
 to move

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:15.860
 from the

00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:16.320
 step of

00:24:16.320 --> 00:24:17.580
 knowing to

00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:18.000
 the step

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.860
 of acting.

00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:20.939
 how does

00:24:20.939 --> 00:24:21.519
 God want

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:21.839
 to grow

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.299
 your faith

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:22.619
 today?

00:24:26.219 --> 00:24:26.979
 He doesn't

00:24:26.979 --> 00:24:27.399
 end there.

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.579
 He's

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.219
 delighted not

00:24:30.219 --> 00:24:30.740
 only by

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.359
 their faith.

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.199
 He is not

00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:33.240
 only ecstatic

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.879
 about what

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.919
 he sees in

00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:35.519
 terms of

00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.219
 authentic

00:24:36.219 --> 00:24:36.879
 genuine

00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.500
 faith but

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.719
 that faith

00:24:38.719 --> 00:24:39.579
 is reinforced

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.659
 with love.

00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:42.419
 He says

00:24:42.419 --> 00:24:43.099
 their work

00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.719
 of faith

00:24:43.719 --> 00:24:44.619
 and their

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.119
 labor

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.459
 of love.

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:48.299
 So now

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:48.680
 we move

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:48.980
 to the

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.279
 fruit

00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.360
 of love.

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.640
 What does

00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.380
 that look

00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:52.759
 like?

00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.819
 How does

00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.240
 that show

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.539
 up?

00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:56.960
 Well when

00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.380
 he uses

00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:57.940
 this word

00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.680
 labor he's

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.480
 referring to

00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:01.059
 work and

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:02.440
 trouble and

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.120
 difficulty.

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.100
 It is often

00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:06.079
 associated with

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.140
 striking and

00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:07.819
 beating of

00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.340
 the breasts,

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.000
 wailing and

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.380
 grieving.

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.220
 It's used

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.819
 to denote

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.579
 not so much

00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.299
 the actual

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.980
 exertion but

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.640
 the weariness

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.920
 that is

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.660
 involved in

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.259
 the process.

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.259
 Have you

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.660
 ever felt

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.759
 weary in

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.059
 love?

00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.880
 Is love

00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.140
 work for

00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.319
 you?

00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.200
 Oh man.

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.700
 Love is

00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.400
 work isn't

00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:33.599
 it?

00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.059
 And love

00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.720
 is messy

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.519
 sometimes.

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.759
 Love gets

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.240
 complicated at

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:39.680
 times.

00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:43.380
 And I

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:43.880
 think so

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.700
 often in

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.120
 my own

00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:45.840
 life I'm

00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:46.100
 just

00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:47.180
 scratching the

00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:47.900
 surface when

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.620
 it comes to

00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.559
 what real

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.279
 love looks

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.620
 like.

00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:52.240
 Because I'm

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.720
 not getting

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.100
 to the

00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:53.759
 place where

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.880
 Jesus is

00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.600
 talking about

00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.319
 in the

00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:56.680
 Sermon on

00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:56.940
 the Mount

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.220
 where he

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.000
 says love

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.640
 your enemies,

00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.819
 do good to

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.319
 those who

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.220
 persecute you,

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.019
 pray for

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.440
 them who

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:02.960
 despitefully

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.519
 use you.

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.580
 I mean I'm

00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.039
 not there

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.380
 yet.

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.259
 I'm having

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.799
 a hard enough

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:09.120
 time at the

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.680
 introductory

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.600
 process of

00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:11.180
 just loving

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:12.220
 the people

00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.860
 around me.

00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.119
 even sometimes

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:14.979
 loving the

00:26:14.979 --> 00:26:15.479
 people in

00:26:15.479 --> 00:26:15.839
 my own

00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.259
 family.

00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:18.559
 Because love

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:18.939
 is hard.

00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.619
 But somehow

00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.819
 this church

00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:24.599
 however new

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.419
 they were,

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.039
 however immature

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.939
 they were in

00:26:27.939 --> 00:26:29.519
 their understanding

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:29.979
 of the

00:26:29.979 --> 00:26:30.319
 scripture,

00:26:30.979 --> 00:26:31.659
 what they

00:26:31.659 --> 00:26:32.199
 knew they

00:26:32.199 --> 00:26:32.639
 put to

00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:32.939
 work.

00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.539
 So that he

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.119
 can make this

00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:36.559
 statement in

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.079
 chapter 4.

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.939
 That all the

00:26:38.939 --> 00:26:39.619
 brothers in

00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.559
 Macedonia have

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.199
 been affected

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:41.660
 in some

00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.400
 way by

00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:42.840
 their love.

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.420
 That is

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.460
 incomprehensible

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:45.860
 to me.

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.779
 But by the

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.559
 way, Paul

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.559
 wasn't satisfied

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.500
 even with that

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:52.920
 amount of

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.299
 love.

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.640
 Because he

00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.480
 commands their

00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.240
 love to

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.980
 abound more

00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.380
 and more.

00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:00.600
 So what are

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:00.880
 we talking

00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.340
 about when we

00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:01.840
 talk about

00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:03.240
 true Christian

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.620
 love?

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.120
 Well we've

00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.580
 spent a lot

00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.840
 of time in

00:27:05.840 --> 00:27:06.980
 1 John talking

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.539
 about love,

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:07.980
 haven't we?

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.400
 Let me just

00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.080
 for the sake

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.679
 of reminder,

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.859
 I want to

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.379
 tell you what

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.939
 love is not

00:27:13.939 --> 00:27:14.379
 like.

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.419
 Because our

00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:16.159
 world has a

00:27:16.159 --> 00:27:16.819
 warped view

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.539
 of love.

00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:19.099
 Their love

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.899
 is temporary.

00:27:21.179 --> 00:27:21.659
 Their love

00:27:21.659 --> 00:27:22.539
 is conditional.

00:27:23.659 --> 00:27:24.159
 Their love

00:27:24.159 --> 00:27:25.039
 is fickle.

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.519
 It kind of

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.220
 comes and

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.839
 goes as it

00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.199
 pleases.

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.799
 Their love

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.240
 is self-serving.

00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.599
 It has

00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.519
 its own

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.339
 purposes in

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:33.799
 mind.

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.119
 As long as

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:35.659
 my needs

00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:36.159
 are met,

00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:37.039
 my feelings

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.659
 aren't hurt,

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:39.080
 then there's

00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:39.720
 an appropriate

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.240
 give and

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:40.580
 take.

00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:42.080
 But when

00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:43.019
 that ends,

00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:43.600
 then my

00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:43.960
 love for

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.320
 you is

00:27:44.320 --> 00:27:45.120
 gone.

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.480
 Only up to

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.019
 a point where

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.660
 I decide

00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:48.220
 to love

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:48.380
 you.

00:27:49.540 --> 00:27:50.200
 The world's

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:50.740
 love is

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.779
 willing to

00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.420
 sever.

00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:53.560
 It's willing

00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:54.300
 to cut off.

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:54.720
 It's willing

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:56.420
 to dissociate

00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.180
 oneself

00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:58.720
 from others.

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.540
 It holds

00:28:00.540 --> 00:28:01.120
 grudges.

00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:02.800
 It's bitter.

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.100
 It's unwilling

00:28:04.100 --> 00:28:04.660
 to forgive.

00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:04.960
 forgive.

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:06.940
 The world's

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:07.400
 love gets

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:07.860
 even.

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:08.900
 You hurt

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.800
 me and

00:28:09.800 --> 00:28:10.100
 I'll get

00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.560
 you back.

00:28:12.300 --> 00:28:12.940
 The world's

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.740
 love angles

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.720
 for position.

00:28:16.040 --> 00:28:16.440
 How does

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.140
 this relationship

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.920
 get me where

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.220
 I want to

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.420
 go?

00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:19.360
 How does

00:28:19.360 --> 00:28:20.240
 it fill a

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.940
 supposed need

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.500
 that I have

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.320
 for myself?

00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:24.360
 But that's

00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:24.980
 not the kind

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.660
 of love that

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.340
 we found in

00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:26.779
 1 John,

00:28:26.860 --> 00:28:27.080
 is it?

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.740
 That kind

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.259
 of love is

00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.840
 a love that

00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:30.660
 pursues.

00:28:31.540 --> 00:28:32.200
 It's a love

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:33.440
 that initiates.

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:34.900
 It's a love

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.400
 that goes

00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.039
 after it.

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:36.840
 It takes

00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:37.380
 the first

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:38.039
 step.

00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:39.960
 It's a love

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.720
 that endures.

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.340
 We find

00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:42.620
 love suffers

00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:43.420
 long and is

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:43.920
 kind.

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.279
 We find in

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:45.620
 the scripture

00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.140
 that love

00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:46.799
 covers a

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.180
 multitude

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.039
 of sins.

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.779
 We also

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.160
 know that

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.759
 love seeks

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.299
 the best.

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.140
 It looks

00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:54.940
 for the best

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.360
 in others.

00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.200
 It seeks

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.940
 to identify

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:58.259
 what is

00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.900
 truly good

00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.920
 about another

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.340
 individual.

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:01.660
 That's what

00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.220
 I love about

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.660
 the apostle

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.200
 Paul, by

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:03.440
 the way.

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:03.700
 I mean,

00:29:04.580 --> 00:29:05.140
 how is it

00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.400
 that he

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.120
 opens this

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.740
 letter and

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:08.259
 the expression

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:08.759
 of his

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.300
 heart is

00:29:09.300 --> 00:29:09.700
 one of

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.240
 thanksgiving

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.160
 for this

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.080
 church that

00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:12.680
 is certainly

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.660
 dysfunctional

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.460
 in many ways.

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:15.640
 And yet,

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.300
 in the opening

00:29:16.300 --> 00:29:16.740
 phrase,

00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:17.080
 you would

00:29:17.080 --> 00:29:17.700
 never know

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.220
 it because

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.080
 he says,

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.480
 we give

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.100
 thanks to

00:29:20.100 --> 00:29:20.880
 God always

00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.320
 for you.

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.019
 It is just

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.080
 the overwhelming

00:29:23.080 --> 00:29:24.060
 expression of

00:29:24.060 --> 00:29:25.040
 our thoughts

00:29:25.040 --> 00:29:25.660
 towards you,

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.880
 our thanksgiving.

00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:30.960
 He was

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.220
 able to

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.660
 be thankful

00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:33.600
 because he

00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.340
 saw God

00:29:34.340 --> 00:29:34.820
 in them.

00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.620
 He saw

00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:37.220
 true faith.

00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:38.040
 He saw

00:29:38.040 --> 00:29:38.800
 true love.

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.840
 And he sees

00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:41.100
 this steadfastness

00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.480
 of hope that

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:41.780
 we'll get to

00:29:41.780 --> 00:29:42.200
 in just a

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:42.560
 moment here.

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.860
 And because

00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.480
 he saw

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.040
 God in

00:29:45.040 --> 00:29:45.180
 them,

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.780
 he knew

00:29:45.780 --> 00:29:46.960
 that they

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.820
 were secure.

00:29:48.780 --> 00:29:49.300
 And he knew

00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:49.700
 that God

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.020
 had it

00:29:50.020 --> 00:29:50.360
 covered.

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.760
 That God

00:29:51.760 --> 00:29:52.540
 had begun

00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:53.060
 a good work

00:29:53.060 --> 00:29:53.360
 in them,

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:53.780
 he would

00:29:53.780 --> 00:29:54.440
 complete it.

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:54.759
 So,

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.580
 how about

00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:56.000
 us?

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.680
 Are you

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.180
 really good

00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.680
 at pointing

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.160
 out the

00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:00.700
 flaws in

00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:00.960
 other

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.380
 individuals?

00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.019
 Or are you

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.360
 good at

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.039
 affirming

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:04.880
 the best?

00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:06.880
 That's hard,

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.299
 isn't it?

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:08.980
 But that's

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.620
 what godly

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.340
 love does.

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.559
 It looks

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.080
 for and

00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:13.100
 identifies and

00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:14.480
 affirms the

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:14.900
 good in

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.299
 others.

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:18.740
 Love

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.400
 serves.

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.100
 The Son

00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:21.460
 of Man

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:21.960
 came to

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.400
 serve and

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:22.880
 not to

00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:23.580
 be served,

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.100
 but to

00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:24.599
 give a

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.359
 life as

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:25.819
 a ransom

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.419
 for many.

00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.259
 I was

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.679
 talking to

00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.139
 somebody the

00:30:29.139 --> 00:30:29.539
 other day

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:32.159
 who is

00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:32.379
 in a

00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:32.779
 situation,

00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:33.419
 not where

00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:33.939
 necessarily

00:30:33.939 --> 00:30:34.719
 the people

00:30:34.719 --> 00:30:35.039
 that they're

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.439
 interacting

00:30:35.439 --> 00:30:35.879
 with is

00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.219
 hard,

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.859
 but that

00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:38.659
 they are

00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:39.779
 always giving

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.539
 away.

00:30:40.959 --> 00:30:41.319
 There's

00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.859
 always an

00:30:41.859 --> 00:30:42.459
 expending

00:30:42.459 --> 00:30:43.240
 of self.

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.559
 There's

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.039
 never a

00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.579
 filling up.

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.579
 There's

00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.899
 no sense

00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:50.839
 of others

00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:51.740
 pouring back

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.439
 in what

00:30:52.439 --> 00:30:52.799
 has been

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.339
 depleted

00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:53.859
 from them.

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:54.819
 That

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.339
 makes love

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:55.859
 very difficult

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.199
 too.

00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:57.579
 Those

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:57.919
 of you

00:30:57.919 --> 00:30:59.139
 who are

00:30:59.139 --> 00:30:59.639
 stay-at-home

00:30:59.639 --> 00:31:00.299
 moms or

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.799
 those of

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.099
 you who

00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:01.539
 are single

00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.139
 parents,

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.159
 those of

00:31:03.159 --> 00:31:03.480
 you who

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.119
 are the

00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:04.339
 only

00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:04.799
 believers

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.179
 in your

00:31:05.179 --> 00:31:05.579
 family,

00:31:05.899 --> 00:31:06.559
 you know

00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.059
 something

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:09.139
 about giving

00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:09.980
 and giving

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.699
 and giving

00:31:10.699 --> 00:31:11.480
 and giving

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.119
 and giving

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:12.799
 and giving

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.699
 with very

00:31:13.699 --> 00:31:14.139
 little or

00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:14.419
 nothing

00:31:14.419 --> 00:31:15.119
 coming back.

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:20.439
 but that

00:31:20.439 --> 00:31:21.779
 is the

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.219
 true heart

00:31:22.219 --> 00:31:22.699
 of love

00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:25.659
 because

00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:26.500
 as our

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:26.799
 Savior

00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.239
 loved,

00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.059
 there's

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.579
 always this

00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.339
 expression of

00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:31.319
 to serve.

00:31:31.459 --> 00:31:31.799
 I am

00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.659
 here to

00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:33.619
 serve you

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.639
 and I

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.159
 will then

00:31:35.159 --> 00:31:36.079
 trust God

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.319
 that he

00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.739
 will give

00:31:38.739 --> 00:31:39.199
 me what I

00:31:39.199 --> 00:31:39.459
 need

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:41.680
 because my

00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.480
 God shall

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:42.960
 supply all

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.279
 my needs

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.059
 according to

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.539
 his riches

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.000
 and glory

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.380
 in Christ

00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:45.660
 Jesus.

00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.440
 Do you

00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:47.279
 believe that?

00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.980
 We give lip

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.759
 service to that

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.500
 truth so many

00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.500
 times but when

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.200
 it comes to

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:54.240
 actually showing

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.799
 up to

00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:56.279
 expend self

00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:56.880
 time and time

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.220
 again,

00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.279
 sometimes we

00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.660
 just say,

00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.340
 I just need

00:31:59.340 --> 00:31:59.779
 some help

00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.079
 here.

00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.340
 And I

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:01.720
 think that's

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.220
 a legitimate

00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.720
 desire but

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.600
 but who do

00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:05.319
 we look for

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.000
 to fill the

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.740
 tanks when

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.200
 the reservoir

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.640
 has gone

00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:08.920
 dry?

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.860
 We must

00:32:10.860 --> 00:32:11.319
 look to

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:11.660
 Christ.

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.579
 So what is

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.220
 the evidence

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.140
 of love

00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:15.799
 in your

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.200
 life?

00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:18.339
 How does

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:19.240
 God want

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:19.920
 to refine

00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.779
 your love

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.339
 today?

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.180
 Maybe

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:27.259
 like me,

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.700
 God has

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.400
 to begin

00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:30.759
 to work

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.519
 a little

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.319
 prejudice out

00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:32.539
 of your

00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:32.799
 heart.

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:34.900
 Maybe God

00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:35.480
 has to

00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:37.259
 create in

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.539
 you a

00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:39.519
 burden for

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.120
 the lost.

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.880
 A deeper

00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:43.039
 sense of

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.579
 love for

00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.000
 the people

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:44.440
 who don't

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:45.000
 know Christ

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.660
 around you.

00:32:47.360 --> 00:32:47.980
 By the

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.240
 way, you

00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.759
 can pray for

00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:50.620
 us because

00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:51.660
 Sarah and I

00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:52.140
 tonight are

00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:52.460
 going to be

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.039
 going to a

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:53.640
 Muslim wedding.

00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:55.700
 So that will

00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:55.920
 be an

00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.480
 experience.

00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.319
 And I

00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.440
 pray that

00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:00.019
 God uses

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.880
 that experience

00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:02.079
 to continue

00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:03.079
 to grow

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:04.279
 us in our

00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:04.879
 relationships

00:33:04.879 --> 00:33:05.339
 with our

00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:05.659
 neighbors

00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:06.559
 and to

00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.199
 give us

00:33:07.199 --> 00:33:08.000
 a greater

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.659
 tenderness

00:33:08.659 --> 00:33:09.399
 to that

00:33:09.399 --> 00:33:09.819
 group of

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.379
 individuals.

00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:11.839
 As we

00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:13.079
 seek to

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.539
 move

00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:15.079
 into places

00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.399
 that are

00:33:15.399 --> 00:33:15.960
 uncomfortable,

00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:17.119
 then we can

00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:17.799
 trust that God

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.460
 will help to

00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.299
 cultivate in us

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.000
 what we see

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.879
 is missing.

00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:22.639
 But only

00:33:22.639 --> 00:33:23.259
 when we

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.220
 walk in

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:24.639
 obedience

00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:25.659
 and we let

00:33:25.659 --> 00:33:26.000
 him work.

00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:27.559
 That's the only

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:27.919
 way it's going

00:33:27.919 --> 00:33:28.199
 to happen.

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:29.680
 when God

00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.279
 speaks to

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.740
 your heart

00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.279
 that you

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:31.559
 say,

00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.039
 your will

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:33.380
 be done.

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.180
 Finally,

00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.620
 the fruit

00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:36.960
 of hope.

00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.519
 The fruit

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.000
 of hope.

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:40.920
 We see

00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.299
 that here.

00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:43.220
 The steadfastness

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.819
 of hope

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.779
 in our Lord

00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.600
 Jesus Christ.

00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:47.960
 Steadfastness

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.420
 is the word

00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:49.100
 for endurance

00:33:49.100 --> 00:33:50.120
 or perseverance.

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.680
 It's in

00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:52.779
 contrast to

00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:54.140
 the word

00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:54.779
 for patience

00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:57.480
 or long

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:57.980
 suffering.

00:33:58.900 --> 00:33:59.299
 This word

00:33:59.299 --> 00:33:59.880
 is associated

00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:00.400
 with hope

00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:02.599
 and refers

00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:03.160
 to the

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.599
 quality

00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:05.019
 of character

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.900
 which does

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.700
 not allow

00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.339
 one to

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:07.960
 surrender

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:09.539
 to circumstances

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.940
 or succumb

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:11.619
 under trial.

00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:13.179
 This is the

00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:13.860
 word of

00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.420
 endurance.

00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:15.320
 The word

00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:15.880
 of somebody

00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.400
 who is going

00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:16.840
 to go

00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:17.619
 the distance

00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:18.360
 no matter

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:19.059
 the cost.

00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.380
 It's not

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:20.800
 that you're

00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.559
 putting up

00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.400
 with the

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.940
 hardship

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.480
 around you

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.019
 but there

00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:24.400
 is a

00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.320
 resoluteness

00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:26.039
 about you.

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:26.820
 I am

00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.640
 seeing this

00:34:27.640 --> 00:34:28.059
 through

00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:28.620
 and I

00:34:28.620 --> 00:34:29.180
 am relying

00:34:29.180 --> 00:34:29.640
 on the

00:34:29.640 --> 00:34:29.980
 strength

00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.580
 of God

00:34:30.580 --> 00:34:31.480
 to carry

00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:31.840
 me

00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:32.280
 to the

00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:32.840
 finish line.

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.700
 It's only

00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:39.160
 found here

00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:40.100
 in 1 Thessalonians

00:34:40.100 --> 00:34:40.500
 but it's

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.620
 used extensively

00:34:41.620 --> 00:34:42.660
 through all

00:34:42.660 --> 00:34:43.160
 of Paul's

00:34:43.160 --> 00:34:43.380
 letters.

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:43.880
 This was

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:45.019
 a significant

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:47.220
 quality

00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:48.820
 that Paul

00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.400
 repeatedly

00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:50.080
 points to.

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:52.720
 He does

00:34:52.720 --> 00:34:53.440
 refer to hope

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:53.920
 on numerous

00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.559
 occasions

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.559
 things

00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.440
 in 1 Thessalonians

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:58.960
 and I

00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.279
 want us

00:34:59.279 --> 00:34:59.739
 to understand

00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.159
 that when

00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:00.840
 the Bible

00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.420
 talks about

00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:01.679
 hope

00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:02.019
 it's not

00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:02.519
 talking about

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.039
 a wish

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:04.460
 it's not

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.000
 talking about

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.799
 a possibility

00:35:05.799 --> 00:35:07.000
 it's not

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:07.400
 talking about

00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:07.739
 oh there

00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.179
 might be a

00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:08.579
 chance

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:08.980
 that something

00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.599
 might happen

00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.179
 no when

00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:10.579
 the Bible

00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:11.099
 is talking

00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:11.579
 about hope

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.099
 it's talking

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:13.279
 about certain

00:35:13.279 --> 00:35:14.400
 expectancy.

00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:16.779
 I know

00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:17.380
 this will

00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:17.840
 happen

00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:18.860
 because I

00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:19.360
 know

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.299
 the God

00:35:20.299 --> 00:35:20.599
 who has

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.079
 made this

00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.519
 promise

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:23.380
 and I'm

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:23.759
 just going

00:35:23.759 --> 00:35:24.199
 to wait

00:35:24.199 --> 00:35:25.079
 for him

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:26.599
 in his

00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:26.980
 timing

00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.960
 to accomplish

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.559
 his purposes

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:28.920
 in this

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.400
 situation.

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:30.900
 It may

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.599
 not necessarily

00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:32.219
 be for my

00:35:32.219 --> 00:35:32.639
 benefit

00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:33.179
 at least

00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:33.940
 not my

00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:34.380
 temporary

00:35:34.380 --> 00:35:34.800
 benefit

00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:35.320
 but it

00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:35.699
 may have

00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.380
 future

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:36.840
 benefit

00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:37.420
 to the

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:37.699
 kingdom

00:35:37.699 --> 00:35:38.460
 and I'm

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:38.940
 okay with

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:39.219
 that.

00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:40.980
 I want

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.519
 to be used

00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.099
 of God

00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:43.159
 and trust

00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:43.460
 him

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.840
 in difficulty

00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:46.380
 to accomplish

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.099
 his purposes

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.840
 in his way.

00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:50.640
 So what

00:35:50.640 --> 00:35:50.900
 is the

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.240
 evidence

00:35:51.240 --> 00:35:51.620
 of hope

00:35:51.620 --> 00:35:51.860
 in your

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.140
 life?

00:35:53.640 --> 00:35:54.200
 Is there

00:35:54.200 --> 00:35:55.480
 a steadfastness?

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.220
 Is there

00:35:57.220 --> 00:35:57.800
 a hanging

00:35:57.800 --> 00:35:58.600
 on to

00:35:58.600 --> 00:35:58.860
 God?

00:35:58.920 --> 00:35:59.280
 A looking

00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.120
 to him

00:36:00.120 --> 00:36:01.039
 for answers

00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:02.519
 to the

00:36:02.519 --> 00:36:02.800
 deep

00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.220
 questions

00:36:03.220 --> 00:36:03.519
 of your

00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:03.760
 life

00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.579
 and trusting

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.180
 that he

00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:05.880
 has the

00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:06.280
 future

00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:07.200
 locked in

00:36:07.200 --> 00:36:07.940
 and you

00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.220
 don't have

00:36:08.220 --> 00:36:08.640
 to know

00:36:08.640 --> 00:36:09.100
 all of

00:36:09.100 --> 00:36:10.220
 the answers

00:36:10.220 --> 00:36:10.700
 but that

00:36:10.700 --> 00:36:11.079
 you can

00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:11.700
 trust

00:36:11.700 --> 00:36:12.059
 in the

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:12.500
 one answer

00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:12.960
 that matters

00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.240
 and that

00:36:13.240 --> 00:36:13.519
 is that

00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:13.780
 God

00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.240
 has it

00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:14.720
 under

00:36:14.720 --> 00:36:15.079
 control

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:16.019
 and that

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.340
 he will

00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:16.640
 give you

00:36:16.640 --> 00:36:17.240
 the strength

00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:18.279
 to overcome?

00:36:19.819 --> 00:36:20.619
 Are there

00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.919
 anxieties

00:36:21.919 --> 00:36:22.239
 in your

00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:22.539
 life?

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.199
 Are there

00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:24.559
 fears?

00:36:25.799 --> 00:36:26.579
 Is there

00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.199
 a working

00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:27.859
 the system

00:36:27.859 --> 00:36:28.659
 because there's

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.000
 a bit of

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.579
 impatience

00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.239
 for you?

00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:32.399
 You've been

00:36:32.399 --> 00:36:32.979
 waiting a long

00:36:32.979 --> 00:36:33.859
 time but God

00:36:33.859 --> 00:36:34.459
 hasn't seemed

00:36:34.459 --> 00:36:35.839
 to show up

00:36:35.839 --> 00:36:36.459
 yet and so

00:36:36.459 --> 00:36:37.039
 you need to

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:37.559
 help him

00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:37.919
 out a little

00:36:37.919 --> 00:36:38.179
 bit.

00:36:39.359 --> 00:36:39.979
 Well those

00:36:39.979 --> 00:36:40.439
 who truly

00:36:40.439 --> 00:36:41.019
 hope are

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:41.799
 those who

00:36:41.799 --> 00:36:42.439
 are willing

00:36:42.439 --> 00:36:43.399
 to wait.

00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:47.539
 is hope

00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:48.039
 creating

00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:48.920
 an expectation

00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:49.599
 for heaven?

00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:52.180
 Can you

00:36:52.180 --> 00:36:52.639
 say

00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.380
 with the

00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:53.700
 apostle

00:36:53.700 --> 00:36:54.139
 Paul

00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:56.079
 for me

00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:56.559
 to live

00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:57.160
 is Christ

00:36:57.160 --> 00:36:57.880
 and to

00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:58.119
 die

00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.539
 is gain.

00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:00.440
 Is there

00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.260
 an urgency

00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:02.059
 in your

00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:02.519
 life

00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:04.079
 to use

00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:04.400
 and to

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:04.900
 maximize

00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:05.860
 your time

00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:06.840
 for the

00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:07.240
 sake of

00:37:07.240 --> 00:37:07.619
 Christ?

00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:09.579
 Is there

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:09.880
 hope

00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.639
 in him

00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.300
 in your

00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:11.639
 life

00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.139
 today?

00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:12.839
 Let's

00:37:12.839 --> 00:37:13.059
 pray.