WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:06.240 I don't know about you, but these past two years have been pretty tough overall for us. 00:00:06.860 --> 00:00:14.019 I think in part, whatever we may have going on in our own lives, it feels like I feel 00:00:14.019 --> 00:00:19.820 these days like I am simply bracing myself for the next announcement of some massive 00:00:19.820 --> 00:00:24.060 global event that we're going to be learning about in history class for the next five generations. 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:28.320 It just feels like every so often, it's just like another thing and another thing and another 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:28.620 thing. 00:00:28.620 --> 00:00:36.640 It's been a tough couple of years, and I know personally, not only for us, but for many 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:41.320 of you, you have lots of things going on in your own lives that sort of add to that kind 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:42.219 of personal suffering. 00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:48.420 And that's part of the reason why we've been in this series looking at 2 Corinthians, which 00:00:48.420 --> 00:00:56.340 is all about how the gospel transforms power and weakness and how the gospel addresses suffering, 00:00:56.340 --> 00:00:59.800 transforms the way we think about suffering. 00:01:00.940 --> 00:01:05.320 In this passage that we're going to look at this morning, look at what Paul says in chapter 00:01:05.320 --> 00:01:08.359 4 verse 16 about his own suffering. 00:01:08.600 --> 00:01:09.359 He says this, 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:18.400 Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:30.540 I read that several times and I thought, how in the world is something like that possible? 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:37.460 How is it possible to, on the one hand, be wasting away? 00:01:37.459 --> 00:01:40.899 I feel like over the last couple of years I've aged at least 10 years. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:49.819 How can you be wasting away, decaying, breaking down, entropy, and at the same time being renewed? 00:01:50.059 --> 00:01:51.159 New life, new vigor. 00:01:51.819 --> 00:01:54.719 How is that possible in anybody's life? 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:59.159 And I think this is something that probably every single person in this room would love 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:01.539 to be able to say is true about their own life. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:05.120 You know, I'm wasting away by all appearances, everything's breaking down, but I'm actually 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:06.359 experiencing new life. 00:02:06.539 --> 00:02:08.020 I feel more alive than ever. 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:10.500 I would love to be able to say that. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:12.479 How is such a thing possible? 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:15.979 And that's what we're going to focus on this morning. 00:02:15.979 --> 00:02:21.800 The answer is quite simply this, that the gospel has actually transformed the role of suffering 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:22.879 in Paul's life. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:24.500 It hasn't taken it away. 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:29.840 It has transformed Paul's relationship with suffering and weakness. 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:34.379 And specifically, what we're going to see is that the gospel has given Paul three things. 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:39.539 It's given Paul a new paradigm for suffering, an entirely new paradigm. 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:42.199 It's given Paul a new pattern for suffering. 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:47.659 And then finally, it's given Paul a new promise for suffering. 00:02:48.079 --> 00:02:49.759 All of this he finds in the gospel. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:53.879 So let's pray, and then we're going to look at 2 Corinthians chapter 4 together. 00:02:54.519 --> 00:03:00.500 Lord, we thank you for your word, and we thank you that, oh Lord, if these were merely words, 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:06.759 or if we were merely here to hear human wisdom, then woe be unto us. 00:03:07.859 --> 00:03:11.599 Lord, but our great hope is that you're a living God, and that you're here, and that you speak, 00:03:11.799 --> 00:03:14.560 and that your Holy Spirit is already at work in us. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.539 Lord, your Spirit is here. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:25.400 And we pray we all need your word to be not simply a written word, but a living word, a word become flesh. 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:29.379 Lord, we need the word become flesh this morning. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:32.400 And we pray that in your Son's holy name. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:33.060 Amen. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:38.280 So first of all, a new paradigm for suffering. 00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:46.840 The default paradigm for most people when it comes to suffering and how to make sense of suffering and weakness 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:53.400 is to assume that suffering is a kind of indication of failure in life. 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:55.580 Something has gone wrong. 00:03:55.900 --> 00:03:57.740 You have messed up somehow. 00:03:57.740 --> 00:04:05.520 Even irreligious people tend to think when things are really bad, what have I done to deserve this? 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:08.000 Is God angry with me? 00:04:08.480 --> 00:04:10.280 Has God abandoned me? 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:16.180 And so what we typically think is that life is about climbing a ladder towards success. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:22.500 If you do the right thing, if you work hard, if you live a good life, good things will happen to you, 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:25.699 and God will bless you, and you will be prosperous and successful. 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:33.639 And this was the paradigm of the first century leaders in the church in Corinth that came in after Paul left. 00:04:34.099 --> 00:04:37.839 And this is why they are so critical of the Apostle Paul. 00:04:37.959 --> 00:04:40.019 They're essentially saying this about Paul. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:48.139 They're saying, don't listen to anything that guy says, because it is very obvious that God is not with him. 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:52.159 People would say, how do you know God is not with him? 00:04:52.180 --> 00:04:53.959 And they would say, well, look how much he suffers. 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:56.500 Look how much he suffers. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:04:59.339 Look at how weak he is. 00:05:00.060 --> 00:05:05.500 How could God possibly be with and love and bless somebody like that? 00:05:05.659 --> 00:05:08.359 Here's Paul's own description in chapter 11. 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:12.659 He says, five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.519 Three times I was beaten with rods. 00:05:16.039 --> 00:05:17.279 Once I was stoned. 00:05:17.459 --> 00:05:18.959 Three times I was shipwrecked. 00:05:19.019 --> 00:05:20.779 A night and a day I was adrift at sea. 00:05:20.859 --> 00:05:22.479 It just goes on and on and on. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:24.879 We're going to preach on it, so I'll just leave off there. 00:05:26.280 --> 00:05:34.500 So you can imagine these leaders, you know, first they point to Paul and they say, no wife, no kids. 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:36.660 He spent time in prison. 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:39.879 All kinds of horrible things have happened to him. 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:41.860 And then over here you got Ted. 00:05:42.840 --> 00:05:43.780 Look at Ted. 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:45.600 Right? 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:47.480 Ted is 6'3". 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:50.800 Ted's got a full head of lustrous hair. 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:54.580 Ted lives in a nice house with a harbor view. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:56.020 Ted has a lovely wife. 00:05:56.140 --> 00:05:58.680 Ted has eight adorable children. 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:04.040 They all play musical instruments and speak multiple languages. 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:05.580 Right? 00:06:05.700 --> 00:06:08.020 Ted's never been beaten with rods. 00:06:08.960 --> 00:06:10.780 Ted's never been shipwrecked. 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:13.160 Ted owns a 50-foot pleasure yacht. 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:14.160 Ted's never been shipwrecked. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:15.160 Ted's never been shipwrecked. 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:19.520 And since Ted started preaching, attendance at the church has doubled. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:24.900 And you can imagine these people saying, which one of these guys do you think is blessed by God? 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:28.140 Which one of these guys do you think God is with? 00:06:28.700 --> 00:06:29.040 Right? 00:06:29.220 --> 00:06:31.200 And people say, oh yeah, well it's pretty obvious. 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:31.660 Right? 00:06:33.260 --> 00:06:34.820 So this is their paradigm. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:37.879 If you suffer, it means you are a failure. 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:41.600 It means God is angry at you or that He has abandoned you. 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:44.920 Successful people are the opposite. 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:48.699 Successful people have obviously done something right. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:51.000 That's why God is blessing them. 00:06:51.060 --> 00:06:55.439 And this is essentially what we call the karma paradigm of suffering. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:57.139 The karma paradigm. 00:06:57.500 --> 00:07:03.980 Now most religions and worldviews assume a kind of karmic structure to the world. 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:04.259 Right? 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:07.920 They say that ultimately good things are going to happen to good people. 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:10.379 Bad things are going to happen to bad people. 00:07:10.459 --> 00:07:13.459 Even the kind of new age movement that talks about manifesting. 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:14.399 Right? 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:17.899 It's very popular these days to hear about if you want a good life, manifest it. 00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:23.420 Send out those vibes into the universe and the universe will return unto you those good vibes 00:07:23.420 --> 00:07:25.300 which have become reality. 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:25.560 Right? 00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:30.079 This is just another version of the same old story of karma. 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:30.560 Right? 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:34.280 Whatever you put out into the world will eventually come back to you. 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:40.160 And so what they're assuming based on this paradigm is they're assuming that when they make all these accusations toward Paul, 00:07:40.259 --> 00:07:43.519 what Paul's going to do is he's going to respond the way probably I would respond. 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:45.680 Probably many of us in this room would respond. 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:48.420 Paul is going to respond by doing a number of things. 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:49.879 He's going to minimize his failures. 00:07:50.939 --> 00:07:52.840 He's going to justify himself. 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:57.739 He's going to explain why actually all of this and that and the other wasn't his fault. 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:00.339 That it was stuff outside of his control. 00:08:00.679 --> 00:08:04.519 And then he's going to try to draw their attention to all of the successes in his life. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:06.719 Well, look, I actually did this and that and the other. 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:08.159 And look, I'm not that bad of a guy. 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:09.419 I haven't failed that much. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:10.899 In fact, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:08:11.019 --> 00:08:11.219 Right? 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:12.059 That's what we would do. 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:14.699 Defend, justify, minimize all of the things. 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:16.719 But that's not what Paul does. 00:08:17.979 --> 00:08:23.939 Essentially, Paul says this, your whole paradigm, your whole paradigm is wrong. 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:26.379 Your whole paradigm is wrong. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:31.019 And then he probably would have said, you know, I used to have the same paradigm because he did. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:36.840 Paul used to operate with the very same set of assumptions that these guys are operating with. 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:43.080 He used to be, you know, back when he was a Pharisee, he used to be very successful, very ambitious. 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:46.660 He had all of the trappings, the kind of outward symbols of success. 00:08:46.800 --> 00:08:51.680 Back in the day, in Paul's young life, people would have looked at him and said, you know, that guy, God is with him. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:52.720 God is blessing him. 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:53.120 Right? 00:08:53.340 --> 00:08:56.100 He would have been more like a Ted in many people's eyes. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:03.660 And then one day, this successful, ambitious, just kind of impressive young man is on his way. 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:04.780 He's on the road to Damascus. 00:09:04.920 --> 00:09:09.540 And he encounters the risen Jesus Christ on the road. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:13.139 And everything changes. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:20.480 Because on the one hand, Jesus is the full embodiment of God's glory. 00:09:20.579 --> 00:09:27.459 That's what this passage means in verse 4 when it says that he's the image of God. 00:09:27.579 --> 00:09:29.480 He's the image of God. 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:31.819 He's all of God's character in the flesh. 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:39.940 Jesus is so blindingly glorious that Paul falls to his face and is struck temporarily blind because of the glory. 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:47.680 But on the other hand, Jesus, Paul knows, has suffered more than anybody. 00:09:48.260 --> 00:09:49.860 Jesus has been humiliated. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:50.820 He's been mocked. 00:09:51.020 --> 00:09:51.900 He's been tortured. 00:09:52.260 --> 00:09:54.100 He was executed like a common criminal. 00:09:54.100 --> 00:10:04.279 And this completely turns everything upside down for Paul's paradigm of suffering and success, of blessing and curses. 00:10:04.420 --> 00:10:11.659 Because the default paradigm that said if you suffer, it means you're a failure and God has abandoned you, can't be right. 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:13.980 That can't be true. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:20.279 Because Jesus is God in the flesh and yet Jesus endured suffering and death. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:25.860 God in the flesh who fails and is weak and suffers. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:28.580 How can those things coexist? 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:33.779 And so a new paradigm begins to emerge for Paul. 00:10:33.920 --> 00:10:38.720 This new paradigm says suffering is not evidence that God is far away from us. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:45.899 In fact, suffering is a place where we can actually draw very, very close to God. 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:54.379 In fact, suffering may be the times in our lives when we are able to experience the most intimacy with God. 00:10:54.460 --> 00:10:56.180 More than any other time in life. 00:10:56.300 --> 00:10:56.580 Why? 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:59.000 Because our God is a suffering God. 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:01.639 He knows what it's like to suffer. 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:05.540 So a new paradigm begins to emerge. 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:08.919 This is why, by the way, Paul is able to say, starting in verse 8, 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:11.599 we are afflicted in every way but not crushed. 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:14.399 Perplexed but not driven to despair. 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:16.519 Persecuted but not forsaken. 00:11:16.699 --> 00:11:18.099 Struck down but not destroyed. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:20.980 If your paradigm of suffering, 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:24.740 if you look at something horrible going on in your life or the lives of others, 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:29.079 and your paradigm says, well, this must be evidence that either God is angry at me 00:11:29.079 --> 00:11:32.980 or punishing me or has abandoned me or there is no God. 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:35.159 If that's your paradigm, some version of that, 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:39.019 then when you are afflicted, it's going to crush you. 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:44.639 When you're perplexed, it's going to drive you to utter despair. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:48.240 When you're persecuted, you're going to believe that you've been forsaken. 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:53.340 When you're struck down, when daily life strikes you down, it might destroy you. 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:56.240 Because not only do you have the suffering that you're dealing with, 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:59.660 but you have this cosmic paradigm of meaning that says, 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.980 not only are you struggling this day in this particular situation, 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.899 but also it means God has abandoned you. 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:09.160 That's going to crush you. 00:12:11.780 --> 00:12:14.620 But Paul is able to endure all of these things 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:19.320 because he recognizes them as opportunities to draw close to Jesus. 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:25.120 So however bad it might get, he has Christ with him. 00:12:26.140 --> 00:12:31.220 And then Paul begins to see a new pattern emerge in his life 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:34.160 as he tries to make sense of his suffering. 00:12:35.020 --> 00:12:36.120 Here's the new pattern. 00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:39.060 The gospel says this. 00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:42.340 The gospel says that the reason that there is suffering in the world, 00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:45.320 the reason that we are all, as he says, wasting away 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:47.240 is ultimately because of evil. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:48.680 It's because of human sin. 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:50.419 It's because of our rebellion. 00:12:50.939 --> 00:12:54.379 And he says the God of this world, which is his reference to Satan, 00:12:54.959 --> 00:12:57.179 has blinded us to the glory of God. 00:12:57.239 --> 00:12:59.139 So we've sinned, we've turned against God. 00:13:00.239 --> 00:13:03.039 That has given power to the God of this world 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:05.519 who has now spiritually blinded us. 00:13:05.599 --> 00:13:09.039 We cannot see what is true, what is real, what is glorious. 00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:10.019 We're blinded to it. 00:13:10.239 --> 00:13:11.120 And here's the thing. 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:16.039 Often the God of this world uses the trappings of success. 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:16.779 Right? 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:17.339 Right? 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:20.360 Things like wealth or money or status or all of the things. 00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:25.139 Uses those things to blind us to the truth of the gospel. 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:30.939 But then the gospel says that the true God sent his son, Jesus Christ, 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.460 into the world in order to suffer and die, 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:34.980 not just for the sake of suffering, 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:39.100 but in order to atone for sin and set free 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:43.879 those of us who are enslaved to sin. 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:45.019 Right? 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:46.439 To open our eyes, 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:50.600 to make it possible for us to see the glory of God. 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:51.040 Right? 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:55.000 And then after three days after he dies, 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:58.019 Jesus then rises again to life in all of his glory. 00:13:58.100 --> 00:14:02.060 So Jesus comes to set the world free through his death and resurrection. 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.159 That's what the gospel says. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.659 And then Jesus says, 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:08.379 everyone who comes to me in faith and repentance needs to be baptized. 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:12.180 Paul himself was actually baptized after his conversion. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:16.820 And what baptism does is to actually spiritually join us to Jesus. 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:20.900 Paul often describes baptism as a death and resurrection. 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:24.800 We're baptized into Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:27.240 So when we are baptized, 00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:30.820 it is though we die with Jesus and are raised to new life in him. 00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:33.400 So this is essentially what the gospel says. 00:14:33.660 --> 00:14:34.760 Now here's the thing. 00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:36.940 Here's what Paul realized. 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:42.120 Since we are spiritually joined to Jesus, 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:50.480 even though death and resurrection were one-time events in Jesus' life, 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:53.659 because of that spiritual union, 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:58.100 the death and resurrection of Jesus 00:14:58.100 --> 00:15:03.799 are relived again and again and again in our lives. 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:05.899 Right? 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:08.639 So even though there were one-time things in Jesus' life, 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:11.019 the death and resurrection of Jesus 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:15.100 become a pattern that are relived again and again and again 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:17.639 in the lives of Christians. 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:22.179 It becomes a pattern that we cycle through again and again and again. 00:15:22.299 --> 00:15:25.399 This is what Paul means when he says in verse 10, 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:28.579 we are always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:32.379 so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:36.720 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:41.320 so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:45.320 In other words, the normal Christian life repeatedly reenacts 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:47.320 the death and the resurrection of Jesus, 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:49.080 again and again and again. 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:52.540 There's a guy who's written a great book on this named Paul Miller. 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:55.620 Actually, Jeff Simpson gave me this book, 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.580 and he said, you know, 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:58.860 this is one of the best books I've ever read on sanctification. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:00.660 I finally got around to reading it, 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:02.519 and I have to agree, it's phenomenal, 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.740 and it's all built around this idea. 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:08.899 What Paul Miller calls this cycle of death and resurrection 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:10.759 in the Christian life is the J-curve. 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:12.539 It's the J-curve. 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:16.000 And he says essentially this, 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.720 this, you know, 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:19.600 Jesus dies and rises from death. 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:21.559 That was Jesus' J-curve. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.059 And then when we're baptized, 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:25.939 we die with Jesus and rise to new life in Him. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.759 Most people think it stops there. 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:28.879 But he says, no, 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.120 actually what Paul is saying is, 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.200 for the rest of our lives, 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:34.080 we continue in this pattern of death and resurrection. 00:16:34.539 --> 00:16:36.799 That's how we experience union with Christ, 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.480 and it's how we become more like Christ. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.299 And this can play out in many different ways, 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:42.500 but according to Paul Miller, 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:44.419 it always includes three things. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.519 Number one, 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:47.340 we enter into some kind of suffering. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:51.139 Some kind of suffering where evil, 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.220 the flesh, 00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:54.240 sin is weakened in us 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.539 or killed in us. 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:57.399 And then number two, 00:16:58.099 --> 00:16:58.759 by grace, 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:01.159 sinful parts of us are put to death. 00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:03.459 And then number three, 00:17:03.579 --> 00:17:05.359 we emerge from that experience 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.299 with new life, 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.680 with deeper faith, 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:09.159 with a little more maturity, 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:11.079 a little more conformed 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.740 into the image of Christ. 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.259 And by the way, 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:16.379 this can happen with different kinds of suffering, 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:18.059 because not all suffering is the same. 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.399 I can just illustrate with a few examples 00:17:20.399 --> 00:17:21.839 of the ways I've experienced this 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.180 in my own life. 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:25.180 First example, 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:27.500 sometimes we suffer 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:30.680 because we are trying to address evil 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.580 somewhere in the world. 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:32.840 Right? 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.840 That's a kind of suffering. 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:35.440 Years ago, 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.720 I was in graduate school, 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.900 and I was working 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:40.360 at a residential treatment facility 00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:42.200 for victims of abuse, 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:45.120 and I became completely burned out. 00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:48.340 And I had a massive crisis of faith. 00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:50.759 And it was largely because 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:52.500 I was spending so much time 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.140 in the face of just such 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:56.379 tremendous, overwhelming evil. 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.519 And it just sort of began 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.779 to break everything apart in me. 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.640 And I felt a huge disconnect. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.319 And eventually, 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.440 I came through it, 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:06.160 but what I realized after the fact 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.079 is that that was a kind of 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:08.420 a mini death and resurrection 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.400 that I went through. 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:11.259 It was a death and resurrection. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:14.559 And what I can tell you now 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:16.140 is that that experience 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:16.900 put to death 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.320 some of my spiritual pride. 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.140 And it put to death 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:22.780 a more simplistic faith. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:26.500 And I think it greatly expanded 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.460 my understanding 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.740 of God's sovereignty 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:30.200 and God's love and mercy. 00:18:31.300 --> 00:18:32.640 And it actually gave me 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:33.740 a little more compassion 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.980 for other people 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:36.259 who struggle with doubt 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.860 in their own faith. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.200 Because I'd been there. 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.660 So it was a kind of a death 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.820 and a resurrection. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:46.259 Now, sometimes we suffer, 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:46.960 not because we're trying 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.240 to address evil out in the world, 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:50.019 but because evil is done to us. 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.460 Years ago, 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.839 I was talking to a colleague. 00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:55.299 I was sharing some ideas 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.200 with that colleague. 00:18:56.379 --> 00:18:57.059 And then that colleague 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:58.579 went and wrote an article 00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.000 that was widely circulated 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.799 and didn't credit me. 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:03.659 And I was furious 00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:05.299 that I didn't get the credit 00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.599 that I believed I deserved. 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:08.259 And I resented it. 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:10.119 And I wanted the credit. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.919 And I was going into 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:14.220 that death and resurrection cycle 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.779 once more. 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.140 Right? 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.360 And then over time 00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:18.140 and prayer, 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:20.200 I began to kind of wonder, 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.560 why am I really doing 00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:22.220 any of this? 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:24.140 Am I doing this 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:25.120 for God's glory 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:26.180 or am I just doing this 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.500 for a little glory myself? 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.140 Am I doing it 00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:30.500 for God's kingdom 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.920 or am I doing it 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:34.200 to get some recognition? 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:36.279 And I spent a lot of time 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.380 looking at Paul's words 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:38.380 in Colossians 3 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:38.980 that we should do 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.860 all of our work 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:41.919 as though we are working 00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:43.039 for Jesus alone, 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:45.019 not to get recognition 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.459 from the people around us. 00:19:46.679 --> 00:19:47.759 And it kind of set me free 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.419 from that resentment. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.000 Again, a death and resurrection. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:52.419 And I give you one final example. 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.439 Sometimes we suffer 00:19:53.439 --> 00:19:54.179 not because we're trying 00:19:54.179 --> 00:19:55.240 to address evil in the world 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.419 or even evil is done to us. 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.299 Sometimes, 00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:58.119 if you're anything like me, 00:19:58.199 --> 00:19:58.879 most of the time 00:19:58.879 --> 00:20:00.559 we suffer because of evil in us. 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.479 That's the real cause 00:20:02.479 --> 00:20:03.339 of most of the suffering 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.019 in my life. 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:06.000 I'll give you one example 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.279 from early in our marriage. 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.740 I had a problem 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.559 with sarcasm. 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:12.299 Grew up in a very sarcastic family. 00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:12.579 I mean, 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.559 I still have a problem 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.220 with sarcasm, 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:16.220 but by God's grace, 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:18.279 I think it is decreasing. 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:20.200 But it was really bad 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:20.700 in the early years 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.160 of our marriage. 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.139 And so what I would do 00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:22.980 is when I would get angry 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.359 or upset, 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:25.000 instead of just directly stating 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.359 my feelings or my needs, 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:28.039 which happens in healthy marriages, 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.160 I would use sarcasm. 00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:32.480 And my wife did not grow up 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.599 in a sarcastic family. 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.039 She's not used to sarcasm 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.420 used in an angry way. 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.759 And so when I would have 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.960 angry sarcasm 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:41.019 as my unhealthy way 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.340 of expressing negative emotions, 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.360 it would really hurt her. 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:45.039 And then I would be 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.759 in this situation 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.560 where I would actually 00:20:46.560 --> 00:20:47.200 feel better 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.300 because I had kind of 00:20:48.300 --> 00:20:49.400 released some of that anger. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.940 And then she would be 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:51.519 deeply hurt 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:53.940 because the sarcasm 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:55.060 cut like razor blades. 00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:57.039 And then I would 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:58.200 begin to realize 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.759 this is going into the death 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.240 and resurrection cycle again. 00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:02.080 I began to realize, 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.420 oh, 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.960 so here I am 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:05.960 using sarcasm 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:07.140 and expressing myself 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:08.500 in ways that make me feel better, 00:21:09.340 --> 00:21:10.519 but I'm actually hurting 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.700 the person that I love 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:13.220 so that I can feel better. 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:14.880 And I realized 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:15.660 that's a profoundly 00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:16.700 unloving thing to do. 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.560 It's in fact the opposite, 00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.259 I think. 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.500 It's the polar opposite 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.320 of love. 00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:22.700 And so I had to begin 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.720 to repent of those things. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.820 And I had to ask Laura 00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:26.000 to forgive me 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.120 for those patterns 00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.420 that I was reliving 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.779 in our marriage. 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.539 And then I had to ask 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.480 the Lord to forgive me 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.599 for hurting the person 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.200 that I love. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:36.319 And over time, 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.059 those death 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.779 and resurrection experiences 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.200 have begun to alter 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.759 and shift the patterns 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.019 of how we handle conflicts. 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:43.279 And now we can handle them 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.019 in more direct, 00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:45.119 healthy ways. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.200 Right? 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:48.039 So the implication is this. 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.539 Different kinds of suffering, 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.539 different kinds of J-curves, 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.879 to use Paul Miller's language, 00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:53.519 nevertheless, 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:55.180 this cycle is playing out 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:57.160 again and again and again. 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.460 And practically speaking, 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.599 this can become 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.819 a kind of pattern 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.039 for life. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.139 It's like a road map 00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.219 that gives meaning 00:22:05.219 --> 00:22:06.859 to much of the suffering 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.459 that we experience 00:22:08.459 --> 00:22:09.339 from day to day. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.519 So you can look 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.559 at past suffering 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:12.279 in your life. 00:22:12.439 --> 00:22:13.019 Maybe some of you 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.839 are doing that right now. 00:22:14.939 --> 00:22:16.079 Or you can look 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.019 at present suffering 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.839 in your life. 00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:19.559 Stuff that's happening 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.240 right now. 00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:21.099 And it could be 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:21.859 something major 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:23.199 like a crisis of faith 00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:24.059 that I shared about. 00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:25.079 Or it could be 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.859 something as minor 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:27.719 as being stuck in traffic 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.940 15 minutes late 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.740 to where you're going 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.600 and furious 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.279 at the person 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.980 in front of you. 00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.460 It could be anything. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.200 But what we do 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.339 is we look at the suffering 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.140 and then we think 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:38.700 about the death 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.100 and resurrection 00:22:39.100 --> 00:22:39.779 of Jesus, 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.700 carrying around 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.100 the death 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:41.880 and resurrection 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:42.339 of Jesus 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.220 in our bodies 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.039 as Paul says, 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.660 and we begin 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.680 to ask ourselves 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:47.059 diagnostic questions. 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.620 What inside me 00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:51.240 is being spotlighted 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:52.779 by this particular suffering? 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.279 Is it my need 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.059 to be in control? 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.039 Is it my need 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.579 for recognition? 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.700 Is it my need 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.359 to be right? 00:22:58.679 --> 00:22:59.240 Is it my need 00:22:59.240 --> 00:22:59.779 to be comfortable? 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.879 What is blocking me 00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:04.119 from greater trust 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:05.279 or greater faith 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.220 in the Lord? 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.759 What is the thing 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.919 that is keeping me 00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.980 from getting there? 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:12.059 What needs to be 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:12.940 put to death 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.139 in me right now? 00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:17.019 What do I need 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:18.059 to let go of? 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.700 What do I need 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.779 to turn away from? 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.039 What truth 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.559 do I need 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.419 to embrace 00:23:23.419 --> 00:23:24.980 about God? 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.619 In the midst 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.259 of this suffering, 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.419 right? 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.319 These are the questions 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:28.940 that we can begin 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:30.119 to ask ourselves 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:32.279 in the midst 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.859 of the struggle. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.599 So just to summarize 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.639 where we are so far, 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.720 the gospel has given us 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.679 so far two things. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.279 It's given us 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:39.319 a new paradigm 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:40.059 for suffering. 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:42.099 Suffering doesn't mean 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:43.279 that God is angry at you 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:43.759 or that God 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.460 has abandoned you. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:44.839 In fact, 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.500 suffering, 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.220 within suffering, 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.599 there is an invitation 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:50.579 to draw close 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.119 to the God 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.179 who suffers with us 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.279 and for us. 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.160 And then number two, 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.120 the gospel has given us 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:56.820 a new pattern 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:57.420 for suffering. 00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:58.320 Suffering is part 00:23:58.320 --> 00:23:59.120 of the cycle 00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:00.080 of death 00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:00.820 and resurrection 00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:02.500 that plays out 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.860 again and again 00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:04.460 and again 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.120 in the lives 00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:05.720 of Christians 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:08.060 to conform us 00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:08.560 more and more 00:24:08.560 --> 00:24:09.279 into the image 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.860 of God's Son. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.220 Now there's one more 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:13.960 piece to this 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.720 that we can't 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.200 overlook. 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:18.840 the promise. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:21.140 If we stop here, 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.640 if we stop here 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.279 and I say, 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.200 Amen, 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:26.100 go follow Jesus, 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.819 here's the problem. 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.319 We might make 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:29.779 the mistake 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.220 of thinking 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:30.740 that this is 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.400 some form 00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.460 of stoicism 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:34.480 or masochism 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.220 that says 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.519 suffering is good. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:37.840 We should embrace 00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.340 suffering. 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.660 It's going to make 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.220 you stronger. 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:42.120 But that's not 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.779 what we're saying. 00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.759 Scripture is very clear 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.319 that suffering 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.339 is not good. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.900 Suffering is evil. 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:49.200 Suffering is part 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:50.500 of a fallen world. 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.500 So what we're saying 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.460 is that God 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.579 has the power 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.539 to redeem 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:57.379 and repurpose 00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:59.039 evil things 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:01.099 toward His good ends, 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.059 which is a very 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.599 different thing 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.079 to say. 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:05.299 And even as we 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:06.200 recognize this, 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.259 we also need to 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:08.359 hold on to God's 00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:10.339 promise that one day 00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:11.539 all suffering 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.339 is going to come 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.000 to an end 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.980 and all tears 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.920 will be wiped 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.299 away. 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.059 The thing 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.900 that sustains 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.700 Paul through 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.480 all of his 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.559 suffering is not 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.640 simply the knowledge 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.420 that it's making 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.380 him a better person. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.400 That's a good 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:25.220 thing to know. 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:26.960 And in all ways 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.500 he's seeking 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:29.460 to be conformed 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.220 more and more 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.180 into the image 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.180 of Christ. 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.259 But the thing 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.980 that sustains 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.400 Paul 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:36.319 is the concrete 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:36.759 hope 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:39.319 of what he says 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.180 in verse 14. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.720 He who raised 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.799 the Lord Jesus 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.140 will raise 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:45.220 us also 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.420 with Jesus 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.500 and bring us 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.039 with you 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.400 into His presence. 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.519 That changes 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.539 everything. 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.059 What this means 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:54.059 for Paul 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:54.620 and for us 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.259 is that all 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.019 of the struggle 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.960 and wasting away 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.740 we experience 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.039 is not meaningless. 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.680 All the pain 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.380 and stress 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:03.120 and frustration 00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:04.339 are not happening 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.160 in vain. 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.259 We're not all 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.880 vanishing 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:08.100 into a black hole 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:08.799 of pointless 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.720 suffering. 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.400 Instead 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.420 all of this 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:11.940 affliction 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:12.960 as Paul says 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.240 is producing 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.160 for us 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:15.980 an eternal 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:17.700 weight of glory 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:19.400 beyond all 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:20.519 comparison. 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.559 One day 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.279 all of the 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.000 suffering in this 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.660 world is going 00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.940 to fade away 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.799 and it will be 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.559 like waking up 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.220 from a dream. 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.319 Have you ever 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.440 had a really 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.079 bad nightmare 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:34.100 and in the 00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.680 midst of the 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.000 nightmare 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.019 it feels 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:38.200 so real? 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:40.319 and in the 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.840 midst of that 00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:41.080 dream 00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:41.500 you cannot 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.140 imagine 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:42.860 any other 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.400 reality. 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:43.840 You are 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.680 convinced 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:46.299 that the 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:46.680 nightmare 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.700 is true 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:49.779 and then 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.120 you wake 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.420 up 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:52.160 and even 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.160 within minutes 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.720 of waking 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.100 up 00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:54.940 even the 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.360 memory 00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:55.900 of that 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.279 nightmare 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.940 is starting 00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.539 to fade 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.279 and you have 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.880 that moment 00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.440 of thinking 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.220 I can't 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:00.660 believe 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.200 I thought 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.539 that was 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:01.880 real. 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.120 I can't 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:03.539 believe 00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:03.920 I thought 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.279 that was 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:04.620 true. 00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.959 I can't 00:27:05.959 --> 00:27:06.459 even hardly 00:27:06.459 --> 00:27:07.719 remember it 00:27:07.719 --> 00:27:08.219 now because 00:27:08.219 --> 00:27:08.479 you are 00:27:08.479 --> 00:27:09.119 surrounded 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:10.359 by the 00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.059 weightier 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.479 reality of 00:27:12.479 --> 00:27:13.039 your bedroom 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:14.899 and compared 00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:15.239 to the 00:27:15.239 --> 00:27:15.799 dream 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.799 your sheets 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.199 and your 00:27:17.199 --> 00:27:17.539 pillow 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:17.979 and your 00:27:17.979 --> 00:27:18.299 room 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:18.919 feel so 00:27:18.919 --> 00:27:19.799 substantial 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:21.439 and that 00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:21.959 dream 00:27:21.959 --> 00:27:22.619 that fading 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:22.979 memory 00:27:22.979 --> 00:27:23.579 feels so 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.279 ephemeral 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.559 like smoke 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.439 clearing in 00:27:26.439 --> 00:27:26.739 a light 00:27:26.739 --> 00:27:27.339 breeze. 00:27:28.939 --> 00:27:29.779 That's what 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.159 Paul is 00:27:30.159 --> 00:27:30.799 saying here 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:32.539 even the 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.219 worst suffering 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.779 right now 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.299 it feels 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.059 so real 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.480 this is 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.059 all there 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.339 is 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:36.519 it's 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.000 all we 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.400 know 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.720 there 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.000 can't 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.140 be 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:38.460 anything 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:38.839 more 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.100 real 00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:39.279 than 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:39.500 this 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:39.660 but 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:39.799 he's 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:39.960 saying 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.579 one day 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.059 we're 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.240 going to 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.420 enter 00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:41.759 into a 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.000 world 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.319 the new 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.559 heavens 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:42.799 and the 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:42.940 new 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.180 earth 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.759 and it's 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:43.980 going to 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.339 be so 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:44.620 much 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.220 more 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.720 real 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:47.259 that this 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.500 is going 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:47.779 to seem 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.559 like smoke 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:48.900 it's going 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.140 to seem 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:49.819 like vapor 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.360 it's going 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:50.640 to seem 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:50.960 like a 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.360 dream 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:51.920 that even 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.360 as we 00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:52.720 blink 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.279 our eyes 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.539 in the 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:53.740 light 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.200 of God's 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.539 glory 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.360 fades 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:55.920 from 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.400 memory 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:59.620 and we'll 00:27:59.619 --> 00:27:59.979 say 00:27:59.979 --> 00:28:00.299 what 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:00.859 was I 00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.219 so 00:28:01.219 --> 00:28:01.979 upset 00:28:01.979 --> 00:28:02.399 about 00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:03.659 what 00:28:03.659 --> 00:28:04.799 was the 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.319 thing 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.399 that I 00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:06.939 was running 00:28:06.939 --> 00:28:07.399 from 00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:09.319 what 00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:10.659 was that 00:28:10.659 --> 00:28:12.579 and it's 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.019 going to fade 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.459 away 00:28:13.459 --> 00:28:15.339 and somehow 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.219 what we 00:28:16.219 --> 00:28:16.739 encounter 00:28:16.739 --> 00:28:17.159 at that 00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:17.619 moment 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.959 will in 00:28:18.959 --> 00:28:19.599 some way 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.000 that goes 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.839 way above 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:21.439 my job 00:28:21.439 --> 00:28:21.879 description 00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:22.699 to explain 00:28:22.699 --> 00:28:23.339 it will 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:23.659 somehow 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.219 make sense 00:28:24.219 --> 00:28:24.619 of it 00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:26.500 and we'll 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:26.619 say 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.279 oh that's 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:27.639 what all 00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:28.059 this was 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:28.500 for 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.279 that's 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:29.440 the 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.859 eternal 00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:30.180 weight 00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:30.339 of 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:30.859 glory 00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:33.599 right 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.039 so this 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.420 is how 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.259 the gospel 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.759 begins 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.680 to transform 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.680 suffering 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.400 it gives 00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:39.880 us a new 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.480 paradigm 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:40.859 it says 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:41.160 listen 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:41.759 the suffering 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.059 in your 00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.339 life 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.700 is an 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.400 invitation 00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.339 don't 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:44.500 give 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:44.819 into that 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.339 lie 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:45.759 from the 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.019 false 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.279 God 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.579 of this 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:46.940 world 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.579 that God 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.099 has abandoned 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.440 you 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:49.000 God 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.480 is drawing 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.900 near 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:51.920 draw 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.380 close 00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:52.819 to him 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.680 it gives 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.160 you a new 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:54.700 pattern 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:55.119 to see 00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:55.539 suffering 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.000 as a part 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.279 of this 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.740 cycle 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.660 of death 00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.720 and resurrection 00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.640 opening our 00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.019 eyes 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:01.080 liberating 00:29:01.080 --> 00:29:01.680 our hearts 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.680 reorienting 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.400 our affections 00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:03.940 as we prayed 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.380 earlier 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:04.980 in the 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.300 collect 00:29:05.300 --> 00:29:07.460 and then 00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:07.860 finally 00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.220 a new 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:08.640 promise 00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:09.100 to see 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.560 suffering 00:29:09.560 --> 00:29:09.860 is 00:29:09.860 --> 00:29:10.519 finite 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:12.920 finite 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:14.100 there's a 00:29:14.100 --> 00:29:14.480 cap 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.519 there's a 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:15.840 limit 00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:17.040 to embrace 00:29:17.040 --> 00:29:17.519 the hope 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:17.960 that one 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.340 day there's 00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:18.620 going to be 00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:19.160 no more 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:19.560 suffering 00:29:19.560 --> 00:29:19.980 and all 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.380 things 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.259 will be 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.519 made 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:21.779 new 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.340 so if 00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:22.740 we want 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:22.980 to be 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.320 like 00:29:23.320 --> 00:29:23.840 Paul 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.939 if we 00:29:24.939 --> 00:29:25.179 want 00:29:25.179 --> 00:29:25.539 to begin 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.879 to experience 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:28.319 inner renewal 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:29.039 in the midst 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.759 of suffering 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.699 we need 00:29:31.699 --> 00:29:32.039 to see 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.659 our suffering 00:29:32.659 --> 00:29:33.259 through the 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:33.720 lens 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.639 of the 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.119 gospel 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.539 this is 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:36.980 where the 00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.339 gospel 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.000 ceases to 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.480 be something 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:38.839 that we 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.179 simply 00:29:39.179 --> 00:29:39.740 intellectually 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.480 assent to 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:40.799 and then 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.179 move on 00:29:41.179 --> 00:29:41.480 with our 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:41.899 lives 00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:42.899 and it 00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:43.199 begins 00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:43.480 to be 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:43.759 something 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.179 that we 00:29:44.179 --> 00:29:44.659 work 00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:45.399 into 00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:45.839 our 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.240 daily 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:46.819 lives 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:47.419 the lens 00:29:47.419 --> 00:29:47.859 through 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.299 which 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:48.899 we see 00:29:48.899 --> 00:29:49.779 everything 00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.659 mapped 00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.259 on to 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:51.779 the death 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.720 and resurrection 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.380 of Jesus 00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:54.839 in us 00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:56.640 let's pray 00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:58.799 Lord we 00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.200 thank you 00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.579 for your 00:29:59.579 --> 00:29:59.960 word 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:01.460 and these 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.079 are weighty 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.559 spiritual 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.100 topics 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:04.140 that need 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.720 more than 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.360 simply 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:05.940 discussion 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:06.960 and slides 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.460 we need 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.559 your Holy 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:08.960 Spirit 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.720 in us 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.940 applying 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.700 these things 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.279 making them 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.380 real in us 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.460 Lord I pray 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.160 as we confess 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:15.960 our faith 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.579 and as we 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.420 pray to you 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.740 as we sing 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.279 as we come 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.720 around your 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.100 table 00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:20.500 that you 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:20.700 would 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:22.100 make us 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.980 help us 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.500 experience 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.119 the gospel 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:24.919 in stereo 00:30:24.919 --> 00:30:25.719 that we 00:30:25.719 --> 00:30:26.019 would not 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.599 only hear 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:26.819 it 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:27.319 but that 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:27.639 we would 00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:28.299 taste it 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.219 Lord 00:30:29.219 --> 00:30:29.579 that we 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:29.779 would 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.219 take it 00:30:30.219 --> 00:30:30.879 into us 00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:31.159 that we 00:30:31.159 --> 00:30:31.799 would receive 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.219 the death 00:30:32.219 --> 00:30:32.639 and resurrection 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.219 of Jesus 00:30:33.219 --> 00:30:34.240 through this 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.519 meal 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.099 into our 00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.339 hearts 00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:35.879 and lives 00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.899 Lord 00:30:36.899 --> 00:30:37.240 and I 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.679 pray that 00:30:37.679 --> 00:30:38.119 this would 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.240 make us 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.199 a community 00:30:40.199 --> 00:30:41.039 that glorifies 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.359 you 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:42.500 Lord 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:42.740 that you 00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.219 would transform 00:30:43.219 --> 00:30:44.000 our relationship 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.659 with suffering 00:30:44.659 --> 00:30:46.419 that we 00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:46.719 would be 00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:47.259 people who 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.019 point to 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.359 you 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:50.099 and bring 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:50.539 glory to 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:50.939 your name 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.440 we pray 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:51.680 this in 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.080 your son's 00:30:52.080 --> 00:30:52.559 holy name 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.140 amen