WEBVTT

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 Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to Paul's letter to the church at Colossae.

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 At the risk of giving you ammunition to mess with me during a sermon.

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 A little over a year ago, I had a hard time getting my notes to print on a Sunday morning.

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 And as such, I just grabbed the iPad and pulled up the information on it and preached that Sunday

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 and discovered that I love it because I can see it. I'm getting a bit older, my eyes are getting harder,

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 and this light's a bit bright. Such a wonderful, wonderful thing.

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 But I get text messages on my iPad. And from time to time, I'll get a text message.

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 It pops up at the top of the screen. It's kind of funny.

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 And just now I got a text, but from four days ago, from my father that said, please call me.

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 So I just opened my iPad and went, what? Not now.

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 Well, but it came many days later onto the iPad, apparently.

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 So don't text me during the service.

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 It's ultimately the moral of that. But four days ago, you're certainly welcome to.

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 Our text today is Colossians 2, verses 4 through 8.

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 Before I read it, though, I want to remind you where we've been in our text.

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 The church at Colossae is a fairly unsubstantial church in our definition of what is substantial.

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 A small group of believers in a very small, insignificant town.

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 I don't remember the exact history as I presented it to you at the beginning of our study,

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 but the Romans had moved the major highway around Colossae and went through Laodicea,

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 and Colossae was just kind of left in the middle of nowhere.

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 This wasn't a church that Paul established.

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 It's most likely that Epaphras, who's mentioned in the letter multiple times,

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 carried the gospel from Ephesus, where Paul was, back to his hometown,

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 saw converts and started a church there.

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 And it's also most likely that it's Epaphras who has come to Paul while he's in prison.

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 We think in Roman imprisonment.

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 We do know that he's in prison.

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 We're not sure exactly where, but more than likely in Roman imprisonment.

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 And has come to him and asked for his help in correcting some erroneous doctrine,

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 some heresy that's encircling the church and possibly making some inroads into the church.

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 We don't know the exact nature of that heresy.

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 In some of Paul's other letters, it's much more clear,

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 specifically the heresies of the day that he's addressing.

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 Here we're not entirely sure, but in some way or another,

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 as most heresies concerning Christianity do,

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 these people seem to be denying the deity of Christ,

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 that he was himself actually God,

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 because Paul so clearly addresses that beginning in verse 15.

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 And they seem to, in some way, be attacking the sufficiency of Christ,

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 that faith in Christ is what brings salvation and adding work to that,

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 as he expounds upon, oh, interspersed amongst 12, 13, down 19, down through 23.

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 So these seem to be the two issues of the day,

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 which are fairly massive heresies.

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 I hope for our church and for most Christian churches this morning,

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 that if these types of things were being taught,

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 denying that Jesus Christ is himself God,

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 or that we must work in order to maintain our salvation,

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 that these people would be fairly readily shut down.

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 So as we come to these texts, sometimes it feels distant to us.

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 We seem to live in a place where these aren't great challenges.

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 But I would put forth to you that they are, in fact.

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 That there are many ways in which the world and the enemy

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 is trying to deceive us about who Jesus is.

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 It just seems to be much more subversive these days,

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 much more, as we live in such a Christian culture, deceptive.

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 So it's important that we, especially important, I think,

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 that we draw our attention to how it is that Paul addresses

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 and what it is he's trying to press upon the Colossian believers

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 and how it is we ought to also take up these things

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 in order to stand firm in Christ.

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 So beginning in verse 4, I read,

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 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

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 For though I am absent in the body, yet I am with you in spirit,

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 rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

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 Therefore, as you receive Christ Jesus, Lord, so walk in him,

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 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith,

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 just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

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 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit

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 according to human tradition,

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 according to the elemental spirits of the world,

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 and not according to Christ.

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 This is God's word to us.

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 It was written for his glory and our good.

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 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises

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 and obey its commands.

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 So Paul directly takes on here these doctrinal heresies.

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 And again, the application is there's many such challenges to our faith today.

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 And this is why, and this will be the outline for the text today,

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 that disciples of Jesus Christ, true disciples,

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 those who have placed their faith in his saving work,

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 number one, must have a resolute understanding.

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 Number two, must walk in him.

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 And number three, must abound in thanksgiving.

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 So firstly, disciples of Jesus Christ must have a resolute understanding

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 of who their Lord is and of our salvation.

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 This is imperative for us, beloved.

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 And in fact, he in caps this text today with two charges for this.

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 Verse four, I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

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 And verse eight, see to it that no one takes you captive.

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 And then he lists off a number of ways in which this can take place,

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 which we'll address in a moment.

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 We have to pay attention to the very beginning of verse four,

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 where he says, I say this in order that.

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 What is the this that he is referring to?

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 And last week, we fairly glanced over verses two and three of chapter two.

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 And now I want to kind of help tie that in here

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 as Paul speaks of his struggle on behalf of the Colossian believers.

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 And then in verse two, he writes that their hearts may be encouraged,

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 being knit together in love to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding

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 and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,

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 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.

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 So his struggle on their behalf, even though he hasn't seen these people,

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 his struggle on their behalf in prayer,

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 his struggle on their behalf in the writing of this letter,

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 his struggle in that he's going to send faithful workers to them,

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 is that they would have a full assurance of understanding

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 and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,

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 that they would know Christ,

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 that they would understand who Christ is and who he is to them,

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 that they would get a clear and full confidence in Christ's deity

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 and his sufficiency, as I referenced earlier in chapter one.

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 This is who Jesus is.

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 Fully God, yet man, come to earth,

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 lived a perfect life that we may have his righteousness,

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 bore on the cross the wrath for our sin,

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 ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father,

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 now making intercession for us,

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 will one day come back and judge the world,

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 will separate the righteous from the unrighteous,

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 the righteous for eternal glory,

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 the unrighteous to eternal damnation.

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 This is our Christ.

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 And we must have a very clear understanding of who he is

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 and that his work was sufficient for the saving of us,

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 that we must simply believe that it is his work

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 that accomplished this thing on our behalf.

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 1 Timothy 3.16

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 And what very likely was a first century hymn,

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 Paul beautifully writes,

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 maybe somebody else wrote it and he's simply quoting it,

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 but verse 16,

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 Great indeed, we confess,

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 is the mystery of godliness.

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 Being Christ.

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 The mystery of godliness.

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 He was manifested in the flesh,

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 vindicated by the Spirit,

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 seen by angels,

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 proclaimed among the nations,

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 believed on in the world,

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 taken up in glory.

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 So it is Christ

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 that we must have a resolute understanding of.

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 And as with Paul's writing,

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 as it's so beautiful,

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 and there's so much depth to it,

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 it has to be unraveled.

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 In verses 2 and 3,

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 this is the maybe even a bit trite summation

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 of what he's trying to say.

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 Christ.

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 The treasure of wisdom and knowledge.

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 It's Him that we must know.

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 And we must know Him

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 so that no one may delude us

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 with plausible arguments.

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 This idea of delusion

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 is simply to be led astray,

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 to be confused by,

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 to be, as he says later,

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 taken captive by.

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 And he uses this interesting language

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 of plausible arguments,

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 which I appreciate.

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 It means that people who believe in other things

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 aren't entirely insane in the world,

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 but these are persuasive arguments

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 that people are making.

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 They're arguments that contain within them

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 some bit of truth.

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 All believable lies

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 contain within them some truth.

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 To be able to grasp it,

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 to be able to understand it.

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 An example to this,

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 if I told you a story

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 that yesterday I met

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 and was punched by Mike Tyson,

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 you'd be very unlikely to believe me.

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 Thinking that,

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 how is it possible

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 that Nathan met Mike Tyson yesterday?

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 What if I told you

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 that my wife punched me yesterday?

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 Well, she didn't.

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 But it'd be much more believable

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 because I see her all the time

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 and I certainly deserve to get punched

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 at times as well.

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 You see that in order for something

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 to be believable,

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 it has to contain some truth within it

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 that resonates within us.

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 So there's a truth mixed with the error.

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 So these arguments are plausible.

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 They could sound to us at times like,

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 oh, well that sounds pretty good.

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 Do you know people like that

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 or are you that person possibly?

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 That it's very easy and simple

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 for somebody to convince you?

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 You may be convinced of one thing

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 and they make a simple argument

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 and now you're suddenly convinced

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 of the opposite of that very thing.

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 So easily swayed back and forth

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 by plausible arguments.

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 This has been promised to us

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 that in the future of the church,

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 Paul writes much about this,

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 that there would be false prophets.

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 There would be people

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 who would come in amongst the church

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 and lead members of that church astray

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 with plausible arguments.

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 There's much strong warning given against this

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 in the scriptures.

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 It should be no surprise to us

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 that we need to be firmed up in our faith,

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 that we need to contend for the truth

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 because this is a thing that's repeated again

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 and again and again.

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 A couple quick examples of that.

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 2 Corinthians 11, 13-15.

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 Paul writes,

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 For such men are false apostles,

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 deceitful workmen,

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 disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

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 Sounds so good

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 because they're coming in the name of Jesus.

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 In verse 14,

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 And no wonder,

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 for even Satan disguises himself

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 as an angel of light.

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 People come and they say good things

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 that resonate with us

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 and then they slip in underneath

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 the falsehood, the lies,

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 those things that lead us astray.

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 Verse 15,

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 So it is no surprise

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 if his servants also disguise themselves

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 as servants of righteousness.

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 It's difficult to discern these people at times

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 if we're not founded in the truth

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 of who Christ is.

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 The end of verse 15 says

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 their end will correspond to their deeds.

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 Paul wrote to the Galatian believers,

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 chapter 1, verses 6-9,

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 I am astonished that you are so quickly

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 deserting Him who called you

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 in the grace of Christ

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 and are turning to a different gospel.

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 Here are people already being turned

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 by plausible argument.

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 Verse 7,

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 Not that there is another one.

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 There is no other gospel.

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 There's one true good news.

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 But there are some who trouble you

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 and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

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 The great heresy we know

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 for the Galatian church

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 was from the Judaizers

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 who said that Jesus is good and acceptable.

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 You can believe in Jesus

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 and you can follow Jesus,

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 but you also must obey the law.

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 You must keep the practice of the Jews

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 and therefore you must be circumcised.

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 This was the great thing

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 that Paul is addressing

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 to the Galatian church.

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 Verse 8 he says,

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 But even if we or an angel from heaven

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 should preach to you

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 a gospel contrary to the one

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 we preach to you,

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 let him be accursed.

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 That is, cut off from the grace of God.

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 As we have said before,

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 so now I say again,

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 if anyone is preaching to you

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 a gospel contrary to the one you received,

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 let him be accursed.

00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:23.879
 And it's a challenge in our day, beloved.

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.100
 It's so very, very difficult

00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:28.259
 because there's so few people I know

00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:30.519
 that are so blatantly heretical.

00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:31.820
 The kind of people,

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:33.559
 you just want them almost like

00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:34.340
 people our day,

00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:34.980
 preachers our day,

00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:36.879
 I just want them to step across that line

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.659
 just so I can say,

00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:40.679
 no, never listen to that man.

00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:42.279
 But there's good stuff happening

00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:44.259
 and I think good motivation

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:46.000
 and intention happening.

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.839
 I listen fairly often

00:14:48.839 --> 00:14:50.939
 to conservative talk radio.

00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.579
 The CD player doesn't work in my truck

00:14:53.579 --> 00:14:54.819
 so the radio comes on

00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:55.879
 when I'm driving places.

00:14:56.599 --> 00:14:58.679
 And there's often a previous

00:14:59.319 --> 00:15:00.699
 Southern Baptist leader,

00:15:01.199 --> 00:15:02.319
 currently the pastor

00:15:02.319 --> 00:15:03.839
 of a rather large church

00:15:03.839 --> 00:15:04.939
 in the Atlanta area,

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.719
 and he has these little moments

00:15:06.719 --> 00:15:07.979
 that he gets on and shares something.

00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:09.679
 And they're usually incredibly good.

00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:12.120
 More often than not,

00:15:12.199 --> 00:15:13.159
 I really appreciate

00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:14.139
 the things he has to say.

00:15:14.219 --> 00:15:15.659
 He takes these big grand truths

00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:17.099
 about who God is

00:15:17.099 --> 00:15:18.519
 and he brings them down

00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:19.319
 in a simple way

00:15:19.319 --> 00:15:20.259
 to a broad audience.

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.459
 I really appreciate it.

00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.459
 This week, however,

00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.919
 he started off by talking about

00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:26.319
 how in racing,

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:27.639
 people look for

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:29.519
 every little competitive edge

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.159
 they can get.

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.919
 The tenths of a second matter

00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.819
 in racing.

00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.659
 And so they're always trying

00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:35.139
 to find the way racers are

00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:35.959
 that they can just

00:15:35.959 --> 00:15:37.159
 get a little bit

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.159
 of a competitive edge.

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.919
 And then he went on to say

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.939
 that in life,

00:15:41.219 --> 00:15:43.079
 Jesus is our competitive edge

00:15:43.079 --> 00:15:44.120
 in our race.

00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.819
 Oh my gosh,

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.120
 like I just wanted to tackle him

00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.559
 and stop the broadcast

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.819
 of it all.

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.259
 That's not the case at all.

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.719
 Jesus puts us in a different race.

00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:53.879
 He shatters the race.

00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.079
 He says this is a pointless,

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.799
 fruitless race,

00:15:55.839 --> 00:15:57.279
 and he puts us on another track.

00:15:57.699 --> 00:15:58.600
 Completely different.

00:15:58.899 --> 00:16:00.699
 And then we run after him.

00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:02.519
 He's not a competitive edge.

00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.600
 He is the goal.

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.679
 He is the prize

00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:05.979
 of the race that we run.

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:08.399
 So you have to be so careful

00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:10.099
 about what you take in

00:16:10.099 --> 00:16:11.319
 and what you hear

00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:13.519
 and where the foundation is

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.559
 for your understanding

00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:16.179
 of truth.

00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:18.000
 Bookended again.

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.000
 Plausible arguments.

00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.699
 This is a man

00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:21.659
 that people listen to

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:23.620
 and probably just consumed

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:24.359
 what he had to say.

00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:24.539
 He said,

00:16:24.599 --> 00:16:25.419
 oh, that's very good.

00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.079
 Competitive edge.

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.679
 I like it.

00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.000
 This bookending, though,

00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:30.120
 goes on in verse 8.

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:32.659
 See to it that no one

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.840
 takes you captive

00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:35.700
 literally means to kidnap,

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:36.659
 right?

00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:39.100
 To bag up and take away

00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:42.639
 by philosophy, right?

00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:43.340
 This is not referring

00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:44.919
 to our modern study

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:47.659
 of general and fundamental problems,

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.879
 but it's a much broader term,

00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:50.820
 which certainly can include

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:52.019
 our modern philosophy,

00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:54.580
 but also allows for

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:56.440
 religious sex.

00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:57.180
 Just as an example,

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.460
 the first century historian

00:16:58.460 --> 00:17:00.139
 Josephus wrote in Jewish Wars,

00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:02.820
 there are three philosophical,

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.000
 same Greek word,

00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:06.460
 sex among the Jews.

00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.880
 So it allowed for that,

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.500
 a much looser term

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.500
 of philosophy,

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.600
 ways of thinking,

00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:12.799
 worldview.

00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:14.500
 Don't be taken captive

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:16.640
 by the varying worldviews

00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.319
 that are out there

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:19.279
 or by empty deceit.

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:21.539
 Certainly the Colossian heretics

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.539
 and those of our day

00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:24.279
 would have found great value

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:24.960
 in their teaching,

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:25.819
 believed it.

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:26.519
 Otherwise,

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.920
 they wouldn't teach it.

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:29.519
 But Paul here deems it

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.400
 empty and deceitful,

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.140
 of no value whatsoever.

00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:37.980
 According to human tradition,

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.880
 which is to say that

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.660
 just because somebody

00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.900
 believed it before,

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.120
 in the past,

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.039
 doesn't make it true.

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.279
 It doesn't necessarily

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:48.200
 make it true.

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.840
 It's of interest

00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:51.740
 for us today

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.360
 to study church history

00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:54.519
 because it informs

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:57.139
 so much about what we believe.

00:17:57.900 --> 00:18:00.039
 If you tend to believe something

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:02.000
 that most of Christianity

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.119
 has deemed a heresy,

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.119
 you're probably wrong.

00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:07.639
 There's some value

00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:09.460
 in looking at the church itself.

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.599
 I would encourage you

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.859
 to look at the great heresies

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.480
 that have come

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.559
 and been squashed

00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:14.359
 throughout the days

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:14.900
 of the church

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:16.839
 and find that you may believe

00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:18.180
 some of those things

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.279
 and may have,

00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:20.720
 at one point in history,

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:22.240
 been burned for it.

00:18:23.560 --> 00:18:24.519
 Human tradition

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:26.100
 is not the reason

00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:26.940
 that we believe things

00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:27.380
 to be true.

00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.960
 It can have some value,

00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:29.920
 but you never say

00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:31.000
 just because,

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:31.980
 just because

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:33.360
 grandma and grandpa,

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:33.960
 just because

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:35.080
 mom and dad,

00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:37.160
 therefore it must be.

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.880
 The standard for our truth

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.500
 is the Scripture,

00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:42.019
 is Christ.

00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:44.379
 according to the

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:46.059
 elemental spirits

00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:47.379
 of the world.

00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:48.700
 Now there's a lot of conjecture

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.480
 about what this

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.619
 could mean.

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.660
 I think the simplest explanation

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:54.039
 is the proper explanation,

00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:55.019
 so I'm just going to give you

00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.619
 that one.

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.660
 If you are interested,

00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.420
 I would encourage you

00:18:57.420 --> 00:18:57.960
 to study it

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.440
 on your own time.

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.180
 The phrase

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.119
 elemental spirits

00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:03.440
 is a single noun

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:05.220
 and it refers,

00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:07.740
 its weightiest definition

00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:09.160
 is referring to

00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.400
 the letters of the alphabet,

00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.200
 the way the letters

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.579
 of the alphabet

00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:12.419
 come in order.

00:19:13.939 --> 00:19:15.480
 The suggestion seems to be

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.919
 that Paul is stating

00:19:16.919 --> 00:19:18.500
 that to believe in heresy

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:20.220
 is to descend

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.720
 to foolishness.

00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:23.399
 Having been enlightened,

00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.519
 having been taught

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:27.539
 the glorious truth,

00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:29.759
 it's to come back down

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:31.740
 to the more base things.

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.079
 It's like a child

00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:34.299
 learns to read

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.480
 and then they go back

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:37.099
 to just like learning ABCs.

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:38.179
 You already know your ABCs.

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.419
 Move on to the reading.

00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:40.859
 This seems to be

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.000
 what he's communing.

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.419
 It's a regression

00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:45.419
 in one's understanding.

00:19:45.679 --> 00:19:46.939
 He's juxtaposing,

00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.439
 I think,

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.219
 the mature teaching

00:19:48.219 --> 00:19:48.959
 of Christ's deity

00:19:48.959 --> 00:19:49.539
 and sufficiency

00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:51.679
 to the childish teachings

00:19:51.679 --> 00:19:53.019
 that oppose his deity

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.359
 and his sufficiency

00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:55.559
 that would suggest

00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:57.059
 that Jesus was just a man

00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:57.879
 and would suggest

00:19:57.879 --> 00:19:58.879
 that we can somehow

00:19:58.879 --> 00:20:00.359
 work and earn

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.779
 our salvation.

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.599
 This same language

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.479
 is used elsewhere,

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.699
 Galatians 4.3.

00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:07.319
 In the same way,

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.500
 we also,

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.000
 before we were

00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:11.120
 in the faith,

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.860
 when we were children,

00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.259
 were enslaved

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:16.440
 to the elementary principles

00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.980
 of the world.

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.319
 Same phrase,

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.360
 elementary principles

00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:22.600
 and elemental spirit

00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:24.259
 used in both places.

00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.100
 I think this is what

00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:25.940
 he's trying to say.

00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.799
 It's childish

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:29.160
 to believe such things

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.779
 that are,

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:31.240
 the end of verse 8,

00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:32.460
 not according

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.700
 to Christ.

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.279
 So anything that is

00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:35.799
 in opposition

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.900
 to who he is,

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.360
 the things that he has

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.100
 accomplished

00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:40.559
 are heretical.

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.100
 So,

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:44.400
 we must know

00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:45.200
 who Christ is

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.160
 and have an understanding,

00:20:46.340 --> 00:20:47.319
 a resolute understanding

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.700
 of who Christ is.

00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:50.700
 So how does that

00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.440
 come to pass?

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.840
 How do we foster

00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:55.920
 a resolute understanding

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:58.100
 of who Christ is

00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:59.340
 and what he's accomplished

00:20:59.340 --> 00:20:59.840
 as deity

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.619
 and his sufficiently?

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.639
 Two quick points to that.

00:21:04.959 --> 00:21:05.359
 Firstly,

00:21:05.919 --> 00:21:06.359
 prayerfully

00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:07.740
 read the text

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.240
 in its context.

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.199
 That's the exhortation.

00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:11.699
 Prayerfully

00:21:11.699 --> 00:21:12.939
 read the text

00:21:12.939 --> 00:21:14.439
 in its context.

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:16.000
 Before you ever come

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.679
 to the Word of God,

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.759
 which completely speaks

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.559
 of Christ,

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:21.439
 we need the Holy Spirit's

00:21:21.439 --> 00:21:22.039
 illumination.

00:21:22.939 --> 00:21:24.379
 We need His illumination.

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.299
 We need Him

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.439
 to give us

00:21:26.439 --> 00:21:28.519
 spiritual eyes

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:30.059
 to understand rightly

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.839
 what is contained

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:32.240
 within this book.

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:34.379
 It was spiritually inspired.

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.160
 It was given to us

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:36.000
 by God

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.599
 and we need Him

00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:37.420
 to help us

00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:39.359
 understand it rightly.

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.619
 There's a wrong way

00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:41.279
 to read this book,

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:41.559
 beloved.

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:43.079
 We must read it rightly.

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:44.019
 We must prayerfully,

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.779
 we must ask,

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.960
 we must come to the Word of God

00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.960
 on our knees.

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.000
 This is why Paul prays

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.980
 for the Ephesian church

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:50.319
 as we see recorded

00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.339
 in Ephesians 1.18

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.259
 that the eyes

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.160
 of their hearts

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.519
 would be enlightened.

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.900
 That they would understand

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.900
 the truth

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.920
 of the Gospel.

00:21:58.820 --> 00:22:00.360
 So read it prayerfully.

00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:03.060
 And read it.

00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.400
 Prayerfully,

00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:06.280
 read the text.

00:22:07.780 --> 00:22:08.720
 We never,

00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:10.360
 never

00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.320
 outgrow

00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:12.460
 our need

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.800
 of the Scripture.

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.280
 This is such

00:22:15.280 --> 00:22:16.640
 a beautifully complex

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.340
 book

00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:18.340
 in the way that God

00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:19.160
 has orchestrated

00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:19.740
 its writing

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.320
 and the way

00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.780
 in which He uses it

00:22:21.780 --> 00:22:22.759
 in application

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.720
 to our life.

00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:25.080
 I am continually

00:22:25.080 --> 00:22:26.380
 astounded

00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.080
 at the way

00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:28.000
 that God speaks

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.420
 to me

00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.420
 through His Word.

00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:31.260
 It still blows my mind.

00:22:31.520 --> 00:22:32.180
 Texts that I am

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.200
 so incredibly

00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.100
 familiar with.

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.960
 Things that I can

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.860
 rattle off to you.

00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:36.340
 And I'll go back

00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:36.860
 and reread it

00:22:36.860 --> 00:22:37.800
 and a phrase

00:22:37.800 --> 00:22:39.160
 will like stamp me

00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:39.880
 on the forehead

00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:40.700
 as if I've never

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:42.140
 seen it before.

00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:43.400
 It's alive

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.500
 and it's active

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.500
 because the Spirit

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:47.040
 uses it as a tool

00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:48.460
 to change us

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.100
 from one degree

00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:49.740
 of glory

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.700
 to the next.

00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:53.720
 99% of the time

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.839
 someone comes

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.700
 to me for counsel

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.940
 and we're talking

00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.539
 about what's going

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.339
 on in their life

00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:59.259
 and I ask them

00:22:59.259 --> 00:22:59.720
 have you been

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.579
 consistently

00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.720
 prayerfully

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.660
 reading your Bible?

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.640
 The answer is

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.200
 no.

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:06.039
 It's incredible.

00:23:06.860 --> 00:23:07.319
 Go.

00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.460
 Read your Bible.

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.819
 Ask that God

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.779
 would work the truth

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.480
 into your life

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.140
 and then come back

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:12.900
 and let's talk.

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.880
 He uses the church

00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.420
 as a tool.

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.759
 But you have to be

00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.039
 practicing these things

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.460
 beloved.

00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.059
 You have problems

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.700
 in your life

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.579
 and we all do.

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.640
 Go to the Scriptures

00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:22.060
 for them.

00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.759
 They're sufficient

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.900
 to give us

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.400
 the guide

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:26.200
 for holy living.

00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:28.380
 You must read

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:29.520
 the text.

00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:30.160
 You never,

00:23:30.280 --> 00:23:30.500
 ever,

00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:31.500
 ever outgrow

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.360
 your need of it.

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.080
 You never become

00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:34.160
 so familiar with it

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.800
 that meditation

00:23:34.800 --> 00:23:36.500
 becomes unnecessary

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.680
 for you.

00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.180
 You've heard me say

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.440
 before that no doctrine

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.820
 stays alive in the mind.

00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.620
 No truth just

00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:44.120
 automatically gets

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.660
 in our heads

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:46.160
 and stays in our heads

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.000
 and has effect

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.020
 in our lives.

00:23:48.320 --> 00:23:49.520
 It must be fed.

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.700
 You must continually

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:52.080
 remind yourself

00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:53.279
 of the truth

00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:53.960
 of the Gospel.

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.279
 Sunday morning's

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.180
 not enough.

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.700
 Necessary,

00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.200
 good,

00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:58.819
 valuable,

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.440
 important.

00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.340
 Please come and hear

00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:00.700
 the preaching

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.360
 of God's Word.

00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.480
 But it's not enough.

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.740
 You have to be

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.400
 in this book.

00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.500
 If you spent

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.380
 all summer with us,

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:06.980
 the only thing

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.440
 you're going to hear

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.039
 about is the book

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.779
 of Colossians.

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:09.860
 Go study something

00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:11.480
 else as well.

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.120
 And I'm in no way

00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:15.080
 suggesting legalism

00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:15.620
 to you.

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.640
 You have to get up

00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.400
 at a certain time.

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.080
 You have to do

00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:18.840
 this many minutes

00:24:18.840 --> 00:24:19.400
 in the Bible,

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.140
 etc.

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:21.520
 But it ought to be

00:24:21.520 --> 00:24:22.280
 the meditation

00:24:22.280 --> 00:24:23.680
 of your life.

00:24:23.800 --> 00:24:24.200
 You ought to be

00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.700
 continually considering

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.420
 what it is

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.240
 the Word of God

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.940
 has to say

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.980
 to you.

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.020
 Psalm 1, 1, and 2.

00:24:31.800 --> 00:24:32.580
 Blessed is the man

00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.360
 who walks not

00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:33.840
 in the counsel

00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:34.320
 of the wicked,

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.880
 nor stands in the way

00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.380
 of sinners,

00:24:36.840 --> 00:24:38.259
 nor sits in the seat

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.620
 of scoffers.

00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.520
 Happy is the man

00:24:41.520 --> 00:24:42.720
 who's not this man,

00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.800
 but instead,

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.800
 verse 2,

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.259
 but his delight

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.240
 is in the law

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.920
 of the Lord.

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.519
 Not a labor for him,

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.640
 but his delight,

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.559
 his joy,

00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.519
 is to come

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:55.180
 to the fountainhead

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:56.539
 of God's truth

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.180
 and impact

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:57.880
 in our lives.

00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:58.740
 His delight

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.339
 is in the law

00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.039
 of the Lord,

00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.039
 and on his law,

00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.200
 he meditates

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:04.640
 day and night.

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.620
 I know very few people

00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:08.660
 who can meditate

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.200
 on the law

00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:09.700
 of the Lord

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.660
 day and night

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:12.019
 and not spend time

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.759
 reading it.

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.120
 I shouldn't even say

00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:14.500
 very few.

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:14.799
 I don't think

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.480
 I know anybody

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.000
 who could do

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.559
 such a thing.

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.619
 There are days

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.440
 that I don't

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.599
 open the Scripture

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.980
 for the study

00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.039
 of my own soul

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.160
 because there's

00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.660
 something that's

00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.339
 running around

00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:26.160
 inside my head

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.279
 from the day before.

00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:28.400
 Something I've learned.

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:28.940
 Something that's

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.619
 stuck with me

00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:30.140
 and I'm still

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.700
 in the process

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.500
 of meditating

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.920
 on that very thing.

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.640
 So it isn't to say

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.420
 that you've got to

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.440
 have your quiet time

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.740
 every single morning,

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.940
 but you need to

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.920
 if you want to have

00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:40.019
 a life that's fulfilling

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.079
 and beneficial

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:42.799
 and honors God.

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:43.880
 You need to be

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.299
 in the Scripture.

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.000
 Constantly.

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.339
 Constantly letting it

00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.160
 work through you.

00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.079
 So prayerfully

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.740
 read the text.

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.619
 It's a jewel,

00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:53.460
 a gift given to us.

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.400
 And prayerfully

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:54.980
 read the text

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.359
 in its context.

00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:58.079
 Both immediate

00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:58.779
 context

00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:00.079
 and broader context.

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.299
 And I'm saying this

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.940
 and I'm adding this

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:02.599
 phrase to the end

00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:02.980
 of this because

00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.599
 there are so many

00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.160
 people who spend

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.720
 lots of time

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.119
 in the Bible

00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:05.720
 and misunderstand

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.640
 it completely.

00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.339
 A very favorite

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:10.259
 verse of so many

00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.680
 people.

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.119
 And I hope I'm not

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.400
 squashing your

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:14.059
 favorite verse

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.779
 right now,

00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.480
 but it's Philippians

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.279
 4.13.

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.720
 I can do all things

00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.639
 through him

00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:21.119
 who strengthens me.

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.899
 Athletes love

00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:24.839
 Philippians 4.13.

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.539
 It seems that

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.579
 they believe that

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.700
 God's great concern

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.599
 is that they win

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.460
 games.

00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:32.059
 It's not.

00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:32.639
 It's not what

00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.579
 Paul's even talking

00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.339
 about at all.

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.399
 Does it include that

00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.099
 as a much lesser

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.500
 thing?

00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:37.419
 Yeah, sure.

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.720
 Can we do anything

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.339
 apart from Jesus?

00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:39.779
 No.

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:41.299
 There's some element,

00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.299
 some kernel of truth

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.240
 contained within there.

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.179
 But if we back up

00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:44.839
 just a little bit,

00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:45.399
 oh, I don't know,

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.119
 read the chapter

00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:48.099
 before we make this

00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:48.899
 our favorite verse.

00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.699
 Beginning in the

00:26:50.699 --> 00:26:51.699
 last half of verse

00:26:51.699 --> 00:26:53.379
 11, Paul says,

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.480
 I have learned in

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.480
 whatever situation

00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:57.379
 I am to be content.

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.359
 Verse 12,

00:26:58.459 --> 00:26:59.099
 I know how to be

00:26:59.099 --> 00:26:59.819
 brought low

00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:01.039
 and I know how to

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.679
 abound.

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.139
 And Paul's version

00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:03.599
 of abounding

00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.899
 is not our version

00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:05.299
 of abounding.

00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.500
 In any and every

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.139
 circumstance,

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.259
 I have learned

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:08.980
 the secret of

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.859
 facing plenty

00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:11.000
 and hunger,

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:13.519
 abundance and need.

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.659
 Paul is talking

00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:15.379
 about in the midst

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:16.419
 of his struggle

00:27:16.419 --> 00:27:17.039
 in advancing

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.200
 the kingdom of God,

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.220
 that he's able

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.039
 to walk through

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.019
 the trials

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.399
 as well as

00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.519
 the comfortable

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.539
 times because

00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.539
 he can do all things

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.399
 through Christ

00:27:26.399 --> 00:27:27.859
 who strengthens him.

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.480
 The context

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.200
 matters a lot

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.519
 for these verses.

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:32.980
 Another great

00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.359
 example in a broad

00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:35.000
 sense,

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.980
 to understand

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.099
 the scriptures,

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.140
 another favorite

00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:38.940
 of many peoples,

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:41.819
 Jeremiah 29.11.

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:43.960
 For I know the plans

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.680
 I have for you,

00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.579
 declares the Lord,

00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.079
 plans for welfare

00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:48.019
 and not for evil,

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:50.279
 to give you a future

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.460
 and a hope.

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.519
 You need to know

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.900
 the broader context

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.119
 of what's happening

00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:57.380
 and who the you is

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.740
 in this particular text.

00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.079
 God is making a promise

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:02.220
 to exiled Israel.

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.299
 Israel.

00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.299
 So,

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.960
 unless you're an Israelite

00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.900
 in Babylonian captivity,

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.500
 this promise

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.380
 is not for you.

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:10.799
 A lot of

00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.539
 health and wealth

00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.220
 is based

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:14.680
 on this verse.

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.339
 Right?

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.579
 Subversively,

00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:17.860
 subliminally,

00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:19.460
 based on this verse.

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.460
 Recently,

00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.579
 I went to a dance

00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.839
 recital for my niece

00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:24.100
 and the church building

00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:24.500
 that the dance

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.100
 recital was in.

00:28:25.219 --> 00:28:26.000
 Had this verse

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.000
 painted on the wall

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.099
 huge

00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:29.719
 when you first walked in.

00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:30.759
 And what it seems

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.740
 to communicate to people,

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.419
 the way people quote it

00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.099
 all the time,

00:28:34.639 --> 00:28:36.219
 is that God has

00:28:36.219 --> 00:28:38.859
 welfare plans

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.639
 for us.

00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:41.819
 Future and hope.

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:45.339
 It's not what the verse means.

00:28:45.439 --> 00:28:45.659
 Certainly,

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.959
 we can look at God's character.

00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.679
 We can go other places

00:28:48.679 --> 00:28:49.240
 in the Scripture

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:50.019
 to see that God

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:51.259
 has a great deal of care

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.439
 and compassion for us.

00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:53.539
 We can see that He has

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.960
 our good in mind,

00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:57.059
 but defined much differently

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.359
 than here.

00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:00.720
 Himself giving us Himself.

00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.579
 So you must prayerfully

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.680
 read the text

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:07.299
 in its context.

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:07.859
 And beloved,

00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.460
 you don't have to be

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.440
 brilliant to do this.

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.180
 You don't have to

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:13.379
 be a scholar

00:29:13.379 --> 00:29:14.460
 to be able to do

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.200
 this type of thing.

00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:17.019
 All of us are theologians.

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.759
 All of us can spend time

00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.619
 in the Scriptures

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.920
 prayerfully asking

00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:22.139
 that God would teach us

00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:22.980
 about Himself.

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:25.000
 that we might

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.720
 understand it better.

00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:28.279
 So firstly,

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.359
 prayerfully read the text

00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.119
 in its context.

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.460
 Second,

00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.700
 surround yourself

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:34.899
 with biblical teaching.

00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.920
 Surround yourself

00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.619
 with biblical teaching

00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.680
 with people

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.960
 and other ways

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.539
 that you can

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.480
 take in

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:42.019
 the truth of the Bible.

00:29:42.159 --> 00:29:42.680
 We have

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.579
 the most amazing,

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.980
 almost limitless resources

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.599
 at our fingertips

00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.819
 to be able to do this.

00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.859
 We have no excuse

00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:50.220
 for not knowing

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.980
 this book

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.240
 and knowing it

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:54.000
 very well.

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.400
 Be in fellowship

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.960
 with a church.

00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.140
 For us,

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.660
 show up to

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.980
 our congregational meetings

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.700
 like this morning.

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:01.920
 Be involved

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.059
 in a community outreach group

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:04.480
 where people study the Scripture

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.339
 and minister the Scripture

00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.000
 to one another.

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.920
 Get involved

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.740
 in some small group

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.400
 discipleship,

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.240
 meeting with people

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.420
 on an individual basis

00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.799
 or in small crews

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.620
 to talk about

00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.319
 the Scriptures

00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.279
 to be of encouragement

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.279
 to one another

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.259
 in that way.

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.099
 I have been told

00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:19.140
 that my preaching style

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:20.480
 tends to be a bit academic.

00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.279
 If you don't like that,

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:21.859
 I apologize.

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.779
 But part of the reason

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.279
 I do that

00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.039
 is because I want you

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:25.500
 to see how I arrive at things

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.099
 because I want you

00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:26.640
 to be able to do it

00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.079
 on your own.

00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:29.140
 I want you to need me.

00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:29.839
 Like you have to come

00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:30.700
 and I impart something

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.559
 to you every Sunday

00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.039
 and you just go,

00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:32.980
 oh, thank you.

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.720
 That was so good.

00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:34.579
 And then you try to

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.460
 nourish yourself

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.500
 throughout the week on it.

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.480
 I want you to understand

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.700
 how it is we come

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.180
 to the Scripture

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:40.220
 and understand the Scripture

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:41.299
 so that you can go

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.660
 and do it yourself.

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.599
 This fellowship

00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.740
 is really, really important

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:46.380
 to that end.

00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.140
 The church is a grace

00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.940
 given to us

00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.920
 to help us be founded

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.599
 in the truth.

00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.279
 Remember that Paul

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.839
 is writing to a church

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.799
 and the way in which

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.460
 they're meant to be

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.880
 functioning together.

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.940
 You remember in verse 2

00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.500
 that he talked about

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.700
 them being knit together

00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.960
 in love.

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:00.799
 That this seems to be

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:02.900
 important and conditional

00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:03.759
 for them coming

00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:05.059
 to a full assurance

00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:05.920
 of faith.

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.700
 And there are ways

00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:09.799
 to access the broader church.

00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.400
 Don't just come

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.660
 and hear my preaching.

00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:14.120
 I've not written any books

00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:14.759
 so you can't read

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.619
 anything I've written

00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:17.379
 but throughout history

00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:19.500
 brilliant scholars

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.279
 of the Scripture

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:22.259
 have written books

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.179
 for us to enjoy

00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:24.839
 that speak of the Scriptures.

00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:25.359
 And so,

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.719
 kind of prioritized

00:31:26.719 --> 00:31:27.439
 in this order,

00:31:27.959 --> 00:31:28.639
 be in fellowship.

00:31:29.459 --> 00:31:30.119
 Read books

00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:31.659
 that employ the Bible heavily,

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.319
 that tell you

00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:33.119
 what the Bible says,

00:31:33.179 --> 00:31:33.619
 that helps you

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.339
 pull it together

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.739
 thematically.

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:36.699
 Flip to the back

00:31:36.699 --> 00:31:37.019
 of a book

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:38.359
 and check the Scripture index.

00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.179
 If it has a good

00:31:39.179 --> 00:31:39.939
 Scripture index,

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.819
 it's probably,

00:31:40.979 --> 00:31:41.479
 not always,

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.479
 still need to be

00:31:42.479 --> 00:31:42.979
 discerning

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.880
 concerning the book,

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.700
 but probably

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.960
 a good book.

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.299
 If you want to read

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.819
 good books,

00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:49.160
 there's a lot of men

00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:49.980
 and women in this church

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.579
 you can ask

00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.839
 about good books.

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.019
 Read biography.

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:54.099
 Access the lives

00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:54.579
 of saints

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.860
 that have gone before.

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.140
 See these examples

00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:58.059
 of faithfulness,

00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.400
 the breadth

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.400
 of somebody's life

00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:00.860
 and the way

00:32:00.860 --> 00:32:01.400
 in which God

00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:01.819
 has worked

00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:02.480
 and moved through them.

00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.440
 It's always so nice

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.200
 in the midst

00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:05.360
 of your trouble

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:06.039
 and the way

00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.860
 the truth applies

00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.180
 to you

00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:08.519
 to step back up high

00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.200
 and look down

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.099
 at somebody's life

00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:10.859
 and see the way

00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:11.539
 in which God

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.740
 has been providential

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.679
 through it all.

00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:14.240
 Read.

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.619
 Take up and read

00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:17.319
 good books.

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.299
 Listen to sermons

00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:20.480
 beyond mine.

00:32:20.959 --> 00:32:21.719
 Man, we have a great

00:32:21.719 --> 00:32:22.819
 wealth of sermons.

00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:23.879
 You have so much

00:32:23.879 --> 00:32:24.959
 little bits of downtime

00:32:24.959 --> 00:32:26.199
 in your day.

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.799
 Driving in the car,

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:30.379
 waiting in the doctor's office.

00:32:31.219 --> 00:32:32.039
 John Piper,

00:32:32.219 --> 00:32:33.240
 it's a wonderful resource,

00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:34.539
 DesiringGod.org.

00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:36.439
 Decades of his preaching

00:32:36.439 --> 00:32:37.439
 recorded on there.

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.559
 Amazing project

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.400
 that they made available.

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.840
 John MacArthur,

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.840
 GraceToYou,

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.460
 GTY.org.

00:32:43.580 --> 00:32:45.340
 Also another wonderful one.

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:47.200
 Arturo Azzerdia,

00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:49.580
 SpiritEmpoweredPreaching.com.

00:32:49.620 --> 00:32:50.240
 He's my favorite,

00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.680
 so if you have

00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.519
 limited time,

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.460
 go check out

00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:55.180
 Pastor Art.

00:32:55.600 --> 00:32:56.620
 And more recently,

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.660
 Martin Lloyd-Jones,

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.600
 The Doctor,

00:33:00.080 --> 00:33:01.620
 MLJTrust.org

00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:02.279
 is a wonderful,

00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:03.440
 wonderful resource.

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.620
 Listen to podcasts.

00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:08.879
 Three that I listen to daily.

00:33:09.379 --> 00:33:10.539
 Five Minutes in Church History

00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.579
 by Stephen Nichols.

00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.339
 Ask Pastor John

00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:13.979
 by John Piper.

00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.459
 And The Briefing by Al Mohler.

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.119
 These things will help you

00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:19.879
 to have a resolute understanding

00:33:19.879 --> 00:33:22.539
 of who Christ is.

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:24.219
 This should be our activity,

00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:24.879
 beloved.

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:27.119
 You are a theologian

00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:28.339
 if you're a Christian.

00:33:28.879 --> 00:33:31.159
 You must understand God rightly.

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.599
 It matters for your life.

00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:35.619
 So, disciples must have

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:36.319
 a resolute understanding.

00:33:36.459 --> 00:33:37.480
 Secondly, disciples of Jesus

00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:40.099
 must walk in Him.

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:42.379
 Must walk in Him.

00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:47.980
 Verses 5, 6 and 7,

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:49.119
 I guess the first part of 7.

00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:50.639
 For though I am absent in the body,

00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:52.919
 yet I am with you in spirit,

00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:54.439
 rejoicing to see your good order

00:33:54.439 --> 00:33:56.179
 and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

00:33:56.939 --> 00:33:58.779
 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,

00:33:58.779 --> 00:34:00.719
 so walk in Him.

00:34:01.600 --> 00:34:02.680
 Rooted and built up in Him

00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.740
 and established in the faith

00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:06.100
 just as you were taught.

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:08.099
 Now, remember that Paul

00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:09.599
 has never seen these believers.

00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:11.599
 He's never been to this church.

00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.300
 And as far as we know,

00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:13.880
 he never did go there.

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.519
 And he says,

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.599
 as I'm absent in the body,

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.760
 I'm with you in spirit.

00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:18.740
 Just to say that I'm longing

00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:19.720
 to be there with you.

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:21.440
 I'd like to be there with you.

00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.639
 I'm considering you.

00:34:22.699 --> 00:34:23.440
 I'm praying for you.

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.559
 I'm writing to you now.

00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.519
 And he's rejoicing.

00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:28.460
 He's heard reports

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:31.159
 from Epaphras of their good order.

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.599
 The way in which

00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:35.000
 the Gospel is having effect in their life

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:36.500
 and that they are in fact

00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:38.800
 standing against some of these heresies.

00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:41.940
 There's a challenge to it.

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.440
 There's a tearing at the seams.

00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:45.159
 But yet, there's a firmness

00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:47.579
 of their faith in Christ.

00:34:47.740 --> 00:34:48.880
 And so Paul commends them

00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:49.780
 for their conduct.

00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:52.380
 Good order and the firmness

00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:53.500
 of their faith.

00:34:53.699 --> 00:34:54.880
 Proper learning,

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:56.900
 a resolute understanding

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:59.119
 yields proper living.

00:34:59.260 --> 00:35:01.039
 It's the necessary outcome

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.760
 of understanding

00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:04.559
 that we get it to the degree

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:06.000
 that we act on it.

00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:07.880
 That it's not just some thing

00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:08.980
 in modern terms

00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:10.079
 we call it philosophy,

00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:12.220
 but that it's a reality.

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:12.980
 It's a thing that

00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:14.360
 who Jesus is

00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:16.380
 causes us to turn

00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:17.099
 and to move

00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:17.760
 and to work

00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:19.480
 and to act.

00:35:20.640 --> 00:35:22.140
 A good example of this

00:35:22.140 --> 00:35:23.420
 is Romans 12.

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.599
 Verse 2

00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:27.000
 where Paul writes,

00:35:27.180 --> 00:35:28.460
 Do not be conformed

00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:29.539
 to this world,

00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:31.440
 but be transformed

00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.340
 by the renewal

00:35:32.340 --> 00:35:33.500
 of your mind,

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:35.840
 that by testing

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.780
 you may discern

00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:38.099
 what is the will of God,

00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:38.800
 what is good

00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:40.159
 and acceptable

00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:41.559
 and perfect.

00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:43.559
 So don't be like the world.

00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:45.019
 Be different.

00:35:45.139 --> 00:35:46.079
 Be changed

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:47.700
 from one degree to another

00:35:47.700 --> 00:35:49.760
 by the changing of your mind.

00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.980
 Resolute understanding.

00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:52.519
 Getting who God is

00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.400
 and how He functions

00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:54.139
 with you

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:55.960
 now that you're His child.

00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:58.139
 That by testing

00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:59.219
 you may discern.

00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.400
 And the word discern

00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:01.400
 here in the ESV

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:03.280
 is kind of a word

00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:04.199
 too weak,

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.380
 I think.

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.000
 It means,

00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:06.699
 some of your translations

00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.280
 may say,

00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:07.860
 approve

00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:09.699
 what is the will of God.

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:11.179
 Still,

00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:12.539
 maybe not quite there.

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:14.400
 The word carries with it

00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.119
 the meaning of

00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:16.579
 valuing.

00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.420
 Doing something

00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.320
 because you have

00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:20.219
 assessed it

00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:22.019
 and that you agree

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:23.039
 that it is the proper

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.679
 thing to do.

00:36:24.439 --> 00:36:26.119
 That you have looked

00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:26.679
 at something

00:36:26.679 --> 00:36:27.459
 and you've said,

00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:27.939
 yes,

00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:28.959
 because my mind

00:36:28.959 --> 00:36:30.139
 is being transformed,

00:36:30.459 --> 00:36:31.439
 I'm looking at this

00:36:31.439 --> 00:36:32.399
 thing in the world

00:36:32.399 --> 00:36:33.019
 and I'm seeing that

00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.599
 it is good

00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.139
 and right

00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.739
 and true.

00:36:34.939 --> 00:36:35.379
 It's a thing

00:36:35.379 --> 00:36:36.259
 that God treasures,

00:36:36.439 --> 00:36:37.579
 therefore I will

00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.759
 treasure it.

00:36:38.819 --> 00:36:39.239
 It's good

00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:39.919
 and it's acceptable

00:36:39.919 --> 00:36:41.599
 and it's perfect.

00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:43.579
 And this is the way

00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.139
 in which we're meant

00:36:44.139 --> 00:36:44.699
 to walk

00:36:44.699 --> 00:36:46.139
 in truth

00:36:46.139 --> 00:36:47.679
 under God.

00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:49.579
 Ephesians 4.18

00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:51.579
 It's an interesting

00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:52.519
 connection here

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:53.899
 that Paul makes.

00:36:54.399 --> 00:36:55.059
 I think I just realized

00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:55.799
 that every single

00:36:55.799 --> 00:36:56.419
 reference today

00:36:56.419 --> 00:36:57.279
 was written by Paul.

00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:59.179
 Ephesians 4.18

00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:00.480
 Paul says,

00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:01.319
 speaking of

00:37:01.319 --> 00:37:02.219
 those who are not

00:37:02.219 --> 00:37:02.779
 in the faith,

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:03.619
 unbelievers,

00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:05.219
 I hope categorically

00:37:05.219 --> 00:37:05.980
 different than who you

00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.599
 are this morning,

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:07.299
 it says,

00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:07.980
 they are

00:37:07.980 --> 00:37:09.379
 darkened in their

00:37:09.379 --> 00:37:10.139
 understanding,

00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:12.039
 alienated from the

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.779
 life of God

00:37:12.779 --> 00:37:13.359
 because of the

00:37:13.359 --> 00:37:13.799
 ignorance

00:37:13.799 --> 00:37:15.000
 that is in them

00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.940
 due

00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.719
 to their

00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:17.079
 hardness

00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:18.699
 of heart.

00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.380
 So it's an interesting

00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:21.299
 kind of phrasing

00:37:21.299 --> 00:37:21.860
 that he connects

00:37:21.860 --> 00:37:22.639
 on the end here.

00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:23.579
 Rather than just saying

00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.159
 they are darkened

00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:24.840
 in their understanding,

00:37:25.179 --> 00:37:25.920
 they don't understand

00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.559
 who God is

00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:26.920
 and how they're

00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:27.639
 meant to relate to Him

00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:28.420
 and therefore

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:29.099
 they're alienated

00:37:29.099 --> 00:37:29.960
 from the life of God

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:30.759
 because of this

00:37:30.759 --> 00:37:31.219
 ignorance

00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:32.199
 that is in them,

00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:33.199
 he takes it a step

00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:34.039
 further to say

00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:34.559
 it's due

00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:35.199
 to their

00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:35.779
 hardness

00:37:35.779 --> 00:37:37.000
 of heart.

00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.480
 And I just want

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.659
 to press to you

00:37:39.659 --> 00:37:40.400
 and say to you

00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:40.779
 again

00:37:40.779 --> 00:37:41.719
 that man is

00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:42.559
 dichotomous,

00:37:42.719 --> 00:37:43.460
 that our head

00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:43.980
 and our heart

00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:45.259
 are never divorced,

00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:46.659
 that the two

00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:47.960
 function together,

00:37:48.879 --> 00:37:49.420
 that these

00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:50.359
 people have

00:37:50.359 --> 00:37:51.059
 a hardness

00:37:51.059 --> 00:37:51.579
 of heart,

00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:52.399
 their emotions,

00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:54.559
 their desire

00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.519
 for the things

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:55.940
 of God

00:37:55.940 --> 00:37:56.339
 are turned

00:37:56.339 --> 00:37:57.379
 away from God

00:37:57.379 --> 00:37:58.000
 and therefore

00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:58.759
 they're darkened

00:37:58.759 --> 00:37:59.599
 in understanding.

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:00.759
 And for those

00:38:00.759 --> 00:38:01.199
 of us who have

00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:01.779
 been delivered

00:38:01.779 --> 00:38:02.519
 from that,

00:38:03.319 --> 00:38:04.199
 our affections

00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:04.619
 are turned

00:38:04.619 --> 00:38:05.719
 toward God

00:38:05.719 --> 00:38:06.379
 and therefore

00:38:06.379 --> 00:38:07.219
 our mind

00:38:07.219 --> 00:38:08.159
 should also be

00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:08.839
 as well.

00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:09.679
 We should desire

00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:10.480
 to know Him

00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:10.699
 more.

00:38:10.779 --> 00:38:11.339
 These two things

00:38:11.339 --> 00:38:12.179
 should be functioning

00:38:12.179 --> 00:38:13.119
 together,

00:38:13.279 --> 00:38:14.339
 kind of conduiting

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:16.260
 one from the

00:38:16.260 --> 00:38:16.500
 other.

00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:19.019
 So it's important

00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:20.059
 that we see

00:38:20.059 --> 00:38:20.420
 this,

00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:20.980
 that we see

00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:21.460
 that there should

00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:22.300
 be an outflow,

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:22.980
 an outcome

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.620
 of the way

00:38:23.620 --> 00:38:24.140
 in which we

00:38:24.140 --> 00:38:24.800
 think.

00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:26.140
 That there

00:38:26.140 --> 00:38:26.860
 shouldn't be

00:38:26.860 --> 00:38:27.940
 head without

00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:28.440
 heart or

00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:29.700
 heart without

00:38:29.700 --> 00:38:31.120
 head.

00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:32.640
 And so in

00:38:32.640 --> 00:38:33.180
 verse 6

00:38:33.180 --> 00:38:33.800
 He says to

00:38:33.800 --> 00:38:34.120
 them,

00:38:34.120 --> 00:38:35.380
 as you received

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:35.940
 Christ Jesus

00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:36.460
 the Lord,

00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:38.120
 so walk

00:38:38.120 --> 00:38:39.519
 in Him.

00:38:40.260 --> 00:38:40.760
 And there is

00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:41.800
 so very much

00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:42.260
 to be said

00:38:42.260 --> 00:38:42.900
 about walking

00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:44.320
 in Christ.

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.220
 This little

00:38:45.220 --> 00:38:46.080
 tiny phrase,

00:38:46.200 --> 00:38:47.280
 so walk

00:38:47.280 --> 00:38:48.480
 in Him.

00:38:48.780 --> 00:38:49.460
 We could

00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:50.000
 expound on

00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.400
 the entire

00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.880
 Christian experience

00:38:51.880 --> 00:38:52.720
 of what it

00:38:52.720 --> 00:38:52.980
 would mean

00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:53.500
 to walk

00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:54.580
 in Christ.

00:38:54.780 --> 00:38:55.360
 And I'm

00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:55.740
 not going

00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:56.019
 to go

00:38:56.019 --> 00:38:56.640
 there today.

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:56.980
 We don't

00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:57.500
 have time

00:38:57.500 --> 00:38:57.900
 for it,

00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:58.140
 or you

00:38:58.140 --> 00:38:58.500
 guys have

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:59.019
 the bandwidth

00:38:59.019 --> 00:38:59.960
 for it,

00:38:59.960 --> 00:39:00.380
 or myself,

00:39:00.680 --> 00:39:01.260
 but lest

00:39:01.260 --> 00:39:01.600
 you think

00:39:01.600 --> 00:39:02.400
 I'm neglecting

00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:02.780
 this,

00:39:02.940 --> 00:39:03.640
 the breadth

00:39:03.640 --> 00:39:04.019
 of that

00:39:04.019 --> 00:39:04.560
 phrase,

00:39:05.120 --> 00:39:05.800
 let me

00:39:05.800 --> 00:39:06.180
 assure you

00:39:06.180 --> 00:39:06.440
 that there's

00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:07.220
 much opportunity

00:39:07.220 --> 00:39:08.100
 to divulge

00:39:08.100 --> 00:39:08.940
 more concerning

00:39:08.940 --> 00:39:09.360
 this in the

00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:09.720
 rest of

00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:10.260
 chapter 2

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:11.140
 and chapter 3.

00:39:11.220 --> 00:39:11.440
 In fact,

00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:11.780
 that's what

00:39:11.780 --> 00:39:12.840
 Paul intends

00:39:12.840 --> 00:39:13.220
 to go

00:39:13.220 --> 00:39:14.820
 on to do.

00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:15.539
 In the coming

00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:15.920
 weeks,

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.240
 we'll look

00:39:16.240 --> 00:39:16.740
 more at

00:39:16.740 --> 00:39:17.000
 what it

00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:17.440
 looks like

00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:18.119
 to walk

00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:20.300
 in Christ.

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:21.940
 But here

00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:22.400
 it is,

00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:22.619
 and we

00:39:22.619 --> 00:39:22.820
 can't

00:39:22.820 --> 00:39:23.320
 possibly

00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:24.559
 overlook

00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:25.280
 it here

00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:25.500
 in its

00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:26.019
 immediate

00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:27.260
 context.

00:39:27.700 --> 00:39:28.119
 We have

00:39:28.119 --> 00:39:28.400
 to deal

00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:28.679
 with it.

00:39:28.700 --> 00:39:29.079
 He says,

00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.019
 therefore,

00:39:30.519 --> 00:39:30.920
 therefore,

00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:31.940
 because you

00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.460
 have received

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.480
 Christ and

00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:34.019
 have settled

00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.860
 convictions about

00:39:34.860 --> 00:39:35.500
 His deity and

00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:36.019
 sufficiency,

00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:37.300
 this is working

00:39:37.300 --> 00:39:38.760
 in your lives

00:39:38.760 --> 00:39:39.559
 for good

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:40.099
 order.

00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:41.079
 You've come

00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:41.360
 to this

00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:41.799
 resolute

00:39:41.799 --> 00:39:42.340
 understanding

00:39:42.340 --> 00:39:42.739
 and now

00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:43.279
 it's out

00:39:43.279 --> 00:39:43.659
 working.

00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.400
 He's saying

00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:45.819
 don't stop.

00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:47.559
 Just as you

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:48.579
 received Christ,

00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:50.079
 walk in Him.

00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:50.719
 Don't stop

00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:51.199
 doing the

00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:52.099
 thing that

00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:52.519
 you're doing.

00:39:52.619 --> 00:39:52.940
 I've heard

00:39:52.940 --> 00:39:53.139
 of your

00:39:53.139 --> 00:39:53.659
 good order.

00:39:53.739 --> 00:39:54.059
 I've heard

00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:54.299
 of your

00:39:54.299 --> 00:39:54.759
 firmness of

00:39:54.759 --> 00:39:55.000
 faith.

00:39:55.299 --> 00:39:55.819
 Don't

00:39:55.819 --> 00:39:56.940
 stop.

00:39:58.079 --> 00:39:58.380
 Walk

00:39:58.380 --> 00:39:59.179
 refers to

00:39:59.179 --> 00:40:00.059
 daily

00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:01.460
 conduct.

00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:02.480
 Continue

00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:03.340
 believing the

00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:04.840
 truth concerning

00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:05.440
 Christ.

00:40:05.639 --> 00:40:06.079
 Have an

00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:07.340
 unwavering

00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:08.720
 Christology and

00:40:08.720 --> 00:40:09.360
 have an

00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:10.579
 effect in

00:40:10.579 --> 00:40:11.460
 your life.

00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:11.840
 This is

00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:12.760
 specifically what

00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:13.220
 he's talking

00:40:13.220 --> 00:40:13.519
 about.

00:40:13.640 --> 00:40:14.360
 As he goes

00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:14.780
 on in the

00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:14.940
 letter,

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:15.280
 he talks

00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:15.800
 about how

00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:16.280
 that should

00:40:16.280 --> 00:40:16.740
 come out

00:40:16.740 --> 00:40:17.079
 of you

00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:17.940
 more

00:40:17.940 --> 00:40:18.940
 practically.

00:40:20.220 --> 00:40:20.660
 But in the

00:40:20.660 --> 00:40:21.019
 beginning of

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.519
 verse 7,

00:40:21.640 --> 00:40:22.140
 there are

00:40:22.140 --> 00:40:23.280
 three

00:40:23.280 --> 00:40:24.039
 participles

00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:25.519
 that elaborate

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.380
 on so walk

00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:26.860
 in Him.

00:40:27.140 --> 00:40:28.059
 This idea

00:40:28.059 --> 00:40:30.280
 rooted and

00:40:30.280 --> 00:40:31.019
 built up in

00:40:31.019 --> 00:40:32.400
 Him and

00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:33.140
 established in

00:40:33.140 --> 00:40:33.539
 the faith.

00:40:33.620 --> 00:40:33.940
 Those are the

00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:34.220
 three.

00:40:34.620 --> 00:40:35.180
 First part of

00:40:35.179 --> 00:40:35.619
 verse 7,

00:40:35.699 --> 00:40:36.539
 rooted and

00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:36.980
 built up in

00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.960
 Him and

00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:38.699
 established in

00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:39.519
 the faith.

00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:41.579
 The phrase

00:40:41.579 --> 00:40:41.859
 here,

00:40:42.019 --> 00:40:42.279
 rooted,

00:40:42.419 --> 00:40:42.599
 you have

00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:43.339
 been firmly

00:40:43.339 --> 00:40:45.000
 planted in

00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:45.599
 Christ.

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:47.019
 This took

00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:47.679
 place at your

00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:48.239
 salvation.

00:40:48.399 --> 00:40:48.759
 If you have

00:40:48.759 --> 00:40:49.619
 placed faith

00:40:49.619 --> 00:40:50.440
 in Him,

00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:51.579
 it's in the

00:40:51.579 --> 00:40:52.440
 perfect tense

00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:53.099
 which denotes

00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:53.519
 it is a

00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:54.819
 completed and

00:40:54.819 --> 00:40:56.319
 eternal work.

00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:57.699
 You have

00:40:57.699 --> 00:40:58.480
 power to

00:40:58.480 --> 00:40:58.960
 walk in

00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.299
 Him, to

00:40:59.299 --> 00:40:59.940
 be sustained

00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:00.259
 in the

00:41:00.259 --> 00:41:00.799
 truth because

00:41:00.799 --> 00:41:01.259
 you have

00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:02.239
 been rooted

00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:03.199
 in Him.

00:41:03.399 --> 00:41:03.799
 You've been

00:41:03.799 --> 00:41:05.159
 planted by

00:41:05.159 --> 00:41:06.099
 God.

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:07.500
 And you

00:41:07.500 --> 00:41:08.359
 are being

00:41:08.359 --> 00:41:09.420
 built up

00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:10.199
 in Him.

00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:11.619
 The present

00:41:11.619 --> 00:41:12.179
 tense here

00:41:12.179 --> 00:41:12.799
 indicates that

00:41:12.799 --> 00:41:13.119
 it is a

00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:13.940
 continuous action.

00:41:14.039 --> 00:41:14.319
 It is an

00:41:14.319 --> 00:41:15.239
 ongoing thing.

00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:16.079
 That God

00:41:16.079 --> 00:41:16.699
 is at work

00:41:16.699 --> 00:41:17.639
 building us

00:41:17.639 --> 00:41:18.399
 up in

00:41:18.399 --> 00:41:18.699
 Christ.

00:41:18.759 --> 00:41:19.019
 We've been

00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:19.460
 rooted in

00:41:19.460 --> 00:41:20.039
 Christ and

00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:20.359
 we're being

00:41:20.359 --> 00:41:20.940
 built up

00:41:20.940 --> 00:41:22.579
 in Christ.

00:41:23.379 --> 00:41:23.779
 And we

00:41:23.779 --> 00:41:24.099
 have been

00:41:24.099 --> 00:41:24.759
 established

00:41:24.759 --> 00:41:25.739
 in the

00:41:25.739 --> 00:41:26.199
 face.

00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:30.440
 The passive

00:41:30.440 --> 00:41:31.440
 voice denotes

00:41:31.440 --> 00:41:32.440
 that the

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.119
 establishing

00:41:33.119 --> 00:41:34.059
 happens outside

00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:34.599
 of us.

00:41:34.599 --> 00:41:35.739
 we have

00:41:35.739 --> 00:41:36.159
 been

00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:36.759
 established.

00:41:36.940 --> 00:41:37.159
 We have

00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:37.319
 not

00:41:37.319 --> 00:41:37.860
 established

00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:38.519
 ourselves,

00:41:38.759 --> 00:41:39.199
 but we

00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:39.960
 have been

00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:40.719
 established.

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:41.219
 And that

00:41:41.219 --> 00:41:41.900
 is that

00:41:41.900 --> 00:41:42.219
 it is

00:41:42.219 --> 00:41:43.360
 God who

00:41:43.360 --> 00:41:45.039
 does the

00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:45.519
 establishing.

00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:46.980
 It should be

00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:47.920
 of a great

00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:48.400
 deal of

00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:48.839
 encouragement

00:41:48.839 --> 00:41:49.880
 to us

00:41:49.880 --> 00:41:50.799
 as disciples

00:41:50.799 --> 00:41:51.159
 of Jesus

00:41:51.159 --> 00:41:51.799
 Christ must

00:41:51.799 --> 00:41:52.079
 have a

00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:52.460
 resolute

00:41:52.460 --> 00:41:53.119
 understanding,

00:41:53.739 --> 00:41:54.980
 must walk

00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:55.559
 in Him.

00:41:55.639 --> 00:41:56.460
 And lastly,

00:41:57.539 --> 00:41:57.960
 disciples of

00:41:57.960 --> 00:41:58.659
 Jesus Christ

00:41:58.659 --> 00:42:00.179
 must abound

00:42:00.179 --> 00:42:01.099
 in

00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:01.639
 thanksgiving.

00:42:02.199 --> 00:42:02.879
 The last

00:42:02.879 --> 00:42:03.199
 part of

00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:03.719
 verse 7,

00:42:03.859 --> 00:42:04.500
 abounding

00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:06.099
 in

00:42:06.099 --> 00:42:06.599
 thanksgiving.

00:42:07.139 --> 00:42:07.559
 This is

00:42:07.559 --> 00:42:08.819
 the fourth

00:42:08.819 --> 00:42:09.579
 participle

00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.980
 that explains

00:42:10.980 --> 00:42:11.519
 the walking

00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:12.139
 in Him.

00:42:13.099 --> 00:42:13.619
 And it

00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:14.339
 would seem,

00:42:14.460 --> 00:42:15.000
 the way the

00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:15.759
 Greek works,

00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:17.460
 get down and

00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.059
 start trying to

00:42:18.059 --> 00:42:18.779
 sentence diagram

00:42:18.779 --> 00:42:19.480
 this all out,

00:42:19.919 --> 00:42:20.559
 that it's a

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:21.379
 response to

00:42:21.379 --> 00:42:21.699
 the other

00:42:21.699 --> 00:42:22.259
 three

00:42:22.259 --> 00:42:23.259
 aforementioned

00:42:23.259 --> 00:42:23.259


00:42:23.260 --> 00:42:24.340
 participles.

00:42:24.820 --> 00:42:25.400
 Rooted and

00:42:25.400 --> 00:42:25.780
 built up in

00:42:25.780 --> 00:42:26.040
 Him and

00:42:26.040 --> 00:42:26.580
 established in

00:42:26.580 --> 00:42:27.000
 the faith

00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:28.700
 because of

00:42:28.700 --> 00:42:29.240
 these things

00:42:29.240 --> 00:42:30.040
 abounding

00:42:30.040 --> 00:42:31.020
 in

00:42:31.020 --> 00:42:32.140
 thanksgiving.

00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:33.280
 It kind of

00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:33.740
 seems on

00:42:33.740 --> 00:42:34.260
 first reading

00:42:34.260 --> 00:42:34.760
 to almost be

00:42:34.760 --> 00:42:35.480
 like an

00:42:35.480 --> 00:42:36.060
 afterthought.

00:42:36.220 --> 00:42:36.500
 Like Paul's

00:42:36.500 --> 00:42:36.780
 like, oh

00:42:36.780 --> 00:42:37.120
 yeah, yeah,

00:42:37.240 --> 00:42:37.580
 oh and be

00:42:37.580 --> 00:42:37.860
 thankful.

00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:38.260
 It's good,

00:42:38.360 --> 00:42:38.820
 important to

00:42:38.820 --> 00:42:39.880
 be thankful.

00:42:40.340 --> 00:42:40.680
 But it really

00:42:40.680 --> 00:42:41.080
 deserves a

00:42:41.080 --> 00:42:41.600
 closer look

00:42:41.600 --> 00:42:42.080
 because there's

00:42:42.080 --> 00:42:44.340
 a giving

00:42:44.340 --> 00:42:45.600
 thanks theme,

00:42:46.260 --> 00:42:47.180
 a theme of

00:42:47.180 --> 00:42:47.680
 thanksgiving

00:42:47.680 --> 00:42:48.700
 that develops

00:42:48.700 --> 00:42:49.400
 in the book

00:42:49.400 --> 00:42:50.180
 of Colossians.

00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:50.740
 Look quickly,

00:42:50.840 --> 00:42:51.420
 chapter 1,

00:42:51.740 --> 00:42:52.360
 verse 12.

00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:52.940
 You'll see it

00:42:52.940 --> 00:42:53.340
 there.

00:42:55.039 --> 00:42:55.679
 Here in

00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:56.599
 chapter 2,

00:42:56.639 --> 00:42:57.900
 verse 7.

00:42:58.800 --> 00:42:59.579
 And again,

00:42:59.920 --> 00:43:00.820
 in chapter 4,

00:43:01.019 --> 00:43:01.860
 verse 2.

00:43:01.940 --> 00:43:02.400
 I'll talk about

00:43:02.400 --> 00:43:03.000
 each of those

00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:04.220
 briefly.

00:43:04.920 --> 00:43:05.880
 But why is it

00:43:05.880 --> 00:43:06.420
 that Paul

00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:08.119
 finds thanksgiving

00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:08.579
 to be so

00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:09.000
 incredibly

00:43:09.000 --> 00:43:09.980
 important?

00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:11.800
 It seems to

00:43:11.800 --> 00:43:12.240
 be, what he

00:43:12.240 --> 00:43:12.559
 seems to be

00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:13.119
 presenting it

00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:14.280
 as, is a

00:43:14.280 --> 00:43:15.579
 weapon against

00:43:15.579 --> 00:43:16.340
 the very false

00:43:16.340 --> 00:43:17.019
 teaching that

00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:17.659
 he's addressing.

00:43:18.639 --> 00:43:18.960
 Thanksgiving

00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:19.940
 is a weapon,

00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:21.019
 an offensive

00:43:21.019 --> 00:43:22.300
 against

00:43:22.300 --> 00:43:24.260
 false teaching.

00:43:25.360 --> 00:43:26.060
 So how could

00:43:26.060 --> 00:43:26.940
 that be true?

00:43:27.080 --> 00:43:27.440
 Chapter 1,

00:43:27.500 --> 00:43:28.060
 verse 12.

00:43:29.060 --> 00:43:29.720
 Giving thanks is

00:43:29.720 --> 00:43:30.240
 the proper

00:43:30.240 --> 00:43:31.000
 response of

00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:31.280
 what has

00:43:31.280 --> 00:43:32.700
 proceeded in

00:43:32.700 --> 00:43:33.140
 chapter 9,

00:43:33.200 --> 00:43:33.760
 verse 11,

00:43:34.180 --> 00:43:34.539
 and what

00:43:34.539 --> 00:43:35.300
 follows in

00:43:35.300 --> 00:43:39.380
 verses 12-14.

00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:40.060
 Right?

00:43:40.160 --> 00:43:40.960
 The goodness

00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:42.019
 of God

00:43:42.019 --> 00:43:42.900
 to us,

00:43:43.800 --> 00:43:44.660
 the brevity

00:43:44.660 --> 00:43:45.080
 of it,

00:43:45.160 --> 00:43:45.760
 the breadth

00:43:45.760 --> 00:43:46.280
 of it,

00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:47.780
 in Christ.

00:43:48.260 --> 00:43:48.700
 How is it

00:43:48.699 --> 00:43:49.279
 God has

00:43:49.279 --> 00:43:50.239
 saved us

00:43:50.239 --> 00:43:50.719
 by the

00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:51.519
 work of

00:43:51.519 --> 00:43:51.919
 Christ?

00:43:52.119 --> 00:43:52.779
 And giving

00:43:52.779 --> 00:43:53.439
 thanks is

00:43:53.439 --> 00:43:54.219
 given as

00:43:54.219 --> 00:43:55.000
 this proper

00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:55.539
 and right

00:43:55.539 --> 00:43:56.519
 response to

00:43:56.519 --> 00:43:56.819
 that.

00:43:56.980 --> 00:43:57.279
 Again,

00:43:57.399 --> 00:43:57.699
 here in

00:43:57.699 --> 00:43:58.259
 2-7,

00:43:58.399 --> 00:43:59.000
 abounding in

00:43:59.000 --> 00:43:59.480
 thanksgiving

00:43:59.480 --> 00:43:59.779
 is the

00:43:59.779 --> 00:44:00.579
 proper response

00:44:00.579 --> 00:44:01.219
 of the

00:44:01.219 --> 00:44:01.599
 things that

00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:01.919
 have been

00:44:01.919 --> 00:44:03.279
 said previously,

00:44:03.439 --> 00:44:03.719
 rooted and

00:44:03.719 --> 00:44:04.159
 built up in

00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:04.299
 Him,

00:44:04.399 --> 00:44:04.919
 established in

00:44:04.919 --> 00:44:05.439
 the faith,

00:44:05.839 --> 00:44:06.559
 just as you

00:44:06.559 --> 00:44:07.819
 were taught.

00:44:08.239 --> 00:44:09.039
 Taught what?

00:44:09.739 --> 00:44:10.379
 The things

00:44:10.379 --> 00:44:10.619
 that we've

00:44:10.619 --> 00:44:10.960
 seen to be

00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:11.319
 true in

00:44:11.319 --> 00:44:11.939
 chapter 2,

00:44:12.099 --> 00:44:12.939
 2 and 3,

00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:13.460
 which I read

00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:13.859
 to you

00:44:13.859 --> 00:44:14.759
 previously.

00:44:15.480 --> 00:44:15.799
 Hearts

00:44:15.799 --> 00:44:16.339
 encouraged,

00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:17.079
 together in love,

00:44:17.079 --> 00:44:18.139
 to reach the

00:44:18.139 --> 00:44:19.179
 riches of

00:44:19.179 --> 00:44:20.019
 full assurance,

00:44:20.119 --> 00:44:20.940
 of understanding,

00:44:21.380 --> 00:44:21.719
 and the

00:44:21.719 --> 00:44:22.199
 knowledge of

00:44:22.199 --> 00:44:22.980
 God's mystery,

00:44:23.199 --> 00:44:23.659
 which is

00:44:23.659 --> 00:44:24.519
 Christ,

00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:25.519
 in whom are

00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:26.119
 hidden all the

00:44:26.119 --> 00:44:27.099
 treasures of

00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:28.380
 wisdom and

00:44:28.380 --> 00:44:28.920
 of knowledge.

00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:29.420
 So it's a

00:44:29.420 --> 00:44:30.659
 proper response

00:44:30.659 --> 00:44:31.539
 giving thanks

00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:32.860
 to who

00:44:32.860 --> 00:44:34.199
 Christ is

00:44:34.199 --> 00:44:34.699
 and who

00:44:34.699 --> 00:44:35.440
 He is

00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:36.819
 to us.

00:44:38.279 --> 00:44:38.779
 Being

00:44:38.779 --> 00:44:39.360
 thankful,

00:44:39.659 --> 00:44:39.940
 beloved,

00:44:40.819 --> 00:44:41.400
 is the

00:44:41.400 --> 00:44:42.819
 outworking

00:44:42.819 --> 00:44:43.380
 of,

00:44:43.900 --> 00:44:43.980
 the

00:44:43.980 --> 00:44:46.079
 grasping

00:44:46.079 --> 00:44:46.380
 of the

00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:47.000
 reality of

00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:47.400
 what Christ

00:44:47.400 --> 00:44:47.760
 has done

00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:48.059
 on our

00:44:48.059 --> 00:44:48.699
 behalf.

00:44:49.420 --> 00:44:50.239
 It gives

00:44:50.239 --> 00:44:51.079
 it wheels.

00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:52.360
 When our

00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:53.340
 hearts overflow

00:44:53.340 --> 00:44:54.000
 with

00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:54.800
 thankfulness,

00:44:54.820 --> 00:44:55.199
 it takes

00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:55.659
 it from

00:44:55.659 --> 00:44:56.780
 being high

00:44:56.780 --> 00:44:57.519
 and philosophical

00:44:57.519 --> 00:44:58.079
 to being

00:44:58.079 --> 00:44:58.920
 real to us

00:44:58.920 --> 00:44:59.440
 when we

00:44:59.440 --> 00:45:00.440
 respond to

00:45:00.440 --> 00:45:01.260
 it with

00:45:01.260 --> 00:45:02.340
 thanksgiving.

00:45:03.300 --> 00:45:03.539
 Being

00:45:03.539 --> 00:45:04.420
 thankful has

00:45:04.420 --> 00:45:05.880
 perspective

00:45:05.880 --> 00:45:06.639
 shifting

00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:07.659
 power.

00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:08.760
 Let me

00:45:08.760 --> 00:45:09.079
 give you

00:45:09.079 --> 00:45:09.559
 a very

00:45:09.559 --> 00:45:10.800
 obtuse

00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:11.639
 example of

00:45:11.639 --> 00:45:11.840
 this,

00:45:11.920 --> 00:45:12.159
 then I'll

00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:12.360
 give you

00:45:12.360 --> 00:45:12.820
 a spiritual

00:45:12.820 --> 00:45:13.719
 application

00:45:13.719 --> 00:45:14.340
 as well.

00:45:14.900 --> 00:45:15.340
 Yesterday,

00:45:15.619 --> 00:45:16.059
 I mowed

00:45:16.059 --> 00:45:16.500
 the grass

00:45:16.500 --> 00:45:16.759
 at our

00:45:16.759 --> 00:45:17.139
 house.

00:45:17.500 --> 00:45:18.139
 I really

00:45:18.139 --> 00:45:18.500
 hate

00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:18.739
 mowing

00:45:18.739 --> 00:45:19.199
 grass.

00:45:20.480 --> 00:45:21.139
 I would

00:45:21.139 --> 00:45:21.380
 love

00:45:21.380 --> 00:45:21.699
 someday

00:45:21.699 --> 00:45:22.239
 to pay

00:45:22.239 --> 00:45:22.519
 somebody

00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:22.820
 to mow

00:45:22.820 --> 00:45:23.320
 my grass

00:45:23.320 --> 00:45:23.940
 all the

00:45:23.940 --> 00:45:24.279
 time.

00:45:25.079 --> 00:45:25.699
 It was

00:45:25.699 --> 00:45:26.159
 hot out

00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:26.559
 yesterday.

00:45:27.400 --> 00:45:28.000
 I have

00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:28.420
 allergies,

00:45:28.539 --> 00:45:28.820
 so as soon

00:45:28.820 --> 00:45:29.179
 as I start

00:45:29.179 --> 00:45:29.619
 kicking up

00:45:29.619 --> 00:45:30.119
 the dust

00:45:30.119 --> 00:45:30.519
 and the

00:45:30.519 --> 00:45:32.360
 other weeds

00:45:32.360 --> 00:45:32.759
 and things

00:45:32.759 --> 00:45:33.019
 that are in

00:45:33.019 --> 00:45:33.460
 our yard,

00:45:33.900 --> 00:45:34.900
 I sneeze

00:45:34.900 --> 00:45:35.380
 a lot.

00:45:37.059 --> 00:45:37.639
 But I'm

00:45:37.639 --> 00:45:38.039
 out there

00:45:38.039 --> 00:45:38.259
 and I'm

00:45:38.259 --> 00:45:38.579
 cutting the

00:45:38.579 --> 00:45:39.039
 grass and

00:45:39.039 --> 00:45:39.559
 my mind's

00:45:39.559 --> 00:45:40.059
 beginning to

00:45:40.059 --> 00:45:40.599
 take this

00:45:40.599 --> 00:45:42.880
 grass and

00:45:42.880 --> 00:45:43.839
 kind of

00:45:43.839 --> 00:45:44.259
 an attitude

00:45:44.259 --> 00:45:44.860
 about it.

00:45:46.179 --> 00:45:46.380
 And I

00:45:46.380 --> 00:45:46.900
 was thinking

00:45:46.900 --> 00:45:49.099
 about this

00:45:49.099 --> 00:45:49.799
 text and

00:45:49.799 --> 00:45:50.019
 I was

00:45:50.019 --> 00:45:50.559
 thinking about

00:45:50.559 --> 00:45:51.059
 how it

00:45:51.059 --> 00:45:51.880
 is that

00:45:51.880 --> 00:45:52.480
 being

00:45:52.480 --> 00:45:53.139
 thankful

00:45:53.139 --> 00:45:54.420
 combats

00:45:54.420 --> 00:45:55.500
 lives.

00:45:56.860 --> 00:45:57.400
 So here

00:45:57.400 --> 00:45:57.799
 I am

00:45:57.799 --> 00:45:58.579
 beginning to

00:45:58.579 --> 00:45:59.420
 pick up

00:45:59.420 --> 00:45:59.799
 all of

00:45:59.799 --> 00:46:00.519
 these things

00:46:00.519 --> 00:46:00.920
 like it's

00:46:00.920 --> 00:46:01.259
 hot,

00:46:01.460 --> 00:46:01.839
 starting to

00:46:01.839 --> 00:46:02.579
 get damp

00:46:02.579 --> 00:46:03.000
 up here.

00:46:03.239 --> 00:46:03.539
 I couldn't

00:46:03.539 --> 00:46:04.360
 get my

00:46:04.360 --> 00:46:05.480
 earbud to

00:46:05.480 --> 00:46:05.880
 stay in my

00:46:05.880 --> 00:46:06.079
 ear.

00:46:06.159 --> 00:46:06.460
 Every time I

00:46:06.460 --> 00:46:06.699
 turned my

00:46:06.699 --> 00:46:06.819
 head,

00:46:06.880 --> 00:46:06.940
 it would

00:46:06.940 --> 00:46:07.299
 pop out

00:46:07.300 --> 00:46:07.460
 of my

00:46:07.460 --> 00:46:07.680
 ear and

00:46:07.680 --> 00:46:07.780
 I'd

00:46:07.780 --> 00:46:07.940
 have to

00:46:07.940 --> 00:46:08.200
 put the

00:46:08.200 --> 00:46:08.760
 music back

00:46:08.760 --> 00:46:09.080
 in my

00:46:09.080 --> 00:46:09.320
 ear.

00:46:10.220 --> 00:46:10.660
 It was

00:46:10.660 --> 00:46:11.080
 annoying,

00:46:11.200 --> 00:46:11.360
 I was

00:46:11.360 --> 00:46:11.860
 sneezing

00:46:11.860 --> 00:46:12.600
 a lot.

00:46:14.720 --> 00:46:15.019
 I'm

00:46:15.019 --> 00:46:15.560
 thinking about

00:46:15.560 --> 00:46:15.760
 being

00:46:15.760 --> 00:46:16.400
 thankful and

00:46:16.400 --> 00:46:16.820
 the power

00:46:16.820 --> 00:46:17.180
 of being

00:46:17.180 --> 00:46:18.440
 thankful and

00:46:18.440 --> 00:46:19.100
 all of a

00:46:19.100 --> 00:46:19.420
 sudden this

00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:20.720
 breeze just

00:46:20.720 --> 00:46:21.120
 blew through

00:46:21.120 --> 00:46:21.620
 our backyard

00:46:21.620 --> 00:46:22.120
 and it was

00:46:22.120 --> 00:46:22.740
 so nice and

00:46:22.740 --> 00:46:22.880
 cool,

00:46:22.940 --> 00:46:23.320
 it felt so

00:46:23.320 --> 00:46:23.840
 good and

00:46:23.840 --> 00:46:24.060
 I went,

00:46:24.240 --> 00:46:24.640
 it's actually

00:46:24.640 --> 00:46:24.960
 not that

00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:25.340
 hot out

00:46:25.340 --> 00:46:25.560
 here.

00:46:26.060 --> 00:46:26.580
 The cloud

00:46:26.580 --> 00:46:27.360
 covers out

00:46:27.360 --> 00:46:27.860
 and yesterday

00:46:27.860 --> 00:46:28.800
 got hot but

00:46:28.800 --> 00:46:29.180
 when I was

00:46:29.180 --> 00:46:29.460
 cutting the

00:46:29.460 --> 00:46:29.920
 grass it was

00:46:29.920 --> 00:46:30.880
 cloudy at

00:46:30.880 --> 00:46:31.680
 our house and

00:46:31.680 --> 00:46:32.000
 there was this

00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:32.640
 nice breeze.

00:46:32.720 --> 00:46:33.300
 I realized that

00:46:33.300 --> 00:46:33.740
 I just hadn't

00:46:33.740 --> 00:46:34.200
 noticed the

00:46:34.200 --> 00:46:34.920
 breeze before but

00:46:34.920 --> 00:46:35.260
 the breeze had

00:46:35.260 --> 00:46:35.580
 been blowing

00:46:35.580 --> 00:46:35.960
 the entire

00:46:35.960 --> 00:46:36.820
 time I

00:46:36.820 --> 00:46:37.640
 was out

00:46:37.640 --> 00:46:37.940
 there.

00:46:38.940 --> 00:46:39.440
 I began to

00:46:39.440 --> 00:46:39.840
 think about

00:46:39.840 --> 00:46:40.600
 how I'm

00:46:40.600 --> 00:46:40.960
 thankful that

00:46:40.960 --> 00:46:41.380
 I have a

00:46:41.380 --> 00:46:41.620
 yard.

00:46:42.520 --> 00:46:43.100
 We just

00:46:43.100 --> 00:46:43.580
 recently did

00:46:43.580 --> 00:46:43.860
 a bunch of

00:46:43.860 --> 00:46:44.320
 work on the

00:46:44.320 --> 00:46:44.780
 yard and

00:46:44.780 --> 00:46:45.540
 it went

00:46:45.540 --> 00:46:46.260
 well and

00:46:46.260 --> 00:46:46.980
 there's some

00:46:46.980 --> 00:46:47.440
 good and

00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:48.040
 some value

00:46:48.040 --> 00:46:48.600
 in having a

00:46:48.600 --> 00:46:49.440
 space to

00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:50.440
 enjoy in

00:46:50.440 --> 00:46:51.040
 that way and

00:46:51.040 --> 00:46:51.640
 suddenly my

00:46:51.640 --> 00:46:52.700
 mind shifted

00:46:52.700 --> 00:46:53.700
 doing the

00:46:53.700 --> 00:46:54.300
 exact same

00:46:54.300 --> 00:46:55.600
 activity and

00:46:55.600 --> 00:46:55.920
 my mind

00:46:55.920 --> 00:46:56.600
 shifted from

00:46:56.600 --> 00:46:57.380
 being grumbly

00:46:57.380 --> 00:46:58.000
 about it to

00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:00.040
 being happy,

00:47:00.760 --> 00:47:01.360
 happy that I

00:47:01.360 --> 00:47:01.880
 was cutting the

00:47:01.880 --> 00:47:02.220
 grass.

00:47:02.560 --> 00:47:03.100
 I have grass

00:47:03.100 --> 00:47:03.720
 to cut and

00:47:03.720 --> 00:47:04.140
 it's a nice

00:47:04.140 --> 00:47:05.120
 cool day and

00:47:05.119 --> 00:47:05.460
 God has been

00:47:05.460 --> 00:47:06.359
 good and

00:47:06.359 --> 00:47:06.819
 blessed me

00:47:06.819 --> 00:47:07.440
 with this

00:47:07.440 --> 00:47:07.799
 house.

00:47:08.579 --> 00:47:08.960
 So there's

00:47:08.960 --> 00:47:10.139
 this ability

00:47:10.139 --> 00:47:11.359
 to shift.

00:47:12.679 --> 00:47:13.420
 If you leave

00:47:13.420 --> 00:47:13.819
 here and I

00:47:13.819 --> 00:47:14.199
 hope that you

00:47:14.199 --> 00:47:14.719
 do and you

00:47:14.719 --> 00:47:15.239
 go with

00:47:15.239 --> 00:47:15.799
 people and

00:47:15.799 --> 00:47:16.159
 go have

00:47:16.159 --> 00:47:16.839
 food together,

00:47:17.500 --> 00:47:18.579
 some form of

00:47:18.579 --> 00:47:19.179
 fellowship,

00:47:19.480 --> 00:47:20.059
 I'd encourage you

00:47:20.059 --> 00:47:20.639
 to talk about

00:47:20.639 --> 00:47:21.079
 sermons.

00:47:21.799 --> 00:47:22.319
 If the first

00:47:22.319 --> 00:47:22.859
 thing you talk

00:47:22.859 --> 00:47:23.319
 about is how

00:47:23.319 --> 00:47:23.839
 long the

00:47:23.839 --> 00:47:24.380
 sermon was

00:47:24.380 --> 00:47:24.739
 today,

00:47:25.299 --> 00:47:26.319
 you're likely

00:47:26.319 --> 00:47:26.900
 not going to

00:47:26.900 --> 00:47:27.380
 say a whole

00:47:27.380 --> 00:47:27.980
 lot positive

00:47:27.980 --> 00:47:28.420
 about the

00:47:28.420 --> 00:47:29.559
 sermon beyond

00:47:29.559 --> 00:47:29.739
 that.

00:47:29.799 --> 00:47:29.980
 You say,

00:47:30.059 --> 00:47:30.259
 man,

00:47:30.359 --> 00:47:31.059
 Nathan preached

00:47:31.059 --> 00:47:31.679
 all the way

00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:32.239
 to noon,

00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:33.119
 which now I

00:47:33.119 --> 00:47:33.559
 have to,

00:47:33.659 --> 00:47:34.279
 to just make

00:47:34.280 --> 00:47:35.000
 the example

00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:36.560
 work well

00:47:36.560 --> 00:47:37.000
 for you.

00:47:39.060 --> 00:47:39.980
 What a long

00:47:39.980 --> 00:47:40.620
 sermon that

00:47:40.620 --> 00:47:41.100
 was.

00:47:41.940 --> 00:47:42.580
 Rather than

00:47:42.580 --> 00:47:43.180
 somebody breaks

00:47:43.180 --> 00:47:43.680
 the ice and

00:47:43.680 --> 00:47:44.000
 says,

00:47:44.160 --> 00:47:45.000
 isn't it good

00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:46.140
 that we have

00:47:46.140 --> 00:47:46.660
 the truth of

00:47:46.660 --> 00:47:46.980
 God,

00:47:47.180 --> 00:47:47.560
 that we can

00:47:47.560 --> 00:47:48.120
 sit it in our

00:47:48.120 --> 00:47:48.900
 laps and we

00:47:48.900 --> 00:47:49.480
 can listen to

00:47:49.480 --> 00:47:50.260
 it preached?

00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:51.400
 Whether I do a

00:47:51.400 --> 00:47:52.040
 good job or not,

00:47:52.120 --> 00:47:53.000
 I'm always very

00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:53.760
 hard on myself,

00:47:53.940 --> 00:47:55.280
 that someone this

00:47:55.280 --> 00:47:55.940
 week took the

00:47:55.940 --> 00:47:57.440
 time to try to

00:47:57.440 --> 00:47:58.519
 divulge to you

00:47:58.519 --> 00:47:59.780
 the truth contained

00:47:59.780 --> 00:48:00.620
 in the Scriptures.

00:48:00.620 --> 00:48:01.200
 You begin a

00:48:01.200 --> 00:48:01.960
 conversation like

00:48:01.960 --> 00:48:02.460
 that and it

00:48:02.460 --> 00:48:02.860
 changes.

00:48:02.960 --> 00:48:03.599
 The perspective

00:48:03.599 --> 00:48:04.159
 changes.

00:48:04.320 --> 00:48:04.579
 Yes,

00:48:04.679 --> 00:48:06.099
 God is good

00:48:06.099 --> 00:48:07.360
 to us.

00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:08.079
 Right?

00:48:08.340 --> 00:48:09.599
 It causes

00:48:09.599 --> 00:48:11.240
 cynicism,

00:48:11.480 --> 00:48:12.220
 which I am so

00:48:12.220 --> 00:48:12.840
 guilty of,

00:48:12.880 --> 00:48:13.460
 to flee.

00:48:14.519 --> 00:48:15.639
 It turns our

00:48:15.639 --> 00:48:16.199
 hearts.

00:48:16.599 --> 00:48:17.440
 It's the

00:48:17.440 --> 00:48:19.780
 outcome of

00:48:19.780 --> 00:48:20.860
 recognition of

00:48:20.860 --> 00:48:21.880
 how very good

00:48:21.880 --> 00:48:23.400
 God is to us.

00:48:23.440 --> 00:48:24.179
 And Paul places

00:48:24.179 --> 00:48:25.420
 it so strategically

00:48:25.420 --> 00:48:27.039
 in here as the

00:48:27.039 --> 00:48:28.460
 way in which we

00:48:28.460 --> 00:48:29.460
 turn our minds

00:48:29.460 --> 00:48:30.539
 from the lies

00:48:30.539 --> 00:48:31.099
 that the world

00:48:31.099 --> 00:48:31.800
 is telling us

00:48:31.800 --> 00:48:32.539
 to the truth

00:48:32.539 --> 00:48:33.679
 of God.

00:48:34.159 --> 00:48:34.460
 And just to

00:48:34.460 --> 00:48:35.920
 drive that home

00:48:35.920 --> 00:48:36.420
 for you,

00:48:37.000 --> 00:48:37.480
 chapter 4,

00:48:37.539 --> 00:48:37.960
 verse 2,

00:48:38.139 --> 00:48:38.720
 and this is it.

00:48:38.760 --> 00:48:39.000
 We're going to

00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:39.740
 wrap up here in

00:48:39.740 --> 00:48:40.179
 just a moment.

00:48:40.320 --> 00:48:40.760
 Chapter 4,

00:48:40.820 --> 00:48:41.220
 verse 2.

00:48:42.699 --> 00:48:43.539
 He says,

00:48:43.740 --> 00:48:45.159
 continue steadfastly

00:48:45.159 --> 00:48:45.699
 in prayer,

00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:48.280
 so persevere in

00:48:48.280 --> 00:48:48.760
 your prayer,

00:48:49.300 --> 00:48:50.699
 being watchful in

00:48:50.699 --> 00:48:52.220
 it with

00:48:52.220 --> 00:48:53.019
 thanksgiving.

00:48:53.420 --> 00:48:54.880
 Not and be

00:48:54.880 --> 00:48:55.800
 thankful or be

00:48:55.800 --> 00:48:56.599
 thankful in your

00:48:56.599 --> 00:48:57.179
 praying,

00:48:57.280 --> 00:48:58.480
 but be watchful in

00:48:58.480 --> 00:48:58.659
 it,

00:48:59.099 --> 00:48:59.539
 and the way

00:48:59.539 --> 00:48:59.800
 you're being

00:48:59.800 --> 00:49:00.440
 watchful is

00:49:00.440 --> 00:49:02.019
 with thanksgiving.

00:49:02.199 --> 00:49:03.119
 And why is that?

00:49:03.179 --> 00:49:04.519
 Because the

00:49:04.519 --> 00:49:05.199
 enemy does not

00:49:05.199 --> 00:49:06.400
 want us praying.

00:49:07.139 --> 00:49:07.820
 God's people

00:49:07.820 --> 00:49:08.539
 praying are a

00:49:08.539 --> 00:49:09.260
 dangerous thing

00:49:09.260 --> 00:49:09.780
 because God

00:49:09.780 --> 00:49:10.460
 uses the prayers

00:49:10.460 --> 00:49:10.920
 of his people

00:49:10.920 --> 00:49:11.440
 to accomplish

00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:12.019
 his will.

00:49:12.780 --> 00:49:13.300
 He doesn't

00:49:13.300 --> 00:49:14.099
 need us,

00:49:14.179 --> 00:49:15.280
 but he uses us

00:49:15.280 --> 00:49:16.320
 in that regard.

00:49:16.719 --> 00:49:17.400
 We're dangerous

00:49:17.400 --> 00:49:18.420
 when we get on

00:49:18.420 --> 00:49:18.820
 our knees.

00:49:19.119 --> 00:49:19.780
 John Piper said

00:49:19.780 --> 00:49:20.260
 it this way,

00:49:20.340 --> 00:49:21.199
 which I just love,

00:49:21.480 --> 00:49:22.240
 really appreciate.

00:49:22.679 --> 00:49:22.980
 He said,

00:49:23.059 --> 00:49:23.719
 when we pray,

00:49:23.860 --> 00:49:25.099
 we kneel in a

00:49:25.099 --> 00:49:26.139
 hornet's nest

00:49:26.139 --> 00:49:27.039
 of evil.

00:49:27.699 --> 00:49:28.000
 That,

00:49:28.000 --> 00:49:28.760
 that evil

00:49:28.760 --> 00:49:29.340
 pours out.

00:49:29.440 --> 00:49:29.639
 Have you,

00:49:29.719 --> 00:49:30.639
 have you not

00:49:30.639 --> 00:49:31.500
 experienced this

00:49:31.500 --> 00:49:31.980
 in your prayers?

00:49:32.039 --> 00:49:32.880
 You're so easily

00:49:32.880 --> 00:49:33.599
 distracted.

00:49:34.500 --> 00:49:36.099
 You buy lies

00:49:36.099 --> 00:49:36.860
 so readily.

00:49:37.159 --> 00:49:38.079
 The greatest lie

00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:38.719
 that I believe

00:49:38.719 --> 00:49:39.300
 is that God

00:49:39.300 --> 00:49:40.179
 doesn't hear my

00:49:40.179 --> 00:49:40.539
 prayers.

00:49:40.800 --> 00:49:41.280
 That my prayers

00:49:41.280 --> 00:49:42.000
 aren't worthy

00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:42.980
 to go up to

00:49:42.980 --> 00:49:43.300
 him.

00:49:43.500 --> 00:49:43.940
 And this is

00:49:43.940 --> 00:49:44.500
 something that's

00:49:44.500 --> 00:49:45.400
 told to me

00:49:45.400 --> 00:49:46.440
 by the enemy.

00:49:47.679 --> 00:49:48.239
 When the truth

00:49:48.239 --> 00:49:48.840
 of it is,

00:49:48.900 --> 00:49:50.059
 that I'm clothed

00:49:50.059 --> 00:49:50.739
 in Christ's

00:49:50.739 --> 00:49:51.179
 righteousness,

00:49:51.420 --> 00:49:51.980
 by myself,

00:49:52.079 --> 00:49:52.500
 they're certainly

00:49:52.500 --> 00:49:52.820
 not,

00:49:52.880 --> 00:49:53.360
 but because I'm

00:49:53.360 --> 00:49:54.059
 clothed in Christ's

00:49:54.059 --> 00:49:54.360
 righteousness,

00:49:54.639 --> 00:49:55.340
 when God sees

00:49:55.340 --> 00:49:55.559
 me,

00:49:55.639 --> 00:49:56.460
 he sees Christ.

00:49:56.460 --> 00:49:57.300
 And that Christ

00:49:57.300 --> 00:49:58.179
 is sitting at

00:49:58.179 --> 00:49:58.900
 his right hand

00:49:58.900 --> 00:49:59.500
 and he leans

00:49:59.500 --> 00:50:00.059
 over when I

00:50:00.059 --> 00:50:00.840
 pray and he

00:50:00.840 --> 00:50:01.079
 goes,

00:50:01.280 --> 00:50:01.960
 you should hear

00:50:01.960 --> 00:50:02.139
 this,

00:50:02.159 --> 00:50:02.720
 I've got him.

00:50:03.920 --> 00:50:05.800
 That my life

00:50:05.800 --> 00:50:06.980
 has been redeemed

00:50:06.980 --> 00:50:08.079
 and therefore

00:50:08.079 --> 00:50:08.720
 my prayers

00:50:08.720 --> 00:50:10.079
 are heard.

00:50:11.360 --> 00:50:11.659
 So,

00:50:11.960 --> 00:50:12.800
 thankfulness is

00:50:12.800 --> 00:50:13.460
 the way in

00:50:13.460 --> 00:50:14.780
 which we are

00:50:14.780 --> 00:50:15.659
 watchful.

00:50:15.900 --> 00:50:16.760
 That we can

00:50:16.760 --> 00:50:18.199
 rejoice in the

00:50:18.199 --> 00:50:18.880
 truth of the

00:50:18.880 --> 00:50:20.320
 gospel and

00:50:20.320 --> 00:50:21.760
 rightly pray

00:50:21.760 --> 00:50:22.579
 and not be

00:50:22.579 --> 00:50:23.840
 attacked by

00:50:23.840 --> 00:50:24.660
 these outside

00:50:24.660 --> 00:50:25.720
 influences

00:50:25.720 --> 00:50:26.600
 because it's

00:50:26.600 --> 00:50:27.120
 the outcome,

00:50:27.240 --> 00:50:27.440
 it's the

00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:28.100
 outflow of

00:50:28.100 --> 00:50:28.900
 our recognition

00:50:28.900 --> 00:50:29.860
 of God's

00:50:29.860 --> 00:50:30.320
 goodness to

00:50:30.320 --> 00:50:31.240
 us in

00:50:31.240 --> 00:50:31.539
 Christ.

00:50:31.660 --> 00:50:32.000
 I hope you're

00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:32.400
 seeing that

00:50:32.400 --> 00:50:32.860
 connection.

00:50:33.380 --> 00:50:33.800
 I'm not sure

00:50:33.800 --> 00:50:34.460
 my mind is

00:50:34.460 --> 00:50:35.220
 totally wrapped

00:50:35.220 --> 00:50:35.720
 it up yet,

00:50:35.860 --> 00:50:37.260
 but I'm

00:50:37.260 --> 00:50:37.559
 going to end

00:50:37.559 --> 00:50:38.240
 there because

00:50:38.240 --> 00:50:38.680
 it is now

00:50:38.680 --> 00:50:39.019
 noon.

00:50:41.000 --> 00:50:41.680
 And now my

00:50:41.680 --> 00:50:42.180
 example doesn't

00:50:42.180 --> 00:50:42.760
 work if I go

00:50:42.760 --> 00:50:43.400
 much further.

00:50:43.539 --> 00:50:43.860
 So let me

00:50:43.860 --> 00:50:45.260
 just conclude

00:50:45.260 --> 00:50:45.579
 this,

00:50:45.680 --> 00:50:45.840
 beloved.

00:50:45.940 --> 00:50:46.160
 If we're

00:50:46.160 --> 00:50:46.380
 going to

00:50:46.380 --> 00:50:46.740
 contend for

00:50:46.740 --> 00:50:47.019
 the truth,

00:50:47.059 --> 00:50:47.220
 if we're

00:50:47.220 --> 00:50:47.320
 going to

00:50:47.320 --> 00:50:47.840
 stand firm

00:50:47.840 --> 00:50:48.420
 in the

00:50:48.420 --> 00:50:48.680
 faith,

00:50:48.780 --> 00:50:49.100
 in the

00:50:49.100 --> 00:50:49.800
 midst of

00:50:49.800 --> 00:50:50.500
 a day

00:50:50.500 --> 00:50:51.420
 when the

00:50:51.420 --> 00:50:51.860
 truth is

00:50:51.860 --> 00:50:52.820
 being torn

00:50:52.820 --> 00:50:53.260
 asunder,

00:50:53.260 --> 00:50:53.940
 when the

00:50:53.940 --> 00:50:54.260
 truth is

00:50:54.260 --> 00:50:55.420
 being distorted,

00:50:55.780 --> 00:50:56.280
 the enemy

00:50:56.280 --> 00:50:57.020
 is certainly

00:50:57.020 --> 00:50:57.820
 at work

00:50:57.820 --> 00:50:58.700
 trying to

00:50:58.700 --> 00:50:59.000
 lead us

00:50:59.000 --> 00:50:59.320
 astray,

00:50:59.460 --> 00:50:59.960
 trying to

00:50:59.960 --> 00:51:00.460
 take us

00:51:00.460 --> 00:51:01.220
 captive,

00:51:01.760 --> 00:51:02.200
 we must

00:51:02.200 --> 00:51:02.520
 have a

00:51:02.520 --> 00:51:02.900
 resolute

00:51:02.900 --> 00:51:03.500
 understanding.

00:51:04.200 --> 00:51:04.580
 We must

00:51:04.580 --> 00:51:05.580
 walk in

00:51:05.580 --> 00:51:06.400
 Him,

00:51:06.820 --> 00:51:07.180
 Christ,

00:51:07.660 --> 00:51:08.100
 and we

00:51:08.100 --> 00:51:08.680
 must abound

00:51:08.680 --> 00:51:09.380
 in

00:51:09.380 --> 00:51:09.840
 thanksgiving.

00:51:10.260 --> 00:51:10.620
 Let's pray

00:51:10.620 --> 00:51:10.900
 together.