July 12, 2024
We Are Delivered
On Relentless Truth, John continues in Colossians and discusses the beauty of our delivery from sin, our redemption, and our purchase from sin by Jesus Christ.
The post We Are Delivered appeared first on Relentless Truth Ministries.
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Welcome to relentless truth with John Warren, the
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podcast that extracts truth from a wide range
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of topics.
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Revealing who God is, who we are and
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how we relate to each other. Now, here's
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John with this week's powerful and practical insights.
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Welcome to relentless truth. I'm John Warren. It's
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good to be with you again. Please like
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For that, a many in the Us, many
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So you can send along an email to
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I You can also go to our contact
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That describes our work. We do lots of
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work with Christian schools and other organizations around
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We're pleased to do that work. We consult
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on matters like debt
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negotiation
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on financing new real estate projects for Christian
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schools and other,
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organizations.
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So it's a it's a delight to do
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that work. Our your interest rate environment has
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changed
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fairly dramatically in in in recent months
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over the last couple of years even,
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but
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the economy still
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seems to be making, you know, decent acc
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sort of progress. We've talked about the economy
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many times on this podcast. That's not what
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going to do today. We're going to continue.
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God willing. We're going to continue our study
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of,
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We're And
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I'm excited about that study, but there have
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been a few events. I have something on
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my on my heart, deep deep on my
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heart to
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share with you,
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and it it just it just comes from
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a place of a very practical
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concern. III can connect it,
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with with scripture,
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a couple of a couple of different ways.
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And and,
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that is,
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our need in
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relationships
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to
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really, I wanna call it taking the next
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step.
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And I'm gonna tell you what I... What
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I mean by that. There there there's something
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I see in the apostle Paul in his
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ministry, and I know many of you are
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very learned and studied in scripture because I...
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I... You've told me that you listened into
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the podcast, and I know who you are.
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And I'm sure there are some who listened
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to podcast who who I don't have the
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pleasure of knowing who who have this knowledge,
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lots of biblical knowledge.
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1 of the things I noticed about the
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Apostle Paul's ministry. If it it 1 1
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thing that just jumps out in a study
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of Philippians, which we did a while back.
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Is that we are to imitate Paul as
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he imitate Christ. He said that in Romans
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as well. He says in lots of his
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epi
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And and he's he's not arrogant about that.
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He's very humble, and, you know, we talked
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about his greetings and talked about himself calling
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himself a slave.
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In the beginning of Philippians and calling his
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audience saints. So he's a humble guy, but
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encouraged us to imitate him. And if you
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notice
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unless I've missed it,
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you you never read Paul
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where he says, you know, you'll you'll never
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sort of hear him say, as you read.
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That that he he missed an opportunity
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to talk to someone
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about biblical things
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He talks about some regrets. He talks about
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some struggles, Romans thinking of Romans 7 right
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now.
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Oh, W man that I am.
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And I'm sure he had regrets and and
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mistakes.
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And and we've talked on this podcast about
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regrets in the context of our... Our study
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of Philippians where Paul talks about looking forward.
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I think that's really important doctrine.
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But but I wanna mention,
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just a hideous subject an awful 1.
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And I I really don't wanna talk about
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it,
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but I believe it's necessary to do so,
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and and that is suicide among Christians.
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It sad me that that I know about
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several
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cases of over the years of of Christian
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suicide. People
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even
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involved in ministry,
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and I'm not gonna name
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the names,
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but but 1 happened recently.
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And
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the the sudden death of a loved 1
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is awful. The sudden death of a friend
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is is awful.
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III
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don't think based on scripture, god expects us
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to be
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something other than human with respect.
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To to death. That the the sense of
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loss is
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is powerful is is real.
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But 1 thing that troubles me and and
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III don't think we have to be weird
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about this.
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But
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I bet most of you have had a
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conversation
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that goes something like this.
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I
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I wanted to tell you that
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but I thought it might
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blank.
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You know, III
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decided not to. It it would have been
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that next step, that next thing. They they...
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Maybe, I'll, I'll be just just really my
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optic and talk about my own teaching. I'll
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I'll have people who
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You say, you know, III was gonna
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make a really positive comment because your teaching
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has meant so much in my life.
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But I thought people would think I was
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grand standing or or or I I thought,
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you know, that probably wasn't the setting.
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When when when God would have used that
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to
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really bless me that,
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you know, it it would have told me
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all the preparation is worth it... These... This
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person and probably these people are getting it,
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biblical truth is being a spouse. We're making
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disciples. We're growing in god's grace.
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That feedback is just so valuable. I'm not
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solicit.
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Feedback for me in this conversation. I'm talking
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about a a larger topic,
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and that is saying the next thing.
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And sometimes in my case, saying the next
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thing
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is met with pride. They're gonna think I'm
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weird.
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They're not gonna like it. They're not gonna
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agree with me.
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They're gonna think I'm sucking up. They're gonna
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think that that's really simplistic.
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I really don't have time. They don't care
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about my opinion.
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They don't know me well enough.
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Well, when when there's loss, like like this
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suicide,
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We
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we we, you know, we lose all ability
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then obviously to communicate with the person.
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This particular 1 that just happened
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is a beloved pastor.
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And
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I don't know what was going on in
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his life. I don't know about his mental
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health.
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I I know 1 of his children from
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1 of my classes years ago,
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and
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I I know him by reputation,
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and his church was thriving.
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And I think his personal life was good
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from what I know, but I don't know.
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And
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I
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met him once or twice. Don't know him
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well. I don't
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personally have regrets in this particular
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situation except.
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God has used this to point me to
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this reality
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that we don't know what we're all going
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through,
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and we need to be more loving and
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gentle and tender with each other.
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I don't I don't know if anybody who
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wasn't,
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loving and gentle and tender with this pastor.
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I'm just saying that should characterize us
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as Christians,
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being right, especially
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on, you know, political issues and this Christian
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nationalism stuff is is driving me crazy
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if I'm candid.
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This taken a view that is extreme and
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trying to win clicks and is followers and
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it's just not something
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god willing I won't ever do it here.
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We're gonna talk about truth and continue to
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talk about truth and the the truth I
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I really just wanna get across is,
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let let's be gentle and loving with each
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other. I mean, let let's look for truth.
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In scripture.
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Scripture is absolutely true absolutely truth has a
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sharp edge to it doesn't it.
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But we don't have to stick it in
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the face of people who don't get it.
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You're not gonna win over a gay person
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who's in a gay relationship.
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You... You're not gonna win them over
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by by quoting Romans 1 and shoving it
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in their face probably.
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I mean, it's not a bad idea too
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if you're asked to you have a relationship
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and and, you know, you have credibility, you
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have standing with them.
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But but you're you're not you're not going
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to...
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If you they're not gonna hit themselves in
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the forehead and say, oh, then then what
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I'm doing is wrong.
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There... There's a way to be gentle and
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and loving.
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And with each other with just the people
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we go to church with that that, you
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know, we don't love them well enough. My
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wife does this really well and I wish
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I did it.
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She will hold the hands of her friends
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and look them right in the eyes and
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tell them that we're praying for them,
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and that she's praying for them, and she
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cares. She remembers the details.
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It embarrass me that I'll say, oh, what's
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going on with her and she'll say remember
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I told you this this and this. Oh,
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yeah.
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I do. And we prayed for her.
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Well, there's just beauty in Christian
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relationship. There's there's there's...
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Harsh nest too. There's a there's a a
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00:10:17,187 --> 00:10:19,425
jagged edge to it. It's it's not easy
280
00:10:19,425 --> 00:10:19,904
always,
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but it's so important take to take the
282
00:10:23,660 --> 00:10:24,140
next step.
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If God is prompting you or you're prompting
284
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you through your knowledge of truth
285
00:10:30,439 --> 00:10:32,268
to reach out to someone. I went to
286
00:10:32,268 --> 00:10:33,540
see a guy in our church named Dan
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00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:34,097
Hoffman,
288
00:10:34,669 --> 00:10:36,183
when he was in rehab, I think I
289
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mentioned him on 1 of these episodes a
290
00:10:37,696 --> 00:10:38,095
while back.
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And, you know, I actually thought about not
292
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going.
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I thought, well, you know, I don't know
294
00:10:43,285 --> 00:10:45,989
him too well, and he's gonna think it's
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awkward, and I I could just tell when
296
00:10:48,056 --> 00:10:49,329
I talk to him. He was starved.
297
00:10:50,219 --> 00:10:52,874
For for visitors. And and he's got relatives
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nearby, and he's he's loved by his family
299
00:10:55,964 --> 00:10:58,293
and and and all of that, but I
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went and visited with him, and I I
301
00:10:59,646 --> 00:11:01,078
think it did more for me than for
302
00:11:01,078 --> 00:11:03,148
him. I know many of you found that.
303
00:11:04,103 --> 00:11:06,172
I I did the next thing. I took
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the next step.
305
00:11:07,940 --> 00:11:09,940
And and wow was it a blessing. I
306
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could've stayed there all day with him.
307
00:11:12,339 --> 00:11:12,839
And
308
00:11:13,459 --> 00:11:15,539
it's just a dear sweet brother in Christ,
309
00:11:15,779 --> 00:11:16,279
who
310
00:11:16,754 --> 00:11:18,108
was going through just a little bit of
311
00:11:18,108 --> 00:11:18,768
a struggle
312
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from a health standpoint.
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So we we we just don't know what
314
00:11:23,606 --> 00:11:25,438
the other person is going through. And and
315
00:11:25,438 --> 00:11:26,076
more importantly,
316
00:11:27,047 --> 00:11:29,380
we we we don't know the
317
00:11:29,996 --> 00:11:31,293
the the impact
318
00:11:32,227 --> 00:11:32,727
of
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our
320
00:11:34,140 --> 00:11:35,911
relationship with other people. We... You have the
321
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ability to impact people. I... I'm not just
322
00:11:38,545 --> 00:11:40,461
talking about this in a suicide context.
323
00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:43,175
I... I'm just saying that reminds me they...
324
00:11:43,575 --> 00:11:44,807
With the the sudden
325
00:11:45,263 --> 00:11:45,763
of
326
00:11:46,537 --> 00:11:48,131
that that that death,
327
00:11:49,007 --> 00:11:51,318
it just reminds me that we are to
328
00:11:51,318 --> 00:11:54,041
be loving and caring and gracious. And gentle.
329
00:11:55,315 --> 00:11:56,031
Why wouldn't we?
330
00:11:56,907 --> 00:11:59,056
And and just realize and I'm I'm talking
331
00:11:59,056 --> 00:12:00,728
to me because I'm terrible at this.
332
00:12:01,698 --> 00:12:03,687
That it's pride that keeps us from reaching
333
00:12:03,687 --> 00:12:05,755
out from doing that from loving other people
334
00:12:05,755 --> 00:12:07,051
will. So
335
00:12:07,903 --> 00:12:08,514
that's our
336
00:12:09,826 --> 00:12:10,485
sort of
337
00:12:11,575 --> 00:12:14,460
issue of the day that has been heavy
338
00:12:14,516 --> 00:12:15,868
on on my heart.
339
00:12:16,838 --> 00:12:18,534
The rest of this becomes
340
00:12:20,824 --> 00:12:23,295
just an academic exercise if we don't live
341
00:12:23,295 --> 00:12:24,592
it out. If we aren't
342
00:12:24,983 --> 00:12:27,550
making disciples and following Christ
343
00:12:28,004 --> 00:12:29,833
and recognizing that we're in him,
344
00:12:30,469 --> 00:12:32,162
which is really the point of.
345
00:12:32,695 --> 00:12:35,179
So let's take a look today Let's just
346
00:12:35,179 --> 00:12:37,419
review for a moment. We've we've talked about
347
00:12:37,579 --> 00:12:38,059
Paul's
348
00:12:38,860 --> 00:12:40,620
introduction. We talked about the setting. He's in
349
00:12:40,620 --> 00:12:41,419
prison in Rome.
350
00:12:41,994 --> 00:12:43,668
As he writes this, we talked about the
351
00:12:43,668 --> 00:12:46,457
city of And their challenge. The theme of
352
00:12:46,457 --> 00:12:49,247
the letter is completeness in Christ, and we
353
00:12:49,247 --> 00:12:49,406
read.
354
00:12:50,058 --> 00:12:52,047
Versus 9 and following. And so from the
355
00:12:52,047 --> 00:12:54,274
day we heard, we've not ceased to pray
356
00:12:54,274 --> 00:12:56,875
for you asking that you may be filled
357
00:12:56,914 --> 00:12:58,581
with the knowledge and that word it is
358
00:12:58,581 --> 00:12:59,081
epi
359
00:12:59,454 --> 00:13:02,653
that's a strong knowledge, understanding, deep understanding
360
00:13:03,344 --> 00:13:03,844
intimate
361
00:13:04,217 --> 00:13:06,299
relationship. We said that root, but is the
362
00:13:06,299 --> 00:13:08,776
word used for a man knowing his wife,
363
00:13:10,055 --> 00:13:11,893
and and we've we've talked we've talked a
364
00:13:11,893 --> 00:13:14,371
lot about that with that word no or
365
00:13:14,371 --> 00:13:14,871
epi
366
00:13:15,664 --> 00:13:16,303
in this case.
367
00:13:16,941 --> 00:13:19,415
It's it's a stronger word with the prefix
368
00:13:19,495 --> 00:13:19,995
Epi
369
00:13:20,692 --> 00:13:23,246
that really means not just a casual knowing.
370
00:13:23,406 --> 00:13:25,576
That's a different it together. Idaho is the
371
00:13:25,736 --> 00:13:28,290
English translation of that word. That's I know
372
00:13:28,290 --> 00:13:30,605
this flower is red. I know that the
373
00:13:30,605 --> 00:13:32,362
grass is green. I know that,
374
00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:34,234
word I'm
375
00:13:34,612 --> 00:13:37,326
to do certain things today. That's just basic
376
00:13:37,326 --> 00:13:40,678
knowledge, but No is knowing with deep understanding
377
00:13:40,678 --> 00:13:41,417
and epi.
378
00:13:42,289 --> 00:13:44,761
Is is even stronger and and it it
379
00:13:44,761 --> 00:13:45,261
implies
380
00:13:45,958 --> 00:13:49,888
intimacy. Doesn't imply intimacy. It it confirms deep
381
00:13:50,265 --> 00:13:51,403
intimacy, relational
382
00:13:51,780 --> 00:13:51,860
intimacy.
383
00:13:52,591 --> 00:13:54,898
So so, yes, the academic knowledge is there.
384
00:13:55,136 --> 00:13:55,772
It's important,
385
00:13:56,568 --> 00:13:58,715
but don't don't go try to impress me
386
00:13:58,715 --> 00:13:59,987
or anybody else with your.
387
00:14:00,719 --> 00:14:03,297
Your your seminary knowledge. If you don't
388
00:14:03,676 --> 00:14:06,553
really have a relationship with Christ.
389
00:14:07,272 --> 00:14:08,411
Paul consistently
390
00:14:08,790 --> 00:14:12,495
talks about are being in Jesus Christ, our
391
00:14:12,632 --> 00:14:12,951
lord.
392
00:14:13,986 --> 00:14:14,704
So, anyway,
393
00:14:15,500 --> 00:14:17,572
filled with the knowledge of his will in
394
00:14:17,572 --> 00:14:18,926
all wisdom and understanding,
395
00:14:19,498 --> 00:14:21,245
So as to walk in a manner worthy
396
00:14:21,245 --> 00:14:24,817
of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing
397
00:14:24,817 --> 00:14:27,913
fruit in every good work and increasing.
398
00:14:28,644 --> 00:14:31,033
In the knowledge of God. We talked about
399
00:14:31,033 --> 00:14:32,627
the fruits of the spirit, love joy peace,
400
00:14:32,866 --> 00:14:33,662
patience, kindness,
401
00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:37,667
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control
402
00:14:38,217 --> 00:14:40,763
strengthened with all power according to his glorious
403
00:14:40,763 --> 00:14:44,581
might for all endurance and patience with joy,
404
00:14:45,790 --> 00:14:48,417
attributes that we don't usually put together endurance
405
00:14:48,417 --> 00:14:49,395
and patience
406
00:14:49,771 --> 00:14:52,000
with joy. I get so sick of hearing
407
00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:52,875
faster. Say, oh, don't.
408
00:14:53,606 --> 00:14:55,377
Pray for patience, God will give you a
409
00:14:55,433 --> 00:14:58,555
tribulation. Really, why does Paul long to see
410
00:14:58,770 --> 00:14:59,961
endurance patients with joy?
411
00:15:00,533 --> 00:15:03,099
Developed in people. Why is he calling developing
412
00:15:03,156 --> 00:15:04,212
patients a joyful
413
00:15:04,745 --> 00:15:06,017
activity. This is an imperative.
414
00:15:06,732 --> 00:15:08,402
This is AAAA
415
00:15:08,402 --> 00:15:08,902
requirement
416
00:15:11,204 --> 00:15:13,140
giving thanks to the father who has qualified
417
00:15:13,198 --> 00:15:15,054
you to share in
418
00:15:15,432 --> 00:15:17,346
the inheritance of the saints in light, He
419
00:15:17,346 --> 00:15:19,441
has delivered us from the domain of darkness
420
00:15:19,754 --> 00:15:21,508
and transferred us to the kingdom of his
421
00:15:21,508 --> 00:15:22,646
beloved son in whom
422
00:15:23,024 --> 00:15:26,054
we have redemption. There's a a definite article
423
00:15:26,054 --> 00:15:27,330
there. Let me read the rest of this
424
00:15:27,330 --> 00:15:29,738
verse 14. And whom we have redemption. The
425
00:15:29,738 --> 00:15:31,015
forgiveness of sins.
426
00:15:31,653 --> 00:15:34,626
This definite article really makes this mean
427
00:15:35,084 --> 00:15:36,541
released by payment or
428
00:15:36,853 --> 00:15:38,842
or ransom. And then he says that forgiveness
429
00:15:38,842 --> 00:15:42,103
of sins, that... That's to to to send
430
00:15:42,103 --> 00:15:43,240
away from something
431
00:15:44,027 --> 00:15:46,413
forgiveness to send away from sin in a
432
00:15:46,413 --> 00:15:46,652
sense,
433
00:15:47,526 --> 00:15:49,594
and that forgiveness of sins has the idea
434
00:15:49,594 --> 00:15:51,820
of that the word it sends is to
435
00:15:51,820 --> 00:15:54,384
to miss the mark, miss the missed the
436
00:15:54,384 --> 00:15:56,705
requirement. You've heard that before. In whom we
437
00:15:56,705 --> 00:15:58,725
have redemption that is the repurchase
438
00:15:59,105 --> 00:16:01,684
or released by payment of ransom. He's using
439
00:16:01,999 --> 00:16:04,557
language that the culture would have understand relative,
440
00:16:05,356 --> 00:16:08,473
understood relative to slavery. So then we have
441
00:16:08,473 --> 00:16:10,790
another paragraph or 2 that I wanna get
442
00:16:10,790 --> 00:16:13,442
to today or or 3, maybe,
443
00:16:14,162 --> 00:16:15,040
we'll see how we do.
444
00:16:16,079 --> 00:16:18,497
On the the pre of Christ and Paul's
445
00:16:18,636 --> 00:16:19,515
ministry to the church.
446
00:16:20,088 --> 00:16:22,710
First 15, he is the image of the
447
00:16:22,710 --> 00:16:25,253
invisible god. He's talking about Jesus Christ, the
448
00:16:25,253 --> 00:16:26,229
first firstborn
449
00:16:26,762 --> 00:16:27,739
of all
450
00:16:28,113 --> 00:16:28,351
creation.
451
00:16:28,923 --> 00:16:31,948
He's not saying Jesus Christ was born just
452
00:16:31,948 --> 00:16:32,903
before creation.
453
00:16:33,540 --> 00:16:34,995
He he he was
454
00:16:35,609 --> 00:16:37,121
beg forgotten. He was eternally,
455
00:16:38,649 --> 00:16:41,207
be gotten by the father any eternity past.
456
00:16:41,446 --> 00:16:43,364
I... Can I really articulate what that means?
457
00:16:43,924 --> 00:16:46,881
While he always existed. God has always existed
458
00:16:46,881 --> 00:16:47,620
in 3
459
00:16:48,173 --> 00:16:50,397
persons. But this idea being the first born
460
00:16:50,397 --> 00:16:52,542
of all creation is just it's just the
461
00:16:52,542 --> 00:16:54,869
first 1 born. It's but born before
462
00:16:55,497 --> 00:16:58,363
everyone else created before everyone else, it doesn't
463
00:16:58,363 --> 00:16:59,819
conflict with the doctrine
464
00:17:00,194 --> 00:17:03,061
that he has always been throughout all eternity.
465
00:17:03,553 --> 00:17:06,098
For by him, all things were created in
466
00:17:06,098 --> 00:17:08,961
heaven and on earth visible and invisible, whether
467
00:17:08,961 --> 00:17:11,586
thrones or dominion or rulers or authorities.
468
00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:14,551
All things were created through him and for
469
00:17:14,551 --> 00:17:16,944
him that is Jesus Christ. We need to
470
00:17:16,944 --> 00:17:19,757
think of him as as creator, he is
471
00:17:19,975 --> 00:17:21,033
the creator.
472
00:17:22,301 --> 00:17:23,018
God the sun.
473
00:17:23,893 --> 00:17:25,826
So... And he is before
474
00:17:26,201 --> 00:17:29,169
all things and in him all things hold
475
00:17:29,226 --> 00:17:31,942
together, that that hold together the idea of
476
00:17:31,942 --> 00:17:33,132
he's he's a sustain.
477
00:17:33,688 --> 00:17:35,038
It... They're they're preserved.
478
00:17:35,673 --> 00:17:37,205
All all things are held
479
00:17:37,975 --> 00:17:38,293
together.
480
00:17:38,943 --> 00:17:39,739
Isn't that beautiful.
481
00:17:41,092 --> 00:17:42,308
And he is the head
482
00:17:42,683 --> 00:17:44,434
of the body that is the authority,
483
00:17:45,150 --> 00:17:45,628
the church...
484
00:17:46,838 --> 00:17:49,390
So the church is the body of Christ
485
00:17:49,390 --> 00:17:51,703
and Christ is the head of the body.
486
00:17:51,942 --> 00:17:55,053
He's he is the beginning, the first born
487
00:17:55,053 --> 00:17:55,952
from the dead
488
00:17:56,344 --> 00:17:57,321
that in everything,
489
00:17:57,696 --> 00:17:59,151
he might be preeminent.
490
00:18:00,003 --> 00:18:01,378
That that's not a wish
491
00:18:02,787 --> 00:18:05,431
that that that's that's that's a statement that
492
00:18:05,431 --> 00:18:07,126
that he would be preeminent
493
00:18:07,741 --> 00:18:10,052
to to have the first place is the
494
00:18:10,052 --> 00:18:13,038
idea there. For in him, all the fullness
495
00:18:13,176 --> 00:18:14,872
of god, that is the total
496
00:18:15,329 --> 00:18:16,706
essence of deity
497
00:18:17,163 --> 00:18:18,141
was pleased
498
00:18:18,598 --> 00:18:19,156
to dwell.
499
00:18:20,047 --> 00:18:22,986
That dwelling is is his his will, his
500
00:18:22,986 --> 00:18:26,323
plan. God's, god's will dwell, all the fullness
501
00:18:26,323 --> 00:18:28,151
of God, all of his attributes his will,
502
00:18:28,564 --> 00:18:29,064
everything
503
00:18:29,439 --> 00:18:32,565
about God, his essence, his nature dwell
504
00:18:32,940 --> 00:18:34,793
in Jesus Christ
505
00:18:35,248 --> 00:18:37,339
that in everything he might be
506
00:18:37,889 --> 00:18:38,389
preeminent
507
00:18:38,690 --> 00:18:39,190
verse
508
00:18:39,809 --> 00:18:40,369
18 says,
509
00:18:41,329 --> 00:18:42,690
That is that he might...
510
00:18:43,409 --> 00:18:45,509
This idea is if total
511
00:18:46,049 --> 00:18:48,379
reconciliation, with with Christ that we're reading here.
512
00:18:48,937 --> 00:18:51,728
That in everything he might be preeminent might
513
00:18:51,728 --> 00:18:52,228
have
514
00:18:52,606 --> 00:18:55,477
first place. He is above all else for
515
00:18:55,477 --> 00:18:57,490
in him, all the fullness of God was
516
00:18:57,490 --> 00:18:59,089
pleased to dwell and through and through him
517
00:18:59,089 --> 00:19:01,730
to reconcile himself to all things. That that
518
00:19:01,730 --> 00:19:02,230
is
519
00:19:02,609 --> 00:19:05,344
that is to change completely to reconcile to
520
00:19:05,344 --> 00:19:06,383
himself, all things,
521
00:19:08,140 --> 00:19:09,200
whether on earth
522
00:19:09,579 --> 00:19:10,398
or in heaven
523
00:19:11,656 --> 00:19:12,636
making peace
524
00:19:13,269 --> 00:19:14,867
by the blood of his cross.
525
00:19:17,505 --> 00:19:20,301
Isn't that beautiful, making peace by the blood
526
00:19:20,301 --> 00:19:21,920
of his crust. You know, I just read
527
00:19:22,234 --> 00:19:23,670
I'm I'm trying to read the psalms a
528
00:19:23,670 --> 00:19:25,823
little bit now. And III just read psalm
529
00:19:25,823 --> 00:19:28,158
4. So I just started this this week
530
00:19:28,375 --> 00:19:30,130
and said the last first of that psalm,
531
00:19:30,609 --> 00:19:31,566
which is verse 8.
532
00:19:32,219 --> 00:19:33,095
Says in peace,
533
00:19:33,652 --> 00:19:36,359
I will both lie down and sleep for
534
00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:37,634
you alone, o Lord,
535
00:19:38,350 --> 00:19:40,421
make me dwell in safety.
536
00:19:41,311 --> 00:19:44,174
Our Lord is above all things we can
537
00:19:44,174 --> 00:19:46,741
rest in him, making peace
538
00:19:47,116 --> 00:19:49,819
by the blood of his cross. There couldn't
539
00:19:49,819 --> 00:19:50,319
be
540
00:19:50,789 --> 00:19:52,376
a greater j position.
541
00:19:53,170 --> 00:19:55,948
You mean Paul that you're telling us that
542
00:19:55,948 --> 00:19:58,988
this violent horrible death on across
543
00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,651
a made peace was used by Jesus Christ
544
00:20:02,651 --> 00:20:06,166
our Lord to reconcile us to God to
545
00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:06,986
make peace
546
00:20:07,619 --> 00:20:09,694
in spite of all the sin that you've
547
00:20:09,694 --> 00:20:12,168
talked about that you had already written about
548
00:20:12,168 --> 00:20:14,483
in Romans 3. They're being non righteous, no
549
00:20:14,483 --> 00:20:16,653
not 1 for all of sin, and come
550
00:20:16,653 --> 00:20:18,409
short of the glory of God no 1
551
00:20:18,409 --> 00:20:20,165
seeks after god, our throats are an open
552
00:20:20,165 --> 00:20:20,565
grave.
553
00:20:23,358 --> 00:20:24,156
Goes on and on.
554
00:20:25,209 --> 00:20:26,982
There's none righteous, no
555
00:20:27,517 --> 00:20:28,789
not 1 and yet.
556
00:20:29,903 --> 00:20:31,677
Jesus Christ has made peace
557
00:20:32,132 --> 00:20:33,882
by the blood of his Christ in the
558
00:20:34,615 --> 00:20:36,055
by the blood of his cross. I'm sorry.
559
00:20:36,535 --> 00:20:38,375
I... I was jumping ahead with my eyes
560
00:20:38,375 --> 00:20:40,154
here looking at versus 21
561
00:20:40,695 --> 00:20:41,654
through 23.
562
00:20:42,548 --> 00:20:44,166
This is this is the
563
00:20:44,624 --> 00:20:45,523
reconciliation for
564
00:20:45,981 --> 00:20:48,636
for all believers. Listen to this. And you
565
00:20:48,934 --> 00:20:51,421
who once were alienate and has... Style in
566
00:20:51,421 --> 00:20:54,064
mind, doing evil deeds that that makes us
567
00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:54,993
hostile to god.
568
00:20:55,628 --> 00:20:56,684
He has now
569
00:20:57,216 --> 00:20:57,716
reconciled
570
00:20:58,645 --> 00:21:00,326
style that isn't that beautiful?
571
00:21:01,278 --> 00:21:03,659
Given us right standing in his body of
572
00:21:03,659 --> 00:21:05,484
flash by his death in order to present
573
00:21:05,484 --> 00:21:09,025
you wholly and blame and above rep approach
574
00:21:09,721 --> 00:21:12,431
before him. If indeed, you continue in the
575
00:21:12,431 --> 00:21:13,706
faith stable and steadfast,
576
00:21:14,358 --> 00:21:16,111
not shifting from the hope of the gospel
577
00:21:16,111 --> 00:21:18,660
that you heard, which has been proclaimed in
578
00:21:18,660 --> 00:21:21,210
all creation under heaven, and of which I
579
00:21:21,210 --> 00:21:23,361
paul became a minister. So Paul is saying,
580
00:21:24,013 --> 00:21:26,321
I am a minister of the gospel.
581
00:21:26,878 --> 00:21:28,231
I'll listen to this. He says in verse
582
00:21:28,231 --> 00:21:31,039
24. Now I rejoice in my suffering.
583
00:21:31,669 --> 00:21:33,369
For your sake. Paul's a prisoner
584
00:21:33,750 --> 00:21:35,269
under house arrest in rome.
585
00:21:36,789 --> 00:21:38,809
I rejoice in my suffering
586
00:21:39,365 --> 00:21:41,125
So if we're gonna imitate Paul, that's what
587
00:21:41,125 --> 00:21:41,845
we need to do.
588
00:21:42,565 --> 00:21:44,325
Alright, This is Apr pro for me at
589
00:21:44,325 --> 00:21:46,644
this moment, I've got some back problems making
590
00:21:46,644 --> 00:21:47,144
pain
591
00:21:47,457 --> 00:21:49,679
shoot down my leg, never had that before
592
00:21:49,679 --> 00:21:50,551
that I can recall,
593
00:21:51,345 --> 00:21:51,662
and
594
00:21:52,218 --> 00:21:53,408
I had to go see a neuro surgeon
595
00:21:53,646 --> 00:21:55,074
Getting a second opinion tomorrow.
596
00:21:55,724 --> 00:21:57,241
And and Paul's talking about a different kinds
597
00:21:57,241 --> 00:21:58,757
of kind of suffering. He's talking about suffering
598
00:21:58,757 --> 00:22:00,354
for the sake of the gospel, but any
599
00:22:00,354 --> 00:22:02,588
suffering that we do is is a picture
600
00:22:02,588 --> 00:22:06,190
of reminds us of our our our limitations,
601
00:22:06,428 --> 00:22:09,294
our our, we we should rejoice in our
602
00:22:09,294 --> 00:22:12,000
suffering and Paul is saying, I'm suffering for
603
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:13,671
your sake, the first century church.
604
00:22:14,403 --> 00:22:15,999
The first century church at C.
605
00:22:17,036 --> 00:22:19,428
And and in my flesh, I'm filling up
606
00:22:19,428 --> 00:22:22,539
what is lacking in Christ's a friction for
607
00:22:22,539 --> 00:22:23,576
the sake of his body.
608
00:22:24,229 --> 00:22:25,688
That is the church
609
00:22:26,067 --> 00:22:28,884
of which I became a minister,
610
00:22:29,822 --> 00:22:31,020
according to the stewardship,
611
00:22:32,232 --> 00:22:34,299
from God that was given to me for
612
00:22:34,299 --> 00:22:36,843
you. He became 1 a minister to grow
613
00:22:36,843 --> 00:22:40,420
their their spiritual condition and to the stewardship
614
00:22:40,420 --> 00:22:43,219
from God that was given me for you.
615
00:22:43,378 --> 00:22:45,129
You, you know what a Steward is. The
616
00:22:45,129 --> 00:22:47,199
person responsible for somebody else's assets.
617
00:22:47,915 --> 00:22:50,484
There's a stewardship duty that we all have
618
00:22:51,034 --> 00:22:52,473
And the third thing he says from god
619
00:22:52,473 --> 00:22:54,231
that was given me to you to make
620
00:22:54,231 --> 00:22:55,290
the word of God
621
00:22:55,670 --> 00:22:56,629
fully known.
622
00:22:57,668 --> 00:22:59,985
So Paul knew, not only he a administer
623
00:22:59,985 --> 00:23:00,545
of the gospel.
624
00:23:01,039 --> 00:23:02,476
He had a stewardship requirement,
625
00:23:03,035 --> 00:23:05,110
and and to to make the word of
626
00:23:05,190 --> 00:23:05,690
God
627
00:23:06,068 --> 00:23:07,686
fully known. He's a Steward
628
00:23:08,144 --> 00:23:09,841
to make the word of God
629
00:23:10,313 --> 00:23:10,791
fully known.
630
00:23:11,507 --> 00:23:14,052
Can can you just imagine reading this?
631
00:23:15,166 --> 00:23:16,541
Paul is talking about
632
00:23:17,409 --> 00:23:17,909
how
633
00:23:18,288 --> 00:23:19,108
he is
634
00:23:19,806 --> 00:23:23,002
he is filling up his in his flesh,
635
00:23:23,641 --> 00:23:24,461
he's suffering
636
00:23:25,333 --> 00:23:27,239
for the sake of Christ,
637
00:23:27,953 --> 00:23:29,700
for the sake of his body, that is
638
00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:30,359
the church
639
00:23:30,733 --> 00:23:32,877
of which he became a minister according to
640
00:23:32,877 --> 00:23:34,147
stewardship from God that was given to me.
641
00:23:34,639 --> 00:23:36,494
For you to make the word of God
642
00:23:36,872 --> 00:23:38,567
fully known the mystery hidden
643
00:23:38,944 --> 00:23:41,735
for ages and generations, but now revealed to
644
00:23:41,735 --> 00:23:42,213
his saints.
645
00:23:43,504 --> 00:23:45,662
That that is that Jews and gentile would
646
00:23:45,662 --> 00:23:48,139
become 1 in Christ. That is the mystery.
647
00:23:48,858 --> 00:23:50,476
The efficacy of the cross
648
00:23:51,095 --> 00:23:51,549
justification
649
00:23:51,907 --> 00:23:53,736
by faith, in no uncertain terms.
650
00:23:54,849 --> 00:23:58,028
Due to the death, burial and resurrection,
651
00:23:58,664 --> 00:23:59,164
and
652
00:23:59,871 --> 00:24:02,174
of Jesus Christ and his ascension he sits
653
00:24:02,174 --> 00:24:04,342
today at the right hand, the father, making
654
00:24:04,398 --> 00:24:06,702
inter session for us. To them God chose
655
00:24:06,702 --> 00:24:08,608
to make known how great among the gentile.
656
00:24:09,259 --> 00:24:11,276
Are the riches of the glory of this
657
00:24:11,494 --> 00:24:11,893
mystery,
658
00:24:12,452 --> 00:24:14,846
which is christ in you, the hope of
659
00:24:14,846 --> 00:24:15,166
glory,
660
00:24:15,804 --> 00:24:16,922
him were y pro claim.
661
00:24:18,292 --> 00:24:19,326
Warning everyone.
662
00:24:19,961 --> 00:24:21,074
So so there's a negative,
663
00:24:21,631 --> 00:24:26,400
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom.
664
00:24:27,369 --> 00:24:29,941
That we may present everyone mature
665
00:24:30,476 --> 00:24:32,150
in Christ for this I toil,
666
00:24:32,947 --> 00:24:36,169
struggling with all its energy, all his energy
667
00:24:36,465 --> 00:24:37,522
that he powerfully
668
00:24:38,136 --> 00:24:41,239
works within me. That is Paul is saying,
669
00:24:41,716 --> 00:24:43,250
I know that I labor
670
00:24:44,198 --> 00:24:45,095
because of Christ's
671
00:24:46,186 --> 00:24:46,664
enable.
672
00:24:47,300 --> 00:24:49,392
Isn't that beautiful for this I toil
673
00:24:49,767 --> 00:24:50,983
struggling with all
674
00:24:51,294 --> 00:24:51,794
his
675
00:24:52,411 --> 00:24:55,363
energy that he powerfully works in me. Paul
676
00:24:55,363 --> 00:24:58,096
struggles, but Christ gives him his
677
00:24:58,728 --> 00:25:01,277
energy that is our our intimacy with Christ.
678
00:25:01,676 --> 00:25:03,986
He equip us. Are we to work hard?
679
00:25:04,464 --> 00:25:04,783
Yes.
680
00:25:05,913 --> 00:25:07,979
I I don't like those expressions let go
681
00:25:07,979 --> 00:25:08,614
and let God.
682
00:25:09,568 --> 00:25:12,270
No. We are to work hard at this.
683
00:25:13,238 --> 00:25:15,307
We are to keep the commandments.
684
00:25:16,022 --> 00:25:16,920
Where to care
685
00:25:17,295 --> 00:25:17,795
about
686
00:25:18,250 --> 00:25:19,284
good moral living.
687
00:25:20,254 --> 00:25:21,210
But it is Christ,
688
00:25:21,767 --> 00:25:22,586
who powerfully
689
00:25:23,042 --> 00:25:26,569
works within us as we engage in gospel
690
00:25:26,786 --> 00:25:29,746
ministry. I see it over and over and
691
00:25:29,746 --> 00:25:31,815
over. I'll come out of a teaching session
692
00:25:31,815 --> 00:25:34,224
where I've prepared well and realize,
693
00:25:34,934 --> 00:25:37,725
Wow. The beauty of that truth did not
694
00:25:37,725 --> 00:25:41,097
occur to me. God clearly enabled me
695
00:25:41,474 --> 00:25:43,968
to to to see this truth and to
696
00:25:44,026 --> 00:25:45,475
communicate it. It clearly.
697
00:25:46,748 --> 00:25:46,987
Well,
698
00:25:47,783 --> 00:25:50,988
that's just a a beautiful section
699
00:25:51,363 --> 00:25:55,199
of of scripture. It is the end of
700
00:25:55,199 --> 00:25:56,893
chapter 1 of c.
701
00:25:58,065 --> 00:26:00,294
But but Paul is driving home this point
702
00:26:00,294 --> 00:26:02,068
that he rejoice in his suffering
703
00:26:02,618 --> 00:26:05,165
for their sake. If you just keep in
704
00:26:05,165 --> 00:26:06,995
mind where Paul is. He's under house arrest,
705
00:26:07,154 --> 00:26:08,984
He has to pay to rent the house,
706
00:26:09,382 --> 00:26:11,712
and he's chained to a pre guard
707
00:26:12,023 --> 00:26:13,535
So for him to say that he rejoice
708
00:26:13,535 --> 00:26:15,706
in his suffering. He has, he is joy
709
00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,548
in his suffering. He he's already said that
710
00:26:18,548 --> 00:26:19,048
that
711
00:26:19,839 --> 00:26:21,937
he he doesn't have a problem with that
712
00:26:22,316 --> 00:26:22,816
apparent
713
00:26:23,194 --> 00:26:23,434
contradiction.
714
00:26:24,233 --> 00:26:25,452
That that joy
715
00:26:25,831 --> 00:26:29,109
is rich, deep. Abiding joy. It's not pleading
716
00:26:29,109 --> 00:26:31,729
happiness. It's not just tolerable for a bit.
717
00:26:31,888 --> 00:26:34,429
It is deep joy that only comes from
718
00:26:34,429 --> 00:26:35,779
our Lord Jesus Christ.
719
00:26:36,588 --> 00:26:38,967
And and he's glad that he has become
720
00:26:38,967 --> 00:26:39,625
a minister
721
00:26:40,394 --> 00:26:41,291
according to
722
00:26:42,059 --> 00:26:42,559
the
723
00:26:42,932 --> 00:26:45,672
stewardship from God. That is... To grow their
724
00:26:45,890 --> 00:26:48,364
spiritual condition that was given to me for
725
00:26:48,364 --> 00:26:50,141
you to make the word of God
726
00:26:50,518 --> 00:26:51,556
fully known.
727
00:26:52,288 --> 00:26:52,788
So
728
00:26:53,163 --> 00:26:55,867
Paul says I have a duty, and I
729
00:26:55,867 --> 00:26:56,186
understand it.
730
00:26:57,061 --> 00:26:58,572
And then he says to them,
731
00:26:59,144 --> 00:27:01,305
God chose to make known how great among
732
00:27:01,305 --> 00:27:03,384
the gentile are the riches of his the
733
00:27:03,384 --> 00:27:05,065
glory of his mystery, which is Christ in
734
00:27:05,065 --> 00:27:05,224
you.
735
00:27:06,597 --> 00:27:07,870
The hope of glory.
736
00:27:08,506 --> 00:27:09,404
Paul had battled
737
00:27:09,858 --> 00:27:10,358
the
738
00:27:11,131 --> 00:27:12,983
Jewish leaders. He he battled
739
00:27:13,374 --> 00:27:14,092
the no,
740
00:27:14,491 --> 00:27:17,123
the... These cerebral thinkers who thought they had
741
00:27:17,123 --> 00:27:19,356
special dis compensation, special information.
742
00:27:20,393 --> 00:27:21,132
He battled
743
00:27:21,828 --> 00:27:24,976
the J who who did not believe that
744
00:27:25,114 --> 00:27:26,651
Jesus Christ our Lord
745
00:27:27,029 --> 00:27:29,661
was the messiah. They did they did not
746
00:27:29,661 --> 00:27:30,161
believe
747
00:27:30,633 --> 00:27:31,133
in
748
00:27:31,746 --> 00:27:34,393
justification by faith. They held on to
749
00:27:35,404 --> 00:27:37,495
compliance with the law and even the ceremonial
750
00:27:37,551 --> 00:27:41,386
law and wanted to ci sized profess believers
751
00:27:41,386 --> 00:27:42,262
who were gentile.
752
00:27:43,058 --> 00:27:45,765
And and and they pursued Paul aggressively. They
753
00:27:45,765 --> 00:27:46,402
wanted to kill him.
754
00:27:47,134 --> 00:27:50,023
They they thought this justification by faith was
755
00:27:50,161 --> 00:27:50,958
a heresy.
756
00:27:51,595 --> 00:27:53,427
If you think about it in Roman culture,
757
00:27:54,317 --> 00:27:56,459
It's a lot like where we are today.
758
00:27:56,617 --> 00:27:57,887
I'm not 1 of those who says, yeah.
759
00:27:58,045 --> 00:27:59,156
Look at the Roman empire and what happened.
760
00:27:59,314 --> 00:28:00,663
That's gonna happen to the United States. I.
761
00:28:01,059 --> 00:28:03,144
I think that that's that I mean, that
762
00:28:03,144 --> 00:28:06,345
may be true, but I I think IIII
763
00:28:06,345 --> 00:28:08,025
think some of the some of the underlying
764
00:28:08,025 --> 00:28:09,384
concepts there are helpful.
765
00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:11,795
But I'm not sure that we're gonna fall
766
00:28:11,795 --> 00:28:14,110
like, the Roman empire did, we might. I'm
767
00:28:14,110 --> 00:28:16,504
not saying we're not going to. But but
768
00:28:16,584 --> 00:28:18,601
I am saying that the culture in Rome
769
00:28:18,993 --> 00:28:21,617
rejected Christianity. In fact, the true, if I
770
00:28:21,617 --> 00:28:23,049
can say it this way, people who would
771
00:28:23,049 --> 00:28:25,196
have been acknowledged as religious people. What did
772
00:28:25,196 --> 00:28:26,388
they do? They worship idol?
773
00:28:27,199 --> 00:28:29,505
In remember, the Christians were a narrow kind
774
00:28:29,505 --> 00:28:31,334
of a cult thing to them, kind of
775
00:28:31,334 --> 00:28:32,311
a counter cultural
776
00:28:32,924 --> 00:28:35,151
thing. The the tolerance of rome.
777
00:28:35,882 --> 00:28:38,827
Was incredible. They tolerated 1 of everything over
778
00:28:38,827 --> 00:28:39,486
a hundred
779
00:28:39,941 --> 00:28:40,339
idol.
780
00:28:40,976 --> 00:28:41,476
They
781
00:28:41,851 --> 00:28:43,443
they they had... I mean, if you look
782
00:28:43,443 --> 00:28:45,009
at the people who battled paul
783
00:28:45,688 --> 00:28:46,087
ideological.
784
00:28:46,645 --> 00:28:49,300
Paul is setting the record straight
785
00:28:49,757 --> 00:28:52,684
with the facts with ideological facts with
786
00:28:53,204 --> 00:28:57,060
theological facts that are absolutely true from scripture
787
00:28:57,199 --> 00:28:59,436
and and Paul often is quoting scripture if
788
00:28:59,436 --> 00:29:00,475
you look at his letters.
789
00:29:01,529 --> 00:29:04,565
The these truths are beautiful and deep, and
790
00:29:04,565 --> 00:29:05,843
and Paul is saying, look.
791
00:29:06,482 --> 00:29:09,293
Now we know this mystery this was hidden
792
00:29:09,293 --> 00:29:12,247
for ages and generations is now revealed to
793
00:29:12,247 --> 00:29:14,561
the saints in Jesus Christ. That's what he's
794
00:29:14,561 --> 00:29:17,675
talking about. And and isn't that just beautiful?
795
00:29:17,929 --> 00:29:19,700
And he's explaining it. So
796
00:29:20,074 --> 00:29:22,696
clearly, but he's getting post. He's he's riding
797
00:29:22,696 --> 00:29:24,286
under house or arrest chained to a guard,
798
00:29:24,445 --> 00:29:26,047
but but when he when he does his
799
00:29:26,047 --> 00:29:28,186
sal mutations and and it kinda wraps up
800
00:29:28,424 --> 00:29:31,357
Philippians isn't that beautiful the way Caesar... Caesar's
801
00:29:31,357 --> 00:29:32,149
household greet you.
802
00:29:32,799 --> 00:29:35,037
Well, when he made Caesar's household, great. What
803
00:29:35,037 --> 00:29:35,836
are you doing with Caesar?
804
00:29:36,555 --> 00:29:38,793
Well, clearly, the guards had come to know
805
00:29:38,953 --> 00:29:40,871
Christ. And, I mean, lots of people did
806
00:29:40,871 --> 00:29:41,270
apparently?
807
00:29:42,084 --> 00:29:45,509
In Rome, under Paul's ministry, while under house
808
00:29:45,509 --> 00:29:47,580
arrest, which couldn't have been a pleasant thing,
809
00:29:47,739 --> 00:29:48,239
but
810
00:29:48,695 --> 00:29:51,497
wow, all this truth they heard imagine hearing
811
00:29:51,656 --> 00:29:53,088
Paul pray 24 7.
812
00:29:53,963 --> 00:29:55,077
Imagine what that was like.
813
00:29:56,031 --> 00:29:58,075
So he's thankful, even
814
00:29:58,514 --> 00:30:00,034
in his suffering.
815
00:30:00,514 --> 00:30:01,894
He knows the role
816
00:30:02,194 --> 00:30:03,575
that suffering plays
817
00:30:04,034 --> 00:30:05,394
in in our lives.
818
00:30:05,968 --> 00:30:09,655
Well, thank you and for ind this lesson
819
00:30:09,792 --> 00:30:10,611
and my
820
00:30:11,465 --> 00:30:13,855
discussion about doing the next thing. I hope
821
00:30:13,855 --> 00:30:14,912
you will do
822
00:30:15,304 --> 00:30:17,316
the next thing. When you look at Paul's
823
00:30:17,533 --> 00:30:20,001
ministry, he took the next step, didn't he?
824
00:30:20,798 --> 00:30:22,549
He didn't say, well, you know, I thought
825
00:30:22,549 --> 00:30:24,316
about doing it, but then thought maybe they'll
826
00:30:24,316 --> 00:30:26,307
throw rocks at me or. They might not
827
00:30:26,307 --> 00:30:28,059
respect me as my know. I'm not exactly
828
00:30:28,059 --> 00:30:29,413
like the rest of the culture and what
829
00:30:29,572 --> 00:30:31,722
I'm teaching is is is not gonna be
830
00:30:31,722 --> 00:30:34,366
met with with warmth by everyone. My goodness,
831
00:30:34,605 --> 00:30:36,039
I serve on board and we try to
832
00:30:36,039 --> 00:30:36,539
engineer
833
00:30:36,915 --> 00:30:37,734
communication sometimes
834
00:30:38,110 --> 00:30:39,783
to all of our constituents and we try
835
00:30:39,783 --> 00:30:41,797
to be so careful that we don't offend
836
00:30:42,109 --> 00:30:43,308
and and and we try to get it
837
00:30:43,308 --> 00:30:45,225
right. But, you know, you know what, Paul
838
00:30:45,225 --> 00:30:47,303
encourages me in, and I want to do
839
00:30:47,303 --> 00:30:49,140
this more and more. I wanna tell the
840
00:30:49,140 --> 00:30:49,300
truth,
841
00:30:50,192 --> 00:30:51,965
I wanna tell the truth with a biblical
842
00:30:52,022 --> 00:30:52,522
worldview
843
00:30:52,976 --> 00:30:53,295
clearly.
844
00:30:53,931 --> 00:30:56,238
I wanna communicate it lovingly and gently,
845
00:30:56,716 --> 00:30:58,466
but clearly, Don't wanna be afraid to stand.
846
00:30:59,119 --> 00:31:01,756
I don't want to be a people please
847
00:31:01,756 --> 00:31:02,815
who is afraid
848
00:31:03,194 --> 00:31:04,952
to stand, and I know many of you
849
00:31:04,952 --> 00:31:06,790
live that way as well.
850
00:31:07,364 --> 00:31:10,401
Well, we we grieve at the loss of
851
00:31:10,401 --> 00:31:12,499
a pastor, like the 1 that I mentioned
852
00:31:13,038 --> 00:31:14,956
earlier out of respect for his family and
853
00:31:14,956 --> 00:31:15,755
their church family,
854
00:31:16,408 --> 00:31:17,363
I'm I'm not gonna,
855
00:31:18,477 --> 00:31:19,670
name him over the church.
856
00:31:20,386 --> 00:31:22,614
But but please pray for them. This is,
857
00:31:23,984 --> 00:31:26,224
it's a a beautiful opportunity that we have
858
00:31:26,464 --> 00:31:29,525
to to imitate policy imitate Christ
859
00:31:29,984 --> 00:31:31,505
and and and to pray,
860
00:31:32,557 --> 00:31:34,709
for his dear sweet family.
861
00:31:35,904 --> 00:31:38,215
And they are dear and they are are
862
00:31:38,215 --> 00:31:39,592
sweet. And then
863
00:31:39,984 --> 00:31:41,821
please allow me if I may just to
864
00:31:41,821 --> 00:31:42,780
leave you with this.
865
00:31:43,579 --> 00:31:45,576
Let let's do the next thing. Say the
866
00:31:45,576 --> 00:31:46,775
next thing. Don't hold back.
867
00:31:47,585 --> 00:31:49,804
I tilt... Tell the teacher, you you did
868
00:31:49,804 --> 00:31:52,656
you did well. Thank you. That means a
869
00:31:52,656 --> 00:31:54,107
lot to me. That that
870
00:31:54,574 --> 00:31:56,830
that that verse you shared that that concept
871
00:31:56,889 --> 00:31:59,443
is has been powerful in my life. Thank
872
00:31:59,443 --> 00:32:01,439
you. It's the mutual building up of the
873
00:32:01,439 --> 00:32:03,035
saints that I think we forget to do.
874
00:32:03,687 --> 00:32:05,117
We we'll often say did you see the
875
00:32:05,117 --> 00:32:06,548
game? Did you see the score? Did you
876
00:32:06,548 --> 00:32:07,979
see the running back? Did you see this
877
00:32:07,979 --> 00:32:09,807
or that? And it's kind of our way,
878
00:32:10,125 --> 00:32:12,032
especially as guys are kinda relating to each
879
00:32:12,032 --> 00:32:14,837
other? How much more important is it to
880
00:32:14,837 --> 00:32:15,337
care
881
00:32:15,715 --> 00:32:18,129
to to to say expressions
882
00:32:18,586 --> 00:32:20,740
of care. And to remember to pray when
883
00:32:20,740 --> 00:32:23,409
we say we pray? And we can go
884
00:32:23,710 --> 00:32:25,549
on on and on. But the beauty of
885
00:32:25,549 --> 00:32:26,109
this section,
886
00:32:26,829 --> 00:32:29,230
really, I think in C is clear, we'll
887
00:32:29,230 --> 00:32:31,958
start God willing, and next week with chapter
888
00:32:31,958 --> 00:32:33,175
2. We'll have some
889
00:32:33,631 --> 00:32:35,304
economic updates along the way.
890
00:32:36,499 --> 00:32:37,398
I want to
891
00:32:38,107 --> 00:32:41,130
present the truth to you here on on
892
00:32:41,130 --> 00:32:43,914
this podcast. And I don't spend a lot
893
00:32:43,914 --> 00:32:44,573
of time
894
00:32:45,122 --> 00:32:48,385
predicting the future, but I want to equip
895
00:32:48,385 --> 00:32:49,658
you the as best I can.
896
00:32:50,613 --> 00:32:53,796
So, without giving you investment advice per s.
897
00:32:54,289 --> 00:32:57,797
Well, thank you for listening. This is relentless
898
00:32:57,797 --> 00:33:00,348
truth. You can go to our website, john
899
00:33:00,348 --> 00:33:02,182
warren media dot com for more information about
900
00:33:02,182 --> 00:33:04,111
our work. Please like a review and subscribe.
901
00:33:04,509 --> 00:33:06,263
To relentless truth you can find us review
902
00:33:06,263 --> 00:33:08,894
your your podcast, We grow by you sharing
903
00:33:08,894 --> 00:33:09,633
this podcast
904
00:33:10,010 --> 00:33:12,177
with your friends. So please your do so
905
00:33:12,177 --> 00:33:13,712
if this has been a blessing
906
00:33:14,089 --> 00:33:15,363
to you until next time.
907
00:33:19,824 --> 00:33:23,345
Thanks for listening. To relentless truth with John
908
00:33:23,504 --> 00:33:23,823
Warren.
909
00:33:24,539 --> 00:33:26,633
Please consider sharing this podcast
910
00:33:27,168 --> 00:33:29,956
and subscribe to receive future episodes.
911
00:33:30,847 --> 00:33:34,270
Connect with John regarding your comments, questions, and
912
00:33:34,270 --> 00:33:38,011
show ideas through john warren media dot com.
913
00:33:38,585 --> 00:33:41,704
Or at john warren media on Facebook,
914
00:33:42,105 --> 00:33:43,625
Twitter, or Instagram.
915
00:33:44,424 --> 00:33:46,831
That's all for this up episode join us
916
00:33:46,831 --> 00:33:50,512
next week for another edition of relentless truth
917
00:33:50,648 --> 00:33:51,681
with John Warren.
00:00:01,230 --> 00:00:04,881
Welcome to relentless truth with John Warren, the
2
00:00:04,881 --> 00:00:08,215
podcast that extracts truth from a wide range
3
00:00:08,215 --> 00:00:08,850
of topics.
4
00:00:09,422 --> 00:00:12,208
Revealing who God is, who we are and
5
00:00:12,208 --> 00:00:15,312
how we relate to each other. Now, here's
6
00:00:15,471 --> 00:00:19,239
John with this week's powerful and practical insights.
7
00:00:24,134 --> 00:00:26,686
Welcome to relentless truth. I'm John Warren. It's
8
00:00:26,686 --> 00:00:28,361
good to be with you again. Please like
9
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share review and subscribe to relentless truth.
10
00:00:31,790 --> 00:00:33,957
Please share us with your friends. 1 share
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00:00:33,957 --> 00:00:35,807
the website, john warren media
12
00:00:36,181 --> 00:00:37,953
dot com, which has a
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library
14
00:00:39,201 --> 00:00:42,084
of over a hundred and 50 of our
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episodes since our inception 3 years ago now,
16
00:00:45,809 --> 00:00:46,309
remarkable
17
00:00:46,921 --> 00:00:49,224
to even say those words. There are many
18
00:00:49,224 --> 00:00:50,653
of you who are listening throughout the world.
19
00:00:50,812 --> 00:00:51,448
We're thankful.
20
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For that, a many in the Us, many
21
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in Florida, many right here in Central Florida.
22
00:00:57,431 --> 00:00:59,102
So you can send along an email to
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me,
24
00:00:59,914 --> 00:01:01,989
prefer the encouraging kind or the kind where
25
00:01:01,989 --> 00:01:03,287
you ask questions
26
00:01:03,984 --> 00:01:06,560
to john at john warren media
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00:01:07,097 --> 00:01:07,576
dot com.
28
00:01:08,215 --> 00:01:09,908
I You can also go to our contact
29
00:01:09,908 --> 00:01:12,865
page there. And if you have time, take
30
00:01:12,865 --> 00:01:15,023
a look at our tab, our consulting tab
31
00:01:15,023 --> 00:01:16,642
for our company called Cf
32
00:01:17,420 --> 00:01:17,580
Financial.
33
00:01:18,394 --> 00:01:20,627
You can reach that tab directly at cf
34
00:01:20,627 --> 00:01:22,302
f s financial dot net.
35
00:01:23,100 --> 00:01:25,253
That describes our work. We do lots of
36
00:01:25,253 --> 00:01:27,566
work with Christian schools and other organizations around
37
00:01:27,566 --> 00:01:27,965
the country.
38
00:01:28,775 --> 00:01:31,871
We're pleased to do that work. We consult
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on matters like debt
40
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negotiation
41
00:01:34,967 --> 00:01:38,321
on financing new real estate projects for Christian
42
00:01:38,321 --> 00:01:39,039
schools and other,
43
00:01:39,996 --> 00:01:40,235
organizations.
44
00:01:41,351 --> 00:01:43,344
So it's a it's a delight to do
45
00:01:43,344 --> 00:01:45,497
that work. Our your interest rate environment has
46
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changed
47
00:01:46,709 --> 00:01:49,127
fairly dramatically in in in recent months
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over the last couple of years even,
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but
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the economy still
51
00:01:55,194 --> 00:01:58,327
seems to be making, you know, decent acc
52
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sort of progress. We've talked about the economy
53
00:02:00,461 --> 00:02:02,989
many times on this podcast. That's not what
54
00:02:03,109 --> 00:02:04,777
going to do today. We're going to continue.
55
00:02:05,332 --> 00:02:08,136
God willing. We're going to continue our study
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00:02:08,748 --> 00:02:09,065
of,
57
00:02:11,130 --> 00:02:12,044
We're And
58
00:02:12,421 --> 00:02:15,771
I'm excited about that study, but there have
59
00:02:15,771 --> 00:02:17,924
been a few events. I have something on
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my on my heart, deep deep on my
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heart to
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share with you,
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and it it just it just comes from
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a place of a very practical
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concern. III can connect it,
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with with scripture,
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00:02:32,544 --> 00:02:34,295
a couple of a couple of different ways.
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And and,
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00:02:37,719 --> 00:02:38,197
that is,
70
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our need in
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relationships
72
00:02:41,966 --> 00:02:42,466
to
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really, I wanna call it taking the next
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step.
75
00:02:47,491 --> 00:02:49,079
And I'm gonna tell you what I... What
76
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I mean by that. There there there's something
77
00:02:51,541 --> 00:02:54,583
I see in the apostle Paul in his
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ministry, and I know many of you are
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very learned and studied in scripture because I...
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I... You've told me that you listened into
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00:03:01,354 --> 00:03:02,950
the podcast, and I know who you are.
82
00:03:03,443 --> 00:03:05,113
And I'm sure there are some who listened
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to podcast who who I don't have the
84
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pleasure of knowing who who have this knowledge,
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lots of biblical knowledge.
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1 of the things I noticed about the
87
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Apostle Paul's ministry. If it it 1 1
88
00:03:17,475 --> 00:03:19,952
thing that just jumps out in a study
89
00:03:19,952 --> 00:03:21,630
of Philippians, which we did a while back.
90
00:03:22,205 --> 00:03:24,205
Is that we are to imitate Paul as
91
00:03:24,205 --> 00:03:26,284
he imitate Christ. He said that in Romans
92
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as well. He says in lots of his
93
00:03:28,605 --> 00:03:29,105
epi
94
00:03:29,659 --> 00:03:31,813
And and he's he's not arrogant about that.
95
00:03:31,973 --> 00:03:33,649
He's very humble, and, you know, we talked
96
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about his greetings and talked about himself calling
97
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himself a slave.
98
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In the beginning of Philippians and calling his
99
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audience saints. So he's a humble guy, but
100
00:03:43,313 --> 00:03:44,907
encouraged us to imitate him. And if you
101
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notice
102
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unless I've missed it,
103
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you you never read Paul
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where he says, you know, you'll you'll never
105
00:03:53,376 --> 00:03:54,971
sort of hear him say, as you read.
106
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That that he he missed an opportunity
107
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to talk to someone
108
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about biblical things
109
00:04:03,550 --> 00:04:05,629
He talks about some regrets. He talks about
110
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some struggles, Romans thinking of Romans 7 right
111
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now.
112
00:04:08,989 --> 00:04:10,349
Oh, W man that I am.
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And I'm sure he had regrets and and
114
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mistakes.
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And and we've talked on this podcast about
116
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regrets in the context of our... Our study
117
00:04:18,728 --> 00:04:21,201
of Philippians where Paul talks about looking forward.
118
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I think that's really important doctrine.
119
00:04:24,869 --> 00:04:26,146
But but I wanna mention,
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just a hideous subject an awful 1.
121
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And I I really don't wanna talk about
122
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it,
123
00:04:33,501 --> 00:04:35,576
but I believe it's necessary to do so,
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and and that is suicide among Christians.
125
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It sad me that that I know about
126
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several
127
00:04:44,614 --> 00:04:47,903
cases of over the years of of Christian
128
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suicide. People
129
00:04:49,715 --> 00:04:50,215
even
130
00:04:50,751 --> 00:04:52,026
involved in ministry,
131
00:04:53,314 --> 00:04:54,928
and I'm not gonna name
132
00:04:55,462 --> 00:04:56,098
the names,
133
00:04:56,575 --> 00:04:58,904
but but 1 happened recently.
134
00:05:00,154 --> 00:05:00,654
And
135
00:05:01,685 --> 00:05:03,685
the the sudden death of a loved 1
136
00:05:03,685 --> 00:05:05,925
is awful. The sudden death of a friend
137
00:05:05,925 --> 00:05:06,964
is is awful.
138
00:05:08,245 --> 00:05:09,376
III
139
00:05:09,376 --> 00:05:12,165
don't think based on scripture, god expects us
140
00:05:12,165 --> 00:05:12,824
to be
141
00:05:13,201 --> 00:05:15,432
something other than human with respect.
142
00:05:16,245 --> 00:05:18,324
To to death. That the the sense of
143
00:05:18,324 --> 00:05:19,384
loss is
144
00:05:19,764 --> 00:05:21,685
is powerful is is real.
145
00:05:23,045 --> 00:05:25,445
But 1 thing that troubles me and and
146
00:05:25,604 --> 00:05:27,773
III don't think we have to be weird
147
00:05:28,226 --> 00:05:28,623
about this.
148
00:05:29,815 --> 00:05:30,315
But
149
00:05:30,864 --> 00:05:33,039
I bet most of you have had a
150
00:05:33,177 --> 00:05:33,677
conversation
151
00:05:34,453 --> 00:05:36,447
that goes something like this.
152
00:05:37,484 --> 00:05:37,984
I
153
00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,137
I wanted to tell you that
154
00:05:40,928 --> 00:05:42,306
but I thought it might
155
00:05:42,843 --> 00:05:43,082
blank.
156
00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,395
You know, III
157
00:05:45,395 --> 00:05:47,469
decided not to. It it would have been
158
00:05:47,469 --> 00:05:50,914
that next step, that next thing. They they...
159
00:05:51,393 --> 00:05:54,189
Maybe, I'll, I'll be just just really my
160
00:05:54,189 --> 00:05:56,347
optic and talk about my own teaching. I'll
161
00:05:56,506 --> 00:05:57,725
I'll have people who
162
00:05:58,039 --> 00:06:00,297
You say, you know, III was gonna
163
00:06:00,755 --> 00:06:02,753
make a really positive comment because your teaching
164
00:06:02,753 --> 00:06:04,111
has meant so much in my life.
165
00:06:05,084 --> 00:06:06,681
But I thought people would think I was
166
00:06:06,681 --> 00:06:08,677
grand standing or or or I I thought,
167
00:06:08,836 --> 00:06:10,513
you know, that probably wasn't the setting.
168
00:06:11,311 --> 00:06:13,547
When when when God would have used that
169
00:06:13,547 --> 00:06:14,047
to
170
00:06:14,999 --> 00:06:16,858
really bless me that,
171
00:06:17,477 --> 00:06:19,495
you know, it it would have told me
172
00:06:19,634 --> 00:06:21,632
all the preparation is worth it... These... This
173
00:06:21,632 --> 00:06:23,710
person and probably these people are getting it,
174
00:06:24,363 --> 00:06:26,688
biblical truth is being a spouse. We're making
175
00:06:26,744 --> 00:06:28,648
disciples. We're growing in god's grace.
176
00:06:29,283 --> 00:06:31,823
That feedback is just so valuable. I'm not
177
00:06:31,823 --> 00:06:32,323
solicit.
178
00:06:33,269 --> 00:06:35,349
Feedback for me in this conversation. I'm talking
179
00:06:35,349 --> 00:06:36,709
about a a larger topic,
180
00:06:37,349 --> 00:06:39,829
and that is saying the next thing.
181
00:06:40,884 --> 00:06:43,757
And sometimes in my case, saying the next
182
00:06:43,757 --> 00:06:44,257
thing
183
00:06:44,954 --> 00:06:47,826
is met with pride. They're gonna think I'm
184
00:06:47,826 --> 00:06:47,986
weird.
185
00:06:48,719 --> 00:06:50,391
They're not gonna like it. They're not gonna
186
00:06:50,391 --> 00:06:50,948
agree with me.
187
00:06:51,744 --> 00:06:54,132
They're gonna think I'm sucking up. They're gonna
188
00:06:54,132 --> 00:06:55,803
think that that's really simplistic.
189
00:06:56,854 --> 00:06:58,449
I really don't have time. They don't care
190
00:06:58,449 --> 00:06:59,167
about my opinion.
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They don't know me well enough.
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Well, when when there's loss, like like this
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suicide,
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We
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we we, you know, we lose all ability
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then obviously to communicate with the person.
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This particular 1 that just happened
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is a beloved pastor.
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And
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I don't know what was going on in
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his life. I don't know about his mental
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health.
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I I know 1 of his children from
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1 of my classes years ago,
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and
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I I know him by reputation,
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and his church was thriving.
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And I think his personal life was good
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from what I know, but I don't know.
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And
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I
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met him once or twice. Don't know him
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well. I don't
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personally have regrets in this particular
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situation except.
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God has used this to point me to
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this reality
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that we don't know what we're all going
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through,
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and we need to be more loving and
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gentle and tender with each other.
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I don't I don't know if anybody who
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wasn't,
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loving and gentle and tender with this pastor.
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I'm just saying that should characterize us
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as Christians,
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being right, especially
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on, you know, political issues and this Christian
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nationalism stuff is is driving me crazy
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if I'm candid.
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This taken a view that is extreme and
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trying to win clicks and is followers and
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it's just not something
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god willing I won't ever do it here.
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We're gonna talk about truth and continue to
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talk about truth and the the truth I
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I really just wanna get across is,
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let let's be gentle and loving with each
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other. I mean, let let's look for truth.
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In scripture.
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Scripture is absolutely true absolutely truth has a
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sharp edge to it doesn't it.
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But we don't have to stick it in
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the face of people who don't get it.
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You're not gonna win over a gay person
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who's in a gay relationship.
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You... You're not gonna win them over
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by by quoting Romans 1 and shoving it
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in their face probably.
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I mean, it's not a bad idea too
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if you're asked to you have a relationship
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and and, you know, you have credibility, you
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have standing with them.
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But but you're you're not you're not going
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to...
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If you they're not gonna hit themselves in
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the forehead and say, oh, then then what
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I'm doing is wrong.
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There... There's a way to be gentle and
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and loving.
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And with each other with just the people
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we go to church with that that, you
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know, we don't love them well enough. My
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wife does this really well and I wish
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I did it.
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She will hold the hands of her friends
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and look them right in the eyes and
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tell them that we're praying for them,
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and that she's praying for them, and she
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cares. She remembers the details.
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It embarrass me that I'll say, oh, what's
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going on with her and she'll say remember
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I told you this this and this. Oh,
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yeah.
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I do. And we prayed for her.
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Well, there's just beauty in Christian
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relationship. There's there's there's...
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Harsh nest too. There's a there's a a
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jagged edge to it. It's it's not easy
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always,
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but it's so important take to take the
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next step.
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If God is prompting you or you're prompting
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you through your knowledge of truth
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to reach out to someone. I went to
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see a guy in our church named Dan
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Hoffman,
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when he was in rehab, I think I
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mentioned him on 1 of these episodes a
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while back.
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And, you know, I actually thought about not
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going.
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I thought, well, you know, I don't know
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him too well, and he's gonna think it's
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awkward, and I I could just tell when
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I talk to him. He was starved.
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For for visitors. And and he's got relatives
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nearby, and he's he's loved by his family
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and and and all of that, but I
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went and visited with him, and I I
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think it did more for me than for
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him. I know many of you found that.
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I I did the next thing. I took
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the next step.
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And and wow was it a blessing. I
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could've stayed there all day with him.
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And
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it's just a dear sweet brother in Christ,
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who
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was going through just a little bit of
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a struggle
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from a health standpoint.
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So we we we just don't know what
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the other person is going through. And and
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more importantly,
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we we we don't know the
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the the impact
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of
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our
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relationship with other people. We... You have the
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ability to impact people. I... I'm not just
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talking about this in a suicide context.
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I... I'm just saying that reminds me they...
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With the the sudden
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of
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that that that death,
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it just reminds me that we are to
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be loving and caring and gracious. And gentle.
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Why wouldn't we?
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And and just realize and I'm I'm talking
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to me because I'm terrible at this.
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That it's pride that keeps us from reaching
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out from doing that from loving other people
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will. So
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that's our
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sort of
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issue of the day that has been heavy
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on on my heart.
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The rest of this becomes
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just an academic exercise if we don't live
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it out. If we aren't
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making disciples and following Christ
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and recognizing that we're in him,
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which is really the point of.
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So let's take a look today Let's just
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review for a moment. We've we've talked about
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Paul's
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introduction. We talked about the setting. He's in
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prison in Rome.
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As he writes this, we talked about the
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city of And their challenge. The theme of
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the letter is completeness in Christ, and we
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read.
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Versus 9 and following. And so from the
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day we heard, we've not ceased to pray
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for you asking that you may be filled
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with the knowledge and that word it is
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epi
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that's a strong knowledge, understanding, deep understanding
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intimate
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relationship. We said that root, but is the
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word used for a man knowing his wife,
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and and we've we've talked we've talked a
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lot about that with that word no or
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epi
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in this case.
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It's it's a stronger word with the prefix
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Epi
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that really means not just a casual knowing.
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That's a different it together. Idaho is the
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English translation of that word. That's I know
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this flower is red. I know that the
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grass is green. I know that,
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word I'm
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to do certain things today. That's just basic
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knowledge, but No is knowing with deep understanding
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and epi.
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Is is even stronger and and it it
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implies
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intimacy. Doesn't imply intimacy. It it confirms deep
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intimacy, relational
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intimacy.
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So so, yes, the academic knowledge is there.
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It's important,
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but don't don't go try to impress me
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or anybody else with your.
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Your your seminary knowledge. If you don't
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really have a relationship with Christ.
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Paul consistently
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talks about are being in Jesus Christ, our
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lord.
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So, anyway,
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filled with the knowledge of his will in
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all wisdom and understanding,
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So as to walk in a manner worthy
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of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing
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fruit in every good work and increasing.
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In the knowledge of God. We talked about
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the fruits of the spirit, love joy peace,
400
00:14:32,866 --> 00:14:33,662
patience, kindness,
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00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:37,667
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control
402
00:14:38,217 --> 00:14:40,763
strengthened with all power according to his glorious
403
00:14:40,763 --> 00:14:44,581
might for all endurance and patience with joy,
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00:14:45,790 --> 00:14:48,417
attributes that we don't usually put together endurance
405
00:14:48,417 --> 00:14:49,395
and patience
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00:14:49,771 --> 00:14:52,000
with joy. I get so sick of hearing
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faster. Say, oh, don't.
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00:14:53,606 --> 00:14:55,377
Pray for patience, God will give you a
409
00:14:55,433 --> 00:14:58,555
tribulation. Really, why does Paul long to see
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00:14:58,770 --> 00:14:59,961
endurance patients with joy?
411
00:15:00,533 --> 00:15:03,099
Developed in people. Why is he calling developing
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patients a joyful
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00:15:04,745 --> 00:15:06,017
activity. This is an imperative.
414
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This is AAAA
415
00:15:08,402 --> 00:15:08,902
requirement
416
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giving thanks to the father who has qualified
417
00:15:13,198 --> 00:15:15,054
you to share in
418
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the inheritance of the saints in light, He
419
00:15:17,346 --> 00:15:19,441
has delivered us from the domain of darkness
420
00:15:19,754 --> 00:15:21,508
and transferred us to the kingdom of his
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beloved son in whom
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00:15:23,024 --> 00:15:26,054
we have redemption. There's a a definite article
423
00:15:26,054 --> 00:15:27,330
there. Let me read the rest of this
424
00:15:27,330 --> 00:15:29,738
verse 14. And whom we have redemption. The
425
00:15:29,738 --> 00:15:31,015
forgiveness of sins.
426
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This definite article really makes this mean
427
00:15:35,084 --> 00:15:36,541
released by payment or
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00:15:36,853 --> 00:15:38,842
or ransom. And then he says that forgiveness
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00:15:38,842 --> 00:15:42,103
of sins, that... That's to to to send
430
00:15:42,103 --> 00:15:43,240
away from something
431
00:15:44,027 --> 00:15:46,413
forgiveness to send away from sin in a
432
00:15:46,413 --> 00:15:46,652
sense,
433
00:15:47,526 --> 00:15:49,594
and that forgiveness of sins has the idea
434
00:15:49,594 --> 00:15:51,820
of that the word it sends is to
435
00:15:51,820 --> 00:15:54,384
to miss the mark, miss the missed the
436
00:15:54,384 --> 00:15:56,705
requirement. You've heard that before. In whom we
437
00:15:56,705 --> 00:15:58,725
have redemption that is the repurchase
438
00:15:59,105 --> 00:16:01,684
or released by payment of ransom. He's using
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00:16:01,999 --> 00:16:04,557
language that the culture would have understand relative,
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00:16:05,356 --> 00:16:08,473
understood relative to slavery. So then we have
441
00:16:08,473 --> 00:16:10,790
another paragraph or 2 that I wanna get
442
00:16:10,790 --> 00:16:13,442
to today or or 3, maybe,
443
00:16:14,162 --> 00:16:15,040
we'll see how we do.
444
00:16:16,079 --> 00:16:18,497
On the the pre of Christ and Paul's
445
00:16:18,636 --> 00:16:19,515
ministry to the church.
446
00:16:20,088 --> 00:16:22,710
First 15, he is the image of the
447
00:16:22,710 --> 00:16:25,253
invisible god. He's talking about Jesus Christ, the
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00:16:25,253 --> 00:16:26,229
first firstborn
449
00:16:26,762 --> 00:16:27,739
of all
450
00:16:28,113 --> 00:16:28,351
creation.
451
00:16:28,923 --> 00:16:31,948
He's not saying Jesus Christ was born just
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before creation.
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00:16:33,540 --> 00:16:34,995
He he he was
454
00:16:35,609 --> 00:16:37,121
beg forgotten. He was eternally,
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00:16:38,649 --> 00:16:41,207
be gotten by the father any eternity past.
456
00:16:41,446 --> 00:16:43,364
I... Can I really articulate what that means?
457
00:16:43,924 --> 00:16:46,881
While he always existed. God has always existed
458
00:16:46,881 --> 00:16:47,620
in 3
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00:16:48,173 --> 00:16:50,397
persons. But this idea being the first born
460
00:16:50,397 --> 00:16:52,542
of all creation is just it's just the
461
00:16:52,542 --> 00:16:54,869
first 1 born. It's but born before
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00:16:55,497 --> 00:16:58,363
everyone else created before everyone else, it doesn't
463
00:16:58,363 --> 00:16:59,819
conflict with the doctrine
464
00:17:00,194 --> 00:17:03,061
that he has always been throughout all eternity.
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For by him, all things were created in
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heaven and on earth visible and invisible, whether
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thrones or dominion or rulers or authorities.
468
00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:14,551
All things were created through him and for
469
00:17:14,551 --> 00:17:16,944
him that is Jesus Christ. We need to
470
00:17:16,944 --> 00:17:19,757
think of him as as creator, he is
471
00:17:19,975 --> 00:17:21,033
the creator.
472
00:17:22,301 --> 00:17:23,018
God the sun.
473
00:17:23,893 --> 00:17:25,826
So... And he is before
474
00:17:26,201 --> 00:17:29,169
all things and in him all things hold
475
00:17:29,226 --> 00:17:31,942
together, that that hold together the idea of
476
00:17:31,942 --> 00:17:33,132
he's he's a sustain.
477
00:17:33,688 --> 00:17:35,038
It... They're they're preserved.
478
00:17:35,673 --> 00:17:37,205
All all things are held
479
00:17:37,975 --> 00:17:38,293
together.
480
00:17:38,943 --> 00:17:39,739
Isn't that beautiful.
481
00:17:41,092 --> 00:17:42,308
And he is the head
482
00:17:42,683 --> 00:17:44,434
of the body that is the authority,
483
00:17:45,150 --> 00:17:45,628
the church...
484
00:17:46,838 --> 00:17:49,390
So the church is the body of Christ
485
00:17:49,390 --> 00:17:51,703
and Christ is the head of the body.
486
00:17:51,942 --> 00:17:55,053
He's he is the beginning, the first born
487
00:17:55,053 --> 00:17:55,952
from the dead
488
00:17:56,344 --> 00:17:57,321
that in everything,
489
00:17:57,696 --> 00:17:59,151
he might be preeminent.
490
00:18:00,003 --> 00:18:01,378
That that's not a wish
491
00:18:02,787 --> 00:18:05,431
that that that's that's that's a statement that
492
00:18:05,431 --> 00:18:07,126
that he would be preeminent
493
00:18:07,741 --> 00:18:10,052
to to have the first place is the
494
00:18:10,052 --> 00:18:13,038
idea there. For in him, all the fullness
495
00:18:13,176 --> 00:18:14,872
of god, that is the total
496
00:18:15,329 --> 00:18:16,706
essence of deity
497
00:18:17,163 --> 00:18:18,141
was pleased
498
00:18:18,598 --> 00:18:19,156
to dwell.
499
00:18:20,047 --> 00:18:22,986
That dwelling is is his his will, his
500
00:18:22,986 --> 00:18:26,323
plan. God's, god's will dwell, all the fullness
501
00:18:26,323 --> 00:18:28,151
of God, all of his attributes his will,
502
00:18:28,564 --> 00:18:29,064
everything
503
00:18:29,439 --> 00:18:32,565
about God, his essence, his nature dwell
504
00:18:32,940 --> 00:18:34,793
in Jesus Christ
505
00:18:35,248 --> 00:18:37,339
that in everything he might be
506
00:18:37,889 --> 00:18:38,389
preeminent
507
00:18:38,690 --> 00:18:39,190
verse
508
00:18:39,809 --> 00:18:40,369
18 says,
509
00:18:41,329 --> 00:18:42,690
That is that he might...
510
00:18:43,409 --> 00:18:45,509
This idea is if total
511
00:18:46,049 --> 00:18:48,379
reconciliation, with with Christ that we're reading here.
512
00:18:48,937 --> 00:18:51,728
That in everything he might be preeminent might
513
00:18:51,728 --> 00:18:52,228
have
514
00:18:52,606 --> 00:18:55,477
first place. He is above all else for
515
00:18:55,477 --> 00:18:57,490
in him, all the fullness of God was
516
00:18:57,490 --> 00:18:59,089
pleased to dwell and through and through him
517
00:18:59,089 --> 00:19:01,730
to reconcile himself to all things. That that
518
00:19:01,730 --> 00:19:02,230
is
519
00:19:02,609 --> 00:19:05,344
that is to change completely to reconcile to
520
00:19:05,344 --> 00:19:06,383
himself, all things,
521
00:19:08,140 --> 00:19:09,200
whether on earth
522
00:19:09,579 --> 00:19:10,398
or in heaven
523
00:19:11,656 --> 00:19:12,636
making peace
524
00:19:13,269 --> 00:19:14,867
by the blood of his cross.
525
00:19:17,505 --> 00:19:20,301
Isn't that beautiful, making peace by the blood
526
00:19:20,301 --> 00:19:21,920
of his crust. You know, I just read
527
00:19:22,234 --> 00:19:23,670
I'm I'm trying to read the psalms a
528
00:19:23,670 --> 00:19:25,823
little bit now. And III just read psalm
529
00:19:25,823 --> 00:19:28,158
4. So I just started this this week
530
00:19:28,375 --> 00:19:30,130
and said the last first of that psalm,
531
00:19:30,609 --> 00:19:31,566
which is verse 8.
532
00:19:32,219 --> 00:19:33,095
Says in peace,
533
00:19:33,652 --> 00:19:36,359
I will both lie down and sleep for
534
00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:37,634
you alone, o Lord,
535
00:19:38,350 --> 00:19:40,421
make me dwell in safety.
536
00:19:41,311 --> 00:19:44,174
Our Lord is above all things we can
537
00:19:44,174 --> 00:19:46,741
rest in him, making peace
538
00:19:47,116 --> 00:19:49,819
by the blood of his cross. There couldn't
539
00:19:49,819 --> 00:19:50,319
be
540
00:19:50,789 --> 00:19:52,376
a greater j position.
541
00:19:53,170 --> 00:19:55,948
You mean Paul that you're telling us that
542
00:19:55,948 --> 00:19:58,988
this violent horrible death on across
543
00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,651
a made peace was used by Jesus Christ
544
00:20:02,651 --> 00:20:06,166
our Lord to reconcile us to God to
545
00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:06,986
make peace
546
00:20:07,619 --> 00:20:09,694
in spite of all the sin that you've
547
00:20:09,694 --> 00:20:12,168
talked about that you had already written about
548
00:20:12,168 --> 00:20:14,483
in Romans 3. They're being non righteous, no
549
00:20:14,483 --> 00:20:16,653
not 1 for all of sin, and come
550
00:20:16,653 --> 00:20:18,409
short of the glory of God no 1
551
00:20:18,409 --> 00:20:20,165
seeks after god, our throats are an open
552
00:20:20,165 --> 00:20:20,565
grave.
553
00:20:23,358 --> 00:20:24,156
Goes on and on.
554
00:20:25,209 --> 00:20:26,982
There's none righteous, no
555
00:20:27,517 --> 00:20:28,789
not 1 and yet.
556
00:20:29,903 --> 00:20:31,677
Jesus Christ has made peace
557
00:20:32,132 --> 00:20:33,882
by the blood of his Christ in the
558
00:20:34,615 --> 00:20:36,055
by the blood of his cross. I'm sorry.
559
00:20:36,535 --> 00:20:38,375
I... I was jumping ahead with my eyes
560
00:20:38,375 --> 00:20:40,154
here looking at versus 21
561
00:20:40,695 --> 00:20:41,654
through 23.
562
00:20:42,548 --> 00:20:44,166
This is this is the
563
00:20:44,624 --> 00:20:45,523
reconciliation for
564
00:20:45,981 --> 00:20:48,636
for all believers. Listen to this. And you
565
00:20:48,934 --> 00:20:51,421
who once were alienate and has... Style in
566
00:20:51,421 --> 00:20:54,064
mind, doing evil deeds that that makes us
567
00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:54,993
hostile to god.
568
00:20:55,628 --> 00:20:56,684
He has now
569
00:20:57,216 --> 00:20:57,716
reconciled
570
00:20:58,645 --> 00:21:00,326
style that isn't that beautiful?
571
00:21:01,278 --> 00:21:03,659
Given us right standing in his body of
572
00:21:03,659 --> 00:21:05,484
flash by his death in order to present
573
00:21:05,484 --> 00:21:09,025
you wholly and blame and above rep approach
574
00:21:09,721 --> 00:21:12,431
before him. If indeed, you continue in the
575
00:21:12,431 --> 00:21:13,706
faith stable and steadfast,
576
00:21:14,358 --> 00:21:16,111
not shifting from the hope of the gospel
577
00:21:16,111 --> 00:21:18,660
that you heard, which has been proclaimed in
578
00:21:18,660 --> 00:21:21,210
all creation under heaven, and of which I
579
00:21:21,210 --> 00:21:23,361
paul became a minister. So Paul is saying,
580
00:21:24,013 --> 00:21:26,321
I am a minister of the gospel.
581
00:21:26,878 --> 00:21:28,231
I'll listen to this. He says in verse
582
00:21:28,231 --> 00:21:31,039
24. Now I rejoice in my suffering.
583
00:21:31,669 --> 00:21:33,369
For your sake. Paul's a prisoner
584
00:21:33,750 --> 00:21:35,269
under house arrest in rome.
585
00:21:36,789 --> 00:21:38,809
I rejoice in my suffering
586
00:21:39,365 --> 00:21:41,125
So if we're gonna imitate Paul, that's what
587
00:21:41,125 --> 00:21:41,845
we need to do.
588
00:21:42,565 --> 00:21:44,325
Alright, This is Apr pro for me at
589
00:21:44,325 --> 00:21:46,644
this moment, I've got some back problems making
590
00:21:46,644 --> 00:21:47,144
pain
591
00:21:47,457 --> 00:21:49,679
shoot down my leg, never had that before
592
00:21:49,679 --> 00:21:50,551
that I can recall,
593
00:21:51,345 --> 00:21:51,662
and
594
00:21:52,218 --> 00:21:53,408
I had to go see a neuro surgeon
595
00:21:53,646 --> 00:21:55,074
Getting a second opinion tomorrow.
596
00:21:55,724 --> 00:21:57,241
And and Paul's talking about a different kinds
597
00:21:57,241 --> 00:21:58,757
of kind of suffering. He's talking about suffering
598
00:21:58,757 --> 00:22:00,354
for the sake of the gospel, but any
599
00:22:00,354 --> 00:22:02,588
suffering that we do is is a picture
600
00:22:02,588 --> 00:22:06,190
of reminds us of our our our limitations,
601
00:22:06,428 --> 00:22:09,294
our our, we we should rejoice in our
602
00:22:09,294 --> 00:22:12,000
suffering and Paul is saying, I'm suffering for
603
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:13,671
your sake, the first century church.
604
00:22:14,403 --> 00:22:15,999
The first century church at C.
605
00:22:17,036 --> 00:22:19,428
And and in my flesh, I'm filling up
606
00:22:19,428 --> 00:22:22,539
what is lacking in Christ's a friction for
607
00:22:22,539 --> 00:22:23,576
the sake of his body.
608
00:22:24,229 --> 00:22:25,688
That is the church
609
00:22:26,067 --> 00:22:28,884
of which I became a minister,
610
00:22:29,822 --> 00:22:31,020
according to the stewardship,
611
00:22:32,232 --> 00:22:34,299
from God that was given to me for
612
00:22:34,299 --> 00:22:36,843
you. He became 1 a minister to grow
613
00:22:36,843 --> 00:22:40,420
their their spiritual condition and to the stewardship
614
00:22:40,420 --> 00:22:43,219
from God that was given me for you.
615
00:22:43,378 --> 00:22:45,129
You, you know what a Steward is. The
616
00:22:45,129 --> 00:22:47,199
person responsible for somebody else's assets.
617
00:22:47,915 --> 00:22:50,484
There's a stewardship duty that we all have
618
00:22:51,034 --> 00:22:52,473
And the third thing he says from god
619
00:22:52,473 --> 00:22:54,231
that was given me to you to make
620
00:22:54,231 --> 00:22:55,290
the word of God
621
00:22:55,670 --> 00:22:56,629
fully known.
622
00:22:57,668 --> 00:22:59,985
So Paul knew, not only he a administer
623
00:22:59,985 --> 00:23:00,545
of the gospel.
624
00:23:01,039 --> 00:23:02,476
He had a stewardship requirement,
625
00:23:03,035 --> 00:23:05,110
and and to to make the word of
626
00:23:05,190 --> 00:23:05,690
God
627
00:23:06,068 --> 00:23:07,686
fully known. He's a Steward
628
00:23:08,144 --> 00:23:09,841
to make the word of God
629
00:23:10,313 --> 00:23:10,791
fully known.
630
00:23:11,507 --> 00:23:14,052
Can can you just imagine reading this?
631
00:23:15,166 --> 00:23:16,541
Paul is talking about
632
00:23:17,409 --> 00:23:17,909
how
633
00:23:18,288 --> 00:23:19,108
he is
634
00:23:19,806 --> 00:23:23,002
he is filling up his in his flesh,
635
00:23:23,641 --> 00:23:24,461
he's suffering
636
00:23:25,333 --> 00:23:27,239
for the sake of Christ,
637
00:23:27,953 --> 00:23:29,700
for the sake of his body, that is
638
00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:30,359
the church
639
00:23:30,733 --> 00:23:32,877
of which he became a minister according to
640
00:23:32,877 --> 00:23:34,147
stewardship from God that was given to me.
641
00:23:34,639 --> 00:23:36,494
For you to make the word of God
642
00:23:36,872 --> 00:23:38,567
fully known the mystery hidden
643
00:23:38,944 --> 00:23:41,735
for ages and generations, but now revealed to
644
00:23:41,735 --> 00:23:42,213
his saints.
645
00:23:43,504 --> 00:23:45,662
That that is that Jews and gentile would
646
00:23:45,662 --> 00:23:48,139
become 1 in Christ. That is the mystery.
647
00:23:48,858 --> 00:23:50,476
The efficacy of the cross
648
00:23:51,095 --> 00:23:51,549
justification
649
00:23:51,907 --> 00:23:53,736
by faith, in no uncertain terms.
650
00:23:54,849 --> 00:23:58,028
Due to the death, burial and resurrection,
651
00:23:58,664 --> 00:23:59,164
and
652
00:23:59,871 --> 00:24:02,174
of Jesus Christ and his ascension he sits
653
00:24:02,174 --> 00:24:04,342
today at the right hand, the father, making
654
00:24:04,398 --> 00:24:06,702
inter session for us. To them God chose
655
00:24:06,702 --> 00:24:08,608
to make known how great among the gentile.
656
00:24:09,259 --> 00:24:11,276
Are the riches of the glory of this
657
00:24:11,494 --> 00:24:11,893
mystery,
658
00:24:12,452 --> 00:24:14,846
which is christ in you, the hope of
659
00:24:14,846 --> 00:24:15,166
glory,
660
00:24:15,804 --> 00:24:16,922
him were y pro claim.
661
00:24:18,292 --> 00:24:19,326
Warning everyone.
662
00:24:19,961 --> 00:24:21,074
So so there's a negative,
663
00:24:21,631 --> 00:24:26,400
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom.
664
00:24:27,369 --> 00:24:29,941
That we may present everyone mature
665
00:24:30,476 --> 00:24:32,150
in Christ for this I toil,
666
00:24:32,947 --> 00:24:36,169
struggling with all its energy, all his energy
667
00:24:36,465 --> 00:24:37,522
that he powerfully
668
00:24:38,136 --> 00:24:41,239
works within me. That is Paul is saying,
669
00:24:41,716 --> 00:24:43,250
I know that I labor
670
00:24:44,198 --> 00:24:45,095
because of Christ's
671
00:24:46,186 --> 00:24:46,664
enable.
672
00:24:47,300 --> 00:24:49,392
Isn't that beautiful for this I toil
673
00:24:49,767 --> 00:24:50,983
struggling with all
674
00:24:51,294 --> 00:24:51,794
his
675
00:24:52,411 --> 00:24:55,363
energy that he powerfully works in me. Paul
676
00:24:55,363 --> 00:24:58,096
struggles, but Christ gives him his
677
00:24:58,728 --> 00:25:01,277
energy that is our our intimacy with Christ.
678
00:25:01,676 --> 00:25:03,986
He equip us. Are we to work hard?
679
00:25:04,464 --> 00:25:04,783
Yes.
680
00:25:05,913 --> 00:25:07,979
I I don't like those expressions let go
681
00:25:07,979 --> 00:25:08,614
and let God.
682
00:25:09,568 --> 00:25:12,270
No. We are to work hard at this.
683
00:25:13,238 --> 00:25:15,307
We are to keep the commandments.
684
00:25:16,022 --> 00:25:16,920
Where to care
685
00:25:17,295 --> 00:25:17,795
about
686
00:25:18,250 --> 00:25:19,284
good moral living.
687
00:25:20,254 --> 00:25:21,210
But it is Christ,
688
00:25:21,767 --> 00:25:22,586
who powerfully
689
00:25:23,042 --> 00:25:26,569
works within us as we engage in gospel
690
00:25:26,786 --> 00:25:29,746
ministry. I see it over and over and
691
00:25:29,746 --> 00:25:31,815
over. I'll come out of a teaching session
692
00:25:31,815 --> 00:25:34,224
where I've prepared well and realize,
693
00:25:34,934 --> 00:25:37,725
Wow. The beauty of that truth did not
694
00:25:37,725 --> 00:25:41,097
occur to me. God clearly enabled me
695
00:25:41,474 --> 00:25:43,968
to to to see this truth and to
696
00:25:44,026 --> 00:25:45,475
communicate it. It clearly.
697
00:25:46,748 --> 00:25:46,987
Well,
698
00:25:47,783 --> 00:25:50,988
that's just a a beautiful section
699
00:25:51,363 --> 00:25:55,199
of of scripture. It is the end of
700
00:25:55,199 --> 00:25:56,893
chapter 1 of c.
701
00:25:58,065 --> 00:26:00,294
But but Paul is driving home this point
702
00:26:00,294 --> 00:26:02,068
that he rejoice in his suffering
703
00:26:02,618 --> 00:26:05,165
for their sake. If you just keep in
704
00:26:05,165 --> 00:26:06,995
mind where Paul is. He's under house arrest,
705
00:26:07,154 --> 00:26:08,984
He has to pay to rent the house,
706
00:26:09,382 --> 00:26:11,712
and he's chained to a pre guard
707
00:26:12,023 --> 00:26:13,535
So for him to say that he rejoice
708
00:26:13,535 --> 00:26:15,706
in his suffering. He has, he is joy
709
00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,548
in his suffering. He he's already said that
710
00:26:18,548 --> 00:26:19,048
that
711
00:26:19,839 --> 00:26:21,937
he he doesn't have a problem with that
712
00:26:22,316 --> 00:26:22,816
apparent
713
00:26:23,194 --> 00:26:23,434
contradiction.
714
00:26:24,233 --> 00:26:25,452
That that joy
715
00:26:25,831 --> 00:26:29,109
is rich, deep. Abiding joy. It's not pleading
716
00:26:29,109 --> 00:26:31,729
happiness. It's not just tolerable for a bit.
717
00:26:31,888 --> 00:26:34,429
It is deep joy that only comes from
718
00:26:34,429 --> 00:26:35,779
our Lord Jesus Christ.
719
00:26:36,588 --> 00:26:38,967
And and he's glad that he has become
720
00:26:38,967 --> 00:26:39,625
a minister
721
00:26:40,394 --> 00:26:41,291
according to
722
00:26:42,059 --> 00:26:42,559
the
723
00:26:42,932 --> 00:26:45,672
stewardship from God. That is... To grow their
724
00:26:45,890 --> 00:26:48,364
spiritual condition that was given to me for
725
00:26:48,364 --> 00:26:50,141
you to make the word of God
726
00:26:50,518 --> 00:26:51,556
fully known.
727
00:26:52,288 --> 00:26:52,788
So
728
00:26:53,163 --> 00:26:55,867
Paul says I have a duty, and I
729
00:26:55,867 --> 00:26:56,186
understand it.
730
00:26:57,061 --> 00:26:58,572
And then he says to them,
731
00:26:59,144 --> 00:27:01,305
God chose to make known how great among
732
00:27:01,305 --> 00:27:03,384
the gentile are the riches of his the
733
00:27:03,384 --> 00:27:05,065
glory of his mystery, which is Christ in
734
00:27:05,065 --> 00:27:05,224
you.
735
00:27:06,597 --> 00:27:07,870
The hope of glory.
736
00:27:08,506 --> 00:27:09,404
Paul had battled
737
00:27:09,858 --> 00:27:10,358
the
738
00:27:11,131 --> 00:27:12,983
Jewish leaders. He he battled
739
00:27:13,374 --> 00:27:14,092
the no,
740
00:27:14,491 --> 00:27:17,123
the... These cerebral thinkers who thought they had
741
00:27:17,123 --> 00:27:19,356
special dis compensation, special information.
742
00:27:20,393 --> 00:27:21,132
He battled
743
00:27:21,828 --> 00:27:24,976
the J who who did not believe that
744
00:27:25,114 --> 00:27:26,651
Jesus Christ our Lord
745
00:27:27,029 --> 00:27:29,661
was the messiah. They did they did not
746
00:27:29,661 --> 00:27:30,161
believe
747
00:27:30,633 --> 00:27:31,133
in
748
00:27:31,746 --> 00:27:34,393
justification by faith. They held on to
749
00:27:35,404 --> 00:27:37,495
compliance with the law and even the ceremonial
750
00:27:37,551 --> 00:27:41,386
law and wanted to ci sized profess believers
751
00:27:41,386 --> 00:27:42,262
who were gentile.
752
00:27:43,058 --> 00:27:45,765
And and and they pursued Paul aggressively. They
753
00:27:45,765 --> 00:27:46,402
wanted to kill him.
754
00:27:47,134 --> 00:27:50,023
They they thought this justification by faith was
755
00:27:50,161 --> 00:27:50,958
a heresy.
756
00:27:51,595 --> 00:27:53,427
If you think about it in Roman culture,
757
00:27:54,317 --> 00:27:56,459
It's a lot like where we are today.
758
00:27:56,617 --> 00:27:57,887
I'm not 1 of those who says, yeah.
759
00:27:58,045 --> 00:27:59,156
Look at the Roman empire and what happened.
760
00:27:59,314 --> 00:28:00,663
That's gonna happen to the United States. I.
761
00:28:01,059 --> 00:28:03,144
I think that that's that I mean, that
762
00:28:03,144 --> 00:28:06,345
may be true, but I I think IIII
763
00:28:06,345 --> 00:28:08,025
think some of the some of the underlying
764
00:28:08,025 --> 00:28:09,384
concepts there are helpful.
765
00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:11,795
But I'm not sure that we're gonna fall
766
00:28:11,795 --> 00:28:14,110
like, the Roman empire did, we might. I'm
767
00:28:14,110 --> 00:28:16,504
not saying we're not going to. But but
768
00:28:16,584 --> 00:28:18,601
I am saying that the culture in Rome
769
00:28:18,993 --> 00:28:21,617
rejected Christianity. In fact, the true, if I
770
00:28:21,617 --> 00:28:23,049
can say it this way, people who would
771
00:28:23,049 --> 00:28:25,196
have been acknowledged as religious people. What did
772
00:28:25,196 --> 00:28:26,388
they do? They worship idol?
773
00:28:27,199 --> 00:28:29,505
In remember, the Christians were a narrow kind
774
00:28:29,505 --> 00:28:31,334
of a cult thing to them, kind of
775
00:28:31,334 --> 00:28:32,311
a counter cultural
776
00:28:32,924 --> 00:28:35,151
thing. The the tolerance of rome.
777
00:28:35,882 --> 00:28:38,827
Was incredible. They tolerated 1 of everything over
778
00:28:38,827 --> 00:28:39,486
a hundred
779
00:28:39,941 --> 00:28:40,339
idol.
780
00:28:40,976 --> 00:28:41,476
They
781
00:28:41,851 --> 00:28:43,443
they they had... I mean, if you look
782
00:28:43,443 --> 00:28:45,009
at the people who battled paul
783
00:28:45,688 --> 00:28:46,087
ideological.
784
00:28:46,645 --> 00:28:49,300
Paul is setting the record straight
785
00:28:49,757 --> 00:28:52,684
with the facts with ideological facts with
786
00:28:53,204 --> 00:28:57,060
theological facts that are absolutely true from scripture
787
00:28:57,199 --> 00:28:59,436
and and Paul often is quoting scripture if
788
00:28:59,436 --> 00:29:00,475
you look at his letters.
789
00:29:01,529 --> 00:29:04,565
The these truths are beautiful and deep, and
790
00:29:04,565 --> 00:29:05,843
and Paul is saying, look.
791
00:29:06,482 --> 00:29:09,293
Now we know this mystery this was hidden
792
00:29:09,293 --> 00:29:12,247
for ages and generations is now revealed to
793
00:29:12,247 --> 00:29:14,561
the saints in Jesus Christ. That's what he's
794
00:29:14,561 --> 00:29:17,675
talking about. And and isn't that just beautiful?
795
00:29:17,929 --> 00:29:19,700
And he's explaining it. So
796
00:29:20,074 --> 00:29:22,696
clearly, but he's getting post. He's he's riding
797
00:29:22,696 --> 00:29:24,286
under house or arrest chained to a guard,
798
00:29:24,445 --> 00:29:26,047
but but when he when he does his
799
00:29:26,047 --> 00:29:28,186
sal mutations and and it kinda wraps up
800
00:29:28,424 --> 00:29:31,357
Philippians isn't that beautiful the way Caesar... Caesar's
801
00:29:31,357 --> 00:29:32,149
household greet you.
802
00:29:32,799 --> 00:29:35,037
Well, when he made Caesar's household, great. What
803
00:29:35,037 --> 00:29:35,836
are you doing with Caesar?
804
00:29:36,555 --> 00:29:38,793
Well, clearly, the guards had come to know
805
00:29:38,953 --> 00:29:40,871
Christ. And, I mean, lots of people did
806
00:29:40,871 --> 00:29:41,270
apparently?
807
00:29:42,084 --> 00:29:45,509
In Rome, under Paul's ministry, while under house
808
00:29:45,509 --> 00:29:47,580
arrest, which couldn't have been a pleasant thing,
809
00:29:47,739 --> 00:29:48,239
but
810
00:29:48,695 --> 00:29:51,497
wow, all this truth they heard imagine hearing
811
00:29:51,656 --> 00:29:53,088
Paul pray 24 7.
812
00:29:53,963 --> 00:29:55,077
Imagine what that was like.
813
00:29:56,031 --> 00:29:58,075
So he's thankful, even
814
00:29:58,514 --> 00:30:00,034
in his suffering.
815
00:30:00,514 --> 00:30:01,894
He knows the role
816
00:30:02,194 --> 00:30:03,575
that suffering plays
817
00:30:04,034 --> 00:30:05,394
in in our lives.
818
00:30:05,968 --> 00:30:09,655
Well, thank you and for ind this lesson
819
00:30:09,792 --> 00:30:10,611
and my
820
00:30:11,465 --> 00:30:13,855
discussion about doing the next thing. I hope
821
00:30:13,855 --> 00:30:14,912
you will do
822
00:30:15,304 --> 00:30:17,316
the next thing. When you look at Paul's
823
00:30:17,533 --> 00:30:20,001
ministry, he took the next step, didn't he?
824
00:30:20,798 --> 00:30:22,549
He didn't say, well, you know, I thought
825
00:30:22,549 --> 00:30:24,316
about doing it, but then thought maybe they'll
826
00:30:24,316 --> 00:30:26,307
throw rocks at me or. They might not
827
00:30:26,307 --> 00:30:28,059
respect me as my know. I'm not exactly
828
00:30:28,059 --> 00:30:29,413
like the rest of the culture and what
829
00:30:29,572 --> 00:30:31,722
I'm teaching is is is not gonna be
830
00:30:31,722 --> 00:30:34,366
met with with warmth by everyone. My goodness,
831
00:30:34,605 --> 00:30:36,039
I serve on board and we try to
832
00:30:36,039 --> 00:30:36,539
engineer
833
00:30:36,915 --> 00:30:37,734
communication sometimes
834
00:30:38,110 --> 00:30:39,783
to all of our constituents and we try
835
00:30:39,783 --> 00:30:41,797
to be so careful that we don't offend
836
00:30:42,109 --> 00:30:43,308
and and and we try to get it
837
00:30:43,308 --> 00:30:45,225
right. But, you know, you know what, Paul
838
00:30:45,225 --> 00:30:47,303
encourages me in, and I want to do
839
00:30:47,303 --> 00:30:49,140
this more and more. I wanna tell the
840
00:30:49,140 --> 00:30:49,300
truth,
841
00:30:50,192 --> 00:30:51,965
I wanna tell the truth with a biblical
842
00:30:52,022 --> 00:30:52,522
worldview
843
00:30:52,976 --> 00:30:53,295
clearly.
844
00:30:53,931 --> 00:30:56,238
I wanna communicate it lovingly and gently,
845
00:30:56,716 --> 00:30:58,466
but clearly, Don't wanna be afraid to stand.
846
00:30:59,119 --> 00:31:01,756
I don't want to be a people please
847
00:31:01,756 --> 00:31:02,815
who is afraid
848
00:31:03,194 --> 00:31:04,952
to stand, and I know many of you
849
00:31:04,952 --> 00:31:06,790
live that way as well.
850
00:31:07,364 --> 00:31:10,401
Well, we we grieve at the loss of
851
00:31:10,401 --> 00:31:12,499
a pastor, like the 1 that I mentioned
852
00:31:13,038 --> 00:31:14,956
earlier out of respect for his family and
853
00:31:14,956 --> 00:31:15,755
their church family,
854
00:31:16,408 --> 00:31:17,363
I'm I'm not gonna,
855
00:31:18,477 --> 00:31:19,670
name him over the church.
856
00:31:20,386 --> 00:31:22,614
But but please pray for them. This is,
857
00:31:23,984 --> 00:31:26,224
it's a a beautiful opportunity that we have
858
00:31:26,464 --> 00:31:29,525
to to imitate policy imitate Christ
859
00:31:29,984 --> 00:31:31,505
and and and to pray,
860
00:31:32,557 --> 00:31:34,709
for his dear sweet family.
861
00:31:35,904 --> 00:31:38,215
And they are dear and they are are
862
00:31:38,215 --> 00:31:39,592
sweet. And then
863
00:31:39,984 --> 00:31:41,821
please allow me if I may just to
864
00:31:41,821 --> 00:31:42,780
leave you with this.
865
00:31:43,579 --> 00:31:45,576
Let let's do the next thing. Say the
866
00:31:45,576 --> 00:31:46,775
next thing. Don't hold back.
867
00:31:47,585 --> 00:31:49,804
I tilt... Tell the teacher, you you did
868
00:31:49,804 --> 00:31:52,656
you did well. Thank you. That means a
869
00:31:52,656 --> 00:31:54,107
lot to me. That that
870
00:31:54,574 --> 00:31:56,830
that that verse you shared that that concept
871
00:31:56,889 --> 00:31:59,443
is has been powerful in my life. Thank
872
00:31:59,443 --> 00:32:01,439
you. It's the mutual building up of the
873
00:32:01,439 --> 00:32:03,035
saints that I think we forget to do.
874
00:32:03,687 --> 00:32:05,117
We we'll often say did you see the
875
00:32:05,117 --> 00:32:06,548
game? Did you see the score? Did you
876
00:32:06,548 --> 00:32:07,979
see the running back? Did you see this
877
00:32:07,979 --> 00:32:09,807
or that? And it's kind of our way,
878
00:32:10,125 --> 00:32:12,032
especially as guys are kinda relating to each
879
00:32:12,032 --> 00:32:14,837
other? How much more important is it to
880
00:32:14,837 --> 00:32:15,337
care
881
00:32:15,715 --> 00:32:18,129
to to to say expressions
882
00:32:18,586 --> 00:32:20,740
of care. And to remember to pray when
883
00:32:20,740 --> 00:32:23,409
we say we pray? And we can go
884
00:32:23,710 --> 00:32:25,549
on on and on. But the beauty of
885
00:32:25,549 --> 00:32:26,109
this section,
886
00:32:26,829 --> 00:32:29,230
really, I think in C is clear, we'll
887
00:32:29,230 --> 00:32:31,958
start God willing, and next week with chapter
888
00:32:31,958 --> 00:32:33,175
2. We'll have some
889
00:32:33,631 --> 00:32:35,304
economic updates along the way.
890
00:32:36,499 --> 00:32:37,398
I want to
891
00:32:38,107 --> 00:32:41,130
present the truth to you here on on
892
00:32:41,130 --> 00:32:43,914
this podcast. And I don't spend a lot
893
00:32:43,914 --> 00:32:44,573
of time
894
00:32:45,122 --> 00:32:48,385
predicting the future, but I want to equip
895
00:32:48,385 --> 00:32:49,658
you the as best I can.
896
00:32:50,613 --> 00:32:53,796
So, without giving you investment advice per s.
897
00:32:54,289 --> 00:32:57,797
Well, thank you for listening. This is relentless
898
00:32:57,797 --> 00:33:00,348
truth. You can go to our website, john
899
00:33:00,348 --> 00:33:02,182
warren media dot com for more information about
900
00:33:02,182 --> 00:33:04,111
our work. Please like a review and subscribe.
901
00:33:04,509 --> 00:33:06,263
To relentless truth you can find us review
902
00:33:06,263 --> 00:33:08,894
your your podcast, We grow by you sharing
903
00:33:08,894 --> 00:33:09,633
this podcast
904
00:33:10,010 --> 00:33:12,177
with your friends. So please your do so
905
00:33:12,177 --> 00:33:13,712
if this has been a blessing
906
00:33:14,089 --> 00:33:15,363
to you until next time.
907
00:33:19,824 --> 00:33:23,345
Thanks for listening. To relentless truth with John
908
00:33:23,504 --> 00:33:23,823
Warren.
909
00:33:24,539 --> 00:33:26,633
Please consider sharing this podcast
910
00:33:27,168 --> 00:33:29,956
and subscribe to receive future episodes.
911
00:33:30,847 --> 00:33:34,270
Connect with John regarding your comments, questions, and
912
00:33:34,270 --> 00:33:38,011
show ideas through john warren media dot com.
913
00:33:38,585 --> 00:33:41,704
Or at john warren media on Facebook,
914
00:33:42,105 --> 00:33:43,625
Twitter, or Instagram.
915
00:33:44,424 --> 00:33:46,831
That's all for this up episode join us
916
00:33:46,831 --> 00:33:50,512
next week for another edition of relentless truth
917
00:33:50,648 --> 00:33:51,681
with John Warren.
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