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A Letter Before Death - Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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If you remember over the past few weeks and months, as a
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church, we've been exploring the book of 1st Timothy and our
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prayer is that through that book, we would have had a
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greater understanding of God's purpose for the local church.
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What his DNA, his blueprint for the church is not, what
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tradition says, not what modern Church growth movements promote,
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but what God's word says, And with the interaction between
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Paul and Timothy and Paul's writings and instruction still
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fresh in our minds. I think it seems appropriate
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that we would only continue as a church to go through the book of
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2nd Timothy and that's exactly what we're going to be doing
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throughout the next few weeks. So please turn with me to the
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book of 2nd, Timothy chapter 1 and as you turn there, We're
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going to pray one more time, and ask the Lord to help us with
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these two verses that we have today.
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Pray with me, please. Father in heaven, we come before
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you again. Lord, your word says that your
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house shall be called a House of Prayer.
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We pray, we seek your face Lord. We come with empty hands.
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We come with hearts that are in need of you Minds that are need
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of you bodies that are need of you.
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Lord. Our souls are in need of you.
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We ask Lord that this morning you would sanctify us.
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You would wash Us afresh in the revelation of your goodness.
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We pray. Lord that you would destroy
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every work of Satan. Every work of the flesh.
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We pray. Lord that the Holy Spirit would
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do miracles in this place and Lord as you fell in the
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household of Cornelius, to those who heard the word.
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Would you do the same in this place fall upon us as we hear
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your word and change Us From the Inside Out.
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Lord, we long to partner with your purpose and your purpose.
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To transform us into the image of your son brand us, Lord with
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Christ rewire, renew our thinking Lord.
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I pray Lord with my brothers and sisters that in this place, you
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would show us how we can change. Show us how we can understand
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you. Show us how we can reflect you.
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This is our desire Lord made the ministry of the word.
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Be assisted by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
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Now we can't do this without you.
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We can't preach it without you. We can't receive it without you.
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We humble ourselves in the Name of Christ.
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We pray. Amen.
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Read with me, please. Second, Timothy chapter, 1,
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verse 1 and 2 Paul An apostle of Christ Jesus.
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By the will of God, according to the promise of the life that is
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in Christ. Jesus 2.
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Timothy, my beloved child grace mercy, and peace.
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From God, the father and Christ Jesus, our lord.
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The book of 2nd Timothy is unique for two main reasons and
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I'm sure you can come up with one or two other ones.
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Firstly, second. Timothy is one of Paul's most
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intimate and personal letters. Paul here is not addressing an
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entire congregation as he does other books nor.
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Is he unfolding a theological masterpiece?
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Like he does with the book of Romans, for example.
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Paul here, speaking to an individual and not just a random
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individual. He speaking to his Protege.
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He speaking to his spiritual son, his coworker in the gospel
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that meant so much to him because Paul had seen many
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disappointments throughout his ministries.
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Some people starting out with Zeal, some people coming in and
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out some people walking out in the ministry, but with Timothy,
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there was something special. He was sold out to Christ.
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And Paul had a special affection for him in the spirit and this
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letter gives us a glimpse in went to one of the most intimate
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and transparent moments in the life of the Apostle.
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Paul. He is sharing his thoughts.
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Yes, and he's sharing truths, but he is also showing us by the
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spirit, a special bond that he has with another cold labor in
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Christ. And I believe that as you read
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second, Timothy, if you read it with that kind of a lens, it
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would challenge you and I to reflect on our own relationships
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with others in comparison. Them and see what really binds
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us to other people. You read about Paul and Timothy
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and you know that what they shared was this a dedication to
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the gospel a love for Christ, they lived for no other thing.
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And this is why they had such an intimate relationship and May
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challenge us to reflect. What we do with our
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relationships. What connects us to others and
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even the language of Paul here. In this personal metal should
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stir us as Christians is to know how we should encourage one
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another build up. One another stir up, one another
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as we seek to serve the Lord together.
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But this letter is even more unique because of the timing.
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It is Paul's final letter. It's his concluding letter.
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This letter invites us to the brink of a man's martyrdom as
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you and I read this. We know that in second.
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Timothy look at chapter 4, verse 6 with me quickly.
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We are aware that Paul is in prison, but we know more.
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He says, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering
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and the time of my departure has come when you read, Paul's other
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prison Epistles. He often shares, his hope that
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he will be released. He has this faith that he's
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going to come out of it. He knows that it's just a
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temporary moment just to season. But in this letter, he shares,
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no hope. He knows that this is the final
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End of the Road. His departure has come history
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tells us that while Paul wrote this letter Nero, the Roman
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Emperor broke out and mass persecution against the
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Christians and he was hunting them down and he was causing
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Society to turn on believers. And Paul here is a victim of
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that persecution. And here he is in prison, and he
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knows full well, that at any moment, a Roman official will
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come into his dungeon and call his name, to lead him to his
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final exit. And so you and I before us with
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these words, have the preserved words of the Holy Spirit of a
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man who is facing death. Of a man who is about to enter
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into glory and that is special for us for many reasons.
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Because the reality is from time to time facing death has a
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purifying effect on what we prioritize in life.
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Ecclesiastes. 7 2 says, it is better to go to the house of
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mourning that to go to the house of feasting.
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For this is the end of all mankind and the living will lay
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it to heart. It is better to go to the house
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of mourning than to go to the house of feasting for.
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This is the end of all mankind and the living will lay it to
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heart. You know, most people Dodge the
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discussion about death and more than that.
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They avoid the thought of it at all costs.
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And this verse here in Ecclesiastes, doesn't teach us
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to be more bid and to be preoccupied with dying.
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No, it's giving us an Insight. It's showing us that in the
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house of mourning. Provide some kind of a wisdom
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that the distractions of the House of feasting cannot
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provide. And even if you come to the
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place where you behold death for a moment, you can learn much
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about how to navigate through life.
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It is the brevity of Our Lives. That makes us more thoughtful
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with our days and careless with our hours.
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And I believe that second Timothy, if we read it with
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that, kind of a lens will provoke us.
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Provoke us because we see here a man who has burned out for
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Christ and was finished. Well, you know, showed us what
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it really means to live a full life, a joyful life, a
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meaningful life. We praise God for such a letter
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as this because we know that we can draw some encouragement
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from. And I believe from the first two
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verses alone. We can pull out some insight.
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I want us to ring out every single verse from this book.
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It's not a very long book. So we should draw every drop of
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truth that we can. And we will do that in verse one
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alone. We can see three truths, three
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truths of this man who is in such a dire situation.
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Remember? He's not.
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The American version of what prison looks like.
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He's in a cold damp, stinking cell left himself abandoned by
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his friends, his Partners in Ministry.
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And knowing that at any moment, the cold breath of the Grave
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will call for his head. But notice here, that as its man
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is writing his final letter before his own death, the call
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of God Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.
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Now, that's interesting. The Apostle Paul is writing to
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Timothy, Timothy knows. Paul Timothy understands Paul
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Spiritual Authority. Why would Paul go out of his way
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to reintroduce himself as an apostle?
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We know that Timothy surely understands that but he's saying
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it, I'm an apostle, this isn't To meet letter is that
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necessary? Paul?
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Well, it is necessary. When Timothy himself is a target
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of persecution. He is going through difficult
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circumstances himself. You read us and you knows he
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needs encouragement. He needs to be built up and Paul
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wants to make sure that he understands the words.
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You're about to read come from God.
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I am commissioned by the Lord as an apostle.
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I've been called out to be a channel for divine revelation,
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and I'm bringing that Revelation to you.
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I want you to know Timothy that what you're about to see and
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read. Read and understand comes from
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the heart of your master of your lord, which tells us the very
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simple truth of the greatest encouragement that you and I can
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receive are the truths from the almighty, unchanging God.
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And that's what you wants to provide him.
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My words are authoritative my words come from him and they are
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for you. But Paul mentioning his
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apostleship goes beyond, just the authority of what he's about
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to say, I believe that what Paul is saying here is highlighting
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how he personally lived on this Earth.
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For the glory of God. I'm an apostle by the will of
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God. in other words, one of the greatest Comforts that you can
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have in this life other than having, the Assurance of
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Salvation is to know that you lived your calling.
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Is that you understood your purpose for God and you lived it
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out for God? And I think that Paul is saying
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something of this sort here. I'm an apostle by the will of
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God. I have performed, the will of
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God in my final letter. I want to let you know that and
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I am reflecting on that myself. I stumbled across a song not too
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long ago. It's an old song and it
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intrigued me. The lyrics intrigued me.
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So I looked into it. I realize that it is one of the
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most popular funeral songs. And it's not for Christian
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funerals, of course, but generally speaking, it's one of
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the most used songs for people to cope with death, and it's one
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of the most used songs for people to request that their
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burial. You've probably heard it.
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It's been made popularized by Frank Sinatra, My Way.
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You heard it. Well, here are some lyrics to
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consider from that song. Listen, and now the end is near
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and so I face that final curtain.
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My friend. I'll make it clear.
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I'll State my case. Case of which I'm certain, I've
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lived a life that's full. I traveled each and every
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Highway and more much more. I did it.
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I did it my way. If somebody would have sung that
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at the Apostle Paul's Funeral, I'm sure he would have
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resurrected just to rebuke the guy.
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I did it my way. I did it my way.
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No, Paul would never say such a thing.
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He would say, I obeyed the heavenly vision that I've
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received from him. I obeyed the will of God for my
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life. He called me to be an apostle.
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So that's what I honored him with to be an apostle.
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And you're going to see later on that Paul will expand on his Joy
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of how he fulfilled his purpose on the earth for God.
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And it's no wonder because he is reflecting the attitude of his
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Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ.
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When he said these words near the end of his own life and John
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17:4. I glorified you on Earth.
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Having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
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I read that last night in a move, me to tears.
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Jesus saying to the father. I glorified you on Earth.
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I did what you called me to do. I pray that you would be able to
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say those words. If you know your death is
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coming, you would constantly be able to say before God.
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I glorified you. I didn't do it my way.
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I didn't live life to my understanding of what it means
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to live life to the full. No, I glorified you.
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What's amazing about the life of Jesus as that?
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It wasn't a long life, but it was a full life.
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If somebody died at the age of 33 today, even a Christian, most
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people would think what a what a loss.
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He's gone too soon. And the human sense that that
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may be true, but then Jesus would have gone too soon.
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According to the understanding that we believe that.
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No, see, that's old Covenant thinking because in the old
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Covenant, the emphasis of blessing, one of them is a long
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life, many, many years being lived and we could equate that
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today as well as a blessing. But there's a different emphasis
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in the New Covenant and that is exemplified by Christ.
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It's not about the amount of years.
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It's what you do with those years.
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It's the fullness of life and Jesus Christ.
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The earliest recorded words of him in the gospels is found in
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Luke at the age of what 12 years old.
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Those are the first words, uttered from the Son of God and
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is preteen years. And you know what, that sentence
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was that came from those holy lips.
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Even at that point of his life and Luke 2:49 when his parents
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were looking for his Earthly parents.
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He said to them. Why were you Looking for me.
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Did you not know that I must be in my father's house?
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Other translations. Did you not know that I must be
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about my father's business. And so even at 12 years old,
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Christ consecrated himself, the revelation of who he was was
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blossoming and these are the earliest recorded words of who
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he was and what he lived for. And as he approached the
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finality of his life. He could say, I glorified you on
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the Earth. I'm about my father's business.
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I'm here to fulfill his will, and it's amazing and verse 50.
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They did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
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Didn't understand what you're 12 years old.
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You're about your father's business.
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Seeing that time for Jewish culture.
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When you are 12 13, you would you would begin to learn your
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father's trade. And Jesus, here is doing that.
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He's at the right point of life, but he is imitating his heavenly
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father. He's saying I'm here to preach
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the word because he was teaching in the temple.
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This is what I've came to do to show the truth to declare the
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truth. And even after that they said,
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well, you're still our son so he had to submit to them.
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And listen that was still the will of God.
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So you might be wondering what is it that I must be doing to go
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about my father's business and you have all these radical
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amazing plans that rush through your mind.
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But in this case at this point in Jesus life, yeah, he was
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teaching but that was only for a moment.
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He's submitted to his parents and he was equally fulfilling
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the will of God. He was obeying and we see here
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that Paul is saying, I'm an apostle by the will of God and
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I've been doing it up to this very moment.
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He reflected on the call of God, but him, mentioning his
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apostleship goes even deeper than that because it is not just
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him reflecting about his faithfulness to the mission that
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God had ordained for his life. It's also a recollection of the
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wonderful mercies of the master. What do I mean by that?
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You and I have every reason to believe that whenever Paul
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mentioned his apostleship those who read it were alarmed by The
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Authority. This is an apostle.
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While at the same time. Paul would be lavished by fresh
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sense of the grace of God. Because every time he knew that
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he was an apostle and he declared that he was an apostle,
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he knew that he didn't deserve to be an apostle. 1st
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Corinthians 15, he tells a very plain and clear in verse 9.
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For I am the least of the Apostles.
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I am the least of the Apostles, unworthy to be called an
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apostle. Because I persecuted the Church
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of God, you have many people that discourage Christians from
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reflecting on their past and I would discourage you of
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reflecting on your past of all that brings about his guilt and
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shame. I would but this man didn't
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forget his past. He reflected, he understood.
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It was ever before him, but it only provoked worship.
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It, provoked, an understanding of the grace of God, it
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magnified, the Lord, and his affections, and his adoration.
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And so here, he says, I know what I did.
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I killed Christians, but oh, here's the grace of God.
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Here's the mercy of God. Here's the wonderful tender
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kindness and compassion of God. I'm not worthy to be called an
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apostle. Do you think anytime he said in
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one of his introductions? I am an apostle that he said, it
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would Pride with arrogance with his nose.
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Lifted up. No, he understood full.
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Well that what I was able to do on the Earth was simply by the
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mercy and grace of God. I'm an apostle Timothy.
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Paul was a preacher of Grace and often time the grace that was
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connected to the Cross of Christ.
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But that's not only the Grace that he preached about.
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There is a Grace for service, not just salvation that he
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declared. Yes, Christ called me to be in
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his kingdom though. I persecuted his own body.
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But Christ also elevated me and called me to be one of his
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ambassadors. And here's the beauty about
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that. You and I not only have the
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invitation to know the comfort of Salvation and the grace of
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God in that. If you're humble and hungry
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enough, you can do a lifelong experience of different series
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of his grace by him. Letting you use you for his
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glory. Many Christians don't know those
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Grace's because they're not hungry enough.
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They want to do a Frank Sinatra's way.
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I'm saved. Thank God.
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I got my ticket to heaven, but I'm going to do it my way.
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Do it my way. And you waste a Grace that God
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longs to fill your life with. It's a Grace that you might
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know, and that he uses you for something.
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And you say I'm not worthy to be using this way.
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He uses you to touch somebody else's life.
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He uses you to do something wonderful out of the ordinary.
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Oftentimes, it's the grace that you feel with the strength that
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you're able to endure, knowing that in the natural, you would
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throw in the towel. It's a Grace to love the
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unlovable, to forgive the unforgivable.
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To give what you would not give if you did not have Christ.
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Raining in your heart. Wonderful graces are waiting for
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you to experience, but you have to be like this man who says, I
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count my life. I have no value.
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Unless I fulfill the call of God on my life.
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And this man was an apostle and he understood that he was an
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apostle because of God's grace. And I guarantee you, if you set
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your life apart, for the glory of God, at the end of the road,
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you will look back and all you will see is his Grace Grace upon
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Grace, upon Grace. This man was be, he was able to
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identify his grace and absolutely everything.
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Look what he says here in 1st Corinthians 15:10, but by the
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grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace toward me was not
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in vain on the contrary. I worked harder than any of
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them. Oh, Paul, don't be so proud.
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You worked harder than any of them.
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If we heard somebody say that today would say he Sky needs a
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spiritual shower. Who says I work harder than any
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of them. Well, finish though.
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It was not I but the grace of God that is in me.
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Grace, not just for salvation, not just to be called into
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service. But Grace, for the strength, to
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endure to be faithful to be fruitful Grace everywhere.
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And here is, you writes to Timothy goes.
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I'm an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and you can
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write in parentheses by the grace of God.
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There he is sitting in that darkroom reflecting on the fact
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that he lived his life in such a manner and it was only because
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God was merciful toward him. You and I have the opportunity
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to know that same Grace. But we have to be hungry to do,
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his will. But it goes beyond that Paul, an
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apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, according to the
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promise of the life. That is in Christ Jesus.
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See what he's saying. Yeah, I am an apostle.
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I obeyed his will that's all by the grace of God, but now, I'm
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looking forward to a promise that has my name on it according
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to the promise of the life. That is where only in Christ
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Jesus and Paul love to use those words in Christ Jesus.
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And This Promise of the life that is in Christ.
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Jesus is a two-fold promise. It's a promise that's connected
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to what he said. I lived the will of God.
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See there's only true life in Christ Jesus and he experienced
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that side of the promise. I know this life that Abundant
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Life that amazing life, that wonderful life.
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I often say this. You you cannot even measure up.
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If you had all the resources in the world, all the It's all the
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opportunities to do what you want.
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It would not even come close to the will of God for your life.
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And this man knew that the promise of life that is in
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Christ Jesus, I experienced it. But there's another side of the
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promise. It's the life to come.
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It's a life that he will experience very shortly.
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It's a life. That is eternal.
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And what's amazing is that it's a promise that he was holding
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onto, this is not a phrase that Paul often uses in his
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introductions in his letter, but it was appropriate here.
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I'm reflecting right away. And I want to comfort.
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You Timothy right away. I'm not going to see you most
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likely unless you hurry up and get here.
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And he says that later on. But I'm clinging to a promise.
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A promise that will help me endure, these chains that will
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help me endure beheading. And here's what I want to say to
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you this morning. Jesus Christ has made you a
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personal promise. Listen now, forget everybody
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else in this room just for a moment.
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And hear my words toward you. Okay, Jesus Christ has made a
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personal promise to you. Now, that might not mean much to
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you, especially in a day where people say, yes and no one break
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those promises, but let me remind you what Titus 1 tells us
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about this. God, in verse 2.
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Listen carefully. It says in Hope of eternal life
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of God. Who never lies?
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Promise before the ages began in Hope of eternal life.
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In which god, listen who never lies.
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Promise. Before the ages began.
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We were talking about a God who can't lie.
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He can't and he made you a promise this morning and that
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promise was found in John 11:25 and 26.
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Jesus said to Martha. I am the resurrection and the
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life. I am the resurrection and the
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life whoever believes in me, though.
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He die, yet shall he live? Whoever, whoever?
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And everyone who lives and Believes In Me, shall never die.
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And here's the question for you this morning.
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Do you believe this? Do you believe this whoever
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believes in me? Does it matter greater small?
25:05
Rich or poor? Whoever believes in me will
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never die. You know that truth, if you
25:13
really believe it. Will help you interpret what Job
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Calls the king of Terrors, which is death.
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In a whole new light. One of my favorite books.
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Thus far is a book by John Flavel or Flavel called facing
25:30
grief, and I would actually recommend that book from the
25:34
pulpit to you. Because it deals with a ancient
25:37
writer who had lost many people in his life to death, including
25:42
a child and three different wives.
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I believe. Imagine that you married one
25:45
died. The second one died.
25:47
Third one died. And I think the fourth one
25:49
survivor of the third one survived.
25:53
And this man from that pain, received an authority to speak
25:58
on Grief. And it's no wonder because when
26:01
you read that book, you come into insights, that will blow
26:04
you away. And one of the things that touch
26:06
my heart is from one of the chapters in which he encourages
26:11
Christians who have experienced loss and I want you to hear
26:13
these words. Listen carefully, John Flavel
26:16
says that is listen, look not upon the dead as a Lost
26:21
Generation. Think not that death has
26:25
annihilated and utterly destroyed them.
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Oh, no, they are not dead. But only sleep, and if they
26:33
sleep, they shall awake again, you do not use to make out cries
26:38
and Lamentations for your children and friends.
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When you find them asleep upon their beds, why death is, but a
26:44
longer sleep out of which they shall surely awake as ever, they
26:49
did in the morning in this world.
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You see what he's saying. You never came after a late
26:56
night into your home. And saw your children sleeping
26:58
in bed and ripped your garments and put ashes on your head
27:01
because they're asleep. You never stumbled upon your
27:04
spouse on the couch after a long afternoon, taking a nap and wept
27:08
your eyes out because they were asleep.
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Why? Because, you know, that they're
27:11
going to wake up any moment. And what he's saying here is
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that in Christ, death is just about a longer sleep.
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One day, they're going to wake up.
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And that's the hope that you and I had that's the promise.
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And here's the thing. It's going to be the best beauty
27:27
sleep. They've ever had.
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You know, why? Because they're going to wake up
27:31
glorified. In splendor and Majesty.
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And you're going to be amazed at the promise that is in Christ.
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Jesus fulfilled. In those that you love and
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fulfill. They knew when you were in
27:44
Christ. It's just longer sleep.
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That's what this promise does. It surges such a Grace and
27:51
strength for you to not only interpret death in such a way.
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But even if you like, Paul stared death in the eyes, you
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can know a certain Grace. Because why this Timothy this
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Timothy that's receiving this letter is being encouraged.
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You read on as we're going to discover and he's actually
28:10
getting weak in the faith. He's letting his spiritual
28:13
gifts, it aside and Paul's like no fan into flame, put things in
28:19
order, don't lose your seal suffer for Christ.
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I mean, if there's anybody that needs encouragement from a
28:24
letter, it's Paul. You're the one in the prison.
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You're the one that's about to be executed.
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Where are the letters coming in? No, he's sending letters out.
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Why? Because he has a promise with
28:36
his name on it. And it's so powerful.
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It's so profound that it even gave him the energy to motivate
28:44
someone else that is not in the same predicament as him.
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That's What Faith Can Do. That's What Faith Can Do.
28:52
It frames thing in such a way where, you know, Supernatural
28:56
compassion, even in the midst of your own sorrows.
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And Paul is doing that, and that's why he says, in verse 2
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Timothy. My beloved child, what
29:08
tenderness and compassion? What comforting words?
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I love you. I want to show you how much I
29:15
love you. I'm going to instruct you as a
29:16
father. Now as this man has rats running
29:19
around his feet. Small rations of food living
29:24
with any human with the anxiety of one day.
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I'm going to leave never to return again.
29:32
Because he had a promise and this is what he says grace mercy
29:38
and peace from God the father again.
29:41
He's reflecting Christ didn't Christ, hang there on the cross,
29:44
having the whole weight of the sin of the world upon his
29:47
shoulders and he looks down and he sees his mother.
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And he assigns a caretaker for her while he is suffering.
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And Paul is doing the same to some degree.
29:59
He's tapped into a Grace because of a promise of life that is in
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Christ Jesus. And here is where we're going to
30:06
do something a little interesting because I've never
30:08
done this in a message. I never gone through books this
30:10
fast, but I want to show you something.
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He says grace, mercy and peace. No word is by accident in the
30:19
Holy Bible. No.
30:21
Word is by accident. And I want to prove that to you.
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You have your Bibles with you this morning?
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I hope so. Go to the Book of Romans.
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I want you to see and compare every other introduction that
30:31
Paul gives in his letters and we're going to do this by just
30:38
skipping Stones over the surface of these books, Romans chapter
30:42
1, verse 7, you ready to all those in Rome who are loved by
30:46
God and called to be Saints. Grace to you and peace from God.
30:49
Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
30:51
They're right. Let's go to First Corinthians 1.
30:57
Verse 3. Grace to you and peace from God,
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our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
31:06
He see it. Second Corinthians.
31:11
Verse 1. Rather verse 2 of chapter 1.
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This is going to be worth it. I promise, okay. grace to you
31:19
and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
31:23
Galatians 1 Verse 3. Grace to you and peace from God.
31:31
Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 1 verse 2.
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Maybe some of you are getting it all ready grace to you and
31:40
Priests peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
31:43
Christ. Now skip over to Philippians 1
31:47
verse 2 Just a few pages grace to you and peace from God, our
31:52
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
31:54
Colossians 1 verse 2, to the Saints and faithful brothers in
31:59
Christ are colossi grace to you and peace from God.
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Our Father. 1st Thessalonians, 1.
32:07
Verse 2, verse 1. Rather Paul saw Donna, Saint
32:12
Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the father
32:14
and the Lord Jesus Christ grace to you and peace.
32:17
Second Thessalonians 1. We're almost there verse 2 grace
32:21
to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus
32:24
Christ. And finally skip over a few
32:26
books and the short letter to Philemon.
32:29
Sure enough and verse 3, grace to you and peace from God, our
32:33
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace.
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Grace to you and peace Grace. Um, Peace, grace to you and
32:38
peace. Grace to you, and peace.
32:40
Grace to you and peace. And then you go to 1st Timothy.
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What do you read in verse 2 of chapter?
32:49
1 2. Timothy.
32:50
My true child in the faith Grace.
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What's that word? Say Mercy?
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And peace from God, the father and Christ Jesus.
32:58
Our lord 2nd Timothy. You read it.
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Now, you will only see this. Unfortunately, the ESV does a
33:04
disservice to this, you'll only see this.
33:06
If you have a King James and new King James, but go to the book
33:08
of Titus. Verse 1.
33:11
Chapter 1, rather verse 4 to Titus.
33:14
Mine, own son, after the common Faith, grace, mercy, and peace
33:19
from God, the father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior.
33:24
Three out of all those letters. Paul includes the word mercy.
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And he reserves using that word and 10 of them.
33:35
When he uses the word mercy, do you know where he uses him?
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When he used them? Why he uses them every time the
33:41
word mercy was used. It was in the Pastoral letters.
33:45
In other words. He used the word mercy when he
33:47
was directing his letter to a full-time minister.
33:52
That's significant. Because it shows that Paul
33:58
didn't AdWords or subtract words randomly.
34:02
It wasn't just such a general salutation, know it was
34:05
calculated. And here's the understanding.
34:08
It's not that people who are not ministers, don't need Mercy.
34:11
It's that ministers who serve full-time are in need of extra
34:15
Mercy. And he knew that very well as a
34:20
minister himself. And so he says, Mercy.
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I call upon God, to give you Mercy, Timothy and Titus Mercy
34:29
can be understood as a kindness and compassion, that is shown
34:32
towards somebody who offends and you know this very well that
34:36
when a spiritual leader offends, there's greater weight than
34:38
consequence to it. Causing Greater Mercy to be
34:43
needed. For the shortcomings and the
34:46
blunders and the failure to be an example.
34:49
Paul says, Timothy, I'm asking God that you would experience a
34:53
Greater Mercy. Because you're going to need it.
34:57
And I'm going to give you Mercy through my compassion and this
35:00
letter. You know, what I learned from
35:01
that. Here's how I'm challenged.
35:04
His greetings alone, display his thoughtfulness for each and
35:08
every single, one of the Believers that he knew.
35:13
He was in general. He wasn't just throwing words
35:18
for the sake of saying certain things know he understood the
35:21
particular needs of every individual and he translated his
35:26
prayers and he translated his words and his encouragement to
35:30
cater to those specific needs Timothy and Titus needed mercy,
35:35
so I'm asking God to give you Mercy.
35:40
That's how much love this man had.
35:43
And we dare not think for a moment that his love is greater
35:46
than the love of Jesus Christ. It's a particular singular
35:51
unique, love that he has for each and every single one of us
35:54
in this place by name by name. I hope you would believe that
36:00
this morning. The Paul here is concerned about
36:04
Timothy's condition at Titus condition and he knows how to
36:06
deal with the Romans and the Galatians.
36:08
Do you not think that your master cares about you with your
36:12
particular situation and Circumstance.
36:15
Do you not believe that he will provide the exact grace and
36:17
mercy and peace for you and Supply it in another way for
36:21
somebody else. He knows how to walk with us
36:24
individually. See it's one thing to know.
36:27
Jesus Christ loves the world will praise God.
36:30
Jesus Christ loves his church. How does Yeah.
36:34
But how much do you research rehearsal over your soul that
36:36
Jesus Christ loves me. Loves me personally me.
36:44
And if we think that's a stretch, and if we think that's
36:46
too much and if we think that that's something that we
36:48
shouldn't do, because it glorifies self.
36:50
Well, then you have problems with the love of Christ.
36:54
In John 11 when Lazarus was sick.
36:57
We are told by the Holy Spirit and verse 5.
36:59
Now, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
37:04
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus individually
37:10
with a particular love, a special love.
37:13
Do you think Martha Mary and Lazarus were all the same?
37:16
Do you think I had the same personalities?
37:17
Do you think that had the same spiritual?
37:19
Disciplines you read about Martha.
37:20
She was the one running around working and getting distracted
37:23
and Mary's. They're sitting sitting at Jesus
37:25
feet and Lazarus was just quiet. I don't know where he was.
37:28
They're different. Different temperaments.
37:32
Different challenges, different failures, different pros and
37:35
cons. And yet Christ equal love equal.
37:38
Love for each of them. And that's what we have to
37:42
understand here. Is that the love of Christ can
37:45
so Phyllis? That we look at every single
37:48
person around us. And we are magnetized to
37:52
catering to their specific needs.
37:55
And their cares and their weaknesses.
37:59
And like Christ we manifest exactly what it is that they
38:03
need in our tenderness like Paul does with Timothy here.
38:07
You're in need of Mercy right now, Timothy.
38:09
And I'm asking God that you would know that Mercy, That's
38:12
The Power of understanding, this promise that is in Christ Jesus
38:16
of life. And in this short introduction
38:20
this morning, I want us to prepare for what we are about to
38:22
read because it's about to encourage us to live a life.
38:26
That knows the life that is in Christ Jesus, a radical life.
38:30
It's a life of surrender to life that will demand obedience, but
38:33
it is a life that will know joy and pleasure and bless others.
38:38
I look at this man again. And in conclusion, I say this.
38:43
My faith can be so in tune with the power of God that I can be
38:49
at the brink of my own martyrdom.
38:52
And in my thinking, care about a discourage brother, who's in his
38:56
house, Sam must reach out to him before.
38:59
I don't have the chance to do so anymore.
39:04
I know we all have weaknesses. I know.
39:06
We all have discouraging moments.
39:08
I know we have bad days, but I want to encourage you with 1.1
39:12
driving Point as a result of this Sunday morning service.
39:16
We can know such a relationship with Christ that self is
39:19
eliminated. That self is eliminated and we
39:24
are so preoccupied with the needs and the Brokenness of
39:28
others. And I don't want to be a
39:31
Christian. That's so caught up in my own
39:33
desires and wishes and longings that I forget to know that there
39:38
is a Grace that I can experience that house me look outward and
39:41
not in word all the time. And I pray that that would be
39:46
our desire in this place. Grace mercy, and peace to you
39:49
Timothy and we're going to prepare ourselves in the weeks
39:52
ahead for what he's going to say.
39:54
Let's pray together. Father, we thank you.
40:13
For the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.
40:17
Thank you, that you are the resurrection and the life and
40:20
that whoever believes in you, even though he dies yet.
40:24
Shall he live? Do we pray that we would know
40:28
that life that promised I would so strengthen us that it would
40:34
help us strengthen others Lord. In this place.
40:39
We pray that every person in here would know the will of God
40:41
for their lives. And that no matter what success
40:46
you bring through them what opportunities open for them?
40:49
They would never fail to realize it is by the grace of God.
40:54
By the grace of God, I am what I am and Lord in these two verses
40:59
we received much, and we ask you to help us be like this man.
41:05
Paul, who is able to think of another, even as he faced death.
41:12
Surely this is by the power of the Holy Spirit.
41:15
Surely. This is something that is
41:17
Unleashed when truth is really trusted in and we pray now Lord
41:21
that we would feel that Grace that makes us feel undefeated.
41:28
The king of Terrors according to job.
41:32
Is incapable of intimidating us to sorrow.
41:37
To fear. To guilt.
41:41
And that even in our last moments, we can be a blessing to
41:44
others. Lord.
41:45
What an amazing. Truth help us arrive there.
41:48
God, please help us arrive there that we worship you for this
41:52
promise. We glorify you in this house, in
41:55
Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
41:58
Amen.