Latest / Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons / Living Worthy of the Kingdom pt. I

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Living Worthy of the Kingdom pt. I · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. But I'll do my best to just read as
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much as I can as we go. Philippians chapter 1.
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Paul and Timothy, born servants of Jesus Christ,
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all the saints, Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi,
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with the bishops and deacons. Grace to you and
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peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
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Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance
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of you, always in every prayer of mine, making
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request of you. All we draw for your fellowship
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in the gospel from the first day until now, being
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confident of this very thing, that he who has
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begun a good work in you will complete it until
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the day of Jesus Christ. Just as it is right
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for me to feel these of you all, because I have
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been with my heart in as much as forth in my
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chains and in the defense and the confirmation
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of the gospel. you all are partakers in me of
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grace for god is my witness how greatly i long
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for you all with the affection of jesus christ
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and this i pray and your love may abound still
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more and more in knowledge and all the sad men
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and this was our prayer hallelujah this was our
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prayer this is still our prayer as pastors that
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your love will abound in all knowledge and all
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discernment, that you may approve the things
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that are excellent in the result of abounding
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in love, in knowledge and discernment. You will
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be able to approve the things that are excellent,
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that you may be sincere and without offense to
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the day of Christ. Be filled with the fruit of
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righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to
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the glory and praise of God. Hallelujah. We stop
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here. for that later on so this year by the grace
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of god we have been on the topic manifesting
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the kingdom of god and today i'm just going to
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speak about living worthy of the kingdom for
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the short time that we have you know i'll encourage
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you to to read the entire book of leakers because
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for the rest of this month we'll be looking at
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chapter by chapter each sunday so i just want
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you to have a time to study and i pray that as
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we open the scriptures who have our eyes open
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to truth in jesus name so living worthy of the
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kingdom now we've said here in church that the
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kingdom of god here we're talking about Is not
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something that is physical. You know. We thought.
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Even in the foundation. In the cell meetings.
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And even. In Sunday services here. Trying to
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describe what. The kingdom of God is. We say
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that the word kingdom. Is from the word in Greek.
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The noun in Greek. Which means dominion. It means
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royal power. Or rule. So our role, the kingdom
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of heaven, refers to authority of heaven and
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it's not a place. Amen? We're not referring to
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something that is physical. We're not referring
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to something that is tangible. Or rather, a reign
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of God, the authority of heaven on the earth.
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Now the kingdom of God is not a physical location.
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From Jesus' response in the text, he takes for
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the year. Luke chapter 17 verse 20. This is just
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to give us a recap. And then we. We continue.
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Luke chapter 17 verse 20. Now when he was asked
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by the Pharisees. When the kingdom of God will
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come. He answered them and said. The kingdom
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of God does not come with what? With observation.
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Which means that. These people were hoping for
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a kingdom. They have an understanding there is
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a kingdom that should manifest, that will come.
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A kingdom that will come to earth, not that we
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are going to the kingdom, but a kingdom that
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will come on earth. So the idea of us going somewhere
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is not the reality. So they ask the question,
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when will this kingdom come? Which means that
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through scriptures they have an understanding
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that the kingdom of God will come to men. But
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the wrong understanding they have is that they
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have the wrong perspective of what this kingdom
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is. Now, when he was asked by the Pharisees,
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verse 20 again, when, which means that there
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is a time, when the kingdom of God will come,
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he answered them and said, the kingdom of God
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does not come with observation. Nor will they
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say, see here, or see there, for indeed the kingdom
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of God is where? It's within you. Obviously he
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is referring to himself. He is referring to Christ
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manifesting in their midst. Hallelujah. And Acts
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chapter 1 verse 6. We see that even after Jesus
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has died and was risen from the dead. They still
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had a problem. They still have a misunderstanding
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of the kind of kingdom that was promised. Therefore
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when they had come together they asked him saying
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Lord. Will you at this time restore the kingdom
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to Israel? Their attention was on what was an
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earthly kingdom. You are looking for a political
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movement, particularly to the people of Israel.
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Some of you will see the conversation in Luke
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chapter 24, verse 21. Luke 24, 21. I'm right,
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that text. Yes, from verse 20 there, where he
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appeared to some of the disciples. From verse
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20. Go back, go back, go back to verse 18. Go
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back to verse 14, I think, from there. 14. Yes,
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and they talked together of all these things
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which had happened as the disciples were walking
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on their way to the mountain. So it was while
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they were conversing and reading that Jesus himself
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drew near and went with them. But their eyes
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were restrained so that they did not know him.
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And he said to them, what kind of conversation
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is this that you have with one another as you
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walk on our side? Then one whose name was Cleopas
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answered and said to him, are you the only stranger
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in Jerusalem? And have you not known the things
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which happen there in these days? And he said
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to them, what things? So they said to him, the
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things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was
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a prophet, mighty indeed, and worked before God
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and all the people, and how the chief priests
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and our rulers delivered him to be condemned
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to death and crucified him. But we were hoping
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that it was he. Now this is their misconception.
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First of all, they didn't have a proper understanding
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of who Jesus was. They saw him as a prophet.
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They saw him probably as the matiluda of their
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time. They saw him as, you know, the political
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emancipator of their time. But we were hoping
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that it was he who was going to redeem Israel.
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So this made, we were looking for a redemption.
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And this redemption was something physical. Indeed,
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besides all this, today is the third day since
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these things happened. Yes, and certain women
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of our company who arrived at the tomb, they
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astonished us. When they did not find his body,
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they came seeing that they had also seen a vision
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of Andrew who said he was alive. And certain
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of those who were with us went to the tomb and
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found just as the women had said but him they
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did not see. And they said to them, O foolish
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ones! And slow of heart to do what? To believe.
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So, their problem is not only ignorance, but
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it's unbelief. To believe in all that the prophets
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have spoken. So, all the prophets have been speaking
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was meant to be believed upon concerning what
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Christ will bring. A spiritual reality and not
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something physical. So, we see in Jesus. you
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know, cautioning them, rebuking them concerning
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their unbelief and their lack of comprehension
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of what reason he was bringing to the world.
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So we say that the kingdom of God is not like
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the kingdom of men. John chapter 18, verse 33
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to 37. John 18, 33 to 37. Then Pilate entered
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the praetorium again and called Jesus and said
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to him, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered
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him, Are you speaking for yourself about this
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or the others tell you this concerning me? Article
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6. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this
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world. So Jesus was not speaking about or was
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not bringing a kingdom that is earthly. If my
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kingdom were of this world, my servants would
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fight so that I should not be delivered to the
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Jews. But now my kingdom is what? Is not from
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here. Hallelujah. The kingdom is not from here.
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And we're also taught that the kingdom of God
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is a spiritual reality accessed by what? By the
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spirit. It is a demonstration and a walkings
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of the spirit of God in the life of the believer.
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We see Jesus speaking to Nicodemus in John chapter
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3. They explained to him how he will come into
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this kingdom. When you read John chapter 3, verse
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1 to 17, you see the conversation. It's a spiritual
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reality. And we said also that the kingdom of
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heaven or the kingdom of God which is ascended
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is manifested through human activities here on
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earth. It's manifested through human activities.
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Through preaching of the gospel accompanied by
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miraculous signs and wonders. And we also notify
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clearly that we who are believers, who have received
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the gospel, are members of God's kingdom. We
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are not looking forward to a kingdom of God,
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but we are already in the kingdom of God. So
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if you are looking forward to a time where you
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die, and then you will find yourself in the kingdom
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of God. That you have a wrong understanding.
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Because the moment you believe. There is a translation
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that happens. There is a change of position that
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you have. Colossians chapter 1 verse 13 speaks
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about this. Colossians chapter 1 verse 17. Verse
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13 rather. It says. He has delivered us. Who?
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He is talking about Jesus. He has delivered us.
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From the power of darkness. That is from the
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kingdom of darkness. From the reign of darkness.
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From the influence of darkness. And not only
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delivered us. But he conveyed us into the kingdom.
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Of his son. The son of his Lord. So a man and
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a woman that believe the gospel. Has been transferred.
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Has been delivered. Has been converted from the
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kingdom of darkness. from the power and the dominion
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the authority of godness into the power the authority
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and the domain of god in whom we have redemption
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through his blood even the forgiveness of our
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sins we see similarly speaking about our citizenship
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our identity He says, for our citizenship, who
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are the hour, you and I who have believed the
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gospel, our identity is in heaven. It's not utterly,
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but it's in heaven. From which we also eagerly
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wait for who? For a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Who will recall? Hallelujah. So since the manifestation
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of the kingdom of God is done through preaching
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of the gospel of Christ, We see Paul calling
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on believers in Philippians 1 verse 27 to live.
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Philippians 1 verse 27, it says, only let your
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conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Let
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only that your conduct be worthy of what? Of
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the gospel of Christ. so that when i come and
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see you or absence i may hear of your of your
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appears that you stand fast in one spirit with
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one mind striving together for the faith of the
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gospel hallelujah speaking to those who have
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received and are part of god's kingdom to live
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their life word worthy of the gospel through
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which they have received The way by which we
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receive the kingdom is through the preaching
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of the gospel. It's called the gospel of the
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kingdom. A message concerning the kingdom of
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God. About what God intends to do in humanity.
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And you and I have come into this reality when
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we believe the gift will receive the gift. So
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when we believe in Jesus Christ as a Messiah,
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as the one that has come to die for our sins,
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to forgive our sins, we receive the kingdom as
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a gift. Every part of the kingdom is not by works.
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There are some ugly kingdoms, some ugly nations.
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You know, you have to stay there and work for
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some years. You go through processes. And then
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you become part of that kingdom. But the kingdom
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we have is a gift without works. It's a gift
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received through faith in the totality of what
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God has done in Christ Jesus. And we say that
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we are what? Our members of his kingdom. Therefore,
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the challenge for us this day is to be worthy
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of the kingdom we represent. It's for you and
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I to live worthy of what? Of our citizens. So,
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the book of Philippians, you know, let's look
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at some historical backgrounds and concepts so
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that we can move on. The book was, first of all,
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is a letter written by Paul, right? While he
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was in Rome. He wasn't on a holiday in Rome.
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He wasn't just sitting on the beach. And he just
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said, let me just send a WhatsApp message to
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this church. In NACF. No. It was a book written
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while he was in Rome. In prison. And he had been
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in prison. It was not because he stole something
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or he was accused of stealing something. But
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the reason of his imprisonment was because of
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what? It was because of the gospel. For the sake
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of the gospel. And he was writing to the Christians.
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The Christian church in Philippi. A Roman. Colony
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in Macedonia. So Philippi is in northern Greece.
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He was in prison in Italy. Rome. And he wrote
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the letter to the Christians. In where? In Europe.
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In northern Macedonia. In modern day northern
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Greece. So Philippi. Was a major city in Macedonia.
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It was a Roman colony. That means. an extension
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of Rome, known for its patriotism and military
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history. In fact, this was the first city in
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Europe where Paul preached the gospel. We can
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see that in Acts chapter 6, Acts chapter 16.
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Let's look at it. Acts chapter 16. Acts 16 from
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verse 6. Now when they had gone through Phrygia
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and region of Galatia, they were forbidden by
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the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After
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they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into
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Pythinia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
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So passing by Mysia, they came down to Thrace,
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and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A
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man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him,
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saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. This
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was how we got the direction to go to Macedonia.
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Now, after he had seen the bishop, immediately
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we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that
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the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to
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them. Therefore, setting from trust, we ran a
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straight course to Samothrace, right? And the
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next day we came to Neapolis, and from there
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to Philippi, which is a former city of the part
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of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in
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that city for some days. And on a Sabbath day,
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we went out on the city to the riverside, where
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prayer was customarily made, and we sat down
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and spoke to the women who we met there. Presumably,
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this was the first place they were. And here
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you go. Now, a certain woman named Lydia, so
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the first person in this context that received
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the gospel, who was in Europe, was a woman. Lydia
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had us. She was a sailor from the city of Tyre,
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from the city of Tyre, who worshipped God. The
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Lord opened her heart. The Lord opened her heart
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to hear the things spoken by Paul. And when she,
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at her house, was baptized, she begged or said,
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if you have touched me to be faithful to the
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Lord, come to my house and stay. So she persuaded
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us. And we were seeing on and on and on where,
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you know, they preached. There was an instance
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where they preached to the castle of the devils
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after they saved a slave. They came to prison.
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They converted the prisoners. And they jailed
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out the people. So this is the context of this
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city. So Paul founded the church during his second
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missionary journey. And of course, a notable
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group of what you can see here is Lydia. There
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was a delivered slave girl, a Roman jailer, written
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father. So this church was very dear to Paul.
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And this is very essential. Understanding context
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is very important. It's very, very important.
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So the church was very dear to Paul. Because
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they supported his ministry financially. Not
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only that, you know, they believed the message,
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they received the message, and they also partnered
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with him in ministry. So the purpose of Paul's
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writing of this letter to them was not for doctrine,
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just as other, you know, what do you call, other
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epistles. He wasn't teaching them some doctrinal
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issues. Unlike other episodes such as Romans,
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letters to the Corinthians, and so on, where
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he was teaching or answering doctrinal questions.
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But in this, you know, it wasn't the same. His
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purpose was to fund the Philippians for what?
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For their partnership with him in the ministry.
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To encourage them to remain joyful and united.
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Because there were some people that were disagreeing.
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We'll look at it later on. To exhort them to
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imitate Christ's humility. In chapter 2 they
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are about, chapter 2, yes. And to warn them,
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you know, against false teachers, especially
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those who are Judaizers, legalist people. And
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so on. So similarly, the goal of this sermon
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or this teaching, just as false letters were
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for the Philippians, is to admonish us to walk
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worthy of our identity. Are we together? It's
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to admonish us to do or to work worthy of our
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identity. Of our citizenship. The letter, just
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as any part of scripture, was documented for
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our own learning. Alright? It was documented
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for our own learning that we may live worthy
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of our calling as citizens of God's kingdom.
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Just as any part of scripture, as Romans chapter
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15 verse 4 would say, This is what we are reading
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forward for our learning. In Romans 15 verse
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4, it says, for whatever things we have written
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before, we are reading forward for our learning.
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That we through patience and comfort of the scripture
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will have hope. So as we read the letter that
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he wrote to the Philippians, as we delve into
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understanding his message to them, we ourselves
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will learn. Hallelujah. And what I want us to
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learn specifically is how we can work worthy
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of our identity, even as he has emphasized today.
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So primarily there are four things. In the short
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time I have, I will try to be as fast as possible.
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Four things, important things that I want us
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to know. There are many things we can say, but
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just four for now, that are important for us.
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As we learn in this episode, it is essential
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for us to work worthy. First of all, it's a character
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for us to embody. It's a character we need to
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embody before we walk worthy. Secondly, there's
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a perspective we need to have concerning life,
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concerning the things that happen in our lives
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that we need to have in order for us to walk
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worthy. Thirdly, there's a sense of focus we
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need to have. I said first a character to embody.
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A perspective to have about life. A focus to
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have. And also a lifestyle to live. So from verse
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3 to 11. From verse 3 to 11 again. Forgiving?
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No. Philippians 3. 1 verse 3 to 11. Philippians
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1. left this man in Rome. Alright. It says, I
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thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Always
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in every prayer of mine, making requests of you,
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all with joy. For your fellowship in the gospel
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from the first day until now. Be confident of
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this very thing, that he who has begun a good
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work in you. Will complete it until the day of
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Jesus Christ. Just as it is right for me. To
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think this of you all. Because I have. Because
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I have you in my heart. In as much as. In as
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much as work in my chains. And in the defense.
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And confirmation of the gospel. You all are partakers
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with me. Of. Of grace. For God is my witness.
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How greatly I long for you. All with the affection
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of Jesus Christ. And this I pray that your love
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may abound still more and more in knowledge and
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all discernment. That you may approve the things
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that are excellent. That you may be sincere and
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without offense till the day of Christ. Being
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filled with the spirit of righteousness which
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are by Jesus Christ to the glory. and the praise
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of God. Hallelujah. It's a character in Paul
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here, from Paul's perspective that we need to
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learn. A character of prayer and gratitude. Especially
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in this situation. When you read through this,
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the book, you will not see an idea of someone
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who is in pain. It doesn't look like someone
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who is in chains. From Paul's perspective, regardless
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of his imprisonment, he was full of praise given.
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He was full of rejoicing. I think in the entire
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Philippians, I counted, there were about 15 times
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Paul kept emphasizing joy and rejoicing. In respect
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of his experience being in prison, he was full
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of joy. And the reason for his joy is not something
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that is happening. It's not a function of his
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circumstance. His joy, his rejoicing, is not
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the influence of his immediate environment. He
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was full of thanksgiving to God and his prayers
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were more for spiritual development of the people
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rather than his freedom from prison. Now imagine
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if you were the one in prison. Maybe they arrested
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you for residence permit issues. And maybe Pastor
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Cousman goes to visit you. And then he asks,
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what should we be praying for you? I doubt if
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your prayer will be for the church to keep expanding.
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Oh, when will I have, you know, myself out of
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this place? Or maybe our concern will be about
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our freedom. But we see here in the life of Paul's
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life, it's very important for us to understand
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this. His heart, Was where? Was in a way it's
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supposed to be. His prayer. Was not for his own
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freedom. Regardless of his experience. God begins
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with thanks and prayers. Not for money or such.
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Not for them to send him aid. To release him.
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Not for them to look for a lawyer for him. But
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for God's people. For God's people. His prayer
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is not self -centered around his issue, his problem.
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But his prayer is spiritually focused. Look at
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verse 9. What was the content of his prayer?
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The content of his prayer was the spiritual development
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of the people of God. And this I pray that your
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love may abound. Still more and more. In knowledge.
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And all discernment. That you may approve. The
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things that are excellent. That you may be sincere.
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And without offense to the day of Christ. Be
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free with fruits. Of righteousness. Which are
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by Jesus Christ. The glory and the praise of
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God. And some of us today. Little. What do you
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call it? Discomfort. Changes the dynamics of
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our spirituality. Little discomfort affects the
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way we apportion things of God. Some of us, the
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moment the semester begins, that's how we lost
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focus. Our prayer life changes. Our commitment
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to the fellowship changes. Our commitment to
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the brethren changes. And what betides you if
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your school fees is delayed? Then the focus of
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your prayer shifts from praying for souls to
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praying for money. Now we are not saying that
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praying for needs is wrong. Hallelujah. We are
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not saying that praying for needs is wrong. We
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always teach you to pray for needs. We also pray
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for needs. Are we together? For what consumes.
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Your life. What is the most dominant prayer you
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pray? What dominates your prayer life? Is it
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your circumstance that dominates your prayer
31:33
life? Or the kingdom of God is what dominates
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your prayer life? If you must live in this kingdom,
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we must emulate the character of Paul. You see,
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we have to learn from his experience, right?
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The things that happen to them or their own experience
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for us to learn from, especially Paul. Do we,
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in the center of our life, experience these difficulties?
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Listen, each and every one of us can be in one
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thing or the other, one trial or the other. Amen?
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Is it that you are in one right now or you will
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soon enter one? Hallelujah. It's constant. In
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fact, it was plain in scriptures, isn't it? It's
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plain in scriptures. It's plain in scriptures
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that we're going to face trials, we're going
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to face challenges. So, what dominates your prayer
32:34
life? What do you pray for in the midst of the
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experiences you have? Do we pray? If we do pray,
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what is the focus of our prayers? Do we pray
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for the advancement of God's kingdom, to see
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the will of God, the kingdom of God expand, especially
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in the heart of men, where our focus is based
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on what? On our circumstance. So if we would
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walk toward it, right? You see? What informs
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Paul's disposition is in where is in his identity.
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Understanding where he is from. The second point,
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kingdom perspective. Philippians from verse 12,
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you see, and even in the piece of trial, let's
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look at his perspective concerning trial. Philippians
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1, verse 12. It says, but I want you to know,
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brethren, that the things which happened to me
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have actually, look at his perspective concerning
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his trials, have actually happened to me, happened
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to me, have actually taught us for the forbearance
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of the gospel, so that it has become evident
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to all palace guards and to all the rest that
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my chains are what? and in Christ, and most of
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the brethren in the Lord, having become confident
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by my chains, I am much more bold to speak the
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word after. Some indeed preach Christ even from
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the envy and strife and some also from goodwill.
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The former preached Christ from selfish ambition,
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not sincerely supposed to add affliction to my
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days. By the latter, out of love, knowing that
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I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
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Verse 18. What then? Only that in every way,
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whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached.
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Meaning that his ambition is to see the expansion
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of the kingdom of God on earth. And in this,
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I what? That is what you. Rejoicing. That is
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what informs him. You see, you keep telling them
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rejoice. He says, in this I rejoice. And I will
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rejoice. In chapter 3 verse 1. You see him emphasizing.
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Finally my brain rejoices in the Lord. Intermediate.
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Keep telling them to rejoice. And what informs
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his rejoicing is what? It is perception about
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the kingdom of God. It's full of joy because
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of what? Because of his identity. Because of
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his human, you know, experiencing the reign of
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Christ in his life. Just expect that as believers,
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our life should be full of rejoicing. See, rejoicing
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is something you do. Hallelujah. Always. Joy
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should be what? The status of the believer at
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all times. It's not a function of external experience.
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That is how we live worthy of the kingdom that
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we are in. Our kingdom is full of joy. Hallelujah.
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So our experiences do not influence our perception
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of our identity. Do not influence what? The way
36:30
we live our lives. So we must have kingdom perspective
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prior. that Paul had the kingdom perspective
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for his imprisonment. He saw it as an opportunity
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for what? For the advancement of God's kingdom.
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He sees himself imprisoned as an opportunity
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to do what? To expand the kingdom of God. So
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we see him menstruating even to the jailers at
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all times whenever he's imprisoned. It's time
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you receive a prophecy that, you know, prison
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awaits him somewhere. And for our context, we
37:17
have said, ah, the Lord has shown him something
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to avoid what will happen, but in his prayer,
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he saw the necessity for him to be in prison.
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So sometimes, you know, the trials, listen, as
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a believer, nothing happens to you. Anyhow without
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a purpose. Amen. Nothing happened to the believer
37:42
without a purpose. Nothing happened to the believer
37:47
without a purpose. The outcome of his imprisonment
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in verse 14. For this is boldness in order to
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preach the gospel. Verse 14. And most of the
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brethren in the Lord haven't become confident
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by my change. And most of all, Paul to speak
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without fear. When people look at your experience,
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what did they? What did they believe in? Because
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your story edifies people. Or your actions affect
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others. So regardless of others' intentions towards
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Paul, he had one perspective. The advancement
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of the kingdom of God was 1782. How do we view
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trials? How do you and I view trials? As I said
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earlier on, if you're not presently in one, then
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you're just coming out of one. Or you will soon
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be in one. Or does that change your perspective?
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Does that change your identity? How do you view
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trials? Has God forsaken you? Some of us in the
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midst of our trials, we are crying, Eli, Eli,
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the master, I tell you. Instead of seeing an
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opportunity for the advancement of God's kingdom.
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Instead of seeing it as an opportunity for all
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to be glorified. Trials can come in any form,
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in any shape. Now, we're not talking about the
39:35
thing you've called yourself. It's a different
39:39
thing. In fact, the one you have created will
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not give glory to God. But trials have a purpose
39:52
in the life of the believer. And they can come
39:55
in any form. In every shame, it could be even
39:59
in lack. It could be in the hardship of any form.
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It could be in imprisonment. It could be in rejection.
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The believer is not immune from a trial. So Paul
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had this understanding that there's a coming
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of what is happening in his life. If manifesting
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the kingdom doesn't depend on perfect conditions,
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It does not have to be all right. Your life doesn't
40:30
have to be all smooth and sweet before you now
40:32
have all. Now it's time for us to do the work
40:34
of ministry. It's time for us to preach the gospel.
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You don't need to have your school is paid. All
40:43
you need to make before you have the opportunity
40:45
to do it. Expand all people. Propagate the gospel.
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can happen in suffering. There's no perfect condition.
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It can happen in your workplace. There's no perfect
41:03
condition. It happens in our homes, even in prisons,
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in our classrooms, wherever we find ourselves.
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It's an opportunity for the gospel, for the kingdom,
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gospel of the kingdom to be preached. And for
41:17
you to live worthy of the kingdom, you must understand
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this reality. You must have this perspective
41:22
to every experience that you pass through. Every
41:28
trial that you pass through. Because your experience.
41:34
Your prison experience. Can be a platform. By
41:36
which God will be glorified. When you allowed
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it to be. A platform by which God will be glorified.
41:47
And the God set up. For someone's salvation.
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And we see. If Paul didn't go to prison. but
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can i show you that there are some people that
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will not have the opportunity to hear the gospel
42:01
if you don't suffer that rejection there wouldn't
42:08
be an opportunity for someone to see talking
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about to hear the hope that you have a crisis
42:31
Now you are deported. It's an opportunity to
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do what? To share the gospel. They gave me a
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free ticket to go and preach the gospel. I was
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telling somebody, I said, see, they told us to
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come right after, that we have 10 days. They
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gave me a choice, a student. I either choose
42:51
between paying his ticket or departing back to
42:54
Nigeria in 10 days. I said, ah, ah, ah, to give
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you free food for 10 days, accommodation, free
43:00
transport, right? I'm not going to give you the
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money to keep in your pocket and to buy the ticket.
43:07
Sometimes our trials, our vehicles drive us towards
43:10
the will and the purpose of God. So you must
43:13
have a kingdom perspective to every experience
43:15
that happens in your life. Paul was not sitting
43:19
in that prison lamenting about his situation.
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Paul was not sitting in that prison calling on
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all heaven to deliver him from prison. He's a
43:31
man full of understanding of where he is from.
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What is expected of the living, worthy of what?
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Of the kingdom. His eyes are fixated on what
43:44
is appropriate and what is right. His pride is
43:48
right in the midst of his tire. He counted what
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all joy. Will that be your experience? Will that
43:58
be our experience? And in all situations. See.
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James chapter 1 verse 2. Let's look at James
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chapter 1 verse 2. As we close. Because of time.
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James chapter 1 verse 2. To forgive me. Amplified.
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Amplified. Translation. I said earlier on. Every
44:17
trial has a purpose. In the life of the believer.
44:19
Nothing does happen to you without. Without a
44:24
purpose. It can serve a purpose. On the line
44:30
of the word, it can. You can make it not serve
44:32
a purpose, but it can serve a purpose. And that
44:35
purpose could be a purpose that will glorify
44:37
God. Just consider it nothing but what? But joy,
44:42
my brothers and my sisters. Whenever means what?
44:50
It means it's a constant factor. It will happen.
44:53
Whether you like it or not, it will happen. Hallelujah.
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So when it happens, what do we do? We counted
44:59
all the joy. Not because we won a lottery. Not
45:05
because everything in your life is moving smoothly.
45:09
We counted all joy, brothers and sisters, whenever
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I wish I can have the MPs in president of the
45:19
world, right? When you encounter trials, of any
45:29
thought of falling into various temptations.
45:34
May I show and understand that the trial and
45:38
the proving of your faith. So the target of the
45:42
trial is what? It's to test your faith. Now,
45:46
we've said this over and over and over again
45:49
that God does not try people. Amen. God is not
45:53
the author of trials. Because God does not tempt
45:58
and he himself is not tempted and he cannot tempt.
46:03
Amen? So we're not a source of trial, right?
46:07
Nevertheless, we are shown and understood that
46:10
the trial and the proving of your faith brings
46:13
outward endurance and steadfastness and patience.
46:17
Let endurance and steadfastness and patience
46:19
have full play and do a thorough work so that
46:23
you may be perfectly How fully developed. Lacking
46:30
in love. Paul himself counted it all joy. In
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the midst of his experience. He counted it all
46:43
joy. In the midst of his difficulty. You know.
46:49
We see joy exuded from his letter. When you look
46:53
through the book you see. You know where his
46:55
heart lies. He shall see the people of God do
46:58
well. His prayer is full of goodwill for the
47:05
people to cross spiritually. That the Lord will
47:07
abound more and more. Later on, we'll see that
47:14
he has one focus. That focus is what? He said,
47:18
for me to live this world is Christ. And to die
47:22
is what? Some of us, what we're living for is
47:25
not Christ. Christ is secondary. We're living
47:30
for the next check. We're living for the next
47:33
grade. We're living for the next job. We're living
47:37
for the next visa. We're living for the next
47:41
and the next and the next. And God becomes what?
47:45
God becomes secondary. As a believer who is a
47:49
member of the kingdom, let the kingdom of God
47:53
dominate our mind and our thinking. And we're
47:56
going to see how later on as we go on in this
47:59
story. How we can arrive at a point where we
48:05
are kingdom minded. Regardless of all situations
48:09
and all experiences we face, we are kingdom minded.
48:17
And of course, cause them to live worthy the
48:22
kingdom lifestyle. Verse 27 to 30. admonishing
48:27
them to do what to exude the life of the kingdom
48:30
their conduct the way they conduct themselves
48:34
they don't conduct themselves worthy of the gospel
48:37
the gospel of the kingdom with which they have
48:39
received which means that the gospel or the kingdom
48:42
has a lifestyle that needs to be allowed to function
48:46
because where they are living they are living
48:50
in a gentle environment a place where there are
48:52
unbelievers around them So their conduct must
48:58
be worthy of the gospel of Christ which they
49:00
perceive. Where we are living, we live in an
49:06
environment of ungodliness. Let there be a distinction
49:10
between us and what are the people that are around
49:14
us. They will see something unique about us.
49:20
And of course, they will see Christ who I am
49:22
not. Why don't you just pray for yourself? And
49:26
say, Lord, help me to have this kind of character.
49:30
That in the midst of all my experiences, that
49:33
I will not lose focus. Because you see, the goal
49:35
that the devil wants to achieve is to distract
49:37
you from what is measured in your life. That
49:42
is the goal of Satan. But God is able to translate
49:44
that into a vehicle that will build your faith.
49:49
And not only build your faith, but you will build
49:51
others. With a comfort with which you are comforted.
49:54
You'll be a source of comfort to others. You'll
49:56
be a source of encouragement to others. As you
50:00
walk through the things that you are walking
50:02
through, it's a journey, it's a process. But
50:05
God will bring you out. In fact, when people
50:07
look at your experience, they will see God glorify
50:10
all around you. I want you to pray for yourself
50:15
and say, Lord, let this be my testimony. Let
50:23
this be my testimony. But no matter the trial,
50:29
I don't rely on my strength. Later on we will
50:33
see Paul talks about the grace of God. Paul talks
50:37
about the ability of God. Paul was not focusing
50:44
on his works to save you, to keep you, but he
50:49
was emphasizing the grace of God. Only the grace
50:53
of God can keep you, not your tactics, but your
50:57
skills to keep yourself. Listen, this admonition
51:03
is to every believer. None of us is immune to
51:10
trials. None of us is immune to temptation. But
51:17
even when it comes, we are ready. And the readiness,
51:21
Is to have an understanding of where we are from.
51:23
We are heavenly. And we are full of joy. And
51:28
we triumph amidst triumph. We triumph amidst
51:31
persecution. We triumph amidst any form of triumph
51:35
on the enemy. We rise above our circumstances.
51:46
Oh, I want to hear somebody. saying I choose
51:49
to rejoice in the midst of this challenge. Even
51:53
though it seems as though there's no salvation,
51:55
I choose to rejoice because I'm a saved man.
52:03
Even though the joy, you know, even though it
52:05
perishes, but I'm full of joy. Because I have
52:13
a heavenly mentality. My perspective is kingdom
52:16
perspective. My character is thankfulness. It's
52:21
prayerfulness. My faith is not conditioned to
52:30
my circumstances. My walk with God is not conditioned
52:34
to my external experience. Even if I have fallen,
52:40
I rise up by the grace of God. And I continue
52:43
to walk between us with Jesus. The one who has
52:48
called me. The one who has put me. The one who
52:52
has transferred me from the kingdom of darkness
52:54
into the kingdom of his answer in life. See yourself
53:02
thriving above your challenges. See yourself
53:09
victorious. The Bible says we are more than victorious.
53:12
We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.
53:21
Paul would say, for me to live is Christ and
53:23
to die is a gain. That this becomes my mantra
53:26
for life. That my living is to glorify God. And
53:30
even death is a gain. Whenever I found myself,
53:38
whenever I found myself in all situations, in
53:42
all conditions, that I'm kingdom minded. Living
53:46
worthy of my identity as a kingdom citizen. Thank
54:01
God for His grace being made manifest to you.
54:04
I pray in this house that we have multiplication
54:06
of grace. Grace upon grace leads unto us. In
54:10
all our experiences, we receive grace that stands
54:13
firm. In all our experiences, we receive the
54:17
ability to stand firm and strong. That we abound
54:20
in love. That we abound in love. In knowledge.
54:25
In the name of Jesus. In all wisdom. In the name
54:29
of Jesus. None of us will be defeated. In our
54:40
trying moments, we stand strong and tall in Christ.
54:43
And we manifest the kingdom regardless. We preach
54:46
the gospel regardless. We manifest Christ regardless.
54:49
Regardless of our luck. Regardless of our antecedents.
54:55
Regardless of our history. Father, we thank you.
55:08
Because what you've started in us, you're able
55:10
to bring it to completion. Thank you, Lord, that
55:13
only you can keep us and strengthen us. Be exalted,
55:17
Lord, and be glorified. In Jesus' gracious name
55:20
we pray. We appreciate you being here today.
55:26
We hope you carry this word with you throughout
55:28
your week. Don't forget to check the show notes
55:31
for additional insights. Stay connected with
55:34
us through our website or follow us on social
55:36
media. If you were encouraged, share this message
55:40
with someone you care about. Until next time,
55:43
stay blessed.