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Colossians 1:24-27 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please join me in turning your copy of God's Word to Paul's letter to the Colossians.
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Our text for today is Colossians 1-24.
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But before we get there, I want to catch you up to where we've been just beginning at verse 15 and working our way up to verse 23.
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Two weeks ago, we looked at this great cosmic Christological hymn found in verses 15-20 which reads,
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He, being Jesus Christ, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
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For by Him, all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.
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All things were created through Him and for Him.
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And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
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And He is the head of the body, the church.
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He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.
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For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
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and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,
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making peace by the blood of the cross.
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And we saw that Jesus Christ is supreme in a number of different ways.
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But finally, the fourth way in which He is supreme is that He has made a way of reconciliation by the cross.
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And we talked about that at greater length last week, verses 21-23.
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Stating the condition that all of humanity finds themselves in apart from Christ,
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and the way in which we are once enemies of God, but made friends with God.
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Verse 21 reads,
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And you who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
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He is now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death,
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in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.
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If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast,
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not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard,
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which had been proclaimed in all creation under heaven,
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and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
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So you see there in verse 23, Paul has this ministry now of reconciliation,
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as do we all.
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And now we find in the next four verses,
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verses 24-27, a bit of a fleshing out of that very ministry.
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So I want us to see today the aim of Paul's ministry,
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and also the means of Paul's ministry.
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And I'm front-loading you here, and I'm aware of this,
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but the means of Paul's ministry is suffering.
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The means of Paul's ministry is suffering.
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And this is such a weighty topic.
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There's so much to this.
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And I feel this week that I've been rushed right into the midst of something
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that I can't possibly unravel in the next 30-45 minutes.
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There's a great breadth of teaching in the Scripture concerning suffering.
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Today's sermon will be just a small piece of the pie.
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My head is a jumbled mess,
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and my heart is wrestling still with the implications of such teaching.
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Specifically, what does it mean for me?
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For my life?
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And specifically, what does it mean for the life of our church?
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There's so much here.
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In this example of Paul's ministry,
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the means by which he is carrying out this ministry of reconciliation.
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And it's very easy for us to just run past this type of teaching.
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Give it a little wave or a tip of the hat as we go by.
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Sure, suffering, yeah, doctrine about that.
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We get it.
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When that's a reality someday for us,
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we'll have the knowledge to deal with it.
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And we fail to really engage it.
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To really work out its meaning
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and all of its subsequent requirements of our life.
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So I want to invite you to do that with me today.
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To encourage you that sitting here for this bit of time
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and thinking about these things while I'm talking about it
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is not nearly enough.
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But you need to go from this place and continue conversations.
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You need to wrestle with it in your own heart.
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You need to go back and read and re-read and re-read
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and allow it to read you this particular text.
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And so I read, beginning in verse 24.
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Paul writes,
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Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.
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And in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions
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for the sake of His body, that is, the church.
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Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God
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that was given to me for you,
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to make the Word of God fully known.
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The mystery hidden for ages and generations,
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but now revealed to a saint.
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To them God chose to make known
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how great among the Gentiles
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are the riches of the glory of this mystery,
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which is Christ in you,
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the hope of glory.
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This is God's Word to us.
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It was written for His glory and our good.
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And we would all do well this morning
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to listen to it in order to believe its promises
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and to obey its commands.
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Firstly, let's see the aim of Paul's ministry.
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Verse 25, 26, and 27.
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I hope you'll allow me to work backwards
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and that won't bother you too much.
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What is the aim of Paul's ministry?
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A couple of key phrases here
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to make the Word of God fully known.
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He talks about this mystery that's been hidden for generations.
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And what he's talking about is the way in which
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the Gospel of God was meant to come
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and extend to the entire world.
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Not just a salvation for Israel,
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but to go much further beyond.
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And the way in which that would happen
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in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
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Verse 27,
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To them God chose to make known
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how great among the Gentiles
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the saints get to know
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this great work among the Gentiles,
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the riches of His glory,
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which is Christ in you.
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The hope of glory.
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This Gospel of reconciliation,
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bringing people back into right relationship with God
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that was intended from the very beginning
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to extend to the nations.
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The purpose of God in history
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is that the Gospel of reconciliation
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spread to all peoples of the world
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and yield God-centered,
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Christ-exalting churches.
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This is the purpose of God in human history.
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This redemptive story is about
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spreading the Gospel of reconciliation
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to all the peoples of the world
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to yield God-centered,
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Christ-exalting churches.
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This was the promise of the Old Testament.
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Psalm 22, verse 27 and 28.
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All the ends of the earth
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shall remember and turn to the Lord,
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and all the families of the nations
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shall worship before you.
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For kingship belongs to the Lord
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and He rules over the nations.
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This was the promise of Jesus
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to His disciples.
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Matthew 24, verse 14.
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And this Gospel of the Kingdom
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will be proclaimed throughout the whole world
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as a testimony to all nations.
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And then the end will come.
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This was the design of God in the cross.
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As heaven's worship proclaims
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in Revelation 5-9,
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you were slain,
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and by your blood you ransomed people
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for God from every tribe
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and language and people and nation.
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This was the final command
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of our risen Lord.
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Matthew 28, 18-20.
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All authority in heaven and on earth
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has been given to me.
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Go therefore and make disciples
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of all nations,
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baptizing them in the name of the Father
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and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
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teaching them to observe
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all that I have commanded you.
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And behold,
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I am with you always
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to the end of the age.
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This was the God-given aim
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of Paul's apostleship.
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Romans 1-5.
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Through Christ we have received grace
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and apostleship
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to bring about the obedience of faith
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for the sake of His name
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among all the nations.
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This was Paul's holy ambition.
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It was rooted not just in a unique apostolic call
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to Paul to go to the Gentiles,
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but also in the Old Testament promise
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that is still valid today.
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Paul writes in Romans 15, 20-21,
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citing from Isaiah 52-15,
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I make it my ambition to preach the Gospel,
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not where Christ has already been named,
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lest I build on someone else's foundation,
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but as it is written,
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those who have never been told of Him will see,
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and those who have never heard
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will understand.
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Also in Acts 13-47,
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citing from Isaiah 42-6,
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the Lord has commanded us, saying,
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I have made you a light for the Gentiles
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that you may bring salvation
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to the ends of the earth.
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This was the purpose of the sending
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of the Holy Spirit.
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Acts 1-8.
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You will receive power
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when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
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and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem
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and in all Judea and Samaria
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and to the end of the earth.
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Again, the purpose of God in history
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is that the Gospel of reconciliation,
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the ability for people to be reconciled
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to God through Christ,
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be spread to all the peoples of the world
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and yield God-centered,
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Christ-exalting churches.
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And this is the aim of Paul's ministry
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as we see in those last three verses
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of our text today,
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25, 26, and 27.
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This is the goal of his ministry,
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that these peoples might know Christ,
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the hope of glory.
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Secondly, though,
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what is the means of Paul's ministry?
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What is the vehicle that carries along
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this great, high, divine call
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on Paul's life?
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And this is where we'll spend
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the rest of our time in v. 24,
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where he says,
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Now I rejoice in my sufferings
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for your sake.
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And in my flesh I am filling up
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what is lacking in Christ's afflictions
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for the sake of the body,
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that is, the church.
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So these two broadening objects
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of his ministry.
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The sake of the Colossian believers.
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I rejoice in my suffering for your sake.
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And all believers,
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for the body of Christ,
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the church.
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He's speaking in large terms here.
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The entirety of the church.
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And in my flesh I am filling up
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what is lacking in Christ's afflictions
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for the sake of the body.
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That is, the church.
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The vehicle by which
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his ministry is being carried along
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is suffering.
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It's very interesting, isn't it?
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Very curious that we ought to really
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stop and pay attention
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to what's being said here.
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If God's historical,
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global purposes still stand,
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which they do,
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and we are part of that process,
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now given as ministers of reconciliation,
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we really need to look
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at Paul's example
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for the means by which
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we are to carry the gospel
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to the world.
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The suffering of Paul
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was not a consequence
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of his ministry.
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Some would look at it that way.
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Here, the suffering he's referring to
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is his imprisonment.
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He is right now in prison
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writing this letter.
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Likely a Roman prison.
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He's referring to that
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specifically,
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but it's not a consequence
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of his ministry,
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but rather
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a strategy
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of his ministry.
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A God-given,
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a divine
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strategy
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of his ministry.
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Suffering was a primary means
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by which Paul spread
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the gospel of reconciliation
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to all peoples of the world
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in order to yield
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God-centered,
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Christ-exalting churches.
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Hear me say that again.
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Suffering
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was a primary means,
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not the only,
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but a primary means
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by which Paul spread
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the gospel of reconciliation
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to all the peoples of the world
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in order to yield
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God-centered,
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Christ-exalting churches.
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And nothing has changed.
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If you believe that it has,
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then you have failed
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to believe the gospel rightly.
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You have discarded
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the sufficiency
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of the Scriptures.
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You think in some way
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we live beyond this age.
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That this wasn't really written
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for us
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as Americans.
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But it was.
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Let me assure you
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of that.
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This is the era
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of much modern preaching.
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And it is very Achan
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to the prosperity gospel
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which I hope all of you
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reject fully.
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Rather than saying
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believe in Jesus
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and He will make you
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wealthy and healthy.
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This type of teaching says
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believe in Jesus
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and you can keep your wealth
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and your health.
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You've already got it.
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Just hang on to it.
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Jesus is a little addition
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to that.
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Fire insurance policy.
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Stick in your back pocket.
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It also says
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change isn't necessary
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to follow Jesus.
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Go about your life
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as an American Christian.
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It's fine and good.
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Just add a little bit
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of extra activity
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and everything will be okay
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in the end.
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Beloved,
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this is not the call
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of the gospel.
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And this is the great error
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of our day.
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It's cheap grace.
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The gospel is a free gift to us,
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but then it requires of us
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our lives.
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All of who we are.
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Let's look at the call
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of the gospel
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of Jesus Christ.
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Matthew 8, 34 and 35.
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If you've been with us,
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you should be familiar with us.
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If anyone would come after me,
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let him deny himself
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and take up his cross
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and follow me.
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For whoever would save his life
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will lose it.
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But whoever loses his life
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for my sake
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and the gospels will save it.
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The cross was not a beautiful thing.
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The cross was not some little burden
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you have to bear day to day.
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The cross was a place of death.
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The cross was a place of sacrifice.
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The cross was a place
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where we lay down everything
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in order to gain Jesus.
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Matthew 10, 16.
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Jesus says,
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Behold, I am sending you out
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as sheep in the midst of wolves.
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So be wise as serpent
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and innocent as doves.
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In Romans 8, 36,
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Paul writes,
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citing from Psalm 44, 22,
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As it is written,
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For your sake we are being killed
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all the day long.
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We are regarded as sheep
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to be slaughtered.
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Look at the portion granted
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to those in Christ in 8, 35.
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Proceeding this, Romans 8, 36.
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Romans 8, 35.
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Tribulation, distress,
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persecution, famine,
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nakedness, danger,
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and sword.
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Jesus goes on in Matthew 10, 17, and 18.
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Beware of men,
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for they will deliver you over
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to courts and flog you
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in their synagogues,
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and you will be dragged
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before governors and kings
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for my sake.
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Why?
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At the end of verse 18.
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To bear witness before them
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and the Gentiles.
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The very purposes of God
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are being carried out
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in the suffering
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of His people.
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Verse 24,
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this phrase is so very,
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very fascinating.
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It should draw our attention.
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In my flesh,
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I am filling up
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what is lacking
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in Christ's afflictions.
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It's an interesting phrasing,
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is it not?
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We must be very careful
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at this point
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to not think
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that the affliction
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of the saints
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is somehow salvific.
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That Christ's suffering
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and death on the cross
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wasn't enough
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for the salvation of people,
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and so we also
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bring about redemptive work
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in our suffering.
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That there's somehow
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some kind of holiness
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propitiated to people
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who believe
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because of our suffering.
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Right?
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Our suffering has
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nothing to do
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with the remediation
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of sin.
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Christ's suffering
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was sufficient
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for that.
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Turn to the book of Hebrews
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with me,
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beginning in chapter 7.
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I'm having you turn here
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because I really want you
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to see this.
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I can't rattle past this.
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I know so often
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I just spit Scripture
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at you.
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It's my hope
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that you go back
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and listen to a recording
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or that you're taking
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fast notes.
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For the sake of time,
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I try not to have you
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turn everywhere we go.
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But you need to see this.
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The blood of Jesus Christ
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was enough
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to pay for the sins
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of the church.
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For all of those
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who would believe in Him,
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it was sufficient.
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It was not lacking
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in that sense.
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Right?
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Make sure you get this right.
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Hebrews 7.27
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He has no need,
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Jesus,
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has no need
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like those high priests
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to offer sacrifices daily.
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First for His own sins
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and then for those
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of the people
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since He did this
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once for all
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when He offered up Himself.
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A completed work.
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The temple sacrificial system
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was an ongoing,
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a constantly ongoing work
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happening.
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But Jesus Christ
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accomplished this
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once for all
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when He offered up Himself.
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Hebrews 9.12
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Jesus entered once for all
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into the holy places.
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Not by means of the blood
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of goats and calves,
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but by means of His own blood.
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Thus securing
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an eternal redemption.
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A completed work.
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A final thing.
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Once for all.
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Hebrews 9.26
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The second part of it.
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Jesus has appeared
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once for all
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at the end of the ages
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to put away sin
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by the sacrifice
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of Himself.
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Hebrews 10.14
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For by a single offering
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Jesus has perfected
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for all time
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those who are being
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sanctified.
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Not sacrificed.
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Those who are being
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sanctified.
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Those who have believed
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in the work of Jesus Christ
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on the cross
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are saved
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for all time.
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Okay?
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This message
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is the thing
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that we believe in.
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It's the way
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in which the Word
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comes to us.
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So do not be mistaken.
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Jesus' sacrifice
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was not lacking
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in its power
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to redeem the church
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from its sin.
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In no way
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was it lacking for that.
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Jesus' life and death
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was fully sufficient
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to save for all time
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those who have placed
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and will place
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believing faith
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in Him.
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Accomplished work.
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It is fully sufficient
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for that.
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So how then
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are Christ's afflictions
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lacking?
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Because they seem to be
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in some way, right?
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Paul's saying that
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he's filling up
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what is lacking
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in the afflictions
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of Christ.
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Let me read to you
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a quote
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from John Piper's
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great book
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he wrote called
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Filling Up
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the Afflictions of Christ
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in which he wrote,
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What is lacking
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in the afflictions
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of Christ
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is not that they
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are deficient
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in worth
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as though they
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could not sufficiently
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cover the sins
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of all who believe.
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What is lacking
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is that the infinite
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value of Christ's
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afflictions
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is not known
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and trusted
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in the world.
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These afflictions
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and what they mean
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are still hidden
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to most peoples.
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And God's intention
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is that the mystery
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be revealed
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to all nations
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as I proved
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to you previously.
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So the afflictions
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of Christ
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are lacking
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quote unquote
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in the sense
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that they are not
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seen and known
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and loved
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among the nations.
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So they must be
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carried by us.
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The afflictions
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must be taken
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by us
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and put on display
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by us.
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And in so doing
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we complete
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what is lacking
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in the afflictions
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of Christ
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by extending
21:22
them to others.
21:24
We put on display
21:26
what Christ
21:27
accomplished
21:27
accomplished
21:28
for those
21:29
who would believe
21:30
in His person
21:31
and His work.
21:34
A little help in this
21:35
for us
21:36
from a man named
21:37
Epaphroditus.
21:39
Those of you
21:39
who are part of
21:40
community outreach groups
21:41
you're meeting last week
21:42
you studied this.
21:43
If you'll turn to
21:43
Philippians chapter 2
21:44
I'll show you quickly
21:46
the similar language
21:47
that Paul is using
21:48
to help us understand
21:48
what he means here.
21:49
I'm going to read
22:04
this for you quickly
22:04
just to set the stage
22:05
for you.
22:05
We're really trying
22:06
to get to verse 30
22:07
so hang with me
22:09
if it drives you crazy
22:09
I'd read fast
22:10
I apologize.
22:12
Philippians 2
22:12
verse 25
22:13
I have thought it necessary
22:14
to send to you
22:15
Epaphroditus
22:15
my brother
22:16
and fellow worker
22:17
and fellow soldier
22:18
and your messenger
22:19
and minister to my need
22:20
for he has been longing
22:21
for you all
22:22
and has been distressed
22:23
because you heard
22:23
that he was ill
22:24
indeed he was ill
22:26
near to death
22:27
but God had mercy on him
22:28
and not only on him
22:29
but me also
22:29
lest I should have sorrow
22:30
upon sorrow
22:31
I am the more eager
22:33
to send him
22:34
therefore that you may rejoice
22:35
at seeing him again
22:36
and that I may be less anxious
22:37
so receive him in the Lord
22:39
with all joy
22:39
and honor such men
22:41
for he nearly died
22:42
for the work of Christ
22:43
risking his life
22:44
to complete
22:45
what was lacking
22:46
in your service
22:47
to me.
22:48
Okay so this man
22:49
named Epaphroditus
22:49
was sent by the Philippian believers
22:51
to bring some gift
22:52
money
22:52
food
22:53
books
22:54
something of that sort
22:55
to Paul
22:56
and on the journey there
22:58
it would seem
22:58
he became
22:59
really ill
23:00
almost to death
23:01
of interesting note
23:03
Epaphroditus
23:03
is really worried
23:04
about what they think
23:05
about that
23:05
not so much
23:06
about his physical state
23:07
God spares him
23:09
of that
23:10
and as Paul
23:10
is going to send him back
23:11
he's saying
23:11
honor this man
23:12
for the way
23:14
in which he has lived
23:15
for your sake
23:16
and he has come
23:18
he's almost died
23:19
risking his life
23:21
gone through some affliction
23:23
some suffering
23:23
risking his life
23:25
to complete
23:26
what was lacking
23:27
in your service
23:27
to me
23:28
and that is to say
23:29
that it would have been ideal
23:30
it would have been
23:30
most perfect
23:31
for the Philippians
23:32
themselves
23:33
to have been there
23:34
but instead
23:35
Epaphroditus
23:36
was sent
23:37
as an ambassador
23:38
he filled up
23:39
what was lacking
23:40
he himself
23:41
came
23:42
and presented it
23:43
before Paul
23:44
and it's the exact
23:45
same phrasing
23:46
the exact same
23:47
Greek phrase
23:49
that's used
23:49
in both places
23:50
to help us
23:51
understand this
23:52
so suffering
23:55
was a primary
23:56
means
23:57
by which
23:58
Paul spread
23:59
the gospel
24:00
of reconciliation
24:00
to all peoples
24:02
in the world
24:03
in order to yield
24:04
God-centered
24:05
Christ
24:05
exalting
24:07
churches
24:08
again
24:09
a divine
24:09
strategy
24:10
not merely
24:12
a consequence
24:13
this is the way
24:15
God
24:15
has worked
24:17
and is continuing
24:17
to work
24:18
in the world
24:19
in the advance
24:20
of his kingdom
24:21
Tertullian
24:23
who was a Christian
24:23
who lived from
24:24
about
24:25
AD 160
24:26
to about
24:26
AD 225
24:28
said of Roman
24:29
persecution
24:30
the oftener
24:32
we are mown
24:33
down by you
24:34
the more
24:35
in number
24:36
we grow
24:37
the blood
24:39
of Christians
24:40
is seed
24:42
the way
24:43
in which
24:43
the gospel
24:43
advanced
24:44
so very
24:45
rapidly
24:45
in the very
24:47
early days
24:48
of the church
24:48
was through
24:49
the persecution
24:50
of the church
24:52
it had
24:53
saving effect
24:55
not that it was
24:56
powerful for that
24:57
but people
24:57
looked at
24:58
a people
24:59
who were
24:59
so strange
25:01
who had
25:01
their gaze
25:02
so fixed
25:03
heavenward
25:04
who worshipped
25:06
God in such
25:07
a way
25:07
that even
25:08
to the point
25:08
of death
25:09
they remained
25:10
true
25:11
to him
25:12
this is a
25:13
phenomenal
25:13
thing
25:14
John Piper
25:16
adds to
25:16
Tertullian's
25:17
statement
25:17
for almost
25:17
300 years
25:18
Christians
25:19
grew in
25:19
soil
25:20
that was
25:20
wet
25:21
with the
25:22
blood
25:22
of martyrs
25:24
the suffering
25:26
of God's
25:27
saints
25:27
ought to
25:28
be the
25:29
norm
25:29
not the
25:31
exception
25:31
it ought
25:33
to be
25:33
the norm
25:33
not the
25:34
exception
25:34
it should
25:34
be
25:35
normative
25:35
not
25:36
exceptional
25:38
and it's
25:40
really difficult
25:41
to know
25:41
what this
25:41
may look
25:42
like
25:42
in our
25:43
American
25:43
setting
25:44
it's a
25:45
place where
25:46
praise God
25:47
our religious
25:48
freedoms are
25:49
protected
25:49
or at least
25:50
are supposed
25:51
to be
25:51
protected
25:52
we are
25:54
reaping the
25:55
benefit of
25:55
that now
25:56
getting to
25:56
drive onto
25:56
this property
25:57
with a
25:58
sign
25:58
kind of
25:59
and meeting
26:00
at a certain
26:00
time in a
26:01
very public
26:02
manner
26:02
the fact that
26:04
my preaching
26:05
will be
26:05
recorded and
26:06
posted online
26:07
I have no
26:07
fear of
26:08
somebody kicking
26:10
in my door
26:10
as a result
26:11
of this
26:12
we reap
26:13
benefit of
26:14
this type of
26:15
thing so it's
26:15
hard to know
26:16
exactly what
26:17
this is supposed
26:18
to look like
26:18
what does
26:19
persecution look
26:20
like for
26:20
the American
26:21
Christian
26:22
I'm not sure
26:24
I completely
26:24
know
26:25
this is where
26:26
my heart
26:26
is wrestling
26:27
and turning
26:28
over
26:28
I do
26:29
believe that
26:29
we're not
26:29
there though
26:30
maybe it's
26:32
just a bit
26:33
of discomfort
26:33
maybe just a
26:34
tiny bit of
26:35
derision
26:36
you may not
26:36
be the cool
26:37
person at
26:37
your work
26:38
or in your
26:38
class
26:39
but I think
26:41
there's got to
26:41
be more to
26:42
it than that
26:42
I wonder how
26:45
we would
26:46
respond
26:46
our church
26:48
how we would
26:49
respond
26:49
if there were
26:51
picketers at
26:51
the front of
26:52
our property
26:52
on a Sunday
26:53
morning
26:53
people with
26:55
signs
26:55
saying that
26:56
we're
26:56
hateful
26:57
or that
26:57
we're
26:57
evil
26:58
because we
26:58
pursue the
26:59
ways
26:59
of God
27:00
worse yet
27:02
what if there
27:02
were threats
27:03
made on our
27:04
lives
27:04
what if I got
27:05
an email
27:06
this past
27:06
week
27:06
that said
27:07
that those
27:07
who show
27:08
up to
27:08
this property
27:09
on this
27:10
day
27:10
will certainly
27:11
be killed
27:12
how do we
27:13
respond to
27:14
that type
27:15
of threat
27:15
would you
27:17
all gather
27:18
at dawn
27:19
in a secret
27:20
place
27:21
because you're
27:22
so hungry
27:23
for Christian
27:24
fellowship
27:24
and for the
27:25
word of God
27:25
preached
27:26
that you
27:27
would make
27:28
the effort
27:28
to do
27:28
that
27:29
you wouldn't
27:30
just show up
27:31
to church
27:31
when it's
27:32
convenient for
27:33
you
27:33
when there's
27:34
nothing else
27:34
going on
27:35
that weekend
27:35
you decide
27:36
to pop
27:37
in
27:37
would you
27:39
so desire
27:40
Christian
27:41
fellowship
27:41
to be part
27:42
of the
27:42
work
27:42
of the
27:43
kingdom
27:43
of God
27:44
that you
27:44
would
27:44
work hard
27:46
to get
27:46
enough rest
27:47
on Saturday
27:47
night
27:48
so you're
27:48
ready to
27:48
go
27:49
at the
27:49
very crack
27:50
of dawn
27:50
on Sunday
27:51
morning
27:52
rather than
27:52
just
27:53
incidentally
27:53
you happen
27:54
to get
27:54
enough sleep
27:55
that evening
27:56
would you
27:57
arrange your
27:58
week around
27:58
such activity
28:00
to get to
28:00
be with
28:01
the people
28:01
of God
28:02
to be
28:02
encouraged
28:02
by them
28:03
to go
28:03
back out
28:04
into a
28:04
world
28:05
that is
28:05
hostile
28:06
towards who
28:06
you are
28:07
and to
28:07
what you
28:08
believe
28:08
I hope
28:13
that you
28:13
can answer
28:14
with a
28:14
resounding
28:14
yes
28:15
it would
28:18
be foolish
28:18
for us
28:18
to meet
28:19
early
28:19
but if I
28:19
said
28:19
next week
28:20
we have
28:21
to
28:21
there's
28:22
no way
28:22
around
28:23
some
28:23
threat
28:24
that's
28:24
been
28:24
given
28:24
to
28:24
our
28:25
church
28:25
we have
28:25
to meet
28:26
at dawn
28:27
next week
28:27
that every
28:28
one of you
28:28
would be
28:29
there with
28:29
us
28:30
that all
28:31
of us
28:32
would boldly
28:33
proclaim
28:33
the gospel
28:34
come what
28:35
may
28:35
Paul writes
28:38
in 2nd
28:38
Timothy 3
28:39
12
28:39
let this
28:40
stick in
28:40
your mind
28:41
indeed
28:42
all who
28:44
desire to
28:44
live a
28:44
godly life
28:45
in Christ
28:46
Jesus
28:46
will
28:47
be
28:48
persecuted
28:50
not
28:51
maybe
28:52
but will
28:53
be
28:54
persecuted
28:56
it's not
28:56
something held
28:57
for a
28:57
select few
28:58
for those
29:00
who are to
29:00
be the
29:01
loudest
29:01
but anyone
29:01
who desires
29:02
to live
29:03
a godly
29:03
life in
29:04
Christ
29:04
Jesus
29:04
and beloved
29:05
anyone
29:05
who has
29:06
been saved
29:06
by Christ
29:07
Jesus
29:07
wants to
29:08
do that
29:08
wants to
29:09
follow him
29:10
wants to
29:10
pick up the
29:11
cross
29:11
wants to
29:12
go wherever
29:12
he leads
29:13
wants to
29:14
turn away
29:15
from the
29:15
world
29:15
and turn
29:15
towards
29:16
righteousness
29:17
will be
29:19
persecuted
29:21
will be
29:22
hated
29:23
in some
29:24
respect
29:24
this shouldn't
29:25
be some
29:25
far removed
29:26
foreign
29:27
theory of
29:28
the Christian
29:28
life
29:29
oh that's
29:30
true of so
29:31
many other
29:31
places and
29:32
so many other
29:32
people but
29:33
not us
29:33
because we
29:34
live here
29:34
in America
29:35
you have to
29:38
ask yourself
29:38
what is
29:39
missing in
29:39
your life
29:40
that prevents
29:41
your
29:42
affliction
29:43
what thing
29:44
are you
29:45
not doing
29:46
or thing
29:47
that you
29:47
are doing
29:48
that is
29:48
preventing
29:49
your
29:50
affliction
29:51
what comfort
29:52
in this
29:53
world do
29:53
you hide
29:54
behind
29:54
what sacrifice
29:56
do you need
29:57
to make
29:57
I think
30:00
that if our
30:00
lives looked
30:01
much more
30:01
sacrificial
30:02
than they
30:03
do
30:03
the way
30:04
in which
30:04
we are
30:05
treated
30:05
in this
30:05
world
30:05
would be
30:05
much
30:06
different
30:06
some
30:07
would
30:07
love
30:08
us
30:08
those
30:09
people
30:10
who love
30:11
Christ
30:11
would be
30:12
drawn
30:12
to us
30:13
those
30:14
people
30:14
who don't
30:14
will
30:14
hate
30:15
us
30:15
that
30:16
should
30:16
be
30:16
the
30:17
response
30:17
not this
30:17
lukewarmness
30:18
not this
30:19
you're okay
30:20
I'm okay
30:20
kind of
30:21
response
30:21
but some
30:23
people should
30:23
absolutely
30:24
hate us
30:25
and what we
30:25
stand for
30:26
and this
30:26
should be
30:26
no surprise
30:27
to us
30:27
and others
30:28
should love
30:29
us
30:29
we would
30:30
be an
30:30
aroma
30:30
to them
30:31
of
30:32
Christ
30:32
the
30:34
contemporary
30:35
Romanian
30:35
pastor
30:36
Joseph
30:36
San
30:37
who
30:37
suffered
30:38
greatly
30:38
at the
30:39
hand
30:39
of
30:39
Russian
30:39
communists
30:40
stated
30:41
Christ's
30:42
suffering
30:43
is for
30:44
propitiation
30:45
our
30:46
suffering
30:47
is for
30:48
propagation
30:49
God
30:50
has always
30:51
used
30:51
suffering
30:51
in this
30:52
way
30:53
and he
30:54
has
30:54
promised
30:54
it to
30:55
us
30:55
the
30:55
seed
30:55
of
30:56
the
30:56
gospel
30:57
is
30:57
sown
30:57
through
30:58
the
30:58
suffering
30:59
of his
31:00
people
31:00
and the
31:00
way
31:01
in which
31:01
we
31:02
suffer
31:02
as well
31:03
it's
31:03
not just
31:04
enough
31:04
that we
31:04
suffer
31:05
but that
31:05
we
31:05
experience
31:06
proclaim
31:07
and display
31:08
the
31:09
supremacy
31:09
of Jesus
31:10
Christ
31:10
in
31:11
our
31:12
suffering
31:12
in
31:14
John
31:14
12
31:15
24
31:15
and
31:16
25
31:16
Jesus
31:17
said
31:17
truly
31:18
truly
31:18
I
31:18
say
31:19
to
31:19
you
31:19
unless
31:20
a
31:20
grain
31:21
of
31:21
wheat
31:21
falls
31:21
into
31:22
the
31:22
earth
31:22
and
31:22
dies
31:23
it
31:23
remains
31:23
alone
31:24
but
31:24
if
31:24
it
31:25
dies
31:25
it
31:25
bears
31:26
much
31:26
fruit
31:27
whoever
31:28
loses
31:28
his
31:29
life
31:29
I'm
31:31
sorry
31:32
whoever
31:32
loves
31:32
his
31:32
life
31:33
loses
31:33
it
31:34
and
31:34
whoever
31:34
hates
31:35
his
31:35
life
31:35
in
31:35
this
31:36
world
31:36
will
31:37
keep
31:37
it
31:37
for
31:38
eternal
31:38
life
31:39
he's
31:40
not
31:41
just
31:41
talking
31:41
about
31:41
martyrs
31:42
at this
31:42
point
31:43
the
31:43
seed
31:44
that
31:44
falls
31:44
into
31:44
the
31:44
ground
31:45
and
31:45
dies
31:46
certainly
31:46
refers
31:47
to
31:47
martyrs
31:47
and
31:48
the
31:48
martyrs
31:48
!
31:48
death
31:48
but
31:49
he's
31:50
referring
31:50
to
31:50
the
31:50
daily
31:50
dying
31:51
of
31:51
disciples
31:51
of
31:52
Jesus
31:52
Christ
31:53
the
31:54
putting
31:54
aside
31:55
of
31:55
our
31:55
desire
31:56
and
31:56
our
31:56
direction
31:57
the
31:57
comfort
31:58
of
31:58
this
31:58
world
31:59
and
31:59
living
31:59
sacrificially
32:00
!
32:00
to
32:01
them
32:01
those
32:02
who
32:02
take
32:02
up
32:03
their
32:03
crosses
32:03
and
32:03
follow
32:04
him
32:04
follow
32:05
the
32:05
example
32:05
of
32:06
his
32:06
life
32:06
and
32:07
his
32:07
death
32:08
I
32:09
feel
32:09
the
32:09
same
32:09
way
32:10
about
32:10
it
32:10
Graham
32:10
our
32:16
Lord
32:16
was a
32:17
suffering
32:17
servant
32:17
servant
32:20
he
32:24
didn't
32:25
come
32:25
and
32:25
live
32:25
a
32:26
pleasure
32:26
life
32:27
John
32:29
13
32:30
16
32:30
he
32:31
says
32:32
truly
32:32
truly
32:32
I
32:32
say
32:33
to
32:33
you
32:33
a
32:34
servant
32:34
is
32:34
not
32:35
greater
32:35
than
32:36
his
32:36
master
32:37
nor
32:37
is
32:38
a
32:38
messenger
32:38
greater
32:39
than
32:40
the
32:40
one
32:40
who
32:41
sent
32:41
him
32:41
the
32:43
proper
32:43
Christian
32:44
life
32:44
is
32:45
one
32:45
of
32:46
daily
32:46
death
32:48
it's
32:49
one
32:49
of
32:50
daily
32:50
death
32:50
putting
32:51
aside
32:51
ourselves
32:52
and
32:53
pursuing
32:53
with
32:54
all
32:54
that
32:54
we
32:54
are
32:55
our
32:56
Lord
32:56
and
32:56
Savior
32:56
Jesus
32:57
Christ
32:58
Paul
33:00
gives
33:00
example
33:00
of
33:01
this
33:01
in
33:01
this
33:01
way
33:02
2nd
33:02
Corinthians
33:02
4
33:03
8
33:04
through
33:04
12
33:04
he
33:06
says
33:06
we
33:06
are
33:07
afflicted
33:07
in
33:07
every
33:07
way
33:08
but
33:08
not
33:08
crushed
33:09
!
33:09
Perplexed
33:10
but
33:10
not
33:10
driven
33:11
to
33:11
despair
33:11
persecuted
33:12
but
33:13
not
33:13
forsaken
33:14
struck
33:15
down
33:15
but
33:15
not
33:16
destroyed
33:16
always
33:17
carrying
33:18
in
33:18
the
33:19
body
33:19
the
33:19
death
33:20
of
33:20
Jesus
33:20
so
33:21
that
33:22
the
33:22
life
33:22
of
33:22
Jesus
33:22
may
33:23
also
33:23
be
33:23
manifested
33:24
in
33:25
our
33:25
bodies
33:25
for
33:26
we
33:27
who
33:27
live
33:27
are
33:27
always
33:28
being
33:28
given
33:28
over
33:29
to
33:29
death
33:29
for
33:29
Jesus
33:30
sake
33:30
so
33:30
that
33:31
the
33:31
life
33:31
of
33:31
Jesus
33:32
also
33:32
may
33:33
be
33:33
manifested
33:33
in
33:34
our
33:34
mortal
33:34
flesh
33:35
so
33:35
death
33:36
is
33:36
at
33:36
work
33:36
in
33:36
us
33:37
but
33:38
life
33:38
in
33:39
you
33:39
and
33:40
what
33:40
he's
33:40
just
33:40
saying
33:40
is
33:40
that
33:41
!
33:41
the
33:41
way
33:41
in
33:41
!
33:46
you
33:46
is
33:47
that
33:47
we
33:47
suffer
33:47
and
33:48
we
33:48
die
33:49
it's
33:49
the
33:49
cycle
33:50
that's
33:50
happening
33:50
in
33:50
our
33:51
lives
33:51
of
33:52
all
33:52
of
33:52
the
33:53
comfort
33:53
and
33:53
all
33:54
the
33:54
things
33:54
of
33:54
this
33:54
world
33:54
being
33:55
stripped
33:55
away
33:56
from
33:56
us
33:56
that
33:58
we
33:58
might
33:58
have
33:58
more
33:58
of
33:59
Christ
34:00
now
34:02
there
34:03
are
34:03
people
34:03
in
34:03
this
34:03
world
34:03
that
34:03
seek
34:04
suffering
34:05
just
34:05
for
34:05
suffering's
34:06
sake
34:06
there
34:08
are
34:08
people
34:08
in
34:08
this
34:08
world
34:09
that
34:09
are
34:10
rightly
34:11
persecuted
34:12
for the
34:13
wrong
34:13
reasons
34:13
though
34:14
they're
34:14
just
34:14
dumb
34:15
about
34:15
the
34:16
way
34:16
they
34:16
go
34:16
about
34:16
doing
34:17
things
34:17
we
34:17
should
34:18
be
34:18
wise
34:19
as
34:19
serpents
34:20
and
34:20
harmless
34:21
as
34:21
doves
34:22
Sam
34:25
Storms
34:25
wrote
34:25
in his
34:25
devotional
34:26
book
34:26
on
34:26
Colossians
34:27
entitled
34:27
The
34:28
Hope
34:28
of
34:28
Glory
34:28
Suffering
34:30
for
34:31
sin
34:31
is
34:31
a
34:31
reproach
34:32
suffering
34:33
for
34:33
suffering's
34:34
sake
34:34
is
34:35
perverted
34:35
suffering
34:37
for
34:37
the
34:37
sake
34:37
of
34:38
Christ
34:38
and
34:38
his
34:39
people
34:39
is
34:40
grounds
34:41
for
34:42
joy
34:42
1
34:44
Peter
34:44
4
34:44
13
34:45
16
34:45
Peter
34:46
writes
34:46
rejoice
34:47
in so
34:48
far
34:48
as
34:48
you
34:48
share
34:49
Christ's
34:49
sufferings
34:50
that
34:50
you
34:50
may
34:50
also
34:51
rejoice
34:51
and
34:51
be
34:52
glad
34:52
when
34:52
his
34:52
glory
34:53
is
34:53
revealed
34:53
if
34:54
you
34:54
are
34:54
insulted
34:55
for
34:55
the
34:55
name
34:56
of
34:56
Christ
34:56
you
34:56
are
34:56
blessed
34:57
because
34:57
the
34:57
spirit
34:57
of
34:57
glory
34:58
and
34:58
of
34:58
God
34:59
rests
34:59
upon
34:59
you
34:59
but
35:00
let
35:00
none
35:01
of
35:01
you
35:01
suffer
35:01
as
35:01
a
35:01
murderer
35:02
or
35:02
a
35:02
thief
35:02
or
35:03
an
35:03
evildoer
35:03
or
35:04
as
35:04
a
35:04
meddler
35:04
he's
35:04
saying
35:04
don't
35:05
pervert
35:05
that
35:05
kind
35:06
of
35:06
suffering
35:06
to be
35:07
about
35:07
suffering
35:08
for
35:08
the
35:09
name
35:09
of
35:09
Christ
35:09
verse
35:10
16
35:10
yet
35:10
if
35:11
anyone
35:11
suffers
35:11
as
35:11
a
35:11
Christian
35:12
let
35:12
him
35:12
not
35:13
be
35:13
ashamed
35:14
but
35:14
let
35:14
him
35:14
glorify
35:15
God
35:15
in
35:16
that
35:16
name
35:17
and
35:18
all
35:18
this
35:19
is
35:19
why
35:19
Paul
35:19
was
35:20
able
35:20
to
35:20
say
35:20
now
35:21
I
35:22
rejoice
35:22
!
35:23
in
35:24
my
35:24
sufferings
35:24
how
35:25
odd
35:26
right
35:26
he's
35:27
able
35:27
to
35:27
rejoice
35:28
in
35:29
his
35:29
suffering
35:30
suffering
35:31
for the
35:31
name
35:31
of
35:31
Christ
35:32
is
35:32
to
35:33
join
35:33
Christ
35:33
in
35:34
his
35:34
suffering
35:34
and
35:34
this
35:35
is
35:35
why
35:35
this
35:35
was
35:35
so
35:35
precious
35:36
to
35:36
Paul
35:37
right
35:38
there's
35:38
a
35:38
wonderful
35:38
example
35:39
of
35:39
it
35:39
in
35:39
the
35:39
beginning
35:39
of
35:39
Acts
35:40
chapter
35:40
5
35:40
we
35:41
see
35:41
the
35:42
apostles
35:42
taken
35:43
before
35:43
a
35:44
council
35:44
a
35:44
Jewish
35:44
council
35:45
and
35:45
verse
35:46
40
35:46
says
35:46
and
35:47
when
35:47
they
35:47
had
35:47
called
35:47
in
35:47
the
35:47
apostles
35:48
they
35:48
beat
35:48
them
35:49
and
35:49
charged
35:50
them
35:50
not
35:50
to
35:50
speak
35:50
in
35:50
the
35:50
name
35:50
of
35:51
Jesus
35:51
and
35:51
they
35:52
let
35:52
them
35:52
go
35:52
put
35:53
yourself
35:53
in
35:53
that
35:54
position
35:54
for a
35:54
moment
35:54
you're
35:55
caught
35:56
speaking
35:56
about
35:57
Jesus
35:57
Christ
35:57
you're
35:58
called
35:58
into
35:59
a
35:59
council
35:59
you're
35:59
beat
36:00
and
36:00
charged
36:00
to
36:00
not
36:01
do
36:01
it
36:01
anymore
36:01
what
36:02
would
36:02
be
36:02
your
36:02
response
36:03
to
36:03
that
36:03
how
36:04
would
36:04
you
36:04
feel
36:05
about
36:05
!
36:05
that
36:35
verse 42
36:36
says
36:36
and
36:36
every
36:37
day
36:37
in
36:37
the
36:37
temple
36:38
which
36:38
would
36:38
have
36:38
been
36:38
in
36:38
the
36:39
very
36:39
face
36:39
of
36:39
this
36:40
council
36:40
and
36:41
from
36:41
house
36:41
to
36:41
house
36:42
they
36:42
did
36:42
not
36:42
cease
36:42
teaching
36:43
and
36:43
preaching
36:44
that
36:44
the
36:45
Christ
36:45
is
36:46
Jesus
36:47
beloved
36:50
if you're
36:51
not
36:51
okay
36:51
with
36:53
this
36:53
teaching
36:53
then
36:54
you
36:54
do
36:55
not
36:55
treasure
36:55
Christ
36:56
the
36:56
way
36:57
you
36:57
ought
36:57
to
36:57
if
36:59
you're
36:59
sitting
37:00
here
37:00
and
37:00
you're
37:00
saying
37:00
wait
37:01
a
37:01
second
37:01
!
37:01
what
37:02
you're
37:02
!
37:02
if
37:02
I'm
37:03
really
37:03
going
37:03
to
37:03
follow
37:03
Jesus
37:03
Christ
37:04
that
37:04
I'm
37:04
inviting
37:05
suffering
37:06
I'm
37:07
inviting
37:07
affliction
37:08
that's
37:08
going
37:08
to
37:08
be
37:08
a
37:08
reality
37:09
of
37:09
my
37:09
life
37:10
and
37:10
my
37:10
response
37:10
to
37:10
you
37:10
is
37:10
assuredly
37:11
yes
37:12
if
37:13
you're
37:13
not
37:13
experiencing
37:14
suffering
37:14
something's
37:15
wrong
37:15
something's
37:16
amiss
37:16
in your
37:17
life
37:17
we need
37:19
to be
37:19
observing
37:20
that
37:20
we need
37:21
to be
37:21
introspective
37:22
about
37:22
that
37:22
we need
37:22
to be
37:22
asking
37:23
!
37:23
if
37:23
the
37:23
Lord
37:23
would
37:23
show
37:24
us
37:24
ways
37:25
in
37:25
which
37:25
we're
37:25
being
37:25
disobedient
37:26
to
37:27
his
37:27
call
37:27
in
37:28
the
37:28
gospel
37:28
ways
37:28
in
37:29
which
37:29
we
37:29
don't
37:30
carry
37:30
our
37:30
cross
37:31
this
37:32
is
37:32
what
37:33
I'm
37:33
saying
37:33
to
37:33
you
37:33
and
37:33
if
37:34
you're
37:34
not
37:34
okay
37:34
with
37:35
that
37:35
then
37:36
you
37:36
don't
37:36
love
37:36
Jesus
37:37
the
37:37
way
37:37
you
37:37
should
37:37
you
37:39
don't
37:39
treasure
37:39
him
37:39
the
37:40
way
37:40
that
37:41
you
37:41
ought
37:41
to
37:41
you
37:42
have
37:43
not
37:43
counted
37:43
the
37:44
cost
37:44
of
37:45
following
37:45
Jesus
37:46
Christ
37:46
it
37:47
will
37:47
cost
37:47
you
37:48
everything
37:49
Matthew
37:52
13
37:52
44
37:53
Jesus
37:53
said
37:54
the
37:54
kingdom
37:54
of
37:54
heaven
37:55
treasure
37:56
hidden
37:56
in
37:56
a
37:56
field
37:56
which
37:57
a
37:57
man
37:58
found
37:58
and
37:59
covered
37:59
up
37:59
then
38:00
in
38:00
his
38:01
joy
38:01
he
38:01
goes
38:01
and
38:02
sells
38:02
all
38:03
that
38:03
he
38:03
has
38:03
and
38:04
he
38:04
buys
38:04
that
38:05
field
38:05
Christ
38:07
is a
38:07
more
38:07
supreme
38:08
thing
38:08
so
38:09
much
38:10
higher
38:10
and
38:10
cannot
38:10
be
38:11
lost
38:11
so
38:12
we
38:12
give
38:12
away
38:13
all
38:13
those
38:13
things
38:14
that
38:14
are
38:14
temporal
38:14
in
38:14
our
38:15
lives
38:15
all
38:16
of
38:16
our
38:16
wealth
38:16
and
38:17
all
38:17
of
38:17
our
38:17
health
38:18
all
38:18
of
38:18
the
38:18
comfort
38:19
in
38:19
order
38:19
to
38:20
have
38:20
more
38:20
of
38:22
him
38:22
Paul
38:25
rejoiced
38:26
in his
38:26
sufferings
38:27
because
38:28
he knew
38:29
that it
38:29
was for
38:30
the gain
38:30
of the
38:31
Colossian
38:31
church
38:32
he knew
38:34
that it
38:34
was best
38:35
it was
38:35
part of
38:36
God's
38:36
purpose
38:37
in
38:38
Christ
38:38
for the
38:39
Colossian
38:39
church
38:40
to
38:40
witness
38:40
his
38:41
suffering
38:41
and he
38:42
could
38:42
rejoice
38:42
in that
38:43
these
38:44
larger
38:44
things
38:45
this
38:45
heavenward
38:46
perspective
38:46
in
38:51
conclusion
38:51
suffering
38:53
is a
38:54
primary
38:54
means
38:55
by
38:55
which
38:56
we
38:56
are to
38:57
spread
38:57
the
38:57
gospel
38:58
of
38:58
reconciliation
38:58
to
38:59
all
38:59
the
39:00
peoples
39:00
of
39:00
the
39:00
world
39:00
in
39:01
order
39:01
to
39:02
yield
39:02
God
39:02
centered
39:03
Christ
39:04
exalting
39:04
churches
39:06
after
39:07
all
39:08
Christ
39:09
family
39:10
church
39:10
exists
39:10
to
39:10
glorify
39:11
God
39:11
by
39:12
experiencing
39:13
proclaiming
39:14
and
39:14
displaying
39:15
the
39:16
supremacy
39:16
of
39:17
Jesus
39:17
Christ
39:17
in
39:18
all
39:18
things
39:19
to
39:20
all
39:20
peoples
39:21
beloved
39:23
we must
39:24
ask
39:24
ourselves
39:24
if we
39:24
are
39:24
living
39:25
to
39:25
this
39:26
high
39:26
mark
39:27
as
39:27
a
39:27
community
39:27
of
39:28
faith
39:28
I'm
39:30
confident
39:30
that we
39:30
have
39:30
much
39:31
work
39:31
to
39:32
do
39:32
let
39:34
us
39:34
then
39:35
together
39:35
yield
39:36
ourselves
39:36
to
39:37
the
39:37
will
39:37
of
39:37
the
39:37
Father
39:37
live
39:38
such
39:39
radically
39:39
God
39:40
oriented
39:41
lives
39:41
that
39:42
come
39:43
what
39:43
may
39:43
we
39:44
will
39:44
hold
39:44
high
39:44
the
39:45
supremacy
39:45
of
39:45
Jesus
39:45
Christ
39:46
so
39:46
that
39:47
God
39:47
will
39:47
draw
39:47
men
39:47
to
39:48
himself
39:49
let's
39:50
pray
39:50
together