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Our Joy: Complete In Christ · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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When Nathan texted me several weeks ago and asked me if I would be willing to preach during the Advent season.
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! I was honored for sure, just because I reflect on my life over the past six years as a young believer in the faith.
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And so often do not feel that I am worthy of standing up here preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to you all.
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And at the same time, he asked me if I would be interested in preaching on joy or peace.
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And I felt more confident and prepared in that moment to preach on peace.
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And as I reflected on that and prayed through that over that week that he had asked me,
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I decided that I wanted to preach on joy because I don't know or at that time I didn't believe that I fully understood what joy in Christ means.
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So it was a task that I had an opportunity to take on so that I would understand what joy in the Advent means.
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So today, that's my hope, is that I would be able to translate to you what I've learned about joy in regards to the coming of Christ.
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And that your joy would also be made complete in that.
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So I'll be camping out most of the day or most of the morning in the book of Philippians.
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There's not one verse specifically that I'm going to hone in on, which is abnormal.
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But it is because it's a topical text or a topical sermon on joy.
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So I'm going to be kind of going through several different verses throughout the Scripture,
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but predominantly in the book of Philippians.
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So if you want to find your place there, you can.
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Philippians is nicknamed the Epistle of Joy.
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And it's fitting.
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The word joy or its joy in its verb, rejoice, is found 14 times in the book of Philippians.
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The word Christ is found 50 times in the book of Philippians.
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So there is a correlation there that I hope to draw this morning.
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But I'm going to start with giving you two different definitions of joy.
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I'm going to give you the world's definition of joy,
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just simply from a Google search of how do you define joy.
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How does Google, which I can easily say is a pretty good reflection,
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what Google does, what they believe,
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is a pretty good reflection of what the world, by and large, believes and does and thinks.
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So the Google definition that I found of joy is,
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it is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
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A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
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Something that I kind of thought about that,
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okay, well, it's a feeling, this is going to be a little bit difficult,
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because I'm a man, I don't often like to talk about my feelings.
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But at the same time, the Christian definition,
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a great definition that I found by John Piper,
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also defines it as a feeling,
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which made it even more difficult for me.
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There's no getting around the fact that joy is a feeling that I produce.
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So his definition, I want you to copy this down if you write,
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it is a good feeling in the soul,
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produced by the Holy Spirit,
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as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in his word and in his works.
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So there are four main elements of that definition,
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and I'm going to be breaking those down this morning in a more practical sense.
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But those key elements, it is a feeling.
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It cannot be conjured up, it cannot be manufactured.
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That's one of my biggest struggles in the early part of my marriage right now,
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is sometimes I know that I'm supposed to be feeling something,
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but I may wake up in the morning and not feel certain affections towards my wife.
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I may not feel like going into work.
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These are certain things that I feel or that I don't feel.
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And I've learned that I can't simply manufacture those feelings.
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Despite what my mind is telling me,
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my soul is not producing those feelings.
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And it's impossible for you to simply produce those feelings on your own.
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It is something that your soul produces.
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Again, it is in the soul.
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It's feelings and emotions.
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And it is produced by the Holy Spirit.
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Joy is produced by the Holy Spirit.
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True joy.
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Joy in Christ is produced by the Holy Spirit.
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I'm just going to read this.
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You don't have to turn here.
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But Galatians 5.22 and part of 23 gives you the fruits of the Spirit.
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This is a production of the Spirit.
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
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faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
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Those are all things that the Holy Spirit within you as a Christian does produce.
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If you find that you lack all of those,
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then you need to reflect on whether or not the Holy Spirit is within you.
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If it's not producing any of these things,
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then it's something to be questioned.
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It's something to be sought out.
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And then the final element of John Piper's definition,
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as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ.
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So this is ultimately where our joy hangs.
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This is ultimately where it comes from.
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This is, if there is any fact that produces the joy within your soul,
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it's that it is in Christ.
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And so this morning, as we're talking about the Advent season,
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Advent means coming.
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It means the coming of Christ.
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So how does the coming of Christ produce joy within us as a believer?
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A couple of the texts that I found that relate directly to Jesus' coming
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are straight from his mouth when he comes here to earth.
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He says in Luke 19.10, no need to turn there,
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for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.
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Key word there, talking about the Advent,
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for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.
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In Mark 2.17, he says,
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I came not to call the righteous.
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And he was actually talking about those who believed that they were righteous.
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He's talking to the Pharisees.
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They weren't righteous.
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Despite what they believed, despite what their works testified outwardly,
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they were not righteous.
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But he says, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
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Therefore, he came to call sinners.
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If there's anyone in here that believes that they're not a sinner,
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that you are part of the righteous,
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before knowing Christ,
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turn with me to Romans 3.19.
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Now we know that whatever the law says,
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it speaks to those who are under the law,
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so that every mouth may be closed,
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and all the world may become accountable to God.
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All the world may become accountable to God.
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Because by the works of the law,
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no flesh will be justified in his sight,
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for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
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He's talking to Jews first,
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and then he's talking to the Gentiles.
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For those who believe that you're saved by your works of the law,
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by knowing the law,
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by thinking that you uphold the law,
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you've actually fallen incredibly short of it.
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There's been nothing in you that has produced the righteousness
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that is required by a holy God.
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So therefore, the law is what condemns you.
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Every single one of us in this room
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have been condemned by the law,
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written by a holy God,
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that reflects his character.
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So when we talk about Jesus coming,
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we know, therefore, that if we are sinners,
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he had to come to save us from the wrath that was to come,
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the justice that was justified,
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and that will be justified by God.
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As he gives his wrath to the people who disobey him,
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who do not believe in him,
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who do not follow his law,
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who do not uphold it to the T.
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Therefore, he sent his son to live
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and exemplify that law to the fullest extent,
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so that we would be found righteous in him.
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I want to give you a couple of examples
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of joy produced by the coming of Christ
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as he came to earth for the first time as a child.
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Turn with me to Luke 2.
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And this is something that I really wanted to understand.
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I said, so,
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we talk about the advent,
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the coming of Christ,
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so we're celebrating Christmas.
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Surely there is something,
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just a very tangible
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thing that I can find
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in historical accounts
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that would show me someone's joy
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about Jesus coming.
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I found it
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in Luke 2.
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I'm going to start in verse 25,
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and I'm going to read through 32.
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It's about a man named Simeon.
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He's a high priest
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devoted to the Lord.
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And he's definitely familiar
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with the Old Testament
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because he recites it
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in his rejoicing
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once he sees the Messiah,
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once he sees baby Jesus.
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And then I'm going to go back
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to where,
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in the Old Testament,
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in Isaiah,
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where he is quoting,
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where Simeon is quoting from there.
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And it's showing you
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who Jesus is
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or what he was supposed to be
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when he came.
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And all of this
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should produce the joy
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that we're looking for.
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I'm going to start in 25.
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And there was a man in Jerusalem
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whose name was Simeon.
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And this man was righteous and devout,
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looking for the consolation of Israel.
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And the Holy Spirit was upon him.
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And it had been revealed to him
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by the Holy Spirit
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that he would not see death
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before he had seen
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the Lord's Christ.
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And he came in the Spirit
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into the temple.
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And when the parents brought in
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the child Jesus
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to carry out for him
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the custom of the law,
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then he took him into his arms
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and blessed God and said,
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so what he's about to say
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is his outward expression,
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his verbal expression of his joy
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that he now receives
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in getting to hold
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the Christ in his arms.
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Now, Lord,
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you are releasing your slave
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to depart in peace.
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I mean, I can go in death
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and be happy.
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According to your work,
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for my eyes have seen
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your salvation,
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which you have prepared
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in the presence of all peoples,
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a light of revelation
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to the Gentiles
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and the glory
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of your people, Israel.
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And that's his outward expression
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of his joy.
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That's him rejoicing
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that he now gets to witness,
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bear witness
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of the coming of Christ.
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Turn with me to Isaiah 49.
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I'm going to read about half
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of Isaiah 49,
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verses 1 through 13.
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And this whole prophecy
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is about Jesus coming to earth
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to save man.
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And in the end of it,
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the beautiful part,
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at least the end of the half
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that I'm going to read,
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is it tells you again
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that it should produce
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some sort of rejoicing.
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It should produce
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some sort of joy
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that Jesus has come.
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Listen to me,
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O islands,
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and pay attention,
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you peoples from afar.
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The Lord called me
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from the womb,
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from the body of my mother
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he named me.
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He has made my mouth
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like a sharp sword,
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in the shadow of his hand,
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he has concealed me.
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He has also made me
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a select arrow.
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He has hidden me
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in his quiver.
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He said to me,
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you are my servant,
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Israel,
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in whom I will show
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my glory.
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But I said,
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I have toiled in vain,
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I have spent my strength
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for nothing in vanity,
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yet surely the justice
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due to me
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is with the Lord
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and my reward
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with my God.
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And now he says,
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the Lord who formed me
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from the womb
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to be his servant,
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to bring Jacob
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back to him
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so that Israel
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might be gathered to him
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for I am honored
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in the sight of the Lord
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and my God
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is my strength.
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He says,
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it is too small a thing
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that you should be my servant
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to raise up the tribes
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of Jacob
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and to restore
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the preserved ones
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of Israel.
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I will also make you
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a light of the nations
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so that my salvation
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may reach to the end
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of the earth.
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I'm going to stop
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right there real quick.
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Right there he's saying
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that I'm not sending
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Jesus Christ
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just simply to save
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the Jews.
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I'm not coming here
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just simply to save
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those who are of Israel.
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I'm going to make
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your name great
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and known
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amongst all of the nations
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so that their joy
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may be complete.
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Thus says the Lord
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the Redeemer of Israel
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and its Holy One
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to the despised one
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to the one
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abhorred by the nation
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to the servant of rulers
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kings will see
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and arise
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princes will also bow down
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because of the Lord
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who is faithful
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the Holy One of Israel
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who has chosen you.
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Thus says the Lord
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in a favorable time
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I have answered you
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and in a day of salvation
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I have helped you
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and I will keep you
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and give you
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for a covenant
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of the people
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to restore the land
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to make them inherit
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the desolate heritages.
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Saying to those
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who are bound
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go forth
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to those who are in darkness
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show yourselves
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along the roads
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they will feed
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and their pasture
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will be on all bare
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will be on all bare heights.
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They will not hunger
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or thirst
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nor will the scorching heat
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or sun strike them down
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for he who has compassion
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on them will lead them
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and will guide them
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to springs of water
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I will make my mountains
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a road
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and my highways
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will be raised up
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behold these will come
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from afar and low
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these will come
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from the north
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and from the west
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and these will come
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from the land of Sinem
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shout for joy
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O heavens
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and rejoice
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O earth
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break forth
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into joyful shouting
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O mountains
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the Lord
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has comforted
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his people
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and will have compassion
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on his afflicted.
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So again
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the coming of Christ
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was always supposed
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to produce joy.
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It's a beautiful testimony
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of that
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and again
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Simeon gets to live
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that out
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as he now understands
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the prophecies
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of old
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he sees that now
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fulfilled in Christ
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and he's pleased to know
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that the Messiah
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has come
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to save
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his people.
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So the
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practical
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meanings of that
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what does that mean
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for the Christian?
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There are two things
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I'm going to hone in on
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so where does a Christian
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find their joy
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and we've talked about
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that he finds it in Christ
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but specifically
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where does he find it
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in Christ?
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When we talk about it
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when we say
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in Christ
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abide in Christ
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sometimes
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I struggle with that
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because it can be
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like an abstract thing
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how do we do that?
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How do we abide in Christ?
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And then also
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how does a Christian
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express
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their newfound joy?
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So on the
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subject of
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where does a Christian
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find their joy?
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Well they find it
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first and foremost
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in their belief
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in the coming
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of Jesus Christ
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it is in their faith
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in the coming
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of Jesus Christ
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it is in their faith
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in the death
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of Jesus Christ
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on the cross
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for our sins
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and it is also
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in the faith
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that he rose
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from the dead
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you know
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we talk about
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we often use
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the
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I think it's in
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1 Corinthians
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Paul talks about
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at Easter
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we often bring this up
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that we are the most
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to be pitied
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if Jesus Christ
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did not rise
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from the dead
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that's right
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he's absolutely right
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we have no joy
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if Christ did not
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rise from the dead
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so that was the culmination
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of what he came here
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to do
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he came here
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to live righteously
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he came here
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to die on behalf
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of our sins
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and he came here
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died resurrected
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and conquered death
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go to
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Philippians 3
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and this is where
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I'll be spending
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most of the time
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again
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it's in Philippians
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Paul the apostle
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believes firmly
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in his identity
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in Christ
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he believes
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and knows
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that Christ
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was sent to die
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for him
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on his behalf
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it was revealed
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to him
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it was a revelation
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by Jesus himself
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that the law
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was not going
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to save Paul
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so he says
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in Philippians 3
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8
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this is something
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that many of you
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are familiar with
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I'm sure
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I'm going to read
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through verse 9
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but this is
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again
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what shows
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his true faith
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in the power
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of Christ
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it says
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more than that
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I count all things
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to be lost
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in view
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of the surpassing
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value
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of knowing
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Christ Jesus
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my Lord
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for whom I have
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suffered the loss
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of all things
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and count them
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but rubbish
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so that I may
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gain Christ
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and may be found
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in him
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not having a righteousness
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of my own
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derived from the law
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but that which is
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through faith
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in Christ
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the righteousness
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which comes
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from God
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on the basis
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of faith
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therefore
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everything
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the way that Paul
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found
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that his identity
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his joy
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was made complete
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was believing
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in his identity
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in Christ
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he's placing
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full hope
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in the coming
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of Christ
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and the death
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of Christ
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and the resurrection
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of Christ
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secondly
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as it's revealed
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in our faith
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in Jesus
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this is affirmed
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in his word
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one of the biggest
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things that
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I and Nathan
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and many others
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when they come up here
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they find ways
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to make
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the gospel
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practical to you
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in your life
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and one of the most
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ways that the gospel
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is made practical
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on a daily basis
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in your life
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is the revelation
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of Jesus
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in his word
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Jesus himself
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affirms
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the testimony
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of scripture
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the importance
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of scripture
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from Genesis 1-1
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all the way
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to the end
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of Revelation
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and John
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he's talking again
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to the Pharisees
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the Pharisees
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were individuals
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who knew
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or believed
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that they knew
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the scripture
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many of them
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could recite
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the Old Testament
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I think all
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it was actually
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required
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that all Pharisees
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all men
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who attained
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to this level
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of priesthood
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had to recite
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essentially
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the entire Old Testament
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it wasn't called
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the Old Testament
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for them
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can you imagine
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I think by the time
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they were like
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seven or eight
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or nine
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if that's what
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they aspired to be
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if that's what
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their family
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wanted them to be
18:45
they had to learn
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the Pentateuch
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they had to learn
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the first five books
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of the Old Testament
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they had to recite it
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so even though
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they believed
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that they knew
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what the scripture said
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it was obvious
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that when Christ came
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they didn't see the signs
18:58
they didn't understand
18:59
Isaiah 49
19:00
because they didn't know
19:00
that this was the Christ
19:01
despite all evidence
19:03
pointing to him
19:04
being the Christ
19:05
the chosen one
19:06
sent to save Israel
19:07
so he says in John
19:09
Jesus says to them
19:10
in John 5 39
19:11
you search the scriptures
19:13
because you think
19:13
that in them
19:14
you have eternal life
19:15
it is these
19:16
that testify
19:17
about me
19:18
so there's two ways
19:20
an individual
19:20
can look at scripture
19:21
you can look at scripture
19:22
and learn to know it
19:23
learn to understand it
19:24
historically
19:24
and place your hope
19:27
that because you know
19:28
religious things
19:29
that is somehow
19:31
saving to you
19:32
I can affirm
19:34
that there was
19:34
a very
19:35
there was a
19:37
small part
19:38
in my life
19:39
where I was involved
19:40
in church
19:40
from the ages of like
19:41
8 to 12
19:43
or something to that effect
19:44
and I don't think
19:46
I ever opened the Bible
19:46
to read it for myself
19:47
but I believed
19:49
in the good works
19:50
of the Bible
19:51
I believed
19:51
that it was
19:52
something that identified
19:53
me as a Christian
19:54
it was
19:54
identified me
19:55
as American
19:56
thus somehow
19:57
being a Christian
19:58
but the truth is
20:00
is that even if I knew
20:01
the scriptures
20:02
from beginning to the end
20:03
none of that produced
20:05
any true identity
20:06
in Christ
20:07
but Jesus is saying
20:10
that in those scriptures
20:11
and he's not only talking
20:12
about the Old Testament
20:13
it is talking about
20:14
the significance
20:14
him saying this
20:15
shows you the significance
20:17
of knowing the Old Testament
20:18
but he's also talking about
20:20
the gospels
20:21
that came after that
20:22
the epistles
20:23
that men wrote
20:24
about our practical life
20:26
in Jesus Christ
20:26
all the way to the revelation
20:28
of John
20:29
that the scriptures
20:31
testify about Jesus
20:32
so if we have our faith
20:35
in Jesus
20:35
it would make sense
20:36
that we are to find
20:37
and be assured
20:38
in that hope daily
20:39
by the seeking of his word
20:40
especially as Americans
20:42
especially as literate people
20:44
you have a great opportunity
20:46
to know Jesus
20:47
through his word
20:48
you have a great opportunity
20:50
to understand
20:51
the things that he has said
20:51
the things that he has commanded
20:52
of us
20:53
as his people
20:54
through the reading
20:55
of his word
20:55
with these two things
20:59
combined
21:00
you will find
21:03
your joy complete
21:04
because you're finding
21:05
it ultimately in Christ
21:06
but joy doesn't have
21:09
much of an application
21:12
if it's not able
21:13
to be applied
21:14
to circumstances
21:15
in your life
21:15
so I do agree
21:16
that feelings
21:17
are circumstantial
21:18
things that happen
21:19
to you
21:20
will produce feelings
21:21
and therefore
21:23
I want to talk
21:24
a little bit about
21:24
how we use this joy
21:26
in Christ
21:27
in our suffering
21:30
and sorrow
21:31
because this is where
21:33
you will find
21:34
your joy made
21:34
most complete
21:35
I promise you
21:36
I can attest to this
21:38
with Matt Sossman
21:39
this week
21:39
I suffered
21:40
very minimally
21:42
compared to most
21:43
but he and I
21:44
came under a great attack
21:45
of poison ivy
21:46
this week
21:48
and when I say great
21:48
I mean the whole
21:49
right side of my face
21:50
and neck
21:51
was ballooned up
21:52
throughout the entire
21:53
course of this week
21:54
and so many times
21:57
I was repeating
21:57
to myself
21:58
I was like
21:58
I have no joy
21:59
my again
22:00
my joy was based
22:01
on my circumstances
22:02
I was sore
22:04
I was
22:05
my skin was
22:06
just chewing me up
22:08
that's how I would
22:08
describe it
22:09
spread onto my arms
22:11
and other parts
22:12
of my body
22:13
that was just
22:13
miserable
22:14
but at the same time
22:16
my joy was not based
22:17
in those external
22:18
circumstances
22:19
my true joy
22:20
was found in Christ
22:22
again that's a
22:24
such a small
22:25
example
22:26
in comparison
22:27
to the ways
22:27
that people
22:28
have suffered
22:29
and are in sorrow
22:30
especially this week
22:31
but
22:33
James
22:34
says this
22:35
he says
22:36
consider it all joy
22:37
my brethren
22:37
when you encounter
22:38
trials of various kinds
22:40
knowing that the testing
22:41
of your faith
22:42
produces endurance
22:43
and let endurance
22:44
have its perfect result
22:46
so that you may be
22:47
perfect and complete
22:48
lacking in nothing
22:49
so consider it all joy
22:50
when you find these trials
22:51
when you come across
22:52
these trials
22:52
when these trials
22:53
are put onto you
22:54
because ultimately
22:55
that joy is to point you
22:56
to your faith
22:56
joy is ultimately
22:58
to point you
22:59
to your identity
22:59
in Christ
23:00
to your belief
23:01
in the gospel
23:02
he says
23:05
that produces
23:05
an endurance
23:06
simply says
23:07
this trial
23:08
is temporary
23:09
I don't know
23:11
how long
23:11
some people's
23:11
suffering may last
23:12
you don't either
23:13
but even
23:15
for an 80 year span
23:16
that is temporary
23:17
in light of eternity
23:18
turn with me
23:21
to 1 Peter 1
23:22
3-9
23:23
you can hold your place
23:27
in Philippians
23:28
because I will go back there
23:29
the apostle Peter
23:36
is talking to people
23:38
who are
23:39
under tribulation
23:41
who are being persecuted
23:43
who are being dispersed
23:45
who are suffering
23:49
he wants to encourage them
23:52
what you're going to find
23:54
the elements in here
23:54
is that he encourages them
23:55
in their identity
23:56
in Christ
23:57
and their identity
23:58
in Christ
23:58
produces the joy
23:59
that he's hoping
24:00
for them to find
24:01
blessed be the God
24:04
and father
24:04
of the Lord Jesus Christ
24:05
who according
24:06
to his great mercy
24:06
has caused us
24:07
to be born again
24:08
to a living hope
24:09
through the resurrection
24:10
of Jesus Christ
24:10
from the dead
24:11
to obtain an inheritance
24:13
which is imperishable
24:14
and undefiled
24:15
and will not fade away
24:16
reserved in heaven
24:18
for you
24:19
who are protected
24:20
by the power of God
24:21
through faith
24:22
for a salvation
24:23
ready to be revealed
24:25
in the last time
24:26
in this
24:27
you greatly rejoice
24:28
even though now
24:29
for a little while
24:29
if necessary
24:30
you have been distressed
24:32
by various trials
24:33
so that the proof
24:34
of your faith
24:35
being more precious
24:36
than gold
24:37
which is perishable
24:37
even though tested
24:39
by fire
24:40
may be found
24:41
to result
24:41
in praise
24:43
and glory
24:43
and honor
24:44
at the revelation
24:45
of Jesus Christ
24:46
and though you have not
24:47
seen him
24:48
you love him
24:48
and though you do not
24:50
see him now
24:51
but believe in him
24:52
you greatly rejoice
24:53
with joy
24:54
inexpressible
24:56
and full of glory
24:57
obtaining as the outcome
24:59
of your faith
25:00
the salvation
25:01
of your souls
25:02
the identity
25:04
that they now have
25:05
in being believers
25:07
in the Christ
25:08
who came
25:09
produces
25:10
that joy
25:12
inexpressible
25:12
I want to
25:17
I didn't know
25:17
how I was going
25:18
to tie this in
25:18
but throughout this week
25:20
as I was on bed rest
25:22
essentially all week long
25:23
because my
25:23
again the poison ivy
25:25
was all over my arms
25:26
up until Friday
25:27
I did not want to move
25:28
my arms past this position
25:30
it was in the elbow
25:32
and all sorts of places
25:33
so even talking
25:36
or texting
25:36
I was doing this
25:37
reading
25:38
I realized how bad
25:39
my sight is
25:40
when I would hold a book
25:41
even this far
25:42
and had trouble
25:43
seeing the words on it
25:44
but I've been reading
25:46
a book
25:46
over the past
25:48
six months
25:48
called Atlas Shrugged
25:50
and as I was reflecting
25:53
on what joy
25:54
looks like
25:54
for the non-believer
25:55
and the believer
25:56
I found myself
25:58
getting into the climax
25:59
of this book
26:00
and Wes
26:03
shall not warn me
26:04
when I got to
26:05
a certain point
26:06
I was going to realize
26:08
how tragic
26:08
the main character
26:09
the hero of the story
26:10
really is
26:11
so the book
26:12
climaxes
26:13
on a
26:14
70 page monologue
26:16
by the hero
26:17
of the story
26:17
there's nothing
26:19
that interrupts him
26:19
he's been a mysterious
26:22
figure throughout
26:22
the entire story
26:23
and he
26:25
he gets an opportunity
26:27
to basically
26:29
share his whole thoughts
26:31
to the entire world
26:32
and explain to them
26:34
where he believes
26:35
man's chief joy
26:37
and his chief aim
26:38
is
26:38
I'll sum it up
26:40
for you briefly
26:41
and it's not going to be
26:42
as intellectual
26:43
as the author
26:44
I can put it
26:44
but ultimately
26:45
man's joy
26:46
and his happiness
26:47
is found in his existence
26:48
his ability
26:49
to think
26:50
and his ability
26:51
to produce
26:52
with his thoughts
26:53
his ability
26:53
to seek out
26:54
his own happiness
26:55
based on
26:57
the mind
26:58
that he has
26:59
so I
27:01
as I was reading this
27:03
this week
27:04
this monologue
27:05
the words happiness
27:07
the words joy
27:08
the words pleasure
27:08
come up a few times
27:10
this is where you see
27:12
Ayn Rand
27:12
the author of this book
27:14
you see
27:14
where she found
27:16
her joy
27:17
and she was someone
27:19
who kind of authored
27:20
the philosophy
27:21
of objectivism
27:22
meaning that there are
27:24
absolutes in the world
27:25
and these are things
27:25
that as Christians
27:26
you
27:27
I do believe
27:28
that most of you
27:28
would believe in these things
27:29
which is good
27:30
it is true
27:31
they're absolutes
27:32
Socrates' premises
27:34
Aristotle's premises
27:35
what she takes is
27:36
A is A
27:37
A is never a non-A
27:38
2 plus 2 never equals 5
27:39
it will always equal 4
27:41
so she's really trying
27:42
to combat this
27:43
liberal order of thinking
27:45
that things are relative
27:46
but she even tries
27:48
to define that
27:49
define happiness
27:50
as an absolute thing
27:51
that can be achieved
27:52
by man
27:53
which I agree
27:54
with her to an extent
27:55
but I'm going to read
27:56
to you this excerpt
27:57
from the main character
27:58
her hero
27:58
and you're going to see
28:00
the flaws
28:00
in his happiness
28:02
and where he finds his joy
28:04
happiness
28:06
is the successful
28:07
state of life
28:08
pain is an agent
28:10
of death
28:10
happiness is that
28:13
state of consciousness
28:14
which proceeds
28:15
from the achievement
28:17
of one's values
28:18
a morality
28:19
that dares to tell you
28:21
to find happiness
28:23
in the renunciation
28:24
of your happiness
28:25
to value
28:26
the failure
28:27
of your values
28:28
is an insolent negation
28:29
of morality
28:30
a doctrine
28:32
that gives you
28:32
as an ideal
28:33
the role of a sacrificial animal
28:35
seeking slaughter
28:37
on the altars of others
28:38
is giving you death
28:40
as your standard
28:41
by the grace of reality
28:43
and the nature of life
28:44
man
28:45
every man
28:46
is an end
28:47
in himself
28:47
he exists for his own sake
28:49
and the achievement
28:51
of his own happiness
28:52
is his highest
28:53
moral purpose
28:54
but neither life
28:56
nor happiness
28:57
can be achieved
28:58
by the pursuit
28:58
of irrational whims
29:00
just as man
29:01
is free
29:01
to attempt
29:02
to survive
29:03
in any random manner
29:04
but will perish
29:06
unless he lives
29:07
as his nature requires
29:08
so he is free
29:10
to seek
29:10
his happiness
29:11
and any mindless fraud
29:13
the torture
29:14
of frustration
29:15
and all his
29:16
all he will find
29:17
unless he seeks
29:18
the happiness
29:19
proper to man
29:20
the purpose of morality
29:21
is to teach you
29:22
not to suffer
29:24
and die
29:25
but to enjoy yourself
29:27
and live
29:28
so I would say yes
29:30
by and large
29:32
I agree
29:32
with that
29:33
conclusion
29:34
of that statement
29:35
a man is
29:37
supposed to find
29:37
his happiness
29:38
in the way
29:38
that he lives
29:39
and his purpose
29:40
of life
29:41
and she is
29:42
again
29:43
she is combating
29:43
several different
29:44
things in here
29:44
so I don't
29:45
I would love
29:45
I highly encourage
29:46
many of you
29:47
to read it
29:47
it's been considered
29:48
next to the Bible
29:49
second to the Bible
29:50
the most influential
29:51
book in American history
29:52
however
29:54
me trying to understand
29:57
what her
29:58
joy
30:00
and what her
30:00
happiness looks like
30:01
it's really a
30:01
changing thing
30:02
which is kind of
30:02
ironic
30:03
it's relative
30:03
to her circumstances
30:05
she
30:06
Ayn Rand
30:07
the author
30:08
never really found
30:09
the joy
30:10
that she believed
30:11
she was looking for
30:12
she may have
30:13
defended that she was
30:13
happy her entire life
30:15
that she found
30:15
the joy
30:16
that was not
30:17
perishable
30:17
for the 80 years
30:18
that she lived
30:18
on earth
30:19
I think it was
30:20
like 75 years
30:21
but at the same time
30:24
I can tell you
30:25
that she did not
30:25
she met a man
30:27
when she moved
30:28
to America
30:28
from the Soviet Union
30:29
in 1929
30:31
and married him
30:32
they were married
30:33
for 50 years
30:35
which is incredible
30:36
and you can look
30:38
at that
30:38
externally
30:39
you can say
30:39
that's someone
30:40
who was probably
30:40
very pleased
30:41
with their marriage
30:42
very happy
30:43
and content
30:44
found a lot
30:45
of pleasure
30:45
in that relationship
30:47
she even
30:48
dedicated
30:48
Atlas Shrugged
30:49
to her husband
30:50
Frank O'Connor
30:51
and Atlas Shrugged
30:53
was considered
30:54
her
30:54
the magnum
30:55
office
30:55
was like
30:56
the main piece
30:57
of work
30:57
that defined
30:58
her as an author
30:58
that sent her
31:00
straight into fame
31:01
I learned
31:04
this week
31:05
that she had
31:06
a 14 year affair
31:07
with her best friend's
31:09
husband
31:09
at the end
31:11
of her 50 years
31:12
of marriage
31:12
so in the last
31:14
14 years
31:14
of her 50 year
31:15
marriage
31:15
it was obvious
31:16
that she was not
31:16
content
31:17
it was obvious
31:17
that she was not
31:18
pleased
31:18
and happy
31:19
she could not
31:20
find her pleasure
31:20
and joy
31:21
in her husband
31:22
in her relationship
31:23
the man that she
31:24
dedicated her
31:25
greatest work
31:26
to
31:26
and she does
31:28
a great job
31:29
at arguing
31:29
the non-absolutes
31:31
of faith
31:32
of religion
31:33
she never once
31:36
mentions Christ
31:36
at no point in time
31:38
does she ever mention
31:38
Jesus Christ
31:39
she constantly
31:39
mentions God
31:40
she mentions
31:41
the origins
31:42
of sin
31:43
but she doesn't
31:44
hone in on the
31:45
absolute truth
31:46
that Jesus Christ
31:47
came
31:47
she doesn't
31:48
acknowledge that
31:49
even though
31:49
there are facts
31:50
we have it
31:51
in our scripture
31:52
it's revealed
31:52
to us by men
31:53
who saw him
31:54
that Jesus
31:55
was an absolute
31:56
if Jesus came
31:57
he came to die
31:58
if he came to die
32:00
he also came to rise again
32:01
and he did that
32:02
and therefore
32:03
we know that we can
32:04
find our joy
32:05
in the absolute
32:06
of the personhood
32:07
of Jesus Christ
32:08
in tying all that
32:11
together
32:11
I'm going to read you
32:12
one more quote
32:12
from Charles Spurgeon
32:15
in a book
32:16
that was given to me
32:17
by a dear friend of mine
32:18
it's called
32:19
God's Joy in Your Heart
32:20
I highly recommend it
32:22
for anybody
32:22
who just struggles
32:23
emotionally
32:24
wakes up in the morning
32:25
and does not feel
32:26
your heart pulled
32:27
towards Christ
32:28
finds that you are
32:30
depressed often
32:31
this book
32:33
is a topical book
32:34
so you don't necessarily
32:35
need to start
32:35
in chapter 1
32:36
and read to chapter 15
32:37
you can pick up
32:38
in any chapter
32:39
and read that subject
32:40
so I'm going to read
32:41
to you
32:42
something that defines
32:43
how we as Christians
32:45
see our identity
32:47
in the salvation
32:48
given to us by Christ
32:49
that produces joy
32:51
suppose me to be
32:55
in fear
32:56
about the health
32:57
of some dear friend
32:58
well I say
32:59
I should like to have
33:01
my friend healthy
33:01
but I want to feel safe
33:03
about that friend
33:03
I do not know anything
33:05
about the state of my friend
33:06
just now
33:07
and I am uneasy
33:07
now I tell you
33:08
if I could get to feel easy
33:10
then I would be convinced
33:12
that my friend is well
33:13
why you would justly reply
33:15
there is no connection
33:16
between the two things
33:17
the proper mode of procedure
33:19
is to find out
33:19
whether your friend is well
33:20
and then you will feel easy
33:22
you say
33:23
I would believe
33:24
I am saved
33:24
if I felt happy
33:25
is there any logic
33:26
in that
33:27
on the contrary
33:28
first believe
33:29
that you are saved
33:30
and the happiness
33:31
will follow
33:32
you cannot believe
33:33
that you are saved
33:34
while you persist
33:35
in doing what God
33:36
does not tell you to do
33:36
namely looking
33:37
to your own joy
33:38
and peace
33:38
instead of looking
33:40
to the finished work
33:41
of Jesus Christ
33:42
Christian men
33:43
are but men
33:44
when they have
33:46
a bad liver
33:46
or an attack on bile
33:48
this was written like
33:49
150 years ago
33:50
or some trial
33:52
and then
33:54
they get depressed
33:55
if they have
33:56
ever so much grace
33:57
I would defy
33:59
the apostle Paul himself
34:00
to help it
34:01
and what then
34:03
well
34:03
then you can get joy
34:05
and peace
34:05
through believing
34:06
I am the subject
34:07
of depressions
34:08
of spirit
34:09
so fearful
34:10
that I hope
34:10
none of you
34:11
ever gets
34:11
to such extremes
34:12
of wretchedness
34:13
as I go to
34:13
Charles Spurgeon
34:15
struggled with depression
34:15
his entire life
34:16
despite being
34:18
one of the
34:19
most faithful men
34:21
to preaching the gospel
34:22
but I always go back
34:26
again by this
34:27
or I always get back
34:28
again by this
34:29
I know I trust Christ
34:31
I have no reliance
34:32
but in him
34:33
if he falls
34:34
I shall fall with him
34:36
but if he does not
34:37
I shall not
34:38
because if he lives
34:39
I shall live also
34:41
and I spring to my legs
34:42
again and fight
34:43
with my depressions
34:44
of spirit
34:45
and my downcast soul
34:46
and get the victory
34:47
through it
34:48
so may you do
34:49
and so you must
34:50
for there is no other
34:52
way of escaping
34:53
from it
34:53
in your most
34:54
depressed seasons
34:55
you are to get joy
34:57
and peace
34:58
through believing
34:59
now how does the
35:02
Christian express
35:03
their joy
35:03
we know that they
35:04
can find their joy
35:05
in their faith
35:07
in their belief
35:07
in the gospel
35:08
they know that
35:09
they can be reassured
35:10
of Jesus
35:11
who he is
35:12
who he says he is
35:13
and what he has done
35:13
in his word
35:14
so now as the Christian
35:16
how do we express that
35:17
we express it in two ways
35:18
so living out of the gospel
35:21
is one expression
35:24
of your joy
35:24
and a partnership
35:27
in the gospel
35:28
so living out by the gospel
35:31
or living out the gospel
35:32
in your life
35:33
turn to Philippians 4
35:34
I'm going to read
35:50
in verse 4
35:51
through 7
35:53
and this is Paul again
35:56
reassuring the people
35:57
of the faith
35:58
that they have
35:59
letting them know
36:01
that they now
36:02
get to live that out
36:03
he says
36:06
rejoice in the Lord
36:07
always
36:08
again I will say
36:09
rejoice
36:10
let your gentle spirit
36:12
be known to all men
36:13
the Lord is near
36:14
be anxious for nothing
36:16
but in everything
36:17
by prayer
36:18
and supplication
36:19
with thanksgiving
36:21
let your request
36:22
be made known to God
36:23
and the peace of God
36:24
which surpasses
36:25
all comprehension
36:26
will guard your hearts
36:28
and your minds
36:29
in Christ Jesus
36:31
so not that they have
36:34
Christ
36:34
they should be rejoicing
36:36
and he's telling them
36:37
you should live that out
36:38
lastly
36:42
in the partnership
36:43
of the gospel
36:44
and this is ultimately
36:45
what Paul is
36:46
rejoicing in
36:48
throughout
36:48
the book of
36:49
Philippians
36:50
is he's rejoicing
36:51
in the partnership
36:51
that he now has
36:52
with the people
36:53
of Philippians
36:53
hearing
36:54
that they are
36:56
faithful
36:56
to the gospel
36:58
that he got to bring
36:59
to them
36:59
they've placed their faith
37:00
and hope
37:01
in Jesus Christ
37:02
there are several
37:05
different verses
37:06
that identify this
37:09
I'm just going to start
37:10
from the very beginning
37:11
and I'm going to read them
37:11
to you
37:12
you can write them down
37:14
take a note
37:14
Philippians 1
37:15
3-5
37:16
so this is in his introduction
37:17
I thank my God
37:20
and all my remembrance
37:20
of you
37:21
always offering prayer
37:22
with joy
37:22
in my every prayer
37:23
for you all
37:24
in view of your
37:25
participation
37:26
in the gospel
37:27
from the first day
37:29
until now
37:30
Philippians 1-21
37:32
for to me
37:35
to live is Christ
37:36
and to die is gain
37:37
but I am to live on
37:38
in the flesh
37:39
this will mean
37:40
fruitful labor for me
37:41
and I do not know
37:42
which to choose
37:43
but I am hard pressed
37:44
from both directions
37:45
having the desire
37:46
to depart
37:46
and be with Christ
37:47
for that is far
37:48
much better
37:49
yet to remain on
37:51
in the flesh
37:51
is more necessary
37:52
for your sake
37:53
convinced of this
37:54
I know that I will
37:55
remain and continue
37:56
with you all
37:56
for your progress
37:57
and joy
37:58
in the faith
37:58
so that your proud
38:00
confidence in me
38:01
may abound
38:01
in Christ Jesus
38:02
through my coming
38:03
to you again
38:04
so Paul's joy
38:05
is made complete
38:06
in knowing
38:06
and partnering
38:07
with people
38:07
who desire
38:08
to know Christ
38:09
Philippians 2
38:12
1-5
38:14
therefore if there is
38:15
any encouragement
38:16
in Christ
38:16
if there is any
38:17
consolation of love
38:18
if there is any
38:18
fellowship of the spirit
38:20
if any affection
38:21
and compassion
38:21
make my joy complete
38:23
by being of the same mind
38:24
maintaining the same love
38:26
united in spirit
38:28
intent on one purpose
38:29
do nothing from selfish
38:30
or empty conceit
38:31
but with humility
38:33
of mind
38:34
regard one another
38:35
as more important
38:35
than yourselves
38:36
do not merely look out
38:37
for your own personal
38:38
interests
38:39
but also for the
38:39
interests of others
38:40
have this attitude
38:42
in yourselves
38:42
which was also
38:43
in Christ Jesus
38:44
his joy
38:47
is made complete
38:47
by those
38:48
who are living
38:50
like Christ Jesus
38:51
by seeing their life
38:52
lived out
38:53
Philippians 2
38:54
29
38:55
receive him
38:58
and he's talking
38:58
about Epaphroditus
38:59
a man that he's sending
39:00
he may have sent
39:01
this letter with him
39:03
to the Philippians
39:03
receive him then
39:05
in the Lord
39:05
with all joy
39:06
and hold men like him
39:07
in high regard
39:07
because he came close
39:09
to death for the work
39:10
of Christ
39:10
risking his life
39:11
to complete
39:11
what was deficient
39:12
in your service
39:13
to me
39:14
in Philippians 4
39:17
1
39:17
therefore my beloved
39:19
brethren
39:20
whom I long to see
39:21
my joy
39:22
and crown
39:23
in this way
39:24
stand firm
39:25
in the Lord
39:26
my beloved
39:27
again
39:29
Paul's joy
39:30
is expressed
39:31
in his partnership
39:32
in the gospel
39:33
with the Philippians
39:34
we as believers
39:36
our joy
39:37
should be made
39:38
it should be expressed
39:38
it should be found
39:39
in the compilation
39:41
of partnership
39:42
of the gospel
39:43
and us gathering
39:45
as believers
39:45
not just on Sundays
39:46
on Mondays
39:47
through Fridays
39:48
and Saturdays
39:49
in our community groups
39:50
in our discipleship groups
39:51
all of these different things
39:52
in your family
39:53
for those who have
39:54
Christian families
39:55
that you get to go home to
39:56
on the holidays
39:57
rejoice
39:58
and be glad in that
39:59
find joy
40:00
in that partnership
40:01
that you have with them
40:02
I'm going to read something
40:07
you don't have to turn here
40:08
but this kind of
40:10
I was reminded of this
40:12
in reading through
40:13
that climax
40:15
of Atlas Shrugged
40:16
and then I turned here
40:19
the other day
40:20
just to be reaffirmed
40:21
at the absolute
40:23
of Jesus Christ
40:24
the truth
40:25
the truth
40:26
that Jesus Christ
40:27
has come
40:28
comes from 1 John
40:30
1-1
40:31
the introduction
40:32
of John's epistle
40:36
I love reading John
40:38
because he has to make it
40:39
very clear
40:40
that he witnessed the Christ
40:42
in so many different ways
40:44
he wasn't
40:45
he wasn't some aberration
40:46
he witnessed him
40:48
in his person
40:49
he saw his crucifixion
40:51
and he saw his risen body
40:53
walking and eating with him
40:54
so he opens up
40:56
in 1 John
40:57
he said
40:59
what was from the beginning
41:00
what we have heard
41:02
what we have seen
41:03
with our eyes
41:04
what we have looked at
41:05
and touched with our hands
41:07
concerning the word of life
41:09
and the life
41:10
was manifested
41:10
and we have seen
41:12
and testify
41:13
and proclaim to you
41:14
the eternal life
41:15
which was with the Father
41:17
and was manifested in us
41:19
what we have seen
41:20
and heard
41:20
we proclaim to you also
41:22
so that you too
41:23
may have fellowship
41:24
with us
41:24
again that's his partnership
41:26
in the gospel
41:27
and the believing of this
41:28
and indeed
41:30
our fellowship
41:30
is with the Father
41:31
and with his Son
41:33
Jesus Christ
41:34
it is made complete
41:35
in the Godhead now
41:36
these things
41:38
we write
41:39
so that our joy
41:41
may be made
41:42
complete
41:43
as John goes on
41:45
to talk about
41:46
what it means
41:46
to be a believer
41:47
in Christ
41:48
if you say you're a believer
41:49
then it will look like this
41:50
if you're not
41:51
then it will look like this
41:52
but he finds his joy
41:54
in expressing it
41:55
to the people
41:56
that Christ has come
41:57
and they've
41:59
they get to place
42:00
their faith in him now
42:01
and that he rejoices
42:03
in that
42:04
so let us
42:05
as a people
42:06
especially as we go into
42:07
we continue on
42:08
into the Advent season
42:09
let us rejoice
42:09
in the coming of Christ
42:10
that he has come once
42:11
that he died once
42:13
that he was resurrected once
42:14
and that he is coming again
42:15
as Matthew
42:17
talked about
42:19
in Revelation
42:19
like if you really want to see
42:20
the second coming of Christ
42:23
if you really want to find joy
42:24
read the entire book of Revelation
42:26
because that is something
42:27
that you will
42:27
some of you may not understand
42:29
but you're going to see
42:30
that there is joy to be had
42:32
from the believer
42:33
as Jesus comes again
42:34
not going to read anything from there
42:36
but I do highly encourage it
42:38
so let me just close in prayer
42:39
for us this morning
42:41
thank you
42:42
thank you
42:42
thank you
42:43
thank you
42:44
thank you
42:45
thank you