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Luke 2:1-21 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
Now, while you're getting there, I want to prepare us a little bit for what we're going to be studying this morning.
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And I believe that over the last week, if we think about it, the last month maybe, or even the last year probably for all of us,
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we can think of times when we have struggled with worry, when we have struggled with anxiety,
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when we've struggled with feeling overwhelmed.
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I know that from talking to many of us and knowing myself that many of us can often struggle with the feeling that we can never do enough at our jobs,
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for our families, or even that we can never do enough work for the kingdom.
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Others of us struggle with the feeling that we can never measure up to the work that others are doing.
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Many of us set really, really high goals for ourselves, and then we're so, so, so frustrated with ourselves
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when we see the great distance between where we're at and the goals that we've set.
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I've been in all those places.
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I've seen the reality of reaching the end of my power in almost everything.
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I've fully exhausted the end of what I can do and failed to acknowledge or accept the Lord's help.
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And that's when we run to that worry, that anxiety, that avoidance.
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I ran to everything I could to get rid of that weight that can just be weighing down on us so much.
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And I think if we all think about it, I think if we're honest, we all hit those points.
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We've been there, and sometimes that may just be a mindset struggle,
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or other times it may flow out in our actions and be very apparent.
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But I'm up here this morning to preach about peace.
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So why am I starting with all of this anxiety, this worry, these ideas about work?
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Because those tend to be the opposites of peace.
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We often run to those and away from the peace that the Lord has provided through his birth, life, death, and resurrection.
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It's what we so often run to.
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So just a quick story.
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So almost three years ago.
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I know the exact date.
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It was March 14, 2016.
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I know that because it's the oldest note I have in my current phone.
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I was sitting on the back porch of what y'all call the refuge where Matthew and Alex and Ian and Spencer live.
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I was talking to Clay.
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Back then, I was in his discipleship group.
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And he had had us listen to a sermon that is called Work and Rest.
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It's by Tim Keller.
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It's a really good sermon that has done me a lot of good in going back and listening to it quite a few times since then.
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I'd really recommend that if you struggle with prioritizing work and rest.
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And in his sermon, he talks about the modern culture and how in many ways, many of us have become workaholics in a way that has never been seen before.
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He explains that because many of us can work from anywhere, we do work from anywhere and work from everywhere and often do that all the time.
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We struggle to find true rest.
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Many of us, I know that I personally get called out for this a lot, constantly have a productivity mindset.
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If something doesn't seem immediately productive, we're not going to do it.
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I think a lot of us struggle with that.
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And rest is one of those things that doesn't seem immediately productive.
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Those that are really close to me have had to call me out to remind me that the Lord has called us to a life that needs some rest, needs some Sabbath, needs some peace.
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After all, we're not God.
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We're simply laborers in the Lord.
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We're not our own lords, but so, so, so often we try to be.
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So often.
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In Keller's sermon, I'll borrow a few things he says.
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He gives three ways in which we often try to constantly work.
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He asserts that we constantly feel this pressure to prove ourselves in three different ways.
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Firstly, he says that we feel the need to prove ourselves to God.
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We feel the need to prove ourselves to God.
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Secondly, we feel the need to prove ourselves to ourselves.
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And thirdly, that we feel the need to prove ourselves to others.
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So going back to that day in March of 2016, as Clay and I were talking on the back porch,
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I really began to think about those three.
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And realized that I had put so much effort into one of those for sure, and oftentimes all three of those.
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And that's so dangerous.
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Being in a constant state of trying to prove ourselves and feeling this weight that we're not good enough,
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either for God, for ourselves, or for others,
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takes us so far away from that hope, that joy, that peace that are found in the gospel of Christ.
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Now these realities, I think, can come in the forms that we often think of them in.
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I think what comes to my mind when I think about proving ourselves to God
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is the view that pretty much all of the world that does not trust in Christ,
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is their only hope, has that if we do enough good things or we avoid enough bad things,
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that we're good.
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We'll have whatever afterlife we imagine.
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We'll be set.
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When we think about proving ourselves to ourselves,
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I think many of us have the idea that we need to have as good of a house,
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as good of a car, as raise our family well,
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at least as well as our parents did,
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hold down a good career.
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When we think about proving ourselves to others,
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I think we think of some of the same things.
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doing lots of good things,
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having lots of worldly possessions,
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doing every possible activity that we can.
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And all that's just to impress other people.
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All of that.
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Now all those are very, very dangerous,
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and I don't want to deny that in one bit,
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because they show a heart that is either not currently set on the gospel
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or has never put its hope in the gospel.
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But I know that for myself and for many of the rest of us,
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there's some very much more subtle ways that we start believing these,
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and because of how subtle they are,
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I think they can be possibly even more dangerous.
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Thinking about trying to prove ourselves to God
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and doing every possible ministry opportunity
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and never saying no.
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Being a part of way too many campus ministries
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to the detriment of commitments to each one
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and to the church
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and to all the other legitimately important things in life as well.
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Or hanging about proving ourselves to God
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and taking pride in these long stretches of avoiding sin
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and boasting that we haven't struggled with something in a really long time.
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And then when we do sin,
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being utterly defeated when we slip up,
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and that shows we've been putting our confidence in our own good works
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instead of the finished work of Christ.
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I've also found myself in the state of wanting to prove myself to myself
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and being completely unwilling to participate in something like a leisure activity
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because it doesn't seem productive.
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Running away from opportunities to be with the community
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because we feel that we are too busy
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and thinking that everything must be directly productive.
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And treating ourselves as if we have all the power in the world
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and so we can be involved in everything there is that is good.
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And then I think even worse of trying to prove ourselves to others
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and wanting people to realize how busy we are
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or wanting to do service that is in the spotlight
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but being unwilling to do something that's behind the scenes.
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I think I could go on and on all morning
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but I don't think I need to.
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I'm aware that many of those overlap
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and I want to communicate those realities for a number of reasons
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not the least of which being that I want to apologize
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to any of you who have been hurt by my own sinful tendencies
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to want to prove myself.
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I also believe that if we're honest
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we all struggle in some way
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of feeling the need to prove ourselves.
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And any of those start to rely on our own works
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and not putting our hope
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and joy
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and ultimately having peace
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in the finished work of Christ.
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Okay.
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So I'm here to talk about peace.
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So let's get to it.
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So Luke 2.
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Luke 2.
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So this is a very, very, very familiar Christmas passage.
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If I'm not careful in my reading of it
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I'm going to switch half the words to KJV
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because I remember men in my family's church reading it so often.
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Because of those kind of realities
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I'd really like to encourage you not to just check out.
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Don't think you've heard this passage 80 times
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and so you don't need to listen.
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Brothers and sisters, as Nathan faithfully reminds us
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this is the word of God.
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It was written for the Lord's glory and for our good.
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It will be good for us this morning to listen to it
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in order to believe its promises
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and obey its commands.
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So verse 1 of Luke 2.
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So as in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
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that all the world should be registered.
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This was the first registration
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when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
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And all went to be registered
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each to his own town.
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And Joseph also went up from Galilee
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from the town of Nazareth
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to Judea
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to the city of David
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which is called Bethlehem
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because he was of the house
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and lineage of David
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to be registered with Mary
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his betrothed
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who is with child.
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And while they were there
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the time came for her to give birth
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and she gave birth to her firstborn son
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and wrapped him in swaddling clothes
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and laid him in a manger
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because there was no place for them
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in the inn.
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And in the same region
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there were shepherds out in the field
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keeping watch over their flock by night.
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And an angel of the Lord appeared to them
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and the glory of the Lord shone around them
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and they were filled with great fear.
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And the angel said to them
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Fear not
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for behold I bring you good news
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of great joy
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that will be for all the people.
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For unto you is born this day
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in the city of David
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a Savior
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who is Christ the Lord.
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And this will be a sign to you
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for you will find a baby
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wrapped in swaddling clothes
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and lying in a manger.
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And suddenly
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there was with the angel
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a multitude of heavenly hosts
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praising God and saying
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Glory to God in the highest
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and on earth
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peace among those
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with whom he is pleased.
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When the angels went away
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from them into heaven
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the shepherds said to one another
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let us go over to Bethlehem
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and see this thing
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that has happened
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which the Lord has made known to us.
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And they went with haste
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and found Mary and Joseph
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and the baby
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lying in a manger.
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And when they saw it
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they made known the saying
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that had been told them
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concerning this child.
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And all who heard it
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wondered what the shepherds told them.
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But Mary treasured up
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all these things
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pondering them in her heart.
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And the shepherds returned
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glorifying and praising God
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for all they had heard and seen
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as it had been told them.
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And at the end of eight days
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when he was circumcised
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he was called Jesus
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the name given by the angel
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before he was conceived
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in the womb.
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Let's pray.
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Lord this morning
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I just ask that you would
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teach us about your peace.
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Let us not go away from here
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struggling with the anxiety
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and the worry
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that we so often
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try to hold on to Lord.
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Help us learn from your word.
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Guard my tongue
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from saying anything
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false.
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Let anything fall
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on deaf ears
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that is untrue Lord
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and truly teach us
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from your word this morning.
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In Jesus name we pray.
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Amen.
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So
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I'll be
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very honest
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and say
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I had a very difficult time
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deciding on my main text
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for this morning.
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Very, very difficult.
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There are many
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passages
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about
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the peace of God.
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The peace we have
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with God
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through Christ.
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The peace we have
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within our souls
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because of being
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accepted in Christ
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and the peace we can share
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with others
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because of who we are
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now in Christ.
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But I really struggled
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to decide which one
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would be most beneficial.
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So after a lot of thought
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and prayer
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and confidence
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that all scripture
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is beneficial
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for teaching,
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correction,
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reproof,
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training in righteousness
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I landed here
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and we'll also hit
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a lot of the other passages.
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So before we talk
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about this text
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I want to give you
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a little bit
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of the structure
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for the forward heading.
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So I'm going to use
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a heading
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and there will be
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three sub points
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within that.
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So our heading is
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How Our Saviors
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Birth, Life, Death,
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and Resurrection.
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That's How Our Saviors
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Birth, Life, Death,
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and Resurrection.
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The three points
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under that
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will be
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firstly
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brings us peace
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with God.
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Brings us peace
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with God.
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Secondly
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brings us peace
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with ourselves.
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And thirdly
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brings us peace
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with others.
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So,
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we're going to start
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with how our
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Savior's birth,
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life, death,
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and resurrection
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brings us peace
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with God.
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So here in this text
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we hear the very
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familiar story
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of our Savior's birth.
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We see Mary and Joseph
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have traveled to the town
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of Bethlehem
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to be registered
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or taxed
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and while they're
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on this journey
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it came time
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for Jesus to be born.
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When he was born
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he was laid in a manger
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there was no room
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for them in the inn.
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And we hear a little bit
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about the perspective
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of some other people.
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So some shepherds
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who were doing
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their thing
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they were just
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watching their flocks
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like they typically do
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and suddenly
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an angel
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appeared to them
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told them
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of good news
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of great joy
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something that would
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be good for all
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people it says.
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The angel told them
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that that day
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a Savior
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had been born
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who's called
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Christ the Lord
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the long expected
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Jesus.
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The angel then
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tells the shepherds
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how they're going
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to find him
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and as the angel
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is finishing
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giving the spill
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about Jesus
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suddenly there's
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a ton of angels
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and they're so excited
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they say glory to God
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in the highest
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and on earth
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peace among those
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with whom he is pleased.
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So this birth
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ushers in
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great glory to the Lord
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great excitement
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as they say
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peace among those
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with whom he is pleased.
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Seems like a pretty
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significant event
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for that to happen.
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I mean angels
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have come proclaiming
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glory to God
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in the highest
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but then I go
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and see this
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child born
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and nothing
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seems overly
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fancy here
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in this account
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fairly normal birth
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so what's the
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big deal?
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How does this
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birth bring glory
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to God
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in the highest
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and peace
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among those
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with whom the
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Lord is pleased?
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Well I think
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most if not all
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of us
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are very very
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acquainted
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with the glorious
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truth of us
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but it is good
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to be reminded
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so let's let the
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scripture do that.
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So now really
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getting into
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our point
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of how it brings
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us peace with God.
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We follow the
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narrative a little
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bit through Luke
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we see Jesus
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grow up
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we see Jesus
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at age 12
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in the temple
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answering questions
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and asking questions
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and the teachers
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are amazed
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at his understanding
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and his answers
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and we see
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something beautiful
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I believe
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if you flip over
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to Luke 3
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where John the Baptist
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is preparing the way
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for Jesus' ministry
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and he says
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sweet words
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found in Isaiah 40
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recorded here
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in verses 4-6
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says
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the voice of one
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crying in the wilderness
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prepare the way
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of the Lord
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make his path straight
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every valley
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shall be filled
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and every mountain
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and hill
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shall be made low
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and the crooked
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shall become straight
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and the rough places
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shall become level ways
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and all flesh
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shall see the salvation
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of God.
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So John is preparing
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the way
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ushering something
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new in
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all flesh
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shall see the salvation
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of God
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that's huge
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later on the chapter
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he explains
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that he's baptizing
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with water
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but there's one coming
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that he's not even
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worthy to untie
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his sandals
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and he will baptize
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with the Holy Spirit
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and with fire.
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So there's something
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new coming
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and this new thing
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that's coming
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is coming through
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this boy
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who was just born
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Jesus.
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So looking a little bit
15:47
further into Luke
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we see Jesus
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being tempted
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of the devil
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and we see Jesus
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strongly rebuke
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the devil
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as someone with
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authority
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and with power.
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We then see him
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begin his ministry
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preaching good news
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preaching repent
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for the kingdom
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of heaven
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is at hand.
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And there's remarks
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all the time
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of this Jesus
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is preaching
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with authority
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and not like
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the typical teachers.
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But then I believe
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one of the most
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astounding things
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about the accounts
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of Jesus' life
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is that he never
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gives in to temptation.
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Never gives in
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to temptation.
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In fact
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in describing
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Jesus' life
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the author of Hebrews
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says this
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in chapter 4
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verse 15
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for we do not
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have a high priest
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who is unable
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to sympathize
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with our weaknesses
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but one who is
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in every respect
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has been tempted
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as we are
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yet he's without sin.
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He never gave in
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to temptation.
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And so going through
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the accounts
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of Jesus' life
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he offended many.
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After all
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he spoke with
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the authority
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of God.
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He spoke with
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the authority
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to forgive sins
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and to call out sin
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which he did so
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quite frequently
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and did not
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back down from
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at all.
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And ultimately
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people were so
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offended
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and so hardened
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in their own ways
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that they decided
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that instead of
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having what we
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would now think
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of as the worst
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type of criminal
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killed
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they would have
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that man freed
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but would have
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Jesus crucified.
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And now this
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Jesus was crucified
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and in fact
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he died.
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But then three days
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later he rose
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from the dead.
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And this isn't
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some myth
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that we like to tell
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especially during
17:25
this time of year
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but he appeared
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to many witnesses.
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So what does
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this matter
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for our peace?
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Why were we
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not at peace
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before?
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So to answer
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that question
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turn with me
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to Romans 5.
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Romans 5.
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Romans 5.
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So here in Romans 5
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I would like to look
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at the first
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11 verses
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and unpack
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just a bit of
17:58
what it has
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to say here.
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Pick it up
18:02
in verse 1
18:02
of Romans chapter 5.
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It says
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Therefore since
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we've been justified
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by faith
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we have peace
18:08
with the God
18:08
through our Lord
18:09
Jesus Christ.
18:11
Through him
18:11
we have also
18:12
obtained access
18:13
by faith
18:13
into this grace
18:14
in which we stand
18:15
and we rejoice
18:16
in hope of the glory
18:17
of God.
18:18
Not only that
18:19
but we rejoice
18:20
in our sufferings
18:21
knowing that
18:21
suffering produces
18:22
endurance
18:23
and endurance
18:24
produces character
18:25
and character
18:26
produces hope
18:26
and hope does not
18:28
put us to shame
18:28
because God's love
18:29
has been poured
18:30
into our hearts
18:31
through the Holy Spirit
18:32
who has been given
18:33
to us.
18:34
For while we are
18:35
still weak
18:35
at the right time
18:37
Christ died
18:37
for the ungodly
18:38
for one will scarcely
18:40
die for a righteous
18:40
person
18:41
though perhaps
18:42
for a good person
18:42
one would dare
18:43
even to die
18:44
but God shows
18:46
his love for us
18:46
in that while we
18:47
were still sinners
18:48
Christ died for us
18:50
since therefore
18:51
we have now been
18:51
justified by his blood
18:53
much more
18:54
shall we be saved
18:55
by him
18:55
from the wrath
18:56
of God
18:56
for if while
18:57
we were enemies
18:58
we were reconciled
18:58
to God
18:59
by the death
18:59
of his son
19:00
much more
19:01
now that we
19:02
are reconciled
19:03
shall we be
19:03
saved by his life
19:04
more than that
19:06
we also rejoice
19:06
in God
19:07
through our Lord
19:07
Jesus Christ
19:08
through whom
19:08
we have now
19:09
received reconciliation
19:10
so I'm very aware
19:13
that this is a very
19:13
packed passage
19:14
and it's not my
19:15
goal this morning
19:16
to completely
19:16
unpack everything
19:17
but there's some
19:19
really important things
19:20
about our piece here
19:21
that I want to talk
19:21
about
19:21
so I'm going to
19:23
somewhat work it
19:23
from the middle
19:24
end area
19:25
back to the beginning
19:26
so let's look back
19:28
at verses 6-8
19:29
it says
19:29
for while we were
19:30
still weak
19:31
at the right time
19:32
Christ died
19:33
for the ungodly
19:33
for one will
19:34
scarcely die
19:35
for a righteous
19:35
person
19:36
though perhaps
19:37
for a good person
19:38
one would dare
19:39
even to die
19:39
but God
19:41
shows his love
19:41
for us
19:42
and that while
19:42
we were still
19:42
sinners
19:43
Christ died
19:44
for us
19:44
note a couple
19:45
of things
19:46
in these verses
19:47
okay
19:48
Paul describes
19:49
us as weak
19:50
and as sinners
19:52
I think he's being
19:54
honestly kind of
19:55
nice there
19:55
elsewhere
19:56
where we're
19:56
described as
19:57
dead
19:58
as dead
19:59
in our sins
20:00
unable to do
20:01
anything good
20:02
we're described
20:04
as not being
20:04
righteous
20:05
completely
20:06
unable
20:06
for any good
20:07
work
20:08
never seeking
20:09
for God
20:09
always turning
20:11
away
20:11
worthless
20:13
now Paul is
20:16
stating that
20:17
even with us
20:18
in that state
20:19
Christ died
20:20
for us
20:21
he didn't die
20:22
for an innocent
20:23
child
20:23
he didn't die
20:24
for a
20:24
lovely woman
20:26
he didn't die
20:27
for a strong
20:28
and loving
20:28
man
20:29
he died
20:30
for sinners
20:30
he died
20:31
for the ungodly
20:32
he died
20:32
for us
20:32
while we were
20:33
in that state
20:33
of never
20:34
seeking him
20:34
and always
20:35
railing against
20:36
him
20:36
never turning
20:38
away from
20:38
our sin
20:39
and in fact
20:39
not even
20:39
being able
20:40
to turn
20:41
away from
20:41
our sin
20:42
we were
20:42
worthless
20:43
but he died
20:44
for us
20:45
in that state
20:45
and we could
20:46
talk about
20:47
what great
20:47
love that is
20:48
for hours
20:48
but I don't
20:49
want to steal
20:49
next week's
20:50
sermon
20:51
but what I do
20:52
want to talk
20:52
about is how
20:53
that death
20:54
brought us
20:54
peace
20:55
now we believe
20:56
that God
20:57
is altogether
20:58
righteous
20:59
and altogether
21:00
holy
21:00
he cannot
21:01
tolerate sin
21:02
sin must be
21:03
punished or
21:04
otherwise he
21:05
would not be
21:05
righteous or
21:06
holy
21:06
think about the
21:08
realities of sin
21:09
for any length
21:10
of time and
21:11
as Lord gives
21:12
you grace to
21:13
see it
21:14
we will truly
21:15
see it that it
21:15
is that horrible
21:16
so if this is
21:18
the case
21:19
if it's the
21:20
case that God
21:20
is truly
21:21
altogether
21:22
righteous
21:22
altogether
21:23
holy
21:24
and we
21:25
are worthless
21:26
and always
21:26
turning to
21:27
sin
21:27
we should
21:28
not be
21:29
able to
21:29
be in his
21:29
presence
21:29
we should
21:31
be damned
21:31
to punishment
21:32
forever and
21:32
that's rightful
21:33
but here in
21:35
verse 1
21:36
Paul states
21:36
that through
21:36
faith in
21:37
Jesus life
21:38
death
21:38
resurrection
21:39
we can
21:39
have peace
21:40
with God
21:40
the angels
21:41
back in Luke
21:42
proclaimed glory
21:43
to God
21:43
in the highest
21:44
and on earth
21:45
peace among
21:45
those with whom
21:46
he is pleased
21:46
so how does
21:48
that work
21:48
how can this
21:50
work with the
21:50
reality of the
21:51
depth of our
21:52
sinfulness and
21:53
the depth of the
21:54
Lord's righteousness
21:55
and holiness
21:56
let's go back to
21:58
this person of
21:58
Jesus
21:59
we said this person
22:00
of Jesus lived
22:00
the perfect life
22:01
was tempted just
22:03
as we were
22:03
but yet did not
22:05
sin
22:05
but was crucified
22:06
suffered a sinner's
22:07
death but three
22:08
days later he
22:09
rose again
22:09
then look down at
22:10
verse 9
22:11
it says since
22:12
therefore we have
22:13
now been justified
22:13
by his blood
22:14
much more shall
22:16
we be saved by
22:16
him from the
22:17
wrath of God
22:18
for if while
22:19
we were enemies
22:19
were reconciled
22:20
to God by
22:20
the death of
22:21
his son
22:21
much more
22:23
now that we
22:23
are reconciled
22:24
shall we be
22:24
saved by his
22:25
life
22:25
more than that
22:27
we also rejoice
22:28
in God through
22:28
our Lord Jesus
22:29
Christ through
22:29
whom we have
22:30
now received
22:30
reconciliation
22:31
as we've been
22:32
justified by his
22:33
blood and saved
22:34
from the wrath
22:35
of God
22:35
and for even
22:37
more clarification
22:37
in verse 1
22:38
it says we are
22:39
justified by our
22:40
faith in his
22:40
life death
22:41
resurrection
22:42
so putting all
22:43
that together
22:43
through our
22:43
Lord Jesus
22:44
and putting faith
22:46
in his blood
22:47
shed on our
22:48
behalf on the
22:48
cross
22:49
he lived that
22:50
perfect life
22:50
the life that
22:51
we should have
22:52
lived but have
22:52
never been
22:53
capable of
22:54
but he suffered
22:55
the death for
22:56
our sins
22:57
so that when
22:58
God sees us
22:59
he does not see
23:00
our filthy
23:00
nasty
23:01
worthless
23:02
sin but he
23:03
sees Christ's
23:04
righteousness
23:04
and his blood
23:06
shed on our
23:06
behalf
23:07
and that's the
23:08
heart of our
23:09
faith
23:09
and because of
23:11
this the great
23:12
work of our
23:12
Savior's birth
23:13
life death
23:13
resurrection
23:14
we have peace
23:15
with God
23:16
no more need
23:17
to prove
23:17
ourselves to
23:18
God
23:18
number one
23:20
because we
23:20
can't
23:21
and number
23:22
two because
23:22
Christ has
23:23
already done
23:24
the work for
23:25
us
23:25
Christ has
23:27
already done
23:27
the work for
23:27
us
23:28
so that brings
23:29
us to our
23:29
next point
23:29
how our
23:31
Savior's birth
23:32
life death
23:33
and resurrection
23:34
brings us
23:35
peace with
23:35
ourselves
23:36
how our
23:38
Savior's birth
23:38
life death
23:40
and resurrection
23:40
brings us
23:41
peace with
23:41
ourselves
23:42
like I said
23:44
earlier I think
23:44
many of us
23:45
hold ourselves
23:46
to really
23:46
really high
23:47
standards
23:47
I think we
23:50
often feel the
23:51
need that we
23:51
must prove
23:52
ourselves to
23:52
ourselves
23:53
we set
23:53
really lofty
23:54
goals
23:54
and get so
23:56
angry at
23:56
ourselves
23:57
when we
23:59
can't meet
23:59
them
23:59
whether they
24:00
be spiritual
24:01
or just
24:01
typical goals
24:02
when we
24:04
fail to
24:04
meet those
24:05
goals we
24:06
get frustrated
24:06
we can
24:07
get really
24:08
down on
24:09
ourselves
24:09
even hate
24:09
ourselves
24:10
I must
24:12
confess that
24:12
that is
24:13
really often
24:13
where I
24:14
find myself
24:14
never quite
24:17
living up
24:17
to the
24:19
goals I
24:19
have for
24:20
myself as
24:20
a follower
24:20
of Christ
24:21
as a
24:22
husband
24:22
as a
24:23
church
24:23
member
24:24
and as
24:24
a teacher
24:24
I believe
24:26
many of
24:27
us can
24:27
very easily
24:28
begin to
24:29
believe
24:29
lies that
24:30
we will
24:30
lose God's
24:31
affection
24:31
if we're
24:32
going through
24:32
a rough
24:33
patch
24:33
spiritually
24:34
or not
24:34
living up
24:35
to how
24:35
we see
24:35
our roles
24:36
working out
24:37
but let's
24:38
think about
24:39
that idea
24:40
for a bit
24:40
all of our
24:41
striving
24:41
all of our
24:43
work
24:43
all of our
24:44
pressing on
24:44
all of our
24:46
trying to be
24:47
the very best
24:47
that we can
24:48
be
24:48
all of our
24:49
so often
24:50
trying to
24:51
be God
24:51
whether that
24:51
be intentional
24:52
or unintentional
24:53
what is that
24:55
compared to
24:55
all our
24:57
righteousness
24:57
is compared
24:58
to filthy
24:59
racks
24:59
apart from the
25:01
saving work of
25:02
Christ we can
25:02
do nothing
25:03
good
25:03
and you may
25:05
say that
25:06
doesn't help
25:06
me feel
25:07
peace about
25:07
myself at
25:08
all and
25:09
it doesn't
25:10
me either
25:10
but
25:12
we keep
25:13
tracking a
25:14
little bit
25:14
earlier we
25:15
concluded all
25:16
those things
25:17
that yeah
25:18
we're filthy
25:19
sinners who
25:20
are worthless
25:21
yeah
25:21
but we also
25:23
concluded that
25:24
somehow we
25:25
have peace
25:26
with God
25:26
is this
25:28
peace with
25:29
God coming
25:30
from how
25:30
well we
25:31
work spiritually
25:32
coming from
25:33
how well
25:33
we are
25:35
doing in
25:35
our roles
25:36
whatever those
25:37
may be
25:37
not at all
25:39
not at all
25:40
yes we can
25:42
do nothing
25:43
good without
25:43
Christ
25:44
but we have
25:45
been given
25:46
God's love
25:47
he's shown us
25:49
such great love
25:50
that even while
25:50
we were sinners
25:51
railing against
25:52
him he died
25:53
for us
25:54
when the Lord
25:55
sees us he no
25:55
longer sees
25:56
our sin he
25:56
sees the
25:57
finished work
25:57
of Christ
25:58
now God is
26:01
the person
26:01
who controls
26:02
our ultimate
26:03
destiny it's
26:04
not up to
26:05
us it's up
26:05
to him and
26:07
because of
26:07
this we are
26:08
justified
26:09
reconciled
26:09
accepted in
26:10
sight and
26:12
that's what
26:12
matters
26:13
to go off of
26:16
our theme
26:16
that we missed
26:17
last week I
26:18
think that
26:19
should bring us
26:20
great joy that
26:21
it's not not
26:22
up to us having
26:23
peace with God
26:24
and not just
26:26
that but being
26:27
welcomed into
26:27
the Lord's
26:28
family it's not
26:29
up to us and
26:30
if that's the
26:31
case we
26:33
shouldn't let
26:33
our failings
26:34
overly frustrate
26:35
us or even
26:36
turn to hatred
26:37
of ourself but
26:39
instead we should
26:40
marvel at the
26:41
grace shown to
26:42
us in the Lord
26:42
while we were yet
26:45
sinners and even
26:46
now as we still
26:47
struggle so much
26:48
sometimes he's
26:50
shown great love
26:51
to us so yes
26:52
we should be
26:53
constantly in a
26:55
process of
26:56
acknowledging our
26:57
failings but then
26:58
taking our minds
26:59
off that and
27:00
marveling on the
27:01
great love of
27:02
Christ shown to
27:03
us to forget
27:05
about ourselves
27:05
more and more
27:07
and to dwell on
27:08
Christ yes we
27:11
have failed and
27:12
we still fail but
27:13
our Lord has begun
27:15
the work and he
27:16
has promised he
27:17
will complete it
27:18
I think Paul
27:20
expresses this idea
27:21
really really really
27:22
well at the end
27:23
of Romans 7
27:24
turn with me
27:24
there just over to
27:26
Romans 7
27:27
I remember
27:34
going through a
27:35
certain part of
27:36
my walk with the
27:38
Lord a few years
27:39
back and I just
27:39
kept coming back to
27:40
this passage over
27:41
and over and over
27:42
being frustrated with
27:43
my own actions and
27:44
I think Paul says it
27:45
well so picking up in
27:48
verse 15 here
27:49
says for I do not
27:51
understand my own
27:52
actions for I do
27:53
not do what I want
27:54
but I do the very
27:56
thing that I hate
27:57
now if I do what I
27:58
do not want I agree
27:59
with the law that it
28:00
is good so now it is
28:02
no longer I who do
28:03
it but sin that
28:04
dwells within me for
28:06
I know that nothing
28:07
good dwells in me that
28:08
is in my flesh for I
28:09
have the desire to do
28:10
what is right but not
28:11
the ability to carry
28:12
it out for I do not
28:14
do the good I want but
28:15
the evil I do not
28:16
want is what I keep
28:17
on doing now if I do
28:18
what I do not want it
28:20
is no longer I who
28:21
do it but sin that
28:22
dwells within me so I
28:24
find it to be a law
28:25
that when I want to
28:26
do right evil lies
28:27
close at hand for I
28:28
delight in the law of
28:29
God and my inner
28:30
being but I see in
28:31
my members another
28:32
law waging war against
28:33
the law of my mind
28:34
and making me captive
28:35
to the law of sin that
28:37
dwells in my members
28:38
wretched man that I
28:39
am who will deliver me
28:41
from this body of
28:41
death thanks be to
28:43
God through Jesus
28:44
Christ our Lord so
28:46
then I myself serve
28:47
the law of God with
28:48
my mind but with my
28:50
flesh I serve the law
28:51
of sin I think this
28:53
idea we just talked
28:54
about is exactly what
28:55
Paul is talking about
28:56
so often I believe we
28:57
find ourselves really
28:59
enjoying the gospel but
29:00
then so quickly our
29:01
affections being turned
29:02
towards sin but look at
29:05
the ending praise to
29:07
God that he will
29:07
ultimately deliver us
29:09
from this body of
29:10
death so we should be
29:12
at peace with ourselves
29:13
and not constantly
29:14
feeling down about our
29:15
failings but feeling
29:16
the joy of Christ's
29:18
work so that brings us
29:20
to our third point
29:21
how our Savior's
29:23
birth life death
29:25
and resurrection
29:25
brings us peace with
29:27
others how our
29:29
Savior's birth life
29:30
death and resurrection
29:31
brings us peace with
29:32
others we mentioned
29:36
earlier when discussing
29:37
the felt need to prove
29:39
ourselves to others
29:40
that we so often want
29:41
to compare ourselves to
29:42
others we try to look
29:44
at each other's
29:45
struggles and think oh
29:46
I'm I'm not that bad
29:47
or we tend to look at
29:49
what we're doing for
29:51
the Lord and then look
29:52
at what our brothers
29:53
and sisters are doing
29:54
for the Lord and get
29:55
some sort of sick
29:57
satisfaction of thinking
29:59
that we do more so we
30:00
must be better off or
30:02
we want to show others
30:03
how busy we are and
30:05
how committed we are and
30:07
how because of this
30:08
somehow our thinking
30:10
tells us that we're
30:11
better followers of
30:12
Christ we want others
30:14
to see our own work
30:16
brothers and sisters
30:20
none of these are
30:22
gospel mindsets none
30:24
of these bring glory to
30:25
the work of Christ and
30:27
all of these try to take
30:29
the glory that the work
30:30
of Christ deserves and
30:32
put it on something that
30:33
we've already concluded is
30:35
worthless and so with
30:40
that as we truly
30:41
understand the gospel of
30:42
who we are in Christ
30:43
what he has taken us
30:45
from of the depths of
30:47
our sin then understand
30:49
why he chose us of
30:51
simply his grace I
30:53
think we as believers
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see that we're all
30:55
really in the same boat
30:56
we were all sinners we're
30:59
all in a state of
31:00
spiritual death we all
31:01
needed new birth but I
31:04
think we so often
31:05
struggle with the idea
31:06
of subtly thinking that
31:08
oh I've never done
31:09
anything like they've
31:10
done I'm better off or
31:12
sometimes we either
31:13
intentionally or
31:15
unintentionally end up
31:17
thinking that we've
31:17
always done good works
31:19
or that we don't need the
31:21
Lord's grace as much as
31:22
the next guy or why did
31:24
the Lord save them when
31:25
they've done such bad
31:26
things and all these
31:28
sound awful like we
31:29
would never think these
31:30
things but that is what
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we're doing when we're
31:33
comparing ourselves to
31:33
others it's exactly what
31:35
we're doing and so we
31:38
have to be vigilant
31:39
against these mindsets as
31:41
they so often creep in
31:42
we must remember that
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all of us every single
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one of us has committed
31:47
an infinite trespass
31:49
against a holy God and
31:50
we're so all of us are
31:52
fully deserving of death
31:55
and hell and we're given
31:56
a grace to not be sent
31:57
there right now so how
32:00
does that bring us peace
32:01
with others we have no
32:05
room for boasting
32:06
salvation is all based on
32:08
grace and undeserved
32:09
kindness so all our
32:10
boasting must stop we
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all need the Lord if the
32:13
Lord counted trespasses
32:14
against us who could
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stand no one right we
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all have that flesh that
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still tries to creep in to
32:24
destroy us to distract us
32:25
from the good work the
32:26
Lord's giving us and only
32:28
the Lord will deliver us
32:29
from that body of death
32:30
none of our striving it's
32:33
the Lord's work but so
32:35
often we carry around the
32:36
sense of some sort of
32:37
spiritual pride thinking
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that we do the most good
32:44
works of anybody around
32:46
us or that we avoid more
32:48
sin than most but when we
32:52
truly understand our
32:53
position of being saved
32:54
completely by grace alone
32:56
through faith alone in the
32:57
work of Christ and nothing
32:59
of ourselves alone that
33:03
there's no good in
33:04
ourselves apart from his
33:05
work our pride and our
33:07
boasting should be gone
33:08
entirely gone we have no
33:10
grounds for it and as it
33:13
goes away we can have the
33:15
great peace and harmony that
33:16
the Lord has called us to
33:17
with each other with our
33:19
brothers and sisters
33:20
working together as one
33:22
body for the Lord just one
33:26
more quick thing on this
33:27
point to demonstrate the
33:30
reality of how ridiculous our
33:32
pride can be sometimes I
33:36
want to share a song that I
33:37
believe demonstrates its
33:38
ugliness if you grew up in a
33:41
very traditional country-ish
33:43
type church you might
33:45
recognize these lyrics what I
33:48
want you to pay attention to
33:49
is the level of pride that it
33:51
communicates and then the
33:54
realization of that in the
33:56
end I'll probably get made fun
33:58
of for quoting this one later
33:59
but but I really think like
34:01
this communicates the
34:03
ugliness of pride and the
34:04
reality of it's I guess not
34:09
having any sort of base and
34:12
it's simple but it's good it
34:15
says I thought number one would
34:16
surely be me I thought I could
34:19
do what I wanted to do excuse
34:21
me I thought I could be what I
34:22
wanted to be I thought I could
34:24
build on life sinking sand but
34:26
now I can't even walk without
34:29
you holding my hand I thought I
34:31
could do a lot on my own I
34:33
thought I could make it all the
34:34
day long I thought of myself as a
34:37
mighty big man but Lord I can't
34:39
even walk without you holding my
34:41
hand so often we try to take
34:44
credit and take pride in the
34:46
things that the Lord is giving us
34:47
to walk in this tears down our
34:50
thinking about the gospel we
34:52
forget that any good thing that
34:54
we're able to do is a sweet grace
34:56
to us and yet another thing our
34:58
pride tears down the relationship
35:00
we have with our brothers and
35:01
sisters who make up the church
35:03
so let's remember the gospel the
35:06
good news that yes we can do
35:08
nothing but even while we're in
35:10
that Christ showed his great love
35:12
to us and that he gave us his
35:13
great salvation by paying the
35:15
ultimate price of a sinner's death
35:17
and bearing the wrath of God for our
35:19
sins let that reality rule our minds
35:23
and there will be no room for pride
35:26
left we'll have so much more room
35:28
for peace with our brothers and
35:29
sisters I believe that's the number
35:31
one thing that can tear that down
35:33
now we've we've talked about the
35:37
realities of peace that the Lord has
35:38
ushered in at this point we've
35:40
talked about how our Savior's birth
35:42
life death and resurrection has
35:44
brought us peace with God peace with
35:46
ourselves and peace with others but
35:49
how do we maintain this how do we
35:51
hold on to this peace and what does
35:54
it look like can we have it all the
35:56
time I want to look at one more
35:57
passage before we close to turn with
35:59
me to Philippians 4 Philippians 4 I
36:03
think this or maybe Ephesians 2 is
36:07
probably the most common passage used
36:09
to talk about this and I think
36:10
rightfully so so I want to look at
36:14
verses 4 through 13 here in
36:16
Philippians 4 picking up in verse 4 it
36:22
says rejoice in the Lord always again I
36:25
will say rejoice let your reasonableness
36:27
be known to everyone the Lord is at
36:29
hand do not be anxious about anything
36:31
but in everything by prayer and
36:34
supplication with Thanksgiving let your
36:36
request be made known to God and the
36:38
peace of God which surpasses all
36:40
understanding will guard your hearts
36:42
in your minds in Christ Jesus finally
36:45
brothers whatever is true whatever is
36:47
honorable whatever is just whatever is
36:49
pure whatever is lovely whatever is
36:51
commendable if there is any excellence
36:53
there is anything worthy of praise think
36:55
about these things what you have learned
36:58
and received and heard and seen in me
37:00
practice excuse me practice these things
37:02
and the God of peace will be with you I
37:05
rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at
37:07
length you've revived your concern for
37:09
me you were indeed concerned for me but
37:11
you had no opportunity not that I'm
37:13
speaking of being in need for I've
37:15
learned in whatever situation I am to
37:17
be content I know how to be brought low
37:19
and I know how to abound in any and
37:21
every circumstance I've learned the
37:23
secret of placing facing plenty and
37:25
hunger abundance in need I can do all
37:28
things through him who strengthens me so
37:31
in closing a couple of things to note when
37:33
Paul is talking about this piece that
37:35
surpasses all understanding he describes
37:39
being able to have it in any
37:41
circumstances and as verses just below
37:43
it he says that he has learned in
37:45
whatever situation he is in to be
37:48
content he can have peace no matter
37:50
what is going on around him now why is
37:54
this is he some sort of super
37:56
Christian that had special powers that
37:58
he can do it he can have peace no
38:00
matter what but we can't do it
38:02
absolutely not he's able to be at
38:06
peace by doing what he says right
38:08
here by setting his mind look at verse
38:09
eight finally brothers whatever is
38:12
true whatever is honorable whatever is
38:14
just whatever is pure whatever is
38:17
lovely whatever is commendable if there's
38:20
any excellence if there's anything
38:21
worthy of praise think about these
38:23
things he's setting his mind and that
38:26
is how he's able to keep peace no
38:29
matter what's going on around him
38:30
sets his mind on the things that are
38:34
actually worthy of praise he doesn't
38:36
get caught up in comparing himself to
38:39
others he doesn't get caught up in
38:41
wallowing about in a sin but he sets his
38:45
mind on the great hope we have in
38:47
Christ he's thankful he takes
38:50
everything to the Lord in prayer he
38:53
rejoices in the Lord
38:54
what a friend we have in Jesus all our
38:59
sins and griefs to bear what a privilege
39:02
to carry everything to God in prayer just
39:04
like it says here oh what peace we often
39:07
forfeit oh what needless pain we bear all
39:11
because we do not carry everything to God
39:14
in care in prayer we can take our anxieties
39:18
to the Lord we can set our minds on the
39:20
things that are true that are honorable
39:21
that are just that are pure that are
39:23
lovely that are actually commendable and
39:26
excellent and truly worthy of praise and
39:30
now as we set our mindsets on the
39:32
gospel always vigilant to battle the
39:34
pride or the opposite the self-hate and
39:36
the disbelief that comes in we can have
39:40
true peace through our Lord no more
39:43
trying to prove ourselves to him and
39:45
we're trying to prove ourselves to
39:47
ourselves he's done the work and to
39:49
ultimately say that we are his so thus
39:53
far I've spoken about a peace that is
39:55
here a peace that can be had now but
39:59
even better than that brothers and
40:01
sisters our true life and eternity our
40:05
peace will no longer have to be fought
40:06
for we will have it and it will be with
40:10
us forever a whole sermon could be
40:13
preached on that peace but time so when
40:18
we're struggling when the cares of the
40:21
world try to choke out our peace when
40:23
unbelievers scoff at the gospel when
40:26
we are down when we are just struggling
40:30
so much we can set our hope on the
40:31
promise of such a great eternity when
40:34
we'll be in perfect peace and thus have
40:37
such great hope such great joy such
40:40
great peace now as we look toward that
40:42
ultimate full development so grab your
40:45
bulletin grab your bulletin
40:47
there's a quote on it from william
40:53
guernal who's a 17th century english
40:56
theologian i think it communicates this
40:59
reality super well
41:01
says therefore you who think so basely
41:07
of the gospel and the professors of it
41:10
because at present their peace and
41:12
comfort are not come should know that it
41:15
is on the way to them and comes to stay
41:18
everlastingly with them whereas your
41:20
peace is going from you every moment and
41:24
is sure to leave you without any hope of
41:26
returning to you again look not how the
41:29
christian begins but how he ends so let's
41:32
pray
41:33
and