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

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If you will please take out your copy of God's Word and join me in Colossians chapter 1.
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An astute observer would note that this morning on your bulletin says that I'll be preaching a sermon on Hebrews chapter 2 verses 11 through 16.
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And that was correct up until 5 a.m. this morning.
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So, the prominent theme of the book of Hebrews, which we are working through together normally on Sunday morning,
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is the supremacy and the finality of Jesus Christ.
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The letter written to the Hebrews by an unsure author, but a man certainly who was pastoral toward them,
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was written to a group of Hellenistic Jews who likely had been expelled from the Roman center and are living out on the outskirts.
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Likely a small group, likely a group huddled together in a home, opening up this letter to read it,
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and they had been tried.
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They had been hated for their devotion to Jesus Christ.
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And we pick up on that as a secondary theme of the text.
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That he's writing to these Christians to say to them,
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Jesus is the superior way.
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Don't be tempted in the midst of suffering to go back to Judaism or to turn to any of the Roman gods.
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Christ is supreme and He is final.
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He's the ultimate and final sacrifice.
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Christ is the way that we are made right with God.
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So, we're going to see this theme.
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We're going to see it picked up again and again and again throughout the book.
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And we are in the thick of it already here in Hebrews chapter 2.
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And I just want another week to work out the implications of verses 11 through 16 and then probably on into verses 17 and 18 next week.
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But, I do want us to also consider this idea of Christian suffering.
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I want to take a little more time on it and then we'll dive into Hebrews 2 again next week, Lord willing.
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To stop and to think in our American context.
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Are we called as Christians to suffer?
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And what does that look like?
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We are sold often a bill of prosperity in our country as Christ followers.
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And it is not the biblical gospel.
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So, it's good for us to take some time to consider that.
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In fact, most of my work this week was writing a massive introduction to that very end to get into the text.
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And so, this will be a bit of an introduction in that way.
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So, I want to look today at Colossians chapter 1 verses 24 through 27.
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And before I read it, I want to remind you, beloved, that this is God's Word to us.
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It was written for His glory and for our good.
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We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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And Paul writes to the church.
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Colossae.
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Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.
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And in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body.
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That is, the church.
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Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you.
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To make the Word of God fully known.
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The mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to His saints.
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To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery,
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which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
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Now there is so much good in these four verses.
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There is so much to be mined out of them.
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But, this morning I just have two points.
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And they are, number one, the aim of Paul's ministry.
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What was Paul working to accomplish?
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The aim of his ministry.
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And number two, the means of Paul's ministry.
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So first, the aim of Paul's ministry.
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We see this worked out throughout the text.
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He became a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ to make the Word of God fully known.
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He says in verse 26, it's the mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to His saints.
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Jesus Christ Himself, verse 27, Christ in you, the hope of glory.
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Paul is aimed at God's purpose in the world, which is to make Christ known amongst all peoples everywhere.
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The purpose of God in history is that the gospel of reconciliation spread to all the peoples of the world
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and yield God-centered, Christ-exalting churches.
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This is what he's working toward.
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You want to know, what is God's purpose in the world?
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It's this.
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The gospel of reconciliation spread to all peoples of the world and yield God-centered, Christ-exalting churches.
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People for His praise.
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This was the promise of the Old Testament.
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Psalm 22, verse 27 and 28 says,
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All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord,
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and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
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For kingship belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations.
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This was the promise of Jesus to His disciples.
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Matthew 24, verse 14, Jesus says,
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And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations,
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and then the end will come.
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This was the design of God in the cross.
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As heaven's worship proclaims in Revelation 5 and verse 9,
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You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
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This was the final command of our risen Lord found in Matthew 28, verse 18 and following.
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He says,
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This was the God-given aim of Paul's apostleship.
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Romans 1, verse 5, Paul writes,
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Through Christ we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith
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for the sake of His name, Christ's name, among all the nations.
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This was Paul's holy ambition,
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rooted not just in a unique apostolic call,
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but also in the Old Testament promise that is still valid today.
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In Romans 15, verse 20 and 21,
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where he cites Isaiah 52 and verse 15,
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Paul writes,
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I make it my ambition to preach the gospel,
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not where Christ has already been named,
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lest I build on someone else's foundation,
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but as it is written,
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those who have never been told of Him will see,
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and those who have never heard will understand.
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Also in Acts 13, verse 47,
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where Isaiah 42, verse 6 is cited,
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So the Lord has commanded us, saying,
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I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
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that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
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Beloved, this was the purpose of the sending of the Holy Spirit.
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In Acts 1, verse 8, Jesus says,
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You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
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and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
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and in all Judea and Samaria,
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and to the end of the earth.
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Again, the purpose of God in history
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is that the gospel of reconciliation
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spread to all the peoples of the world
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and yield God-centered, Christ-exalting churches.
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This was the aim.
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This was the work of Paul
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in the establishment of the Church of Colossae,
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and in this church,
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Paul's ministry necessarily,
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some would argue it is.
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We're not sure.
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But this church that the book of Hebrews is written to
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that we are in the midst of studying now,
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that all peoples everywhere would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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This is Paul's aim,
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and it is ours as well.
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Secondly, the means of Paul's ministry.
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Paul says this very peculiar thing
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at the beginning of verse 24 in Colossians chapter 1.
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He says,
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Now I rejoice.
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I find great joy in my sufferings for your sake,
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and in my flesh I am filling up
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what is lacking in Christ's afflictions
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for the sake of His body, that is, the church.
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The suffering of Paul
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was not a consequence of His ministry,
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but rather a strategy of it.
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If it's clear in your mind,
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it was not a consequence of His ministry.
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And what I'm saying to you is
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it wasn't an avoidable thing.
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It wasn't a consequence of what He was doing.
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It was a strategy of it.
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It was part and parcel of His ministry.
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Suffering was a primary means
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by which Paul spread
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the gospel of reconciliation
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to all peoples of the world
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in order to yield God-centered,
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Christ-exalting churches.
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And beloved,
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nothing has changed.
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If you believe that it has,
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then you have failed
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to believe the gospel rightly.
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It is the error of much modern preaching,
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and it is akin to the prosperity gospel
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that would say,
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rather believe in Jesus
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and He will make you wealthy and healthy.
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That's prosperity gospel.
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And so many of us so quickly
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and readily reject that.
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But this more subversive prosperity gospel says,
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believe in Jesus
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and you can keep your wealth
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and your health.
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He may not make you that,
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but what you have is still yours.
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Add a little Jesus to the mix.
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And change isn't really necessary
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to follow Jesus.
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Beloved, the way of Jesus
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is the way of suffering.
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If we are to follow Christ,
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then we will suffer in this world.
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And that is a broad suffering.
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There's a lot that's involved
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in such suffering.
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We will have trouble in this world.
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Let's look at the call of the gospel
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of Jesus Christ a bit together.
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Jesus said in Mark 8,
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verse 34 and 35,
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if anyone would come after me,
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if we're going to follow Jesus,
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Jesus says,
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let him deny himself
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and take up his cross
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and follow me.
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For whoever would save his life
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will lose it.
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But whoever loses his life
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for my sake and the gospels
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will save it.
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Beloved, the cross is a place of death.
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The cross is a place
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where we put aside ourselves
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for the greater walk
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of following Jesus.
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It's where we begin to reorient
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who we are toward Him.
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It's where we treasure Him
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above all else,
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come what may,
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because we have Christ.
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Matthew 10, verse 16.
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Jesus says,
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Behold, I am sending you out
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as sheep in the midst of wolves.
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Romans 8, verse 36.
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Paul here cites Psalm 44, verse 22,
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where he says,
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As it is written,
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for your sake,
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we are being killed
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all the day long.
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We are regarded as sheep
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to be slaughtered.
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And if you look just before that
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in Romans 8, verse 35,
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the portion granted
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to those who are in Christ
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is tribulation, distress,
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persecution, famine,
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nakedness, danger, and sword.
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Jesus goes on in Matthew 10.
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I just read to you verse 16.
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This is verse 17.
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And following,
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Beware of men,
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for they will deliver you
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over to courts
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and flog you in their synagogues.
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And you will be dragged
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before governors and kings
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for my sake.
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Why?
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to bear witness
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before them
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and the Gentiles.
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That people would know
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that I am the Christ.
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Which leads us to this
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interesting thing
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that Paul says,
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In my flesh,
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I am filling up
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what is lacking
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in Christ's afflictions.
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We must be very careful
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at this point
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to not think
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that the affliction
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of the saints
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is somehow
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salvific.
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That our suffering
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has anything to do
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with the remediation
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of sin.
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I do not atone
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for anybody's sin
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in my suffering.
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Christ did that.
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Christ accomplished that.
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His death was perfect
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to accomplish
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that work.
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Here are some examples
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from the book of Hebrews.
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We are going to see
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this theme again
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and again
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in our study as well.
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Hebrews chapter 7
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and verse 27.
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He, being Christ,
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has no need
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like those high priests
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to offer sacrifices daily
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first for his own sins
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and then for those
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of the people
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since he did this
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once for all
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when he offered up
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himself.
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So we are not
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sacrifices in that way.
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Hebrews chapter 9
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and verse 12.
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Jesus entered
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once for all
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into the holy places.
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not by means
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of the blood
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of goats and calves
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but by means
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of his own blood.
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Thus,
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securing
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an eternal
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redemption.
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Having paid
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for all of the sins
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of the church
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in his
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suffering.
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Hebrews chapter 9
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and verse 26.
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The second part of it.
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Jesus
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has appeared
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once for all
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at the end
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of the ages
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to put away
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sin
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by the sacrifice
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of himself.
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And then
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Hebrews chapter 10
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and verse 14.
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For by a single
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offering,
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Jesus has perfected
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for all time
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those who are
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being
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sanctified.
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So,
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do not be mistaken,
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Jesus' sacrifice
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was not lacking
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in its power
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to redeem the church
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from its sin.
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Jesus' life
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and death
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was fully
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sufficient
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to save
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for all time
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those who have
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placed
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and will place
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believing faith
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in him.
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How then
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are Christ's
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afflictions
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lacking?
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John Piper
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wrote a little
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book called
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Filling Up
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the Afflictions
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of Christ
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where he wrote
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this,
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What is lacking
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in the afflictions
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of Christ
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is not that
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they are deficient
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in worth
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as though
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they could not
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sufficiently cover
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the sins
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of all
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who believe.
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What is lacking
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is that the
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infinite value
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of Christ's
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afflictions
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is not known
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and trusted
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in the world.
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These afflictions
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and what they
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mean are still
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hidden to most
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peoples.
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And God's
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intention
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is that the
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mystery be
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revealed to
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all the
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nations.
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So the
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afflictions of
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Christ are
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lacking in the
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sense that they
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are not seen
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and known
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and loved
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among the
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nations.
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They must be
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carried by
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missionaries
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and those
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missionaries
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complete what
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is lacking
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in the
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afflictions of
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Christ
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by extending
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them to
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others.
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How?
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How do they
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extend that
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to others?
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A man named
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Epaphroditus
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can help us
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with this.
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In Philippians
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chapter 2
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verse 25
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and following,
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Paul writes
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to the Philippian
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believers,
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I have thought it
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necessary to send
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to you Epaphroditus
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my brother and
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fellow worker and
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fellow soldier
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and your messenger
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and minister
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to my need.
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he was sent
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to Paul
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as a minister
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to his need
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by the Philippian
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church.
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For he has been
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longing for you
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all and has been
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distressed because
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you heard that
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he was ill.
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And I just love
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this attitude of
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Epaphroditus.
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He's concerned
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because they heard
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that he was
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sick.
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Wonderful
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example of
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self-forgetfulness.
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Indeed,
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he was ill
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near to death,
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but God had
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mercy on him
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and not only on
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him,
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but on me
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also,
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lest I
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should have
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sorrow upon
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sorrow.
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I am the
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more eager to
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send him
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therefore,
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that you may
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rejoice at
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seeing him
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again,
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and that I
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may be
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less anxious.
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So,
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receive him
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in the Lord
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with all joy
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and honor
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such men.
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So,
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you get the
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story of
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what's happening
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here as Paul's
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writing to the
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Philippian church.
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Verse 30,
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For he nearly
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died for the
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work of Christ.
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Because he was
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sent,
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he got sick,
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and he almost
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died.
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Paul says,
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risking his
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life to
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complete what
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was lacking
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in your
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service to
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me.
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And this
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phrase in
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Philippians
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chapter 2 is
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the exact same
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phrase that Paul
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uses in
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Colossians
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chapter 1.
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What was
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lacking in the
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afflictions of
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Christ,
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lacking in your
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service to
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me.
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And I think
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this helps us
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to understand
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rightly that
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the way that
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we take the
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affliction of
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Christ to
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others,
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that they
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might know
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him,
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is that we
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suffer like
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Christ suffered.
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We have a
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presence amongst
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people, a
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suffering presence
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amongst people,
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that we also
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experience the
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afflictions of
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Christ.
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And we display
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those afflictions
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to others.
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And we walk
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in those
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afflictions with
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a great faith
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and a great
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God who is
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redeeming people
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for his
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name.
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So suffering
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was a
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primary means
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by which Paul
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spread the
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gospel of
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reconciliation to
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all the peoples
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of the world
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in order to
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yield God-centered,
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Christ-exalting
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churches.
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Beloved, this
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is a divine
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strategy, not
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merely a
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consequence.
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suffering.
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Now at this
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point I have to
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imagine that you've
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got all kinds of
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questions about what
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suffering is.
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I've spoken so
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general and broadly
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about it.
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I think we suffer in
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a lot of ways in
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this world.
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I think we suffer in
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ways that are
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common to all
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people in this
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world with things
21:46
like sickness.
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Our bodies are
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failing.
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We are ever being
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reminded that we
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are headed swiftly
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towards death.
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Some of you are
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young.
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I think most
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people in the
21:58
room probably
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have that feeling
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when you wake
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up in the
22:00
morning of,
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oh no.
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The process of
22:05
getting out of
22:05
bed is painful.
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I typically roll
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onto a shoulder
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and drop a knee
22:11
down to the floor
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and start on my
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knees.
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And I wish it
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was because I
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was there in
22:15
prayer to the
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Lord.
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I'm just trying
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to stand up
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in the morning.
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The pollen count
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is up.
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I felt like I
22:22
had sand in my
22:23
eyes.
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Yesterday.
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This is sin in
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the world.
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The world is
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broken.
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It is desperately
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broken in very
22:31
normative ways.
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We experience it
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in deeper ways
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as well.
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We experience it
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in the loss of
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loved ones,
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old and young.
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Tragedy strikes
22:43
families all the
22:45
time.
22:46
We see it in the
22:47
broad suffering
22:47
of the world
22:48
around us.
22:49
People starving
22:50
to death.
22:52
People without
22:52
parents.
22:53
There is so
22:54
much brokenness
22:55
and pain in
22:57
this world.
22:57
And as
22:58
Christian people,
22:58
we ought to
22:59
rightly view
23:00
that through
23:00
the lens of
23:01
sin.
23:02
Look at the
23:03
curse and its
23:04
rampant nature
23:05
in the place
23:06
that we are.
23:06
I think we
23:07
ought to
23:07
experience those
23:08
things in a
23:08
way that is
23:09
unique amongst
23:09
peoples of the
23:10
earth because we
23:11
understand what
23:13
caused it.
23:13
sin.
23:14
But more than
23:17
that, particularly
23:18
within that, the
23:21
church throughout
23:21
the ages has
23:22
been persecuted
23:23
for righteousness
23:25
and we are not
23:27
those who get to
23:28
escape this.
23:30
We don't get to
23:31
live in America
23:32
and escape people
23:33
not liking us for
23:35
our faith.
23:36
And that's going
23:37
to take a different
23:37
shape where we live
23:38
than it does in
23:39
other places.
23:40
I am fully aware
23:41
that no one here
23:43
is going to be
23:43
beaten for being a
23:45
Christian leaving
23:45
this place.
23:46
I would be so
23:47
astoundingly shocked
23:48
if that were to
23:49
happen.
23:50
I probably shouldn't
23:50
be, but I would
23:52
be.
23:53
It's probably not
23:55
going to take that
23:56
shape.
23:57
But it might look
23:58
like you being
23:58
passed over for a
23:59
promotion because
24:00
your boss really
24:01
doesn't care for you
24:02
all that much
24:03
because you keep
24:03
telling him of his
24:04
wickedness and
24:05
calling him to
24:06
turn to God.
24:07
being a follower
24:09
of Jesus Christ
24:10
is going to press
24:11
you to speak boldly
24:12
to people about
24:13
their eternal
24:14
damnation.
24:17
It may look like
24:18
school teachers,
24:19
you not being able
24:20
to hold your
24:20
position any longer
24:21
because you can no
24:22
longer hold your
24:23
tongue and you
24:24
must tell these
24:25
children about this
24:27
Jesus that you
24:28
love so much.
24:30
I pray that all
24:31
of you have school
24:31
systems you can
24:32
carefully navigate
24:33
and preach faithfully
24:34
the gospel without
24:36
being fired.
24:37
It may mean that
24:38
your neighbor doesn't
24:40
want to talk to you
24:41
in the driveway
24:41
anymore.
24:42
That he very
24:43
quickly scrambles
24:44
inside or he
24:45
pulls in the garage
24:46
and closes the door
24:47
before he gets out
24:48
of the car because
24:49
he knows you may
24:50
come over and
24:51
want to tell him
24:52
that he needs to
24:52
repent and believe
24:54
in Christ.
24:56
I think that we
24:58
don't experience
24:58
enough suffering
24:59
in this world
25:00
because we're not
25:01
faithful enough
25:02
in our pursuit
25:03
of Christ.
25:04
I think we're
25:05
this weird blend
25:07
of Christian
25:08
in the world.
25:09
I think the way
25:09
we live as Christians
25:10
to other Christians
25:11
in the world
25:12
would be shocking.
25:13
It would be
25:14
strange.
25:15
They would come
25:16
over and want
25:16
to talk about
25:17
our experience
25:18
and we would
25:18
have no idea
25:19
what they're
25:20
talking about.
25:23
So much that
25:24
we do has been
25:25
Americanized in a
25:26
very unhealthy
25:28
way.
25:29
suffering is a
25:33
divine strategy.
25:36
And if you are
25:37
sitting there and
25:38
you're thinking
25:38
wait a second
25:39
I don't want to
25:40
suffer.
25:42
My impulse is not
25:44
to do this thing
25:45
there's a naturalness
25:46
to that.
25:47
That's normative
25:47
but you want to
25:49
love Christ more
25:50
and you want to
25:51
love the way of
25:52
Christ more
25:53
and you want to
25:54
live for eternity
25:56
and not for now.
25:58
If you would
26:00
forsake Christ
26:02
in order to
26:03
not suffer
26:04
then you are
26:05
not in Him.
26:06
You have not
26:07
experienced His
26:08
lavish grace
26:09
and mercy
26:09
to you.
26:12
Tertullian
26:13
who was a
26:13
Christian who
26:14
lived from
26:14
about AD
26:16
160 to
26:17
about AD
26:17
225
26:19
said
26:21
the oftener
26:22
we are
26:23
mown down
26:24
by you
26:25
Romans
26:25
the more
26:27
in number
26:27
we Christians
26:28
grow
26:29
the blood
26:31
of Christians
26:32
is seed
26:33
and this is
26:35
true in the
26:36
world today
26:37
if God were
26:38
to suddenly
26:38
gather together
26:39
the church
26:40
global
26:41
today
26:42
we
26:43
white
26:44
European
26:47
Christians
26:48
nominal
26:50
in our
26:50
devotion to
26:51
Christ
26:51
would be
26:51
the minority
26:52
and the
26:53
odd ones.
26:55
In the
26:55
world right
26:56
now the
26:56
fastest growing
26:57
churches are
26:58
growing in
26:59
places where
27:00
we don't hear
27:00
about because
27:01
they're
27:01
underground.
27:03
They're
27:03
highly
27:04
persecuted.
27:05
Places like
27:05
Iran,
27:07
China,
27:08
you hear
27:08
reports coming
27:08
out of China
27:09
because it's
27:09
a little bit
27:10
looser now
27:11
in these days.
27:12
As many as
27:12
10,000 people
27:13
a day professing
27:14
faith in
27:14
Christ.
27:15
We're the
27:15
minority.
27:16
We're the
27:17
strange ones.
27:19
The blood
27:20
of Christians
27:20
is seed.
27:24
John Piper
27:24
adds to
27:24
Tertullian's
27:25
quote,
27:25
for almost
27:26
300 years
27:27
Christians
27:28
grew in
27:29
soil that
27:29
was wet
27:30
with the
27:31
blood of
27:32
martyrs.
27:35
The
27:35
suffering of
27:36
God's
27:36
saints
27:37
ought to
27:38
be the
27:39
norm,
27:40
not the
27:40
exception.
27:42
It ought to
27:42
be normative
27:43
and beloved,
27:44
we ought to
27:44
be all the
27:45
more bold
27:46
because of
27:46
the place
27:46
we live.
27:48
What are
27:49
we afraid
27:50
of?
27:51
A little
27:52
derision,
27:54
being made
27:54
fun of?
27:55
Oh,
27:56
someone's
27:56
going to
27:56
call me
27:57
goody-two-shoes
27:57
because I
27:58
called them
27:58
to the
27:58
ways of
27:59
God.
28:00
I'm not
28:00
going to
28:00
be as
28:01
liked as
28:02
I would
28:02
like to
28:02
be.
28:04
We should
28:04
be more
28:05
bold.
28:06
We should
28:06
be astoundingly,
28:08
we don't
28:08
even really
28:08
have to be
28:09
all that
28:09
wise in
28:09
the way
28:10
that we
28:10
proclaim
28:10
the gospel
28:11
of Jesus
28:11
Christ
28:11
because we're
28:12
not going
28:13
to be
28:13
imprisoned
28:13
and we're
28:13
not going
28:14
to be
28:14
put to
28:15
death.
28:17
We should
28:18
press on
28:19
and press
28:20
in.
28:21
So let me
28:21
just ask
28:22
you,
28:23
are you
28:23
willing to
28:24
bear up
28:25
under
28:25
discomfort
28:26
for the
28:26
sake of
28:28
Christ?
28:30
I wonder
28:31
how we
28:31
would respond
28:31
if there
28:32
were
28:32
picketers
28:33
at the
28:33
front of
28:33
our
28:33
property
28:34
on a
28:35
Sunday
28:35
morning.
28:36
If people
28:37
were saying
28:37
hateful
28:38
things about
28:38
you claiming
28:39
to be a
28:40
Christ follower
28:40
as you
28:41
pulled in,
28:42
how likely
28:43
would you
28:43
be to
28:44
navigate
28:44
through
28:45
such a
28:46
throng
28:46
to be
28:46
able to
28:46
gather
28:47
with the
28:48
church?
28:50
Worse
28:50
yet,
28:50
what if
28:50
there were
28:51
threats made
28:51
concerning
28:52
our lives?
28:54
What if
28:54
someone called
28:55
up and
28:55
said,
28:56
if your
28:56
church keeps
28:57
meeting the
28:57
way it's
28:58
meeting,
28:58
I'm going
28:58
to show
28:59
up one
28:59
day,
29:01
would we
29:01
continue
29:01
to meet?
29:03
Would we
29:03
so want
29:04
to be
29:04
together
29:05
to praise
29:06
this God
29:07
that has
29:07
loved us
29:08
so much
29:08
that we
29:09
would be
29:09
willing to
29:10
risk
29:10
such a
29:11
thing?
29:13
Would you
29:13
all gather
29:14
at dawn
29:15
in a
29:16
secret place
29:17
because the
29:18
danger was
29:18
so high,
29:19
because you
29:20
are so
29:20
hungry for
29:21
Christian
29:22
fellowship
29:22
and the
29:23
preaching of
29:23
God's
29:24
word?
29:25
If I
29:26
sent out a
29:26
message and
29:27
said,
29:27
hey,
29:27
we had a
29:28
threat placed
29:29
on the
29:29
church,
29:30
and so
29:31
this Sunday
29:31
instead of
29:32
meeting at
29:32
1030,
29:34
we're going
29:35
to meet at
29:35
5am,
29:37
because we're
29:37
going to get
29:37
in and we're
29:38
going to get
29:38
out before
29:39
anybody would
29:40
ever show
29:41
up to our
29:41
property.
29:42
How many
29:43
people would
29:43
be here
29:44
on that
29:45
morning?
29:45
For so
29:49
many,
29:49
gathering with
29:50
the church
29:50
seems to be
29:51
a thing they
29:52
do when they
29:52
have nothing
29:53
else to
29:54
do.
29:56
Paul writes
29:57
in 2 Timothy
29:57
chapter 3
29:58
and verse 12,
30:00
Indeed,
30:00
all who desire
30:01
to live a
30:02
godly life
30:03
in Christ
30:04
Jesus
30:04
will be
30:06
persecuted.
30:08
And Paul
30:09
is not here
30:10
saying that
30:11
if we want
30:12
to be godly,
30:13
we have to
30:13
go to
30:13
dangerous
30:14
places for
30:15
the gospel.
30:16
Paul here
30:17
is saying
30:17
that the
30:17
gospel is
30:18
dangerous.
30:21
Pursue
30:21
Christ where
30:22
you are
30:22
and you
30:23
will be
30:24
persecuted.
30:27
This
30:27
shouldn't be
30:28
some far
30:28
removed
30:29
foreign
30:29
theory of
30:31
the Christian
30:31
life.
30:34
What is
30:35
missing in
30:35
your life
30:36
that prevents
30:37
your affliction?
30:39
What comfort
30:40
do you hide
30:41
behind?
30:42
What sacrifice
30:43
do you need
30:44
to make?
30:47
The contemporary
30:48
Romanian pastor
30:49
Joseph
30:49
San,
30:50
who has
30:50
suffered
30:51
greatly at
30:51
the hand
30:52
of Russian
30:53
communists,
30:54
stated,
30:55
Christ's
30:56
suffering
30:56
is for
30:57
propitiation.
30:59
Our
31:00
suffering
31:00
is for
31:01
propagation.
31:03
Love that.
31:04
The seed
31:05
of the gospel
31:05
is sown
31:06
through the
31:06
suffering
31:07
of his
31:08
people.
31:09
Jesus
31:11
said in
31:11
John
31:12
chapter
31:12
12,
31:13
verse 24
31:13
and 25,
31:14
truly,
31:14
truly,
31:15
I say
31:15
to you,
31:15
unless a
31:16
grain of
31:16
wheat falls
31:17
into the
31:17
earth and
31:18
dies,
31:18
it remains
31:19
alone.
31:20
But if
31:20
it dies,
31:21
it bears
31:21
much fruit.
31:23
Whoever
31:24
loves his
31:24
life loses
31:25
it,
31:26
and whoever
31:26
hates his
31:26
life in
31:27
this world
31:28
will keep
31:28
it for
31:29
eternal
31:29
life.
31:31
Jesus
31:31
here is
31:31
not just
31:32
referring to
31:33
the death
31:34
of the
31:34
martyr,
31:35
although he
31:35
certainly
31:35
is,
31:36
but also
31:38
to the
31:38
daily
31:39
dying
31:39
of
31:39
disciples
31:40
of
31:40
Jesus
31:40
who
31:41
take up
31:42
their
31:42
crosses
31:42
and
31:42
follow
31:43
him,
31:43
follow
31:44
the
31:44
example
31:44
of
31:44
his
31:44
life
31:45
and
31:45
death.
31:46
Our
31:46
Lord
31:47
was a
31:48
suffering
31:48
servant.
31:50
It is
31:51
insane
31:51
for us
31:52
to call
31:52
ourselves
31:52
little
31:53
Christs
31:53
and to
31:55
not
31:55
suffer.
31:56
Christ
31:57
suffered.
31:58
God
31:58
himself
31:59
made
31:59
flesh,
32:02
emptied
32:02
himself,
32:03
became
32:03
humble
32:03
as a
32:04
servant,
32:04
and he
32:05
suffered
32:05
on our
32:06
behalf.
32:09
Jesus
32:09
says,
32:09
John
32:10
chapter
32:10
13
32:10
verse
32:11
16,
32:11
truly,
32:11
truly I
32:12
say to
32:12
you,
32:13
a servant
32:13
is not
32:14
greater
32:14
than his
32:16
master,
32:17
nor is
32:17
a messenger
32:18
greater
32:18
than the
32:19
one who
32:20
sent him.
32:22
The
32:23
message
32:23
of Jesus
32:24
Christ
32:25
is that
32:26
he lived,
32:28
he suffered,
32:29
and he died
32:29
for us.
32:31
And his
32:32
messengers
32:32
are meant
32:33
to bring
32:34
that message
32:35
in.
32:36
Our
32:36
suffering.
32:38
The
32:38
proper
32:38
Christian
32:39
life
32:39
is one
32:40
of
32:40
daily
32:41
death.
32:43
And Paul
32:44
writes in
32:44
2 Corinthians
32:45
chapter 4
32:46
verse 8
32:47
and following,
32:47
we are
32:47
afflicted in
32:48
every way
32:49
but not
32:50
crushed,
32:50
perplexed
32:51
but not
32:52
driven to
32:52
despair,
32:53
persecuted
32:54
but not
32:54
forsaken,
32:55
struck
32:56
down but
32:57
not
32:57
destroyed,
32:59
always
32:59
carrying in
33:00
the body
33:00
the death
33:01
of Jesus.
33:02
so the
33:03
life of
33:04
Jesus
33:04
may also
33:05
be
33:05
manifested
33:06
in our
33:07
bodies.
33:08
For we
33:09
who live
33:09
are always
33:10
being given
33:10
over to
33:11
death
33:11
for Jesus
33:12
sake,
33:13
so the
33:13
life of
33:14
Jesus
33:14
also may
33:15
be
33:15
manifested
33:16
in our
33:16
mortal
33:16
flesh.
33:17
So death
33:18
is at work
33:19
in us
33:19
but life
33:20
in you.
33:22
There's this
33:22
impartation
33:23
of life
33:25
to those
33:25
who see
33:26
us suffer
33:26
and bear
33:27
up under
33:28
it for
33:28
the joy
33:29
of Christ.
33:32
Sam
33:33
Storms in
33:33
his devotional
33:34
book on
33:34
Colossians
33:34
entitled
33:35
The Hope
33:35
of Glory
33:36
wrote,
33:37
Suffering
33:37
for sin
33:38
is a
33:39
reproach.
33:41
Suffering
33:41
for suffering's
33:42
sake
33:42
is perverted.
33:45
Suffering
33:45
for the
33:45
sake of
33:46
Christ
33:46
and His
33:47
people
33:48
is grounds
33:49
for joy.
33:53
Peter
33:54
writes in
33:54
1 Peter
33:55
chapter 4
33:56
verse 13
33:56
and following,
33:57
Rejoice
33:58
insofar
33:59
as you
34:00
share
34:00
Christ's
34:02
suffering
34:02
that you
34:03
may also
34:03
rejoice
34:04
and be
34:04
glad
34:05
when His
34:05
glory
34:06
is revealed.
34:08
If you
34:08
are insulted
34:09
for the
34:09
name of
34:09
Christ,
34:10
you are
34:11
blessed
34:11
because the
34:12
spirit of
34:13
glory and
34:13
of God
34:14
rests upon
34:14
you.
34:15
But let
34:15
none of
34:16
you suffer
34:16
as a
34:16
murderer
34:17
or a
34:17
thief
34:18
or an
34:18
evildoer
34:19
or as
34:19
a meddler.
34:20
He's
34:20
saying,
34:20
don't be
34:20
dumb.
34:22
Your
34:22
suffering
34:23
for being
34:23
a bad
34:24
person
34:24
is not
34:24
suffering
34:25
for Christ.
34:26
Yet,
34:26
if anyone
34:26
suffers
34:27
as a
34:27
Christian,
34:28
let him
34:28
not be
34:29
ashamed,
34:29
but let
34:30
him
34:30
glorify
34:31
God
34:32
in that
34:33
name.
34:34
And all
34:35
of this
34:35
is why
34:35
Paul is
34:36
able to
34:36
say,
34:37
now I
34:37
rejoice
34:38
in my
34:40
sufferings.
34:42
Suffering
34:43
for the
34:43
name of
34:44
Christ
34:44
is to
34:44
join
34:45
him
34:45
in his
34:47
suffering,
34:47
to be
34:48
united
34:48
with him
34:50
in his
34:51
suffering.
34:52
in
34:53
Acts 5.
34:53
In
34:54
Acts 5,
34:54
we see
34:54
the
34:54
record
34:54
of
34:55
the
34:55
apostles
34:56
called
34:56
together,
34:57
verse 40,
34:58
and put
34:58
on trial.
35:00
It records
35:01
when they
35:01
had called
35:02
in the
35:02
apostles,
35:03
they
35:03
beat
35:03
them
35:03
and
35:04
charged
35:05
them
35:05
not
35:05
to
35:05
speak
35:06
in
35:06
the
35:06
name
35:06
of
35:06
Jesus
35:06
and
35:07
let
35:07
them
35:07
go.
35:08
Then,
35:10
they
35:10
left
35:10
the
35:10
presence
35:11
of
35:11
the
35:11
council,
35:12
rejoicing
35:13
that they
35:13
were
35:13
counted
35:14
worthy
35:14
to
35:14
suffer
35:15
dishonor
35:16
for
35:16
the
35:17
name.
35:17
And
35:18
every
35:18
day
35:19
in
35:19
the
35:19
temple
35:19
and
35:19
from
35:19
house
35:20
to
35:20
house,
35:20
they
35:20
did
35:21
not
35:21
cease
35:21
teaching
35:22
and
35:22
preaching
35:23
that
35:23
the
35:23
Christ
35:24
is
35:25
Jesus.
35:25
And
35:25
I
35:25
love
35:26
that
35:26
account
35:27
of
35:27
Luke.
35:27
Luke's
35:28
very
35:28
to
35:29
the
35:29
point
35:29
record.
35:30
They're
35:31
charged,
35:31
they're
35:31
beaten,
35:33
they're
35:33
charged
35:33
not
35:34
to
35:34
preach
35:34
about
35:34
Christ,
35:35
they're
35:36
so
35:36
happy
35:36
that
35:37
they
35:37
got
35:37
to
35:37
suffer
35:38
as
35:38
Christ
35:38
suffered,
35:39
and
35:39
what
35:39
do
35:39
they
35:39
do?
35:40
They
35:40
go
35:40
around
35:41
teaching
35:41
that
35:41
Jesus
35:41
is
35:43
the
35:43
Christ.
35:46
Again,
35:47
if you're
35:47
not
35:47
okay
35:48
with
35:48
this
35:48
teaching,
35:49
then you
35:50
do not
35:50
treasure
35:51
Christ
35:51
as
35:52
you
35:52
ought
35:53
to.
35:54
The
35:54
way
35:54
of
35:55
Jesus
35:55
is
35:56
the
35:56
way
35:56
of
35:57
suffering.
35:59
Now
35:59
I want
35:59
to show
36:00
you this
36:00
from the
36:00
book of
36:01
Hebrews
36:01
in
36:02
closing.
36:03
So
36:03
turn
36:03
with
36:03
me
36:04
if
36:04
you
36:04
will
36:04
to
36:04
Hebrews
36:04
chapter
36:05
10.
36:11
Beloved,
36:20
beyond
36:20
the
36:20
suffering
36:21
of
36:21
Christ,
36:22
there
36:23
is a
36:23
great
36:23
and
36:24
eternal
36:24
joy
36:25
that
36:26
awaits
36:26
us.
36:27
We
36:27
get a
36:28
taste
36:28
of
36:28
that
36:29
joy
36:29
even
36:30
here
36:30
and
36:31
now,
36:31
and
36:31
we'll
36:31
have
36:32
so
36:32
much
36:33
of
36:33
it
36:33
later.
36:35
And
36:35
the
36:35
writer
36:35
of
36:35
Hebrews
36:36
makes
36:36
this
36:36
case
36:37
across
36:37
the
36:37
text.
36:38
I'm
36:38
so
36:38
looking
36:38
forward
36:39
to
36:40
working
36:40
through
36:40
the
36:41
entire
36:41
book
36:41
of
36:42
Hebrews
36:42
and
36:42
picking
36:42
this
36:43
theme
36:43
up
36:43
again
36:43
and
36:44
again
36:44
and
36:45
again.
36:45
But
36:45
I
36:45
want
36:46
to
36:46
show
36:46
you
36:46
that
36:47
he
36:47
makes
36:47
the
36:47
argument
36:48
to
36:48
them
36:48
to
36:48
persevere
36:49
to
36:49
keep
36:49
on
36:50
in
36:50
their
36:51
suffering
36:51
and
36:53
he
36:53
makes
36:53
it
36:53
first
36:54
Hebrews
36:54
chapter
36:54
10
36:54
verse
36:55
32
36:55
through
36:55
35
36:56
with
36:57
their
36:57
own
36:57
experience.
36:58
He
36:59
reminds
36:59
them
36:59
of
36:59
themselves.
37:01
He
37:01
argues
37:02
!
37:02
them
37:02
with
37:03
their
37:03
own
37:04
case.
37:05
He
37:05
says,
37:06
but
37:06
recall
37:07
the
37:07
former
37:07
days
37:08
when
37:08
after
37:09
you
37:11
endured
37:12
a
37:12
hard
37:12
struggle
37:13
with
37:14
sufferings
37:14
sometimes
37:15
being
37:15
publicly
37:16
exposed
37:16
to
37:17
reproach
37:17
and
37:18
affliction
37:18
and
37:19
sometimes
37:20
being
37:20
partners
37:21
with
37:21
those
37:21
so
37:22
treated
37:23
for
37:24
you
37:24
had
37:24
compassion
37:25
on
37:25
those
37:25
in
37:25
prison
37:25
and
37:26
you
37:26
joyfully
37:27
accepted
37:27
the
37:28
plundering
37:28
of
37:28
your
37:29
property
37:29
since
37:30
you
37:30
knew
37:31
that
37:31
you
37:31
yourselves
37:32
had
37:32
a
37:33
better
37:33
possession
37:33
and
37:34
an
37:34
abiding
37:35
one.
37:36
Therefore
37:36
do
37:37
not
37:37
throw
37:37
away
37:37
your
37:38
confidence
37:38
which
37:39
has
37:39
a
37:39
great
37:40
reward.
37:41
So
37:42
they
37:42
themselves
37:43
are
37:43
suffering
37:44
right
37:44
they're
37:44
being
37:45
publicly
37:45
exposed
37:46
reproach
37:47
there's
37:47
evil
37:48
words
37:48
being
37:48
spoken
37:49
against
37:49
them
37:49
affliction
37:50
there's
37:50
likely
37:50
some
37:51
kind
37:51
of
37:51
physical
37:52
persecution
37:52
happening
37:53
and
37:54
at
37:54
times
37:55
they're
37:55
partnering
37:56
with
37:56
some
37:56
who've
37:56
been
37:56
imprisoned
37:57
and
37:57
in
37:58
prison
37:58
in
37:58
those
37:58
days
37:58
if
37:58
you
37:58
didn't
37:59
have
37:59
somebody
37:59
come
37:59
and
37:59
help
38:00
you
38:00
you
38:01
died
38:01
you
38:01
had
38:02
to
38:02
be
38:02
fed
38:02
being
38:03
imprisoned
38:04
so
38:05
they're
38:05
exposing
38:06
themselves
38:06
as
38:06
Christians
38:07
going
38:07
and
38:07
helping
38:08
those
38:08
that
38:09
are
38:09
in
38:09
their
38:09
church
38:10
that
38:10
have
38:10
been
38:10
imprisoned
38:10
and
38:11
what
38:11
happens
38:12
in
38:12
this
38:13
act
38:14
their
38:14
property
38:15
is
38:15
plundered
38:15
as
38:16
they
38:17
leave
38:17
their
38:17
house
38:18
people
38:18
go
38:18
into
38:19
their
38:19
house
38:19
and
38:19
they
38:19
take
38:20
their
38:20
property
38:20
and
38:21
they
38:21
do
38:21
this
38:21
odd
38:22
thing
38:22
that
38:22
you
38:23
joyfully
38:23
accept
38:24
it
38:24
why
38:27
because
38:29
you
38:29
knew
38:29
that
38:30
you
38:30
have
38:30
a
38:30
better
38:30
possession
38:31
and
38:31
it's
38:31
a
38:32
possession
38:32
that
38:32
abides
38:33
it's
38:33
a
38:33
possession
38:33
that
38:33
no
38:33
one
38:34
can
38:34
take
38:34
from
38:34
you
38:38
the
38:38
author
38:39
of
38:39
Hebrews
38:39
says
38:39
so
38:39
don't
38:40
throw
38:40
away
38:40
your
38:40
confidence
38:41
this
38:42
confidence
38:42
you
38:43
expressed
38:44
so
38:44
well
38:45
because
38:45
it
38:46
has
38:46
a
38:46
great
38:46
reward
38:47
like
38:48
Christ
38:48
now
38:49
and
38:49
Christ
38:49
forever
38:51
turn
38:53
over
38:53
now
38:53
a
38:53
page
38:53
or
38:54
two
38:54
to
38:54
Hebrews
38:54
chapter
38:54
11
38:55
and
38:55
verse
38:56
24
38:57
the
39:05
writer
39:05
of
39:05
Hebrews
39:05
is
39:06
pointing
39:06
these
39:06
Hebrew
39:07
believers
39:07
to
39:08
a
39:08
greater
39:08
faith
39:09
and
39:09
he
39:09
gives
39:09
them
39:09
this
39:10
example
39:10
of
39:10
so
39:11
many
39:11
who
39:11
by
39:12
faith
39:12
by
39:13
faith
39:14
by
39:14
faith
39:14
and
39:15
it
39:15
says
39:15
verse
39:16
24
39:16
by
39:16
faith
39:17
Moses
39:17
when
39:19
he
39:19
was
39:19
grown
39:19
up
39:19
refused
39:20
to be
39:21
called
39:21
the
39:22
son
39:22
of
39:23
Pharaoh's
39:23
daughter
39:24
you
39:24
remember
39:24
Moses
39:24
was
39:25
a
39:25
prince
39:25
of
39:26
a
39:27
wealthy
39:27
nation
39:28
choosing
39:29
rather
39:30
to be
39:31
mistreated
39:31
with the
39:32
people
39:33
of
39:33
God
39:33
than
39:33
to
39:34
enjoy
39:34
the
39:35
fleeting
39:35
pleasures
39:36
of
39:37
sin
39:38
passing
39:39
sand
39:39
through
39:40
his
39:40
fingers
39:40
fleeting
39:41
pleasures
39:41
of
39:42
sin
39:42
he
39:43
considered
39:43
and I
39:44
love that
39:45
the author of Hebrews
39:45
does this
39:46
Moses didn't have this particular thing in mind
39:50
but we get this inspired commentary on what's going on as Moses is looking
39:55
forward to being gods
39:58
right to belonging to God
40:00
he considered the reproach of Christ
40:03
greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt for he was looking to the reward
40:11
!
40:11
so he makes a case to the Hebrews by their own argument
40:17
then he does it with Moses and Moses is giving up the fleeting pleasures the treasures of Egypt for the greater treasure of Christ himself and then he makes the argument with Christ
40:31
Hebrews chapter 12
40:33
verse 1 and 2
40:35
so following 11
40:37
we have all of these who buy faith
40:40
and then the writer of Hebrews says
40:41
therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
40:45
all of these faithful ones that have gone before us
40:48
let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely
40:52
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us right
40:55
in the midst of our suffering
40:57
let us run with endurance
40:59
looking to Jesus
41:02
seeing him as our example
41:05
the founder and perfecter of our faith
41:11
who for the joy that was set before him
41:15
endured the cross
41:18
despising the shame
41:20
and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God
41:23
so
41:25
as we suffer in this world
41:28
we're to look to
41:29
Jesus
41:30
who shows us
41:32
how it is we are to
41:34
suffer
41:35
and how did he do this?
41:37
he looked to the joy
41:39
that was set
41:40
before him
41:41
he looked to the eternal
41:43
reward of being seated at the right hand
41:47
of God
41:48
and then again
41:51
in the life of Christ
41:52
Hebrews chapter 13
41:54
verse 12
41:56
and
41:56
following
41:58
so Jesus
42:00
also suffered
42:02
outside the gate
42:03
in order to
42:04
sanctify the people
42:05
through his own blood
42:07
therefore
42:08
let us go to him
42:11
outside the camp
42:13
and bear
42:15
the reproach
42:16
he endured
42:17
the author is doing that
42:20
let us follow Christ
42:21
to where Christ went
42:23
bear the reproach
42:25
that he
42:26
endured
42:27
why?
42:28
for
42:29
here we have no
42:31
lasting
42:31
city
42:33
all the pleasures of this world
42:35
are going to turn to dust
42:36
one day
42:37
but we
42:38
seek
42:38
the city
42:39
that is to come
42:41
it's a better city
42:43
it's a more glorious city
42:44
it's an eternal
42:45
city
42:46
where Christ
42:47
will reign
42:47
forever
42:48
and we will reign
42:49
with him
42:51
Paul
42:53
rejoiced
42:53
in his sufferings
42:55
because he knew
42:56
that it was for
42:58
the gain
42:59
of the
42:59
Colossian church
43:01
and
43:02
it was for his
43:03
eternal reward
43:05
this is glorious
43:07
this is wonderful
43:09
that we would
43:11
want to follow
43:12
Christ
43:12
in a way
43:13
that we
43:14
suffer
43:15
that we're
43:16
looking
43:17
toward
43:18
an eternal
43:20
reward
43:20
the good of
43:21
others
43:21
and the glory
43:21
of God
43:22
on your bulletin
43:25
there's a
43:25
quote from
43:26
John Trapp
43:27
who is a
43:28
if I'm getting this right
43:28
a 16th century
43:29
Anglican commentator
43:31
and he said this simple
43:32
thing and I just like it
43:33
stuck in my brain
43:34
this week
43:35
he that rides
43:37
to be crowned
43:38
you're headed to your
43:39
coronation
43:40
ceremony
43:41
you're going to this
43:42
most glorious
43:43
event
43:43
where you
43:45
will reign
43:46
with Christ
43:47
he who rides
43:49
to be crowned
43:50
will not think
43:51
much
43:52
of a rainy day
43:53
press
43:55
right on
43:56
through it
43:58
so in conclusion
44:01
suffering is a
44:03
primary means
44:04
by which we
44:05
are to spread
44:06
the gospel
44:07
of reconciliation
44:07
to all the peoples
44:09
of the world
44:09
in order to yield
44:11
God centered
44:12
Christ
44:13
exalting
44:14
churches
44:15
Christ family
44:18
church
44:18
exists
44:19
to glorify
44:21
God
44:21
by experiencing
44:22
proclaiming
44:24
and displaying
44:25
the supremacy
44:26
of Jesus Christ
44:27
in all things
44:29
including
44:29
our suffering
44:31
to
44:32
all
44:33
peoples
44:34
beloved
44:37
we must
44:38
ask ourselves
44:39
if we are
44:39
living to this
44:40
high mark
44:41
as a community
44:42
of faith
44:43
I am
44:44
confident
44:45
that we have
44:46
much work to do
44:47
and I am
44:47
confident that the
44:48
Lord will be
44:49
kind to us
44:50
as we study
44:50
the book of
44:50
Hebrews
44:51
together
44:52
let us
44:54
together
44:55
yield
44:55
ourselves
44:56
to the will
44:57
of the
44:57
Father
44:58
live such
44:59
radically
44:59
God oriented
45:00
lives
45:01
that come
45:02
what may
45:03
we will hold
45:04
high the
45:05
supremacy
45:06
of Jesus
45:06
Christ
45:07
so that
45:08
God will
45:08
draw men
45:09
to himself
45:10
for the praise
45:11
of his glory
45:13
let's pray
45:14
together
45:14
God