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True Partnership · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, let's return to Paul's letter to the Philippians.
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!
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Let's bow in prayer before we turn to the word.
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Father in heaven, we ask and pray this evening that you would bless us and encourage us in the truth this night.
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Lord, it's a great privilege that we have to be able to open the Bible in front of us.
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And we need the light of your presence to guide us into what we need to see here.
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We dare not, Lord, progress, in fact, without that light.
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And so may the Spirit guide us to the things of truth.
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And may we find blessing and joy in what we discover.
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And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Amen.
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You know, if there was two themes that you would say flow out of the letter to the Philippians,
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we've kind of touched on them both in all the different parts of the letter that we've read tonight.
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The obvious one is Paul's joy when he thinks about the church in Philippi.
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And in some ways, that's very often a rebuke to us because when we, I think, so often think about the church on earth,
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very often we think about all of the problems, we think about all of the things that make it difficult.
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And joy is maybe rarely the first word that would spring to mind when we think about the church.
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But for Paul, joy was one of the great reasons for, or one of the great things of his thought and state
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when he was reflecting on the church and thought of them.
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Connected to that is the reason for Paul's joy.
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And that again runs through this letter really clearly.
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It's not as clear in English actually when you're reading it, but if you're reading it in Greek,
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you would see it immediately because the same word crops up time and again,
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although it's translated in three different ways in the passages we've read.
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And that is the fellowship of the church.
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The partnership of the church.
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The way in which the church share together in some experiences.
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And my thinking tonight is to reflect a little bit on this.
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The way in which God has ordained for the church to have an experience of partnership or fellowship in its life.
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And this theology, it runs actually throughout the whole of the Bible.
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It goes back to the very beginning to creation when God created Adam.
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Adam, he said it's not good for Adam to be alone.
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And he created a partner for him.
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Someone who would be alongside him.
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And who would fulfill a...
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In fact, I'm not even hesitant to say it, but it's a divine purpose.
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It is a purpose of God's own character that the wife that has provided for Adam is there to correspond to him
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and to work with him and to serve together in their lives as a whole.
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And that design for fellowship and the core of what it means to be human
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is actually reflective of the character and nature of God himself.
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God is...
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You know, the God we worship is not a...
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Is not a monad.
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It's not the same God as Islam worships.
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The God of Islam is alone.
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There is only one God.
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He has no son.
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He has his prophets.
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He has his servants.
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He has creatures that do his bidding.
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But in Islam, God is not three persons.
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And our God is three persons.
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From before the foundation of the world, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
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have entered into a partnership for the work of salvation.
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They've entered into a partnership and a sharing in the work of the atonement.
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They work in partnership in the work of creation.
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They've worked in partnership in the work of revelation.
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There is even a partnership of the Trinity in the way in which we pray
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as followers of Jesus Christ.
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And so this partnership, this sharing of work together,
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is reflective of the character of God himself.
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And it's so dangerous for us if we get into a habit of thinking about the Christian life
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where we can cut ourselves off or put ourselves into positions
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where we are isolated and alone.
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We need partnership.
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And we need that at a deep level, as we'll see,
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in some of the ways in which this works out.
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Obviously, there's a great danger as well.
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Human partnerships are abused.
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Human partnerships have been abused from the very beginning.
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This morning, we were thinking about Noah.
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It is interesting.
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Just after the story of Noah comes the story of the Tower of Babel
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where a group of humans come together and they say,
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let us build a tower that we can bring God down to us.
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And there is a great wickedness in the scheme of the people of Babel.
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And God confounds that scheme and brings a judgment upon them
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of dividing up the people into languages and groups
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that scatter over the face of the earth.
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And so sometimes human sin takes the good things that God has made
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and corrupts them and pollutes them for our own purposes.
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So Paul uses this idea of partnership, as I say, three times in the letter to the Philippians.
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The first of these, we've read it just this moment, in fact, in verse 5 of chapter 1,
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where Paul says that,
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because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
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I have been able to pray with joy.
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Because of your partnership in the gospel,
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I have been able to pray with joy.
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The reason for Paul's joy is because they've participated with him
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in some of the work of the gospel.
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The work of the gospel is itself that profound work of God himself,
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the bringing of good news into the experience of men and women in this world.
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And Paul says that you have partnered with me in that work.
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It's been a missionary endeavor
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that goes on in the life and the experience of the church.
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And Paul says of the Philippians,
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it's been my experience of you that this has been the case since the very beginning.
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Now, the beginning of the story of the Philippians is in the book of Acts.
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And you can read there about how in the book of Acts,
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Paul went on the Jewish Sabbath to a riverside outside the city
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to a place where a group of mostly women were meeting for prayer.
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And there he met, among others, Lydia,
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whose heart God opened with the gospel.
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And from that day forward, Paul has said,
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the character of the Philippian church has been one that has shared in,
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shouldered with him, this work of the gospel.
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So this is a church where from the very beginning of their story
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and consistently right the way through it,
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they've had a very clear purpose.
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They've had a clear sense of their identity.
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They've bought into the idea that they are makers of disciples,
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that they are engaged in the work of bringing the good news
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into the lives of men and women,
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and they have been blessed and are continuing to be a blessing
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in this great work.
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That's one of these things that we should think about
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for ourselves, isn't it?
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As we think about our identity as a congregation,
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as we think about what we are about,
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what we're for,
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as we think about it in terms of our families,
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because I hope that we would aspire to have families
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as part of the life of our congregation,
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what are our families for?
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What are our homes for?
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What are our resources for?
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What has God blessed us with in our lives
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that we can use for his glory?
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And how do we do this?
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And the answer of it ought to come back
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to this idea of partnership in the gospel.
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That is the good news of Jesus.
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The good spiel.
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The good story that's there to be told.
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And that is the story of Jesus.
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Of the Redeemer's coming.
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Of his life in this world.
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His ministry.
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But culminating, as Paul talks about,
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in that trajectory that takes him to the cross.
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Where he empties himself.
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Taking on the form of a servant
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and subjects himself even to the point of death itself.
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That is the good news tonight.
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That is there for each one of us.
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That is the good news that we are invited into.
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When Calvin wrote about this in this passage,
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he says,
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We know how rare an excellence it is
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to follow God immediately upon his calling us
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and also to persevere steadily unto the end.
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For many are slow and backward to obey,
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while there are still more that fall short
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through fickleness or inconsistency.
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And Paul says,
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Here is a church in Philippi
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that has not been inconsistent.
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Here is a church in Philippi
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that has not been fickle
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in its support and unwavering care
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for the lost around about them.
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This is a church that remembers what it's for.
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And sadly, in the New Testament,
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it's pretty clear that that's not always the case.
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It's possible for churches to lose sight of that
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somewhere along the way,
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to stray from that calling.
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But Paul is reminded of the Philippians,
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of their partnership in the gospel
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since the day of Lydia's conversion.
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And so we should be bold
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when we think about what we want as a church,
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especially as we move towards calling a pastor
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and how foundational that will be
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to the life of this church.
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It's so important in the character of the church that we have.
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What do we want?
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A pastor who will lead us in the word
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and who will lead us in the work of the gospel,
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who will create and spurn on, as Paul did,
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a partnership in the gospel
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in our midst as a church.
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And our prayer, maybe just now as well,
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as we think about that forthcoming vacancy meeting
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and as we think about the process that has to be followed,
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our prayer should be for a pastor
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who himself will be committed to that work of the gospel
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and who will see it flourish in this place.
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So there is that first element of this partnership,
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that they are partners in the work of the gospel.
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But then if you turn over the page
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to Philippians chapter two, verse one,
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and we read there, so if there is any encouragement in Christ,
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any comfort from love,
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any participation in the spirit,
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any affection and sympathy,
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complete my joy by being of the same mind,
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having the same love,
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being in full accord and of one mind.
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So Paul is saying there
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that there are certain things
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that flow from the work of the gospel.
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Flowing from the work of the gospel,
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there is an encouragement in Christ,
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that is a comfort from love,
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the love of God that is shown to us in Christ Jesus,
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that is a participation.
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That same word is used for participation there.
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So in chapter one,
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he's talked about their partnership in the gospel.
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Now he talks about their participation in the spirit,
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and it's the same word in Greek.
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So there is this working of God
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in the lives of these Christians in Philippi,
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which leads to Paul having a completed joy
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as they express a unity
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and a commitment and a love towards one another
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that overflows from their experience of the gospel.
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And again, the notion here is that Paul is rejoicing.
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He says, complete my joy.
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So there is an experience of joy already.
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And Paul is saying he wants that experience of joy
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that he's already had
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when he thinks about the Philippian church.
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He wants that to just overflow and grow
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as he remembers them
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and as he hears about them
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and as he hears of the work of God among them.
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And he says, this comes from the Holy Spirit.
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This is the work of God, the Spirit,
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in our lives.
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And the result of it is that the church in Philippi
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will have this thing he calls a one-mindedness,
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that they would share a sense of duty
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and purpose and direction.
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But more than that,
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that they would share a sense of love
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and compassion for one another,
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that they would minister to one another
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out of their needs
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and in their times of sorrow and sadness,
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that they would experience this overflow
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of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
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It's an astonishing thing.
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And he says, this thing,
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this one-mindedness,
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is in fact the mind of Christ.
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So he says, I want you to have this humility
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that counts others more significant than yourselves.
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Let each one of you look not only on his own interests,
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but on the interests of others.
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Have this mind among yourselves,
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which is yours in Christ Jesus.
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And so the character of the church in Philippi,
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Paul is saying,
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is one that comes about
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because they are conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
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So the roughness,
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if you can think of it this way,
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the roughness of their character,
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perhaps it's their short-temperedness,
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perhaps it's their,
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perhaps it's their,
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maybe it's times of greed,
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of self-centeredness,
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of wanting things their own way,
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of insisting on their desires.
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And sometimes these desires
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might not be wrong things,
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but insisting on them nonetheless.
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And Paul says,
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what he wants them to change to
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is away from that way of thinking
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about their lives
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and their purpose in this world
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to thinking like Christ.
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So he wants them to think like Jesus,
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who he goes on to explain
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in this really profound passage
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about the self-emptying of Jesus,
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the way he takes on the form of a servant
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and empties himself,
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becoming obedient to the point of death
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and suffering in this world.
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And he says,
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that's the mind I want you to have.
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I want you to have a mind
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that is like Christ
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and that you are willing to suffer loss
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for the good and the blessing
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of your brothers and sisters.
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I don't want you to insist on your own way.
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I want you to serve them.
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And the prime example he uses of that
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is Jesus,
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who left the throne room of heaven
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and came into this world
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and who took on himself
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the form of a servant.
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He didn't come as a prince in a palace.
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He didn't come as a king ruling armies.
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He didn't come as a mighty general
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exerting his will
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and forcing people to conform to his way.
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He came as the Messiah.
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Messiah,
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who laid down his life for others,
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who poured himself out
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in ministry and in care
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for the lost people around him
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and the profound needs
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that he saw in their lives
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and ultimately gave his life
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as a sacrifice for many
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at the cross.
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And Paul says,
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a church
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that is characterized
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by partnership,
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a church that is characterized
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by this Greek word
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koinonia,
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is a church that has
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the mind of Christ
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where people outdo themselves,
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one another,
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to minister to the needs
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of those around them.
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And what's fascinating
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is Paul says,
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you can't do that yourself.
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I want us to stop
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and think about that
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just now for a moment.
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We can't do that ourselves.
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There is no amount
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of exertion
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that we can have,
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there is no amount
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of effort
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that we can put in
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that is going to change
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our fundamental character.
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The truth is,
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if you are not
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a loving person,
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you will never be
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a loving person.
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And no amount
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of hypnosis
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and no amount
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of self-help
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and no amount
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of therapy
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is going to change that.
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The world's tools
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do not change
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the essential character
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of sinners.
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But someone does.
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And that's why Paul says,
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I want you to have
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this participation,
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this partnership
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with the Holy Spirit.
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His prayer
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for the Philippian church
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is that they will move
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as the Spirit
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leads them.
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That they'll go on
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as the Spirit
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carries them
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and takes them forward.
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There are wonderful illustrations
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of this once
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from John Piper.
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He was preaching
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and he was saying
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this participation
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in the Holy Spirit
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is like two
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military jets.
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You see them
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at air shows
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where you maybe see
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the red arrows
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or formation flying
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they call it.
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And it's truly remarkable
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because the precision
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with which these
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hypersonic jets move
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is just incredible
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to watch.
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One of the jets
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turns this way
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and the other one
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turns as well
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and they move
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in parallel
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to one another
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and stay in formation.
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And it's remarkable
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watching it.
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The amount of precision
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and the amount
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of synchronization
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that goes into it.
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It's the same thing
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as synchronized swimming
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in the Olympics
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where you see a team
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of athletes
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performing
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these intricate maneuvers
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in a pool of water
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which would terrify me
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to do by myself.
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And yet they're there
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doing these things
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in absolute precision.
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Maybe half a dozen
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of them at once.
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Information
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in a pool of water.
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And when Paul
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talks about
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partnership
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in the Spirit
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that's what he's
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talking about.
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He's talking about
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us aligning ourselves
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to the guidance
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and the direction
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and the lead
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of the Holy Spirit
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who is saying
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this is the way
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in which we will go.
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And that involves
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obviously as Jesus
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had in his life
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that surrender
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to the will
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of the Father.
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It's that
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Gethsemane experience
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experience
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where Jesus
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for our salvation
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looks into the cup
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that is before him
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and says
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nevertheless
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Father not my will
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but yours be done.
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And Paul's saying
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that same character
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that same desire
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needs to be ours
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daily
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as we think
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about what we're for.
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As we think
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about who we're for.
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As we think
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about how we live
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and how we love
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and what we're about.
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that we surrender
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daily
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to the leading
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of the Holy Spirit
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and where that takes us
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is that place
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where we minister
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lovingly
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and sacrificially
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and fully
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to those around us.
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Particularly
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our brothers and sisters
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in Christ.
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and so it's
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difficult for us
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because so often
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actually
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in our experience
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the drive
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the desire
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of our lives
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is to do
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almost the exact
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opposite.
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It's really been
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the case
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since COVID
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and the pandemic
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did so much
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fundamental damage
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to the character
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of our communities
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to the character
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of volunteering.
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It eroded
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things away
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and we're having
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slowly to rebuild
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these things
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now a few years
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on.
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But we need
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more of it.
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We need the Holy Spirit
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to enable us
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to come away
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from our glorious
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isolation
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and to reintegrate
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into proper
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fellowship
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and life together.
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For us to
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stir up
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true service
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without fear
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in one another's
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lives
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and to seek
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to minister
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the grace of God
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in Christ Jesus
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and the work
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of the gospel.
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And so there is
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to be this
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participation
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this partnership
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in the Holy Spirit.
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There's a few
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things that flow
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from this.
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Just some
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quick theological
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ideas that are
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really important
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for us to grasp.
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If ever
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somebody's asking
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you to say
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well you know
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what do you mean
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the Holy Spirit
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is a person?
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Why is God
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a triune person?
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Why is God
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a trinity?
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This is one of
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the places
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where we go to.
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We can be assured
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the Holy Spirit
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is a person.
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You don't have
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a partnership
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with a force.
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You don't have
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a partnership
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with an energy
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field.
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You have
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a partnership
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with a person.
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And so where
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Paul says
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if there's any
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participation
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in the Spirit
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what he's talking
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about is
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the Spirit
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as a person
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interacting with us.
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So we can be sure
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that the Spirit
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is a person
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here.
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But equally
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that there's a Spirit
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as a person
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as someone
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we can offend.
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As Paul says
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elsewhere in fact
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it's possible
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to grieve
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the Spirit
25:35
because we don't
25:36
want to work
25:37
with him
25:37
because we resist
25:38
his call upon
25:39
our lives
25:40
because we want
25:40
to go in a
25:41
different direction
25:42
and we say
25:43
enough of it
25:43
we don't want you.
25:46
And it's possible
25:47
to grieve
25:47
the Spirit
25:48
and when we do
25:50
that sometimes
25:51
we will discover
25:52
that for a season
25:52
he might leave
25:53
us alone.
25:56
The Spirit
25:56
might say
25:56
well fine
25:57
you do your own
25:57
thing for a while
25:58
and we'll see
25:59
how you get on.
26:02
There's lessons
26:02
for us
26:03
to learn
26:04
when that happens.
26:08
There is this
26:08
partnership as well
26:10
where we work
26:13
together
26:13
with the Holy Spirit
26:14
where the Spirit
26:17
is the one leading
26:18
but we are following
26:19
clearly.
26:20
It's like we were
26:21
thinking this morning
26:21
about Noah
26:22
when God showed him
26:23
and told him
26:24
how to build the ark.
26:25
Moses is at pains
26:26
to tell us
26:27
Noah did all
26:29
that the Lord
26:29
commanded him.
26:31
When Noah was told
26:31
to put the animals
26:32
into the ark
26:33
and prepare for the flood
26:34
Noah did all the things
26:35
that the Lord
26:36
commanded him.
26:37
When Noah himself
26:38
had to take his family
26:39
into the ark
26:39
and wait for God
26:40
to close the door
26:41
Noah did all
26:42
that God commanded him.
26:43
When it came time
26:44
for Noah to come
26:45
out of the ark
26:46
Noah did all
26:48
that God commanded him.
26:50
Our lives
26:51
need to be
26:51
characterized
26:52
by that listening
26:53
to the voice
26:54
of the Lord
26:55
and the Holy Spirit
26:56
guiding and directing us
26:58
and it applies
27:01
to all of us
27:01
as a church.
27:04
The final point
27:04
is in verse 10
27:05
of chapter 3
27:06
the third time
27:06
Paul uses the same word
27:07
is when he's talking
27:09
about his own salvation
27:10
and his experience
27:11
of suffering
27:13
and he says
27:15
in verse 10
27:15
I'll read it
27:17
maybe just a wee bit
27:18
before that
27:18
for Christ's sake
27:19
I have suffered
27:19
the loss of all things
27:20
and count them
27:21
as rubbish
27:22
in order that
27:22
I may gain Christ
27:23
and be found in him
27:24
not having a righteousness
27:26
of my own
27:27
that comes from the law
27:28
but that which comes
27:30
through faith in Christ
27:31
the righteousness
27:32
from God
27:32
that depends on faith
27:34
that I may know him
27:35
and the power
27:36
of his resurrection
27:36
and may share
27:38
his sufferings
27:40
that I may go
27:41
into partnership
27:42
with his sufferings
27:43
that I would have
27:45
koinonia
27:46
in his suffering
27:47
becoming like him
27:49
in his death
27:50
and that by any means
27:51
possible
27:52
I may attain
27:53
the resurrection
27:54
of the dead
27:56
Paul there
27:58
in chapter 3
27:59
he gives this wonderful
28:00
statement of how
28:00
justification works
28:01
of how our salvation
28:02
effectively works
28:04
our salvation
28:05
is that which makes us
28:06
in God's eyes
28:07
and in God's presence
28:08
righteous
28:08
acceptable to him
28:10
our sin
28:11
covered holy
28:12
and that happens
28:13
because we receive
28:15
the righteousness
28:15
of Jesus
28:16
we're clothed
28:18
in the righteousness
28:19
of Christ
28:19
but Paul
28:21
says as well
28:22
that there's
28:23
something else
28:25
going on here
28:25
something deep
28:26
and mysterious
28:27
in that God
28:29
hasn't left us
28:31
at that point
28:32
there's a work
28:35
that goes on
28:36
that as we go on
28:38
as believers
28:39
there's a continual
28:40
progress
28:41
of that work
28:43
of our sanctification
28:45
of our being made
28:47
more and more
28:48
like Christ Jesus
28:49
and the truth
28:52
of it is
28:52
that there is
28:53
no gain
28:53
without pain
28:54
in the Christian
28:55
life
28:55
the mystery
28:58
is that there
28:59
is no glory
28:59
without the road
29:00
of the cross
29:01
without us
29:03
being taken
29:03
to that place
29:05
where Jesus
29:06
himself
29:06
was taken to
29:08
and so when
29:10
Paul talks
29:11
about the Christian
29:11
somehow participating
29:13
in the death
29:14
of Jesus
29:14
he's talking
29:17
about two
29:17
separate things
29:19
in fact
29:19
there is a sense
29:21
in which we
29:21
participate in the
29:22
death of Jesus
29:23
for our salvation
29:24
at the cross
29:25
the old person
29:27
with its sin
29:27
and its guilt
29:28
is put to death
29:30
our sin
29:33
is dealt
29:34
with there
29:34
it's completed
29:37
the work
29:38
of salvation
29:39
is done
29:39
but there is
29:42
also an experience
29:43
of an ongoing
29:43
progress
29:44
in the Christian
29:45
life
29:45
where we are
29:45
coming time
29:46
and again
29:47
to the death
29:50
of Jesus
29:50
and where we
29:52
need to experience
29:53
in our own
29:54
bodies
29:54
the ongoing
29:55
work of
29:56
dying
29:57
anew
29:58
putting to death
30:00
the sin
30:00
that is within
30:01
us
30:01
ensuring that
30:03
it is dealt
30:04
with
30:05
in Christ
30:06
and so here
30:10
Paul is talking
30:11
about that
30:12
second thing
30:13
that participation
30:14
that goes on
30:15
in the way
30:16
we think
30:16
about our
30:17
lives
30:17
the way
30:19
that we
30:19
go on
30:20
thinking
30:20
about what
30:20
happens
30:21
with us
30:22
daily
30:22
and that's
30:22
why
30:22
for the
30:23
Christian
30:23
that participation
30:26
in the
30:26
gospel
30:27
is not just
30:28
a one-off
30:28
thing
30:29
that happens
30:29
at the
30:29
beginning
30:30
of your
30:30
Christian
30:30
life
30:31
sometimes
30:32
that's
30:33
the way
30:33
we think
30:33
we get
30:34
swept into
30:35
thinking
30:35
about
30:35
conversion
30:36
has been
30:36
something
30:36
that happened
30:37
in the
30:37
past
30:37
and that's
30:38
what it
30:38
belongs
30:39
and then
30:40
after that
30:41
we're just
30:41
going on
30:41
as Christians
30:42
and we're
30:42
walking
30:42
and we're
30:43
learning
30:43
and we're
30:43
growing
30:43
and so on
30:44
but actually
30:45
what we need
30:45
is the cross
30:46
that was there
30:46
at the beginning
30:47
every day
30:48
in our
30:49
experience
30:49
that we keep
30:51
coming back
30:52
to and examining
30:53
the death
30:53
of Jesus
30:54
and learning
30:55
from what
30:56
Christ has
30:56
done
30:57
in order to
30:58
put to death
30:59
the sin
30:59
that is within
31:00
us
31:00
in order to
31:00
keep being
31:01
refreshed
31:02
in this
31:03
work and
31:04
progress
31:05
of redemption
31:06
in our
31:07
lives
31:07
and in order
31:10
to bring
31:11
about the
31:11
fullness
31:11
of the
31:12
restored
31:13
image
31:13
of God
31:14
in order
31:15
for us
31:15
to attain
31:16
full
31:16
Christ
31:17
likeness
31:18
as Paul
31:19
says
31:19
in order
31:19
that I
31:20
may
31:20
become
31:21
somehow
31:23
worthy
31:24
or attain
31:25
the resurrection
31:26
of the dead
31:26
in order
31:28
that I can
31:28
become like
31:29
Christ
31:29
in his
31:29
victory
31:30
and in the
31:30
glorification
31:31
that was his
31:32
when he rose
31:32
from the dead
31:33
and has
31:34
ascended up
31:34
into heaven
31:35
to be with
31:35
the father
31:35
in order
31:36
that I may
31:36
experience
31:37
the fullness
31:38
of the new
31:38
life of God
31:39
in me
31:40
I need to
31:41
keep coming
31:42
back to
31:42
and experiencing
31:43
the suffering
31:44
along the way
31:47
and this is a
31:49
strange thing
31:50
about God's
31:50
providence
31:51
in our
31:51
lives
31:52
that working
31:54
and flying
31:55
in tandem
31:55
with the
31:56
Holy Spirit
31:56
often takes
31:57
us
31:57
into places
31:59
of
32:00
suffering
32:01
the places
32:04
where the
32:04
cost of
32:05
discipleship
32:06
is laid
32:07
bare
32:07
and very
32:08
clear to
32:08
us
32:09
where it
32:11
is not
32:11
cheap
32:11
grace
32:12
that we
32:12
are called
32:13
to
32:13
but we
32:15
are called
32:15
to something
32:15
costly
32:16
we're called
32:18
to something
32:18
extreme
32:19
we're called
32:22
to lay
32:22
down our
32:23
lives
32:23
in the
32:25
pursuit
32:25
of the
32:27
righteousness
32:27
and the
32:28
glory
32:28
of Jesus
32:29
remember how
32:37
Jesus himself
32:37
did not
32:38
count equality
32:38
with God
32:39
something to
32:39
be grasped
32:40
it's not
32:42
something to
32:42
hold on to
32:43
for Jesus
32:44
rather he
32:44
empties
32:45
himself
32:45
and taking
32:47
the form
32:47
of a
32:47
servant
32:47
and becoming
32:49
obedient to
32:49
death
32:50
for us as
32:52
Christians
32:53
that is a
32:55
pathway that
32:55
will take us
32:56
into costly
32:56
places
32:57
it's a pathway
32:59
that will lead
33:00
us to places
33:00
of suffering
33:01
and sorrow
33:02
and anguish
33:04
sometimes it
33:08
will be
33:09
places
33:09
of
33:10
psychological
33:13
sorrow
33:14
where we
33:16
have to
33:16
wrestle
33:17
with our
33:20
own sinful
33:21
selves
33:21
and our
33:22
own sinful
33:22
thoughts
33:23
where in
33:26
fact the
33:26
desires of
33:27
our hearts
33:27
are the
33:28
things that
33:28
are so
33:28
wrong
33:29
and there
33:30
has to be
33:30
surgery done
33:31
to cut
33:31
these things
33:32
away
33:32
there's a
33:33
suffering
33:34
associated
33:34
with that
33:35
that as
33:36
Christians
33:37
as we
33:37
put to
33:37
death
33:38
the sin
33:38
that is
33:38
within us
33:39
there is a
33:40
pain
33:40
a suffering
33:41
of that
33:43
process
33:43
of putting
33:44
sin to
33:44
death
33:45
but equally
33:49
there's an
33:49
external
33:50
root of
33:50
suffering
33:51
as well
33:51
where we
33:55
have to
33:55
give up
33:56
the comfort
33:56
that we
33:57
take for
33:57
granted
33:58
where we
34:00
have to
34:00
sacrifice
34:01
the comforts
34:03
that we
34:03
think we're
34:03
entitled
34:04
to
34:04
the things
34:06
that we
34:06
think to
34:07
ourselves
34:07
we have
34:07
earned
34:08
and say
34:10
that's
34:10
mine
34:11
and we
34:13
would want
34:13
to grasp
34:14
it and
34:14
hold it
34:15
tight
34:15
and say
34:16
no Lord
34:16
you can
34:16
take other
34:17
things away
34:17
from me
34:18
but not
34:18
this
34:18
not my
34:21
comfortable
34:22
job
34:22
not my
34:26
comfortable
34:26
home
34:27
not my
34:31
easy life
34:32
not my
34:33
early
34:34
retirement
34:34
but rather
34:37
I can
34:39
press on
34:39
in the
34:42
costly
34:43
path of
34:44
obedience
34:44
because there
34:48
is a
34:48
greater
34:49
prize
34:49
there is
34:52
that
34:52
partnership
34:53
with
34:53
Jesus
34:54
where we
34:55
are conformed
34:56
to be like
34:57
him
34:57
and where
34:59
we gain
35:00
everything
35:02
there is a
35:05
prize
35:06
to be won
35:07
and without
35:14
fellowship
35:16
without this
35:17
partnership
35:17
without this
35:19
experience
35:21
of togetherness
35:22
with Christ
35:23
himself
35:24
the glories
35:27
that we
35:27
would long
35:28
for
35:28
will never
35:30
be attained
35:30
and so
35:33
we need
35:34
Jesus
35:34
we need
35:36
to come
35:36
with Christ
35:37
as we
35:39
go on
35:39
in this
35:39
pathway
35:40
of obedience
35:41
to him
35:42
to the
35:43
prize
35:44
and the
35:45
goal
35:45
of that
35:46
upward
35:46
calling
35:47
in him
35:47
Philippians
35:50
is a
35:51
letter
35:51
all about
35:51
fellowship
35:52
and strangely
35:54
it's a
35:54
letter of
35:54
fellowship
35:55
that leads
35:55
to joy
35:56
remember
35:56
Paul's
35:57
prayer right
35:57
at the
35:57
beginning
35:58
I am
35:59
filled
35:59
with joy
35:59
when I
36:00
think about
36:00
you
36:00
because of
36:01
your
36:01
partnership
36:02
in the
36:02
gospel
36:03
and then
36:04
he says
36:04
remember
36:05
because of
36:05
that
36:05
partnership
36:06
in the
36:06
gospel
36:06
you have
36:07
an
36:07
opportunity
36:08
for
36:08
partnership
36:09
in the
36:09
Holy
36:09
Spirit
36:09
and he
36:12
says
36:12
that
36:12
partnership
36:13
in the
36:13
Holy
36:13
Spirit
36:14
will lead
36:15
perhaps
36:16
to the
36:16
partnership
36:16
with
36:17
Christ
36:17
and his
36:18
suffering
36:18
but the
36:20
final outcome
36:21
of that
36:22
which is
36:23
implied
36:23
is the
36:25
full
36:26
blessings
36:26
of that
36:27
partnership
36:27
with
36:28
Christ
36:28
in glory
36:30
where we
36:31
will be
36:32
with him
36:32
for all
36:34
eternity
36:34
we rejoice
36:38
therefore
36:38
in a
36:39
God
36:39
who gives
36:41
us
36:41
all
36:42
things
36:42
and who
36:43
will supply
36:44
every need
36:45
of yours
36:45
according to
36:46
his riches
36:47
in glory
36:48
in Christ
36:48
Jesus
36:49
to God
36:51
our
36:52
Father
36:52
be glory
36:53
forever
36:54
and ever
36:54
Amen
36:55
let's
36:56
pray
36:57
Heavenly
37:04
Father
37:04
we
37:04
would bow
37:06
before you
37:07
just now
37:07
and we
37:07
thank you
37:08
that
37:08
there is
37:09
a salvation
37:10
to be
37:10
had
37:10
that there
37:12
is a
37:13
partnership
37:13
in the
37:13
gospel
37:14
that we
37:15
can know
37:15
and experience
37:16
for ourselves
37:17
and I pray
37:17
for anyone
37:17
here tonight
37:18
who does
37:18
not yet
37:19
know that
37:20
in its
37:20
fullness
37:21
those here
37:22
who don't
37:22
know Jesus
37:23
as their
37:23
saviour
37:24
have not
37:24
settled
37:25
in faith
37:25
in him
37:26
and I
37:27
pray Lord
37:28
that you
37:28
would open
37:28
their hearts
37:29
just now
37:29
to receive
37:30
Christ
37:30
that you
37:31
would help
37:32
them to
37:32
trust in
37:33
Jesus
37:33
and to
37:35
discover
37:35
that
37:35
partnership
37:36
in eternal
37:37
life
37:37
that is
37:38
laid out
37:39
before them
37:39
along the
37:41
way Lord
37:41
we pray
37:42
that you
37:42
would help
37:43
us to
37:43
experience
37:43
that partnership
37:44
of the
37:44
Holy Spirit
37:45
that we
37:46
would know
37:47
the Holy
37:47
Spirit's
37:47
help in
37:48
our lives
37:48
that we
37:49
would know
37:49
the Holy
37:50
Spirit's
37:50
leading
37:50
and direction
37:51
and that
37:52
we would
37:53
heed
37:53
where the
37:53
Holy Spirit
37:54
leads us
37:54
because that
37:56
is indeed
37:56
the path
37:57
of blessing
37:57
in the life
37:58
of the
37:58
Christian
37:59
and ultimately
38:01
Lord if that
38:01
leads us
38:02
to places
38:03
of suffering
38:03
we pray
38:04
that we
38:05
would not
38:05
despair
38:05
in it
38:06
but that
38:07
we would
38:08
know
38:08
that this
38:09
suffering
38:10
that we
38:10
endure
38:11
is a
38:12
partnership
38:12
in the
38:13
sufferings
38:13
of Jesus
38:14
it is
38:15
indeed as
38:16
Paul says
38:16
elsewhere
38:16
it is
38:17
making up
38:17
what is
38:17
lacking
38:18
in the
38:19
sufferings
38:19
of Christ
38:20
for the
38:21
salvation
38:21
of this
38:22
world
38:22
and so
38:24
Lord may
38:24
we
38:24
through all
38:26
that we
38:26
endure
38:26
show forth
38:28
the glorious
38:29
riches of
38:30
our God
38:30
and show
38:33
that he
38:34
is worthy
38:34
of our
38:35
trust
38:35
even when
38:37
times of
38:37
despair
38:37
may come
38:38
to us
38:38
help us
38:40
encourage us
38:41
on the road
38:41
enable us
38:43
to be a
38:43
blessing
38:43
and we
38:44
ask this
38:45
all in
38:45
Jesus name
38:45
Amen
38:46
and we're
38:49
going to sing
38:49
in conclusion
38:50
in the
38:50
Scottish
38:51
Psalter
38:51
Psalm
38:51
133
38:53
this is
38:56
page 424
38:56
in the
38:57
psalm book
38:58
page 424
38:59
this is a
39:09
psalm that
39:09
expresses the
39:10
same joy
39:10
that Paul
39:11
had as he
39:11
thought about
39:12
the fellowship
39:13
of the
39:13
Philippian
39:14
church
39:15
behold
39:16
so see
39:18
look and
39:18
see
39:19
this is
39:19
worth
39:19
noting
39:19
how good
39:20
a thing
39:21
it is
39:21
and how
39:21
becoming
39:22
well
39:22
together
39:23
such as
39:24
brethren
39:24
are
39:24
in unity
39:25
to dwell
39:26
like precious
39:27
ointment
39:27
on the
39:28
head
39:28
that down
39:28
the
39:28
beard
39:29
did
39:29
flow
39:29
even
39:30
Aaron's
39:30
beard
39:31
and to
39:31
the
39:31
skirts
39:31
did
39:32
of his
39:32
garments
39:32
go
39:33
it's
39:33
that
39:33
that
39:33
sense
39:34
of
39:34
anointing
39:35
is really
39:36
the Holy
39:36
Spirit's
39:37
work
39:37
it's the
39:37
spirit
39:37
that
39:38
anoints us
39:39
and enables
39:39
us and equips
39:40
us for
39:40
work in
39:41
God's
39:41
service
39:41
and that
39:42
flows out
39:42
of this
39:42
partnership
39:43
that we
39:43
have
39:44
with
39:44
Christ
39:45
and with
39:46
the Holy
39:46
Spirit
39:46
and this
39:47
partnership
39:47
in the
39:48
work of
39:48
the gospel
39:48
that we're
39:49
called to
39:49
and so
39:50
as Herman's
39:50
Jew
39:50
the Jew
39:51
that doth
39:51
on Zion
39:51
hills
39:52
descend
39:52
for there
39:53
the blessing
39:54
God commands
39:54
life
39:55
that shall
39:56
never end
39:57
the promise
39:57
of everlasting
39:57
life is one
39:58
that is bound
39:59
up in the
40:00
unity of God's
40:00
people with
40:01
their Messiah
40:01
with their
40:02
Savior Christ
40:03
he is the
40:04
one who
40:04
will water
40:05
in the new
40:06
heavens and
40:07
the new
40:07
earth will
40:07
water
40:08
the tree
40:09
of life
40:09
and the
40:10
fruit of
40:10
that tree
40:11
will be
40:11
the means
40:12
by which
40:12
we have
40:13
an experience
40:14
that everlasting
40:15
life as well
40:16
and so the
40:17
blessing of
40:17
God is that
40:18
Jew that
40:18
flows from
40:19
Mount Zion
40:20
itself
40:20
it's a
40:21
wonderful
40:21
picture in
40:21
the psalm
40:22
of the
40:24
blessings of
40:24
unity
40:24
overflowing
40:25
in the
40:26
life of
40:26
the church
40:26
so behold
40:27
how good
40:27
a thing
40:27
it is
40:28
and how
40:29
becoming
40:29
well
40:30
let's stand
40:30
and sing
40:31
the whole
40:31
psalm
40:31
together
40:36
such
40:39
shall
41:01
unity
41:04
to dwell
41:08
like precious
41:11
ointment
41:14
on the head
41:18
that down the
41:22
bearded
41:24
flow
41:26
he
41:27
made
41:28
your spirit
41:31
and to
41:32
the church
41:35
did all
41:38
his garments
41:41
go
41:42
as
41:45
her
41:46
most
41:48
do
41:48
the
41:50
junta
41:52
of
41:54
Zion
41:56
on hills
41:58
be
41:59
said
42:00
for
42:02
there
42:03
the
42:04
blessing
42:06
God
42:08
commands
42:10
life
42:12
that
42:13
shall
42:14
never
42:16
end
42:18
the
42:22
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
42:24
the love of God the Father
42:25
and the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit
42:28
be with each one of us now and always
42:30
Amen
42:31
a
42:40
Thank you.