WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.200 Hey, everybody, we're the Bible Guys, and if you're just 2 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:05.320 tuning in recently, just know that we are showing a 3 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:07.120 little bit of reruns for a few months and then 4 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:09.839 we'll be back bigger and better than ever on August 5 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:13.519 thirty first, because behind the scenes we're taking a hiatus 6 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:14.720 to do some very important things. 7 00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:18.399 Yeah, we're building building out a new studio and we've 8 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:21.399 got some new structure. Super excited about it. So August 9 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:24.359 thirty first, brand new content. But in the meantime, enjoy 10 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:25.600 some of our greatest hits. 11 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:29.519 So today, Jeff, we're talking about suffering for Jesus. 12 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.119 Hey, a lot of people do around the world, and 13 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:35.280 ours is nothing compared to theirs, But that's what we're going 14 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:37.200 to be talking about today. He's Chris and I'm Jeff, 15 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:47.679 and we're the Bible Guys. 16 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:53.039 So, Jeff, the segment today is mail bags. Oh those 17 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:56.759 are fun, which is basically somebody who writes in any 18 00:00:56.840 --> 00:01:00.399 question or comment and we would love to con them. 19 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:03.039 By the way, if you would love to have your 20 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:06.640 question considered, please email us at info at the Bible 21 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:08.879 Guys dot com and we would love to take it. 22 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:11.560 So this one has comes from michael A Michael A. 23 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:15.719 And this is what michael A writes. He says throughout 24 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:18.640 all of your years of ministry, which is forever for you. 25 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:21.879 Oh yeah, like I think the same. What but both 26 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:23.879 of us is what thirty something is? Yeah? 27 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:26.840 Yeah, just over thirty I think. Yeah, what are one 28 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:29.640 or two of your most memorable moments? 29 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:33.519 Oh man, I've had a lot of memorable moments. You know, 30 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:36.840 early on in my ministry, I had opportunity I served 31 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:41.519 with gangs in Chicago. Of course, we've done ministry together 32 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:43.719 around the world. You and I have, Yeah, served in 33 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:44.560 a lot of churches. 34 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:45.519 You know. 35 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:47.840 When I first came to Heritage, we were two hundred 36 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:52.480 and forty people and you know, now there's thousands, and 37 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:54.000 so there's a lot of those things. It's a lot 38 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:57.439 of fun. But maybe the funniest. One of the funniest 39 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:00.239 ones was when I was working in Chicago. I go 40 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.840 with the gang members. The church was a big church, 41 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:08.120 had an auditorium is about eight thousand seat auditorium, and 42 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:10.400 we had a big day. We were shooting for one 43 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:13.840 hundred thousand people in attendance and we were going to 44 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:18.319 baptize three thousand new believers, and it was like Pentecosts. 45 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:21.240 It was on pentecost Sundays, so you know, celebrating Pentecosts. 46 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:23.000 And we wanted to see be the first church in 47 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.479 the modern era to baptize three thousand people on one weekend. 48 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:28.039 And if God could do it back in the Book 49 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:29.639 of Acts, he can do it today. Kind of the idea. 50 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:33.280 So we worked hard and we mobilized, you know, ten 51 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.639 thousand volunteers. It's just a really amazing thing. So I 52 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:39.080 led this gang member to Christ's name was Ricky, and 53 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:41.919 we're taking up and I was supposed to show himhere 54 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:45.120 to get baptized. And it was a really big baptistry. 55 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:48.840 And what they were going to do is baptize like 56 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.879 we were going to baptize three thousand, but they were 57 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:53.120 going to baptize like a hundred of them at the 58 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:54.759 beginning and then dismissed. It takes a long time to 59 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:57.479 baptize that many. And so Ricky looks at me and 60 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:00.800 he goes watch this, and he cannonballed out the middle. 61 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:03.800 So Ricky's like five feet tall, five feet wide, and 62 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:07.000 he just jumps out in the middle and just canniballed, 63 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.120 and the splash was huge, and the Baptiste was way 64 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:13.520 up over top of the choir and hundreds of gallons 65 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.439 of water just splashed over top of that batterstree and 66 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:17.360 just soak all the ladies in the choir. It was 67 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:20.199 one of the greatest moments in my life to see 68 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.080 and I just disappeared. I still have no idea how 69 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:24.759 he got back to Chicago, you know, because he rode 70 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:27.039 on a bus with me from Chicago, so I had 71 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:28.879 no idea how he got home. But that was a 72 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:31.800 pretty amazing thing. And I've seen it at America's Funniest 73 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:33.759 Home videos and different people jumping in the thing, but 74 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:38.000 it actually happened. It was nineteen ninety. Yeah, nineteen ninety Yeah. 75 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:38.400 That's awesome. 76 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:38.879 Yeah. 77 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:41.599 Well, the thing that came to my mind is this, like, 78 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.919 just like you referenced, you know, a lot of really 79 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:45.759 cool moments over thirty years, right. 80 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:47.120 And by the way, we had one hundred and four 81 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:48.240 thousand in church that weekend. 82 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:49.039 Oh that's amazing. 83 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:49.800 Yeah, that's pretty much. 84 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:53.879 Wow. Wow. So I remember one time being invited on 85 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:57.439 stage by Louis Giglio at a thing called One Day, 86 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:00.479 and there was like there was like one hundred thousand 87 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.280 college students in a field like like a modern day 88 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.759 woodstock for Jesus, right, and like I remember being on 89 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:07.599 stage and he called called us up and asked us 90 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:10.639 to pray, and that was a pretty cool moment. I 91 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:13.120 remember when when I was a part of my previous 92 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:16.439 church and we built a building. Uh. Actually I actually 93 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:18.920 camped out in that on that piece of property. Felt 94 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:21.839 like God gave us a vision and prayed and like, hey, 95 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:24.000 God's going to give us this vision. And then years 96 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:26.439 later we get at a fraction of the cost. Uh. 97 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:30.000 The stories were unbelievable God's stories, and we sort of 98 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:32.639 opened up that building and everything happened that way. That 99 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:36.319 was a cool moment. I remember, you know, being being 100 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:41.279 at baptisms where there's thousands of people baptizing hundreds of people. 101 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:46.360 Those were great moments. But honestly, I would say, uh, 102 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.839 the thing that just comes to my mind is baptizing 103 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:52.399 my own kids. So I baptized Sarah Uh at my 104 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.079 first church that I worked at, and uh, and it 105 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:57.480 was a very long time ago, and I remember she 106 00:04:57.560 --> 00:05:00.800 was the last in line, and I remember we baptized 107 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:03.079 like eight people that day. And I remember at the 108 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.240 end of the day, I said, I said Sarah, I'm 109 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:07.199 so sorry that that you were get put in the 110 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:09.920 back of the line. And she said, it's okay, Dad. 111 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:12.680 She must have been only six years old something like this, 112 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:16.720 you know. She goes, maybe seven, and she goes, it's okay, 113 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:19.680 And I said okay, and she goes, cuz the last 114 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:22.480 shall be first and the first shall be last. And 115 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:25.199 I said, where did you learn that? That's so incredible? 116 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:27.560 She goes, You mentioned it to me one time, and 117 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:29.399 I said, when did I mention that to you? She goes, 118 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:31.680 you felt bad for picking me up last at school 119 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:35.000 because I was trying to make her film back, but 120 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:37.519 you remembered it. And then the other time when I 121 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:41.680 baptized Tory and Steven, it was on the same day, 122 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.279 and we baptized in a lake. In fact, it was 123 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:47.439 a stony creek and it was it was the same time, 124 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:49.720 and I was able to walk out with them and 125 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.120 uh and baptize both of them with my wife and 126 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:54.759 my older daughter being you know, oldest daughter being there, 127 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:56.199 and it was just wonderful. 128 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.920 Wow. So I think that nothing compares to that I 129 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.800 had the privilege baptized my kids too. You know. Another 130 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:04.079 one is so the big crowds. We've both of us 131 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:05.959 had opportunity to be in front of some really big 132 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.639 crowds and lead lots of people to Jesus and do 133 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:12.560 some really amazing things, and God blessed us beyond anything 134 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:16.319 we deserve. Another one, though, was actually at a funeral 135 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:20.480 and the person that had died had told me, Hey, 136 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:23.160 if you'll come speak at my funeral, there's five people 137 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:27.360 in my family that are far from God, and I 138 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:30.800 believe that if you share the gospel and offer to 139 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:34.079 you know, let them respond to the gospel. I think 140 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:35.720 we're going to leave it. You'll lead them to Jesus. 141 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:39.600 And so four of the five people were there, and 142 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:42.120 all four of them gave their life to Christ at 143 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:44.800 the funeral, and I just remember thinking, Man, this guy, 144 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:46.639 you know, spent a big part of his life trying 145 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.839 to bring these people to Christ. And it was not 146 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:51.199 in his life, but in the memory and the celebration 147 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:53.279 of his life is when they finally came to faith. 148 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:54.680 And you know, God, let me be a part of that. 149 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.959 So I think it's the changed lives, Michael, to get 150 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.560 back to your question, There's been really amazing events, but 151 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:04.720 it's those individual lives being changed because we can talk 152 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:08.000 about big numbers, we can talk about incredible stories, but 153 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:11.040 it's each of those numbers and these stories represent people, 154 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:13.040 and it's the fact that we get to be a 155 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:17.079 part of so many lives being changed, I think is 156 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:18.279 the real delight of the ministry. 157 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:19.120 Oh for sure. 158 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:21.199 It's also the hardest part of the ministry is the people. 159 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:24.879 But yeah, right right, I love God, I just don't 160 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:28.480 like people now, Yeah, but you're right though. Let me 161 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:31.199 have one more comment, is that of all the roles 162 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:32.920 that I've played, I was a youth pastor, I was 163 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:35.879 a kid's pastor, I was a worship pastor, just like you, you know, 164 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:39.920 it just sort of fulfilled those roles. I think of 165 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:42.360 all the roles that I've played over the years, including 166 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:45.399 my current role, you know, as one of the lead 167 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:48.839 pastors and leading weekends and stuff like that, I think 168 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:51.959 that the most fulfilling role that I've ever had was 169 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:54.720 being a pastor of high school students. Well, because when 170 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:56.240 you have a high school student come up to you 171 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:59.720 who's like fifteen or whatever and says you've changed my life. 172 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:03.040 For what happens is you sort of you sort of 173 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:06.000 set the course, you know, and you know that the 174 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:09.759 trajectory of their lives are completely different. Yeah, and uh, 175 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:12.079 you know, and they're just old enough to where you know, 176 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:14.319 you know that like they're gonna make it's gonna be 177 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:15.480 a big difference in their lives. 178 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:17.959 Yeah. Well, I'm glad you like that because we're gonna 179 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:19.439 send you back to that same job. 180 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:23.480 So that's sign me up, baby. Only problem is, I'm 181 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.160 not too sure i'd be that relevant. 182 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:29.040 Fifty year old youth pastors are really cool. 183 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:31.879 I thought, Yeah, we'll just make a We'll just make 184 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:36.320 a bowl of punch and they'll they'll just flock to 185 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:36.759 the bunch. 186 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:44.679 They will kit teens love punch. Yeah, you're all over it, man. Okay, well, 187 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.519 why don't you turn in your resume and we'll we'll 188 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:49.159 see if you're if you're the right can. 189 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:50.720 The punch things really good? 190 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:56.240 Okay? So, uh, Two Corinthians, chapter three or six is 191 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:58.759 where we need to move on to. And uh, we're 192 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:01.399 going to pick up in verse three and continue on. 193 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.039 And Paul now is kind of unpacking some of his 194 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:06.600 resume a little bit as far as the difficulties he's 195 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:09.240 faced for the sake of the gospel, and he says, 196 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:10.799 we live in such a way that no one will 197 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:13.440 stumble because of us, and no one will find fault 198 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.000 in our ministry. In everything we do, we show that 199 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:19.200 we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles 200 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:22.480 and hardships and calamities of every kind. We've been beaten, 201 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:27.840 put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured 202 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:31.759 sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by 203 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:36.320 our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the 204 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:40.360 Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We 205 00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:43.759 faithfully preach the truth God's power is working in us. 206 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.320 We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand 207 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:49.639 for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God. 208 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:52.559 Whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander 209 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:55.320 us or praise us. We are honest, but they call 210 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:58.519 us imposters. We are ignored even though we are well known. 211 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:01.039 We live close to death, but we are still alive. 212 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:04.840 We've been beaten, but we've not been killed. Our hearts ache, 213 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:07.759 but we always have joy. We are poor, but we 214 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:11.240 give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet 215 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:16.039 we have everything. Oh, dear Christian Corinthian friends, We have 216 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:18.919 spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 217 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:21.120 There's no lack of love on our part, but you 218 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:23.919 have withheld your love from us. I'm asking you to 219 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:26.879 respond as if you were my own children, open your 220 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:27.600 hearts to us. 221 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:31.080 Yeah, you know, Paul is great. 222 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:31.639 Yep. 223 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:33.960 You know, Paul is my favorite. 224 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.519 When we get to Heaven, I'll make sure i'll let 225 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:37.240 him know that. Hey, you know, one times I well 226 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:38.759 said on our podcast. 227 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:41.240 I just I'm so excited about Paul. You know, when 228 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:44.360 we were making the series, you know, the series for 229 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:47.840 twenty twenty three, we're trying to decide like, okay, what 230 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:50.559 do we preach on for twenty twenty three And right 231 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.679 after Easter, we're actually doing a series and it's a 232 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:55.720 five week series and it's just on the Apostle. Paul. 233 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:56.559 Yeah, that's gonna be great. 234 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:58.679 And I just and I'm thinking, gosh, I can go 235 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:00.919 we can go like fifteen weeks on the Apostle. 236 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:03.440 Paul. Yeah, right, but we've never. 237 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:06.240 Identified But anyway, I just I just think Paul's great. 238 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:13.519 Yep. So's he's here kind of he's pleading with them again. 239 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.480 It's kind of almost it feels like a pause in 240 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.440 the letter a little bit. He's been talking about eternity, 241 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:20.799 and then he pivots back to now, hey, listen, I 242 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:24.480 love you guys. I've paid the price proving my love 243 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:26.519 to you. But one of my favorite things, you know, 244 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:29.200 he talks about facing the angry mobs and the hardships 245 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:33.360 and calamities and endured sleepless nights and gone without food. 246 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:37.279 But look at what verse success we prove ourselves by 247 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:41.840 what our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness and 248 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:44.879 the Holy Spirit within us and our sincere love. Those 249 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:47.559 six things prove whether you're legit or not. Right, That's 250 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.159 what's we're saying. 251 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.960 And he classifies them, and he sort of categorizes them 252 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:53.240 and calls them weapons of righteousness. 253 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:53.759 That's right. 254 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.960 So those things that you just mentioned the very next 255 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:58.480 word say we use the weapons of righteousness in the 256 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:00.480 hands of the right the left? 257 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:03.279 Does he mentioned typing in all caps on Facebook? Where 258 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:06.960 where's that is? The weapons of righteousness? Where is it? 259 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:07.759 I don't see it? 260 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:10.360 Boom soapbox. 261 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:13.320 What about arguing with all of your friends all the time? 262 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:16.960 Right is there? Hey? What what about you know? Banishing 263 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:19.879 family members from from Christmas parties? And stuff like that. 264 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.399 Is that I don't know where's that there's a weapon 265 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.639 of righteousness, Jeff. 266 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:24.120 Those are not in there. 267 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.279 They're not in there. No. 268 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:29.840 Oh, by the way, Uh, sometimes when we read things 269 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:33.279 like this, if we're not careful, we can forget the 270 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:38.159 context of not only you know, of Paul's context, but 271 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:42.279 also how people are receiving these words, because think about this, Okay, 272 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:46.240 like it wasn't too long ago. It was it was, 273 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:48.440 like you know what, probably not even a couple of 274 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:53.240 decades where Jesus actually said these words a new commandment, 275 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:57.279 I bring to you love one another. Right, And so 276 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.879 imagine that the idea of loving one another is only 277 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:03.639 a couple of decades old, right. And then all of 278 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:06.720 a sudden, Paul's going around and he's, you know, bringing 279 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:09.639 the Gospel, which started, by the way, in the Jewish community. 280 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:11.799 And so it sort of grows and grows and grows. 281 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:15.240 And then Paul's you know, commission or his life assignment, 282 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:17.399 right that he's been given is to take it to 283 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:21.039 you know, the gentiles, those who are in Greeks and 284 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:23.559 those who are not very familiar with the ways of 285 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:26.759 Christ and the church certainly, and so he's writing to 286 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:31.600 the Church of Corinth. They're not church culture people. So 287 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:36.000 think about this. It seems a little arrogant, perhaps out 288 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:39.840 of context, to hear Paul say like this, we live 289 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:42.000 in such a way that no one will stumble because 290 00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:44.519 of us, and no one will find fault with our 291 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:47.720 ministry and everything we do. We showed that we are 292 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:51.480 true ministers of God. This isn't bragging. This is Paul 293 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:54.919 going out of his way to model that which is 294 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:59.799 not common. So Paul is saying, like you understand, you know. 295 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:02.759 It also reminds me of Philippians too, where he says, 296 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:06.480 you know, if you have any excuses about humility, let 297 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:08.799 me give you an example of Jesus. Jesus is the 298 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:12.519 ultimate example of humility. And this in the same way 299 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:14.799 Paul's trying to do this with his own life, and 300 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:18.360 he's saying, listen, if there's if there's if you have 301 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:21.360 right to complain, we're going to be the ultimate examples 302 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:25.679 of those who do not complain because we've still shown 303 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:28.919 you it's possible to have patience in the midst of 304 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:32.000 all these hardships. Well, how does that apply to us? 305 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:36.919 It means that chances are whatever excuse you have Paul 306 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:40.799 takes it away. Whatever excuse you have to say, like, oh, 307 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:43.639 I can't be patient with this person. You have no 308 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:47.399 idea how how difficult they are at work. Let me think, 309 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:51.559 does it compare to the things that Paul listed? It 310 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:55.600 doesn't compare. And there are so many people who you know, 311 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:59.200 they think to themselves, man, I have a tough suffering 312 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:01.720 for Jesus, like you mention, right, like, we don't really 313 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:03.320 know what's suffering for Jesus means. 314 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:05.759 Well, when you look at verse five, you know we've 315 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:09.960 been beaten, put in prison, face to angry mobs. Sometimes. 316 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.759 You know, we can feel that way too. You know 317 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:15.120 we're being foul with other people, were being we're not 318 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:18.639 representing Jesus well. And then how many times have I 319 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:21.720 had to apologize to somebody saying I'm sorry. I don't 320 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:24.080 know why I was so grumpy. It's just been a 321 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.200 really rough day, right man. I just feel like I've 322 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:28.840 been being beat up all day to day and then 323 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:31.840 I lashed out, or you know, I've worked to exhaustion, 324 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:34.080 I'm just really really tired, or I didn't sleep all 325 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:36.000 last night. I'm sorry I was grumpy. I didn't sleep 326 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:38.639 all last night, or I'm sorry I've gone without food. 327 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:44.200 I'm hungry, right right, Paul's like, Okay, maybe you were angry, 328 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:47.519 I was starving. Maybe you've got beat up by the 329 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:50.840 crowd at work. I literally was beat almost to death 330 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:53.799 and put in prison. What Paul is saying is anything 331 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:56.639 that you would use an excuse for your bad behavior, right, 332 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:58.879 he said, let's just multiply at times ten. 333 00:15:59.320 --> 00:15:59.519 Right. 334 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.440 So I've gone through, but I've still tried as hard 335 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:05.519 as I could to model a godly way in a 336 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.200 godly response instead, And so he said, So I'm proving 337 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:11.320 myself by my purity. I'm proving by myself by my understanding. 338 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:14.320 I'm proving myself by my patience and kindness and the 339 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:17.679 Holy Spirit and sincere love. And that's really it. Instead 340 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:20.480 of us justifying our bad behaviors because we're angry or 341 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:24.039 because we got roughed up by the crowd, instead, let 342 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:27.360 us be working hard in these other ways to demonstrate 343 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:30.799 that we genuinely are sincere, not just telling we tell people. 344 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:33.120 I mean it in my heart, I'm sincere, even though 345 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:36.200 I mistreated you, Paul Saint, just why don't you just 346 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.000 go ahead and treat them? 347 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:37.120 Right? 348 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:40.120 Why don't you go ahead and prove that you are, 349 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.279 are you peer of heart and all those kinds of things. 350 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:44.919 So, and you know it's also inspiring is that it 351 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.799 also means for us today, you know, for those listening 352 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:50.919 and they're trying to apply this to their lives, thinking like, 353 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.120 how can I demonstrate patience and love and forgiveness and 354 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:58.480 godliness and patience and all these different things. It lets 355 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:01.879 us know that it's possible. If it's possible for Paul, 356 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:06.079 it's possible for us. And remember, again, Paul was modeling 357 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:08.839 something that was not common. And I think what Paul 358 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.799 was doing was it was his job to set the bar. 359 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:14.599 And I think that he actually knew that. He realized 360 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.480 that it was his job to set the bar, and 361 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:19.680 so he sets the bar extremely high. And God, by 362 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:22.319 the way, I think, allowed Paul to go through those things. 363 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.680 God may not allow you to go through such hardships 364 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:30.039 as Paul did. But again it's because I believe that 365 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.079 God used Paul and his writings and his life and 366 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:36.599 his experiences to set the bar for us. So it 367 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.960 is possible today to show patience and love to that 368 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.240 difficult person at work. 369 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:43.799 Yeah, sure it really is. And then he's also trying 370 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.759 to say to us, it doesn't matter what you go through, 371 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:48.519 you're going to be okay. You know, we were ignored 372 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.960 even though we're well known. We live close to death, 373 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:53.680 but we're still alive. We've been beaten, but we've not 374 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:56.279 been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. 375 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.079 What he's saying is, listen, you're going to make it 376 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:00.440 through this, and I know it because I got me 377 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:02.880 through it. And that's that's you know, he's trying to 378 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:07.279 encourage people all the way around Christians in particular, to 379 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:09.519 trust that God's going to carry you through these things. 380 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:12.039 You know, yes, it's going to be difficult, you make 381 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:14.839 it through it. And then I think, you know, as 382 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:21.759 we come to the end of that passage, he's really transparent. 383 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:25.799 I think, oh, dear Corinthian friends, and he said, I've 384 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:27.640 been really open and honest with you how I feel 385 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:31.160 about you, and that I love you. Yes, I gave 386 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:33.160 you some tough news, but man, I love you. And 387 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.960 you think of how he opened both of his letters, 388 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.559 how he closed his letter, I just I love you 389 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.960 so much, and he said, but I don't feel like 390 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.279 it's being reciprocated. I think that there's something special in 391 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:49.519 the idea of us making sure. It's almost like you're saying, 392 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:52.720 we're good, right, are we okay? 393 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.319 Yeah? 394 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:56.279 Because I feel like you're withdrawing from me. And when 395 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:59.680 it comes to relationships, what Paul doesn't do is just 396 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:03.160 let relationship be. He's wanting to strengthen the relationship. He's 397 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.720 leaning in. So when he's feeling like I'm demonstrating my 398 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.920 love to you, but you don't seem to be demonstrating 399 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:10.000 your love back, I don't even know what to do 400 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:12.079 with this, and so I just want to make sure 401 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:14.720