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 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most

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 recent sermons and more. Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library

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 if you'd like to automatically receive new episodes each week.

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 Good morning. If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join me in

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 Philippians 4, verse 13. If you do not have a Bible, back at the back here to my left at the

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 table, we have some black Bibles that are back there. We would love for you to stop by at the

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 end of the service, grab one of those. It's our gift to you. If you have a Bible, but let's maybe

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 say it's written in a translation that's maybe hard for you to read and to process,

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 and you would like to get one of those, please stop by there and get one of those as well. We

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 would love for you to have one of those. For all of our first-time guests, thank you so much. I echo

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 what Pastor Dave said. We're so glad and privileged that you would be here with us this morning. I'm at

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 the end of the service. I'll be back there at that table where the Bibles are. My wife will be back

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 there with me. We would love just to have an opportunity to meet you and to thank you for being

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 here in person. This morning at the nine o'clock hour, we started our summer study that we are doing

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 as we gather together. We got our kids ministry doing what our kids ministry doing, our youth

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 ministry doing, our youth ministry is doing, and then our adults were all kind of gathering here

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 together. We had a wonderful time of discussion as we are talking about the previous week's message,

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 and so if you weren't here this morning for that, I want to encourage you. Get up about an hour earlier

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 is what you need to do, and come on and hang out with us and spend some time with us. Wonderful

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 conversations. People getting to meet each other. They've been worshiping with each other for

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 weeks, months, or even years, and to be in community together, so I want to encourage you to come and to

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 be a part of that. Also, I want to make you aware that we do have a missions team heading up to New

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 York City to serve with Pastor Walter Valencia at New Life Church. Josh Nix will be leading our

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 young adults. There's about 17 that are going, and so be praying for them as they go and serve. They're

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 going to be doing some part ministry right around in the area where the church is located, and modeling

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 some outreach and helping to engage the community in the life of the church, and so we want to pray for

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 them as they are traveling up there to do that. And then last but certainly not least, we will be

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 partaking in the Lord's Supper together at the very end of the message, our very end of our worship

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 time together. So at the very end, I'll come back up on stage and walk us through that, but if you are here

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 today, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, regardless if this is your church home or not,

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 and you would like to do that with us, we do have these Lord's Supper cups. Hopefully you got one

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 on your way in. If you do not, if you did not, I'm sorry, you can go at any point in time and grab

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 them there right at the back here as we will partake in this together, like I said, at the very

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 end of the service. So let me read our focus verse this morning. It's found in Philippians 4.13,

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 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Would you join me as we go to the Lord in prayer?

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 God, what a wonderful morning it has been so far. God, to gather in this place as a church family to

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 talk about Your Word, to discuss Your Word, to sing praises to You, to see the teaching, to join together

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 in worship with our kids. God, such a wonderful, wonderful blessing. Lord, I pray that as we open

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 Your Word, Lord, I pray for the power and the Spirit of God to work and move in our lives, to draw us

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 closer to You, so that we leave here, Lord, not the same as we were when we came in, but more like

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 Christ. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So we're doing a new study called Misunderstood, and

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 we're taking some common verses from the Bible that are common in that most of us know them, but

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 honestly, all too often these verses, even though most people know them, are misunderstood and then

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 therefore misapplied. Well, when it comes to our theology, we have the theology that we know, and

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 then we have the theology that we apply. And everyone has that, regardless of how spiritual you think you

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 are, about regardless of how much of the Bible you think you know or that you don't know. We all have

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 this concept within us of applied theology that takes what we know or what we believe we know of God's

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 word, and then practically speaking, how we apply that and how it plays out in our lives. We say,

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 this is what the truth, this is what I believe the truth of the Bible to be, and then I will then apply

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 that in my life. The danger comes with that when we believe the truth of the Bible to be one thing,

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 but it's actually something else. And so then we misapply that in our lives. And it can be a dangerous road to go

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 down, and as we'll see in a moment, can cause men and women of faith to doubt their faith, to doubt the

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 insufficiency of God, to doubt the power of God. Our focus verse this morning, I'll read it again,

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 Philippians 4.13. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. I think the way that we've

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 probably heard it phrased the most is, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

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 Let me share with you kind of a lighthearted, maybe example of the misuse of this verse. I love sports,

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 and honestly, I've heard this verse used a lot of times in sport settings. So let me give you an

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 example of how, a little lighthearted, how this could play out. It's the bottom of the ninth inning.

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 There's a runner on second, there's a runner on third. There's two outs. The count is full. Three balls,

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 two strikes. The team at bat is sending their best hitter up to bat, and they're the ones down by one

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 run. A single wins the game. As he steps up to the plate, puts his back foot in first,

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 stares at the mound, stares at the pitcher, and he says, I can do all things through Christ who gives

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 me strength. Same time, there's the pitcher. Guess what? He's a Christian too. He feels the pressure.

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 He feels the pressure. He feels the pressure. He steps up onto the mound, puts one foot on the

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 rubber, comes in place, receives the pitch, what he'll throw from the catcher, comes into play. Please

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 don't pick apart my form. And he says, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

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 He goes into his windup. He releases the ball. Ball comes in. The batter prepares.

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 He swings as hard as he can. Here's the problem. The pitcher has claimed the verse over his pitch.

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 The batter has claimed the verse over his swing. And here's the deal. They both cannot get the victory

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 they seek. Now, this sports illustration is a little lighthearted, and you laugh. For most of you,

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 you probably knew exactly where I was going when I stepped into this illustration. And you may think

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 to yourself, you know, I would never do that. But the problem with that is, there are many real honest

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 moments in life where the danger of the false application of, I can do all things through Christ

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 who gives me strength, comes into play. And you see men and women of faith, you see their hope rocked.

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 You see their faith challenged. And you see their perception of God lessened.

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 Let me give some more real life examples. We got our students in here. They don't want to think

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 about school. They're out of school, right? And we got some teachers in here, and you don't want to

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 think about school, but you're out of school. But chances are, the one thing that we all have in

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 common is, at one point in time, we were all in school. Now, I'm about to use an illustration about

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 receiving an A, and maybe you didn't fall into that category. Well, join me, right? I like to speak

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 about this like we all did. Here's the hypothetical. You're in school. You're getting ready for your final

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 exam. Final exam. And on this final exam, you need to make a 93 in order to keep your A average in the

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 class. You've worked hard all semester. You've given all of your time, your effort, and your energy.

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 You've focused in. You've done the extra. And you desperately want an A.

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 So you study. You prepare. You pray. And you claim the verse, I can do all things through Christ who

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 gives me strength. You take the test. You make an 89. I don't understand. I did the work. I did the

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 effort. Got to claim the truth of your word. But yet, my expectation is not met. You're up for a promotion

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 at work. This promotion will create a better life for you and your family. It'll create a greater

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 opportunity for you to make money and therefore be generous. It'll give you more time off so that you

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 can go on mission trips. You'd like to fund some missionaries. You'd like to continue to do the work

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 of God. It'll give you different hours so that you can be at church more consistently and you can come

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 to small group. But you have to interview because there's three other individuals up for the same

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 promotion. But you feel comfortable. You feel confident. You've been a faithful worker. You come

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 in early. You leave late. You're always a team player and you lead when you need to lead. But you know

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 that you struggle in interview settings. You polish up the resume. You get with friends to help you with

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 practice interview questions. And you head to your interview and you claim the verse.

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 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. But instead you don't get the promotion.

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 Even though you prayed about it. Even though you had admirable goals if you get the job.

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 Even though you claimed Philippians 4.13 over it. Instead someone else gets the job.

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 You go to the doctor. Routine checkup. Sure, you're once a year physical what's there. But yet there's

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 something there that's just kind of different than last year. So you share with the doctor about what's

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 going on in your body. And you get a negative result. You get a bad, really bad result. One of those where

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 the doctor begins by saying, I'm sorry. But the doctor says, don't worry. We're going to fight this.

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 And you do. You fight. You take your medicine. You decide that you're going to eat healthy.

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 You work out. You acknowledge that there needs to be a spiritual aspect of this. And so you pray.

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 You bring people together. They pray for you. You read your Bible. You serve. And you claim the verse.

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 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. But yet your health doesn't improve. In fact, it

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 declines. I can give you example after example that people like you and I claim this verse for positive,

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 godly reasons. Not selfish reasons. Not sinful reasons. They want to see God glorified in their life.

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 They want to see Him work and Him move.

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 But they don't get the outcome they desire. And this becomes the danger in this verse when it's improperly

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 applied. And the conclusion can be God, if I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,

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 but yet I can't do this, then God, either I failed you or you failed me.

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 You know, when we use this verse and we get the outcome we desire, it's a great day, right? In our

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 perception, God fulfills His promises. He does give me strength. He gives me ability. He gives me means.

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 God does hear my prayers and He loves me and He answers me. God hears me and God does. He desires to

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 bless me. And look at how God has blessed me with knowledge. Look how God has blessed me with finances.

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 Look how God has blessed me with health. We walk away when the misuse of this verse happens.

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 But we get the outcome we want. I am strong. My strength comes from the Lord.

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 But when we misuse the verse, right? The opposite. God has failed. God must not have heard me or He didn't answer. He doesn't care.

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 Is God punishing me? Is God punishing me? Am I weak in my faith? Is God weak in His strength?

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 When taken out of context, the danger becomes that God made a promise that God didn't fulfill.

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 When taken out of context, when taken out of context, when we get the outcome we want, it puts us on the foundation that won't hold over time.

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 The problem is, does the Bible say, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me?

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 Yes. Yes, it does.

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 It's the verse that we read. It's the verse that was on the screen. It's the verse that's in your Bible.

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 That's what the Bible says.

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 But this verse needs to be understood and applied in context and not in isolation.

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 When Paul writes this, what I want to say is more, what does Paul mean by strength?

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 What does Paul mean by all things?

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 What is Paul communicating? Who is Paul communicating these things to?

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 Let me give you the context of this letter.

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 Philippians was written by Paul to the church at Philippi.

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 Philippi was the first church that was started in Greece.

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 And Paul desired to write them.

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 We see the formation of this church in Acts 16, when a woman named Lydia comes to faith in Christ.

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 Powerful, powerful part of Scripture.

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 The church at Philippi would be a church that would grow numerically and spiritually and become a very healthy church.

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 In fact, the church helped to fund the work of Paul and other church plants.

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 And so we begin to see this healthy, vibrant church funding the work of Paul.

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 We see the work that's being done in and amongst them.

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 But also very early on, they understand, what we understand as a church is that it's not just here so that we can bless ourselves, but how can we bless God?

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 And how can God use us in the work all over this world?

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 And so even though they are young as a church, they're still looking to how can we help plant other churches?

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 And so Paul writes them a letter, and Paul writes them a letter for some reasons.

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 It's so important that we know the reason why an author writes something.

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 And this is what we see.

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 So here's what Paul is doing.

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 He's thanking the church for their support.

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 Very early on, this is what we see.

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 He's thanking the church for their support.

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 He's updating the church on the work that is being done.

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 He's encouraging them in their faith.

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 They're growing, they're maturing, well done.

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 But he's also exhorting them, right, to move forward in their faith.

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 And even as we see, like, maturing in faith and being in obedience, there's always how God is so good in your life and mine.

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 There's always the next step of faith.

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 There's always the next step of growth, right?

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 If we feel like we've arrived, if we feel like we've achieved, boy, are we way off.

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 And so there's always that next step where we can go.

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 But specifically for Paul and the church at Philippi, what we see is he does not want them to become attached to the world.

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 And instead, what he wants them to see in their lives is consistent joy that comes from a growing relationship with Christ.

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 Not necessarily a joy that is found in the situations that surround them.

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 Maybe a little bit of what Paul is living out as he's imprisoned, where he may be executed.

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 My circumstances that surround me cannot find my joy, but the relationship for Christ can.

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 And what he is seeing in the life of the church, when we begin to focus in on our circumstances and not in the relationship with God,

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 what begins to creep in is worry.

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 And I see, worry is the opposite of joy.

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 Worry is oftentimes found in the circumstances and things around us.

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 But our joy is set in Christ, in Christ alone.

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 And that's the danger when it comes to worry.

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 Worry creeps in and hijacks our faith.

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 And when worry hijacks our faith, it hijacks our obedience.

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 It hijacks our joy.

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 It begins to wreck our perception of God, of how God wants to use us, and the contentment that I have in Him.

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 Jesus, when He gives the purpose of the parable of the sower in Mark 4, 19,

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 says this,

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 the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for things enter in

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 and choke the word.

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 And it proves unfruitful.

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 So when we begin to focus in on the cares of the world and all the things that are surrounding us,

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 it begins to choke out the very word of God.

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 Now God wants to work and move.

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 In a book that I was reading about worry, it says this,

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 that the truth is when we are wrapped up in worldly things and distracted by our circumstances,

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 it hinders our spiritual growth and squelches our usefulness in God's kingdom.

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 So Paul is going to encourage the church to stand firm in faith.

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 Stand firm in faith.

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 And this is going to be hard work.

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 This isn't easy.

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 Stand firm.

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 Foundation.

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 Landed.

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 Stand firm in your faith.

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 And toward the end of Philippians, he begins to give them and walk through this.

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 He says,

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 in this, as you are a part of the body of Christ and you are his and he is yours,

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 that you need to view yourselves differently than the world.

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 Philippians 3, 20.

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 But our citizenship is in heaven.

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 And from it we await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 That we view ourselves differently than the world.

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 And if we view ourselves differently from the world that are standard,

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 and it's because not one day we're citizens of heaven.

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 That's hard.

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 When the chaos of what's around you, when it begins to feel like, how can this world get any worse?

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 Oh, but my citizenship is in heaven.

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 And while this life feels like it takes an eternity, it is but a vapor.

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 But what is waiting for me is eternity with him.

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 The second thing that he encourages them, he exhorts them to, is always rejoice in the Lord.

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 Philippians 4, 4.

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 Rejoice in the Lord always.

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 Again, I will say rejoice.

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 Now, always, for me, is difficult.

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 Some days seem easy.

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 Some days seem harder.

00:24:15.260 --> 00:24:20.980
 And all too often, on the days that seem harder, seems like the days that I can't.

00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:24.380
 But in all reality, it's the day that I just won't.

00:24:25.340 --> 00:24:28.040
 I can, but I won't.

00:24:28.540 --> 00:24:29.000
 Why?

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:34.120
 Because it's easier to be miserable than it is to rejoice.

00:24:36.520 --> 00:24:38.560
 From his prison cell.

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:43.900
 Execution awaiting.

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:49.280
 Rejoice in the Lord always.

00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:53.420
 Again, I will say rejoice.

00:24:55.080 --> 00:24:55.920
 Then he tells them,

00:24:57.280 --> 00:25:01.060
 Refuse to be anxious.

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.680
 Easier said than done.

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.540
 Refuse to be anxious.

00:25:08.020 --> 00:25:08.860
 And instead,

00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:11.080
 pray about everything.

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.900
 Philippians 4, 6-7.

00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:16.760
 Do not be anxious about anything,

00:25:18.260 --> 00:25:19.260
 but in everything,

00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:21.980
 by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,

00:25:22.260 --> 00:25:24.000
 let your requests be made known to God.

00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.380
 And the peace of God,

00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:26.860
 which surpasses all understandings,

00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:29.740
 will guard your heart and your minds

00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:33.040
 in Christ Jesus.

00:25:34.040 --> 00:25:34.480
 Today,

00:25:35.080 --> 00:25:36.880
 I choose joy.

00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.640
 Today,

00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:43.940
 I refuse to let the lies of this world consume me.

00:25:44.260 --> 00:25:45.160
 And here's why.

00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:49.920
 Refuse to be anxious and instead pray about everything.

00:25:50.320 --> 00:25:52.060
 Come in together.

00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:56.300
 Because with the understanding

00:25:56.300 --> 00:25:59.460
 that the miracle of God in the moment

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.620
 is, God,

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:02.080
 I'm depending on you

00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:04.380
 because every part of me

00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:07.860
 wants to run to the sinful idol of anxiety.

00:26:08.800 --> 00:26:09.640
 But God,

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.160
 today,

00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:12.120
 today,

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:14.220
 with everything,

00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:14.480
 Lord,

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.100
 I come to you.

00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:19.340
 I can't imagine

00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:21.440
 Paul's

00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:23.380
 sleepless nights.

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:27.100
 But in everything,

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.820
 in everything,

00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.260
 in everything.

00:26:31.320 --> 00:26:33.760
 Paul says that they need to fix their minds

00:26:33.760 --> 00:26:36.600
 on the things of praise

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:38.060
 and excellence.

00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:42.160
 Paul says in Philippians 4, 8,

00:26:42.260 --> 00:26:42.960
 finally, brothers,

00:26:43.060 --> 00:26:43.720
 whatever is true,

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.640
 whatever is honorable,

00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:45.720
 whatever is just,

00:26:46.040 --> 00:26:46.860
 whatever is pure,

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:48.180
 whatever is lovely,

00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:49.540
 whatever is commendable,

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:51.760
 if there is any excellence,

00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:53.940
 if there is anything worth

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.980
 of praise,

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:57.800
 think about these things.

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.480
 Paul says focus.

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:05.700
 Put your mind on the things of God.

00:27:06.280 --> 00:27:08.960
 Put your mind on the promises of God.

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:11.840
 Put your mind on the work of Christ.

00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:15.560
 Put your mind and your hope in Him

00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:21.140
 and fix your mind on those.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:23.060
 Get away from me, Satan.

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:25.660
 Because let me tell you who God is.

00:27:26.260 --> 00:27:28.180
 And let me tell you of God's love for me.

00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:32.440
 Here's what Paul wants them to get.

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:35.520
 Living by faith

00:27:35.520 --> 00:27:39.360
 is not always easy.

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.620
 It's not.

00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:43.340
 It's not.

00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:44.520
 Living by faith

00:27:44.520 --> 00:27:47.180
 is not always easy.

00:27:48.020 --> 00:27:49.680
 Anybody who tells you

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.740
 that it is,

00:27:51.100 --> 00:27:53.540
 I'd love to have a conversation with them.

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:55.320
 I want to know

00:27:55.320 --> 00:27:56.500
 why it's easy,

00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.920
 how it's been easy.

00:27:58.040 --> 00:27:58.720
 Because here's the thing,

00:27:58.900 --> 00:28:00.900
 God doesn't promise us an easy life.

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.000
 Jesus didn't have an easy life.

00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:08.640
 God doesn't let us get too comfortable.

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.240
 God wants to work us

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:12.240
 and move us

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.720
 and shape us.

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.880
 Paul's life.

00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.560
 Paul's life

00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:20.980
 is an example of this for them.

00:28:22.020 --> 00:28:24.100
 Paul's not writing them

00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:25.700
 out of a concept

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:27.160
 that he learned in seminary.

00:28:28.520 --> 00:28:30.540
 Paul's not writing them

00:28:30.540 --> 00:28:31.920
 and sharing with them

00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:34.000
 some story of some martyr.

00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:36.400
 As Paul sits

00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:38.240
 in luxury,

00:28:40.280 --> 00:28:41.580
 Paul writes them

00:28:41.580 --> 00:28:43.300
 from prison.

00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:45.780
 Prison that he knew

00:28:45.780 --> 00:28:48.860
 all too well.

00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:52.220
 And he's speaking to

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:54.460
 when the pursuits

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.640
 of this world,

00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.700
 when the harshness

00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.560
 of this world,

00:28:59.080 --> 00:29:00.200
 when the struggles

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:01.480
 of life come,

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:04.080
 the joy of God

00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:06.640
 produces a gift of God

00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:08.860
 in the life of believers

00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:12.120
 and it's the wonderful gift

00:29:12.120 --> 00:29:13.560
 of contentment.

00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:16.420
 Of contentment.

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:20.660
 Philippians 4, 10-13.

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.280
 Paul says,

00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:27.600
 I rejoice in the Lord greatly

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:31.320
 that now at length

00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:33.500
 you have revived

00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.580
 your concern for me.

00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:37.260
 You were indeed

00:29:37.260 --> 00:29:38.960
 concerned for me

00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:40.800
 but you had no

00:29:40.800 --> 00:29:42.160
 opportunity.

00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:45.220
 Not that I am speaking

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:46.440
 of being in need

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:49.200
 for I have learned

00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:51.560
 in whatever situation

00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:52.460
 I am

00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:54.400
 to be content.

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:58.340
 I know how

00:29:58.340 --> 00:29:59.420
 to be brought low

00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:01.060
 and I know

00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:01.820
 how to abound.

00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:04.180
 In any

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:06.140
 and every circumstance

00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:08.640
 I have learned

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:09.680
 the secret

00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:11.260
 of facing

00:30:11.260 --> 00:30:11.940
 plenty

00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:14.000
 and hunger

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:16.320
 abundance

00:30:16.320 --> 00:30:17.980
 and need.

00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:21.560
 I can do

00:30:21.560 --> 00:30:22.780
 all things

00:30:22.780 --> 00:30:24.640
 through Him

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.720
 who strengthens me.

00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:30.040
 Paul's strength

00:30:30.040 --> 00:30:32.100
 is not in the act.

00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.320
 Paul's strength

00:30:34.320 --> 00:30:35.260
 is from the Lord

00:30:35.260 --> 00:30:36.920
 and what

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.180
 can he do

00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:39.620
 in prosperity

00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:41.720
 and in punishment?

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:44.120
 What can he do

00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:44.860
 in riches

00:30:44.860 --> 00:30:46.440
 and in poverty?

00:30:48.040 --> 00:30:49.680
 He can be content

00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:51.320
 in Christ.

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:53.140
 I can do all

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:54.440
 things

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.880
 through Him

00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:57.720
 who strengthens

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.360
 me.

00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:59.560
 When we understand

00:30:59.560 --> 00:31:00.440
 that this world

00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.840
 is not our home.

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.940
 When our joy

00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:04.540
 is fixed

00:31:04.540 --> 00:31:05.160
 in the Lord.

00:31:05.820 --> 00:31:07.120
 When we refuse

00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:08.100
 anxiety

00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:09.020
 to become

00:31:09.020 --> 00:31:09.580
 the king

00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.320
 of our heart

00:31:10.320 --> 00:31:12.600
 and embrace

00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:13.240
 prayer

00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:14.020
 about everything

00:31:14.020 --> 00:31:15.180
 we fix our minds

00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.000
 on the things

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.600
 of praise

00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:17.460
 on the things

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.180
 of excellence

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:18.960
 on the things

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.520
 of God

00:31:19.520 --> 00:31:20.560
 the pains

00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:22.020
 of this world

00:31:22.020 --> 00:31:23.380
 may still

00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:25.020
 ring true

00:31:25.020 --> 00:31:29.100
 but joy

00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:31.620
 and contentment

00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:33.360
 are promised.

00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.640
 Paul's the example

00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.020
 of this.

00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:37.460
 This isn't

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.040
 the first.

00:31:39.760 --> 00:31:41.240
 2 Corinthians 12

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:43.040
 7-10

00:31:43.040 --> 00:31:45.660
 Paul says

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.400
 so to keep me

00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:47.860
 from becoming

00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.520
 conceited

00:31:48.520 --> 00:31:50.400
 because of the

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.320
 surpassing greatness

00:31:51.320 --> 00:31:52.180
 of the revelation

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:54.160
 a thorn

00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:55.360
 was given to me

00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:56.260
 in the flesh

00:31:56.260 --> 00:31:57.240
 a messenger

00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:57.860
 of Satan

00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.840
 to harass me

00:31:58.840 --> 00:31:59.820
 to keep me

00:31:59.820 --> 00:32:00.480
 from becoming

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.300
 conceited.

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.780
 Three times

00:32:02.780 --> 00:32:03.240
 I pleaded

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:03.740
 with the Lord

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.360
 about this

00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:04.780
 that it should

00:32:04.780 --> 00:32:05.300
 leave me

00:32:05.300 --> 00:32:06.760
 but He said

00:32:06.760 --> 00:32:07.180
 to me

00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:08.360
 my grace

00:32:08.360 --> 00:32:09.280
 is sufficient

00:32:09.280 --> 00:32:09.980
 for you

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.500
 for my power

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.500
 is made perfect

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.220
 in weakness.

00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:15.780
 therefore

00:32:15.780 --> 00:32:16.660
 I will boast

00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:17.900
 all the more

00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.500
 gladly

00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.920
 of my weaknesses

00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:22.540
 so that the power

00:32:22.540 --> 00:32:23.920
 of Christ

00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:25.820
 may rest on me.

00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.660
 For the sake

00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.160
 of Christ

00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:28.520
 then

00:32:28.520 --> 00:32:31.160
 I am content.

00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.880
 I am content

00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.860
 with weaknesses

00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:38.000
 with insults

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:40.100
 with hardships

00:32:40.100 --> 00:32:42.580
 persecutions

00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:45.000
 and calamities

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:47.940
 for when I am weak

00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:49.480
 then

00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:51.020
 I

00:32:51.020 --> 00:32:52.400
 am

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.840
 strong.

00:32:56.560 --> 00:32:58.000
 So how do we

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:58.560
 take this?

00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.520
 How do we

00:33:01.520 --> 00:33:01.980
 take

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:05.380
 I can do

00:33:05.380 --> 00:33:05.880
 all things

00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:06.620
 through Christ

00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:10.560
 who gives me

00:33:10.560 --> 00:33:11.060
 strength

00:33:11.060 --> 00:33:13.940
 and apply it

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:15.840
 to the situations

00:33:15.840 --> 00:33:16.520
 in my life.

00:33:18.280 --> 00:33:19.080
 you didn't

00:33:19.080 --> 00:33:19.740
 make the grade

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:23.960
 well done

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:26.200
 you prepared

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:28.500
 you tried

00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:30.920
 you did

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.660
 your best

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:34.060
 and you

00:33:34.060 --> 00:33:34.960
 can be proud

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:36.640
 of what

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.220
 you've done

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:39.580
 and I know

00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:40.140
 that you didn't

00:33:40.140 --> 00:33:41.000
 get the grade

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.700
 that you wanted

00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:44.480
 but ultimately

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:46.460
 the things

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:47.260
 of this earth

00:33:47.260 --> 00:33:48.480
 do not

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.360
 define you

00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:50.880
 but Christ

00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:51.300
 does

00:33:51.300 --> 00:33:53.980
 so in that

00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.680
 you can be

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.260
 content

00:33:55.260 --> 00:33:56.200
 with who

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:56.840
 you are

00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:57.780
 in him.

00:33:59.320 --> 00:34:00.040
 How about

00:34:00.040 --> 00:34:00.480
 when you don't

00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.200
 get the job

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:01.700
 that you

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:03.300
 wanted

00:34:03.300 --> 00:34:04.520
 that you

00:34:04.520 --> 00:34:05.280
 prayed for

00:34:05.280 --> 00:34:06.060
 that you

00:34:06.060 --> 00:34:06.880
 planned for

00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:08.000
 that you set

00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.460
 godly

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.220
 aspirations

00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:10.220
 for

00:34:10.220 --> 00:34:11.740
 you didn't

00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:12.420
 get the job

00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:12.740
 but you're

00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:13.000
 not going

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.240
 to get

00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:13.640
 bitter

00:34:13.640 --> 00:34:15.300
 you're going

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:15.860
 to celebrate

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.700
 and be happy

00:34:16.700 --> 00:34:17.380
 for the person

00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:17.860
 who did

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.640
 because God

00:34:18.640 --> 00:34:19.240
 has a plan

00:34:19.240 --> 00:34:19.760
 for them

00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:20.300
 and guess

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:20.780
 what God

00:34:20.780 --> 00:34:21.400
 has a plan

00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:21.980
 for you

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:23.280
 and you

00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:23.740
 will be

00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:24.580
 content

00:34:24.580 --> 00:34:26.160
 with where

00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:26.720
 God has

00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.420
 placed you

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.440
 and the

00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:28.820
 purpose

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.160
 that he

00:34:29.160 --> 00:34:29.740
 has

00:34:29.740 --> 00:34:31.260
 and show

00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:31.780
 up every

00:34:31.780 --> 00:34:32.940
 single day

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.860
 prepared

00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.680
 for the

00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:35.060
 mission

00:34:35.060 --> 00:34:35.640
 field

00:34:35.640 --> 00:34:36.620
 that he

00:34:36.620 --> 00:34:37.040
 has.

00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.680
 What about

00:34:39.680 --> 00:34:41.540
 the

00:34:41.540 --> 00:34:42.020
 doctor's

00:34:42.020 --> 00:34:42.440
 office?

00:34:44.120 --> 00:34:45.020
 What about

00:34:45.020 --> 00:34:45.380
 when the

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:45.880
 report

00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:47.060
 comes back

00:34:47.060 --> 00:34:49.860
 and you've

00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.260
 done

00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:51.600
 everything?

00:34:53.080 --> 00:34:53.740
 The

00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:54.220
 medicine

00:34:54.220 --> 00:34:55.780
 the

00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:56.440
 prayers

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:58.360
 the

00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:58.960
 diet

00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:00.400
 the

00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:00.720
 reading

00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:00.960
 your

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.460
 Bible

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:03.780
 man I'm

00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.340
 trying to do

00:35:04.340 --> 00:35:04.700
 all the

00:35:04.700 --> 00:35:05.140
 things the

00:35:05.140 --> 00:35:05.440
 doctor

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:05.620
 I'm

00:35:05.620 --> 00:35:06.000
 trying to do

00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.380
 all the

00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:06.840
 works of

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.080
 God

00:35:07.080 --> 00:35:07.520
 that God

00:35:07.520 --> 00:35:08.300
 has for

00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:08.420
 me

00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.780
 God

00:35:09.780 --> 00:35:10.000
 is going

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.380
 to see

00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:13.940
 you can

00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.260
 do all

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:14.800
 things

00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:16.420
 through

00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.000
 Christ

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:18.260
 who gives

00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:18.840
 me strength

00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:20.660
 that while

00:35:20.660 --> 00:35:21.360
 your health

00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:22.900
 and your

00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:23.540
 body may

00:35:23.540 --> 00:35:23.900
 fail

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:26.300
 God's

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:26.800
 plan

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:28.240
 for every

00:35:28.240 --> 00:35:29.300
 moment

00:35:29.300 --> 00:35:30.080
 of your

00:35:30.080 --> 00:35:30.580
 life will

00:35:30.580 --> 00:35:30.860
 not

00:35:30.860 --> 00:35:33.260
 and he

00:35:33.260 --> 00:35:33.460
 has

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:34.060
 purpose

00:35:34.060 --> 00:35:35.420
 and he

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:35.740
 has

00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.320
 reason

00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:38.100
 and every

00:35:38.100 --> 00:35:38.880
 moment

00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.980
 that God

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.780
 gives you

00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:41.380
 breath

00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:42.400
 on this

00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:42.940
 earth

00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:44.640
 he's

00:35:44.640 --> 00:35:45.340
 using you

00:35:45.340 --> 00:35:45.680
 for his

00:35:45.680 --> 00:35:46.120
 purpose

00:35:46.120 --> 00:35:47.940
 and because

00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:48.540
 of that

00:35:48.540 --> 00:35:50.700
 because

00:35:50.700 --> 00:35:51.460
 of that

00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:53.240
 I will

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:53.920
 give him

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.640
 praise

00:35:54.640 --> 00:35:56.480
 in every

00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:57.620
 single

00:35:57.620 --> 00:35:58.760
 moment

00:35:58.760 --> 00:35:59.520
 on this

00:35:59.520 --> 00:35:59.820
 earth

00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:02.440
 in sickness

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:03.660
 and in health

00:36:03.660 --> 00:36:05.160
 and in poverty

00:36:05.160 --> 00:36:06.520
 and prosperity

00:36:06.520 --> 00:36:09.060
 because here's

00:36:09.060 --> 00:36:10.100
 what

00:36:10.100 --> 00:36:11.280
 we

00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:12.220
 know

00:36:12.220 --> 00:36:14.780
 there's an

00:36:14.780 --> 00:36:15.540
 eternity

00:36:15.540 --> 00:36:17.500
 of praise

00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:19.120
 for him

00:36:19.120 --> 00:36:20.600
 that he

00:36:20.600 --> 00:36:20.960
 will give

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.380
 us

00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:23.840
 and that

00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.420
 we can be

00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:25.040
 content

00:36:25.040 --> 00:36:26.600
 that our

00:36:26.600 --> 00:36:27.080
 life

00:36:27.080 --> 00:36:28.440
 is in

00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:29.180
 his hands

00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:30.980
 and our

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:31.720
 eternity

00:36:31.720 --> 00:36:33.700
 is secured

00:36:33.700 --> 00:36:35.500
 in his

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:35.940
 as well

00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:39.320
 in closing

00:36:39.320 --> 00:36:42.900
 if you're

00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:43.460
 asking yourself

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.040
 this question

00:36:44.040 --> 00:36:44.580
 this morning

00:36:44.580 --> 00:36:47.040
 but how

00:36:47.040 --> 00:36:47.500
 can I be

00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:47.860
 content

00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:50.160
 how can I

00:36:50.160 --> 00:36:50.660
 be content

00:36:50.660 --> 00:36:52.400
 of the

00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:52.960
 things that

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.440
 I'm dealing

00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:53.940
 with

00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.740
 the things

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:55.120
 that I'm

00:36:55.120 --> 00:36:56.180
 going through

00:36:56.180 --> 00:36:56.680
 of the

00:36:56.680 --> 00:36:57.180
 things

00:36:57.180 --> 00:36:57.720
 that I'm

00:36:57.720 --> 00:36:58.080
 facing

00:36:58.080 --> 00:37:03.600
 while I

00:37:03.600 --> 00:37:03.880
 wish we

00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.180
 could take

00:37:04.180 --> 00:37:04.720
 those away

00:37:04.720 --> 00:37:07.500
 we can't

00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:09.340
 but what

00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:09.880
 we can

00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.520
 acknowledge

00:37:10.520 --> 00:37:12.440
 is the

00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:12.880
 sacrifice

00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:13.400
 of the

00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.800
 cross

00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:15.780
 and the

00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:16.100
 miracle

00:37:16.100 --> 00:37:16.460
 of the

00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:16.700
 tomb

00:37:16.700 --> 00:37:18.800
 that

00:37:18.800 --> 00:37:19.240
 Christ

00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:19.760
 came

00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:21.940
 and he

00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.840
 solved

00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:23.780
 the

00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:24.600
 unsolvable

00:37:24.600 --> 00:37:25.780
 problem

00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:26.240
 that you

00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:26.680
 face

00:37:26.680 --> 00:37:27.600
 that I

00:37:27.600 --> 00:37:28.120
 face

00:37:28.120 --> 00:37:29.740
 he solved

00:37:29.740 --> 00:37:30.320
 the problem

00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:30.760
 of our

00:37:30.760 --> 00:37:31.080
 sin

00:37:31.080 --> 00:37:32.660
 and in

00:37:32.660 --> 00:37:33.200
 solving the

00:37:33.200 --> 00:37:33.820
 problem of

00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:34.320
 our sin

00:37:34.320 --> 00:37:35.040
 he took

00:37:35.040 --> 00:37:35.820
 the punishment

00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.960
 that we

00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:38.500
 not just

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:39.140
 deserve

00:37:39.140 --> 00:37:39.740
 but that we

00:37:39.740 --> 00:37:40.740
 earned

00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:42.320
 and that

00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:42.780
 should be

00:37:42.780 --> 00:37:43.180
 due

00:37:43.180 --> 00:37:44.180
 for us

00:37:44.180 --> 00:37:45.740
 and the

00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:46.320
 wrath of

00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:46.840
 God that

00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:47.460
 I deserve

00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:47.940
 and the

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:48.480
 wrath of

00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.020
 God that

00:37:49.020 --> 00:37:50.180
 you deserve

00:37:50.180 --> 00:37:51.060
 he took

00:37:51.060 --> 00:37:51.660
 on

00:37:51.660 --> 00:37:52.560
 on our

00:37:52.560 --> 00:37:53.040
 behalf

00:37:53.040 --> 00:37:55.040
 and he

00:37:55.040 --> 00:37:55.560
 bore

00:37:55.560 --> 00:37:57.280
 the burden

00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:59.080
 of our

00:37:59.080 --> 00:37:59.340
 sin

00:37:59.340 --> 00:38:01.020
 he was

00:38:01.020 --> 00:38:01.540
 punished

00:38:01.540 --> 00:38:02.820
 and took

00:38:02.820 --> 00:38:03.420
 the death

00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:03.940
 that you

00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:04.620
 and I

00:38:04.620 --> 00:38:05.640
 deserve

00:38:05.640 --> 00:38:07.980
 we can

00:38:07.980 --> 00:38:08.580
 be content

00:38:08.580 --> 00:38:10.040
 in the

00:38:10.040 --> 00:38:10.480
 joy

00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:11.940
 in Christ

00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:13.160
 because the

00:38:13.160 --> 00:38:13.820
 sacrifice

00:38:13.820 --> 00:38:14.120
 of the

00:38:14.120 --> 00:38:14.540
 cross

00:38:14.540 --> 00:38:17.300
 but also

00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:17.560
 in the

00:38:17.560 --> 00:38:17.860
 miracle

00:38:17.860 --> 00:38:18.160
 of the

00:38:18.160 --> 00:38:18.440
 tomb

00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:20.080
 because see

00:38:20.080 --> 00:38:20.700
 his body

00:38:20.700 --> 00:38:21.200
 doesn't

00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:22.680
 still lay

00:38:22.680 --> 00:38:23.020
 there

00:38:23.020 --> 00:38:24.620
 but three

00:38:24.620 --> 00:38:25.380
 days later

00:38:25.380 --> 00:38:25.980
 that he

00:38:25.980 --> 00:38:26.560
 arose

00:38:26.560 --> 00:38:28.280
 and so

00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:28.880
 while our

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.960
 life here

00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:30.520
 will not

00:38:30.520 --> 00:38:31.480
 end here

00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.740
 our life

00:38:32.740 --> 00:38:33.000
 when we

00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:33.560
 are found

00:38:33.560 --> 00:38:34.440
 in him

00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:34.800
 has the

00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:35.320
 promise for

00:38:35.320 --> 00:38:35.980
 a hope

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:36.220
 and a

00:38:36.220 --> 00:38:36.580
 future of

00:38:36.580 --> 00:38:36.920
 eternity

00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:39.520
 and so

00:38:39.520 --> 00:38:40.080
 regardless

00:38:40.080 --> 00:38:42.140
 of what

00:38:42.140 --> 00:38:43.060
 this world

00:38:43.060 --> 00:38:44.840
 may bring

00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:47.760
 I can

00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:48.340
 find

00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:49.560
 contentment

00:38:49.560 --> 00:38:50.240
 in Christ

00:38:50.240 --> 00:38:52.380
 because I

00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:52.680
 can do

00:38:52.680 --> 00:38:53.140
 all

00:38:53.140 --> 00:38:54.260
 things

00:38:54.260 --> 00:38:54.980
 through

00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:55.600
 Christ

00:38:55.600 --> 00:38:56.840
 who

00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.260
 gives me

00:38:57.260 --> 00:38:57.760
 strength

00:38:57.760 --> 00:38:59.760
 my joy

00:38:59.760 --> 00:39:00.520
 my

00:39:00.520 --> 00:39:01.360
 contentment

00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:02.480
 my hope

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.360
 and my

00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:03.880
 praise

00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:05.060
 is found

00:39:05.060 --> 00:39:06.120
 in him

00:39:06.120 --> 00:39:07.280
 would you

00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:07.560
 pray with

00:39:07.560 --> 00:39:08.240
 me

00:39:08.240 --> 00:39:14.000
 God I

00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.260
 thank you

00:39:14.260 --> 00:39:14.520
 for the

00:39:14.520 --> 00:39:14.860
 beauty

00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:16.520
 and the

00:39:16.520 --> 00:39:17.040
 truth

00:39:17.040 --> 00:39:18.460
 of your

00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:18.800
 word

00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:23.560
 God

00:39:23.560 --> 00:39:23.980
 whether it's

00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:25.500
 a baseball

00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:26.100
 game

00:39:26.100 --> 00:39:26.460
 or a

00:39:26.460 --> 00:39:26.920
 test

00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:28.820
 a job

00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:29.220
 interview

00:39:29.220 --> 00:39:30.000
 a doctor's

00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.380
 appointment

00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:32.040
 or to

00:39:32.040 --> 00:39:32.520
 any other

00:39:32.520 --> 00:39:33.100
 situation

00:39:33.100 --> 00:39:33.660
 that we

00:39:33.660 --> 00:39:34.880
 may find

00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:35.500
 ourselves

00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:35.980
 in

00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:37.760
 God the

00:39:37.760 --> 00:39:38.560
 outcomes

00:39:38.560 --> 00:39:41.840
 of those

00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.260
 events

00:39:42.260 --> 00:39:42.680
 do not

00:39:42.680 --> 00:39:43.620
 define who

00:39:43.620 --> 00:39:44.400
 we are

00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:45.880
 but God

00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:46.040
 we're

00:39:46.040 --> 00:39:46.680
 defined who

00:39:46.680 --> 00:39:47.060
 we are

00:39:47.060 --> 00:39:47.580
 in you

00:39:47.580 --> 00:39:48.600
 and in

00:39:48.600 --> 00:39:49.060
 you alone

00:39:49.060 --> 00:39:51.280
 so while

00:39:51.280 --> 00:39:52.040
 Paul writes

00:39:52.040 --> 00:39:52.700
 this from

00:39:52.700 --> 00:39:53.260
 being

00:39:53.260 --> 00:39:53.740
 imprisoned

00:39:53.740 --> 00:39:56.260
 talks about

00:39:56.260 --> 00:39:56.800
 the joy

00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.080
 that he

00:39:57.080 --> 00:39:57.560
 has in

00:39:57.560 --> 00:39:57.980
 Christ

00:39:57.980 --> 00:39:59.460
 and in

00:39:59.460 --> 00:39:59.700
 God

00:39:59.700 --> 00:40:00.020
 and in

00:40:00.020 --> 00:40:00.780
 the reality

00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:01.300
 of where

00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:02.060
 we find

00:40:02.060 --> 00:40:02.900
 ourselves

00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:03.640
 today

00:40:03.640 --> 00:40:05.080
 we can

00:40:05.080 --> 00:40:05.740
 cling to

00:40:05.740 --> 00:40:06.220
 the same

00:40:06.220 --> 00:40:06.680
 hope

00:40:06.680 --> 00:40:07.840
 and joy

00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:08.980
 in you

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:10.440
 and in

00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:10.580
 you

00:40:10.580 --> 00:40:10.940
 alone

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:12.520
 God

00:40:12.520 --> 00:40:13.380
 give us

00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:14.280
 and the

00:40:14.280 --> 00:40:14.680
 power

00:40:14.680 --> 00:40:15.040
 and the

00:40:15.040 --> 00:40:15.440
 working

00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:15.820
 of your

00:40:15.820 --> 00:40:16.540
 spirit

00:40:16.540 --> 00:40:17.760
 or the

00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:18.140
 ability

00:40:18.140 --> 00:40:18.720
 to cling

00:40:18.720 --> 00:40:19.180
 to the

00:40:19.180 --> 00:40:19.660
 promises

00:40:19.660 --> 00:40:20.160
 of your

00:40:20.160 --> 00:40:20.580
 word

00:40:20.580 --> 00:40:21.800
 God

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:22.100
 that we

00:40:22.100 --> 00:40:22.700
 will not

00:40:22.700 --> 00:40:23.360
 find

00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:24.080
 ourselves

00:40:24.080 --> 00:40:25.360
 defined

00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:25.700
 by the

00:40:25.700 --> 00:40:26.020
 moment

00:40:26.020 --> 00:40:26.380
 we will

00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:26.960
 not find

00:40:26.960 --> 00:40:27.460
 ourselves

00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:27.980
 defined

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.360
 by the

00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:28.680
 event

00:40:28.680 --> 00:40:29.320
 but we

00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:29.520
 will

00:40:29.520 --> 00:40:30.120
 define

00:40:30.120 --> 00:40:31.260
 ourselves

00:40:31.260 --> 00:40:32.940
 defined

00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:33.800
 by Christ

00:40:33.800 --> 00:40:35.060
 and Christ

00:40:35.060 --> 00:40:35.520
 alone

00:40:35.520 --> 00:40:41.460
 whatever

00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:42.180
 situation

00:40:42.180 --> 00:40:44.760
 there's

00:40:44.760 --> 00:40:45.160
 joy

00:40:45.160 --> 00:40:48.580
 God

00:40:48.580 --> 00:40:48.800
 I pray

00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:49.580
 for those

00:40:49.580 --> 00:40:50.660
 of us

00:40:50.660 --> 00:40:51.200
 here this

00:40:51.200 --> 00:40:51.580
 morning

00:40:51.580 --> 00:40:56.060
 God

00:40:56.060 --> 00:40:56.380
 I pray

00:40:56.380 --> 00:40:57.320
 salvation

00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.860
 in eternity

00:40:58.860 --> 00:40:59.660
 with you

00:40:59.660 --> 00:41:02.820
 would not

00:41:02.820 --> 00:41:04.060
 simply be

00:41:04.060 --> 00:41:04.760
 an event

00:41:04.760 --> 00:41:05.060
 that we

00:41:05.060 --> 00:41:05.520
 are waiting

00:41:05.520 --> 00:41:05.900
 for

00:41:05.900 --> 00:41:08.100
 but it

00:41:08.100 --> 00:41:08.400
 would be

00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:09.040
 a reality

00:41:09.040 --> 00:41:09.440
 that we

00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:09.840
 live in

00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:10.380
 every day

00:41:10.380 --> 00:41:13.120
 that the

00:41:13.120 --> 00:41:13.680
 joy of

00:41:13.680 --> 00:41:14.560
 my salvation

00:41:14.560 --> 00:41:16.420
 is evident

00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:17.420
 in me

00:41:17.420 --> 00:41:17.760
 now

00:41:17.760 --> 00:41:19.540
 it's a

00:41:19.540 --> 00:41:20.320
 testimony of

00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:21.060
 your faithfulness

00:41:21.060 --> 00:41:21.380
 to me

00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:21.980
 it's a

00:41:21.980 --> 00:41:22.580
 testimony of

00:41:22.580 --> 00:41:23.220
 your faithfulness

00:41:23.220 --> 00:41:23.820
 to others

00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:27.840
 and that

00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:28.180
 God we

00:41:28.180 --> 00:41:28.600
 would give

00:41:28.600 --> 00:41:28.900
 you

00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:30.020
 all the

00:41:30.020 --> 00:41:30.520
 praise

00:41:30.520 --> 00:41:31.980
 and honor

00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:33.740
 and glory

00:41:33.740 --> 00:41:35.840
 Lord

00:41:35.840 --> 00:41:36.100
 and it's

00:41:36.100 --> 00:41:36.660
 possible

00:41:36.660 --> 00:41:39.080
 not through

00:41:39.080 --> 00:41:39.740
 our works

00:41:39.740 --> 00:41:40.100
 and our

00:41:40.100 --> 00:41:40.460
 means

00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:42.780
 but possible

00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:43.300
 only

00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:45.000
 because of

00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:45.320
 the work

00:41:45.320 --> 00:41:45.920
 of Christ

00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:47.560
 and what

00:41:47.560 --> 00:41:48.100
 he did

00:41:48.100 --> 00:41:48.900
 in our

00:41:48.900 --> 00:41:49.320
 place

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:51.380
 and what

00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:52.240
 he overcame

00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:53.000
 for us

00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:55.140
 God as we

00:41:55.140 --> 00:41:55.600
 prepare

00:41:55.600 --> 00:41:56.200
 ourselves

00:41:56.200 --> 00:41:56.740
 to go

00:41:56.740 --> 00:41:57.040
 into a

00:41:57.040 --> 00:41:57.580
 time of

00:41:57.580 --> 00:41:58.600
 response

00:41:58.600 --> 00:41:59.140
 a time

00:41:59.140 --> 00:41:59.760
 of worship

00:41:59.760 --> 00:42:02.020
 Lord

00:42:02.020 --> 00:42:02.740
 I ask

00:42:02.740 --> 00:42:03.780
 for the

00:42:03.780 --> 00:42:04.100
 working

00:42:04.100 --> 00:42:04.620
 movement

00:42:04.620 --> 00:42:05.060
 of your

00:42:05.060 --> 00:42:05.700
 spirit

00:42:05.700 --> 00:42:09.200
 as we

00:42:09.200 --> 00:42:10.020
 acknowledge

00:42:10.020 --> 00:42:11.980
 through

00:42:11.980 --> 00:42:12.580
 communion

00:42:12.580 --> 00:42:16.660
 the work

00:42:16.660 --> 00:42:17.200
 of Jesus

00:42:17.200 --> 00:42:19.440
 and it's

00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:19.720
 his name

00:42:19.720 --> 00:42:20.080
 we pray

00:42:20.080 --> 00:42:21.740
 amen

00:42:21.740 --> 00:42:25.200
 that's it

00:42:25.200 --> 00:42:25.580
 for this

00:42:25.580 --> 00:42:25.920
 week's

00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:26.340
 message

00:42:26.340 --> 00:42:27.140
 be sure

00:42:27.140 --> 00:42:27.460
 to check

00:42:27.460 --> 00:42:28.060
 back next

00:42:28.060 --> 00:42:28.460
 week for

00:42:28.460 --> 00:42:28.720
 a new

00:42:28.720 --> 00:42:29.140
 episode

00:42:29.140 --> 00:42:29.900
 and in

00:42:29.900 --> 00:42:30.360
 the meantime

00:42:30.360 --> 00:42:30.980
 you can

00:42:30.980 --> 00:42:31.400
 visit us

00:42:31.400 --> 00:42:32.260
 online at

00:42:32.260 --> 00:42:33.920
 willowridgechurch.org

00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:34.960
 or by searching

00:42:34.960 --> 00:42:35.640
 for Willow Ridge

00:42:35.640 --> 00:42:36.300
 Church on

00:42:36.300 --> 00:42:36.880
 Facebook

00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:37.520
 Instagram

00:42:37.520 --> 00:42:38.360
 and YouTube

00:42:38.360 --> 00:42:39.280
 thanks again

00:42:39.280 --> 00:42:39.760
 for listening

00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:51.660
 and YouTube