WEBVTT 192 00:24:18.525 --> 00:24:21.745 Hey, listen, uh, we got a lot to, to push through this week. 193 00:24:21.745 --> 00:24:22.825 We got a lot of work to do, and 194 00:24:22.825 --> 00:24:23.865 so we're gonna jump right in. 195 00:24:24.085 --> 00:24:26.905 Uh, last week we kicked off a short series, uh, 196 00:24:26.905 --> 00:24:29.025 through the book of Philippians, uh, 197 00:24:29.025 --> 00:24:30.185 that's focused on unity. 198 00:24:30.285 --> 00:24:31.465 And we did that for two reasons. 199 00:24:31.925 --> 00:24:34.025 Uh, number one, the world feels more 200 00:24:34.025 --> 00:24:35.225 divided than ever, okay? 201 00:24:35.225 --> 00:24:37.425 Right now what what you do is you just pick a side 202 00:24:37.445 --> 00:24:38.825 and you demonize the other side. 203 00:24:38.855 --> 00:24:40.225 Okay? That's what we see all around us. 204 00:24:40.445 --> 00:24:42.145 And then two, as a church family, 205 00:24:43.035 --> 00:24:44.505 we've recently made a decision 206 00:24:44.605 --> 00:24:48.625 to merge our mobile campus weekend gatherings into our 207 00:24:48.945 --> 00:24:50.505 permanent campuses, uh, our facilities 208 00:24:50.505 --> 00:24:52.065 that we own at Apex and Raleigh. 209 00:24:52.885 --> 00:24:54.905 And, uh, some of you were very excited about that. 210 00:24:54.985 --> 00:24:56.625 I was here at the Raleigh campus this past week, 211 00:24:56.625 --> 00:24:58.345 and it was like a family reunion, man. 212 00:24:58.345 --> 00:24:59.945 There were people celebrating, hugging each other 213 00:24:59.945 --> 00:25:01.105 that hadn't seen each other in years. 214 00:25:01.805 --> 00:25:03.385 And I've heard a similar report 215 00:25:03.385 --> 00:25:04.545 from over at the Apex campus. 216 00:25:04.605 --> 00:25:05.905 But the truth is, uh, 217 00:25:05.905 --> 00:25:07.785 for some folks from our mobile campuses, 218 00:25:07.785 --> 00:25:10.945 like it weighs heavier on them than it does on other people. 219 00:25:11.005 --> 00:25:13.185 And that's for good reason, because, uh, what what 220 00:25:13.185 --> 00:25:14.665 that means is what they built mattered, 221 00:25:14.665 --> 00:25:15.865 and what they're gonna continue 222 00:25:15.865 --> 00:25:17.385 to build matters is we're committed 223 00:25:17.385 --> 00:25:19.065 to staying on mission in those communities. 224 00:25:19.065 --> 00:25:20.665 And I said this last week, as sure 225 00:25:20.665 --> 00:25:23.385 as I'm standing here right now, uh, I believe, uh, 226 00:25:23.385 --> 00:25:25.025 that God is gonna, in his timing, 227 00:25:25.215 --> 00:25:26.865 he's gonna send us back out into those 228 00:25:26.865 --> 00:25:28.705 communities when it's time. 229 00:25:29.245 --> 00:25:31.065 But what we said right now is we are in a season 230 00:25:31.065 --> 00:25:33.265 that we believe God is calling us into unity. 231 00:25:33.285 --> 00:25:35.905 And the quote that we opened with last week was, 232 00:25:35.905 --> 00:25:38.425 if you wanna go fast, go alone. 233 00:25:39.205 --> 00:25:41.705 But if you wanna go far, go together. 234 00:25:42.605 --> 00:25:44.505 And, uh, that's not just good advice. 235 00:25:44.535 --> 00:25:45.945 It's not just a great axiom. 236 00:25:45.945 --> 00:25:48.145 It's actually a principle that we see in scripture. 237 00:25:48.645 --> 00:25:49.985 Uh, and about three months ago, 238 00:25:50.105 --> 00:25:52.065 I experienced this firsthand, myself 239 00:25:52.365 --> 00:25:53.785 and Sam Cannoli, uh, 240 00:25:53.785 --> 00:25:56.425 the worship pastor here at the Raleigh campus, Matt Curtis, 241 00:25:56.565 --> 00:25:58.145 the Fuqua Marina campus pastor, 242 00:25:58.445 --> 00:26:00.305 and then, uh, Jason Collier, 243 00:26:00.305 --> 00:26:01.825 who was one of our elders at the time. 244 00:26:02.165 --> 00:26:04.985 We went on the XAC Extreme Character Challenge. 245 00:26:05.445 --> 00:26:06.905 Uh, these are held all over the country, 246 00:26:06.925 --> 00:26:08.745 and this is where a bunch of guys get together, 247 00:26:08.825 --> 00:26:10.465 a 40 pound backpack, whatever you're gonna need 248 00:26:10.525 --> 00:26:14.145 for 72 hours in the wilderness, up in the mountains 249 00:26:14.255 --> 00:26:15.305 with no technology. 250 00:26:15.365 --> 00:26:16.425 And it's like, good luck. 251 00:26:16.425 --> 00:26:17.825 You don't really know what you're walking into. 252 00:26:18.085 --> 00:26:19.785 And so we went on this thing together, 253 00:26:20.525 --> 00:26:22.545 and I'm telling you outta the four of us, there were times 254 00:26:22.595 --> 00:26:25.185 where one of us might have had a bit more energy than the 255 00:26:25.185 --> 00:26:26.585 other guys, and we could have been in a 256 00:26:26.705 --> 00:26:27.745 position to kind of push ahead. 257 00:26:27.745 --> 00:26:30.385 But the reality is, if you leave other people behind 258 00:26:30.405 --> 00:26:31.705 and then you get separated 259 00:26:31.765 --> 00:26:33.665 and they've got the stuff that you need for camp, 260 00:26:33.665 --> 00:26:36.025 or when it's time to eat, you're kind of outta luck. 261 00:26:36.245 --> 00:26:39.665 And in the same way, um, uh, sometimes, uh, 262 00:26:39.665 --> 00:26:41.185 there's some folks that might be dragging 263 00:26:41.185 --> 00:26:43.565 behind a little bit and, and they need some encouragement. 264 00:26:43.565 --> 00:26:45.725 And I won't mention which one of them it was, 265 00:26:45.785 --> 00:26:48.405 but apparently one of the guys thought that it was proper 266 00:26:48.465 --> 00:26:51.125 to go on this trip with us carrying a 40 pound backpack, 267 00:26:51.445 --> 00:26:52.485 thousands of feet above sea level, 268 00:26:52.785 --> 00:26:54.365 and not tell us that they had asthma. 269 00:26:55.825 --> 00:26:57.965 And so that makes it a little bit harder for other people 270 00:26:57.985 --> 00:27:00.085 to carry a 40 pound backpack, but that's okay. 271 00:27:00.385 --> 00:27:02.405 But my point is, we needed each other. 272 00:27:02.665 --> 00:27:04.205 And if you're gonna go far in life, 273 00:27:04.205 --> 00:27:05.845 you're gonna need other people around you. 274 00:27:06.795 --> 00:27:08.845 Last week in Philippians chapter two, 275 00:27:08.845 --> 00:27:11.885 what Paul reminded us was, was that Unity's not uniformity. 276 00:27:11.995 --> 00:27:13.685 It's not everybody is the same, 277 00:27:13.685 --> 00:27:15.525 but what unity is, is it's oneness. 278 00:27:15.955 --> 00:27:18.485 It's the mind of Christ shaping one heart 279 00:27:18.785 --> 00:27:20.445 and one purpose among his people. 280 00:27:21.065 --> 00:27:24.365 For the sake of the gospel this week, uh, 281 00:27:24.375 --> 00:27:26.045 we're gonna push ahead a couple chapters 282 00:27:26.045 --> 00:27:27.245 to Philippians chapter four. 283 00:27:27.545 --> 00:27:31.485 And Paul's gonna move from the why of Unity, uh, to the how, 284 00:27:31.715 --> 00:27:34.965 like how do we intentionally pursue unity in the midst 285 00:27:34.965 --> 00:27:37.005 of a divisive, uh, and difficult time. 286 00:27:37.425 --> 00:27:39.445 And so I'm just telling you we're, we're gonna like verse 287 00:27:39.445 --> 00:27:40.885 by verse, we're gonna walk through this thing. 288 00:27:41.065 --> 00:27:42.285 And so just to make sure 289 00:27:42.285 --> 00:27:43.885 that at some point we're gonna hit something 290 00:27:43.885 --> 00:27:45.925 that's applicable to all of us, uh, 291 00:27:46.005 --> 00:27:47.085 I wanna start out with a game. 292 00:27:47.825 --> 00:27:50.205 Uh, we're not doing tug of war this week, okay? 293 00:27:50.545 --> 00:27:52.605 Uh, that was last week. So everybody just relax. 294 00:27:52.865 --> 00:27:54.005 So here's how this game works. 295 00:27:54.385 --> 00:27:56.885 Uh, if the answer to one of these five questions 296 00:27:56.885 --> 00:27:59.045 that I ask you is yes, I just want you 297 00:27:59.045 --> 00:28:00.165 to put your hand in the air, 298 00:28:00.345 --> 00:28:01.605 and then I want you to keep it there 299 00:28:01.695 --> 00:28:03.525 until I'm finished asking the questions, all right? 300 00:28:03.525 --> 00:28:05.685 And we're just gonna see if this is gonna speak to anybody. 301 00:28:05.685 --> 00:28:07.685 Number one, is there anyone in the room 302 00:28:07.865 --> 00:28:10.805 who has ever gotten into a fight with a loved one or spouse? 303 00:28:11.625 --> 00:28:13.205 And at some point you've actually forgot 304 00:28:13.205 --> 00:28:14.325 why you were fighting anybody? 305 00:28:15.515 --> 00:28:17.685 Yeah. Okay. Just a, a pro tip. 306 00:28:17.715 --> 00:28:19.685 That probably means it wasn't that important, okay? 307 00:28:19.685 --> 00:28:20.685 But keep your hand on the air. 308 00:28:20.785 --> 00:28:24.445 Uh, number two, have you ever overreacted? No. Keep it up. 309 00:28:24.645 --> 00:28:25.685 I saw you keep it up. 310 00:28:25.785 --> 00:28:30.085 Uh, have you ever overreacted to something small, given 311 00:28:30.115 --> 00:28:33.325 what it was in your level of reaction to that event? 312 00:28:33.635 --> 00:28:35.325 Okay. Alright, we got more of us. 313 00:28:35.425 --> 00:28:36.685 Uh, number three, these are gonna 314 00:28:36.685 --> 00:28:37.845 start to get a little bit more serious. 315 00:28:38.065 --> 00:28:41.525 Ha Have you ever struggled with anxiety, um, 316 00:28:41.675 --> 00:28:43.645 over certain events or things going on in your life, 317 00:28:43.745 --> 00:28:45.965 but you're actually in fact still alive 318 00:28:46.505 --> 00:28:47.765 and have made it through this far? 319 00:28:47.795 --> 00:28:50.205 Okay, number four, again, they're getting heavier. 320 00:28:50.435 --> 00:28:52.485 Have you ever been in a place where you just believe 321 00:28:52.485 --> 00:28:54.285 that man, there's just no way things can get 322 00:28:54.285 --> 00:28:55.565 better in a, in my life. 323 00:28:56.675 --> 00:28:58.205 Okay, we got some people with hands 324 00:28:58.225 --> 00:28:59.445 and feet in the air at this point. 325 00:28:59.445 --> 00:29:00.525 It came up. Last question. 326 00:29:01.675 --> 00:29:04.445 Have you ever gotten so consumed by taking care of, 327 00:29:04.445 --> 00:29:06.725 number one, taking care of yourself that actually led you 328 00:29:06.725 --> 00:29:09.525 to a place of greed as opposed to a place of generosity? 329 00:29:10.915 --> 00:29:12.925 Okay, I think we got everybody. Alright. 330 00:29:12.945 --> 00:29:15.205 So the good news is, Paul had, you can put your hands down, 331 00:29:15.205 --> 00:29:16.245 thank you so much for, 332 00:29:16.265 --> 00:29:18.085 for playing along easier than tug of war. 333 00:29:18.305 --> 00:29:20.565 Uh, the good news is in Philippians chapter four, 334 00:29:20.675 --> 00:29:24.045 Paul has some encouraging words for us that's gonna allow us 335 00:29:24.225 --> 00:29:26.645 to, to see very clear instructions 336 00:29:26.905 --> 00:29:30.605 for standing firm in unity when times get difficult 337 00:29:31.905 --> 00:29:32.925 and they will get difficult. 338 00:29:34.065 --> 00:29:37.165 Uh, we saw last week, uh, while we don't have an enemy 339 00:29:37.225 --> 00:29:39.605 who can't, uh, who can defeat the church, 340 00:29:39.665 --> 00:29:42.005 we do not have an enemy that can defeat the church. 341 00:29:42.225 --> 00:29:44.685 Uh, Christ secured that victory through his death on a cross 342 00:29:44.685 --> 00:29:46.485 and his resurrection, overcoming sin and death, 343 00:29:47.065 --> 00:29:48.285 but he can distract it. 344 00:29:49.045 --> 00:29:50.765 Remember what we said last week? He can isolate. 345 00:29:51.025 --> 00:29:54.645 He can divide, he can create anxiety, he can stir conflict, 346 00:29:54.645 --> 00:29:56.725 he can shift our eyes from the mission that we're supposed 347 00:29:56.725 --> 00:29:58.685 to be focused on to our own personal preferences. 348 00:29:59.025 --> 00:30:01.485 And so this message this week is both a warning 349 00:30:02.465 --> 00:30:03.765 and it's a way forward. 350 00:30:04.025 --> 00:30:05.645 And so here's the theme for this week. 351 00:30:06.225 --> 00:30:08.965 How do we stand firm in the unity of the gospel 352 00:30:09.865 --> 00:30:11.565 in divisive and difficult times? 353 00:30:12.705 --> 00:30:13.885 It could be your family, it could be 354 00:30:13.885 --> 00:30:15.005 your church, it could be society. 355 00:30:15.185 --> 00:30:16.205 And what Paul's gonna do, 356 00:30:16.205 --> 00:30:18.805 he's gonna give us seven commitments to make together 357 00:30:18.945 --> 00:30:20.805 as a church family, commitments 358 00:30:20.805 --> 00:30:22.485 that will actually hold us steady 359 00:30:22.865 --> 00:30:25.725 and help us stand firm in unity regardless 360 00:30:25.745 --> 00:30:26.845 of what's going on around us. 361 00:30:27.345 --> 00:30:28.685 So if you have your Bibles, go ahead 362 00:30:28.685 --> 00:30:30.085 and open up Philippians chapter four. 363 00:30:30.085 --> 00:30:31.725 I'll meet you there in a minute. Quick context. 364 00:30:32.505 --> 00:30:34.125 Paul's not writing to strangers, okay? 365 00:30:34.145 --> 00:30:36.245 He, he's writing to a church that he started. 366 00:30:36.345 --> 00:30:37.765 You can read about that just to see 367 00:30:37.765 --> 00:30:40.805 how the Bible fits together in Acts chapter 16, uh, 368 00:30:41.425 --> 00:30:42.925 he starts the church at Philippi. 369 00:30:42.985 --> 00:30:45.125 It began when Paul was on a missionary journey. 370 00:30:45.305 --> 00:30:47.965 Uh, the Holy Spirit calls him into Macedonia. 371 00:30:47.965 --> 00:30:49.245 He ends up in this town, Philippi. 372 00:30:49.545 --> 00:30:51.245 He meets a woman by the name of Lydia. 373 00:30:52.105 --> 00:30:53.725 He shares the gospel with her. 374 00:30:53.945 --> 00:30:57.325 God opens her heart, she responds, she receives the gospel. 375 00:30:58.545 --> 00:31:01.805 And uh, it says that her entire household was baptized. 376 00:31:02.105 --> 00:31:04.885 And then she actually says, listen, I'm willing to open my, 377 00:31:05.195 --> 00:31:07.245 open up my home for the church. 378 00:31:07.305 --> 00:31:09.685 And actually the first church ever started in Europe, 379 00:31:09.685 --> 00:31:10.965 happens out of Lydia's house. 380 00:31:12.145 --> 00:31:15.405 Now, years later, Paul's sitting in prison, 381 00:31:15.555 --> 00:31:17.485 he's being held in prison for sharing the gospel. 382 00:31:17.585 --> 00:31:20.045 And he writes a letter to the same church that he started 383 00:31:20.725 --> 00:31:22.925 urging them to stand firm to keep their hearts united 384 00:31:23.585 --> 00:31:25.325 in the mission that God's called them into. 385 00:31:25.625 --> 00:31:27.885 But I want you to know, this is not just a history lesson. 386 00:31:28.545 --> 00:31:31.405 Uh, Paul's giving a blueprint like he knew 387 00:31:31.475 --> 00:31:32.845 what it looked like and 388 00:31:32.845 --> 00:31:35.485 what could happen if a church could stay united. 389 00:31:35.545 --> 00:31:36.605 And then for us is hope. 390 00:31:36.795 --> 00:31:39.085 This is a reminder that God can do far more 391 00:31:39.085 --> 00:31:41.485 through a united church than a divided church 392 00:31:42.185 --> 00:31:43.365 God can do far more 393 00:31:43.365 --> 00:31:46.005 through a united family than a divided family. 394 00:31:46.225 --> 00:31:48.325 And so we're gonna jump in here, verse by verse. 395 00:31:48.325 --> 00:31:51.565 Philippians chapter four, Paul starts out, 396 00:31:51.565 --> 00:31:52.885 and he says this, he says, 397 00:31:52.955 --> 00:31:57.925 therefore, my brothers whom I love and long for my joy 398 00:31:58.025 --> 00:32:00.205 and crown, I'm telling you he loved these people. 399 00:32:01.505 --> 00:32:05.525 He says, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 400 00:32:06.345 --> 00:32:09.325 Uh, when Paul says, therefore, he's actually connecting 401 00:32:09.325 --> 00:32:10.645 that back to chapter three. 402 00:32:10.665 --> 00:32:12.725 So this is kind of like a weird divide in 403 00:32:12.725 --> 00:32:14.125 between the chapters and the verses. 404 00:32:14.125 --> 00:32:16.405 If you don't know, like when these letters were written, 405 00:32:16.405 --> 00:32:18.405 they didn't have chapters and verses, these are just for us 406 00:32:18.405 --> 00:32:20.805 to know what we're talking about, uh, when we're studying. 407 00:32:21.225 --> 00:32:24.125 But in chapter three, verse 20, he talks to them about 408 00:32:24.125 --> 00:32:25.645 how they belong to another kingdom. 409 00:32:25.985 --> 00:32:28.285 And so Paul's saying, because you're citizens of heaven, 410 00:32:28.475 --> 00:32:31.605 because you belong to Jesus, he's saying, stand firm. 411 00:32:32.505 --> 00:32:34.645 Now that word stand firm, the word that's used there, 412 00:32:34.645 --> 00:32:35.885 it's actually a military term. 413 00:32:36.505 --> 00:32:38.725 And it's what soldiers did when the enemies 414 00:32:38.725 --> 00:32:40.005 pressed in, okay? 415 00:32:40.075 --> 00:32:42.285 They, they dug their, their heels into the ground. 416 00:32:42.285 --> 00:32:43.605 They refused to retreat. 417 00:32:43.745 --> 00:32:46.405 And Paul's saying, don't drift, don't divide. 418 00:32:46.625 --> 00:32:49.045 He said, don't let circumstances shake your faith. 419 00:32:49.385 --> 00:32:52.325 You see in church family, stand your ground in the gospel. 420 00:32:53.305 --> 00:32:55.005 So here's the application for us outta of this. 421 00:32:55.145 --> 00:32:57.165 Before you can stand firm together, 422 00:32:58.545 --> 00:32:59.885 you've gotta know where you stand. 423 00:33:01.625 --> 00:33:03.325 And so I'm gonna ask you a question. 424 00:33:04.935 --> 00:33:06.805 Where is your identity anchored? 425 00:33:08.425 --> 00:33:12.315 Is it in Christ or is it in comfort? 426 00:33:14.895 --> 00:33:19.635 We gotta know, is it in heaven or is it in headlines? 427 00:33:20.505 --> 00:33:22.795 Like we gotta know what we're chasing after in our lives. 428 00:33:22.815 --> 00:33:24.115 We gotta know what we're standing on. 429 00:33:24.145 --> 00:33:26.595 Paul starts here because he knows everything else 430 00:33:26.625 --> 00:33:28.555 that flows out of this. 431 00:33:28.585 --> 00:33:32.435 When we're pursuing an ability to stand firm in unity 432 00:33:32.495 --> 00:33:34.595 as a church, everything flows out of knowing 433 00:33:34.595 --> 00:33:35.835 where you are in Jesus. 434 00:33:36.135 --> 00:33:37.435 So that's verse one, verse two. 435 00:33:37.435 --> 00:33:39.595 He says, I entreat iia 436 00:33:39.895 --> 00:33:44.795 and I entreat knew I was gonna mess that up, 437 00:33:44.795 --> 00:33:45.715 but you guys can come up here 438 00:33:45.715 --> 00:33:46.755 and try it if you think you can do better. 439 00:33:47.255 --> 00:33:49.315 Um, we don't use that word entreat a lot either, 440 00:33:49.315 --> 00:33:52.715 but I entreat them to agree in the Lord. 441 00:33:53.375 --> 00:33:56.395 Yes. I ask you also true companion help these women 442 00:33:56.855 --> 00:34:00.115 who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together 443 00:34:00.115 --> 00:34:01.275 with Clement and the rest 444 00:34:01.275 --> 00:34:04.835 of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life. 445 00:34:05.095 --> 00:34:06.795 So Paul gets very specific, okay? 446 00:34:06.795 --> 00:34:10.235 There's two women who in the church who were in conflict. 447 00:34:10.295 --> 00:34:11.475 We don't know what the issue was 448 00:34:11.595 --> 00:34:13.115 that they were arguing over, uh, 449 00:34:13.115 --> 00:34:15.715 but we know it was affecting the entire body. 450 00:34:15.775 --> 00:34:16.835 Now this is what's wild. 451 00:34:17.175 --> 00:34:21.195 Um, like we don't do this in the church today. 452 00:34:21.195 --> 00:34:23.235 And this is, I'm glad that we don't do it for my sake 453 00:34:23.235 --> 00:34:25.675 as well, but Paul wrote this letter, most likely gave it 454 00:34:25.675 --> 00:34:27.355 to a paphitis, which we'll hear about later. 455 00:34:27.575 --> 00:34:30.715 And then he pitis probably brings this letter 456 00:34:30.775 --> 00:34:33.875 to them in Philippi and gets the whole church together 457 00:34:33.875 --> 00:34:36.155 and reads it out loud so they're all sitting in a room 458 00:34:36.355 --> 00:34:38.275 together and it's like, Hey, these two women 459 00:34:39.145 --> 00:34:41.275 says them out loud so we can just be thankful that I, 460 00:34:41.295 --> 00:34:42.915 we don't have to come in here and like, have somebody 461 00:34:42.915 --> 00:34:44.075 and I know what you did Saturday 462 00:34:44.215 --> 00:34:46.075 and then we gotta talk about Wednesday night. 463 00:34:46.095 --> 00:34:47.515 And that time you got mad over. 464 00:34:47.515 --> 00:34:49.235 So, I mean, so we're not gonna do that, 465 00:34:49.375 --> 00:34:50.475 but that's what's happening here. 466 00:34:50.665 --> 00:34:54.635 Okay? Paul calls them out publicly, but he does it lovingly. 467 00:34:55.265 --> 00:34:56.435 It's not canceling them, 468 00:34:57.185 --> 00:34:58.715 he's just calling them back to mission. 469 00:34:59.625 --> 00:35:03.515 That word in treat. Um, it means to appeal lovingly. 470 00:35:04.295 --> 00:35:06.595 It means to, to pastorally engaged. 471 00:35:06.615 --> 00:35:09.955 So he's saying, please, ladies, for the sake of Christ, 472 00:35:10.415 --> 00:35:12.075 for our witness, for for the sake of Christ, 473 00:35:12.075 --> 00:35:13.075 please come together. 474 00:35:13.255 --> 00:35:15.035 Notice he doesn't say, Hey ladies, 475 00:35:15.095 --> 00:35:16.235 you need to agree on everything. 476 00:35:17.055 --> 00:35:18.795 That's not what he says. He within the church, 477 00:35:18.855 --> 00:35:21.675 within a room this size, there are, are going to be people 478 00:35:21.675 --> 00:35:23.315 who have different preferences. 479 00:35:23.735 --> 00:35:25.315 Um, who, who are chasing 480 00:35:25.315 --> 00:35:27.195 after different things in different ways, 481 00:35:27.205 --> 00:35:28.315 value things in different ways. 482 00:35:28.495 --> 00:35:29.955 So he doesn't say agree on everything he 483 00:35:29.955 --> 00:35:31.075 says, agree on the Lord. 484 00:35:31.485 --> 00:35:34.555 Agree on the Lord. The gospel doesn't erase differences. 485 00:35:35.735 --> 00:35:38.325 It, it gives us something greater to unite around. 486 00:35:39.985 --> 00:35:42.965 And then Paul goes on, he says, he invites others to help. 487 00:35:42.965 --> 00:35:44.885 He says, true companion help these women. 488 00:35:46.105 --> 00:35:48.085 Um, unity is a family effort. 489 00:35:48.945 --> 00:35:50.485 And we need to know that it takes brothers 490 00:35:50.485 --> 00:35:52.125 and sisters getting involved and reminding each 491 00:35:52.125 --> 00:35:53.605 other, uh, what's important. 492 00:35:53.925 --> 00:35:55.445 I mean, that's the, the case in the church. 493 00:35:55.675 --> 00:35:58.325 It's not just one person's responsibility to get up on stage 494 00:35:58.325 --> 00:36:00.045 and say, Hey, we gotta be unified. 495 00:36:00.055 --> 00:36:01.925 We've all got a responsibility in this. 496 00:36:02.225 --> 00:36:03.765 And so I wanna ask you a question. 497 00:36:04.775 --> 00:36:07.085 Where have you let a non-essential issue 498 00:36:08.025 --> 00:36:09.805 create division within your family 499 00:36:10.625 --> 00:36:11.845 or within the family of God? 500 00:36:14.365 --> 00:36:16.885 'cause here's the truth, unity isn't about avoiding 501 00:36:17.245 --> 00:36:18.285 conflict, alright? 502 00:36:18.645 --> 00:36:19.885 Conflict can be a very healthy thing. 503 00:36:20.085 --> 00:36:21.485 Unity is not about avoiding conflict, 504 00:36:21.585 --> 00:36:23.605 but it's about pursuing peace through the gospel. 505 00:36:24.785 --> 00:36:26.565 And so if we're gonna stand firm in the gospel 506 00:36:26.665 --> 00:36:28.605 and experience the blessing that comes from unity 507 00:36:28.605 --> 00:36:31.325 that we talked about last week, we've got to commit 508 00:36:31.345 --> 00:36:33.605 to pursuing peace together as a family. 509 00:36:34.055 --> 00:36:35.165 Let's jump into verse four. 510 00:36:35.425 --> 00:36:37.605 He says, rejoice in the Lord always. 511 00:36:38.305 --> 00:36:41.765 How often is always, always, let's try it again. 512 00:36:41.925 --> 00:36:43.885 'cause it's not a trick question. How often is always, 513 00:36:44.185 --> 00:36:45.485 always, always, yeah. 514 00:36:45.925 --> 00:36:49.325 Rejoice in the Lord, always. Again, I will say rejoice. 515 00:36:49.905 --> 00:36:52.645 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 516 00:36:53.585 --> 00:36:55.965 The Lord is at hand. Does that even seem possible? 517 00:36:57.685 --> 00:37:01.165 Rejoicing in the Lord always, always rejoicing. 518 00:37:02.145 --> 00:37:04.005 We gotta know is He's not saying here rejoice 519 00:37:04.005 --> 00:37:05.365 because of your circumstances. 520 00:37:06.075 --> 00:37:08.485 He's saying, rejoice what? Rejoice in the Lord 521 00:37:09.555 --> 00:37:10.925 like the joy that we have. 522 00:37:10.955 --> 00:37:14.285 It's not a feeling based on circumstances that change it. 523 00:37:14.315 --> 00:37:16.805 It's a posture based on Jesus who doesn't change. 524 00:37:17.495 --> 00:37:18.965 Jesus was the same yesterday, 525 00:37:18.985 --> 00:37:20.325 the same today and the same forever. 526 00:37:21.425 --> 00:37:23.565 By the way, it's worth recognizing that, 527 00:37:23.565 --> 00:37:25.765 that Paul is in prison when he writes this. 528 00:37:27.275 --> 00:37:30.015 And he's saying, rejoice always that that means he, 529 00:37:30.035 --> 00:37:32.335 he had a joy based on something bigger than 530 00:37:32.335 --> 00:37:33.655 what was happening to him in life. 531 00:37:36.275 --> 00:37:39.455 And I I want us to understand that this is a decision 532 00:37:39.925 --> 00:37:43.095 that we have to make in our minds, not our feelings. 533 00:37:43.235 --> 00:37:45.335 And we just live in a world right now that says, Hey, 534 00:37:45.335 --> 00:37:47.495 if you feel something, it must be true. 535 00:37:47.835 --> 00:37:50.855 But, but Romans tells us that we have to be transformed 536 00:37:50.955 --> 00:37:52.255 by the renewing of our minds. 537 00:37:52.255 --> 00:37:56.055 We have to make a mental decision to focus on God, who he is 538 00:37:56.355 --> 00:37:57.455 and what he's done for us. 539 00:37:58.755 --> 00:38:02.255 And then he says, let your reasonableness be known. 540 00:38:03.155 --> 00:38:06.655 Um, that word reasonableness, it, it could be translated, 541 00:38:06.915 --> 00:38:10.215 um, your gentleness or your gracious spirit. 542 00:38:10.635 --> 00:38:12.935 And so in the midst of potential, lack of unity, 543 00:38:12.955 --> 00:38:16.135 in the midst of a, a disagreement, he's saying, Hey, let's, 544 00:38:16.385 --> 00:38:17.935 let's make sure people see your gentleness. 545 00:38:17.935 --> 00:38:20.255 Makes let's make sure people see a, a gracious spirit. 546 00:38:20.255 --> 00:38:21.655 Because when we live with joy 547 00:38:21.655 --> 00:38:22.895 and gentleness in the midst of tension 548 00:38:22.915 --> 00:38:26.255 and conflict, what happens is we actually reflect the 549 00:38:26.255 --> 00:38:27.935 character of Christ, the character 550 00:38:27.935 --> 00:38:29.255 of Jesus to a watching world. 551 00:38:29.435 --> 00:38:31.455 And it protects our unity from cynicism, 552 00:38:32.045 --> 00:38:34.015 from criticism, from complaining. 553 00:38:34.125 --> 00:38:35.845 Have you ever tried to complain to somebody 554 00:38:35.845 --> 00:38:37.245 that's just always positive? 555 00:38:38.995 --> 00:38:40.005 That is so annoying. 556 00:38:40.745 --> 00:38:42.605 You are like, no, I wanna be mad right now. 557 00:38:43.155 --> 00:38:45.325 Like, what happened is wrong. You're on my side. 558 00:38:46.235 --> 00:38:48.325 This is like my conversations with my wife. 559 00:38:48.505 --> 00:38:50.565 She overtly positive all, all the time. 560 00:38:50.825 --> 00:38:52.965 But this is the application here, and this is a big one. 561 00:38:52.965 --> 00:38:56.965 Listen to this. A rejoicing in a reasonable church builds 562 00:38:57.055 --> 00:39:01.685 walls against division man when the, when the tension, 563 00:39:01.685 --> 00:39:02.765 when the stuff sneaks in 564 00:39:02.765 --> 00:39:04.445 and the dissension sinks in you, you know what? 565 00:39:04.555 --> 00:39:07.645 Yeah, but isn't it great that, that we have a savior 566 00:39:07.645 --> 00:39:10.045 that went to a cross and paid the price for our sins 567 00:39:10.385 --> 00:39:13.445 and rose from the grave while we, 568 00:39:13.475 --> 00:39:15.525 including you who's mad at somebody else? 569 00:39:15.575 --> 00:39:18.005 We're still a sinner. Like, isn't that good news? 570 00:39:18.085 --> 00:39:19.765 I mean, it just breaks down walls. 571 00:39:20.145 --> 00:39:23.405 Uh, uh, man, if, 572 00:39:23.465 --> 00:39:25.645 if we could really get this stuff in our minds, 573 00:39:25.645 --> 00:39:27.085 if we could really adapt this stuff 574 00:39:27.085 --> 00:39:30.205 and actually live it out, let's jump into, 575 00:39:30.585 --> 00:39:31.645 uh, verse six here. 576 00:39:32.945 --> 00:39:36.525 He says, do not be anxious about anything. 577 00:39:38.015 --> 00:39:41.325 Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer 578 00:39:41.425 --> 00:39:43.005 and supplication with Thanksgiving, 579 00:39:43.145 --> 00:39:45.285 let your request be known to God. 580 00:39:46.225 --> 00:39:49.765 Um, studies show right now that anxiety in stress 581 00:39:49.905 --> 00:39:53.285 or at an all time high, uh, I'm willing 582 00:39:53.285 --> 00:39:55.685 to bet in a room this size that there, there's 583 00:39:56.245 --> 00:39:58.325 a considerable amount, uh, of anxiety. 584 00:39:58.385 --> 00:40:00.765 Uh, uh, if you know anything about my story 585 00:40:00.825 --> 00:40:03.925 and my life for the last seven years, um, I'm telling you, 586 00:40:03.925 --> 00:40:04.925 man, there's been some stuff. 587 00:40:05.755 --> 00:40:07.965 Anxiety has, has been a real thing for me. 588 00:40:08.105 --> 00:40:10.885 Um, and I say the last seven years, really, 589 00:40:10.905 --> 00:40:12.485 the truth be told, you could kind 590 00:40:12.485 --> 00:40:13.965 of zero into the last seven months. 591 00:40:14.065 --> 00:40:18.245 And, and really even the last seven weeks, I, I, I know 592 00:40:18.245 --> 00:40:19.605 what it feels like to go home, 593 00:40:19.675 --> 00:40:21.765 feel like you've gone from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM 594 00:40:22.305 --> 00:40:23.325 and then sit on the couch 595 00:40:23.705 --> 00:40:26.645 and just feel like, like, I want to be present. 596 00:40:26.885 --> 00:40:29.805 I want to emotionally connect. I want to be available. 597 00:40:29.865 --> 00:40:31.405 But it's like you just can't shut it off. 598 00:40:31.425 --> 00:40:32.565 It just won't stop running. 599 00:40:33.195 --> 00:40:34.525 Like I, I know what it's like 600 00:40:34.525 --> 00:40:36.605 to have this tension in your chest 601 00:40:36.625 --> 00:40:39.165 or to, to wake up at three o'clock in the morning and said, 602 00:40:39.385 --> 00:40:40.525 and realize like, well, 603 00:40:41.425 --> 00:40:43.365 that's probably all the sleep I'm gonna get tonight. 604 00:40:44.515 --> 00:40:45.885 Like, I know what that's like, 605 00:40:46.865 --> 00:40:48.725 but I will also say that in God's grace 606 00:40:48.725 --> 00:40:50.845 and mercy, what he's allowed me 607 00:40:50.845 --> 00:40:52.765 to experience when I get it right. 608 00:40:52.865 --> 00:40:54.125 And it's, it's not all the time. 609 00:40:54.405 --> 00:40:55.965 'cause you have to, I'm telling you, you just have 610 00:40:55.965 --> 00:40:57.165 to make a conscious decision. 611 00:40:57.555 --> 00:41:00.325 What I've found is PE peace isn't found in getting 612 00:41:00.435 --> 00:41:02.725 control of your situations. 613 00:41:03.155 --> 00:41:04.965 It's actually found in giving it away. 614 00:41:07.535 --> 00:41:09.605 Peace doesn't come from gripping tighter. 615 00:41:11.225 --> 00:41:12.525 It comes from standing in front 616 00:41:12.545 --> 00:41:14.405 of your loving father and just giving it over. 617 00:41:16.145 --> 00:41:17.725 And sometimes that's easier said than done. 618 00:41:17.725 --> 00:41:20.125 But what I've learned is we can't change our circumstances 619 00:41:20.225 --> 00:41:21.645 to make ourselves more steady. 620 00:41:21.945 --> 00:41:24.365 We can't, um, I think I preached a message before 621 00:41:24.365 --> 00:41:26.405 and I said like, I know there's a lot of people that say, 622 00:41:26.405 --> 00:41:27.485 pick and choose your battles, 623 00:41:27.485 --> 00:41:29.245 but what happens when the battle chooses you? 624 00:41:29.555 --> 00:41:31.165 Like we don't always get the chance 625 00:41:31.185 --> 00:41:33.685 to decide which ba battles that we find ourselves in. 626 00:41:33.785 --> 00:41:35.445 So we can't change our circumstances 627 00:41:35.545 --> 00:41:37.365 to make ourselves more steady or have more peace, 628 00:41:37.585 --> 00:41:39.285 but we can turn to the one who can. 629 00:41:40.105 --> 00:41:41.965 And Paul says, don't fall into the trap 630 00:41:41.965 --> 00:41:44.045 of the enemy who's lying to you, who's trying to get you 631 00:41:44.045 --> 00:41:45.325 to believe that you're in this thing all 632 00:41:45.325 --> 00:41:46.925 by yourself, carrying it by yourself. 633 00:41:47.035 --> 00:41:48.365 He's saying bring it all to God. 634 00:41:48.785 --> 00:41:50.245 And as a church family, right now, 635 00:41:51.145 --> 00:41:53.765 we have found this newfound commitment to prayer. 636 00:41:53.865 --> 00:41:55.285 And I'm telling you, it's awakening 637 00:41:55.535 --> 00:41:56.805 souls and it's changing lives. 638 00:41:57.305 --> 00:41:59.245 And if you've never had the experience 639 00:41:59.245 --> 00:42:01.765 of just sitting down in the presence of God 640 00:42:01.765 --> 00:42:03.565 and saying, God, I don't have much to bring, 641 00:42:04.465 --> 00:42:05.605 and I don't have any answers, 642 00:42:07.425 --> 00:42:09.525 but I'm coming to the one who I believe, does 643 00:42:10.515 --> 00:42:12.165 Lord have your way, Lord, bring me peace. 644 00:42:13.225 --> 00:42:15.565 And so Paul says, don't sit in your anxiety alone. 645 00:42:15.565 --> 00:42:17.805 Bring it to the feet of the God who loves you. 646 00:42:17.805 --> 00:42:19.565 And you get to verse seven, and this is what it says. 647 00:42:19.565 --> 00:42:22.245 This is one of the, this is an incredibly powerful verse. 648 00:42:22.265 --> 00:42:23.285 He says, when you do that, 649 00:42:23.665 --> 00:42:26.485 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 650 00:42:26.715 --> 00:42:30.405 will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 651 00:42:30.515 --> 00:42:33.365 That word guard, again, it's a military image. 652 00:42:34.265 --> 00:42:35.805 It means to station a soldier 653 00:42:36.385 --> 00:42:38.485 around your heart and around your mind. 654 00:42:39.135 --> 00:42:42.285 God's peace. It stands watch over our emotions 655 00:42:42.665 --> 00:42:46.765 and over our thoughts when we pray instead of panic. 656 00:42:48.065 --> 00:42:51.925 And so I, I do wanna say this, I do wanna give a disclaimer. 657 00:42:51.945 --> 00:42:56.085 Uh, I know that clinical anxiety is a real thing, okay? 658 00:42:56.225 --> 00:42:58.085 And so by no means do I want you 659 00:42:58.085 --> 00:42:59.365 to hear your pastor stand up here 660 00:42:59.365 --> 00:43:00.645 and say, Hey, all you gotta do is pray 661 00:43:00.645 --> 00:43:01.925 and have faith, and it's all gonna go away. 662 00:43:01.925 --> 00:43:03.725 Like there are times where we need 663 00:43:03.725 --> 00:43:04.805 to go see a medical doctor. 664 00:43:04.935 --> 00:43:06.965 There are times when we need to go see a therapist. 665 00:43:06.965 --> 00:43:09.325 There are times where medication is the right answer. 666 00:43:09.745 --> 00:43:12.325 But what we see in scripture, which is, which is 667 00:43:12.325 --> 00:43:15.045 what I'm reading to you, the very word of God is showing us 668 00:43:15.045 --> 00:43:17.605 that the answer to an anxious heart is not to strive alone, 669 00:43:17.905 --> 00:43:19.685 but it's to run to a protecting father. 670 00:43:21.895 --> 00:43:24.885 Verse eight, finally, brothers, 671 00:43:26.865 --> 00:43:28.285 you know how we have a tendency sometimes 672 00:43:28.305 --> 00:43:29.525 to just focus on the negative? 673 00:43:29.545 --> 00:43:32.125 You run the negative script over and over and over again, 674 00:43:32.125 --> 00:43:33.925 and it's worst case scenario, worst case scenario. 675 00:43:34.025 --> 00:43:36.645 Listen to what he says. Verse eight, finally, brothers, 676 00:43:36.885 --> 00:43:40.245 whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, 677 00:43:41.085 --> 00:43:43.365 whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 678 00:43:43.805 --> 00:43:45.965 whatever is commendable, if there's any excellence, 679 00:43:45.965 --> 00:43:47.885 if there's anything worthy of praise, 680 00:43:48.455 --> 00:43:50.565 think about these things. 681 00:43:50.745 --> 00:43:52.805 Paul's saying, um, what you think 682 00:43:53.605 --> 00:43:55.165 actually determines what you become. 683 00:43:56.015 --> 00:43:57.525 Again, the mind is a powerful thing, 684 00:43:57.525 --> 00:43:59.285 but the world is so good at training us 685 00:43:59.285 --> 00:44:00.485 to focus on the negative. 686 00:44:00.485 --> 00:44:03.525 But when our minds get filled with negativity and gossip 687 00:44:03.945 --> 00:44:07.485 and fear, unity fractures, our ability to stand firm 688 00:44:07.585 --> 00:44:11.125 and stand unified, uh, as a family, it begins to fracture. 689 00:44:11.125 --> 00:44:13.885 But when our minds dwell in what's true and what's honorable 690 00:44:13.885 --> 00:44:16.885 and what's praiseworthy, we have this ability to stand firm. 691 00:44:17.185 --> 00:44:18.285 Our unity grows. 692 00:44:18.945 --> 00:44:22.245 That's why the the practice of gratitude, uh, right now is 693 00:44:22.245 --> 00:44:24.285 so popular, even in secular psychology. 694 00:44:25.435 --> 00:44:26.885 It's actually a biblical concept. 695 00:44:27.505 --> 00:44:31.885 Uh, but here's the thing, like in secular psychology, it's, 696 00:44:32.225 --> 00:44:34.445 you know, let's have a time focusing 697 00:44:34.445 --> 00:44:35.605 on gratitude and things. 698 00:44:35.605 --> 00:44:36.885 Let's go to our happy place. 699 00:44:37.185 --> 00:44:38.925 And I'm by no means demeaning that. 700 00:44:39.225 --> 00:44:40.685 But what I'm saying is, um, 701 00:44:40.705 --> 00:44:42.685 that's very different than what Paul is saying. 702 00:44:42.685 --> 00:44:43.685 Paul is saying, no, no, no, no. 703 00:44:44.165 --> 00:44:45.565 Exchange the lie that you're believing 704 00:44:45.825 --> 00:44:47.085 for the truth of God's word. 705 00:44:48.035 --> 00:44:51.085 Like, let's go to places in scripture where we're reminded 706 00:44:51.115 --> 00:44:53.405 that, um, he who began a good work will 707 00:44:53.405 --> 00:44:54.445 be faithful to complete it. 708 00:44:54.575 --> 00:44:56.965 Let's go to a place in scripture where we're reminded 709 00:44:57.155 --> 00:44:58.445 that all things work together 710 00:44:58.465 --> 00:45:00.085 for the good, for those who love him. 711 00:45:00.455 --> 00:45:01.925 These are the things that we've gotta tell 712 00:45:01.925 --> 00:45:03.125 ourselves and remind ourselves. 713 00:45:03.505 --> 00:45:07.325 You get to verse nine and he says, what you have learned 714 00:45:07.325 --> 00:45:10.965 and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things 715 00:45:11.785 --> 00:45:13.885 and the god of peace will be with you. 716 00:45:14.145 --> 00:45:16.765 Simply put, he's saying, Hey, think about all these things, 717 00:45:16.985 --> 00:45:18.045 but don't just think, right? 718 00:45:18.355 --> 00:45:21.085 He's saying, live it out, plain and simple. Live it out. 719 00:45:21.085 --> 00:45:22.885 The application is fill your thoughts with truth 720 00:45:23.345 --> 00:45:24.885 and practice what you know. 721 00:45:25.305 --> 00:45:29.205 Um, there's a lot of Christians that actually know enough, 722 00:45:30.265 --> 00:45:33.005 but they just, we just don't always apply it to our lives. 723 00:45:34.275 --> 00:45:36.045 Know what you know, and live it out. 724 00:45:36.045 --> 00:45:37.605 Don't let bitterness and criticism 725 00:45:37.665 --> 00:45:40.005 and cynicism take root, unity, and peace. 726 00:45:40.005 --> 00:45:41.405 They start in their mind, they start, 727 00:45:41.405 --> 00:45:42.765 it starts in our minds ever before. 728 00:45:42.765 --> 00:45:44.925 It's gonna show up in our relationships. 729 00:45:47.305 --> 00:45:49.005 You get to verses 10 through 20, 730 00:45:49.025 --> 00:45:50.565 and if you're making notes, you can just like 731 00:45:50.565 --> 00:45:51.725 all these kind of run together. 732 00:45:51.785 --> 00:45:53.845 So Paul's gonna kinda give one last picture of 733 00:45:53.845 --> 00:45:55.285 what unity looks like in action. 734 00:45:55.665 --> 00:45:57.765 Uh, and it actually relates to generosity. 735 00:45:58.305 --> 00:46:00.445 And what he, what he's highlighting is when a church stands 736 00:46:00.645 --> 00:46:02.165 together in mission, uh, 737 00:46:02.335 --> 00:46:04.485 generosity actually becomes an outflow. 738 00:46:04.745 --> 00:46:05.845 So you get to verse 10, 739 00:46:06.705 --> 00:46:08.925 and he says, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly 740 00:46:08.925 --> 00:46:12.605 that now at length you have revived your concern for me. 741 00:46:12.605 --> 00:46:14.885 So they had a concern for, for him there they're reviving 742 00:46:14.885 --> 00:46:16.485 that you were indeed concerned for me, 743 00:46:16.785 --> 00:46:18.125 but you had no opportunity. 744 00:46:18.425 --> 00:46:21.365 Uh, the Philippians had actually supported Paul's ministry 745 00:46:21.515 --> 00:46:24.405 through, uh, Epaphroditus, who I I mentioned earlier, 746 00:46:25.255 --> 00:46:27.965 given financial help, encouragement, friendship. 747 00:46:28.145 --> 00:46:29.925 And through their generosity, uh, 748 00:46:29.925 --> 00:46:32.805 they actually modeled their unity in the gospel. 749 00:46:32.945 --> 00:46:36.565 You get to verse 11, and he says, not, not that I'm speaking 750 00:46:36.585 --> 00:46:40.405 of being in need for, I have learned in whatever situation 751 00:46:40.925 --> 00:46:42.725 I am to be content. 752 00:46:43.885 --> 00:46:45.085 I know how to be brought low. 753 00:46:45.445 --> 00:46:48.325 I know how to abound in every, in any 754 00:46:48.385 --> 00:46:50.365 and every circumstance, I've learned the secret 755 00:46:50.465 --> 00:46:54.925 of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 756 00:46:54.925 --> 00:46:56.605 Paul says, listen, I've learned contentment. 757 00:46:57.665 --> 00:47:00.205 I'm not dependent on circumstances or on people. 758 00:47:00.645 --> 00:47:04.005 I can be content present, present with you here, uh, 759 00:47:04.065 --> 00:47:06.245 my church family or here in prison. 760 00:47:07.585 --> 00:47:10.485 My contentment is in my relationship with Jesus Christ. 761 00:47:11.665 --> 00:47:13.485 And then he writes, one of the most powerful 762 00:47:14.625 --> 00:47:18.805 but often misused versus in all of scripture, 763 00:47:19.715 --> 00:47:20.965 Philippians four 13. 764 00:47:20.985 --> 00:47:24.405 He says, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 765 00:47:26.105 --> 00:47:27.765 And I want you to hear me say, despite 766 00:47:27.785 --> 00:47:31.885 how many times you see that on football players 767 00:47:32.715 --> 00:47:33.845 markers under their eyes 768 00:47:34.025 --> 00:47:37.485 or you see it, this is not about performance. 769 00:47:38.745 --> 00:47:40.005 Paul's writing about endurance. 770 00:47:41.105 --> 00:47:42.365 Paul's writing about resilience. 771 00:47:42.425 --> 00:47:43.925 Paul's writing about what it really means 772 00:47:44.025 --> 00:47:47.645 to stand firm in the midst of whatever we find ourselves in. 773 00:47:47.905 --> 00:47:51.605 Uh, yeah, I'll tell the story. How are we doing on time? 774 00:47:52.005 --> 00:47:54.725 I think we're okay. Alright. Uh, so I was, uh, 775 00:47:54.725 --> 00:47:58.485 it was my senior year, uh, wrestling, uh, at NC State. 776 00:47:58.585 --> 00:48:00.765 Uh, I won an a CC championship go pack. 777 00:48:01.105 --> 00:48:04.765 And, um, I somehow I ended up, uh, 778 00:48:04.765 --> 00:48:06.205 someone gave me a picture 779 00:48:06.545 --> 00:48:09.485 of me up on the podium holding the trophy up in the air in 780 00:48:09.485 --> 00:48:10.805 my NC State gear. 781 00:48:10.825 --> 00:48:13.165 And then the, there's a UNC guy to my right, 782 00:48:13.165 --> 00:48:15.245 little bit lower in the podium, uh, sorry, clay. 783 00:48:15.465 --> 00:48:18.165 And then there's a, uh, a Duke guy a little bit lower than 784 00:48:18.165 --> 00:48:19.605 that on the other side, and then the guy down 785 00:48:19.605 --> 00:48:20.685 in Virginia on the thing. 786 00:48:20.785 --> 00:48:21.845 And I'm like holding it up 787 00:48:21.845 --> 00:48:23.765 and like, the lights are coming down, it's beautiful. 788 00:48:24.105 --> 00:48:27.245 And, um, I saved it until I had kids one day 789 00:48:27.245 --> 00:48:28.565 and now I have kids and showed it to him. 790 00:48:28.565 --> 00:48:29.565 I'm like, yeah, that's cool. I'm 791 00:48:29.565 --> 00:48:30.245 gonna put it back in your closet. 792 00:48:30.585 --> 00:48:33.685 But, um, there were some people that actually wanted one, 793 00:48:33.685 --> 00:48:35.325 believe it or not, like our team chiropractor, 794 00:48:35.425 --> 00:48:36.805 he wanted a picture for his office. 795 00:48:37.025 --> 00:48:40.085 Our, uh, our uh, our strength coach, uh, 796 00:48:40.085 --> 00:48:41.125 wanted a picture for his office. 797 00:48:41.185 --> 00:48:42.925 And I was big into athletes in action. 798 00:48:43.425 --> 00:48:45.965 And so I, uh, am leading bible studies 799 00:48:46.105 --> 00:48:47.165 for, for athletic teams. 800 00:48:47.165 --> 00:48:48.245 And so I thought it was cool. 801 00:48:48.245 --> 00:48:50.565 So I wrote Philippians four 13, I can do all things 802 00:48:50.565 --> 00:48:52.245 through Christ who gives me strength. 803 00:48:53.075 --> 00:48:55.965 That was before like, um, true theological training. 804 00:48:56.065 --> 00:48:59.485 And so, uh, a very inappropriate, inaccurate use 805 00:48:59.865 --> 00:49:00.885 of, of the verse. 806 00:49:01.665 --> 00:49:04.285 In fact, the true application of that verse actually says, 807 00:49:04.305 --> 00:49:06.765 you can still endure even if you don't experience the 808 00:49:06.765 --> 00:49:08.925 comfort or success, uh, that the world throws at you. 809 00:49:08.945 --> 00:49:11.005 It would've been more appropriate for me to write that on 810 00:49:11.005 --> 00:49:12.565 that picture if I would've been down 811 00:49:12.565 --> 00:49:14.685 where the UNC guy got was, or the Duke guy. 812 00:49:14.905 --> 00:49:16.325 So just help you understand, 813 00:49:16.355 --> 00:49:17.805 he's saying this is not about performance. 814 00:49:17.805 --> 00:49:19.725 This is not about achievement. This is about endurance. 815 00:49:19.985 --> 00:49:22.605 And again, in light of the gospel circumstances, 816 00:49:23.025 --> 00:49:25.645 do not define contentment. 817 00:49:28.955 --> 00:49:32.015 Can I just say this though? I don't know. 818 00:49:32.015 --> 00:49:33.655 I just, I just have this sense in my spirit. 819 00:49:33.715 --> 00:49:34.855 We just talked about anxiety 820 00:49:36.275 --> 00:49:37.535 and we kind of sprinted through it 821 00:49:37.555 --> 00:49:38.735 and man, we're covering so much 822 00:49:39.195 --> 00:49:42.175 and trying to get it done in the, the 32 minute window. 823 00:49:43.155 --> 00:49:44.815 But man, I know this is a heavy time. 824 00:49:45.435 --> 00:49:49.135 Um, I know there's people in our church right now 825 00:49:49.325 --> 00:49:51.735 that I know dearly that have parents that are aging 826 00:49:53.395 --> 00:49:55.815 and you're like, man, I, I never, nobody taught me how 827 00:49:55.815 --> 00:49:57.775 to be ready for this season in my life. 828 00:49:59.195 --> 00:50:01.695 And one who's watched a parent die, 829 00:50:01.695 --> 00:50:02.815 who's watched a grandparent die. 830 00:50:02.855 --> 00:50:04.615 I know it can be difficult. There's folks whose 831 00:50:04.815 --> 00:50:05.855 marriage is on the rocks. 832 00:50:06.475 --> 00:50:09.775 Uh, there's folks who thought one direction in college 833 00:50:09.995 --> 00:50:11.455 was supposed to be the track. 834 00:50:11.475 --> 00:50:13.575 And you get in and you're like, man, I don't even know like 835 00:50:13.575 --> 00:50:15.055 what I'm supposed to do, but I'm paying them money. 836 00:50:15.115 --> 00:50:19.085 And you got parents whose kids have gone prodigal 837 00:50:19.085 --> 00:50:21.645 and left to church and left to faith, like, like anxiety 838 00:50:21.985 --> 00:50:24.405 and stress and fear is a real thing. 839 00:50:25.945 --> 00:50:29.925 But I, I want you to hear me remind you of the words 840 00:50:30.025 --> 00:50:33.445 of the Apostle Paul, that in the midst of that, 841 00:50:34.345 --> 00:50:37.045 we can present our requests to our savior, 842 00:50:37.185 --> 00:50:38.645 we can present our request to God, 843 00:50:38.905 --> 00:50:42.885 and we can have confidence that I can do all things 844 00:50:42.885 --> 00:50:44.365 through him who strengthens you. 845 00:50:44.705 --> 00:50:47.005 And I want you to know if you will go to your loving father, 846 00:50:47.145 --> 00:50:49.645 he will give you what you need to endure through. 847 00:50:49.745 --> 00:50:51.725 And here's the, here's the real bottom line of this. 848 00:50:51.915 --> 00:50:54.525 That does not mean that you will see victory in the way 849 00:50:54.525 --> 00:50:57.085 that you wanna see victory, but what it does mean is 850 00:50:57.085 --> 00:50:59.165 through Christ, even if it leads to death, 851 00:50:59.435 --> 00:51:01.525 when we follow our savior on the other side 852 00:51:01.525 --> 00:51:03.125 of death is resurrection. 853 00:51:04.385 --> 00:51:06.165 And so all things do work together. 854 00:51:06.305 --> 00:51:09.965 We can celebrate that all things do work together 855 00:51:10.145 --> 00:51:12.765 for the good, for those who love them. 856 00:51:13.425 --> 00:51:14.645 You gotta get to verse 14. 857 00:51:14.925 --> 00:51:16.245 I know the clock's gonna be ticking. 858 00:51:17.225 --> 00:51:21.285 He says, yet it was time, yet it was kind of you 859 00:51:21.305 --> 00:51:23.325 to share in my trouble, kind of you 860 00:51:23.325 --> 00:51:24.605 to partner with me in ministry. 861 00:51:24.775 --> 00:51:26.765 Verse 15, we're talking about their generosity. 862 00:51:26.905 --> 00:51:30.045 And you, Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning 863 00:51:30.045 --> 00:51:32.085 of the gospel, so when he first started preaching the 864 00:51:32.085 --> 00:51:34.285 gospel, 'cause it was church is relatively new at this 865 00:51:34.285 --> 00:51:35.885 point, when I left Macedonia, 866 00:51:36.065 --> 00:51:39.085 no church entered into partnership with me and giving 867 00:51:39.145 --> 00:51:41.805 and receiving, except you, only, you're the only church 868 00:51:41.805 --> 00:51:42.965 that supported my ministry. 869 00:51:43.635 --> 00:51:45.005 Even in Thessalonika. 870 00:51:45.005 --> 00:51:47.285 You sent me help for my needs once 871 00:51:47.505 --> 00:51:51.765 and again, not that I seek the gift, hang on to this. 872 00:51:52.045 --> 00:51:53.485 I say, not that I seek the gift, 873 00:51:53.945 --> 00:51:56.885 but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit, 874 00:51:57.715 --> 00:51:58.925 I've received full payment 875 00:51:59.065 --> 00:52:00.965 and more I'm well supplied, 876 00:52:00.965 --> 00:52:03.445 having received from a paphitis the gifts that you sent, 877 00:52:03.565 --> 00:52:05.725 a fragrant offering a sacrifice acceptable 878 00:52:05.905 --> 00:52:08.205 and pleasing to God, he's reminding them, your gift 879 00:52:08.205 --> 00:52:10.765 of generosity was, it was a, is a sacrifice, 880 00:52:10.785 --> 00:52:12.645 and it's acceptable and it's pleasing to God. 881 00:52:12.645 --> 00:52:14.725 But I don't want us to miss. Paul says, I'm thankful 882 00:52:14.725 --> 00:52:19.005 that you gave, and the Lord used it to bless me. 883 00:52:19.005 --> 00:52:22.845 But I I I wanna be clear, I don't seek your generosity 884 00:52:22.865 --> 00:52:24.085 for my own personal benefit. 885 00:52:25.235 --> 00:52:28.125 It's to increase your kingdom impact and blessing. 886 00:52:29.005 --> 00:52:30.525 Remember last week we talked about how, uh, 887 00:52:30.525 --> 00:52:33.845 the Lord commands his blessing on those who are in unity 888 00:52:33.985 --> 00:52:36.605 and, and, and, and living lives of generosity 889 00:52:36.785 --> 00:52:38.245 and being on mission together 890 00:52:38.345 --> 00:52:40.445 as a church family is an aspect of unity. 891 00:52:40.825 --> 00:52:42.685 Th this is why we say at hope, uh, 892 00:52:42.705 --> 00:52:45.045 all the time when we talk about generosity, 893 00:52:45.045 --> 00:52:46.045 when we talk about tithes 894 00:52:46.045 --> 00:52:47.565 and offerings, we try to say regularly, 895 00:52:47.715 --> 00:52:50.165 this is not something that we want from you. 896 00:52:50.435 --> 00:52:52.245 This is something that we want for you. 897 00:52:52.475 --> 00:52:55.565 Because when you give to a church, it's not a charity. 898 00:52:55.665 --> 00:52:59.325 Thi this is an expression of a unified partnership together 899 00:52:59.505 --> 00:53:03.165 as a family in the mission that Jesus has called us into 900 00:53:03.165 --> 00:53:04.965 of sharing the gospel with the world around us. 901 00:53:05.185 --> 00:53:07.165 Our vision here at Hope, it it's 902 00:53:07.165 --> 00:53:08.845 for our communities and all the world. 903 00:53:08.845 --> 00:53:10.325 And no one experienced the love of God 904 00:53:10.325 --> 00:53:12.325 and the life that Jesus came to make available. 905 00:53:12.585 --> 00:53:14.765 That's what we're actually partnering together for. 906 00:53:16.465 --> 00:53:18.205 And so the Philippians didn't just give money, 907 00:53:19.225 --> 00:53:20.565 the Philippians joined in the mission 908 00:53:21.745 --> 00:53:24.365 and their generosity was bearing fruit for all of eternity. 909 00:53:26.905 --> 00:53:29.925 And as Jesus himself did, said in, in Luke chapter 12, 910 00:53:29.925 --> 00:53:33.685 verse 34, he says, where your treasure is there, 911 00:53:33.685 --> 00:53:34.765 your heart will be also 912 00:53:36.305 --> 00:53:40.125 Few things Can drive unity at, at a heart level, 913 00:53:40.125 --> 00:53:42.365 like being generous with our resources together 914 00:53:42.825 --> 00:53:43.845 as a church family. 915 00:53:45.425 --> 00:53:49.325 Um, you know, we saw that video at, at the beginning 916 00:53:49.425 --> 00:53:51.365 of the service, uh, the power soccer. 917 00:53:52.145 --> 00:53:54.565 You know, we, we have incredible facilities here at the 918 00:53:54.565 --> 00:53:55.805 Raleigh campus and out in Apex 919 00:53:55.865 --> 00:53:58.485 and um, you know, we rent them out 920 00:53:58.505 --> 00:53:59.525 and we use them for large 921 00:53:59.525 --> 00:54:00.685 organizations and things like that. 922 00:54:00.745 --> 00:54:05.005 But because people give, we're able to pay those mortgages 923 00:54:05.005 --> 00:54:06.405 and then ministries like that, 924 00:54:06.405 --> 00:54:08.045 power soccer, we can just say, you know what? 925 00:54:08.665 --> 00:54:09.805 You got an incredible vision. 926 00:54:09.805 --> 00:54:11.045 You're blessing other people's lives. 927 00:54:11.045 --> 00:54:12.565 Just come in here and use this place for free. 928 00:54:13.425 --> 00:54:15.845 That's what happens when a, when a church comes together. 929 00:54:16.745 --> 00:54:18.205 And then you look at what happens when 930 00:54:18.205 --> 00:54:19.805 of the greatest promises in scripture, 931 00:54:19.915 --> 00:54:22.765 when you get this right, verse 19, he says, 932 00:54:22.905 --> 00:54:26.405 and my God will supply every need of yours according 933 00:54:26.425 --> 00:54:30.685 to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, to our God 934 00:54:30.685 --> 00:54:32.685 and Father, be the glory forever and ever. 935 00:54:33.395 --> 00:54:35.125 When we get the generosity piece right, 936 00:54:35.755 --> 00:54:38.165 when we partner together to support the spreading 937 00:54:38.165 --> 00:54:41.365 of the gospel, God promises then to supply our every need. 938 00:54:43.665 --> 00:54:48.365 Now, please understand this is not a blanket prosperity 939 00:54:48.905 --> 00:54:51.605 gospel verse what this is, 940 00:54:51.605 --> 00:54:54.485 it's a mission partnership promise that God gives to us. 941 00:54:54.835 --> 00:54:58.085 It's not a, uh, a blank check for comfort, okay? 942 00:54:58.085 --> 00:55:00.485 We don't get to ask for a yacht in Jesus' name. 943 00:55:00.605 --> 00:55:03.325 I mean, you can do that, but I'm gonna question your heart a 944 00:55:03.325 --> 00:55:04.685 little bit unless you use it, you know, 945 00:55:04.745 --> 00:55:07.165 for ministry purposes and send me an email. 946 00:55:07.185 --> 00:55:11.525 We can talk about it. But it's a promise of provision 947 00:55:11.665 --> 00:55:14.165 for those that are committed to the mission. 948 00:55:16.965 --> 00:55:18.405 I, I will fight till the day I die 949 00:55:18.405 --> 00:55:20.605 to make sure people understand like there's no such thing 950 00:55:20.605 --> 00:55:21.605 as a prosperity gospel. 951 00:55:21.705 --> 00:55:23.285 But you cannot read the Bible cover 952 00:55:23.285 --> 00:55:24.325 to cover and not understand. 953 00:55:24.325 --> 00:55:27.205 There is a theme of reaping and sowing. 954 00:55:28.025 --> 00:55:29.645 We invest in the kingdom, we see fruit. 955 00:55:29.645 --> 00:55:31.845 Paul saying, as you give sacrificially for the sake 956 00:55:31.845 --> 00:55:35.325 of the gospel, God will provide everything that you need. 957 00:55:38.025 --> 00:55:39.605 So our application for this is unity 958 00:55:39.625 --> 00:55:41.925 and God's provision, it's strengthened 959 00:55:42.555 --> 00:55:43.845 through our generosity. 960 00:55:44.305 --> 00:55:46.085 So I'm gonna ask another hard question for us. 961 00:55:46.865 --> 00:55:50.525 Is your generosity helping the church stand firm 962 00:55:50.785 --> 00:55:52.765 and unity And on mission. 963 00:55:57.555 --> 00:56:00.325 Last two verses. I'm gonna sprint through these, 964 00:56:00.335 --> 00:56:01.805 greet every saint in Christ Jesus. 965 00:56:01.915 --> 00:56:04.205 Tell everybody back there, I said, Hey, love you guys. 966 00:56:04.275 --> 00:56:05.565 Tell everybody I said hello. 967 00:56:05.785 --> 00:56:07.925 The brothers who are with me, they greet you. 968 00:56:07.985 --> 00:56:11.125 Listen to this. All the saints greet you, especially those 969 00:56:11.185 --> 00:56:13.285 of Caesar's household, the grace 970 00:56:13.345 --> 00:56:16.445 of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with your spirit. 971 00:56:16.715 --> 00:56:18.965 That phrase, those of the Caesar's household, listen 972 00:56:18.985 --> 00:56:20.685 to this, it's incredible. 973 00:56:21.255 --> 00:56:24.565 These were people within the Roman government who had come 974 00:56:24.565 --> 00:56:26.725 to Christ through Paul's imprisonment. 975 00:56:28.425 --> 00:56:30.565 I'm, I'm, I want you to understand there is nothing 976 00:56:30.675 --> 00:56:33.325 that can stop a unified church 977 00:56:33.555 --> 00:56:35.805 that will stand firm in the gospel 978 00:56:36.145 --> 00:56:38.525 and be committed to living the way that God's called us to, 979 00:56:38.525 --> 00:56:40.005 to live even in hardship. 980 00:56:40.315 --> 00:56:42.325 When the church is strong in unity, 981 00:56:42.705 --> 00:56:44.165 the gospel was still advancing. 982 00:56:46.965 --> 00:56:48.725 I mean, can you believe Paul is in prison 983 00:56:49.105 --> 00:56:50.285 in the Roman Empire? 984 00:56:50.285 --> 00:56:52.445 This is the direct opposition to the church. 985 00:56:52.705 --> 00:56:55.005 And as Jesus works things all together for good, 986 00:56:55.315 --> 00:56:57.805 he's in prison leading these people to him. 987 00:57:01.225 --> 00:57:02.605 But it takes a unified church. 988 00:57:03.665 --> 00:57:05.485 So we gotta understand unity in the church. 989 00:57:05.585 --> 00:57:08.325 It will fuel Jesus's mission in the world. 990 00:57:09.715 --> 00:57:11.565 When we stay generous, when we stay united, 991 00:57:11.565 --> 00:57:14.645 when we stay focused, God multiplies our impact. 992 00:57:16.465 --> 00:57:19.085 We Gotta wrap this up. Uh, bring it all together. 993 00:57:19.345 --> 00:57:21.605 How do we stand firm in the unity of the gospel 994 00:57:22.225 --> 00:57:23.685 in divisive and difficult times? 995 00:57:24.555 --> 00:57:26.245 Paul gave us seven commitments to make. 996 00:57:26.305 --> 00:57:28.565 Number one, stay rooted in your identity. 997 00:57:28.945 --> 00:57:31.405 He says, stand firm. Remember who you are in Jesus, 998 00:57:31.465 --> 00:57:32.525 the world's gonna tell you something else. 999 00:57:32.525 --> 00:57:33.605 No, no, no. Stand firm. 1000 00:57:33.605 --> 00:57:37.605 Number two, pursue peace, reconcile and agree in the Lord. 1001 00:57:37.605 --> 00:57:39.045 If you have somebody in your family 1002 00:57:39.265 --> 00:57:41.525 or in this church body that you need to do some business 1003 00:57:41.525 --> 00:57:42.845 with, and remind each other, Hey, 1004 00:57:42.845 --> 00:57:44.965 our unity in the gospel is bigger than all that mess. 1005 00:57:45.145 --> 00:57:48.445 Handle it. Three, choose joy. 1006 00:57:48.985 --> 00:57:52.045 Let your gentleness and your joy shape your spirit. 1007 00:57:56.305 --> 00:57:58.085 Be that person that somebody complains to 1008 00:57:58.085 --> 00:57:59.405 and you just keep being positive. 1009 00:57:59.985 --> 00:58:01.725 Number four, pray through anxiety. 1010 00:58:01.945 --> 00:58:05.085 We, we need to invite the peace of gods to guard our hearts. 1011 00:58:06.065 --> 00:58:07.925 And I know it's so hard in those moments. 1012 00:58:08.105 --> 00:58:10.205 I'm a pastor and I wake up the next morning 1013 00:58:10.205 --> 00:58:12.725 after being up until three in the morning thinking, why, 1014 00:58:12.725 --> 00:58:14.685 why in the world did I not spend time in prayer? 1015 00:58:14.735 --> 00:58:16.005 We've gotta go to 'em in prayer. 1016 00:58:16.265 --> 00:58:17.885 Number five, guard your mind. 1017 00:58:18.055 --> 00:58:20.445 We've gotta fill our mind with what's right and what's pure. 1018 00:58:20.585 --> 00:58:23.085 How do we do that? By engaging God through scripture. 1019 00:58:23.135 --> 00:58:25.485 We've gotta spend time reading God's word. 1020 00:58:25.505 --> 00:58:27.685 Number six, practice generosity. 1021 00:58:27.705 --> 00:58:29.725 Commit to practicing, generosity, give 1022 00:58:29.945 --> 00:58:31.645 and serve to strengthen the unity 1023 00:58:31.705 --> 00:58:33.845 and the mission that we have together around the gospel. 1024 00:58:34.825 --> 00:58:36.165 And number seven, live on mission. 1025 00:58:37.295 --> 00:58:39.405 We've gotta be committed to living on the mission 1026 00:58:39.405 --> 00:58:40.485 that God's called us to 1027 00:58:40.505 --> 00:58:43.525 and his partners together in the gospel and what happens. 1028 00:58:43.785 --> 00:58:46.245 And my God will supply every need of yours according 1029 00:58:46.245 --> 00:58:48.045 to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus, 1030 00:58:50.145 --> 00:58:54.645 hoping we live this way, praying, forgiving, 1031 00:58:55.925 --> 00:59:00.245 rejoicing, giving the God of peace, 1032 00:59:00.945 --> 00:59:04.605 he will be with us And his church will thrive. 1033 00:59:07.545 --> 00:59:10.245 So this whole letter, um, we covered basically one 1034 00:59:10.445 --> 00:59:11.605 and a half chapters in two weeks. 1035 00:59:11.785 --> 00:59:14.445 So, uh, let me encourage you go through 1036 00:59:14.445 --> 00:59:15.805 and read all four chapters this week. 1037 00:59:16.025 --> 00:59:18.045 But the whole letter's really been about standing firm. 1038 00:59:18.045 --> 00:59:19.685 And I'm so careful when I give a sermon 1039 00:59:19.685 --> 00:59:22.485 that's on like checklists, seven commitments, seven things 1040 00:59:22.485 --> 00:59:24.925 to do because um, at the end of the day, 1041 00:59:25.145 --> 00:59:26.045 if you give us a checklist, 1042 00:59:26.185 --> 00:59:27.285 we probably ain't gonna get it right. 1043 00:59:27.285 --> 00:59:28.765 But this letter's about standing firm, 1044 00:59:28.785 --> 00:59:29.965 but we can only do that. 1045 00:59:30.205 --> 00:59:31.405 'cause Jesus first stood for us. 1046 00:59:32.455 --> 00:59:35.685 Jesus stood firm in the garden, he stood firm on the cross, 1047 00:59:36.425 --> 00:59:38.245 and he stood victorious on the empty two. 1048 00:59:39.545 --> 00:59:41.885 And so when Paul says, stand firm in the Lord, 1049 00:59:41.915 --> 00:59:46.045 what he's really saying is he means stand firm in the Lord 1050 00:59:47.705 --> 00:59:49.765 by standing firm on the finished work of Jesus. 1051 00:59:50.205 --> 00:59:52.405 Remember we said last week, we don't fight for victory, we, 1052 00:59:52.425 --> 00:59:53.965 but we fight from victory. 1053 00:59:55.545 --> 00:59:58.125 That's our footing, that's our confidence. 1054 00:59:58.245 --> 00:59:59.805 And if you're hearing this message, 1055 00:59:59.825 --> 01:00:01.125 if you're in this room right now 1056 01:00:01.625 --> 01:00:05.645 and you've never made a decision to give your life to Jesus, 1057 01:00:05.925 --> 01:00:07.605 I just want to tell you what are you waiting for? 1058 01:00:07.705 --> 01:00:08.925 All this stuff that we talked about 1059 01:00:08.925 --> 01:00:10.285 and the blessing that comes from unity. 1060 01:00:10.645 --> 01:00:12.445 I I'm not like a, trying to give you a fire 1061 01:00:12.445 --> 01:00:14.445 and brimstone message here, but I wanted you to know you. 1062 01:00:15.025 --> 01:00:17.085 You don't have the power to experience it in 1063 01:00:17.085 --> 01:00:18.125 your life outside of Jesus. 1064 01:00:19.905 --> 01:00:21.965 You just don't. The Bible tells us that we're all sinners 1065 01:00:21.965 --> 01:00:23.365 and fallen short of the glory of God 1066 01:00:23.365 --> 01:00:25.125 and for the forgiveness of sin, there has 1067 01:00:25.125 --> 01:00:26.605 to be shedding of blood. 1068 01:00:26.605 --> 01:00:28.525 And you're probably like, man, what the heck does that mean? 1069 01:00:28.545 --> 01:00:31.885 It just means that you know, in your rebellion that is, 1070 01:00:32.065 --> 01:00:34.245 we have not lived the way that we've been created to live. 1071 01:00:34.245 --> 01:00:35.765 That separates us from God. 1072 01:00:35.785 --> 01:00:38.165 We don't experience the blessing of his relationship. 1073 01:00:39.305 --> 01:00:40.805 But you don't have to clean up your act. 1074 01:00:40.805 --> 01:00:42.205 You don't have to get seven steps 1075 01:00:42.225 --> 01:00:43.445 to work your way back to Jesus. 1076 01:00:43.625 --> 01:00:44.645 He knew we couldn't do that. 1077 01:00:44.645 --> 01:00:45.965 The Bible says while we were still 1078 01:00:45.965 --> 01:00:47.165 sinners, Christ died for us. 1079 01:00:47.385 --> 01:00:48.645 So stepping into that relationship 1080 01:00:48.645 --> 01:00:51.925 with Jesus is just recognizing No, no, no, Jesus, 1081 01:00:52.565 --> 01:00:54.805 I call on your name because I know you went to a cross 1082 01:00:54.805 --> 01:00:57.005 to pay the penalty for my sins, and you went into a tomb 1083 01:00:57.005 --> 01:00:58.965 and you rose from the grave so that I can have your life. 1084 01:00:59.105 --> 01:01:00.125 And if that's you, I just wanna 1085 01:01:00.125 --> 01:01:01.165 encourage you, make that decision. 1086 01:01:01.795 --> 01:01:03.845 It's the best decision you'll ever make in your life. 1087 01:01:04.315 --> 01:01:05.725 Tell somebody that you came with. 1088 01:01:05.985 --> 01:01:08.525 If you're at the Apex campus, go to Doug Stride, 1089 01:01:08.525 --> 01:01:09.725 the campus pastor over there. 1090 01:01:09.875 --> 01:01:12.325 He'd love to talk with you. If you're at the Raleigh campus, 1091 01:01:12.385 --> 01:01:14.565 you can come talk to me, talk to Corey Paxton. 1092 01:01:15.545 --> 01:01:17.045 But let's get you moving down the road, 1093 01:01:17.045 --> 01:01:18.525 growing in your relationship with Jesus, 1094 01:01:18.525 --> 01:01:21.605 understanding the life that you're actually created to live. 1095 01:01:22.735 --> 01:01:27.285 Let's pray together. Lord Jesus, we thank you 1096 01:01:27.285 --> 01:01:29.125 that you are our peace and you're our provider. 1097 01:01:30.745 --> 01:01:32.365 You have called us to stand firm 1098 01:01:33.785 --> 01:01:36.285 not in our strength, but in yours. 1099 01:01:38.085 --> 01:01:40.245 I pray that as a church family, you would help us 1100 01:01:40.245 --> 01:01:42.925 to pursue peace and that you would help us 1101 01:01:42.925 --> 01:01:44.565 to rejoice in you always. 1102 01:01:44.565 --> 01:01:46.805 That we would be the ones that could rejoice always, 1103 01:01:47.115 --> 01:01:49.125 that we would pray through our worries, 1104 01:01:49.205 --> 01:01:50.565 that we would think rightly, 1105 01:01:52.305 --> 01:01:55.845 and that we would live lives of generosity for the sake 1106 01:01:55.845 --> 01:01:57.365 of the mission that you've called us into. 1107 01:01:57.865 --> 01:01:59.485 Father, I pray that you would unite us 1108 01:01:59.505 --> 01:02:03.485 as one family standing together in the gospel in difficult 1109 01:02:03.485 --> 01:02:07.005 and in divisive times for your glory 1110 01:02:07.105 --> 01:02:08.685 and to the hope that we have in you 1111 01:02:09.425 --> 01:02:10.445 and for the world around us. 1112 01:02:10.445 --> 01:02:12.965 Lord, let us be the church that we talked about last week 1113 01:02:13.155 --> 01:02:14.645 that shines bright. 1114 01:02:16.185 --> 01:02:18.405 That's a bright light to the world around us 1115 01:02:18.405 --> 01:02:19.420 that desperately needs it. 1116 01:02:19.420 --> 01:02:21.725 Lord, we love you and we pray these things in Jesus' name. 1117 01:02:22.125 --> 01:02:23.525 Everyone said, amen. 1118 01:02:23.785 --> 01:02:25.645 Church, let's be that church family together.