111 00:17:53.765 --> 00:17:55.325 Oh, I love it. Hey, 112 00:17:55.345 --> 00:17:58.484 can we just take a moment and celebrate the worship that we just got to 113 00:17:58.485 --> 00:17:59.885 experience? Uh, listen, 114 00:17:59.984 --> 00:18:02.165 can we just lift up the name of the Lord and like just with a, 115 00:18:02.405 --> 00:18:07.085 with a shout of celebration for the opportunity to worship Amen. 116 00:18:10.545 --> 00:18:13.925 And, and Hope Community Church at all of our campuses and those of you watching 117 00:18:13.926 --> 00:18:18.484 online, it is great to join you today in worship. I am excited about this time. 118 00:18:19.005 --> 00:18:21.005 Uh, if you have never met me, my name's Dwayne Calvin, 119 00:18:21.065 --> 00:18:22.565 so I want to introduce myself just a little bit. 120 00:18:22.744 --> 00:18:26.405 And I love to spend some time chatting with you. Any opportunity I get, 121 00:18:26.625 --> 00:18:27.458 I'd love to do that. 122 00:18:27.505 --> 00:18:30.805 And we're gonna jump into the second week of a series that we've been calling 123 00:18:30.815 --> 00:18:33.685 trust issues in just a moment. But before we get there, 124 00:18:33.845 --> 00:18:36.165 I kind of wanna start us off with a little bit of levity. 125 00:18:36.265 --> 00:18:39.285 So I want you to watch this video, check this out. 126 00:18:39.875 --> 00:18:44.365 Fall, and we're just, it'll be an exercise and building trust, uh, 127 00:18:44.366 --> 00:18:47.244 between one another. So Harrison, if you don't mind going first, uh, 128 00:18:47.275 --> 00:18:51.244 step up here on this chair and close your eyes. All right? 129 00:18:51.425 --> 00:18:56.365 And then everybody fill in and we're gonna ask you 130 00:18:56.385 --> 00:19:00.244 to fall and then they will catch you. So you have to trust us. 131 00:19:00.545 --> 00:19:04.605 I'm gonna count to three. Just relax and fall. Okay? 132 00:19:05.785 --> 00:19:09.244 1, 2, 3. No, Arizona. 133 00:19:14.025 --> 00:19:18.925 So why did I put that up there? one because it is funny, like fell out. 134 00:19:18.926 --> 00:19:22.725 That's just funny. Like he went the wrong direction on a trust fall. But two, 135 00:19:23.645 --> 00:19:28.445 um, because I have done a ton of those, uh, those are called trust falls. 136 00:19:28.585 --> 00:19:30.165 Now he got the object of it wrong. 137 00:19:30.465 --> 00:19:34.085 The goal is to actually fall back into the people's hands. Uh, 138 00:19:34.105 --> 00:19:36.765 and if you have anything to do with youth ministry, 139 00:19:36.766 --> 00:19:38.685 if you've ever been around student ministry, uh, 140 00:19:38.686 --> 00:19:41.805 I started in studio industry very early on in the 1990s. 141 00:19:41.984 --> 00:19:43.645 And if you have ever been around them, 142 00:19:43.785 --> 00:19:46.165 you know that trust falls are like just a part of the culture. 143 00:19:46.505 --> 00:19:48.085 If you've ever done a corporate retreat, 144 00:19:48.255 --> 00:19:53.045 maybe you've been asked to do a trust fall. Now it's really tough to do, 145 00:19:53.425 --> 00:19:58.085 but it's really essential to the culture. Wherever you are working or serving, 146 00:19:58.965 --> 00:20:03.244 uh, you're putting your trust in another person's hands and you're hoping that 147 00:20:03.245 --> 00:20:04.885 they're gonna come through with you, right? 148 00:20:04.885 --> 00:20:08.805 They're gonna come through for you in a moment where you need them to come 149 00:20:08.806 --> 00:20:09.845 through for you. Now, 150 00:20:09.885 --> 00:20:12.845 I remember stepping up on those podiums and doing the trust fall. And listen, 151 00:20:12.965 --> 00:20:17.725 I got, I, I'm, I'm 200 something pounds. And so when I was falling backwards, 152 00:20:17.875 --> 00:20:21.845 like I had some trust in the people around me and, 153 00:20:22.244 --> 00:20:25.685 and some of them went well, some of them didn't go so well. 154 00:20:26.265 --> 00:20:29.605 But what I learned in those moments is that as you closed your eyes, 155 00:20:29.744 --> 00:20:33.845 you came to this reality and this conclusion that placing your trust in other 156 00:20:33.846 --> 00:20:34.679 people, 157 00:20:35.275 --> 00:20:39.225 even for a moment can be really scary. 158 00:20:40.945 --> 00:20:42.744 Like, uh, he can be really difficult to do that. 159 00:20:42.765 --> 00:20:46.465 And last week we heard from Clay about the idea of trust. 160 00:20:46.765 --> 00:20:49.645 He began our series by laying out some simple truths about trust. 161 00:20:49.785 --> 00:20:53.244 And here's the first one. This is our hard truth, right? Here's the first one. 162 00:20:53.465 --> 00:20:55.445 We all have trust issues. 163 00:20:56.795 --> 00:20:58.725 Like every single one of us has trust issues. 164 00:20:58.726 --> 00:21:00.445 And what do I mean when I say that? Uh, 165 00:21:00.484 --> 00:21:04.805 I mean that every single one of us has likely had our trust broken from another 166 00:21:04.806 --> 00:21:09.445 person, or we have experienced what it feels like to break someone else's trust. 167 00:21:09.705 --> 00:21:12.205 And the conundrum that that can be for our lives. 168 00:21:12.625 --> 00:21:17.165 So all of us have trust issues. Here's the second truth. 169 00:21:17.525 --> 00:21:21.765 It's just as difficult. Trust requires risk. 170 00:21:22.835 --> 00:21:27.565 Like trust is hard to come by and it's risky business to step out and 171 00:21:27.566 --> 00:21:28.355 trust people. 172 00:21:28.355 --> 00:21:32.405 It's a risk to trust someone else because there is a possibility that at the end 173 00:21:32.406 --> 00:21:37.005 of all of your trust in that person that you will probably be hurt. 174 00:21:38.605 --> 00:21:41.625 And so all of us have trust issues and trust requires risk. 175 00:21:42.805 --> 00:21:47.705 You know where I see the effects of trust more than any place else 176 00:21:47.706 --> 00:21:52.015 that I've experienced in the world? You guessed it. The church, 177 00:21:53.505 --> 00:21:58.234 there's a whole term that's called church hurt that permeates the culture of 178 00:21:58.395 --> 00:22:00.915 churches. Like there's this whole thing that's creeping around with us. 179 00:22:01.105 --> 00:22:03.715 Many of us carry baggage from other churches, 180 00:22:03.785 --> 00:22:07.475 from other situations in our lives. And when we walk into a new church, 181 00:22:07.815 --> 00:22:11.875 it can be really difficult to trust. Oh yeah, 182 00:22:12.855 --> 00:22:14.234 I'm not gonna shy away from it at all. 183 00:22:14.244 --> 00:22:18.955 There are a lot of challenges in the church. We got a lot of issues. 184 00:22:20.035 --> 00:22:24.195 And here's what makes it really challenging, right? Uh, the church, uh, 185 00:22:24.196 --> 00:22:27.275 the word that's used to describe the church is a word ecclesia. 186 00:22:27.335 --> 00:22:30.515 And if you've ever heard it before, uh, it simply means the church. 187 00:22:30.655 --> 00:22:33.075 And it doesn't describe a building at all. 188 00:22:33.185 --> 00:22:34.515 Typically when we think of the church, 189 00:22:34.516 --> 00:22:37.115 we think of the building with the steeple inside. There's the people. 190 00:22:37.295 --> 00:22:40.555 But that's not what an ecclesia is at all. As a matter of fact, 191 00:22:40.734 --> 00:22:44.435 it was never meant to describe a building. It was meant to describe a people, 192 00:22:46.415 --> 00:22:49.875 a people who were connected like a family. 193 00:22:51.415 --> 00:22:56.275 So not a collection of buildings, but a gathering of God's people, a family. 194 00:22:57.015 --> 00:22:57.316 You know, 195 00:22:57.316 --> 00:23:00.755 a few weeks ago our lead pastor Jason Gore talked about this and he talked about 196 00:23:00.756 --> 00:23:05.635 how we as the church are a family of families and those families interact with 197 00:23:05.636 --> 00:23:08.075 each other through this Christ-centered relationship. 198 00:23:08.215 --> 00:23:10.435 And it becomes a part of how we live our lives. 199 00:23:10.655 --> 00:23:13.635 That's what the family of God was always supposed to do. And b, 200 00:23:14.815 --> 00:23:19.195 and our relationships are built on this foundation of trust in the church. 201 00:23:19.196 --> 00:23:23.155 There are all kinds of relationships. As you become a part of the family of God, 202 00:23:23.415 --> 00:23:25.755 you'll experience relationship with other people. 203 00:23:26.895 --> 00:23:31.115 And those relationships have to be built on trust. You see, 204 00:23:31.355 --> 00:23:34.195 it's trust that anchors the relationships. In truth, 205 00:23:35.475 --> 00:23:39.225 trust is the currency that pays the cost of the shortcomings, 206 00:23:39.994 --> 00:23:43.345 which will inevitably happen in our relationships. 207 00:23:44.645 --> 00:23:48.405 But that currency, that trust is fragile 208 00:23:49.994 --> 00:23:53.475 and it's oftentimes easily broken. When trust is broken, 209 00:23:53.476 --> 00:23:57.795 especially as a part of a body of believers, as a part of the family of God, 210 00:23:58.335 --> 00:24:00.435 it leaves long lasting effects. 211 00:24:01.895 --> 00:24:06.395 So today the question will be addressing as we move through this trust 212 00:24:06.935 --> 00:24:11.795 issues series is how do we live a life of trust 213 00:24:12.705 --> 00:24:17.405 as a part of the family of God? Now, 214 00:24:17.406 --> 00:24:17.766 to do that, 215 00:24:17.766 --> 00:24:20.445 we're gonna be walking through a book of the Bible that's kind of a little known 216 00:24:20.475 --> 00:24:23.244 book. Uh, as you've read the Bible all the way through, 217 00:24:23.305 --> 00:24:25.205 you have certainly read this book. Uh, 218 00:24:25.206 --> 00:24:28.765 it's not talked about a whole lot and it's probably not one that you would jump 219 00:24:28.795 --> 00:24:31.725 into if you were jumping into a brand new Bible study. For instance, 220 00:24:31.726 --> 00:24:34.484 if we were starting a small group and we wanted to jump into the Bible together, 221 00:24:34.595 --> 00:24:37.365 most of us would probably select the book of John. Well, 222 00:24:37.366 --> 00:24:40.125 nobody goes into the Bible study says, you know what? We ought to study, 223 00:24:40.305 --> 00:24:45.244 we ought to study the book of Philemon. And I know what you're thinking. 224 00:24:46.135 --> 00:24:48.445 Who's Philemon ? Well, 225 00:24:48.446 --> 00:24:52.885 he is an essential part of the Bible and that's the book we're gonna jump in 226 00:24:52.886 --> 00:24:53.925 today. So if you have your Bibles, 227 00:24:53.926 --> 00:24:58.045 go ahead and open 'em up to Philemon where you are gonna start at verse eight. 228 00:24:58.385 --> 00:25:02.085 But it's one of the shortest books in the Bible and there's a whole lot of 229 00:25:02.086 --> 00:25:05.845 nuggets of wisdom that I believe can help us to go a long way when it comes to 230 00:25:05.846 --> 00:25:07.845 this issue of trust. 231 00:25:07.945 --> 00:25:11.085 Now a little bit about the book while you're turning there to Philemon chapter 232 00:25:11.145 --> 00:25:13.965 one, there's only one chapter, right? Uh, verse eight, 233 00:25:14.645 --> 00:25:16.725 Philemon is one of the shortest books in the Bible. 234 00:25:17.705 --> 00:25:21.925 The book examines the relationship of two men who are both a part of the family 235 00:25:21.984 --> 00:25:22.817 of God. 236 00:25:23.185 --> 00:25:27.445 And the men are the apostle Paul who wrote a significant part of the New 237 00:25:27.645 --> 00:25:31.045 Testament, but also this other guy named Philemon. 238 00:25:31.385 --> 00:25:35.484 And he is the namesake of the book. It's also written in the form of a letter, 239 00:25:35.485 --> 00:25:37.365 which is pretty normal for Paul. Uh, 240 00:25:37.385 --> 00:25:40.045 he writes letters all throughout the New Testament of the Bible. 241 00:25:40.345 --> 00:25:44.965 And one last thing about this is that Paul is actually writing in 242 00:25:45.065 --> 00:25:45.898 prison. 243 00:25:47.155 --> 00:25:51.685 He's been put in jail and he's still writing the people to encourage them 244 00:25:52.145 --> 00:25:52.978 in the faith. 245 00:25:54.085 --> 00:25:57.445 And it's important to note that he's not in jail for his brutality. You see, 246 00:25:57.446 --> 00:25:58.525 early on in Paul's life, 247 00:25:58.825 --> 00:26:02.085 he was known for rounding up Christians with the hopes of having them killed. 248 00:26:02.385 --> 00:26:04.285 But something has changed in Paul's life. 249 00:26:04.395 --> 00:26:08.125 He's had an encounter with Jesus Christ and has transformed him from the inside 250 00:26:08.145 --> 00:26:11.645 out. So when he writes from prison, it is not because of his brutality, 251 00:26:11.955 --> 00:26:13.805 it's instead because of his faith, 252 00:26:15.385 --> 00:26:20.095 he's been changed by God and he's been locked up for 253 00:26:20.335 --> 00:26:25.215 choosing to share the good news, what we call the gospel of Jesus Christ. 254 00:26:26.775 --> 00:26:29.295 Well, from prison is where Paul writes to Philemon 255 00:26:30.345 --> 00:26:34.295 Verse one and through verse seven, you get your typical Pauline greeting, right? 256 00:26:34.515 --> 00:26:36.815 He thanks God for the people he's writing to. 257 00:26:36.994 --> 00:26:39.135 He thanks God for the journey that he's on. 258 00:26:39.234 --> 00:26:43.055 And that's the way he typically opens just about every one of his letters known 259 00:26:43.125 --> 00:26:46.005 as epistles. He opens them up by saying, I thank God. 260 00:26:46.105 --> 00:26:48.405 And can I just say this for a second? I'm gonna take a quick time out. 261 00:26:48.465 --> 00:26:49.765 Can I just take a time out and say, 262 00:26:49.955 --> 00:26:54.165 what if we wrote our emails and our text message and all of our correspondence? 263 00:26:54.234 --> 00:26:58.805 What if our Instagram posts started by thanking God for what we are 264 00:26:58.806 --> 00:26:59.805 experiencing in life? 265 00:26:59.865 --> 00:27:03.005 And then by sharing with the other person that we wanna pray for them, 266 00:27:03.006 --> 00:27:05.725 that we love them and that we thank God for them as well? 267 00:27:09.045 --> 00:27:10.605 I think the internet would be a different place 268 00:27:13.234 --> 00:27:17.765 because we typically start our texts and our emails and our Instagram posts 269 00:27:18.945 --> 00:27:22.365 by saying, check me out. Look at what I'm doing. 270 00:27:23.994 --> 00:27:27.635 Well, Paul is saying, check out God and look at what he's doing. 271 00:27:28.875 --> 00:27:31.435 And when we get to verse eight, when he finishes his greeting, 272 00:27:31.436 --> 00:27:32.875 which is where we're gonna start today, 273 00:27:34.055 --> 00:27:36.355 the tone of Paul's message changes just a bit. 274 00:27:37.095 --> 00:27:40.234 He begins to get to the meat of why he's writing, 275 00:27:40.375 --> 00:27:43.555 and he starts verse eight by saying these words, you can read along with me. 276 00:27:44.025 --> 00:27:44.858 Therefore, 277 00:27:45.155 --> 00:27:50.075 although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what 278 00:27:50.076 --> 00:27:54.595 you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. 279 00:27:54.975 --> 00:27:57.715 It is as none other than Paul and old man. 280 00:27:57.755 --> 00:28:02.555 I love how he describes himself and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus that I 281 00:28:02.556 --> 00:28:05.715 appeal to you on behalf of my son animus, 282 00:28:06.455 --> 00:28:10.915 who became my son while I was in change. Formerly he was useless to you, 283 00:28:11.615 --> 00:28:15.795 but now he's become useful both to you and to me. 284 00:28:16.695 --> 00:28:20.915 Now, he starts this dialogue here by unpacking two things. One is, 285 00:28:20.975 --> 00:28:24.955 is the fact that he could have chosen to play the apostle card, right? 286 00:28:25.095 --> 00:28:28.515 He could have demanded what he wanted. He could have chosen to just say, listen, 287 00:28:28.705 --> 00:28:32.635 this is what I want. Go ahead and do it. But he doesn't play the apostle card. 288 00:28:34.494 --> 00:28:38.315 He instead appeals to the heart of the man he's writing to. 289 00:28:39.335 --> 00:28:43.595 And the other thing that he's doing is that he's introducing us just a bit to a 290 00:28:43.596 --> 00:28:47.395 man named Onesimus. You see, Paul, he could have demanded what he wanted, 291 00:28:48.015 --> 00:28:52.995 but instead he appeals to the heart and the humility of Philemon. 292 00:28:53.995 --> 00:28:56.415 He appeals to him as a brother. 293 00:28:57.365 --> 00:29:01.975 He's operating in this familiarity of a spiritual relationship that him and 294 00:29:02.495 --> 00:29:03.315 Philemon have experienced, 295 00:29:03.315 --> 00:29:06.655 and he's introducing him to a man who has been changed by God. 296 00:29:06.656 --> 00:29:07.895 We'll hear more about that in a little bit. 297 00:29:08.245 --> 00:29:12.335 It's like spiritual father to spiritual son. 298 00:29:13.335 --> 00:29:15.595 And he's offering this greeting. You know, 299 00:29:15.605 --> 00:29:18.075 years ago I used to fly a lot and travel a lot. 300 00:29:18.135 --> 00:29:19.875 And when I would get to the airports, um, 301 00:29:20.035 --> 00:29:22.275 I would always ask for an exit row seat . 302 00:29:22.815 --> 00:29:24.715 And for some reason they would always give it to me. 303 00:29:24.755 --> 00:29:26.555 I think this knew I was a big guy and they'd be like, 304 00:29:26.556 --> 00:29:27.995 that dude needs a bigger seat, right? 305 00:29:28.295 --> 00:29:32.275 But the reason I really believed that they would always offer it to me is 306 00:29:32.276 --> 00:29:34.395 because instead of demanding what I wanted, 307 00:29:35.655 --> 00:29:37.695 I would ask with humility. 308 00:29:38.965 --> 00:29:42.485 I never played the military card or the pastor card. I, 309 00:29:42.685 --> 00:29:45.085 I never played the guy who was like desperate. 310 00:29:45.245 --> 00:29:47.605 I just came over and asked and greeted and said, Hey, 311 00:29:47.606 --> 00:29:51.045 you think it might be okay if there's not a exit road person sitting in it? 312 00:29:51.046 --> 00:29:53.925 You think I might get one? And almost time after time, after time, 313 00:29:54.245 --> 00:29:58.105 I got a seat because I asked with humility 314 00:29:59.375 --> 00:30:01.975 and I treated the people with dignity. Well, 315 00:30:01.976 --> 00:30:06.695 this is the way the apostle Paul is approaching this in all his living and 316 00:30:06.815 --> 00:30:07.035 learning. 317 00:30:07.035 --> 00:30:11.015 He has learned to take the approach of simply asking with humility and care for 318 00:30:11.016 --> 00:30:15.135 what he wants to happen. And so he requests what he wants, not by demanding, 319 00:30:15.355 --> 00:30:18.335 but with a posture of love and of listening. 320 00:30:18.635 --> 00:30:21.055 And he asks on the basis of that love, in verse 10, 321 00:30:21.275 --> 00:30:25.335 he continues his appeal for animus. Here's what he says. 322 00:30:28.135 --> 00:30:30.735 Animus had been previously I, I'm sorry. He says, uh, listen, 323 00:30:30.955 --> 00:30:34.535 I'm gonna start talking about animus and share with you what's going on in the 324 00:30:34.536 --> 00:30:35.375 life of animus. 325 00:30:35.475 --> 00:30:38.495 And so there's a couple things that we need to know before we jump into that 326 00:30:38.496 --> 00:30:39.329 part. First, 327 00:30:39.575 --> 00:30:44.295 Onesimus had been previously in some form of slavery and his 328 00:30:44.296 --> 00:30:47.695 master at the time had been philemon. Now a quick note here, 329 00:30:48.065 --> 00:30:50.775 while the church will never endorse slavery, 330 00:30:51.395 --> 00:30:55.375 the type of slavery that Onesimus is in was a little bit different than what 331 00:30:55.615 --> 00:30:57.615 we've experienced in the United States of America. 332 00:30:58.035 --> 00:31:01.895 The slavery that he's under is something called bond servanthood. Typically, 333 00:31:01.935 --> 00:31:04.335 a person would owe a debt or their family would owe a debt. 334 00:31:04.475 --> 00:31:07.895 And instead of them choosing to pay the debt because they couldn't pay the debt, 335 00:31:08.045 --> 00:31:10.375 they would place themself under bond servanthood. 336 00:31:11.255 --> 00:31:14.535 Oftentimes that bond servanthood ended as the debt was paid off and the person 337 00:31:14.536 --> 00:31:19.135 would put a a wooden earring in their ear and that would signify that the debt 338 00:31:19.155 --> 00:31:23.655 has been paid off, but they've chosen to stay and work for a wage. Well, 339 00:31:23.656 --> 00:31:27.975 this is the kind of slavery that onus has been under and his master 340 00:31:29.255 --> 00:31:31.675 was Philemon. And as a bond servant, 341 00:31:31.815 --> 00:31:35.235 he would've been required to work his way through a debt for his freedom and 342 00:31:35.236 --> 00:31:38.275 often bond service again would choose to stay with their masters. 343 00:31:38.655 --> 00:31:41.835 So this was the nature of their relationship. And for whatever reason, 344 00:31:43.035 --> 00:31:46.315 Onesimus and Philemon have had some sort of dispute and which has caused 345 00:31:46.995 --> 00:31:51.555 Onesimus to run away. And when he ran away, he encounters the apostle Paul, 346 00:31:51.815 --> 00:31:55.675 who knows Philemon, whatever has caused this conflict, 347 00:31:55.905 --> 00:31:59.155 there's a conflict, there's a rift going on. 348 00:31:59.295 --> 00:32:04.035 And what has happened as a result of that rift? You guessed it. Trust issues. 349 00:32:05.185 --> 00:32:08.245 The trust between onus and Philemon has been broken. 350 00:32:09.635 --> 00:32:11.205 This is a place of broken trust. 351 00:32:12.285 --> 00:32:17.095 The relationship feels like it's ruined and neither one of the men are 352 00:32:17.096 --> 00:32:20.535 sure that they can restore it. I mean, have you ever been there before? 353 00:32:21.955 --> 00:32:24.815 You ever been in a moment where your trust has been broken 354 00:32:26.675 --> 00:32:29.695 and you're questioning whether the relationship can ever be restored? 355 00:32:31.615 --> 00:32:34.175 And this happens a lot in the local church. 356 00:32:35.455 --> 00:32:39.885 I experience it when I talk with folks and what I've seen is that most of the 357 00:32:39.886 --> 00:32:43.125 time it's not even a big issue. Uh, it's a small thing. 358 00:32:43.405 --> 00:32:47.245 Remember I said earlier that trust, uh, is a currency that is very fragile. 359 00:32:47.275 --> 00:32:52.045 Like it's really fragile, but sometimes it breaks apart as a part of an ecclesia 360 00:32:53.035 --> 00:32:57.405 Because the people of the church spend close relationships together. 361 00:32:58.605 --> 00:33:03.435 They spend a lot of time together and the smallest things can 362 00:33:03.436 --> 00:33:05.985 cause a rift. And when that happens, 363 00:33:06.085 --> 00:33:09.945 we find ourselves in the place of ESUs and Philemon. 364 00:33:11.205 --> 00:33:15.505 It can be a simple conversation that goes off the rails where somebody's talking 365 00:33:15.665 --> 00:33:19.105 a little too much with a little too much passion about something and offends 366 00:33:19.265 --> 00:33:19.746 somebody in the room. 367 00:33:19.746 --> 00:33:23.065 And all of a sudden you're not sure if you trust to sit in the room with that 368 00:33:23.066 --> 00:33:26.825 person. It can be a secret that someone wanted you to keep, 369 00:33:27.095 --> 00:33:30.985 that they shared with you in confidence and you knew that you had to share that 370 00:33:30.986 --> 00:33:34.465 secret because man, even though it's a secret, you knew that if you kept it, 371 00:33:34.495 --> 00:33:38.585 it'd be detrimental to the person. And for them they feel betrayed for you, 372 00:33:38.605 --> 00:33:41.465 you feel like you helped them, that creates trust issues. 373 00:33:45.045 --> 00:33:48.545 It could be simply a commitment that somebody said that they were gonna do. 374 00:33:50.215 --> 00:33:54.365 I was gonna follow up with you, I was gonna call you and I didn't, 375 00:33:56.625 --> 00:33:58.885 and there might be a good reason why I didn't follow up. 376 00:34:00.065 --> 00:34:01.925 But still doesn't mean that trust hasn't been broken. 377 00:34:02.975 --> 00:34:04.765 These are all things that break trust. 378 00:34:06.105 --> 00:34:10.735 And these two men have had a similar experience. Their trust has been broken. 379 00:34:11.515 --> 00:34:12.348 So Paul. 380 00:34:13.155 --> 00:34:13.525 Who. 381 00:34:13.525 --> 00:34:16.425 Is a spiritual grandfather in the faith, 382 00:34:17.205 --> 00:34:19.585 he begins to plea on behalf of Philemon, uh, 383 00:34:19.725 --> 00:34:24.545 and also on behalf of animus for them to somehow reconcile this relationship. 384 00:34:24.985 --> 00:34:29.465 In verse 10, here's what he says. He says, I appeal to you for my son Onesimus. 385 00:34:29.466 --> 00:34:34.185 He calls him his son who became my son even while I was in chains. 386 00:34:34.186 --> 00:34:36.185 He goes on in verse 11 and he says, 387 00:34:36.425 --> 00:34:39.905 formerly he Onesimus was useless to you Philemon. 388 00:34:40.165 --> 00:34:44.585 But now he has become useful to both you and to me. 389 00:34:44.805 --> 00:34:48.905 Here's what Paul knows. Something about Onesimus has changed 390 00:34:50.525 --> 00:34:55.315 and the thing that has changed is because he's become a follower of Jesus, 391 00:34:58.065 --> 00:35:02.705 he's been changed. And when we get to verse 12, Paul says, 392 00:35:03.965 --> 00:35:08.665 I'm sending him, he calls him his very heart, 393 00:35:09.775 --> 00:35:12.925 I'm sending you my heart, I'm sending him back to you. 394 00:35:13.505 --> 00:35:16.844 And I would've liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in 395 00:35:16.845 --> 00:35:20.965 helping me while I'm in chains for the gospel. Key statements here in verse 12, 396 00:35:21.265 --> 00:35:25.045 I'm sending him back to you because he is like my heart. 397 00:35:25.344 --> 00:35:28.925 He has been so helpful to me. But man, I gotta send him back to you. 398 00:35:30.445 --> 00:35:34.475 Verse 13, he says, I wanted to keep him because he was so helpful. 399 00:35:36.475 --> 00:35:40.125 Animus has come to the Lord and something has changed about him where he might 400 00:35:40.285 --> 00:35:42.125 have once not been able to be trusted. 401 00:35:42.545 --> 00:35:47.455 He is now trustworthy and Paul knows 402 00:35:47.456 --> 00:35:50.155 it and he steps in 403 00:35:51.844 --> 00:35:54.995 verse 14. He says, I would've loved to keep him with me, 404 00:35:56.094 --> 00:35:58.475 but I wouldn't wanna do anything without your consent. 405 00:35:59.614 --> 00:36:01.075 And I didn't want it to feel forced. 406 00:36:02.675 --> 00:36:06.675 I wanted a favor of keeping him with you because he's my heart. 407 00:36:07.775 --> 00:36:08.076 You know, 408 00:36:08.076 --> 00:36:12.995 I love the way Paul approaches this as a spiritually mature follower of Jesus, 409 00:36:13.005 --> 00:36:17.835 right? He has an opportunity in the middle of the mess to bring a little bit of 410 00:36:18.075 --> 00:36:21.475 gasoline to the fire and go, you're right, that guy Philemon, he's horrible. 411 00:36:21.614 --> 00:36:24.755 But instead he brings a bucket of cool running water 412 00:36:26.605 --> 00:36:27.885 through the form of Jesus Christ. 413 00:36:28.905 --> 00:36:32.685 And he's stepping in to try to reconcile these men to each other and to try to 414 00:36:32.755 --> 00:36:35.125 restore the trust that has been lost. 415 00:36:35.364 --> 00:36:38.885 And can I just say like we need more people in the body of Christ who are 416 00:36:38.886 --> 00:36:42.645 willing to do that more people who are willing to step into the messy parts that 417 00:36:42.844 --> 00:36:46.325 happen in the church where trust has been broken and it's hard to reconcile. 418 00:36:46.465 --> 00:36:50.405 We need more people to step in and bring that kind of reconciliation 419 00:36:51.495 --> 00:36:52.585 through the word of God. 420 00:36:54.625 --> 00:36:58.405 And typically those folks are your spiritual fathers 421 00:36:59.645 --> 00:37:03.625 and mothers, your spiritual grandfathers and grandmothers. 422 00:37:05.075 --> 00:37:06.015 And can I just say like, 423 00:37:06.016 --> 00:37:09.255 if you're skilled in this area and you know you're one of those people, 424 00:37:11.315 --> 00:37:12.175 we need you. 425 00:37:14.275 --> 00:37:17.815 It is also a thing that is not about age, right? 426 00:37:18.255 --> 00:37:20.614 Spiritual grandfathers and grandmothers has nothing to do with age. 427 00:37:21.094 --> 00:37:24.335 Oftentimes they are older folks, they've been walking with the Lord for a while. 428 00:37:24.635 --> 00:37:29.295 We just need folks who have been walking with God for a long time who have lived 429 00:37:29.395 --> 00:37:32.855 and learned just a bit about how to step in the messy situations. 430 00:37:32.905 --> 00:37:37.375 Folks who have discipled other people, folks who have stepped in in the past, 431 00:37:37.715 --> 00:37:41.215 in the middle of conflict and let everybody involved to the Lord. 432 00:37:41.275 --> 00:37:44.935 We need more folks who have a heart for the next generation of the church. 433 00:37:47.725 --> 00:37:52.585 We need you. You know, I think back to me as a young Christian, 434 00:37:54.545 --> 00:37:59.355 I was a hot mess. My wife can vouch for it. I'm telling you right now, 435 00:38:03.245 --> 00:38:06.864 if it weren't for the spiritual fathers and mothers and grandfathers and 436 00:38:06.865 --> 00:38:11.145 grandmothers of the church, I'm not sure that I'm standing before you today. 437 00:38:12.725 --> 00:38:15.225 You know, if you wanna know about more about how you can help in that way, 438 00:38:15.226 --> 00:38:16.625 just reach out to your campus Pastor. 439 00:38:17.205 --> 00:38:21.945 He would love to hear that Paul and pure 440 00:38:22.265 --> 00:38:26.465 spiritual grandfather Fashionist steps in here and he shares that Onesimus has 441 00:38:26.466 --> 00:38:29.185 changed. Onesimus has become a Christ follower. 442 00:38:29.205 --> 00:38:33.985 And what Paul is asking Philemon here to do is to create an opportunity to 443 00:38:34.575 --> 00:38:38.045 rebuild trust and rebuilding trust. If you've ever done it, uh, 444 00:38:38.105 --> 00:38:43.085 it is hard work. It takes time. It is difficult, it is hard work. 445 00:38:43.385 --> 00:38:46.045 But God can do anything. 446 00:38:48.565 --> 00:38:49.585 You know, in the middle of this, 447 00:38:50.465 --> 00:38:54.545 the two behaviors that I see that help to restore that kind of trust more than 448 00:38:54.864 --> 00:38:59.844 anything else, this first one is really hard. It's just forgiveness, 449 00:39:01.975 --> 00:39:04.364 being willing to forgive for an offense, 450 00:39:06.075 --> 00:39:07.705 being willing to take a moment and say, 451 00:39:08.725 --> 00:39:13.065 I'm gonna choose to forgive you even though I could choose to continue to hold 452 00:39:13.066 --> 00:39:17.125 you hostage. See, the first one is forgiveness. 453 00:39:18.705 --> 00:39:20.925 And then the second one, this takes time, 454 00:39:21.985 --> 00:39:24.685 is offering the opportunity to rebuild trust 455 00:39:26.915 --> 00:39:28.895 and offer. That opportunity is hard, 456 00:39:31.295 --> 00:39:33.955 but it's necessary. See, 457 00:39:33.956 --> 00:39:37.275 what I've learned is that forgiveness is not the same as trust, right? 458 00:39:37.625 --> 00:39:41.195 Like we can forgive people but it doesn't mean that we completely trust them. 459 00:39:41.535 --> 00:39:42.915 Nor should we probably do that. 460 00:39:44.614 --> 00:39:48.515 But what forgiveness does when we start at the place of forgiving somebody is it 461 00:39:48.565 --> 00:39:52.114 opens the door for trust to begin right? It opens the gate, 462 00:39:52.255 --> 00:39:55.795 the prison that we have locked them in and it opens the door to forgiveness. 463 00:39:56.055 --> 00:39:59.635 And what's on the other side if we choose not to offer an opportunity for 464 00:39:59.636 --> 00:40:01.355 forgiveness, here's what happens to us. 465 00:40:01.535 --> 00:40:05.675 We really kind of become bitter people because when we go through one trip to 466 00:40:05.875 --> 00:40:08.915 shoot, we put a wall in front of us and then we say, I'm gonna be fine. 467 00:40:08.935 --> 00:40:10.995 I'm just not gonna let anybody through that wall. 468 00:40:11.175 --> 00:40:14.435 And then we put another wall up when another trust issue happens and we say, 469 00:40:14.436 --> 00:40:15.875 I'm not gonna let anybody through that wall. 470 00:40:15.935 --> 00:40:18.995 And then we put another wall up when another trust issue happens and we say, 471 00:40:19.015 --> 00:40:21.835 I'm not gonna let anybody through that wall. And then we put one behind us 472 00:40:24.285 --> 00:40:28.145 and we think that we're keeping out the possibility of being hurt. 473 00:40:29.065 --> 00:40:33.285 We think we're keeping out the possibility of never having to trust again. 474 00:40:34.875 --> 00:40:36.445 What we have actually done. 475 00:40:38.245 --> 00:40:38.525 Is. 476 00:40:38.525 --> 00:40:42.205 Box ourselves in what we've actually done, 477 00:40:43.265 --> 00:40:44.645 is isolating ourselves. 478 00:40:47.235 --> 00:40:47.455 For. 479 00:40:47.455 --> 00:40:48.288 Any opportunity. 480 00:40:48.795 --> 00:40:49.628 To. 481 00:40:49.755 --> 00:40:54.555 Trust again. And I don't believe that's where God would have us to be. 482 00:40:56.105 --> 00:40:59.035 This is not where the apostle Paul wants these two men to be. 483 00:41:00.605 --> 00:41:03.585 So he offers and appeals to their forgiving heart. 484 00:41:04.525 --> 00:41:06.745 He appeals to their opportunity to rebuild trust. 485 00:41:07.805 --> 00:41:08.025 And. 486 00:41:08.025 --> 00:41:11.065 He says, come on man, would you try it? 487 00:41:12.875 --> 00:41:13.905 Would you trust again? 488 00:41:15.875 --> 00:41:18.175 And Paul knows the same thing that the rest of us know 489 00:41:19.895 --> 00:41:24.135 that it's impossible to build trust with someone who is consistently 490 00:41:24.136 --> 00:41:26.995 untrustworthy. He knows that. 491 00:41:28.094 --> 00:41:28.705 But. 492 00:41:28.705 --> 00:41:33.025 He's offering an opportunity for these men to be reconciled 493 00:41:34.114 --> 00:41:35.375 by the blood of Jesus Christ. 494 00:41:37.035 --> 00:41:41.295 So what he lays in front of them is an opportunity. And in verse 15, he says, 495 00:41:41.325 --> 00:41:46.255 perhaps the reason that he orus has been separated from you for a little 496 00:41:46.256 --> 00:41:51.175 while, Philemon was so that you might have him back forever. You see, 497 00:41:51.176 --> 00:41:54.335 he sees the opportunity that this is not just two men, 498 00:41:54.515 --> 00:41:56.455 but this is a kingdom opportunity. 499 00:41:56.725 --> 00:42:01.215 This is a thing where the trust will be rebuilt and the kingdom will benefit as 500 00:42:01.255 --> 00:42:05.505 a result like every other relationship in the church. Listen, 501 00:42:05.575 --> 00:42:09.985 when we start reconciling our mess, when we start moving past our trust issues, 502 00:42:10.285 --> 00:42:12.065 the kingdom benefits. 503 00:42:14.765 --> 00:42:17.055 Paul knows this. You know, 504 00:42:17.056 --> 00:42:19.655 if I were the enemy and I wanted to take the church out, 505 00:42:20.535 --> 00:42:24.655 I would hit him right where it hurts. I would punch him right into trust. 506 00:42:28.215 --> 00:42:32.495 You ever been in a situation where trust was broken? You know, 507 00:42:32.535 --> 00:42:36.535 I got a family like everybody else and I have a spiritual family that's a part 508 00:42:36.536 --> 00:42:39.614 of the church and and I've seen how when these things happen, 509 00:42:40.594 --> 00:42:44.495 it slows everything down. All of a sudden we don't want to be in the same room. 510 00:42:44.755 --> 00:42:47.094 All of a sudden we don't wanna spend life or do life together. 511 00:42:47.195 --> 00:42:51.415 All of a sudden we start separating ourselves from each other in a way that the 512 00:42:51.416 --> 00:42:52.695 devil dances in. 513 00:42:57.505 --> 00:42:59.965 And so the opportunity to rebuild trust 514 00:43:01.695 --> 00:43:02.915 is a kingdom issue. 515 00:43:04.735 --> 00:43:07.635 And I believe that this is the thing that a lot of churches struggle with. 516 00:43:09.175 --> 00:43:09.395 And. 517 00:43:09.395 --> 00:43:11.075 A lot of families struggle with in general. 518 00:43:12.505 --> 00:43:14.715 There's never an opportunity to rebuild trust. 519 00:43:16.105 --> 00:43:16.565 How do we. 520 00:43:16.565 --> 00:43:16.795 Ever. 521 00:43:16.795 --> 00:43:19.285 Reconcile? And. 522 00:43:19.285 --> 00:43:24.045 So he offers these men an opportunity and he closes out the letter by 523 00:43:24.046 --> 00:43:29.005 saying in verse 16, no longer a slave, listen, 524 00:43:29.265 --> 00:43:34.245 he says, no longer a slave. He's not coming back to you as your slave. 525 00:43:34.315 --> 00:43:37.525 He's no longer a slave, but he is better than a slave. 526 00:43:37.785 --> 00:43:41.765 As a dear brother, I want you to receive him as a dear brother. 527 00:43:42.065 --> 00:43:43.405 He is very dear to me, 528 00:43:43.545 --> 00:43:47.165 but even dearer to you both as a fellow man, 529 00:43:47.166 --> 00:43:50.725 as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, 530 00:43:51.275 --> 00:43:53.565 welcome him as you would welcome me. 531 00:43:54.065 --> 00:43:57.965 If he has done anything wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 532 00:43:59.685 --> 00:44:02.765 I Paul am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back. 533 00:44:03.025 --> 00:44:07.005 Not to mention that you already owe me your very self. 534 00:44:11.025 --> 00:44:12.185 I do wish, brother, 535 00:44:13.735 --> 00:44:18.585 that I may have some benefit from you and the Lord refresh my heart 536 00:44:18.586 --> 00:44:19.419 in Christ. 537 00:44:20.725 --> 00:44:20.945 And. 538 00:44:20.945 --> 00:44:25.665 I am confident of your obedience and I write to you knowing that you'll even do 539 00:44:25.825 --> 00:44:28.625 more than I ask. And one more thing, 540 00:44:29.655 --> 00:44:34.085 prepare a guest room for me because I hope to be restored to you in an answer to 541 00:44:34.086 --> 00:44:34.919 your prayers. 542 00:44:36.915 --> 00:44:39.915 I love how he talks in verse 21 where he says, 543 00:44:39.975 --> 00:44:43.835 I'm confident of your obedience and I write to you knowing that you'll do even 544 00:44:43.864 --> 00:44:46.435 more than I ask translation. 545 00:44:48.165 --> 00:44:48.655 Brother. 546 00:44:48.655 --> 00:44:53.085 You got this. I'm trusting that you got this. 547 00:44:54.225 --> 00:44:57.844 I'm trusting that God will work in this and that you two will be able to 548 00:44:57.955 --> 00:45:00.325 reconcile. I'm, 549 00:45:00.425 --> 00:45:05.364 I'm trusting that God can do the work of allowing you two to choose to trust 550 00:45:05.415 --> 00:45:08.965 again. Uh, he's saying that like as a part of God's church, 551 00:45:09.265 --> 00:45:12.525 two men who may have offended each other and trust may have been broken. 552 00:45:12.705 --> 00:45:17.525 But if you can uh, just rest in the Lord and let him rest and rule over you, 553 00:45:17.526 --> 00:45:21.485 if you can let the word of God wash over you, I trust that you can do this. 554 00:45:21.645 --> 00:45:22.478 And even more, 555 00:45:26.335 --> 00:45:30.355 not only is he asking these men to choose to trust each other 556 00:45:31.535 --> 00:45:33.395 and to choose to trust him as Paul, 557 00:45:34.495 --> 00:45:36.825 he's also asking him to choose to trust God. 558 00:45:40.215 --> 00:45:44.105 I told you this is a small book, but it's so powerful 559 00:45:45.905 --> 00:45:48.045 and he knows that these men have work to do still, 560 00:45:48.945 --> 00:45:53.844 but call Paul advocates for them to start the work of reconciling trust. 561 00:45:55.625 --> 00:45:57.085 You know, in a rebuilding of trust. 562 00:45:58.835 --> 00:46:03.364 What I've seen as the greatest weapon to help along the journey 563 00:46:04.665 --> 00:46:09.035 is our simple dependence on Jesus Christ. You know, 564 00:46:09.036 --> 00:46:12.555 I think oftentimes in the church we put things in such high regard, uh, 565 00:46:12.556 --> 00:46:16.075 our relationships with people, our time, what we're doing, how we're serving, 566 00:46:16.076 --> 00:46:17.675 where we're going, what's happening. 567 00:46:17.815 --> 00:46:21.155 And sometimes we forget that the first element that should ever happen, 568 00:46:21.375 --> 00:46:24.195 the first person we should ever trust is God. 569 00:46:26.325 --> 00:46:27.158 And there's a reason why, 570 00:46:28.755 --> 00:46:33.695 because God shows us how to trust and he 571 00:46:33.696 --> 00:46:37.594 also shows us how to be trustworthy and, 572 00:46:37.795 --> 00:46:38.715 and when we trust God, 573 00:46:38.775 --> 00:46:42.435 he has this way of showing us what is right and what is wrong and where to go 574 00:46:42.436 --> 00:46:45.955 and where not to go, and how to move and proceed through our trust issues. 575 00:46:46.415 --> 00:46:50.075 He guides our steps. The Bible says that man makes his plans, 576 00:46:50.135 --> 00:46:51.675 but God orders his steps. 577 00:46:53.855 --> 00:46:55.995 And that comes with simple trust in Jesus Christ. 578 00:46:57.495 --> 00:47:01.114 And so our focus should always be on Jesus. 579 00:47:02.835 --> 00:47:04.685 Even as we move through these trust issues. 580 00:47:07.225 --> 00:47:10.945 I don't believe that we can truly reconcile. 581 00:47:11.895 --> 00:47:12.385 Without. 582 00:47:12.385 --> 00:47:13.864 Our trust being in the living. God, 583 00:47:15.114 --> 00:47:20.055 maybe you're here today and you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord 584 00:47:20.056 --> 00:47:23.825 and Savior. Can I just say like, 585 00:47:23.826 --> 00:47:27.545 would you please stop at one of our next steps areas and talk to somebody 586 00:47:28.665 --> 00:47:30.925 if you have a desire at all to follow Jesus, 587 00:47:31.065 --> 00:47:32.765 we would love to talk to you about that. 588 00:47:35.025 --> 00:47:39.545 And here's what I know that some of you here you have carried with you into this 589 00:47:40.135 --> 00:47:44.705 body of believers, some trust issues, maybe from your relationships, 590 00:47:46.535 --> 00:47:48.905 some trust issues, maybe from a previous church 591 00:47:50.555 --> 00:47:54.815 or maybe when you got here 'cause we're not exempt from the trust issues. 592 00:47:56.425 --> 00:47:59.094 Maybe we somehow broke your church. Trust is the church. 593 00:48:01.245 --> 00:48:05.565 Can I just offer to you an opportunity to rebuild that trust 594 00:48:07.405 --> 00:48:09.364 by first relying on Jesus Christ 595 00:48:11.065 --> 00:48:13.245 and then my second offering an opportunity 596 00:48:16.105 --> 00:48:16.938 to do better. 597 00:48:20.315 --> 00:48:22.175 Our trust was always meant to be in God. 598 00:48:23.614 --> 00:48:25.275 And I know that sometimes this gets messy. 599 00:48:27.505 --> 00:48:29.344 Anytime you let a whole lot of people into something, 600 00:48:30.045 --> 00:48:33.585 you better expect it to get messy because we have a sin nature. 601 00:48:37.255 --> 00:48:41.355 And the devil will love nothing more than for us to stop trusting each other and 602 00:48:41.356 --> 00:48:43.594 to be stopped in the move of the church. Now listen, 603 00:48:43.895 --> 00:48:45.835 God is sovereign and he is gonna do his work. 604 00:48:46.015 --> 00:48:48.114 So the trust issues don't slow us down, 605 00:48:50.895 --> 00:48:52.435 But there's work that needs to be done 606 00:48:54.655 --> 00:48:57.195 and he wants to use us, his church to do that. 607 00:49:00.315 --> 00:49:01.148 I told you earlier 608 00:49:02.825 --> 00:49:05.715 that maybe the two things that are the best when it comes down to restoring 609 00:49:05.716 --> 00:49:08.275 trust are first this posture of forgiveness. 610 00:49:10.575 --> 00:49:12.275 And so just for a moment, as a pastor, 611 00:49:14.614 --> 00:49:16.555 as a member of the body of Christ 612 00:49:18.655 --> 00:49:20.435 and as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, 613 00:49:22.715 --> 00:49:25.755 I just wanna offer you the most sincere apology. 614 00:49:28.415 --> 00:49:31.915 And I don't even know what may have happened in your circumstances or any could. 615 00:49:32.114 --> 00:49:35.195 I don't know what has happened, but I can tell you like 616 00:49:37.445 --> 00:49:38.278 we're sorry. 617 00:49:41.755 --> 00:49:43.295 And I also want to encourage you 618 00:49:46.685 --> 00:49:50.575 to maybe begin the journey again of rebuilding trust. 619 00:49:53.535 --> 00:49:55.575 And that may mean that you start with a conversation. 620 00:49:55.755 --> 00:49:57.935 We would love to have that conversation with you. 621 00:49:59.405 --> 00:50:02.265 You could stop at the next steps area or grab one of our staff members, 622 00:50:02.605 --> 00:50:05.465 let 'em know what you're walking through and they would do everything they can 623 00:50:05.844 --> 00:50:06.677 to serve you. 624 00:50:08.795 --> 00:50:12.985 Maybe it starts with some time of prayer before the Lord where you just need to 625 00:50:13.205 --> 00:50:16.305 let something go that's been bugging you and you've been carrying it from church 626 00:50:16.485 --> 00:50:17.505 to church to church. 627 00:50:17.795 --> 00:50:22.025 Maybe it's time to lay it down at the altar and let Jesus do the work of 628 00:50:22.215 --> 00:50:23.945 restoring trust in you. 629 00:50:26.905 --> 00:50:28.965 Or maybe it's an opportunity for the first time 630 00:50:30.585 --> 00:50:32.205 to accept him as your Lord and Savior 631 00:50:34.505 --> 00:50:38.685 and let him do the work of restoring trust in your life. 632 00:50:40.645 --> 00:50:42.844 Whatever it is. I want to encourage you today to take a step of faith. 633 00:50:44.805 --> 00:50:48.985 I wanna take a moment now to simply pray for you. Father God, 634 00:50:49.065 --> 00:50:51.305 I thank you for your grace and mercy. I thank you for your love. 635 00:50:51.945 --> 00:50:55.785 I thank you God for your word because it reaches into the depths of our hearts 636 00:50:56.844 --> 00:51:01.025 and it changes us from the inside out. Father, 637 00:51:01.026 --> 00:51:02.145 this is hard stuff, 638 00:51:03.485 --> 00:51:07.265 but if we as the church are gonna be what you would have us to be, 639 00:51:07.575 --> 00:51:08.985 it's work that needs to be done. 640 00:51:12.585 --> 00:51:13.125 So Father, 641 00:51:13.125 --> 00:51:16.645 I pray for every person walking through trust issues in this very moment. 642 00:51:16.965 --> 00:51:20.325 I pray for all of us as the church as a whole, not just this church, 643 00:51:20.326 --> 00:51:23.805 this one expression, but the whole expression of the church, the big C church, 644 00:51:23.915 --> 00:51:27.965 that we would begin to get this more right as we move forward. 645 00:51:29.825 --> 00:51:30.805 Father, help us. 646 00:51:34.765 --> 00:51:36.425 We want to have a body of believers 647 00:51:38.405 --> 00:51:41.225 who walks in the trust of the Lord 648 00:51:42.945 --> 00:51:47.305 And the trust of each other. And we need your power to do that. 649 00:51:49.005 --> 00:51:51.655 We thank you in Jesus' name. 650 00:51:52.945 --> 00:51:53.778 Amen.