WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.240 Well today Paul finally comes out with it. 2 00:00:02.279 --> 00:00:06.639 As he is trying to defend his authority and apostleship, 3 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:09.240 he finally comes out and says, Okay, fine, you want 4 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:10.480 to know, I'll. 5 00:00:10.279 --> 00:00:12.039 Tell you he's been hitting at this for a while 6 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:13.679 and finally he's just going to drop it all on 7 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:16.559 us in these fifteen verses. So he's Chris and I'm Jeff, 8 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:17.760 and we're the Bible guys. 9 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:33.359 Well, we are supposed to do a draft because our 10 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:34.479 listeners are. 11 00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:37.039 Only Super Bowl only just very very close. 12 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:38.840 Yes, that's right to the Super Bowl, and. 13 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:42.399 So we are filming this just to be candid. This 14 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:45.960 is way back in December, so today's December twenty ninth. 15 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.200 We're filming this, that's right, So it's not even the 16 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:48.799 first of the year. 17 00:00:49.479 --> 00:00:51.439 However, our listeners are going to be listening to this 18 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:54.840 sometime like end of January. So keep in mind that 19 00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:58.119 if we make this prediction, we are weeks behind it. 20 00:00:58.439 --> 00:00:59.640 I feel like we had to say. 21 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:01.479 That, Oh I don't think so. I think that you've 22 00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:03.840 already got some clinched teams. So it just just be 23 00:01:04.519 --> 00:01:05.879 just be you know, courageous. 24 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:07.599 Yeah, but we're supposed to draft who we think is 25 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:09.719 going to the Super Bowl. Yeah, that's okay, So we 26 00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:10.959 may draft somebody who's out. 27 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:11.439 Yeah. 28 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:13.359 Well, I mean that's the whole idea behind the draft. 29 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:15.200 Not everything's guaranteed in the draft. 30 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:17.680 Right, But what I'm saying is I don't want I 31 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:19.480 don't want. I don't want anybody at the end of 32 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:23.239 January to think, Okay, aren't they aren't they goofy, don't 33 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:24.000 they know the record? 34 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:26.480 Well so so anyway, so stick with. 35 00:01:26.439 --> 00:01:28.599 Clinched teams then you know they're in the playoffs at least. 36 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:29.719 All right, Well, let's do our draft. 37 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:31.760 We're going to do three teams each, okay, and we're 38 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:34.439 gonna do rock paper scissors One two three? 39 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:38.200 Shoot? Ready, right, one two three? Shoot? Oh that's okay. 40 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:40.799 First, so he gets it. I had I had scissors, 41 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:41.280 he had rock. 42 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:44.079 Yes, So I'm going to go with the Eagles. 43 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:45.040 Oh really? 44 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:45.560 Yeah? 45 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:47.280 Good because that left the team that's going to win 46 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:49.840 the Super Bowl, that's the Bills, you think, so oh yeah, absolutely? 47 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:50.480 Yeah? 48 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:53.920 Okay, all right then and then my next draft on. 49 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:56.519 My team is the Minnesota Vikings. 50 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:59.799 Really yes, So I'm going to choose exactly the opposite. 51 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:01.280 I think that the forty nine Ers are going to 52 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:03.680 knock off the Vikings, you think so, I do, Yeah, 53 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:05.560 I just I don't think that. I think the Vikings 54 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:06.159 are fraudulent. 55 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:11.759 Team wow wow, well do your friend down Cousins isn't 56 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:13.240 gonna be happy about that prediction. 57 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.719 Well, I didn't say his son was yeah. 58 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:19.759 Yeah, okay, and then I'm going to go with. 59 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:26.120 I'm gonna go with the Chiefs. Oh see, I don't 60 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:26.919 like the Chiefs either. 61 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:29.240 I'm done. I'm done with the Chiefs. Chiefs need to 62 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:32.120 be done. Okay, So what are we at now? Is 63 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:32.919 this my third pick? 64 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:33.879 Yeah, it's your third pick. 65 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:34.840 It's my third pick. 66 00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:37.000 I think, I think, I know you're gonna pick. 67 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:41.000 Oh, the Lions. 68 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:43.680 You know what. 69 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:48.800 So so, by the way, I can almost guarantee that 70 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:49.560 they're not gonna happen. 71 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:49.879 No. 72 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:51.719 No, what I'm saying is, by the time people listen 73 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:54.639 to this, they're like they're like, they're like, dude, they're out. 74 00:02:57.960 --> 00:02:58.159 Right. 75 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:01.639 By the way, would it be funny if if at 76 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:04.199 the end of January, we're talking about this in December 77 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:07.159 and they're they're in yeah yeah, yeah, maybe that right, 78 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:08.360 drinking the blue kool aid. 79 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:09.039 You never know? 80 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:11.840 So well, I do know, I know for sure that's 81 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:13.960 not gonna happen. I just did to be funny. 82 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:18.199 Yeah, Well, the ones to watch the fun uh AFC 83 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:21.800 would be the Lions to watch, and then the Cowboys 84 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:22.599 I think would be fun. 85 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:25.360 So I think I think the Bengals have a legit shot. 86 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:27.360 To be honest with you, I really do. 87 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:29.080 Yeah, that's why I thought you were gonna choose. 88 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:31.680 Yeah, that's what okay. Anyways, and I. 89 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:33.800 Think another fun to watch in the NFC would be 90 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:37.919 the Dolphins, right, that was a really interesting game, yes, 91 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:42.560 just recently, and then Jags, I think Jags. 92 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:46.560 So football is always fun, and especially you know, once 93 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:49.199 you get to a playoff situation, it's like a whole 94 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:52.000 new season and so you know, it's a one and 95 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:55.479 done kind of a thing, and you know, those things 96 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:57.759 are fun to do, fun to pay attention to. Yeah, 97 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:00.800 and I usually like the grilling and all the or 98 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.599 dervs and snacks centered around the Super Bowl. 99 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:06.360 Because we mentioned this in a service and the fall kickoff. 100 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:10.000 I want to let everybody know that currently right now, 101 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:13.520 being December, we have one more week left in my 102 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:18.240 Fantasy football League four and I'm actually in the championship 103 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:19.000 for the Super Bowl. 104 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.720 And so am I and that's in my league in 105 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:24.519 your league. Yeah. The funny thing is I'm in your league. 106 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:26.959 Yes, the other it's the Church League, the good league, 107 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:30.199 the league that's really hard to win at is the 108 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:30.759 league that. 109 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:34.439 You're no, no, no, hey, I'm in a twelve team 110 00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:35.399 league in the other league. 111 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:37.120 You're in a twelve team league in this league. 112 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:38.680 Of what I'm saying is they're both legit. 113 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:41.839 So you know, the only difference is the other league 114 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:44.399 that I'm in is a five hundred dollars cash prize. 115 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:45.040 Oh wow. 116 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:47.000 Yeah, so if I win, it's a five hundred our 117 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:47.560 cash prize. 118 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:50.680 So I'm really super open and I have one week 119 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:53.240 to go, and I'm forty five points ahead. 120 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:56.720 The Heritage the Heritage League, you get a super Bowl 121 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:59.759 trophy and a diamond ring. It's a fake Diamon ring, 122 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.360 but a great, big, giant super Bowl. 123 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:01.639 Yeah. 124 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:04.399 It actually looks fun and it's funny. 125 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:07.199 Yeah, So I'll probably win that this week, just so 126 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:07.480 you know. 127 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:11.879 At least I'm at least I'm not lasting that. 128 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:12.480 Least all right. 129 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:15.720 So the things we do, we the diversions that we 130 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:17.480 distract ourselves with, right. 131 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:18.480 This is fun. 132 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.240 Mostly what it does in the office is it just 133 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:24.279 creates a lot of trash talk. Everybody walking around harassing 134 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:26.720 each other and you know, making me feel like I 135 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.959 probably need this fire a few of these people. So uh, 136 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:34.720 as as Chris said at the beginning, this is where 137 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:35.560 we've talked about it. 138 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:36.839 We kind of set the table a few times. 139 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:39.959 Hey, Paul's going to start bragging about his his record, 140 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:42.519 and he's going to start bragging about his you know, 141 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:45.399 his achievements, those kinds of things. So if you notice 142 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.720 through this whole book, he talks for a minute about 143 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:50.639 false teachers, and then he talks about his track record, 144 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:52.360 and then he talks about a couple of things at 145 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:53.680 the beat they need to crack, and then he goes 146 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:55.680 back to his track record and false teachers. 147 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:56.120 He kind of does. 148 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:59.600 It's it's almost like his his style of talking to 149 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:02.839 the cre is to give you a little bit and 150 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:04.800 then to back off and change the subject for a minute, 151 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:06.360 and then to give you a little bit of that 152 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:08.319 and back off and change the subject for a minute. 153 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:11.879 Instead of just pounding them over and over and over 154 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:14.759 from start to finish and proving that he won. It's like, 155 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:16.600 you know, I'm going to give you some bad news. 156 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:18.160 But then go ahead and digest that while I talk 157 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:19.519 about something else. And I'm going to give you some 158 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:21.680 bad news and digest that while I talk about something else. 159 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:24.560 That's kind of what he's doing here. So now, finally 160 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:26.399 this is where he drops the bomb, and he goes, 161 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:30.240 come on, these super apostles, as we were talking about yesterday, 162 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:32.399 they're in here. They're willing to collect money from you, 163 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:35.240 they're willing to have prestige among you, but they haven't 164 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:37.680 paid any of the price. So if they want to 165 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:40.360 brag about their achievements, let me tell you about my achievements, 166 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:43.600 right right, And so it was. He's frustrated with the 167 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:47.000 whole thing. He's embarrassed that he's doing it, but he 168 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:48.639 feels it's necessary. 169 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:50.040 Yep, So here we go. 170 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:54.959 In verse sixteen in chapter eleven, he says again, I say, 171 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:56.959 I don't think I'm a fool to talk like this, 172 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:58.959 but even if you do, listen to me as you 173 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:00.879 would do a foolish person while I boast a little. 174 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:03.680 Such boasting is not from the Lord. But I'm acting 175 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:06.480 like a fool. And since others boast about their human achievements, 176 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:09.240 I will too. After all, you think You're so wise, 177 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:11.600 but you enjoy putting up with fools. You put up 178 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.600 with it even when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, 179 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:18.360 takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps 180 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:20.319 you in the face. I'm ashamed to say that we've 181 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:23.199 been too weak to do that. But whatever they dare 182 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:26.199 to boast about, I'm talking like a fool again, I 183 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:29.120 dare to boast about it too. Are they Hebrews? So 184 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.639 am I are the Israelites? So am I are the 185 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:34.720 descendants of Abraham? So am I are they servants of Christ? 186 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:36.680 I know I sound like a madman, but I've started 187 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:39.560 doing far more. I've worked harder, been put in prison 188 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:43.399 more often, been whipped times without number, face death again 189 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.199 and again five different times. The Jewish leaders gave me 190 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:49.759 thirty nine lashes three times. I was beaten with rods once, 191 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:52.720 I was stoned three times. I was shipwrecked once. I 192 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.879 spent a whole night in a day adrift at sea. 193 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:58.240 I've traveled on many long journeys. I've faced danger from 194 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:00.879 rivers and from robbers, and I've faced danger from my 195 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:03.160 own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. 196 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:05.480 I face danger in the cities, in the deserts and 197 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:07.959 on the seas, I face danger from men who claim 198 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:11.199 to be believers but are not. I've worked hard and long, 199 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:14.439 and during many sleepless nights, I've been hungry and thirsty, 200 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:17.199 have often gone without food. I've shivered in the cold, 201 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:21.519 without even enough clothes to keep me warm. Then, besides 202 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:23.879 all this, I have the daily burden of my concern 203 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:26.920 for all the churches. Who's weak without my feeling that weakness, 204 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:29.120 who has led astray? And I do not burn with 205 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:31.920 anger if I must boast, I would rather boast about 206 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.440 the things that show how weak I am. God, the 207 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:37.720 father of our lord, Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, 208 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:40.200 knows I'm not lying. When I was in Damascus, the 209 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:43.399 governor under King Ratus kept guards at the city gates 210 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:45.080 to catch me. I had to be lowered in a 211 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:47.559 basket through a window in the city wall to escape 212 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:48.440 from him. 213 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:52.759 There it is so, there's once again, you know, Paul 214 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:56.600 has this way of throwing down the supreme example, and 215 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:00.360 you know he's certainly qualified to do so. If there 216 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:03.279 was anybody who was you know, uh, you know, who 217 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:06.679 set the prime example, it would be Paula and and 218 00:09:06.759 --> 00:09:09.840 you know what, he doesn't boast. You know, you can 219 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:13.399 hear his hesitancy. He says, Hey, he's you know, he says, 220 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.159 I know this sounds foolish. He goes, I really, what 221 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:19.200 he's saying is this. I view anyone who does this 222 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:19.919 as foolish. 223 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:20.960 But you're no. 224 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:24.519 Strangers to listening to fools, right. In fact, you've let 225 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:27.440 other fools come in and they basically take you for 226 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:29.679 everything you have, and they'll slap you and you'll thank 227 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:31.960 you for it, right, right, So he says, if you're 228 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:35.000 going to listen to them that way, then hey, listen 229 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.000 to me this way, because you know, I'm going to 230 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:39.360 talk with a foolish and a madman, right, but I'm 231 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:42.000 gonna I'm gonna lay it down for you because you know, 232 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:44.840 nobody has the you know, right to brag like I do. 233 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:47.639 Yeah, it's just a tactic, right, That's that's what he's 234 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:49.519 doing here. It's fine. This is what they do to 235 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:52.159 you all the time. If that's all you listen to, right, 236 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:54.639 And if that's all you need, listen to my resume 237 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:56.639 on this one, right, If you're just looking for how 238 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:59.879 impressive somebody's life is Okay, let me drop this one, 239 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:02.399 because there's nobody that has put up with what I've 240 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.080 had to put up with. 241 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:08.000 So my life application study Bible notes have an interesting 242 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:10.679 thing here. It says, because Paul wrote this letter during 243 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:15.559 his third missionary journey in Acts eighteen through twenty one, 244 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:19.279 his excuse me, his trials were not over. He would 245 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:23.519 experience yet further difficulties and humiliations for the cause of Christ. 246 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:25.840 And then it says see Acts twenty one, which will 247 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.919 eventually get to. 248 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.039 Acts twenty two. 249 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:31.840 Paul was sacrificing his life for the good News, something 250 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.000 his false teachers would never do. The trials and hurts 251 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:39.279 we experience for Christ's sake, build our character, demonstrate our faith, 252 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:42.679 and prepare us for further service for the Lord. I 253 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:46.480 think it's interesting how it pointed out and that we're 254 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:49.080 about to see that Paul's trials weren't over. He was 255 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:52.039 in the midst of it, right And by the way, 256 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:53.759 we don't really know when we're in. 257 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:55.080 The midst of it. We don't know when it's going 258 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:55.559 to end. 259 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.840 Paul lists everything and we perceive it as something that's 260 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:01.559 all in the past, but he's in the grind of it. 261 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:02.519 Right now. 262 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:07.080 It's almost incomprehensible to us. In our culture. You know, 263 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:10.039 we wake up in the morning and go on a Sunday. Gee, 264 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:12.000 do we want to go to church today? So many 265 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.039 other things. I don't feel like it, I'm sleepy, it's 266 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:19.159 cold outside, whatever, and so you know, we don't think 267 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:22.919 of if I go with it, be with the other Christians, 268 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:25.960 I might be stoned to death, or I might get arrested, 269 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:29.159 or I might be attacked if I share my faith 270 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:33.200 at work, you know today somebody might think, oh, you know, 271 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:36.600 I might have a coworker who looks at me sideways, 272 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:40.440 or I might get passed over for a promotion, or 273 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:43.200 you know, I might get called into HR. But we're 274 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:46.200 not thinking I just might get you know, beat to death. 275 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:47.559 Yeah on this right. 276 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:52.279 You know, do you remember the Columbine shooting. Yeah, so 277 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:54.840 the Columbine shooting. Goodness, it was like what mid nineties. 278 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:56.080 Yeah, yeah, it's terrible. 279 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:57.799 So we were both youth pastors of the test. 280 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:00.600 I was, so I was a high school master of 281 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:02.320 a bunch of students, and we went up to this 282 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:05.840 camp and that was one of the first sort of 283 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:10.720 mainstream shootings because unfortunately, there have been many right, which 284 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:14.360 is just a terrible topic, terrible, but anyway, in this 285 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:18.200 particular case, the guys, the two guys doing the shooting, 286 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:22.399 were somehow interested in people who believed in God. And 287 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:25.759 there was a girl named Cassie Bernal, and Cassie Bernall's 288 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.879 father wrote a book called She Said Yes, and he 289 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:31.360 was our guest speaker at this camp. And then they 290 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:36.600 actually loaded from Denver the twelve crosses that were actually 291 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:39.279 at the funeral with all the notes from all the 292 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:42.559 other students that were still on the crosses. And so 293 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:46.039 we had fifteen hundred students from you know, from Georgia 294 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.440 and from Ohio and from all around the mid East, 295 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:52.759 you know, Midwest who actually were able to just sort 296 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:56.720 of walk and read all the notes. It was very heavy, 297 00:12:56.840 --> 00:13:01.320 very somber. And then Cassie Bernall's father spoke, and the 298 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:03.200 entire book was based on this fact. 299 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:05.039 And this is sort of the point of the story. 300 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.720 Where they were they were in the library and they 301 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:09.879 were looking, they were pointing the guns of people and 302 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:13.919 saying do you believe in God? And the kids, depending 303 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:16.440 on their answer, they would get shot. And then they 304 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:20.200 found Cassie under her desk knowing knowing that if she 305 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:23.279 said yes, she would get shot, and and they said. 306 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:25.440 Do you believe in God? And she paused, and she 307 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:28.320 said yes, and then they shot her, killed her. 308 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:32.799 And so it's just this idea of like, you and 309 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:37.120 I have absolutely no idea how we would respond in 310 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.480 that situation, and we hope we would be the person 311 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:40.200 who says yes. 312 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:42.759 And none of us you know, face. 313 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:46.240 Uh, you know our we don't have to measure our faith, 314 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:48.519 you know, up against situations like that. 315 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.639 But Paul did, Yeah, well, you know, this is kind 316 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:54.480 of the paradox of faith, and this is one of 317 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:57.759 the paradoxes of having an eternal view, which is a 318 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:59.559 big part of the challenge of Second Corinthy is it's 319 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:02.320 a look into you know, look to eternity, not just 320 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:05.240 to these temporal things. And for her, in that moment, 321 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.840 she said yes and was immediately standing before the one 322 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.240 she chose that's right, right, right. So for us, what 323 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:15.799 a loss, what a shame. This is a horrible thing, 324 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:18.000 and it is it's a tragedy. I'm not minimizing that 325 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:21.840 at all. For her, it was yes and immediately standing 326 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.879 in the truth of what she claims she believed, right 327 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.679 in that moment. And so the more you be convinced, 328 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:30.159 become convinced of eternity, the less afraid you are of 329 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:33.600 entering it right. And so sure there's terror all those things. 330 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:36.039 Just just like Paul said in the previous chapter, Yeah, I've 331 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:38.759 been afraid, but man, it's worth it. So then he 332 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.679 gives you this laundry list of all the times that 333 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:42.679 you know, I was afraid, and these are the things 334 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:46.039 that happen. You know, God's goal for us is not 335 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:49.279 to protect us from every single problem. God's goal is 336 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:51.080 for us to become more and more like Jesus and 337 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.840 to be effective on the mission he has us on 338 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:55.759 until the day he decides to reward us and promote 339 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:58.679 us by taking us to heaven. And in that day 340 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:01.639 it'll all makes sense, It'll all be worth it. I 341 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.879 think of the you know, I've talked about this a 342 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:06.679 lot on the podcast, the different people that I've met 343 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.320 around the world, you know, through the Timothy initiative as. 344 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:10.279 We start churches. 345 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:15.639 Heard a story just recently a guy in Vietnam that 346 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.519 they had come and told him, you're not a lot 347 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:20.080 of plant churches, and it was people in the village. 348 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:21.879 This isn't government stuff. This is just people in the 349 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.679 village who were angry that this guy is sharing the gospel, 350 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:27.080 and they threatened him a few times. Finally they begin 351 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:30.759 to chase him. They chased him down and he's running 352 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:32.840 as fast as he can't, trying to get away, and 353 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.840 they just slashed him from top of his face to 354 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.200 bottom like this and cut him up and beat him 355 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:40.399 up and left him for dead. And then they went 356 00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:43.120 and got his mother and his sister and tied them up, 357 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.360 threatened to kill them. He wound up getting some help 358 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:47.200 and they wound up setting his mother and sister free. 359 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:52.120 But he came away going, what am I doing that 360 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.759 even my mother and my sister are threatened by the work. 361 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.679 And he said, all I can do is trust that 362 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:01.519 God will take care of us, protect my mother and 363 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:05.399 my sister. I can't stop telling people about Jesus. And 364 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:09.279 I think, man alive, Do I have that kind of guts? 365 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.120 Do I have that Christian? Because in his mind, who 366 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:13.480 else is going to say anything? It's in a community 367 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:16.960 where there's no other Christians. So the only way to 368 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:19.679 get the gospel to these people is to go through 369 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:21.440 the suffering in order to reach the people that are 370 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:26.080 necessary and that has been the story of Christianity for 371 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:30.399 two thousand years. We have the extreme luxury of living 372 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:34.519 in a country that has religious freedom. It's beyond comprehension 373 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:38.080 how incredible this luxury of religious freedom is. But it 374 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:41.320 also tends to make soft Christians a little bit. And 375 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:43.600 so I think that we have to choose to be strong, 376 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:47.879 otherwise we will be you know, we will just naturally 377 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:51.799 become weak. But around the world, even today, there's tens 378 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:54.559 of thousands of people who struggle and suffer because of 379 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:57.600 the Gospel, and you know, God is good in the 380 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.120 middle of that. 381 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:02.360 Yeah, yeah, I heard similar stories in Cuba, you know, 382 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:05.920 back when, back when persecution was really high, and yeah, 383 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:08.039 it's amazing. And you go and you interview these people, 384 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:11.079 you meet with these people, and you know which, of course, 385 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:12.960 you know, you and I have the privilege of doing sure, 386 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:16.240 because of our because of our job. But you know, 387 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:18.279 you meet those people and you're like, You're like, man, 388 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:21.160 I'm a I'm a piece of garbage, right, I mean, 389 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:23.559 that's what makes you feel like, You're like, I'm not 390 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:27.200 sure that I'm you know, really as strong as I 391 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:30.119 think I am because I don't have to face any 392 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:30.960 of these things, well. 393 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.799 They inspire me. 394 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:34.000 They so on one side, I feel like I'm not 395 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.279 worthy to carry their bags, right, you know what I mean. 396 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:38.279 On the other side, I'm like, I want to be 397 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:42.039 right right, so i don't feel like I'm garbage and 398 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:44.039 I'm never going to measure up. When I see somebody 399 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.039 like that, they become my heroes, and I'm like, I 400 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.039 want to be like that. I want to believe. Now, 401 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:51.720