Authentic Grace
Series: AUTHENTIC
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 6th October 2019
Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
00:00:00 --> 00:00:12 It would be good if you grab a sermon's handout today
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 or actually grab a transcript because that may be helpful for you.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 I actually forgot to do an English-only transcript,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 so choose a simplified traditional.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 They are all the same in the English part.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:33 Have you or your family ever been to a treetop experience yet?
00:00:34 --> 00:00:39 One that you do obstacles from high above ground,
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 you do flying forks, and you climb road nets.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:49 We went a couple of years ago with a couple of other families.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53 While the youngest kids have their own little program,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:54 little course to go through,
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 the older children join us to do the junior and adult course.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 The term and condition says,
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 practitioner must be 10 years and older,
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 at least 1.4 meters tall,
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 and under 120 kilograms.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 One adult must accompany a junior
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 to make sure they follow all the safety instructions
00:01:21 --> 00:01:27 and get no exception to age, size, or weight.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:33 So we start on the easier course,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:37 and the course gets longer and harder as we approach lunch.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 It was still a lot of fun,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 and kids have a great time.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 However, I noticed that every time
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 when I fly back to the platform,
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 the wheel will get so hard,
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 it will stop short,
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 about 10 to 20 meters away from the platform.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:58 So I literally, the whole morning,
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 was doing this.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 For the last, every course I've gone through.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 And there is a weight limit
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 on the condition for entry for a very good reason.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 Even though I'm under that weight limit,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 I'm very close to it as well.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:21 So while experiencing the challenge on top of the tree,
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 I have my weight and the gravity as my enemy,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 which is very hard to overcome.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:31 However,
00:02:31 --> 00:02:35 the enemies that Paul is facing in 2 Corinthians
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 are beyond what we can imagine.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 Paul is facing enemies from within and without,
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 from those that were his colleagues,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 went to the same school with him,
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 pursued the same ideal with him
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 before he became a Christian.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 People that are his kinsmen,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 but now trace after him to destroy everything
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 he worked hard to build.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 It started as soon as
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 he became a follower of Jesus.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 What he mentioned in 2 Corinthians,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 the last will of chapter 11,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 would most likely be the same incident
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 that happened in Acts chapter 9,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 verse 22 to 25.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 Straight after he became a follower of Christ,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 he was preaching about Jesus in Damascus.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 And it says from verse 22,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:32 Saul grew more and more powerful
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 and baffled the Jews living in Damascus
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 by proving that Jesus is a Messiah.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 After many days had gone by,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 there was a conspiracy among the Jews
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 who killed him.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 But Saul learns of their plan.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:47 Day and night,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 they kept close watch on the city gate
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 in order to kill him.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 But his followers took him by night
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 and lowered him in a basket
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 for an opening in the wall.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 If you follow along Acts,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 you will see the suffering Paul
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 go through for the sake of Christ.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 In chapter 9, verse 26,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 it says people are afraid of him,
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 not believing he really was a disciple.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 And then,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 just a couple of verses after that,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18 it says he speaks boldly
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 in the name of the Lord,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 talk and debate with
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 Hanunistic Jews,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 but they try to kill him.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 And then I feel a chapter later
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 in Acts 13,
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 in verse 6,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:30 it says,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 in pathos,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 faced with opposition
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 from false prophets and sorcerers.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 And in the same chapter later on,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 when he went to Poseidon's Antioch,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 the Jews were filled with jealousy
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 of their popularity
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 and began to contradict
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 what Paul was saying
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 and heaps abuse on him.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 The Jewish leaders incited
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 the God-feeling women of high standing
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 and the leading men of the city.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 They stirred up persecution
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 against Paul and Barnabas
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 and expelled them from the region.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 We go on in the next chapter,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:09 in Iconium,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 was a plot afoot
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 among both Gentiles and Jews,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 together with the leaders
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 to mistreat them
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 and stone them.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 And later in the same chapter
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 in verse 19,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:23 in Nesra,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 some Jews came from Antioch
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 and Iconium
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 and went to crowd over.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 They stoned Paul
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 and dragged him outside the city,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 thinking he was dead.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:33 Next chapter,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 Paul and Jew,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 a very sharp disagreement
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 with the person
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 that was his mentor
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 and companion
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 and they parted the company.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 A couple of chapters later
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 in chapter 17,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 in Thessalonica,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 some of the Jews
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 were pursued
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 and joined
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 Paul and Silas
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 as did a large number
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 of God-feeling Greeks
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 and quite a few prominent women.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 But other Jews were jealous
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 so they ran off
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 some bad character
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 from the marketplace,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 formed a mob
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 and started a riot
00:06:07 --> 00:06:07 in the city.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 Then later on,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:11 when the Jews
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 in Thessalonica
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 learned that Paul
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 was preaching
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 the word of God
00:06:15 --> 00:06:15 in Berea,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 some of them
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 went there too,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 agitating the crowds
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 and stirring them up.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:24 And then,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 the next chapter
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 in Corinth,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:27 where this,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 what we're looking at today,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 the Jews
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 made a united attack
00:06:32 --> 00:06:32 on Paul
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 and brought him
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 to a place of judgment.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 And next chapter,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:37 the silversmith
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 of Ephesus' idol
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 brought the whole city
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 into an uproar
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 against Paul.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 From Paul
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 become a Christian
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 in chapter 9
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 to chapter 19,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 it's roughly about
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 20 years
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 have passed.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 as at chapter 19
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 is where Paul
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 written the letter
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 that we've seen today.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 With all this
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 happening to Paul,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:06 Paul keep on going,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 telling people
00:07:08 --> 00:07:08 about Jesus,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:10 keep on being
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 an authentic follower
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 of Christ.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 So I'd like to look
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 at three areas
00:07:15 --> 00:07:15 to find out
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 why he can say,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 what he said today
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 in chapter 12
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 of 2 Corinthians.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 The three areas
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 that we look at
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 is not what you know,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 but who you know.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 How are your do
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 or say,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 tell about you,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 and what are you
00:07:36 --> 00:07:36 feeling now?
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 Paul has shared
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 something very intimate
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 in chapter 12
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 of 2 Corinthians.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 In a way,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 it also seems
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 very strange.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 Let's read it again
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 from verse 1.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 2 Corinthians 1.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 I must go on
00:07:56 --> 00:07:56 boasting,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 although there is
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 nothing to be gained.
00:07:59 --> 00:07:59 I will go on
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 to visions
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 and revelations
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 from the Lord.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 I know a man
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 in Christ
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 who 14 years ago
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 was called up
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 to the third heaven.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:10 Whether he was
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 in the body
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 or out of the body,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 I do not know.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 God knows.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 I know that this man,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 whether in the body
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 or out of the body,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 I don't know,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 but God knows,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 was caught up
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 to paradise
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 and heard
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 inexpressible things,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 things that no one
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 is permitted to tell.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 I will boast
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 about a man like that,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:32 but I will not boast
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 about myself
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 except about
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 my weaknesses.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 Paul,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 in this passage,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:39 seems to be talking
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 about himself,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 but in a third-person way.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 He kept this supernatural
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 experience and knowledge
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 for about 14 years
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 without telling anyone.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 I think for a lot of us,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 it's so natural for us
00:08:55 --> 00:08:55 to be drawn
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 to all things
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 that are mysterious.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 It gives us a sense
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 of adrenaline rush,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 like watching horror movies.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:07 We have a very strong
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 curiosity towards
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 things unknown
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 or not permitted,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 especially
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 when we are much younger,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 when our sense of fear
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 and self-protection
00:09:17 --> 00:09:17 or preservation
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 were much weaker.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 Have you ever wondered why?
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 From my observation,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 it has a lot to do
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 with trying to prove
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 that we are capable
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 to be independent.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 We believe
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 once we master
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 the unknown,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 we somehow can
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 master life better.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 We are well on our way
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 to master our own life,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 which means
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 your life will get somewhere.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 And when we think
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 we got it,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 like most kids,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 when they master
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 a new skill,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 what would they do naturally?
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 They would say,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 look at me,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 look at me.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 We like to show
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 what we know
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 or can do.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 But Paul
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 held back
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 for 14 years
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 because even though
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 what he knows
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 and experiences
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 is so great,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 that's not
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 the things
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 that he's chasing after
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 or wanted to boast about.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 It's who he knows
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 that he values
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 and treasure
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 and want to tell people about.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 in chapter 12,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:27 verse 1,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 Paul says,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 those visions
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 and revelations
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 are from the Lord.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 And repeating
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 the fact that
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 he does not know
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 it was
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 in the body
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 or apart
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 from the body
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 experience,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 seems to point
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 to the fact
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 that they have
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 great experience,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 but they are not
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 originated from him.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 There are things
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 outside of him
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 beyond his control,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 so it's not something
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 that he can plan
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 to master
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 or trace after.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 Paul said
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 in 2 Corinthians 11,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 31,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 which is the chapter
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 before that,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 that the God
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 and Father
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 of the Lord Jesus
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 knows what he is doing.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 And twice
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 in our passage,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 we say,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 only God knows
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 what is going on
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 with him.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 He seems very confident
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 that God knows him
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 and he puts himself
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 as a man
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 he knows
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 in Christ.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 Where does he get
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 that sort of confidence?
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 I think he most likely
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 gets it from Jesus
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 because it was exactly
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 what Jesus prayed
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 for his followers
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 in John 17, 26.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 Jesus said to God,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 I have made you
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 known to them
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 and will continue
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 to make you known
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 in order
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 that the love
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 you have for me
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 may be in them
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 and that I myself
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 may be in them.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 Paul is confident
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 that God knows him
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 because Jesus
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 is his mediator,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 because Paul
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 is in Christ
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 and he knows Christ.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 I don't think
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 I need to say
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 much about
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 the value
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 of knowing
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 the right person.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 You'll find out
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 if you ever go
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 to Chayam Cha.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 I always like
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 to go to
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 Yom Cha
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 with certain people
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 because we get
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 a table straight away.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 There's no need
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 to get a number
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 and wait
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 because this person
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 is known
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 by all the captains,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 all the waiters
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 and waitress
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 in the whole restaurant.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 When it comes
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 to understanding
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 about Christianity,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 it's important
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 to ask the right question,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 not to get distracted
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 to chase after
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 some super spiritual
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 experience.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 Our focus
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 in understanding
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 the Bible
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 is to know
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 who we should believe
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 and to be known
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 by him.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 In 1131,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 it says,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 God and Father
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 of the Lord Jesus
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 is to be praised
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 forever.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 Why is that so?
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 What does this verse
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 tell you
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 about the relationship
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 between Jesus
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 and God the Father?
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 Why do we call
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 Jesus the Lord?
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 Those are questions
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 we should be asking
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 when we read
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 God's Word
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 in the Bible.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 If you are just
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 looking into
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 Christianity,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 those are very helpful
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 questions to keep
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 in mind.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 But if you are
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 a follower
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 of Jesus Christ,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 no matter how long
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 you have been one,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 it's even more
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 important for us
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 to ask why
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 we call
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 Jesus our Lord.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 Who is Jesus
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 to you?
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 Who is God
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 to you?
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 The God
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 and Father
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 of the Lord Jesus
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 is to be praised
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 forever
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 because of the
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 gospel
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 that reveals
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 God's grace
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 to us.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 God sent
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 his Son
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 into the world
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 to live a perfect
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 life,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 die as a substitute
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 for sinners,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 absorb the anger
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 of God,
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 take away
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 our guilt,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 provide the gift
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 of right standing
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 before God,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 and give
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 eternal joy
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 through faith
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 in the Lord
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 Jesus alone,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 apart from any
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 words or
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 obedience on
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 our behalf.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 This quote
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 is printed
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 in our handout
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 today because
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 it's so important.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 I want you
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 to be able
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 to go and
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 revisit this quote
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 whenever you
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 can.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 That is such
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 a great message
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 to be shared,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 but very often
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 we confuse
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 the greatness
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 of the message
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 with the greatness
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 of the message
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 bearer,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 the messenger.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 We think
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 a great experience
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 and great knowledge
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 add value
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 to our life,
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 and when we
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 think God
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 would,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 a voice inside
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 us would cry out
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 saying,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 look at me,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 look at me,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 that Paul did not
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 boast about himself
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 or the great
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 spiritual experience.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 He said in
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 verse 6
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 of chapter 12,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 even if I
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 should choose
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 to boast,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 I will not
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 be a fool
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 because I will
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 be speaking
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 the truth,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 but I refrain
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 so no one
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 will think
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 more of me
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 than is warned
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 by what I do
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 or say,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 or because of
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 this suppressing
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 great revelation.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 Therefore,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 in order to
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 keep me from
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 becoming conceited,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 I was given
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 a thorn
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 in my flesh,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 a message
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 of Satan
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 to torment me.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 Paul said
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 he did not
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 want anyone
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 to think
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 more of him
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 than is warned
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 by what he
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 do or say,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 or because of
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 this suppressing
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 great revelation.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 Because we
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 want to build
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 a certain
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 perception
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 in others'
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 mind,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 we want others
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 to think of us
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 or value us
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 in a certain
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 way.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 We sometimes
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 talk ourselves
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 up,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 or talk
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 ourselves
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 down.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 We say
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 one thing
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 but we
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 go and
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 do others.
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 So,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 it's what
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 you do
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 and say
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 really match
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 up.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 If you
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 call yourself
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 a Christian,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 are you
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 really living
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 out your
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 life as
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 a follower
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 of Christ?
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 Paul warns
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 us not
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 to do
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 things like
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 a fool,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 even when
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 we are
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 boasting.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 How does
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 a fool
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 live out
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 their life?
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 Well,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 they will
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 always be
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 looking for
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 something to
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 gain.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 or ask
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 him what
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 is in
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 it for
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 me.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 A fool
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 definitely
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 cannot hold
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 on to
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 a suppressing
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 grace
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 revelation
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 for 14
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 years.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 They will
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 tell things
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 that is not
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 permitted
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 if they
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 could make
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 others think
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 more of
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 them.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 A fool
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 will not
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 be speaking
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 the truth
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 and will
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 not be
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 able to
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 refrain
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 themselves
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 from
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 becoming
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 conceited.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 But who
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 can really
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 keep
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 oneself
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 from
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 becoming
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 conceited?
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 Who
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 can really
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 keep
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 themselves
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 from
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 chasing
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 after
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 fame
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 or
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 from
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 talking
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 themselves
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 up?
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 Even
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 Paul
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 said he
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 was
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 given
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 a thorn
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 in his
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 flesh
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 to keep
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 him
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 from
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 becoming
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 conceited,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 a messenger
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 of Satan
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 to torment
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 him.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 He was
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 given
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 some kind
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 of physical
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 suffering
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 to keep
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 him from
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 puffing
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 himself
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 up.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:16 What is
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 your view
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 on
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 suffering?
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 Suffering
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 is such
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 a
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 mysterious
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 mystery
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 that we
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 could not
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 be able
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 to work
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 out within
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 our
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 lifetime.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 We can
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 be suffering
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 for many
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 different
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 reasons.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 One
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 person can
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 be suffering
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 because it's
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 a natural
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 occurrence of
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 their body
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 of being
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 a human
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 as they
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 are growing
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 and heading
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 towards a
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 grave.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:43 I remember
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 a friend
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 telling me
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 that her
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 kid is
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 so sensitive
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 to pain
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 that as
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 they are
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 growing and
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 their body
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 are stretching,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 they need
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 painkiller to
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 ease off
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 their discomfort.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 Someone
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 can also
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 be suffering
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 as a
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 consequence
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 of being
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 foolish
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 or sinful,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 disobedient
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 to God,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 engaging in
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 behavior that
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 end up
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 hurting
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 themselves
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 and others.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 As I
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 have mentioned
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 earlier,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 we all
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 have a
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 natural
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 tendency
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 and
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 inclination
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 to be
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 independent
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 and be
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 a master
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 of our
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 life.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 That in
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 itself is
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 nothing wrong
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 about it.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 However,
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 as
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 theologian
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 J.I.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 Parker
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 put it,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 if we
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 allow it
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 to become
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 an energy
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 of irrational,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 negative,
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 and rebellious
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 reaction to
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 God's call
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 and command,
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 allowing it
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 to become
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 a spirit
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 of fighting
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 God in
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 order to
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 play
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 God,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 we are
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 committing
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 sinful
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 acts.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 The root
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 of sin
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 is pride
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 and enmity
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 against God.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 Sinful
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 acts is
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 expression
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 of a
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 willful
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 opposition
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 of the
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 fallen
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 heart
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 to God's
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 claim on
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 our life.
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 However,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 suffering
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 can also
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 be a
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 way of
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 God
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 working in
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 our life
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 to build
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 us up,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 to make
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 sure what
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 we do
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 and say
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 warren
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 how others
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 think of
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 us.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 As a
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 case for
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 Paul,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 having a
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 great
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 surprising
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 experience
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 of visiting
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 paradise
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 can lead
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 to pride,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 which will
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 develop in
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 different kinds
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 of scenes.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 So God
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 gave him
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 a thorn
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 in his flesh
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 to keep
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 him humbled
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 and to
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 build his
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 character.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:33 what would
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 people normally
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 do with
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 suffering?
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 Some will
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 try to
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 run away.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 Some will
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 try to
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 ignore it.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 Some may
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 try to
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 suppress it
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 by painkillers
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 or other
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 means,
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 like my
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 friend
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 treating
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 her kid.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 Some may
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 look at
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 suffering
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 and say
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 suffering
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 is a
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 proof
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 that God
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 does not
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 exist.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 And even
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 if he
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 exists,
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 he's not
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 loving.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 Because how
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 would a
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 loving God
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 allow so
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 much pain
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 to exist.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 What we
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 do or
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 say about
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 suffering
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 tell us
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 what we
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 know or
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 do not
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 know about
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 God.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 We can
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 allow pain
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 and suffering
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 to push
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 you away
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 from God
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 or we
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 can allow
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 pain and
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 suffering
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 to draw
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 you closer
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 to God
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 like what
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 it did
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 to Paul.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 You
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 will read
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 on from
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 verse 8.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 Paul said
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 three times
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 I pleaded
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 with the
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 Lord to
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 take it
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 away from
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 me.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 But he
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 said to
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 him,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 to me,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 my grace
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 is sufficient
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 for you,
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 for my
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 power is
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 made perfect
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 in weakness.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 It's not
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 clear how
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 long Paul
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 had been
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 living with
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 the thorn
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 in his
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 flesh.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 The best
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 estimate
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 would be
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 about 14
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 years.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 And the
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 way he
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 said that
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 the message
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 of Satan
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 to torment
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 him,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 it seems
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 to be
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 indicating
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 it will
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 be
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 ongoing.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 Even at
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 this point
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 of sharing
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 with the
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 Corinthian
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 church,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 he's
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 feeling the
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 pain right
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 there and
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 then.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 And that
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 feeling is
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 compounded by
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 what he's
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 already feeling
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 for the
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 Corinthian
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 church,
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 shown in
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 1129.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Who is
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 weak?
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 And I do
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 not feel
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 weak.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 Who is
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 led into
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 sin?
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 And I
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 do not
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 inwardly
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 burn.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 I feel
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 very
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 challenged
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 recently
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 with a
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 few
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 sufferings
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 of
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 departure
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 and
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 loss.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 On top
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 of that,
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 with the
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 ongoing
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 unrest in
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 Hong Kong,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 combined it
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 with being
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 confronted
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 about not
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 being impartial
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 about this
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 issue,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 and even
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 being unloving
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 towards what's
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 happening in
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 Hong Kong or
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 towards the
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 protesters.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:53 And I
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 come to be
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 reminded of
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 my often
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 very patronizing
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 superiority
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 feeling towards
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 people during
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 a refreshing
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 in college.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 And then
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 remembering
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 about 25
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 years ago,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 a sister
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 stopped me
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 right in the
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 middle of
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 conversation
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 to tell me
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 stop patronizing
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 her.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 I
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 consider those
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 as my
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 thorn in
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 my flesh,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 a reminder
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 of how
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 sinful I
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 am.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 We have
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 not been
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 told what
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 exactly the
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 thorn is
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 referring to
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 in this
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 passage.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 It's good
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 we haven't
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 known it
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 because then
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 we can
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 freely relate
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 to Paul in
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 whatever way
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 we can.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 But we
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 are shown
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 in how to
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 deal with
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 it.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 As he
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 feels the
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 torment of
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 the thorn
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 in his
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 flesh,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 as he
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 feels the
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 indignation
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 within his
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 heart,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 Paul
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 recalls he
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 pleaded
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 with the
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 Lord.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 Three times
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 he pleaded
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 with God
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 to take
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 the thorn
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 away.
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 His pain
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 and suffering
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 did not
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 drive him
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 to frustration
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 or despair.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 It
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 drew him
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 closer to
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 God.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 What is
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 your feeling
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 now?
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 Try to
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 relate to
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 Paul's
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 feeling in
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 whatever way
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 you can.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 God
00:23:14 --> 00:23:17 did not
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 change
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 Paul's
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 feeling
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 towards
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 God.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 They
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 did not
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 make
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 Paul
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 doubt
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 the
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 ability
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 of
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 God.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 He
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 knows
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 God
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 can
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 heal
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 him.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 He
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 is
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 confident
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 that
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 God
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 can,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 so he
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 asked
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 for
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 help.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 And
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 what did
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 God
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 say to
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 him?
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 My
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 grace
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 is sufficient
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 for you,
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 for my
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 power is
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 made perfect
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 in
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 weakness.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:44 God has a much better and greater solution
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 for Paul's pain and suffering
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 His grace
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 His sufficient grace
00:23:49 --> 00:23:52 So what is grace?
00:23:54 --> 00:23:57 Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 We deserve to be punished
00:23:59 --> 00:24:03 but instead we got a gift of forgiveness
00:24:03 --> 00:24:06 in a real life that's filled with joy
00:24:06 --> 00:24:11 It is a gift because we cannot work for it or earn it
00:24:11 --> 00:24:15 Grace means God is not angry with us
00:24:15 --> 00:24:18 because His anger has been assaulted
00:24:18 --> 00:24:21 by the price of Jesus' life paid on the cross
00:24:21 --> 00:24:26 Christ lives a perfect obedience life
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 and dies as a substitute for sinners
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 to take away our guilt
00:24:30 --> 00:24:34 Some have said grace
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 G-R-A-C-E
00:24:36 --> 00:24:39 as God's riches
00:24:39 --> 00:24:43 are fallible at Christ's expense
00:24:43 --> 00:24:46 God's riches
00:24:46 --> 00:24:50 are fallible at Christ's expense
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53 God said
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 My grace is sufficient for you
00:24:55 --> 00:24:59 for my power is made perfect in weakness
00:24:59 --> 00:25:03 Insufficient for Paul and for us
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 because God knows us
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 He knows what we are going through
00:25:07 --> 00:25:10 God knows what we are going through
00:25:10 --> 00:25:13 in no matter what we are experiencing
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 within our body or out of our body
00:25:15 --> 00:25:20 Insufficient because God's grace is never ending
00:25:20 --> 00:25:23 He knows exactly how much suffering we need
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 to deal with our pride
00:25:25 --> 00:25:28 so to stop us from being considered
00:25:28 --> 00:25:34 And so others will think of us exactly
00:25:34 --> 00:25:37 as what we do and say warrant
00:25:37 --> 00:25:40 God's grace is sufficient
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 God's grace is sufficient
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 and God is powerful
00:25:43 --> 00:25:46 so we can totally entrust ourselves to Him
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 and depend on Him
00:25:48 --> 00:25:51 even at the time that He did not answer our plea
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 as we have asked
00:25:52 --> 00:25:55 My true talk experience
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 had taught me a lesson of dependency
00:25:57 --> 00:26:01 I was already tired from all the pooling
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 before lunch
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 and after lunch I think
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 why would I be able to do a couple more courses
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 you know
00:26:06 --> 00:26:09 to make sure I get the full value
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 of what I pay for
00:26:10 --> 00:26:13 So I come to this course
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 What do you need to do?
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 You swing over to a big net
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 and once you swing over there
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 you climb up
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 and then you just keep going
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 So you know
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 it looks easy
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 I'm still
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 I'm tired
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 but still okay
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 So I swing over
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 and what happened?
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 I was at the bottom of the net
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 and now it's like
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 pull and pull and pull
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 I just couldn't get up
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 whole body
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 just like
00:26:38 --> 00:26:42 So after about
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 two to three minutes
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 which is the longest
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 two to three minutes
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 I have felt
00:26:45 --> 00:26:48 I did what everyone would do
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 and did what the instruction tell me
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 Help!
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 I was dangling
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 waiting for help
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 and I have to keep apologizing
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 people would say
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 oh sorry
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 sorry
00:27:00 --> 00:27:02 so they have to move on
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 to the next course
00:27:02 --> 00:27:06 Then the staff come to help me
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 He was a young man
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 and he was built like
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 Tim Reed or Paul Powell
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 both are not here today
00:27:14 --> 00:27:17 Built a bit like Jeff
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 Would you mind standing up?
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Imagine a young man
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 about that size
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 come and rescue me
00:27:22 --> 00:27:27 I was so helpless
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 and embarrassed
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 that at this point
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 any help I can get
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 to get out of here
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 I'll accept it
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 That poor man
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 had struggled a lot
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 to finally lower me
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 down to the ground
00:27:37 --> 00:27:40 A nice tree top experience
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 had ended up
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 being a painful experience
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 because I did not see
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 myself as weak
00:27:45 --> 00:27:48 And then I was humbled
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 I was rescued by someone
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 that seems weak
00:27:51 --> 00:27:54 but know what he's doing
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 and willing to go through
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 the pain to set me free
00:27:57 --> 00:28:01 First I say
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 but he said to me
00:28:02 --> 00:28:05 My grace is sufficient for you
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 for my power
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 is made perfect
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 in weakness
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Therefore
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 I will boast
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 all the more
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 gladly
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 about my weaknesses
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 so that Christ's power
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 may rest on me
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 That is why
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 for Christ's sake
00:28:18 --> 00:28:20 I delight in weaknesses
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 in weaknesses
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 in weaknesses
00:28:22 --> 00:28:43 Apparently we got a
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 weak battery as well
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 just dying
00:28:45 --> 00:28:50 Paul is glad
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 that he can boast
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 about his weaknesses
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 He is glad
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 that God's power
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 is made perfect
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 in his weakness
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 and God's grace
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 is sufficient
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 and do not leave him wanting
00:29:02 --> 00:29:05 It is for that reason
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 that he delights
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 in weaknesses
00:29:07 --> 00:29:10 in insults
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 in hardship
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 in persecution
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 and in difficulties
00:29:13 --> 00:29:15 He feels delighted
00:29:15 --> 00:29:17 facing these things
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 that make us feel
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 cringing
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 when we hear it
00:29:20 --> 00:29:23 How are we
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 to delight
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 in those things?
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 We'll be able
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 to delight in those things
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 by boasting
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 all the more
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 gladly
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 about our own weaknesses
00:29:32 --> 00:29:36 He delights in them
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 because
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 when he faces them
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 he's facing them
00:29:39 --> 00:29:41 for the sake of Christ
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 with Christ's power
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 rested on him
00:29:44 --> 00:29:47 He delights in weakness
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 insults
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 hardship
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 persecution
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 and difficulties
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 was actually
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 what make him
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 strong
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 because when he
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 delights in them
00:29:57 --> 00:29:59 God's perfect power
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 which is Christ's
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 perfect power
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 come rest on him
00:30:02 --> 00:30:04 and he become
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 empowered
00:30:04 --> 00:30:07 Poor at knowledge
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 he links God
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 He relies
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 He relies
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 only on God's
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 sufficient grace
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 to handle
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 the thorn
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 in his life
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 He values
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 his supernatural
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 experience
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 with the right
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 perspective
00:30:20 --> 00:30:22 without putting them
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 over and above
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 God
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 and become
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 conceited
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 Whatever you're feeling
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 in life
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 right now
00:30:29 --> 00:30:31 maybe some
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 sin
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 that keeps
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 occurring
00:30:32 --> 00:30:35 maybe you find
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 it very hard
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 to make sense
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 of this
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 Jesus
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 who called
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 God
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 his father
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 maybe you're
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 experiencing
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 the torment
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 of Satan
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 in your life
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 maybe there
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 are a lot
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 of shame
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 that makes you
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 feel like
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 dangling
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 midair
00:30:50 --> 00:30:52 go to God
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 plead
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 your case
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 with him
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 plead
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 your case
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 with the Lord
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 be glad
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 you can
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 experience
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 weakness
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 insult
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 hardship
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 persecution
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 difficulties
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 the way
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 to become
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 strong
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 in Christ
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 is not
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 by having
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 a lot
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 of great
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 spiritual
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 experience
00:31:12 --> 00:31:15 the last
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 sentence
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 of the passage
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 should they say
00:31:16 --> 00:31:18 for when I am
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 weak
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 then I am
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 strong
00:31:19 --> 00:31:21 there is a
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 sequence of
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 events
00:31:22 --> 00:31:24 we are
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 strong
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 when we
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 acknowledge
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 our weakness
00:31:26 --> 00:31:29 when you
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 are willing
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 to admit
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 you are weak
00:31:30 --> 00:31:32 you will be
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 strong
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 because when
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 we acknowledge
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 we need
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 God's strength
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 it can
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 displace
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 in us
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 Amen