Partners for Eternity
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 13th November 2010
Passage: Philippians 3:12-4:1
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 I'd like to keep your Bibles open at that passage, Philippians 3, verse 12, and I'll pray.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:15 Father God, we thank you again for the wonder of your word, and your word is so clear.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:22 It is so clear to us tonight as to what has been said there, and yet understanding and obeying it,
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 we have got no power to do that without the work of your Spirit in us.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 And so, Lord, we ask that you would have mercy on us.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:38 Help us to heed the warning, to see the encouragement, and to have the determination to continue to press on forward.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:45 Lord, for those of us who may be in a state of apathy, Lord, we ask that you would shake us out of that
00:00:45 --> 00:00:53 and encourage us to get up and to get on, pressing on to look for you, and we ask it for your sake. Amen.
00:00:53 --> 00:01:03 This is a radio conversation between the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln
00:01:03 --> 00:01:09 and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 First of all, the Canadians came on the radio.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:22 Americans, recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid collision.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 Canadians, negative.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:28 You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:35 Americans, this is the captain of a U.S. Navy warship, and I say again, divert your course.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37 Canadians, no.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 I say again, you divert your course.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 Americans, this is the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln,
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:53 We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 I demand that you change your course 15 degrees to the north.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:03 I say again, that's one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 to ensure the safety of this ship.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 There's a bit of a pause on the radio at this point,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 and the Canadians came in and replied,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 this is a lighthouse, your call.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:22 There are a number of points in the Bible where we get similar kind of warnings
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 needing to change course.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 And right now, Philippians 3 is one of those instances.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:35 There is a clear warning in these verses, one that we need to take heed of.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:44 This sermon is the fourth installment in our commitment series for this year, Partners for Life.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:48 And the title of this talk is Partners for Eternity.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 And last night, I decided to change that.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 Late last night, you don't normally do much changing late at night,
00:02:56 --> 00:03:02 but I decided, in fact, I prefer to call this one Partners in Going Hard After God.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:06 I think that's a more appropriate title for this talk.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:12 From Philippians 3, tonight, I want to show you why we must go hard after God.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:17 And I want to encourage you to go hard after God.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:24 I want to persuade you that the pursuit of God is not optional even after conversion.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:33 And I say that because I take it that the ones that Paul describes in verse 18
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 as living as the enemies of the cross of Christ
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 are those who have given up pursuing God.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 You see, Paul has issued this warning before.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:49 And he does it again here, and he does it with tears in verse 19,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 I think because he knows these people.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 And he says,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 The destiny of the enemy of the cross of Christ is destruction.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:04 He could not have used stronger language in issuing this warning.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 The destruction he has in mind is eternal destruction.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 And that is why we must go hard after God.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 Paul says three things here about the enemy of the cross of Jesus.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 Their lives, that is, their lives are characterized by three things.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 He says there that they have their mind on earthly things.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:29 Literally, their mind is set on earthly things.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:34 At the very center of their life is the world and its thinking and its priorities.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 They think like the world thinks.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:45 Their thinking is not directed by the word of God, the Bible, the scriptures,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 but by popular culture instead.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:54 And when there's a clash between the Bible and popular influences,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 the Bible will lose out at every point.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 when Peter had his mind on earthly things
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 and tried to discourage Jesus from going to the cross?
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 Do you remember what he said?
00:05:06 --> 00:05:10 He turned to his best mate and called him by the name of his worst enemy.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 Get behind me, Satan.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 Why?
00:05:17 --> 00:05:22 Because you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 You have your mind set on earthly things.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 You see, Peter wanted Jesus without a cross.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 And a Jesus without a cross is no savior and he's no Lord.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:37 The enemy of the cross has their mind set on earthly things.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 They also glory in their shame.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:45 The very sins that Jesus died for on the cross are the very things that they delight in.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:50 It's the very things that they continue to do and continue to do it in such a way
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 that it doesn't appear to matter.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 It doesn't matter because God's going to forgive it anyway.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 That's what God's in the business of doing.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:03 To glory in shame is to keep doing the things that God doesn't want
00:06:03 --> 00:06:08 and to think it's okay because Jesus, by the gospel of grace, has forgiven me anyway.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:14 As Titus says, they say that they are Christians, but they deny it by their actions.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 And so what glorying in shame is,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:24 it's a blasé approach to holiness and the mortification of sin.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:30 Of course, these people may well have been able to recite the Ten Commandments,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 tick the box and say, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, I don't obey,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 and I obey all those things, pretty much in the same way as the rich young ruler.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 But what about the acceptable sins amongst us?
00:06:43 --> 00:06:47 You see, God, friends, God wants to deal with those acceptable sins as well.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:51 The ungodliness, the anxiety, the frustration, the discontentment,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:55 the unthankfulness, the pride, the selfishness, the grumbling, the lack of self-control,
00:06:56 --> 00:07:01 the impatience, the irritability, the anger, the judgmentalism, the envy, the jealousy,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 the worldliness, the gossip, the slander, the lying, the embellishment of truth,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 the greed, the laziness, the gluttony, the apathy, the abuse of power,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 the manipulation, and the list goes on and on and on.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:18 Those things which don't seem such a big deal are a big deal to God.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:25 And those who glory in their shame don't think those things matter.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:34 When you go hard after God, those stones get turned over and they get dealt with by God.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:43 It is painful and raw to allow God to weed around in those closely held sins in our lives
00:07:43 --> 00:07:49 because the life of sin is attractive, it is easy, and it feels so good.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:55 And so that's why so many Christians just stop.
00:07:55 --> 00:08:05 They get to a point, confession of sin, and then they stop
00:08:05 --> 00:08:10 and just get used to a certain pattern of behaviour.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:15 I've come to Christ, I've got salvation, I'm going to get to heaven and that's okay with me.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:27 The enemy of God also has their stomach as their God, that is their gut is their God.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 They pander to their physical desires and urges.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:35 It's what they feel that they want to do is what they do.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:43 The words of Jesus, deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me, have been forgotten.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 They've been forgotten.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:52 They have come to Christ, but they don't want to keep denying.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:57 That is the enemy of the cross and their destiny is destruction.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:02 Friends, the cross of Christ is where the war on God ended.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:07 It is where God dealt with our sin, forgave our sin, forgave our rebellion.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:13 It is only through Jesus that we are able to escape a destiny of destruction.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 And so why go hard after God in Christ?
00:09:18 --> 00:09:23 Because destruction is the destiny of those who don't.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:28 But we also get another reason why we should go hard after God in Christ.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 It's in verse 20.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 Have a look at it there in your Bibles.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:59 The alternative destination is citizenship of heaven, where the Lord Jesus reigns.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:04 Citizenship is really important.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:10 On the most part, for those of us who were born citizens of this country, we just take it for granted.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 Citizenship is something you just generally take for granted.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:17 It's not something that most of us have had to take the time to even bother earning.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 We just kind of get it when you're born here.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:19 That's it.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:25 Citizenship is important because it provides protection and care and significance.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:34 If you are a refugee, that is, if you are a citizen of no country, then you don't have anyone to protect you.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 And refugees generally are fairly nervous.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:42 Citizenship matters when you don't have citizenship.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:52 And that was something that mattered for our church earlier this year, when we were fighting for citizenship because life and death were at stake.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 Citizenship matters.
00:10:56 --> 00:11:01 It's about belonging somewhere and all the privileges that come with it.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:09 So, for instance, just over 100 years ago, a Spanish court condemned to death a man for a crime that he had apparently committed.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:14 However, this man was an American citizen and he was British by birth.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:25 And so the two ambassadors of those respective countries said that the Spanish authorities had no right to put him to death.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:32 The Spanish authorities basically ignored them and so they marched this guy out to be shot, stuck him on the wall.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:38 But following out behind the firing squad were the ambassadors of both of those countries.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:47 And as the firing squad raised their guns to shoot this guy, the ambassadors walked out and put the British flag and the American flag.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:52 They wrapped this guy in the British and the American flag and then said to the captain of the firing squad,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:56 you fire and we will bring both of our empires down upon Spain.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:05 And the guys lowered their guns and...
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 I don't know what that is.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 That's the firing squad.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 Ticked off, decided to shoot someone else.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:22 The guys lowered their guns and they walked away.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:35 The guy was wrapped in a couple of bits of cotton, but he may as well have been wearing armour protection because in that moment he was impervious to destruction.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:40 and if you are a friend of the cross of Christ
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 then you are impervious to destruction.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:47 Trusting Jesus means that your citizenship is in heaven
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 and your destiny is not one of destruction.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:55 Instead of destruction, it's a new body fit for eternity.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 Did you notice it there?
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 We're not just being changed on the inside,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 that's what he's doing now,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 but then our bodies will be completely renewed,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 bodies that won't need to cry,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 bodies that won't feel unloved,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 bodies that won't feel lonely,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 bodies that won't feel sad,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 bodies that won't have all those issues,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 bodies that will never grow tired,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 bodies that won't break down on you.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:21 That is the privilege of the citizen of heaven.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 And notice too that what Paul says here,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 it talks about our citizenship,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 he doesn't say we will have citizenship in heaven,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 he says we do have citizen.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 It is a present tense.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 If you are a Christian,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 then you are already a citizen of heaven.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 That is your home.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 That is where you are heading to.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:48 And that is why the citizen of heaven does not just wait,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 but they eagerly await for their saviour to come.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:58 They are bursting to get there.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 And verses 12 to 16 show us what that looks like.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 And let me say that these verses,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 verses 12 to 16,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:12 explode the false logic
00:14:12 --> 00:14:16 that says if Christ has found us,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 then we don't need to seek him anymore.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:26 Paul's reasoning is in fact the exact opposite.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 I press on in order to gain Christ
00:14:30 --> 00:14:34 because Christ has already gained me.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 Verse 12,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 not that I have already obtained all this
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 or have already been made perfect,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 but I press on to take hold of that
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 to have taken hold of it,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 but one thing I do,
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 forgetting what is behind
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 and straining towards what is ahead,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 I press on towards the goal
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 to win the prize
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 which God has called me heavenward
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 in Christ Jesus.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 And all of us who are mature
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 should take such a view of things.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 And if on some point you think differently,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 that too God will make clear to you.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:14 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:20 Paul did not see his conversion to Christ
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 as a cage which held him back,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:27 but as a catapult into the pursuit of holiness.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:32 The irresistible grace of Christ
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 overcoming Paul's rebellion
00:15:34 --> 00:15:37 did not make Paul passive.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:42 He did not sit back and say,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 well, well, it's all the work of God,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 I don't do anything,
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 I follow my arms
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 and I just wait for him to come back again.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 It actually made him powerful.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:57 I take that 1 Corinthians 15, verse 10.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 By the grace of God,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 I am who I am
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 and his grace within me
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 was not without effect,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:08 because I worked harder than everyone else.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 It's not a passive thing,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 grace,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 in his mind.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Grace is power.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 And the best commentary on these verses,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 I think,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 is in chapter 2,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 verses 12 to 13.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 Work out your salvation
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 in fear and trembling.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 That's the call.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Guys, get on with it,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 is what he says.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 Get on with it.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 Work it out.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 Work hard at it.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 Strain towards it.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 Work out your salvation
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 in fear and trembling.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 Why?
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 Because it is God
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 who is working in you.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 In calling Christians
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 to go hard after God,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 Paul in no way
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 undermines salvation
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 by grace alone.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 Not even for a little bit.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 It simply confirms it.
00:16:57 --> 00:17:00 Twice in these verses,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 he affirms it is God
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 who has taken hold of him.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 But in the same,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 the very same verses
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 that he calls us
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 to pursue
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 and to grasp hold of
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 and to continue
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 to move forward,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 to go hard after God,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 he calls us,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 he says that God
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 has already taken hold of him
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 in order to do that.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 So,
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 this is what I think he's saying.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:28 Our work,
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 that is in the pursuit,
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 the grasping
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 to get hold of Christ,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 the moving forward,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 our work
00:17:35 --> 00:17:38 is his work
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 for his glory
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 when done independence
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 on his sovereign grace.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 That's confusing?
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 I'll say it again,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 just in case.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 our work
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 is his work
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 for his glory
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 when done independence
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 on his sovereign grace.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:03 The most fundamental reason
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 why the Christian
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 must go hard after Christ
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 is that Christ
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 is in the Christian
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 moving them
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 to go hard after him.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 And it's in this
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 that Paul sets himself up
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 as a model to follow
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 in verse 17.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 Follow my example,
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 brothers,
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 and take note of those
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 who live according
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 to the pattern
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 that we gave you.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 And what was the pattern
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 that Paul gave them?
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 It's there in verse 10.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 I want to know Christ
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 and the power
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 of his resurrection
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 and the fellowship
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 of sharing in his sufferings,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 becoming like him
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 in his death,
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 and so somehow
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 to attain
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 the resurrection
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 from the dead.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 What was Paul's pattern
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 of life?
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 I want to know Christ
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 and I want to be like Christ.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 The whole focus
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 of his life
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 was being made
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 more and more
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 like Jesus
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 until the day
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 he met Jesus
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 face to face.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 We saw that
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 back in Philippians 1.21.
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 For to me,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 to live is Christ
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 and to die
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 is to gain,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 to get just more
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 of Christ.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 That is his life.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 And so it is
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 a dodgy logic
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 that insists
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 that if we have found Christ,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 we need seek him
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 no more.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 As one writer
00:19:18 --> 00:19:21 wrote last century,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 to have found God
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 and still to pursue him
00:19:25 --> 00:19:28 is the soul's paradox
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 of love,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 scorned indeed
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 by the too easily
00:19:33 --> 00:19:36 satisfied religionist,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 but justified
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 in happy experience
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 by the children
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 with a burning heart.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 Or as another writer
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 probably put it
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 a little bit more
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 simply than that,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 was
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 wherever there is
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 true grace,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 there is a desire
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 for more grace.
00:19:56 --> 00:20:00 I think what he's saying
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 there is
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 that whenever
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 there is
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 true grace,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 true grace
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 doesn't lead
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 to apathy
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 and laziness
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 in discipleship.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 It leads to
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 wanting to strive
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 for more grace.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 The evidence
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 that you have Christ
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 is that you want
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 more of Christ.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 Continued indifference
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 to growth in grace
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 is a sign
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 of no grace.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 And so friends,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 that is why
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 we must go hard
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 after God.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 We must go hard
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 after God
00:20:35 --> 00:20:38 because
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 we are citizens
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 of heaven
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 and going hard
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 after God
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 confirms that
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 we are citizens
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 of heaven
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 or alternatively
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 our destiny
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 is destruction
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 and the warning
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 is clear.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 so how
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 then can we
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 learn from
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 Paul?
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 What examples
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 does he give us
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 in these passages?
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 There's clearly
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 a lot more
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 than just the few
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 that are here
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 but I want to
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 say a couple
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 of things,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 three things.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 Firstly,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 develop
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 holy
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 dissatisfaction.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 Develop
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 holy
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 dissatisfaction.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:16 Paul says here,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 brothers,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 I do not
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 consider myself
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 yet to have
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 taken hold
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 of it.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 Paul's
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 pursuit of
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 Christ
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 rises out
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 of a profound
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 dissatisfaction
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 with the way
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 that he is.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 And I just
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 ponder this
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 question,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 could it be
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 that there is
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 a connection
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 between how
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 little earnest
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 pursuit
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 of God
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 there is
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 today
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 and how
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 much we
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 are told
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 to think
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 well of
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 ourselves?
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 I think
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 it's an
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 incredible
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 indictment
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 when potentially
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 the greatest
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 theologian
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 of the last
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 hundred years,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 well regarded
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 by some
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 anyway,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 J.O.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 Packer,
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 has said
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 that modern
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 evangelicalism
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 is virtually
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 absent
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 of
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 communion
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 with God.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 Communion
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 with God
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 is almost
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 absent
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 in modern
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 evangelical
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 churches.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 I think
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 that's
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 amazing.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 And he's
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 not using
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 the word
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 broadly,
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 he's talking
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 reformed
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 evangelicals
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 when he
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 used that
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 term.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 It is a
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 wonderful
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 thing to
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 have been
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 taken
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 possession
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 of by
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 Christ,
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 but it
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 is a
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 thousand
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 times more
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 wonderful
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 when we
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 realise
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 that we
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 are taken
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 possession
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 of people
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 who remain
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 sinful
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 like you
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 and me.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 I find
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 that
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 incredible.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 The first
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 step in
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 going hard
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 after the
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 holy God
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 then is
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 to develop
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 a holy
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 dissatisfaction
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 with your
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 spiritual
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 life.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 And I
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 emphasise
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 your
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 spiritual
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 life.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 Let me
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 tell you
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 that what
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 comes
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 naturally
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 to us
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 is a
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 dissatisfaction
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 with other
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 people's
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 spiritual
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 life.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 There are
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 plenty of
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 people that
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 we can
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 point the
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 finger at
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 and say
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 that person
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 needs to
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 pray a
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 little bit
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 clearer,
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 that person
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 can't
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 articulate
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 the faith
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 well enough,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 that person
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 doesn't even
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 know the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 faith as far
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 as I'm
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 concerned,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 that person
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 needs to
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 come to
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 church more,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 that person
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 needs to
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 give more,
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 that person
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 needs to
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 serve more,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 and it's
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 so easy
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 to just
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 be dissatisfied
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 with everyone
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 else's
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 spiritual life.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 And the
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 call here
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 is to
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 be dissatisfied
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 with your
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 spiritual life.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 Being able
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 to point
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 out
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 others'
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 lack of
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 pursuit of
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 God
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 doesn't
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 somehow mean
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 that you
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 are.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 Being able
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 to point
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 out other
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 people's
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 immaturity
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 doesn't
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 somehow mean
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 that you
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 are mature.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 What the
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 call here,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 I believe,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 is to stand
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 in front of
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 the mirror
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 of the
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 word and
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 recognize that
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 you have
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 not yet
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 arrived,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 and you
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 won't this
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 side of
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 heaven.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 The
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 hearty
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 admission of
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 our spiritual
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 imperfections is
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 the starting
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 point for the
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 pursuit of
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 God.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 I want
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 to suggest
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 to you
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 that real
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 humbling
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 guilt is
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 extraordinarily
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 rare.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 I think
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 99% of
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 our bad
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 feelings,
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 about
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 ourselves
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 that is,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 are rooted
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 in pride.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 For
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 example,
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 suppose you
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 go to a
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 dinner party
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 and you
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 discover that
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 you are
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 dressed
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 inappropriately
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 for the
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 occasion.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 You knock
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 your drink
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 over at
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 the table,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 the joke
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 you attempt
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 falls flat,
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 you call
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 your host
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 by the
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 wrong name,
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 you tread
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 on the
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 dog's
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 tail and
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 you make
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 the kids
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 cry.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 How do
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 you feel
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 when you
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 walk out
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 from that?
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 You feel
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 pretty rotten,
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 you feel
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 embarrassed,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 you're depressed,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 you hate
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 yourself,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 you don't
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 want to
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 show your
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 face.
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 Where do
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 all these
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 depressing,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 immobilizing,
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 self-denouncing
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 feelings come
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 from?
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 Is the
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 answer God's
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 offended glory
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 or your
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 offended pride?
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 people who
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 are depressed
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 and immobilized
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 and angry
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 because their
00:25:02 --> 00:25:04 behavior has
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 injured the
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 glory of
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 God are
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 very,
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 very,
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 very rare.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 But people
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 who are
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 depressed and
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 immobilized and
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 angry because
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 their behavior has
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 prevented them
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 from having a
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 reputation of
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 being really
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 cool socially,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 of being
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 intelligent and
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 being competent
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 are very,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 very,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 very common.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 When I call
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 us to develop a
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 holy dissatisfaction
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 with our
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 spiritual life,
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 I'm asking us
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 to do something
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 which is rare,
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 not common.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 I'm asking us
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 to feel worse
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 that we possess
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 so little of
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 Christ,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 that we have
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 such little
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 communion with
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 God.
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 The first
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 step in going
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 hard after
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 God is to
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 feel bad about
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 the right
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 things.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 Develop a
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 holy dissatisfaction
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 with your
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 spiritual life,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 friends.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 The second
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 step in going
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 hard after God
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 is to forget
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 those things
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 which lie
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 behind,
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 verse 13.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 I take this
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 to mean that
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 anything in
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 your or our
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 background which
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 hinders the
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 pursuit of God
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 should be put
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 out of the
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 mind.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 The point is
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 not never
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 look back.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 The point is
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 only look back
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 for the sake
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 of pressing
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 forward.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 That's what
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 it's about.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 Never
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 substitute
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 nostalgia
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 for hope.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 Individually
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 and corporately,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 we must be
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 careful of
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 looking back,
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 my friends.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 Even
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 memories of
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 successes in
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 the past
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 can make us
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 smug and
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 satisfied in
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 the present.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 I remember
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 that I
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 started telling
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 you, I
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 remember one
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 incident in my
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 life where
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 God took me
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 through a
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 really difficult
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 time and
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 he grew me
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 remarkably and
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 in amongst
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 all of that
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 time of,
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 it was hard,
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 it was
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 persecution,
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 and other
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 things that
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 were going
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 on.
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 God brought
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 me forward
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 and I
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 started to
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 realise after
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 a few years
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 that I
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 used to
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 recount the
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 old stories.
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 I remember
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 a time
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 when.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 And it
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 dawned on
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 me one
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 day,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Steve,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 that's like
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 ten years
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 ago,
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 man.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 What's
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 now?
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 What's the
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 stories now?
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 God's
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 love?
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 Don't be
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 smug about
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 what happened
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 then ten
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 years ago.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 How's God
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 working in
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 you now?
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 How are you
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 pressing forward
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 now?
00:27:48 --> 00:27:54 memories of
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 successes in
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 the past can
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 make us
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 smug and
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 self-satisfied
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 as individuals
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 and as a
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 church.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 Memories of
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 failure can
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 make us
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 hopeless and
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 paralyzed in
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 our pursuit
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 of God.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 Never look
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 back like
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 that.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 We ought to
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 give thanks,
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 humbly give
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 thanks for
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 God's successes
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 amongst us in
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 the past or in
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 our lives in
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 the past.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 We must
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 make humble
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 confessions for
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 the failures
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 that have been
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 there but we
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 must always
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 turn to the
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 future and
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 go hard after
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 God.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 If we keep
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 looking back we
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 become museums.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 The final step
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 in going hard
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 after God is
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 that straining
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 forward to
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 what lies ahead.
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 Verse 13
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 again.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 What Paul does
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 is he provides
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 us as an
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 illustration of
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 straining forward
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 in 1 Corinthians
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 9.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 He says
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 everyone who
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 competes in
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 the games goes
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 into strict
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 training.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 They do it to
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 get a crown that
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 will not last but
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 we do it to get a
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 crown that will
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 last forever.
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 Therefore I do
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 not run like a
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 man running
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 aimlessly.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 I do not fight
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 like a man beating
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 the air.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 No I beat my
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 body and I make
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 it my slave so
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 that after I
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 have preached to
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 others I
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 myself will not
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 be disqualified
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 for the prize.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 During the
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 marathon in
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 the 1968
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 Mexico Olympics
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 Tanzanian
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 runner John
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 Stephen
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 Akwari fell
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 early in the
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 race and
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 badly damaged
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 his leg.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 He got up,
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 he got a
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 bandage on
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 his leg,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 got up and
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 he limped
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 the rest of
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 the race and
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 he finally
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 crossed the
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 finishing line
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 an hour and
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 a half after
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 the last person
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 had finished.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 And by the
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 time he
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 crossed the
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 finishing line
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 it was kind
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 of getting
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 dark, it
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 was sort of
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 twilight,
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 sun was
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 going down
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 getting a
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 bit dark
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 and a lot
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 of people
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 had gone
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 home,
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 they were
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 virtually shutting
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 down the
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 place for the
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 night anyway
00:29:51 --> 00:29:54 and there
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 was a
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 photographer,
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 a reporter
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 there sorry,
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 who was
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 packing up
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 his gear
00:29:58 --> 00:30:01 and until
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 he heard
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 this applause
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 with a few
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 people that
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 were left,
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 turns around
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 and the few
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 people left
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 in the stadium
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 are doing,
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 there's a
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 standing ovation
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 and then
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 he noticed
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 what's going
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 on,
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 there's this
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 guy limping
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 around the
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 track and
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 he takes a
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 photo of it,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 it's actually
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 quite a famous
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 photo,
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 he takes a
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 photo of this
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 guy,
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 it's a bad
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 photo but a
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 famous photo
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 of him in
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 the twilight
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 limping towards
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 the finish
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 line,
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 he runs down
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 to the finish
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 line,
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 jams a
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 microphone in
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 his face and
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 says why
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 didn't you just
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 give up?
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 You clearly
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 weren't going
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 to win the
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 race,
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 you're badly
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 damaged,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 you can't even
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 run,
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 why didn't you
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 just give up?
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 You know,
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 like save
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 yourself for
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 another day
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 or something
00:30:42 --> 00:30:45 and John's
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 reply was
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 this,
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 you don't
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 understand,
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 my country
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 did not send
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 me 5
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 miles to
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 start a
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 race,
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 they sent
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 me to
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 finish it.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 The way
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 to go hard
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 after God
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 is with all
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 the discipline
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 and self
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 denial of an
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 athlete,
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 that's the
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 way to go
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 hard after
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 God,
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 no matter
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 what the
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 cost is,
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 no matter
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 how difficult
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 it is,
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 no matter
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 what obstacles
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 are on the
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 way,
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 there is a
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 finish line
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 up there
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 and my
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 job is to
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 get to
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 that finish
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 line,
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 to press
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 on,
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 to strain
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 forward.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 I doubt
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 that there
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 has ever
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 been a
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 Christian who
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 reached the
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 heights of
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 knowledge and
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 joy and
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 obedience and
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 communion with
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 God without
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 a plan and
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 without discipline
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 and without
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 self-denial.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:33 one of the
00:31:33 --> 00:31:36 incredible things
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 that I love
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 to do is
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 to look at
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 biographies of
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 some of the
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 greats in the
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 past and
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 look at their
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 lives and
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 just to see
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 their pattern
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 of lives and
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 man, I tell
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 you what,
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 in one sense
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 they're to be
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 appreciated.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 There are some
00:31:51 --> 00:31:54 people you just
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 cannot emulate,
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 they're just
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 particularly gifted,
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 but there's
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 something particular
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 about some of
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 their lives which
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 you can emulate
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 and that is
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 their discipline
00:32:03 --> 00:32:05 and their focus
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 and their
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 determination.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 I mean,
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 Jonathan Edwards,
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 for instance,
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 used to get up
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 at four o'clock
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 every morning
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 and spend the
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 first three hours
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 of the day
00:32:16 --> 00:32:18 in study
00:32:18 --> 00:32:20 and in
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 prayer.
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 My
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 goodness,
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 that's
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 incredible.
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 You know,
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 this is the
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 day before,
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 you know,
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 in the middle
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 of winter,
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 in the New
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 England area,
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 he had to
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 stoke the
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 fire first,
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 he had to
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 try and
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 keep himself
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 warm,
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 doing it by
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 candlelight,
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 for goodness
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 sake.
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 God does
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 not promise
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 his riches
00:32:46 --> 00:32:48 to aimless,
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 apathetic and
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 lazy disciples.
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 Paul did
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 not run
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 aimlessly or
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 beat the
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 air,
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 he lived
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 with spiritual
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 goals in
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 view and
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 controlled his
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 passions for
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 the sake of
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 those goals.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 And so I
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 plead with
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 you,
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 friends,
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 to be an
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 athlete,
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 to be a
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 spiritual
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 athlete.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 Set yourself
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 a goal to
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 know more
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 of the
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 word of
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 God,
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 to grasp
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 more of
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 the will
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 of God,
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 to love
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 more of
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 the wonder
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 of God.
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 Make a
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 plan of
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 prayer and
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 study and
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 worship and
00:33:17 --> 00:33:19 service and
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 go for it
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 with all of
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 your might,
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 with all of
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 your might,
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 God.
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 Because it
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 is Christ
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 working in
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 you,
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 dragging you
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 heavenward.
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 Heed the
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 warning this
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 evening.
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 Develop a
00:33:34 --> 00:33:36 holy dissatisfaction
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 with your
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 spiritual
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 attainments.
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 Put out of
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 your mind
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 anything in
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 the past
00:33:41 --> 00:33:41 which hinders
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 your pursuit
00:33:42 --> 00:33:44 of God and
00:33:44 --> 00:33:46 strain forward
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 like an
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 athlete.
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 For it is
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 God who is
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 working in
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 you.
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 working in
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 you.
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 We do
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 not run
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 in our
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 own strength
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 and all
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 the more
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 therefore we
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 can be
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 assured that
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 going hard
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 after God
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 will bring
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 us to know
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 him deeply
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 and enjoy
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 the sweet,
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 sweet confirmation
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 of our
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 citizenship in
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 heaven.
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 Let's pray.
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 Father God,
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 your word
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 as we looked
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 at tonight is
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 just so
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 challenging,
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 it is so
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 clear and
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 yet without
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 your spirit
00:34:19 --> 00:34:22 we just
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 will not
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 have any
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 desire,
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 without your
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 work in
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 us,
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 any desire
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 to go
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 hard after
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 you.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 Lord,
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 our hearts
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 are weak
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 and we
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 are feeble,
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 we are so
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 easily
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 distracted by
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 trivia and
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 irrelevancies,
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 we are so
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 apathetic,
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 we are so
00:34:38 --> 00:34:40 comfortable in
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 religion and
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 so rescue us
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 we pray.
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 Rescue us
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 Father,
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 revive us
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 Lord so
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 that we
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 might go
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 hard after
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 you and
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 enjoy the
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 sweet
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 confirmation
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 of our
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 citizenship
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 in heaven
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 where the
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 Lord Jesus
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 reigns and
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 from where
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 he will
00:34:57 --> 00:34:59 come and
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 establish his
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 rule and
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 take us to
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 be with him
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 in heaven.
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 Father,
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 help us to
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 press on
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 towards the
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 goal and
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 we ask it
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 for your
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 sake.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Amen.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:10 Amen.
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 Amen.
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 Amen.
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 Amen.
00:35:10 --> 00:35:12 Amen.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 Amen.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 Amen.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 Amen.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:14 Amen.
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 Amen.
00:35:14 --> 00:35:16 Amen.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 Amen.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 Amen.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 Amen.
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 Amen.