Real Joy
Series: United by JOY
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 2nd October 2022
Passage: Philippians 3:1-21
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Good morning, I'm John, if you haven't met me, I'm one of the staff here.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:14 We have been sitting under Paul's teaching over many weeks now, through Romans and now in Philippians.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 And what kind of Christian would you say Paul is?
00:00:20 --> 00:00:21 Let's do a word cloud.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:29 The way it works is if you open your camera and point to this QR code, you'll get to your page.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:42 Or if you actually open your browser and just type minti.com and then the number is 1964-3376.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:50 Don't worry if you don't have a phone, this is an exercise that you can actually ask people next to you to do it for you.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:56 So, Wendy, maybe you can go to that page when you're ready.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18 Oh, okay.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:19 It's building in.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:23 So, if you don't have a phone, just ask the person next to you to put it for you.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 You can put it multiple times, as many as you like.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 Whatever comes to your mind and as often as you like.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:37 So, hardcore, faithful, good, loving, humble, passionate.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:39 Wow, it's going well.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 Going really, really well.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:46 So, what kind of Christian is Paul to your mind?
00:01:50 --> 00:01:54 So, if you're in that blank, going, okay, wow, it's different.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:00 You still doing it?
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 Still having fun?
00:02:03 --> 00:02:04 It's getting bigger.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 Getting harder to read the word.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 Okay, let's pause there.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 Okay.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 What would you say about someone that's in this room?
00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 How about me?
00:02:17 --> 00:02:22 So, Wendy, if you go back just on your keyboard, go to the right arrow.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:23 Yes.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 John Lau is such a word Christian.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:31 You can be brutally honest, okay, or as kind and nice as you want.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:35 I'm ready to eat any humble pie that you throw at me for breakfast this morning.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 And it will be good for my personal growth, okay?
00:02:41 --> 00:02:41 Teddy bear.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:45 Wow.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 It's very flattering.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:47 Thank you.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:47 Thank you.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:47 Thank you.
00:02:53 --> 00:03:23 Thank you.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 Thank you.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:25 All good.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 Now, we're going to go back to the presented slide.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 You can look at the result later on.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 It actually, once you've done it, you've got a few days to go back to look at it.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:43 And you can feel free to keep going in, putting John Lau is such a word.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 So, give some time for Wendy to...
00:03:50 --> 00:03:50 Cool.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:55 Finally, if you put your name...
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 We go back to the...
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 Yeah.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 If you put your name at the beginning of this sentence,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:06 what would you use in a space before Christian to describe your own life?
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 That's for you to think through.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:18 In Paul's letter to the Philippians, the word grace and thanks come from the same roots in the original language of joy.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:28 So, if you highlight those words and the related words like gracious, give thanks, rejoice with, or rejoice,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 as you read the letter of Philippians,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:35 it's very convincing that the theme of this letter of Philippians is joy,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:36 which James has...
00:04:37 --> 00:04:41 our assistant minister have pointed out for us the last two weeks.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:49 Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter, but even as a prisoner, he was filled with joy,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 which permeated his letters.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 But that being said, we just read chapter 3.
00:04:57 --> 00:05:02 Do you notice how many times the word related to joy appears?
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 In the whole chapter of chapter 3.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:08 Once.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 Right at the very beginning.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 Rejoice in the Lord.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 Once.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 In the whole chapter.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:22 This lack of occurrence does not mean I'm very bad at counting,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 or have contradicted myself about the theme of the letter,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 but it served to reveal a secret, the secret of Paul's joy.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:37 The secret of Paul's joy was his relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 The proof is in the letter of Philippians,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 which begins and ends with the name of Jesus.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:49 And Paul mentioned his beloved Savior 40 times in the letter,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 and 10 times in this chapter 3,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 which average at least once every two verses.
00:05:56 --> 00:06:00 The reason for Paul's joy was his relationship with Christ.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:08 And we have observed two chapters of how Paul's joy was tested in Rome's prison.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:13 Now, and how he held on to destroy his Savior Jesus.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:18 If Paul's relationship to his Master Jesus Christ
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 could bring him joy under those conditions,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:25 then surely we who also love the Savior
00:06:25 --> 00:06:29 can learn to rejoice in any of our difficult times.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 And if you do not know Jesus,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 as Nick had pointed out before,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 I hope you'll get to know him soon
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 and share that joy.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:43 The last few years have not been easy for many people.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 And I will be okay even to say that
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 the last few years have been difficult for many people.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:54 However, difficult times should not prove to be our cute joys.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:59 But there are things that we must watch out for
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 which will kill our joy.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 So let's check out a few of the cute joys today
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 and look at the real joy that Paul wants us to know.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:15 Please turn again back to chapter 3 of Philippians
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 and we are reading from verse 1 to 4.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:25 Further, my brothers and sisters,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 rejoice in the Lord.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:30 It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 and it is a safeguard for you.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 Watch out for those dogs,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 those evildoers,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 those mutilators of the flesh.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 For it is we who are the circumcision,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 we who serve God by his Spirit,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 who boasts in Christ Jesus
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 and who put no confidence in the flesh,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 though I myself have reason for such confidence.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 If you look back on the word cloud
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 about what kind of Christian Paul is,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 I wonder how many words are related to joy.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 I think verse 2 to 4 here
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 should have more of my image of Paul
00:08:06 --> 00:08:11 hard line, strong word, and very to the point.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 But Paul was never harsh.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 He spoke strongly and compassionately
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 on some issue to safeguard his audience
00:08:19 --> 00:08:24 because it can become a matter of life and death.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 Paul gave a strong warning about a group of people.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 He called them dogs,
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 evildoers,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 and mutilators of the flesh.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 They claimed to serve God by their teaching
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 and boastful
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 and put confidence in their flesh.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 Further down in verse 18 to 19,
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 he said,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 For as I have often told you before and now,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 tell you again even with tears.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 Many live as enemy of the cross of Christ.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 Their destiny is destruction,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 their God is their stomach,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 and their glory is in their shame.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 Their mind is set on earthy things.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 Verse 9 hinted that they are people with a righteousness
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 that comes from the law,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 from how well they observe the law
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 and make sure others follow them
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 in relying on their merit.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:19 Paul gets very hard line about this intruder of faith.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 Legalists that legalistically follow the law,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 they are joy killers
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 that Philippians and believers of God
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 need to be aware of.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:33 Legalism and those that bring such teaching
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 is the first kill joy.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 God has warned his people throughout the Bible
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 to be aware of people or false teachers
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 that are not of him.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 In Isaiah 56, verse 10 to 11,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 God says,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 Israel's watchmen are blind.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 They all lack knowledge.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 They are all mute dogs.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 They cannot bark.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 They lie around and dream.
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 They love to sleep.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 They are dogs with mighty appetites.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 They never have enough.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 They are shepherds who lack understanding.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 They all turn to their own way.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 They seek their own gain.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 The people that Paul was warning the Philippians about
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 were teaching a form of work salvation,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 where people must work for their own redemption
00:10:19 --> 00:10:23 and believe that their seal in influencing others
00:10:23 --> 00:10:27 others to follow them was part of their being accepted by God.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 They required the believers to become a Jew
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 by circumcision to be saved.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 They were a mutilator of the flesh of their brothers.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 Their teaching is not the gospel
00:10:39 --> 00:10:43 because it was teaching of a Jesus plus something.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 In this case, circumcision
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 and observing rituals for salvation.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 A legalistic mindset
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 is one of the earthly mindset
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 that Paul refers to in verse 19.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 Legalism is pursuing good works
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 to earn God's favor to save oneself,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 which is not unique in Paul's time.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:11 It is the backbone of all kinds of religion.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 It is in the air we breathe in this fallen world.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 It is so easy to fall into the trap
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 of relying on good works
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 and not believing that God justified us
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 by our faith alone.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 So Paul needs to warn believers strongly.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 A pastor once said,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 the essence of legalism
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 is when faith is not the engine of obedience.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:42 We are not operating with faith
00:11:42 --> 00:11:46 when we work hard to earn God's favor.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 Let me say that again.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 We are not operating with faith
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 when we work hard to earn God's favor.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 We might not say it out loud,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 but our actions and ways of life
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 are saying that we must add
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 to the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 His work wasn't enough.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 Therefore, we must work to make God happy.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 We must take it into our own hands
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 to be accepted by God.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 Most new Christians,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:17 especially those that become one later in life
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 or are not born into a Christian family,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 have a kind of legalistic way
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 of what it means to be a Christian.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 I know I did.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 We seem to believe
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 if I surrender myself to Jesus,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 He comes to me and saves me
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 and forgives my sin,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 but I have got to stay surrendered to Him.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 I have got to keep being committed
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 or He would somehow withdraw from me.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 A legalistic mindset
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 or legalism is the first killjoy.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 It treats relations with God
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 as a religious activity.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 I believe the pandemic
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 had turned the manifestation
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 of legalism on its head.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 Instead of doing more
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 to make us holy in front of God,
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 we are also tired and stressed out
00:13:05 --> 00:13:08 that we are looking to do the bare minimum
00:13:08 --> 00:13:12 and crave a 1C and 3P life.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 People think that
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 they will bring them joy,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 but they are the cute joys.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 Are you looking for a 1C and 3P life?
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 A comfortable,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 pressurable,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 predictable,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and problem-free life.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 And what are you giving up
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 to get them?
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 We bargain with God
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 about our time
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 to build a relationship with Him
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 vertically
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 and with others horizontally.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 As He's saying,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 as long as I make it to Sunday church
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 or have watched church online,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 I tick the attendance box with God
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 and give money
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 and God should be happy with me.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 Don't expect me to stay
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 and reach out to others
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 to have a real relationship.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 I have no time for that.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 We end up judging God's goodness
00:14:03 --> 00:14:07 based on how well life works out for us
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 rather than on what He has done
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 and is still doing
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 to make good on His redemptive promise.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 Some Nehemiahistic believers
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 may come to a realization
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 years later
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 after they find themselves
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 falling way down
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 where even praying to God
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 become hard.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 And they realize
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 my relationship with God
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 has got to be based on something
00:14:32 --> 00:14:35 beside the state of my heart,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 my prayer life,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 or how holy I am.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 It has to have
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 an objective basis
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 that doesn't change.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 And that's when they discover
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 that they are saved
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 through the faith in Christ,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 not through their works.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 If you are believers,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 have you had your moment
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 of realization yet?
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 What word did you put down
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 to describe your Christian life earlier?
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 One way to tell
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 whether you are Nehemiahistic or not
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 is when you look at
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 your Christian life,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 does your heart fill up with joy?
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 Is your obedience
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 motivated by your faith in Christ
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 and the grace of God?
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 All kinds of religions surround us.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 If you listen to or follow them,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 their teaching will eventually
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 become our kill joys
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 and kill us.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 Their teaching manifested
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 in different kinds of isms
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 and mentalities.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 So let me list out a few.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 Consumerism.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 People become religious shoppers
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 and they don't have
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 operational loyalty
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 to the plan of God.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 Looking for a comfortable
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 religious experience
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 that meets their failed needs,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 have no problem moving
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 when they are dissatisfied,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 and end up moving
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 from one dissatisfaction
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 to another
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 and kill their joy.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 The good is good enough mentality.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:10 People are easily satisfied
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 and thankful
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 for the changes
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 that grace has brought
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 into their life.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 A bit of biblical literacy
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 and knowledge about God,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 a slightly better marriage,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 a little personal spiritual growth,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 or so on,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 are good enough.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 They quit seeking
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 and pursuing God,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 but God is far from finishing
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 with transforming His people.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 This kind of mentality
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 kills a chance
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 to experience
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 transforming joy.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 And these bad things
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 can work mentality.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 People work to make
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 the best out of
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 what God says
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 is not good.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 For example,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 a married couple
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 learns to negotiate
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 one another's idolatries
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 and end up having
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 their own thing
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 outside their marriage
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 rather than working
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 towards a truly
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 godly marriage.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 Their marriage life
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 is no longer alive
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 but dead,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 let alone enjoyable.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 And the fourth one,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 event versus process
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 mentality.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 We all want
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 instant fix.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 People want God
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 to do the good things
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 He promised,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 but do not want
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 to persevere
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 through a lifelong process
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 to get them.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 We want God's work
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 to be an event
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 rather than a process.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 When it's not,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 our commitment
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 begins to lag
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 and we have no joy
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 in growing together
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 and belonging
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 to each other.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 And et cetera,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 et cetera.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 Humans
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 are sinners
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 living in a fallen world.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 We were made
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 to glorify God
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 with our life,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 but we rebelled
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 against God's plan
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 and bent on glorifying
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 ourselves.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 A Christian,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 a believer of God,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 would understand
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 this predicament
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 a little bit better
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 than someone
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 who does not believe
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 in God,
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 but is by no way
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 completely free
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 of this peril.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:19 The list of kill joys
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 can go on and on
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 in this world
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 we are living in.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 We can let this
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 fourth mindset
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 or many others
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 kill your joy
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 or take up the safeguard
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 that Paul lived
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 with the Philippians
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 to rejoice in the Lord
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 for real joy
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 is Jesus Christ.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 If we go back
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 to chapter 3,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 between verse 7
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 to 14,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 Paul repeated
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 the idea
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 to consider
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 loss
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 and take hold
00:18:48 --> 00:18:51 of three times.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 And between
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 these two ideas,
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 there are
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 verse 10
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 and 11,
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 which say,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 I want to know
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 Christ,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 yes,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 the power
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 of his resurrection
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 and the participation
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 in his sufferings
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 become like him
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 in his death
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 and so,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 somehow,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 attending to the
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 resurrection of the dead.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 To know Christ
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 is what Paul
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 wants to do
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 at this point
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 in his life,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 not because he's
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 stuck in a prison
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 and cannot go anywhere.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 He looks over his life
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 before he met Jesus
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 and over the 30 years
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 that he has been living
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 to make Jesus known,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 he concludes that
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 to consider
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 whatever things
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 that were gained to him,
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 his physical ancestry,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 his religious orthodoxy,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 his spiritual activities,
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 his morality
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 and social status,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 loss
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 because of Christ.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 He said in verse 8,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 what is more,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 I consider everything
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 a loss
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 because of the suppressing
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 worth of knowing
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 Christ Jesus,
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 my Lord.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 For whose sake
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 I have lost all things,
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 I consider them garbage
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 that I may gain Christ
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 and be fine in him,
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 not having a righteousness
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 of my own
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 that comes from the law,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 but that which is
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 through faith in Christ.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 to gain Christ
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 and be fine in him,
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 make sitting
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 in a dark prison cell
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 of Rome
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 not just unbearable,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 but enjoyable.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 Paul is thanking God
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 for putting him in prison,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 for the opportunity
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 to look back
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 on his past
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 and recount all the situation
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 that Christ
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 has taken him through.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 And to consider
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 the possibility
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 of the future
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 where he can press on
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 to take hold
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 of what Christ Jesus
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 took hold of him.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 Not that I have already
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 obtained all this
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 or have already
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 arrived at my goal,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 but I press on
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 to take hold of that
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 for which Christ Jesus
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 took hold of me.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 Brothers and sisters,
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 I do not consider myself
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 yet to have taken hold of it,
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 but one thing I do,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 forgetting what is behind
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 and straining towards
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 what is ahead,
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 I press on
00:21:01 --> 00:21:03 towards the goal
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 to win the prize
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 for which God
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 has called me
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 heavenward in Jesus Christ.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 Paul wants to know
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 Christ deeply
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 by experiencing Christ
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 with his life,
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 even after being
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 Christ's ambassador
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 for 30 years.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 He wants to know
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 the power of Christ's
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 resurrection
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 and participation
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 in his suffering
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 and becoming like him
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 in his death.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 Paul decides
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 to know Christ
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 better and develop
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 Christ's likeness
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 in his life
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 until his last breath.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 The prize that he
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 is pressing on towards
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 is to permeate
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 Christ Jesus
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 through his life.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 It's like saying
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 Apostle Paul
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 is such a Christian
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 without needing
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 any adjective
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 because he lives
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 and breathes Christ.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 The knowledge
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 of the person
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 of Jesus Christ
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 sets Christianity
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 apart from all religion.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 our faith
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 is not one
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 of system,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 doctrines,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 regulations,
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 or ritual.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 Christian faith
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 is a personal
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 and intimate faith.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Christian knows
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 a person
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 who has changed
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 their lives
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 and they live
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 in fellowship
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 with him.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 He lives
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 with each Christian
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 by his spirit
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 and we can know him
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 better and better
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 as we walk
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 with him daily.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 As Nick
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 has suggested earlier,
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 as you read his word
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 every day.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 If you call yourself
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 a Christian,
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 do you have
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 a personal
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 and intimate faith
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 with Christ?
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 Have you been
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 getting to know him
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 better and better
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 each day?
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 Have you been
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 observing a religion
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 like what the rest
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 of the world are?
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 Or are you enjoying
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 your relationship
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 with God?
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 Real joy
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 is only fun
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 in relationship
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 with God,
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 so consider
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 and take hold
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 of Christ.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 Paul wants
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 to participate
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 in Christ's suffering
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 and keep maturing
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 in his knowledge
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 of Christ.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 Paul has set
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 himself and others
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 as examples
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 of Christ's followers,
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 as those
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 that have
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 taken hold
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 of Christ
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 and are being
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 like-minded
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 with him.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 He calls
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 in verse 17
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 to join together,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 he calls us
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 in verse 17
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 to join together
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 in following
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 their examples
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 as our model
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 to keep our eyes
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 on how they live.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 When thinking
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 about example
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 of faithful followers
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 of God,
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 I cannot but think
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 of Hebrews
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 chapter 11 and 12
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 with the list
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 of names
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 including
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 Moses,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 Enot,
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 Abraham,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 Joseph,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 and Rahab,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 such a great
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 crowd
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 of witnesses.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 And Hebrews
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 11 and 13
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 said,
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 all these people
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 were still
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 living by faith
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 when they died.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 They did not
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 receive the things
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 promised.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 They only saw
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 them and welcomed
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 them from a distance
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 admitting that
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 they were foreigners
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 and strangers
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 on earth.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 In verse 32
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 to 38
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 of Hebrews 11,
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 give us,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 the readers,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 a vivid picture
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 that those people
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 are not afraid
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 to suffer
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 for their faith.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 And I find
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 something
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 that's very
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 encouraging to me
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 in verse 39
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 to 40.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 These,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 which is those
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 people,
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 were all
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 commanded
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 for their faith,
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 yet none
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 of them
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 received
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 what had
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 been promised
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 them.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 Since God
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 had planted
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 something better
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 for us,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 so that only
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 together with
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 us would
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 they be
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 made perfect.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 Since God
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 had planted
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 something better
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 for us,
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 the readers,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 so that only
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 together with
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 us,
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 those who
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 come to
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 believe in
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 God after
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 seeing their
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 example,
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 would their
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 faith be
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 perfect?
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 We are
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 the key
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 to their
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 maturity
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 in faith
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 of being
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 made perfect.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 Together with
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 Christ,
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 we are the
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 keys for
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 all these
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 people's
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 maturing in
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 faith.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 You
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 made
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 Moses,
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 Abraham's
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 faith,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 perfect,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 perfect as
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 you watch
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 and imitate
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 his way
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 of life.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 You
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 made
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 Paul's
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 faith
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 perfect as
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 you pursued
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 knowing Christ's
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 life,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 what he
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 does.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 That is so
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 incredible and
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 glorious.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 I'm lost for a word
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 when I think of
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 that.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 When I think of
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 God using me
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 to make perfect
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 the faith of all
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 those faithful
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 people in the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 Bible,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 that fills
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 my heart with
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 joy.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 Paul said
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 back in
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 Philippians 3,
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 20 to 21,
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 that our
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 citizenship is
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 in heaven and
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 we eagerly
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 await a
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 savior from
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 there, the
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 Lord Jesus
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 Christ, who
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 by the power
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 that enables
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 him to bring
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 everything under
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 his control
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 will transform
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 our lowly
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 bodies so
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 that they
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 may be like
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 his glorious
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 body.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 Transformed to
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 be like his
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 heavenly savior,
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 the Lord
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Jesus, is
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 what Paul
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 eagerly
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 awaits and
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 is what
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 gives him
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 hope and
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 joy even
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 in the
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 prison of
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 Rome.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 He is
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 certain that
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 by the
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 power that
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 enables Jesus
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 to bring
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 everything under
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 his control,
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 Jesus will
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 transform our
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 lowly bodies
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 to be like
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 his glorious
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 resurrected
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 body.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 Paul's
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 certainty
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 comes from
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 the fact that
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 God alone
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 made him
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 right, not
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 by anything
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 he has or
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 could have
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 done.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 is that
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 what you
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 are looking
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 forward to
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 and living
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 for?
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 Real joy
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 is knowing
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 Christ and
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 being known
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 by God.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 Real joy
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 is pressing
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 on to
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 become more
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 like Christ
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 daily in
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 suffering and
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 maturing.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 Many
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 earthly
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 mindsets
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 will capture
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 us and
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 kill our
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 joy if we
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 do not
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 watch out
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 for them.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 Let's
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 join with
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 Paul and
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 others,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 all these
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 faithful people
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 in the
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 Bible to
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 rejoice in
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 the Lord
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 and wait
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 for our
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 transformation
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 in Christ.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 I hope
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 whatever you
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 have filled
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 for that
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 space in
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 front of
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 Christians in
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 your sentence
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 at the beginning
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 of today's
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 sermon will
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 become words
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 related to
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 joy, that
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 people will
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 see that you
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 are a
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 Christian, one
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 that permeates
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 joy.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 May God
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 make it clear
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 to you and
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 mature to
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 the point
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 that you
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 can take
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 such a
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 view to
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 rejoice in
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 the Lord and
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 take hold of
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 Christ, the
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 one that
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 has taken
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 hold of
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 you.