WEBVTT 00:00:01.800 --> 00:00:04.799 Well, good morning. 00:00:05.232 --> 00:00:08.333 It's great to be with you as we continue studying Philippians. 00:00:08.333 --> 00:00:19.832 And I think this week's passage has a lot of relevance to, as Isaac has already led us in a time of reflection and prayer, to the events that have affected our city this week. 00:00:19.832 --> 00:00:26.000 You know, last week we looked at a section that was all about how do you live a gospel focused life? 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:30.199 And of course, Paul, we believe, was speaking to a young church. 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:32.832 You know, the gospel spread across the world. 00:00:32.832 --> 00:00:37.299 And when it went new places, these were all young churches, new churches. 00:00:37.299 --> 00:00:39.732 They didn't have a lot of seasoned saints to lead them. 00:00:39.732 --> 00:00:41.500 And so Paul is giving them direction. 00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:44.265 Here's how you live a gospel focused life. 00:00:44.265 --> 00:00:47.633 But here's one thing that's interesting about growing in Christ. 00:00:48.765 --> 00:00:52.200 And if you've ever done any kind of long endurance sport, maybe. 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:56.566 I know some of us recently ran a marathon or a half marathon. 00:00:56.566 --> 00:00:57.566 I've done some. 00:00:57.566 --> 00:01:00.000 I don't like to run, but I love to do a longer bike ride. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:07.299 I've gone on some of those longer bike ride events, and one thing that's interesting about those long endurance events is how you begin. 00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:12.233 Almost really doesn't matter at all because plenty of people start strong. 00:01:12.233 --> 00:01:21.233 There's a whole big pack of people all out front the first couple of miles, and then each mile a few more fade off a few more miles in. 00:01:21.233 --> 00:01:26.400 Before you know it, some of those people who started strong don't even finish. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:29.665 And so it is great to start with a gospel focused life. 00:01:29.665 --> 00:01:36.000 But what we want to talk about today and where Paul is going to take us today is how do we stay the course, right? 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:38.266 How do you stay focused for the long haul? 00:01:38.266 --> 00:01:44.066 And even when tragedies hit, when hard times hit, when things didn't go the way you thought they would. 00:01:44.066 --> 00:01:45.566 How do you stay on course? 00:01:45.566 --> 00:01:46.965 How do you endure? 00:01:46.965 --> 00:01:52.700 How do you continue to stay focused on the gospel, even in the course of the long haul? 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:56.400 Because the Christian life isn't a sprint, it is a marathon. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.266 And so we're going to be in Philippians chapter three. 00:01:59.266 --> 00:02:01.066 We're going to wrap up chapter three today. 00:02:01.066 --> 00:02:03.099 Go into the beginning of chapter four. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:07.099 If you don't have a Bible, we have Bibles out in the connection corner in the notes. 00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:14.900 The page numbers that are there are tied into that Bible and Philippians in that church Bibles on page 921. 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:19.099 We're going to look at chapter three, verse 17, and set up four ways. 00:02:19.099 --> 00:02:27.832 Paul is going to give us direction on how we stay the course, how you endure, how you continue even through the challenges, even through the hardship. 00:02:27.832 --> 00:02:29.665 So turn with me in Philippians chapter three. 00:02:29.665 --> 00:02:35.366 I'm going to read our section today, and then we're going to draw out those four ways we're called to stay the course. 00:02:37.066 --> 00:02:59.500 Philippians three verse 17, brothers, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us, for many of whom I have often told you, and now tell you, even with tears they walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:07.032 Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame. 00:03:07.032 --> 00:03:10.032 With minds set on earthly things. 00:03:10.633 --> 00:03:29.165 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 00:03:30.466 --> 00:03:36.566 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for my joy and my crown, stand firm. 00:03:36.566 --> 00:03:38.532 Thus in the Lord, my beloved. 00:03:40.366 --> 00:03:47.900 So Paul begins by addressing them, and the first way that he encourages them to stay the course. 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:50.599 You're young church, you need to live a gospel focused life. 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:53.466 It's not based on what you do, it's based on who he is. 00:03:53.466 --> 00:03:54.633 But here's how you stay the course. 00:03:54.633 --> 00:03:58.000 The first way he says here is right here in verse 17. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.733 Brothers, imitate me. 00:04:00.733 --> 00:04:02.633 Start by imitating me. 00:04:02.633 --> 00:04:07.133 And for us, the important phrase is for us to know whom to follow. 00:04:07.966 --> 00:04:10.366 Know whom you should follow. 00:04:10.366 --> 00:04:15.199 It is important who you look to for direction, who you choose to imitate. 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:18.199 Because all of life is imitation. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:30.833 If you think about the very beginning, the way life started, you learned everything about life just by watching whoever was closest to you, whether it was your parents or a grandparent or whoever raised you, you learned how to walk. 00:04:30.833 --> 00:04:33.399 First of all, someone pointed this out to me. 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:35.865 What if people around us didn't walk? 00:04:35.865 --> 00:04:37.333 They only crawled. 00:04:37.333 --> 00:04:40.065 Would you ever have the vision to think you could walk? 00:04:40.065 --> 00:04:43.632 But the fact that you see people walking and it's incredibly difficult. 00:04:43.632 --> 00:04:44.966 Watch a kid try to learn to walk. 00:04:44.966 --> 00:04:46.365 They're falling over all the time. 00:04:46.365 --> 00:04:50.000 And yet they keep trying and they keep trying and they keep trying because they see you doing it. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:51.399 They know I can do that. 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:57.233 If they can do it, if all those people are walking around, maybe I can walk to you, learn to walk. 00:04:57.399 --> 00:05:13.065 You learn your language. In fact, and I think probably most kids don't really like hearing this, but most of what your direction in life is pretty much determined set, statistically speaking. 00:05:13.065 --> 00:05:14.500 Okay, this isn't absolute. 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:21.632 You can choose your own path, but a lot of it is really closely correlated to your parents. 00:05:21.632 --> 00:05:24.600 Of course, your skin color is determined by that. 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:34.033 But things like eye color, hair color, politics are usually you're more than likely to end up with politics similar to your parents. 00:05:34.033 --> 00:05:41.733 The food you like or dislike oftentimes is almost completely determined by what did you eat growing up? 00:05:41.733 --> 00:05:44.199 What was in our home, the teams you cheer for? 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:45.533 We could go on and on and on. 00:05:45.533 --> 00:05:49.033 So much of that is imitation. 00:05:49.033 --> 00:05:52.665 I saw these people do this over and over again, and I picked it up that way. 00:05:52.665 --> 00:06:00.165 And by the way, the same is true of us spiritually, because as you grow and mature, you can choose who you want to imitate. 00:06:00.165 --> 00:06:04.333 You can choose who you get time around, and hopefully you choose wisely. 00:06:04.333 --> 00:06:08.833 Just being around them, you're going to pick up stuff. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:13.466 That's why this word imitate here in particular is so powerful. 00:06:13.466 --> 00:06:18.000 Because in all of Greek literature, this is the only time this word appears. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:21.533 And this is a fine distinction for just a second. So follow me. 00:06:21.533 --> 00:06:24.165 Because of course the Bible was written in Greek. 00:06:24.165 --> 00:06:26.233 The New Testament was written in Greek. 00:06:26.233 --> 00:06:31.365 That would have been the trade language of the time, even though every country had their own language. 00:06:31.365 --> 00:06:37.365 Because of Greek culture spreading all throughout the world, that became the language by which business was transacted between countries. 00:06:37.365 --> 00:06:47.365 And so if you want to reach the most people, you write it in Greek, even though probably the people who wrote the Bible spoke other languages, we wrote it in Greek to make sure we can reach as many people as possible. 00:06:47.365 --> 00:06:58.165 But just like if you go to a bookstore, hopefully and more than likely to have Bibles, they may have quite a few Bibles, but they also have thousands of other books in the bookstore. 00:06:58.165 --> 00:07:00.033 They don't just only carry Bibles. 00:07:00.033 --> 00:07:03.766 More than likely the same is true of ancient Greek literature. 00:07:03.766 --> 00:07:08.699 Yes, the Bible was written in Greek, but there were thousands of other writers who were writing in Greek. 00:07:08.699 --> 00:07:10.865 You had philosophers, historians. 00:07:10.865 --> 00:07:13.865 You've heard some of these names Aristotle, Plato. 00:07:13.865 --> 00:07:17.365 If you're curious, Marcus Aurelius, you've heard some of these ancient names. 00:07:17.365 --> 00:07:17.865 Herodotus. 00:07:17.865 --> 00:07:18.766 They would have written in Greek. 00:07:18.766 --> 00:07:22.665 And so there are thousands and thousands of other writings in Greek. 00:07:22.833 --> 00:07:33.600 And of all those writings across all ages, hundreds and hundreds of years, this is the only time this word for imitation is used that we know of, that we have record of. 00:07:34.865 --> 00:07:39.466 And really, it's the normal word for imitate with the word with on the front end. 00:07:39.466 --> 00:07:50.565 I think this is especially interesting that this only shows up in Scripture and Christian literature, because imitation isn't an individual activity. 00:07:50.565 --> 00:07:55.365 I don't just pick out one person and try to imitate them apart from others around me. 00:07:55.365 --> 00:08:01.699 When it comes to growing in your faith to stay in the course, it's not a solo activity. 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:03.466 We've got to do it in community. 00:08:03.466 --> 00:08:05.766 We've got to imitate with others. 00:08:05.766 --> 00:08:07.233 Join in me. 00:08:07.233 --> 00:08:10.233 Join in with others. 00:08:10.899 --> 00:08:13.333 We grow because we sharpen one another. 00:08:13.333 --> 00:08:15.800 You've got to be around other people. 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:17.699 Yes, my faith is personal, but. 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:20.500 But it's not private. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:22.899 That call to grow as others sharpen me. 00:08:22.899 --> 00:08:27.533 So it's really important that you know whom to follow, who to be around. 00:08:27.533 --> 00:08:31.500 That's why that imitate word really means about the emphasis is together. 00:08:32.566 --> 00:08:37.566 We've got to be growing together, imitating, pursuing together. 00:08:38.633 --> 00:08:43.700 Now, what I love in this passage is Paul doesn't only just say, imitate me. 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:47.765 And by the way, some look at that in our modern age and go, isn't that kind of weird? 00:08:47.765 --> 00:08:48.765 Isn't that kind of self-centered? 00:08:48.765 --> 00:08:52.466 Paul's going, hey, look at me, watch me, follow me. 00:08:52.466 --> 00:09:02.299 Of course, we all follow someone on social media that you're watching and probably imitating, but part of it feels a little bit like too prideful. 00:09:02.432 --> 00:09:04.500 But at this time and that was the common standard. 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:06.332 I mean, Jesus, follow me, a rabbi. 00:09:06.332 --> 00:09:09.033 If you wanted to learn something, you probably didn't go to a college. 00:09:09.033 --> 00:09:12.633 You probably picked someone to follow, to imitate, to live with. 00:09:12.633 --> 00:09:14.832 It was true also in Greek culture with philosophers. 00:09:14.832 --> 00:09:17.166 So this was a very common practice. 00:09:17.166 --> 00:09:18.299 This wouldn't have shocked them. 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:22.299 But Paul doesn't just say, imitate me. 00:09:22.332 --> 00:09:23.365 There are others to imitate. 00:09:23.365 --> 00:09:31.232 Look back in verse 17, he says, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 00:09:31.865 --> 00:09:34.332 And a couple of weeks ago we looked at ten qualities of the commendable. 00:09:34.332 --> 00:09:37.100 And to them he pointed out, follow a path, for that is, follow Timothy. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:40.865 Here are two guys that are also guys you want to look to. 00:09:42.066 --> 00:09:44.100 And so he says fix your attention on them. 00:09:44.100 --> 00:09:44.765 Look at them. 00:09:44.765 --> 00:09:46.600 That's what that phrase keep your eyes on means. 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:49.600 Fix your attention on something. 00:09:49.966 --> 00:09:54.932 This doesn't just mean I looked at it for a second and tried to take it in. 00:09:55.399 --> 00:10:06.832 I knew a guy who was a Division one, wide receiver in football, and he said what they taught them early on was, when you're looking for the ball, don't just look for the entire ball. 00:10:06.832 --> 00:10:09.600 That's too broad, that's too big, he said. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:14.865 You look for the tip of the spiral, the very smallest point, and you focused all your attention on that. 00:10:16.166 --> 00:10:19.666 And then what you do is that that ball's coming into you. 00:10:19.666 --> 00:10:25.299 You look at all the way into your hands and you don't look away to that ball is all the way in your hands firmly grasp. 00:10:25.299 --> 00:10:25.799 And he said it. 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:27.399 But then this was the next step. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:39.265 You don't just stop there, then you take it and you keep your eyes on it until you have it all the way tucked in, tucked away, fixed, focused attention all the way down firmly. 00:10:39.265 --> 00:10:46.066 And then you turn and look up field and to see who's about to crush me to death, or who can I avoid and run down field around. 00:10:46.066 --> 00:10:46.765 Not until the end. 00:10:46.765 --> 00:10:51.033 Now, if you watch any football game, when do the balls get dropped? 00:10:53.066 --> 00:10:57.166 Assuming it's a good throw, you know all that well almost all the time. 00:10:57.166 --> 00:11:06.000 It gets dropped when it's about here and bro knows he has it and he's already turning to look up field before he's got it all the way in. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.966 He's turning and moving and then is dropped. 00:11:10.066 --> 00:11:11.966 Focus your attention. 00:11:11.966 --> 00:11:14.966 Keep your eyes on it all the way in. 00:11:15.466 --> 00:11:18.000 It's not just a casual glance. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:22.365 I'm studying in depth the kind of people I want to follow. 00:11:22.365 --> 00:11:23.265 I want to be like. 00:11:23.265 --> 00:11:26.566 That's why it's so important to choose wisely whom you follow. 00:11:26.566 --> 00:11:30.765 If you want to stay the course, choose the faithful person. 00:11:30.765 --> 00:11:33.000 Choose the person who has endured well. 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:36.000 Learn from them. 00:11:36.466 --> 00:11:42.000 That's the first way we Paul gives us direction on how we stay the course for the long haul. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.666 Now look at the second one here. 00:11:43.666 --> 00:11:49.832 Look at verse 18 because he said, imitate me, imitate others, follow them, focus on them. 00:11:49.832 --> 00:12:00.600 But secondly, he says, for many of whom I've often told you and now tell you, even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:08.865 Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and the glory in their shame, with their minds set on earthly things. 00:12:09.133 --> 00:12:17.000 The second way that we stay the course and go for the long haul is to stay alert to deception. 00:12:17.633 --> 00:12:23.566 Stay alert to deception because there are many that want to take you off course. 00:12:24.466 --> 00:12:30.133 Many would love nothing more than to watch you fail in your pursuit of Christ. 00:12:30.133 --> 00:12:33.133 It's really sad to say, but it is true. 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:38.232 How do you stay alert to deception? 00:12:38.232 --> 00:12:39.600 You've got to know what to look out for. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:42.299 And for that we look to the standard of God's Word. 00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:43.265 That's why I've listed that 00:12:43.265 --> 00:12:45.365 11. 00:12:45.365 --> 00:12:47.265 We want to be Bereans. 00:12:47.265 --> 00:12:48.765 We want to act like Bereans. 00:12:48.765 --> 00:12:52.832 The Bereans were called the more noble because they would daily what they heard Paul teach. 00:12:52.832 --> 00:12:56.100 They would daily go back and examine the scriptures to see if it was true. 00:12:57.500 --> 00:13:00.000 Where do you find your standard of behavior of truth? 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.666 It's in God's word. 00:13:01.666 --> 00:13:02.865 It's not just in how I feel. 00:13:02.865 --> 00:13:05.265 It's not just in what I heard from someone else. 00:13:05.265 --> 00:13:06.666 Ultimately, this is our judge. 00:13:06.666 --> 00:13:07.365 This is our standard. 00:13:07.365 --> 00:13:10.232 And here's what Paul says to watch out for. 00:13:10.232 --> 00:13:11.000 Look at this first one. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.966 What he said. 00:13:13.966 --> 00:13:19.932 I have often told you and now tell you, even with tears, that many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:13:19.932 --> 00:13:29.265 Now for before we point out the actual things, the first thing is to notice is that Paul says, I've often told you, Paul is not afraid to keep bringing up something over and over again. 00:13:29.265 --> 00:13:32.265 He's what I would call an active shepherd. 00:13:32.265 --> 00:13:34.200 And he's got a young flock. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:38.865 He's got people that need protection, and you can't just say, well, I told you once, you should have got it. 00:13:40.533 --> 00:13:41.265 Yeah. 00:13:41.265 --> 00:13:42.700 How does that work? 00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:45.600 How does that work with your children? 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:48.100 How does that work with yourself? 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:51.232 I tell myself stuff all the time and forget it. 00:13:51.232 --> 00:13:52.865 Look, he is not afraid to say. 00:13:52.865 --> 00:13:53.932 I've often told you. 00:13:53.932 --> 00:13:55.033 And I'm going to tell you again. 00:13:55.033 --> 00:14:07.365 And I keep coming back to you, and I'm going to do it in a way, hopefully, that you can receive it and hear it and that takes wisdom, because if you keep repeating the same thing over and over again, people can drown it out. 00:14:07.365 --> 00:14:10.000 It could fall on deaf ears, they can get tired of hearing it. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:13.932 It takes wisdom, it takes timing, it takes sincerity. 00:14:14.133 --> 00:14:18.100 In fact, he says, here I have say this with tears. 00:14:18.133 --> 00:14:19.932 You can tell he's stirred emotionally. 00:14:19.932 --> 00:14:21.200 It's not just about him. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:23.566 He cares deeply about them. 00:14:23.566 --> 00:14:32.832 And if people know you're coming out of deep concern and love and care, that often opens the heart up just a little more to hear it. 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:38.633 But notice the first way he warns them here in this list. 00:14:38.633 --> 00:14:45.100 He's going to give them five things to watch out for people who want to take you off course, people who want to deceive you. 00:14:46.066 --> 00:14:50.365 Number one, they walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:14:51.332 --> 00:14:53.666 They walk as enemies of the Cross of Christ. 00:14:53.666 --> 00:15:02.732 And that word enemies could also be translated something like those who hate or haters might be another way to say it. 00:15:04.066 --> 00:15:06.332 Enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:15:06.332 --> 00:15:08.200 Haters of the cross of Christ. 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:15.365 Now, this is also an important aspect of Bible study that we all need to embrace. 00:15:15.466 --> 00:15:27.765 It's really important when you're reading scripture to not just only identify with the heroes of Scripture, but also identify relate to those who are not the heroes who do it the wrong way. 00:15:28.666 --> 00:15:31.832 It's really easy to feel like, yeah, I would have been David. 00:15:31.832 --> 00:15:34.365 I would have been the one to go and get Goliath. 00:15:34.365 --> 00:15:37.365 You know, he's just like me. 00:15:37.365 --> 00:15:42.033 But it's not as easy to say, well, maybe there's a little bit of Judas in me too. 00:15:42.033 --> 00:15:43.865 Maybe I would have been. 00:15:43.865 --> 00:15:46.200 Let us aside. 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:54.500 And so when this passage says enemies of the cross, it's important for us to relate and go, okay, yes, all of us have been there. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:57.166 All of us have been enemies of the cross. 00:15:57.166 --> 00:16:00.133 At some point in our life. 00:16:00.133 --> 00:16:01.666 12 talks about this. 00:16:01.666 --> 00:16:03.899 You've been alienated from the covenant of God. 00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.133 Ephesians two one through two. 00:16:05.133 --> 00:16:12.966 Talk about how the fact that you were dead in your trespasses and sins following the course of this world, you were going your own way, and you didn't want anything to do with Jesus. 00:16:12.966 --> 00:16:14.865 You did not want him bothering you at all. 00:16:18.466 --> 00:16:24.500 Now, to be fair, you might be thinking, okay, John, great, I was an enemy, but hater really did I hate Jesus? 00:16:24.865 --> 00:16:25.633 That's pretty strong. 00:16:25.633 --> 00:16:28.633 I don't think I really ever hated him. 00:16:30.232 --> 00:16:34.500 Look at this quote I'm going to throw on screen screen because. 00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:40.365 I think that's the temptation for many of us to think, I know people who hate Jesus, and I'm a little better than them. 00:16:40.365 --> 00:16:42.666 I don't act like that. 00:16:42.666 --> 00:16:43.865 Here's what one commentator said. 00:16:43.865 --> 00:16:46.633 I thought this was so helpful for the most part. 00:16:46.633 --> 00:16:49.966 Maybe we did not feel hostile towards Jesus. 00:16:49.966 --> 00:17:06.900 Looking back, I wasn't necessarily hostile toward him, it was just that we did not really want to be bothered, or to have to face the demands of Jesus, or to think too much about that rather threatening business of giving our lives over to him. 00:17:08.365 --> 00:17:09.599 Yeah, maybe I didn't hate him. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:11.566 I just wanted him to leave me alone. 00:17:11.566 --> 00:17:14.000 And you want to know how Jesus describes that person? 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:19.799 Jesus himself uses the same word, the exact same word for enemies. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:23.965 27, here's what he says of his enemies. 00:17:23.965 --> 00:17:27.599 They are those who did not want me to reign over them. 00:17:27.766 --> 00:17:36.965 Jesus himself described the people who did not want him reigning over them as their enemies. 00:17:36.965 --> 00:17:39.766 We've all been there, is the point. 00:17:39.766 --> 00:17:44.865 So yes, Paul is addressing a group of people who are actively attacking the Philippians. 00:17:44.865 --> 00:17:46.900 But don't forget, we've been there. 00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:48.066 You've been there. 00:17:48.066 --> 00:17:52.000 If you know Christ at one time you were his enemy. 00:17:52.865 --> 00:17:58.299 Now, specifically here, though, we want to look more in depth because that's not only what Paul is talking about. 00:17:58.299 --> 00:18:02.633 He's not just talking about general fallen nature distanced from God. 00:18:02.633 --> 00:18:15.766 He's also talking about those who are actively opposing Christ, who are actively opposing the cross, who are actively saying, we don't believe in the power of the cross. 00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:28.432 In fact, many believe what they were doing at this time was actively opposing the power of the atonement, the power of the cross to deliver us from sin, the power of the cross to pay our penalty for sin. 00:18:28.432 --> 00:18:29.566 I think I've listed in your notes 00:18:29.566 --> 00:18:34.232 21 God made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf. 00:18:34.232 --> 00:18:39.133 He took our place, the penalty that was due us for our sin. 00:18:39.133 --> 00:18:43.266 Jesus took that, and there were many. 00:18:43.266 --> 00:18:51.266 In fact, Charles Spurgeon said of his time, he was a famous Baptist preacher in the 1800s and London extremely famous. 00:18:51.266 --> 00:18:54.532 I mean, pick whichever well-known pastor that you like to follow now. 00:18:54.532 --> 00:19:05.066 He was bigger than that at the time, and he started to notice this tendency in other churches around him of just denying the power of the atonement. 00:19:05.066 --> 00:19:09.465 Jesus really did have to die for us, for our sin. That seems kind of gruesome. 00:19:09.465 --> 00:19:16.532 We think mainly he was primarily a good example and he is a good example for sure. 00:19:18.333 --> 00:19:25.000 But they started to deny the atonement and he called them out for it and he got ridiculed for it. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.566 Charles. 00:19:25.566 --> 00:19:28.900 Hey, Chucky, why do you gotta keep causing division? 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:30.032 What's the problem? 00:19:30.032 --> 00:19:31.633 Why are you causing separation? 00:19:31.633 --> 00:19:33.000 Can't you just get along? 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:38.066 Why do you got to put other people down and point out this is just a fine distinction? 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:48.766 And I've said this quote so many times, I love it, I heard Ed Childers share it here first. Years ago he said unity at the sake of truth is not unity. 00:19:48.766 --> 00:19:51.766 It's heresy. 00:19:52.365 --> 00:20:01.932 When you start to deny the atonement, that makes you an enemy of the cross, and that's not where any of us want to be, and we don't want to be pointing people away from the cross. 00:20:01.932 --> 00:20:07.133 Watch out for those who are enemies of the cross. 00:20:07.133 --> 00:20:08.965 Look at the next thing he says here. 00:20:08.965 --> 00:20:13.066 I've told you with tears, many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:20:13.066 --> 00:20:16.066 Their end is destruction. 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:24.599 Now we'll get a little bit into some language stuff here, but that word end is the front end of that word telescope. 00:20:25.532 --> 00:20:28.165 The original word for end is that word. 00:20:28.165 --> 00:20:33.465 Tell us and you hear it in the word telescope, which just means something out in the distance. 00:20:33.465 --> 00:20:39.465 It can mean that that's why a telescope looks far off, looks out toward the end of something. 00:20:39.465 --> 00:20:42.333 It can also mean the finish line. 00:20:42.333 --> 00:20:48.266 Paul used that word we saw in in chapter three already in verse 12 and in verse 15. 00:20:48.266 --> 00:20:51.865 I've not already been made perfect or complete or mature. 00:20:51.865 --> 00:20:59.032 We've seen that word a few other times already, and probably the way we could translate as well is the goal. 00:20:59.032 --> 00:21:01.032 Here's the goal off in the distance I'm headed towards. 00:21:01.032 --> 00:21:06.965 And so when these people that Paul is talking about look out towards their goal, here's what they see. 00:21:06.965 --> 00:21:10.066 They see destruction, destroyers. 00:21:10.965 --> 00:21:13.965 Watch out for those who seek to destroy. 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:22.633 And there's a big difference between those who have as their goal destruction, versus building up. 00:21:22.732 --> 00:21:28.365 You've had this happen where someone comes to you with a concern and there's two different types of people. 00:21:28.365 --> 00:21:40.532 Some come wanting to literally help build you up to help make you better, even if they don't deliver in the right way, even if it's not the right timing, they still come with a sincere desire to strengthen you, to make you better. 00:21:40.532 --> 00:21:41.599 But then there's those. 00:21:42.865 --> 00:21:44.799 And this sums up middle school right here. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:47.066 All they want to do is tear you down. 00:21:47.066 --> 00:21:48.400 Destruction. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:54.833 I'm going to point this out to make you look small, to make you feel little, to tear you down, to hurt you. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.200 This is their goal. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.599 Now, this has a double meaning. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.965 That's their goal when they interact here with the Philippians. 00:21:59.965 --> 00:22:03.865 But that's also where they're personally are headed. 00:22:03.932 --> 00:22:06.432 And they may not even realize it. 00:22:06.432 --> 00:22:09.266 Their end, their goal is destruction. 00:22:09.266 --> 00:22:11.266 Look at this next one. 00:22:11.266 --> 00:22:15.465 Their end is destruction, their God is their belly. 00:22:16.333 --> 00:22:21.865 That word belly we would use maybe the word guts, the center of emotion and direction. 00:22:21.865 --> 00:22:22.965 I feel it in my gut. 00:22:22.965 --> 00:22:24.532 I just have a gut feeling. 00:22:24.532 --> 00:22:25.599 This is the way I should go. 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:31.333 This is the thing I should do. Their God becomes, and has a double meaning here, their God becomes their impulse. 00:22:31.333 --> 00:22:34.232 In fact, the thing to look out for are the impulsive. 00:22:35.365 --> 00:22:37.965 That's the blank in your notes there. 00:22:37.965 --> 00:22:40.900 Their belly is their appetite. 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:47.400 Not just their physical food appetite, but whatever impulse they have that is their God. 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:49.865 I'm going to follow whatever I'm feeling. 00:22:49.865 --> 00:22:52.865 This must be good, because I've felt it. 00:22:54.232 --> 00:23:02.465 At the end of the day, what they are actually serving and what they are worshiping is themselves. 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:07.465 If I have thought of it, if I feel it, it must be good. 00:23:07.465 --> 00:23:09.932 I'm going to follow that. 00:23:09.932 --> 00:23:11.232 But that's not our standard. 00:23:11.232 --> 00:23:12.633 Our standard is not our impulse. 00:23:12.633 --> 00:23:18.165 In fact, the person driven only by their impulses is a slave to their impulses. 00:23:18.732 --> 00:23:20.532 And we don't want to be a slave to sin. 00:23:20.532 --> 00:23:23.532 What do we want instead, Theresa? 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.865 Freedom. 00:23:25.865 --> 00:23:27.365 We don't want to be a slave. 00:23:27.365 --> 00:23:28.500 Sorry. I had to wake her up there. 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.700 Somebody nudged her. 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:31.833 No, no, no, I'm sorry. She wasn't asleep. 00:23:33.766 --> 00:23:34.766 She wasn't asleep. 00:23:34.766 --> 00:23:36.000 I'm kidding. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.700 We want freedom. 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:39.665 We're not a slave. 00:23:39.665 --> 00:23:41.799 You don't have to obey everything you feel. 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:44.432 You don't have to do it just because you want to. 00:23:44.432 --> 00:23:47.299 That doesn't mean it's good. 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:52.232 Their God is their belly. Their God is their appetite. 00:23:52.665 --> 00:23:54.799 Look here at the next one. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.799 They glory in their shame. 00:23:58.266 --> 00:24:02.665 I think the way the person to look out for here is the person who is twisted. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:09.000 And I chose that word very specifically because we already saw it in chapter two. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:12.000 15. 00:24:12.566 --> 00:24:21.500 You say do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless, innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:31.965 He's already said that this generation there are those who are crooked and twisted, and in our generation and among the Philippians, there are those who are twisting morality. 00:24:31.965 --> 00:24:33.400 They want to flip it upside down. 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:33.799 They want to. 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:38.066 In fact, the quote here is from Isaiah chapter five referenced in the notes. 00:24:38.066 --> 00:24:40.500 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. 00:24:41.965 --> 00:24:49.465 Yeah, I've seen this on the news where someone who's pro-abortion will come across a Christian and they will call the Christian who's anti-abortion. 00:24:49.465 --> 00:24:52.465 They'll call them evil. 00:24:52.465 --> 00:24:59.266 They've completely flipped twisted morality upside down, turned it on its head. 00:24:59.266 --> 00:25:02.232 Woe to... watch out for those. 00:25:02.232 --> 00:25:04.165 They want to take you off course. 00:25:04.165 --> 00:25:07.266 They want to tell you that what the Bible says is evil. 00:25:07.266 --> 00:25:08.532 No, that's actually good. 00:25:08.532 --> 00:25:11.532 And vice versa. 00:25:11.566 --> 00:25:14.566 Watch out for that. 00:25:14.732 --> 00:25:18.633 And then here as well, he says they glory in their shame. 00:25:18.633 --> 00:25:22.299 So it's not just that they are twisted, but also they take glory in it. 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:24.732 It's not just that they do the wrong thing. 00:25:24.732 --> 00:25:29.566 They want you to celebrate it as well, not just allow it to happen, maybe even hide it. 00:25:29.566 --> 00:25:31.000 We're going to take glory in it. 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:34.732 This is where we're going to find our glory, our purpose, our meaning, our delight. 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:39.500 And then the fifth warning he gives them here. 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.532 Their end is destruction. 00:25:40.532 --> 00:25:42.766 God is their belly; glory in their shame. 00:25:42.766 --> 00:25:48.766 And their minds are set on earthly things, which means they only live for the moment. 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.000 So our minds. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.432 Colossians three two talks about this. 00:25:51.432 --> 00:25:55.532 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 00:25:55.532 --> 00:25:59.799 Our focus is to be above, and we live on earth and engage in earth. 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:02.299 But we know this isn't everything. 00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:04.799 This is just a temporary moment that's passing away. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.500 It'll be gone like that. 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:08.165 We were at a wedding last night. 00:26:08.165 --> 00:26:13.932 One of my closest friends, his oldest son got married and we were all sitting there going. 00:26:13.932 --> 00:26:18.365 Just yesterday, we were at your wedding, just yesterday. 00:26:18.365 --> 00:26:21.066 And now your son is getting married. 00:26:21.066 --> 00:26:22.465 How did that happen? 00:26:24.032 --> 00:26:26.833 Just like that. 00:26:26.833 --> 00:26:29.766 And so many just live for this moment, this brief moment. 00:26:29.766 --> 00:26:32.633 But there is an eternity that awaits. 00:26:32.633 --> 00:26:35.633 Keep your mind on things that are above. 00:26:35.865 --> 00:26:41.599 Not just this brief moment that will pass so quickly. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:43.066 Set your mind on the things that are on above. 00:26:43.066 --> 00:26:44.865 We do that by meditating on Scripture. 00:26:44.865 --> 00:26:51.333 Psalm one is a great passage to memorize-- on his law we meditate day and night. 00:26:53.766 --> 00:26:58.400 Man, make sure God's Word is absorbed in your life and we're going to get to next month. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:01.500 Philippians four eight as a memory verse. 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:16.133 As we set our mind on these higher qualities, we'll see those listed, whatever is pure, whatever is noble, whatever is excellent, whatever is honorable, whatever is praiseworthy think about these things, set your mind on them. 00:27:18.833 --> 00:27:22.200 That's where our mindset is to be, not just on the temporary, earthly element. 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:25.599 These are people to watch out for who want to take you off course. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:36.032 And of course, any one of us, by the way, even as a Christian might display some of this at times, what we're talking about is a pattern, and we want to grow and change and correct. 00:27:37.066 --> 00:27:42.133 But if you want to stay the course, be careful who you spend time around. 00:27:43.066 --> 00:27:48.032 Now the third way here to stay on course. 00:27:48.165 --> 00:28:02.099 If you look at verse 20, our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:10.400 The third way that we make sure to stay on course is to know who you really are. 00:28:11.266 --> 00:28:14.266 Remember who you really are. 00:28:16.766 --> 00:28:19.766 Know who you truly are. 00:28:20.232 --> 00:28:28.465 And I've put this set of contrast in your notes because he talked about the enemies of the cross of Christ, but now he gives the contrast to that. 00:28:28.833 --> 00:28:30.400 Those are the people you don't want to be like. 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:32.732 But who are you truly in Christ? 00:28:32.732 --> 00:28:34.465 Look at this first word. 00:28:34.465 --> 00:28:35.465 They are enemies. 00:28:35.465 --> 00:28:40.500 But then he said in verse 20, but our citizenship is in heaven. 00:28:40.665 --> 00:28:42.932 They are enemies of God. 00:28:42.932 --> 00:28:45.932 We are citizens. 00:28:46.465 --> 00:28:48.432 This would have been such an important word to the Philippians. 00:28:48.432 --> 00:28:53.365 We've talked about this over and over again, how they were so concerned about Roman citizenship. 00:28:53.365 --> 00:28:59.099 If I was a citizen of Rome, I was more special than everyone else, and there were more citizens there and other Roman colonies. 00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:00.965 They had a special status as a colony. 00:29:00.965 --> 00:29:02.500 Citizenship meant everything. 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:13.165 But no, no, no, look, as important as you think that is, your citizenship is somewhere greater. 00:29:13.633 --> 00:29:15.333 You're a citizen of a greater city. 00:29:15.333 --> 00:29:18.200 It's not just here, not just in Rome. 00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:20.865 But he also points out they seek this destruction. 00:29:20.865 --> 00:29:21.965 But what do we seek? 00:29:21.965 --> 00:29:25.299 Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await. 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.465 We eagerly await. 00:29:26.465 --> 00:29:29.465 We seek a Savior. 00:29:29.465 --> 00:29:31.633 We're not after destruction. 00:29:31.633 --> 00:29:32.566 We're after a Savior. 00:29:32.566 --> 00:29:38.266 We are waiting for one who will come and redeem us all. 00:29:38.266 --> 00:29:40.000 They are slaves to appetites. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.165 That's how they're driven along. 00:29:41.165 --> 00:29:42.833 They have to obey their appetites. 00:29:42.833 --> 00:29:46.099 But we are called to deny ourselves. 00:29:47.665 --> 00:29:48.965 23. 00:29:48.965 --> 00:29:49.566 All the time. 00:29:49.566 --> 00:29:51.766 Anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself. 00:29:51.766 --> 00:29:53.365 Take up his cross, follow me. 00:29:53.365 --> 00:30:00.465 Part of being a Christian is to say I'm not just going to follow whatever I feel, I'm going to judge it against God's Word. 00:30:00.465 --> 00:30:03.000 They glory in their shame. 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.766 And this is that last contrast. 00:30:04.766 --> 00:30:06.165 They glory in their shame. 00:30:06.165 --> 00:30:12.266 We glory in a future hope, in a future hope. 00:30:12.266 --> 00:30:14.299 And look here at how he describes this. 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:19.766 We await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body. 00:30:20.066 --> 00:30:23.932 The actual wording there is our body of humiliation. 00:30:24.865 --> 00:30:33.965 And every passing year you get a little more humbled by your body, and you realize I can't do what I used to do. 00:30:33.965 --> 00:30:39.000 And even if you're young, by the way, your body lead you astray all the time. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:43.500 The impulse, the desire that shows up seemingly out of nowhere. 00:30:44.032 --> 00:30:51.333 But there will be a day where he will come and transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. 00:30:51.333 --> 00:30:56.299 We await that future hope, that future glory. 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:59.532 Know who you really are, who you truly are. 00:30:59.532 --> 00:31:02.732 This is who you really, truly, fully are. 00:31:04.165 --> 00:31:12.032 Keep coming back to this if you want to stay on course, keep coming back to the truth of who you are. 00:31:12.032 --> 00:31:15.932 And lastly, number four, how do you stay on course? 00:31:15.932 --> 00:31:17.732 Stand firm in the truth. 00:31:17.732 --> 00:31:20.566 Look at verse one of chapter four. 00:31:20.566 --> 00:31:37.665 Therefore my brothers, whom I love and long for my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved, stand firm in the truth we're called. 00:31:37.665 --> 00:31:45.766 When you are facing the challenge, the temptation to go off course, come back to his word. 00:31:45.766 --> 00:31:47.500 Stand firmly in His word. 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:50.500 Find your foundation in His word. 00:31:52.900 --> 00:32:07.900 And as you grow in your faith, that excitement for His Word and anticipation for His Word that should be growing every year, there should be an eagerness that grows, a sense of urgency to be in his word. 00:32:09.965 --> 00:32:14.299 Now, some of you are already listening to Christmas music because you can't wait to Christmas. 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:20.799 November 1st you had that dial set, endless stream of Christmas music. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:24.000 But that that eagerness, that anticipation. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:26.133 I mean, think about you remember how that was as a kid. 00:32:26.133 --> 00:32:28.732 You could not sleep the night before. 00:32:28.732 --> 00:32:30.500 You were like, I wish I could just go to sleep. 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.333 I want to go to sleep. 00:32:31.333 --> 00:32:32.732 And then you wake up, it's Christmas. 00:32:32.732 --> 00:32:41.700 There was so much excitement, eagerness, anticipation, other settings where there's eagerness, excitement, anticipation, urgency, wedding night. 00:32:43.133 --> 00:32:44.532 We had a wedding here not long ago. 00:32:44.532 --> 00:32:47.200 Devin Dixon, Audrey Puckett, they got married. 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:51.665 And right before the wedding, I go downstairs to find Devin, make sure he's still around. 00:32:51.665 --> 00:32:53.066 You know, hadn't escaped or anything. 00:32:53.066 --> 00:32:58.665 And I go down there and he's all alone in the choir room, and I thought, who left the groom all alone? 00:32:58.665 --> 00:33:00.833 You never do that. Right. 00:33:00.833 --> 00:33:02.066 How dangerous is that? 00:33:02.066 --> 00:33:04.133 But he was great. He was good. 00:33:04.133 --> 00:33:10.932 But there was just a nervous anticipation and excitement, as there would be for everyone in that moment. 00:33:10.932 --> 00:33:12.133 I'm sure Audrey was as well. 00:33:12.133 --> 00:33:16.599 I wasn't around her, but there was the everybody there, the parents, everyone. 00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:17.900 This is an exciting day. 00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:19.133 We've been waiting for this. 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:23.700 That should characterize us as Christians. 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:26.032 We should have that same sense. 00:33:26.032 --> 00:33:28.266 And it's hard, by the way, I get it. 00:33:28.266 --> 00:33:28.566 Okay? 00:33:28.566 --> 00:33:32.732 If you're running a marathon, you might start with excitement and it comes and goes there. 00:33:32.732 --> 00:33:34.665 Sometimes you're questioning your life choices. 00:33:34.665 --> 00:33:36.900 You're wondering, why am I out here? 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.665 What am I doing? 00:33:37.665 --> 00:33:38.865 Why did I decide to do this? 00:33:38.865 --> 00:33:39.865 Who talked me into this? 00:33:39.865 --> 00:33:44.965 I'm going to call him and never talk to him again after this. You are going up and down. 00:33:47.266 --> 00:33:47.732 But listen. 00:33:47.732 --> 00:33:53.500 And here's where this all comes back to with the tragedies that affected our city this week. 00:33:55.032 --> 00:33:59.432 There better be a sense of urgency in your life about walking with Christ. 00:33:59.432 --> 00:34:07.400 There better be a sense of urgency about making sure you know him and that you're following him because you're not guaranteed another minute. 00:34:08.565 --> 00:34:09.900 The same plane that crashed there. 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:13.365 It could have could have been here right now. 00:34:14.432 --> 00:34:16.099 It could have been anywhere of all. 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:19.565 In fact, of all the places that crash occurred. 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:25.099 That plane was crossing the country, crossing the ocean. 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:28.099 And it crashed in Louisville. 00:34:28.233 --> 00:34:32.766 I think God is wanting to get the attention of our entire city. 00:34:33.865 --> 00:34:41.266 I think he's trying to shout at us, wake up, Louisville, wake up! I'm not going to tarry forever. 00:34:41.266 --> 00:34:46.465 You can't just pretend that life is going to go on the way it always had, and tomorrow is going to be just like yesterday. 00:34:46.465 --> 00:34:49.465 And I can choose to ignore God. 00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:54.099 There are no guarantees. 00:34:54.266 --> 00:34:56.300 I can't plead with you enough if you don't know him. 00:34:56.300 --> 00:35:00.766 Or maybe you've known him and you've been straying and you're struggling with finding purpose. 00:35:00.766 --> 00:35:02.699 I talked with a guy about that yesterday. 00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:05.565 Look, make today a stake in the ground. 00:35:06.766 --> 00:35:08.565 Today I'm going to commit my life to him. 00:35:08.565 --> 00:35:12.632 You're not going to be perfect, but I'm going to commit to follow him. 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:15.465 Listen, I'd love to talk with you about that. 00:35:15.465 --> 00:35:17.266 I'm always down front after. 00:35:17.266 --> 00:35:18.800 Or sometimes I'm going after you. 00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:20.965 If you're not coming to me, I'll come out and find you. 00:35:20.965 --> 00:35:24.065 But I'd love to talk with you about what that means to follow him. 00:35:24.065 --> 00:35:27.000 Don't wait another day. 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:47.199 Let that sense of urgency hit every one of us, and if you know him, take that same sense of urgency and begin praying for someone in your life who doesn't, and pray and pray that this tragedy would just stir in them a hunger for Christ like never before. 00:35:48.766 --> 00:35:51.766 Let's pray. 00:35:55.965 --> 00:35:57.365 God, we thank you for your word. 00:35:59.465 --> 00:36:03.766 Thank you that we can stand firm in the truth of your word. 00:36:04.733 --> 00:36:12.833 Thank you that we find hope and joy and purpose and meaning and life everlasting in you. 00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:25.900 I pray that daily your word would convict us of sin, that we would confess and turn to you, that we would lean on one another. 00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:30.599 That you would help us to stay the course. 00:36:32.199 --> 00:36:40.400 God, if you're stirring in anyone's life today who doesn't know you, would you give them the courage to take a step of faith to follow you? 00:36:42.865 --> 00:36:46.666 And help each of us here to walk with a sense of urgency every day. 00:36:46.666 --> 00:36:49.666 We're not guaranteed another moment. 00:36:49.965 --> 00:36:55.833 There are thousands and thousands of airplanes in the sky over Louisville every day. 00:36:57.300 --> 00:37:03.465 But there's many other ways that we walk by faith and know that this could be it. 00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:08.000 Would you bring courage? 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.233 Would you bring hope? 00:37:09.233 --> 00:37:13.599 Would you bring eagerness, urgency, anticipation? 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.465 Thank you for saving us. 00:37:15.465 --> 00:37:18.266 Jesus, we love you. 00:37:18.266 --> 00:37:18.733 Amen.