WEBVTT 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:13.919 Ministering to the heart of Western Arkansas's River Valley for over 165 years, welcome to Chapter and First, the Bible Teaching Ministry of Fort Smith's First Baptist Church. 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:19.359 You'll find sermons and teachings from Pastor Greg, our ministry staff, and guest speakers. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:21.280 Thank you for listening. 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:23.679 Thank you, choir and orchestra. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:24.719 I love that song. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:29.600 It's a beautiful song, incredible picture from Psalms as we've studied. 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:34.960 Well, we are uh going into week two now of our study of the book of Philippians. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:38.320 So I'm going to ask you to turn to Philippians chapter one. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:43.600 Uh we are going to take the fall and we're going to study through the book of Philippians. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:44.719 It's an incredible book. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:46.159 It's one of my favorites. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:51.039 Uh many folks have been teaching the Bible that's their favorite Sunday school teachers around our church. 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:52.880 I heard from a lot of folks saying that. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:54.799 And so we're very excited about that. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:00.799 And as we walk through that, just to help you, if you were interested, we have these available in the lobby. 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:05.359 This is a little notebook that has just the book of Philippians in it. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:12.480 And it is also, it's written on or published on uh on regular type of paper that you can write on. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:14.959 It has wide margins and notes. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:25.359 So as we go through this book study together, as we talked about last week, one of the things that we're doing is learning how to study Scripture in context and study through a book together. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:29.359 So I hope it'll be a blessing to you, and you'll join with us in that journey. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:40.799 Uh, as we begin this study, uh last week we looked at the theme that we'll be uh taking through the book, and that is a life worthy of the gospel. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:46.239 And of course, that comes from uh right directly from the scripture. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:50.560 It is verse 27 here in chapter 1. 00:01:50.799 --> 00:02:00.719 And so uh I want to ask this question that we asked last week as we begin this third this theory, this theme of walking through this book. 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:05.760 Paul says in verse 27, just one thing. 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:13.120 Now, if my dad stopped me and he said, Son, I'm only gonna tell you one thing. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:15.680 Okay, that means pay attention, son, right? 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:20.080 That means I better remember that or I'm in trouble afterwards if I'm not paying attention to it. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:22.639 And so here's what Paul says, just one thing. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:24.240 And then he gives that command. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.840 Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:32.639 That is an incredibly powerful and significant statement, obviously. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:41.840 He says, this is the thing that I'm going to talk to you about, church at Philippi, and down through the, by projection, down through the years to churches just like ours. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.280 What does that command mean for us in real life? 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:46.400 What does that mean? 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:48.240 I mean, he's telling us live. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:49.919 That means we got to live that out. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:57.520 That means Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday night, whatever it is, it's got to look like a life worthy of the gospel. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:00.800 How do we live out that command in real life? 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:04.159 Well, we're going to begin to unpack that a little bit this morning. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:16.479 If you will, look with me there in verse 27, and we're going to walk through the last few verses at the end of this chapter so that we can see this command, and it's just exactly how he explains it. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:24.400 He says in verse 27, just one thing, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:52.800 Then, assuming we're obedient that command, then, because we're doing that, then Paul, who is writing from prison, says, Whether I'm able to come and see you, or whether I'm absent, I will hear about you, church, that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel. 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:54.639 That working side by side. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:04:00.400 There's another version that says, contending, which I love that we'll talk about that in a minute. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:09.199 Contending side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents. 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:15.520 Now remember, he is writing from prison this letter to the church at Philippi. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:32.240 And he's saying, Listen, I know that there are people who stand against the gospel, but we are going to contend and wrestle for the gospel because that's the one thing that being saved by the gospel commands and requires of us to do. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:40.399 This is a sign of destruction for the opponents, but of your deliverance, and this is from God. 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:56.160 For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, having the same struggle that you saw I, Paul, had, and now hear that I, Paul, have. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:04.720 And so he describes what it means for us in great detail using his own experience that he's in the middle of there. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:14.959 So I want you to just see a couple of scripture points that I want to remind you from last week that I want to set up on how we answer this question: how do I live for the gospel? 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:21.759 Now you remember this live, this is an illustration of citizenship and our greater duty as citizens. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:27.120 And so he's literally putting up for us the idea when he says, live worthy of the gospel. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:32.480 That is to meet the duties that I have as a citizen of heaven. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:35.920 It is a call to that sense of citizenship. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:43.920 It elevates these greater duties that I should have that I am following that are calling me to live in a different way. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:46.079 And then we looked at this idea worthy. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:49.279 Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:54.800 In the original language, that's that picture of scales that you would use in commerce. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:58.879 And here's the price for something, and it weighs down that scale. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:02.480 And in order to be worthy, you have to balance those scales. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:08.959 And so we know that the way we're we're not worthy in our own, again, he's talking about the gospel of Christ. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:12.240 What that means is I have to surrender my life to him. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:26.319 I have to allow him to work in me, and I have to be so surrendered, allowing so much Jesus to come into my life that it is beginning to balance my life to the scale of the life of Jesus. 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:29.519 That's the standard that we're called to. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:35.040 Now, that's a standard that goes beyond just, Amen, Pastor Greg. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:37.680 We love the word and we go on about what we do. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:49.519 In fact, Paul is specifically challenging the idea that all we have to do is show up at church every now and then and say yes and amen, something, and then go about and live our lives as we want to. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.560 Look what he says here in verse 29. 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:56.079 For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:09.040 Now he uses that word Christ there, not just Jesus, his name as Redeemer, but Christ, his title, as the anointed Messiah sacrifice for our sins. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:23.680 In other words, he's saying, because you have trusted in Jesus' sacrifice for your sins, his death, burial, and resurrection, it has not been given to you on Christ's behalf only to believe in him. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:31.600 Christians are called to a life far beyond just hell of Jesus. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:34.959 How go to church. 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:47.759 In this context, we've got to understand that we are called to a standard of citizenship and activity and living that is way beyond ourselves. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:57.199 It is something that is approximating the same sacrifice that Jesus had when he gave his life for us. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:04.319 It should only make sense that if Jesus gave his life for us and I give him my life, it's not my life anymore. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:07.199 It's Jesus' life. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:13.600 And what is Jesus going to do with this life that I've surrendered him other than what he did with his? 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:28.000 And so my life is called literally, behaviorally, activity-wise, to a greater standard than just I believe in Jesus. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:30.800 And here's, get these other pictures. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:32.159 Here's what he says. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.679 In verse 27, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:45.120 Then whenever I see I come, and if I'm able to do that, or if I am absent, I will hear about you, that you are standing firm. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:50.080 That means standing against the tide. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:54.960 It means being strong in the gospel, immovable. 00:08:55.279 --> 00:09:03.120 Nothing can stop us from this life, meeting this duty of the standard of Christ. 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:18.399 It doesn't matter what comes against us, it doesn't matter what those struggles are, we are standing firm in the gospel, greater than he who is in us, than he that is in the world, and therefore we are strong standing against the world for the gospel. 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:24.960 He says, Contending, contending, or working side by side. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.279 I don't really like that word working right there. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:31.360 Contending is a much better work, is work, you know. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:37.600 Some people work, and some people they look like they're working. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.000 There's no question about contending. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:43.360 And the root word is the same. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:44.879 It can be work, it can be whatever. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:46.320 Look at what he says lower. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:51.840 He says, since you are engaged in the same struggle, it's this idea of an athletic competition. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:55.279 And it's this idea that we are pushing and that we are fighting. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:04.480 It's the idea since we're in football season that we're in the fourth quarter and it is fourth and two, and we're down by four, and we have to get a touchdown. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:10.799 And you get in the huddle, and the quarterback looks at you as a guard or a tackle or a center. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:16.399 Fellas, this game is over if you don't back somebody up off this line. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:19.759 We gotta have two yards, hat on a hat. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:22.879 You gotta beat somebody or we lose. 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:32.720 That's contending, that's struggling, that's pushing forward, that's everything that is in me. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:34.879 I am fighting for this gospel. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:38.559 It is the duty that I am called to as a citizen of heaven. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:43.519 It is the responsibility that I have because Jesus died for me on the cross. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:47.679 A few weeks ago, we looked at the scripture for the joy set before him. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:51.200 Jesus endured the cross. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:56.480 He contended for our souls on the cross. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:11:03.440 He conquered death and sin and rose again conquering death and sin in victory. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:06.399 And we are struggling for that. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:15.360 This is the call, this is the challenge, this is the standard, this is elevating our definition of what it means to be a Christian. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:23.759 We've got to learn in our lives and our modern culture, there are so many things that distract us and so many things that pull us away. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.000 There are so many things we can be involved in. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:28.639 There are so many duties and responsibilities that we have. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:37.039 We are so busy, just not that far after COVID, when we were all sitting around bored and now we're running ragged already again. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:38.799 It did not take very long. 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:44.960 In the midst of all of that, are we contending for the gospel? 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:49.279 Are we fighting with everything that is in us? 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:57.519 Are we struggling to advance the gospel regardless of what's going on around us? 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:02.480 Paul uses the example of himself here. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:05.840 And listen to what he says again in this verse in 29. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:17.919 For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf, not only to believe in him, it is not enough to give mere assent to the truth of the gospel or scripture. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.600 Here's what the gospel says. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:21.440 Again, look what he says in 27. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:24.799 Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.080 This is what that means. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:27.759 Let's rehearse that again. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:31.120 In chapter 2, it explains it in great detail. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:34.879 All of us are sinners by birth, by nature, and by choice. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:36.879 Every one of us have sinned. 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.519 We have done things that we know are wrong. 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:41.759 Our consciences have been pricked. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:45.279 We know that that's something that I should have asked forgiveness for. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:48.639 I've hidden that because I didn't want anybody to know I did it. 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.919 All of us understand what the conviction of sin is. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:57.200 The effect of sin is this our sin must be judged by a holy God. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.679 That's why death happens in the world. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.120 That's why people die. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:07.919 Death is that our bodies do not live for eternity because of the judgment of sin. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:14.159 And our bodies will physically die, but that death, that physical death, that human death, is not the only death. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:20.720 We will spend an eternity in hell paying the price for our sins, being judged for our sins by a holy God. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:26.720 Paul says, look, they can put me in prison for preaching that, but that's what the gospel is. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.200 And he says, there's no other hope but Jesus. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:32.799 But he uses the term the gospel of Christ, and that's the good news. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:36.399 And he goes on to give in detail in chapter 2 what happened. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.960 God looks at us as the creator. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:43.279 As Jacob read from Psalms 8, as we've sung, Who am I? 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.840 Who am I that God would care? 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:49.360 I rejected him when I sinned. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:56.000 But that picture in that psalm also gives the picture of Jesus as the Son of Man. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:01.120 Because he looked down out of heaven and he said, Greg's life, I am not satisfied with that. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:04.960 And he stepped out of heaven in grace and mercy and he lived a sinless life. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.879 He put himself in the form of a man. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:14.639 It says, he humbled himself into the form and the physical nature of a man in chapter 2, so that he could live a human life. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.159 He lived a sinless life. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:32.399 And then he allowed himself and gave himself to people who took him to a cross and they nailed him there, and he died so that his sinless human life could become a substitute death to pay the price for our sins, so we would not have to. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:36.159 On the third day, Jesus rose again, conquering death and sin. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:43.840 And now the good news of gospel, the gospel, the good news of Christ is he is that sacrifice that died in our place. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:54.799 And if we will bring our lives to him and our sin to him, and we will confess our sin to him, Jesus, I know I'm a sinner, but I know you love me and pay the price for my sin. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:15:01.279 And I'm going to take my life, everything I've been, I am, and I ever will be, and I'm going to give all of that to you. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:02.639 It is now your life. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.679 You paid for it. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:07.120 And I'm giving it to you because you gave your life for me. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:10.080 And then we are saved. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.240 Our sins are forgiven. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.519 We are cleansed. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:16.000 The Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.200 We are never alone. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.879 He walks through life with us. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:20.720 He begins to transform us. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:30.799 He shows us how we can live so far beyond the human experience by living a life worthy of the gospel that we trusted for our salvation. 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:33.039 He never leaves us alone. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.799 He walks through that with us. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:38.159 Every promise written in Scripture is sealed with the blood of Jesus. 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:48.000 And then when our bodies physically die, the Bible says to be absent from the body is present with the Lord, and you immediately are in eternity with Jesus forever. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:51.279 That's the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:16:20.000 And here's what Paul says: listen, if it has radically changed your here and your later, if it has radically changed your human life and given you eternal life, if your sins were forgiven and you have been transformed and you are in the process of being transformed in the image of Jesus, then how in the world can you just sit around and not contend for the gospel that has saved you? 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:22.799 That's what he said. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:31.200 Don't worry about, don't be frightened about opponents in your way. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:37.039 Whether that's somebody that just tries to shut you down or doesn't like you or whatever it is. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:42.480 If it is in Paul's day when it's he is put in jail for preaching the gospel. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:46.480 He was beaten by people who thought he was a Jewish heretic. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:49.600 All of those things, he said, listen, Jesus is bigger than that. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:51.759 Now he gives us his example. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.360 And how do we live this out? 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:57.039 How do we answer that question that I live worthy of the gospel? 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.559 That I am contending in a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.519 Paul gives us his own example. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:11.200 Again in verse 29, for it has been given to you on Christ's behalf, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:18.720 Having the same struggle that you saw I had, and now hear that I have. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:24.079 He was opposed in Philippi when he was preaching the gospel there in Philippi. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:34.559 You've heard the story of the Philippian jailer who Paul led to Christ while he was in prison when God released him from prison. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:42.319 And now they know he is in Rome and he is in shackles and chains and prison because of preaching the gospel. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:46.640 And Paul says, listen, it doesn't matter what we face, you're going to do that. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.640 Now just a thought for us. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:18:03.920 It's always been weird to kind of preach sometimes about these things in America because we have the First Amendment and constitutional protections, and we were, you know, godly nation and all that kind of stuff, you know. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.759 That's we've we've had all that. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:10.319 But listen, we're going to have to learn what passages of scriptures like this mean. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.759 Not to offend some, but just let me take a moment. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:40.559 It's clear after a presidential debate this week that we have the vice president of the United States, a governor of one of the states in America, who are standing firmly and celebrating positions that are in direct contravention to the Holy Scripture of God. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:58.559 I mean, you know, some people don't like it when preachers, whatever, but you know, when they step into the Word of God and they step into our world, it is clear. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.759 Thank you for that. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:04.640 It's great to be in a church where people love the Lord. 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:08.000 We have a great heritage here. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:16.160 We have a great heritage here, and it is an honor to follow the kind of preachers who've been here and preached these same things and taught it from Scripture. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.680 But here's what we got. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:44.160 Just to understand, when they celebrate taking your tax dollars to pay for abortions to the ninth month, then it's not a far stretch for the radical LGBTQ agenda that they both clearly have been invested in for the entirety of their political careers. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:52.000 It is not difficult if you're going to take our tax dollars to pay for abortions. 00:19:52.799 --> 00:20:07.519 If you care that little about life, they'll take our tax dollars and they'll pay for the surgery of minors to attempt to change their genders and celebrate it as if that is some valuable thing. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:15.759 That's why they will not protect young ladies on sports teams and locker rooms. 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:25.759 I have a daughter that grew up playing softball and volleyball and all of that. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.759 It's just wrong. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:32.720 And make no mistake, this is not a political issue. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:36.559 It is a biblical issue. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.200 Follow with me. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:48.640 The Bible makes it clear that the number one most important, tangible picture of salvation is the structure of the family. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:55.519 Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:00.960 Clearly, the gospel is invested in the picture of marriage. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:09.440 Husbands play a part where we live out the gospel and the picture of Jesus before our families and our children. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:20.160 And then when you live a sacrifice-loving life like the gospel of Christ, then what's going to happen is people are going to see and they're going to want to know how to receive that gospel. 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:25.119 And wives live out the role of how a Christian receives salvation. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:28.799 Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:37.279 And then he says in the book of Ephesians again, wives submit yourselves and everything to your husbands as to the Lord. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:40.480 It is a picture of salvation. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.319 It illustrates salvation. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.720 It illustrates it to our children. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:22:05.759 And when the world steps in to destroy the picture of marriage by making it something other than a man and a woman living out the gospel so their children know what the gospel of Jesus is, then They it is a direct attack on the very gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:10.880 And so we've got to understand the world that we live in and not be confused. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:16.160 This is not about who you like or who you don't like or whatever else. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:30.000 And when we face an election where someone like that wins, and I'm not predicting, and I don't know when that happened, and I'm not a prophet, and my dad was not one either. 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:44.319 But one of these days it is going to happen, and we will live in a world where the statement that I just made is more than just offensive and canceled, it becomes illegal. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:52.319 It will happen at some point unless God brings sweeping revival that changes it. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:23:10.160 Now here's what happens: if you have only been living, believing, and not raising your gospel life, and behavior to the level of contending for the gospel, you are not prepared for those days. 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:35.519 And so as the church, we've got to have a standard where our focus is wrestling, fighting, pushing, hat on a hat, beat the opponent, make the two yards, and advance the gospel. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:40.240 That's the picture that is clearly being explained right here. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:42.319 And Paul uses that example. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:44.160 Listen, y'all have seen the struggle. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.799 I'm in jail for preaching the gospel. 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.680 And y'all got to get there. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:53.920 So we got to do more than get mad about politics. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:58.640 And we've got to do more than buy tickets to football games. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.640 And we've got to do more than that. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:09.359 We've got to live to the standard of our citizenship for the Jesus who died for our sins and rose again. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:18.640 And if Paul gives us this example, I want to give you just three small pictures here of what his perspective is and what it looks like. 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:23.279 But I want to ask it as a question to myself and to you. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:30.000 It's fun sometimes when you talk to folks after church and they go, man, Pastor, you were really preaching, and they'll say, Well, you stepped on my toes and all. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:34.640 Y'all just remember I had to live with this sermon for two weeks before I came here, right? 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:39.440 My feet are already so chewed on by the Holy Spirit. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.160 So what happened? 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.279 So here's what we're going to do. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:47.519 We're going to ask this question, myself and you, is our purpose in life to advance the gospel? 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:50.640 Is our purpose in life to advance the gospel? 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:54.000 Look back at what Paul says in this chapter. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:02.640 He says in verse 21, For me, living is Christ, and dying is gain. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:06.480 In fact, in the original language, the word is is not even there. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:10.559 It's only put there in English so we can understand the flow of the sentence. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:13.440 What it literally says is living Christ. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:16.000 There's no life outside of Jesus. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:21.359 Jesus said about himself, I, Jesus, am the resurrection and the life. 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:26.079 Jesus said about himself, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:29.200 Jesus said about himself, I am the living water. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:32.720 Jesus said about himself, I am the bread of life. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:40.960 There is no life outside of Jesus, and there is certainly no eternal life outside of the forgiveness that comes from the gospel and Jesus. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:45.839 And so Paul says very clearly, living as Christ and dying is gained. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.720 Let me ask you a question. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:54.559 If your purpose was not, if your life purpose was not advancing the gospel, why would you go to prison for the gospel? 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.599 Why would you go to prison for the gospel? 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:10.880 Paul says very clearly in verse 12, I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel. 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:22.000 So it has become known throughout the whole Imperial Guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:27.599 So Paul makes it very clear that his entire purpose in life is the gospel. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:31.440 He later on says, now look, it doesn't mean I've arrived. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:34.400 It doesn't mean that I've accomplished everything I've accomplished. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:41.359 I'm still surrendered and I'm still pursuing in life what Jesus saved me to be and to do and all of that. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:47.599 So he's not stating somehow that he has elevated himself to some level. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:52.480 But what he is saying is, my purpose in life is the gospel. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:27:03.039 And as much as God will allow me, and as much as Jesus will work in my life, and as many opportunities as I have, my sole focus is the gospel being advanced. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:10.960 What that means is the gospel being preached in places where people are dying and going to hell so that they can be saved. 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:13.119 That's what that means. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:16.960 It doesn't mean protecting the church. 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:26.640 It doesn't mean that, you know, I like this and this is my haven and I come and hide here and this is my foxhole and all that dirty world out there, and then I'm going to touch us back in here. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.400 That's not what that means. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:40.480 My sole life, even if they throw me in prison, is to do everything that God will allow me to do to advance the gospel to people who are dying and going to hell without Jesus. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:46.480 We are contending even in the Thames when there's opposition. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:53.119 We are finding ways, wrestling ways, hat on a hat. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:59.440 Whip somebody to make the two yards, to get to a lost person who needs Jesus. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:03.440 Listen, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son. 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:09.519 Romans, the Bible says God demonstrated his love towards us and that while we're yet sinners, Christ died for us. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:16.720 And 1 John, he said it this way: not that we loved him, but he first loved us and gave his son for us. 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:37.440 Our duty, that citizenship duty that he's trying to elevate and call us to, is a life of such attachment to the love of Jesus that it drives us in every way that it can be to share the love of Jesus with someone else. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:43.839 Paul didn't go to prison so he could scream at people about what they did wrong. 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:49.680 Paul went to prison so he could tell them Jesus died for those wrongs. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:53.039 They're called sin and there's judgment for them. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:29:00.559 And Jesus paid the price for it, and he took your punishment for it, and he rose again so you can be clean and forgiven. 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:04.319 And have a hope in life that you never knew you had. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:22.400 The world is our goal. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:29.359 We are trying to reach them with the gospel. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:32.559 We don't hate lost people. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:39.279 We love them with the love of Jesus to try to go out and show them that there's hope for the things that they're struggling with. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:41.599 That they need Jesus. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.200 It is our job. 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:49.680 This is not our haven we're hiding from. 00:29:50.880 --> 00:30:00.559 These are the starting blocks that we race from to take the gospel to a world that needs him. 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:08.000 We are trying to strive in a way with those balances worthy. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:22.079 I am trying to allow Jesus to create so much Jesus in my life and so much love for lost people in my life that I am contending always to reach them. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:26.880 That's why we call out sin. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:29.200 That's why we speak into matters. 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:36.640 Because there is so much lying and untruth that goes out there, and we have to explain the truth as we just have. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:44.000 When I talked about the definition of marriage, listen, what we're trying to get through, the point is there is a way to answer the heart cry. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:47.200 If you will find Jesus, you will know how this works. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:51.680 In every year that I've lived in the state of Arkansas, I've used this illustration before. 00:30:51.839 --> 00:31:02.480 In every year I've lived in the state of Arkansas, we are in the top five, numerically, the top five states in the country in third-time marriages. 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.720 You got that? 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:07.039 Now, here's what's happening, what I mean by that. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:09.359 So work with me for just a second. 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:13.920 What that means is people want to be in relationship. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:16.480 They are hungry to be loved. 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:21.359 They are trying to figure it out, and we have the answer. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:32.720 Man, that ought to excite us about a state where people are searching and we got the answer. 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:37.920 And we are striving and contending. 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:44.559 What is your perspective of what is your what is your purpose in life? 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:47.759 Are you driven by the gospel? 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:54.160 Are you engaged with your love list? 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:58.480 Because gospel is your purpose? 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:04.880 You think about when we talk about a love list here, three people, what we're talking about, this is a way to help us learn evangelism. 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:08.799 Three people that you know God's put in your life that need Jesus, and you're praying three things. 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:11.119 Number one, I'll pray for them to be saved. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:13.839 Number two, I'm praying for an opportunity to invite them to church. 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:17.839 And number three, I'm praying for an opportunity to share my testimony with them. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:18.880 Three things. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:22.000 Three lost people, God put them in your life. 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:26.079 And you are praying and you are seeking and you are looking for every opportunity you have. 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.839 You are praying that they'll be saved. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:39.200 You are asking the Lord to give you an opportunity to invite them to church, and you are praying for an opportunity for you to share your testimony on how you are saved. 00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.440 We talk about that. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.519 It's not just a cute thing. 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:54.880 It is an effort that we are trying to build into our lives as a church family so that we are on purpose sharing the gospel. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:33:04.559 That we are recognizing that God put me in that place, in that school, in that homeroom, on that team, on that street, in that family, in that workplace. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:06.720 He's put me in that civic organization. 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:10.400 He's put me there because he's put people that need Jesus there. 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:12.000 And he has put me in there. 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:17.680 I am the guard on that offensive line, and he has whispered into my ear when he put me in that place. 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.599 Hat on a hat. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:25.359 I need two yards because they need to be saved. 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:26.799 Go. 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:33.680 That's a purposeful life. 00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:38.559 Paul also describes his perspective of the gospel. 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:42.319 Is my perspective of life the advance of the gospel? 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:44.880 Man, I mean, just listen to this for a minute. 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:47.039 This guy is in prison. 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:49.119 He's been in prison. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:51.519 All of that has happened to him. 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:54.480 And listen to what he says in verse 12. 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:59.359 I want you to know, brothers, what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:06.559 So that it's become known throughout the whole Imperial Guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:11.679 Praise God, he threw me in jail because now I can tell these guards about Jesus. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.800 Listen what else he says. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:27.440 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly. 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:29.119 Can you imagine? 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.199 Put me in jail. 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:33.119 I'm excited to be here. 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:38.239 Because it got y'all's dander up, and y'all are out telling people about Jesus now. 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:44.400 Do we view the issues that we face in life that way? 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:50.239 Do we ever even think, praise God, this advances the gospel? 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:53.119 Praise God, I'm going through this advances the gospel. 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:54.559 Man, this is hard. 00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.840 This is hard at work. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.639 This is difficult. 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:58.800 People are where praise God. 00:34:58.880 --> 00:35:05.679 Here's an opportunity for Jesus to come out of my life and a chance for the gospel to be explored. 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:17.039 Praise God, He's put me here in this hard spot, and I got to deal with all this because people are going to see Jesus come out, and I'm going to get an opportunity to share Jesus with people. 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:21.679 I don't like this, I don't like that, I don't like that. 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:29.440 When our perspective should be, how many people got saved? 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:33.679 How many times do we share the gospel? 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:37.920 That person I invited to church, they didn't come this week. 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:41.599 But oh, I so wanted them to be here in the presence of God. 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:44.000 And I'm going to double my efforts, Lord. 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:46.960 I'm praying even harder that they get here. 00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:49.760 Listen, here's what else he says. 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:52.159 I want you to think about this for a minute. 00:35:52.480 --> 00:36:00.159 When he uses his illustration of you are appointed to suffer the same battle that I'm appointed to, here's the deal. 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:21.679 Whenever that moment is in our culture, when it becomes so difficult or even unlawful to speak against abortion or to stand up for biblical marriage, one man and one woman, or to speak into any of those issues, if it becomes illegal, you know what? 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:27.599 We don't get an asterisk that tells us we don't have to do it anymore. 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:39.360 If it becomes illegal, we've been appointed to the same struggle as Paul. 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:57.440 If it becomes hard and we get canceled and cancel culture or whatever kind of a deal, that doesn't remove from us the imperative and the command to share Jesus and see people say. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:01.199 Next week, thank you for so many of y'all. 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.639 Y'all are praying for our team. 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:06.719 Our team is getting our prayer partners in place. 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:09.039 Next Sunday, we leave for London to go. 00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:12.639 And I've shared it with you before, but in this context, it's really important. 00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:20.719 One of the reasons that we felt like God has really led us as a church to get involved in London is because it's hard over there. 00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:28.079 They are years advanced from where we are in opposition to the gospel. 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:42.480 And when I first sat down and a pastor talked to me about and introduced me to Pastor Joel, he said, listen, Greg, America's on its way, and we're going to get there, and so we better learn how to share the gospel now in that context. 00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:47.360 And you read this scripture right here, it begins to make sense, doesn't it? 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:53.199 We got to go learn how to do it where it's hard because it's getting harder here. 00:37:54.719 --> 00:38:03.280 We got to learn new strategies and new ways, and we've got to learn things about you can't do as much public deal, but you can do every bit as much private deal. 00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:05.039 And how do you build relationships? 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:06.000 Love list. 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:12.960