WEBVTT 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:16.480 So today we are finishing a short two-part series called More Than Sunday. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:25.839 We started it last week, we're finishing it today, and we're really talking about how so much of our discipleship as Christ followers happens within the context of community. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:27.920 It happens outside of just a Sunday. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:37.679 And this morning I want to focus on friendships, the friendships that we form in our communities and what Christ-centered, God-like friendships that He wants for us, what those look like. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:39.200 So let's pray. 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:44.000 Lord Jesus, we just pray for a focusing of our minds on you. 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:52.479 God, I pray that you would move me aside and just use me to speak to your church, whatever you want to say, point us back to your word, your truth, and your love. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:53.359 Amen. 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:54.479 Amen. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:57.840 So I have a question to throw your way to kick this off. 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:00.479 I want you to think about, no need to raise your hand. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:03.280 I want you to think about the people in your life. 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:10.239 And if you would consider yourself to have one, two, maybe three people you'd consider good, close friends. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:11.920 That's true of you. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:17.439 And then I want you to think about that person, whoever that came to mind, if someone did come to mind, why? 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:19.840 Why would you consider them a good or close friend? 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:23.359 Is there a reason that's very comes up to you right away? 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:25.200 Do you have to sit and think about it? 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:27.280 What is that reason for you? 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:36.959 Statistics have shown, as as recent as this year, that half of Americans would consider that they do not have even one close friend. 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:38.959 Isn't that so heartbreaking? 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:46.799 And for the half that do, that would consider themselves too, I wonder, what do they use to define what good or close means? 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:53.120 The great philosopher Aristotle has three criteria, what he would call three different types of friends. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:55.200 I want to take us through that right now. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:58.319 The first is what he would call a friendship of utility. 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:02.719 This is more of an accidental or you know a coincidental friendship. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:09.520 It's a friendship that occurs because there's some mutual benefit that you can get from each other, or maybe one-sided even, right? 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:15.680 Think about if you're in the workplace, if you want to further your career and your networking, that would be like a friendship of utility. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:20.319 Maybe you know someone in your life who has a certain skill set that you wish to glean from. 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:22.080 That's a friendship of utility. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:30.319 Oftentimes these friendships start and end when the utility kind of ends, or when that exchange, that mutual benefit kind of ends, the friendship will end. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:35.360 And there's no good or bad here, but these are just right the categories of friendships. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:37.599 The second, similarly, is kind of coincidental. 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:39.039 It's a friendship of pleasure. 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:41.280 And it's just that friendship of pleasure. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:49.599 These are the people who bring a source of entertainment, fun, maybe even a source of escape from the day-to-day stressors in your life. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:51.919 Friendship of entertainment and pleasure. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:56.879 And usually with these friendships, I want you to think about like if your kids are on the same soccer team, maybe, right? 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:01.120 The kids are bonding over that mutual hobby and the parents are bonding over their kids being on that team. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:07.439 Maybe you're in college and you're a part of a club, or you geek out over a cool hobby like Dungeons and Dragons or something, right? 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:09.280 Those are friendships of pleasure. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:15.199 The third is a friendship of virtue, a virtuous friendship. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.639 This is what Aristotle says that we should try to cultivate. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:25.840 What a friendship of virtue is, is it's a shared appreciation over mutual virtue or character in one another. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:28.800 And the cool thing is that there is some overlap between these, right? 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:37.840 So a friendship of utility can lead to a friendship of virtue, and vice versa, but really the one that we should try to be intentional about is this friendship of virtue. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:44.479 Now, I think Aristotle has amazing wisdom here, but as believers, our ultimate source of wisdom is Jesus Christ. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:44.960 Am I right? 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:45.680 Amen? 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:46.319 Yes. 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:49.199 So what does Jesus have to say about this? 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:50.639 This virtue. 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:57.840 If I were to think about how Jesus would define virtue, I would think that it's this concept of looking more like Jesus, right? 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:01.039 Having his attributes, having his character. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:08.560 I remember asking my mom when I was younger, when I was a teenager, mom, what makes us look different as Christians? 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:10.800 And for context, I didn't grow up Christian. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:13.199 So my parents became believers when they were 40. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:14.159 I was 10. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:16.959 And so for us, this was a really big deal, right? 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:19.040 To go from, you know, it mattered to us. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:20.160 Like, why do we look different? 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:21.199 What makes us look different? 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:24.319 This was a question that we like really cared about, why, right? 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.879 And I'll never forget her response that's always stuck with me. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:31.439 She said, What makes us look different is the fruit that's being produced in our lives, right? 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:38.319 The fruit that's produced in our lives, the virtues or the attitudes that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives, thanks to Jesus Christ. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:40.560 And I love how Paul says it in Philippians. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:43.920 This is the first verse in your bulletin that we're gonna focus on this morning. 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:53.120 He says, May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation, the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ. 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:56.160 For this will bring much glory and praise to God. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:05:03.279 And the cool thing is the you in this verse, I guess it's awesome for us individually, the you is actually plural in the Greek. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:04.879 So Paul is talking to the church. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:06.720 This is a collective for all of us, right? 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:13.839 The people watching online right now, all of us under this tent right now, all of us as believers, this is what Paul's exhortation is to all of us. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:23.279 And so when I think of this righteous character or this fruit, I think of having a sense of steadfastness or fervor, right? 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:31.839 And I want us to focus our time this morning on how Christ-centered community is the context in which this righteous character is developed. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:38.000 Christ-centered community is the context in which this righteous character and this fruit is developed in us. 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:41.519 And this happens outside of just a Sunday church experience. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:47.040 If you are with us at any point during 2021, the first six months, you know that we were going through the book of Acts. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:56.800 We spent a long time diving into the life of Paul, who he was, what he did, all about him, the just the deep impact that he made on Christianity as a belief system, right? 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:01.600 And this morning I want us to continue looking at Paul, but specifically his community. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:12.160 Two friends that were in Paul's life and he had money, but two friends in specific who played an instrumental role in, I believe, his formation as a disciple of Jesus and what we can learn from them. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:22.000 I don't know about you guys, but I kind of used to like gloss over those portions in the Bible where it would start with like, I'm gonna butcher, but something like, praise be to Theopolis, da-da-da-da-da, right? 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:23.120 Like my brother, da-da-da. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:24.800 And I'd be like, why is this in the Bible? 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:27.839 I'd kind of like gloss over to like Colossians and Ephesians. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:39.279 And then the more that I studied the Bible and the more that I'd been learning about who these were this was written to, why, the context, who wrote it, I realized, wow, this is intentional. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:50.399 These excerpts are like little breadcrumbs that Paul's leaving for us to show us who he chose to surround himself with and why, and how they deeply impacted his formation as a disciple. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:52.720 And these two men have very similar names. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:53.600 It's kind of uncanny. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:56.240 Their names are Epaphras and Epaphroditus. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:00.079 So I'm gonna do my best to distinguish them as best as possible. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:03.519 So let's dive into the life of Epaphras and their friendship first. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:05.920 This is in your bulletin if you'd like to take notes. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:09.040 So Epaphrus was a native of the town of Colossae. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.839 This was an Asia Minor, that's modern-day Turkey. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:20.160 And as a refresher, if the name Colossae sounds familiar to you, that's because the letter to the Colossian church, to the Colossians was written to the church in Colossae. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:37.360 There isn't too much known about Epaphoros before he meets Paul, but commentators have researched that he probably met Paul in Ephesus, and he was trained by Paul and by Timothy in Ephesus, where there he became really like a church planter and filled with knowledge and great zeal to go and be a church planter. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:44.240 What Epaphras is most known for is the instrumental role he played in discipling the Colossian church. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:50.319 Fun fact that most people don't know, and I didn't know until I started studying for this message, is Paul never met the Colossians. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.279 Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians in your Bible right now. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:55.680 He never met them because he was in prison. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:08:01.439 And so the amazing thing about their friendship is Ephrus is the one that delivers the Colossians this letter. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:05.839 And in this day and age, it was really like this moment where this letter was developed. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:14.959 They would read it all, like imagine, like in a town square, kind of like this, or in a church, this letter of encouragement and great, like just like empowerment to the church body. 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:26.079 So, with that historical context, kind of knowing that Epaporus was this like early church planter for that church, I want us to look at two verses in Colossians where Paul talks about their friendship. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.480 And I think it's really interesting that the book of Colossians is kind of bookended by Epaphras. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:33.200 We see him in verse um in chapter one and in chapter four. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.840 So let's look at chapter one, verse seven. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:46.000 Paul says, You learned it, it being the gospel, from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:49.360 I love Eugene Peterson's translation in the message version. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:52.480 He says, He is one reliable worker for Christ. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:54.320 I could always depend on him. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:57.279 And then let's jump forward to chapter four. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:06.080 Paul concludes Colossians by saying, Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Jesus, is always wrestling in prayer for you. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:11.919 That you would stand firm in the will of God, mature, and fully assured. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:18.480 The King James Version says for wrestling in prayer, another way of saying that is laboring fervently for you. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:20.639 I love that word fervent. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:25.200 It's so powerful and no pun intended, it actually means holding great power. 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:30.799 Another definition for fervent is to be intensely devoted to, to be steadfast. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:34.080 Can you think of someone in your life who prays for you that way? 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:36.159 Like a steadfast prayer. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:38.240 So let's look at some observations here, right? 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:40.799 In those two verses, we have a lot of meat there to unpack. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:46.080 We see someone who is faithful, we see someone who is reliable, dependable. 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:48.480 That's kind of hard to find in this day and age, right? 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:49.600 Just being real. 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:56.639 Someone who's wrestling in prayer for the church body, for his brothers and sisters, and desiring them to be mature in their faith. 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:01.360 There's clearly so much fruit there that we see produced in someone's life, right? 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:03.360 And I think about it for us as a church. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:07.440 Have you ever been around someone that just maybe exudes peace, right? 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:09.759 Or they just like have this joy about them. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:12.559 And the more time you spend with them, that kind of you're just like, I want this. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.840 Like it rubs off on you. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:16.240 Many of you are like that for me sitting here right now. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:21.279 And there's this contagiousness about it, it begins to permeate around you the more time you spend with that person. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:26.320 And so my question for you is do you have an epaphrase in your life? 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:30.639 Do you have someone wrestling in prayer for you, encouraging you? 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.919 And I asked this question because we all need this church. 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:37.679 We desperately need for life to be spoken into us, right? 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:42.320 We live in such a world that just is drowning us in its noise. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:45.120 It's drowning us in the chaos of what we should focus on. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:48.639 I think just spend 30 minutes scrolling on Instagram, you immediately are depleted. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:50.000 Am I the only one, right? 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:54.399 We need this just being spoken into to keep on keeping on. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:11:02.080 And so for Epaphrist, just standing firm in faith that he's talking about, this requires for us to let people speak into our lives. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:07.440 It requires us to have the humility to let people that we trust speak into our lives. 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:09.279 And we need that reminding, right? 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:11.039 Because oftentimes we can forget. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:24.080 I remember being at a coffee date with a close friend about a month ago, and this is someone who I consider an amazing little sister in faith, and just in my time of knowing her and awakening, I deeply, deeply love her. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:31.120 And like many of us, during this season, she was in a season of serious doubt and discouragement in her faith. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:38.639 And so during this coffee, we were just talking, and I just was like, kind of this like, you know, big sister, like, I see so much in you. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:41.440 Like, keep fighting, you know, like come on, keep fighting. 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:46.559 And there was such a special moment of as we were chatting, there was this a pause. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:51.039 And I, in my own, like, you know, not wanting there to be an awkward silence. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.799 It wasn't even awkward, but I wanted to fill it. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:55.600 But something in me was like, no, Nassim, just pause. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:57.440 And there was a moment of silence. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:01.360 And about a minute later, she looked up at me with tears streaming down her face. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:06.240 And she said, You see so much in me, but what do you see in me? 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:15.039 And I thought that that childlike humility and rawness just to ask, What do you see in me, was so powerful in that moment. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.279 And isn't that true for so many of us, right? 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.039 Maybe we don't say it, but we're thinking it. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:20.559 Like, but what do you even see in me? 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:22.240 Because we can't see it ourselves. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:27.200 And in that moment, there was such a powerful moment of just me being able to just pour encouragement into her. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.519 Like, this is everything I see in you, right? 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:34.320 Because oftentimes we can see glimpses of God at work in someone's life when they can't, right? 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:37.679 We can see glimpses of God's character in someone, maybe they're blind to it. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:40.720 And we're called, church, to be that for one another. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:44.080 We are called to be voices that speak truth into one another. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:48.879 And I'll I'll never forget when we were leaving, there was another moment of pause. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:50.960 And I asked her, you know, like, what are you thinking? 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:52.159 What are you processing? 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:53.600 And I'll never forget this. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.600 She said, I just don't want this to end. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:57.120 I just don't want this moment to end. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:59.039 And I'm so glad you asked me to get coffee. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.559 And I'll never forget that, right? 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:05.519 And there's this power in us being voices of encouragement to each other, right? 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:09.679 This heart of a paphris to have each other be mature and firm in our faith. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:13.279 This happens when we allow each other to speak life to one another. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.279 And we need that as well. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:23.840 I think about for myself the past few days, the amount of texts and calls I've gotten saying that praying for me for this message, that's been fuel for me. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.159 Right. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:25.440 I think about our small groups. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:28.320 Our small groups right now are going through this affirmation exercise. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:31.200 Um, shout out to the Monroe family for creating this for our church. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.440 This is available for anyone in a small group, by the way. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:40.240 But our small group did this on Tuesday, and it was just a sweet time of being poured into and being affirmed in your identity in Jesus. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:43.440 And you might think, you know, us on staff, maybe we don't need it. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.480 We need this so bad. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:46.320 Like we need to know what you see in us, right? 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:48.639 Like we all need this for each other. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:52.720 And I shared this last week with our um startup attendees. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:56.320 You know, this is why we have small groups at Awakening Church. 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:01.200 We don't have small groups just to give you a night to go bowling or I was gonna say like wine night. 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.320 We don't all, we don't, whatever. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:06.799 Some people, some groups do, I don't know, but you know, they don't exist just for social things, right? 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:12.159 But they exist because we believe, we hold this conviction for Chris and I who co-lead this ministry. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:16.399 We believe life change happens in communities centered around Jesus. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.200 Amen. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:22.080 We believe that life change happens in small communities centered around Jesus. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:25.440 And so we hope that you would be in a midweek group, in a community. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:28.559 Maybe you attend awakening or not, wherever you go to church. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:32.320 I don't say this, you guys hear me every week talking about like fill out the connection card. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:34.000 I don't just say that in an automated way. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:39.200 I say that because I deeply, deeply believe in the power of being in a small community focused on Jesus. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:45.679 And so you'll notice in your bulletin, I've left you with reflection questions at the end of every section. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:53.759 And I'm leaving you with these because I really believe that you might remember this message, you might not, but questions like this help us as we're processing throughout the week, right? 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:57.759 And I hope that you take these questions and let sit with them, right? 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:58.879 Let them ruminate. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:01.600 You'll notice that these questions are also twofold. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:05.360 Because as the adage says, to have a good friend, we're called to be a good friend. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:11.279 So this message today, I wanted to focus on who we're becoming, but also who we're allowing to speak into our lives. 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:13.440 So here's some questions for you. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.720 Who are you fervently praying for? 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.480 Who in your life are you praying for regularly? 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:23.120 And who is praying for you? 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:26.559 Who are you allowing into your life to speak life over you? 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:31.039 Who do you trust in your life to allow to speak life over you? 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:41.679 And church, this needs to be said that letting people speak life over you, this requires a wisdom, a discernment, and a discretion with who we let in. 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:46.480 And I could do a whole other sermon on this, but I really wanted to just leave you with three practical tips. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:50.000 If you're kind of wrestling with like, how do I know who to let in or who to trust? 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.679 Here are just a few tips for you. 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.000 Look for someone who's present with you. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:57.120 Who is present with you, who's attentive to you? 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:02.320 Who is an observer in your life that might see a pattern in your life that you don't see, right? 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:05.200 And that you won't get super defensive if they speak that into that. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.120 Who's patient with you? 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:14.240 Who is not looking just to jump in with their own advice, but really who is pointing you back to God's truth? 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.960 Who is pointing you back to God's truth? 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.799 Chris mentioned this in his sermon last week. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.480 Who's opening up God's word with you? 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:20.879 Right? 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.159 For many of us, that doesn't happen. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.519 Oftentimes we hang out with friends. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.559 Sure, we we talk about life and stuff, but who's opening up God's word with you? 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.440 Who can lead who do you trust to lead you back to God's truth? 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:34.000 All right, so that is Epaphras. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.320 Now we're gonna move on to Paul's second friend. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.080 Does anyone remember his name? 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:39.919 Very close. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.200 Epaphroditus. 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:41.759 There we go. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.960 Okay, we're awake. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:43.840 Cool. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:46.000 Okay, Epaphroditus. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:49.360 So we meet Ephroditus in the book of Philippians. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:53.120 This is just flip one chapter back, one book back from Colossians. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:56.000 We meet him in Philippians, that's modern day Greece. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:00.879 And when we meet Epaphroditus, Paul at this time is under house arrest. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.759 He is awaiting trial before Caesar in Rome. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:11.920 And Paul, being as amazing as Paul is, while he's under house arrest, he's also still so focused on the spiritual well-being of the church in Philippi. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.359 Paul's just so cool, right? 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.400 It's so great. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:21.839 And so because he could not go to Philippi himself to deliver the Philippians message, he sends Epaphroditus. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:28.640 So here we have another beautiful missionary and messenger that takes the book of Philippians to the church. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:30.400 And I think it's just so cool, right? 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:32.000 Like, let's just take a minute to pause. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:35.759 Like the book of Philippians and Colossians wouldn't be in our Bibles if it weren't for these two men. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:36.640 Isn't that amazing? 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.400 I didn't realize that until I was writing this sermon. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.480 I was like, that is so cool, right? 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:48.160 We often focus so much on Paul, and Paul's amazing, but we forget that taking a bird's eye view, there's so many people that he was connected to. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.759 This is the beauty of community, right? 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:52.400 They helped his mission come to fruition. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:18:00.640 In addition to this, in addition to Epaphroditus delivering this message, before that happens, let's throw back a little bit of time. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:08.880 Because he's under house arrest, the Philippian church wanted to support Paul financially by sending him financial support, money. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:14.079 And so Epaphroditus is the one that takes this money to Paul and he's under house arrest. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:17.039 Now, there was no Venmo at this time, right? 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:18.000 There's no Venmo. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:21.920 For maybe some boomers in the room, there was no wire transfer option. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:23.599 There was none of that. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.519 Love you guys. 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:27.519 This was a journey. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.400 This was a journey. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:33.680 Commentators have said that this was about a 729-mile journey on foot. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.559 This would have most likely taken 57 days. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:39.839 And don't forget that people in this day and age were not in a rush. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.519 They honored their Sabbath day. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:46.640 So even on this 57-day journey, there was a day of rest where they would stop and pause. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.640 So Paul Epaphroditus brings this money to Paul. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:53.599 And then at that point, Paul is like, You're such an asset to this church. 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:58.480 I want you to be the one to take this letter, the Philippians, back to them and be with them and pastor them. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:01.279 So let's look at the text, knowing that context. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:01.519 Okay. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.759 This is a longer verse, so track with me. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:06.079 I have bolded a few things that I want us to focus on. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:08.799 This is Philippians 2, 25 to 30. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:24.880 Paul saying, I think it's necessary to send you back Epaphroditus, my brother, co-laborer or co-worker, some translations say, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:29.599 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.759 Indeed, he was ill and almost died. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:36.000 But God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but also on me. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:43.680 Therefore, I'm all the more eager to send him so that when you see him again, you would be glad and that I would have less anxiety. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:51.039 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy and honor people like him because he almost died for the work of Christ. 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:55.119 He risked his life to make up for the help that you yourselves could not give me. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:00.960 There's a lot I want to focus on in there, but really quick, the point where it says he was ill and almost died. 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.480 Let's talk about that. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:06.319 So in this day and age, right, we don't know which season this journey was done in. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:19.839 Think about this was in the winter, getting pneumonia, getting sick, not knowing where you would spend the night, where your next lodging would be, uh, weather conditions, food, maybe getting food poisoning or not even having enough to eat. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:22.799 And then just think about traveling with a large sum of money, right? 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:26.240 Like the fear of it being stolen like by bandits or something. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:29.119 I haven't said that word in a long time, but it sounds right for this context. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.319 Like bandits on the road. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.440 I don't know, maybe. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.880 So there's a lot. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:39.279 So it's very clear that Epaphroditus wasn't in this friendship for utility or for pleasure, right? 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:45.519 He was in this because he believed, one, his calling from the Lord, and two, in his ministry partner that was Paul. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:48.400 That's what he was in this for, to further God's mission. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:54.160 And I also want to focus on I love how real the Bible is when it comes to emotion, right? 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:58.079 That line in there where Paul says that I would have less anxiety. 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.200 Isn't that so beautiful? 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:01.519 I'm sending him back to you that I would have less anxiety. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:05.119 It reminds me of like the people in our lives that feel like home, right? 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.720 The people that we find comfort in, convent to, those safe people for us. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.400 I love that Paul talks about that. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.680 And it makes sense, right? 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:18.720 Because these three descriptors, my brother, co-laborer, and fellow soldier, that's what he uses to describe their bond. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.720 So let's define what that looks like. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:24.720 Let's define what that looks like in context for their friendship and for us today. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:28.480 The first, a brother or a sister in faith. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:34.000 I think about rugged commitment to one another, this judgment freeness, right? 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:40.400 If if you have a brother or sister, there's kind of like if you have a healthy relationship, but there's no, there's no like fear of like you won't like me anymore. 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:43.599 You have to like each other, like your family, they can speak into your life. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:52.319 And Epaphroditus, the same way, took care of Paul's needs with such selflessness, with with the with such servant heartedness. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:57.440 And when we talk about rugged commitment, I really think about speaking the truth in love. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.519 I think that's something we're missing today. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.039 And as Christians, as something we're called to by Jesus to speak the truth and love to one another. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:12.000 This kind of not having a fear of having the truth spoken in love to you and also being able to be bold to do that for the people that you trust. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.880 Dietrich Bonhoeffer talks about this so beautifully. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:21.599 On the note of speaking the truth and love, he says, Why else then has God bestowed Christian brotherhood upon us? 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.480 Why else? 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:37.519 So that in faith, the humble person would speak, would stick both to truth and to love, that he would stick to the word of God and let it lead him to his brother because he sees nothing for himself and has no fears for himself. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.759 He can help his brother through the word of God. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.039 Isn't that powerful? 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:43.279 Let's be that for one another, right? 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:46.799 That's a brother or a sister in faith, a co-laborer. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:51.039 I think of someone working towards the same goal, being on mission with us. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.039 It could be a literal co-worker, right? 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:55.519 But for others, it could be who are you on mission with? 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:59.599 I think about many of you sitting here today who serve on different ministry teams. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:02.400 I think about our kids' ministry, our leaders, right? 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:07.039 You guys are on mission together to awaken children of the next generation to God's truth, right? 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:08.000 There's power in that. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.839 I think of our connection team. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:14.880 You guys exist to welcome people to the body of Christ, to make them feel known and loved within the church. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:19.599 So whatever your mission or purpose in life is, who is on mission with you? 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:21.359 Who's running the race alongside you? 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:23.599 Who are those partners in faith that you have? 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:26.319 And finally, a fellow soldier. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:30.160 You know, this language, we know that Paul was not in the Roman army. 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.680 This is metaphorical language. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:34.799 And this is so powerful because we are in a spiritual battle, right? 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:42.160 As Christians, I'm gonna talk about more in a second, but we're in a spiritual battle and we need these soldiers kind of standing in the fight with us, right? 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.279 Having our back. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:47.279 I think that it's such a, there's a character shaping that comes with that, right? 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:53.039 And Paul and Epaphrodis were so like this for one another in their friendship, which is so special. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:59.039 And sometimes, church, there's people in our lives, and maybe as you're reading this, maybe there's someone in your life that fits the bill on all three of these. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:04.559 Maybe there's other people who, there's one person in your life that is that brother, another who's the co-laborer, right? 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:08.400 And I think it's so beautiful to look at this in the context of God's word. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:12.240 I thought it would also be helpful maybe to give you a practical example in my own life. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:17.920 And as I was just writing this message, it was just so obvious who this is for me. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:21.680 And I feel so blessed to have someone in my life who is actually all three of these for me. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:26.400 And that's my friendship with Chris, who's on staff here, who's such a dear friend of mine. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:38.880 And just to kind of give some context to that, when I think of as a brother, I think of someone who, when Chris joined our staff three years ago, there was an immediate interest to know me outside of just someone I work with. 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:42.480 There was an immediate interest to know my family, and vice versa. 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.880 His wife Allie has become like a sister to me. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:47.680 They're one of my closest friends in my life right now. 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:50.799 And in turn, the investment they made to get to know our family, right? 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:55.839 The investment they made to get to know my brother, which is so special to me because many people at Awakening don't know my brother. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:58.319 They don't know that we're a family of four, not a family of three. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.240 So that is so dear to me. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.559 Our parents are now friends. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:07.599 Our parents have taken an interest to pour into one another, his mom with me, my parents with them, right? 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:11.680 So when a friendship kind of like when you know one another's family, right, it goes beyond just friendship, right? 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:13.920 There's a depth to it of like you really know us. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.240 As a co-laborer, right? 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:18.720 We work together, so we're literal co-workers. 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:23.599 But with that, there's this such a cool God pairing in our gift set. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:28.720 There's a really cool complimenting that goes on with the way we're able to tag team on so much ministry together. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:30.319 And it just makes it so fun. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.200 It makes it so much. 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:33.039 I love going to work every day, right? 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.960 I love our entire team just so much. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:37.680 I love being on mission with a team like ours. 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:40.240 And finally, as a fellow soldier, right? 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:43.680 There's this, there's this reality that ministry is lonely. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:45.039 It can get lonely. 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:51.599 And to have a ministry partner to go through the good, the bad, the ugly with all of it, is just so valuable. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:58.000 To have a fellow soldier that for, you know, both of us, I could say that Chris and I know that our purpose in life is to shepherd and disciple. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:05.680 So whether that's that awakening now or 10 years from now, wherever we all end up, there's that kind of shared unbreakable bond of we're existing in ministry together, right? 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:13.279 And I would just say that to summarize it, I know that as a friend, he wants not only the best for me, but he wants God's best for me, right? 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.319 So who is that for you? 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:18.720 As I'm talking, can you think of people in your life? 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:20.640 Who are those people that are sharpening you? 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:23.039 Who are those people that are speaking life to you? 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:27.839 And I really want to focus right now on this concept of fellow soldiers, guys. 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:36.400 I would argue that right now in this day and age, as a community, this is the most important thing that we're called to be for one another because we're in a battle. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:40.640 We are in a battle that might sound like superheroe or weird or whatnot, but that's the truth, right? 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:43.119 We live in a world, unfortunately, that's ruled by darkness. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:48.720 We have a very real enemy, Satan, who wants to sow seeds of deception and lies into our lives. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:53.839 So when we're fellow soldiers for one another, we come alongside and we battle for one another, right? 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:55.279 This is spiritual warfare. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:27:04.079 One of the biggest ways the enemy wants to lie to us is by isolating us, by sowing seeds of deception into your heart into your life, into your mind. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:08.160 Thinking things like, you can just come and go on a Sunday, right? 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:10.720 You don't, you can just, you know, come and go and don't talk to anyone. 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.920 You're fine on your own. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:14.480 Or this is just a really busy season for our family. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:16.559 We can't invest in people right now. 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:21.200 Or even I can't tell my small group I'm struggling with this sin, right? 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.480 This is too bad of a thing. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.680 I can't tell anyone. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:27.759 And friends, the more that sin sits in, because we're all sinful, right? 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:35.599 In the first ten minutes, the more it sits in isolation, the more that darkness grows, the more that we become more deceived in our minds. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:41.039 But the power in community is when we confess to one another in community, that brings the darkness to light. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.680 Amen. 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:46.559 That light is able to just be flooded when we confess to one another with God's grace. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.160 We're able to pray for one another. 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:53.200 As a church, we're able to bear one another's burdens for each other, and that's when miracles happen. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:55.440 That's when God work starts to happen, right? 00:27:55.680 --> 00:28:05.440 And so that's really what I want us to just take that to heart as you leave here today, too, is the reality that we're in a battle and who are those fellow soldiers in our lives. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.000 Dr. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:12.400 Gary Bruce talks about how the number one tactic of the enemy is to lie to us by being this voice of the accuser, right? 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:14.799 Accusing, you're not worthy, right? 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:17.680 No, you're you're not like um the list goes on. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:19.279 I could list so many things, right? 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:22.079 But you're not wanted, you're not chosen, all these lies. 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:25.759 And the one way he says to combat that is we speak voices of hope, right? 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:28.960 We speak voices of hope and truth over the voice of the accuser. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:33.759 And we pray in faith and we know we're more than conquerors in him who loved us first, right? 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:41.279 So as you reflect in this section, we talked about so much, but just a few things to focus on. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:43.759 Who is pointing you back to God's truth? 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.440 Who is a brother? 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:47.279 Who is your co-laborer? 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:52.960 Who are those fellow soldiers that you're speaking hope over and that you're allowing to speak hope into your life? 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.440 Right? 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.640 Because again, it's twofold. 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:57.039 It's who are we doing this for and who are we letting in? 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:08.480 Many of you who know me know that I am Iranian American, and my Persian culture is very, very just important to me and a part of who I am. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:14.960 And there's really something really cool about the Farsi language is there are some phrases that exist in Farsi that don't exist in English. 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:16.559 There's no English equivalent. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:22.960 And one of my favorite things is teaching my American friends these concepts because they're so deep and almost poetic. 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:25.119 And I wanted to teach you one this morning. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:27.920 It's this concept that's jot chali. 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:29.279 You want to say it with me? 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.279 Jot Jot Hali. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.079 The K H is hard. 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.119 It's a ha sound. 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.079 Jot khali. 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:42.000 And so, really, what this means, if I were to give an English equivalent to it, it would be like you were missed in the past tense, right? 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:47.200 Like if we were hanging out and Kristen, you couldn't make it, and I would say, Kristen, yeah, we missed you. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:48.559 Jot Halibud, right? 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.359 You were missed. 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:55.440 The beauty here is that this doesn't really just mean you were missed. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:30:03.440 The depth of what this literal translation of this phrase is, is that the space that you would have occupied was void by you not being there. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.599 So think about a dinner party. 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:15.920 If we were all there and if Kristen wasn't there, the space, Kristen, that the chair that you would have occupied at that six-person table, that chair was left empty because your presence was missed there. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.160 Right? 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:20.079 There's that depth of we thought of you and your presence was missed up in that seat. 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:26.559 And I don't know, friends, there's some, as I was writing this message, that's a word for someone here today that you need to hear that, right? 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:33.599 Someone needs to hear that, that whatever community, circle, or sphere in your life that you're kind of opting out of right now, you are missed there. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.240 Right? 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:39.039 Maybe your prayers that you were bringing to that space, maybe that's something that someone was holding on to. 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:43.440 Maybe your encouragement and your presence there is what that person needs most. 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:46.960 Maybe you're that safe space for someone and you don't even know it. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:50.400 And so I challenge you to opt in to community. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:52.880 I challenge you to pray through that as we worship. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:31:02.880 Christian philosopher Francis Schaefer says that our relationship with each other is the criteria the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful. 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:06.240 Christian community is the final apologetic. 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:13.519 So everything we've looked at this morning, friends, how we suffer for each other, how we love one another. 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.839 This all happens in community, right? 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:17.599 This all happens when we opt in. 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:20.480 This fervency, this fruitfulness has developed. 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:25.920 But what I want to leave you with and what I want to hope that you just take away with you is none of this happens apart from Jesus Christ. 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:26.559 Amen. 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.359 None of it. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:30.480 This is not a message about self-help or self-improvement. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:33.920 This is not like, you know, leave this message and take these tips and all be good. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:35.839 No, because we can't do this on our own. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.599 We can't do this on our own. 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:42.319 Note the verse, it talks about in Philippians, it's the fruit of our salvation, right? 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:45.519 So this fruitfulness occurs because we have Jesus Christ. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:49.839 This transformation happens when we're abiding in him. 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:56.640 So as we worship, I encourage you just to close your eyes for a moment and just take a breath. 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:05.920 And I want you to think about in your life, what do you need to make room for? 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.559 What do you need to make room for? 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:11.680 Do you need to make room to invite Jesus back in? 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:16.559 To surrender to him, to let him develop this fervency in you again? 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:20.000 Do you need to grow in humility to let people in? 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:22.640 Do you need to let people speak over you? 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:27.279 Do you need to let people speak hope over you when you feel lied to, when you feel accused? 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:29.279 What does that look like for you? 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:35.440 Jesus, we thank you that you are our faithful, fervent friend first. 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:40.559 God, thank you, Jesus, that because of you, that's why Paul had the impact that he had. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:44.000 This is why Epaphroditus and Epaphras were the friends that they were. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.759 It's because of you, Jesus. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:51.440 And so, Lord, as we pray right now, as we close, we just pray that we'd make room. 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:54.160 We'd make room for how you want to speak to us. 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:58.799 And God, we just thank you that none of this is doable apart from you, Lord. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:01.759 So may we just be people of virtue. 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:02.880 Amen. 00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:04.720 Let's worship church. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:07.759 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:12.960 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:15.519 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:21.519 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.