1 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:21,200 2nd Timothy chapter 4. Next week will be our last time 2 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:25,500 in this book. And so cherish these moments. 3 00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:33,400 And second Timothy chapter 4, we have two verses that we will ask 4 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,100 the Lord to help us with beginning in verse 16. 5 00:00:41,700 --> 00:00:48,000 God's word says, through the writing of Paul at my first 6 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:54,500 defense, no one came to Stand By Me but all deserted me may not 7 00:00:54,500 --> 00:01:00,100 be charged against them but the Lord stood by me and 8 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:02,300 strengthened me so that threw me. 9 00:01:02,300 --> 00:01:06,000 The message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles 10 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,800 Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's 11 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,800 mouth, the Lord will rescue me from every evil deed. 12 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,300 Bring me safely into his Heavenly Kingdom to him. 13 00:01:17,300 --> 00:01:20,300 Be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 14 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,200 Amen. Pray with me. 15 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:30,900 Lori saying of your greatness. Now, we want to hear of it 16 00:01:30,900 --> 00:01:34,600 through your word. And Lord we admit in your 17 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,200 presence that it does not matter how. 18 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:41,600 Well crafted a message might be how structured in might be apart 19 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,400 from the power of the Holy Spirit. 20 00:01:43,900 --> 00:01:46,700 We will not know the full force of these words. 21 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,200 We will not know what can happen to our faith. 22 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,800 We will not know the depths of your beauty and your infinite 23 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,700 glory. And so Lord, we humble ourselves 24 00:01:54,700 --> 00:01:58,800 before you as we open your word. And we ask that by your spirit, 25 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,900 you would assist us to receive all that you have to say, Lord, 26 00:02:02,900 --> 00:02:05,500 we pray that nothing would be set out of the flesh. 27 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,199 We ask Lord that nothing would be missed because of our flesh. 28 00:02:09,699 --> 00:02:13,200 We asked oh Lord, that you would just be the teacher that you 29 00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:17,000 tell us who you are and to teach us these things. 30 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,000 And that Lord, it would make an impact on our lives. 31 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:22,700 And that Lord, he would polish us so that you would see a 32 00:02:22,708 --> 00:02:27,200 greater reflection of yourself. As you look at our hearts, Lord 33 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,300 Jesus. Protect the service from Satan's 34 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:32,200 attacks from the distractions that he would bring it. 35 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,400 To make us miss what you have to say hello. 36 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,100 We want all that you have to say whether it hurts us in the 37 00:02:38,100 --> 00:02:41,600 moment. We want to all Lord and we pray 38 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,100 that you would meet us in Jesus name we pray. 39 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,300 Amen. Learning about Paul's fragmented 40 00:02:49,300 --> 00:02:52,900 friendships last week, hopefully and prayerfully convinced, you 41 00:02:52,900 --> 00:02:56,200 and me. That's our relationships with 42 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,100 other people will not be without its share of difficulties. 43 00:03:01,100 --> 00:03:05,300 The joys of knowing and growing with other Christians are often 44 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:08,000 mixed with the temptation to be frustrated. 45 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:15,800 Disappointed. Downcast and sometimes outright 46 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,400 devastated. You and I are through what we 47 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,600 heard last week called to be expected of such things. 48 00:03:24,300 --> 00:03:27,100 Even the greatest Saints can cause sorrow to your heart and 49 00:03:27,100 --> 00:03:30,800 mind. And Paul's account of some 50 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,600 less-than-ideal circumstances. And the flaws of others is 51 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,100 followed up in this verse, by the mention of a different 52 00:03:37,100 --> 00:03:41,500 friendship, a different relationship in the context of 53 00:03:41,500 --> 00:03:45,200 complicated relationships. This man of God, draws our 54 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,200 attention to the person of Jesus Christ. 55 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,100 Why does he bring up the Lord? Does he want to speak about the 56 00:03:53,100 --> 00:03:55,900 Lord's deity? Does he want to share some 57 00:03:55,900 --> 00:03:58,200 aspect of his nature? Does he does? 58 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,000 He want to tell us something about his present Ministry in 59 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,100 heaven or something about his Redemptive work. 60 00:04:06,100 --> 00:04:11,900 Not, in this case, Paul is not introducing Jesus to change the 61 00:04:11,900 --> 00:04:14,700 subject. In fact, the reason why he is 62 00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:19,800 bringing up Christ right here, right now is to teach each of us 63 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:21,800 that there is no friend like him. 64 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,900 The incomparable friendship of Jesus Christ, that is exactly 65 00:04:27,900 --> 00:04:31,200 what he is trying to do here as he contrasts the Lord to all the 66 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,600 people that he mentions before this, and what he will mention 67 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:39,800 after this, he is unlike any other unmatched. 68 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:45,000 Unparalleled God, created you and I to be relational beings, 69 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,200 you know what that means? That by Nature you crave 70 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,400 relationships. You want to seek out and 71 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,800 establish and enjoy communion with others. 72 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:56,600 And that is normal. That is the way God intended it 73 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,000 to be. And as you, and I seek to do 74 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,500 that to discover the blessings that God has reserved within 75 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,600 those relationships. You, and I also cannot forget 76 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,400 that God made us to know friendship with himself. 77 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:15,500 Friendship with almighty God on an individual basis, not as the 78 00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:19,600 bride being a corporate thing. But you individually as a child 79 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,900 of God, have been created by Him to know him. 80 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,500 And that that's, that's very familiar, Christian rhetoric, 81 00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:32,200 but it's rarely testified as a reality in so many people's 82 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,800 lives. We cannot forget this. 83 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,600 God has made this clear in the old and the new. 84 00:05:39,700 --> 00:05:42,100 When he talks about Moses, he says that he had spoken to him 85 00:05:42,108 --> 00:05:45,100 face-to-face. As one does with a friend and 86 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:52,100 Isaiah, he claims explicitly, that Abraham was his friend and, 87 00:05:52,100 --> 00:05:55,500 and the new it is exciting, Lee obvious, that Jesus makes it 88 00:05:55,500 --> 00:05:56,800 clear. That we are not just his 89 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:02,100 servants, but also his friends friendship with God relationship 90 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:06,000 with the Lord intimate knowledge of who Is it's not just 91 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,100 important for you and I to know so that we can relate to him in 92 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:10,300 a certain way. Again, I make the point, it's 93 00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:15,600 important to know so that we can realize that he is the truest of 94 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,400 friends. That he is the most reliable 95 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,000 that he is, unfailing that he is flawless. 96 00:06:24,100 --> 00:06:26,800 And that there is nobody else in this world, no matter how much 97 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,700 you love them or how much they love you. 98 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:33,200 There is no one else in this world that can bring more 99 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,300 satisfaction to your soul and the one who made it. 100 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,800 Because you see as much as Paul could thank God for Timothy and 101 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:45,100 as much as he could trust somebody like karpis the 102 00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:49,400 greatest of these men could not ultimately fulfill the needs 103 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,700 that this man had and that goes for you and me as well. 104 00:06:54,900 --> 00:06:58,000 We need to understand that because if we don't understand 105 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,200 that you and I will not even consider pursuing that knowledge 106 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,100 of God. We won't even let suggestions 107 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:09,100 not even appealing you and I cannot even begin that Pursuit 108 00:07:09,100 --> 00:07:11,800 Of God that goes beyond it exceeds, be on a set of 109 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,100 doctrinal affirmations. We won't explore what the soul 110 00:07:16,100 --> 00:07:18,500 can know. And that is this, he is really 111 00:07:18,500 --> 00:07:21,600 someone that I can know. He's really someone that is 112 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,500 present in my every moment. He's really someone that I 113 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:26,100 Commune with. And that is aware. 114 00:07:26,100 --> 00:07:29,200 That actually cares about the details of my life. 115 00:07:29,300 --> 00:07:32,500 He is really someone that I can just reach out to and he's 116 00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:34,800 giving me his full attention. He's really someone that can 117 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,600 intervene at any time in my life. 118 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,000 He's really someone that I can say like Paul, he stood by me. 119 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,200 I may have not seen him physically, I may not heard an 120 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:48,000 audible voice, but I just know in the depths of my soul that he 121 00:07:48,008 --> 00:07:52,000 is more than just my Creator. He is more than just my savior. 122 00:07:52,100 --> 00:07:54,100 He is more than just my Vindicator. 123 00:07:54,300 --> 00:07:57,900 He's my friend. He's my friend. 124 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,800 And as I said earlier, our hearts will not even Explore 125 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,800 such things until we are first convinced that as much as God 126 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,200 designed us for horizontal relationships and to enjoy, so 127 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:15,400 much out of it, there is a cap, whatever healing comes from, a 128 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,800 friend of a brother of your wife of your husband, no matter what 129 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,800 kind of Harmony and Symphony. You can own your soul by the 130 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,700 joys that come from relationships with those that 131 00:08:24,700 --> 00:08:29,300 also love Christ. they cannot perform on only Christ, can 132 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:33,700 provide They cannot. And that's exactly what he 133 00:08:33,700 --> 00:08:38,799 highlights here. He says here in verse 16 at my 134 00:08:38,799 --> 00:08:41,200 first defense. No one came. 135 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:47,600 No one came to Stand By Me. But all deserted me. 136 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,500 When Paul says his first offense, he speaking about his 137 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:53,700 preliminary hearing on his trial. 138 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,400 This is speaking about a court setting and Paul was not a 139 00:08:56,408 --> 00:09:00,200 stranger to the court seen this. Man, this man was familiar with 140 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,100 such environments, often. This man would be wrapped with 141 00:09:04,100 --> 00:09:08,100 changed, as he stood before tribunals Emperors and rulers. 142 00:09:08,500 --> 00:09:10,800 And they would try to convict them or try to find some fault 143 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:12,100 in him. But he eloquently and 144 00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:15,300 persuasively proved his innocence and all this men was 145 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:17,500 an evangelist, even and those settings, he would take 146 00:09:17,500 --> 00:09:20,500 advantage of those times to preach the Possible to those in 147 00:09:20,500 --> 00:09:23,900 high positions and that great mind of his. 148 00:09:23,900 --> 00:09:28,100 So he can argue his way out of punishment and though he can 149 00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:31,400 make those men who are drunk with power, be sobered with 150 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:36,000 conviction for a moment. He still felt the pain of what 151 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,100 we see. In this verse. 152 00:09:37,100 --> 00:09:41,400 He was still human. You and I are called to give up 153 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,500 everything when we follow Jesus. But don't forget this, you don't 154 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:47,900 lose your emotions. You don't lose your feelings in 155 00:09:47,900 --> 00:09:51,000 the process. And here we see the transparency 156 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,800 of this great man. Of God, the reason why he pens 157 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:55,900 as though he is led by the spirit is because there was 158 00:09:55,900 --> 00:10:02,000 genuine disappointment. when you said all deserted me, Why would 159 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,000 he mention this? Because there is an opportunity 160 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:10,400 for someone even just one. To come into that place and to 161 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:15,500 make it defense for Paul to come and to to stand by him and to 162 00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:19,400 plead his cause there is even an opportunity for some to maybe 163 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,000 not even be in that immediate setting. 164 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:25,000 But to encourage him, as he is being falsely accused but 165 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:30,600 nothing of the sort, you read that list of names and Romans 16 166 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:32,800 how Paul greets them each individually. 167 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:37,100 And my question is, not one of you could have shown up Not one, 168 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,900 not one person could have made the trip to make sure that not 169 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:43,100 just for a psychological well-being. 170 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,100 But even for his legal case, who knows what could have happened. 171 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:50,200 If there is another voice to speak on his behalf But all 172 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,500 deserted me. None came to my defense. 173 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:58,000 This is abandonment, this is not an unrealistic expectation. 174 00:10:58,100 --> 00:11:03,200 This is a genuine relational need and it was unmet. 175 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,700 There was disloyalty here. There was a failure, from even 176 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:11,700 the greatest of his friends. No one came to Stand By Me 177 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,900 Wonder. Why, why didn't they come? 178 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:17,600 If they could have come. And I believe the main reason is 179 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,400 because it was too dangerous. I'll In their minds, widespread 180 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:25,100 persecution has bursted fourth. Narrow is drunk with his 181 00:11:25,100 --> 00:11:28,900 craziness, and he is, blaming his foolishness on the 182 00:11:28,900 --> 00:11:31,600 Christians. And to dare to be associated 183 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,400 with a man, like Paul was a death sentence and itself. 184 00:11:34,500 --> 00:11:38,700 And so when Paul went to court people, hid in their homes, we 185 00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:43,200 will not dare maybe afterwards, but not in this time step foot 186 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,700 in that place and have people know that we are associated with 187 00:11:46,700 --> 00:11:48,800 this, great leader of the Christian Movement. 188 00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:53,700 None came to my defense but all deserted me. 189 00:11:53,700 --> 00:11:58,500 What's the point here for you? And I For no one to show up in 190 00:11:58,500 --> 00:12:02,200 Paul's case. Teaches us that even in our 191 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,300 case, every single person that, you know, in life is capable of 192 00:12:06,300 --> 00:12:13,800 failing. You Every single one, not the 193 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,500 majority not those that you might think would fail you 194 00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:19,800 because they are inconsistent with their character. 195 00:12:20,900 --> 00:12:24,200 Everyone, maybe you don't feel the weight of that. 196 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,300 So let me illustrate somebody to help you feel it. 197 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,600 I want you in this moment to just think about those that, you 198 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,700 know, on a greeting level, maybe even in this place today, you 199 00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:35,000 don't know anybody Beyond high in by think about those people 200 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,100 for a moment, they're there in your mind, you know who they 201 00:12:37,100 --> 00:12:39,700 are. Now, go beyond that, and think 202 00:12:39,700 --> 00:12:42,100 about those that you may not know so well. 203 00:12:42,100 --> 00:12:45,600 But you serve alongside with, and you do ministry within a 204 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,600 consistent basis and from time to time, you have small talk, 205 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,200 you talk about your day and how work was that week? 206 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,000 And how things are with the family, doesn't go beyond that. 207 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,000 Now, go beyond that. I think about those that you've 208 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,100 developed a deep bond with, you spend time with these people 209 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:03,700 outside of the church services that we have on a weekly basis. 210 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:05,800 You've sat with him into the late hours of the night and 211 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,000 you've given something of your heart, a deeper, Of who you are 212 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,600 has been exposed because you feel like there's a kindred 213 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,100 spirit there and that you can share these things and receive 214 00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:20,300 counsel and comfort. And Honan now think about those, 215 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:24,500 think about those that you can trust with everything, you know. 216 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,400 And everything you have think about those people. 217 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,400 Now as you as you put those people in your world and those 218 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:35,300 different categories know this that there's a banner over every 219 00:13:35,300 --> 00:13:38,400 single one of them and it is this they can all Let You Down. 220 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,700 Every single one of them, I know that's not the most uplifting 221 00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:48,900 thought on the Sunday afternoon. But it's probably going to be 222 00:13:48,900 --> 00:13:50,800 the most helpful thing, you can understand concerning your 223 00:13:50,808 --> 00:13:53,900 relationship with God. Why? 224 00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:56,900 Because there are some genuine lovers of Christ. 225 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,500 Who cannot who cannot understand that he is the most steadfast 226 00:14:02,500 --> 00:14:07,900 reliable Eternal rock that you can know in this life. 227 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,600 There's just a little bit too much expectation on someone who 228 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:17,800 is a sinner, like you And Paul makes a contrast. 229 00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:22,200 He's not just making a contrast, he's making a case for Christ. 230 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,100 He did not write this with self-pity. 231 00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:26,400 He didn't write this with bitterness. 232 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,800 He wasn't trying to shame these people who have indeed failed 233 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:31,900 them. He's trying to make a point, and 234 00:14:31,900 --> 00:14:34,200 we can know that he is not filled with unforgiveness 235 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,300 because he says in the same verse may not be charged against 236 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:42,300 them. I genuinely do not desire that 237 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:45,000 those who did not come to my defense. 238 00:14:45,100 --> 00:14:47,700 I don't want that to be held against them on that day when 239 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:50,000 the Lord will judge. What we've done as Christians. 240 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,400 I don't want God to even bring that up to them, that's a free 241 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,600 was, that's how liberating he was. 242 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,200 That's how that's how forgiving he was. 243 00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:03,400 And I think that is so powerful because we have to understand 244 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,000 something what Paul is saying here. 245 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:10,300 It's, it's so important to believe the weakness of other 246 00:15:10,300 --> 00:15:14,300 people. But to understand how they can 247 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:17,900 fail, you is not to cause you to be reserved or resentful. 248 00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:23,100 To understand how they can fail, should just prepare you to be 249 00:15:23,100 --> 00:15:28,300 all the more forgiving. To be all the more merciful to 250 00:15:28,308 --> 00:15:33,200 be all the more gracious. You and I need to understand 251 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,000 that posture of love, when we comprehend a universal 252 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,500 possibility of relational sorrow, you know what will 253 00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:41,300 happen if you. And I don't you're not going to 254 00:15:41,300 --> 00:15:44,900 have very much friends. You're not going to know the 255 00:15:44,900 --> 00:15:49,700 longevity. The beauty of relationships that 256 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:55,000 grow throughout time and that have memories and trials 257 00:15:55,000 --> 00:16:00,300 together, unforgiveness cuts off the life source of friendships. 258 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,500 It does not preserve precious people in your life. 259 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:09,200 Who at some moments just like you and me can become selfish, 260 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:14,200 right? We are quick to just condemning 261 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,800 cut off. We will rob ourselves ultimately 262 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:20,500 because forgiveness heals and restores. 263 00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:25,400 It can actually enrich relationships because it offers 264 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,000 a fast as of Christ on a horizontal level that can bring 265 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,800 about a greater worship to him. When you become merciful, people 266 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,200 can see Christ in you and you know that when people have been 267 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,900 merciful to you have you not thank God for that Mercy. 268 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:44,300 If and when people fail, you please understand what I am 269 00:16:44,300 --> 00:16:46,500 saying. Never allow it to convince you, 270 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,500 that they are Unworthy of unforgiveness, but there's more 271 00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:53,400 dangerous than that. There's more dangerous than that 272 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,100 when people come and they were facing disappointment and they 273 00:16:58,100 --> 00:17:00,300 let us down. There's another thing that 274 00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:05,800 people don't realize is lurking. And that is the doubt that may 275 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,900 be cast upon the person that they claim to represent. 276 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:15,900 This is so crucial. Paul could never fathom the 277 00:17:15,900 --> 00:17:18,900 thought of associating, the failures of Christians to Christ 278 00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:22,700 himself, he that could even enter into his mind. 279 00:17:23,700 --> 00:17:27,700 To think that he could abandon the one who is the most faithful 280 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:30,000 to him, because there are those who claim to be faithful to him. 281 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:36,400 Who weren't? As tempting as that might be as 282 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,300 much as that suggestion, my present itself. 283 00:17:38,300 --> 00:17:41,900 Remember this servant of God, remember this man who would not 284 00:17:41,900 --> 00:17:45,200 dare to allow the faults of others to blur his vision of 285 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:50,400 Christ. If anything, all of that, just 286 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,500 served as a backdrop to highlight the beauty of Jesus 287 00:17:53,500 --> 00:17:57,000 Christ. My wife has failed me. 288 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,500 My husband has failed me. My kids have failed me. 289 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,800 My pastor has failed me. Christ has never failed me. 290 00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:07,100 He's never let me down. He's never disappoint. 291 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:09,100 He was always constant. He's always been the same. 292 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:14,400 He's never changed. And so learn to recycle their 293 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,100 hurt of other people to help. You see the incomparable 294 00:18:18,100 --> 00:18:23,600 goodness of God, recycle it and only way you can recycle it as 295 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,700 by revelation. And that's exactly what he's 296 00:18:27,700 --> 00:18:30,900 doing here. He wants to tell Timothy as he's 297 00:18:30,900 --> 00:18:35,200 about to endure difficult times in Ministry, by mentioning his 298 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,400 personal experience of the goodness of God. 299 00:18:38,100 --> 00:18:41,500 In the midst of relational mess-ups, Timothy, you need to 300 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:44,000 know what I'm about to say about Jesus because you need to rely 301 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,100 on him and love him through it all. 302 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,100 And so, he tells him about the extent of his support God 303 00:18:50,100 --> 00:18:56,400 support, but the Lord verse 17, stood by me and strengthened me. 304 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,000 Everybody failed me, everybody disappointed me but the Lord 305 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,600 himself stood by me and strengthened. 306 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:06,500 Now what's the difference between that and let's say 307 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,200 Jonathan who came to David side and strengthen his hand in the 308 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,400 Lord can't people offer that? Well yeah they can and it is an 309 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,700 extension of God's mercy through people. 310 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,400 And there are many differences though and one of the most 311 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,100 important differences between God's support and man's support, 312 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:28,100 is this that the Lord's Aid in our lives is unbroken and 313 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:33,400 uninterrupted. It's always available, always. 314 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:38,200 Especially when those all of those have deserted you, the 315 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:42,300 Lord stood by me, he was there. And here's what's so important, 316 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:47,300 Paul is not speaking about God's care in generalities, he's not 317 00:19:47,300 --> 00:19:48,800 speaking about it. In a general sense, he's 318 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:52,600 speaking about a particular event in his life and he truly 319 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,500 believed that the Lord was there for him during that singular 320 00:19:55,500 --> 00:19:58,100 event. Here's why I'm bringing this up. 321 00:19:58,100 --> 00:20:01,300 You have many good hearted Christians, who believe in 322 00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:05,200 Christ, but don't believe that he deals with the Of your life. 323 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:14,200 It's like, he's an idea, he's a, he's real, but he's 324 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,400 disconnected. The one day, I'm going to be 325 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,900 connected to him. He's something to be trusted 326 00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:26,800 theologically but not to be known intimately. and every 327 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,100 single one of us must be totally convinced that the resurrected 328 00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:35,200 Lord is constantly by us, as we function, in our day-to-day, 329 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,800 like, always, Always. And and even when you're 330 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:44,800 distracted, by your duties know that God's thoughts are for you 331 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:50,700 and his attention is on you, and he is closer to you than your 332 00:20:50,700 --> 00:20:56,500 own skin is to your body. And sometimes that reality is 333 00:20:56,500 --> 00:20:58,800 manifested. But let me tell you, most of the 334 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:02,200 time you just gotta believe it by faith and that faith, not to 335 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,800 just be wishful thinking. But to cause you to worship that 336 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:10,400 truth, the Lord, stood by me, he was actually with me and not 337 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,800 just in a sense, or God's, always present because he's 338 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,600 omnipresent know. He was with me to strengthen me. 339 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:23,200 As an individual as a select child of God, he actually caters 340 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,700 to my need and that just is always with me because he's with 341 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,100 all of God's children. No, no, no, it was deeply 342 00:21:30,100 --> 00:21:34,100 personal. It was deeply personal and we 343 00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:36,400 are not to only believe that his presence is with us at all 344 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:38,100 times. We were also to trust with all 345 00:21:38,100 --> 00:21:42,400 of our hearts, that he provides a strength to every stride day 346 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:47,100 by day, day by day Moment by moment moment by moment. 347 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,900 I don't believe Paul was speaking here about a miraculous 348 00:21:50,900 --> 00:21:53,400 manifestation of Jesus while he was in prison at this time, 349 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:55,000 that's happened. More than once. 350 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,400 But I believe here he is speaking by faith. 351 00:21:58,300 --> 00:22:02,300 The Lord stood by me and strengthened me And I think that 352 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:05,400 Paul here is saying this by faith because he learned in 353 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,600 previous experiences by miraculous. 354 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,700 Manifestation, that Christ is surely. 355 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:13,300 Always with me. Here's proof go to your Bible 356 00:22:13,300 --> 00:22:17,700 Xanax. 23:11, this is when he was in prison in Jerusalem, 357 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:32,000 and at this point, we can begin in verse 10. 358 00:22:33,500 --> 00:22:38,200 And acts 23 verse 10. At this point, he was almost 359 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,300 ripped to shreds because of a mob in Jerusalem that accused 360 00:22:41,300 --> 00:22:44,800 him falsely of breaking certain laws in the temple. 361 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,000 And it says here in verse 10. And when the dissension became 362 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,700 violent, the Tribune, afraid that Paul would be Torn to 363 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:55,800 Pieces by them commanded, the soldiers to go down and take him 364 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,500 away from among them by force, and bring him into the barracks. 365 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,400 The following night, the Lord stood by him. 366 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:07,400 The Lord stood by him and said, take courage for as you have 367 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,700 testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem. 368 00:23:09,700 --> 00:23:15,200 So you must testify also in Rome you know what's so fascinating 369 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,900 about the Lord standing by Paul here in a miraculous way in the 370 00:23:18,900 --> 00:23:22,500 Lord standing by Paul and that final prison cell before his 371 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:26,500 execution Is the way in which he strengthened him. 372 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:33,000 It says, the following night, the Lord stood by him, it didn't 373 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,500 say that the Lord stood by him and then slaughtered the guards 374 00:23:36,500 --> 00:23:38,800 that were surrounding him and opened the Iron Gate. 375 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:43,100 So that he can be delivered. He showed up in the prison cell 376 00:23:43,100 --> 00:23:48,500 and kept him in the prison cell. There are times where you can 377 00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:51,800 shop in the prison cell like an Peters case and bring you out in 378 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,300 such a way where you don't even know if you're dreaming or not. 379 00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:00,000 But it's often the case where he shows up in the trial and 380 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:04,400 intends to keep you in the trial, he shows up in the test, 381 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:08,100 not to make the test Easier by rescuing you from it all 382 00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:14,100 together, but to provide a Grace and to provide a joy that would 383 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:19,900 testify of his power just as much If we think that God's 384 00:24:19,900 --> 00:24:23,000 strength is only known in him reaching down into our problems 385 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,300 and pulling us out of it, we have been gravely mistaken. 386 00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:30,500 In the ways of God, God doesn't just come to prove his power by 387 00:24:30,500 --> 00:24:33,000 silencing our enemies and slaughtering them and bury them 388 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,200 under the Red Sea. Oftentimes God proves his 389 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,000 strength to say, I'm going to sustain you. 390 00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:44,100 So that when people see you they can say such a man. 391 00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:47,200 Surely is dependent upon a source outside of himself. 392 00:24:48,300 --> 00:24:52,000 That's how God does it. He shows up in this cell Paul 393 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,200 stays in the cell, but there's something else I was deposited 394 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:58,500 him and infusion of Grace and same in. 395 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:01,700 Second Timothy, I'm not going to let you go away. 396 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,700 I'm not going to rescue you from martyrdom. 397 00:25:03,700 --> 00:25:06,200 I'm just going to make you smile on the face of it. 398 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:11,100 That's the strength that you and I have to understand about about 399 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:16,900 God and Isaiah 43:2. God says, when you pass through 400 00:25:16,900 --> 00:25:21,500 the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they 401 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:25,000 shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you 402 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,000 shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you. 403 00:25:28,900 --> 00:25:31,400 One of the most precious promises in the Old Testament, 404 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,000 but I believe one of the most misinterpreted, at the same time 405 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:37,700 Because the way we read it is, when you pass through the 406 00:25:37,700 --> 00:25:40,100 waters, I will take you out of it. 407 00:25:42,500 --> 00:25:45,700 I will, I will redirect the river so they don't overwhelm 408 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:48,300 you. You're never gonna know heat 409 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:49,700 fire. You're never going to walk 410 00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:52,000 through it. I'll make sure to extinguish it. 411 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:57,000 That is not what God is saying. When you go through it, in fact, 412 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,000 he says, when you walk through the fire, he doesn't say when 413 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,800 you run through it and take some time for you to be in the fire, 414 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:05,200 you're gonna walk in, you're gonna, it's probably going to be 415 00:26:05,208 --> 00:26:10,700 a long walk but know this that my strength is in the fact that 416 00:26:10,700 --> 00:26:14,200 I will be there with you through it, all you. 417 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,800 And I have to grasp that as we are enduring, these things that 418 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:21,100 are difficult in life to nothing that God loves us less because 419 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:24,400 it seems to be prolonged. And it seems to be so painful. 420 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:27,800 But it is a way in which you will prepare for you to 421 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:32,200 understand a power from his hands that you wouldn't know, 422 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:37,000 otherwise God never promised the absence of problems. 423 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,900 But he did promise the empowerment through his presence 424 00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:44,700 in the midst of them. That's what he promised. 425 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,900 But the promise of his presence, the promise of his power, check 426 00:26:49,900 --> 00:26:53,900 this out, it's conditional. I'm sorry. 427 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:59,000 It's conditional. And that's proven in the verse 428 00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:01,800 of our time. Today in second, Timothy verse 429 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,800 17 of chapter 4, read it very carefully. 430 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:10,900 Notice what Paul says When he says that the Lord stood by him 431 00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:15,000 to strengthen him, there is a purpose for that and it says 432 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,200 here. So that through the through me, 433 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,500 the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles 434 00:27:20,500 --> 00:27:27,800 might hear it so that the Lord stood by me and he strengthened 435 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,700 me, More than just for us to be comforted. 436 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:38,900 He stood by me and strengthened me so that attask would be 437 00:27:38,900 --> 00:27:43,600 accomplished. So that I would be able to 438 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:50,000 Proclaim to more Gentiles in Rome and the center of the world 439 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:53,200 of Known World at a time that the gospel will ReSound through 440 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,800 that Capital place and other people other Gentiles were 441 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,700 received the gospel. So what am I trying to say? 442 00:27:58,900 --> 00:28:02,100 The presence in the power of Jesus Christ, always has a 443 00:28:02,100 --> 00:28:05,100 purpose and the purpose is beyond for you. 444 00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:08,200 And I to just be numb from these things that would otherwise 445 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:13,600 crush us. So, God's assistance comes. 446 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,900 For a particular few. What am I trying to say? 447 00:28:19,300 --> 00:28:22,400 This tells us that if we are to know what Paul knew, which was a 448 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:27,300 supernatural sustaining strength than we must align our hearts to 449 00:28:27,300 --> 00:28:29,400 pursue the purpose that Paul had. 450 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:36,900 Paul lived for the glory of God. Paul lived to obey the commands 451 00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:39,900 of God. Paul was sold out to the cause 452 00:28:39,900 --> 00:28:43,000 of Christ to which some might have Jake. 453 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,400 But are you telling me brother, that God doesn't treat all his 454 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,900 children the same way to which I answer? 455 00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:50,300 Soberly. No. 456 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:56,700 He doesn't, he loves us all the same, but we experience that 457 00:28:56,700 --> 00:28:59,400 love differently upon conditions. 458 00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:03,600 The same way you and I believe I'm sure that Satan doesn't 459 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,400 treat all of God's children. The same, does he The Satan 460 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:09,900 harass, all of God's children in the same way. 461 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:15,200 Or does he have a special Target on those who have sold out their 462 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,000 lives for the purposes of the kingdom of God? 463 00:29:19,100 --> 00:29:22,400 And in like manner, the same way God also supplies and reserves a 464 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:25,700 special Mercy for those who are truly his servants in this 465 00:29:25,700 --> 00:29:30,000 world, you can't tell me that a church will be blessed by God if 466 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:32,800 they don't obey God's commands. How can that be? 467 00:29:33,700 --> 00:29:37,300 We can't believe that a Believer can know all those glorious 468 00:29:37,300 --> 00:29:39,700 things. That that Christ promised, if 469 00:29:39,700 --> 00:29:41,800 they live in a way that contradicts his commands. 470 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:45,800 There's no way Let me prove it to you. 471 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:48,800 You've heard the statement, right? 472 00:29:49,300 --> 00:29:55,100 And lo I am with you always. And lo, I Am With You Always to 473 00:29:55,100 --> 00:29:58,300 the end of the age and we Comfort ourselves. 474 00:29:58,300 --> 00:30:00,000 We console others with that truth. 475 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,600 Here's the problem. You quoted a third of it. 476 00:30:04,300 --> 00:30:07,300 You and I quote parts of God's word. 477 00:30:07,300 --> 00:30:11,900 And what we do is we set up people to not experience the 478 00:30:11,900 --> 00:30:14,200 promise of God because we cut out the conditions. 479 00:30:15,300 --> 00:30:17,400 So go to Matthew 28, let me just prove it to you, Meeks. 480 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:23,800 Hopefully, you believe me? Matthew 28 verse 19. and verse 481 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:33,900 20, you know, this, we've memorized it Matthew 28:19. 482 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,200 Go therefore and Make Disciples of all Nations, baptizing them 483 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,400 in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy 484 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:45,300 Spirit, teaching them to observe all that. 485 00:30:45,300 --> 00:30:51,900 I have commanded you and behold. I Am With You Always to the end 486 00:30:51,900 --> 00:30:55,600 of the age. We got ourselves a lot of 487 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:57,500 trouble when we take portions of verses. 488 00:30:59,100 --> 00:31:01,400 Who did he say that he would be with always? 489 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:03,800 Who did he say that? He would be with always to the 490 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:06,600 End of the Age those who obey him? 491 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,600 Those who are serious about the gospel, those who have made 492 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,300 their lives about either with their time, energy efforts, or 493 00:31:14,300 --> 00:31:17,300 resources to fuel, the advancement of God. 494 00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:18,900 Skim, those who are serious Christians. 495 00:31:18,900 --> 00:31:21,700 That's what I'm trying to say. Those who really live under the 496 00:31:21,700 --> 00:31:26,100 Mandate of the kingdom of God. It is, they, it is those that 497 00:31:26,100 --> 00:31:29,000 Jesus Promised, I'm with you, I'm going to support you. 498 00:31:29,008 --> 00:31:30,500 I'm going to strengthen you. It's going to be ugly. 499 00:31:30,500 --> 00:31:32,700 It's going to be difficult. It's going to be rewarding at 500 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:35,900 times, but no, this, I'm constantly by your side. 501 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:42,200 I'm constantly with you Christ. Promises is uninterrupted 502 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:46,100 intervening Grace to those who are willing to sacrifice and 503 00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:51,300 were set apart for his purposes. And so you have to understand 504 00:31:51,300 --> 00:31:53,500 that there are great. Great difficulties ahead as 505 00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:56,200 obedient children of God. But there are also great 506 00:31:56,200 --> 00:32:01,100 manifestations of his power and presence as we walk in his ways 507 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:06,900 as he walk in his ways, I've I've been told and it's always 508 00:32:06,900 --> 00:32:10,900 stuck with me. That the holy spirit is called 509 00:32:10,900 --> 00:32:15,500 the comforter. but someone wise he once told me well how is he 510 00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:17,400 supposed to come for you until you put yourself in 511 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:22,100 uncomfortable situations And I can tell you this, that he has 512 00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:25,300 manifested his comfort and those times where seemed uncomfortable 513 00:32:26,300 --> 00:32:30,200 in terms of obedience to him saying things, that would offend 514 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:33,300 most people, his comfort is there, evangelizing to people at 515 00:32:33,300 --> 00:32:35,700 work or your family members and it can be awkward. 516 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,900 It's amazing how his comfort is there his he Comforts for a 517 00:32:38,908 --> 00:32:42,800 purpose. He Comforts for a purpose so 518 00:32:42,900 --> 00:32:46,300 God's presence and power is not some sprinkling of some kind of 519 00:32:46,300 --> 00:32:48,800 Happiness over us as we cruise through life. 520 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:50,500 Selfishly, that's not how it works. 521 00:32:50,900 --> 00:32:53,400 It's for those who have been consecrated unto the Lord. 522 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:56,200 They can know this blanketing goodness from heaven. 523 00:32:58,300 --> 00:33:01,700 I think that's important to me as a distinction but he doesn't 524 00:33:01,700 --> 00:33:03,500 just mention the extent of his support. 525 00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:06,200 He mentions the depth of his support in verse 18. 526 00:33:06,700 --> 00:33:11,000 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me 527 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,000 safely into his Heavenly Kingdom. 528 00:33:16,900 --> 00:33:19,000 These are one of those verses that you just have to read them 529 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:22,600 without much explanation and you can feel the power of it, you 530 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:26,100 can just you can just read it and and Noah Grace to your faith 531 00:33:26,100 --> 00:33:31,300 and a surging of Hope. That only a verse like this can 532 00:33:31,300 --> 00:33:34,600 provide but when you understand the context, when you understand 533 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,500 what was intended, what Paul was thinking, when he wrote this, 534 00:33:37,700 --> 00:33:40,200 the application and the immediate sense has even more 535 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:43,500 tough for us. What did he mean by by saying? 536 00:33:43,500 --> 00:33:46,000 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed. 537 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:47,800 Well, let's do a process of elimination. 538 00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:51,300 Number one, it can't mean that you'll be free, you'll be 539 00:33:51,300 --> 00:33:55,500 Untouched by physical verbal. Assault. 540 00:33:55,900 --> 00:33:59,300 That's impossible. Paul all you had to do is just 541 00:33:59,300 --> 00:34:02,100 pull down his gown to show you the scars on his back to prove. 542 00:34:02,100 --> 00:34:05,300 Otherwise all you have to do is read the verses before this to 543 00:34:05,308 --> 00:34:09,100 understand his comments to realize that it is not meaning 544 00:34:09,199 --> 00:34:12,500 that you and I will evade every type of attack. 545 00:34:14,199 --> 00:34:17,600 Nor does it mean that you and I will escape death, even if that 546 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:21,500 death is martyrdom because Paul, with full Assurance as writing, 547 00:34:21,500 --> 00:34:23,699 this believing that his death was imminent. 548 00:34:23,900 --> 00:34:25,699 Okay? So if it doesn't mean that I 549 00:34:25,707 --> 00:34:29,000 won't be physically, harmed or my character won't be assaulted 550 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,400 or that I will escape death and go up into heaven with fiery 551 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,400 chariots like Elijah. What does it mean? 552 00:34:37,199 --> 00:34:41,300 I believe it means this the closest conclusion is that as as 553 00:34:41,300 --> 00:34:46,000 he is approaching his execution, He would be able to overcome 554 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:48,199 every Temptation, that would present itself. 555 00:34:49,699 --> 00:34:53,600 In that moment. The pressure to deny Christ. 556 00:34:55,100 --> 00:34:58,100 The overwhelming temptation to blaspheme the name of the Lord 557 00:34:58,100 --> 00:35:05,900 to escape pain. The persuasion to to let go of a 558 00:35:05,900 --> 00:35:09,300 truth that you stood for and you preached about for the sake of 559 00:35:09,300 --> 00:35:12,900 self-preservation, what Paul is saying is I will be able to 560 00:35:12,900 --> 00:35:16,600 overcome every single one of those Temptations, even in the 561 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:23,100 face of grueling torture. And I Rejoice over that because 562 00:35:23,100 --> 00:35:27,300 this verse is a glorious statement that should comfort us 563 00:35:27,700 --> 00:35:30,300 to know that, no matter how overwhelming oppression may be 564 00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:35,000 or how seductive sin. Maybe Christ assures us. 565 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:38,100 I will hold you up and you don't have to sink into this. 566 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:40,400 You don't have to give in to this. 567 00:35:41,100 --> 00:35:45,200 And I read that verse and I say, what a friend, what a God, what 568 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:49,200 a master, he doesn't just expect me to be faithful to the end. 569 00:35:49,500 --> 00:35:53,400 Enables me to he enables me to have you ever thought that I've 570 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:56,400 had many conversations and I would wonder if Isis came to 571 00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:58,900 America and they put my head on a chopping block. 572 00:35:58,900 --> 00:36:02,400 I don't know what I would do. The Lord will rescue me from 573 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:04,900 every evil deed, that's what he will do. 574 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:09,700 He will give you the grace to stay faithful until the very 575 00:36:09,700 --> 00:36:11,600 end. No matter. 576 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:14,600 If Devils themselves come up from hell and try to take your 577 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,900 life. Because that's what he's saying 578 00:36:16,900 --> 00:36:19,700 here and bring me safely into his Heavenly Kingdom. 579 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,900 I'm Goin In. I'm going in safely. 580 00:36:22,900 --> 00:36:24,500 Yes. By the grace of God but also 581 00:36:24,500 --> 00:36:32,100 with faithfulness in my hands And I rejoice in that and I 582 00:36:32,107 --> 00:36:35,200 think one of the strongest examples of the goodness of God, 583 00:36:35,500 --> 00:36:38,600 even in the face of death is with the first Christian martyr, 584 00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:42,100 and this is what we're ending today, it's an axe chapter 7. 585 00:36:43,500 --> 00:36:46,900 And consider this account and apply it to your own life. 586 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:54,300 And light of knowing Jesus as the incomparable friend and I 587 00:36:54,300 --> 00:36:57,800 exception. Verse 54. 588 00:37:00,300 --> 00:37:05,100 Steven. He preached a fiery sermon. 589 00:37:07,100 --> 00:37:08,900 If you want a hint of it, look at verse 51. 590 00:37:08,900 --> 00:37:12,600 You stiff-necked people. Uncircumcised in heart and ears. 591 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:14,600 You always resist the Holy Spirit. 592 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:21,300 That's a way to end a service. He rebukes them, calls them out. 593 00:37:22,100 --> 00:37:23,900 And they're pulling their hair at this point. 594 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,700 And in verse 54, we see that when they heard these things, 595 00:37:27,700 --> 00:37:30,600 they were in Rage and they ground their teeth at him. 596 00:37:31,100 --> 00:37:33,300 Have you ever experienced somebody grinding their teeth at 597 00:37:33,300 --> 00:37:36,800 you? That's a that's a particular 598 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:41,600 type of viciousness if I may say so myself grinding their teeth 599 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:43,800 at him. They're so upset with what he 600 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:46,600 just said. Now, look what happens. 601 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:51,500 But he being Stephen Full of the Holy Spirit gazed into heaven 602 00:37:51,500 --> 00:37:55,400 and saw the glory of God. Now, hold on there, full of the 603 00:37:55,400 --> 00:38:00,600 Holy Spirit, as he is dead center around ravenous mob. 604 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:04,600 That's ready to just chew em up. You know what he does. 605 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:06,500 You know where his attention is heaven. 606 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:11,400 He's gazing into heaven. While these men are growling 607 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:14,000 with their beautiful beards and their gowns. 608 00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:19,400 Ready to destroy him and stone him, full of the Holy Spirit. 609 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:25,300 He's looking where Jesus is The holy spirit will do that to you. 610 00:38:25,300 --> 00:38:29,800 And I He is able to coach us and redirect Us in the midst of 611 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:33,400 great trials to look where our help comes from. 612 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:38,600 To look where Jesus is to set our minds on things above and 613 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:41,600 then, to soar above what else is happening in this world. 614 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,300 He's looking at Heaven. That's where his gaze is. 615 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,100 Not the face of these men, not their words, not about, what's 616 00:38:48,100 --> 00:38:52,000 about to happen to him. He's somewhere else. 617 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,400 And when you're filled with the Holy Spirit, that's what can 618 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:59,700 happen. When things are happening, you 619 00:38:59,700 --> 00:39:03,300 can be somewhere else because the holy spirit is taking you 620 00:39:03,300 --> 00:39:07,300 somewhere else. And so, he's looking above. 621 00:39:09,100 --> 00:39:11,500 And he's looking to where he's about to go and he's looking to 622 00:39:11,500 --> 00:39:16,100 where his help is in the moment. And what does he see? 623 00:39:16,300 --> 00:39:19,700 What will God in his Mercy? Decides to peel back a few 624 00:39:19,700 --> 00:39:23,000 curtains so that he can get a glimpse into glory and he sees 625 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,500 the glory of God, but he sees something that is unique to the 626 00:39:25,500 --> 00:39:30,200 rest of the Bible. He saw the glory of God and 627 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,400 Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 628 00:39:33,900 --> 00:39:36,800 That is the only time you will see Jesus standing at the right 629 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:40,100 hand of God. Throughout the scriptures. 630 00:39:40,100 --> 00:39:42,100 We read that he is at the right hand of God. 631 00:39:42,100 --> 00:39:45,600 We read that he is sitting at the right hand of God as a 632 00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:49,300 posture of his rest from his completed work and Redemptive 633 00:39:49,300 --> 00:39:53,900 purpose. But here we see Stephen seeing 634 00:39:53,900 --> 00:39:56,400 and Luke being so precise that dr. 635 00:39:56,400 --> 00:40:04,200 Luke he writes Jesus standing Jesus is standing. 636 00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:11,500 The question is, why why? And consider a few options. 637 00:40:12,500 --> 00:40:17,700 I believe he is standing here to Showcase his attentive care for 638 00:40:17,700 --> 00:40:22,300 his child. As he's about to be killed. 639 00:40:23,100 --> 00:40:29,000 Here is his master standing in the heavens, but totally aware 640 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:34,000 of what's Happening. He's not disconnected, he is not 641 00:40:34,100 --> 00:40:36,400 unaware. He is present. 642 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:41,500 He is standing the Lord stood by me and the Lord is standing here 643 00:40:41,500 --> 00:40:45,200 and he is watching. What is taking place and in this 644 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:50,800 crisis Christ disconnected. He's observing, he's seeing it, 645 00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:55,000 he's taking it into account and that does my soul good. 646 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:58,600 I don't know about you. Okay, so all these men are 647 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:00,500 standing against him. This this group of the 648 00:41:00,500 --> 00:41:04,100 Sanhedrin, and yet, there is one standing in heaven for him. 649 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:08,600 And he's not just standing for him in that moment and giving 650 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:11,600 Steven the Revelation that Christ is fully aware of what's 651 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:14,800 happening right here, right now, but he is standing prepared to 652 00:41:15,100 --> 00:41:21,400 welcome him as he comes home. He knows that the first 653 00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:24,400 Christian martyr is about to step into those heavenly Gates. 654 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:28,300 And as he stands there as an advocate, would I believe, as 655 00:41:28,300 --> 00:41:31,900 one person said so beautifully. That Steven has been confessing 656 00:41:31,900 --> 00:41:35,100 Christ before men and now he sees Christ confessing the 657 00:41:35,100 --> 00:41:41,700 servant before God. That's what's happening. 658 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:45,400 So who cares who stands against you? 659 00:41:46,100 --> 00:41:49,100 There's one in heaven who stands with you and was ready to 660 00:41:49,100 --> 00:41:49,800 welcome. You. 661 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:52,600 You think you're any less than Stephen? 662 00:41:53,300 --> 00:41:57,000 You think Christ loves you. Less than he does. 663 00:41:57,000 --> 00:42:00,500 Stephen his love is the same how we experience it. 664 00:42:00,500 --> 00:42:01,800 Yes. Can differ based on how we 665 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:05,000 respond to his word, but his love is the same. 666 00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:08,400 But I believe there's something else going on here. 667 00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:13,900 He says in verse 66 56 and he said, behold, I see the heavens 668 00:42:13,900 --> 00:42:16,100 opened and the son of man standing at the right hand of 669 00:42:16,100 --> 00:42:19,800 God, but they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their 670 00:42:19,900 --> 00:42:24,000 ears and rushed together at him. Can you imagine that site? 671 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:27,800 That sounds like children that sounds like kids when they're 672 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:31,100 upset, they plug their ears and they run around screaming. 673 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:37,300 They're rushing at him, ready to take him, throw him outside the 674 00:42:37,300 --> 00:42:41,400 city and stone him to death. And I wonder why they reacted 675 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:42,700 this way. And I believe in great part, 676 00:42:42,700 --> 00:42:44,800 it's because what they heard. They believed to be a 677 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:47,000 Blasphemous you're telling me that man, that we crucified on a 678 00:42:47,008 --> 00:42:51,400 cross is standing at the right hand of God that he's the 679 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:54,700 Messiah and that he's going to, you telling me that he's alive 680 00:42:54,700 --> 00:42:57,600 and they couldn't even they couldn't even register that 681 00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:02,500 without reacting like animals. But could it be that there's 682 00:43:02,500 --> 00:43:05,100 something else happening? Could it be that Jesus standing 683 00:43:05,100 --> 00:43:08,200 in this moment is more than just him, ready to welcome his 684 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:10,000 servant. But it's, in fact, something to 685 00:43:10,000 --> 00:43:16,300 say against those who are against his servant. when you 686 00:43:16,300 --> 00:43:22,000 look at scripture, you see that when royalty stands In different 687 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:23,300 contexts. It can mean that they are 688 00:43:23,300 --> 00:43:26,700 honoring whoever is before them or it can mean that they are 689 00:43:26,700 --> 00:43:29,400 ready to execute judgment whoever is before them. 690 00:43:31,500 --> 00:43:36,900 That enraged, they arise from that place ready to do something 691 00:43:37,700 --> 00:43:43,500 to satisfy their Justice. In fact, Isaiah himself, the 692 00:43:43,500 --> 00:43:46,200 prophet uses that language concerning the Lord when he is 693 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:48,400 ready to judge. And I believe there's a 694 00:43:48,408 --> 00:43:51,900 connection here and Isaiah 313. We are told. 695 00:43:51,900 --> 00:43:54,600 The Lord has taken his place to contend. 696 00:43:55,200 --> 00:44:01,200 He stands to judge people's Let me say that again, the Lord has 697 00:44:01,200 --> 00:44:06,800 taken his place to contend. He stands to judge people's the 698 00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:10,000 Lord will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of 699 00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:13,200 his people. It is you who have devoured The 700 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:16,000 Vineyard, the spoil, the poor is in your houses. 701 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:18,300 Do you see what Isaiah seeing that? 702 00:44:18,300 --> 00:44:21,600 The Lord is standing from his throne and the reason why he is 703 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:25,300 standing is because he is ready to judge those who have rejected 704 00:44:25,300 --> 00:44:29,200 his word. And could it be in part? 705 00:44:30,500 --> 00:44:33,000 I don't think it's the major reason, but could it be in part 706 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:37,600 that in Stephen saying, I see, I see him standing at the right 707 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:40,000 hand of God. He's not only knowing something 708 00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:42,600 that will comfort him in this moment, but something that will 709 00:44:42,600 --> 00:44:46,900 convict those who are ready to do something that doesn't just 710 00:44:46,900 --> 00:44:49,200 touch Stephen, but touches Christ himself. 711 00:44:51,300 --> 00:44:53,900 Christ is standing to say I will vindicate. 712 00:44:53,900 --> 00:44:57,700 You Steven, I will do something with those who have taken your 713 00:44:57,700 --> 00:45:02,200 life. And I love that. 714 00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:06,600 Because that just proves that there is no friend, like Jesus. 715 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:10,600 He is not just our provider, he is our protector. 716 00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:15,800 He's not just one who comforts us, he is one who takes into 717 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:20,100 account the things done to us. He will not leave any Injustice 718 00:45:20,100 --> 00:45:23,000 on dealt with. He realizes it. 719 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:25,900 He sees it and he will do something about it. 720 00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:33,200 He is our friend. Our friend who is a king and as 721 00:45:33,200 --> 00:45:39,500 I Look to a verse like this, I think to myself, What other king 722 00:45:39,500 --> 00:45:43,000 is like him. What other king is like and who 723 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:47,100 stands for somebody who's been saved as a sinner, who's ready 724 00:45:47,100 --> 00:45:51,100 with joy and with honor to welcome those who are the least 725 00:45:51,100 --> 00:45:55,400 deserving of it. It says, here in verse 59, and 726 00:45:55,400 --> 00:45:57,800 as they were stoning, Stephen, he called out Lord. 727 00:45:57,800 --> 00:46:03,000 Jesus receive my spirit. If you need a verse to show you 728 00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:04,500 that you can pray directly to Jesus. 729 00:46:04,500 --> 00:46:09,400 There it is. Lord, Jesus receive my spirit. 730 00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:12,600 You know, what's so amazing? Even though he saw him in the 731 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:16,900 heavens so far away in the distant so far away from this 732 00:46:16,900 --> 00:46:20,700 corrupt broken, filthy World. Steven new innately that I can 733 00:46:20,700 --> 00:46:22,000 speak to me as though he's right in front. 734 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:24,500 I mean, he can hear me. Lord, Jesus. 735 00:46:24,500 --> 00:46:27,500 Receive my spirit. Do you talk to Jesus? 736 00:46:29,600 --> 00:46:31,000 Do you speak to them in your pain? 737 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:35,300 Even if that pain are Stones being thrown at you literally Do 738 00:46:35,300 --> 00:46:39,500 you believe he's standing by you standing for you and we'll do 739 00:46:39,500 --> 00:46:42,100 something about those who would stand against you as you stand 740 00:46:42,100 --> 00:46:45,500 for Christ? I want to tell you something, 741 00:46:45,700 --> 00:46:51,000 there is no one like him. and if you don't know him today, I'm 742 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:54,700 not saying you're missing out on a buddy, you're missing out on 743 00:46:54,700 --> 00:46:58,600 eternal life. This is not an option. 744 00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:03,800 This is a command Christ is a friend. 745 00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:09,800 Yes, but he is a judge as well. And Christ wants you to become 746 00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:12,700 his friend wants you to become his child but you must first 747 00:47:12,700 --> 00:47:15,600 deal with the thing that is separating you and him and that 748 00:47:15,600 --> 00:47:18,900 is your sin. If you have sinned against God, 749 00:47:20,000 --> 00:47:23,900 even once just like one digit being off on a phone number, you 750 00:47:23,900 --> 00:47:28,400 are disconnected from him. And you need to repent and 751 00:47:28,400 --> 00:47:31,200 believe on him. He extends his hands of Mercy, 752 00:47:31,500 --> 00:47:34,400 not just to wipe your state clean so that you can avoid 753 00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:39,500 hell, but that you can know life in Christ now and forevermore. 754 00:47:40,400 --> 00:47:43,600 And if you have not made that decision and hearing about 755 00:47:43,600 --> 00:47:46,400 Christ, I want you to know that he is just as present. 756 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:50,300 Now as he was with Stephen in that setting, he is just as 757 00:47:50,300 --> 00:47:53,200 present in this place, as he was with Paul in that prison cell. 758 00:47:53,800 --> 00:47:56,800 And all you need to do is understand that by faith You 759 00:47:56,800 --> 00:47:59,800 call upon Him, He will do the supernatural work on your heart 760 00:47:59,800 --> 00:48:02,900 to make you realize that all the more, but you have to repent and 761 00:48:02,900 --> 00:48:05,700 believe in him. If you haven't done that, do it 762 00:48:05,700 --> 00:48:07,200 today. He died for you. 763 00:48:07,900 --> 00:48:11,000 He died for you. He wants to forgive you. 764 00:48:11,000 --> 00:48:14,100 And wash, you and rescue you from your sin. 765 00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:17,800 Don't reserve your faith. Don't hold back. 766 00:48:17,800 --> 00:48:20,900 Your heart. To the one who made it. 767 00:48:23,300 --> 00:48:27,800 And believer, as you come to eat and drink today at the Lord's 768 00:48:27,800 --> 00:48:31,200 table. Realize that his body was broken 769 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:35,100 and his blood was shed. So that you would know his 770 00:48:35,100 --> 00:48:37,000 presence forever and ever and ever. 771 00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:39,900 Realize that this event right here. 772 00:48:39,900 --> 00:48:43,600 This ordinance is not to reflect on the past merely but the look 773 00:48:43,600 --> 00:48:46,600 forward to the future of a fellowship with Christ. 774 00:48:48,200 --> 00:48:51,800 And he purchased that for you. Let's pray. 775 00:49:06,300 --> 00:49:08,400 Help us realize your friendship Lord. 776 00:49:10,200 --> 00:49:13,600 The Deep affection that you have for us the enjoyment, you even 777 00:49:13,600 --> 00:49:19,900 have for us. Well, we don't want to live this 778 00:49:19,900 --> 00:49:22,500 life. Just affirming a few theological 779 00:49:22,500 --> 00:49:28,700 truths and missing out on the realization of your nearness and 780 00:49:28,700 --> 00:49:31,300 your genuine care for each of us. 781 00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:34,000 Look for the person who doesn't know you. 782 00:49:36,500 --> 00:49:38,400 We ask that they would taste your goodness. 783 00:49:38,400 --> 00:49:40,400 The goodness that leads us to repentance. 784 00:49:41,700 --> 00:49:44,500 For us to do know, you remind us again. 785 00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:50,700 Remind us again, Lord. That you were to be known and 786 00:49:50,700 --> 00:49:54,600 adored and loved doing communed with, forgive us. 787 00:49:54,600 --> 00:49:58,800 If we've been absent, minded of that thing. forgive us Lord for 788 00:49:58,800 --> 00:50:01,600 just making you something of an idea instead of a person to be 789 00:50:01,600 --> 00:50:06,600 known and loved What is we break bread and drink flood our hearts 790 00:50:06,600 --> 00:50:10,600 and Minds with the revelation of the gospel and renew, the joy of 791 00:50:10,600 --> 00:50:14,100 your salvation? We give you everything. 792 00:50:14,100 --> 00:50:18,100 Oh God, in Jesus name we pray. Amen. 793 00:50:13,300 --> 00:50:16,800 We give you everything. Oh God, in Jesus name we pray. 794 00:50:17,700 --> 00:50:18,100 Amen.