1 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,800 It's good to see everyone who's back this afternoon. 2 00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:16,000 It's very good to see fresh faces. 3 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,500 And I know a short span after lunch, makes it easy to get 4 00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:21,700 tired. So, I'll do my best to keep this 5 00:00:22,100 --> 00:00:24,500 upbeat and interesting as we go along. 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,200 As you can see on the screen here, we're going to take our 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,900 text from Philippians chapter 4 and verse 1. 8 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,900 The Bible says, therefore my beloved and long for Brethren my 9 00:00:34,900 --> 00:00:42,000 joy, in my crowd, so Stand Fast in the Lord, beloved You know us 10 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,800 we consider this concept of standing fast in the Lord. 11 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:49,100 The Stand Fast comes from a Greek word. 12 00:00:49,100 --> 00:00:53,000 Literally means to be stationary figurative sense. 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,700 Strong says, it means it's to persevere. 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,400 You know, there are sometimes in life that we just have to 15 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,600 persevere. There are sometimes in life that 16 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,400 we just have to commit ourselves that we're going to be 17 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,200 stationary. You know, there are points in 18 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,200 life that it's real easy to be stationary. 19 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,600 There are certain things we go through that. 20 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,200 We don't want to leave that situation. 21 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,100 We just wish it could last forever and there's other times 22 00:01:18,100 --> 00:01:20,600 we would like we can't wait till we get through it. 23 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,800 That's what this whole idea of standing fast the imagery it 24 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,000 brings forth is that we are going to Persevere through it, 25 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,600 we're going to be stationary despite what we're getting 26 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:31,900 dealt. Now. 27 00:01:31,900 --> 00:01:35,100 As you notice in the first of the verse Philippians 4 1, it 28 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:39,300 says therefore, obviously when a word therefore as you see he's 29 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:42,900 clearly summarizing everything he's already said. 30 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,900 So what had he has? He told them to the point that 31 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:50,800 he says, based on this, you need to be stationary. 32 00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:54,300 Based on this, you need to persevere. 33 00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:57,500 You know, if we go back into the beginning of the Letter. 34 00:01:57,500 --> 00:01:59,700 And I didn't talk about it this morning, I'll say it briefly. 35 00:01:59,700 --> 00:02:04,200 Now, you know, the Bible was not written in chapters and verses. 36 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,900 These were letters in many cases that were written there were 37 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:10,500 prophecies that were written that were just full books, like, 38 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:13,200 you would get a book without just some letter, you would get 39 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:19,900 no chapters no versus As people have translated it into English 40 00:02:19,900 --> 00:02:24,000 and into other languages and given us other versions of that, 41 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,600 that has been divided into chapters and verses. 42 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,900 So makes it easier for us to navigate and find and reference. 43 00:02:29,900 --> 00:02:34,000 So people can follow us. So as I go back and say it's 44 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,800 important, we consider Philippians 1. 45 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,300 It's because this is just been a letter from Paul to the church 46 00:02:39,300 --> 00:02:42,800 at Philippi in the first part of the letter that we have is 47 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,700 chapter 1, chapter 1. Paul describes, how persecution 48 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:50,200 has actually furthered the gospel message and if you want 49 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,600 to understand what he said about that, you can go back and read 50 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,800 it. But ultimately he encouraged 51 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,400 them by saying look there's persecution but it's actually 52 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,700 helping the gospel spread so don't get discouraged at Action, 53 00:03:03,100 --> 00:03:09,000 he says to live is Christ and to die is gain and he basically 54 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,400 wants to Christians there and us as we read it to live in the 55 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,700 same kind of confidence and hope as he faced the persecution, he 56 00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:19,200 faced as he dealt with what he dealt with. 57 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:22,700 He says, look if I live it's going to be for Christ if I die. 58 00:03:22,900 --> 00:03:27,600 Yay, me it's my game. That is in chapter one. 59 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,200 When you get to chapter 2, he basically explains to them that 60 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,300 if they were going to To be unified as a congregation. 61 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:37,300 If they were going to be unified as a people, it was only going 62 00:03:37,300 --> 00:03:42,200 to happen through humility. Unity does not happen when we 63 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,200 began to boast and handcuffed ourself up. 64 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,900 Chapter 2 talks about this. And he basically emphasize the 65 00:03:49,900 --> 00:03:55,400 fact that Jesus was humbled and then he was exalted, even Jesus. 66 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,200 And what we talked about this morning, you know, as I was 67 00:03:59,300 --> 00:04:02,000 afterwards and sitting at lunch and you get to daydreaming or 68 00:04:02,008 --> 00:04:04,600 getting off on yourself, I thought, oh I didn't say that. 69 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,200 You know, Hebrews talks about Jesus. 70 00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:13,900 He learned. What's the word Frankie was 71 00:04:13,900 --> 00:04:15,400 going to? Shout it out this morning when I 72 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,000 couldn't think of nobleman, but through the things, he suffered, 73 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:23,500 he learned obedience You know, the fact is, if the Son of God 74 00:04:23,500 --> 00:04:26,600 had to have suffering to learn obedience and how to Humble 75 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,100 himself before the will of God, we know from his prayer in the 76 00:04:31,100 --> 00:04:32,800 garden. He says, father, if it is 77 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,700 possible, let this cup pass from me. 78 00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:40,100 Nevertheless not my will but yours be done. 79 00:04:41,300 --> 00:04:44,600 How do we begin to commit ourselves and become one with 80 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:50,100 the mind of God? It's by being willing to follow 81 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:53,400 God's will even when it contradicts what we would like 82 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,800 for the circumstance, the very perfect sinless. 83 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,100 Son of God for that circumstance. 84 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:04,200 Wanted to live. And wanted that cup to pass from 85 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,100 him. And yet he was one with the mind 86 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:08,400 of God. He was unified with the father 87 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:13,300 in the spirit how because he could take that self-will as a 88 00:05:13,300 --> 00:05:17,600 human, for the moment, and set it aside for God's perfect will 89 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:23,400 that he knew was right. You see sometimes as humans we 90 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,100 have to be humble before. There can be any exaltation that 91 00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:28,800 happened with Christ. We also learn in Philippians 92 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,200 chapter 2, to hold out the word of Life. 93 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:36,400 Extended the gospel, the word of God are the words of life. 94 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,800 We need to hold them out. He tells him explain to them and 95 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,700 Philip, I'd they need to Rejoice without complaining and 96 00:05:43,700 --> 00:05:46,500 disputing. They had issues with 97 00:05:46,500 --> 00:05:49,500 complaining, they had issues with arguing amongst themselves 98 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:52,300 and he says you need to rejoice in God without that. 99 00:05:53,700 --> 00:05:57,400 He says they need the faithful, a debt said, the faithful, 100 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,700 Vangelis Timothy and the brother ever footitis would be good for 101 00:06:01,700 --> 00:06:03,600 them. There were people, he was 102 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,500 sending that he wanted them to acknowledge and work with and he 103 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:08,600 says these Brethren will be good for you. 104 00:06:08,900 --> 00:06:11,400 That's what he's talking about in Philippians chapters 1 and 105 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,700 chapter 2. I want to slow down and chapter 106 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:17,800 3, finally, No. Remember what we're getting to 107 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:23,000 he says therefore my beloved Stand Fast in the Lord W he 108 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:27,100 going to get to, he says finally my brethren rejoice in the Lord 109 00:06:27,300 --> 00:06:30,700 for me to write the same things to you is not tedious but for 110 00:06:30,700 --> 00:06:33,500 you it's safe. Now as I considered what we 111 00:06:33,508 --> 00:06:37,000 would study this afternoon as I considered the best message and 112 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,300 I don't know if it's the best one, but it's the one, I finally 113 00:06:39,300 --> 00:06:41,200 chose on and I know the Lord will bless. 114 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:46,400 He says what I need you to do is rejoice in the Lord and I'm 115 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,400 going to tell you some things that it's no problem for me to 116 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:55,100 do this. But he says, I'm telling you the 117 00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:59,600 same things. I'm writing you the same things 118 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,700 and it's no problem for me. But it's safest for you. 119 00:07:03,500 --> 00:07:06,500 I don't doubt for a second that what we're going to re-emphasize 120 00:07:06,500 --> 00:07:09,600 this afternoon, you've already heard and you're already 121 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,900 established in it. But even if that's the case, 122 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:16,300 it's still for your safety. How do I know that? 123 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:18,200 Because it was for the church in Philippi. 124 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:25,300 Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers, Beware 125 00:07:25,300 --> 00:07:27,700 of the mutilation. If you read from the King James, 126 00:07:27,700 --> 00:07:31,100 it's the concision and we'll get talking about that in just the 127 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:34,800 next verse. He says what you have to know. 128 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,500 Remember all the context that we've already talked about the 129 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:38,900 persecution. He suffered. 130 00:07:38,900 --> 00:07:41,100 He says, they do it really to destroy the church but it's 131 00:07:41,100 --> 00:07:43,500 really helping further. The gospel, all these things 132 00:07:43,500 --> 00:07:45,800 you're growing in. He says be careful for dogs, 133 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,400 beware of dogs. When I was a kid in our 134 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,700 neighborhood, there was a house down at the end of the street 135 00:07:50,700 --> 00:07:52,500 that had a sign on it. Be aware of dong. 136 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,700 And so I every time I see this verse, I think of that situation 137 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,400 and I'm all dogs, their dog's name was happy. 138 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,200 Turns out, there was a reason that sign was there. 139 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:08,500 One day happy was out in the neighborhood and I kind of had 140 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:11,000 the same eyes a little bit. First one to stand out. 141 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,900 First one to speak up kids were all scared of happy because it 142 00:08:13,900 --> 00:08:16,700 had a beware of dog sign. And so I said well I'll take 143 00:08:16,700 --> 00:08:19,200 happy home, Everybody's scared. Nobody wanted to play. 144 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,800 I went over to happy. Happy was pretty good until I 145 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,300 grabbed happy scholar to go home and happy. 146 00:08:25,300 --> 00:08:29,900 Got a hold of my shoulder. Happy hung on for a while. 147 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:36,299 Beware of dogs. Spiritually speaking. 148 00:08:36,299 --> 00:08:40,000 The imagery he saying here is when the church is dealing with 149 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,500 something that's going on and you need to stand fast, you're 150 00:08:42,500 --> 00:08:45,800 going to have to watch out for the ones that you might think 151 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,100 are happy. But honor for the Dangerous 152 00:08:48,100 --> 00:08:52,700 Ones, it says, beware of dogs and he gets more specific, 153 00:08:52,700 --> 00:08:57,700 beware of evil workers. Those who will not turn in 154 00:08:57,700 --> 00:09:00,100 faithful obedience, we talked about the difference. 155 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:04,100 If this morning, faithful obedience is obedience, that is 156 00:09:04,300 --> 00:09:06,100 it It's true. That's what do we got to do it? 157 00:09:06,100 --> 00:09:08,000 I would I do anything else. That's right. 158 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,600 It's a core value. It's not something you just do 159 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,000 because it's well, we're at Grandma's. 160 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,300 So we got to do this, I'll do it. 161 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:18,800 It's no, I'm going to do this because it's the way it's the 162 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:23,300 right way to live, as opposed to evil workers, Beware of the 163 00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:26,300 mutilation. This mutilation is referring to 164 00:09:26,300 --> 00:09:29,900 a circumcision. The concision for, we are the 165 00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:33,800 circumcision who worship God in the spirit rejoice, in Christ, 166 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,700 Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though. 167 00:09:36,700 --> 00:09:38,800 I also might have confidence in the flesh. 168 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,400 If you anyone else, he thinks me have confidence in the flesh. 169 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,800 I'm or so. Now, before I get there in case 170 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,300 you don't know, circumcision was a nap The Old Law that was very 171 00:09:47,300 --> 00:09:50,600 physical act. And there were some people in 172 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,600 the early church, trying to still bind it upon Christians. 173 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:58,100 Even though it was a Jewish requirement, he says be careful 174 00:09:58,100 --> 00:10:01,700 of those people that are trying to bind the Old Law in a way 175 00:10:01,700 --> 00:10:04,600 that the new has released you from now. 176 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,900 That's not to say there aren't things that were in the Old Law 177 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,200 that Christ didn't carry into the new. 178 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,700 And so sometimes we get to where we teach and try to understand 179 00:10:12,700 --> 00:10:15,700 it as a result, but they were taking something out of the Old 180 00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:18,400 Law. All and trying to put it in the 181 00:10:18,408 --> 00:10:22,000 New Covenant as though it belonged there, when men whom 182 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,800 God had released men from it. And he says be careful of those 183 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,100 people don't have any confidence in the flesh. 184 00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:31,600 He says, if we were going to have confidence in the flesh, if 185 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,100 anybody thinks they have confidence he says I've got 186 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:36,100 more. I mean if it's all about what 187 00:10:36,100 --> 00:10:38,700 we've done with our bodies, he says for instance I was 188 00:10:38,700 --> 00:10:41,600 circumcised The Eighth Day. What day were you circumcised 189 00:10:41,700 --> 00:10:46,000 even if you were Now this room, if people were, there's a good 190 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:47,600 chance it was within the first two days. 191 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,200 Not many, wait till he ate even in that day of time. 192 00:10:53,900 --> 00:10:56,500 Apparently, that wasn't even always the case because I was 193 00:10:56,500 --> 00:10:59,500 circumcised, The Eighth Day of the stock of Israel, my 194 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:03,500 bloodline Israel, I'm not a proselyte, you know, we talked 195 00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:05,600 about this morning, the opieop ennoble men. 196 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,700 He might have been converted, but he wasn't a really a 197 00:11:08,700 --> 00:11:11,000 flesh-and-blood is. He says, I'm of the stock of 198 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:15,900 Israel of The Tribe of Benjamin. What's the significance of that? 199 00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:18,600 Even when the, when Israel divided and there were the 200 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:23,300 northern and southern kingdoms Benjamin State Bound in the 201 00:11:23,300 --> 00:11:28,100 United? With Judah, small tribe, but 202 00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:29,700 stayed by. He says, I'm of The Tribe of 203 00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:31,300 Benjamin. A Hebrew of the Hebrews, 204 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,400 concerning the law, I'm a Pharisee. 205 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:36,000 Now, what will we say for us today? 206 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:42,400 Concerning the law Harvard Yale Oxford. 207 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,200 That's what that meant to them for them to be a Pharisee. 208 00:11:47,500 --> 00:11:50,600 Legally speaking. He says, I'm at the Pinnacle. 209 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,800 You're not going to have anything that you're going to 210 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,900 beat that with concerning Zeal. He said I persecuted the church 211 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:00,400 if the Jews want to question my zil. 212 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:02,600 Look, they met. Y'all may have sit around in 213 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,400 your small groups and in your dinner parties, talking about 214 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,800 them Christians. He says, I went after him, my 215 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,600 Zeal cannot be questioned. My fire that words ill literally 216 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,600 comes from a word which means Heat That cannot be question 217 00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:19,600 concerning the righteousness, which is in the law blameless 218 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:21,000 now. Is he saying? 219 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,500 He was perfect. I don't think so. 220 00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:25,300 But he's saying, you cannot find anything to lay a charge against 221 00:12:25,300 --> 00:12:29,200 me and let it roll. Whatever he had that was sent in 222 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,600 his life either. Nobody else knew about it, he 223 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,400 knew it or it had to do with other things besides what they 224 00:12:35,408 --> 00:12:39,600 could find in the wall. He says, if you want to have 225 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,800 confidence in the flesh, he says I can brag more than you can 226 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,300 brag now. Does that also, he can make 227 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:48,900 himself out to be something. Nope, because He follows that 228 00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:53,100 with, but what things were gain to me these, I counted loss for 229 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:55,400 Christ. All that means nothing being a 230 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,700 Pharisee. Nothing that I was circumcised 231 00:12:57,700 --> 00:13:00,500 The Eighth Day, really? It means nothing. 232 00:13:01,900 --> 00:13:05,200 Why he says, because everything there is counted as loss for 233 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,100 Christ, yet, indeed. I also count all things lost for 234 00:13:09,108 --> 00:13:11,700 the Excellence of the knowledge of Christ. 235 00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:14,700 Jesus, my Lord. Think about that statement. 236 00:13:15,900 --> 00:13:20,500 Knowledge says I would lose everything just to have the 237 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:24,000 knowledge. I have of Jesus Christ, my Lord 238 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:30,300 For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count 239 00:13:30,300 --> 00:13:33,500 them as rubbish that I may gain Christ. 240 00:13:33,500 --> 00:13:38,800 I believe everything for Christ. I gotta ask myself would I 241 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,100 literally be willing to lose everything for Christ? 242 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,300 Would you? That's a lie. 243 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:51,700 Think about your house? Your everything, you have all 244 00:13:52,900 --> 00:13:56,800 your family. Would you lose everything for 245 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,400 Christ? You know, the interesting thing 246 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,800 is until I get to the point that I would lose, even my family for 247 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,500 Christ. I'll never be to my family. 248 00:14:06,500 --> 00:14:09,300 What I can be if I put Christ first. 249 00:14:10,700 --> 00:14:13,900 I will love Rachel better. I will Express that love and I 250 00:14:13,900 --> 00:14:17,200 will be a better husband if I would be willing to lose her for 251 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,100 Christ. Now, the fact is, when I read 252 00:14:20,100 --> 00:14:23,600 the word of God and I see that as such in Christ that I need to 253 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,400 be willing to give my life for her. 254 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,400 That I need to be willing to do everything Christ, would do for 255 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,300 the church. I need to be doing willing to do 256 00:14:30,300 --> 00:14:33,000 for Rachel. And you know what? 257 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:34,300 The media thing comes in my mind. 258 00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:36,400 You still have this morning, it pops in there, I got to say it, 259 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,100 there was an occasion, he put a towel around his waist, bent 260 00:14:39,100 --> 00:14:41,600 down and began to wash his disciples feet. 261 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,700 And it hasn't always been easy for me to help her wash the 262 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:54,400 dishes. When Christ is first. 263 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,700 Everything about our life, will be better for everyone in our 264 00:14:59,700 --> 00:15:03,800 life. This is in no way diminishing Us 265 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,800 and how we treat other people. When Christ is first, and we're 266 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:10,700 willing to count anything loss and put Christ, first will be 267 00:15:10,700 --> 00:15:14,400 the best we can be for everybody in our life, and be found in 268 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,600 him, not having my own righteousness because it's not 269 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,400 about anything we can do, which is from the law, but that which 270 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:22,700 is through faith. In Christ. 271 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:26,200 The righteousness issues, which is from God by faith 272 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,700 righteousness, that comes through, God's Will, and not my 273 00:15:29,700 --> 00:15:31,800 own. Will you see I'm Pretty good at 274 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,600 coming up with lists of things. Greg Branch thinks is good and 275 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,000 well, we can follow this. But what about God's? 276 00:15:37,300 --> 00:15:40,500 That's what Paul's trying to get the Church of Philippi and us. 277 00:15:40,500 --> 00:15:43,800 And everyone understand that righteousness has to come from 278 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:48,300 God by faith that I may know him and the power of his 279 00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:52,100 resurrection. The power of the resurrection of 280 00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:56,500 Christ. The Fellowship of his 281 00:15:56,500 --> 00:15:59,500 sufferings. We talked about that in the 282 00:15:59,500 --> 00:16:02,400 sufferings this morning and I even alluded to, I don't, I 283 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,700 can't explain everything. We go through in life. 284 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,400 But this much, I'm confident if God would let them some that. 285 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:13,400 He loves his only begotten, son, go through what he went through. 286 00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:17,500 Did I can't question whether or not God loves me. 287 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,800 You can't question whether or not God loves you. 288 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,300 We may not understand it. We may have trouble with it but 289 00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:28,800 we know he loves us and it may be that we're having Fellowship 290 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:33,000 in his sufferings being conformed to his death. 291 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:39,000 If by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead, he 292 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,600 says, I want to even conform to the death of Christ. 293 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:46,900 So that any way I can I may attain to the resurrection from 294 00:16:46,900 --> 00:16:49,700 the dead. How do we conform to the death 295 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:51,400 of Christ? We're going to look at Romans 6. 296 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,900 I referenced it this morning, so I thought I'm going to hit this 297 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:56,600 quick, this afternoon. What shall we say, then? 298 00:16:56,900 --> 00:17:00,800 Shall we continue in sin that Grace May abound. 299 00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:04,599 So many things about said, about the book of Romans and grace of 300 00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:06,900 God and this, and that and the other. 301 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,400 But the question comes is okay. If we're saved by grace, then we 302 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,700 continue in sin. Because if we do nothing because 303 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:17,400 that's helping Grace about Certainly not King James says, 304 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,900 God forbid. How shall we who died to sin, 305 00:17:20,900 --> 00:17:22,900 live any longer in it? How do you keep living in 306 00:17:22,900 --> 00:17:26,300 something you've died too? Or do you not know that, as many 307 00:17:26,300 --> 00:17:27,900 of us as were baptized into Christ? 308 00:17:27,900 --> 00:17:30,400 Jesus were baptized into his death. 309 00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:32,600 We talked about the word, sang Greek. 310 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:34,800 Word means to dip or a mercer to plunge. 311 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:36,800 We were immersed, we were dipped. 312 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:40,000 We are plunged into his death. Therefore, we were buried with 313 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:44,100 him, through baptism into death that just as Christ was raised 314 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:45,800 from the dead to walk in the glory of the father. 315 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,900 Even so we also should walk in newness of life. 316 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:52,300 When we obey the gospel, it's a change, it's a new life. 317 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,300 And what is he going to say? For if we have been United 318 00:17:55,300 --> 00:17:58,900 together in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall also 319 00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:00,800 be in the likeness of his resurrection. 320 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,400 How do we conform and attain to the resurrection of Jesus 321 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,000 Christ? It's being conformed to his 322 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,800 death. How do we do that? 323 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,400 Baptism? Come in obedience to the gospel. 324 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,700 As we talked about this morning and then literally be willing to 325 00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:18,700 let God's will overwhelm our own self-will. 326 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:22,600 That when our self will contradicts whatever is gods 327 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,200 revealed, we're going to follow God's will knowing this that our 328 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,400 old man was crucified with him, he died. 329 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,600 That the body of sin might be done away with that. 330 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,600 We should no longer be slaves to sin. 331 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,000 The fact is we're going to be a slave to something. 332 00:18:38,100 --> 00:18:39,700 Somebody says, no. I'm My Own guy. 333 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:45,600 I'm old woman really not. We're slave to something. 334 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,300 We're either going to commit ourselves to be a servant, and a 335 00:18:49,300 --> 00:18:51,700 slave of God, or it's going to come to sin. 336 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,900 That's just the way it works. We'd love to think that we could 337 00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:58,400 just be this little island unto herself, but the very fact that 338 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,500 you're in here with other people tells me, you can't do that. 339 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,600 We can't do that. We're going to be subject to 340 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,400 something. For he who has died has been 341 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:12,000 freed from sin. Now, if we died with Christ, we 342 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,200 believe that we shall also live with him. 343 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,500 Knowing that Christ had any been raised from the dead dies. 344 00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:22,200 No, More Death, no longer has dominion over him. 345 00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:31,400 We dread we look. In many cases, we look at the I 346 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:35,300 concept of death and we just the separation is overwhelming. 347 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:39,700 It's too hard to comprehend in many ways. 348 00:19:41,500 --> 00:19:45,900 For this life. And the one after But he says, 349 00:19:46,900 --> 00:19:51,500 once Christ died. Heroes. 350 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:54,900 Death, the Dominion of death is gone. 351 00:19:56,300 --> 00:20:00,900 It's no longer in the it's no longer a factor, it's no longer 352 00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:05,700 an influence. I don't know about you, but just 353 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:08,600 thinking and closing my eyes and thinking we would not even have 354 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:13,100 to deal with that ever. Again, it brings call Brings 355 00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:16,400 peace. That's the promise through 356 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,800 Christ. To be conformed to him to be 357 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:24,000 born again and realize, we don't have to worry about it. 358 00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:29,200 And that we can get to a point that it's no longer an issue. 359 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,600 As one man said before he died, Uncle James Orton, some of, you 360 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:43,400 know, him death is not relevant. It doesn't have to be through 361 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:47,500 Jesus Christ. Not that I've already attained 362 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:51,600 back in Philippians. Philippians, 3:12 not that I've 363 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:57,700 already attained or I'm already perfected but I press on that. 364 00:20:57,700 --> 00:21:00,900 I may hold lay hold of that for which Christ. 365 00:21:00,900 --> 00:21:05,500 Jesus has also linked old me. She says I've been conformed to 366 00:21:05,500 --> 00:21:08,500 the desk so that I can look forward to attaining to the 367 00:21:08,508 --> 00:21:10,800 resurrection. He says not enough. 368 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:12,200 Not that. I'm there yet. 369 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,900 Not that I'm already perfected. Not work perfect. 370 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:18,400 And means to make to be made complete. 371 00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:20,400 But he says, I'm going to press on. 372 00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:26,200 And as we get further and further towards versus 4:1 Stand 373 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,600 Fast, therefore, I want us to understand. 374 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:32,100 This is the whole concept that you press on through everything. 375 00:21:32,500 --> 00:21:34,700 No matter what it is that you may lay. 376 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:37,700 Hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid. 377 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:41,100 Hold of you. It's no accident. 378 00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:44,800 You're here today. It's no accident. 379 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,700 When people become children of God, God has been after you. 380 00:21:50,500 --> 00:21:54,500 He has desired you since the foundation of this world. 381 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:59,000 Now they're this begins to. I can't even hardly comprehend. 382 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,800 God's omniscience is omnipotent his ability to know everything 383 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,700 to see as Joe. Hisle says in his sermon, this 384 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:08,600 is time and time and he sees it all. 385 00:22:10,500 --> 00:22:15,900 He's been after you all along. This is not lay hold of that for 386 00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:20,800 which Christ Jesus has laid. Hold of you of me Brethren. 387 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:25,000 I do not count myself to have apprehended but one thing I do 388 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,400 forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward 389 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,000 to those things, which are ahead. 390 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:34,000 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God 391 00:22:34,100 --> 00:22:37,300 in Christ Jesus. He says it again. 392 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,200 Why is he Draught? And again this just I know this 393 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,700 is Paul's writing but he's inspired by the Holy Spirit. 394 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:45,900 Why is he repeating this concept? 395 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:50,900 I'm not there yet but I'm prescient. any chance because 396 00:22:50,900 --> 00:22:56,900 that's really where every human gets Even the Apostle Paul was 397 00:22:56,900 --> 00:23:00,700 there you ever feel that way? I feel like I got so far to go. 398 00:23:03,100 --> 00:23:05,100 I'm not there yet but I'm gonna keep pressing. 399 00:23:05,100 --> 00:23:08,000 That's the message. One thing I'll do. 400 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,300 When I when I'm going to press forward, he says one thing I'll 401 00:23:11,300 --> 00:23:13,500 do is I'm going to forget those things that you're both are 402 00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:17,000 behind. Sometimes we can have so much 403 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:21,600 heavy baggage of guilt and remorse behind us, that it 404 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:25,200 prevents us from ever let loose, and taken off going forward. 405 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:31,600 Paul says that Lisa. Look, he told us a lot of things 406 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,800 in this reading to that we study today that he can brag about if 407 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,500 people wanted to brag about the flesh. 408 00:23:36,500 --> 00:23:39,300 There's other writings, when he says he's the chief of Sinners 409 00:23:39,500 --> 00:23:43,500 and he starts to list that list. It's pretty bad one. 410 00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:47,500 He says I you put these things behind you behind you. 411 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,100 And you press, you reach forward to those things which are ahead. 412 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,600 But you notice he didn't say, I forget those things that are 413 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,000 sinful and leave them behind me. He just says forgetting those 414 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,900 things, which are behind me, you know, there's times that we have 415 00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:04,600 to forget all of our victories that are behind us. 416 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,000 If you sit and as they said, when I was growing up, rest on 417 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,000 your laurels. Say, you know, look at all I've 418 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,100 accomplished. I think I'll just build barge 419 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:17,800 for myself, throw it all into storage and rest and take he's 420 00:24:18,700 --> 00:24:22,600 that's a problem to for anybody. That will go through this life 421 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,400 successful. We're going to put what was 422 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,300 what's behind us is behind us. We got new goals. 423 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,700 We have new challenges and we're not just going to stop because 424 00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:35,200 there's a transition point. He says I'm going to reach 425 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:36,900 forward to the things that are ahead. 426 00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:38,600 What does life have from here on out? 427 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,400 I don't know but I'm going to reach for it and I'm going to 428 00:24:41,408 --> 00:24:45,100 press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in 429 00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:48,000 Christ Jesus. Whatever I do as I reach 430 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,200 forward, it's going to have to do with the upward call of God 431 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:54,900 in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let us Many years, 432 00:24:54,900 --> 00:24:58,200 Armature have this mind. And if anything you think 433 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,000 otherwise God will reveal even this to, you says, if you're 434 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,800 mature in Christ, this is the way you need to look at life. 435 00:25:05,100 --> 00:25:08,500 but he says, if there's any point that you think otherwise, 436 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:14,900 God, will reveal it unto you? Nevertheless to the degree that 437 00:25:14,900 --> 00:25:18,600 we've already attained? Let us walk by the same Rule and 438 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:22,800 let us be of the same mind. You know what, I get. 439 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:24,700 And if you notice, this is italicized, this is not the 440 00:25:24,708 --> 00:25:27,000 Bible part have too many notes in these. 441 00:25:27,300 --> 00:25:31,000 This is my ideas. These Brethren seem to have 442 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:35,100 issues. They disagreed about whether it 443 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:39,000 was this identity says, if an anything you think otherwise had 444 00:25:39,008 --> 00:25:41,600 to do with what Paul's writing to them or what they were 445 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:43,800 dealing with, in the relationships to each other, 446 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,000 they would have disagreement. He says of these issues you 447 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,900 disagree about he says, God is going to reveal it now it's my 448 00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:54,700 opinion. The New Testament wasn't done 449 00:25:54,700 --> 00:25:58,900 yet and so scripture was still being revealed and so when he 450 00:25:58,900 --> 00:26:01,300 says As God will reveal even this to you. 451 00:26:01,300 --> 00:26:04,800 He's saying the Bible is not done yet. but I want, you know, 452 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:11,500 I think this concept applies to us today Breaking are going to 453 00:26:11,508 --> 00:26:17,700 be 52 this year. I remember the first preacher I 454 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:20,500 remember, staying with us that I thought, I just want to study 455 00:26:20,500 --> 00:26:23,700 with preachers was Don McCord and I can, he had my bedroom and 456 00:26:23,700 --> 00:26:26,900 I'd ride with him in cars. Different places, tell him, he's 457 00:26:26,900 --> 00:26:29,700 showing me how to get to widows houses and going to church and 458 00:26:29,700 --> 00:26:31,300 doing all this. I thought, you know, I just want 459 00:26:31,300 --> 00:26:39,400 to know. 40 years later sometimes. 460 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:48,200 I feel like I still don't know. There's so much. that sometimes, 461 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:55,300 we think otherwise, We still got to study and get together. now, 462 00:26:55,300 --> 00:26:58,200 if that happens with somebody that's raised in a Christian, 463 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:02,000 family for 40 years has been trying to understand this 464 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,000 Imagine what it's like for a new convert. 465 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:12,300 Literally a babe in Christ. there's a lot of things we 466 00:27:12,300 --> 00:27:17,400 think, otherwise about, So what do you do when you get to those 467 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,100 situations that you don't have this unity in this commonality? 468 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,600 Gods are going to reveal it. Sometimes some for us today that 469 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,100 means we're going to study and will gradually. 470 00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:30,100 Come there. Nevertheless. 471 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:34,700 Here's what you do to the degree that we've already attained. 472 00:27:34,700 --> 00:27:37,600 Let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind. 473 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:45,300 We unify around what we can agree on. and if there's things 474 00:27:45,300 --> 00:27:50,200 that, which we find ourselves being divided, I've never found 475 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:54,600 a situation like that yet that we couldn't find a place of 476 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,300 consensus that Brethren could stay together in harmony. 477 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,100 Now, it will require that one or both are willing to concede 478 00:28:03,100 --> 00:28:05,800 something, but it can never be truth. 479 00:28:07,900 --> 00:28:10,400 And I want to tell you without going into a whole lot of time 480 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:12,500 on this. I think, if you would follow 481 00:28:12,500 --> 00:28:15,500 this down to any doctrine that divides, the collective worship 482 00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:19,100 of any assembly of people to this principle, you could unite 483 00:28:19,100 --> 00:28:22,200 the whole religious world that believes in Christ and we would 484 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:25,900 all worship the same way if we would agree upon what, what does 485 00:28:25,900 --> 00:28:27,400 it say? Cuz there, something we can 486 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:31,500 unite around. Well, yeah, it says that, but 487 00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:38,900 right, this rule would work today and this is a path forward 488 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:43,600 through any situation Brethren join in following my example, 489 00:28:43,700 --> 00:28:48,800 and note, those who walk as you have a spray pattern, So, this 490 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,500 is the pattern, this is the example you've seen and I want 491 00:28:51,500 --> 00:28:55,100 you to note those people that also live this same way that 492 00:28:55,100 --> 00:28:58,400 also conduct themselves in this same demeanor because I want you 493 00:28:58,408 --> 00:29:02,500 to look at those people. For many walk of whom. 494 00:29:02,500 --> 00:29:05,400 I've told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are 495 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:09,100 the enemies of the Cross of Christ says, I need you to seek 496 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:11,600 out and identify people that follow the pattern, we're 497 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,400 teaching because there are people that you would otherwise 498 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:16,500 follow, and I've warned you about them often. 499 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,700 And I'm telling you now, even to the point of Tears, they're just 500 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:24,800 enemies of the Cross of Christ. Whose end is destruction. 501 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:29,100 Whose God is their belly. Whose glory is in their shame, 502 00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:33,500 who set their mind on Earthly things, how do we know the 503 00:29:33,500 --> 00:29:37,500 difference in those who are putting God first verses this? 504 00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:42,600 This other character of people What's the influence? 505 00:29:42,900 --> 00:29:48,100 What's it feeding? think about the things that can 506 00:29:48,100 --> 00:29:51,700 divide us, spiritually, think about the things that can divide 507 00:29:51,700 --> 00:29:59,200 us congregationally, Is there a path that clearly walks? 508 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,500 As we have the Bible for an example. 509 00:30:01,900 --> 00:30:04,800 And is there a path that clearly is just feeding the fleshly 510 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:09,000 Earthly, man? Generally speaking, there's 511 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,100 always a clear difference. Then I'm going to set up here 512 00:30:12,100 --> 00:30:15,200 and start giving you examples, as you can think of it yourself. 513 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,800 What are we feeding? We feeding the spirit, we 514 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:23,900 feeding our love and desire for the word. 515 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,500 Are we feeding our fleshly desire for something different? 516 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:33,500 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we so eagerly 517 00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:36,400 wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 518 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,600 Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to 519 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:43,700 his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able 520 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,300 even to subdue all things to himself. 521 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:50,700 The same power that Christ has to bring everything into 522 00:30:50,700 --> 00:30:53,600 subjection. He said is going to be used that 523 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:58,200 same power. He says he's going to do that. 524 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,300 He's going to transform our lowly body. 525 00:31:01,500 --> 00:31:03,800 That it may be conformed to his glorious body. 526 00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:09,200 Some of you here, I know you love creation, you love the 527 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,500 mountains, you love the oceans, you love you just love 528 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:13,100 everything. God's make the best things in 529 00:31:13,100 --> 00:31:16,900 this world are the things that you appreciate that. 530 00:31:16,900 --> 00:31:19,100 God created that man hadn't messed up yet. 531 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:26,700 That same God and creator. That same Lord, Jesus has plans 532 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:31,300 for your body. It's going to be conformed to 533 00:31:31,300 --> 00:31:35,600 his glorious body. But we follow the pattern, he's 534 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:40,300 talked about putting Force. Therefore, Back where we started 535 00:31:40,300 --> 00:31:43,700 in light of this message, therefore, my beloved and long 536 00:31:43,700 --> 00:31:45,800 for Brethren my joy and my crown. 537 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:48,600 I mean these people are precious to him. 538 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:50,900 He says you are my joy. You're my crown. 539 00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:55,900 So, Stand Fast in the Lord. My beloved this. 540 00:31:55,900 --> 00:31:57,400 How you doing? What did he tell us? 541 00:31:57,900 --> 00:32:02,100 He says you beware dogs. Watch out for people that are 542 00:32:02,100 --> 00:32:05,500 dangerous rejoice in Christ Jesus and not in the law of 543 00:32:05,500 --> 00:32:08,300 Moses. He says, rejoice in the 544 00:32:08,300 --> 00:32:12,600 knowledge of Jesus don't be content in your knowledge base. 545 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,900 I know it's hard sometimes for us to push to learn and to study 546 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,500 and to keep that motivation, but don't be content in it. 547 00:32:21,500 --> 00:32:24,900 He says, rejoice in the knowledge you have of Jesus 548 00:32:24,900 --> 00:32:28,900 don't ever, stop learning Embrace righteousness. 549 00:32:28,900 --> 00:32:33,400 That's through faith in Jesus, not self-righteousness, not 550 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,700 righteousness of Merit, righteousness, that is through 551 00:32:36,700 --> 00:32:39,500 faith in Jesus, that's going to come through the word, Embrace 552 00:32:39,500 --> 00:32:41,700 his power and be conformed to Jesus. 553 00:32:43,100 --> 00:32:47,800 Embrace the resurrection by Reaching Forward by 554 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:50,800 understanding that you can be born again and start over and 555 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:56,000 embrace truth and continue learning and embrace faithful 556 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,000 examples. And avoid enemies. 557 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:03,700 There are people you have in your life that you know, are 558 00:33:03,700 --> 00:33:06,500 good. Faithful examples says Embrace 559 00:33:06,500 --> 00:33:11,100 those and there are others that we tend to like to hang out with 560 00:33:12,500 --> 00:33:16,600 That we know, are kind of enemies of the message, but we 561 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,400 sure do. They're good people in a lot of 562 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,800 ways. But they are enemies of what the 563 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:26,500 church stands for. He says embrace the faithful 564 00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:30,200 examples. And embrace your, heavenly 565 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:35,200 citizenship see what gets me to where I get kind of caught up in 566 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,800 all this. That's besides Christianity. 567 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:42,600 What what is it that makes me get to where I lose sight of 568 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:46,400 this? It's when I start to think in 569 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:52,500 too much about here. it's when I get to thinking too much about 570 00:33:54,800 --> 00:34:01,900 things of the flesh. But when I think about my 571 00:34:01,900 --> 00:34:08,699 citizenship in heaven, everything gets pretty crystal 572 00:34:08,699 --> 00:34:12,000 clear. A lot of questionable, things 573 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:16,199 are no longer questionable. And this much is for sure. 574 00:34:17,500 --> 00:34:23,500 If you're not a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, And it's hard 575 00:34:23,500 --> 00:34:25,900 to think about embrace them and citizenship. 576 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:29,800 In our country right now. There's a lot of talk about 577 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:33,300 citizenship and how you get it, and why you gods made. 578 00:34:33,300 --> 00:34:36,400 It simple. Everybody can become a citizen 579 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,699 of the kingdom of heaven. Isn't it amazing? 580 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,600 Ain't I said, plenty about baptism and water this morning. 581 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:45,000 So I unless you get it, isn't it? 582 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:51,400 Amazing that God chose the one thing that any place on Earth 583 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:56,300 that will support life has it. when he was looking for 584 00:34:56,300 --> 00:35:02,500 something to ask his people to surrender to He said be baptized 585 00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:05,600 in water. Somebody asked me one time. 586 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:07,000 Well what if it's a place that doesn't have water? 587 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:11,000 I said, show me life. What are there? 588 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:20,600 It's cheap, it's free. Our citizenship is so easy to 589 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:23,500 grasp, almost so easy. It's almost like name of the 590 00:35:23,500 --> 00:35:27,400 letter leper. People will go on a real it away 591 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:31,000 in a rage because you wanted to be baptized when they would have 592 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:36,700 done something great. We thank you for listening to 593 00:35:36,700 --> 00:35:41,500 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 594 00:35:41,500 --> 00:35:45,000 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 595 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:48,300 information, or you would like to receive a free Bible 596 00:35:48,300 --> 00:35:53,800 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her 597 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:56,200 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 598 00:35:56,800 --> 00:36:02,100 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 599 00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:06,500 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 600 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,200 We would love for you to be our honored guest.