1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,480 Hey, welcome to the City Point Church podcast. 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,280 Thanks for joining us. Every day is an opportunity to 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,280 take hold of. So we hope this message inspires 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,560 you and build your faith, but it helps you have more of a God 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:15,960 perspective for your day. Enjoy today. 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,520 I want to talk to you about purpose. 7 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:25,920 We all know that word in the Christian world, but I want to 8 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,360 talk to you about a focused purpose. 9 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:34,760 Not just purpose for purpose sake, but focused purpose. 10 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,720 There's a man in the Bible. He goes by the Apostle Paul, 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:45,600 previously known as Saul, and he had focused purpose. 12 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,840 He had purpose before he met Christ too, and his purpose was 13 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:54,280 to persecute the Christians. I like to start off with the 14 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,640 Word. First, let's turn to our Bibles, 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,880 to Acts 26, verses 9. Follow me there. 16 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,640 Paul says this. I too was convinced that I ought 17 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:14,200 to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of 18 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,360 Nazareth. We sang that name Jesus. 19 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,720 There's something about the name of Jesus because it's above 20 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,080 every other name. There's no other name like it. 21 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,960 The power in the name of Jesus. And when you speak the name of 22 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:35,040 Jesus, there's miracles, demons go, there's healing, there's 23 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:40,000 power in the name of Jesus. And verse 10, follow me there. 24 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:45,280 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem on the authority of 25 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,720 the chief priests. I put many of the Saints in the 26 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:53,680 prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against 27 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,440 them. Many a time I went from one 28 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:00,840 synagogue to another, one church to another, to have them 29 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:05,640 punished, and I tried to force them to blasphemy in my 30 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:10,960 obsession against them. I even went to foreign cities to 31 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:17,320 persecute them. The Apostle Paul has got this 32 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,360 obsession on persecuting Christians. 33 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:27,280 He was a Pharisee, he was a Jew, a man that didn't believe that 34 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:31,600 the risen Christ and to Christ said he was. 35 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:33,920 So he thought I'm going to go fix him. 36 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:37,840 And he went on the authority of the chief priests. 37 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,000 Can I get some water, please? Oh, it's right there. 38 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,200 Sorry, I didn't see that. I have the authority to drink 39 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,840 water now. Thank you, Lord. 40 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,000 And he went and he thought this is my job. 41 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:02,960 Except for one event happened, one touch, one revelation, 1 42 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,240 moment in time, where he was travelling along to the road to 43 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:14,400 Damascus and there was the risen Jesus right before Paul. 44 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:20,040 And it says the sun shone, that Jesus had shone brighter than 45 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,320 the sun and him in his companions. 46 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:28,000 They fell down and Paul was blinded for three days and after 47 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,920 that something like scales had fallen off his eyes. 48 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:36,560 He had a revelation of the risen King, the one that was supposed 49 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:41,280 to be in the tomb, but the stone rolled away and he rose again in 50 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,760 three days. This is the power of the gospel. 51 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:51,200 1 moment Saul became Paul, and after that he had a revelation, 52 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:55,160 one touch. And that revelation led to Paul 53 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,800 going around preaching the good news of the risen King. 54 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,880 Now Jesus, he rose when he died. He rose again in three days. 55 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,800 He rose in victory. He rose as a conqueror. 56 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,760 For you and I sin. And let me tell you, I'm going 57 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:12,480 to give you an opportunity at the end. 58 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,279 If you don't know Jesus today, there's going to be a moment. 59 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,160 And just like Saul, you'll become Paul and you'll be 60 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,040 transformed in a moment. Just like that, you'll go from 61 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,240 death to life and that that opportunity will be given to you 62 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:34,200 at the end of the service. Paul was a troublemaker. 63 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,560 He loved to cause holy trouble. As pastor I said, And you know 64 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,880 what, we as Christians, when we go into our community, we cause 65 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,280 holy trouble. We come against what the Word, 66 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,400 what the world comes in and teaches, but Christ teaches 67 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,280 something else, and that's us as a church. 68 00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:57,360 We stand up into this community and we go and influence it. 69 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,880 And that's what Paul did. And he was put on house arrest 70 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,080 in Rome because he tried to stand up against Caesar. 71 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:09,800 And he was there for two years, around 60 to 62 AD and Paul went 72 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,040 through some suffering. And I want to want to highlight 73 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:18,040 to you today and what Paul did in that moment, in those two 74 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,440 years in prison whilst he was on house arrest. 75 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,080 He writes and encourages four other churches or three other 76 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:28,520 churches. He writes the Ephesians, the 77 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:34,560 Ephesus church, the Philippians, the Colossians, and Philemon. 78 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,960 Or if you're real bougie, Philemon, whatever you want to 79 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:43,920 go with, that's fine. He was under house arrest. 80 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:48,320 And scholars say that it was possible that he was, he was 81 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,320 definitely in chain, but it was quite possible that he was 82 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:56,400 chained to a Roman soldier for 24 hours of the day with six 83 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:01,880 hours shift, a new Roman soldier coming in to take the shift. 84 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,480 And Paul suffered for Jesus. He suffered for the gospel. 85 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,600 It doesn't sound too good suffering, does it? 86 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,520 But here's the truth about suffering. 87 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,960 No matter whether you're with Christ or not, you're going to 88 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,520 suffer. But there's a big difference. 89 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:27,120 You can suffer over here without Christ in the world, but you'll 90 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:32,600 do it alone. Or you can come give your life 91 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,520 to Jesus and they're still suffering. 92 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,000 But you won't do it alone this time. 93 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,360 You'll do it filled with the Holy Spirit, the Helper. 94 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,360 You do it with God's strength. You do it with his joy. 95 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:49,160 You won't do it alone. Beloved, Christ didn't promise 96 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,960 us that we wouldn't suffer, but He did promise us that He will 97 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,080 be with us to the very end of the age. 98 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:02,000 That's a promise. And Two Corinthians Chapter 11, 99 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:07,200 chapter, Chapter 11, verses 24 just illustrates the sum of 100 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:12,160 Paul's sufferings. But see, long-suffering is part 101 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,880 of the fruit of the Spirit. I wish it was called short 102 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,680 suffering. I would even settle for a little 103 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,960 bit more suffering or middle suffering. 104 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,000 But long-suffering is one of the fruit of the Spirit. 105 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,600 Why? Because it helps us how we 106 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:35,800 respond in suffering is everything right and who we turn 107 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:40,480 to And suffering is everything. In Two Corinthians chapter 1124, 108 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:46,360 five times he says I received from the Jews the 40 lashes -1 I 109 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,680 reckon Paul would have felt the -1 that he didn't receive. 3 110 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:55,080 times I was beaten with rods. Once I was pelted with stones. 111 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:59,760 Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the 112 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,120 open sea. I have been constantly on the 113 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,040 move. I've been in danger from rivers, 114 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:12,160 in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in 115 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:17,400 danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the 116 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:22,680 country, in danger at sea, and in danger from false believers. 117 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:27,440 I have laboured and toiled and often gone without sleep. 118 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:33,280 I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without 119 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,960 food. I have been cold and naked. 120 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:41,200 That's just the glimpse of some of the things that the Apostle 121 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,120 Paul went through. Just a little snippet. 122 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,760 He endured hardship and suffering. 123 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:55,040 And I started to wonder in the text as I was reading this, as I 124 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,280 preached to myself too, way before I come here to get that 125 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,360 in my heart, to get it written on the tablet of my heart. 126 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,320 And I thought, what was Paul's perspective in this? 127 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,160 I thought, maybe this man's going to shrink back. 128 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:14,040 You could think that maybe he's going to pull back in fear, but 129 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,240 he didn't. And after Paul writes on how 130 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,240 much he had suffered for Jesus, watch what happens here. 131 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:27,120 His concern wasn't for himself. Watch the text right after this 132 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,880 verse after he explained what he went through. 133 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,440 It says this besides everything else. 134 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,440 Come on. I felt the anointing on that and 135 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,000 God speaking to me and say, TJ, do you have a besides everything 136 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,880 else, everything that it could ever happen to you and and 137 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,640 suffering and pain and and and the way that life goes? 138 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:55,160 TJ would you have a besides everything else, let me tell you 139 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,360 when you've got the living God in your life, when you've got 140 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,680 the Holy Spirit that's filled you, you've got everything, man. 141 00:10:02,680 --> 00:10:06,800 It's besides everything beside the car, besides the, the the 142 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:11,600 the bills, besides the the frustrations, besides your 143 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,280 workplace of what's going on. God, I've got you, God, I've got 144 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,760 you and it continues. He said ready. 145 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:25,920 Watch this. I face daily the pressure of my 146 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:33,440 concern for all the churches. What a man, what a spirit filled 147 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:35,920 man. This is the Apostle Paul filled 148 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:39,960 with the Holy Spirit. His concern wasn't about 149 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,280 himself. His concern was about the 150 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:46,320 churches. His concern was to encourage the 151 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:51,960 churches and say come on church, you've got people to bring in, 152 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,800 you've got people to impact and that's you today, beloved you 153 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,920 being filled with the Holy Spirit man in your workplace in 154 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:03,200 this community when you go shopping should looks different. 155 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:08,800 Your concern for this community not in fear, but to say man, 156 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,880 there's people out there that no need to know Jesus and I'm 157 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,880 filled with the Holy Spirit. You are the answer the church to 158 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:22,680 this community that brings Jesus Christ to make an impact and you 159 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:28,440 all have the power to do that. Verses 29, he says who is weak 160 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:35,040 and I do not feel weak. Well, after going through all of 161 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:40,160 that, he says I don't feel weak. There's a scripture, it says in 162 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,360 in our weakness. That's when God's made 163 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,600 strongest, come on, His grace is sufficient. 164 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,200 Who was led into sin and I do not inwardly burn. 165 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:58,280 Paul viewed everything through a transformed life in Christ Jesus 166 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,680 and in the power meant by the Holy Spirit. 167 00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:08,320 His suffering didn't break him. It clarified his purpose to 168 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,720 advance the church, the body of Christ. 169 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,960 And I know there's some people in here, you've got a dream. 170 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,680 I know that some people in here, you, you, you just want to bust 171 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:22,120 out of your seat and run into the community and, and making a 172 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,720 an impact. And our prayer should be this 173 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:29,160 God, would you make me an effective minister of the 174 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:33,840 gospel, an effective minister of the gospel for Jesus Christ and 175 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,760 for this community? Would you make me an effective 176 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,600 father in my in my home? Would you make me an effective 177 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,920 mother in my home, in my family and everywhere I go will 178 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:52,520 encounter the love of God. Paul had the Holy Spirit 179 00:12:54,040 --> 00:13:01,680 inspired truth that saw past his physical chains and I just want 180 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:06,440 to highlight in piece of Scripture in Ephesians where 181 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,640 he's writing and he's encouraging them. 182 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:14,520 If we could turn our Bibles to Ephesians 6 and watch what Paul 183 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,560 does. But I started wondering. 184 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:25,040 Paul on house arrest, looking around his surroundings in the 185 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:30,960 rock walls that he was surrounded by, faced with the 186 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,000 Roman soldier. Possible with the change of the 187 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,440 guard every six hours. I know what my letter would have 188 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:44,800 been like. Dear brothers and sisters, bust 189 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,240 me out of here now. There's filthy Roman. 190 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:53,840 Shiny leather looking smelly. Filthy Roman is guarding me. 191 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,360 I need help. Would you bust me out quickly? 192 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:57,840 I'll be writing a letter. Help. 193 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,520 I'll be complaining. These rock walls are cold. 194 00:14:00,560 --> 00:14:02,120 I'm cold. There's no blanket. 195 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,320 There's not much food, not much joy. 196 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,800 But watch what Paul writes, he says. 197 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:13,760 Therefore, put on the full armor of God so that when the day of 198 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,520 evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. 199 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,640 I'm wondering when Paul was writing, did he have a 200 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:25,160 revelation of when the Roman God was standing in that cell with 201 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:28,280 him? And he says, hold on, hold on 202 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:33,280 those shoes. There aren't just normal shoes 203 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,960 and an inspired truth coming from the Holy Spirit. 204 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:40,960 And he's had a revelation, he says. 205 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:46,560 And after you've done everything to stand, stand firm then with 206 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:51,080 the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate 207 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:55,440 of righteousness in place, and with the feet fitted with the 208 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:59,640 readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 209 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:04,520 In addition to all this, it says in verse 16, take up the shield 210 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:08,760 of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming 211 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:14,360 arrows of the evil 1 and take the helmet of salvation and the 212 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:19,240 sword of the spirit of which is the word of God. 213 00:15:25,310 --> 00:15:33,910 Paul had an amazing perspective. He had an amazing revelation, a 214 00:15:33,910 --> 00:15:38,720 Holy Spirit inspired truth, and despite being physically chained 215 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,880 to a Roman soldier, his letters were not filled with sorrow and 216 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,000 grief. And it's amazing how Paul 217 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:51,680 encourages 3 churches in this time that he was in prison. 218 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,960 And he's telling the church, you know what? 219 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,840 I know you've faced some some kickback. 220 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,720 I know that you've faced some challenges, but he's telling the 221 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,520 Ephesus church, we just stand your ground because you're not 222 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:11,080 cold and naked. You've got something that God's 223 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:14,720 helping you to give you a focused purpose. 224 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,360 You've been equipped with the belt of truth. 225 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,520 You've been equipped with the breastplate of righteousness, 226 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:24,880 with the shoes of the gospel of peace, with the shield of faith, 227 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,520 with the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. 228 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,640 I'm wondering is there people in here today that don't like this 229 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,760 surroundings and maybe you feel like the walls encapsulated in 230 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,880 but maybe just very maybe that's not the devil who put you there. 231 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:45,720 Maybe that's God who put you in there to stand firm then to be 232 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,480 known it when you walk into a place that you're equipped with 233 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:53,120 the armor of God and people can say, hey, Christian, what do you 234 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,360 have that I need? And guess what, beloved, that's 235 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,600 the power of God on your life that you were equipped. 236 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:03,200 You're equipped in every circumstance, no matter or even 237 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:07,400 if you're in the lowest of the low valley or the highest of the 238 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:11,640 high mountain, you are equipped and you're not equipped with 239 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:13,359 nothing. God equips you. 240 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:17,560 I remember past the Gray when I before I went to Bible college, 241 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,440 he said this something to me that carried me on. 242 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:25,440 He said, TJ, if God's called you, he's also equipped you. 243 00:17:25,839 --> 00:17:28,240 Let me tell you, beloved, give God a shout. 244 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:32,040 If you're called by God, let me tell you, you're equipped by God 245 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,280 today. You're not cold and naked. 246 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,960 God has equipped you, beloved. He's not only equipped you to 247 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,440 sit on this chair in this church, but he's equipped you to 248 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:45,040 go out there and get some people who don't know Jesus. 249 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,200 Come on, give God a clap offering. 250 00:17:47,440 --> 00:18:03,440 Give God some praise. Moving on from verse 17, we go 251 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,360 to verses 18. Watch this. 252 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,480 Don't you just love the word of God? 253 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:13,920 And Paul says this. He says and pray in the Spirit 254 00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:21,120 on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 255 00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:27,600 With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all 256 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:34,040 the Lord's people, human mind, even in His prayer, even in Him 257 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,920 writing this. Can you see how He's not 258 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:40,760 writing? Woe is me, I have been wronged, 259 00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:44,240 I have had this and I am innocent. 260 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,000 I've been put in jail for two years. 261 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,560 Woe is me. But he says He gives us a key 262 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,600 here. He says pray in the Spirit on 263 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,000 all occasions. Let me tell you, there's a gift 264 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,720 that God has given and that's the gift of the Holy Spirit. 265 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:06,680 And today, if you can't speak in a heavenly language, that today 266 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,920 can be your chance, your opportunity to get filled with 267 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,480 the Holy Spirit. If you haven't been filled, let 268 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,480 me tell you, you're missing out, man. 269 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:18,280 When you start speaking the language of heaven, you realize 270 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,320 when you're praying in that language, you're seated in 271 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,800 heavenly places with Christ. That means you're no longer 272 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:28,040 coming from the ground and looking up to God and asking him 273 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,320 for help. You're coming from a heavenly 274 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:34,840 perspective, a heavenly place that says to those situations, 275 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,280 get beneath me, Satan. They'll tell those things get 276 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:42,040 beneath me. You are beneath me because I am 277 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:46,520 with the living Christ seated in heavenly places. 278 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,680 And let me tell your church, beloved, we as a church are 279 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:56,840 seated in heavenly places and this community along with it is 280 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:01,680 seated in heavenly places. When you go into your workplace, 281 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,960 when you go into your spaces, when you drop off your kids to 282 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,440 church. You will go. 283 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,360 You don't go seated on a low place. 284 00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:12,920 You go seated in a heavenly place, which means you can bring 285 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:17,280 a heavenly word to that place. You can bring a heavenly word to 286 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:18,680 your neighbor. Come on. 287 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,680 Am I talking to somebody today? Is somebody got a heavenly word 288 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,520 in them, a prophetic word to speak into their community and 289 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,400 into the places that they influence? 290 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,880 Paul's life was fueled by prayer, the kind of prayer that 291 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:44,040 had purpose, focused purpose. Not just help me God, help me 292 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,400 God, help me God. And I know I've prayed those 293 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:52,320 prayers, but I'm talking about focused purpose prayers. 294 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,400 Paul prayer requests revealed his character. 295 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:00,680 Who knows? When you go through some things, 296 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:05,440 it starts to reveal some things. It reveals your character. 297 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:11,520 I know that God has shown me my fruit many times in the, in, in 298 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,840 the hard times, in the challenging times. 299 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:19,120 And I got to see the, the fruit that on my life. 300 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:23,720 And it helps me see myself because sometimes the hardest 301 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:29,280 person to see is yourself. It's why marriage is so good, so 302 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,680 coming to church is so good as your brothers and sisters will 303 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:36,240 edify you and lift you up. You ever been to Pastor Henry's 304 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,760 life group? So challenging but so beautiful. 305 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:45,760 He helped draw her out. God used him to disciple many 306 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,920 and still today, if you're looking for a life group and you 307 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,080 haven't been through foundations, let me tell you, 308 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,800 get into foundations. It goes for 10 weeks. 309 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,320 Is that right? Pastor Henry, let me tell you 310 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,400 foundations, if you're a new Christian, it is a must. 311 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,520 If you've been saved here in the last year and you haven't found 312 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:06,320 yourself a place, go to foundations. 313 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,280 It is incredible. It'll give you a head start and 314 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:11,920 it will help you understand the word of God. 315 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,640 Paul wasn't asking for comfort in his prayer. 316 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:21,400 You notice that he didn't even ask for rescue. 317 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,560 He wasn't saying pray for me for rescue. 318 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:29,640 He wasn't asking for the suffering to stop or even the 319 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:35,400 fire or fall on his enemies, but rather he goes on to say in 320 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:42,800 verses 19, ready, what's this? Pray also for me. 321 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:45,800 What for? That? 322 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:51,960 Whenever I speak, words may be given so that I will fearlessly 323 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:58,240 make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an 324 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,440 ambassador. That's an identity key. 325 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,880 You're an ambassador today, Church, a representative of 326 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:09,480 Christ Jesus in chains. And he says this. 327 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:13,360 Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. 328 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:18,000 He wasn't saying pray, woe is me, I need help. 329 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,680 I need rescue God. I don't know how I'm going to 330 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:22,360 make it out. I don't even know if we're going 331 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:26,000 to make it past these two years. I don't know how I got in here. 332 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,760 I just innocently, innocently went to Caesar. 333 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,040 I was telling him about Jesus and I got thrown into this 334 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:33,960 place. I'm innocent. 335 00:23:34,360 --> 00:23:37,240 No, he's saying, pray also for me. 336 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,560 Pray that I may declare God's word fearlessly. 337 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,720 Pray that I declare the gospel fearlessly. 338 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:48,600 That's why we can't hide behind this title called I'm an 339 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,400 introvert anymore. We have no excuse because we've 340 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,520 been filled with the Holy Spirit. 341 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,360 I know I'm an extrovert and I want to go talk to everyone as 342 00:23:58,360 --> 00:24:02,360 well, but it challenges me too because I know that I can't do 343 00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:05,240 it on my own. When I walk into a place, I say, 344 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:09,640 Holy Spirit, would you use me? Oh, Holy Spirit, I know that 345 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,480 it's not on my power, but yours. Come on. 346 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,800 Have I got any people in this place today that would go into 347 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,880 their war workplace? Not on your own power, but the 348 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:27,240 power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is not a friend that 349 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,600 you call up when you need help. I've been there. 350 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:36,800 How many times walk into movies, walk into places, that Holy 351 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,760 Spirit, here I am again. I haven't spoken in three weeks, 352 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:43,560 but I really need you now. Yes, I know, and I hate you 353 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:50,200 being good, good, good, but the Holy Spirit wants relationship 354 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:54,120 with you to bring you into closer communion, closer 355 00:24:54,120 --> 00:24:56,920 intimacy in relationship with Jesus. 356 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,920 That's the Holy Spirit. He helps you come into a greater 357 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:04,960 relationship with God and then by that intimacy, by that 358 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:08,880 relationship, you get to step out into this community. 359 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:12,880 You get to influence your world for good and for God to see this 360 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,120 community be transformed for Jesus. 361 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,640 Come on, I'm looking. I'm not just preaching to you. 362 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,040 I'm preaching to the people that should be here. 363 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:23,680 I've been seeing a lady in prayer for years that I've been 364 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,080 praying for and I'm waiting to me to hear. 365 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,280 And I'm wondering, have we got some prayers in this place 366 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,400 today, people that they've seen that aren't here yet? 367 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,840 Keep on praying. Keep on praying for Morton City 368 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:41,600 because God will use you to impact our world, to influence 369 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:45,320 our world, to transform this community for Christ. 370 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,120 Your purpose is not just coming on Sunday and having 371 00:25:49,120 --> 00:25:53,760 relationship with him on church. Your purpose as a living child 372 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:58,720 of God, a representative of God, is to influence, to bring God 373 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:03,000 glory to every sphere of influence and places and spaces 374 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:08,720 that you find yourself in. Paul wanted prayer to declare, 375 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:15,040 to declare the good news, the gospel news boldly to those 376 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:21,640 around him. Paul's focused purpose and 377 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,840 prayer was not God. Get Me Out of this. 378 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:31,280 You're ready. Paul's purpose, focus was this, 379 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:37,920 God use me in this. I'll say that again. 380 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:44,520 Paul didn't come to God and was like, God, Get Me Out of this. 381 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,680 Get Me Out of this situation, this mess that I'm tied up in. 382 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:54,160 Paul's prayer and focus purpose was God, would you use me in 383 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:57,040 this? And I'm wondering, beloved, do I 384 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:02,280 have some people here today bold enough with the Spirit filled in 385 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,440 them that says God, would you use me in this? 386 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,640 And what you thought you were chained to And to say that God 387 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,880 would you Get Me Out of this doesn't do the justice and the 388 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:15,360 love of God that we have for this community. 389 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:19,400 No, no, no, we are not to shrink back in fear, but we are those 390 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:23,160 people at City Point Caboolture that says this. 391 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:25,840 We are prayers. God use me in this. 392 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,800 Maybe your finances don't stack up the way you thought it would 393 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:34,000 stack up, but do we have some people would say God use me in 394 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,200 this? Do we have some struggles that 395 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:39,000 are coming your way, maybe things that you didn't 396 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:43,280 anticipate for 2025, but God use me in this. 397 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:47,360 Maybe you got a workplace that you're not happy with at the 398 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:50,600 moment, but in that workplace, you know, you're the only 399 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:54,000 Christian. God use me in this. 400 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,360 And then we have a group of people, a cohort of 401 00:27:57,360 --> 00:28:01,400 collaboration. We have a mission, a vision for 402 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,920 this community. Do we have a people here today? 403 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:09,680 And if you do, give God a shout to say God, use me in this 404 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:18,040 community. He asked for prayer centered in 405 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,640 focus. Purpose, not problems. 406 00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:27,360 His prayer wasn't based and focused on problems. 407 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:34,480 He was focused on purpose. I know I'm going through this, 408 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,680 but God, what's your focus purpose right now in this 409 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,640 situation? What's your Rhema word? 410 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:46,200 What's your now word? What do you have me in right now 411 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:51,160 that I can impact people? I'm not just a Sunday Christian. 412 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:53,920 I don't just commune with God on a Sunday at church. 413 00:28:53,920 --> 00:29:00,520 God, what am I doing here and how can I be more effective for 414 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:04,960 your Kingdom? Paul's entire purpose in Christ 415 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:13,240 was to represent Christ as the band comes up to be an 416 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:18,680 ambassador of the gospel, a representative, to speak 417 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:24,360 fearlessly, to declare the good news of Jesus, anyone within 418 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:29,320 reach, even the Roman soldier that was potentially chained to 419 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:33,400 him. Could you imagine Paul chained? 420 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:40,960 He's talking to know Jesus. Do you know Jesus? 421 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:45,080 Could you imagine a Man on Fire and joy with the power of the 422 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:50,200 Holy Ghost chained in that room and a Roman soldier coming into 423 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,040 that room? Imagine what he would have been 424 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,800 thinking. I'm chained to this man and he's 425 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:56,040 preaching to me. Hope. 426 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:58,880 He's encouraging me. He's writing letters to 427 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:00,640 churches. Who is this man? 428 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,440 This is different to what the world acts. 429 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:07,720 How is he doing this preaching the good news? 430 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,720 Jesus is risen for your life, beloved. 431 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:15,640 Jesus has taken away the sin of the world for all that take upon 432 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:19,160 and have faith in Christ and all that give their life over to 433 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,520 Jesus and that's available to you now. 434 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:27,080 Could you imagine the Roman soldier thinking, what is this 435 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:32,120 guy on? What does he have? 436 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:38,360 Christianity is attractive. Your testimony, Paul's testimony 437 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:44,560 of Christ. Wherever Paul went, he bring the 438 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:46,120 gospel. The good news. 439 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:52,280 Paul didn't waste his suffering. Are you ready? 440 00:30:53,600 --> 00:31:01,040 He assigned it focused purpose. Did anyone catch that here 441 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:04,960 today? Paul didn't waste his suffering, 442 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:13,960 he assigned it focused purpose. And I know that sometimes even 443 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:17,800 in life, we, we encounter this. I know that, that, that that 444 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:19,760 usually suffering isn't preached about. 445 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:23,240 But let me tell you, beloved, when you are going through the 446 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,960 valley, are you going to assign it purpose today? 447 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:31,160 Is that your purpose to assign it focused purpose? 448 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:35,240 And let me promise you today, we are a church that when, when 449 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:39,760 persecution rises, we're going to assign it focused purpose 450 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,480 because we have the gospel. Good news, the Holy Spirit was 451 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,000 within us. That means you've been sealed 452 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:50,240 with purpose, you have greatness within you, power within you, 453 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:56,560 that you alone can step out in faith and God will use you today 454 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:01,160 just like He's used me. I know I have a testimony too, 455 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:08,640 just like Paul. And I'm up here because I said 456 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:14,000 yes to Jesus and I knew the power, and I'm so grateful for 457 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:19,760 my salvation because I was a dead man before. 458 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:23,760 And now I've encountered Christ and I'm alive in him. 459 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:27,320 And am I still being transformed? 460 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,080 Yes. Am I still being sanctified? 461 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:32,600 Yes. But that's the beauty of the 462 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,960 journey. And today, beloved, that's for 463 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:39,400 you and I today that we don't do this alone. 464 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:43,920 We do it as a community as well. A common unity, something that 465 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:47,920 we have common in is we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 466 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:56,120 So I'm saying this today as we land this plane, don't waste 467 00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:59,760 your suffering. Don't waste what it looks like 468 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:07,800 you're chained to because the very thing that you're in is the 469 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:17,520 very focused purpose that God has placed you in to see people 470 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:24,120 being impacted in your world. Maybe it's that Christmas dinner 471 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:26,440 for us. We don't want to see those 472 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,520 people. Maybe don't want to go to 473 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:31,440 Christmas this year because Uncle Mike is going to start his 474 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:34,320 stuff again. But let me promise you, you 475 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:38,160 don't go into those places like that with that thinking. 476 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:42,040 You go into those places, in the spaces and you step out and you 477 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:51,320 say God, I'm going in here with you because it's a relationship. 478 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:57,440 It's not performance. It's not even coming to church 479 00:33:57,440 --> 00:33:59,280 on Sunday. That's not your relationship 480 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:01,920 with God. That's that's your overflow. 481 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:06,320 It's where you come to God and you, you get to come in the 482 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:11,360 house and enjoy his presence and enjoy the community of God 483 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:17,920 through your relationship. But not only that, you know 484 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:21,960 where else I come to church because I know that when I 485 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:26,840 walked through those doors seven years ago, God had used another 486 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:31,040 servant to welcome me and my family in the House of God. 487 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:35,760 And it changed our life in an instant when we give our life to 488 00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:38,520 Christ. You have a purpose. 489 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:41,960 Sunday has a purpose. Don't you miss church? 490 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:47,159 Because when people get to come through that door, you will be 491 00:34:47,159 --> 00:34:53,920 used by God and God will use you if you position yourself in such 492 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:58,080 a way. So I say this, please don't go 493 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:02,600 out to the cafe and just speak to the same people every Sunday. 494 00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:07,840 Would we as a church look around and say who is new here today? 495 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:11,560 Who is here going to be transformed by the living God, 496 00:35:11,560 --> 00:35:16,560 by my yes and my obedience? Who today can I speak to? 497 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:19,920 Can I encourage, even know you? Maybe you've walked through 498 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,320 those doors feeling discouraged. Maybe you've walked through 499 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:27,640 these doors not feeling right. But would you say God, I'm not 500 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,840 gonna let my feelings get in the way of somebody else's 501 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:34,720 salvation. I'm not gonna let my life, my 502 00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:39,120 feelings get in the way of somebody else receiving a now 503 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:41,960 word of God. And let me tell you, when we 504 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:47,160 start doing this kind of thing, man, we start seeing the 505 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:50,960 flourishing life of the church, man, who can I grab today? 506 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:53,120 Who can I have coffee with next week? 507 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:57,600 Who can I call? There's always a new person that 508 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:02,600 you can bless. Your chains become your mission 509 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:07,080 field, not your misery. The things that we've been 510 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,880 praying and asking God, please Get Me Out of here. 511 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:13,640 Maybe that's the very thing that God has got you into. 512 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:17,640 Let's not give the enemy the glory things that God has done 513 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:20,680 in your life and put you in in situations. 514 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:24,840 Pray with purpose, not just comfort. 515 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:29,760 Ask yourself, am I praying for comfort right now? 516 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:32,160 Am I praying with a focused purpose? 517 00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:36,920 Let's suffering clarify your purpose, not weaken it. 518 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:40,640 Represent Christ well in every circumstances. 519 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:49,760 And to finish with this church, you are an ambassador for 520 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:53,560 Christ. You are a representative of 521 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:55,520 Christ. Come on, say it after me. 522 00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:58,320 We're going to say it three times because I want to declare 523 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:01,600 it over this town. I want to declare it over Morton 524 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:04,000 City. I wanted you to declare it in 525 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:06,160 your workplace, in your family home. 526 00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:12,120 Come on, say it after me. I am an ambassador for Christ. 527 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:18,800 Come on two more times. I am an ambassador for Christ. 528 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:24,520 Come on. I am an ambassador for Christ, 529 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:41,520 come on. Do you know I spoke about Jesus 530 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:44,760 and how he rose again? But do you know why he went to 531 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:50,120 the cross? The whole reason why he came to 532 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:57,920 earth, the living God in flesh, Because he had a focus purpose. 533 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:07,520 That focus purpose was to go blameless and innocently and get 534 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:15,760 on that cross and die a brutal death only to be risen again. 535 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:23,240 And that focus purpose was for you and I beloved, that focus 536 00:38:23,240 --> 00:38:30,040 purpose was to defeat sin at the cross, because sin is 537 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:35,400 destructive in all its ways. Scripture says there is a way 538 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:39,840 that seems right unto a man, but in in the end it leads to death. 539 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:44,360 That's in Proverbs. And maybe you're thinking you're 540 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:48,200 living the right way and I'm going the right way, but in the 541 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:50,280 end it leads to death without Christ.