1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,900 Good morning. I'm glad to be back with you 2 00:00:04,900 --> 00:00:09,100 after a week in Boston. It was a good time there for 3 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:12,100 spring break. Ellen was presenting a paper 4 00:00:12,100 --> 00:00:16,900 there this weekend so we me Can I piggybacked with her on her 5 00:00:16,900 --> 00:00:20,800 trip to Boston and we had a really good time, they're in the 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,000 city. One of the things I like to do 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,400 in the cities is sort of see what t-shirts people are wearing 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,500 and what, you know, what kind of messages, they're trying to get 9 00:00:31,500 --> 00:00:37,100 across and it it made me realize and reflect on the passage that 10 00:00:37,100 --> 00:00:44,400 we have this weekend of a favorite text for guys in the 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:50,200 gym. And it's Philippians 4:13. 12 00:00:50,300 --> 00:00:52,900 Who knows this verse, How does it go? 13 00:00:55,100 --> 00:00:56,800 That's it. You know, that's, that's the one 14 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,200 that's their favorite one. In the gym, you know, you've got 15 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:06,600 that weight and you're like, And you just open, you know, that 16 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:11,800 maybe Jesus or someone else is going to spot you and and get it 17 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,900 up there, right? But do you know, Philippians 4, 18 00:01:16,100 --> 00:01:24,700 14? Now, Philippians 4, 14. 19 00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:29,300 It's such an important verse. Because we take the 413 20 00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:34,000 triumphalism and we miss, what's really going on. 21 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:39,000 When the Apostle Paul gives this message of his internal 22 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,300 workings, he says, yet. It was good of you to share in 23 00:01:43,300 --> 00:01:45,800 my troubles. Oh, wait a minute. 24 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,800 I can do all things through Christ. 25 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:52,300 Who strengthens me? Yet, it was good of you to share 26 00:01:52,300 --> 00:01:56,100 in my troubles. What's going on there? 27 00:01:56,700 --> 00:02:02,100 What is he after in this text with the Philippians, he's 28 00:02:02,100 --> 00:02:07,400 actually after the intersection of Money Matters with Ministry 29 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:14,000 and missions and ministers. So we've been in this series on 30 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,500 why Money Matters and why it's important for us to actually 31 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:23,500 align our heart with God, in order to seek the kingdom of 32 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:29,100 Jesus and his righteousness. So that then we can deal with 33 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:34,900 the strange powers that money has over us and over others. 34 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:39,900 And when it comes to missions and Ministry carrying out the 35 00:02:39,900 --> 00:02:44,600 work and mission of the The Apostle Paul here has brought 36 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,900 together something that Jesus had brought together that had 37 00:02:47,900 --> 00:02:52,100 always been brought together in the expression of God's 38 00:02:52,100 --> 00:02:57,800 sovereignty among his people. And that is that there is this 39 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:03,400 issue of who are you relying on. But are you also interdependent 40 00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:07,900 with the people of God? Are you ultimately relying on 41 00:03:07,900 --> 00:03:11,000 God in your life as your provider? 42 00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:18,500 But are you also interdependent with the people of God and the 43 00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:23,200 work and Ministry of the church will not be accomplished. 44 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,500 The Great Commission will not be accomplished unless we become a 45 00:03:27,508 --> 00:03:31,900 people of Philippians 4:13 and 14. 46 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,500 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me yet, 47 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:40,300 it was good of you to sharing my troubles. 48 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,000 So let's read. Read the text so that we can see 49 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:48,700 the full context of Money Matters and the mission and 50 00:03:48,700 --> 00:03:52,600 Ministry of the church. This is Philippians 4 beginning 51 00:03:52,600 --> 00:04:00,000 in verse 10. He says I rejoiced greatly in 52 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,900 the Lord that at last. You renewed your concern for me. 53 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:07,400 Indeed. You were concerned but you had 54 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,300 no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I 55 00:04:12,300 --> 00:04:16,500 am in need for. I have learned to be content, 56 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:22,000 whatever the circumstances, I know what it is to be in need 57 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,600 and I know what it is to have. Have plenty. 58 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:31,600 I have learned the secret of being content in any and every 59 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:37,700 situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty 60 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:43,600 or in want, I can do all this through him who gives me 61 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:49,200 strength yet? It was good of you to share in 62 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,700 my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians 63 00:04:52,700 --> 00:04:56,600 know, in the early days of your It's with the gospel when I set 64 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,600 out from Macedonia, not one Church, shared with me in the 65 00:05:00,608 --> 00:05:06,000 matter of giving and receiving except you, only for even when I 66 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:11,100 was in thessalonica, you sent me Aid more than once when I was in 67 00:05:11,100 --> 00:05:14,500 need. Not that I desire. 68 00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:19,400 Your gifts. What I desire is that more be 69 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:24,700 credited to your account. I have received full payment and 70 00:05:24,700 --> 00:05:28,500 have more than enough. I am amply supplied. 71 00:05:28,900 --> 00:05:32,400 Now that I have received from epaphroditus, the gifts you 72 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:37,500 sent, they are a fragrant offering an acceptable, 73 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:44,700 sacrifice pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your 74 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:50,400 needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus to our 75 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,700 God and Father be glory forever and ever. 76 00:05:54,100 --> 00:05:57,600 Amen. Greet all God's people in 77 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,200 Christ, Jesus. The brothers and sisters, who 78 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,200 are with me? Send, greetings, all God's 79 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,200 people here. Send you greetings, especially 80 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,500 those who belong to the Caesars household. 81 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:16,500 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 82 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:22,800 Amen. Do you know Paul viewed the 83 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,700 people of Philippians of Philippi as his Partners in the 84 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:33,100 gospel and chapter 1 beginning in verse 3, Paul tells them that 85 00:06:33,100 --> 00:06:36,600 he's thanking God. Every time he remembers them, he 86 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,100 says, in his prayers for all of you. 87 00:06:39,300 --> 00:06:45,700 He always prays with joy because of your partnership in the 88 00:06:45,700 --> 00:06:53,900 gospel from the first day until now, He's riding two partners in 89 00:06:54,100 --> 00:06:59,800 the gospel Partners who are participating and what it takes 90 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,900 to fulfill the mission and Ministry of the church to 91 00:07:03,900 --> 00:07:09,100 fulfill that Commandment that Jesus gave the great Commandment 92 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,900 that we would fulfill. Well that we would love one 93 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:17,400 another great commandment and the Great Commission that we 94 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,300 would actually carry his good news message. 95 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:25,300 Zh to others and help them become Disciples of Jesus. 96 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:30,300 This work and Ministry requires partners. 97 00:07:31,900 --> 00:07:36,900 Andy tells the Philippians you are Partners In The Gospel with 98 00:07:36,900 --> 00:07:41,000 me and you've been my partners from the beginning. 99 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,600 Do you know one of the things that gospel Partners do is that 100 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:53,200 they show Mutual concern. What do gospel Partners do? 101 00:07:54,300 --> 00:08:00,600 They show Mutual concern. It's a two-way street and 102 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:04,800 movement. Paul says, I rejoiced greatly 103 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:09,600 when you renewed your concern for me, not that you stopped 104 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,200 being concerned but you hadn't been able to show it, you know. 105 00:08:13,300 --> 00:08:16,500 No one. Can you imagine what the Apostle 106 00:08:16,500 --> 00:08:20,700 Paul would do if he had a phone especially a smartphone? 107 00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:25,200 I think he would have been a texting Fein all the time 108 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,300 texting is prayers to people, how I was praying for you. 109 00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:31,800 Well, I don't need to write you a letter. 110 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,600 I'm just Gonna send you a text. And all thumbs, he would have 111 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,799 got it done, or maybe he would have spoken his prayers and just 112 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:44,800 sent them to you. It was a mutual concern. 113 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,900 Do you know? We live in a day when it's so 114 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:54,400 easy to show our concern and care. 115 00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:59,100 And yet, we don't. We're so slow to do it. 116 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,400 The Apostle Paul has to write a letter, the people of 117 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,000 Philippians have to round up epaphroditus and take a 118 00:09:06,008 --> 00:09:10,000 collection and then send epaphroditus to Rome because 119 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,600 they've heard that Paul is in prison and they are concerned 120 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,900 for him. They are concerned for the 121 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:22,100 bodily care of Paul. They are concerned for the 122 00:09:22,100 --> 00:09:25,800 financial care of Paul. They are concerned for the 123 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,500 spiritual life of Paul. How is he doing? 124 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:35,700 But Paul also is concerned for them, and so he's writing a 125 00:09:35,708 --> 00:09:38,300 letter and he sending epaphroditus back. 126 00:09:39,300 --> 00:09:45,300 With the letter. Because he's concerned do you 127 00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:49,100 know missionaries and people who have committed themselves to 128 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:55,400 respond to God's call on their life, to share the gospel and 129 00:09:55,400 --> 00:10:00,000 their life with another people and that Times Gone, knowing 130 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:05,700 they would never return home. That home would have to be in 131 00:10:05,700 --> 00:10:09,600 their heart with Jesus home would have to be in their 132 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,300 interdependence with people in that very field that Jesus sent 133 00:10:14,300 --> 00:10:21,100 them to. when William Carey, Responded to the call of God in 134 00:10:21,100 --> 00:10:27,400 the late 1700s. He was responding to a call that 135 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,100 God had been nurturing in his life for years. 136 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:36,900 He wasn't sure where he would go, but he ended up going to 137 00:10:36,900 --> 00:10:42,000 India. He got on a boat with his 138 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,300 family. Traveled to India. 139 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,400 Was there for 40 years and never returned home. 140 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,400 If you're came as home, he's became his people. 141 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:01,000 He learned the language. He shared his life. 142 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:06,800 But do you know before he went one of the grace gifts of God 143 00:11:07,300 --> 00:11:11,900 was that there was a team of people who said we will hold the 144 00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:16,400 Rope. Here's how it happened. 145 00:11:19,100 --> 00:11:23,000 He had shared a message at a church pastored by rev, Andrew 146 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,200 Fuller. And in that meeting. 147 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:33,800 Carry had shared from his heart that the call of God was 148 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,400 becoming more and more urgent. So Fuller gathered up some 149 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:44,000 friends. Carrie said, I will go down like 150 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:50,400 a minor into a mine. I will go down if you will hold 151 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:57,700 the Rope. Fuller said of that moment. 152 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:05,300 Before he went down, we engage that while he lived, we would 153 00:12:05,300 --> 00:12:14,700 never let go of the Rope. Wow, what a group of friends. a 154 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:21,200 group of friends who never pulled him up out of that mine 155 00:12:21,700 --> 00:12:26,700 and brought him back to Britain but instead they continued to 156 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:33,600 hold the Rope of prayer and of concern and financial giving In 157 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:39,300 order to provide some help. Some sustenance to William 158 00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:46,800 Carey. This was the life of the Apostle 159 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:53,100 Paul as well. One of mutual concern for the 160 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:57,300 work of the Gospel. He said, it was a concern that 161 00:12:57,300 --> 00:13:01,400 weighed heavy on him at times, it was worse than the beatings 162 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:05,900 that he received his concern for what God would do in the 163 00:13:05,900 --> 00:13:09,200 churches and the lives of those who were responding to the 164 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,800 gospel. He was so thankful. 165 00:13:11,900 --> 00:13:15,200 He said in Philippians to have a man like Timothy. 166 00:13:15,500 --> 00:13:17,400 He says, I have no one else like him. 167 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:22,400 Who shows a genuine concern for your welfare and then of 168 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,900 epaphroditus. He says this man, risked His 169 00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:30,400 life for the gospel, when you sit him to take care of my needs 170 00:13:30,700 --> 00:13:40,400 and you brought the gift. A mutual concern. everyone needs 171 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:48,500 a team of mutual concern if you are a teacher or a lawyer or a 172 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:55,100 medic, If you are, someone who's working into the daily lives of 173 00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:58,200 our city, you need a group of people. 174 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:05,800 Who will hold the rope with you? For your life and faithfulness 175 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:10,300 to Jesus. Some of you at times will enter 176 00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:14,200 into times when you need some people who will hold the Rope 177 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,900 financially because of the call of God on your life. 178 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,700 Every one of the churches that you will be a part of in the 179 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:27,400 future, will need your help and assistance. 180 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,800 To hold the Rope to be concerned, for the work in 181 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,500 Ministry of that church. So that you participate by 182 00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:44,700 prayer. by activation of your gifts and by giving, Show. 183 00:14:44,700 --> 00:14:50,300 Mutual concern. But gospel Partners must also, 184 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:54,900 learn something else. Gospel Partners must learn 185 00:14:55,100 --> 00:15:01,600 contentment. we must all learn contentment, what Paul calls, 186 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:07,800 the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether 187 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:17,000 fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want Do you know 188 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:22,700 when Paul uses the word content? He's actually reaching into the 189 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:28,700 social conversation of his day. The social media of his day, 190 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:34,100 would have been full of the stoics philosophy, and one of 191 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:41,000 the highest values of stoicism once contentment, and by 192 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,200 contentment. They meant self-sufficient. 193 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:53,400 So it seems as if Paul is saying I have learned the secret of 194 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:59,900 being self-sufficient. I've learned the secret of being 195 00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:05,600 content of being a self-reliant man, is that really what he's 196 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,900 saying? And just in case they thought 197 00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:13,100 that that was what he was saying, he says, but I can do 198 00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:18,000 all things through Christ through him, who strengthens me. 199 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,200 Paul was navigating attention between. 200 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:32,200 Trusting Jesus and being interdependent with people. 201 00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:44,800 He says looked Jesus is enough. Jesus is enough for facing my 202 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,100 troubles. Jesus is enough for facing the 203 00:16:48,100 --> 00:16:52,300 trouble of being in, want in poverty. 204 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:58,100 Jesus is enough for facing the, the troubles that come with 205 00:16:58,100 --> 00:17:01,400 having plenty and being comfortable. 206 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,200 I yeah. Is that really what he's saying 207 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:11,500 that both come with troubles. Having enough. 208 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:17,900 Not having enough, it's spiritual trouble for the heart. 209 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:27,500 Most of us don't acknowledge that the influenza of affluence. 210 00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:31,900 We're just thinking the thing I need to avoid the most in my 211 00:17:31,900 --> 00:17:35,800 life is poverty is not having enough. 212 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:42,100 But Paul says here, look there's spiritual troubles, that 213 00:17:42,100 --> 00:17:48,200 accompany both. And Jesus can help me face them. 214 00:17:49,300 --> 00:17:53,800 Oh, we have so much to learn about the secret of contentment. 215 00:17:56,500 --> 00:18:03,100 Of being Christ Reliant. When we have a lot Christ 216 00:18:03,100 --> 00:18:06,200 Reliant when we don't seem to have enough. 217 00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:14,500 Gospel Partners. Must learn this. 218 00:18:15,300 --> 00:18:19,100 And Paul is saying I'm learning. I'm learning. 219 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:24,200 I'm learning it. God is working this into my 220 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,700 life. I'm learning it. 221 00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:31,000 Do you know? Jesus made his disciples work, 222 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,600 this out, Jesus and the twelve disciples were accompanied by A 223 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:41,100 whole circle of other disciples. In fact, in Luke chapter, 8, 224 00:18:41,100 --> 00:18:46,300 Luke goes on to name a group of women who accompanied Jesus and 225 00:18:46,300 --> 00:18:52,700 the disciples Mary and Joanna, wife of cuza, who is the manager 226 00:18:52,700 --> 00:18:57,300 of herod's household and Susanna and many others. 227 00:18:58,100 --> 00:19:03,200 These women were helping support them out of their own means. 228 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:13,200 You mean Jesus had a Grace team? Jesus had a team of people who 229 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:18,300 were helping Supply their needs so that sometimes they were 230 00:19:18,300 --> 00:19:22,400 actually sort of comfortable. And and it wasn't just a group 231 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:26,000 of men, with some money, it was a group of women with some 232 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:30,200 money. Who were disciples who were 233 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:37,400 supplying the mission supplying. The ministry supplying The 234 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,100 Minister's, but there were other times would Jesus led them into 235 00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:44,000 places where they didn't have enough. 236 00:19:47,100 --> 00:19:49,800 On one occasion, there was a whole crowd of people there in 237 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:54,500 front of the disciples after a full day of teaching and Jesus 238 00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:57,900 turns to them. After the disciples have come 239 00:19:57,900 --> 00:20:04,600 and said Jesus excuse me teacher Jesus, Jesus, take a break. 240 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:09,000 You need to send them home. Jesus, it's enough. 241 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:14,200 Jesus, why? But they don't have enough to 242 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,700 eat. They're gonna faint going home. 243 00:20:16,700 --> 00:20:18,200 Jesus. I think the disciples were just 244 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,600 tired, you know. It's easy to blame it on the 245 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,600 crowd. We're going to rescue the crowd 246 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:27,100 from their hunger so you send them home, but the disciples 247 00:20:27,100 --> 00:20:30,400 were probably a bit weary they had enough. 248 00:20:31,900 --> 00:20:36,700 And Jesus says, you feed them. You feed them. 249 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,800 The disciples are like, what are you talking about? 250 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:43,500 We can't feed them. If we whole Year's wages, 251 00:20:43,500 --> 00:20:47,200 wouldn't be enough to feed them. Jesus says, well, what do you 252 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:51,100 have? We have Five Loaves and two 253 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:53,000 fish. That's enough. 254 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:59,300 That's enough. And so Jesus led his disciples 255 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:05,300 into occasions where he taught them contentment in the Kingdom. 256 00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:11,400 It'll be enough. You're going to make it through. 257 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:20,600 Every gospel partner and that's all of us must learn this. 258 00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:27,900 And at times and Seasons, those who Minister and move, according 259 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:34,300 To the commission of Jesus, in their lives, experience Seasons, 260 00:21:34,300 --> 00:21:37,400 where they have plenty and the seasons where they don't have 261 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,900 enough. But they need to learn the 262 00:21:40,900 --> 00:21:45,000 secret of contentment. I've had to learn the secret of 263 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,500 contentment, part of the movement into the secret of 264 00:21:48,500 --> 00:21:53,600 contentment is to not only say like William Carey did expect 265 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,900 great things from God. Attempt great things for God but 266 00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:01,900 also to enter into that season and occasion of your life, where 267 00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:07,700 you say God has the right to do whatever he wants. 268 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:18,800 William Carey experience this after 20 years in India. when he 269 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,700 arrived at India, he had to sneak off the boat just outside 270 00:22:22,700 --> 00:22:26,000 of Calcutta, because the colonial Powers there at that 271 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:31,800 time had decided, they did not want Christians to come, They 272 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:35,900 were seeking to exclude Christian missionaries from 273 00:22:35,900 --> 00:22:40,200 India. Oh, there's a different play on 274 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:47,200 colonialism and the church. So he had to find another 275 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:52,100 Captain who would sneak him onto the boat with his family and 276 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:56,300 then let him sneak off the boat. Into India. 277 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:02,100 And that's what he did and then he began to get to know the 278 00:23:02,100 --> 00:23:05,300 people and he began to learn the language. 279 00:23:06,500 --> 00:23:09,500 And he found a way to earn his own income. 280 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:13,600 And when he met some other folks, who were Mission minded, 281 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:17,400 he said we should live together. And so, they created a communal 282 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:21,600 living setting, where they just moved in and out, and people 283 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,600 began to move in and out of their space. 284 00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:31,200 And that time he began to translate the Bible and to 285 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:38,400 Bengali or oriya Marathi Hindi, Asami and Sanskrit. 286 00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:43,500 How did he know enough to translate the Bible? 287 00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:48,800 Well, before he received his call in the ministry, Hudson 288 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:55,700 Taylor, William Carey was a Shoemaker A Shoemaker that was 289 00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:59,100 his craft and people said he didn't even make good shoes. 290 00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:07,200 But in all of his off time, he began to teach himself, Greek 291 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,900 and Hebrew the language of the scriptures until he became 292 00:24:11,900 --> 00:24:16,200 intensely familiar with it. And so then, when he came to 293 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:20,700 India, he began to force and compel himself to just learn the 294 00:24:20,700 --> 00:24:27,300 language of the people's. and as he learned the languages, he put 295 00:24:27,300 --> 00:24:31,000 it in the script and he translated it translated the 296 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:36,300 scripture. He just developed a printing 297 00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:42,300 press area as well as one of his businesses where he could print 298 00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:46,200 things for other people, but he could also print the scripture. 299 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:52,400 And he began to take all of these languages and create the 300 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:57,200 printing blocks for making the pages for printing the 301 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:02,700 scripture. At year 20. 302 00:25:04,300 --> 00:25:08,300 His printing shop, burned to the ground. 303 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:16,500 All of the scriptures. He had printed all of the 304 00:25:16,500 --> 00:25:23,100 printing blocks were burned to the ground, 20 years of Labor. 305 00:25:25,300 --> 00:25:31,400 God. Terry had no backups. 306 00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:38,400 Nothing in the cloud, 20 years of non-stop, labor was gone. 307 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:44,000 How would he respond? He wrote to his pastor friend. 308 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:48,200 Andrew Murray. Andrew Murray was one of those 309 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:49,900 who had started to hold the Rope. 310 00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:55,500 Andrew Murray is famous for his own works on prayer and Ministry 311 00:25:55,500 --> 00:25:59,000 and missions and this is what Kerry wrote to him. 312 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,500 The ground must be labored over again, but we are not 313 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:07,100 discouraged. We have all been supported under 314 00:26:07,100 --> 00:26:11,400 the Affliction and preserved from discouragement to me the 315 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:15,000 consideration of the Divine sovereignty and wisdom has been 316 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,500 very supporting I Endeavor to improve this. 317 00:26:18,500 --> 00:26:24,400 Our Affliction Lords last day. By reading from Psalm 46:10, be 318 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:30,600 still and know I am God I principally dwelt on two items. 319 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:36,900 One God has the Sovereign right to dispose of us as he pleases 320 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:44,900 and to we ought to acquiesce in all that God does with us and to 321 00:26:44,900 --> 00:26:51,200 us. All Partners In The Gospel. 322 00:26:52,100 --> 00:27:00,700 Must learn Kingdom contentment. How to be reliant on Christ. 323 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:07,100 But then also how to be interdependent with the people 324 00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:10,700 of God, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens 325 00:27:10,700 --> 00:27:16,300 me yet, it was good of you to share in my troubles. 326 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:25,100 When the Apostle Paul received this gift, he was very concerned 327 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:29,000 that they understood the true direction of. 328 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,900 They're giving that their direction of giving didn't 329 00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:37,000 start, just because he had a need, the direction of their 330 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,200 giving started because they were giving their lives to God. 331 00:27:44,900 --> 00:27:50,400 In verse 18 of chapter 4, he says, I have received full 332 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:52,700 payment and have more than enough. 333 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,100 I am amply supplied. Now that I have received from 334 00:27:56,100 --> 00:28:00,400 epaphroditus, the gifts, you sit, they are a fragrant 335 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:05,900 offering an acceptable, sacrifice pleasing to God and by 336 00:28:05,900 --> 00:28:09,200 God, will meet all your needs according to the riches of his 337 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:14,100 glory in Christ Jesus. Do you know one of the ways? 338 00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:19,700 That we managed to put Church plus campus together is that our 339 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:25,300 staff has a grease team. Our staff has a Grace team of 340 00:28:25,300 --> 00:28:30,500 people who are giving financially and praying for us 341 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:38,000 and for you so that we can continue to gather In Worship in 342 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,700 Ministry and in sharing our lives here with you. 343 00:28:44,100 --> 00:28:49,700 Paul had a Grace team but his grace team was established not 344 00:28:49,700 --> 00:28:53,100 by people who first saw him and neediness. 345 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:58,800 They were established by a people who first saw God. 346 00:28:59,500 --> 00:29:04,600 So they're giving themselves to God and he says this gift. 347 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:11,000 You gave me actually Rises to God. as an offering as a 348 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:18,800 fragrant, Aroma that he smells and that he Delights in Never 349 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:22,300 mistake, you're giving as something that's transactional 350 00:29:22,300 --> 00:29:27,500 from you to the Apostle Paul from you to the church from you 351 00:29:27,700 --> 00:29:31,600 to this missionary. Always understand it. 352 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:36,500 First, The Secret of giving is to give yourself first to God. 353 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:44,300 And then give the money. And this is what the Apostle 354 00:29:44,300 --> 00:29:49,100 Paul affirms in their lives. He gets so excited about it and 355 00:29:49,100 --> 00:29:53,500 he says, oh, the glory of God. All of this is for the glory of 356 00:29:53,500 --> 00:29:56,200 God. He just gets excited. 357 00:29:57,100 --> 00:30:01,600 He offers up a doxology right there because he sees the 358 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:06,600 blessing of this ongoing Grace, you gave me Grace. 359 00:30:07,900 --> 00:30:12,000 God gave me, Grace. I'm giving Grace to others who 360 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:18,300 are getting to know Jesus. And now the praise continues, In 361 00:30:18,300 --> 00:30:21,900 fact, he wants them to know. He gives them a little coded 362 00:30:21,900 --> 00:30:27,200 message here. That their gifts supporting the 363 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:32,400 ministry that he is involved in. Is being effective. 364 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:35,300 Did you catch it? Notice? 365 00:30:35,300 --> 00:30:40,800 He says greet all God's people in Christ, Jesus, the brothers 366 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:43,800 and sisters who are with me, send, greetings. 367 00:30:44,900 --> 00:30:48,700 Wait a minute, Paul's in prison in Rome who are the brothers and 368 00:30:48,700 --> 00:30:51,800 sisters in Rome that are greeting him. 369 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:58,000 Is it just the other churches that are out and about or is 370 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,000 there sort of a Church on the Move that's being established as 371 00:31:02,500 --> 00:31:08,000 Paul is prisoned? They're in a little house 372 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,500 arrest. Maybe there's a little church 373 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:15,800 growing in that house and in case they were just catching on 374 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:20,300 to the coded message. He makes it really clear all 375 00:31:20,300 --> 00:31:25,300 God's people here. Send you greetings, especially 376 00:31:25,300 --> 00:31:29,900 those who belong to Caesars household. 377 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:36,800 What? Part of the emperor's family. 378 00:31:38,100 --> 00:31:42,200 Have become followers of Jesus. Yeah. 379 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:50,200 Even the emperor's family have become followers of Jesus. 380 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:57,900 This is what? Gospel Partners. 381 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:03,700 Love to hear. Jesus said all the angels of 382 00:32:03,700 --> 00:32:09,100 heaven rejoice, when even one sinner repents do you know that 383 00:32:09,100 --> 00:32:13,500 William Carey and his friends carried on their Ministry in 384 00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:18,700 India for seven years before they saw one person, say yes to 385 00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:22,800 Jesus. That yet, that one person who 386 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,200 said, yes, his name is Krishna Chandra Paul. 387 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,400 When he became a follower of Jesus, it happened because he 388 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:36,200 had met a doctor. He had slipped and Fallen. 389 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:41,100 He had dislocated his shoulder. The medical doctor named John 390 00:32:41,100 --> 00:32:47,600 Thomas took him home and I'm sure it was painful put his 391 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:52,200 shoulder back in socket. But their continued to minister 392 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:58,200 and care for him and gave him a track that was written in 393 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:04,300 Bengali. Krishna began to come and visit 394 00:33:04,300 --> 00:33:07,400 them. Often would talk with William 395 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:11,700 Ward and Felix carry and they would discuss Jesus. 396 00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:15,200 Until finally, the day came that Krishna told Thomas. 397 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:21,800 I'm a great Center but I've consent best my sin and a free 398 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:25,300 and then dr. Thomas says, then I called you 399 00:33:25,300 --> 00:33:28,700 brother come and let's eat together in love. 400 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:38,000 That move was an announcement of his Devotion to Jesus. 401 00:33:39,100 --> 00:33:44,000 Because when Krishna 8 with these European people, it 402 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:49,000 stirred great consternation among others, who realized that 403 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:54,300 he had broken cast by eating with these white people. 404 00:33:57,900 --> 00:34:00,300 Despite being mobbed and called a traitor. 405 00:34:01,300 --> 00:34:06,300 Krishna was baptized. He was the first to receive 406 00:34:06,300 --> 00:34:10,199 Jesus as Lord, in seven years of work there. 407 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:15,300 Krishna's wife and sister, also made commitments to Christ as 408 00:34:15,300 --> 00:34:19,300 did his four daughters and a neighbor and a wife. 409 00:34:21,300 --> 00:34:26,000 And another neighbor who was a widow and they formed the First 410 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:30,800 new community. They had spiritual Growing 411 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:39,100 Pains, they had difficulties. But Krishna was one of many 412 00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:42,400 first because they began to worship. 413 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:47,199 He began to write songs the first collection of songs and 414 00:34:47,199 --> 00:34:53,100 Bengali lifting up the name of Jesus giving glory to God. 415 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:55,600 Hallelujah. Praise God. 416 00:34:55,600 --> 00:35:03,600 From whom all blessings flow. This happens because there's 417 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:10,600 Mission Partners both Paul and Carrie and everyone who answers 418 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:13,400 the call of Jesus to share the gospel with others. 419 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:18,200 Delights, that being able to tell the story again of someone 420 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:21,900 else giving their life to Christ. 421 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:25,600 Let's pray together. Lord Jesus. 422 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:30,400 We pray that you would assist us in being a true gospel partner 423 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:37,500 to someone someday and even now would you let us be gospel 424 00:35:37,500 --> 00:35:41,100 partners with our own church? Would you let us be gospel 425 00:35:41,100 --> 00:35:44,700 partners with someone outside of here? 426 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,900 Reaching another campus? Another Place. 427 00:35:48,300 --> 00:35:53,600 Another people would you let us be gospel partners with you. 428 00:35:54,300 --> 00:35:57,700 Cole labourers with Christ in the gospel. 429 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:03,700 And let it be all to your glory in Jesus name. 430 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:05,100 Amen.