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<v Speaker 1>And men, what church. You can have a seat and

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<v Speaker 1>you can grab your bibles.

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<v Speaker 2>Please grab your bibles and start turning to Romans chapter

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<v Speaker 2>thirteen this morning. Romans chapter thirteen. It's where we're gonna be.

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<v Speaker 2>And if you need a bible or a bulletin or

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<v Speaker 2>a pen, you see already the ushers. They are looking

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<v Speaker 2>for your hands raised there, So raise your hand if

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<v Speaker 2>you need one of those, and they'll get.

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<v Speaker 1>You situated with that.

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<v Speaker 2>And also, if you've yet to fill out a connection

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<v Speaker 2>card this morning, I encourage you to interact with those

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<v Speaker 2>QR codes and fill out a connection card. It's a

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<v Speaker 2>helpful shepherding tool for us. We ask everybody to do

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<v Speaker 2>that each week. And want to know that you're here

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<v Speaker 2>by name and to be able to pray for you.

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<v Speaker 2>So be sure to do that. Pastor Josh he's out

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<v Speaker 2>this weekend. He's serving some extended family out of town.

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<v Speaker 2>And so I'm Pastor Seth here with you this morning.

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<v Speaker 2>And I turned forty six. Recently turned forty six. Is

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<v Speaker 2>that a good age?

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, they they tell me that's middle aged, at least

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<v Speaker 2>middle aged. I'm not quite sure when that started or

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<v Speaker 2>when it finishes. I'm pretty sure though, that it does

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<v Speaker 2>mean some things like I'm supposed to be relatively grown

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<v Speaker 2>up by now, supposed to be matured.

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<v Speaker 1>In life and in the faith.

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<v Speaker 2>And yet it's also super clear to me that there's

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<v Speaker 2>no real visible finish line to this process of maturing

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<v Speaker 2>and growing up, especially when it comes to my lived

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<v Speaker 2>out trust in the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>My maturity is a Christian.

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<v Speaker 2>And even as I live each day, there's plenty of

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<v Speaker 2>me that needs to die. You tracking with me on that,

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<v Speaker 2>even as I live each day, there's still plenty of.

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<v Speaker 1>Me that needs to die.

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<v Speaker 2>And that's the paradox we actually read about at the

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<v Speaker 2>beginning of Romans chapter twelve. This morning is this hinge

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<v Speaker 2>point of Paul's Letter to the Roman Church that he

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<v Speaker 2>wrote about twenty five years after Jesus died and resurrected.

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<v Speaker 2>For the first eleven chapters of his letter, he largely

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<v Speaker 2>addresses doctrines, great doctrines concerning God's righteousness, an offer of

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<v Speaker 2>salvation for us these unrighteous people, now rescued, rescued ones

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<v Speaker 2>needing instructions, so desperately needing instruction for faithful living. But

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<v Speaker 2>it's faithful living as sacrifices we'll read here in a second,

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<v Speaker 2>this living sacrifices language. He uses, I'm calling for us

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<v Speaker 2>here this morning, life on the altar, Life on the altar.

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<v Speaker 2>So let's read the chapter now, Romans, Chapter twelve.

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<v Speaker 1>You can follow along with me.

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<v Speaker 2>He says, I appeal to you there, for brothers, by

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<v Speaker 2>the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a

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<v Speaker 2>living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your

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<v Speaker 2>spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but

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<v Speaker 2>be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by

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<v Speaker 2>testing you may discern what is the will of God,

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<v Speaker 2>what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the

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<v Speaker 2>grace given to me, I say to everyone among you

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<v Speaker 2>not to think of himself more highly than he ought

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<v Speaker 2>to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according

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<v Speaker 2>to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For

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<v Speaker 2>As in one body, we have many members, and the

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<v Speaker 2>members do not all have the same functions.

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<v Speaker 1>So we, though many.

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<v Speaker 2>Are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another,

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<v Speaker 2>having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,

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<v Speaker 2>let us use them, if prophecy in proportion to our faith,

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<v Speaker 2>if service in our serving the one who teaches in

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<v Speaker 2>his teaching. The one who exhorts in his exhortation, the

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<v Speaker 2>one who contributes in generosity, the one who leads with zeal,

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<v Speaker 2>the does acts of mercy with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine,

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<v Speaker 2>Abhor what is evil, fast to what is good. Love

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<v Speaker 2>one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

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<v Speaker 2>Do not be slothful in zeal. Be fervent in spirit,

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<v Speaker 2>serve the Lord, Rejoice in hope, be patient and tribulation.

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<v Speaker 1>Be constant in prayer.

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<v Speaker 2>Contribute to the needs of the saints, and seek to

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<v Speaker 2>show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do

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<v Speaker 2>not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with

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<v Speaker 2>those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do

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<v Speaker 2>not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.

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<v Speaker 1>Never be wise in your own sight.

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<v Speaker 2>Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to

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<v Speaker 2>do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible,

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<v Speaker 2>so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with

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<v Speaker 2>all beloved. Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the

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<v Speaker 2>wrath of God. For it is written vengeance is mine.

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<v Speaker 2>I will repay, says the Lord to the contrary If

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<v Speaker 2>your enemy is hungry, feed him. If heels thirsty, give

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<v Speaker 2>him something to drink. For by so doing you will

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<v Speaker 2>heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome

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<v Speaker 2>by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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<v Speaker 1>This is God's word for us this morning.

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<v Speaker 2>Anybody feel a little overwhelmed by all we are being

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<v Speaker 2>called to in this chapter?

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<v Speaker 1>It's very much the same for me. With that.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, every sentence feels like it could use a

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<v Speaker 2>sermon and a playbook as we read through it.

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<v Speaker 1>How do we do this thing?

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<v Speaker 2>You might also be wondering about the whole life on

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<v Speaker 2>the altar phrase that I used before our reading, since

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<v Speaker 2>you didn't hear any mention of altars in this passage, right,

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<v Speaker 2>But hopefully it's a quick connection that we can make

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<v Speaker 2>here together. From the time that we see Noah departing

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<v Speaker 2>from the arc in Genesis eight, and then throughout the

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<v Speaker 2>Old Testament we see these altars, these raised platforms of

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<v Speaker 2>earth stone and wood used for worship and often sacrifices,

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<v Speaker 2>a place where the blood of animals was shed to

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<v Speaker 2>make atonement for sin. And reading about altars, you read.

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<v Speaker 1>About a lot of death.

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<v Speaker 2>So Paul, in a way he picks up this imagery

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<v Speaker 2>and adds a twist when he says in verse one,

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<v Speaker 2>to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, a living sacrifice, right.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a call to ongoing, complete surrender in a life

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<v Speaker 2>of worshipful service. It's sort of like saying, we now live,

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<v Speaker 2>We now live as those putting to death every ungodly

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<v Speaker 2>way in us. Jesus he gives a related teaching when

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<v Speaker 2>he says, what we have recorded in John twelve, twenty

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<v Speaker 2>five and twenty six, whoever loves his life loses it,

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<v Speaker 2>and whoever hates his life in this world will keep

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<v Speaker 2>it for eternal life. If anyone, sir, he must follow me.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus said, it's this call to complete, wholehearted, all of

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<v Speaker 2>life devotion. So now what Romans twelve gives us is

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<v Speaker 2>initial instruction for this kind of life, This Jesus following

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<v Speaker 2>life on the Altar.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a pretty hefty concept. So where do we start?

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<v Speaker 1>Where do we dive into this thing?

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<v Speaker 2>What we might begin our exploration by stating life on

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<v Speaker 2>the altar requires we get sorted.

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<v Speaker 1>Get sorted.

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<v Speaker 2>That's your first blank if you're taking notes here this morning.

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<v Speaker 2>Before considering all the good things we might do in

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<v Speaker 2>relating to others. We're first called to look close to home,

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<v Speaker 2>as close as our own minds, our very thinking, to

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<v Speaker 2>get all sorted out by God according to Godliness.

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<v Speaker 1>See.

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<v Speaker 2>Without proper attention and high intentionality. With this, you and

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<v Speaker 2>I will tend to to cozy into the forms the

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<v Speaker 2>molds the world has for us, the shapings that celebrate

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<v Speaker 2>earthly success, a parent winning and supposed arrival in life,

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<v Speaker 2>and that, at whatever expense, taking on an identity that

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<v Speaker 2>proves contrary to the priorities for citizens of God's kingdom.

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<v Speaker 2>So Paul tells us to be transformed out of that,

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<v Speaker 2>transformed out of that, and into a new place of

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<v Speaker 2>knowing God's will bill knowing it not so much as

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<v Speaker 2>in figuring out his future plan for you or for me,

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<v Speaker 2>but getting clear on what's good, acceptable, and perfect. It's

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<v Speaker 2>about really getting God's mind for the proper evaluation of

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<v Speaker 2>yourself and your ways. Now there are new opportunities to

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<v Speaker 2>learn this at every phase of endpoint in life. I've noticed,

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<v Speaker 2>just have to look around for just a moment, always

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<v Speaker 2>fresh ways I find I must get personally sorted out

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<v Speaker 2>and further transformed in my thinking. There's the whole middle

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<v Speaker 2>aged thing that I'll have you consider with me again.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean as simple as how should I even think

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<v Speaker 2>about things like this body of mine, this physique? How

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<v Speaker 2>am I supposed to think about this as a forty

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<v Speaker 2>six year old man? You know, I've got to consider

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<v Speaker 2>this because well, we were might have been even watching

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<v Speaker 2>the Spurs game. I'm sorry to bring that up right now.

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<v Speaker 2>I know, I know, I know, I know, but my

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<v Speaker 2>family was laughing I think during that time at a

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<v Speaker 2>commercial that we saw. I think it was like for

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<v Speaker 2>testosterone supplements or something of the like. It features this guy,

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<v Speaker 2>perhaps you know, my age, a little bit older, and

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<v Speaker 2>you see him doing sleeveless pushups, and you see his

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<v Speaker 2>slow mow run through the neighborhood, you know, getting the

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<v Speaker 2>attention of the ladies, maybe the forty six year old

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<v Speaker 2>ladies that are out there in the neighborhood.

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<v Speaker 1>It's chuckle worthy.

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<v Speaker 2>But but there's part of me that kind of wants

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<v Speaker 2>to buy into that idea of holding on to youth,

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<v Speaker 2>to vitality, to attractiveness, to sex appeal. There's an appeal

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<v Speaker 2>to that. Or what about the car adds? So many

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<v Speaker 2>car ads demonstrating vehicles that oh, they're just the perfect

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<v Speaker 2>combination of sporty, roomy, classy, luxurious.

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<v Speaker 1>Right. You've seen some of those so slick, Right.

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<v Speaker 2>They feature a lot of people my age too, communicating

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<v Speaker 2>that this stage of life means this level of financial

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<v Speaker 2>success demonstrated through.

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<v Speaker 1>These kinds of wheels.

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<v Speaker 2>Right, I'm being invited to think and step with their

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<v Speaker 2>value system and then do whatever I must to get

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<v Speaker 2>their sacrificing what or who that might require, instead of

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<v Speaker 2>giving myself to God as a living sacrifice.

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<v Speaker 1>It's the truth is behind the flashy ads. Right.

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<v Speaker 2>Of course, longing for nice bodies or fancy rides may

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<v Speaker 2>not be everyone's worldly mind trap here this morning, But

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<v Speaker 2>you've got your own phase of life and groups of

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<v Speaker 2>peers and targeted ads all aimed at molding you into

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<v Speaker 2>something contrary to the way of a living sacrifice, holy

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<v Speaker 2>and acceptable to God, where you build values and make

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<v Speaker 2>choices that line.

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<v Speaker 1>Up with His kingdom.

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<v Speaker 2>You know what helped me sort out a little bit,

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<v Speaker 2>sort out my own mind and renew my thoughts this

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<v Speaker 2>last week and add nothing to do with my own

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<v Speaker 2>age or life situation. I'll get off of the whole

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<v Speaker 2>middle life thing. It was read everything leading up to

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<v Speaker 2>Romans twelve simple as that, and then to the end

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<v Speaker 2>of the letter a little bit more after that, I

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<v Speaker 2>got to think God's thoughts through that exercise in a

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<v Speaker 2>way that so helped me to press out other empty longings,

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<v Speaker 2>replacing them with glorious truths of things good, acceptable, and perfect.

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<v Speaker 2>That was just so richly reorienting for me. But can

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<v Speaker 2>I level with you here this morning, I don't want

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<v Speaker 2>you to hear me say that if you read Romans

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<v Speaker 2>this week, everything is going to be great.

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<v Speaker 1>And you'll be in.

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<v Speaker 2>The perfect headspace for the summer. It'd be so awesome.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it was maybe Monday when I read through it,

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<v Speaker 2>And then part of my birthday celebration on Tuesday included

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<v Speaker 2>us sitting as a family and scrolling through our Google

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<v Speaker 2>photos on our TV from the last year, and then

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<v Speaker 2>Jen and I giving thanks for God's blessings right before

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<v Speaker 2>going to sleep, and then and then me waking up

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<v Speaker 2>the next morning in such in irritable funk, Oh my goodness,

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<v Speaker 2>such a funk. The next morning, weary in body and soul.

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<v Speaker 2>Where did that come from? But in that state where

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't want to serve nothing and nobody but myself.

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<v Speaker 2>With my next bits of Bible to read for that morning.

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<v Speaker 2>As I stumbled into it with a heavy and distracted mind.

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<v Speaker 2>I read the account in John thirteen of Jesus washing

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<v Speaker 2>his disciple bull's feet as an example for them of

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<v Speaker 2>the humble service they also were to walk in. And

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<v Speaker 2>then you know what I did. I read it a

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<v Speaker 2>second time. You know why, because I didn't remember a

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<v Speaker 2>lick of what my eyes had just passed over.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't even know if I could have told you

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<v Speaker 1>what account it was.

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<v Speaker 2>I had to read it a second time, and then,

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<v Speaker 2>through that battle of gaining something here, grabbed a few

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<v Speaker 2>verses of instruction from it, confessed my cold heart in

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<v Speaker 2>regard to things like serving all of you through preparing

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<v Speaker 2>this sermon.

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<v Speaker 1>Prayed for His help, and I was.

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<v Speaker 2>Gradually slowly yet yet steadily well revived to fight forward

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<v Speaker 2>in faithfulness. Guys, that's an that's a normal Tuesday or

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<v Speaker 2>Wednesday or Thursday for this guy. I share that with

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<v Speaker 2>you because it's important for you to understand something of

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<v Speaker 2>my basic weakness as I also try to live life

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<v Speaker 2>on the altar as a living sacrifice before God as

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<v Speaker 2>He sorts me out in this daily battle for Christian

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<v Speaker 2>renewal and hope in the Lord, and push against desires

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<v Speaker 2>for selfish ease and escape.

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<v Speaker 1>And simply my own way.

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<v Speaker 2>So that's something of a picture of how life on

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<v Speaker 2>the Altar starts as each of us we each learn

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<v Speaker 2>to be living sacrifices surrendered to God by getting sorted

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<v Speaker 2>out in our minds and our thinking. But life on

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<v Speaker 2>the altar doesn't end there. It also requires, as we

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<v Speaker 2>saw in this chapter, it requires we get moving it

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<v Speaker 2>we get moving, and that's our next point of focus

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<v Speaker 2>as we drive further into this chapter. Looking specifically at

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<v Speaker 2>Versus three through thirteen, which might be slightly different than

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<v Speaker 2>the non inspired but often helpful headings that you have

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<v Speaker 2>in your bibles in front of you. Look specifically here

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<v Speaker 2>now at Versus three through thirteen. In this section, these

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<v Speaker 2>next two paragraphs, we see how our right thinking needs

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<v Speaker 2>to move us into right actions, specifically when it comes

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<v Speaker 2>to our serving one another. Only even as we step

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<v Speaker 2>into this where this call is for us to get moving,

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<v Speaker 2>it's as if Paul tells us, hold on, hold on,

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<v Speaker 2>wait a minute, I still need you to engage your

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<v Speaker 2>brains here with some right thinking, specifically when it comes

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<v Speaker 2>to this serving, and that will be best done with

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<v Speaker 2>a mirror in your hand, where you'll do some honest

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<v Speaker 2>self assessment and evaluation.

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<v Speaker 1>Did you hear that? Look again at.

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<v Speaker 2>Verse three, he says, for by the grace given to me,

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<v Speaker 2>I say to everyone among you not to think of

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<v Speaker 2>himself more highly than he ought to think, but to

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<v Speaker 2>think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of

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<v Speaker 2>faith that God has assigned. So, in other words, think

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<v Speaker 2>soberly about yourself as you take a look at yourself

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<v Speaker 2>before using the gifts you've been given to serve one another.

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<v Speaker 1>Make sure you understand.

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<v Speaker 2>Your humble service is not about your prominence. It's not

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<v Speaker 2>about your personal fulfillment, but something you're doing as an

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<v Speaker 2>outworking of the faith that God has provided. Then, yes,

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<v Speaker 2>then get to it. Use those gifts you see there

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<v Speaker 2>in verse six, Let us use them.

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<v Speaker 1>Let us use these gifts.

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<v Speaker 2>Now, maybe yours is listed here in Romans twelve, but

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<v Speaker 2>maybe it's not. But covering every possible gift isn't the

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<v Speaker 2>point here in this list or in other lists in

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<v Speaker 2>the scriptures. Stepping into opportunities sometimes to even discover what

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<v Speaker 2>God has equipped you with according to your faith in

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<v Speaker 2>Him and strengths he's providing.

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<v Speaker 1>Is all we may have to go on at first.

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<v Speaker 2>So let's try to flesh this out a little bit

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<v Speaker 2>as we think about it here together, because there are

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<v Speaker 2>a few things I think are helpful to address as

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<v Speaker 2>we talk about using our gifts to benefit the body.

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<v Speaker 1>The first one is simply this, be patient. Be patient.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't mean to the extent that you fail to

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<v Speaker 2>seize upon opportunities there in front of you. I just

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<v Speaker 2>mean that most often good things we learn how to

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<v Speaker 2>do well are built over time and in sequence with

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<v Speaker 2>other things going on in the body. It's just the

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<v Speaker 2>way it tends to work according to God's design. For instance,

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<v Speaker 2>you see there in verse seven the gift of teaching

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<v Speaker 2>is mentioned.

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<v Speaker 1>But but for.

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<v Speaker 2>Various reasons, you know, you plug into the church here

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<v Speaker 2>and you end up serving somewhere more in the mix

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<v Speaker 2>of Sunday morning hospitality. That could have been because of

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<v Speaker 2>the needs of the church at that moment when you

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<v Speaker 2>were plugging in, or because you were at that time

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<v Speaker 2>not thinking much about the possibility of teaching within the body.

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<v Speaker 1>But then there comes up.

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<v Speaker 2>An opportunity later to teach in we'll say children's ministry,

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<v Speaker 2>and you step into that opportunity. Ruthanna our children's ministry

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<v Speaker 2>director was just sharing recently about such a situation, and

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<v Speaker 2>now she says she cannot get enough of that person

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<v Speaker 2>teaching because of the amazing capabilities that she observes there.

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<v Speaker 2>So that's the first encouragement. Trust in God's timetable here

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<v Speaker 2>for things right. Be patient, Be patient. But the second

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<v Speaker 2>one is this, The second encouragement I'd give for you

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<v Speaker 2>is this, don't flatten the command. Don't flatten the command

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<v Speaker 2>to use your gifts. So what I mean by that is,

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<v Speaker 2>don't see established church ministry teams or even small groups

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<v Speaker 2>as your only opportunity to serve others with the gifts

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<v Speaker 2>and the strengths that go Odd has given you.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Yeah, be faithful. Be faithful in.

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<v Speaker 2>Those official areas of teams and groups as they are

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<v Speaker 2>serving unique purposes to ensure that church functions like this

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<v Speaker 2>are able to happen well, and more importantly, that people

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<v Speaker 2>don't fall through the cracks. You're a part of people

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<v Speaker 2>not falling through the cracks by being an active part

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<v Speaker 2>of your small group. Be steady, be reliable in those areas.

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<v Speaker 2>But you need to know that the leadership of this

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<v Speaker 2>church loves when organic, healthy things grow here as people are.

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<v Speaker 1>Caring for one another. We love that. We love that.

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<v Speaker 2>A lady with some gifts of administration, probably among other

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<v Speaker 2>gifts too, a few years ago saw an opportunity to

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<v Speaker 2>help the women of the church stick to a plan

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<v Speaker 2>of read their Bibles over the summer. And there's an

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<v Speaker 2>active chat thread now for it that's ramped up once

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<v Speaker 2>again for this summer. So I see my wife engaging

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<v Speaker 2>with that, even while she's not neglecting our small group ladies.

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<v Speaker 2>She's participating even in a summer book study with them.

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<v Speaker 2>And I can say, I can look at all of

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<v Speaker 2>these things and say, praise God. Praise God for using

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<v Speaker 2>his people to grow healthy ministry in all kinds of

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<v Speaker 2>corners that benefit the body.

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<v Speaker 1>Praise the Lord. We love that. Or maybe men, you

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<v Speaker 1>see written that the one who has a gift to

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<v Speaker 1>lead should do so with zeal.

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<v Speaker 2>There in verse eight, you caught that nobody has perhaps

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<v Speaker 2>invited you into a formal leadership role in the church

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<v Speaker 2>up to this point.

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<v Speaker 1>But you could start.

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<v Speaker 2>You could start with calling a couple guys in your

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<v Speaker 2>small group to summer of accountability of some sort.

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<v Speaker 1>It wouldn't have to be with reading.

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<v Speaker 2>Your bibles necessarily but maybe you've seen this theme among

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<v Speaker 2>the other guys of anger or relational coldness. You've seen

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<v Speaker 2>that come up as you guys have talked and prayed

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<v Speaker 2>together at the end of your meetings confessing these things.

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<v Speaker 2>They very well might need your leadership in establishing some

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<v Speaker 2>basic weekly check ins over the next six weeks to

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<v Speaker 2>see how you can spur one another on and faithfulness

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<v Speaker 2>in this.

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<v Speaker 1>Leadership.

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<v Speaker 2>Opportunities abound, So don't flatten the command viewing it in

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<v Speaker 2>some very narrow.

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<v Speaker 1>Sort of way.

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<v Speaker 2>Look up, bend around a bit, and take initiative where

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<v Speaker 2>you can. But here's one more also, a third help

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<v Speaker 2>in this, and using our gifts serve the body. Be

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<v Speaker 2>graciously persistent. Be graciously persistent. If the members of the

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<v Speaker 2>body don't respond the way you would want them to

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<v Speaker 2>the first time you try to use your gifts to

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<v Speaker 2>serve them, don't give up. Take another swing later, or

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<v Speaker 2>try a different avenue or angle. It's a little bit

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<v Speaker 2>like putting up window flower boxes.

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<v Speaker 1>Right, just me, just me, okay, Well, here's the thing.

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<v Speaker 2>Jenn had mentioned some time ago that she liked the

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<v Speaker 2>look of window flower boxes on other houses that she

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<v Speaker 2>had seen, and so I kind of filed that away

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<v Speaker 2>over the last couple of years, and I needed a

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<v Speaker 2>plan for Mother's Day last month, and so here we go.

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<v Speaker 2>We've got the plan. So I worked together with the

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<v Speaker 2>the kids on getting that as a gift for her.

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<v Speaker 2>I ordered a set of two of these flower boxes

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<v Speaker 2>and worked with the kids to go out and get

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<v Speaker 2>a few little potted flowers, which they did just a

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<v Speaker 2>bang up job on and I picked up some soil,

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<v Speaker 2>and then the night before Mother's Day had them helped

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<v Speaker 2>me get one of these situated right outside our bedroom

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<v Speaker 2>window where Jen sits in the mornings with her Bible

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<v Speaker 2>and her coffee for that initial start to the day.

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<v Speaker 2>So got all that set up and she got to

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<v Speaker 2>see it the next morning, and she liked it.

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<v Speaker 1>It was a good gift, she said.

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<v Speaker 2>But here's the here's the deal. There's a major issue

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<v Speaker 2>with my plan and all of this. The soil that

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<v Speaker 2>I got was of the sort that drained too quickly

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<v Speaker 2>for the type of box or basket material that surrounded

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<v Speaker 2>the flowers. We left for vacation, we came back to dirt.

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<v Speaker 1>Isn't that fun.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a good idea that needed some execution work right,

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<v Speaker 2>and really truly frustrating because of time spent and even

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<v Speaker 2>the fact that my kid's investment took a hit. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>brought my kids into this and it becomes their failure

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<v Speaker 2>as well.

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<v Speaker 1>But guess what.

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<v Speaker 2>I learned something from that got the better soil and

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<v Speaker 2>a few more flowers, and then installed both the boxes,

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<v Speaker 2>which are looking pretty good last time I checked. I

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<v Speaker 2>needed a little more persistent and some different methodology to

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<v Speaker 2>best serve my wife through my still developing modest, modest,

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<v Speaker 2>modest gift of gardening. Right, So, let's creative prayerfully persistent

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<v Speaker 2>in serving one another, ensuring that brotherly affection for one

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<v Speaker 2>another in service to the Lord is the manner.

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<v Speaker 1>That we employ.

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<v Speaker 2>It seems to be what the Holy Spirit through Paul

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<v Speaker 2>would have for us here, especially in that final paragraph

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<v Speaker 2>of this section in verses nine through thirteen. So look

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<v Speaker 2>at it again, verses nine through thirteen, and note they're

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<v Speaker 2>the focus on love and honor and fervency and resilience

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<v Speaker 2>and welcoming, all ultimately in service to God. So we've

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<v Speaker 2>seen how this living sacrifice Christianity includes being sorted out

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<v Speaker 2>by God who calls us also to get moving in

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<v Speaker 2>our service. But here's a final requirement of life on

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<v Speaker 2>the altar, there's the uncomfortable call to thirdly, get meek,

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00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:15.920
<v Speaker 2>Get meek. This is the requirement of humility in our

428
00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:20.319
<v Speaker 2>relationships that is spoken of throughout this chapter, but especially

429
00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:25.319
<v Speaker 2>emphasized beginning in verse fourteen to the end. So let's

430
00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:30.400
<v Speaker 2>read this section again together. Starting in verse fourteen, says,

431
00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:37.000
<v Speaker 2>Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them.

432
00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:41.519
<v Speaker 2>Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

433
00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:48.839
<v Speaker 2>Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty,

434
00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:53.920
<v Speaker 2>but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your

435
00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:58.400
<v Speaker 2>own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give

436
00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:02.240
<v Speaker 2>thought to do what is on in the sight of all,

437
00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:06.319
<v Speaker 2>if possible, so far as it depends on you, live

438
00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:12.720
<v Speaker 2>peaceably with all beloved. Never avenge yourselves, but leave it

439
00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:15.559
<v Speaker 2>to the wrath of God. For it has written vengeance

440
00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:20.519
<v Speaker 2>is mine. I will repay, says the Lord to the contrary.

441
00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:23.519
<v Speaker 2>If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty,

442
00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:25.519
<v Speaker 2>to give him something to drink, for by so doing

443
00:32:25.559 --> 00:32:28.960
<v Speaker 2>you will heat burning coals on his head. Do not

444
00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:35.279
<v Speaker 2>be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Well.

445
00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:38.400
<v Speaker 1>This paragraph covers the territory.

446
00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:43.519
<v Speaker 2>I believe of many types of relationships so that it

447
00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:48.079
<v Speaker 2>can be applied in our wider communities, in the church,

448
00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:54.720
<v Speaker 2>in our homes. But what's especially clear is that Paul

449
00:32:54.880 --> 00:33:01.880
<v Speaker 2>has in mind, through many of these words, the hard relationships,

450
00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:05.759
<v Speaker 2>the hard relationships, or at least those that are in

451
00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:11.000
<v Speaker 2>a season of extra challenge. He speaks of matters like

452
00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:18.200
<v Speaker 2>blessing persecutors, slowing down enough to meet and mirror people

453
00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:23.720
<v Speaker 2>in the moment, giving ourselves to associate with stations that

454
00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:29.119
<v Speaker 2>might feel below us, only acting in ways that would

455
00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:35.039
<v Speaker 2>look honorable to others and would make for peace, taking

456
00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:42.559
<v Speaker 2>the loss instead of taking vengeance, satisfying the needs of

457
00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:47.400
<v Speaker 2>an enemy, and as a kind of summary, wielding only

458
00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:52.599
<v Speaker 2>the weapon of goodness in our relationships to gain victory

459
00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.720
<v Speaker 2>over evil.

460
00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.599
<v Speaker 1>Do you get discouraged by.

461
00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:04.359
<v Speaker 2>Or even bristle a bit against any of these directives

462
00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:11.480
<v Speaker 2>if you've been stung by someone, especially if it's happened repeatedly,

463
00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:17.440
<v Speaker 2>And these instructions can seem quite unreasonable. And I tell

464
00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:21.880
<v Speaker 2>you I have grieved with many of you over some

465
00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:28.039
<v Speaker 2>of those hurts that you've endured at the hands of employers,

466
00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:37.400
<v Speaker 2>of friends, of parents, of children, of siblings.

467
00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.320
<v Speaker 1>And of spouses.

468
00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:45.800
<v Speaker 2>And isn't it true that some of the last and

469
00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:50.320
<v Speaker 2>relationally closest ones that I just mentioned in that list

470
00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:54.920
<v Speaker 2>or the contexts for some of the deepest pains that

471
00:34:55.000 --> 00:35:00.960
<v Speaker 2>you've endured, And I certainly don't have any words that

472
00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:03.960
<v Speaker 2>can magically make those wounds disappear.

473
00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:06.559
<v Speaker 1>Doesn't work that way.

474
00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:14.039
<v Speaker 2>But at the same time, I believe this paragraph throbs

475
00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:18.679
<v Speaker 2>with some of the richest gospel application that we have

476
00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:23.320
<v Speaker 2>in all of Scripture. What portion of these words do

477
00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:27.440
<v Speaker 2>we not see exemplified through the life and cross of

478
00:35:27.719 --> 00:35:33.400
<v Speaker 2>Christ too, in his final breaths received the greatest evil,

479
00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:35.960
<v Speaker 2>and overcame it with the profound good of giving his

480
00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:40.599
<v Speaker 2>life for us, a sacrifice unto death, that we might

481
00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:46.679
<v Speaker 2>now walk as these living sacrifices, having received His mercy

482
00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:51.239
<v Speaker 2>and grace that we now get to extend to others,

483
00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:54.360
<v Speaker 2>mercy and grace we've received, that we get to extend

484
00:35:55.199 --> 00:35:58.960
<v Speaker 2>to others. Who comes to mind for you? When I

485
00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:05.559
<v Speaker 2>speak of offering horizontally the mercy and grace you've received.

486
00:36:05.159 --> 00:36:09.360
<v Speaker 1>From God, who comes to mind this morning, I'm.

487
00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:13.599
<v Speaker 2>Not speaking here, and neither is Paul of quietly submitting

488
00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:18.239
<v Speaker 2>yourself to domestic abuse or endangering your family through giving

489
00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:25.079
<v Speaker 2>criminals or their equivalent unrestrained presence in your life. In

490
00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:29.480
<v Speaker 2>the very next chapter of this letter, Paul even speaks

491
00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:35.320
<v Speaker 2>of the good gift of governing authorities who are God's

492
00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:39.559
<v Speaker 2>servants for punishing wickedness and restraining evil. There are those

493
00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:44.079
<v Speaker 2>of you who have needed to, or may need even now,

494
00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:48.679
<v Speaker 2>to call upon such authorities without hesitation. It's a clarifier

495
00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:54.639
<v Speaker 2>you need to receive this morning. But here's the common

496
00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:59.599
<v Speaker 2>It's an ordinary challenge that many of us are facing

497
00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:05.840
<v Speaker 2>on the day alien some of our closest relationships. We

498
00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:11.800
<v Speaker 2>want the win. We want the win, but don't cherish

499
00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:15.119
<v Speaker 2>Christian victory.

500
00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:19.199
<v Speaker 1>We want the win, but we don't.

501
00:37:19.079 --> 00:37:27.119
<v Speaker 2>Cherish Christian victory. Here's what I mean, markedly. Christian victory

502
00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:30.639
<v Speaker 2>looks like verse nineteen, which ends with the quotation from

503
00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:36.960
<v Speaker 2>Deuteronomy thirty two. Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says

504
00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:45.239
<v Speaker 2>the Lord. So Christian victory looks like trusting that God's

505
00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:52.559
<v Speaker 2>vengeance is the only appropriate vengeance. And this is in

506
00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:54.679
<v Speaker 2>fact very good news, because He's far better at it

507
00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:58.039
<v Speaker 2>than we could ever be, and is not corrupted by

508
00:37:58.119 --> 00:38:03.320
<v Speaker 2>executing it. Some thing that we can't claim for ourselves.

509
00:38:04.800 --> 00:38:09.519
<v Speaker 2>When the temptation arises to get back at someone, we're

510
00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:13.199
<v Speaker 2>faced with the opportunity to choose the posture of I

511
00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:19.320
<v Speaker 2>can trust God with this and with this person. It's

512
00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:25.360
<v Speaker 2>not mine to try to score retribution points here. I

513
00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:31.360
<v Speaker 2>can trust God. But markedly Christian victory also looks like

514
00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:36.039
<v Speaker 2>Versus twenty and twenty one before us this morning, which

515
00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:39.000
<v Speaker 2>also isn't, by the way, only a New Testament call,

516
00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:41.599
<v Speaker 2>but a partial quotation from Proverbs twenty five.

517
00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.800
<v Speaker 1>It's showing a.

518
00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:48.800
<v Speaker 2>Kindness to the one who has made your life uncomfortable.

519
00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:56.280
<v Speaker 2>It's about that really irritating, potty mouthed co worker who

520
00:38:56.360 --> 00:38:59.800
<v Speaker 2>leaves his dirty dishes in the breakroom, but.

521
00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:02.719
<v Speaker 1>Has a birthday.

522
00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:07.599
<v Speaker 2>Coming up, and you scour the depths of your brain

523
00:39:08.519 --> 00:39:13.599
<v Speaker 2>to write in a card a sentence of kind encouragement.

524
00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:20.280
<v Speaker 2>And it doesn't count if it's something like, I'm truly

525
00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:25.079
<v Speaker 2>trusting God can help you be less of an idiot

526
00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:31.119
<v Speaker 2>over the course of the next year, happiest of birthdays,

527
00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:35.119
<v Speaker 2>your Christian enemy doing you good, Brad.

528
00:39:37.079 --> 00:39:37.639
<v Speaker 1>Doesn't work?

529
00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:41.199
<v Speaker 2>We laugh, and well we should, But isn't it our

530
00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:46.480
<v Speaker 2>tendency Sometimes in our more subtle ways to try and

531
00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:54.159
<v Speaker 2>still squeeze out fleshly wins in our interactions with difficult people,

532
00:39:55.480 --> 00:40:00.599
<v Speaker 2>even at home, even with our spouses who can sometimes

533
00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:05.440
<v Speaker 2>feel like enemies. Let me speak for a moment to

534
00:40:05.559 --> 00:40:10.159
<v Speaker 2>us married people in the room, although the application can

535
00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:14.719
<v Speaker 2>stretch farther than that for all of us. So for

536
00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:19.800
<v Speaker 2>the marrieds, how meek, how meek, how humble are you

537
00:40:19.880 --> 00:40:27.079
<v Speaker 2>willing to get with one another? Are you doing everything

538
00:40:27.280 --> 00:40:32.880
<v Speaker 2>you can everything you can to live peaceably with your spouse?

539
00:40:34.519 --> 00:40:37.760
<v Speaker 2>Are you seeking to do your husband your wife so

540
00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:40.679
<v Speaker 2>much good that even if they've been acting a little

541
00:40:40.760 --> 00:40:44.320
<v Speaker 2>bit more like an enemy lately, they won't know what

542
00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:48.639
<v Speaker 2>to do with the surprising good that is essentially like

543
00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:51.719
<v Speaker 2>a handful of burning coals on their head that they

544
00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:57.280
<v Speaker 2>can't help but have their attention awakened. That's the picture

545
00:40:57.320 --> 00:41:01.360
<v Speaker 2>here of the recipient of the good coming to the

546
00:41:01.400 --> 00:41:05.599
<v Speaker 2>place of conviction, needing to assume God's hand at work

547
00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:09.639
<v Speaker 2>through you, or at least to inquire of it, saying why.

548
00:41:09.320 --> 00:41:13.559
<v Speaker 1>Are you being so good to me? Now? I know

549
00:41:13.639 --> 00:41:15.440
<v Speaker 1>that sounds overly simplified.

550
00:41:16.400 --> 00:41:19.280
<v Speaker 2>Don't hear me downplaying the depths of trouble you might

551
00:41:19.320 --> 00:41:25.000
<v Speaker 2>be in over years of her in your marriage. Now

552
00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:32.480
<v Speaker 2>there are speedy breakthrough moments that come sometimes, but new

553
00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:37.400
<v Speaker 2>efforts for good. You know, often it looks more like

554
00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:43.360
<v Speaker 2>little leaguers trying to figure out which direction to run

555
00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:48.480
<v Speaker 2>around the bases. So let me give you two things

556
00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:52.199
<v Speaker 2>that might help as you seek to grow in meekness

557
00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:58.599
<v Speaker 2>in your marriage over the seasons. So first thing that

558
00:41:58.639 --> 00:42:04.400
<v Speaker 2>I hope is helpful, stop trying to work in a

559
00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:15.079
<v Speaker 2>fleshly win during your verbal and nonverbal exchanges. It's like

560
00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:19.880
<v Speaker 2>the subtler form of the backhanded birthday card I mentioned earlier. Right,

561
00:42:21.400 --> 00:42:27.679
<v Speaker 2>it's the I'm sorry I snapped, but you dot dot dot.

562
00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:31.760
<v Speaker 1>It's the thought pattern.

563
00:42:33.119 --> 00:42:39.360
<v Speaker 2>If I'm the one who makes the kind approach in

564
00:42:39.400 --> 00:42:44.360
<v Speaker 2>this chilly air moment, she'll think I'm weak, So I'm

565
00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:49.119
<v Speaker 2>not gonna None of those are the way of our master.

566
00:42:50.719 --> 00:42:53.320
<v Speaker 2>Can you imagine him going to the cross with that

567
00:42:53.559 --> 00:42:58.679
<v Speaker 2>ungodly attitude as he's being taken to death, even though

568
00:42:58.679 --> 00:43:00.840
<v Speaker 2>we didn't deserve any better than and some of these

569
00:43:01.639 --> 00:43:09.159
<v Speaker 2>kind of backhanded actions. If he had had that attitude,

570
00:43:09.199 --> 00:43:10.920
<v Speaker 2>he would not have been the spotless lamb.

571
00:43:11.800 --> 00:43:13.360
<v Speaker 1>We'd still be trapped in our sins.

572
00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:25.599
<v Speaker 2>Unimaginable, right, and what do our little perceived wins achieve anyway,

573
00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:34.320
<v Speaker 2>our imaginary top spot on our imaginary podium in our

574
00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:39.840
<v Speaker 2>imaginary contest. Oh wow, what a great thing to have achieved.

575
00:43:40.840 --> 00:43:43.280
<v Speaker 2>And it's silly, and we just stopped to think about

576
00:43:43.320 --> 00:43:48.800
<v Speaker 2>it a little bit. I get the temptation, though, I've

577
00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:54.000
<v Speaker 2>taken the bait, but it's a ridiculous fools errand to

578
00:43:54.119 --> 00:44:00.880
<v Speaker 2>try and work out our fleshly wins in our marriages. Remember,

579
00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:07.079
<v Speaker 2>fellow marriage struggler, and all of you, remember Ephesians six

580
00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:12.039
<v Speaker 2>that we do not ultimately wrestle against flesh and blood,

581
00:44:12.079 --> 00:44:15.880
<v Speaker 2>but against the devil and his forces who work to

582
00:44:15.920 --> 00:44:17.320
<v Speaker 2>see our marriages fail.

583
00:44:18.880 --> 00:44:25.679
<v Speaker 1>Let's not cooperate. Let's not cooperate with him. Stop trying

584
00:44:25.719 --> 00:44:30.360
<v Speaker 1>to work for the fleshly win. That's one.

585
00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:36.079
<v Speaker 2>But secondly, let me say, notice the efforts and tame

586
00:44:36.159 --> 00:44:42.000
<v Speaker 2>your suspicion. Notice the efforts and tame your suspicion. Wife,

587
00:44:42.079 --> 00:44:45.679
<v Speaker 2>If things haven't been going the best at home, and

588
00:44:46.039 --> 00:44:52.159
<v Speaker 2>your husband says this week, with this passage in mind,

589
00:44:53.679 --> 00:44:54.480
<v Speaker 2>I like the way you.

590
00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:55.880
<v Speaker 1>Did your hair today.

591
00:44:57.119 --> 00:45:01.719
<v Speaker 2>Don't roll your eyes and assume that the only thing

592
00:45:01.760 --> 00:45:04.280
<v Speaker 2>he's trying to do is make up for something dumb

593
00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:08.119
<v Speaker 2>he did before that, or that he simply got his

594
00:45:08.159 --> 00:45:09.519
<v Speaker 2>eye on something else at bedtime.

595
00:45:10.119 --> 00:45:11.800
<v Speaker 1>You don't know, You don't know.

596
00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:15.239
<v Speaker 2>And and what if you are right to some extent

597
00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:19.360
<v Speaker 2>if he is selfishly looking for his own fleshly gain

598
00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:24.000
<v Speaker 2>in a kind of comment like that, trust the Lord

599
00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:28.239
<v Speaker 2>with him, Trust the Lord with him. You do what's

600
00:45:28.360 --> 00:45:33.159
<v Speaker 2>right in that moment, and say thank you. That's sweet

601
00:45:33.159 --> 00:45:37.440
<v Speaker 2>of you to notice. And for either of us husbands

602
00:45:37.559 --> 00:45:41.719
<v Speaker 2>or wives, as we see any opportunities to build up

603
00:45:41.800 --> 00:45:44.400
<v Speaker 2>with our actions or words.

604
00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:47.280
<v Speaker 1>Let's take that initiative.

605
00:45:48.119 --> 00:45:55.320
<v Speaker 2>Don't sinfully withhold the good you can provide. You know

606
00:45:55.320 --> 00:45:59.039
<v Speaker 2>if you're in bad patterns in your home, craftily looking

607
00:45:59.599 --> 00:46:03.079
<v Speaker 2>for them win in ways like this, walking with suspicion,

608
00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:09.400
<v Speaker 2>withholding good, you'll need practice out of it. Ask for

609
00:46:09.480 --> 00:46:14.079
<v Speaker 2>help from the Lord in this very thing today and

610
00:46:14.119 --> 00:46:17.960
<v Speaker 2>every day. Seek out married people who are more practiced

611
00:46:18.000 --> 00:46:20.440
<v Speaker 2>at it than you are and are seeing some level

612
00:46:20.440 --> 00:46:24.119
<v Speaker 2>of success. Set up a meeting with your spouse to

613
00:46:24.159 --> 00:46:28.079
<v Speaker 2>pray together about it, asking forgiveness from one another, and

614
00:46:28.880 --> 00:46:38.000
<v Speaker 2>humbly receive any loving, gentle constructive criticism that the other

615
00:46:38.320 --> 00:46:44.719
<v Speaker 2>might offer, hear him out, hear her out with your

616
00:46:44.760 --> 00:46:51.760
<v Speaker 2>mouth closed. And again, if you can't make progress, ask

617
00:46:51.840 --> 00:46:56.039
<v Speaker 2>for help, starting with people preferably who already know you

618
00:46:56.119 --> 00:47:03.119
<v Speaker 2>reasonably well. I know, I know the situations in marriage

619
00:47:03.159 --> 00:47:07.320
<v Speaker 2>and in relationships in general. They are manifold and messy,

620
00:47:07.719 --> 00:47:14.519
<v Speaker 2>aren't they. But before we try to explain the way

621
00:47:14.559 --> 00:47:16.639
<v Speaker 2>in which we're the exception.

622
00:47:16.719 --> 00:47:17.960
<v Speaker 1>And kind of do what we want.

623
00:47:18.320 --> 00:47:20.599
<v Speaker 2>Before we start doing that, we've got to do the

624
00:47:20.599 --> 00:47:23.400
<v Speaker 2>hard work of holding our own hearts up against this

625
00:47:23.519 --> 00:47:28.119
<v Speaker 2>high call in Romans twelve to present our bodies as

626
00:47:28.239 --> 00:47:29.719
<v Speaker 2>living sacrifices.

627
00:47:30.679 --> 00:47:31.559
<v Speaker 1>One moment at a time.

628
00:47:31.599 --> 00:47:33.960
<v Speaker 2>That's all we're given from the Lord right, one moment

629
00:47:34.519 --> 00:47:37.719
<v Speaker 2>at a time, Our God of mercies is our help

630
00:47:38.280 --> 00:47:43.199
<v Speaker 2>as we seek to practice this life on the altar,

631
00:47:44.480 --> 00:47:50.519
<v Speaker 2>you stand and pray together with me. So, Lord, that's

632
00:47:50.559 --> 00:47:54.559
<v Speaker 2>our great need. Our great need is for you to

633
00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:56.880
<v Speaker 2>do your mighty work on us.

634
00:47:57.920 --> 00:48:02.880
<v Speaker 1>Lord. We need to be sorted out. We need to

635
00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:09.599
<v Speaker 1>think rightly. Father. We desperately need to get moving some

636
00:48:09.760 --> 00:48:13.679
<v Speaker 1>of us and doing good to others. Lord.

637
00:48:13.719 --> 00:48:18.360
<v Speaker 2>And oh you know our temptations toward pride. Lord, we

638
00:48:18.559 --> 00:48:24.400
<v Speaker 2>need hearts of humility. Lord, make us meek, Lord God,

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<v Speaker 2>we trust you with these things and pray for your

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00:48:28.480 --> 00:48:31.239
<v Speaker 2>help even in this coming week, as we try to

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00:48:31.719 --> 00:48:33.519
<v Speaker 2>try to take steps into faithfulness.

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<v Speaker 1>We love you, Lord in Jesus name. Amen,