0:00:00.057,0:00:01.785 Well, I don't know how you convince 0:00:01.785,0:00:03.645 a bunch of white boys 0:00:03.645,0:00:06.055 and a bunch of black boys 0:00:06.055,0:00:08.449 and a bunch of Latino boys 0:00:08.449,0:00:09.906 to all gather together 0:00:09.906,0:00:11.831 in a tiny little room 0:00:11.831,0:00:18.062 on a miserable night in November 0:00:18.062,0:00:20.947 to hear Bible preaching. 0:00:20.947,0:00:22.117 That must be Jesus. 0:00:22.117,0:00:26.822 So let's open the Bible together. 0:00:26.822,0:00:30.148 So, last night for those [br]of you that weren't here, 0:00:30.148,0:00:33.393 we began looking at the book of Philemon. 0:00:33.393,0:00:35.214 And we were talking about the fact 0:00:35.214,0:00:37.884 that men are called to lead 0:00:37.884,0:00:40.281 and they're called to lead well; 0:00:40.281,0:00:42.515 they're called to lead biblically. 0:00:42.515,0:00:44.307 They're called to lead themselves. 0:00:44.307,0:00:46.009 They're called to lead their wives, 0:00:46.009,0:00:47.312 their children. 0:00:47.312,0:00:49.748 They're called to encourage their friends. 0:00:49.748,0:00:52.616 And we saw that Paul is really the example 0:00:52.616,0:00:55.197 of skill in leadership. 0:00:55.197,0:00:57.836 And he led with his compelling character. 0:00:57.836,0:00:59.968 He says, "I, Paul, an old man 0:00:59.968,0:01:04.502 and a prisoner for the sake of Christ..." 0:01:04.502,0:01:06.933 He led out of who he was 0:01:06.933,0:01:09.356 and the weight of what [br]God had done in his life. 0:01:09.356,0:01:12.775 And then he led really [br]by a compelling change 0:01:12.775,0:01:15.210 that had happened in Philemon. 0:01:15.210,0:01:17.147 He's trying to get, if you'll remember, 0:01:17.147,0:01:19.244 he's trying to get Philemon 0:01:19.244,0:01:23.476 to forgive Onesimus. 0:01:23.476,0:01:26.296 Onesimus was a runaway slave 0:01:26.296,0:01:28.134 who had done Philemon dirty 0:01:28.134,0:01:29.995 and then stolen his money. 0:01:29.995,0:01:32.224 And had really stolen himself 0:01:32.224,0:01:33.506 away from Philemon. 0:01:33.506,0:01:35.734 And now Paul was trying to get Philemon 0:01:35.734,0:01:39.400 to forgive this runaway slave. 0:01:39.400,0:01:41.744 And so he first of all starts by saying 0:01:41.744,0:01:42.745 you should do it; 0:01:42.745,0:01:43.903 you should listen to me 0:01:43.903,0:01:45.813 because I'm Paul, a prisoner, 0:01:45.813,0:01:47.448 an old man for Christ. 0:01:47.448,0:01:49.783 And then he goes, and [br]then you should do it 0:01:49.783,0:01:51.604 because this guy's now your brother. 0:01:51.604,0:01:53.908 He's now my spiritual child. 0:01:53.908,0:01:55.547 He's changed. 0:01:55.547,0:01:57.792 He used to be - just like [br]everyone in this room 0:01:57.792,0:01:59.424 who is a Christian - 0:01:59.424,0:02:01.634 he used to be useless. 0:02:01.634,0:02:02.818 Now, he's useful. 0:02:02.818,0:02:04.835 What a great way to think of yourself 0:02:04.835,0:02:05.831 as a Christian. 0:02:05.831,0:02:08.225 I used to be useless. 0:02:08.225,0:02:10.963 Now, I'm useful. 0:02:10.963,0:02:14.845 And then he did it by giving [br]Philemon some space - 0:02:14.845,0:02:16.552 the freedom of choice. 0:02:16.552,0:02:18.579 He gave Philemon the liberty, 0:02:18.579,0:02:20.677 and he said I don't want to constrain you. 0:02:20.677,0:02:22.096 I don't want to force you. 0:02:22.096,0:02:24.159 I wanted to send Onesimus back 0:02:24.159,0:02:26.781 so you could think about [br]doing the right thing 0:02:26.781,0:02:29.680 and come to it for yourself. 0:02:29.680,0:02:32.261 And this evening, I want to focus 0:02:32.261,0:02:36.535 on one verse in the book of Philemon, 0:02:36.535,0:02:41.642 and it's verse 6. 0:02:41.642,0:02:43.548 And it might sound like it at first, 0:02:43.548,0:02:44.911 but I'll explain in a second 0:02:44.911,0:02:47.276 why this is not an evangelism verse. 0:02:47.276,0:02:51.378 Although, it certainly has some [br]implications for evangelism. 0:02:51.378,0:02:54.764 But in Philemon 1:6, it says, 0:02:54.764,0:03:00.544 "And I pray that the sharing of your faith 0:03:00.544,0:03:04.325 may become effective [br]for the full knowledge 0:03:04.325,0:03:06.478 of every good thing that is in us 0:03:06.478,0:03:08.924 for the sake of Christ." 0:03:08.924,0:03:14.195 "And I pray that the sharing of your faith 0:03:14.195,0:03:16.776 may become effective 0:03:16.776,0:03:19.342 for the full knowledge 0:03:19.342,0:03:21.978 of every good thing that is in us 0:03:21.978,0:03:23.520 for the sake of Christ." 0:03:23.520,0:03:25.055 Can you imagine that? 0:03:25.055,0:03:29.347 Having a fuller knowledge [br]of everything that is in you? 0:03:29.347,0:03:31.827 For the sake of Christ. 0:03:31.827,0:03:35.800 Knowing more about all that's in you 0:03:35.800,0:03:39.578 for the sake of Christ. 0:03:39.578,0:03:44.254 Above all, brothers, above all, 0:03:44.254,0:03:46.252 all the earthly treasures, 0:03:46.252,0:03:51.020 what the Christian wants is to know God. 0:03:51.020,0:03:53.852 That's the main thing [br]every Christian wants 0:03:53.852,0:03:55.163 is to know God. 0:03:55.163,0:03:57.531 If you're not in touch [br]with that right now, 0:03:57.531,0:03:59.408 you're not in touch with the main thing 0:03:59.408,0:04:02.037 that God has made new about you. 0:04:02.037,0:04:05.056 That's that you want to know God. 0:04:05.056,0:04:08.281 That's why you're gathered [br]in this little tiny room 0:04:08.281,0:04:12.787 is because we want to know God. 0:04:12.787,0:04:14.819 The cry of the Christian is the cry 0:04:14.819,0:04:17.177 of the Apostle Paul in Philippians - 0:04:17.177,0:04:20.939 "That I might know Him." 0:04:20.939,0:04:24.152 The difference between being of the world 0:04:24.152,0:04:26.205 and being of Christ is the world 0:04:26.205,0:04:27.710 does not know Him 0:04:27.710,0:04:29.754 and the Christian has tasted and seen 0:04:29.754,0:04:32.644 that the Lord is good. 0:04:32.644,0:04:35.267 The promise of the New Covenant 0:04:35.267,0:04:37.816 is "they shall all know Me. 0:04:37.816,0:04:40.114 No longer shall a brother [br]say to his brother, 0:04:40.114,0:04:42.771 'know the Lord,' but [br]they shall all know Me." 0:04:42.771,0:04:44.687 We look at each other around the fire, 0:04:44.687,0:04:46.929 we begin to talk about [br]the things of the Lord, 0:04:46.929,0:04:48.867 if you're a Christian, and you're like, 0:04:48.867,0:04:52.987 "Yes, brother, I know what [br]you're talking about." 0:04:52.987,0:04:55.953 Whatever background you come from 0:04:55.953,0:04:57.999 racially, socioeconomically, 0:04:57.999,0:05:00.403 all of a sudden, you find you have 0:05:00.403,0:05:03.552 the most important things in common 0:05:03.552,0:05:07.605 with the ones who know the Lord. 0:05:07.605,0:05:10.493 How does a Christian change? 0:05:10.493,0:05:13.997 We're transformed from one [br]degree of glory to another 0:05:13.997,0:05:15.384 as we see Him. 0:05:15.384,0:05:17.389 And we shall ultimately be like Him 0:05:17.389,0:05:19.217 when we see Him as He is, 0:05:19.217,0:05:20.857 because when we see Him as He is, 0:05:20.857,0:05:22.053 we will be like Him. 0:05:22.053,0:05:24.221 It's a transformative knowledge. 0:05:24.221,0:05:25.955 The more you get to know Jesus, 0:05:25.955,0:05:28.863 the more you become like Him. 0:05:28.863,0:05:32.071 The main thing about being a Christian 0:05:32.071,0:05:34.508 is knowing God. 0:05:34.508,0:05:36.337 It's everything. 0:05:36.337,0:05:39.137 It's everything to know God. 0:05:39.137,0:05:41.135 If there's anything in your Christian life 0:05:41.135,0:05:43.896 that isn't leading you to know God more, 0:05:43.896,0:05:46.627 you are going down a rabbit trail at best, 0:05:46.627,0:05:48.188 and you are going down 0:05:48.188,0:05:51.057 a destructive path at worst. 0:05:51.057,0:05:53.187 Because everything is meant 0:05:53.187,0:05:55.153 to serve the Christian and to bring them 0:05:55.153,0:05:56.327 to a knowledge of God. 0:05:56.327,0:05:58.062 Have you ever thought about this? 0:05:58.062,0:06:01.842 The reason we repent 0:06:01.842,0:06:04.545 is because we want to know God. 0:06:04.545,0:06:07.249 What's the difference [br]between worldly sorrow 0:06:07.249,0:06:09.168 and godly sorrow? 0:06:09.168,0:06:11.365 Worldly sorrow we're told leads to death. 0:06:11.365,0:06:13.302 Worldly sorrow is the kind Judas had 0:06:13.302,0:06:14.789 where it makes you depressed, 0:06:14.789,0:06:16.150 it makes you suicidal, 0:06:16.150,0:06:17.915 it makes you want to kill yourself, 0:06:17.915,0:06:19.638 but there's nothing godly about it. 0:06:19.638,0:06:22.578 Worldly sorrow is depressed [br]because it lost the world. 0:06:22.578,0:06:23.915 Do you know what Judas lost 0:06:23.915,0:06:25.533 when he betrayed the Son of God? 0:06:25.533,0:06:28.769 He was no longer going to be [br]able to enjoy the rest of his life. 0:06:28.769,0:06:30.876 He was going to have a defiled conscience 0:06:30.876,0:06:34.271 as being the one who handed over 0:06:34.271,0:06:36.575 the Son of God. 0:06:36.575,0:06:40.337 But he had no remorse [br]really about losing God. 0:06:40.337,0:06:43.686 He had no love for God. 0:06:43.686,0:06:45.609 Why do preachers who get caught 0:06:45.609,0:06:47.846 in sexual immorality 0:06:47.846,0:06:49.493 shed a couple tears 0:06:49.493,0:06:51.717 and then just try to get [br]their way through it 0:06:51.717,0:06:53.138 in the easiest way possible? 0:06:53.138,0:06:54.790 Because they have worldly sorrow. 0:06:54.790,0:06:57.701 They're sad that they can't [br]be the preacher anymore. 0:06:57.701,0:06:59.601 And they've lost the world. 0:06:59.601,0:07:02.038 It's worldly sorrow. 0:07:02.038,0:07:05.924 Godly sorrow is sad that [br]it's lost its grip on God. 0:07:05.924,0:07:07.800 That's why the slightest sin 0:07:07.800,0:07:10.293 can ultimately disturb a Christian, right? 0:07:10.293,0:07:12.256 Just the smallest thing. 0:07:12.256,0:07:14.100 Ugh! I can't enjoy my Lord! 0:07:14.100,0:07:16.633 I'm not walking in fellowship with Him. 0:07:16.633,0:07:19.848 It doesn't have to even be something [br]heinous like pornography. 0:07:19.848,0:07:22.076 It can be the slip of a tongue. 0:07:22.076,0:07:24.696 It can be something that you knew 0:07:24.696,0:07:26.163 the Lord didn't want you to do 0:07:26.163,0:07:27.216 and you did it anyway, 0:07:27.216,0:07:29.423 and then all of a sudden [br]the day is ruined. 0:07:29.423,0:07:30.670 It can be 75 degrees out. 0:07:30.670,0:07:33.589 There can be no snow clouds in the sky. 0:07:33.589,0:07:35.533 It can be all your friends around you, 0:07:35.533,0:07:37.457 and it's all misery because you're not 0:07:37.457,0:07:40.029 walking in fellowship with God. 0:07:40.029,0:07:41.097 And so what do we do? 0:07:41.097,0:07:43.543 We have godly sorrow and we repent. 0:07:43.543,0:07:47.027 We've got to have God.[br]We've got to have God. 0:07:47.027,0:07:49.235 Christians can't keep going on 0:07:49.235,0:07:50.972 with something on their conscience 0:07:50.972,0:07:53.068 because they've got to have God. 0:07:53.068,0:07:54.917 They've got to know God. 0:07:54.917,0:07:59.174 The Christian life is all [br]about knowing God, 0:07:59.174,0:08:01.994 and it's about knowing [br]Him better and better. 0:08:01.994,0:08:05.928 It's not just about coming to know Him 0:08:05.928,0:08:08.613 when we're converted. 0:08:08.613,0:08:11.968 It's about getting to know [br]Him better and better 0:08:11.968,0:08:16.860 after we're converted. 0:08:16.860,0:08:19.666 And what I want to point [br]out to you tonight 0:08:19.666,0:08:21.695 is that Philemon - 0:08:21.695,0:08:23.064 in the book of Philemon, 0:08:23.064,0:08:24.596 we're watching Paul, 0:08:24.596,0:08:26.441 but Paul is not just giving Philemon 0:08:26.441,0:08:28.217 a rule to follow. 0:08:28.217,0:08:30.398 Paul's not just trying to [br]give us an example 0:08:30.398,0:08:32.627 of what it looks like to [br]be an amazing leader 0:08:32.627,0:08:34.149 as important as that is. 0:08:34.149,0:08:36.335 Paul's trying to lead Philemon 0:08:36.335,0:08:39.495 to know God better. 0:08:39.495,0:08:41.137 And what Paul is telling us 0:08:41.137,0:08:43.815 is that the way you come [br]to know God better 0:08:43.815,0:08:46.075 is by obeying God. 0:08:46.075,0:08:49.396 Obedience is God's means 0:08:49.396,0:08:53.737 of further revelation to your soul. 0:08:53.737,0:08:57.588 Obedience is not just something you do 0:08:57.588,0:08:59.195 in response to God's revelation. 0:08:59.195,0:09:00.107 It is that. 0:09:00.107,0:09:01.474 Obedience is something we do 0:09:01.474,0:09:03.086 in response to God's revelation. 0:09:03.086,0:09:05.276 Therefore, in view of God's mercies, 0:09:05.276,0:09:07.888 offer your bodies as living sacrifices, 0:09:07.888,0:09:09.127 holy and pleasing to God. 0:09:09.127,0:09:10.384 In view of what He's done; 0:09:10.384,0:09:11.716 in view of what you've seen; 0:09:11.716,0:09:13.128 in view of what you know, 0:09:13.128,0:09:15.694 offer yourself as a [br]living sacrifice to God. 0:09:15.694,0:09:17.797 We obey because of what we know, 0:09:17.797,0:09:22.496 but we also know more once we obey. 0:09:22.496,0:09:25.817 And in that sense, [br]obedience is God's means 0:09:25.817,0:09:28.723 of further revelation of Himself 0:09:28.723,0:09:30.487 to your soul. 0:09:30.487,0:09:32.047 Let me spell this out. 0:09:32.047,0:09:35.158 Jesus said it clearer than [br]I'm going to say it. 0:09:35.158,0:09:37.247 So we'll just read Him. 0:09:37.247,0:09:39.403 He said in John 14, 0:09:39.403,0:09:42.309 "Whoever has My commandments 0:09:42.309,0:09:44.326 and keeps them, 0:09:44.326,0:09:46.456 he is it who loves Me. 0:09:46.456,0:09:48.008 And he who loves Me, 0:09:48.008,0:09:50.134 will be loved by My Father, 0:09:50.134,0:09:52.298 and I will love him 0:09:52.298,0:09:59.169 and manifest Myself to him." 0:09:59.169,0:10:03.575 Who hasn't prayed for that? 0:10:03.575,0:10:05.794 If that's not a regular cry of your heart, 0:10:05.794,0:10:08.956 I wonder if you even know the Lord. 0:10:08.956,0:10:11.655 I want to see more of You, Lord. 0:10:11.655,0:10:14.812 Sir, we would see Jesus. 0:10:14.812,0:10:17.677 That's the cry of the Christian. 0:10:17.677,0:10:19.307 That's the irony of the Christian. 0:10:19.307,0:10:21.069 We know the Lord, and what do we want 0:10:21.069,0:10:22.299 more than anything else? 0:10:22.299,0:10:24.495 We want to know the Lord. 0:10:24.495,0:10:26.824 That I might know Him. 0:10:26.824,0:10:28.011 That's our desire. 0:10:28.011,0:10:29.706 And here's Jesus telling you, 0:10:29.706,0:10:31.521 "I will manifest Myself. 0:10:31.521,0:10:33.677 I will display Myself. 0:10:33.677,0:10:41.976 I will show Myself to your soul." 0:10:41.976,0:10:45.760 The Apostle Paul prayed [br]for the Ephesian Christians, 0:10:45.760,0:10:48.558 in Ephesians 1. 0:10:48.558,0:10:50.907 And he prayed for them and he said, 0:10:50.907,0:10:53.392 he prayed that they [br]"might have a spirit of wisdom 0:10:53.392,0:10:56.986 and of revelation in [br]the knowledge of Him." 0:10:56.986,0:10:58.772 He wasn't praying that they would 0:10:58.772,0:11:01.138 increase their Bible knowledge. 0:11:01.138,0:11:02.595 The Ephesians were notorious 0:11:02.595,0:11:04.748 for their Bible knowledge. 0:11:04.748,0:11:08.358 You read chapter 1:3-14 of Ephesians 0:11:08.358,0:11:09.951 and it's pretty clear Paul knew 0:11:09.951,0:11:11.530 they had lots of Bible knowledge 0:11:11.530,0:11:13.155 because he's just going off - 0:11:13.155,0:11:14.986 praising God for God's election 0:11:14.986,0:11:16.446 and adoption, and redemption, 0:11:16.446,0:11:18.336 and Spirit-filling and sealing. 0:11:18.336,0:11:20.016 He's praising God for all of that, 0:11:20.016,0:11:21.664 and then he comes to the end of it 0:11:21.664,0:11:25.749 and he goes I just wish this [br]was lit up in your souls. 0:11:25.749,0:11:27.523 Isn't that the greatest frustration 0:11:27.523,0:11:30.329 of those Christians who have [br]learned good theology? 0:11:30.329,0:11:33.260 Lord, why isn't it on fire? 0:11:33.260,0:11:34.715 Why isn't it lit up? 0:11:34.715,0:11:37.287 I know more glorious truths 0:11:37.287,0:11:39.459 than almost every other Christian I meet 0:11:39.459,0:11:42.551 and yet, why isn't it on fire? 0:11:42.551,0:11:43.677 Why isn't it lit up? 0:11:43.677,0:11:45.106 Why isn't the spotlight 0:11:45.106,0:11:46.417 burning in my soul? 0:11:46.417,0:11:48.835 You know the difference between standing 0:11:48.835,0:11:50.992 out in the middle of that patio 0:11:50.992,0:11:53.270 and standing by the fire, right? 0:11:53.270,0:11:55.416 There's a big difference. 0:11:55.416,0:11:58.657 I want to be by the fire. 0:11:58.657,0:12:00.155 And you want God's Word 0:12:00.155,0:12:03.023 not to leave you out in the cold, 0:12:03.023,0:12:05.455 but to be lighting a fire. 0:12:05.455,0:12:07.760 And in Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul 0:12:07.760,0:12:09.647 says, "I pray that you'd have a spirit 0:12:09.647,0:12:11.067 of wisdom and revelation 0:12:11.067,0:12:12.815 in the knowledge of Him." 0:12:12.815,0:12:15.172 And he prays that the Spirit would 0:12:15.172,0:12:17.292 light up our hearts. 0:12:17.292,0:12:20.002 Is your heart being lit up? 0:12:20.002,0:12:24.403 What did the disciples say [br]on the road back to Emmaus? 0:12:24.403,0:12:26.022 Or the road from Emmaus? 0:12:26.022,0:12:28.126 As Jesus opens up the Scriptures, 0:12:28.126,0:12:30.823 they go, "did not our hearts 0:12:30.823,0:12:35.120 burn within us?" 0:12:35.120,0:12:36.551 Mormons aren't the only people 0:12:36.551,0:12:39.628 who should be talking [br]about the burning heart. 0:12:39.628,0:12:41.545 Man oh man, we have the heart 0:12:41.545,0:12:46.548 that should burn after God's truth. 0:12:46.548,0:12:49.006 You want that, beloved. 0:12:49.006,0:12:51.172 You want more of that? 0:12:51.172,0:12:53.109 I hate every day I go through life 0:12:53.109,0:12:55.427 without the fullness of that. 0:12:55.427,0:12:58.574 It's a sadness to the Christian 0:12:58.574,0:13:01.057 not to see more of the Lord 0:13:01.057,0:13:03.359 and to have - just listen to it - 0:13:03.359,0:13:06.993 "I will manifest Myself to you." 0:13:06.993,0:13:09.237 "I'm going to show you more of Me." 0:13:09.237,0:13:12.129 "I'm going to make your soul [br]quake with My holiness." 0:13:12.129,0:13:14.757 "I'm going to make your [br]heart melt with My love." 0:13:14.757,0:13:18.029 "I'm going to make your heart [br]thrill with My promises." 0:13:18.029,0:13:19.859 "I'm going to show you more about Me." 0:13:19.859,0:13:22.398 In Ephesians 1 it says, [br]"That the eyes of your heart 0:13:22.398,0:13:24.471 might be enlightened, that you might know 0:13:24.471,0:13:26.267 the power that's at work in you." 0:13:26.267,0:13:28.819 That you might know the [br]inheritance that you have. 0:13:28.819,0:13:30.922 That you might know [br]the hope that you have. 0:13:30.922,0:13:32.443 So that heaven is not something 0:13:32.443,0:13:35.026 distant and abstract, [br]but it's lit up in your heart. 0:13:35.026,0:13:36.316 So that being God's people 0:13:36.316,0:13:38.251 is not just like, yeah, I'm a Christian, 0:13:38.251,0:13:39.759 but it's gripping your heart, 0:13:39.759,0:13:41.248 so that resurrection power 0:13:41.248,0:13:43.125 is not something distant and abstract, 0:13:43.125,0:13:45.468 but it's something where [br]you face a temptation 0:13:45.468,0:13:49.119 and you're like, [br]"I have resurrection power!" 0:13:49.119,0:13:50.691 "I know it!" 0:13:50.691,0:13:54.464 "I know it's at work in me." 0:13:54.464,0:13:56.171 And the pathway into more and more 0:13:56.171,0:13:57.753 knowledge of the Lord like that 0:13:57.753,0:14:01.634 is greater and greater obedience. 0:14:01.634,0:14:05.951 This generation is so [br]confused about obedience. 0:14:05.951,0:14:08.337 Every single time you [br]mention the word obedience 0:14:08.337,0:14:10.378 in this generation, someone is going to 0:14:10.378,0:14:12.708 start talking about legalism. 0:14:12.708,0:14:17.317 Beloved, obedience is not legalism. 0:14:17.317,0:14:20.030 Legalism is one of two things. 0:14:20.030,0:14:21.543 Legalism is when someone says, 0:14:21.543,0:14:23.303 "you need to obey this 0:14:23.303,0:14:25.371 and then you'll be accepted by God." 0:14:25.371,0:14:27.547 That's legalism. 0:14:27.547,0:14:30.099 Legalism is when someone adds to the Bible 0:14:30.099,0:14:31.329 what's not in the Bible 0:14:31.329,0:14:32.969 and says, "Thus saith the Lord," 0:14:32.969,0:14:34.748 when the Lord didn't say anything. 0:14:34.748,0:14:37.415 That's legalism. 0:14:37.415,0:14:39.376 But the Lord Jesus, when He told us 0:14:39.376,0:14:42.697 to go and teach people to [br]obey everything He commanded 0:14:42.697,0:14:44.528 was not the world's greatest legalist, 0:14:44.528,0:14:47.599 He was the world's greatest Savior. 0:14:47.599,0:14:51.117 He was leading His people to follow 0:14:51.117,0:14:53.450 the One who had set their souls free 0:14:53.450,0:14:56.606 with truth. 0:14:56.606,0:14:59.815 And He knew that as He [br]led them in obedience, 0:14:59.815,0:15:02.421 they weren't just going [br]to be His rule keepers, 0:15:02.421,0:15:04.036 they were going to be increasing 0:15:04.036,0:15:06.398 in the knowledge of Christ. 0:15:06.398,0:15:08.589 Knowing Him more. 0:15:08.589,0:15:10.078 And you ought to meet 0:15:10.078,0:15:13.128 every command in the Scripture 0:15:13.128,0:15:15.915 as a wide open door of possibility 0:15:15.915,0:15:19.182 to know your God better. 0:15:19.182,0:15:20.826 Isn't that amazing? 0:15:20.826,0:15:22.416 We get a command and we're like, 0:15:22.416,0:15:25.127 "that's going to cost me." 0:15:25.127,0:15:27.602 "That's going to pinch me." 0:15:27.602,0:15:30.228 "That's going to limit me." 0:15:30.228,0:15:31.968 "That's going to hinder me." 0:15:31.968,0:15:34.131 Rather than thinking, [br]that's going to open me 0:15:34.131,0:15:38.169 wide open to knowing Him better. 0:15:38.169,0:15:43.127 So here in Philemon 1:6, 0:15:43.127,0:15:47.647 the Apostle Paul puts a big umbrella 0:15:47.647,0:15:48.914 over the whole book - 0:15:48.914,0:15:50.876 a big prayer covering 0:15:50.876,0:15:52.258 over the whole book - 0:15:52.258,0:15:54.857 and the prayer is that Philemon, 0:15:54.857,0:15:56.366 by the sharing of his faith, 0:15:56.366,0:15:59.786 would become effective [br]for the full knowledge 0:15:59.786,0:16:01.328 of every good thing that's in us 0:16:01.328,0:16:04.462 for the sake of Christ. 0:16:04.462,0:16:06.101 Now, in our English versions, 0:16:06.101,0:16:08.477 this term "pray for the [br]sharing of our faith," 0:16:08.477,0:16:10.535 we can't help but think of evangelism. 0:16:10.535,0:16:12.992 We call evangelism "sharing your faith." 0:16:12.992,0:16:14.160 And that's good. 0:16:14.160,0:16:15.805 Evangelism is sharing your faith, 0:16:15.805,0:16:18.849 but evangelism is really [br]not the main focus 0:16:18.849,0:16:20.779 of the book of Philemon. 0:16:20.779,0:16:23.161 And the whole idea here [br]of sharing your faith 0:16:23.161,0:16:25.930 is really "koinonia" your faith. 0:16:25.930,0:16:28.329 Participation in your faith. 0:16:28.329,0:16:30.185 A sharing of your faith. 0:16:30.185,0:16:31.593 So it's really this idea of: 0:16:31.593,0:16:33.997 I want you to live [br]out your faith, Philemon. 0:16:33.997,0:16:36.264 I want you to put into practice: 0:16:36.264,0:16:37.767 Christ is a forgiving God. 0:16:37.767,0:16:39.431 I want you to put into practice 0:16:39.431,0:16:41.432 that forgiveness towards Onesimus. 0:16:41.432,0:16:43.679 Christ is a God who makes people 0:16:43.679,0:16:45.765 from different backgrounds brothers. 0:16:45.765,0:16:48.346 I want you to put that [br]into practice, Philemon. 0:16:48.346,0:16:50.245 And as you put that in practice; 0:16:50.245,0:16:51.946 as you share your faith 0:16:51.946,0:16:54.116 and participate in your faith 0:16:54.116,0:16:56.516 and have this koinonia with the truth, 0:16:56.516,0:16:58.713 what is going to happen to you, Philemon, 0:16:58.713,0:17:00.798 is that you are going to find 0:17:00.798,0:17:03.863 that this becomes effective - 0:17:03.863,0:17:06.293 not possible brothers - 0:17:06.293,0:17:10.500 effective for the full knowledge 0:17:10.500,0:17:13.869 of what we have in us 0:17:13.869,0:17:17.289 through the Lord Jesus Christ. 0:17:17.289,0:17:19.788 For the full knowledge of every good thing 0:17:19.788,0:17:32.325 that is in us for the sake of Christ. 0:17:32.325,0:17:35.302 This principle that obedience leads 0:17:35.302,0:17:38.161 to greater understanding of the truth, 0:17:38.161,0:17:40.770 it's all over the Bible. 0:17:40.770,0:17:43.729 It's an evangelistic principle. 0:17:43.729,0:17:45.606 John 7:17, 0:17:45.606,0:17:47.827 "If anyone's will is to do God's will, 0:17:47.827,0:17:50.108 he will know whether [br]the teaching is from God 0:17:50.108,0:17:53.587 or whether I am speaking [br]on My own authority." 0:17:53.587,0:17:56.688 If there's anyone here who doesn't know 0:17:56.688,0:17:59.488 that God's teaching comes through Christ, 0:17:59.488,0:18:01.689 I'll tell you why you don't know. 0:18:01.689,0:18:03.930 Because you're not willing to do it. 0:18:03.930,0:18:05.895 You're not willing to do it. 0:18:05.895,0:18:07.799 There is some magazine under your bed; 0:18:07.799,0:18:09.617 there's something under your Internet; 0:18:09.617,0:18:11.458 there's something in your family; 0:18:11.458,0:18:14.358 there's some obedience you [br]know you'd be called to 0:18:14.358,0:18:16.057 and you don't want to do it. 0:18:16.057,0:18:18.247 And there's some piece [br]of pride in your heart 0:18:18.247,0:18:19.869 that you don't want to let go of, 0:18:19.869,0:18:22.079 and you do not want to let go of it[br]because the minute that you do, 0:18:22.079,0:18:26.976 I'll tell you what, you'll know [br]that it's really from God. 0:18:26.976,0:18:30.497 You're in a moral coverup. 0:18:30.497,0:18:32.137 You're holding on to your own sin 0:18:32.137,0:18:35.069 until you can't even see the truth. 0:18:35.069,0:18:37.562 But the minute you're willing to obey, 0:18:37.562,0:18:39.727 He'll show you it's all true. 0:18:39.727,0:18:42.192 Isn't that amazing? 0:18:42.192,0:18:45.425 It goes on not just in our evangelism, 0:18:45.425,0:18:47.220 but this principle that obedience 0:18:47.220,0:18:48.795 leads to greater revelation 0:18:48.795,0:18:52.158 can be found in Colossians 1:10. 0:18:52.158,0:18:53.889 And when I say greater revelation, 0:18:53.889,0:18:56.057 I don't mean you obey [br]and you get something 0:18:56.057,0:18:57.447 better than the Bible. 0:18:57.447,0:18:59.230 I mean you obey and you get deeper, 0:18:59.230,0:19:03.190 sweeter insight into the Bible. 0:19:03.190,0:19:05.512 Colossians 1:10, 0:19:05.512,0:19:07.662 the Apostle Paul - we'll start in v. 9 - 0:19:07.662,0:19:08.925 starts praying here again. 0:19:08.925,0:19:10.411 "And so from the day we heard, 0:19:10.411,0:19:12.323 we have not ceased to pray for you 0:19:12.323,0:19:14.638 asking that you may be filled 0:19:14.638,0:19:16.557 with all the knowledge of His will 0:19:16.557,0:19:18.858 in all spiritual wisdom [br]and understanding." 0:19:18.858,0:19:20.478 So I want you to know God's will 0:19:20.478,0:19:22.014 and I don't want you [br]to be fools about it. 0:19:22.014,0:19:24.708 I want you to know it in spiritual [br]wisdom and understanding. 0:19:24.708,0:19:26.135 I want you to have some savvy 0:19:26.135,0:19:28.658 and some spiritual insight. 0:19:28.658,0:19:30.660 And so I want you to know God's will 0:19:30.660,0:19:32.108 in all spiritual wisdom [br]and understanding 0:19:32.108,0:19:34.723 so that you can walk in a [br]manner worthy of the Lord. 0:19:34.723,0:19:37.317 So, you're obedient; walking in [br]a manner worthy of the Lord. 0:19:37.317,0:19:38.838 "Fully pleasing to Him, 0:19:38.838,0:19:40.495 bearing fruit in every good work 0:19:40.495,0:19:46.057 and increasing in the knowledge of God." 0:19:46.057,0:19:48.727 I want you to have mature, 0:19:48.727,0:19:51.675 balanced obedience 0:19:51.675,0:19:53.553 so that you will increase 0:19:53.553,0:19:57.306 in the knowledge of God. 0:19:57.306,0:20:03.639 The same principle's in Ephesians 3:14-21. 0:20:03.639,0:20:07.093 Ephesians 3 - maybe my favorite passage 0:20:07.093,0:20:09.679 in the New Testament. 0:20:09.679,0:20:12.856 Ephesians 3:14-21. 0:20:12.856,0:20:14.729 The Apostle Paul says, 0:20:14.729,0:20:16.661 "For this reason, I bow my knees 0:20:16.661,0:20:18.477 before the Father, 0:20:18.477,0:20:20.229 from whom every family in heaven 0:20:20.229,0:20:22.088 and on earth is named, 0:20:22.088,0:20:24.135 that according to the riches of His glory, 0:20:24.135,0:20:25.849 He may grant you to be strengthened 0:20:25.849,0:20:28.273 with power through His [br]Spirit in your inner being." 0:20:28.273,0:20:29.811 So, the first thing Paul prays: 0:20:29.811,0:20:32.242 I want you to have power.[br]I want you to have spiritual power. 0:20:32.242,0:20:33.815 That's what you need to obey. 0:20:33.815,0:20:35.638 That's what you need [br]to do with will of God. 0:20:35.638,0:20:36.897 You need spiritual power. 0:20:36.897,0:20:39.180 You don't just need it on [br]the outside coercing you. 0:20:39.180,0:20:40.865 You need it on the inside. 0:20:40.865,0:20:42.867 And I want to ask that you get this power 0:20:42.867,0:20:46.851 in your inner man, 0:20:46.851,0:20:49.583 so that... 0:20:49.583,0:20:53.098 Christ might dwell in your hearts 0:20:53.098,0:20:55.418 through faith. 0:20:55.418,0:20:58.709 Well, isn't Christ already [br]dwelling in our hearts? 0:20:58.709,0:21:00.367 Yes, He is. 0:21:00.367,0:21:02.103 Yet the word here is oikodomia. 0:21:02.103,0:21:05.634 It's this idea of settling down at home. 0:21:05.634,0:21:08.072 Settling down at home. 0:21:08.072,0:21:09.848 One person has illustrated this 0:21:09.848,0:21:11.464 that when you move into a house 0:21:11.464,0:21:13.208 and decide you don't like the color 0:21:13.208,0:21:14.239 of the living room, 0:21:14.239,0:21:15.975 so you paint it the color you want. 0:21:15.975,0:21:18.248 You don't really like that lima bean green 0:21:18.248,0:21:19.288 in the bathroom, 0:21:19.288,0:21:21.287 so you change that one up too. 0:21:21.287,0:21:22.917 You wanted a patio in the back, 0:21:22.917,0:21:24.410 so you build one of those. 0:21:24.410,0:21:27.987 And after ten years, [br]you're like, this place... 0:21:27.987,0:21:29.966 this is home. 0:21:29.966,0:21:31.630 Well, Christ moves in and He's like 0:21:31.630,0:21:33.986 I'm not really sure I like what [br]you're doing in the bedroom, 0:21:33.986,0:21:35.636 so He rearranges things. 0:21:35.636,0:21:38.033 I'm not sure I like what [br]you're doing in the wallet. 0:21:38.033,0:21:40.039 So He rearranges things. 0:21:40.039,0:21:43.342 And then He settles down [br]increasingly at home. 0:21:43.342,0:21:45.001 And pretty soon, you open your wallet, 0:21:45.001,0:21:46.828 and you know you've got His smile. 0:21:46.828,0:21:49.628 You walk into the bedroom,[br]you know you've got His smile. 0:21:49.628,0:21:51.917 You turn on the TV or turn off the TV, 0:21:51.917,0:21:56.450 whichever it is and you know[br]you've got His smile. 0:21:56.450,0:22:00.296 And you want that power in the inner man 0:22:00.296,0:22:02.976 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts 0:22:02.976,0:22:04.327 through faith. 0:22:04.327,0:22:06.027 And then he goes on, 0:22:06.027,0:22:08.517 "...so that Christ may dwell [br]in your hearts through faith 0:22:08.517,0:22:11.700 that you being rooted [br]and grounded in love." 0:22:11.700,0:22:14.747 Your roots are just soaking [br]up the love of Christ. 0:22:14.747,0:22:16.468 "...May have strength to comprehend 0:22:16.468,0:22:18.341 with all the saints what is the breadth 0:22:18.341,0:22:20.097 and length and height and depth 0:22:20.097,0:22:22.620 and to know the love of Christ 0:22:22.620,0:22:26.868 that surpasses knowledge." 0:22:26.868,0:22:28.767 Man, it's important to have knowledge 0:22:28.767,0:22:30.836 in the Christian life. 0:22:30.836,0:22:37.534 Careful, clear, doctrinal knowledge. 0:22:37.534,0:22:39.533 And once you've got it all right, 0:22:39.533,0:22:42.499 God will blow it up with His love 0:22:42.499,0:22:43.466 and go beyond it. 0:22:43.466,0:22:45.503 He does not bypass knowledge. 0:22:45.503,0:22:48.498 But He does surpass [br]knowledge, doesn't He. 0:22:48.498,0:22:53.515 He goes beyond knowledge, doesn't He. 0:22:53.515,0:22:55.518 You want to know God like that? 0:22:55.518,0:22:57.849 I love the story of the preacher. 0:22:57.849,0:22:59.978 He prayed that God would [br]show Him to himself 0:22:59.978,0:23:01.640 in more intimacy and power. 0:23:01.640,0:23:03.993 And the Lord just descended on him one day 0:23:03.993,0:23:06.995 and eventually he had to ask Him to stop. 0:23:06.995,0:23:11.058 He was receiving such [br]manifestations of Christ. 0:23:11.058,0:23:13.187 I find in this generation, most of us 0:23:13.187,0:23:17.070 are just walking around going, "start!" 0:23:17.070,0:23:19.673 I want to live in a "stop" generation. 0:23:19.673,0:23:21.737 Lord, it's too much. 0:23:21.737,0:23:25.138 It's too much for me. 0:23:25.138,0:23:26.652 C.H. Spurgeon said, 0:23:26.652,0:23:28.511 "There is as much difference between 0:23:28.511,0:23:30.761 a mature Christian and immature Christian 0:23:30.761,0:23:34.599 as there is between a [br]believer and an unbeliever." 0:23:34.599,0:23:37.315 There's no end to the heights, brothers. 0:23:37.315,0:23:38.760 There's no end of the heights 0:23:38.760,0:23:39.974 of the knowledge of God 0:23:39.974,0:23:41.425 that we can be brought into, 0:23:41.425,0:23:43.354 and yet some people are apathetic 0:23:43.354,0:23:44.520 in the Christian walk 0:23:44.520,0:23:46.853 and they scoot back from obedience 0:23:46.853,0:23:50.090 as if they're keeping some [br]freedom for themselves. 0:23:50.090,0:23:52.157 We're only cheating ourselves when we 0:23:52.157,0:23:57.280 don't walk in obedience to the Lord. 0:23:57.280,0:23:59.112 Obedience is the pathway 0:23:59.112,0:24:01.231 to further manifestation; 0:24:01.231,0:24:02.589 to further illumination; 0:24:02.589,0:24:06.319 to further revelation from the Scriptures 0:24:06.319,0:24:08.635 of what God is like and who He is for you, 0:24:08.635,0:24:10.023 and not only that, 0:24:10.023,0:24:13.666 but who you have been made in Him. 0:24:13.666,0:24:15.522 I don't know about you, but I find 0:24:15.522,0:24:17.485 the greatest moments of being a Christian 0:24:17.485,0:24:21.313 are when I just realize I am a Christian. 0:24:21.313,0:24:23.780 Man, I'm a Christian! 0:24:23.780,0:24:25.899 Saved before the world's foundation. 0:24:25.899,0:24:28.605 Before there was a creation, [br]I was on His mind. 0:24:28.605,0:24:30.660 He knew I would see the revelation, 0:24:30.660,0:24:32.255 Him in all His adoration, 0:24:32.255,0:24:33.920 knowing I was His creation, 0:24:33.920,0:24:36.217 He walked up Calvary's hill to save me, 0:24:36.217,0:24:39.481 before the world's foundation, [br]I was on His mind. 0:24:39.481,0:24:42.536 I was with Him all the time. 0:24:42.536,0:24:45.842 It's incredible! 0:24:45.842,0:24:49.120 And now I'm a new creation. 0:24:49.120,0:24:53.703 Now the third Person of the Trinity 0:24:53.703,0:24:56.167 has decided to dwell in me, 0:24:56.167,0:24:58.245 so that He can cause me to call out 0:24:58.245,0:25:00.098 to the first Person of the Trinity, 0:25:00.098,0:25:01.522 "Abba, Father," 0:25:01.522,0:25:03.437 through the second Person of the Trinity 0:25:03.437,0:25:06.743 who loved me and gave Himself for me. 0:25:06.743,0:25:09.843 What a thing it is to be just a Christian! 0:25:09.843,0:25:12.962 I just want to walk through [br]life knowing I'm a Christian. 0:25:12.962,0:25:15.530 I need the full knowledge 0:25:15.530,0:25:17.792 of all that God's done in me. 0:25:17.792,0:25:19.907 That's what I need. 0:25:19.907,0:25:21.696 And all of a sudden [br]when you get intimidated, 0:25:21.696,0:25:23.231 I don't know if you've [br]ever experienced this, 0:25:23.231,0:25:25.462 but there's some people I'm [br]intimidated to witness to, 0:25:25.462,0:25:28.265 and there's some people I'm [br]not intimidated to witness to. 0:25:28.265,0:25:32.313 It's just my shameful pride [br]that makes it that way. 0:25:32.313,0:25:34.548 There are some people [br]I feel a little better than, 0:25:34.548,0:25:36.108 so I just head right in there 0:25:36.108,0:25:37.963 and give the gospel to them. 0:25:37.963,0:25:38.937 There's some people, 0:25:38.937,0:25:41.097 I don't want them to think I'm a fool, 0:25:41.097,0:25:43.606 so I'm a little bit more sophisticated 0:25:43.606,0:25:45.650 I like to think. 0:25:45.650,0:25:50.386 Cowardly is the real word. 0:25:50.386,0:25:53.551 What would I need to overcome that? 0:25:53.551,0:25:56.410 Just a full knowledge that [br]I'm a child of the King! 0:25:56.410,0:25:58.197 That all I would ever need to be bold 0:25:58.197,0:25:59.844 is already in me, 0:25:59.844,0:26:03.620 and He wants to help me. 0:26:03.620,0:26:05.180 And that, brothers, comes 0:26:05.180,0:26:07.991 through a life of obedience. 0:26:07.991,0:26:11.694 It comes through a life [br]of running from sin 0:26:11.694,0:26:13.610 and running towards righteousness. 0:26:13.610,0:26:15.253 Now, I don't mean that now 0:26:15.253,0:26:17.490 you can only trust God's going to help you 0:26:17.490,0:26:19.120 when you've been perfect that day. 0:26:19.120,0:26:21.203 That's not what I'm talking about at all. 0:26:21.203,0:26:22.740 That's legalism. 0:26:22.740,0:26:25.107 God's not helping you [br]unless you're perfect. 0:26:25.107,0:26:27.080 That's not what I'm talking about. 0:26:27.080,0:26:29.738 We all stumble in many ways. 0:26:29.738,0:26:31.634 But I am talking about a bent; 0:26:31.634,0:26:33.234 I'm talking about an orientation; 0:26:33.234,0:26:35.492 I'm talking about direction 0:26:35.492,0:26:37.487 that says I'm going towards Christ 0:26:37.487,0:26:39.156 all the time. 0:26:39.156,0:26:41.319 And whenever I see myself fall from that, 0:26:41.319,0:26:43.056 I'm asking Him to forgive me 0:26:43.056,0:26:45.815 and I keep walking towards the light. 0:26:45.815,0:26:49.632 Men like that keep getting more light. 0:26:49.632,0:26:52.982 They keep getting more [br]manifestation of Christ 0:26:52.982,0:26:55.800 to their souls. 0:26:55.800,0:26:57.691 So Paul is saying here to Philemon, 0:26:57.691,0:27:02.722 listen, there's a guy who's a slave. 0:27:02.722,0:27:04.460 You're a slave owner. 0:27:04.460,0:27:06.319 Slave owners and slaves - 0:27:06.319,0:27:08.468 you're not really notorious 0:27:08.468,0:27:12.600 for having warm, [br]intimate fellowship, right? 0:27:12.600,0:27:16.970 Not only that - that he is a slave, 0:27:16.970,0:27:19.306 and that you are a slave holder, 0:27:19.306,0:27:21.650 he's done you wrong 0:27:21.650,0:27:24.149 and you've been wronged. 0:27:24.149,0:27:26.236 And not only that, 0:27:26.236,0:27:28.517 but he's ashamed 0:27:28.517,0:27:31.542 and you know why he's ashamed. 0:27:31.542,0:27:33.687 And I want you to extend [br]forgiveness to him, 0:27:33.697,0:27:35.477 and I want you to know what it's like 0:27:35.477,0:27:37.436 to have him as a brother. 0:27:37.436,0:27:39.167 I want you to know what it's like 0:27:39.167,0:27:40.944 to see God be the glory 0:27:40.944,0:27:42.313 and the lifter of his head 0:27:42.313,0:27:44.192 and take his shame away. 0:27:44.192,0:27:46.563 I want you to see that God forgave you 0:27:46.563,0:27:48.187 and now you get to forgive him. 0:27:48.187,0:27:52.147 And I want you to feel the pulsing [br]love of Christ in your heart 0:27:52.147,0:27:55.020 forgiving him. 0:27:55.020,0:27:58.278 We've been called to [br]walk as Christ walked, 0:27:58.278,0:27:59.844 to fellowship in His sufferings, 0:27:59.844,0:28:01.457 to fellowship in His forgiveness, 0:28:01.457,0:28:06.670 to fellowship in His mercy. 0:28:06.670,0:28:12.614 And that's what Paul is [br]inviting Philemon into. 0:28:12.614,0:28:15.790 So let me just leave [br]you with this, brothers. 0:28:15.790,0:28:18.891 Speak this truth. 0:28:18.891,0:28:20.542 We're called to lead. 0:28:20.542,0:28:22.162 You speak this truth. 0:28:22.162,0:28:23.749 Speak it everywhere you have 0:28:23.749,0:28:25.415 even a grain of influence, 0:28:25.415,0:28:26.886 and you speak it to each other 0:28:26.886,0:28:29.440 over the course of [br]the rest of this retreat. 0:28:29.440,0:28:30.920 Speak this truth: 0:28:30.920,0:28:33.401 "Oh brother, I hope that God 0:28:33.401,0:28:35.216 will help you to walk in the faith 0:28:35.216,0:28:37.493 so you'll know more about the faith. 0:28:37.493,0:28:40.169 I hope that God will help [br]you to walk in obedience 0:28:40.169,0:28:44.170 so that you'll know more of Him." 0:28:44.170,0:28:45.887 Don't just speak this truth. 0:28:45.887,0:28:46.959 Pray this truth. 0:28:46.959,0:28:49.028 Did you notice that I've read four texts 0:28:49.028,0:28:51.264 that prove that obedience leads 0:28:51.264,0:28:53.572 to greater manifestations of Christ, 0:28:53.572,0:28:58.521 and three of them were prayers? 0:28:58.521,0:29:02.464 Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon - 0:29:02.464,0:29:06.164 those were all, "And I pray..." 0:29:06.164,0:29:07.801 Brothers, leadership doesn't start 0:29:07.801,0:29:11.081 with you talking to people. 0:29:11.081,0:29:14.638 It doesn't start with you [br]at the front of people. 0:29:14.638,0:29:17.162 It starts where no one sees us 0:29:17.162,0:29:19.654 except our Father. 0:29:19.654,0:29:23.440 It starts with us talking [br]about people to God. 0:29:23.440,0:29:25.169 Lord, would You let them see? 0:29:25.169,0:29:26.690 Lord, would You let them obey? 0:29:26.690,0:29:28.724 Lord, would You let them grow in obedience 0:29:28.724,0:29:31.420 so they can know more of You? 0:29:31.420,0:29:32.812 You know what that does? 0:29:32.812,0:29:34.826 That helps you trust the promises of God 0:29:34.826,0:29:36.601 for other believers. 0:29:36.601,0:29:38.588 One of the biggest problems that happens 0:29:38.588,0:29:39.933 when we try to lead people, 0:29:39.933,0:29:42.341 is they get the impression [br]that we don't think 0:29:42.341,0:29:46.669 they're actually going to grow. 0:29:46.669,0:29:50.901 "You really need to do this... 0:29:50.901,0:29:53.802 Really need to." 0:29:53.802,0:29:58.093 Listen to what Paul says in Philemon. 0:29:58.093,0:30:01.600 He says that he's confident that Philemon 0:30:01.600,0:30:04.182 will obey. 0:30:04.182,0:30:06.654 Do people get that from you? 0:30:06.654,0:30:09.265 "Man, I just know that [br]God's at work in your life. 0:30:09.265,0:30:12.228 I'm sure you're going to [br]come around to the truth. 0:30:12.228,0:30:15.691 I'm just confident that [br]you're going to obey." 0:30:15.691,0:30:16.898 Now, I'll admit to you, 0:30:16.898,0:30:18.332 there are some Christians - 0:30:18.332,0:30:19.703 their lives are dicey. 0:30:19.703,0:30:23.706 There are harder moments [br]to believe that isn't there? 0:30:23.706,0:30:27.429 You know what Paul said to the Galatians? 0:30:27.429,0:30:31.796 I'm confident you'll take [br]no other view than mine. 0:30:31.796,0:30:33.689 Even in this urgent moment, 0:30:33.689,0:30:36.890 he's like: these are believers. 0:30:36.890,0:30:39.692 They're going to turn around. 0:30:39.692,0:30:42.538 And in Philemon, he does [br]the exact same thing. 0:30:42.538,0:30:45.513 In chapter 1:21, when he says, 0:30:45.513,0:30:47.565 "I'm confident of your obedience. 0:30:47.565,0:30:49.511 I write to you knowing that you will do 0:30:49.511,0:30:51.703 even more than I say." 0:30:51.703,0:30:53.661 Well, that's even more isn't it? 0:30:53.661,0:30:56.931 I'm laying out to you what I [br]hope Christ will do in your heart. 0:30:56.931,0:31:04.729 I just know you're going [br]to do more than that. 0:31:04.729,0:31:09.467 Brothers, there's a power that comes 0:31:09.467,0:31:14.207 when someone godly expresses 0:31:14.207,0:31:17.039 the truth about God towards you. 0:31:17.039,0:31:19.566 It's not the power of legalism. 0:31:19.566,0:31:22.694 It's the power that John Paton spoke about 0:31:22.694,0:31:24.214 when his father raised him 0:31:24.214,0:31:25.960 and poured into him all those years, 0:31:25.960,0:31:28.646 and then he left his father[br]in the hills of Scotland, 0:31:28.646,0:31:34.160 and he said, "I just never [br]wanted to displease that man." 0:31:34.160,0:31:36.197 When someone older and wiser 0:31:36.197,0:31:37.418 looks at you and says, 0:31:37.418,0:31:39.544 "Jesus is working in you, 0:31:39.544,0:31:41.872 I just know you're going to [br]go above and beyond 0:31:41.872,0:31:43.159 and really walk with Him," 0:31:43.159,0:31:44.489 you really walk away like, 0:31:44.489,0:31:46.010 "Oh Lord, I hope that's true! 0:31:46.010,0:31:48.724 I want to see that be real in my life. 0:31:48.724,0:31:50.378 I want to see that. 0:31:50.378,0:31:55.301 I don't want to make that [br]hero of mine ashamed." 0:31:55.301,0:31:57.954 Those are wonderful, [br]wonderful motivations. 0:31:57.954,0:32:04.305 Fear is not the only motivation. 0:32:04.305,0:32:07.693 You need to speak this truth. 0:32:07.693,0:32:10.510 You need to pray this truth. 0:32:10.510,0:32:12.608 I don't know what you all do [br]for these kinds of things. 0:32:12.608,0:32:16.155 I keep a picture book [br]of our church with me 0:32:16.155,0:32:18.484 and pray for our people. 0:32:18.484,0:32:20.961 This would be one of the [br]things I'd want to pray. 0:32:20.961,0:32:27.405 Lord, would You just help them to[br]obey You so they'd know You. 0:32:27.405,0:32:29.294 The last thing I want to leave you with 0:32:29.294,0:32:33.547 is would you trust this truth tonight? 0:32:33.547,0:32:39.858 Would you take - or, [br]I'm confident you will take 0:32:39.858,0:32:43.584 a practical next step. 0:32:43.584,0:32:46.058 What is it? 0:32:46.058,0:32:48.596 What is it for you? 0:32:48.596,0:32:50.707 I've been a Christian long enough to know 0:32:50.707,0:32:52.230 there's almost always something 0:32:52.230,0:32:55.975 gnawing at the conscience of a Christian. 0:32:55.975,0:32:57.355 Right? 0:32:57.355,0:33:00.997 I know I need to grow. 0:33:00.997,0:33:03.286 Well, let the Holy Spirit [br]fill in the blank. 0:33:03.286,0:33:04.887 It's not the same for everyone. 0:33:04.887,0:33:06.647 Some people - they can barely 0:33:06.647,0:33:08.724 pull themselves away from pornography. 0:33:08.724,0:33:12.078 Some people - they aren't [br]even tempted to look. 0:33:12.078,0:33:15.700 We face different struggles, [br]don't we, brothers? 0:33:15.700,0:33:17.699 Some people are just naturally frugal. 0:33:17.699,0:33:22.742 Some people just naturally aren't. 0:33:22.742,0:33:25.309 But we each stumble in many ways, 0:33:25.309,0:33:27.424 and we each have areas the Holy Spirit 0:33:27.424,0:33:29.438 puts His finger on 0:33:29.438,0:33:32.989 and says, "That one's next." 0:33:32.989,0:33:34.722 And when He says, "That one's next," 0:33:34.722,0:33:40.055 our flesh screams. 0:33:40.055,0:33:43.256 "Don't touch that one!" 0:33:43.256,0:33:47.905 "I'll give You one of those [br]things I'm good at obeying." 0:33:47.905,0:33:50.905 I had a guy ask me one time, 0:33:50.905,0:33:57.599 how does God help you to be bold? 0:33:57.599,0:33:59.935 He was kind of a timid guy. 0:33:59.935,0:34:01.625 How does God help you to be bold? 0:34:01.625,0:34:03.570 I said I'm going to be honest with you. 0:34:03.570,0:34:05.856 That's not really my problem. 0:34:05.856,0:34:08.382 I don't have problems [br]being bold in preaching. 0:34:08.382,0:34:12.383 I've got problems in being [br]compassionate in preaching. 0:34:12.383,0:34:15.383 I've got problems being sweet. 0:34:15.383,0:34:18.593 That's where the Holy Spirit [br]might put His finger on me. 0:34:18.593,0:34:22.243 Where does He put His finger on you? 0:34:22.243,0:34:25.168 That very place is a precious invitation 0:34:25.168,0:34:29.306 from the Lord to know Him more. 0:34:29.306,0:34:33.699 He wants to reveal [br]Himself increasingly to you. 0:34:33.699,0:34:35.168 And this isn't tit-for-tat. 0:34:35.168,0:34:37.622 Hey, I had a good day. [br]Where was my revelation? 0:34:37.622,0:34:39.418 That isn't how this works, okay. 0:34:39.418,0:34:41.559 God is not your genie - 0:34:41.559,0:34:43.350 if you do 24/7 of obedience, 0:34:43.350,0:34:46.283 He'll give you a nice hour of [br]inundation with His presence. 0:34:46.283,0:34:47.785 That's not how this works. 0:34:47.785,0:34:49.983 This is all of grace. 0:34:49.983,0:34:52.303 It's all of His sovereign good hand. 0:34:52.303,0:34:54.903 But I'll tell you one place [br]He won't meet you: 0:34:54.903,0:34:58.540 disobedience. 0:34:58.540,0:35:00.937 He only has one thing [br]He'll do if He meets you 0:35:00.937,0:35:04.615 in disobedience and [br]that is He'll reprove you, 0:35:04.615,0:35:06.433 discipline you, 0:35:06.433,0:35:08.211 bring you back 0:35:08.211,0:35:10.655 even through showers of mercy. 0:35:10.655,0:35:12.480 But He wants to reveal Himself to you. 0:35:12.480,0:35:14.573 So you take that place,[br]you hold it in your heart. 0:35:14.573,0:35:16.353 Maybe you express it to a brother. 0:35:16.353,0:35:20.828 And you recognize that [br]place as holy ground 0:35:20.828,0:35:23.162 where God wants to begin to keep 0:35:23.162,0:35:24.328 walking you in obedience 0:35:24.328,0:35:27.597 because He's going to reveal [br]more of Himself to you. 0:35:27.597,0:35:30.485 He'll give you more illumination. 0:35:30.485,0:35:31.821 And when you speak to people 0:35:31.821,0:35:33.672 about the problems in their life, 0:35:33.672,0:35:35.368 you realize you're not just there 0:35:35.368,0:35:37.578 applying leadership principles. 0:35:37.578,0:35:39.294 That's not it. 0:35:39.294,0:35:41.278 You're not just trying to get them to be 0:35:41.278,0:35:42.947 more biblical or more conservative 0:35:42.947,0:35:45.617 or more whatever. 0:35:45.617,0:35:49.026 You're inviting them into [br]the knowledge of God. 0:35:49.026,0:35:50.824 You're eager to see them grow 0:35:50.824,0:35:53.358 in the knowledge of God. 0:35:53.358,0:35:55.793 And when that's there, brothers, 0:35:55.793,0:35:57.099 when that's there, 0:35:57.099,0:35:58.891 you get churches that can be 0:35:58.891,0:36:01.788 insanely obedient, 0:36:01.788,0:36:03.687 and they just get more gracious, 0:36:03.687,0:36:06.577 not more legalistic. 0:36:06.577,0:36:09.237 Because they're just all [br]digging for treasure. 0:36:09.237,0:36:12.072 Lord, give me more. 0:36:12.072,0:36:17.088 Let's pray. 0:36:17.088,0:36:19.594 Father, we thank You - 0:36:19.594,0:36:21.799 we thank You that You would choose us 0:36:21.799,0:36:23.246 and make us Christian, 0:36:23.246,0:36:25.190 but we pray that if there are any here 0:36:25.190,0:36:26.494 who don't know You, 0:36:26.494,0:36:28.358 that they would be willing to obey You 0:36:28.358,0:36:32.092 and You would show them that [br]Your teaching is from God. 0:36:32.092,0:36:33.743 Lord God, we come before You 0:36:33.743,0:36:36.326 and we ask You for those [br]of us who are Christians 0:36:36.326,0:36:38.725 that we would see those [br]areas You're pinpointing - 0:36:38.725,0:36:40.902 maybe an area of self-control, 0:36:40.902,0:36:43.268 maybe an area with our finances, 0:36:43.268,0:36:45.549 or an action towards our children, 0:36:45.549,0:36:48.072 or our wives - maybe it's a lot of things. 0:36:48.072,0:36:49.737 Maybe it's just one thing for now, 0:36:49.737,0:36:51.240 but Lord, whatever You open up, 0:36:51.240,0:36:52.894 we pray that we would just see it 0:36:52.894,0:36:54.957 as the pathway to knowing You better. 0:36:54.957,0:36:56.388 And we would just acknowledge 0:36:56.388,0:36:58.288 that You have made us know You, 0:36:58.288,0:37:00.058 and You've made us want nothing more 0:37:00.058,0:37:01.927 than to know You more. 0:37:01.927,0:37:04.258 So we would just follow that. 0:37:04.258,0:37:05.901 Lord, we plead with You for this, 0:37:05.901,0:37:09.172 in Christ's name, Amen.