1 00:00:00,057 --> 00:00:01,785 Well, I don't know how you convince 2 00:00:01,785 --> 00:00:03,645 a bunch of white boys 3 00:00:03,645 --> 00:00:06,055 and a bunch of black boys 4 00:00:06,055 --> 00:00:08,449 and a bunch of Latino boys 5 00:00:08,449 --> 00:00:09,906 to all gather together 6 00:00:09,906 --> 00:00:11,831 in a tiny little room 7 00:00:11,831 --> 00:00:18,062 on a miserable night in November 8 00:00:18,062 --> 00:00:20,947 to hear Bible preaching. 9 00:00:20,947 --> 00:00:22,117 That must be Jesus. 10 00:00:22,117 --> 00:00:26,822 So let's open the Bible together. 11 00:00:26,822 --> 00:00:30,148 So, last night for those of you that weren't here, 12 00:00:30,148 --> 00:00:33,393 we began looking at the book of Philemon. 13 00:00:33,393 --> 00:00:35,214 And we were talking about the fact 14 00:00:35,214 --> 00:00:37,884 that men are called to lead 15 00:00:37,884 --> 00:00:40,281 and they're called to lead well; 16 00:00:40,281 --> 00:00:42,515 they're called to lead biblically. 17 00:00:42,515 --> 00:00:44,307 They're called to lead themselves. 18 00:00:44,307 --> 00:00:46,009 They're called to lead their wives, 19 00:00:46,009 --> 00:00:47,312 their children. 20 00:00:47,312 --> 00:00:49,748 They're called to encourage their friends. 21 00:00:49,748 --> 00:00:52,616 And we saw that Paul is really the example 22 00:00:52,616 --> 00:00:55,197 of skill in leadership. 23 00:00:55,197 --> 00:00:57,836 And he led with his compelling character. 24 00:00:57,836 --> 00:00:59,968 He says, "I, Paul, an old man 25 00:00:59,968 --> 00:01:04,502 and a prisoner for the sake of Christ..." 26 00:01:04,502 --> 00:01:06,933 He led out of who he was 27 00:01:06,933 --> 00:01:09,356 and the weight of what God had done in his life. 28 00:01:09,356 --> 00:01:12,775 And then he led really by a compelling change 29 00:01:12,775 --> 00:01:15,210 that had happened in Philemon. 30 00:01:15,210 --> 00:01:17,147 He's trying to get, if you'll remember, 31 00:01:17,147 --> 00:01:19,244 he's trying to get Philemon 32 00:01:19,244 --> 00:01:23,476 to forgive Onesimus. 33 00:01:23,476 --> 00:01:26,296 Onesimus was a runaway slave 34 00:01:26,296 --> 00:01:28,134 who had done Philemon dirty 35 00:01:28,134 --> 00:01:29,995 and then stolen his money. 36 00:01:29,995 --> 00:01:32,224 And had really stolen himself 37 00:01:32,224 --> 00:01:33,506 away from Philemon. 38 00:01:33,506 --> 00:01:35,734 And now Paul was trying to get Philemon 39 00:01:35,734 --> 00:01:39,400 to forgive this runaway slave. 40 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:41,744 And so he first of all starts by saying 41 00:01:41,744 --> 00:01:42,745 you should do it; 42 00:01:42,745 --> 00:01:43,903 you should listen to me 43 00:01:43,903 --> 00:01:45,813 because I'm Paul, a prisoner, 44 00:01:45,813 --> 00:01:47,448 an old man for Christ. 45 00:01:47,448 --> 00:01:49,783 And then he goes, and then you should do it 46 00:01:49,783 --> 00:01:51,604 because this guy's now your brother. 47 00:01:51,604 --> 00:01:53,908 He's now my spiritual child. 48 00:01:53,908 --> 00:01:55,547 He's changed. 49 00:01:55,547 --> 00:01:57,792 He used to be - just like everyone in this room 50 00:01:57,792 --> 00:01:59,424 who is a Christian - 51 00:01:59,424 --> 00:02:01,634 he used to be useless. 52 00:02:01,634 --> 00:02:02,818 Now, he's useful. 53 00:02:02,818 --> 00:02:04,835 What a great way to think of yourself 54 00:02:04,835 --> 00:02:05,831 as a Christian. 55 00:02:05,831 --> 00:02:08,225 I used to be useless. 56 00:02:08,225 --> 00:02:10,963 Now, I'm useful. 57 00:02:10,963 --> 00:02:14,845 And then he did it by giving Philemon some space - 58 00:02:14,845 --> 00:02:16,552 the freedom of choice. 59 00:02:16,552 --> 00:02:18,579 He gave Philemon the liberty, 60 00:02:18,579 --> 00:02:20,677 and he said I don't want to constrain you. 61 00:02:20,677 --> 00:02:22,096 I don't want to force you. 62 00:02:22,096 --> 00:02:24,159 I wanted to send Onesimus back 63 00:02:24,159 --> 00:02:26,781 so you could think about doing the right thing 64 00:02:26,781 --> 00:02:29,680 and come to it for yourself. 65 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,261 And this evening, I want to focus 66 00:02:32,261 --> 00:02:36,535 on one verse in the book of Philemon, 67 00:02:36,535 --> 00:02:41,642 and it's verse 6. 68 00:02:41,642 --> 00:02:43,548 And it might sound like it at first, 69 00:02:43,548 --> 00:02:44,911 but I'll explain in a second 70 00:02:44,911 --> 00:02:47,276 why this is not an evangelism verse. 71 00:02:47,276 --> 00:02:51,378 Although, it certainly has some implications for evangelism. 72 00:02:51,378 --> 00:02:54,764 But in Philemon 1:6, it says, 73 00:02:54,764 --> 00:03:00,544 "And I pray that the sharing of your faith 74 00:03:00,544 --> 00:03:04,325 may become effective for the full knowledge 75 00:03:04,325 --> 00:03:06,478 of every good thing that is in us 76 00:03:06,478 --> 00:03:08,924 for the sake of Christ." 77 00:03:08,924 --> 00:03:14,195 "And I pray that the sharing of your faith 78 00:03:14,195 --> 00:03:16,776 may become effective 79 00:03:16,776 --> 00:03:19,342 for the full knowledge 80 00:03:19,342 --> 00:03:21,978 of every good thing that is in us 81 00:03:21,978 --> 00:03:23,520 for the sake of Christ." 82 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,055 Can you imagine that? 83 00:03:25,055 --> 00:03:29,347 Having a fuller knowledge of everything that is in you? 84 00:03:29,347 --> 00:03:31,827 For the sake of Christ. 85 00:03:31,827 --> 00:03:35,800 Knowing more about all that's in you 86 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,578 for the sake of Christ. 87 00:03:39,578 --> 00:03:44,254 Above all, brothers, above all, 88 00:03:44,254 --> 00:03:46,252 all the earthly treasures, 89 00:03:46,252 --> 00:03:51,020 what the Christian wants is to know God. 90 00:03:51,020 --> 00:03:53,852 That's the main thing every Christian wants 91 00:03:53,852 --> 00:03:55,163 is to know God. 92 00:03:55,163 --> 00:03:57,531 If you're not in touch with that right now, 93 00:03:57,531 --> 00:03:59,408 you're not in touch with the main thing 94 00:03:59,408 --> 00:04:02,037 that God has made new about you. 95 00:04:02,037 --> 00:04:05,056 That's that you want to know God. 96 00:04:05,056 --> 00:04:08,281 That's why you're gathered in this little tiny room 97 00:04:08,281 --> 00:04:12,787 is because we want to know God. 98 00:04:12,787 --> 00:04:14,819 The cry of the Christian is the cry 99 00:04:14,819 --> 00:04:17,177 of the Apostle Paul in Philippians - 100 00:04:17,177 --> 00:04:20,939 "That I might know Him." 101 00:04:20,939 --> 00:04:24,152 The difference between being of the world 102 00:04:24,152 --> 00:04:26,205 and being of Christ is the world 103 00:04:26,205 --> 00:04:27,710 does not know Him 104 00:04:27,710 --> 00:04:29,754 and the Christian has tasted and seen 105 00:04:29,754 --> 00:04:32,644 that the Lord is good. 106 00:04:32,644 --> 00:04:35,267 The promise of the New Covenant 107 00:04:35,267 --> 00:04:37,816 is "they shall all know Me. 108 00:04:37,816 --> 00:04:40,114 No longer shall a brother say to his brother, 109 00:04:40,114 --> 00:04:42,771 'know the Lord,' but they shall all know Me." 110 00:04:42,771 --> 00:04:44,687 We look at each other around the fire, 111 00:04:44,687 --> 00:04:46,929 we begin to talk about the things of the Lord, 112 00:04:46,929 --> 00:04:48,867 if you're a Christian, and you're like, 113 00:04:48,867 --> 00:04:52,987 "Yes, brother, I know what you're talking about." 114 00:04:52,987 --> 00:04:55,953 Whatever background you come from 115 00:04:55,953 --> 00:04:57,999 racially, socioeconomically, 116 00:04:57,999 --> 00:05:00,403 all of a sudden, you find you have 117 00:05:00,403 --> 00:05:03,552 the most important things in common 118 00:05:03,552 --> 00:05:07,605 with the ones who know the Lord. 119 00:05:07,605 --> 00:05:10,493 How does a Christian change? 120 00:05:10,493 --> 00:05:13,997 We're transformed from one degree of glory to another 121 00:05:13,997 --> 00:05:15,384 as we see Him. 122 00:05:15,384 --> 00:05:17,389 And we shall ultimately be like Him 123 00:05:17,389 --> 00:05:19,217 when we see Him as He is, 124 00:05:19,217 --> 00:05:20,857 because when we see Him as He is, 125 00:05:20,857 --> 00:05:22,053 we will be like Him. 126 00:05:22,053 --> 00:05:24,221 It's a transformative knowledge. 127 00:05:24,221 --> 00:05:25,955 The more you get to know Jesus, 128 00:05:25,955 --> 00:05:28,863 the more you become like Him. 129 00:05:28,863 --> 00:05:32,071 The main thing about being a Christian 130 00:05:32,071 --> 00:05:34,508 is knowing God. 131 00:05:34,508 --> 00:05:36,337 It's everything. 132 00:05:36,337 --> 00:05:39,137 It's everything to know God. 133 00:05:39,137 --> 00:05:41,135 If there's anything in your Christian life 134 00:05:41,135 --> 00:05:43,896 that isn't leading you to know God more, 135 00:05:43,896 --> 00:05:46,627 you are going down a rabbit trail at best, 136 00:05:46,627 --> 00:05:48,188 and you are going down 137 00:05:48,188 --> 00:05:51,057 a destructive path at worst. 138 00:05:51,057 --> 00:05:53,187 Because everything is meant 139 00:05:53,187 --> 00:05:55,153 to serve the Christian and to bring them 140 00:05:55,153 --> 00:05:56,327 to a knowledge of God. 141 00:05:56,327 --> 00:05:58,062 Have you ever thought about this? 142 00:05:58,062 --> 00:06:01,842 The reason we repent 143 00:06:01,842 --> 00:06:04,545 is because we want to know God. 144 00:06:04,545 --> 00:06:07,249 What's the difference between worldly sorrow 145 00:06:07,249 --> 00:06:09,168 and godly sorrow? 146 00:06:09,168 --> 00:06:11,365 Worldly sorrow we're told leads to death. 147 00:06:11,365 --> 00:06:13,302 Worldly sorrow is the kind Judas had 148 00:06:13,302 --> 00:06:14,789 where it makes you depressed, 149 00:06:14,789 --> 00:06:16,150 it makes you suicidal, 150 00:06:16,150 --> 00:06:17,915 it makes you want to kill yourself, 151 00:06:17,915 --> 00:06:19,638 but there's nothing godly about it. 152 00:06:19,638 --> 00:06:22,578 Worldly sorrow is depressed because it lost the world. 153 00:06:22,578 --> 00:06:23,915 Do you know what Judas lost 154 00:06:23,915 --> 00:06:25,533 when he betrayed the Son of God? 155 00:06:25,533 --> 00:06:28,769 He was no longer going to be able to enjoy the rest of his life. 156 00:06:28,769 --> 00:06:30,876 He was going to have a defiled conscience 157 00:06:30,876 --> 00:06:34,271 as being the one who handed over 158 00:06:34,271 --> 00:06:36,575 the Son of God. 159 00:06:36,575 --> 00:06:40,337 But he had no remorse really about losing God. 160 00:06:40,337 --> 00:06:43,686 He had no love for God. 161 00:06:43,686 --> 00:06:45,609 Why do preachers who get caught 162 00:06:45,609 --> 00:06:47,846 in sexual immorality 163 00:06:47,846 --> 00:06:49,493 shed a couple tears 164 00:06:49,493 --> 00:06:51,717 and then just try to get their way through it 165 00:06:51,717 --> 00:06:53,138 in the easiest way possible? 166 00:06:53,138 --> 00:06:54,790 Because they have worldly sorrow. 167 00:06:54,790 --> 00:06:57,701 They're sad that they can't be the preacher anymore. 168 00:06:57,701 --> 00:06:59,601 And they've lost the world. 169 00:06:59,601 --> 00:07:02,038 It's worldly sorrow. 170 00:07:02,038 --> 00:07:05,924 Godly sorrow is sad that it's lost its grip on God. 171 00:07:05,924 --> 00:07:07,800 That's why the slightest sin 172 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,293 can ultimately disturb a Christian, right? 173 00:07:10,293 --> 00:07:12,256 Just the smallest thing. 174 00:07:12,256 --> 00:07:14,100 Ugh! I can't enjoy my Lord! 175 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:16,633 I'm not walking in fellowship with Him. 176 00:07:16,633 --> 00:07:19,848 It doesn't have to even be something heinous like pornography. 177 00:07:19,848 --> 00:07:22,076 It can be the slip of a tongue. 178 00:07:22,076 --> 00:07:24,696 It can be something that you knew 179 00:07:24,696 --> 00:07:26,163 the Lord didn't want you to do 180 00:07:26,163 --> 00:07:27,216 and you did it anyway, 181 00:07:27,216 --> 00:07:29,423 and then all of a sudden the day is ruined. 182 00:07:29,423 --> 00:07:30,670 It can be 75 degrees out. 183 00:07:30,670 --> 00:07:33,589 There can be no snow clouds in the sky. 184 00:07:33,589 --> 00:07:35,533 It can be all your friends around you, 185 00:07:35,533 --> 00:07:37,457 and it's all misery because you're not 186 00:07:37,457 --> 00:07:40,029 walking in fellowship with God. 187 00:07:40,029 --> 00:07:41,097 And so what do we do? 188 00:07:41,097 --> 00:07:43,543 We have godly sorrow and we repent. 189 00:07:43,543 --> 00:07:47,027 We've got to have God. We've got to have God. 190 00:07:47,027 --> 00:07:49,235 Christians can't keep going on 191 00:07:49,235 --> 00:07:50,972 with something on their conscience 192 00:07:50,972 --> 00:07:53,068 because they've got to have God. 193 00:07:53,068 --> 00:07:54,917 They've got to know God. 194 00:07:54,917 --> 00:07:59,174 The Christian life is all about knowing God, 195 00:07:59,174 --> 00:08:01,994 and it's about knowing Him better and better. 196 00:08:01,994 --> 00:08:05,928 It's not just about coming to know Him 197 00:08:05,928 --> 00:08:08,613 when we're converted. 198 00:08:08,613 --> 00:08:11,968 It's about getting to know Him better and better 199 00:08:11,968 --> 00:08:16,860 after we're converted. 200 00:08:16,860 --> 00:08:19,666 And what I want to point out to you tonight 201 00:08:19,666 --> 00:08:21,695 is that Philemon - 202 00:08:21,695 --> 00:08:23,064 in the book of Philemon, 203 00:08:23,064 --> 00:08:24,596 we're watching Paul, 204 00:08:24,596 --> 00:08:26,441 but Paul is not just giving Philemon 205 00:08:26,441 --> 00:08:28,217 a rule to follow. 206 00:08:28,217 --> 00:08:30,398 Paul's not just trying to give us an example 207 00:08:30,398 --> 00:08:32,627 of what it looks like to be an amazing leader 208 00:08:32,627 --> 00:08:34,149 as important as that is. 209 00:08:34,149 --> 00:08:36,335 Paul's trying to lead Philemon 210 00:08:36,335 --> 00:08:39,495 to know God better. 211 00:08:39,495 --> 00:08:41,137 And what Paul is telling us 212 00:08:41,137 --> 00:08:43,815 is that the way you come to know God better 213 00:08:43,815 --> 00:08:46,075 is by obeying God. 214 00:08:46,075 --> 00:08:49,396 Obedience is God's means 215 00:08:49,396 --> 00:08:53,737 of further revelation to your soul. 216 00:08:53,737 --> 00:08:57,588 Obedience is not just something you do 217 00:08:57,588 --> 00:08:59,195 in response to God's revelation. 218 00:08:59,195 --> 00:09:00,107 It is that. 219 00:09:00,107 --> 00:09:01,474 Obedience is something we do 220 00:09:01,474 --> 00:09:03,086 in response to God's revelation. 221 00:09:03,086 --> 00:09:05,276 Therefore, in view of God's mercies, 222 00:09:05,276 --> 00:09:07,888 offer your bodies as living sacrifices, 223 00:09:07,888 --> 00:09:09,127 holy and pleasing to God. 224 00:09:09,127 --> 00:09:10,384 In view of what He's done; 225 00:09:10,384 --> 00:09:11,716 in view of what you've seen; 226 00:09:11,716 --> 00:09:13,128 in view of what you know, 227 00:09:13,128 --> 00:09:15,694 offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God. 228 00:09:15,694 --> 00:09:17,797 We obey because of what we know, 229 00:09:17,797 --> 00:09:22,496 but we also know more once we obey. 230 00:09:22,496 --> 00:09:25,817 And in that sense, obedience is God's means 231 00:09:25,817 --> 00:09:28,723 of further revelation of Himself 232 00:09:28,723 --> 00:09:30,487 to your soul. 233 00:09:30,487 --> 00:09:32,047 Let me spell this out. 234 00:09:32,047 --> 00:09:35,158 Jesus said it clearer than I'm going to say it. 235 00:09:35,158 --> 00:09:37,247 So we'll just read Him. 236 00:09:37,247 --> 00:09:39,403 He said in John 14, 237 00:09:39,403 --> 00:09:42,309 "Whoever has My commandments 238 00:09:42,309 --> 00:09:44,326 and keeps them, 239 00:09:44,326 --> 00:09:46,456 he is it who loves Me. 240 00:09:46,456 --> 00:09:48,008 And he who loves Me, 241 00:09:48,008 --> 00:09:50,134 will be loved by My Father, 242 00:09:50,134 --> 00:09:52,298 and I will love him 243 00:09:52,298 --> 00:09:59,169 and manifest Myself to him." 244 00:09:59,169 --> 00:10:03,575 Who hasn't prayed for that? 245 00:10:03,575 --> 00:10:05,794 If that's not a regular cry of your heart, 246 00:10:05,794 --> 00:10:08,956 I wonder if you even know the Lord. 247 00:10:08,956 --> 00:10:11,655 I want to see more of You, Lord. 248 00:10:11,655 --> 00:10:14,812 Sir, we would see Jesus. 249 00:10:14,812 --> 00:10:17,677 That's the cry of the Christian. 250 00:10:17,677 --> 00:10:19,307 That's the irony of the Christian. 251 00:10:19,307 --> 00:10:21,069 We know the Lord, and what do we want 252 00:10:21,069 --> 00:10:22,299 more than anything else? 253 00:10:22,299 --> 00:10:24,495 We want to know the Lord. 254 00:10:24,495 --> 00:10:26,824 That I might know Him. 255 00:10:26,824 --> 00:10:28,011 That's our desire. 256 00:10:28,011 --> 00:10:29,706 And here's Jesus telling you, 257 00:10:29,706 --> 00:10:31,521 "I will manifest Myself. 258 00:10:31,521 --> 00:10:33,677 I will display Myself. 259 00:10:33,677 --> 00:10:41,976 I will show Myself to your soul." 260 00:10:41,976 --> 00:10:45,760 The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians, 261 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,558 in Ephesians 1. 262 00:10:48,558 --> 00:10:50,907 And he prayed for them and he said, 263 00:10:50,907 --> 00:10:53,392 he prayed that they "might have a spirit of wisdom 264 00:10:53,392 --> 00:10:56,986 and of revelation in the knowledge of Him." 265 00:10:56,986 --> 00:10:58,772 He wasn't praying that they would 266 00:10:58,772 --> 00:11:01,138 increase their Bible knowledge. 267 00:11:01,138 --> 00:11:02,595 The Ephesians were notorious 268 00:11:02,595 --> 00:11:04,748 for their Bible knowledge. 269 00:11:04,748 --> 00:11:08,358 You read chapter 1:3-14 of Ephesians 270 00:11:08,358 --> 00:11:09,951 and it's pretty clear Paul knew 271 00:11:09,951 --> 00:11:11,530 they had lots of Bible knowledge 272 00:11:11,530 --> 00:11:13,155 because he's just going off - 273 00:11:13,155 --> 00:11:14,986 praising God for God's election 274 00:11:14,986 --> 00:11:16,446 and adoption, and redemption, 275 00:11:16,446 --> 00:11:18,336 and Spirit-filling and sealing. 276 00:11:18,336 --> 00:11:20,016 He's praising God for all of that, 277 00:11:20,016 --> 00:11:21,664 and then he comes to the end of it 278 00:11:21,664 --> 00:11:25,749 and he goes I just wish this was lit up in your souls. 279 00:11:25,749 --> 00:11:27,523 Isn't that the greatest frustration 280 00:11:27,523 --> 00:11:30,329 of those Christians who have learned good theology? 281 00:11:30,329 --> 00:11:33,260 Lord, why isn't it on fire? 282 00:11:33,260 --> 00:11:34,715 Why isn't it lit up? 283 00:11:34,715 --> 00:11:37,287 I know more glorious truths 284 00:11:37,287 --> 00:11:39,459 than almost every other Christian I meet 285 00:11:39,459 --> 00:11:42,551 and yet, why isn't it on fire? 286 00:11:42,551 --> 00:11:43,677 Why isn't it lit up? 287 00:11:43,677 --> 00:11:45,106 Why isn't the spotlight 288 00:11:45,106 --> 00:11:46,417 burning in my soul? 289 00:11:46,417 --> 00:11:48,835 You know the difference between standing 290 00:11:48,835 --> 00:11:50,992 out in the middle of that patio 291 00:11:50,992 --> 00:11:53,270 and standing by the fire, right? 292 00:11:53,270 --> 00:11:55,416 There's a big difference. 293 00:11:55,416 --> 00:11:58,657 I want to be by the fire. 294 00:11:58,657 --> 00:12:00,155 And you want God's Word 295 00:12:00,155 --> 00:12:03,023 not to leave you out in the cold, 296 00:12:03,023 --> 00:12:05,455 but to be lighting a fire. 297 00:12:05,455 --> 00:12:07,760 And in Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul 298 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:09,647 says, "I pray that you'd have a spirit 299 00:12:09,647 --> 00:12:11,067 of wisdom and revelation 300 00:12:11,067 --> 00:12:12,815 in the knowledge of Him." 301 00:12:12,815 --> 00:12:15,172 And he prays that the Spirit would 302 00:12:15,172 --> 00:12:17,292 light up our hearts. 303 00:12:17,292 --> 00:12:20,002 Is your heart being lit up? 304 00:12:20,002 --> 00:12:24,403 What did the disciples say on the road back to Emmaus? 305 00:12:24,403 --> 00:12:26,022 Or the road from Emmaus? 306 00:12:26,022 --> 00:12:28,126 As Jesus opens up the Scriptures, 307 00:12:28,126 --> 00:12:30,823 they go, "did not our hearts 308 00:12:30,823 --> 00:12:35,120 burn within us?" 309 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:36,551 Mormons aren't the only people 310 00:12:36,551 --> 00:12:39,628 who should be talking about the burning heart. 311 00:12:39,628 --> 00:12:41,545 Man oh man, we have the heart 312 00:12:41,545 --> 00:12:46,548 that should burn after God's truth. 313 00:12:46,548 --> 00:12:49,006 You want that, beloved. 314 00:12:49,006 --> 00:12:51,172 You want more of that? 315 00:12:51,172 --> 00:12:53,109 I hate every day I go through life 316 00:12:53,109 --> 00:12:55,427 without the fullness of that. 317 00:12:55,427 --> 00:12:58,574 It's a sadness to the Christian 318 00:12:58,574 --> 00:13:01,057 not to see more of the Lord 319 00:13:01,057 --> 00:13:03,359 and to have - just listen to it - 320 00:13:03,359 --> 00:13:06,993 "I will manifest Myself to you." 321 00:13:06,993 --> 00:13:09,237 "I'm going to show you more of Me." 322 00:13:09,237 --> 00:13:12,129 "I'm going to make your soul quake with My holiness." 323 00:13:12,129 --> 00:13:14,757 "I'm going to make your heart melt with My love." 324 00:13:14,757 --> 00:13:18,029 "I'm going to make your heart thrill with My promises." 325 00:13:18,029 --> 00:13:19,859 "I'm going to show you more about Me." 326 00:13:19,859 --> 00:13:22,398 In Ephesians 1 it says, "That the eyes of your heart 327 00:13:22,398 --> 00:13:24,471 might be enlightened, that you might know 328 00:13:24,471 --> 00:13:26,267 the power that's at work in you." 329 00:13:26,267 --> 00:13:28,819 That you might know the inheritance that you have. 330 00:13:28,819 --> 00:13:30,922 That you might know the hope that you have. 331 00:13:30,922 --> 00:13:32,443 So that heaven is not something 332 00:13:32,443 --> 00:13:35,026 distant and abstract, but it's lit up in your heart. 333 00:13:35,026 --> 00:13:36,316 So that being God's people 334 00:13:36,316 --> 00:13:38,251 is not just like, yeah, I'm a Christian, 335 00:13:38,251 --> 00:13:39,759 but it's gripping your heart, 336 00:13:39,759 --> 00:13:41,248 so that resurrection power 337 00:13:41,248 --> 00:13:43,125 is not something distant and abstract, 338 00:13:43,125 --> 00:13:45,468 but it's something where you face a temptation 339 00:13:45,468 --> 00:13:49,119 and you're like, "I have resurrection power!" 340 00:13:49,119 --> 00:13:50,691 "I know it!" 341 00:13:50,691 --> 00:13:54,464 "I know it's at work in me." 342 00:13:54,464 --> 00:13:56,171 And the pathway into more and more 343 00:13:56,171 --> 00:13:57,753 knowledge of the Lord like that 344 00:13:57,753 --> 00:14:01,634 is greater and greater obedience. 345 00:14:01,634 --> 00:14:05,951 This generation is so confused about obedience. 346 00:14:05,951 --> 00:14:08,337 Every single time you mention the word obedience 347 00:14:08,337 --> 00:14:10,378 in this generation, someone is going to 348 00:14:10,378 --> 00:14:12,708 start talking about legalism. 349 00:14:12,708 --> 00:14:17,317 Beloved, obedience is not legalism. 350 00:14:17,317 --> 00:14:20,030 Legalism is one of two things. 351 00:14:20,030 --> 00:14:21,543 Legalism is when someone says, 352 00:14:21,543 --> 00:14:23,303 "you need to obey this 353 00:14:23,303 --> 00:14:25,371 and then you'll be accepted by God." 354 00:14:25,371 --> 00:14:27,547 That's legalism. 355 00:14:27,547 --> 00:14:30,099 Legalism is when someone adds to the Bible 356 00:14:30,099 --> 00:14:31,329 what's not in the Bible 357 00:14:31,329 --> 00:14:32,969 and says, "Thus saith the Lord," 358 00:14:32,969 --> 00:14:34,748 when the Lord didn't say anything. 359 00:14:34,748 --> 00:14:37,415 That's legalism. 360 00:14:37,415 --> 00:14:39,376 But the Lord Jesus, when He told us 361 00:14:39,376 --> 00:14:42,697 to go and teach people to obey everything He commanded 362 00:14:42,697 --> 00:14:44,528 was not the world's greatest legalist, 363 00:14:44,528 --> 00:14:47,599 He was the world's greatest Savior. 364 00:14:47,599 --> 00:14:51,117 He was leading His people to follow 365 00:14:51,117 --> 00:14:53,450 the One who had set their souls free 366 00:14:53,450 --> 00:14:56,606 with truth. 367 00:14:56,606 --> 00:14:59,815 And He knew that as He led them in obedience, 368 00:14:59,815 --> 00:15:02,421 they weren't just going to be His rule keepers, 369 00:15:02,421 --> 00:15:04,036 they were going to be increasing 370 00:15:04,036 --> 00:15:06,398 in the knowledge of Christ. 371 00:15:06,398 --> 00:15:08,589 Knowing Him more. 372 00:15:08,589 --> 00:15:10,078 And you ought to meet 373 00:15:10,078 --> 00:15:13,128 every command in the Scripture 374 00:15:13,128 --> 00:15:15,915 as a wide open door of possibility 375 00:15:15,915 --> 00:15:19,182 to know your God better. 376 00:15:19,182 --> 00:15:20,826 Isn't that amazing? 377 00:15:20,826 --> 00:15:22,416 We get a command and we're like, 378 00:15:22,416 --> 00:15:25,127 "that's going to cost me." 379 00:15:25,127 --> 00:15:27,602 "That's going to pinch me." 380 00:15:27,602 --> 00:15:30,228 "That's going to limit me." 381 00:15:30,228 --> 00:15:31,968 "That's going to hinder me." 382 00:15:31,968 --> 00:15:34,131 Rather than thinking, that's going to open me 383 00:15:34,131 --> 00:15:38,169 wide open to knowing Him better. 384 00:15:38,169 --> 00:15:43,127 So here in Philemon 1:6, 385 00:15:43,127 --> 00:15:47,647 the Apostle Paul puts a big umbrella 386 00:15:47,647 --> 00:15:48,914 over the whole book - 387 00:15:48,914 --> 00:15:50,876 a big prayer covering 388 00:15:50,876 --> 00:15:52,258 over the whole book - 389 00:15:52,258 --> 00:15:54,857 and the prayer is that Philemon, 390 00:15:54,857 --> 00:15:56,366 by the sharing of his faith, 391 00:15:56,366 --> 00:15:59,786 would become effective for the full knowledge 392 00:15:59,786 --> 00:16:01,328 of every good thing that's in us 393 00:16:01,328 --> 00:16:04,462 for the sake of Christ. 394 00:16:04,462 --> 00:16:06,101 Now, in our English versions, 395 00:16:06,101 --> 00:16:08,477 this term "pray for the sharing of our faith," 396 00:16:08,477 --> 00:16:10,535 we can't help but think of evangelism. 397 00:16:10,535 --> 00:16:12,992 We call evangelism "sharing your faith." 398 00:16:12,992 --> 00:16:14,160 And that's good. 399 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:15,805 Evangelism is sharing your faith, 400 00:16:15,805 --> 00:16:18,849 but evangelism is really not the main focus 401 00:16:18,849 --> 00:16:20,779 of the book of Philemon. 402 00:16:20,779 --> 00:16:23,161 And the whole idea here of sharing your faith 403 00:16:23,161 --> 00:16:25,930 is really "koinonia" your faith. 404 00:16:25,930 --> 00:16:28,329 Participation in your faith. 405 00:16:28,329 --> 00:16:30,185 A sharing of your faith. 406 00:16:30,185 --> 00:16:31,593 So it's really this idea of: 407 00:16:31,593 --> 00:16:33,997 I want you to live out your faith, Philemon. 408 00:16:33,997 --> 00:16:36,264 I want you to put into practice: 409 00:16:36,264 --> 00:16:37,767 Christ is a forgiving God. 410 00:16:37,767 --> 00:16:39,431 I want you to put into practice 411 00:16:39,431 --> 00:16:41,432 that forgiveness towards Onesimus. 412 00:16:41,432 --> 00:16:43,679 Christ is a God who makes people 413 00:16:43,679 --> 00:16:45,765 from different backgrounds brothers. 414 00:16:45,765 --> 00:16:48,346 I want you to put that into practice, Philemon. 415 00:16:48,346 --> 00:16:50,245 And as you put that in practice; 416 00:16:50,245 --> 00:16:51,946 as you share your faith 417 00:16:51,946 --> 00:16:54,116 and participate in your faith 418 00:16:54,116 --> 00:16:56,516 and have this koinonia with the truth, 419 00:16:56,516 --> 00:16:58,713 what is going to happen to you, Philemon, 420 00:16:58,713 --> 00:17:00,798 is that you are going to find 421 00:17:00,798 --> 00:17:03,863 that this becomes effective - 422 00:17:03,863 --> 00:17:06,293 not possible brothers - 423 00:17:06,293 --> 00:17:10,500 effective for the full knowledge 424 00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:13,869 of what we have in us 425 00:17:13,869 --> 00:17:17,289 through the Lord Jesus Christ. 426 00:17:17,289 --> 00:17:19,788 For the full knowledge of every good thing 427 00:17:19,788 --> 00:17:32,325 that is in us for the sake of Christ. 428 00:17:32,325 --> 00:17:35,302 This principle that obedience leads 429 00:17:35,302 --> 00:17:38,161 to greater understanding of the truth, 430 00:17:38,161 --> 00:17:40,770 it's all over the Bible. 431 00:17:40,770 --> 00:17:43,729 It's an evangelistic principle. 432 00:17:43,729 --> 00:17:45,606 John 7:17, 433 00:17:45,606 --> 00:17:47,827 "If anyone's will is to do God's will, 434 00:17:47,827 --> 00:17:50,108 he will know whether the teaching is from God 435 00:17:50,108 --> 00:17:53,587 or whether I am speaking on My own authority." 436 00:17:53,587 --> 00:17:56,688 If there's anyone here who doesn't know 437 00:17:56,688 --> 00:17:59,488 that God's teaching comes through Christ, 438 00:17:59,488 --> 00:18:01,689 I'll tell you why you don't know. 439 00:18:01,689 --> 00:18:03,930 Because you're not willing to do it. 440 00:18:03,930 --> 00:18:05,895 You're not willing to do it. 441 00:18:05,895 --> 00:18:07,799 There is some magazine under your bed; 442 00:18:07,799 --> 00:18:09,617 there's something under your Internet; 443 00:18:09,617 --> 00:18:11,458 there's something in your family; 444 00:18:11,458 --> 00:18:14,358 there's some obedience you know you'd be called to 445 00:18:14,358 --> 00:18:16,057 and you don't want to do it. 446 00:18:16,057 --> 00:18:18,247 And there's some piece of pride in your heart 447 00:18:18,247 --> 00:18:19,869 that you don't want to let go of, 448 00:18:19,869 --> 00:18:22,079 and you do not want to let go of it because the minute that you do, 449 00:18:22,079 --> 00:18:26,976 I'll tell you what, you'll know that it's really from God. 450 00:18:26,976 --> 00:18:30,497 You're in a moral coverup. 451 00:18:30,497 --> 00:18:32,137 You're holding on to your own sin 452 00:18:32,137 --> 00:18:35,069 until you can't even see the truth. 453 00:18:35,069 --> 00:18:37,562 But the minute you're willing to obey, 454 00:18:37,562 --> 00:18:39,727 He'll show you it's all true. 455 00:18:39,727 --> 00:18:42,192 Isn't that amazing? 456 00:18:42,192 --> 00:18:45,425 It goes on not just in our evangelism, 457 00:18:45,425 --> 00:18:47,220 but this principle that obedience 458 00:18:47,220 --> 00:18:48,795 leads to greater revelation 459 00:18:48,795 --> 00:18:52,158 can be found in Colossians 1:10. 460 00:18:52,158 --> 00:18:53,889 And when I say greater revelation, 461 00:18:53,889 --> 00:18:56,057 I don't mean you obey and you get something 462 00:18:56,057 --> 00:18:57,447 better than the Bible. 463 00:18:57,447 --> 00:18:59,230 I mean you obey and you get deeper, 464 00:18:59,230 --> 00:19:03,190 sweeter insight into the Bible. 465 00:19:03,190 --> 00:19:05,512 Colossians 1:10, 466 00:19:05,512 --> 00:19:07,662 the Apostle Paul - we'll start in v. 9 - 467 00:19:07,662 --> 00:19:08,925 starts praying here again. 468 00:19:08,925 --> 00:19:10,411 "And so from the day we heard, 469 00:19:10,411 --> 00:19:12,323 we have not ceased to pray for you 470 00:19:12,323 --> 00:19:14,638 asking that you may be filled 471 00:19:14,638 --> 00:19:16,557 with all the knowledge of His will 472 00:19:16,557 --> 00:19:18,858 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." 473 00:19:18,858 --> 00:19:20,478 So I want you to know God's will 474 00:19:20,478 --> 00:19:22,014 and I don't want you to be fools about it. 475 00:19:22,014 --> 00:19:24,708 I want you to know it in spiritual wisdom and understanding. 476 00:19:24,708 --> 00:19:26,135 I want you to have some savvy 477 00:19:26,135 --> 00:19:28,658 and some spiritual insight. 478 00:19:28,658 --> 00:19:30,660 And so I want you to know God's will 479 00:19:30,660 --> 00:19:32,108 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding 480 00:19:32,108 --> 00:19:34,723 so that you can walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. 481 00:19:34,723 --> 00:19:37,317 So, you're obedient; walking in a manner worthy of the Lord. 482 00:19:37,317 --> 00:19:38,838 "Fully pleasing to Him, 483 00:19:38,838 --> 00:19:40,495 bearing fruit in every good work 484 00:19:40,495 --> 00:19:46,057 and increasing in the knowledge of God." 485 00:19:46,057 --> 00:19:48,727 I want you to have mature, 486 00:19:48,727 --> 00:19:51,675 balanced obedience 487 00:19:51,675 --> 00:19:53,553 so that you will increase 488 00:19:53,553 --> 00:19:57,306 in the knowledge of God. 489 00:19:57,306 --> 00:20:03,639 The same principle's in Ephesians 3:14-21. 490 00:20:03,639 --> 00:20:07,093 Ephesians 3 - maybe my favorite passage 491 00:20:07,093 --> 00:20:09,679 in the New Testament. 492 00:20:09,679 --> 00:20:12,856 Ephesians 3:14-21. 493 00:20:12,856 --> 00:20:14,729 The Apostle Paul says, 494 00:20:14,729 --> 00:20:16,661 "For this reason, I bow my knees 495 00:20:16,661 --> 00:20:18,477 before the Father, 496 00:20:18,477 --> 00:20:20,229 from whom every family in heaven 497 00:20:20,229 --> 00:20:22,088 and on earth is named, 498 00:20:22,088 --> 00:20:24,135 that according to the riches of His glory, 499 00:20:24,135 --> 00:20:25,849 He may grant you to be strengthened 500 00:20:25,849 --> 00:20:28,273 with power through His Spirit in your inner being." 501 00:20:28,273 --> 00:20:29,811 So, the first thing Paul prays: 502 00:20:29,811 --> 00:20:32,242 I want you to have power. I want you to have spiritual power. 503 00:20:32,242 --> 00:20:33,815 That's what you need to obey. 504 00:20:33,815 --> 00:20:35,638 That's what you need to do with will of God. 505 00:20:35,638 --> 00:20:36,897 You need spiritual power. 506 00:20:36,897 --> 00:20:39,180 You don't just need it on the outside coercing you. 507 00:20:39,180 --> 00:20:40,865 You need it on the inside. 508 00:20:40,865 --> 00:20:42,867 And I want to ask that you get this power 509 00:20:42,867 --> 00:20:46,851 in your inner man, 510 00:20:46,851 --> 00:20:49,583 so that... 511 00:20:49,583 --> 00:20:53,098 Christ might dwell in your hearts 512 00:20:53,098 --> 00:20:55,418 through faith. 513 00:20:55,418 --> 00:20:58,709 Well, isn't Christ already dwelling in our hearts? 514 00:20:58,709 --> 00:21:00,367 Yes, He is. 515 00:21:00,367 --> 00:21:02,103 Yet the word here is oikodomia. 516 00:21:02,103 --> 00:21:05,634 It's this idea of settling down at home. 517 00:21:05,634 --> 00:21:08,072 Settling down at home. 518 00:21:08,072 --> 00:21:09,848 One person has illustrated this 519 00:21:09,848 --> 00:21:11,464 that when you move into a house 520 00:21:11,464 --> 00:21:13,208 and decide you don't like the color 521 00:21:13,208 --> 00:21:14,239 of the living room, 522 00:21:14,239 --> 00:21:15,975 so you paint it the color you want. 523 00:21:15,975 --> 00:21:18,248 You don't really like that lima bean green 524 00:21:18,248 --> 00:21:19,288 in the bathroom, 525 00:21:19,288 --> 00:21:21,287 so you change that one up too. 526 00:21:21,287 --> 00:21:22,917 You wanted a patio in the back, 527 00:21:22,917 --> 00:21:24,410 so you build one of those. 528 00:21:24,410 --> 00:21:27,987 And after ten years, you're like, this place... 529 00:21:27,987 --> 00:21:29,966 this is home. 530 00:21:29,966 --> 00:21:31,630 Well, Christ moves in and He's like 531 00:21:31,630 --> 00:21:33,986 I'm not really sure I like what you're doing in the bedroom, 532 00:21:33,986 --> 00:21:35,636 so He rearranges things. 533 00:21:35,636 --> 00:21:38,033 I'm not sure I like what you're doing in the wallet. 534 00:21:38,033 --> 00:21:40,039 So He rearranges things. 535 00:21:40,039 --> 00:21:43,342 And then He settles down increasingly at home. 536 00:21:43,342 --> 00:21:45,001 And pretty soon, you open your wallet, 537 00:21:45,001 --> 00:21:46,828 and you know you've got His smile. 538 00:21:46,828 --> 00:21:49,628 You walk into the bedroom, you know you've got His smile. 539 00:21:49,628 --> 00:21:51,917 You turn on the TV or turn off the TV, 540 00:21:51,917 --> 00:21:56,450 whichever it is and you know you've got His smile. 541 00:21:56,450 --> 00:22:00,296 And you want that power in the inner man 542 00:22:00,296 --> 00:22:02,976 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts 543 00:22:02,976 --> 00:22:04,327 through faith. 544 00:22:04,327 --> 00:22:06,027 And then he goes on, 545 00:22:06,027 --> 00:22:08,517 "...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith 546 00:22:08,517 --> 00:22:11,700 that you being rooted and grounded in love." 547 00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:14,747 Your roots are just soaking up the love of Christ. 548 00:22:14,747 --> 00:22:16,468 "...May have strength to comprehend 549 00:22:16,468 --> 00:22:18,341 with all the saints what is the breadth 550 00:22:18,341 --> 00:22:20,097 and length and height and depth 551 00:22:20,097 --> 00:22:22,620 and to know the love of Christ 552 00:22:22,620 --> 00:22:26,868 that surpasses knowledge." 553 00:22:26,868 --> 00:22:28,767 Man, it's important to have knowledge 554 00:22:28,767 --> 00:22:30,836 in the Christian life. 555 00:22:30,836 --> 00:22:37,534 Careful, clear, doctrinal knowledge. 556 00:22:37,534 --> 00:22:39,533 And once you've got it all right, 557 00:22:39,533 --> 00:22:42,499 God will blow it up with His love 558 00:22:42,499 --> 00:22:43,466 and go beyond it. 559 00:22:43,466 --> 00:22:45,503 He does not bypass knowledge. 560 00:22:45,503 --> 00:22:48,498 But He does surpass knowledge, doesn't He. 561 00:22:48,498 --> 00:22:53,515 He goes beyond knowledge, doesn't He. 562 00:22:53,515 --> 00:22:55,518 You want to know God like that? 563 00:22:55,518 --> 00:22:57,849 I love the story of the preacher. 564 00:22:57,849 --> 00:22:59,978 He prayed that God would show Him to himself 565 00:22:59,978 --> 00:23:01,640 in more intimacy and power. 566 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:03,993 And the Lord just descended on him one day 567 00:23:03,993 --> 00:23:06,995 and eventually he had to ask Him to stop. 568 00:23:06,995 --> 00:23:11,058 He was receiving such manifestations of Christ. 569 00:23:11,058 --> 00:23:13,187 I find in this generation, most of us 570 00:23:13,187 --> 00:23:17,070 are just walking around going, "start!" 571 00:23:17,070 --> 00:23:19,673 I want to live in a "stop" generation. 572 00:23:19,673 --> 00:23:21,737 Lord, it's too much. 573 00:23:21,737 --> 00:23:25,138 It's too much for me. 574 00:23:25,138 --> 00:23:26,652 C.H. Spurgeon said, 575 00:23:26,652 --> 00:23:28,511 "There is as much difference between 576 00:23:28,511 --> 00:23:30,761 a mature Christian and immature Christian 577 00:23:30,761 --> 00:23:34,599 as there is between a believer and an unbeliever." 578 00:23:34,599 --> 00:23:37,315 There's no end to the heights, brothers. 579 00:23:37,315 --> 00:23:38,760 There's no end of the heights 580 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:39,974 of the knowledge of God 581 00:23:39,974 --> 00:23:41,425 that we can be brought into, 582 00:23:41,425 --> 00:23:43,354 and yet some people are apathetic 583 00:23:43,354 --> 00:23:44,520 in the Christian walk 584 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,853 and they scoot back from obedience 585 00:23:46,853 --> 00:23:50,090 as if they're keeping some freedom for themselves. 586 00:23:50,090 --> 00:23:52,157 We're only cheating ourselves when we 587 00:23:52,157 --> 00:23:57,280 don't walk in obedience to the Lord. 588 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:59,112 Obedience is the pathway 589 00:23:59,112 --> 00:24:01,231 to further manifestation; 590 00:24:01,231 --> 00:24:02,589 to further illumination; 591 00:24:02,589 --> 00:24:06,319 to further revelation from the Scriptures 592 00:24:06,319 --> 00:24:08,635 of what God is like and who He is for you, 593 00:24:08,635 --> 00:24:10,023 and not only that, 594 00:24:10,023 --> 00:24:13,666 but who you have been made in Him. 595 00:24:13,666 --> 00:24:15,522 I don't know about you, but I find 596 00:24:15,522 --> 00:24:17,485 the greatest moments of being a Christian 597 00:24:17,485 --> 00:24:21,313 are when I just realize I am a Christian. 598 00:24:21,313 --> 00:24:23,780 Man, I'm a Christian! 599 00:24:23,780 --> 00:24:25,899 Saved before the world's foundation. 600 00:24:25,899 --> 00:24:28,605 Before there was a creation, I was on His mind. 601 00:24:28,605 --> 00:24:30,660 He knew I would see the revelation, 602 00:24:30,660 --> 00:24:32,255 Him in all His adoration, 603 00:24:32,255 --> 00:24:33,920 knowing I was His creation, 604 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:36,217 He walked up Calvary's hill to save me, 605 00:24:36,217 --> 00:24:39,481 before the world's foundation, I was on His mind. 606 00:24:39,481 --> 00:24:42,536 I was with Him all the time. 607 00:24:42,536 --> 00:24:45,842 It's incredible! 608 00:24:45,842 --> 00:24:49,120 And now I'm a new creation. 609 00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:53,703 Now the third Person of the Trinity 610 00:24:53,703 --> 00:24:56,167 has decided to dwell in me, 611 00:24:56,167 --> 00:24:58,245 so that He can cause me to call out 612 00:24:58,245 --> 00:25:00,098 to the first Person of the Trinity, 613 00:25:00,098 --> 00:25:01,522 "Abba, Father," 614 00:25:01,522 --> 00:25:03,437 through the second Person of the Trinity 615 00:25:03,437 --> 00:25:06,743 who loved me and gave Himself for me. 616 00:25:06,743 --> 00:25:09,843 What a thing it is to be just a Christian! 617 00:25:09,843 --> 00:25:12,962 I just want to walk through life knowing I'm a Christian. 618 00:25:12,962 --> 00:25:15,530 I need the full knowledge 619 00:25:15,530 --> 00:25:17,792 of all that God's done in me. 620 00:25:17,792 --> 00:25:19,907 That's what I need. 621 00:25:19,907 --> 00:25:21,696 And all of a sudden when you get intimidated, 622 00:25:21,696 --> 00:25:23,231 I don't know if you've ever experienced this, 623 00:25:23,231 --> 00:25:25,462 but there's some people I'm intimidated to witness to, 624 00:25:25,462 --> 00:25:28,265 and there's some people I'm not intimidated to witness to. 625 00:25:28,265 --> 00:25:32,313 It's just my shameful pride that makes it that way. 626 00:25:32,313 --> 00:25:34,548 There are some people I feel a little better than, 627 00:25:34,548 --> 00:25:36,108 so I just head right in there 628 00:25:36,108 --> 00:25:37,963 and give the gospel to them. 629 00:25:37,963 --> 00:25:38,937 There's some people, 630 00:25:38,937 --> 00:25:41,097 I don't want them to think I'm a fool, 631 00:25:41,097 --> 00:25:43,606 so I'm a little bit more sophisticated 632 00:25:43,606 --> 00:25:45,650 I like to think. 633 00:25:45,650 --> 00:25:50,386 Cowardly is the real word. 634 00:25:50,386 --> 00:25:53,551 What would I need to overcome that? 635 00:25:53,551 --> 00:25:56,410 Just a full knowledge that I'm a child of the King! 636 00:25:56,410 --> 00:25:58,197 That all I would ever need to be bold 637 00:25:58,197 --> 00:25:59,844 is already in me, 638 00:25:59,844 --> 00:26:03,620 and He wants to help me. 639 00:26:03,620 --> 00:26:05,180 And that, brothers, comes 640 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:07,991 through a life of obedience. 641 00:26:07,991 --> 00:26:11,694 It comes through a life of running from sin 642 00:26:11,694 --> 00:26:13,610 and running towards righteousness. 643 00:26:13,610 --> 00:26:15,253 Now, I don't mean that now 644 00:26:15,253 --> 00:26:17,490 you can only trust God's going to help you 645 00:26:17,490 --> 00:26:19,120 when you've been perfect that day. 646 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:21,203 That's not what I'm talking about at all. 647 00:26:21,203 --> 00:26:22,740 That's legalism. 648 00:26:22,740 --> 00:26:25,107 God's not helping you unless you're perfect. 649 00:26:25,107 --> 00:26:27,080 That's not what I'm talking about. 650 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:29,738 We all stumble in many ways. 651 00:26:29,738 --> 00:26:31,634 But I am talking about a bent; 652 00:26:31,634 --> 00:26:33,234 I'm talking about an orientation; 653 00:26:33,234 --> 00:26:35,492 I'm talking about direction 654 00:26:35,492 --> 00:26:37,487 that says I'm going towards Christ 655 00:26:37,487 --> 00:26:39,156 all the time. 656 00:26:39,156 --> 00:26:41,319 And whenever I see myself fall from that, 657 00:26:41,319 --> 00:26:43,056 I'm asking Him to forgive me 658 00:26:43,056 --> 00:26:45,815 and I keep walking towards the light. 659 00:26:45,815 --> 00:26:49,632 Men like that keep getting more light. 660 00:26:49,632 --> 00:26:52,982 They keep getting more manifestation of Christ 661 00:26:52,982 --> 00:26:55,800 to their souls. 662 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:57,691 So Paul is saying here to Philemon, 663 00:26:57,691 --> 00:27:02,722 listen, there's a guy who's a slave. 664 00:27:02,722 --> 00:27:04,460 You're a slave owner. 665 00:27:04,460 --> 00:27:06,319 Slave owners and slaves - 666 00:27:06,319 --> 00:27:08,468 you're not really notorious 667 00:27:08,468 --> 00:27:12,600 for having warm, intimate fellowship, right? 668 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:16,970 Not only that - that he is a slave, 669 00:27:16,970 --> 00:27:19,306 and that you are a slave holder, 670 00:27:19,306 --> 00:27:21,650 he's done you wrong 671 00:27:21,650 --> 00:27:24,149 and you've been wronged. 672 00:27:24,149 --> 00:27:26,236 And not only that, 673 00:27:26,236 --> 00:27:28,517 but he's ashamed 674 00:27:28,517 --> 00:27:31,542 and you know why he's ashamed. 675 00:27:31,542 --> 00:27:33,687 And I want you to extend forgiveness to him, 676 00:27:33,697 --> 00:27:35,477 and I want you to know what it's like 677 00:27:35,477 --> 00:27:37,436 to have him as a brother. 678 00:27:37,436 --> 00:27:39,167 I want you to know what it's like 679 00:27:39,167 --> 00:27:40,944 to see God be the glory 680 00:27:40,944 --> 00:27:42,313 and the lifter of his head 681 00:27:42,313 --> 00:27:44,192 and take his shame away. 682 00:27:44,192 --> 00:27:46,563 I want you to see that God forgave you 683 00:27:46,563 --> 00:27:48,187 and now you get to forgive him. 684 00:27:48,187 --> 00:27:52,147 And I want you to feel the pulsing love of Christ in your heart 685 00:27:52,147 --> 00:27:55,020 forgiving him. 686 00:27:55,020 --> 00:27:58,278 We've been called to walk as Christ walked, 687 00:27:58,278 --> 00:27:59,844 to fellowship in His sufferings, 688 00:27:59,844 --> 00:28:01,457 to fellowship in His forgiveness, 689 00:28:01,457 --> 00:28:06,670 to fellowship in His mercy. 690 00:28:06,670 --> 00:28:12,614 And that's what Paul is inviting Philemon into. 691 00:28:12,614 --> 00:28:15,790 So let me just leave you with this, brothers. 692 00:28:15,790 --> 00:28:18,891 Speak this truth. 693 00:28:18,891 --> 00:28:20,542 We're called to lead. 694 00:28:20,542 --> 00:28:22,162 You speak this truth. 695 00:28:22,162 --> 00:28:23,749 Speak it everywhere you have 696 00:28:23,749 --> 00:28:25,415 even a grain of influence, 697 00:28:25,415 --> 00:28:26,886 and you speak it to each other 698 00:28:26,886 --> 00:28:29,440 over the course of the rest of this retreat. 699 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:30,920 Speak this truth: 700 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,401 "Oh brother, I hope that God 701 00:28:33,401 --> 00:28:35,216 will help you to walk in the faith 702 00:28:35,216 --> 00:28:37,493 so you'll know more about the faith. 703 00:28:37,493 --> 00:28:40,169 I hope that God will help you to walk in obedience 704 00:28:40,169 --> 00:28:44,170 so that you'll know more of Him." 705 00:28:44,170 --> 00:28:45,887 Don't just speak this truth. 706 00:28:45,887 --> 00:28:46,959 Pray this truth. 707 00:28:46,959 --> 00:28:49,028 Did you notice that I've read four texts 708 00:28:49,028 --> 00:28:51,264 that prove that obedience leads 709 00:28:51,264 --> 00:28:53,572 to greater manifestations of Christ, 710 00:28:53,572 --> 00:28:58,521 and three of them were prayers? 711 00:28:58,521 --> 00:29:02,464 Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon - 712 00:29:02,464 --> 00:29:06,164 those were all, "And I pray..." 713 00:29:06,164 --> 00:29:07,801 Brothers, leadership doesn't start 714 00:29:07,801 --> 00:29:11,081 with you talking to people. 715 00:29:11,081 --> 00:29:14,638 It doesn't start with you at the front of people. 716 00:29:14,638 --> 00:29:17,162 It starts where no one sees us 717 00:29:17,162 --> 00:29:19,654 except our Father. 718 00:29:19,654 --> 00:29:23,440 It starts with us talking about people to God. 719 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,169 Lord, would You let them see? 720 00:29:25,169 --> 00:29:26,690 Lord, would You let them obey? 721 00:29:26,690 --> 00:29:28,724 Lord, would You let them grow in obedience 722 00:29:28,724 --> 00:29:31,420 so they can know more of You? 723 00:29:31,420 --> 00:29:32,812 You know what that does? 724 00:29:32,812 --> 00:29:34,826 That helps you trust the promises of God 725 00:29:34,826 --> 00:29:36,601 for other believers. 726 00:29:36,601 --> 00:29:38,588 One of the biggest problems that happens 727 00:29:38,588 --> 00:29:39,933 when we try to lead people, 728 00:29:39,933 --> 00:29:42,341 is they get the impression that we don't think 729 00:29:42,341 --> 00:29:46,669 they're actually going to grow. 730 00:29:46,669 --> 00:29:50,901 "You really need to do this... 731 00:29:50,901 --> 00:29:53,802 Really need to." 732 00:29:53,802 --> 00:29:58,093 Listen to what Paul says in Philemon. 733 00:29:58,093 --> 00:30:01,600 He says that he's confident that Philemon 734 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,182 will obey. 735 00:30:04,182 --> 00:30:06,654 Do people get that from you? 736 00:30:06,654 --> 00:30:09,265 "Man, I just know that God's at work in your life. 737 00:30:09,265 --> 00:30:12,228 I'm sure you're going to come around to the truth. 738 00:30:12,228 --> 00:30:15,691 I'm just confident that you're going to obey." 739 00:30:15,691 --> 00:30:16,898 Now, I'll admit to you, 740 00:30:16,898 --> 00:30:18,332 there are some Christians - 741 00:30:18,332 --> 00:30:19,703 their lives are dicey. 742 00:30:19,703 --> 00:30:23,706 There are harder moments to believe that isn't there? 743 00:30:23,706 --> 00:30:27,429 You know what Paul said to the Galatians? 744 00:30:27,429 --> 00:30:31,796 I'm confident you'll take no other view than mine. 745 00:30:31,796 --> 00:30:33,689 Even in this urgent moment, 746 00:30:33,689 --> 00:30:36,890 he's like: these are believers. 747 00:30:36,890 --> 00:30:39,692 They're going to turn around. 748 00:30:39,692 --> 00:30:42,538 And in Philemon, he does the exact same thing. 749 00:30:42,538 --> 00:30:45,513 In chapter 1:21, when he says, 750 00:30:45,513 --> 00:30:47,565 "I'm confident of your obedience. 751 00:30:47,565 --> 00:30:49,511 I write to you knowing that you will do 752 00:30:49,511 --> 00:30:51,703 even more than I say." 753 00:30:51,703 --> 00:30:53,661 Well, that's even more isn't it? 754 00:30:53,661 --> 00:30:56,931 I'm laying out to you what I hope Christ will do in your heart. 755 00:30:56,931 --> 00:31:04,729 I just know you're going to do more than that. 756 00:31:04,729 --> 00:31:09,467 Brothers, there's a power that comes 757 00:31:09,467 --> 00:31:14,207 when someone godly expresses 758 00:31:14,207 --> 00:31:17,039 the truth about God towards you. 759 00:31:17,039 --> 00:31:19,566 It's not the power of legalism. 760 00:31:19,566 --> 00:31:22,694 It's the power that John Paton spoke about 761 00:31:22,694 --> 00:31:24,214 when his father raised him 762 00:31:24,214 --> 00:31:25,960 and poured into him all those years, 763 00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:28,646 and then he left his father in the hills of Scotland, 764 00:31:28,646 --> 00:31:34,160 and he said, "I just never wanted to displease that man." 765 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,197 When someone older and wiser 766 00:31:36,197 --> 00:31:37,418 looks at you and says, 767 00:31:37,418 --> 00:31:39,544 "Jesus is working in you, 768 00:31:39,544 --> 00:31:41,872 I just know you're going to go above and beyond 769 00:31:41,872 --> 00:31:43,159 and really walk with Him," 770 00:31:43,159 --> 00:31:44,489 you really walk away like, 771 00:31:44,489 --> 00:31:46,010 "Oh Lord, I hope that's true! 772 00:31:46,010 --> 00:31:48,724 I want to see that be real in my life. 773 00:31:48,724 --> 00:31:50,378 I want to see that. 774 00:31:50,378 --> 00:31:55,301 I don't want to make that hero of mine ashamed." 775 00:31:55,301 --> 00:31:57,954 Those are wonderful, wonderful motivations. 776 00:31:57,954 --> 00:32:04,305 Fear is not the only motivation. 777 00:32:04,305 --> 00:32:07,693 You need to speak this truth. 778 00:32:07,693 --> 00:32:10,510 You need to pray this truth. 779 00:32:10,510 --> 00:32:12,608 I don't know what you all do for these kinds of things. 780 00:32:12,608 --> 00:32:16,155 I keep a picture book of our church with me 781 00:32:16,155 --> 00:32:18,484 and pray for our people. 782 00:32:18,484 --> 00:32:20,961 This would be one of the things I'd want to pray. 783 00:32:20,961 --> 00:32:27,405 Lord, would You just help them to obey You so they'd know You. 784 00:32:27,405 --> 00:32:29,294 The last thing I want to leave you with 785 00:32:29,294 --> 00:32:33,547 is would you trust this truth tonight? 786 00:32:33,547 --> 00:32:39,858 Would you take - or, I'm confident you will take 787 00:32:39,858 --> 00:32:43,584 a practical next step. 788 00:32:43,584 --> 00:32:46,058 What is it? 789 00:32:46,058 --> 00:32:48,596 What is it for you? 790 00:32:48,596 --> 00:32:50,707 I've been a Christian long enough to know 791 00:32:50,707 --> 00:32:52,230 there's almost always something 792 00:32:52,230 --> 00:32:55,975 gnawing at the conscience of a Christian. 793 00:32:55,975 --> 00:32:57,355 Right? 794 00:32:57,355 --> 00:33:00,997 I know I need to grow. 795 00:33:00,997 --> 00:33:03,286 Well, let the Holy Spirit fill in the blank. 796 00:33:03,286 --> 00:33:04,887 It's not the same for everyone. 797 00:33:04,887 --> 00:33:06,647 Some people - they can barely 798 00:33:06,647 --> 00:33:08,724 pull themselves away from pornography. 799 00:33:08,724 --> 00:33:12,078 Some people - they aren't even tempted to look. 800 00:33:12,078 --> 00:33:15,700 We face different struggles, don't we, brothers? 801 00:33:15,700 --> 00:33:17,699 Some people are just naturally frugal. 802 00:33:17,699 --> 00:33:22,742 Some people just naturally aren't. 803 00:33:22,742 --> 00:33:25,309 But we each stumble in many ways, 804 00:33:25,309 --> 00:33:27,424 and we each have areas the Holy Spirit 805 00:33:27,424 --> 00:33:29,438 puts His finger on 806 00:33:29,438 --> 00:33:32,989 and says, "That one's next." 807 00:33:32,989 --> 00:33:34,722 And when He says, "That one's next," 808 00:33:34,722 --> 00:33:40,055 our flesh screams. 809 00:33:40,055 --> 00:33:43,256 "Don't touch that one!" 810 00:33:43,256 --> 00:33:47,905 "I'll give You one of those things I'm good at obeying." 811 00:33:47,905 --> 00:33:50,905 I had a guy ask me one time, 812 00:33:50,905 --> 00:33:57,599 how does God help you to be bold? 813 00:33:57,599 --> 00:33:59,935 He was kind of a timid guy. 814 00:33:59,935 --> 00:34:01,625 How does God help you to be bold? 815 00:34:01,625 --> 00:34:03,570 I said I'm going to be honest with you. 816 00:34:03,570 --> 00:34:05,856 That's not really my problem. 817 00:34:05,856 --> 00:34:08,382 I don't have problems being bold in preaching. 818 00:34:08,382 --> 00:34:12,383 I've got problems in being compassionate in preaching. 819 00:34:12,383 --> 00:34:15,383 I've got problems being sweet. 820 00:34:15,383 --> 00:34:18,593 That's where the Holy Spirit might put His finger on me. 821 00:34:18,593 --> 00:34:22,243 Where does He put His finger on you? 822 00:34:22,243 --> 00:34:25,168 That very place is a precious invitation 823 00:34:25,168 --> 00:34:29,306 from the Lord to know Him more. 824 00:34:29,306 --> 00:34:33,699 He wants to reveal Himself increasingly to you. 825 00:34:33,699 --> 00:34:35,168 And this isn't tit-for-tat. 826 00:34:35,168 --> 00:34:37,622 Hey, I had a good day. Where was my revelation? 827 00:34:37,622 --> 00:34:39,418 That isn't how this works, okay. 828 00:34:39,418 --> 00:34:41,559 God is not your genie - 829 00:34:41,559 --> 00:34:43,350 if you do 24/7 of obedience, 830 00:34:43,350 --> 00:34:46,283 He'll give you a nice hour of inundation with His presence. 831 00:34:46,283 --> 00:34:47,785 That's not how this works. 832 00:34:47,785 --> 00:34:49,983 This is all of grace. 833 00:34:49,983 --> 00:34:52,303 It's all of His sovereign good hand. 834 00:34:52,303 --> 00:34:54,903 But I'll tell you one place He won't meet you: 835 00:34:54,903 --> 00:34:58,540 disobedience. 836 00:34:58,540 --> 00:35:00,937 He only has one thing He'll do if He meets you 837 00:35:00,937 --> 00:35:04,615 in disobedience and that is He'll reprove you, 838 00:35:04,615 --> 00:35:06,433 discipline you, 839 00:35:06,433 --> 00:35:08,211 bring you back 840 00:35:08,211 --> 00:35:10,655 even through showers of mercy. 841 00:35:10,655 --> 00:35:12,480 But He wants to reveal Himself to you. 842 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,573 So you take that place, you hold it in your heart. 843 00:35:14,573 --> 00:35:16,353 Maybe you express it to a brother. 844 00:35:16,353 --> 00:35:20,828 And you recognize that place as holy ground 845 00:35:20,828 --> 00:35:23,162 where God wants to begin to keep 846 00:35:23,162 --> 00:35:24,328 walking you in obedience 847 00:35:24,328 --> 00:35:27,597 because He's going to reveal more of Himself to you. 848 00:35:27,597 --> 00:35:30,485 He'll give you more illumination. 849 00:35:30,485 --> 00:35:31,821 And when you speak to people 850 00:35:31,821 --> 00:35:33,672 about the problems in their life, 851 00:35:33,672 --> 00:35:35,368 you realize you're not just there 852 00:35:35,368 --> 00:35:37,578 applying leadership principles. 853 00:35:37,578 --> 00:35:39,294 That's not it. 854 00:35:39,294 --> 00:35:41,278 You're not just trying to get them to be 855 00:35:41,278 --> 00:35:42,947 more biblical or more conservative 856 00:35:42,947 --> 00:35:45,617 or more whatever. 857 00:35:45,617 --> 00:35:49,026 You're inviting them into the knowledge of God. 858 00:35:49,026 --> 00:35:50,824 You're eager to see them grow 859 00:35:50,824 --> 00:35:53,358 in the knowledge of God. 860 00:35:53,358 --> 00:35:55,793 And when that's there, brothers, 861 00:35:55,793 --> 00:35:57,099 when that's there, 862 00:35:57,099 --> 00:35:58,891 you get churches that can be 863 00:35:58,891 --> 00:36:01,788 insanely obedient, 864 00:36:01,788 --> 00:36:03,687 and they just get more gracious, 865 00:36:03,687 --> 00:36:06,577 not more legalistic. 866 00:36:06,577 --> 00:36:09,237 Because they're just all digging for treasure. 867 00:36:09,237 --> 00:36:12,072 Lord, give me more. 868 00:36:12,072 --> 00:36:17,088 Let's pray. 869 00:36:17,088 --> 00:36:19,594 Father, we thank You - 870 00:36:19,594 --> 00:36:21,799 we thank You that You would choose us 871 00:36:21,799 --> 00:36:23,246 and make us Christian, 872 00:36:23,246 --> 00:36:25,190 but we pray that if there are any here 873 00:36:25,190 --> 00:36:26,494 who don't know You, 874 00:36:26,494 --> 00:36:28,358 that they would be willing to obey You 875 00:36:28,358 --> 00:36:32,092 and You would show them that Your teaching is from God. 876 00:36:32,092 --> 00:36:33,743 Lord God, we come before You 877 00:36:33,743 --> 00:36:36,326 and we ask You for those of us who are Christians 878 00:36:36,326 --> 00:36:38,725 that we would see those areas You're pinpointing - 879 00:36:38,725 --> 00:36:40,902 maybe an area of self-control, 880 00:36:40,902 --> 00:36:43,268 maybe an area with our finances, 881 00:36:43,268 --> 00:36:45,549 or an action towards our children, 882 00:36:45,549 --> 00:36:48,072 or our wives - maybe it's a lot of things. 883 00:36:48,072 --> 00:36:49,737 Maybe it's just one thing for now, 884 00:36:49,737 --> 00:36:51,240 but Lord, whatever You open up, 885 00:36:51,240 --> 00:36:52,894 we pray that we would just see it 886 00:36:52,894 --> 00:36:54,957 as the pathway to knowing You better. 887 00:36:54,957 --> 00:36:56,388 And we would just acknowledge 888 00:36:56,388 --> 00:36:58,288 that You have made us know You, 889 00:36:58,288 --> 00:37:00,058 and You've made us want nothing more 890 00:37:00,058 --> 00:37:01,927 than to know You more. 891 00:37:01,927 --> 00:37:04,258 So we would just follow that. 892 00:37:04,258 --> 00:37:05,901 Lord, we plead with You for this, 893 00:37:05,901 --> 00:37:09,172 in Christ's name, Amen.