Nov. 26, 2024

Be Strong In Grace

Be Strong In Grace

A discussion about 2 Timothy 2:1

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A discussion about 2 Timothy 2:1

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Looking at our world from a theological perspective. This is

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the Theology Central podcast making Theology Central. Good morning everyone.

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It is Tuesday, November the twenty sixth, twenty twenty four.

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It is currently ten thirty three am Central Time, and

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I am coming to you live from the Theology Central

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studio located right here in Abilene, Texas. Can you believe

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that it's November the twenty sixth? I mean, can you

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believe that? I don't know what that means to you.

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It may not mean anything to you. You may be like,

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who cares November the twenty sixth, December the twenty six

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It may not matter to you, But to me, I'm

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looking at it going I cannot believe that. Basically this

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year is over? And so how do we end this year? Like?

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What do we do? Right? I mean we what do

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we do over the basically just a little over a

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month to bring this year to an end? What do

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we do? What do we? And I know there's so

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many things like I probably need to go back and go, Okay,

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I need to do a message here, I need to

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do a message there to try to wrap that up.

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I need to bring this to some kind of conclusion

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so there is going to be a little bit of

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a desire to try to wrap some things up. And obviously,

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I mean, look so much so many of my ideas

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and things I thought we were going to do in

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twenty twenty four, not a lot of those materialized in

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a really the way that I envision. But you have

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to at least look, that happens every single year because

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I always have more ideas than I can actually pull off, right, so,

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and sometimes I just have an idea and then I

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lose interest in the idea. I understand that, but I mean, obviously,

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if anyone has been listening, I mean I really thought,

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like in December of twenty twenty three, that way before

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before November of twenty twenty four, that a lot of

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there had been a lot of major changes that would

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have happened here, and I didn't even know if the

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podcast would still be going. So I guess in some

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ways it's understandable that, you know, I had ideas, but

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there was a back of my mind going, Okay, I'll

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start this, but you know it's all going to be

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kind of done by June or Joe, Like there's gonna

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be all these major changes. But you know what we're

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still here. So what is the one thing we have

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accomplished in twenty twenty four. The one thing we have

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accomplished in twenty twenty four, and I think we have

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stayed true to it, is the sermons two point oh

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app sermon challenge. We have reviewed sermon after sermon after sermon.

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I now, I probably could have done a better job

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at turning on the microphone at certain times, going all right, guys,

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here are some new things added to the sermon's two

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point oh app Oh wait, look at this. Hey, here's

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this conference going on. I probably could have done a

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better job of that. And so so I can critique

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how things went. But if anyone actually participated, if anyone

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even slightly participated somewhere around them, they should have a

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notebook right now. They should be able to flip the

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pages and they should see sermon they listen to after

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sermon after sermon after sermon. They should be able to

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go back and look at the summaries that they were

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to write down in their notebook. I don't know if

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you listened to twenty, I don't know if you listen

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to forty. I don't know if you listen to fifty. Whatever,

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the number is. I hope that number is far greater

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than at any other year in your life, of how

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many sermons you'll listen to. It that may not. It

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may be like, well, whether you were doing the challenge

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or not doing the challenge, I would have listened to

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the exact same number of sermons. And that may be true.

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But if you listen to any more because of the challenge,

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I can't say that. And I think this is very important.

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I don't think we can pat ourselves on the back

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and go, oh, look look at how how spiritual we are.

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We listen to fifty sermons, we listened to one hundred.

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That would be the actually the opposite of what I

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want to accomplish. What I hope is, well, I listen

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to all of these sermons and then just be honest

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with what you learned. Maybe maybe maybe it makes you

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more discouraged. Maybe after listening to all of these sermons,

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you may have come to the conclusion, for crying out loud,

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nobody agrees on anything, this is insane. Maybe you came

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to the conclusion of nobody knows how to handle the

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text of Scripture. I mean, let's be honest. For me,

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I kind of I mean, I look, on one hand,

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I am so glad we've done the sermons two point

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oh app challenge, right, I'm so glad. I still think

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because one, I want people utilizing this tool, so I

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mean thing, I think that's a good thing. On the

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other hand, if I'm just gonna be honest, even though

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I'm glad I did it, I did, I kind of

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arrived at a pretty discourage you kind of dark place

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because it kind of just made me realize when it's

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all said and done, I have found myself probably realizing

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a truth that has bothered me basically my entire Christian life,

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which is I don't really fit in to this Christian world.

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I just I don't really fit in. I think at

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the conclusion of this entire challenge that we've done for

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twenty twenty four is after listening to all of these

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sermons for the sermon the sermon's two point oh app

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sermon challenge is I just don't fit in very well.

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So and I guess it's kind of discouraging because we

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have just seen over and over how pastors take scripture

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and just they do crazy things with it. So I

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guess that's a maybe that's a good lesson to learn.

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I don't know, but that's kind of the negative. But

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the point is here, we are faster. We've got just

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a little over a month and this year is over.

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I know, it's hard to believe we're going to The

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one thing we are going to do is we're going

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to bring this Sermons two point oh app Sermon Challenge

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for twenty twenty four to hopefully some type of dramatic conclusion,

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and by just reviewing as many sermons as we can,

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maybe before we get there. I don't know. I don't

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know if I don't know if I have any specific

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plans on how to bring it to a conclusion, but

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I'm going to bring it to some kind of conclusion

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and hopefully it's beneficial. So in the spirit of that,

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we're going to be reviewing at least a part of

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a sermon here in just a minute now. If you've

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been paying attention to the Sermon's two point oh app

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or the Sermon Audio website today, you should if you've

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been looking at the new sermons tab, which I think

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you should just keep that open all day and just

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constantly refresh it new sermons because you'll just get a

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sense of how many sermons are added every single day.

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When they add five to six seven thousand sermons per week,

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that's just it just will show you the how much

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is available to you twenty four hours a day, seven

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days a week. Now, again it may lead you to

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being discouraged, but it's still there, all right. So I

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don't know how many sermons you've listened to, but just

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if you'll just keep looking at that. But I've been

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looking at that tab today and I noticed a couple

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of things. Number One, Way of Life, Way of Life Literature.

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That's a website. I've referenced it numerous times. They are

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adding a lot of content today. Now they've been a

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part of Sermonadio I think since two thousand and one,

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but I think there was a long time they weren't

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adding any content. But David Cloud from Way of Life,

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they've been adding a lot of messages today, a lot.

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And they've gone an entire series on biblical prophecy, and

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we've been dealing with eschatology. We need to finish that

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series as well, so a lot of it would be

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very much connected to that, and you would hear his perspective.

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Now his perspective is going to be different than a

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lot of people on Sermonadio. Cermonadio has a lot of

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more amillennial hype eschatology, and he'll be coming out much

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more from a dispensational perspective. So you may want to

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look up all of those messages today. But there's one

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I've got my eye on. It was added thirty minutes ago,

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twenty minutes ago. There's no audio as of right now,

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but it is called Internet Theologians. Internet Theologians. I've got

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to find the when that audio is added, I have

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to listen to it, and I don't know which direction

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you're going to go. But whenever I see a pastor

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or a church say anything about Internet theologians, typically it's

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very negative. Pastors, the institutionalized church, they have criticized. This

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has been happening forever. They used to criticize all the time.

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The bloggers. Oh, everyone's got a blog and they think

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they're a theologian, and they criticize, criticize, and then they

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will criticize podcasters. All these podcasters just out there saying whatever.

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Pastors and the institutionalized church are not fans of the

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blogger or the podcaster, and they have a tendency to

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minimize them, speak down to them, be dismissive of them.

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And to me, it's very it's very Catholic, like, very

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Catholic like. Let me explain, within the Catholic Church, the

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Catholic Church sees itself as we have the authority, We

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have the magisterial authority. We're the one that gives the

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authoritative interpretation. You have to go with us. Well, for

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all of us who are not Catholics, we come from

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a tradition that rejects that. Say no, no, no, no, no,

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no no, there is no magisteral authority. The church doesn't

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have the authority is supposed to be scripture. Well, we

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say that, but then pastors get very ticked off when

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a quote unquote blogger or podcaster or internet theologian offers

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some criticism. They don't like it, well because they want

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to be seen as they should be the one speaking

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the truth. Well wait a minute, why? And I feel

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like in some ways the institutionalized church gets mad at

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those like me who has a podcast, who may offer criticism.

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They don't necessarily like that. But I think I think

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sometimes those maybe on a podcast or in a blog,

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can speak more freely and I think sometimes maybe hearing

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that maybe kind of an outsider perspective, right, Maybe the

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institutionalized churches sometimes hear that sometimes maybe the criticism. Maybe

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sometimes the criticism isn't fair. Maybe sometimes it's more fair

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than you want to hear because the pastors can there's

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only so much they can say, or they they end

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up losing their job, they'll be forced out of the

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institutionalized church. You got to give the people what they want.

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You got to give them their song and dance because

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you got to keep them happy. Well, if you're not,

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if you've got a podcast that's not connected to that,

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whether you can say whatever you want, fire me, what

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do you what are you gonna I may lose support,

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per se, but I don't get that. I don't get

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that much anyway. So you know, like ultimately it's like okay,

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well the end, you know, it's not like my entire

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livelihood is connected to it. You always have more freedom

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when you can do that. So it'll be interesting. It's

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called internet theologians. I don't know what take they're going

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to give. Typically it's gonna be negative. I can't wait

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to hear it. And if you find it first, well,

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oh you let me know. But all right, I say

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all of that to say, well, what we're getting ready

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to do is a part of our sermon's two point

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oh app sermon challenge. So get your notebook ready. We're

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gonna be listening to another sermon. This one is called

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the Seven must Haves. I think of the Christian life,

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the seven must haves of the Christian life, or for

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the Christian life, the seven must haves. Here here are

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seven things we must have in our Christian lives. But

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let me just go ahead and just you know, let

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you know right here from the beginning, we're not gonna

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look at We're only gonna look at one of them.

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We're not gonna look at all seven. Right. The sermon

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is forty one minutes long, so we know if we

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do a full review that'll turn into about four three

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to four hours. I don't want to do that. We're

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just gonna look at the first must have, and it

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seems to be based off a phrase and Second Timothy,

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chapter two, verse one. Second Timothy, chapter two, verse one.

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Here is the phrase you're ready thou therefore, my son.

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Now here's the phrase be strong in the grace that

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is in Christ Jesus, be strong in the grace, that

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is in Christ, Jesus, be strong and grace. Be strong

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in grace. Now, if we were at church, if we

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were in a hermaeututs class, if I was a teacher

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in any way, shit, performing you were in my classroom,

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I would tell everyone, well, use pencil, grab your notebook

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and write down that phrase, be strong in the grace

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or be strong and grace. So I would tell you

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to write it down, be strong in grace. I would

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look around the classroom. Does everyone have it written down?

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Let me see, let me see do you have it

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written down? Be strong in grace? Okay, here we go.

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You got thirty minutes, go write down what it means.

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I'll be back. Then I'd go get me a drink

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and a snack, walk around for a little bit, walk

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back in the classroom, and like, okay, here we go.

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Not you, what does it mean to be strong in grace? Okay,

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what does it mean to be strong? Now? I want.

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I would want to see how much agreement there was

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two I would then once it would be clear that

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there's very little agreement, then I would be like, why

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is it so complicated for us to interpret a phrase,

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be strong and Grace. Well, if you look at two

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thousand years of church history, I know this is gonna

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come as a shock. Nobody seems to agree on what

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that means. So we're going to listen to these seven

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must haves because the first one that they give is

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be strong and the Grace. Okay, well, then I want

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to know what it means. So are you ready to

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figure out what it means. I've got a lot of notes.

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We're gonna figure it out. But we're gonna go to

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the sermon again. This is a new sermon that was

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added maybe an hour ago, maybe two hours ago, the

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seven must haves in the Christian life. We're not gonna

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listen to all seven. We're just gonna see how he

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handles be Strong and the Grace. We're gonna start the

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sermon at the beginning, so we'll get the introduction, probably

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opening prayer, and then we'll then when he gets to

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this first pu, this first must have, we're gonna listen

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for his interpretation of what it means, and then I'm

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going to spend my time while probably challenge it. I

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don't maybe I will agree. There's a high probability I'm

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not going to agree in any way, shape or form.

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But we will see. So are you ready? Are you ready?

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Here we go. I know I'm just an Internet theologian,

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so what I say probably doesn't matter, right, But here

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I'm just one of those, you know, irritating podcasters. But

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we're still gonna look at the text and we're still

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gonna try to figure it out. Here we.

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Go to the Book of Second Timothy, Second Timothy, chapter two,

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and we're gonna begin there in verse one, Second Timothy

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chapter two, there in verse one. All right, Second Timothy

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chapter two. There in verse one, And when you find

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your place, you can stand with me if you would

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and want to read the Word of God here together tonight,

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Second Timothy chapter two. There in verse one, have entitled

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this message seven must haves, seven must haves the Christian today.

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All right, let's begin there. In verse one, Bible says, thou, therefore,

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my son, be strong in the grace that is in

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Christ Jesus, and the things that thou has heard of

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me among many witnesses. The same commit thou to faithful men,

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who shall be able to teach others. Also Thou, therefore,

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in der hardness, is a good soldier of Jesus Christ,

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another man that warreth entangle himself with the affairs of

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this life, that he may please him who hath chosen

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him to be a soldier. And if a man also

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strive for the masteries, yet is he not crowned except

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he strive lawfully? The husbandman that labor must first be

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partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say, and the

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Lord give thee understanding in all things. Let's pray. Follow

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we come to the seating. We thank you, Lord for

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your goodness here tonight. Lord, just praise you'd help us

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as we go through your word. I pray God, you

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help me tonight as I preach, And Lord that you

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would just just fill my mind, my heart, Lord, my mouth, God,

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with your words not my own. Lord me to help me, Lord,

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to speak that which you would need me to speak

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here tonight. And Lord to help us all to receive

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your word to hear this evening, that it would help

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us to be encouraged and help us to be better

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equipped in our life. For you help us God to

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grow here tonight in our spiritual lives. And Lord, we

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just ask for your helping all these things. Well. I

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praach you to help me tonight as I preach, Lord,

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just give me strength, and this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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All right, we could we could do an entire podcast

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series on opening prayers for sermons. All right? You know

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how I get so irritated by opening prayers for sermons.

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I really really really do. Look. Either one, pastors just

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use the opening prayer to start preaching, to kind of

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start giving their introduction, meaning you're not really talking to God,

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You're still talking to the congregation. Or number two, these

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kinds of things are said, and I just I don't

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understand the way Christians think. Now again, this may be

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the podcast or the internet theologian offering critique, but when

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I watch churches do this, it's just becomes standardized language.

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And I don't think anyone in the church ever stops

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to go, well, wait, what are the implications of this?

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He basically said, God, let my words be your words. Well,

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if the pastor is only speaking the words God is

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giving him, that would make his sermon infallible. That would

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make his sermons basically inspired word of God. Hey, the

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pastor at that church, God speaks through him. His words

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are the words of God. That makes them infallible. That

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makes them authoritative. That means you cannot criticize them. That

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means you cannot judge them. You cannot, You have to

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just listen to them. His words are absolutely true. Now

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I have heard sermon after sermon after sermon after sermon

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where this kind of prayer is given. Look that God

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gave me this, This is what God I mean, we've

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even heard that. Look, Sermonadio is the non charismatic part

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of Christianity. If you look at the statement of faith

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that any pastor has to sign in order to have

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sermons on Sermonadio, you're supposed to be completely opposed to

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the charismatic movement. But this kind of this kind of

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speaking to me is right in the will house of

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charismatic theology. But we heard a sermon on Sermonadio already

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this year with that said, this is what God told

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me to tell you. Well, that is that is then

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God gave him the very exact words to say. That

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is God speaking to that pastor outside of scripture. Well,

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this one wants God my words to be the words

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of God. Well, then that means God is speaking directly

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through him outside of scripture. This is God giving revelation,

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speaking outside of the Bible. This is not sola scriptorra.

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It's the opposite of it. And I don't understand how

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non charismatic pastors fall into charismatic theology. Either God speaks

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to the Word alone, or he's speaking through this pastor

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or this pastor. And if he's speaking through the pastor,

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then that means those words are authoritative. If I'd turn

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on this microphone and said I'm going to give you

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what God gave me, you can't email me and criticize it.

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You can't question it, you can't disagree it came from God.

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If God speaks through me, well then you can't say

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a word. And that's contrary to it. Now, how many

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times have we heard pastors pray this and then they

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go on In some cases within five minutes, ten minutes,

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we'll say something that's absolutely provable false. They'll say something

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about this about the text or this about the texts,

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and you'll say, that's not true, that's not true, that's

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not true, that's not true. In some cases it's things

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that are easily provable, it's just fraudulent or false. Well,

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then that's not God. Now you're claiming God just spoke

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through you fraudulent things. How dare you use the name

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of God to say that what you're saying is from

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God when it's not from God. That's an essence taking

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his name in vain. There's just so many theological issues

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with it. And I know that when I criticize that,

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I know most of you are like, what is the

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big deal? This is just the way we talk in church.

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This is just church talk. You know, it's just locker

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room talk. We always see to justify it's just, Oh,

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it's just the way we talk. I don't care if

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it's the way the church talks. If the church talks

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in a way that is fundamentally thiologically flawed, that we

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need to change the way we talk. If God is

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speaking directly, giving the very words a pastor says, then

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then you need to be writing those words. You need

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the transcript. And in fact, this sermon right here, I've

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got the entire transcript from So maybe I should just

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print out the transcript and tape it to the back

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of my Bible. What's this? Oh, this is another book

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in the Bible. Because well, the pastor said, God, you know, hey,

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God give me the words. Now, either God is going

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to do that or not going to do that. I'm

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saying God is not going to do that. He's giving

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us his word. So if you're gonna pray, pray for something,

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God will actually do. I know Christians love that idea.

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Oh I pray and God gives me understanding. What that

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means you're understanding comes from God. That means in your

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understanding is infallible. Don't you understand the implications of that

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drives me crazy. Opening prayers I almost like whenever and

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some podcast apps you can like skip the intro. I

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wish there was, like on sermon audio that would give

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us a feature skip the opening prayer, skip the just

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a feature like skip skip the opening prayer skip because

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the opening prayers almost almost inevitably lead me to the

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liquor store because I'm like, what is going on? And

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I know that people in the who listen don't care,

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but to me, it's so manipulative. This is what God

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told me to say. God gave me this message, God

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speak through me. Well, if God is doing any of that, well,

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then ladies and gentlemen, my sermons, my teaching is untouchable

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because it comes from God. Now is God about to

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speak through him while he's getting ready to give us

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an interpretation of be strong in the grace. What do

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you think the chances are that I'm going to disagree

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with his interpretation of being strong in the grace? What

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do you think the chances are? I think the chances

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are probably fifty to one hundred percent. Well, then guess

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what if God told him what be strong and the

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grace is? Well, then I can't disagree with it. But

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what if I was to turn on the microphone, I said,

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God speaking through me is telling me this is what

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be strong in the grace? Well, then what do you

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do in the pew? Well, this one says God he

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wanted God to speak through him, and this one says

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this is God is speaking through him. And they gave

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me different interpretations. God can't be speaking through them both.

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What does it not bother anybody? Does it just bother me?

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I think I'm the only one bothered by it. This

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is why I cannot stand the charismatic world. I can't

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stand the charismatic world. Ooh, God spoke through me. God

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showed me the just stop it right, I can't stand it. Well,

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what drives me crazy? Is Okay, I've escaped planet charismatic. Right,

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I've escaped that planet, thank goodness. Oh wait, here's a website.

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It's called Sermonadio. Everyone has to sign a statement saying

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that they're basically opposed to the charismatic movement. And then

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you listen and they start talking like they're charismatics. Oh

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they may not be speaking in tongues. They may not.

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But if you're still believing God is speaking to you

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outside of scripture in any meaningful way, then that's continued

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revelation outside of the Bible, and that is a constant

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thing in the charismatic world. Oh it drives me crazy.

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All right, now, twenty five minutes, we haven't gotten very far.

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Let's see where we can go here.

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It may it may be seated seven must have the

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Christian life for tonight. In verses one to seven, we

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see the apostle Paul talking to young Timothy, the preacher here,

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and as he's talking to him and mentioned sim several

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things that we have course read. They're in verse six

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he says the husband that labor must be partakers of

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the first fruits. And so as I was looking through this,

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I thought, you know what, these are actually things that

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all of these sayings, not just in verse six. All

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of above are things we really must have in our

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Christian life. And so the seven must haves I believe

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today that are good for us in our Christian life.

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And there are some things in life that you must

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have that you can't.

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Okay. So to summarize his basic premise is that Paul

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in two Timothy chapter two is speaking to Timothy. I mean,

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it says thou therefore, my son. So Paul is speaking

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to Timothy, and he mentions, we'll just go with the

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number seven things that Timothy must have. His argument is

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this is transferable, not just to Timothy, to all of us.

460
00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:59.880
We all must have these things Paul says Timothy needs.

461
00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:05.799
Now we could argue is it transferable? Is this prescriptive

462
00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:08.640
or is this descriptive? Is it simply describing what Paul

463
00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:11.799
thinks Timothy needs or is it prescribing what we all need?

464
00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:16.200
His argument is this prescribes what we all need? All right, Well,

465
00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:19.079
we're going to go along with that idea. I'm focusing

466
00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:21.559
on the phrase be strong and the grace. That's what

467
00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:24.160
I want to focus on. But so let's see how

468
00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:27.359
he establishes this that there are things we must have

469
00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:29.839
in the Christian life. He believes there are seven of them,

470
00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:33.559
and two Timothy Chapter two, verses one through seven. All right,

471
00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:35.839
we only want to focus on the first one. Let's

472
00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:37.200
let him get to the first one.

473
00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:42.559
Can't do without or is it very difficult to be

474
00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:46.240
without these things? And I think in our Christian life

475
00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:48.880
it would be very difficult for us to function as

476
00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:52.319
well without some of these things also. And so as

477
00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:54.680
we take a look at it here this evening there

478
00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:57.079
in verse one, notice what he says. He says, Now, therefore,

479
00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:00.480
my son, be strong in the grace that is in

480
00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:04.319
Christ Jesus. Now, the very first truth there is, the

481
00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:08.359
very first must is is that we must have strength.

482
00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:10.319
We must have strength.

483
00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:15.559
But no, all right, so we must have strength is

484
00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:19.559
the must have for the Christian life. We must have strength,

485
00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:23.720
all right. Now, this gets into the weird world of

486
00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:28.359
Christian Christianity. All right. Christianity, on one hand, seems to

487
00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:32.240
typically imply that we already have strength. We're empowered by

488
00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:36.680
the Holy Spirit, so we already have it. So do

489
00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:40.480
we already have it? Or do we have some? But

490
00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:43.039
we have to continue to pursue to get more. Because

491
00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:46.440
he's telling him, my son, be strong in the grace.

492
00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:50.759
Hey find strength here? Right? Be strong? Now what is

493
00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:53.079
the phrase be strong? Well, we can get into the idea.

494
00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:56.039
So do we already have power or do we need

495
00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.599
to get power? Do we have strength or do we

496
00:28:58.599 --> 00:29:02.680
have to constantly strength? Which is it? Do we have it?

497
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:05.759
Do we need to get it? And when we say strength,

498
00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:09.319
what does that mean? See? Christians love this idea. Oh,

499
00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:12.799
now that we have power, we have strength, and typically

500
00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:18.079
it goes like this, This power, this strength enables us

501
00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:21.160
to be able to say notice in yes to God.

502
00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:25.240
So then the logical question would be, oh, we are

503
00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:28.759
receiving supernatural strength so that we can obey God. So

504
00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:32.880
then obviously we should be able to be perfect. Well no, no, no, no, no,

505
00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:35.200
you can't be perfect. So wait a minute. So I

506
00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:38.720
receive strength from God, but the strength from God is

507
00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:41.599
not good enough to get me to perfection. Well, the

508
00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:43.920
strength of God is good enough to get you to perfection.

509
00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:46.359
But you can overcome the strength of God and keep

510
00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:49.279
yourself from getting to perfection. So then I can get

511
00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:51.720
to perfection. But I stop the strength of God, so

512
00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:54.039
I'm stronger than the strength of God. Then it gets

513
00:29:54.079 --> 00:30:01.920
all confounding, confusing, convoluted, it just because maddening listening to

514
00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:05.720
Christians talk in circles. You have strength, Oh, so I

515
00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:07.559
can be perfect? Well you can't be perfect? Well I

516
00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:10.480
thought I had strength. Well you do have strength, but

517
00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:14.720
so I have strength to be fifty percent better? Well

518
00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:17.079
wait a minute, how do I measure better? How do

519
00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:17.759
I measure?

520
00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:17.960
Oh?

521
00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:21.759
Now it becomes it becomes really confusing. Let's see how

522
00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:26.480
he's going to handle this. We need strength, all right,

523
00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:30.240
So what is the strength? How do I obtain this strength?

524
00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:32.759
What does it look like? What does it do? What

525
00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:35.759
does it not? I mean, look if I tell you, hey,

526
00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:38.319
you need strength, and you'd be like, you're right, I

527
00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:40.759
need strength. Okay, how do I get it? You're gonna

528
00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.880
be asking questions, how do I get it? What do

529
00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:46.400
what does it do? What does it not do? You're

530
00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:50.160
gonna want to understand everything about it, right, Or let's

531
00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:51.559
see if we get some answers.

532
00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:56.279
Just where our strength is? He says, be strong in

533
00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:59.400
the grace that is in Jesus Christ. So grace exactly

534
00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:01.920
what is that? Well, grace is unmerited favor. We also

535
00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:05.720
understand that in this unmerited favor that God has given Uh.

536
00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:08.240
We see this grace as we would see also as

537
00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:10.480
the Bible would say, let us grow in the grace

538
00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:13.440
and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. And so and so

539
00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:15.960
we grow, and we grow in grace, we grow in knowledge,

540
00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:19.119
we gow an understanding, UH, we grow in strength and power.

541
00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:21.559
We grow in these things. And so in essence the

542
00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:24.039
Bible really showing us there in verse one that as

543
00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:26.200
we live our Christian life. And as the apostle Paul

544
00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:29.359
is talking to Timothy, he tells him that one of

545
00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.960
the things that he needs to make sure that he

546
00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:33.119
does is that he is that he UH, and that

547
00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:36.480
he is strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,

548
00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:39.640
strong in his knowledge, strong in his love, strong in

549
00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:43.039
his favor, strong in the the the inner man really

550
00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:47.200
within himself, that he is walking with the Lord. All

551
00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:50.519
these things kind of coupled together, UH with the grace

552
00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:53.920
of God, with the grace that is in Jesus Christ. Now, therefore,

553
00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:57.359
my son, be strong in the grace that is in

554
00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:02.160
Christ Jesus, the that which God gives to the inner man.

555
00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:07.319
There that that spirit, that power, that that help that

556
00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:10.480
we need, the knowledge that we know of Him that

557
00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:13.920
helps us to be the best men and women of

558
00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:16.799
the Lord that we can be. Uh. And so he says.

559
00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:19.519
One of the things that you're definitely gonna need in

560
00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:22.599
these days, he says, and as it's my son, Timothy,

561
00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:25.200
is that you are going to need strength, and you're

562
00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:28.200
gonna need that strength in the Lord Jesus Christ. Have

563
00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:30.519
the mind of Christ and need us. You're gonna need

564
00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:32.119
this power. You're gonna need us wisdom.

565
00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:32.640
Uh.

566
00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:35.039
You're gonna need the inner man to grow day by

567
00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:37.519
day to be more conformed into the image of your Savior.

568
00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:40.200
Every single day. You're gonna have to do everything you

569
00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:44.240
can uh to to grow as strong as possible. Uh

570
00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:48.640
in the Lord in his word, right.

571
00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:55.920
So you have to do everything possible to be strong. Right,

572
00:32:57.359 --> 00:33:02.440
I've got to do everything to be strong. So is

573
00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:06.160
it strength given to me? Or is it strength? I

574
00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:09.720
have to do everything possible in order to get Now,

575
00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:11.559
if I got to do things in order to get

576
00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:14.279
the strength, then by what strength am I doing those

577
00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:17.559
things in order to get the strength. I've got to

578
00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:20.200
do things to get the strength. Am I doing those

579
00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:22.839
things without the strength? So if I can do those

580
00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:25.119
things in order to get the strength, then what do

581
00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:27.400
I get once I get the strength, because I've got

582
00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:30.079
to do all this stuff to be strong. Well, then

583
00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:33.039
what happens when I become strong. I've got to do

584
00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:36.720
this in order to be strong. So once I've become strong,

585
00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:42.720
then can I even do more? I still don't really

586
00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:47.359
understand what the strength is, do you? I don't. Let's

587
00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:49.440
say if he explains it anymore.

588
00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:53.759
Because listen, we even understand. We look around today, we

589
00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:57.119
see ourselves. There's lots of things. We need to make

590
00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:59.279
sure that we are growing every day in that we

591
00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:01.319
are growing in strength in the Lord, because so that

592
00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:04.160
we can be prepared for the things that we face

593
00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:07.039
out here in the world today.

594
00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:10.039
So we have to grow in strength. So we got

595
00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:12.719
to do everything in our power to get it. Then

596
00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:14.519
I guess when we get it, we have to grow

597
00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:18.719
in it. So is it like you get the strength,

598
00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.800
but then you've got to grow in it? How do

599
00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:25.199
I grow in strength? Does that become I grow? I

600
00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:28.519
become stronger? So do I get the strength? Is it

601
00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:32.599
kind of like you're getting super It's like you're getting superpowers,

602
00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:35.119
but then you've got to grow in those superpowers, learning

603
00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:37.920
to understand them, learning to understand what they can do

604
00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.320
and what they can't. Okay, can I fly? Can I

605
00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:42.920
run fast? Do I have heat vision? Do I have

606
00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:46.119
X ray vision? Do I have Is it like, Ooh,

607
00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:48.559
I've got the power. Now I've got to grow in it.

608
00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:50.800
I got to learn how the power works. Right. A

609
00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:53.400
lot of times you'll have some you know, in a

610
00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:56.199
comic book or a superhero movie, the person obtains the

611
00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:57.719
power and at first I don't know what to do.

612
00:34:57.960 --> 00:35:00.480
That don't understand it, and it can be somewhat at

613
00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:04.639
first as they try to figure it out. Right, Oh, well,

614
00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:06.360
is that it is? I get the power and I

615
00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:10.199
gotta kind of I gotta grow in it, like I need. Look,

616
00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:13.360
if this is a must have in my Christian life,

617
00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:16.199
then I must understand what it means. Let's see if

618
00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:17.639
we get some better explanation.

619
00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:23.440
There's so much that's going on in society that it's

620
00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:27.679
very it's very needful for God's people to make sure

621
00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:31.559
that we are prepared and that we are strong in

622
00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:35.840
the Lord spiritually in our lives, to be able to handle,

623
00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:38.719
to be able to take the things that are coming

624
00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:42.199
our way. And so Timothy, he tells him that one

625
00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:43.599
of the things that you need to make sure that

626
00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:47.239
you do is that you're growing in the strength in

627
00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:49.280
the Lord, that you are growing in, that you are

628
00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:51.800
growing in His grace, that you're growing, as I said,

629
00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:54.360
in essence and the wisdom, the knowledge, that you are

630
00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:57.239
walking in His steps. You know that you are walking

631
00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:59.960
in the spirits, so to speak, that you are become

632
00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:02.119
and being the man that God needs you to be

633
00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:05.119
in your life. Because in these days in which you live,

634
00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:08.119
and in the things that you face, the paganism and UH,

635
00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:10.880
in this in a sinful society, one of the things

636
00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:13.679
that you're gonna have to have is uh is uh

637
00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:16.960
is strength in the Lord. Because listen, if we don't

638
00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:18.920
have strength in the Lord, it could be very easy

639
00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:21.880
for us to be tossed to and fro like the

640
00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:24.880
sands of the sea, or the uh or the or

641
00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:27.639
the chaff uh. If we're not strong in the grace

642
00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:30.000
and knowledge of the Lord, if for not growing in

643
00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:32.559
the spirit of God, it can be very easy for

644
00:36:32.679 --> 00:36:35.480
us to be whipped around with every with every doctrine

645
00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:38.599
of men. I'm gonna be very easy for folks to

646
00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:42.079
come and and to suaar us from the truth, be

647
00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:44.559
very easy for us to get out into the world

648
00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:47.280
and uh, and for sake that which we have growed

649
00:36:47.400 --> 00:36:48.639
up in and that which we know.

650
00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:49.599
Uh.

651
00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:52.320
The Bible says there in verse one, he says, Now, therefore,

652
00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:55.159
my son be strong and the grace that is in

653
00:36:55.239 --> 00:36:57.920
Christ Jesus. And of course he tells us where this

654
00:36:58.079 --> 00:37:00.519
grace is found. It is found in Christ Jesus, this

655
00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:03.079
grace that you need, this strength that you're going to find,

656
00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:05.559
this wisdom that you're going to, this wisdom that you're

657
00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:08.519
gonna need in your life. This uh, this this growth

658
00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:11.360
that you're going that you're that you really need. It's

659
00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:13.760
not gonna come from anything else, not from the world

660
00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:17.079
or even self help books, so to speak. But it's

661
00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:20.159
going to be found that which is in Jesus himself.

662
00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:24.800
And so our grace and our strength is founded in Christ.

663
00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:27.360
Did not God say the Lord Jesus say, and we've

664
00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:30.599
quoted all the time, Jesus said, without me, ye cannot

665
00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:34.039
do nothing. And so our strength is found in Christ.

666
00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:37.400
Our grace of course given to us by the Lord Jesus.

667
00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:40.679
And we want to grow every single day, to walk

668
00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:42.559
more in His steps, as I said, to be more

669
00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:45.320
conformed into His image, to grow in the grace and

670
00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:47.800
strength and so in these days and in the days

671
00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:49.440
of Tember that he told in one of the things

672
00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:52.320
that you need to do is is to be strong,

673
00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:55.679
is to be strong, strong in what the Bible says,

674
00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:58.880
strong in the wisdom of God. They're in verse two.

675
00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:02.239
The Bible says, and the thing that has heard among me, oh,

676
00:38:02.280 --> 00:38:04.280
I'm sorry, and the things that THO has heard of

677
00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:08.320
me among many witnesses. The same commit thou to faithful men,

678
00:38:08.679 --> 00:38:10.679
who shall be able to teach others. Also, it's not

679
00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:13.039
only as a must have that we be strong in

680
00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:16.400
the grace of the Lord, but that we also must

681
00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:18.440
surrender our knowledge.

682
00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:24.960
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. The first

683
00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:28.519
must have is be strong in the grace that is

684
00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:31.320
in Christ Jesus. Now I would again if we were

685
00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:34.199
in a Hermoneutics class, if we were in church, I

686
00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:37.239
would stop everyone and say, okay, all right, you wrote

687
00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:40.239
down what you thought it means to be strong in grace,

688
00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:42.880
in the grace, or be strong in the grace that

689
00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:45.599
is in Christ Jesus. You wrote down what you thought.

690
00:38:45.719 --> 00:38:49.760
Now summarize what he just taught. I really want you

691
00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:53.000
to try summarize what he just taught. Be strong in

692
00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:55.239
the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What does it mean?

693
00:38:55.719 --> 00:38:59.119
Sounds like I gotta do something. I gotta sounds like

694
00:38:59.159 --> 00:39:01.360
a lot of what I have to do. It didn't

695
00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:05.079
really explain I got to grow in it, didn't really

696
00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:07.400
explain what that means. I mean, I don't really under

697
00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:10.760
I mean, look, I'm just being honest. I don't even know.

698
00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:13.000
I don't even know what I would write down. I

699
00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:18.199
think what I would do. I think I would probably say, hey, AI,

700
00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:21.599
can you can you review this and tell me what

701
00:39:21.639 --> 00:39:24.760
it means and see if AI could break it down.

702
00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:26.920
I don't know if I have. I don't know if

703
00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:29.199
I have. I don't know if I can even summarize that.

704
00:39:29.280 --> 00:39:32.199
Can you summarize it? It sounds like I got to

705
00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:33.960
do everything in my power to get it, and then

706
00:39:33.960 --> 00:39:35.440
when I get it, I got to be strong in

707
00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:37.880
it or got to grow in it. But there was

708
00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:41.239
no explanation of exactly what it is. There's no really

709
00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:44.920
explanation of what it does. There's no real explanation of

710
00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:48.239
what I get how to obtain it. It does sound

711
00:39:48.280 --> 00:39:51.079
like if I don't have it, then all these bad

712
00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:53.480
things will happen. So it sounds like it maybe could

713
00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:56.320
even be something I could lose. I get the strength

714
00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:58.519
I got to grow in it, but I could lose it.

715
00:39:58.880 --> 00:40:02.960
I like, I I'm a little perplexed by this. I

716
00:40:02.960 --> 00:40:06.920
don't know exactly what it means. So I was like, well,

717
00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:09.960
how do we understand how do we understand this? About

718
00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:12.800
to drop my iPad there? How do we understand this? Well?

719
00:40:13.880 --> 00:40:15.480
I think I know this is going to come as

720
00:40:15.480 --> 00:40:19.320
a shock. But this phrase that be strong and the

721
00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:22.119
grace that is in Christ Jesus. I know you probably

722
00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:24.960
already are aware of this. It has been interpreted in

723
00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:30.559
various ways throughout Christian history. Are you shocked by that?

724
00:40:31.239 --> 00:40:33.800
Are you shocked by that it's been interpreted in different ways?

725
00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:38.079
Of course you're not, because we don't agree on anything.

726
00:40:38.440 --> 00:40:41.559
So I had you write down what you thought. I

727
00:40:41.559 --> 00:40:43.760
don't know what he just said. I really don't. There

728
00:40:43.800 --> 00:40:46.159
was a lot of words there. I don't know what

729
00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:49.159
it means. So let's go through this. There is one

730
00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:53.199
view through in church history that to be strong and

731
00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:56.440
the grace that is in Christ Jesus. There is a

732
00:40:56.519 --> 00:41:01.239
view out there that says this refers to empowerment through

733
00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:10.039
divine grace. Here's grace and it empowers us. The interpretation

734
00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:14.039
of this would go like this, Paul is calling Timothy

735
00:41:14.840 --> 00:41:20.000
to draw his strength not from his own ability, but

736
00:41:20.199 --> 00:41:24.719
from the grace provided through Christ. The grace then is

737
00:41:24.760 --> 00:41:31.079
seen as something that empowers believers to endure challenges. So

738
00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:35.280
the idea is, here's this thing called grace right now,

739
00:41:35.280 --> 00:41:37.920
what I need to do. I've gotta I've gotta, I

740
00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:44.880
gotta draw all strength from grace. So grace empowers me.

741
00:41:45.239 --> 00:41:48.440
So grace is the power supply I go to grace,

742
00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:54.079
which that will empower me. Again, I don't know exactly

743
00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:56.920
what that looks like. How much power do I get?

744
00:41:57.840 --> 00:42:00.679
What is what does this power enable me to do?

745
00:42:01.559 --> 00:42:06.079
How do I exactly draw from it? It sounds very theoretical.

746
00:42:06.400 --> 00:42:10.639
I don't know what it really means. Now. Philologically, anyone

747
00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:12.639
who would go with this view, they would argue something

748
00:42:12.679 --> 00:42:16.639
like this, that grace is unmerited favor. God's grace is

749
00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:20.159
the source of spiritual strength. So grace is God's unmerited

750
00:42:20.239 --> 00:42:25.960
favor and it's the source of spiritual strength. Okay, So

751
00:42:26.199 --> 00:42:29.199
the emphasis then would be on dependence on God rather

752
00:42:29.199 --> 00:42:31.559
than non human effort. So now, remember he says in

753
00:42:31.679 --> 00:42:35.119
the sermon you've got to do everything you can. Well,

754
00:42:35.159 --> 00:42:37.039
all right, this seems to go No, no, I don't

755
00:42:37.079 --> 00:42:39.440
do everything I can. I have to go to grace

756
00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:42.639
and not rely on my ability, and then this is

757
00:42:42.679 --> 00:42:48.920
going to give me power. So this would often kind

758
00:42:48.920 --> 00:42:51.760
of take the idea of a reminder for believers to

759
00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:56.920
trust in God's provision and sustain it, especially during trials.

760
00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:59.559
That's so theoretical. I don't even know what that means.

761
00:43:00.199 --> 00:43:03.320
Here's grace, Now go to it. You get empowerment. Hey,

762
00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:06.480
don't rely on yourself, don't rely on your ability, rely

763
00:43:06.599 --> 00:43:11.079
on God, his provision, his strength. Okay, great, So what

764
00:43:11.119 --> 00:43:13.119
do I do? Now? What do I do? What do

765
00:43:13.199 --> 00:43:16.440
I do? I don't know what do I do? Hey?

766
00:43:16.559 --> 00:43:19.679
What was the sermon about? Oh, I've got some good news.

767
00:43:20.119 --> 00:43:24.239
We have a source for strength. It's grace in Christ Jesus.

768
00:43:24.400 --> 00:43:26.800
We just go to that and we get strength. Okay,

769
00:43:26.840 --> 00:43:29.239
what does the strength do? Well? I don't really know.

770
00:43:30.199 --> 00:43:33.400
Well does it make you perfect? Well? No, does it

771
00:43:33.440 --> 00:43:35.960
make you well? I don't really How do you get it?

772
00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:37.880
I don't really know. How do you know you got it?

773
00:43:37.960 --> 00:43:44.440
I don't really know. It's just cause any does anyone

774
00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:47.760
even understand that this view. Kind of the sermon kind

775
00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:50.079
of went with the empowerment view, but he didn't really

776
00:43:50.159 --> 00:43:52.599
articulate it either, right, but he focused on a lot

777
00:43:52.639 --> 00:43:54.760
of what I have to do. I've got to do

778
00:43:54.800 --> 00:43:57.159
everything in my power to obtain it. I've got to

779
00:43:57.199 --> 00:43:59.519
then grow in it. I've got to do everything to

780
00:43:59.599 --> 00:44:04.480
keep it. But we really weren't giving any specifics. So

781
00:44:04.719 --> 00:44:08.039
that's kind of view number one, empowerment through Divine grace.

782
00:44:09.320 --> 00:44:13.719
View number two spiritual maturity and growth. Now he kind

783
00:44:13.719 --> 00:44:16.199
of borrowed from He kind of utilized a little bit

784
00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:20.480
of this as well. This interpretation would go something like,

785
00:44:21.239 --> 00:44:26.960
being strong in grace refers to growing spiritually by depending

786
00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:30.000
on one's understanding of God's grace and applying it in life.

787
00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:32.880
So this idea is, if you want to be strong

788
00:44:32.920 --> 00:44:37.800
in grace, then this means you grow spiritually by depending

789
00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:45.519
and understanding God's grace. So they would go this view.

790
00:44:45.719 --> 00:44:50.840
This spiritual maturity and growth would say that grace is

791
00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:57.519
being is transformative, not just for salvation but even in sanctification.

792
00:44:58.599 --> 00:45:03.960
So grace trans forms us not just positionally but practically.

793
00:45:06.880 --> 00:45:09.440
I don't know exactly what that how that even works.

794
00:45:09.920 --> 00:45:14.679
This interpretation would encourage a dynamic relationship with Christ where

795
00:45:14.719 --> 00:45:18.679
believers are continually strengthen through study, prayer, and obedience. So

796
00:45:18.880 --> 00:45:20.639
I guess what I have to do if I want

797
00:45:20.639 --> 00:45:23.639
the strength? I don't even know how this works. I

798
00:45:23.679 --> 00:45:26.800
gotta study, I gotta pray, and I gotta obey. But

799
00:45:26.880 --> 00:45:29.280
am I studying obeying and praying in order to get

800
00:45:29.280 --> 00:45:32.280
the strength? Or my study obeying and praying because I've

801
00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:38.199
got the strength. If the strength? If if grace is transformative,

802
00:45:38.519 --> 00:45:41.320
well then do I not have the grace? I don't?

803
00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:44.599
Do I get it? Do I have it? None of

804
00:45:44.599 --> 00:45:49.000
these views make literally any sense to me? Right? So

805
00:45:49.119 --> 00:45:52.639
view number one empowers through divine grace. View number two

806
00:45:52.880 --> 00:45:55.440
spiritual maturity and growth. I don't know how that's even

807
00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:58.199
really different than number one. But all of these ideas

808
00:45:58.280 --> 00:46:00.320
is get the grace and it will change. I don't

809
00:46:00.320 --> 00:46:08.039
really understand. A third view is living out grace. According

810
00:46:08.039 --> 00:46:12.599
to this interpretation, Paul is urging Timothy to embody grace

811
00:46:13.400 --> 00:46:20.800
in his interaction, ministry and leadership. This would include showing kindness, forgiveness, patience.

812
00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:23.599
So this the idea is be strong in grace so

813
00:46:23.679 --> 00:46:26.599
that you can live it out. So basically, or Paul

814
00:46:26.639 --> 00:46:32.000
is telling Timothy live out grace, show grace to everyone.

815
00:46:32.280 --> 00:46:35.719
So this would be the idea that grace is a lifestyle,

816
00:46:36.559 --> 00:46:39.920
it reflects the character of Christ. To others. It would

817
00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:47.039
have been a call to exemplify grace and relationship. So

818
00:46:47.159 --> 00:46:49.320
this is more about This view would be like, hey,

819
00:46:49.559 --> 00:46:53.199
demonstrate grace, show grace. Now you notice that in all

820
00:46:53.280 --> 00:46:55.880
three of these ideas, even though there don't really make

821
00:46:55.920 --> 00:46:58.320
a lot of sense, it's about do this, do this,

822
00:46:58.400 --> 00:47:01.519
do this, do this, do this, be strong in grace.

823
00:47:01.559 --> 00:47:04.400
It's all about do something, do something, do something, do something,

824
00:47:04.480 --> 00:47:07.480
do something that SAME's contrary to grace, does it not?

825
00:47:11.559 --> 00:47:15.400
A fourth view sees it as strength and adversity. I

826
00:47:15.400 --> 00:47:17.079
don't even realize. I don't know what any of these

827
00:47:17.119 --> 00:47:21.320
interpretations actually mean. They're so theoretical that it's just like

828
00:47:21.440 --> 00:47:23.800
you can sit there, go to church and like, oh,

829
00:47:23.840 --> 00:47:25.800
I'm supposed to be strong in grace, and you stand

830
00:47:25.840 --> 00:47:27.440
in the parking lot and you're like, what does that mean?

831
00:47:27.679 --> 00:47:30.000
Nobody in church can tell you. They all said amen

832
00:47:30.039 --> 00:47:33.079
and the sermon, but I have no clue what it means.

833
00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:39.639
So strength and adversity, how would this work? The command

834
00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:45.119
emphasizes resilience. Resilience and the focus of suffering and opposition,

835
00:47:46.199 --> 00:47:48.960
trusting in Christ's grace to preserve. So the idea is

836
00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:53.880
that this is a command. Hey, when you are facing difficulty,

837
00:47:55.039 --> 00:48:01.119
be strong, show that you are resilient in the face

838
00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:07.519
of adversity. Trust in Christ's grace. So this idea is

839
00:48:07.519 --> 00:48:12.519
that grace is a sustaining power, and it sees in

840
00:48:12.519 --> 00:48:15.400
Paul's own experience of relying on grace and weakness. So

841
00:48:15.440 --> 00:48:18.400
they I don't know exactly how this would work. So

842
00:48:18.760 --> 00:48:22.960
what is this you need to be strong amidst persecution?

843
00:48:26.360 --> 00:48:27.920
How does it? I don't know how I get it.

844
00:48:27.960 --> 00:48:31.199
I don't I don't know what any of this means.

845
00:48:32.920 --> 00:48:36.760
A fifth one empowered in ministry. None of these make

846
00:48:36.800 --> 00:48:39.559
any sense to me. Paul is preparing Timothy to rely

847
00:48:39.639 --> 00:48:43.159
on God's grace as the foundation for his ministry to others,

848
00:48:43.199 --> 00:48:46.320
passing on the Gospel and teaching faithful men. This idea

849
00:48:46.360 --> 00:48:49.880
is that grace is equipping. It enables the believer to

850
00:48:49.920 --> 00:48:53.480
serve effectively. It's a reminder that Christian service must depend

851
00:48:53.519 --> 00:48:56.320
on Christ's strength and not personal ability. All of these

852
00:48:56.360 --> 00:48:59.599
are saying the same thing that this somehow empowers it,

853
00:48:59.599 --> 00:49:04.880
equipped said, transforms, it changes, but you gotta get it.

854
00:49:05.119 --> 00:49:06.880
How do I get it? Nobody can really tell me,

855
00:49:07.320 --> 00:49:10.280
And if I gotta, I don't know what any of

856
00:49:10.280 --> 00:49:15.840
these mean. Some say another view number six as union

857
00:49:15.880 --> 00:49:20.760
with Christ. Be strong and grace is to live in

858
00:49:20.800 --> 00:49:23.480
the reality of union with Christ, where grace flows from

859
00:49:23.519 --> 00:49:28.159
being in Him. This is the idea that grace is identity.

860
00:49:28.800 --> 00:49:32.400
Believers are seated with Christ and share in his resources.

861
00:49:32.719 --> 00:49:36.480
Strength comes from an abiding relationship. This encourages believers to

862
00:49:36.519 --> 00:49:40.960
anchor their identity and efforts and their connection with Christ. Hey,

863
00:49:41.039 --> 00:49:44.599
while you're trying, make sure you anchor yourself and identify

864
00:49:44.639 --> 00:49:48.880
yourself with Christ. I don't know what any of this means.

865
00:49:48.880 --> 00:49:51.519
I really don't know what any of this means, Ladies

866
00:49:51.519 --> 00:49:58.000
and gentlemen. These are the most theoretical vague. It's like

867
00:49:58.039 --> 00:50:00.440
reading a horoscope where it's so vague that it could

868
00:50:00.480 --> 00:50:06.639
fit anybody. It's like, hey, today things will happen, maybe good,

869
00:50:06.840 --> 00:50:10.280
maybe bad. Who the horoscope was very accurate because things

870
00:50:10.320 --> 00:50:12.159
happened and well, some things were good and some things

871
00:50:12.159 --> 00:50:15.119
were bad. None of it, I don't know. None of

872
00:50:15.159 --> 00:50:21.039
this has any definitive answer. A seventh view is a

873
00:50:21.119 --> 00:50:24.800
contrast between law and grace. So what does this mean? Well,

874
00:50:26.239 --> 00:50:30.159
Paul contrasts relying on legalistic works withdrawing strength from grace.

875
00:50:30.280 --> 00:50:34.440
Timothy is encouraging to reject self reliance and to embrace

876
00:50:35.039 --> 00:50:43.360
God's sufficiency. All right, I don't know what that even means.

877
00:50:43.400 --> 00:50:46.679
This idea grace is a freedom from law. Believers live

878
00:50:46.719 --> 00:50:50.840
in the power of Christ's finished work. Paul is opposing

879
00:50:50.880 --> 00:50:56.679
a works based approach to ministry. I don't know what

880
00:50:56.760 --> 00:51:00.400
any of that means. So if we go through the

881
00:51:00.440 --> 00:51:03.519
summary of interpretations here, right, I've got a little chart here,

882
00:51:04.199 --> 00:51:07.599
the idea would be Number one, empowerment through grace, the

883
00:51:07.679 --> 00:51:13.280
strength from Christ's provision. Trust in God's power, not personal effort.

884
00:51:13.320 --> 00:51:15.039
But I don't know what any of that means. Number

885
00:51:15.039 --> 00:51:19.599
two spiritual growth, maturing and understanding and application. Pursue growth

886
00:51:19.639 --> 00:51:25.679
through study and prayer, living out grace, reflect Christ's grace

887
00:51:25.719 --> 00:51:31.320
in daily life, show grace to others another one's strength

888
00:51:31.360 --> 00:51:35.960
and adversity, endurance and suffering. Remain faithful during trials and opposition.

889
00:51:37.440 --> 00:51:41.159
Empowered ministry Grace is equipping for service, depend on God's

890
00:51:41.199 --> 00:51:46.480
power and ministry union with Christ, identify and strength from

891
00:51:46.519 --> 00:51:49.280
being in Christ. Live out the reality of your union.

892
00:51:50.519 --> 00:51:54.960
Contrast grace, law and grace. Reject legalism and embrace grace,

893
00:51:55.119 --> 00:51:59.239
avoid self reliance, and embrace God's work. I don't know

894
00:51:59.280 --> 00:52:02.480
what any of that. I literally don't know what any

895
00:52:02.519 --> 00:52:07.280
of that means. That is some of the most vague, confusing, confounding,

896
00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:13.280
convoluted stuff I've ever heard. Nobody would have anything tangible, Like,

897
00:52:13.559 --> 00:52:16.039
what am I to do? How do I get it?

898
00:52:16.760 --> 00:52:20.119
What does it do for me? What does this mean?

899
00:52:20.519 --> 00:52:28.559
You're left with nothingness, meaningless, meaningless, meaningless, All is meaningless,

900
00:52:29.159 --> 00:52:33.280
vanity of vanities to me, that's all this. I don't

901
00:52:33.280 --> 00:52:37.320
know what any of that means. So I'm like, there's

902
00:52:37.360 --> 00:52:39.679
a problem. So I'm like, okay, So, could there be

903
00:52:39.760 --> 00:52:44.920
a way that would be consistent with the text, that

904
00:52:44.960 --> 00:52:48.760
would be consistent with the context, would be consistent with

905
00:52:48.840 --> 00:52:53.599
the language and the rest of the Bible to interpret

906
00:52:53.639 --> 00:52:58.639
this not as giving us some kind of power, not

907
00:52:58.840 --> 00:53:03.559
as being some kind of transformation, since reality would call

908
00:53:03.599 --> 00:53:09.360
both of those into question. Instead, Could it mean being

909
00:53:09.480 --> 00:53:13.440
strong in the truth of grace, being strong in the

910
00:53:13.440 --> 00:53:18.159
reality of grace, and being strong and what it means

911
00:53:19.079 --> 00:53:22.639
is that even possible? So I started trying to work

912
00:53:22.719 --> 00:53:26.320
this out, trying to think this through, right, So you

913
00:53:26.400 --> 00:53:29.719
know what I did. I started asking AI about some

914
00:53:29.800 --> 00:53:32.840
possible interpretations. I'm like, well, what about this? What about this?

915
00:53:33.079 --> 00:53:35.480
Just started having you know, one of my normal hermeneutical

916
00:53:35.599 --> 00:53:40.880
arguments with AI, trying to figure this out. AI finally responded,

917
00:53:40.880 --> 00:53:46.599
after a lot of back and forth, your perspective offers

918
00:53:46.679 --> 00:53:51.800
a compelling and philologically rich interpretation of being strong and

919
00:53:51.840 --> 00:53:56.840
the grace that is in Christ's Jesus. Your interpretation seems

920
00:53:56.880 --> 00:54:00.159
to align well with the text, with the contact next

921
00:54:00.800 --> 00:54:05.719
and the broader biblical narrative. This view focuses on understanding

922
00:54:05.800 --> 00:54:08.840
and standing firm and the truth of grace, rather than

923
00:54:08.840 --> 00:54:12.280
seeing it as a source of supernatural power or transformation

924
00:54:12.599 --> 00:54:16.920
that might be called into question by observable reality. Right,

925
00:54:17.039 --> 00:54:20.800
observable reality would be like, wait, so we have power,

926
00:54:20.880 --> 00:54:23.280
but all of these things that kind of talk about

927
00:54:23.320 --> 00:54:27.360
it being powerful or transformative, none of them really explained

928
00:54:27.400 --> 00:54:31.519
exactly what this means. Even that sermon did not help us.

929
00:54:33.800 --> 00:54:38.159
So how could I then develop this interpretation? How could

930
00:54:38.199 --> 00:54:45.280
I build this? Well, let's look at the possible idea

931
00:54:45.320 --> 00:54:48.960
of this being consistent with the immediate context. Let's see

932
00:54:49.000 --> 00:54:52.320
if this would work right. Paul is writing to Timothy,

933
00:54:52.360 --> 00:54:56.360
a young minister. Everyone agrees on that he seems to

934
00:54:56.400 --> 00:55:00.079
be encouraging him to remain faithful even amidst trials. I

935
00:55:00.119 --> 00:55:03.840
think everyone seems to be in agreement with that he

936
00:55:03.880 --> 00:55:08.119
wants him to pass on the truth of the gospel

937
00:55:08.159 --> 00:55:10.360
to others. We see that in Second Timothy, Chapter two,

938
00:55:10.440 --> 00:55:13.000
verse two, and the things that thou hast heard of

939
00:55:13.039 --> 00:55:16.559
me among many witnesses. The same commit thou to faithful

940
00:55:16.599 --> 00:55:20.519
men who shall be able to teach others. Also thou

941
00:55:20.599 --> 00:55:24.280
therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

942
00:55:25.000 --> 00:55:28.440
So past this on endure with you know. Okay, we

943
00:55:28.559 --> 00:55:32.760
got this idea. So what is it in this context?

944
00:55:32.920 --> 00:55:35.519
It would what would it mean to be strong in

945
00:55:35.599 --> 00:55:39.960
the grace? Well, then, maybe instead of seeing this as

946
00:55:40.480 --> 00:55:45.639
talking about some infusion of power or some kind of

947
00:55:46.079 --> 00:55:51.039
personal transformation, could it be understood that grace be strong

948
00:55:51.079 --> 00:55:54.639
in the grace, be strong in the core truth of

949
00:55:54.679 --> 00:56:01.800
the gospel, message be wrong, and the truth of God's

950
00:56:02.000 --> 00:56:08.079
unmerited favor given through Christ. Maybe Paul is urging Timothy

951
00:56:08.119 --> 00:56:10.920
to hold firmly to the truth, especially as he faces

952
00:56:11.039 --> 00:56:15.519
challenges from false teaching and societal pressures. Hey, Timothy, be

953
00:56:15.719 --> 00:56:19.199
strong in the grace, in the truth of grace. Be

954
00:56:19.280 --> 00:56:21.679
strong in the concept that we are saved by Grace alone,

955
00:56:21.719 --> 00:56:24.119
through faith alone, and Christ alone. Be strong in the

956
00:56:24.199 --> 00:56:26.599
idea that we are saved not by what we do

957
00:56:26.920 --> 00:56:29.119
or or could do or should do, but we're saved

958
00:56:29.119 --> 00:56:31.719
in what Christ has done. Maybe he just wants them

959
00:56:31.719 --> 00:56:34.320
to be strong in the truth of it and the

960
00:56:34.480 --> 00:56:37.480
concept of it. And this doesn't mean like dun dun

961
00:56:37.519 --> 00:56:40.360
du du uh, now you can do fifty push ups spiritually.

962
00:56:40.719 --> 00:56:43.760
Maybe this is just we've got to maintain being strong

963
00:56:43.920 --> 00:56:48.000
in this truth. We cannot allow this truth to slip

964
00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:57.280
out of our hands. So is it consistent with the

965
00:56:57.280 --> 00:56:59.679
immediate context? I think that makes sense in the immediate

966
00:56:59.719 --> 00:57:02.320
content text, I think it does. How about is it

967
00:57:02.360 --> 00:57:05.920
consistent with the larger context of Two Timothy? Well, A

968
00:57:05.960 --> 00:57:09.199
major theme in Two Timothy seems to be the safeguarding

969
00:57:09.280 --> 00:57:14.159
of sound doctrine. In Two Timothy, Chapter one, verses thirteen

970
00:57:14.199 --> 00:57:17.880
through fourteen, Paul tells Timothy to hold fast the pattern

971
00:57:17.960 --> 00:57:22.519
of sound words and to guard the good deposit and

972
00:57:22.599 --> 00:57:27.000
trusted to him. Being strong and the grace could parallel

973
00:57:27.039 --> 00:57:32.679
these instructions. Standing firmly in the doctrine doctrinal truth of grace. Hey,

974
00:57:33.079 --> 00:57:36.480
be strong in grace, protect this concept of grace. Don't

975
00:57:36.519 --> 00:57:38.719
let it get because there are those who will come

976
00:57:38.719 --> 00:57:41.679
in with their legalistic ideas. There will come who will

977
00:57:41.679 --> 00:57:46.760
destroy grace by imposing law. Don't let this happen. I

978
00:57:46.760 --> 00:57:49.719
think this is consistent with the broader theme. So being

979
00:57:49.840 --> 00:57:55.559
faithful amidst hardship, Paul would be emphasizing endurance and reliance

980
00:57:55.559 --> 00:57:58.800
on the truth of the Gospel even when outward circumstances

981
00:57:58.800 --> 00:58:02.960
seem discouraging. This would suggest that being strong may refer

982
00:58:03.039 --> 00:58:06.519
to confidence in the reality of grace, rather than expecting

983
00:58:06.559 --> 00:58:11.760
some dramatic personal empowerment. It's not like chu, I got

984
00:58:11.760 --> 00:58:15.079
some bionic power now, No, it's the idea that, Hey,

985
00:58:15.559 --> 00:58:21.920
when things go wrong, rely be strong in grace. In grace,

986
00:58:22.039 --> 00:58:25.360
you are saved by grace. And if you struggle, if

987
00:58:25.400 --> 00:58:29.840
you fall, if you become discouraged. I stay strong in grace,

988
00:58:30.480 --> 00:58:39.320
not performance, not works, not law. Hey, as a minister,

989
00:58:39.559 --> 00:58:43.480
you can get ticked off about things. You can try

990
00:58:43.519 --> 00:58:46.840
to then go from a more legalistic idea of telling

991
00:58:46.880 --> 00:58:48.320
people to do this and do that, and do this,

992
00:58:48.440 --> 00:58:54.679
and threatening stay strong in grace, rely on that grace,

993
00:58:54.719 --> 00:58:59.119
Believe on that grace, rest in that grace. So I

994
00:58:59.119 --> 00:59:03.440
think it's consistent with the immediate context. I think it's

995
00:59:03.480 --> 00:59:08.599
consistent with the larger context. Is it consistent with the language,

996
00:59:08.679 --> 00:59:12.199
with the language of the text. Now, the idea is

997
00:59:12.239 --> 00:59:19.840
that word be strong, that phrase be strong, be strong. Now,

998
00:59:19.880 --> 00:59:24.239
if we look at the Greek, the verb seems to

999
00:59:24.280 --> 00:59:27.360
be able to imply empowerment. I think that that is true.

1000
00:59:27.840 --> 00:59:30.199
But I think it can convey the idea of being

1001
00:59:30.320 --> 00:59:36.079
steadfast or standing firm. In this context, it can mean

1002
00:59:36.159 --> 00:59:39.920
holding firmly to the reality of grace as the foundation

1003
00:59:40.079 --> 00:59:43.800
of Timothy's ministry and life. So be strong is to

1004
00:59:43.800 --> 00:59:46.880
be steadfast or stand firm in the concept of the

1005
00:59:46.880 --> 00:59:49.440
truth of grace. Now, if we look at the phrase

1006
00:59:49.559 --> 00:59:53.239
be strong, I'm going to open up. We may have

1007
00:59:53.280 --> 00:59:54.800
to do more. I may not be able to get

1008
00:59:54.800 --> 00:59:56.800
to everything here. We're already at an hour. I no,

1009
00:59:57.800 --> 01:00:00.920
as usual, we're out of time here. But it's okay.

1010
01:00:01.239 --> 01:00:06.039
Let's look at be strong, be strong. It's this Greek

1011
01:00:06.760 --> 01:00:12.880
uh one Greek word that goes that. It's translated be strong.

1012
01:00:12.920 --> 01:00:15.760
All right, here we go. It's this Greek word strong

1013
01:00:16.000 --> 01:00:24.559
ge seventeen forty three and into the moo, into the motoh.

1014
01:00:24.639 --> 01:00:27.039
The idea is to be strong, endoor with strength, to

1015
01:00:27.079 --> 01:00:30.880
receive strength, be strength, and increase in strength, and a

1016
01:00:30.920 --> 01:00:38.119
bad sense be bold or headstrong. So it can mean

1017
01:00:38.320 --> 01:00:42.639
basically to increase strength or give strength, but it can

1018
01:00:42.679 --> 01:00:46.880
also just be the idea of be bold, be headstrong,

1019
01:00:47.079 --> 01:00:50.400
stay firm in this, don't back down when it comes

1020
01:00:50.400 --> 01:00:55.480
to the concept of grace. Now, if we go back

1021
01:00:55.519 --> 01:00:58.840
to this idea to say, does this work, let's see here,

1022
01:00:58.920 --> 01:01:04.280
let's let's let's go back to so it can it

1023
01:01:04.320 --> 01:01:06.960
can mean empowerment, but can convey the idea of being steadfaster,

1024
01:01:07.159 --> 01:01:10.199
standing firm. So it could mean hold firm to the

1025
01:01:10.199 --> 01:01:14.039
reality of grace as the foundation. Now in the grace,

1026
01:01:14.079 --> 01:01:19.239
be strong in the grace. The preposition in could slight

1027
01:01:19.519 --> 01:01:22.519
can signify the sphere of realm in which one operates.

1028
01:01:22.559 --> 01:01:25.079
Timothy is called to live and minister within the truth

1029
01:01:25.119 --> 01:01:28.320
of grace, not outside of it or in opposition to it.

1030
01:01:28.400 --> 01:01:31.800
So be strong in the grace, stand in the grace,

1031
01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:35.199
stay committed to the grace. We could even say be strong,

1032
01:01:35.400 --> 01:01:38.159
And I think we could even say be empowered in

1033
01:01:38.159 --> 01:01:42.000
the sense of be strong in the concept of grace.

1034
01:01:42.440 --> 01:01:47.079
Don't back down from grace, don't leave it, don't replace it,

1035
01:01:47.320 --> 01:01:50.719
don't change it, don't water it down, stay true, stay

1036
01:01:50.800 --> 01:01:55.519
committed to grace. So I think the language, I think

1037
01:01:55.519 --> 01:01:59.320
it's consistent with the context. I think it's considered with

1038
01:01:59.360 --> 01:02:03.440
the book. I think it's consistent with the language. Is

1039
01:02:03.480 --> 01:02:08.679
it consistent consistent with the rest of the Bible. I

1040
01:02:08.719 --> 01:02:14.960
think so. Throughout scripture, grace is presented as the central

1041
01:02:14.960 --> 01:02:19.440
truth of the Gospel. Is it not Ephesians two eight

1042
01:02:19.480 --> 01:02:27.400
through nine. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works.

1043
01:02:27.679 --> 01:02:32.599
And remember Paul wrote Ephesians, so grace is the central message.

1044
01:02:32.760 --> 01:02:36.159
Titus two describes Grace as a teacher, instructing us to

1045
01:02:36.199 --> 01:02:40.960
deny unguidlingless and live righteously. Grace teaches us that right

1046
01:02:41.360 --> 01:02:44.119
not the law. The law condemns us for not doing it.

1047
01:02:44.400 --> 01:02:50.719
Grace encourages us to do it out of just gratitude

1048
01:02:51.079 --> 01:02:55.719
Romans five to two. I think we read about standing

1049
01:02:55.920 --> 01:03:00.760
in grace. This suggests an established, unshakable position rather than

1050
01:03:00.760 --> 01:03:03.800
an infusion of power. Stand in grace. It's not about

1051
01:03:03.800 --> 01:03:07.320
you getting power. Stand in it, Stay strong, and don't

1052
01:03:07.400 --> 01:03:13.960
back down from grace. The Bible calls believers to stand

1053
01:03:14.079 --> 01:03:17.400
firm and truth. We see that in Ephesian six and

1054
01:03:17.440 --> 01:03:23.639
one Corinthians sixteen. So be strong and grace could be

1055
01:03:23.719 --> 01:03:28.920
synonymous with being strong and the truth of the gospel. Hey, Timothy,

1056
01:03:29.800 --> 01:03:33.280
be strong and the truth of the Gospel, which is

1057
01:03:33.440 --> 01:03:37.639
grace not law. Don't back down from it. Don't no

1058
01:03:37.679 --> 01:03:41.559
matter what happens. And then what do you do? You

1059
01:03:41.679 --> 01:03:49.639
take this truth and you pass it on to other people? Now,

1060
01:03:49.639 --> 01:03:53.000
what would be the practical implications from my approach? Again,

1061
01:03:53.119 --> 01:03:54.960
which is going to be different than everybody else's, but

1062
01:03:55.000 --> 01:04:00.000
I don't understand anybody else's. Well, once again, it removes

1063
01:04:00.000 --> 01:04:07.480
any unrealistic expectations. My view would avoid suggesting that grace

1064
01:04:07.559 --> 01:04:21.679
provides observable or measurable power, which leads to what disillusionment, discouragement, despondency, depression, deconstruction,

1065
01:04:23.199 --> 01:04:28.239
trips to the liquor store. Because reality will not align

1066
01:04:28.360 --> 01:04:31.639
with oh, you get power. It doesn't align with that.

1067
01:04:34.760 --> 01:04:37.960
So I think it would remove unrealistic expectations. I think

1068
01:04:38.000 --> 01:04:41.599
it focuses on assurance in a way, instead of seeking

1069
01:04:41.679 --> 01:04:49.559
transformation or strength outside oneself. Believers are reminded to rest

1070
01:04:49.679 --> 01:04:54.239
and the objective truth of grace. Hey, hey, Timothy, stand

1071
01:04:54.320 --> 01:04:58.000
strong and grace. In other words, rest in it, stand

1072
01:04:58.039 --> 01:05:02.000
in it. That's what sometimes when people talk about some

1073
01:05:02.079 --> 01:05:05.800
kind of struggle's just rest in grace. If you're struggling

1074
01:05:05.840 --> 01:05:07.920
with sin, rest and grace. If you're struggling with failure,

1075
01:05:07.960 --> 01:05:12.239
rest in grace. I constantly would say something along those lines.

1076
01:05:14.960 --> 01:05:18.400
Couldn't this be a call of confidence in doctrine or

1077
01:05:18.440 --> 01:05:22.079
confidence in grace. Timothy is encouraged to remain steadfast and

1078
01:05:22.159 --> 01:05:25.519
proclaiming and teaching the truth of grace. Hey, there's gonna

1079
01:05:25.559 --> 01:05:28.280
be false teachers. There's gonna be people who come. There

1080
01:05:28.320 --> 01:05:32.199
may even be those within the church who will bring law, law,

1081
01:05:32.400 --> 01:05:41.360
law law. You stand strong and grace. So what would

1082
01:05:41.400 --> 01:05:45.360
happen if then, if we go with my interpretation, well,

1083
01:05:45.360 --> 01:05:48.039
Paul would be urging Timothy to be strong in grace

1084
01:05:48.119 --> 01:05:51.239
by rooting himself firmly in the truth and reality of

1085
01:05:51.320 --> 01:05:55.880
grace in Christ. So this would mean an understanding grace

1086
01:05:55.960 --> 01:05:58.440
as a foundation of the Gospel, which I think is

1087
01:05:58.440 --> 01:06:03.599
true standing and its implications, justification, forgiveness, and the sufficiency

1088
01:06:03.639 --> 01:06:08.360
of Christ's work. Stand true, stand strong and justification by faith,

1089
01:06:08.840 --> 01:06:13.599
Stand strong and forgiveness by faith through grace. Stand strong

1090
01:06:13.920 --> 01:06:16.519
in the sufficiency of christ work. He did it all

1091
01:06:16.559 --> 01:06:20.960
for you, and then you live and teach and alignment

1092
01:06:21.320 --> 01:06:24.880
with this reality. You don't add you, don't dilute you

1093
01:06:24.920 --> 01:06:28.039
stand strong in it. Don't add to it, don't dilute it.

1094
01:06:28.159 --> 01:06:32.880
Don't let anyone change you from it. So I think

1095
01:06:32.960 --> 01:06:39.000
this aligns with poles intent to remind Timothy of the

1096
01:06:39.039 --> 01:06:44.280
sufficiency in Christ. I think he this stands. I think

1097
01:06:44.280 --> 01:06:49.519
this aligns with Paul trying to basically show Timothy the

1098
01:06:49.519 --> 01:06:52.760
centrality of grace in the Christian life. It shifts the

1099
01:06:52.800 --> 01:07:01.079
focus from subjective experience to objective truth. All these other

1100
01:07:01.119 --> 01:07:04.079
things is okay, I get power? Is it's subjective? How

1101
01:07:04.159 --> 01:07:06.440
much power? How do I obtain it? How do I keep?

1102
01:07:06.440 --> 01:07:09.320
It's all subjective, it's works based. Nobody really knows what

1103
01:07:09.320 --> 01:07:17.519
they're talking about. I think be strong in grace, as

1104
01:07:17.599 --> 01:07:20.360
for you and I to be strong in the truth

1105
01:07:20.760 --> 01:07:27.079
of grace, God's unmerited favor given to us. Be in Christ,

1106
01:07:27.280 --> 01:07:31.480
Jesus Christ Jesus kept the law for us. He does

1107
01:07:31.519 --> 01:07:33.920
it all for us. We are saved by grace, We

1108
01:07:33.960 --> 01:07:37.320
are kept by grace, we are preserved by grace. Everything's

1109
01:07:37.320 --> 01:07:43.239
by grace. But there's a temptation for a young minister

1110
01:07:43.639 --> 01:07:48.880
to maybe become more law focused. There's a temptation, there's

1111
01:07:48.920 --> 01:07:52.719
a danger in the church for law to remove grace

1112
01:07:52.800 --> 01:08:02.440
and become law based instead of grace based. I think

1113
01:08:02.519 --> 01:08:05.320
be strong in grace is to be strong in the idea,

1114
01:08:05.400 --> 01:08:09.440
the reality, the truth of grace itself. I don't think

1115
01:08:09.480 --> 01:08:12.679
this is the idea that somehow I got to be

1116
01:08:12.800 --> 01:08:16.079
strong by getting strength, or I think all of these

1117
01:08:16.119 --> 01:08:19.880
other interpretations fall to the wayside. Now, once again I've

1118
01:08:19.920 --> 01:08:25.720
simply offered my hypotheses of what this is. I always

1119
01:08:25.760 --> 01:08:30.079
say that now, if you want a little bit of

1120
01:08:30.079 --> 01:08:33.279
an assignment today, you know what to do. You've got

1121
01:08:33.319 --> 01:08:36.680
the sermon's two point. Oh app go to town, start

1122
01:08:36.720 --> 01:08:39.680
looking up sermons on two Timothy chapter two, verse one,

1123
01:08:39.880 --> 01:08:42.119
and what do you listen for. Don't worry about the

1124
01:08:42.119 --> 01:08:45.520
rest of the verse. Just how do they interpret be strong?

1125
01:08:45.720 --> 01:08:50.359
Look at the phrase be strong, be strong in the

1126
01:08:50.439 --> 01:08:54.840
grace that is in Christ, Jesus be strong that is

1127
01:08:54.880 --> 01:08:57.439
in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Be strong

1128
01:08:57.520 --> 01:09:01.159
that is in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

1129
01:09:02.359 --> 01:09:04.199
Write that phrase down, be strong in the grace that

1130
01:09:04.279 --> 01:09:07.199
is in Christ Jesus. But it's everywhere, refrigerator, wherever, and

1131
01:09:07.279 --> 01:09:09.680
just make just all day just to say, what does

1132
01:09:09.720 --> 01:09:11.720
that mean? Be strong in the grace that is in

1133
01:09:11.800 --> 01:09:14.359
Christ Jesus. What does that mean? What does that mean?

1134
01:09:14.680 --> 01:09:18.079
What does that mean? How does that apply something? I

1135
01:09:18.119 --> 01:09:21.159
want to mean something practical. Now you may argue that

1136
01:09:21.239 --> 01:09:23.680
I haven't given you anything practical. I think I'm giving

1137
01:09:23.720 --> 01:09:33.600
you something practical. Now sixty nine minutes, I get mad

1138
01:09:33.640 --> 01:09:35.680
at myself, say I could have made it shorter. I

1139
01:09:35.720 --> 01:09:39.000
kind of went longer in my intro, but the intro

1140
01:09:39.439 --> 01:09:41.680
really was to kind of talk about where we have

1141
01:09:41.800 --> 01:09:44.359
been and where we're going. And I think it was good.

1142
01:09:44.399 --> 01:09:47.800
I think it was good, but I don't know. I

1143
01:09:47.880 --> 01:09:50.000
kick myself when I go long, but it's hard to

1144
01:09:50.039 --> 01:09:53.600
do any review and not go long. But there we go.

1145
01:09:54.520 --> 01:09:58.119
Now the seven must haves of the Christian life. I

1146
01:09:58.239 --> 01:09:59.840
agree that one of the must haves we need to

1147
01:09:59.880 --> 01:10:03.159
s stand strong and grace. I just disagree with I

1148
01:10:03.159 --> 01:10:07.039
think what everyone else thinks that means. What do you

1149
01:10:07.079 --> 01:10:10.760
think it means? I think some of those interpretations throughout

1150
01:10:10.840 --> 01:10:13.159
church history are just ridiculous. They're a ludicrous I don't

1151
01:10:13.199 --> 01:10:18.760
even none of them make any tangible sense. At least

1152
01:10:18.760 --> 01:10:21.520
I think mine makes some kind of tangible sense. Right.

1153
01:10:22.279 --> 01:10:25.920
I think I know this, what I'm giving you will

1154
01:10:25.920 --> 01:10:32.039
not lead you to disillusionment and discouragement, despondency, deconstruction, depression,

1155
01:10:32.600 --> 01:10:34.880
and a trip to the liquor store, because it's not

1156
01:10:34.880 --> 01:10:40.279
making some promise that denies reality. But everybody within Christian

1157
01:10:40.279 --> 01:10:43.279
dem it's always about we get this, we get this.

1158
01:10:43.760 --> 01:10:47.680
We basically Christianity sells it like hey call now and

1159
01:10:47.720 --> 01:10:51.680
you can become a superhero. You will have superpowers, you

1160
01:10:51.760 --> 01:10:55.479
have supernatural ability. God will speak directly to you. Yeah,

1161
01:10:55.720 --> 01:10:58.359
you will. And it's just it's all just us. It's

1162
01:10:58.479 --> 01:11:06.720
like a bad info commerce, that's a scam. All right.

1163
01:11:08.760 --> 01:11:14.000
There we have it. Another message in our sermon's two

1164
01:11:14.039 --> 01:11:16.800
point oh ap sermon challenge. We only listen to just

1165
01:11:16.840 --> 01:11:20.079
a few minutes and we have done over an hour

1166
01:11:20.319 --> 01:11:25.039
of discussing it. It just shows you one sermon literally

1167
01:11:25.640 --> 01:11:30.479
gives you enough content that you could spend months studying

1168
01:11:30.600 --> 01:11:33.159
just one sermon. If you really will are willing to

1169
01:11:33.159 --> 01:11:38.760
break it down and dig into it, we've got plenty

1170
01:11:38.840 --> 01:11:42.199
of spiritual food. There is no famine in hearing the

1171
01:11:42.239 --> 01:11:45.479
word of God in twenty twenty four. Now there may

1172
01:11:45.479 --> 01:11:48.840
be a famine hearing it being handled correctly, but there's

1173
01:11:48.880 --> 01:11:51.800
plenty of it being discussed. What you do with it

1174
01:11:51.840 --> 01:11:54.439
is really what matters, all right, Thanks for listening. I

1175
01:11:54.479 --> 01:11:59.000
wish I could say something rather profound here. I got

1176
01:11:59.000 --> 01:12:08.359
more notes, but we're out of time. Thanks for listening, everyone,

1177
01:12:08.359 --> 01:12:10.119
have a great day. God bless