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Those out and turn to Philippians,

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chapter 4,

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in the new testament at Philippians, chapter 4.

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Also in your pro grams, there's an outline

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if you're a note taking person,

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you're welcome to pull that out if that's

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helpful to you as well. Grams And

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we are in the the final message of

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a series entitled what's

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on your mind? What's on your mind? Well

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Bob Wi

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came in dead last in

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New York City marathon.

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He came in 19400

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and third eighteenth place.

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That's dead last.

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His time, 4 days,

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2 hours

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47 minutes and 17 seconds. That's about 4

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days longer than the the fastest guy. Now

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here's the thing though. Wi

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has no legs.

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Bob is a Vietnam veteran. His legs were

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blown off by a land mine during the

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war.

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A leather saddle strap beneath his torso, knuckles

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padded.

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He used his arms to propel himself forward.

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At over a rate of less than 1

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mile per hour to the finish line.

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I lost my legs. He said, but I

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did not lose my heart.

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He was the first person ever

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to run a marathon

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with his arms.

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Instead of his legs.

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And when he was being interviewed, asked why

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he ran the race, he gave 3 reasons.

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He said,

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I want people to know that I'm a

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follower of Jesus Christ.

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I wanted to test my conditioning.

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And I wanna encourage others to pursue physical

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fitness.

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And then he went on said success is

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not based on where you start.

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It's where you finish,

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and I finished.

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That's a remarkable attitude. Isn't it? And, you

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know, in life,

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in life, the the greater challenges prove to

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be not so much

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how to succeed, but how

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to last,

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how to endure.

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And the course that we choose is critical,

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but so is the strength to stay on

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that course. And that's true of our walk

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as a follower of Jesus as well. We

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come to recognize,

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Christ and who he is

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and what he is calling us to be.

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We may decide to follow him.

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But then so much so much can draw

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us away,

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distract us, dis us.

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And the apostle Paul knew this, and he

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spoke and he wrote about it numerous times.

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As I mentioned, we're concluding this message. Series

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entitled What's on your mind. And throughout this

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series, we have considered numerous

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teachings from Paul,

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Concerning our

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spiritual mind

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and what we call our mindset,

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the direction that we're moving. What it is,

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what it does, what it impacts,

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how we can serve god more effectively and

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please him with our mind and with our

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mindset.

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We have explored

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the truth that we are when we're born

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again that we literally receive the mind of

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Christ.

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That is the ability to think in new

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ways

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influenced

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by his holy spirit. We looked at the

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process of setting our mind or our life

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direction

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toward the things of god as we grow

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in Christian maturity, We emphasize the importance of

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renewing

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our mind regularly

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so that we can discern God's will for

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us, And then finally,

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we were reminded of the spiritual vitality

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that comes from losing our mind. We talked

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about that couple of weeks ago. Have y'all

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lost your mind? No.

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But we are losing our mind. That is

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we are giving up our way more and

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more. Couple to pursue

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Christ's way. Following his example, his mindset

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of humility

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of obedience

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of service.

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So I ask you once again, what's on

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your mind

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today

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If the mind

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represents our spiritual choices,

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then we must make sure to guard our

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mind,

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from the myriad of false or ignorant or

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skewed patterns of thinking

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that are so prevalent

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in our culture today. And so this morning,

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we're gonna consider 1 final teaching from the

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Great Apostle Paul on how we can live

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with extraordinary strength as we

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protect

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our minds.

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And this mind

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protection begins from a position from a place

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from a preference

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for living in peace.

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Wanna invite you to read together with me

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a portion of Paul's teaching. Comes from his

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concluding remarks to the Philippians church in Philippians

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chapter 4,

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we're gonna look at versus 4 through 9.

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The words are on the screen. So let's

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read this

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together.

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Rejoice in the Lord always.

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Again, I will say, rejoice.

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Let your reasonable

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be known to everyone. The Lord is at

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hand.

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Do not be anxious about anything.

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But in everything

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by prayer and sup simplification with thanksgiving,

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let your requests be made known to God.

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And the peace of god which surpasses all

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understanding

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will guard your hearts and your minds

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in Christ Jesus.

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Finally, brothers. Whatever is true. Whatever is honorable.

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Whatever is just, whatever is pure. Whatever is

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lovely,

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whatever is commendable.

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If there is any excellence.

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If there is anything worthy of praise,

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think about these things.

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What you have learned and received and heard

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and seen in me,

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practice these things.

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And the God of peace will be with

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you.

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Amen.

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Amen. God's word.

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Well, for troubled followers of Jesus,

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peace

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is a divine

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process.

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I don't suppose any of you would admit

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to ever being troubled from time to time.

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Is that just me? Thank you, Tim. 1

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of our elders raised his hand. I appreciate

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that.

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Yes. We're all troubled from time to time

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aren't we.

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Anxiety.

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It's a buzz word today. Isn't it? It's

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everywhere. Anxiety. And do you know that anxiety

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is the opponent. It is the enemy

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of peaceful living.

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Well, the peace of god is the guardian,

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the protector of our hearts and minds. Look

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again at verse 7.

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The image here is of a soldier,

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standing guard guarding. That's what that means. A

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soldier,

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standing guard and that would be a a

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really relevant

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picture as Paul wrote this letter to the

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city of Flip eye and the Christians that

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were living there. That was a city that

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was...

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Protected

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by a Roman garrison

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full of of

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of Roman soldiers.

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It was a retirement community

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for retired Roman soldiers.

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Soldiers,

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people that had lived the soldier life lived

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in Philip pie, And so Paul takes that

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word from their life and their lifestyle, and

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he says,

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God wants to be our guard.

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The peace of god is our guard, like

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a soldier

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standing guard. You see friends,

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anxiety really is the opponent.

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It really is the enemy

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of peaceful living. It attacks

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our hearts.

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It attacks our minds.

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With false

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information with erratic

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emotions

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with

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unreasonable

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demands

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but the peace of god

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is the guardian

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of our hearts and minds. The soldier standing

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guard over our hearts and minds, which indicates

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what? Our hearts and minds, our entire

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inner person, including

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our emotions,

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our rational thinking,

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and our supernatural

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thinking,

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which we sometimes call wisdom.

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So for the remainder of our time this

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morning, I wanna consider together the process

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of

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spiritual mind

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protection.

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We're gonna look at 3 different things that

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help to protect our mind. And first of

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all, we see that protecting our mind includes

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having a diverse

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offense, a diverse offense, You know, some years

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ago,

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in the sport of football your football fan,

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you'll be very familiar with this. There arose,

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somewhat new, creative,

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diverse philosophy. If of play that came to

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be known as the spread offense.

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And 1 of the most well known and

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prolific p petition of this style of play

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was right here in Eugene Oregon at the

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University of Oregon, the Oregon Ducks, then coached

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by Chip Kelly. Who was a guru of

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the spread offense.

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And this diverse offense and football uses a

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multitude of different

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formations and personnel grouping, it relies on speed

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and accuracy to keep the opponents off balance.

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And take take advantage of their weak spots.

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Well, I share that with you because in

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this text

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Paul

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presents for us a diverse offense, if you

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will a spread offense.

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In order to keep our opponent,

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Satan, off balance,

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so that our spiritual minds

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can be protected by God's guardian of peace.

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Are creative,

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spiritual

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offense includes

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a number of things. And the first 1

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that I wanna look at is joy.

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Joy. In fact, Joy is so important that

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our coach, Paul said it twice. 2 times

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in a row.

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Rejoice

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in the Lord.

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And again, I say it, rejoice. It's like

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he's the coach riding on the on the

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board and under lining it.

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Rejoice.

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Paul wants us to know how important that

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is. Friends,

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joy,

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joy does not come from our circumstances.

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Oh, it's a sunny day. I'm joyful. Oh,

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it's raining. I'm bum.

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My bank account is full. I'm joyful.

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I'm running on empty.

286
00:10:52,784 --> 00:10:55,410
I'm bomb. No. Joy doesn't come from our

287
00:10:55,410 --> 00:10:55,910
circumstances.

288
00:10:56,698 --> 00:10:58,391
Joy is a gift

289
00:10:58,925 --> 00:10:59,982
from God

290
00:11:00,357 --> 00:11:00,676
himself.

291
00:11:01,551 --> 00:11:03,221
In fact, the word,

292
00:11:03,714 --> 00:11:05,804
for joy in the original language

293
00:11:06,178 --> 00:11:09,199
is closely related with the same word that

294
00:11:09,199 --> 00:11:11,027
we translate as grace.

295
00:11:12,076 --> 00:11:12,473
Grace.

296
00:11:13,109 --> 00:11:16,129
Joy is both a gift from God,

297
00:11:17,401 --> 00:11:17,901
and

298
00:11:18,434 --> 00:11:20,183
it is our response,

299
00:11:21,073 --> 00:11:22,748
to the gift of God.

300
00:11:23,466 --> 00:11:24,184
That interesting.

301
00:11:25,061 --> 00:11:28,013
And so we experienced joy, you when... Not

302
00:11:28,013 --> 00:11:30,326
only when we receive from God, joy, but

303
00:11:30,326 --> 00:11:32,352
when we recognize and are thankful

304
00:11:32,805 --> 00:11:33,305
in

305
00:11:33,759 --> 00:11:37,334
using that joy, and allowing that joy to

306
00:11:37,334 --> 00:11:40,291
per and infiltrate and live, recognize in our

307
00:11:40,291 --> 00:11:40,690
life.

308
00:11:41,885 --> 00:11:45,095
So joy comes when we are aware

309
00:11:45,791 --> 00:11:47,008
of God's grace

310
00:11:48,117 --> 00:11:50,288
when we just re his favor.

311
00:11:51,062 --> 00:11:54,087
We just desire to live within god's plan

312
00:11:54,087 --> 00:11:56,568
and purpose for our life. And so with

313
00:11:56,568 --> 00:11:59,267
that in mind, it's evident that 1 way

314
00:11:59,267 --> 00:12:03,022
to experience joy is just to to focus

315
00:12:03,793 --> 00:12:04,507
on god.

316
00:12:06,113 --> 00:12:07,328
And we do that

317
00:12:07,703 --> 00:12:09,078
instead of dwelling

318
00:12:09,533 --> 00:12:10,749
on our difficulties.

319
00:12:12,014 --> 00:12:15,456
On those things that are robbing our contentment

320
00:12:16,784 --> 00:12:17,102
instead,

321
00:12:17,659 --> 00:12:20,860
we dwell on God. Now, this is not

322
00:12:20,860 --> 00:12:23,600
to say that we should, you know, deny

323
00:12:24,379 --> 00:12:26,639
hard times or discontent.

324
00:12:27,675 --> 00:12:28,495
Or difficult

325
00:12:28,795 --> 00:12:29,295
negative

326
00:12:29,675 --> 00:12:32,075
emotions. I'm not saying just think positively and

327
00:12:32,075 --> 00:12:34,075
everything will be fine. Don't get me wrong

328
00:12:34,075 --> 00:12:34,235
here.

329
00:12:35,926 --> 00:12:37,830
I love the psalms, and and I would

330
00:12:37,830 --> 00:12:39,417
just commend you to spend some time in

331
00:12:39,417 --> 00:12:41,900
the psalms because the psalm writers

332
00:12:42,352 --> 00:12:43,408
in the old testament.

333
00:12:44,115 --> 00:12:46,595
They're so good at pouring out their hearts

334
00:12:46,595 --> 00:12:47,154
to God,

335
00:12:47,954 --> 00:12:50,774
including when they're mad at God and frustrated

336
00:12:50,914 --> 00:12:53,968
with God and confused and don't understand But

337
00:12:53,968 --> 00:12:55,821
what I love so much about the psalms

338
00:12:56,037 --> 00:12:58,503
is they might start with that negative stuff,

339
00:12:58,662 --> 00:13:00,174
but they always come around at the end.

340
00:13:00,969 --> 00:13:02,322
To recognize, okay, God.

341
00:13:03,134 --> 00:13:03,851
You've got me,

342
00:13:04,569 --> 00:13:06,962
and I've got you, and we're gonna be

343
00:13:06,962 --> 00:13:07,201
okay.

344
00:13:08,956 --> 00:13:11,987
And that's where joy comes into play.

345
00:13:13,119 --> 00:13:15,058
That's where it comes into play. And so

346
00:13:15,277 --> 00:13:18,713
following the example of those psalm, we can

347
00:13:18,713 --> 00:13:21,510
pour our hearts out to god, we can

348
00:13:21,510 --> 00:13:22,330
tell him

349
00:13:22,883 --> 00:13:24,638
We can be blunt about it. We might

350
00:13:24,638 --> 00:13:26,233
as well be because he already knows what

351
00:13:26,233 --> 00:13:27,509
we're thinking it's not secret.

352
00:13:28,865 --> 00:13:30,301
So go ahead and tell God, all the

353
00:13:30,301 --> 00:13:32,056
things that ey, all the things bug you.

354
00:13:33,189 --> 00:13:33,928
But then

355
00:13:35,187 --> 00:13:37,744
work through it to that point where you

356
00:13:37,744 --> 00:13:39,822
could submit those things to him,

357
00:13:40,461 --> 00:13:42,080
Release them to him

358
00:13:42,554 --> 00:13:44,152
Remember who he is.

359
00:13:45,591 --> 00:13:47,370
And that is when you will find rest

360
00:13:48,228 --> 00:13:49,128
and joy

361
00:13:50,386 --> 00:13:50,886
in

362
00:13:51,265 --> 00:13:51,585
God.

363
00:13:53,032 --> 00:13:54,942
But it's not just joy. In addition to

364
00:13:54,942 --> 00:13:58,815
re the next offensive tool that Paul offers

365
00:13:58,934 --> 00:14:01,587
to us is this interesting word reasonable

366
00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:03,660
Reasonable.

367
00:14:04,994 --> 00:14:07,488
Your version might translate it as gentle

368
00:14:08,278 --> 00:14:09,151
or patient.

369
00:14:10,342 --> 00:14:13,303
Followers of Jesus ought to be gentle

370
00:14:14,311 --> 00:14:15,367
and patient

371
00:14:16,075 --> 00:14:16,894
and reasonable.

372
00:14:17,914 --> 00:14:20,715
In our dialogue in our conversations with 1

373
00:14:20,715 --> 00:14:21,215
another

374
00:14:22,235 --> 00:14:23,835
with the people that we work with,

375
00:14:24,409 --> 00:14:26,247
people we go to school with, people we

376
00:14:26,247 --> 00:14:28,244
live in the community with, We need to

377
00:14:28,244 --> 00:14:30,422
be known as reasonable

378
00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:31,760
people.

379
00:14:32,971 --> 00:14:33,710
That means

380
00:14:34,246 --> 00:14:36,158
we don't wanna have a reputation of somebody

381
00:14:36,158 --> 00:14:37,376
that's easily angered

382
00:14:38,629 --> 00:14:39,448
or foolish

383
00:14:40,397 --> 00:14:42,626
buying into things that are obviously not true,

384
00:14:42,786 --> 00:14:44,401
but rather as reasonable.

385
00:14:45,414 --> 00:14:48,143
Wise people who can handle

386
00:14:48,852 --> 00:14:50,862
difficulties and even disagreements

387
00:14:51,713 --> 00:14:52,690
with maturity.

388
00:14:53,859 --> 00:14:55,869
This is a a most

389
00:14:56,243 --> 00:14:57,299
important tool

390
00:14:57,849 --> 00:15:00,663
It's such an important tool available to us

391
00:15:00,881 --> 00:15:01,381
because

392
00:15:02,717 --> 00:15:05,191
it allows that guardian of peace.

393
00:15:06,084 --> 00:15:07,541
To dwell at our doorstep,

394
00:15:08,875 --> 00:15:10,310
providing us the protection.

395
00:15:11,745 --> 00:15:14,695
And it is an especially useful trait in

396
00:15:14,695 --> 00:15:17,407
this culture in which we find ourselves living,

397
00:15:17,962 --> 00:15:18,779
full of

398
00:15:19,230 --> 00:15:19,468
polarization,

399
00:15:20,578 --> 00:15:22,243
full of harsh words,

400
00:15:23,053 --> 00:15:23,713
d meaning

401
00:15:24,250 --> 00:15:24,569
attitudes,

402
00:15:25,207 --> 00:15:27,860
resentment towards anybody who thinks differently

403
00:15:28,636 --> 00:15:29,854
or looks differently

404
00:15:30,710 --> 00:15:32,226
than we think they might not.

405
00:15:34,877 --> 00:15:36,736
When we reveal a gentle

406
00:15:37,594 --> 00:15:38,094
reasonable

407
00:15:38,873 --> 00:15:39,273
spirit,

408
00:15:39,912 --> 00:15:42,310
we can often diffuse the anger.

409
00:15:42,962 --> 00:15:43,860
And the rage

410
00:15:44,791 --> 00:15:46,086
that's so prevalent

411
00:15:46,938 --> 00:15:47,915
in our culture,

412
00:15:48,926 --> 00:15:50,380
and we'll find ourselves

413
00:15:51,329 --> 00:15:53,747
dwelling more in the arena of peace

414
00:15:54,605 --> 00:15:56,064
and peace is the guardian

415
00:15:57,242 --> 00:15:58,461
that allows us

416
00:15:59,571 --> 00:16:01,163
to represent the Lord well.

417
00:16:02,198 --> 00:16:05,381
And then finally, Paul offers a third offensive

418
00:16:05,381 --> 00:16:07,951
weapon in our battle against our enemy of

419
00:16:08,008 --> 00:16:11,154
anxiety and stress that seeks to just dis

420
00:16:11,452 --> 00:16:14,324
derail our peace. And that tool is prayer.

421
00:16:16,332 --> 00:16:19,355
Prayer, rather than succumb to anxiety, we are

422
00:16:19,355 --> 00:16:20,412
called to practice

423
00:16:21,025 --> 00:16:21,525
a

424
00:16:21,980 --> 00:16:23,908
lifestyle of prayer. And I want us to

425
00:16:23,908 --> 00:16:26,146
really understand this. It's not just a quick

426
00:16:26,146 --> 00:16:27,904
throw up prayer and not said, oh, I

427
00:16:27,904 --> 00:16:31,280
prayed. You no, a lifestyle an ongoing practice,

428
00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:34,870
or of living in prayer. It's so important

429
00:16:34,870 --> 00:16:36,568
that Paul uses 4

430
00:16:36,947 --> 00:16:39,698
distinct worst to describe bringing

431
00:16:40,152 --> 00:16:43,096
our problems, bringing our stuff to the lord.

432
00:16:43,732 --> 00:16:45,800
He uses the the generic word prayer,

433
00:16:46,373 --> 00:16:47,911
He uses another word sup,

434
00:16:48,847 --> 00:16:51,741
another word request and a fourth word thanksgiving.

435
00:16:52,996 --> 00:16:54,046
And so we might see it as is

436
00:16:54,046 --> 00:16:56,347
this. Prayer is coming to God.

437
00:16:57,457 --> 00:17:00,417
Sup simplification or your version might say petition

438
00:17:00,552 --> 00:17:03,134
is admitting to see your need

439
00:17:03,995 --> 00:17:05,994
for his help. That's a big 1 isn't

440
00:17:05,994 --> 00:17:06,154
it,

441
00:17:06,875 --> 00:17:08,234
especially for us that, yeah, and we can

442
00:17:08,234 --> 00:17:09,690
do it on our own. No.

443
00:17:10,410 --> 00:17:12,430
We need to come with sup dislocation with

444
00:17:12,490 --> 00:17:15,070
petition, with prayer, and then requesting

445
00:17:16,170 --> 00:17:16,670
requesting,

446
00:17:17,857 --> 00:17:19,863
give gives an idea of a specific

447
00:17:20,552 --> 00:17:23,961
intervention. It identifies how you need god to

448
00:17:23,961 --> 00:17:24,199
help.

449
00:17:25,405 --> 00:17:27,234
Well, what doesn't god already know how he

450
00:17:27,234 --> 00:17:27,871
needs to help me.

451
00:17:29,938 --> 00:17:30,972
It's for us, folks.

452
00:17:31,529 --> 00:17:34,572
When we make the request, We are identifying.

453
00:17:34,732 --> 00:17:35,472
We're verbal.

454
00:17:35,851 --> 00:17:38,188
We're thinking through what is that I'm requesting

455
00:17:38,487 --> 00:17:39,765
of God. Is it reasonable.

456
00:17:40,419 --> 00:17:42,973
Is this something within his clear, spoken, word

457
00:17:42,973 --> 00:17:43,531
and will.

458
00:17:44,329 --> 00:17:47,043
We wanna make good requests, not arrogant requests,

459
00:17:47,203 --> 00:17:48,400
not ridiculous requests.

460
00:17:49,766 --> 00:17:50,004
Right?

461
00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,102
And then finally, each of these things, Paul

462
00:17:53,102 --> 00:17:55,985
says, should be done with thanksgiving.

463
00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,130
That is we should be thankful.

464
00:17:58,759 --> 00:18:00,599
That God knows best,

465
00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,519
that he is in control and even when

466
00:18:04,519 --> 00:18:05,580
our requests

467
00:18:06,039 --> 00:18:07,330
perhaps aren't granted.

468
00:18:08,525 --> 00:18:09,561
We're okay with that.

469
00:18:10,677 --> 00:18:12,292
Because we understand God

470
00:18:12,669 --> 00:18:13,545
is in control.

471
00:18:14,262 --> 00:18:17,705
And so it might sound something like this.

472
00:18:18,901 --> 00:18:19,539
Father God,

473
00:18:20,257 --> 00:18:20,815
I'm hurting.

474
00:18:21,772 --> 00:18:24,563
I'm hurting because my friend is rejecting me

475
00:18:24,563 --> 00:18:26,253
and Lord. I don't know. I don't know

476
00:18:26,253 --> 00:18:28,408
if other people are putting pressure on my

477
00:18:28,408 --> 00:18:31,599
friend or if they're influencing my friend negatively,

478
00:18:31,759 --> 00:18:33,355
but that's sure how it feels, Lord.

479
00:18:34,009 --> 00:18:36,726
And so father help me not to worry.

480
00:18:37,685 --> 00:18:38,745
Not to get angry

481
00:18:39,204 --> 00:18:42,240
about this situation, please, Lord help me to

482
00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:43,060
think rightly.

483
00:18:43,851 --> 00:18:44,749
And clearly.

484
00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,089
And God, I thank you for your love

485
00:18:48,544 --> 00:18:51,248
and your faithfulness to me, and I thank

486
00:18:51,248 --> 00:18:54,070
you for the good that I've experienced

487
00:18:54,446 --> 00:18:56,117
in the past with my friend,

488
00:18:58,107 --> 00:19:00,017
and father as I I look for ways

489
00:19:00,017 --> 00:19:01,313
to reconcile

490
00:19:01,624 --> 00:19:03,937
with my friend I trust in your ways,

491
00:19:04,176 --> 00:19:04,495
Lord.

492
00:19:06,170 --> 00:19:06,409
Amen.

493
00:19:08,084 --> 00:19:10,556
Little model for you. You can adjust it.

494
00:19:12,650 --> 00:19:13,950
Just it to your circumstances

495
00:19:14,330 --> 00:19:17,210
to your events to your situation, but I

496
00:19:17,210 --> 00:19:19,861
want you to think about how your prayer

497
00:19:19,861 --> 00:19:22,596
life is formed through these 4

498
00:19:23,134 --> 00:19:23,634
specific

499
00:19:24,730 --> 00:19:26,886
what we call maybe facets of prayer.

500
00:19:28,018 --> 00:19:29,076
As we learn

501
00:19:29,453 --> 00:19:32,245
to use this diverse set of tools in

502
00:19:32,245 --> 00:19:33,362
our spiritual life,

503
00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,951
we will find a growing sense of peace.

504
00:19:37,922 --> 00:19:40,650
Guarding our hearts and minds from the negative

505
00:19:40,945 --> 00:19:41,445
thoughts

506
00:19:41,821 --> 00:19:42,878
and ideas

507
00:19:43,731 --> 00:19:45,720
that are so prevalent in our world today.

508
00:19:46,928 --> 00:19:49,859
But as useful as a a diverse offenses,

509
00:19:50,018 --> 00:19:51,151
our coach Paul

510
00:19:51,761 --> 00:19:53,583
believes in a well rounded approach.

511
00:19:54,394 --> 00:19:54,634
Alright?

512
00:19:55,595 --> 00:19:58,234
And so next, we see that protecting our

513
00:19:58,234 --> 00:20:00,174
minds includes a strong

514
00:20:00,474 --> 00:20:00,794
defense.

515
00:20:01,595 --> 00:20:04,002
A strong defense. Now, in football,

516
00:20:05,272 --> 00:20:06,328
left tackle

517
00:20:06,781 --> 00:20:09,480
are arguably the most important of the 5

518
00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,806
offensive line. The left tackle

519
00:20:12,353 --> 00:20:14,836
is the guy that protects the quarterback

520
00:20:15,209 --> 00:20:18,779
blind side from the oncoming pass rush. So

521
00:20:18,779 --> 00:20:20,231
they're they're responsible

522
00:20:20,778 --> 00:20:23,875
for protecting the quarterback from the people he

523
00:20:23,875 --> 00:20:24,590
can't see.

524
00:20:25,782 --> 00:20:28,482
Sometimes they're even called the quarterback best friend.

525
00:20:29,451 --> 00:20:30,429
Because they're constantly

526
00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:31,940
guarding

527
00:20:32,474 --> 00:20:33,133
the quarterback

528
00:20:33,588 --> 00:20:34,406
in vulnerable

529
00:20:35,258 --> 00:20:35,576
situations.

530
00:20:36,372 --> 00:20:39,651
And friends that is what the peace of

531
00:20:39,731 --> 00:20:40,231
God

532
00:20:40,846 --> 00:20:42,439
can do for you.

533
00:20:43,634 --> 00:20:47,470
God's holy spirit, the spirit of peace is

534
00:20:47,470 --> 00:20:49,217
like our left tackle.

535
00:20:49,693 --> 00:20:51,543
He's on the lookout constantly

536
00:20:52,233 --> 00:20:55,012
to protect us from the onslaught.

537
00:20:56,378 --> 00:20:58,310
He is our strong

538
00:20:58,845 --> 00:20:59,243
defense.

539
00:21:00,516 --> 00:21:02,983
But you know what? We have to play

540
00:21:02,983 --> 00:21:05,954
a part. In that strong defense as well.

541
00:21:06,275 --> 00:21:07,095
To fully

542
00:21:07,394 --> 00:21:10,615
experience the peace from god that Paul says

543
00:21:10,755 --> 00:21:12,914
surpasses our own understanding. Isn't that a great

544
00:21:12,914 --> 00:21:13,154
phrase.

545
00:21:13,886 --> 00:21:16,213
It it means we can't even fully verbal

546
00:21:16,270 --> 00:21:18,018
it. I can't even fully tell you about

547
00:21:18,018 --> 00:21:20,005
it this morning. You just have to experience

548
00:21:20,005 --> 00:21:21,912
it when you do, you'll know it.

549
00:21:22,644 --> 00:21:23,785
But it surpasses

550
00:21:24,085 --> 00:21:24,904
our own

551
00:21:25,445 --> 00:21:28,244
understanding. And to get that to experience that,

552
00:21:28,805 --> 00:21:31,684
we need to readjust our thought pattern.

553
00:21:33,050 --> 00:21:34,185
Like a a quarterback

554
00:21:34,797 --> 00:21:35,693
and his Line,

555
00:21:36,226 --> 00:21:38,472
we need to be on the same page

556
00:21:38,607 --> 00:21:39,504
of the playbook.

557
00:21:40,767 --> 00:21:42,778
We need to work in concert

558
00:21:43,311 --> 00:21:46,570
with god's holy spirit of peace, and how

559
00:21:46,570 --> 00:21:47,286
do we do that?

560
00:21:48,018 --> 00:21:50,891
We do that when we adjust our thought

561
00:21:50,891 --> 00:21:52,508
patterns, and Paul tells us

562
00:21:52,886 --> 00:21:54,025
exactly how

563
00:21:54,642 --> 00:21:57,309
In verse 8. What does he say? Whatever

564
00:21:57,527 --> 00:21:58,721
is true.

565
00:21:59,837 --> 00:22:01,611
Whatever is honorable.

566
00:22:02,705 --> 00:22:04,161
Whatever is just

567
00:22:05,428 --> 00:22:06,726
whatever is pure,

568
00:22:07,262 --> 00:22:08,639
whatever is lovely,

569
00:22:09,734 --> 00:22:11,270
whatever is commendable.

570
00:22:12,126 --> 00:22:13,880
If there is any excellence,

571
00:22:14,214 --> 00:22:16,283
if there's anything worthy of praise,

572
00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:19,330
think about these things.

573
00:22:20,501 --> 00:22:21,933
Now I don't need to spend a lot

574
00:22:21,933 --> 00:22:22,331
of time.

575
00:22:24,494 --> 00:22:26,321
Identifying what these words mean for you. Do

576
00:22:26,401 --> 00:22:28,728
I? They're pretty self explanatory.

577
00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:29,817
True,

578
00:22:30,373 --> 00:22:30,691
pure,

579
00:22:31,645 --> 00:22:32,145
lovely,

580
00:22:33,090 --> 00:22:35,476
commendable. You know what those things are excellent.

581
00:22:36,590 --> 00:22:39,293
Think about these things. That's what Paul says

582
00:22:39,293 --> 00:22:40,191
is the recipe,

583
00:22:41,299 --> 00:22:42,976
The rest of he for being on the

584
00:22:42,976 --> 00:22:43,956
same page

585
00:22:44,414 --> 00:22:44,914
as

586
00:22:45,453 --> 00:22:46,651
our left tackle,

587
00:22:48,104 --> 00:22:51,137
our guardian of peace. You know, recently, there

588
00:22:51,137 --> 00:22:53,472
was some research done. They asked a thousand

589
00:22:53,771 --> 00:22:56,165
adults in the United States between the ages

590
00:22:56,165 --> 00:22:58,017
of 25 and 54.

591
00:22:58,656 --> 00:23:00,594
They ask them what they think about

592
00:23:00,973 --> 00:23:02,171
while they're taking a shower.

593
00:23:04,660 --> 00:23:06,753
Alright. Now here are the top 3 reasons

594
00:23:06,891 --> 00:23:09,042
or 3 3 things, 3 responses that they

595
00:23:09,042 --> 00:23:10,556
think about in the shower. Number 1,

596
00:23:11,287 --> 00:23:12,003
To do lists.

597
00:23:13,038 --> 00:23:14,789
To do lists. Number 2,

598
00:23:15,903 --> 00:23:17,256
problems and worries,

599
00:23:18,211 --> 00:23:19,007
and number 3,

600
00:23:19,723 --> 00:23:20,041
work.

601
00:23:21,093 --> 00:23:22,051
It's a top 3.

602
00:23:22,849 --> 00:23:24,445
I'm taking a shower. That's what I think

603
00:23:24,445 --> 00:23:26,919
about. And what an interesting glimpse I think

604
00:23:26,919 --> 00:23:28,675
into what we kind of ob over?

605
00:23:29,327 --> 00:23:30,997
When we wake up in the morning or

606
00:23:30,997 --> 00:23:32,827
when we wind down in the evening, those

607
00:23:32,827 --> 00:23:34,577
are the 2 times that most of us

608
00:23:34,577 --> 00:23:35,213
take a shower.

609
00:23:36,182 --> 00:23:37,691
And I just to thinking, you know, while

610
00:23:37,691 --> 00:23:40,312
we clean ourselves to start the day,

611
00:23:41,344 --> 00:23:44,227
at the same time, we're already soil ourselves

612
00:23:44,442 --> 00:23:45,156
with stress,

613
00:23:45,967 --> 00:23:47,481
and disappointment and worry.

614
00:23:48,277 --> 00:23:50,906
Think about that. When we try our best

615
00:23:50,906 --> 00:23:53,136
to to clear the clutter from our minds,

616
00:23:53,375 --> 00:23:55,461
maybe with a nice long shower or a

617
00:23:55,461 --> 00:23:56,656
bath in the evening.

618
00:23:57,851 --> 00:23:58,966
What happens instead?

619
00:23:59,603 --> 00:24:00,958
We fill our minds.

620
00:24:02,246 --> 00:24:06,059
To overflowing with what thoughts about places to

621
00:24:06,059 --> 00:24:08,045
go and people to see and task to

622
00:24:08,045 --> 00:24:10,213
accomplish and things I'm worried about

623
00:24:10,924 --> 00:24:12,921
We are people who can barely go 1

624
00:24:12,921 --> 00:24:14,380
minute without pondering

625
00:24:14,838 --> 00:24:16,836
the many things that we feel we need

626
00:24:16,836 --> 00:24:18,848
to do. We must stu. We should do.

627
00:24:19,168 --> 00:24:21,564
We we should not be doing oh, on

628
00:24:21,564 --> 00:24:22,683
and on it goes.

629
00:24:23,961 --> 00:24:24,760
And instead,

630
00:24:25,570 --> 00:24:27,100
instead friends, what if

631
00:24:27,709 --> 00:24:29,476
what if in those times of

632
00:24:29,848 --> 00:24:30,348
relaxation

633
00:24:30,799 --> 00:24:32,170
and slowing down

634
00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,039
in refocus, I don't care where it happens

635
00:24:35,039 --> 00:24:36,720
if it happens in the shower somewhere else.

636
00:24:37,039 --> 00:24:38,480
But what if in those times?

637
00:24:40,493 --> 00:24:43,470
What if we thought instead about the goodness

638
00:24:43,529 --> 00:24:44,168
of God.

639
00:24:44,887 --> 00:24:46,645
God, you are so good to me.

640
00:24:47,616 --> 00:24:50,243
Thank you for the goodness I've experienced today.

641
00:24:51,676 --> 00:24:52,472
What if instead,

642
00:24:53,109 --> 00:24:55,154
we thought about the beauty of God's

643
00:24:55,750 --> 00:24:58,236
creation, Lord, thank you for this glorious beautiful

644
00:24:58,610 --> 00:25:01,550
shiny day. I'm looking forward to living in

645
00:25:01,550 --> 00:25:01,788
it.

646
00:25:03,472 --> 00:25:05,618
What if we just thought about the power

647
00:25:05,618 --> 00:25:06,810
of God's grace.

648
00:25:07,764 --> 00:25:10,705
God your grace is overwhelming and awesome and

649
00:25:10,705 --> 00:25:11,205
powerful.

650
00:25:11,991 --> 00:25:12,865
Thank you, Lord,

651
00:25:13,500 --> 00:25:15,167
that I walk in your grace and not

652
00:25:15,167 --> 00:25:16,120
in your judgment.

653
00:25:18,264 --> 00:25:20,343
What if we instead of thinking about what

654
00:25:20,343 --> 00:25:22,406
we needed to do. We thought about the

655
00:25:22,406 --> 00:25:23,675
promise of heaven.

656
00:25:25,262 --> 00:25:27,404
What if instead of ob about our to

657
00:25:27,404 --> 00:25:30,923
do list, We celebrated God's already done list.

658
00:25:32,038 --> 00:25:33,551
That's an awesome list. Isn't it?

659
00:25:34,508 --> 00:25:38,266
God's already done list. Think about these. Things.

660
00:25:39,378 --> 00:25:42,342
What if instead of our anxiety over current

661
00:25:42,398 --> 00:25:43,613
events and politics

662
00:25:43,987 --> 00:25:45,736
and wars and the things that are going

663
00:25:45,736 --> 00:25:47,661
on in this world What if instead of

664
00:25:47,661 --> 00:25:49,174
focusing on those things?

665
00:25:50,210 --> 00:25:52,862
What if instead we ponder the power.

666
00:25:54,607 --> 00:25:57,171
Of the peace that is to come

667
00:25:57,704 --> 00:25:59,609
in the life that is to come that

668
00:25:59,609 --> 00:26:03,286
god promises for us. Friends, the antidote

669
00:26:03,913 --> 00:26:08,068
the divine promise, the strong defense of God's

670
00:26:08,125 --> 00:26:09,976
peace is available

671
00:26:10,350 --> 00:26:12,336
to you and to me right now,

672
00:26:12,990 --> 00:26:16,029
All we have to do is think about

673
00:26:16,029 --> 00:26:19,009
it. Think about these things.

674
00:26:20,109 --> 00:26:20,990
And here's the thing.

675
00:26:22,683 --> 00:26:25,476
These minds can only do so much. And

676
00:26:25,476 --> 00:26:27,871
so to think about these things, we've got

677
00:26:27,871 --> 00:26:30,185
to clear out some of the junk. Right?

678
00:26:30,439 --> 00:26:32,511
So that there's room to think about these

679
00:26:32,511 --> 00:26:32,910
things.

680
00:26:34,026 --> 00:26:36,098
So there's some homework for the week. Alright?

681
00:26:37,453 --> 00:26:38,250
Don't think about...

682
00:26:38,822 --> 00:26:39,617
Those things.

683
00:26:40,413 --> 00:26:41,527
Whatever's is on your list.

684
00:26:42,799 --> 00:26:43,992
Think about these things.

685
00:26:46,157 --> 00:26:47,273
A diverse offense.

686
00:26:48,230 --> 00:26:51,681
A strong defense. And then finally, we see

687
00:26:51,819 --> 00:26:53,435
that protecting our mind

688
00:26:53,972 --> 00:26:54,472
requires

689
00:26:54,863 --> 00:26:56,634
and abundance of practice.

690
00:26:57,882 --> 00:26:59,414
Just a whole bunch of practice.

691
00:27:01,218 --> 00:27:03,124
Have you ever wondered why a house cat

692
00:27:03,124 --> 00:27:04,498
can climb up a tree

693
00:27:05,129 --> 00:27:06,567
but sometimes they just don't know how to

694
00:27:06,567 --> 00:27:07,206
get back down.

695
00:27:08,805 --> 00:27:11,521
I I read about this. This animal expert,

696
00:27:11,681 --> 00:27:14,731
doctor Temple Grand has theory. She claims that

697
00:27:14,731 --> 00:27:18,504
at some point, mother cats teach kittens how

698
00:27:18,962 --> 00:27:22,369
to climb and descend from high places, the

699
00:27:22,808 --> 00:27:25,123
just as they teach their young great many

700
00:27:25,123 --> 00:27:25,862
other things

701
00:27:26,958 --> 00:27:29,432
that were once thought to be innate cat

702
00:27:29,432 --> 00:27:29,910
behavior.

703
00:27:31,282 --> 00:27:33,038
They teach them out to hunt, how to

704
00:27:33,038 --> 00:27:35,113
bury their waste, how to deal with live

705
00:27:35,113 --> 00:27:37,428
prey, how to approach an unknown person or

706
00:27:37,428 --> 00:27:40,016
a dog and so forth. These are things

707
00:27:40,152 --> 00:27:42,084
that the mother teaches

708
00:27:42,776 --> 00:27:43,333
to the kitten.

709
00:27:44,526 --> 00:27:47,945
And so doctor Grand speculate that cats that

710
00:27:47,945 --> 00:27:50,755
get in stuck in trees according to her

711
00:27:50,755 --> 00:27:52,214
theory, are cats

712
00:27:52,515 --> 00:27:55,255
that were perhaps taken from their mothers

713
00:27:55,714 --> 00:27:58,275
before the lessons about getting out of the

714
00:27:58,275 --> 00:27:59,410
tree, was taught.

715
00:28:01,089 --> 00:28:03,730
Now, that's just a theory, but we know

716
00:28:03,730 --> 00:28:06,702
from scientific studies that a great deal of

717
00:28:06,702 --> 00:28:10,951
animal behavior is learned behavior. It's not just

718
00:28:11,169 --> 00:28:11,669
instinct.

719
00:28:12,844 --> 00:28:15,237
Scientific studies have been done on all kinds

720
00:28:15,237 --> 00:28:15,875
of animals.

721
00:28:16,526 --> 00:28:19,069
Tigers and wolves and c and lizards and

722
00:28:19,069 --> 00:28:22,726
fish, even even ants. And those studies show

723
00:28:22,726 --> 00:28:23,544
that animals,

724
00:28:24,091 --> 00:28:27,745
learn how to be a particular kind of

725
00:28:27,745 --> 00:28:29,174
animal by watching,

726
00:28:29,651 --> 00:28:31,183
observing and I,

727
00:28:32,767 --> 00:28:34,940
their mothers or other members

728
00:28:35,317 --> 00:28:38,447
of their animal group. They learn by

729
00:28:39,302 --> 00:28:39,541
imitation.

730
00:28:41,231 --> 00:28:43,726
And in the same way friends, we learn

731
00:28:43,864 --> 00:28:45,800
how to follow Jesus

732
00:28:46,337 --> 00:28:47,156
by watching

733
00:28:47,869 --> 00:28:48,608
and I

734
00:28:49,385 --> 00:28:50,524
other followers

735
00:28:51,381 --> 00:28:52,200
of Jesus.

736
00:28:53,457 --> 00:28:54,835
And this is both brilliant

737
00:28:55,772 --> 00:28:56,671
and scary

738
00:28:58,341 --> 00:28:59,080
Because sometimes

739
00:28:59,938 --> 00:29:01,375
we don't act the way we ought to.

740
00:29:01,534 --> 00:29:01,773
Right?

741
00:29:02,811 --> 00:29:05,445
And we don't want other people I us.

742
00:29:07,765 --> 00:29:09,932
And so I'm talking about when we see

743
00:29:10,544 --> 00:29:14,373
these traits being lived out, carried out. People

744
00:29:14,373 --> 00:29:16,049
of wisdom, people of peace.

745
00:29:17,884 --> 00:29:20,278
People that are walking in God's spirit. When

746
00:29:20,278 --> 00:29:21,635
you see those people,

747
00:29:22,289 --> 00:29:22,928
watch them.

748
00:29:23,728 --> 00:29:24,607
Learn from them,

749
00:29:25,486 --> 00:29:26,125
imitate them.

750
00:29:28,523 --> 00:29:30,520
In the closing verse of our text in

751
00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:31,320
in verse 9,

752
00:29:31,813 --> 00:29:34,195
Paul says to the Philippians church and to

753
00:29:34,195 --> 00:29:34,433
us.

754
00:29:35,386 --> 00:29:37,371
That's why these words have been preserved for

755
00:29:37,371 --> 00:29:38,880
2000 years carefully.

756
00:29:39,849 --> 00:29:41,625
What you have learned

757
00:29:42,321 --> 00:29:43,459
and received

758
00:29:44,076 --> 00:29:44,974
and heard

759
00:29:45,671 --> 00:29:47,505
and seen in me.

760
00:29:48,382 --> 00:29:49,100
What does he say?

761
00:29:49,991 --> 00:29:50,491
Practice

762
00:29:51,184 --> 00:29:52,241
these things.

763
00:29:53,969 --> 00:29:57,470
And the God of peace will be with

764
00:29:57,470 --> 00:29:57,788
you.

765
00:29:58,998 --> 00:30:01,254
Do you see the abundance of practice?

766
00:30:02,750 --> 00:30:04,926
You know, the football team with a diverse

767
00:30:05,065 --> 00:30:07,060
offense and a strong defense,

768
00:30:07,714 --> 00:30:09,466
That doesn't just happen. Right?

769
00:30:10,421 --> 00:30:12,434
They spend all week

770
00:30:12,810 --> 00:30:15,858
practicing and preparing for the game on Saturday.

771
00:30:17,599 --> 00:30:19,267
And you know what? The game of life

772
00:30:19,267 --> 00:30:20,538
is no different friends.

773
00:30:21,650 --> 00:30:24,135
Paul says, follow my example.

774
00:30:25,081 --> 00:30:28,738
Watch me. Observe me. Listen to me. Follow

775
00:30:28,738 --> 00:30:31,044
me, And then you too will have the

776
00:30:31,044 --> 00:30:34,065
guardian peace standing outside your door.

777
00:30:35,113 --> 00:30:36,939
And you know what's so interesting to me

778
00:30:36,939 --> 00:30:38,686
and so humbling to me about and I

779
00:30:38,686 --> 00:30:39,083
read that.

780
00:30:40,036 --> 00:30:43,148
It's this that is Paul right these words

781
00:30:43,148 --> 00:30:46,350
to the Philippians church. These deep and meaningful

782
00:30:46,486 --> 00:30:49,211
words about protecting their minds in their hearts

783
00:30:49,267 --> 00:30:50,896
and experiencing supernatural

784
00:30:51,432 --> 00:30:53,663
peace as Paul writes these words,

785
00:30:54,141 --> 00:30:55,973
he is in prison,

786
00:30:57,182 --> 00:30:58,319
He is chained

787
00:30:59,410 --> 00:31:00,842
to a Roman guard.

788
00:31:02,035 --> 00:31:04,286
And friends that guard was not there

789
00:31:04,740 --> 00:31:06,990
to bring Paul to a place of peace.

790
00:31:07,470 --> 00:31:09,789
Is that right? That guard was not there

791
00:31:09,789 --> 00:31:12,929
to assist Paul in his times of anxiety

792
00:31:12,990 --> 00:31:15,549
or stress or fear or disappointment. Do you

793
00:31:15,549 --> 00:31:17,854
think that guard cared anything about any of

794
00:31:17,854 --> 00:31:18,093
that?

795
00:31:19,364 --> 00:31:20,318
Absolutely not.

796
00:31:21,590 --> 00:31:22,146
And yet,

797
00:31:23,518 --> 00:31:25,456
because Paul has spent years

798
00:31:25,915 --> 00:31:29,850
practicing these deep, deep truths, he knows

799
00:31:30,639 --> 00:31:34,208
that his readers can experience these truths as

800
00:31:34,208 --> 00:31:34,708
well

801
00:31:35,239 --> 00:31:37,381
if they will follow the pattern.

802
00:31:39,305 --> 00:31:40,921
And he knows that because

803
00:31:41,697 --> 00:31:44,327
unseen by that Roman guard that is chained

804
00:31:44,327 --> 00:31:46,240
to Paul is another guard.

805
00:31:46,890 --> 00:31:50,297
A more powerful guard, a guard who does

806
00:31:50,297 --> 00:31:52,912
seek what is best for Paul, who has

807
00:31:52,912 --> 00:31:55,791
his back, who is protecting his mind and

808
00:31:55,791 --> 00:31:56,610
his heart

809
00:31:57,145 --> 00:31:59,775
and who is there to encourage him,

810
00:32:01,050 --> 00:32:03,360
especially in the difficult moments.

811
00:32:04,414 --> 00:32:05,534
Like being in prison.

812
00:32:07,134 --> 00:32:07,954
The guardian

813
00:32:08,815 --> 00:32:09,615
of peace,

814
00:32:12,027 --> 00:32:13,542
run a little football theme today.

815
00:32:14,500 --> 00:32:15,318
Aaron Rogers

816
00:32:15,855 --> 00:32:17,472
is 1 of the more well known

817
00:32:18,089 --> 00:32:21,040
and more controversial football players in the Nfl.

818
00:32:22,013 --> 00:32:23,929
He was a first round draft pick.

819
00:32:24,727 --> 00:32:27,282
He is a herald throw with a rifle

820
00:32:27,282 --> 00:32:27,681
arm.

821
00:32:28,719 --> 00:32:30,635
It's currently quarterback back for the New York

822
00:32:30,635 --> 00:32:31,009
jets

823
00:32:31,846 --> 00:32:33,839
But for many years, he was the quarterback

824
00:32:33,839 --> 00:32:35,034
for the Green bay packers.

825
00:32:37,026 --> 00:32:38,381
Aaron Rogers was raised.

826
00:32:39,113 --> 00:32:41,102
In an evangelical Christian household.

827
00:32:42,772 --> 00:32:45,738
But soon after winning the Super Bowl

828
00:32:47,403 --> 00:32:51,067
The greatest achievement of football player can can

829
00:32:51,067 --> 00:32:51,545
get to.

830
00:32:52,581 --> 00:32:54,971
He won the Super Bowl in 2011.

831
00:32:55,704 --> 00:32:58,025
And soon after that, he began questioning his

832
00:32:58,184 --> 00:32:58,825
Christian faith.

833
00:32:59,384 --> 00:33:01,144
In an interview with Espn,

834
00:33:01,785 --> 00:33:05,096
Roger says he no longer identifies. Their religious

835
00:33:05,392 --> 00:33:08,256
affiliation. He now believes that organize religion can

836
00:33:08,256 --> 00:33:10,187
have a a mind debilitating

837
00:33:10,642 --> 00:33:11,095
effect with

838
00:33:11,852 --> 00:33:13,788
because there's an exclusive visit

839
00:33:14,484 --> 00:33:16,717
exclusivity that can shut you out from being

840
00:33:16,717 --> 00:33:19,189
open to the world to people to energy

841
00:33:19,189 --> 00:33:20,545
to love and to accept.

842
00:33:21,354 --> 00:33:22,623
That's Aaron Rogers take.

843
00:33:23,973 --> 00:33:24,925
On the life of faith.

844
00:33:26,195 --> 00:33:27,782
Oh wanna contrast that though.

845
00:33:29,706 --> 00:33:33,228
Contrast Aaron Rogers with a far lesser known

846
00:33:33,444 --> 00:33:35,925
football player. Probably nobody here. Has heard of

847
00:33:35,925 --> 00:33:37,596
this football player, but you've heard of Aaron

848
00:33:37,675 --> 00:33:38,073
Rogers.

849
00:33:39,346 --> 00:33:41,493
This football player's name is Ryan Su,

850
00:33:42,783 --> 00:33:43,979
He's a field goal kicker,

851
00:33:45,016 --> 00:33:48,068
and he was the last, the very last

852
00:33:48,446 --> 00:33:49,084
overall pick.

853
00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:51,955
Number 256.

854
00:33:52,846 --> 00:33:55,713
In the Nfl draft that he participated in

855
00:33:55,713 --> 00:33:56,350
out of college.

856
00:33:57,465 --> 00:34:00,491
Now, the media famously labeled the very last

857
00:34:00,491 --> 00:34:00,865
picked

858
00:34:01,304 --> 00:34:02,603
mister irrelevant

859
00:34:04,020 --> 00:34:06,278
because the last picks rarely

860
00:34:06,817 --> 00:34:08,195
make the team

861
00:34:09,622 --> 00:34:10,418
Su though,

862
00:34:11,770 --> 00:34:12,963
not only made the team.

863
00:34:13,838 --> 00:34:16,088
He played for 14 seasons,

864
00:34:17,353 --> 00:34:18,231
in the Nfl.

865
00:34:19,348 --> 00:34:21,023
And he has ranked as 1 of the

866
00:34:21,023 --> 00:34:24,851
top 20 all time in career field goal

867
00:34:24,851 --> 00:34:25,250
percentage.

868
00:34:27,099 --> 00:34:28,608
Could say he's at the top of his

869
00:34:28,608 --> 00:34:28,925
game.

870
00:34:30,831 --> 00:34:31,466
In fact,

871
00:34:32,022 --> 00:34:34,880
he was the first mister or irrelevant to

872
00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:36,095
play and win

873
00:34:36,484 --> 00:34:37,279
a super Bowl.

874
00:34:38,392 --> 00:34:39,983
He won a Super Bowl just like Aaron

875
00:34:40,141 --> 00:34:40,619
Rogers.

876
00:34:41,573 --> 00:34:44,118
The first 1 to win as a starter

877
00:34:44,118 --> 00:34:45,151
and an active player.

878
00:34:46,185 --> 00:34:47,335
A being the last

879
00:34:47,866 --> 00:34:48,342
chosen.

880
00:34:50,643 --> 00:34:51,119
Su up,

881
00:34:52,229 --> 00:34:54,212
thanks God for his success,

882
00:34:55,901 --> 00:34:56,699
in an interview.

883
00:34:57,497 --> 00:34:58,295
He said this.

884
00:34:59,014 --> 00:35:02,546
Every gift and ability I have obviously comes

885
00:35:04,288 --> 00:35:04,922
from the lord.

886
00:35:06,509 --> 00:35:07,803
Kicking field goals

887
00:35:08,493 --> 00:35:09,786
is a high stress

888
00:35:10,238 --> 00:35:10,738
occupation

889
00:35:12,241 --> 00:35:13,755
He goes on and he says, when your

890
00:35:13,755 --> 00:35:15,746
perform before 75000

891
00:35:15,746 --> 00:35:17,840
fans out there and you mess up

892
00:35:18,375 --> 00:35:20,128
every single 1 of them knows it.

893
00:35:21,259 --> 00:35:22,297
And you're all alone.

894
00:35:24,612 --> 00:35:25,112
Su

895
00:35:25,889 --> 00:35:27,885
said this in his interview. He says I

896
00:35:27,885 --> 00:35:28,385
read

897
00:35:28,763 --> 00:35:30,141
Philippians philippians 4

898
00:35:30,773 --> 00:35:31,910
6 through 8

899
00:35:32,684 --> 00:35:33,481
before every game.

900
00:35:34,835 --> 00:35:36,986
And I recite some of the words in

901
00:35:36,986 --> 00:35:39,615
my head before every single kick.

902
00:35:40,588 --> 00:35:43,224
Every time I read that scripture and pray

903
00:35:43,224 --> 00:35:45,861
that prayer. The Lord has blessed me with

904
00:35:45,861 --> 00:35:46,181
peace.

905
00:35:48,422 --> 00:35:50,168
In connection with my ability.

906
00:35:51,516 --> 00:35:52,809
God makes clear

907
00:35:53,182 --> 00:35:55,085
that he doesn't want us to be anxious.

908
00:35:56,139 --> 00:35:58,219
Every time we're anxious about something,

909
00:35:58,780 --> 00:35:59,840
we're not trusting

910
00:36:00,780 --> 00:36:01,340
in him.

911
00:36:03,659 --> 00:36:06,253
Friends, it seems to me like Aaron Rogers

912
00:36:06,311 --> 00:36:08,704
has made a decision to trust in his

913
00:36:08,704 --> 00:36:09,922
own understanding

914
00:36:10,380 --> 00:36:12,215
of how things work in this world.

915
00:36:13,349 --> 00:36:16,469
While Ryan Su has chosen to have his

916
00:36:16,469 --> 00:36:16,969
mind

917
00:36:17,349 --> 00:36:19,050
and his heart protected.

918
00:36:20,163 --> 00:36:21,142
By the guardian

919
00:36:21,599 --> 00:36:22,317
of peace.

920
00:36:23,753 --> 00:36:25,746
And this morning, I wanna say that that

921
00:36:25,746 --> 00:36:26,246
choice

922
00:36:26,943 --> 00:36:27,842
is available

923
00:36:28,219 --> 00:36:31,494
for each of us. As well. Friends, the

924
00:36:31,494 --> 00:36:34,903
guardian of peace can be there for you.

925
00:36:35,696 --> 00:36:37,385
No matter the location

926
00:36:37,853 --> 00:36:40,885
No matter the situation you find yourself in,

927
00:36:41,763 --> 00:36:44,396
He is just waiting for you.

928
00:36:45,129 --> 00:36:45,688
To call.

929
00:36:47,766 --> 00:36:48,266
Practice

930
00:36:48,804 --> 00:36:49,784
these things,

931
00:36:50,962 --> 00:36:52,695
and the God of peace

932
00:36:53,052 --> 00:36:55,038
will be with you.

933
00:36:56,547 --> 00:36:57,445
That's a promise

934
00:36:58,454 --> 00:37:00,043
from the the apostle Paul.

935
00:37:01,726 --> 00:37:02,600
Let's pray together.

936
00:37:04,429 --> 00:37:06,098
Father we thank you for the power of

937
00:37:06,098 --> 00:37:07,790
your spirit that is available

938
00:37:08,402 --> 00:37:10,095
to each person who would choose

939
00:37:10,565 --> 00:37:11,363
to follow you.

940
00:37:13,201 --> 00:37:15,438
Father, we thank you that we can live

941
00:37:15,438 --> 00:37:16,257
in peace

942
00:37:16,636 --> 00:37:17,136
despite

943
00:37:18,487 --> 00:37:19,284
contentious times,

944
00:37:21,039 --> 00:37:23,830
Despite confusion and uncertainty even in our own

945
00:37:23,830 --> 00:37:26,064
lives father, we can live in peace.

946
00:37:27,752 --> 00:37:28,863
When we trust in you.

947
00:37:31,243 --> 00:37:33,305
Father my prayers for each person in this

948
00:37:33,305 --> 00:37:33,805
building

949
00:37:34,748 --> 00:37:36,819
each person that's listening to this message today,

950
00:37:36,978 --> 00:37:38,969
Lord that they would find their way to

951
00:37:38,969 --> 00:37:40,186
that place of peace

952
00:37:40,641 --> 00:37:42,553
as they come to understand what it means.

953
00:37:43,523 --> 00:37:45,749
To follow Jesus as Lord and savior.

954
00:37:46,703 --> 00:37:49,110
What it means to receive the gift

955
00:37:49,644 --> 00:37:50,859
of the holy spirit

956
00:37:51,407 --> 00:37:52,699
when we are born again

957
00:37:53,546 --> 00:37:54,576
into the family of God.

958
00:37:56,240 --> 00:37:58,007
Guide us today, Lord we pray

959
00:37:58,791 --> 00:37:59,742
in Jesus name.

960
00:38:01,090 --> 00:38:01,248
Amen.

961
00:38:04,261 --> 00:38:05,609
Well not only am I on,