The Heart of Christlikeness (Part One) – Ps Rodney Hole

All right. Well, thank you. Thank you for the music same as well because I could hear you two stop the right and that was thrown into a tailspin because I totally mock with seek and then the whole sound system wasn't working properly in Jerome's being thrust into everything and it's been at the back of solving problems his last minute at the Lake Union and do the announcements. So a big thank you to everyone who played very well and we really appreciate that and that last song by the way. Hello nachos that for that waiting some 20 years ago. That was a song that was sung at at waiting another side. My wife knows how to play it on the piano. That's that's an aside but it is a beautiful song and just said that he thought his words each other's needs is an act of worship in that why isn't really a Tarzan nicely with what we're looking at this morning. So if you will turn with me to Matthew Chapter 5 and & Wilkins vs 38 to 40 To Matthew 5 38 to 42 and and a tunnel this message the heart of Christ likeness now wanted to kind of get through all of these verses in one message but it is impossible unless you want me to speak for an hour and a half which you probably done. So we're going to do for two weeks and this morning I want to look at the 41, 42 next week and we'll wrap it up next week. But again, it's a wonderful passage. He was talking about our Lord will will talk about a Lord's commandments and you know, I was thinking about this passage and I'll guess how it is that Christians are viewed in society today. I think you would agree with me when I would say that the world looks it up and expect something far different to the standards that they have for themselves. Would you agree with that? It's often the case that if a Christian somehow say the wrong word. At saxena improper why I've somehow gets drunk or failed in some way. The world is very quick to point out how wrong that is. Something more is expected of all people know the old phrase you want me to turn the other cheek. You'll never meant to retaliate back when someone is angry with you. So they quick to point that out and that's actually not a bad thing is it it's it's nice to have a little bit of accountability to know that people are looking on and they expect something different from us and you know what that is the world perspective something different is expected of us from the world. But the Lord the Lord expects not just something different but something dramatically different he expects the response from us that he himself would have do any given situation. He wants us to be like him doesn't he? That's his will and that he's he's too sought desire. You 540i Look what Jesus says that we must be perfect. Like our heavenly father is perfect. That is the Gulf of which we strive. That is what we aim for we are to be perfect. It's the idea of being complete lacking in nothing Matthew 5:44. You can say there was well the the same concept is explained. Jesus says this but I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute ys4500 so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven before he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust the last few days that we God is gracious. He sends relief and compassion to everyone and anyone And the point of the passage key is that we have to be just like him so that we will prove that we are sons of a father so that we are just like a father. I need a walk is pretty clear from scripture is in it that our fathers does Arthur Ross is to make us just like his son. You know that don't you you know that to be true that we talked about that all the time. It's the will of the father to transform each and every one of you into the person of his son who the father is not content for you to just stay in one place or to stay at one level of maturity. He wants you to be in this lifelong process of being transformed and changed not just in your actions, but predominantly in first and foremost with your attitude, you'll desires your motives the way that you think for then the way that you think on the inside determines how you will live on the outside Colossians 3:10 says that Having put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. I'm going to what we hear those words and we say I'm in we understand this concept that the father's will is to transform us and that's a bizarre, isn't it? I'm sure that each and every one of you is here this morning because you want to become more and more like Jesus Christ and that's a wonderful thing. But you know what, I believe that if if we were honest if we would truly honest with ourselves and we sat down and examined all cells. I believe that get this is a little bit radical. We only want some of the Christ. He's not the whole If we are truly honest and we examine ourselves. We don't want to be like Christ in his entirety. We only want part of it. Now what's Rod saying is he's finally flipped all that work on the building's sending crazy know it hasn't track with me hear track with me. Thanks for this. Let's think through this together and correct me if I'm wrong, by the way. We want to be used of God. I thought we to bring souls to sell salvation. Just as Jesus. Did we want to know the word of God? We want to be able to teach the correct to God to instruct people with truth and to help others. Just as Jesus. Did we want to know if she ology we want to have sound Doctrine we want to understand in and rest in The Sovereign will of the father just as Jesus himself to eat. We want to be able to comfort those who are mourning comfort those who agree. We want to see we want them to see Jesus in us than we are. You know, what will the things that ruin go to nineties what we were and that's the part that we must gravitate toward and that's the pot that we most desired, isn't it? But if that is the summation in the extent to which you and I want to be like Jesus Christ than you and I and how does are there is completely out of line with what the father wants for us because it's only part of the pizza all of those things listed certainly characterize Jesus and like characterize the father but you know what, there's so much more to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ than that little list that I just gave you the news in there. There's so much more to being like Christ than what we've just discussed. What are the various what are some of those are the various will let me just run through a few things for you to consider Jesus his actions of loving and being kind to the one who is betraying us or hurting us consider that profound love. Consider the hatred in the motorist persecution that he willingly borabanda for the good of those people who were persecuting him consider. Also Jesus when he allowed others to take advantage of him to use him never giving anything back to cheese but only tight tight tight. He say he loves and met the needs of those who were prostitutes and tax collectors and he didn't just spend all his time with those people who would just like him. So that's a a small snapshot of the other part of Christ that I believe you and I don't really ever want to embrace no one ever puts their hand up and says, I want to be someone who persecuted and suffer for the name of Christ and then I'll want to love those people who are persecuted me Lord, Jesus. Keep me that ability to threw that in to be just like you what do we pray? Keep those people away from me and keep me away from those people help me to avoid trouble help me to avoid hardship and pain you see how this is a dramatically different way to look at things. 1 Peter 2:20 tells us tells us peace that Jesus is our example listen to this. But if when you do good and suffer for it you enjoy this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. Go to this. That's the suffering for Tuesdays. You have been cold because Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example so that you might fall into steps. You see that we want to follow these steps with all of the good things the teaching the evangelism the things that don't cost us or cause any pain he committed no sin neither was deceitful and in his mouth and you pee was suffering for righteousness sake that's the point there when he was reviled. He did not revile in return when he suffered. He did not threaten the continued entrust himself to him who judges justly, you know, what friends we cannot pick and choose which commands we will and will not obey. We can't do that for the father is Sovereign over us. He brings into our lives countless opportunities for us to a bay in these areas and therefore to be like him. Isn't that a different way that the view the Life of Christ and Christ likeness?

And you know, what's interesting. We pray Lord make me look more like Jesus Christ. And it's a wonderful thing the price but do we understand what we're actually asking for? I understand what we're asking the Lord to do for a lives the circumstances that we're wanting him to bring it to our lost. We recognize what is going to happen as a result of that prayer. If you would have love like Christ loved your life. He's going to think at some very serious Stones because you can't respond like Christ unless you have an enemy to love, right? You can't give and give and give with nothing coming back unless there's someone in your life who is continually take type typing from you.

It's almost as I the father assigned. Well, you know what you want to know and possess the love that my son has. Okay. I will send you an enemy that you might learn to love him. You want to be completely submissive to my will in all circumstances people into your life Those whom you will have to learn to submit to for they are hard to submit to be able to reach old people's with the gospel as my son deed like a I will surround you with all sorts of people from all walks of life. Trap Team all sorts of vices. You want to be patient and humble lock my son and clothes with me just as my son. He's okay. I will send to you circumstances that will cause you to have to be right up under them for many years while at the same time calling you to remain faithful to be xuan Mai. Will you want to be charitable and kinds of old people like my son? I will I will give you people who will take from you without the ability-to-repay. I will send to you people who will take advantage of your kindness. And Hospitality still take your time giving no thought or consideration to the cost that it is to yourself. You say you want to be like Jesus thinking and now we'll have to be in line with how it is that the father is changing us to be like his son that makes sense. Doesn't it? If that is the Father's will and that is the process that huge uses us uses to make his life Jesus Christ and we go to understand that but then we've got to be ready to submit to that. The understandings easy pot. The trouble with the understanding is that we forget but the understanding ZZ pop the submission of the will is the hot pot but you never submit to this concept if you don't understand it, that's just logic, isn't it?

Well, that was the longest introduction in the world. I hope it's being patient that I wanted to. Just lay it out as it is to get you to realize that the point of this passage is all about Jesus Christ transforming us making us like his son not just giving us a few instructions were a few not screws to go away with this is meant to dramatically changes and this cuts the heart of where we need change to occur. So let's turn to Matthew 5 and let's read versus 38 to 42 together.

Facility, I heard that it was said and I for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but I say to you do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your chick let him have your cloak also and if anyone forces you to go one mile go with him to miles. Can you put the one who takes from you and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you? Father we come before you this morning and we thank you for this opportunity to spend time in your wood and father. I pray that this message this instruction from your word on the one hand will be a rebuke to all of us, but on the other through that rebuke will come hope that we can be dramatically different from the world that we can be just like your son and up all your buying these Commandments. There is great Liberation from the everyday natural responses that we are so inclined to embrace and to act out in every situation father. I pray that you would teach us that you would instruct Us open our minds that we might understand this concept and then father give us the will the humidity end the grace that we need to bring these truths to the full in every given situation that comes out way. The price of your strength father and I asked you a Grace in Jesus precious name. Amen. Would you know what we Face trials we fight adverse situations is generally two things that come out of Falls anniversary. Number one. It's it's avoidance. It's that you touch something going to give you a shock. So you avoid it and and the other one is surprised. We're always surprised when something terrible happens to us and really when you think about trials and suffering and and persecution. No one ever seeks them out when not commanded to seek them at always Jesus said each day has enough trouble of its own butt at responses is to naturally be surprised to be shocked and so then want to run away that just comes naturally. The reality is you don't have to leave too long in life too experienced against mistreatment or abuse or anything like that in this world. You understand it very quickly even from a very young age. We all suffered many whites sometimes with rough sometimes with physically abused sometimes with verbally abused sometimes with the frauded sometimes were disrespected were insulted with taking advantage of what use would betray the list goes on every single person in this room has been wrong in some way or another isn't that right? I could say put your hand up if you haven't and no one will put their hand up. Every one of us has experienced mistreatment and seen from another person. It's unavoidable. Engine really when you bring a whole bunch of together people together and you tell them to meet once or twice a week. Then it's inevitable that something happens scripture tells us to 1st Corinthians 11 on sale that is the case. It's inevitable. But you know what when we view adversity and suffering through a appeal a few Minista Clans when we look at what happens to a naturalized will always respond in a bad way will always respond in a way that the flesh would respond in the way that the world will respond with a the run on hard or will attack will be to come discourage despondent will lose. Hope will become bitter. We might become angry. We might become vengeful. All sorts of responses naturally come this way. You know what? When will you name the name of crossed loose side of the right perspective and have this worldly perspective. We can sometimes be found to question God's love.

Sometimes we can go through things that are painful and question God's love all we may not question his love that might be a non-negotiable for us, but then we might look at God as though he's not sovereign an all-powerful and he really wants to help us but he stands at odd because he's powerless and the enemies winning the dice somehow both of those concepts are wrong, but the wrong responses to Trials come from a wrong understanding of the situation and the biblical perspective is so different. It's so different. It's liberating. It's for medically different and other than a few weeks. We're going to look at we're going to look at this and we're going to try and gain a Biblical perspective on all of these points of suffering and persecution the wheel fights. Am I going to say that this is biblical perspective God's perspective is that these trials these Temptations this suffering is not so much a bad. Why because it is an opportunity given by God for us to be made more like Christ, right waiting to see that suffering and persecution and mistreatment is an opportunity given to us by God so that we will learn to respond just as he's Sunday in those same situations. This is how God makes us more like Christ and you know what? This is in a side-by-side all the time. We can learn truth we can learn theology. We can learn about God man and all of these things and we can view life from the mind of Christ and whoever sings a wonderful you can be built up in your knowledge and that's why you're sitting here this morning because you want to learn but do you understand that? That's no growth. You understand that that's not maturing in Christ. Because we learn facts we gain knowledge and we're amazed and it's wonderful and Almanzo in Lawton that you have grown and you have matured. When you're cold to put that truth into practice, right? We saw those same things every died with regards to life or you never learned these lessons. It's when we act upon them and put them into practice and when we all die in the heat of the battle at the moment of impatience at the moment of testing, that's how we grow and that's how we mature but there is no growth and maturity would have first understanding how to So this week next week, we're going to look at how it is. But a bang at Lourdes instruction. I will give us a god-given Biblical perspective so that we could be night Mark the Lord Jesus Christ the first point for that either I wanted to look at these it is a crosslock response to the evil person. Jesus introduces the evil person someone who is traits of someone who does what is sinfully wrong thoughts and he says you have heard that it was said and I-49 a tooth for a tooth. Someone once say to misunderstood this that if that was the case then none of us have any are there any taste because we've been continually hugging each other's eyes out of nothing each other's teeth out pointing out that that's how much we sin against each other. That's not the point at all this phrase here. You've heard that it was said again that's looking back at the previous versus this is what the hours of all would always say this was that you look at that verse and you probably know that it's hard to directly from Exodus. 21:24 iTunes U Toronto me 1921 command undiluted. It's not change the rebel. I haven't changed this in any way it is pure it's right. That is God's will. And this world can I say I want to run you through this a little bit this floor is fantastic. It's fantastic. And the reason why I use this this is meant to protect both the offended person and the offender house. Are you are so think of it this way this little meant that the one who was sinned against was able to get Justice. He was able to enact back to the person what was done to keep he was able to get justice but it prevented him from doing what we normally do and repaying evil for evil with an over and above the normal limit. So this prevented the person who would being Cindy games from carrying out Justice, which was Way Beyond what was expected or required and that protected the offended person you say that The flip side walls that the victim could reply the offender with a special measure of over in about retaliation and that's where we always go, isn't it? We never give adjust amount back.

So do you think it was protected and the person who was being sinned against he's are not response was being worshipped protected. He was being protected from sinning by going too far as something you need to understand here. And that is this that this law this law was as I said before it was wonderful. It was fantastic, but the juice the juice misunderstood this the Jews thought that this meant that you was an individual when you were sinned against it was your ability and your perogative today. So then go forth and the next Justice yourself Lori's misunderstood by people leaving tonight table Finkel. Well, they somehow the god of the Old Testament is different from the god of the New Testament speaks to people in those days just went around just getting revenge and getting Justice on their own. None of the Porsche is at least loyal was always enacted it was in accordance with the just System it was a Judiciary with the judge the jury and often the Executioner of the crown of the punishment. Sometimes the person who had been sinned against was able to enact the justice, but he was never the judge. He was never the one who weighed sings up. Jamaica offices this regarding is he says God's law was turned to individual license and Civil Justice was perverted to personal Vengeance instead of properly signor lodging the law of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth as a lemon on punishment like conveniently used it as a mandate for vengeance as it is often trained wrong with you throughout history in Quad. You see the point the Jews looked at this and thought fantastic and offer and I when I know I can retaliate now I can get revenge now I can pay back and the trouble is the propensity about hot is too not just pay back an equal share its to go over and above. And to call someone to suffer and we all feel that at times. We even have to just watch a movie on TV and you can sometimes feel it welling up inside of you. You could possibly run through scenarios in your mind of someone might be, your wife or your kids or whatever it is and you can very quickly arrived at that place where you have become the judge jury and executioner in a very short space of time.

So this is Jesus. Jesus walked into a culture of people who took this this verse as a a license to be the ones who carried out retribution and Justice getting revenge and it was destroying them as a people. So Jesus comes to arrest the madness.

Jesus says As a response to this kind of retaliation verse 39, but I say to you do not resist the one who is evil. Resist the one who is able to remember that this context of this passage has to do with you being sinned against personally. It's up to talking about call for justice and Injustice insightful. It's talking about you personally when you are personally sinned against we know is if it is sitting with a cold to protect and defend the orphan the weed are those or wake boats with this the truth. That's not what this is talking about. That is another topic and it's legitimate and it's right but this is talking about when you have sinned against personally the command here is to resist comes from the Greek word antihistamine which means to the stand against or to oppose and it's an active offense. Will you go in the front foot and you oppose a person with action with an equal measure? It's the idea of retaliation. That's what he sang Here. Another idea of going on the offensive against someone who retaliate seems against you is spoken about in Scripture that were told not to do it proverbs 22:20. Say I will repay evil wait for the Lord and He will deliver you Romans 12:17 repeat no one evil for evil and we know that the Lord's example is exactly that he did not resist the evil person get it. Fight back that we could've and that we would have had every right to but he said an example for us to follow that we are not to strike back when not to go in the front foot Affinity with an offense to to get back at them. Now, I know you're thinking this. What are we meant to do then? What are we meant to do if we're not to go on the offensive? How is it that we resist? We do not resist the evil person or you don't want Sadlier. Normally what we generally do is run around and tell everyone about it. We mean well, but we do. We can't believe this happened to me. Guess what? He said. That's what she said. Guess what this guy with it. We're unarmed and we tell everyone about it. Sometimes we can become Vita. Sometimes we can get sad be downcast become a Fray look at yourselves. Why don't want to go without we can avoid that person Juggalo Iran, never talk to them never look at them. Perhaps we can have a wood with some to let them know we now post and because of the infraction these are real fleshly natural responses. So they sings but what is that loads instruction? What is the crosslock response? Look at verse 39. Jesus give some examples to ask if anyone slaps you on the right cheek turn to him the other also and if anyone would sue you and take your tunic let him have your cloak as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile go with him two miles we read that and I don't know if you've picked it up just at that first reading but you notice here, but this there are three distinct acts of mistreatment. Can you say that day there are three distinct acts of mistreatment with ja I guess I would say this way assaults on the strongholds about hot and what do I mean by that will think about this the first one the first assault here presses and challenges a play button lock that through that like a slap to the face. I don't know if you've ever had one but nothing challenge is a person's Pride as a slap to the face does the second touches a much-loved positions when something that is yours, he's taken away from you and the food that's why men are in a G Thang. To do something. You don't want to do when you get nothing out of it and cost. You really looks like a look at the first one cow pride and pride. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek turn to him the other also, I need a one thing about this remind me a slap. He's not given To inflict a large amount of pain a Slappy is given to insults and harm the fraud that is why people slap people and you know what that's true today, but it was probably more true in Jesus's day. It was more true in his day a person would rather be punched or whipped than be slapped in the face. Why because they dignity they honor was all a shame because of a slap to the face and you know, what it was also said that in ancient times a slave would rather be whipped and whipped and whipped them be slapped in the face.

Is another point to this most common common Titus point out that because most people are right-handed that this slap was indeed a backhander to the right side of the person in front of you spice. If you do the mechanical math in your head, you'll say that the the backhander was what was probably given here that's adding further insult to injury rather than an open frontal hand. That is the ultimate insult. So you going to bring yourself into the culture and custom of the dight? Yes. It's an insult to us tonight. But to the Jewish person back then this was the greatest assault on a person's dignity on a person's Pride. Jesus is instruction in such situations is to turn the other cheek and hold that thought right hold that thought. We're going to come back in addresses. What's the second one a positions? Well, just to remind you just to remind you what your positions are what my positions are. They are those things that are mine, right? They are mine. They belong to me. I'll get up early. I work hard I save money or you can go without certain things so that I can buy them and keep them so that I can possess them. They belong to me that you're mine and mine alone. You know what? We would never say that would we you would never come out and express such strong attachment to your positions. But what happens when someone desires the mall open YouTube when someone decides that they want what you have what I want to take what you have worked for very very hot. The natural response is wrong, isn't it when we struggle with that and we want to hang on to them and we don't want to give How hot is it touch? Two possessions very very quickly. Jesus points to stay out here. He says in verse 40 and if anyone would sue you and take your tunic let him have your cloak as well. So he we have the the context being the court of law. So this is not highway robbery. This is not someone rubbing us and it's strange that in a court of law payment for an infraction would be your clothes. No one does that today do they close the shape? But again in Jesus's time clothes were expensive. They were hard to come by and often if a person had run out of funds or money. The payment would be in closing and that's what Jesus is talking about here clothing was valuable particularly valuable and this concept of the truth sequel to the shirt it what the chunin call the shirt was was he undergarment that people wore usually only have a couple of them. That's what he's talking about. And remember that we are still speaking here about an assault from an evil person and you got a note that. You because disabled person wants what the shirt off your back literally he wants the shirt off your back. So to speak he's not content with getting a little he wants the whole thing. This person is evil and he doesn't care about you or anyting. He doesn't just want your money. He just wants his pound of Flesh. He wants you to pay for what you have done. Even if it means taking the shirt off your back, that's probably why we get that expression from

How do we respond? How would you respond the Injustice? It's so unfair. I have nothing will I haven't seen should how did Jesus tell us to respond? Look at the verse let him have your cloak as well. Will you expecting that? I'm sure when Jesus first said this I went what's happening? Why is he saying this what's going on? Why, as well? You see I was this big heavy are the card. It was in a sense. They pride in their joints what they cover themselves with when they slipped. So we was very very valuable. It was far more valuable than the trinnacle the shirt. It was something that everyone had a right to possess and the cape even in the the the Lord was Moses. God says this in Exodus 23:26. If ever you take your neighbor's cloak and pledged you shall return it to him before the sun goes down for that. He's he's our only covering and eat these huge cloak for his body in what else shall he sleep? And he cries to me. I will hear for Ryan compassionate. Implication there is it I will hear and I will answer and I will do something about it. But the point being here is what the cloak was very very significant. That's something we don't want to lose you. Jesus says give him your cloak also give him your cloak also. Why you ask well again hold that thought were going to come back to this. But let's look at the food one. Let's look at that time and energy verse 41. You can see it there any one full size you to go one mile go with him to that Roman law was very interesting. The time of Jesus Roman law allowed a soldier to grab any civilian. I wanted and according to the law around the Saudi could force you to carry sword his shield and everything you desired for at least one room in mile, which was about fourteen hundred and seventy I made you could do nothing about you have to do it and you mustn't kulachi what's so bad about that. The Romans were in Israel the runways with the occupying enemy. The Romans were the ones who mistreated and abused the Jews. So you in helping the Roman soldier. We're helping them in they cause to subdue and oppress you and your own people. Can you see how this would have stung at the heart of the Jewish man and woman you were being forced to work at for the enemy that you and I don't experience this that I do we read that verse and you probably told me what's that got to do with anything if someone off the straight randomly ask me to go one mile Daisy has anyone ever experienced that generally doesn't happen. Someone doesn't just come up to you and say hi. Will you walk with me Amal or kilometer that you can see the cultural perspective here and see the point that Jesus is making

They were forced to work for the enemy. So what are we doing? What are we to do with these principles these three truths which somehow in some ways a pretty disconnected from today. We don't experience many of those things what we do this we take the time was principal out of these truths. We take the Thomas principal and that is this to never retaliate to never repay evil for evil about to do good to your enemy to go over and above by loving them. Why don't we to retaliate and why do we extend kindness and love to the evil person? Will you know what that is something that I think I could spend three messages talking about but the remainder of today and next week we can address this but I want to stop by just looking at one reason why it is that we are to respond this way and it's pretty simple and we talked about it already with the following example Jesus the King of Kings the Lord of lords the one who deserves all on a all respect the one to whom every knee shall bow placed such situations and responded in a perfect God honoring way. Isn't it amazing? So if he does that and he doesn't perfectly and he has a right to enact justice, but with holes and doesn't but rather shows loving, honest and how much more you and I to really have no right to enact Justice back. think of 1 Peter 2 20 And again, we read this a little earlier but if when you do go to suffer for you and you this is the greatest thing in the side of God, but to this you have been cold because Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. And again, he's that concept of of we don't just take pot of cross the teaching the evangelism the the being lovely and kind and generous to people. This is what characterized Christ in the most profound white. He's ability to love an unloving person his ability to love an enemy his ability to do good to the one who was harming him. We are to follow him in that way as well. What is the example he committed? No, sin neither was deceitful and and he's route mouth. So he wasn't someone who is suffering for any wrong with you done. He was suffering because he was righteous and those around him or evil. What example did he label look at verse 23 when he was reviled. He did not revile in return when he suffered he did not threaten that continue to entrusting himself to him who judges justly that is example that you and I called to follow. Hebrews 12:3 the rod of the essays consider him that is Jesus doing Jude from sin has such hostility against himself so that you may not grow weary or faint hearted in the face of persecution. We got to look to him with a tight comfort from his example.

And you know what the apostles did this Paul Peter and and the other men talk the Lord of his word and we'll use powerfully by God their example, they taste good morning their ability to remain faithful to the clothing no matter what time in Winston. They lost no matter how intense the storm be kind that did not waver. That was faithful to God rejoicing God praise God look at 1st Corinthians, 4:11.

2nd Corinthians 4 also has a similar Concept in 1st Corinthians 4:11 to the present an hour. This is the apostles we hunger and thirst we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless and we labor working with her own hands when reviled we Bliss when persecuted we enjoy when slandered we entreat we have become and I'll still like the scum of the world the refuse of All Things by using Anyone put their hand up and say I want that I want to be just like pulled a do. You know what the Lord Jesus Christ wants you to be like that? It doesn't necessarily want you to suffer needlessly. In order to be like Christ U&I off necessity must have email lives a very particular set of circumstances and Izzy's why Jesus says you have pieces you've been cold to suffer. That's how I love is perfected. That's how we become like the Lord Jesus Christ and you know what to cook on a wrap this up, but if you look at the Lord's faithfulness his life here on Earth. As I said regarding the apostles Jesus was perfect all the time. When Charles came suffering persecution. It did not go down. He did not give up. He did not file. He did not get weight. He was faithful to the Father the wife true love was immovable and unshakable his desire to do the father's will was consistent and never ever changed. I think about this for a moment. I said last week if you remember the end of The Sermon on the Mount the story is given up the to build as the sand in the rock. And the storm is present in both people's lives that the point of this is that the storm the trials are inevitable. Every foundation will be tested the one that stood firm was the Rock and that is the point when you type crossed that he's word and these verses we have just looked at when you are by them. You become like Christ you become strong immovable you and not shaken by trials when the evil person comes and insults you you are not strong and rattled, you know, this was going to say this but not Saturday go on the Saturday before sorry, Michelle mordedura. Michelle was driving through the car pocket Park Mall and I was at home washing the car in the adrenaline was going and so happening and I'll get this colon and D Michelle my daughter who I love just learning to drive may be didn't give white over just for him Walker Crossing this pedestrian decided that he would spit in her in the car and it's gross. It's wrong one and you know, that's my little girl and so I get a call and she's busted and she's upset. So very quickly. What is the case got in to see her and you know, I wasn't thinking at this time and just said I can let stuff on him cuz we have a talk and anyway, long story short. We didn't find him and I went through all the The Flash the responses and what I'm saying. This happened in that happened to the winning way later on and I'll start and the Lord can speak to me Rod you love your daughter, but I love her more than you ever will or ever can. And this man who did this is dead is lost in sin is found in see now if the father loves Michelle more than I do. It hurt me to see her treated like this more. Does it hurt the father to see her treated like this and when his judgment comes will it not be more severe than mine? And then I felt like I I don't want this man to face the wrath of God for doing this. He doesn't understand what he's done. And so I had to repent I have to sleep the Lord's to give him some load of this guy my heart and some And so that's how we have to view a view life isn't it and Lord willing we can live in such a way so that when we thrust into a situation leave the automatic response is a Godly one, not of Flesh me one like mine, but we going to take go to these would these things are given to us for a Reason Not Just a Bill. Knowledge levels not used to store wine at head about to leave the Mad in everyday life. And you know what when you do this you are liberated not from your trials not from the circumstances of life, but you are liberated from a far greater. Enemy this that natural fleshly response that so easily comes out. You don't have to respond to why you always do you can pray for the person and you can love the person. It's a Rottweiler of human life, isn't it that we forget that we've go to understand this That is one reason next week. I want to give you a few more info and really brings us together and point ASAP, but I trusted Lisa's encouraged you I trust that this is help that the rapper to hit the road so to speak now. I know that when we learn things in principle, we get to London in practice our brothers and sisters. Please expect that you will Feist something this week which will help you to put this into practice on our already having a probably already will the father we come before you and thank you for your grace. We thank you for your word and what I do pray that you would give us the necessary humility to respond the way that your son respond to laugh try you would give us price strengthen us clarify these truths in your heart and mind that Jesus like we pray. Amen.