WEBVTT 00:00:01.219 --> 00:00:04.360 When's the last time when you were talking to 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:07.960 God personally and intimately, you thanked him 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:09.960 for the great progress you're making in your 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:12.779 faith? I find people that no matter how much 00:00:12.779 --> 00:00:15.960 progress you make, you never feel like you measure 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:19.760 up. And behind that is the sense that God is 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:22.960 down on you. How do we work out what God has 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:25.879 already worked in and be thankful for? Stay with 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:31.949 me. That's today. Thanks for listening to this 00:00:31.949 --> 00:00:34.729 edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 00:00:35.009 --> 00:00:37.390 Living on the Edge is an international teaching 00:00:37.390 --> 00:00:40.009 and discipleship ministry motivating Christians 00:00:40.009 --> 00:00:42.850 to live like Christians. Well, in this program, 00:00:42.929 --> 00:00:45.130 we'll pick up where Chip left off in our series, 00:00:45.270 --> 00:00:48.390 I Choose Love, with part two of his talk, Love 00:00:48.390 --> 00:00:51.509 Obeys. But before he begins, if this is your 00:00:51.509 --> 00:00:54.030 first time listening to our broadcast or you 00:00:54.030 --> 00:00:55.890 want to learn more about the work this ministry 00:00:55.890 --> 00:00:59.789 is doing globally, visit livingontheedge .org. 00:01:00.270 --> 00:01:02.729 There you'll also find countless resources and 00:01:02.729 --> 00:01:05.769 programs to enjoy. Or check out the Chip Ingram 00:01:05.769 --> 00:01:07.909 app. It's a great way to get plugged in with 00:01:07.909 --> 00:01:10.670 our ministry. Well, today Chip explains why it's 00:01:10.670 --> 00:01:13.030 important we acknowledge the work God is doing 00:01:13.030 --> 00:01:16.090 in us so He can continue working through us. 00:01:16.390 --> 00:01:18.390 Well, let's learn more about how to do that. 00:01:18.450 --> 00:01:20.709 Grab your Bible and go to Philippians chapter 00:01:20.709 --> 00:01:23.909 2 as we dive into the remainder of Chip's message. 00:01:25.170 --> 00:01:28.290 I came up around a group. You came up around 00:01:28.290 --> 00:01:32.290 a group. And these groups have thoughts about 00:01:32.290 --> 00:01:34.370 the sovereignty of God and the responsibility 00:01:34.370 --> 00:01:39.170 of men. And I would just say, you know, some 00:01:39.170 --> 00:01:42.230 of you struggle with guilt because no matter 00:01:42.230 --> 00:01:44.709 how much you do, it's never enough. Because you 00:01:44.709 --> 00:01:46.909 live with this, you know, there's never enough. 00:01:46.989 --> 00:01:50.510 God's down on you. Now, that's extreme. That's 00:01:50.510 --> 00:01:53.030 not what should be taught. Some of you are, like, 00:01:53.030 --> 00:01:55.609 laid back to the point of you're not doing what 00:01:55.609 --> 00:01:57.959 you need to. And, but you have this subtle of 00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:00.819 God's in control. He really is in control, but 00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:04.319 that doesn't excuse you. And so what you want 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:07.480 to do is you want to say. I don't want what Calvin 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:09.780 taught, and I don't want what Jacob Arminius 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:12.599 taught. I want what Jesus taught. I want what 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:15.139 the New Testament says. I want what the Word 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:17.180 of God says. And there's going to be certain 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:19.360 times and certain passages. I've been doing this 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:21.460 for quite a while. I don't fully understand. 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.080 I don't think anyone fully understands. But I've 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:26.560 got plenty of truth to know this. I will stand 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.879 before God as a follower of Jesus and give an 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:32.099 account for my time, my energy, my money, and 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:34.740 my decisions. And I've been around long enough 00:02:34.740 --> 00:02:38.400 to know this. is that despite my mistakes, my 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:41.120 difficulties, the times even that I've sinned, 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:43.159 the times when I knew what was right and I didn't 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:46.479 even do it, there's this patient, kind, loving, 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:49.479 sovereign God that's working even those difficulties 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:52.099 and things that people have done to me and circumstances 00:02:52.099 --> 00:02:54.979 I can't understand because he's such a, are you 00:02:54.979 --> 00:02:58.780 ready? Good, good father. And so becoming like 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:01.419 Jesus and following him is a cooperative effort. 00:03:02.930 --> 00:03:06.289 Your effort and discipline to mine, not earn, 00:03:06.409 --> 00:03:09.110 but to mine out the grace that God's given you. 00:03:09.729 --> 00:03:14.270 Well, the question then becomes is, how do you 00:03:14.270 --> 00:03:17.289 work out what God worked in? I mean, it's nice 00:03:17.289 --> 00:03:19.110 to hear that. I kind of gave you the theory and 00:03:19.110 --> 00:03:21.490 the history. Well, practically, how do you do 00:03:21.490 --> 00:03:23.770 it? Well, Paul, this is a really amazing thing. 00:03:24.409 --> 00:03:28.050 After chapter 2, verse 12, and after verse 13, 00:03:28.189 --> 00:03:33.479 guess what comes? Verse 14. And 15 and 16 and 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:36.139 17. So guess what Paul's going to do? He says, 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:39.280 I want you to obey to be the kind of follower 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:43.340 of Jesus fully by his grace, even if I come or 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:45.460 I don't come. But the goal is I want you to be 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:48.139 under the hearing. So I'm going to give you very 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:52.240 specific things to obey so that you have unity 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:55.460 and that God uses you in this perverse generation. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:58.500 So are you ready? Get your pen out. Keep your 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:01.990 Bible open. Here's command number one. He says, 00:04:02.009 --> 00:04:05.129 do everything without complaining or arguing. 00:04:05.310 --> 00:04:11.069 So the command is, be a grateful servant. Be 00:04:11.069 --> 00:04:16.670 a grateful servant. If, not to be overly technical, 00:04:16.870 --> 00:04:20.050 but if you had the Greek text in your hand, you 00:04:20.050 --> 00:04:21.610 would read it and you would go, oh, wait, the 00:04:21.610 --> 00:04:23.949 word order. It's completely out of order. They 00:04:23.949 --> 00:04:27.120 took the word. everything and do everything and 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:29.160 it belongs in the back of the sentence and they 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:30.819 put it all the way in the front of the sentence 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:39.379 for what? Emphasis. Drive your car. Pay your 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:44.959 bills. Live with your mate. Respond to the government 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:52.519 and pay your taxes. How? Do everything without 00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:58.550 complaining. Or arguing. Word for complaining 00:04:58.550 --> 00:05:02.389 here is basically grumbling. It's that infectious 00:05:02.389 --> 00:05:09.430 negative attitude. It's really about be a grateful 00:05:09.430 --> 00:05:14.189 servant in your speech and your attitude. Don't 00:05:14.189 --> 00:05:17.750 whine. Don't complain. Don't talk about your 00:05:17.750 --> 00:05:21.430 boss or your supervisor behind their back. Don't 00:05:21.430 --> 00:05:24.430 be negative. Don't be critical. Don't be sarcastic. 00:05:24.949 --> 00:05:26.790 Don't put people down. This is getting pretty 00:05:26.790 --> 00:05:31.170 convicting, just me saying this to myself. But 00:05:31.170 --> 00:05:33.129 not only don't complain, but don't argue. It's 00:05:33.129 --> 00:05:36.230 a legal term. It has to do with dissensions and 00:05:36.230 --> 00:05:39.629 disputing and taking sides. Can you imagine what 00:05:39.629 --> 00:05:42.990 would happen, just hypothetically, if every genuine 00:05:42.990 --> 00:05:47.829 follower of Jesus obeyed this with regard to 00:05:47.829 --> 00:05:55.449 their social media? No complaining. No arguing, 00:05:55.649 --> 00:05:59.709 no dissensions, no name -calling, no attacking 00:05:59.709 --> 00:06:02.329 other people. See, this was happening in the 00:06:02.329 --> 00:06:05.050 Philippian church, and is this happening in anybody 00:06:05.050 --> 00:06:08.129 else's home? Is this happening at work? Anybody 00:06:08.129 --> 00:06:10.689 else's small group? This is happening everywhere, 00:06:10.810 --> 00:06:14.610 isn't it? See, what he's going to say is, you 00:06:14.610 --> 00:06:16.889 want to work out your salvation? You want to 00:06:16.889 --> 00:06:20.029 go into training and practice? Begin with your 00:06:20.029 --> 00:06:23.199 speech, because... Jesus said, the good man out 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:24.740 of the good treasure of his heart brings forth 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:27.420 what is good. The evil man out of the evil treasure 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:30.540 brings forth what is evil. For the mouth speaks 00:06:30.540 --> 00:06:34.879 by that which fills the heart. The two most vivid 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:37.040 ways to know where you're at in your journey 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.500 with the Lord Jesus is ask, what does my money 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:42.100 say about my values? And what does my speech 00:06:42.100 --> 00:06:45.709 say about my heart? And those two things are 00:06:45.709 --> 00:06:48.529 just pretty black and white. If it's negative, 00:06:48.730 --> 00:06:50.949 if it's complaining, if it's putting people down. 00:06:51.490 --> 00:06:53.970 See, if you change your speech, your heart has 00:06:53.970 --> 00:06:58.430 to change. Our kids, we've had some that were 00:06:58.430 --> 00:07:00.490 less negative and some more negative. I had one 00:07:00.490 --> 00:07:02.430 that was extraordinarily negative. She came out 00:07:02.430 --> 00:07:04.689 of the womb. Oh, I said she. I guess we know 00:07:04.689 --> 00:07:08.529 who it is. I mean, she was. I mean, the glass 00:07:08.529 --> 00:07:14.189 never got half full. And so we got a jar. And 00:07:14.189 --> 00:07:16.329 we wrote missions on it and Annie's speech and 00:07:16.329 --> 00:07:21.209 all my kids memorized Ephesians 4, 29. Let no 00:07:21.209 --> 00:07:23.110 unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, but 00:07:23.110 --> 00:07:26.250 only such a word as is good for edification according 00:07:26.250 --> 00:07:27.910 to the need of the moment that it might give 00:07:27.910 --> 00:07:32.750 grace to those who hear. And so we started out 00:07:32.750 --> 00:07:34.589 with every time a negative comment came out, 00:07:34.629 --> 00:07:37.930 she put a dime in the jar. Then we went to quarters. 00:07:39.029 --> 00:07:41.029 Then we went to 50 cents a piece. She was a very 00:07:41.029 --> 00:07:44.819 generous to missions at the church. But here's 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:46.639 the thing. She went into training. She went into 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:48.699 training. And we talked about it. And then she 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:50.160 began to memorize some verses. Now, you know 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.819 what? Part of that was a leadership gift that 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:55.459 she has that when she looked at life, she saw 00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:57.839 what was wrong. And then when she thought it, 00:07:57.860 --> 00:08:00.839 it came out of her mouth at the same time. She 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:08.660 did not get that from her mother. So we went 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:12.720 into training together to get a hold of our speech. 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:16.100 You might evaluate things and see something that, 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:18.300 oh, that should be over here instead of like 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:20.639 that, or that's not the right attitude, or we 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:23.920 need to fix that at work. That might be a real 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:27.000 giftedness you have, but when it comes out of 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:31.199 your mouth in the wrong context and not in the 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:33.840 right way with the right tone of voice, it's 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:38.519 disunifying. Second, he says, this is for a purpose. 00:08:39.210 --> 00:08:42.370 The purpose of being grateful is so that you 00:08:42.370 --> 00:08:47.169 can be a godly servant. God wants us to be godly. 00:08:47.950 --> 00:08:53.570 Godly publicly, godly privately, and godly personally. 00:08:54.190 --> 00:08:57.009 Circle the word blameless, circle the word pure, 00:08:57.210 --> 00:09:01.570 and circle the word without fault. The word blameless 00:09:01.570 --> 00:09:05.120 is relationship to the outside world. It means 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:07.519 the people at work, your neighbors, people at 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:11.960 the coffee shop, the dry cleaners, the team one 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:15.679 of your kids plays on. He says, be blameless. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.440 Be the kind of Christian that they're not going, 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:20.940 oh my gosh, that person says they're a Christian, 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.279 but listen to their language, listen to the put 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.580 downs, look at their morality. He says, no, no, 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:28.840 no, no. You gotta be blameless, not perfect, 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.639 blameless. When God shows you that your life 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.820 is ungodly, And it would reflect negatively on 00:09:35.820 --> 00:09:38.620 Jesus and his church. You say, I can't live that 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:42.120 way. Second, it's privately. It says blameless 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:46.899 and pure. The word pure here means like undiluted 00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:50.919 wine, or it was used of metal that didn't have 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:53.519 a mixture of both like iron and something else 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:56.220 in it. It's pure. This is about your motives. 00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:59.679 This is about when no one is around, who are 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:02.940 you really? And then finally he says, not only 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:06.379 blameless and pure, but he goes on to say, without 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:09.159 fault. And again here, it doesn't mean in terms 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:12.539 of perfect, but without fault is relationship 00:10:12.539 --> 00:10:17.659 to those in the church and especially your relationship 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:20.960 to God. The word was used for like an animal 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.600 without blemish in your offering and your sacrifice. 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.100 You're listening to Living on the Edge. We'll 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:31.259 return you to Chip's message in just a minute. 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:34.059 But first, let me tell you, God is doing incredible 00:10:34.059 --> 00:10:36.840 work through this ministry all around the world. 00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:39.419 And if you'd like to join us, consider partnering 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:42.759 with us during our mid -year match. Every gift 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:45.480 we receive until midnight on June 30th will be 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:48.700 doubled dollar for dollar. Join us today by going 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:54.940 to livingontheedge .org or call 888 -333 -6003. 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:58.279 We appreciate your generosity. Well, with that, 00:10:58.299 --> 00:11:01.500 here again is Chip. And so in essence, what he's 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:05.179 really saying is, I want you to obey. I want 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:06.659 you to be the kind of Christians in a really 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:09.600 tough world that you're positive, thankful people. 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:12.779 Not positive thinking. You're genuinely thankful. 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:15.059 And your speech and your actions reflect it. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:17.779 Second, I want you to be godly. I want you to 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:19.879 be godly toward the outside world. I want you 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:22.080 to be godly and have personal integrity within. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:24.460 And I want you to be godly in terms of your relationship 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:32.120 with God. I love the next line where he says, 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:36.659 so that you can do something in a very crooked 00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:39.500 and perverse generation. I mean, we all here, 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:41.820 we want to see the world change, right? We all 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:43.740 believe the world is, I mean, it's crazy right 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:46.679 now. And people ask me all the time, well, what 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:50.519 can I do? This is what we can do. Be grateful 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:54.649 people. Be godly people. And notice the result 00:11:54.649 --> 00:11:57.649 is to be a bold servant in action and words. 00:11:58.450 --> 00:12:00.570 He says, when you're godly in the midst of a 00:12:00.570 --> 00:12:02.990 crooked and perverse, literally it's a twisted 00:12:02.990 --> 00:12:05.990 generation. And I think it's even more twisted 00:12:05.990 --> 00:12:08.929 now than it was then. But in which you shine 00:12:08.929 --> 00:12:11.929 like stars in the universe as you hold out or 00:12:11.929 --> 00:12:16.470 literally hold forth the word of God. And so 00:12:16.470 --> 00:12:20.070 he says to them, this is the kind of Christian 00:12:20.070 --> 00:12:23.490 I want you to be. And when you do that, You're 00:12:23.490 --> 00:12:27.110 demonstrating something. You're making a difference. 00:12:27.169 --> 00:12:30.309 It's like there's this black backdrop and you're 00:12:30.309 --> 00:12:33.450 shining in this corrupt world like shining stars. 00:12:33.669 --> 00:12:38.110 And people take notice. I have a very good friend 00:12:38.110 --> 00:12:48.230 who decided to leave a very powerful, lucrative 00:12:48.230 --> 00:12:55.539 job. Had a great position. Extremely well paid. 00:12:56.980 --> 00:13:02.139 And there came a time where the company and those 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:06.980 in power were asking him to make some decisions 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:12.519 that lacked integrity. And he had worked with 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:14.559 all the other people in the company and sort 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:17.039 of set a standard that no matter what, we won't 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:19.360 compromise. And people knew he was a follower 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:22.500 of Christ and integrity really mattered. Came 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:28.419 to the point where he, crossroads, and out of 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:33.059 integrity, let that go. And he told me a little 00:13:33.059 --> 00:13:35.019 bit about the last day with all the employees. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:40.519 And these are high -tech, grown men and women 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:45.220 in a fast -paced world, overwhelmed with emotion. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:52.919 Like a... bright, shining star in the midst of 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:57.279 a cutthroat, make money, fudge the facts. How 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.179 do we make it look faster and better that we 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:01.679 can go public or whatever the goals are? And 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:04.279 someone steps and says, there's something that 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:07.740 matters more than money. I'm a follower of Christ. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.539 It's the truth that sets you free. And I'm going 00:14:10.539 --> 00:14:13.320 to stand on my convictions regardless of the 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:16.340 consequences. And there was an entire company. 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:20.879 that saw a star shining brightly. Notice you 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:24.039 shine like stars and you're bold. You hold forth 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.779 God's word. You're not ashamed to be a Christian 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.940 in your neighborhood. You're not ashamed of the 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:31.559 Bible at work. Do I understand you're gonna get 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:33.460 some flack? Of course. Did the early disciples 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:36.059 get some flack? Did Jesus get some flack? Did 00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:38.700 the reformers get some flack? At some point in 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:42.960 time, we have to realize it's coming. So let's 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:46.470 respond in a loving way. Let's shine like stars. 00:14:46.769 --> 00:14:49.389 Let's be the church that, oh, my lands, they 00:14:49.389 --> 00:14:51.769 remodeled another school. Oh, my lands, they're 00:14:51.769 --> 00:14:54.049 taking in the refugees. We just had a team come 00:14:54.049 --> 00:14:56.649 back from India. They did all that dental work 00:14:56.649 --> 00:15:00.049 and medical work. Oh, my lands. Who says, oh, 00:15:00.110 --> 00:15:03.990 my lands, anyway? That must be from my mother 00:15:03.990 --> 00:15:07.529 or my childhood. You want to know how to work 00:15:07.529 --> 00:15:10.750 out what God worked in? Be a grateful servant. 00:15:11.669 --> 00:15:16.120 Be a godly servant. Be a bold servant. And finally, 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:18.940 his whole motive was, I'm not down on you Philippians. 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:22.919 This isn't a list to do all the stuff of some 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:26.379 religion. Be a joyful Christian. Here's my motive. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:29.889 My motive is that I can. I'm gonna stand before 00:15:29.889 --> 00:15:31.809 God, and I don't know if I'm executed or not 00:15:31.809 --> 00:15:34.830 executed, but I'm gonna stand before God and 00:15:34.830 --> 00:15:37.029 boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run 00:15:37.029 --> 00:15:40.029 in vain or labor in vain, but I poured out my 00:15:40.029 --> 00:15:42.509 life like a drink offering on the sacrifice and 00:15:42.509 --> 00:15:45.830 the service. of your faith. And what he's picturing 00:15:45.830 --> 00:15:48.429 here is that that's a picture of getting executed. 00:15:48.629 --> 00:15:50.990 He's taking this Old Testament picture of when 00:15:50.990 --> 00:15:53.029 you would offer a sacrifice and then they would 00:15:53.029 --> 00:15:55.450 take maybe wine and pour it on the altar as it's 00:15:55.450 --> 00:15:58.149 going up. It's a drink offering. He says, if 00:15:58.149 --> 00:16:01.049 my blood, if my life, if I'm a drink offering, 00:16:01.269 --> 00:16:04.549 here's the deal. I'm going to be glad and I'm 00:16:04.549 --> 00:16:09.070 going to rejoice in dying. So you too be glad 00:16:09.070 --> 00:16:12.919 and rejoice with me. Is that amazing? As you 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:15.600 look at the back page, the first couple questions 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:19.139 are ones you can just do by yourself, but grab 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:22.220 a cup of tea, coffee, Coke, Diet Coke, and put 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:24.940 your feet up somewhere in the next 24 or 48 hours 00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:28.480 and say, hmm, you know, what expectations do 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:31.980 I have in terms of what I think God's going to 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:35.559 do for me? And are they accurate? And down deep, 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:39.639 what do I think God expects of me? For some of 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:42.100 you, you need a big dose of grace. Here's what 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:45.379 he expects that you receive is love. And for 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:49.600 others, he expects you get off your dairy air 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:53.379 and quit expecting that Bible to read itself 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:56.360 and to discipline yourself to godliness so he 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:58.399 can let you experience what you already possess. 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:02.600 Where do you see growth and progress in the working 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:05.420 out of what God has worked in? You know, some 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:08.109 of you, you just go so negative. Oh, I ought 00:17:08.109 --> 00:17:09.650 to be more of this. I ought to do more of this. 00:17:09.670 --> 00:17:11.369 I ought to more doing this. How about writing 00:17:11.369 --> 00:17:14.230 down, you know, I've become more patient. I've 00:17:14.230 --> 00:17:16.730 become more generous. You know what? I'm a better 00:17:16.730 --> 00:17:20.529 dad than I used to be. I clean up with my roommates. 00:17:20.829 --> 00:17:23.690 Write down where God, and it'll encourage you. 00:17:24.109 --> 00:17:27.490 And then, where do you need to focus effort and 00:17:27.490 --> 00:17:30.890 energy to allow Jesus' life to be manifested 00:17:30.890 --> 00:17:34.410 in you and through you? And, you know, these 00:17:34.410 --> 00:17:36.750 words, right, they come right out of the text. 00:17:37.849 --> 00:17:41.009 You know, and just don't check them all. You'll 00:17:41.009 --> 00:17:47.170 go nuts if you already haven't. But just ask 00:17:47.170 --> 00:17:49.710 yourself, you know, Lord, whisper this prayer, 00:17:49.769 --> 00:17:52.589 Lord, Holy Spirit, would you show me which one 00:17:52.589 --> 00:17:55.170 or at the most two, is it my attitude, speech, 00:17:55.650 --> 00:18:00.329 boldness, authenticity, godliness? Just, and 00:18:00.329 --> 00:18:03.069 check one of those and then just say, Lord, I 00:18:03.069 --> 00:18:08.529 can't do this. I can't do this. But you can. 00:18:08.990 --> 00:18:12.410 So I'm telling you, I'm inadequate and your power 00:18:12.410 --> 00:18:17.190 will be my adequacy. So would you help me? Would 00:18:17.190 --> 00:18:23.009 you help me do that? You're listening to Living 00:18:23.009 --> 00:18:25.769 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. And the message 00:18:25.769 --> 00:18:28.890 you just heard, love obeys, is from our series, 00:18:29.069 --> 00:18:32.349 I Choose Love. Chip will join us in studio to 00:18:32.349 --> 00:18:34.789 share some insights from today's talk in just 00:18:34.789 --> 00:18:37.779 a minute. One of the greatest delights of God's 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:40.140 heart is to witness His children, those of us 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:43.200 who call Him Lord, loving one another. Yet, we 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:46.079 all know this isn't always easy and often doesn't 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:49.000 come naturally to us. In this short study, Chip 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:51.160 walks through the four characteristics of love 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:54.380 laid out for us in Philippians chapter 2. Discover 00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:56.700 how to apply these truths to your relationships 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:59.480 with others and God so you can love more and 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:02.109 love better. To listen to this entire series, 00:19:02.269 --> 00:19:05.670 visit livingontheedge .org or the Chip Ingram 00:19:05.670 --> 00:19:08.529 app. Well, our Bible teacher Chip Ingram is with 00:19:08.529 --> 00:19:10.589 me now. And Chip, you know, from time to time, 00:19:10.609 --> 00:19:12.910 we survey our listeners through the Chip Ingram 00:19:12.910 --> 00:19:15.730 app and our website. And without fail, the most 00:19:15.730 --> 00:19:18.549 frequent thing we hear is, I need help growing 00:19:18.549 --> 00:19:21.150 spiritually. Well, take a minute, if you will, 00:19:21.210 --> 00:19:24.069 and explain why discipleship is such a big part 00:19:24.069 --> 00:19:26.970 of what we do as a ministry. Well, that's absolutely 00:19:26.970 --> 00:19:29.720 right, Dave. The fact of the matter is that Living 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:33.339 things grow. Dying things are stagnant. And my 00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:36.339 experience is that people long to grow, but they 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:38.859 don't know how. How long am I supposed to read? 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:41.119 Or I don't really know how to pray. Or I've never 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:43.200 met a Christian who's living out their faith 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:45.779 in a way that makes sense to me. And I'm just 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:48.400 stuck. And so when people try hard and try hard, 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:51.160 and they don't understand sanctification, they 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:53.299 don't know who they are in Christ, they can't 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:55.400 open the Word of God for themselves and understand 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:58.690 it, and no one ever sat down. like someone did 00:19:58.690 --> 00:20:01.309 with me, and said, this is how to pray. This 00:20:01.309 --> 00:20:03.769 is how to resolve conflict. Here's how you find 00:20:03.769 --> 00:20:06.210 the right kind of mate. Here's how you organize 00:20:06.210 --> 00:20:09.089 and prioritize your finances. And at Living on 00:20:09.089 --> 00:20:12.069 the Edge, we fill that gap for millions of people. 00:20:12.230 --> 00:20:14.950 We help people grow spiritually, emotionally, 00:20:15.390 --> 00:20:17.880 and relationally. And what I want you to know 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:20.319 as a listener of Living on the Edge, if you feel 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:23.079 like you've drawn closer to God, there's a spiritual 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:26.480 principle. Where you receive spiritual nourishment, 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:29.480 there's a corollary that you provide financial 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:32.279 assistance so that we can do this for even more 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:35.059 people. That's right from the Apostle Paul. So 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:38.099 if we have been a source of spiritual growth 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:41.500 and nourishment to you, would you pray today? 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:43.920 Would you just say, Lord, what do you want me 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:47.000 to do? What could I sacrifice? Do you want me 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.880 to give a one -time gift? Do you want me to give 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:51.920 on a monthly basis? If that's you, can I invite 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:54.599 you into obedience? And let's make a difference 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:57.319 together. Thanks, Chip. Well, if God has been 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:59.539 ministering to you through Living on the Edge 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:02.099 and you want to get in on supporting us, now's 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:04.880 the perfect time. Because thanks to the generosity 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:08.009 of a group of ministry friends, Every gift will 00:21:08.009 --> 00:21:11.690 be doubled between now and June 30th. To partner 00:21:11.690 --> 00:21:17.809 with us today, call 888 -333 -6003 or go to livingontheedge 00:21:17.809 --> 00:21:23.329 .org. That's livingontheedge .org or call 888 00:21:23.329 --> 00:21:29.690 -333 -6003. App listeners tap donate. As we wrap 00:21:29.690 --> 00:21:32.529 up today's program, I would remind you that the 00:21:32.529 --> 00:21:37.250 title of this message is Love Obeys. In other 00:21:37.250 --> 00:21:40.029 words, when God is working out through his spirit 00:21:40.029 --> 00:21:42.670 and we're responding by faith and obedience, 00:21:42.990 --> 00:21:47.029 it ends up we obey. We are obeying what he says 00:21:47.029 --> 00:21:49.670 in his word. Jesus would say to his disciples 00:21:49.670 --> 00:21:52.970 on the very last night on the earth, he said, 00:21:53.089 --> 00:21:56.109 he that has my commandments and keeps them, he 00:21:56.109 --> 00:21:58.630 it is that loves me. And he that loves me will 00:21:58.630 --> 00:22:02.029 be loved of my father. And we will come and disclose 00:22:02.029 --> 00:22:05.700 ourselves to him. intimacy with Jesus at the 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:08.460 heart of it is by faith we obey. In other words, 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:11.480 we work out what God has worked in, the work 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:14.200 of Christ in our place. And as I taught through 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:16.019 this, and you heard a little bit earlier in the 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:18.559 broadcast, we talked about being grateful and 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:21.660 godly and bold and joyful. And, you know, we 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:24.500 walk through this passage in Philippians chapter 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:27.920 2. And then I ask you to do a little analysis, 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:30.900 some reflection. And at the first part, what 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:33.500 I want you to do honestly is say, where have 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:36.180 I made progress? In fact, this is one of those 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:38.240 where you really need to download the notes. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:41.579 It's livingontheedge .org and get the notes because 00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:45.420 all of these questions are here. And then I listed 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:51.160 attitude, authenticity, speech, boldness, godliness. 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:54.339 And then in the notes, I give a definition. But 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:56.900 what I want you to do is say, where am I making 00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:59.920 progress in my attitudes? Where am I making progress 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:02.920 in my boldness? Where am I making progress in 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:05.460 my speech? And then I want you to sit quietly 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:07.339 before the Lord and maybe have the notes out 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:10.319 in front of you and say, Lord, where do you want 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:13.819 your spirit to take more control? Is it my speech? 00:23:14.509 --> 00:23:17.369 Is it my attitude? Is there ungratefulness in 00:23:17.369 --> 00:23:19.849 my heart? Is there unforgiveness in my heart? 00:23:19.970 --> 00:23:22.609 Is it a lack of boldness? Is it that everyone 00:23:22.609 --> 00:23:25.509 knows I'm a great guy or a wonderful gal, but 00:23:25.509 --> 00:23:28.769 they don't know why? Lord, I pray right now for 00:23:28.769 --> 00:23:31.569 my brothers and sisters as we are together saying, 00:23:31.710 --> 00:23:36.079 Lord, We want to obey. We know that love obeys. 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:39.160 We long for you to show us where we're making 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:41.500 progress that we might rejoice and thank you. 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:45.619 And we long for you to show us that one thing 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:48.259 or that one or two things that are very specific 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:51.200 that we could bring to you and ask that by your 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:54.400 spirit and the power of your word through community, 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:57.299 you could transform us more into the likeness 00:23:57.299 --> 00:24:00.079 of your son. Lord, that's our prayer. We know 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:02.319 you'll answer it. And so we thank you in advance 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:05.200 for what you're going to do. Amen. You'll find 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:07.599 the message notes Chip just mentioned in a couple 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:11.380 of places. Go to livingontheedge .org and click 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:15.180 the broadcasts tab. App listeners tap fill in 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:18.259 notes. You'll get his outline, all the scripture 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:20.819 references, and plenty of fill -ins to help you 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:23.359 remember what you hear. They'll really help you 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:25.920 get the most out of every program. So I hope 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:27.900 you'll take advantage of this resource the next 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:30.859 time you listen. We'll listen in next time as 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:34.099 Chip wraps up his series, I Choose Love. Until 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:36.519 then, this is Dave Drewy saying thanks for joining 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:39.220 us for this edition of Living on the Edge.