Introduction:
Introduction:
What Should I Do If I’m Not Content? (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)
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I should recognize THAT MY CALLING IS A GIFT. (1 Cor 7:17)
1 Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain,
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I should resolve to OBEY NO MATTER WHAT. (1 Cor 7:18-19)
John 14:23-24 - Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
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I should remember WHO I AM IN CHRIST. (1 Cor 7:20-23)
Philippians 4:11-13 - Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
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I should rejoice THAT GOD IS WITH ME. (1 Cor 7:24)
Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
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00:36-00:40
Please open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 17 through 24.
00:41-00:45
1 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 17 through 24.
00:47-00:53
Have you ever stopped to consider how much of your life is beyond your control?
00:55-00:57
And some of you are thinking, no, because that sounds very depressing.
00:57-01:00
It doesn't sound very fun at all.
01:00-01:02
And I get that, but just go with me for a second.
01:03-01:07
Did you have any control over when you came into this world?
01:08-01:17
You had no say on who your parents were, how much money they had, what hospital you were born at, what doctors delivered you.
01:18-01:21
Did you have any control over your genetic makeup and DNA?
01:23-01:32
You had zero input into what you would look like, what inherent talents you would possess, and what natural personality you would receive.
01:33-01:35
Are you able to control the weather?
01:36-01:39
Are you able to keep snow storms and frigid temperatures away?
01:41-01:44
If you're able to do that, you have failed us these past two months.
01:44-01:47
What have you been doing if you're able to control those things?
01:47-01:48
Where were you last night?
01:50-01:54
Are you able to control every single situation that pops up in your life?
01:55-01:59
Are you able to keep all forms of pain and suffering away?
02:00-02:06
I assume not because if you're able to do that, you'd be a billionaire right now because you sold your secret methods to others.
02:08-02:11
So much of your life is beyond your control.
02:13-02:18
Discontentment comes when you fail to acknowledge and submit to this basic truth.
02:19-02:27
And at its core, dissatisfaction, discontentment, is you not being happy with what God has given to you.
02:28-02:34
you being dissatisfied with who the Lord is and the life he has entrusted to you.
02:36-02:41
So many of your problems come from trying to control the uncontrollable.
02:42-02:50
Guys in the room like me who are under six feet tall, I'm sorry, those exercises, those stretches will not add any inches to your height.
02:50-02:52
Those height-boosting shoes aren't fooling anybody.
02:54-02:56
We're just gonna have to enjoy the view from down here.
02:58-03:03
So many of your frustrations find their root in trying to stop the inevitable.
03:05-03:09
Ladies, I'm sorry to say it, please don't pelt me with tomatoes and other produce.
03:11-03:15
You're going to get older, and there is going to be signs of aging.
03:16-03:19
Okay, good. (laughs) No produce, phew.
03:20-03:22
It's impossible to avoid.
03:23-03:29
Instead of resisting this, accept that your meaning is not bound up what you look like on the outside.
03:30-03:32
What truly matters is what you look like on the inside.
03:34-03:39
So many of your disappointments come from an unwillingness to accept your limitations.
03:40-03:50
And I'm sorry to burst your bubble, I'm sorry to ruin all the lessons you learned from Disney movies growing up, but you cannot be whoever you wanna be and do whatever you wanna do.
03:52-03:54
I see some of you not agreeing with me internally.
03:55-05:21
I'm sorry, but it's not every boy's future athlete. It's not in every girl's future to be a famous celebrity or singer. There are things that you are good at and you should work on honing those natural talents and abilities. But there are other things that you stink at and no matter how hard you try you'll never rise above mediocrity when it comes to those activities. At this point you may be thinking, "Taylor, this is my favorite sermon so far. Are you saying that I have no control over my life at all? I'm actually not saying that. You do have some control over your life, but you do not have as much control as you would like. You cannot control the life you receive from the Lord, but you can't control what you do with the life you receive from the Lord. You cannot control the calling that you are given from the hand of God, but you can control if you are discontent or content with the calling you have received from the hand of God. Which best describes you in this season of life? Discontent or content? Dissatisfied or satisfied? Unfulfilled or or fulfilled.
05:23-05:28
I don't think it would take much introspection for some of you to realize that you are not content right now.
05:29-05:31
That you lack true joy.
05:33-05:37
That you wake up with a sense of dread that you have to be you.
05:38-05:40
And that you have to deal with what's in front of you.
05:42-05:44
You feel like your life is stuck in limbo.
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You feel like things will never get better.
05:47-05:50
feel like things will never improve.
05:52-05:55
You may be wondering, what should I do if I'm not content?
05:56-05:59
What should I do if I'm not content?
06:01-06:11
We're towards the beginning of the Q and A section of 1 Corinthians and that is the exact question that the Apostle Paul answers for us in 1 Corinthians chapter seven, verses 17 through 24.
06:12-06:25
And just like the Corinthians, you need to be reminded that true contentment is not found in your circumstances, which are always changing, true contentment is found in Jesus Christ, who never changes.
06:28-06:30
Let's go to the Lord in prayer and ask for His help.
06:30-06:37
Please pray for me, that I'll faithfully proclaim God's word, and I will pray for you, that you will faithfully receive God's word.
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Father, we thank you for yet another opportunity to worship you together, sit under your word together as your people.
06:49-06:52
Lord, this is a subject that touches every single one of us.
06:53-06:58
There isn't a single person in this room who isn't struggling with a sense of discontentment on some level.
06:59-07:02
I pray you'd use your word to comfort us.
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You would use your word to challenge us.
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You would use your word to point us to Christ.
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We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen.
07:16-07:21
The first Corinthians 7 is mainly about marriage and singleness.
07:21-07:29
Two weeks ago, Pastor Jeff preached on two gifts, the gift of sex and marriage and the gift of contentment and singleness.
07:30-07:34
And last week, you heard four sermons for the price of one.
07:36-07:41
If you are single and you want to stay single and remain single.
07:42-07:46
If you are single and do not want to remain single, get married.
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If you are a Christian couple, stay married.
07:52-07:56
If you are married to an unbeliever while you are a believer, stay in that marriage.
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Do not cut and run once you become a Christian.
08:01-08:06
God may use you to save your unbelieving spouse.
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You can only control yourself in that situation.
08:12-08:14
You can control if you stay.
08:14-08:19
If that unbelieving spouse chooses to leave you, that is on him or her.
08:20-08:22
You cannot control what they do.
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You can only control what you do.
08:26-08:28
And this kind of marital situation is hard.
08:28-08:29
I don't wanna sugarcoat it.
08:29-08:32
It's not easy or simple on any level.
08:32-08:37
It's painful, but according to this text, that will be used by God for his purposes.
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No matter your relational status, it is not your job to figure out what God is up to.
08:44-08:49
It's your job to submit to the life that God has given to you.
08:50-08:56
It's your job to play the cards you've been dealt instead of throwing them down and walking away from the table.
08:57-09:02
This principle for marriage and singleness applies to every other area of life as well.
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your social status, your family, your finances, your career, and the list goes on and on.
09:09-09:18
In verses 17 through 24, Paul jumps off the main highway of marriage and singleness to explore a much needed detour.
09:19-09:23
So let's return to our main question for this morning that sums up this detour.
09:23-09:26
What should I do if I'm not content?
09:27-09:30
What should I do if I'm not content?
09:31-09:35
Firstly, I should recognize that my calling is a gift.
09:36-09:39
I should recognize that my calling is a gift.
09:44-09:47
Let's read chapter seven, verse 17.
09:47-09:55
The apostle Paul writes, "Only let each person lead the life "the Lord has assigned to him "and to which God has called him.
09:56-10:02
"This is my rule in all the churches." Do you have house rules in your family?
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Do you have expectations that are to be followed?
10:08-10:19
No Nerf gun bullets to the face, no running with scissors, bedtime is at 8 p.m. sharp, only kind and respectful words will be spoken in this family.
10:20-10:27
In this verse, the Apostle Paul makes it crystal clear that he has a house rule for the Corinthian church and every other church as well.
10:28-10:32
He establishes an expectation as for each person in all the churches.
10:34-10:36
Are you a person in the church?
10:37-10:38
Then this verse applies to you.
10:39-10:43
Paul gives no wiggle room, he gives you no excuse, he gives you no hall pass.
10:44-10:49
If you were a Christian, you were expected to obey what the apostle Paul has to say.
10:50-10:51
And what does he have to say?
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Be faithful where God has placed you.
10:56-11:00
Be faithful where God has placed you.
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Instead of constantly daydreaming about what's next, focus on what's in front of you.
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Is that hard for anybody else besides me?
11:12-11:16
It's so tempting for life to become a series of what's next.
11:17-11:20
You and I can think, oh man, this current season of life stinks.
11:20-11:23
I can't wait for the next thing 'cause it's gonna be so much better.
11:25-11:28
When you're in middle school, what are you looking forward to?
11:30-11:35
High school, you're excited to get out of those years of early puberty and Axe body spray.
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You can't wait.
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When you're in high school, what are you anxious for?
11:42-11:45
Getting out of high school and going to the workforce or college.
11:45-11:49
Once you're in the workforce or college, what are you looking forward to?
11:51-11:53
Meeting that special someone?
11:56-11:59
And then once you meet that special someone, what are you anxious for?
12:01-12:02
Marriage and children.
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And then once you're married and you have kids, or one kid, two kids, three kids, four kids, five kids for even some of you, when you're in the midst of the hardship of parenting, what are you anxious for?
12:19-12:20
Getting them out of the house.
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Thank you, Andrew.
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You're very excited to say that.
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For your kids to mature, to get older, and to get out of the house, as Andrew Colburn would say.
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You're excited for the house to be quiet.
12:35-12:37
But once the house is quiet, what are you anxious for?
12:39-12:45
For the loud noises to come back in the form of grandkids, to finally reach that retirement you've been working so hard for.
12:45-12:47
You don't want to set your alarm anymore.
12:48-12:52
But then once you're retired, you're thinking, What's next?
12:52-12:54
What is going to be my final chapter?
12:56-12:59
So much of my life can be spent on wishing it away.
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And so much of your life can be spent on wishing it away.
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Instead of being present in the moment, you and I can be fixated, I'm pressing the fast forward button so we can just get on with it already.
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Because satisfaction must come when you climb that next ladder.
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But then it doesn't.
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So you keep climbing and you keep being disappointed.
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The grass must be greener once you ascend that next hill, but then it isn't.
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You keep walking up and down each hill, hoping for what won't be there.
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The next thing has to be more fulfilling than this current season of life.
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It won't be, because if you're not content with what you have right now, you will not be content with what you have then.
13:51-13:58
It's never been more challenging in the history of the world to be fully present than it is in 2026.
13:59-14:06
You and I have a device in our pockets that are gateways to discontentment and thanklessness.
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You're constantly bombarded with videos and images of people's lives that seem better than your own.
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"Oh, if only I could have that SUV or that minivan.
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If only I could have a house that nice.
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If only I could have that remodeled kitchen or bathroom.
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If only I could afford that dream vacation.
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If only my husband was as handy as that guy on that reel.
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If only my wife was as supportive as that woman on that account.
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If only my kids were that well behaved.
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If only I didn't live in a place that was gray and overcast and snowy for what seems six months of the year.
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If only, if only, if only, if only.
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If only is a thief of joy.
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If only is a recipe for discontentment.
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If only obscures the reality that your life and the calling given to you from God are precious gifts.
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To be clear, I'm not saying that it's wrong to consider the future, that it's wrong to plan ahead.
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It's wise to think over, pray over, and make career moves.
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It's a good thing to save for retirement and wanna leave something for your kids and grandkids.
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It's not a bad thing to move or want a bigger space for your family.
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Godly ambition can be a good thing, but there is a very thin line between godly ambition and ungodly discontentment.
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Godly ambition and ungodly discontentment.
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What's the difference?
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Godly ambition looks like this.
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God, thank you for all the good gifts that you've given to me.
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Help me to invest my talents, my resources, my efforts into your kingdom for the sake of my family and for the sake of your glory.
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Well, ungodly discontentment looks like this.
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God, what you've given me is not good enough.
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I need more.
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Godly ambition is a life of open-handedness to the Lord.
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Everything that you have belongs to Him, and everything you do is for His sake.
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While ungodly discontentment is a life of pointing the finger of blame at God.
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Everything that you have is yours, and everything you do is for your sake.
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Do you see the difference?
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In this verse, Paul is telling you enough of ungodly discontentment, enough of bitterness and resentment, enough of being thankless.
16:52-16:55
Stop being faithless and start being faithful.
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No matter your circumstance, no matter your station in life, you can honor Christ.
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What life has the Lord assigned to you?
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What calling has God given you in this season of life?
17:13-17:19
Are you a teenager or a college student who's tired of taking tests, writing papers, and sitting in a classroom?
17:21-17:24
Recognize that your calling as a student is a gift from God.
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Give your studies 100% of your effort because you are not working for your parents, you're not working for your teachers or your professors.
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Who are you working for?
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You are working for Christ.
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You're working for the Lord himself.
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Are you a mom whose life feels like Groundhog's Day?
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Every single day feels the exact same, it's just the same thing over and over and over again.
17:54-17:58
Recognize that your calling as a mother is a gift from God.
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Be faithful and pour into your children, point them to Jesus Christ every single chance that you get.
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you'll never be able to press the rewind button and see your kids at the age they are now, even though you'll desperately want to.
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Be faithful with this opportunity that God has given to you.
18:19-18:21
Are you in a job that you hate?
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Are you in a job that is thankless and unfulfilling?
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Recognize that that calling is a gift from God, even when it seems like a curse.
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Don't be lazy, don't just skate by.
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Outwork every single person at work, at the office, until that next opportunity arises.
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Share the gospel, be faithful in showing your coworkers who Jesus Christ is.
18:52-19:02
I wish I had the time and ability to address all of your specific circumstances, but I don't really need to, because this principle from Paul applies to every single one of you.
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Whatever you do and wherever you are, recognize your calling is a gift from God.
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Be content, be thankful, be faithful.
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Because Paul says elsewhere, godliness with contentment is great gain.
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Discontentment always leads to loss, while contentment always leads to gain.
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What should I do if I'm not content?
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Secondly, I should resolve to obey no matter what.
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I should resolve to obey no matter what.
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After Paul commands the Corinthians to be faithful and content, he provides a real life example of what it looks like to be faithful and content.
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Let's read verse 18.
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Was anyone at the time of his call circumcised?
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Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision.
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Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised?
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Let him not seek circumcision.
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I know what you're thinking.
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Oh dear, this is not the direction I expected this passage to take.
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How is Pastor Taylor gonna apply this to my life?
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How is he gonna explain this?
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Well, I'm gonna take a page out of Pastor Jeff's book and not be explicit, but be straightforward.
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In Paul's day, circumcision was not a medical issue.
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It was a societal and religious issue.
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Under the old covenant, the Israelites were commanded to circumcise their baby boys on the eighth day.
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And circumcision was an outward sign that these boys were to be set apart for God and different than the pagan nations surrounding them.
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And this outward sign is no longer needed.
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this side of the cross and the empty tomb and the new covenant, we are not expected or commanded to carry out circumcision.
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In this verse, Paul is addressing two sets of men in Corinth, those who are already circumcised and those who are not circumcised.
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He has a very similar message for both groups.
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If you're circumcised, don't try to remove the marks of your circumcision to blend in with the Gentiles.
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I have no desire to get into the details of what that exactly means.
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Let me just say that 2,000 years ago, Jewish Christian men had the option to have a surgery to undo what was done to them as infants.
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And you may be thinking, why in the world would they wanna do that?
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That sounds horrible.
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We have to remember that Corinth was a Roman city.
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It was filled with anti-Semitism, with hatred of Jews.
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So Christian men would be tempted to make this change to blend in.
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To use a modern day example, this would be like moving to Cleveland and to add insult to injury, you trade in all of your Steeler stuff for Cleveland Browns memorabilia.
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Why do you do that?
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'Cause you don't wanna be ridiculed.
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You don't wanna be made fun of.
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You wanna blend in in this new place that you live.
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You make an external change to please other people.
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And that was the temptation for Jewish Christians in Corinth.
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On the other hand, Paul calls those who were uncircumcised to not seek circumcision because that would be pointless.
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Back then there was a group called the Judaizers who believed that you had to be circumcised as a man to be saved.
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But that totally goes against the message of Paul and the other apostles.
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Paul is saying in this verse, if you were a Jewish Christian, Don't try to be like a Gentile Christian.
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If you're a Gentile Christian, don't try to be Jewish.
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That's a waste of time because you're both on equal footing.
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You're both one in Christ.
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And Paul explains this in even more detail in verse 19.
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He says, "For neither circumcision counts for anything "nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God." that you're faithful.
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An uncircumcision does not prove that you're unfaithful.
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What matters, according to this text, heartfelt obedience to the Lord's commands.
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God isn't after external religious rituals that cannot change you.
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He is after an inward change that leads to an outward change.
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God doesn't want you just to look the part and pretend that you have true faith.
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He wants you to act the part and live out your faith.
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And the test of true faith is that you are willing to obey God no matter what.
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You are willing to obey Him even when life is hard, even when life isn't going the way you want it to, even when the world is telling you to do the exact opposite.
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The Roman world pressured Jewish Christians to blend in while God commanded them to stand out.
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The Judaizers pressured Gentile Christians to follow the ceremonial law that they could blend in with them while God called them to a deeper level of obedience and submission. Who should the Jewish Christians obey? The Romans and Corinth or God? God. Who should the Gentile Christians obey? The Judaizers or God?
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You guys can do a lot better.
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I'm giving you one more chance for this third one.
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Who should you obey, this sinful culture or God?
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Much better.
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Here's the thing.
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It's so challenging to obey God and his word when you are discontent.
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Why is that?
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When you are discontent, you can believe that God isn't holding up his end of the bargain, so why should you?
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You can view your relationship with God as an exchange of goods and services.
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God gives you material wealth, he gives you good health, he gives you easy weeks with the least amount of road bumps possible, and in exchange, you obey him with joy in your heart and a smile on your face.
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But when your health takes a bad turn, when you get a pay decrease, when you receive a pink slip, when you experience the hardest week of your life, you feel betrayed by the Lord, and you no longer wanna give Him what He has owed.
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You feel like Charlie Brown, when he went to kick the football at the last minute, it's pulled away by Lucy, and he has a somersault into his back.
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You just feel totally dejected, totally betrayed.
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You just want to take your ball and go home.
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But friends, it is in those moments when you come face to face with the real motivation for your obedience to the Lord.
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Do you obey Him because of who He is?
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Or do you obey Him for what you can get from Him?
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Do you listen to Him because you desire to twist His arm into giving you what you want?
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Or do you listen to Him no matter what.
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Do you follow his instructions because you love him?
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Or do you follow his instructions to use him?
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The Lord sees right through your exterior.
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He sees right through the polished outside you can have, and he sees your motivations.
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Like the Corinthians, you can focus on the wrong thing.
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You can focus on the outside instead of the heart, instead of the obedience that God is calling you to.
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You can come to church, you can participate in small group but still live in blatant disobedience behind closed doors.
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You can say the right things but not do the right things.
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You can talk the talk but not walk the walk.
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Is that you today?
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Am I describing you at all?
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If I am, it's time to stop faking.
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It's time to own up to your sin.
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It's time to come to grips with your discontentment and your warped rationale for obeying or disobeying the Lord.
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It's time to keep God's commandments no matter what, no matter what life throws your way.
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This isn't my opinion.
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This is God's authoritative word.
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Listen to what Jesus says about this in John 14, 23 through 24.
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He says, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.
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Whoever does not love me does not keep my word." Could it be any clearer than that?
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The apostle John ups the ante in 1 John 5, 3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome." Your love for God is not proven by checking all the Christian boxes.
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Your love for God is not proven by having all the correct theological answers.
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Your love for God is not proven by your feelings.
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Your love for God is proven by your obedience.
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It's an objective test.
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And obedience, no matter what, is hard, but it's rewarding.
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Obedience no matter what will take everything that you have, but it will give you more than you could possibly imagine.
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Obedience no matter what is costly, but it's not impossible.
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What should I do if I'm not content?
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Number three, I should remember who I am in Christ.
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I should remember who I am in Christ.
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So, Paul gives another practical example of faithfulness and contentment in action.
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He moves on from a controversial and uncomfortable topic to an even more controversial and uncomfortable topic, slavery.
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Let's read verses 20 through 21.
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Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
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Were you a bond servant when called?
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Don't be concerned about it.
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But if you gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.
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I could spend half this sermon talking to you about how slavery 2,000 years ago looked a lot different than it did in America, and how it looks across the world today.
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I could deliver a long and boring lecture about indentured servitude, which is the truth that in the first century, many people willingly sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts, to manage households, to have a successful business.
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I can tell you that 50% of the Roman Empire were slaves, and most of the time manual labor was not a part of the deal.
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I keep going and going and going, but I'm not going to preach my homework because it doesn't affect the meaning of this text.
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Paul is in no way trying to celebrate or endorse slavery in this passage or anywhere else in his letters at all.
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Paul is not a fan of slavery on any level.
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Is that clear to everyone?
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Okay, good.
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In fact, Paul even says, if you have an opportunity to gain your freedom, take it.
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Grab a hold of it.
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Enjoy your freedom.
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But he also offers a very blunt reality to those Corinthian Christians who are slaves but will not receive their freedom anytime soon.
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He says, don't worry about it.
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Don't be concerned about it.
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Remain where you are.
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How could Paul say something like that?
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It sounds so cold and unfeeling.
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Well, not really.
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Paul was never willing to call people to something that he wasn't willing to do himself.
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Sure, Paul wasn't a slave, but he was a prisoner for a decent chunk of his life.
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Did Paul resist that God-given assignment?
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Did he waste his time complaining and hatching elaborate escape plans?
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No, he remained in the position that God called him to with humility and contentment.
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I'll prove it to you.
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Listen to Philippians 4, 11 through 13, the most out of context taken passage in the history of the Bible.
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And most people totally do not understand.
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Paul wrote this while he was a prisoner.
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I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
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I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance.
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I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need.
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What's the secret, Paul?
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I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
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Paul practiced what he preached.
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He led by example.
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He learned through experience that Jesus was all he needed because there were many times when Jesus was all that he had.
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If that doesn't convince you, check out Paul's rationale for remaining as a slave.
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In verses 22 through 23, he says, "For he who was called to the Lord as a bondservant is a freed man of the Lord.
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Likewise, he who was free when called a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price. Do not become bondservants of men. So what's Paul's rationale here for remaining as a slave? If you are a Christian slave, remember that you are free in Christ. Because of Christ's death on the cross, this victorious resurrection, you have been forgiven, you have been redeemed, you have been ransomed from the slave market of sin, you've been set free from the power and penalty of sin.
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Your sinful debt has been paid in full and you owe nothing.
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And if you're a Christian who is not enslaved to an earthly master, don't look down on your Christian brother or sister who is enslaved to an earthly master.
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Because even though you may not have a earthly master in this life, you have a heavenly master that you are enslaved to.
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You are enslaved to Jesus Christ.
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Your life is to be in service of him and what he has called you to do.
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So don't be high and mighty because you are a slave.
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He says to both groups, you were bought with a price.
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You were bought with the precious blood of Jesus.
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You have immense value because God says that you do.
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God would not spend the most valuable resource in existence on that which is worthless in his eyes.
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Again, you have worth because God says that you do.
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In light of this, Paul commands the Corinthians to not become bondservants of men.
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What does that mean?
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Don't become enshackled to the thoughts and opinions of others.
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How other people view you has no bearing on how God views you.
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Your man-given identity in the world does not affect your God-given identity in Christ.
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The opinion of others matters very little in comparison to the authoritative opinion of the creator of the universe.
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Maybe you feel down about yourself right now.
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You feel like your contribution to this church is negligible.
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You're envious of those who seem to have a lot of talents 'cause you don't think you're good at anything.
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You're envious of those who have a lot of confidence because you have no confidence.
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You're embarrassed to tell people what you do for a living.
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You're even embarrassed to invite people over to your small house.
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Or maybe you're on the other side of the spectrum.
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You have a very high view of yourself.
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You feed on the praise and affirmation of others.
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You're buying into your own press.
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Do you know who can both lift you up and bring you back down to earth at the same time?
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Dogs.
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Some of you were surprised by that.
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Brian thought something different I was gonna say.
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If you have a dog, you know exactly what I mean.
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My dog Murdoch has no regard for my appearance.
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He couldn't care less if I'm skinny or overweight.
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He couldn't care less if I'm up 20 pounds or down 30 pounds.
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Murdoch has no regard for the money in my account.
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If I were to list my many successes to him, he wouldn't be impressed at all.
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If I were to list my many, many, many more failures, he wouldn't judge me or look down on me.
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Whether this sermon tanks or succeeds, Murdoch will treat me the same exact way when I get home.
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He'll run up to me with that goofy grin on his face, with his tail wagging and pawing at me for attention.
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Murdoch's love for me has not changed from day to day.
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His love is firm and fixed.
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Murdoch shows no partiality or preferential treatment.
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Do you know who else doesn't show partiality or preferential treatment?
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The Lord.
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God does not play favorites with his children.
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He loves low-status Christians just as much as believers who are viewed as successful and accomplished.
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He cherishes women who cannot have biological children just as much as women who can.
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God's view of you does not depend upon your status and popularity, God's view of you depends upon His Son and what He has done for you.
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If you don't feel content right now, stop looking at your circumstances.
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Start looking at the cross of Christ where God's love for you was displayed in the most graphic and conclusive way possible.
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Stop thinking about who you are in the eyes of the world.
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Think about who you are in the eyes of God.
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Consider who you are in Christ, loved, cherished, adopted, free from the power of sin forever and bound to Jesus Christ forever.
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What should I do if I'm not content?
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Finally, I should rejoice that God is with me.
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I should rejoice that God is with me.
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Paul makes one final appeal, to be faithful where God has placed you.
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Let's read verse 24.
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So brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there, let him remain with God.
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What's the motivation for remaining where you are?
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What's the motivation for being faithful where God has placed you?
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That same God is with you wherever you go.
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No matter what job you have, God is with you.
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No matter your financial struggles, God is with you.
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No matter your relational status, God is with you there.
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And he will never leave you or forsake you.
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Have you ever had to go on a walk with a fast walker?
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Or go on a hike with someone that you cannot keep up with?
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No matter how hard you try, no matter how much you lengthen your stride, there is always way ahead of you and you are lagging so far behind.
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So often that's how we feel when it comes to our relationship with the Lord.
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Like he's an infinite amount of steps in front of us and we'll never be able to catch up.
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It just feels hopeless.
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He's always gonna feel so distant.
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He's always gonna feel so far away.
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Is that actually true?
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God is in step with you the entire time.
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He is right there with you, comforting you, encouraging you, calling you to keep it up instead of giving up.
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Do you feel discontent?
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Do you feel alone?
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Do you feel like no one cares about you?
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No one sees the struggles that you're going through?
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It's my hope this morning that you will believe in God's nearness like never before.
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It is my prayer that you will believe in God's presence even when he feels far away.
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You may be discontent this morning because the content of your life is so shallow.
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You are discontent because you do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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You are trusting in the provision of this world, which never satisfies, instead the provision of Christ, which eternally satisfies.
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You will never experience true and lasting fulfillment until you turn from your sin and and you turn to Jesus Christ, who will satisfy you both now and forever.
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He won't give you all that you want, but he will give you all that you need.
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On the other hand, you may know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, but you're still discontent.
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And why is that?
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Because you were expecting what God never promised in the first place.
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You're forgetting that Jesus Christ didn't come to this earth to suffer, die, and rise again to give you more of the stuff of this world that will just be taken away from you when you die.
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Jesus Christ came and did all those things to give you that which can never be taken away from you, to give you that which will be even more satisfying and enjoyable when you stand in his presence.
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Until that day, be faithful, no matter your location, no matter your calling, no matter your limitations, live the life that God has assigned to you.
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Enjoy every single moment he gives you as a precious gift.
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God didn't save you from your sins so you could lead a successful life in the eyes of the world.
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God saved you so that you would faithfully do what he's called you to do in every single season of life.
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Let's pray.
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Father, we come to you as your people and we admit that we can be discontent, that we grumble, we complain both internally and externally, we grumble in our minds and we grumble with our mouths.
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Lord, help us to remember how truly blessed we are in Christ that we have been forgiven, we have been redeemed, we have been adopted into your family and we are bound for heaven.
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And when life is hard, help us to remember that it's through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven.
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It shouldn't be a surprising thing that we go through fiery trials.
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Lord, it should be a constant reminder of how much we need you.
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It should be a constant reminder that we can't live this life on our own.
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I'll lift up those who do not know you this morning.
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May they not be able to leave this room until they place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
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And for those of us who do know and love you, but are struggling with discontentment, Father, help us not to leave this room until we talk to someone else about this.
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Until we ask someone else for prayer, we ask someone else for encouragement.
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Help us to be the body of Christ this morning, not just individuals coming and then leaving, but a family who is here for one another.
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We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen.
Small Group Discussion
Read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
What is the difference between godly ambition and ungodly discontentment?
What are you the most discontent with right now? How can you take steps to address this dissatisfaction in your heart?
What is your calling and assignment from the Lord in this season of life? How can you be faithful where He has placed you?
Breakout
Pray for one another.
