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How to Treat People at Your Church - Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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if you have the word of God in your hands, me the book of 1st
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Timothy Chapter 5, if you've been following with us closely,
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There is one verse left at the end of chapter 4 but we're not
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going to unpack it in detail because we've alluded to it many
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times and have drawn much from it and the first few chapters of
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this book. So we're going to come to 5:1.
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You know, when it comes to Preparing a message, oftentimes
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the greatest struggle is not what you're going to say that is
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there but oftentimes it's what you have to leave out.
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And that is certainly true. With this specific message that
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things were just had to be focused really because there
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could have been so many other things that could be said
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nonetheless we're going to trust that God has the right thing to
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say to us through these verses. so, if you're there re with me
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in verse 1, 1st Timothy 5 do not rebuke an older man.
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But encourage them, as you would a father.
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Younger men as brothers. Older women as mothers.
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Younger women as sisters. And I'll Purity, let's pray.
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Father, We Believe with even a verse or two, verses like this.
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You have something deep to say to us.
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And we lean in by faith and we ask.
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Oh God. That you would grant us exactly
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what your word. Has been planned to give us.
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That it would transform our minds, it would renew our
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affections for you. And for one another Lord made
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this message, be assisted by the power of the Holy Spirit and
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Lord may you cover every man. But bring to the Forefront of
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our site. The eyes of our hearts, the
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person of Jesus Christ and all his Beauty and wisdom.
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Lord may his power be known this morning, may be felt and sense.
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Lord, and may we be changed by. This is our need, this is our
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great need today. Not just, for more information
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about lure for heart transformation, may it come as
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we seek it. So desperately, Lord, we declare
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in your presence that we are indeed poor in spirit and we are
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not ashamed of it. We are bankrupt without you.
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We are Beggars and we know that you are merciful to give we
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trust in you in this moment. In Jesus name, we pray, amen.
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It's quite fascinating to see in the Bible, the different
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metaphors of the Holy Spirit, ascribes to the corporate
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identity of those who belong to Christ by faith.
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The scripture is regard the church as many things a kingdom
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A holy nation. A priesthood.
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The body of Christ, the bride of Christ God's flock, God's
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adopted children, just to name a few.
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But what you have heard throughout this series in the
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book of 1st Timothy is that on more than one occasion, God
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deeply desires for his church to function as a family.
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As a family, we heard it in that title that the church is the
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household of God. And it is being emphasized Again
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by this set of verses here which describes something quite
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amazing. These practical set of commands
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given by Paul to this young. Pastor Timothy tells us that he
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is supposed to relate to the congregation that he serves as
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members of a household. You know what that's proof of
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right off the bat that's proof that God is not satisfied.
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With you, and I just Gathering Together on a consistent basis,
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so that we can corporately involve ourselves in some
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spiritual activities as though this was some kind of a class.
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No. God wants us to engage with one
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another with such a deep and high level of affection,
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familiarity, respect and loyalty that every single time, you
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choose to come to one of the meetings throughout the week.
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You would feel as though it was a home and not an event.
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And the way the church can express itself as a family is
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not by making the building Cozier.
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It's not by getting comfy or chairs downstairs.
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Where we Fellowship nor is it even about gathering in program
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small groups? Though that may help to a
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certain extent? The main way where we can make
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this church and any church of any size actually feel like a
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family Is by determining to treat each other in a certain
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way to simple. Is that?
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With this in mind, we must seek God's wisdom in knowing the
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Dynamics that we must be committed to.
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In order for us to see and experience what he has designed
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for his church. And what will require of us?
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Well, what it requires for any family to function
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appropriately, a level of commitment, Commitment in
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various areas. And here's what I want to say.
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Right from the beginning, if you choose this morning to hear
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these commitments, these vows these pledges that.
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Each of us must take a hold for ourselves.
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If you refuse it, if you reject, if you do not take it seriously,
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that I have to say this boldly, but because it's true.
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Nobody has the right to feel like they're an outsider in this
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church. Nobody has the right to
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complain. That you don't feel like this is
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really something that they can connect to.
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If you cannot commit to these things that will be described in
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a moment. But at the same time, if you
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choose to say, you know, I want to really, I really want to know
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what this is. I really want to feel like a
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family. I really want to be involved in
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that the know this, you honor these pledges you obey them.
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You commit to them and I guarantee you not by my own
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opinion, but by the authority of the word of God, you will know a
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deeper bond that any family, you are part of and it will be
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greater than what ties you by Blood.
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It will be something. That is much more significant
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and profound and that is the spirit of the the Living God
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that connects you with others. And so what kind of commitments
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are we talking about here? It's more than you just signing
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a membership sheet. Something much more sacrificial.
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Something much more much more important than you having a
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name. Someone a document.
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Let me say this number one that must be commitment to
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unquestionable. Love.
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A commitment to unquestionable. Love, you know what's amazing is
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that the sign of any healthy Christ influence family, is that
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it provides an atmosphere in which every member senses and is
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comforted and assured that they are cherished.
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As we just read every person, you know what he's saying here?
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Every single person, every single person in your
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congregation Timothy has a title of someone that belongs in a
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home. Whether you're old, whether
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you're young with your father, whether your mother, whether
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you're a teenager, it doesn't matter, you are somebody's dad,
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you are, somebody's mom, you were somebody's child, you were
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somebody's sibling in the spirit nobody is left out.
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There's not one category of person in the church that is
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Exempt from this and that requires some of the Bible
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speaks about in So Many occasions.
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That there is an affection that is known amongst a family and
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this is what's being emphasized here.
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But here's my question. What is that?
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Love feel like, let's not just be theoretical here.
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Oh, I love you brother. People throw that you love.
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Pizza the way you love me. You say you love everything but
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what does that love feel like what does it look like?
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Well, there's many places we can go.
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Right, let's go to this one place.
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Turn your Bibles with me in second Corinthians. 12:14.
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Look what Paul says to this church and I encourage you this
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morning. You got to hold on to your
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Bibles because there's much scripture to discover.
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Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 12, verse 14 here.
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For the third time. I'm ready to come to you and I
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will not be a burden. For I seek not what is yours?
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But you for children are not obligated to save up for their
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parents but parents for their children.
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With this particular Church Paul was concerned that there would
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be a stumbling block between the Corinthians and his ministry and
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he didn't want to cause an issue.
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So he did not demand nor would he receive any financial support
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from them. Not that he would reject it at
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all places, but in this particular case, they were not
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very appreciative of Paul and he wasn't going to be offended by
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that. Is he going to make any request?
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So he said, you know what, I'm not here to put a burden on you.
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Because if this is going to be some kind of a problem and it's
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going to affect the way you receive the Gospel and the truth
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of God's word then forget about I'll let go of any right so that
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I can boast in this and a minister must exercise, such
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wisdom and different seasons of circumstances as he goes along
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and the call that God has called them for.
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But notice what he says to them personally that you miss it.
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He says here and I will not be a burden for I seek not, what is
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yours but you In other words, I'm not coming to see you.
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Nor am I coming to serve you? Because I have some ulterior
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motive to take advantage of you and satisfy some kind of selfish
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pleasure or Pursuit that I have. I don't relate to you in such a
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way. I don't see you in such a
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manner. You see?
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A spiritual leader and a church. Does not see his congregation as
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clients. Nor has his audience nor as his
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fans, any person in a leadership position that does so you better
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believe that they are exercising their gift and they are giving
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their time for the sole purpose of personal gain.
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But this man he was not just a teacher, he was not just an
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apostle, he was not just a preacher know.
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He was a father he told the same church you have many teachers
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but very few fathers. And a spiritual father, does not
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provide for his children the same way that our restaurant
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caters to its customers. No, he offers his time, his
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attention, his resources for them, not to get something from
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them. And that's exactly what he's
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saying here and pauses, I'm not doing this.
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I'm not doing all of this for you to feel compelled that you
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need to repay me. That that's not my goal.
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I want to win your heart to love the Lord more and more.
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The Lord Jesus Christ. I want you to receive for my
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Ministry and my fellowship in a way that it would influence your
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walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. I want you to know that every
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time I step into your presence, you would sensor array of God's
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love my involvement in your life is to build you.
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It's the serve you. It's to fill you even if I have
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to empty myself. Whenever we come into contact
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with each other, Paul saying, you'll be reminded that there is
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somebody on this Earth that loves you with, Christ's love.
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This in that echoing the words of Jesus Christ.
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Don't think for a moment that Paul here is out loving our Lord
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He is just a faint example of it because our god did not pursue
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us to get something from us, but to have ice.
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Right. This is the Lord need your money
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this morning. No, he owns the cattle on a
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thousand hills. The zoo.
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Does the Lord need your cold religious rituals.
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If he wanted that, he would have made robots.
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He wants your affection to be set on him.
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As he has said, his perfect love upon you.
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He wants your heart. He wants you.
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Now, what you can give him necessarily obviously when we
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give ourselves to him, things will flow out of that.
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But God wants what's inside, more than what's outside?
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We have any doubt about Paul's words.
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Here, look at the next verse in verse 15.
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He says to the same church. I will most gladly spend and be
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spent for your souls. With great, joy will be wrung
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out to make sure that your spiritual health is intact to
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make sure that you are Sanctified in your love and your
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Devotion. To God, I will do whatever it
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takes beat me to a pulp. Use me, don't pay me, whatever
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it is and we say, Amen, brother. That's what they should be.
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Telling those leaders that are in training in seminary, you're
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right. Pastor should listen.
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The Holy Spirit. Expects it to be reciprocal.
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Because look what he says. Look at these painful
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heart-wrenching words. Can you feel the ache in his
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heart as he penned them? If I love you more, am I to be
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loved less? In other words, Paul here is in
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his in his Humanity, but also inspired by the spirit is saying
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I long for you to spend your souls for my sake as well.
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I'm giving myself to you. But what's amazing is though,
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this man, live with, such a sacrificial Spirit.
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It says, I will most gladly spend Even if you do not return,
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the love, I will still set my heart on you and I will do it
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with joy. Can I tell you something?
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You know, you have reached a level of love in your sacrifice
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when you are willing to give yourself to a people and not
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expect anything in return and be totally okay with it?
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How much of our service is motivated by something to be
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returned to us, whether it's monetary or whether it's praise
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Paul, lived above that, he lived beyond that, I will do it.
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Gladly never recognize me again. Don't recognize me at the church
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Bank, whatever. You don't say, thank you and
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don't put me up on a PowerPoint, I could care less I will gladly
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spend myself for your souls. That's a testimony.
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Is it not for this church that they received from a man?
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A spiritual father in this way? But wouldn't their testimony be
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greater if Paul felt the love of his spiritual children?
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It wouldn't be a greater testimony still if these
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spiritual children, loved each other and there wasn't Division
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and clicks. Absolutely Because that's what
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we're striving for a church to grow into a family will require
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each individual to grow and selflessness and a willingness
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to be empty so that others can be filled.
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It's an individual commitment that must be made.
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That's what we're striving for. Love streaming from every single
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heart in this place this morning.
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So that whenever anybody walks and they will be submerged by
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Christ affection, And oftentimes that looks like big acts of
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service, doesn't it? But we limit it to that failing
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to see that. It's those insignificant moments
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in church life, that holds so much value, but we don't see it
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and there's so many examples of it and let me give you one
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because you read it in the gospels, I'm sure. 1st,
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Thessalonians 5 26. You ready for this?
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Greet, all the brothers with a holy kiss.
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You've read in, Romans you read in 1st Corinthians, you read in
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second Corinthians, you read it here and you read it.
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And first Peter fibrous as kiss of love, the only place where
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doesn't say holy kiss. Bible really cares.
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The Holy Spirit. Really cares about how we greet
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each other. Doesn't he?
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Greet, all the brothers don't let anybody to feel left out,
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even with your welcoming. Don't let one person leave there
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without being greeted. And that idea of a kiss to an
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extent speaks of affection and warmth.
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It's not cold, it's genuine, it's sincere.
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It's felt and there's a level of cultural context here, right?
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Because we know that back then, and even today, many cultures
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greet each other with with a kiss on, either side of the
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cheek. That's very true for Middle.
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Easterners is very true for Europeans and it's not true for
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many other cultures. But the idea here is not about
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the way you greet necessarily You remember those days, right?
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Greeting one another talk about ancient times where you have to
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touch each other's elbows and look the other way.
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Hey brother, how you doing with a virus that you have a night
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High, 90 something percent survival rate, but here's the
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thing, people get hung up on this verse about, The kissing
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aspect of it. And it's not that where we have
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to focus its the word before kiss and it's wholly.
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A holy kiss. Do you think that the Holy
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Spirit only had in mind? That you and I would greet one
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another with affection and the way our culture best expresses
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it do we really think that the Holy Spirit only had in mind
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that when you do welcome one another and you salute one
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another that it's done impurity not in sensuality that's there
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but oh there's so much deeper thought in these things.
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And the way to answer the question is to Simply examine
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the Bible and say, well, if there is such thing as a holy
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kiss, then surely the opposite is possible that there is such
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thing as an Unholy kiss. And would you know it the Bible
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does give examples of an Unholy kiss.
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This is where you need your Bibles.
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Now meet me in second Samuel. 20:9.
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This is when David's kingdom was in a kerfuffle.
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There is some issues going on here and there was a another war
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that was ready to break out. And in this scene, joab says,
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here in verse 9 of second Samuel, 20, joab, set the amasa
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is it well with you, my brother? And job took a mess up by the
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beard with his right hand. To kiss him.
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But Amos said did not observe the sword that was in jobs
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hands. So job struck him with it in the
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stomach and Spilled his entrails to the ground without striking a
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second blow and he died. So picture that scene joab comes
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and this is a fellow Soldier. Grabs him by the beard, pulls
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him in, gives him a kiss and he has a dagger that slips out of
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his sleeve. And he got some And kills them
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on the spot. Joab greeted him and so with a
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kiss and in a certain direction that it contradicted the warm
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greeting, maybe it's not clear yet and it will get clearer In
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This Moment. Now, you have to go to the New
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Testament and meet me in. Matthew 26, 48 to 49.
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This is in that Sacred Garden scene.
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We are told here in verse 48 rather of Matthew 26.
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Now, the betrayer had given them a sign saying, the one I will
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kiss, is the man sees him and he came up to Jesus at once and
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said, greetings rabbi. And he kissed him.
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What did Paul say? Greet one.
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Another with a holy kiss, this is much deeper than about a
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cultural way of saluting, somebody, And the Holy Spirit
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has something much more important to tell us.
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What did joab? And Judas do.
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With their greetings. They appeared to be genuine.
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They appear to be sincere but in reality, they were betrayers
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filled with all kinds of evil, in their hearts, towards the
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very ones that they seem to warmly greet.
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So then what is the holy spirit asking of us?
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He's not just asking for you to say hello to people when they
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come in. He's asking that when you do
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greet your brothers and sisters, that your heart would be free
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from hypocrisy, that your heart would be free from deceit from
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hatred jealousy and envy. Because it doesn't matter how
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warm it is. It doesn't matter how many
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kisses you do on each side of the cheek.
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It's Unholy when you have a dagger in the other hand.
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Because this is what it looks like, right?
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Hi sister. How you doing?
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Oh, you look so beautiful. Don't you?
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But you've been gossiping about them all week. and you see
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somebody else and you have that smile on your face, but inside,
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you are riddled your riddled with unforgiveness and you
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didn't have the courage to approach them about their sin.
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So you harbored in, you said, you know, I'm just going to
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greet them and that's it. Unholy.
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It's an Unholy kiss. So what does that require of us?
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Well, I should be able to have the confidence that every time I
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come to church and I'm being greeted that, there's not one
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person that is willing to sell me for 30 pieces of silver.
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And there's not one person that's willing to greet me, but
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they have a dagger with my blood on it, because they've been
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stabbing me in the back throughout the month.
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Greet one, another. With a holy kiss.
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There should be no fear that there are jobs in the
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congregation. There should be no fear that
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they're a judases in the congregation.
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There should be an expectation, not only of warmth and love, but
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when those acts of greetings are performed, I have the confidence
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to know that there's an unquestionable love in their
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hearts, for me. What will it require for us to
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be like a family? A commitment to an undying.
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Uncompromised unchanging unwavering love.
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Which comes to the next commitment that we must have for
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one another as we're going to be a family.
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That's a commitment to sanctifying inspiration.
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Come back with me to First Timothy 5.
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It's interesting to note that Paul's call for Timothy.
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To relate to his church as a families in the context of
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confronting sin. Do not rebuke.
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Well when do you rebuke somebody when they're in the wrong at
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least appropriately? That's when you correct.
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That's when you approach. That's when you confront and
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what's so, fascinating is that this tells us a great deal of a
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major component A major ingredient.
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That builds the church and makes relationships with, in that
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church, like a home. You say, what?
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Builds a home and what makes a healthy home is love sure.
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But is it not true that in a home when it's so natural with
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families that there's transparency?
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You are the most yourself when you're at home and the doors are
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closed. And the only audience in your
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house and your living room is your family, right?
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All guards are let down. There is an honesty. and to a
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certain extent, that's what God's calling the church for A
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willingness to be in your face, sometimes a willingness to
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observe your life and your life being exposed to mind a mind to
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your so that we can keep each other in check, you know what's
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fascinating? Is that if you take it upon
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yourself to look through the gospels and see the mentions of
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church from the mouth of Christ. You will see that this very
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little mention of the direct word church, right?
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He talks about brothers, he talks about those who walk in
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the will of God. Are those who belong to me?
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My true mother. But If you look for the word
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church and out of the four gospels, what you'll find is
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that he only mentions it twice, Jesus, both times in Matthew.
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The first time is when Peter had that awesome revelation of who
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Christ was. And Christ said upon that
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Revelation, this rock will I build my church.
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And the second time is just in a few chapters later, where he
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talks about the church and out of all the things that our Lord
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could have explained about the practice and the habits, and the
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ways of his church. He speaks about what the, you
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know, it church discipline. Church discipline.
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Everything out of all the things that we can speak about the
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church just like, first Timothy the thing out of the mouth of
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Christ. He emphasized.
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He honed in on was how Believers in great detail and in a
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protocol should approach one another to lead them to
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repentance. Wow, that tells you a great deal
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with the church is about and it's so fascinating that today
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church discipline is becoming less and less of a reality. when
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it's the very thing that Christ spoke about the most This
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implies many things, doesn't it? Consider these two important
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points at least number one that if you're a person in your heart
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that longs to join a Bible believing, like a really
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bible-believing Church. A God-fearing Church, a
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Spirit-filled church. Then you must be aware that you
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are willing to give your life to be exposed before.
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Others. In such a way where you have
27:09
given them the right to confront you if needed.
27:17
In God's wisdom, he designed our blind spots to be identified by
27:22
the gracious and Wise Eyes of other people.
27:26
In our lives, making the church and irreplaceable.
27:31
Irreplaceable contribution to our spiritual health.
27:37
People who think that there are holy because they don't go to a
27:39
church because it's imperfect failed to realize the very thing
27:43
that will make them holy as the very church that they're
27:45
criticizing. God designed it that way.
27:50
Therefore, you ready for this? No man has the right to be
27:54
offended if they are in sin. And members within that church
27:59
or leadership within that church, confront them with their
28:02
attitude or actions that contradict the word of God.
28:04
That's what the church was designed for.
28:08
The very system that would wash and sanctify God's people is
28:12
where you're sitting today. We've made it about an event,
28:16
right? Just let me just be at a
28:18
distance. I want to hear the message.
28:19
Let it make me laugh or we let him make me cry.
28:21
And let me get out of here as soon as possible.
28:23
And I'll come back next week for the drive-thru sermon.
28:25
That's not how God designed it. It's not how God designed it.
28:33
But here's the second point in light of that, although it may
28:37
be a vulnerable thing, right? And maybe even a terrifying
28:40
thing, you know, yourself more than anybody else.
28:42
And, you know, your inconsistencies and, you know,
28:44
your failures and, you know, the fight that you have.
28:47
And you know what, you can fall into with your attitude, or your
28:50
words, are your actions towards others, but here's where we are
28:53
blessed. Here's where we are comforted
28:55
That the very same scriptures that call for correction are
28:59
connected to the reality that you are a part of a family.
29:06
To family. We're your family.
29:10
That's the place in which correction will take place in a
29:14
home. Think about it.
29:17
You think of this, the, the ingredients of a successful
29:20
home. You say there's love.
29:21
Absolutely. There's transparency.
29:22
Sure there is. But here's another thing.
29:24
There's safety. Their safety.
29:29
And so, I understand that there are those who are experts at
29:31
rebuking and correcting, and kicking out, but they're not
29:35
family, they're not operating as a home.
29:38
They're not operating out of that affection.
29:41
And that's why Paul here, by the spirit, deeply binds correction
29:44
with the compassion of a family. Older men is father's older
29:51
woman as mother's younger brothers younger sisters.
29:55
That's where this is taking place.
29:57
Now, we come, he begins to instruct this young Pastor on
30:02
how to deal with older men in his congregation.
30:07
And the first thing is, which includes older woman.
30:12
That there would be times that Timothy as a young Pastor would
30:15
have to confront those who are older and I don't know anybody.
30:18
Maybe you do that enjoys confrontation.
30:22
That is a difficult part about Ministry.
30:24
Pastors are not called to be nice and how you doing doing
30:27
well, and not, no, no. He's been charged by God to see
30:32
sin confronted. And deal with it.
30:37
But with a certain Spirit, you know, what's unique between a
30:40
young leadership in an older congregation is that not for
30:43
all. But often, there are older
30:46
Saints season saints that have walked through the church
30:49
throughout the years and in different Ministries and are
30:51
kind of set in their ways or I've seen things done in a
30:53
particular Manner and when it's not done the way they're used to
30:57
it can cause discomfort not for all and there is wisdom in which
31:02
older people have to provide something to a church and
31:05
there's no doubt about that, but sometimes that discomfort over a
31:09
specific thing can turn into complaints and then those
31:11
complaints Can turn into conflict very quickly and then
31:16
there's murmuring and then there's there's things that can
31:19
get really messy. and Paul says Timothy look, even older people
31:25
can have a none christ-like attitude in your church, but you
31:27
have to make sure that when you deal with that kind of an
31:30
attitude that you have the right attitude yourself, So he says,
31:33
do not rebuke an older man. A hold on, I thought Paul and
31:39
more than one place, especially to Timothy told him to rebuke
31:43
second, Timothy rebuke. So what do we have a
31:46
contradiction here? No, we have a different word for
31:48
rebuke in the Greek. This would rebuke in the Greek,
31:52
is the only time it is used in the entire New Testament and it
31:55
is much more severe and aggressive than just correcting
31:59
somebody verbally the word rebuke here speaks of striking
32:04
at Or beating upon. So it's actually verbal abuse.
32:12
And timidly. Do you have a position of
32:14
authority? You have no right to humiliate.
32:16
Those who are older than you. You have no right to disrespect
32:19
them. You have no right to embarrass
32:20
them. You have no right to tear them
32:22
apart with your words just because there's a disagreement
32:25
between you and them or even if their sin between them and other
32:28
people. You have no, right?
32:30
There is a special respect that is reserved for those who are
32:33
older than you in the Bible declares that from cover to
32:36
cover even in Leviticus. When an older man walks in and
32:39
says that the younger men should stand up and respect, And so
32:44
Timothy you better be careful and how you address those who
32:48
have walked through life much longer than you and there's so
32:51
many examples of that even when older men are found in sin,
32:55
remember Noah. I mean the Earth just subside
33:00
everything just calm down in the man becomes a drunk.
33:05
Goes to show that God can flood the world but if it doesn't
33:08
flood, the hearts of men, nothing will change.
33:12
What a picture, he drowns this entire Earth, and he leaves a
33:17
remnant of eight. People only for them to come and
33:20
step foot on the Earth again and corrupt.
33:21
It Noah. He becomes a gardener, he has a
33:28
Vineyard, he begins to drink and now he's naked in his tent.
33:32
And one of his sons comes sees, it much debate of what he did
33:36
comes out of the tent, to begin to tell his brothers and the two
33:39
brothers, who had sense, who had some reverence, they didn't even
33:42
go into the tent forward but backward with the cloth on their
33:45
shoulders and they stepped backward, and they covered their
33:49
father's shame. It would not embarrass him any
33:53
further. What a picture of how, we should
33:54
cover the sins of those who are older than us?
33:57
We're not looking to amplify what they've done.
34:00
We're not looking to shame them. We're looking to cover them and
34:04
honor them. And it's true for older woman as
34:08
well. We see an example of this in
34:12
Philippians 4. If you were here Friday you saw
34:13
this example but let's look at it and see it even in Greater
34:15
detail in the Church of Philippi and verse to Philippians 4, we
34:20
read Paul stops in his teaching and he says, I entreat you odia
34:24
and I entreat synthetic he to agree and the Lord.
34:28
So there are two ladies in the church and there's some
34:30
disagreement there. And how does Paul do it now?
34:35
Remember these letters would be read out to the church.
34:38
So you would have the leaders of the church, take up the letter
34:41
and say it out loud in front of everybody.
34:43
Just like in this kind of a setting and Paul could have
34:46
dealt with these two ladies in so many different ways.
34:50
And sometimes drastic measures call for drastic.
34:54
Methods. But in this case, there's a
34:56
disagreement and he goes, would you guys just agree?
35:00
Would you guys just agree? And he exposes them like you can
35:03
imagine the flushed face is right, you audience.
35:06
Integral gosh, Paul just called us out in front of everybody.
35:11
But look what it says in the next verse.
35:13
Yes, I ask you also True Companion.
35:15
He's writing to somebody specific help these women help
35:18
them reconcile help them, see eye to eye.
35:22
And look how he goes from correction to Commendation in
35:25
the same breath who have labored side by side with me in the
35:29
gospel together. With Clement and the rest of my
35:32
fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life.
35:36
So the very same woman that he seeks to rebuke to certain
35:41
extent, he also uplifts in the sight of all men says they've
35:45
helped me in the gospel goes to show that you can help the
35:48
Apostle Paul and still have some issues with others goes to show
35:51
that. You can be a co-worker with this
35:54
blessed man of God and still have fleshly attitude.
35:59
Paul says, look, I'm going to correct you but I'm also going
36:03
to steam you in the same breath. What?
36:06
An example. Especially with those who are
36:09
older. Now, we can reverse this safely,
36:12
Paul told, Timothy treat them as mothers treat them as fathers
36:16
but can't we say the same and the opposite sense that those
36:19
who are older in the congregation though, the
36:21
spiritual leadership is younger, shouldn't they treat him as
36:24
their son. Right.
36:29
This is not just a one-way thing that the spiritual leadership
36:32
treats. Everybody else like family and
36:33
they just look at you. Like you're just whatever like a
36:35
babysitter. No.
36:38
So older men. Treat Timothy like a son.
36:43
How do you do that? Well, you give them verbal
36:45
affirmation, from time to time, you provide wise counsel here.
36:49
And there, you let them know that you're partnering with him
36:53
through prayer and different means.
36:56
How about older mothers? Well, there's that maternal
36:58
instinct is in there at Timothy should be open and should be a
37:04
recipient of their care, because that's how they're wired, and
37:07
not just the young spiritual leadership, but even the young
37:09
people in the church, let them mother you to a certain extent.
37:14
Let them cook for you. Let them invite you over to
37:16
dinner and and joyfully receive that.
37:19
That's the blessing of having, multi-generations, in a church,
37:24
There's so much. That's given an experience and
37:26
received an extended when you have different people of
37:29
different age groups. And so we see here that these
37:34
older people had a special respect reserved for them, but
37:38
then there's another category and that other category here is
37:41
younger men as brothers in younger women as sisters.
37:45
So what was Timothy to do as a person who is in a similar age
37:47
group as those who are young and the church?
37:50
Well, here's the plane thing that he should not walk with an
37:52
air of superiority. I'm the pastor and you're not
37:56
and we're around the same age. God called me.
37:59
He didn't call you. Can you imagine Stinks with
38:02
pride. And that Pride can manifest the
38:06
most. When there is a brother or
38:07
sister in sin and you confront that sin, how are you going to
38:11
do it? What words are you going to
38:13
choose? How will you sit down with him?
38:16
Will there be genuine affection or with the sense that you are
38:19
higher than them? Be careful, be careful Timothy
38:25
but here's a wonderful detail. That's added that you're
38:27
familiar with when he comes to the sisters.
38:29
He says in all purity In all Purity for obvious, reasons for
38:35
obvious reasons, but here's the principle.
38:39
That being committed to my communities.
38:41
Holiness is not just found in my willingness to confront them in
38:45
their sin, but also, in my willingness not to be
38:48
contributor to sin. That makes sense being committed
38:53
to sanctifying inspiration is not me willing to watch your
38:57
life and observe it and to sit you down when I need to confront
38:59
you with sin. No, it's in my willingness and
39:02
my alertness not to contribute or to bring in sin in the first
39:07
place. Because we all know that we have
39:12
the potential to not just defile ourselves, but when you are tied
39:15
in with a family, you can defile others.
39:19
Timothy, you're young, they're young ladies in your church.
39:22
You better watch your step boy. Just for Timothy.
39:28
Oh yeah. Pastors that are young.
39:29
Have to be careful. Not just men in general, hold
39:31
up. Men and women.
39:35
In this place, please realize that.
39:37
If you want to be in a church family, you have deemed it.
39:42
You have seen it as most of importance to come into this
39:46
place and inspire people and not defile people.
39:52
Here's a verse to consider, go to Hebrews chapter 12.
40:01
Look what the author of Hebrews says to this Jewish Christian
40:03
audience. See to it.
40:11
That no one fails to obtain the grace of God.
40:16
That no root of bitterness Springs up and causes trouble.
40:21
And by it many become defiled. Now, we read that and what comes
40:27
to mind, immediately? that the author is concerned
40:31
that somebody would have Resentment.
40:35
Somebody would have harbored and festering, anger unforgiveness
40:40
in their bosom and over time. You know, this very well that if
40:44
you're a bitter person that it's going to affect your
40:47
relationship with others, right? That's how we see it in there is
40:51
application in that area, but I make the case today that root of
40:54
bitterness is not the way we understand bitterness.
40:58
And this audience, this jewish-christian audience that
41:01
was so familiar with the Old Testament would have immediately
41:05
know what the author was alluding to when he had said
41:08
this root of bitterness. Oh, you're talking about what
41:14
Moses said to his people before they entered into the promised
41:17
land may be thinking? What do you mean?
41:19
Well, you got to go to Deuteronomy, 29, and you go to
41:22
do around turn around, you'll know exactly what he means here.
41:24
By root of bitterness and it'll make more sense in life.
41:28
The context of the book of Hebrews.
41:31
And Deuteronomy 29, 18, Moses preaches to his people.
41:35
And he gives them warning because when you preach you
41:38
don't just encourage you worn. And he says here in Deuteronomy
41:41
29, 18, beware. Beware lest there be among you a
41:47
man, or a woman or Clan or tribe whose heart is turning away from
41:52
the Lord. Our God to go on and serve the
41:55
gods of those Nations. Now, look at this, beware lest
41:58
there be among you a route. Bearing poisonous.
42:05
And bitter fruit. Soon Hebrews.
42:13
It's not that the root is bitterness.
42:17
It's at the root will produce bitter fruit.
42:23
You know what? The trigger thing is about a
42:24
route. The part of the plan, that's
42:27
hidden. Underground.
42:31
Unseen unnoticed, unless there's digging that takes place.
42:35
It's camouflaged, it's not seen, it's not easily identified.
42:42
We don't know how deep those roots go.
42:44
We know that they're there but we don't know how deep they go.
42:46
We know how intertwined they are, we know how in grade they
42:49
are to the soil. And that's the truth about this
42:52
root of bitterness. It's in the heart.
42:58
And you can't make it clear. Right away.
43:05
But the danger is still there. And the danger is that when you
43:07
have that kind of a root of bitterness planted in the bed of
43:09
soil, the community. That if it is undiscerning Dan
43:13
undealt with over time it will produce a certain fruit like
43:16
weeds that will choke out all the other healthy plants in
43:19
God's Garden. and so calls for a discernment from spiritual
43:26
leadership to be able to identify such a route and they
43:30
could come from a man, it can come from a woman, it can come
43:32
from a clan, it can come from a tribe within God's, holy nation
43:38
and this route. Just that those little hideous
43:41
looking things. Is so powerful that it can bring
43:46
down an entire assembly of people?
43:50
Wow, here's the question. What is that route?
43:55
Let me ask you a better question.
43:57
Would you like to know this morning as you stumbled in here
43:59
to know, if you have that route in your heart because you can
44:02
find out right now? You can know right here right
44:07
now is you're sitting there. If you are a person that has
44:11
this route that has the potential to destroy every
44:16
person sitting in these pews today, would you like to know
44:20
very easy? The way for you to know.
44:24
If you have this root of bitterness, read verse 19 of
44:27
Deuteronomy, 29. One.
44:30
Who? This is the root of bitterness.
44:32
This is how it feels like looks like sounds like one who when he
44:36
hears the words of the sworn Covenant bless himself in his
44:40
heart saying I shall be safe though I walk in the
44:44
stubbornness of my heart. This what he just said, this
44:52
will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.
44:56
You know what I'm saying? This has the potential to
44:59
actually wipe out those who are moist filled with life and vigor
45:03
and Zeal, and those who are dead and dry and lukewarm both.
45:11
What is that root of bitterness? How do you know if it's in your
45:14
heart? So it will manifest eventually.
45:17
But it starts with a thought. And here's the thought that
45:20
every week, you hear a message, no matter how much intense it
45:22
is, no matter how much it is filled with warning and you
45:25
leave here without an inch of you being even convicted or
45:28
move. In fact, on top of that, you
45:30
feel this, I can live how I want And it will be just, okay.
45:36
It's a perverted view of eternal security.
45:42
I can live how I want. I don't have to treat my younger
45:47
sisters with all Purity, I can mess around with a girl here and
45:50
there. And God won't do anything.
45:53
He won't chastise me. He won't discipline me.
45:55
He won't expose me. You have the root of bitterness
45:57
in your heart sir. You have the root of bitterness
46:01
in your heart, young lady. Were you don't sense the fear of
46:05
God where you not respond to the word of God with trembling?
46:08
But in fact, you are deceived to say I can still live the way I
46:12
am living, though. It is in contrary to the word of
46:15
God and I will be just okay. And Hebrews, he says, make sure
46:22
that none of you have the root of bitterness defiling.
46:24
Many that kind of an attitude corrupts.
46:27
Listen, you don't think this is real.
46:29
This is real. I'll never forget the
46:31
conversation. I had with somebody that was so
46:33
backslidden. None of you here, know them.
46:36
They're not part of this, they're not here, they're not
46:37
even in this state when I begin to ask and ask, how did this
46:41
happen? This person regularly attended
46:43
church and the things he was telling me he was doing, I
46:45
thought to myself. How can you even sit and God's
46:47
house and listen to a worship song and be unmoved?
46:53
Let me get this, tell me where it all began.
46:55
So just tell me where was the turning point?
46:56
He said, well, I began to do drugs with the worship.
46:59
Team of that church. I said The Who the worship team.
47:08
We still go out and smoke and drink.
47:14
Are they still on the worship team?
47:18
And he wouldn't give me an answer.
47:21
Defiling many. Defiling many.
47:26
That can happen from the leadership with a man like
47:28
Timothy, who, did not have the fear of God in the way he
47:31
related with people, and they can happen with anybody else in
47:33
this place. and so if we're going to be a family, We're
47:41
going to be committed to sanctifying inspiration, not
47:46
just in confrontation, but in you living your convictions.
47:50
By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
47:54
This is the warning. And this is the feeling that you
47:58
should have when you step into this home week after week.
48:00
I know that as I turn my back coming into the sanctuary away
48:06
from a defiled broken shattered world.
48:09
That is tempted me all week and giving me mixed messages and try
48:13
to pull me into Satan's domain. I am coming to a safe place.
48:21
I'm coming to a place where Holiness is in the atmosphere
48:25
where people walk in the fear of God, where people will help me
48:29
live above Temptation and not pull me into it.
48:32
If the church is a place of defilement where can men run
48:37
too. We're can woman run to, to find
48:42
a temporary Refuge. And so, therefore, we must be
48:48
obligated. We must fight for Holiness in
48:50
the house of God because we are a family, and that's what family
48:54
does. Again, I bring up the point.
48:57
It is a tragedy for somebody to grow up in a home where they
49:01
don't feel safe in that home. We are rest men because of that
49:06
we are rest mothers because of their negligence and their
49:08
abuse. They should arrest pastors for
49:12
doing the same in their churches.
49:15
Because this is a home, there's no room for abuse, there's no
49:19
room for manipulation. There's no room for being Sly
49:22
and sneaky and deceiving whether it's in sexual sin or any other
49:26
sin, including money. Want to know what the three
49:29
things that bring them pastors, fame, money, sex, And it goes
49:36
the other way around. It's not just leadership as you
49:39
just heard. It's the men of the church.
49:42
The younger sisters should feel protected and safe.
49:44
And it's not just for the men of the church, the woman of the
49:46
church should also, the men should be comforted to know that
49:49
my sister's will not lower me. They will not entice me, they
49:53
will not seduce me. I'm safe here.
49:59
I'm safe here. Now if we think for a moment
50:01
that this is just Pastoral Epistles, just for the pastor,
50:05
let's go to one final scripture as we close in 1st
50:07
Thessalonians. All the, the letters with the
50:12
letter t or together. So Thessalonians, just behind
50:14
Timothy. Look at verse 14 of chapter 5 in
50:23
1st Thessalonians. First Thessalonians 5, 14 and we
50:31
urge, you Brothers, not just leaders, not just pastors.
50:35
We urge you Brothers, the Brethren and the church.
50:39
We urge you Brothers, admonished the idol.
50:43
Admonish them, you know, the idol, the lazy.
50:46
Those that just stay in one place for out throughout the
50:48
years and they don't, they don't get active, they don't get
50:50
involved, They don't serve the brothers, not just the leaders,
50:54
the brothers are say, come on man, what are you doing?
50:57
Get up. I haven't seen a Zeal in your
51:00
heart for such a long time. What happened admonish them.
51:04
Encourage the faint-hearted just like today.
51:08
There's some Believers that are more scared about this covid
51:10
thing than others. What do we do?
51:12
We encourage them, we encourage them in light of the word of
51:15
God. We encourage them in light of
51:16
Truth. What just the leaders in the
51:17
sermon? Oh, you encourage the
51:20
faint-hearted, help the weak, and here is an application for
51:24
all of it as a family be patient with them all.
51:28
Be patient. Takes time for somebody to
51:31
change. We would like in a snap of the
51:32
finger. Yes.
51:33
And it can happen, but be patient.
51:36
And as a church, we can testify. I'm sure you can say, Amen to
51:40
the fact that this place feels like a family, right?
51:43
Amen. But there's still more, there's
51:46
still more for this church, to explore its experience and we
51:50
got to be patient as it grows as new people come in with
51:54
different personalities, be patient.
51:58
But as long as we are bound to these commitments, we will be on
52:01
the track. We will be on the path to
52:04
knowing what God longs to see in this place and what he Longs for
52:07
us to feel and to know. And to experience, we are a
52:12
family by the grace of God. We Are Family.
52:16
Let's pray. father, this morning, we've
52:39
heard you, so clearly With a set of verses like this, we feel the
52:46
sharpness of your sword. And yet we Rejoice that this
52:53
sword wounds only to heal God in this place.
53:02
May we be a people who are committed to an unquestionable
53:04
love and who are committed to his sanctifying inspiration.
53:09
Maybe be a people that strive for nothing less than a
53:13
spiritual family. Thank you for the relationships
53:17
in this home. Thank you that there is a group
53:20
of people here who are not satisfied with just coming to an
53:23
event. Thank you that there's a people
53:25
here who want everything that you've designed the church to be
53:28
for themselves. Lord, we pray that you would
53:30
protect this home. Lord, help us believe by faith
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that no matter what the size is, it can still be a family.
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We asked oh God, that you would show us how to be intentional.
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How does to be involved in each other's lives?
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Lord, we pray that everything from our greeting to one another
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To knowing the great needs that people would have that needs
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much intervention and provision Lord, may be fragrant.
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With the love of calvary. We ask Lord that if there's any
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person in this place. That doesn't feel as though this
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home is their family. Let them sense the love in our
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hearts. And Lord.
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If there's anybody in this place that doesn't feel like they're a
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part of this family. Not for the reasons that we just
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heard about for the reasons of salvation.
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Let them hear your call this morning in this moment.
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Let them hear your call to be adopted to have a name in The
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Book of Life but also have a name amongst the children of
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God, please. Lord your Holy Spirit can use a
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message as practical as it was to save a soul.
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We believe that. And we ask that your spirit
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would do just that, even in these brief moments, God, we
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praise you for your wisdom, Lord, we praise you that in
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every verse you could speak to our lives, so deeply And we give
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you honor and Glory. Oh God, you are a wise God,
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you're a loving. God, you're perfect.
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We acknowledge you in this moment as we worship without
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song or tune, just from hearing the word.
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We Want To Praise Your Holy Name.
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We thank you so much. Father that you've guided us,
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and that your promises are true. That when we honor your word,
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you will honor our lives and solo we submit a fresh.
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We allowed this word to wash over us and to cleanse us and to
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purify us. Lord, if we haven't known it
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yet, let it be known. Now that as we look at when he
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one another as we see each other, as we greet each other,
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as we do life with each other, that we would see one another as
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fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters.
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Only you can do that work in our hearts, to take strangers from
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different cultures and backgrounds and make them feel
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like our own. May it be so by your grace in
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Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
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Amen. Only you can do that work in our
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hearts, to take strangers from different cultures and
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backgrounds and make them feel like our own.
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May it be so by your grace in Jesus name, we pray.
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Amen. Amen.