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#24450 - Timothy Is A Good Example to Follow - Philippians 2:19-24 · Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast

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Welcome to the study of God's word with pastor and author.
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Ed, Taylor recorded live at Calvary Church in Aurora,
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Colorado to learn more about the many resources available,
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through abounding Grace Media or to tune into our live stream
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Services. Visit us online at Calvary, Co
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dot church or download our free Calvary Church app.
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Now, here's Pastor Ed to take us into our study.
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Amen. Take your Bibles and open them
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to Philippians chapter 2 Philippians chapter 2.
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This is week number five of our servants class and I've
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entitled, our Bible study Timothy is a good example, to
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follow. Timothy is a good example to
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follow for four weeks. Now, we've grown in our
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understanding of what spiritual servanthood looks like.
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And how to apply it in our lives.
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And in our church, if the question goes out, are we doing
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the servants class now? Because we need servants in the
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church, the answer is yes. Not only do we need servants in
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the church but we want you to serve.
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We want you to use your gifts and talents within this church,
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family your home church but not just in this church when you
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leave here, where you spend most of your time outside of this
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building, we want to be able to equip you.
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I have a burden to a whip you with, Aspects of servanthood
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that will greatly bless you at home and at work and in your
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community today, we turn to a practical example of what
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spiritual servanthood looks like in the life of a Young Man by
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the name of Timothy. He was a born again, believer
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who learned as practical Ministry know, you know this is
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interesting about Timothy because he didn't learn most of
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his ministry experience from Bible College.
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He didn't learn it going. Seminary, he didn't learn a lot
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of his ministry experience from where we think you would
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typically learn it. For those of you that are Bible
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students, you know, that most of the ministry that he learned, he
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learned from his mom and his grandmother at home.
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He grew up in a very difficult home.
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There's a good indication that his dad wasn't a Believer, but
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his mom and his grandma were and he was raised from the holy
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scriptures from a young age by the time.
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The time he met Paul and then his life was taken to a new
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level in his relationship with Paul.
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But it was his mom and dad, and it's important that you realize
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moms and dads, and grandmas and grandpas, and aunts, and uncles,
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brothers and sisters. That, as a born-again Believer,
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you have a responsibility to disciple your kids and your
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grandkids, and you have a responsibility to be that
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believer in your family noticeable.
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It's You realize that your life matters and that God wants to
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use you starting in your family. Let's pick up.
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Now, looking at some aspects, we're going to look at three
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with different layers under these three.
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Three things about Timothy's life that made him a great
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example. To follow the first ones in
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verse 19, Philippians chapter 2 Philippians chapter 2 verse 19
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but I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly.
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That I also may be encouraged. When I know your state, if
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you're taking notes number one. The first thing we learn about
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Timothy is he was prepared. He was a prepared, man.
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Let me set the scene a little bit of where we are in this
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letter. Paul, the Apostle is in jail as
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he's taking the time in jail, to write letters to churches.
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This is one of them. This is a church that he planted
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in the city of Philippi and so many things were happening in
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this young Church difficult things.
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There were hints of division and persecution.
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There were financial difficulties and a host of
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other, seriously divisive things.
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Paul knew that they needed a visit, they needed someone to be
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there to encourage them. It would make sense that he
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would be that one, but he's unable to go, he can't go, he
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begins. Then to look around for this
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strong support that he could send their you know, get the
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picture here for a second. He's getting a little nervous,
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perhaps a little anxious about the difficulties in the church.
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How Are getting hurt. He's not there to help.
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He wants to be there. What can I do while I'll have to
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send someone? And as he begins to look around
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for someone to help him. There's Timothy.
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Why is there Timothy? Because he's prepared?
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He was prepared to go. His life was one of preparation.
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It reminded me in the book of Isaiah in chapter 6, and verse
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8, when there was that call for someone to go on behalf of God,
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you're familiar with it, any Isaiah, Say that says, also, I
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heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send?
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And who will go for us? And then I said, remember his
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answer here. I am send me.
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That is where Timothy is here? I am send me.
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He was prepared for this moment church.
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It's important that we are prepared for these moments
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simply because we don't know when these moments will happen,
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we don't know. No, when crisis will hit, we
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don't know when the call to go will come.
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We don't know when there's an urgency, that might be pressed
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upon us and because of that, we need to be prepared.
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It's important that we're prepared to support the pastors
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and the leaders and the people that were serving with.
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And that's where Timothy is. He's prepared to serve.
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Paul in Paul's greatest need here, Timothy was ready.
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It's one thing to see and choose Timothy.
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It's a whole other for At the to be prepared.
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We need to use our holy imagination here for a moment of
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how this conversation might have gone because we're not, it's not
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recorded for us. And I can think of, at least two
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ways, this conversation could have happened between Paul and
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Timothy. The first one is a very typical
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conversation where Paul is concerned and upset.
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He sees Timothy and he says, Timothy, I need you to go.
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I need you to go to the church and Philip I need you to deliver
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this letter, and I need you to serve them and love them and
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take care of Them and Timothy says, I'm gone.
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I'm there, that's no problem, but I suggested you to you
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another way that Timothy could have been prepared.
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You could call it almost like the next level of preparation
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and that's this Timothy is looking at.
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Paul Paul hasn't said anything yet.
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He's looking at him. He sees his countenance as
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changing. He knows he's heard about the
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Philip Philippian church and all the difficulties.
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And instead of waiting to be asked, he steps in and says
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Paul, I'm ready to go. Whatever you need for me, I'll
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take care of it. You To worry about the church.
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I know you can't go but my heart is your heart and you, you just
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tell me what to do, how to do it what you want done, and you
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won't have to worry about a thing.
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And that's really the next level of preparation church.
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When you step in to serve in this church, that's where you're
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headed the greatest tool as we've seen.
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In other studies in this series, The Greatest tool that you have
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one of the greatest tools is your ability to observe and to
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See things. Because what you see, the more
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that you see, will give you more opportunity to be used by God,
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in what you see, if you don't see it.
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And I guess the prerequisite for seeing is actually carrying.
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So you care and you see and you act.
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It's so important that you're not waiting to be asked to what
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to do now. I know some of you that's just
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your personality and I respect that.
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No problem. You're just waiting for someone
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to ask for help your help there. Waiting for someone to ask you
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to serve. So let me set that aside.
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Let me make sure that you're absolutely clear.
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We are inviting you to serve in this church.
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Alright, that's done. No need to wait anymore.
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It's like I'm just waiting for someone asks, I'm asking you
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right now. We want you to serve, we need
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you to serve. It's a beautiful thing to serve
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the Lord and the more that the more we carry the burden
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together. The lighter, the burden is on
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all of us. So serve the Lord with joy and
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gladness. Yes, but others of you, you're
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growing to the point where you're not going to wait to be
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asked, you're going to step into someone's life, you're going to
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be able to read the their body language.
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Or again you might be in a service.
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You might be in a service just like this.
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You're sitting next to someone or standing next to someone in
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worship and they're crying, you hear it?
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You see it. That observation could very well
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lead to a question, are you okay or a Jen, can I do anything for
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you? Can I pray for you right here in
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the room. It comes merely because you saw
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it and you were sensitive to the spirit and you're not asking
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anyone. What should I do?
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What do I do? When someone's crying next to
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me, you don't need to ask anyone because God has enabled you to
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go ahead and talk to them, reach out to them, check in on them.
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Generally, if you generally sit in the same place to in the come
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to the same service and they generally like you'll be able to
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see them and you'll connect with them and one of the greatest
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ways, Ways to connect in any church, especially a large
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growing church, is you stepping into people's lives, making
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yourself available. it could have gone either way, he was
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prepared to go, which means this If Timothy was prepared to go,
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then we could say it this way, he was available to Paul, he
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made himself available to Paul. It's been said that God does not
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ask about our abilities or our inabilities, but about our
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availability. We learned in a previous study,
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the importance of being faithful of being available of being
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teachable of being spiritual. These are all important.
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Ex of being used in the hands of God.
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However, we must acknowledge that there's much in life, that
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makes us unavailable to Jesus. There's so much in life that
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makes us unavailable and we really have to guard our hearts.
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Not all of it is bad and not all of it is sinful.
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It can be the regular cares of life.
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It could be a job, that's very demanding.
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It could be a hobby. That's overwhelmed.
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You were overtaken, you. Maybe it's even worse.
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It's an unconfessed sin. In or some hidden little habit
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that says, oh no, I don't want to deal with that.
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No, I don't want to be found out.
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It could be on the other side, it could be Pride.
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Could be a haughtiness, I do. I've already be grown Beyond
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serving Pastor. What big thing do you have for
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me that hold you back from being available?
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But there are many things that are designed to Simply keep you
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busy and unavailable to the Lord.
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You got to deal with that. That's your choice.
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It's your choice. How to make yourself available.
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Able to the Lord. This is what I found and I want
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you to examine it in your own life but it's a very simple
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statement. We typically do the things that
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we want to do Very little in our lives is forced upon us.
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We typically do the things that we want to do.
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I understand there are categories, were things job
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might have requirements and we can't get around it.
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That's not what I'm speaking of. I'm talking about.
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If you really want to do things, if you really want to do
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something, you will rearrange your life to make it happen
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because you really want to do it.
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So if you have competing things like, for example, I'll take
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something very simple. You got kids, you had three kids
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ones and ballet Ones playing Lacrosse.
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And another one has chess club and they all have competing
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time. So what do you do?
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You want to be at the mall? So you know, you can't be at the
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mall for the whole. You can't be with them every
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minute of all that they're doing.
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So what do you do? You sit down, you go.
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Okay, I'll drop them off. I'll stay here, 15 minutes, and
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I'll go over here, 30 minutes, and I'll go over here and you're
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making things available to be with all of them, the best that
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you can because it took just a little bit of thinking.
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When you look at your life, this is what I'm asking you to do
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start praying about Going to serve the Lord because if you
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want to serve the Lord, you will.
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If you truly want to be used of God in that that has been
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changed in you, you typically do what you want to do and be
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careful about being too busy to serve God, be careful.
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I've watched it happen. Hundreds of times in the life of
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this church. I'm too busy.
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I'm too busy. I'm too busy.
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You really not too busy. You're just making choices that
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are keeping you on available. Keeping you away.
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Maybe not even embracing, the beautiful pop pop possibilities,
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and opportunities to use your cubicle as a place for the
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gospel, or to use your car, or your truck, or your office, or
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your life. Where the Bible says, to present
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yourself as a Living Sacrifice, not pieces and portions of your
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life. Timothy was prepared, which made
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him available which would increase Courage, Paul.
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Greatly that the church should be taking care of because he
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couldn't go which brings us to number to notice with me in
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verse 20, Philippians chapter 2 verse 20.
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I have four. I have no one like-minded who
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will sincerely care for your state for all seek their own,
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not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
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This is the second part of Timothy's example that we can
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learn. From number one, he was prepared
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number two, He was positioned, he was in the right position.
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He was positioned to care or a word that I've been meditating
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on for a while, maybe a year or so is that he had the right
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posture. He was in the right place and
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because he was in the right place, he had the right
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position, he was readily available to be used by God.
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There's a beautiful relationship between Paul and Timothy.
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It started back, we'll learn this in the book of Acts soon
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enough but it started back in a city known as lystra.
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It was Paul second missionary journey, Timothy met Paul and
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decided this was the man that he wanted to follow, and he wanted
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to serve with. We they did.
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The relationship is described in verse 20 like-minded.
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Also in verse 22 as a son with his father, this is a close
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relationship in the ministry. Paul was not as It'll a father,
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but he became like a father to him to point him to the Lord to
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teach him and to train him. Because they were like-minded.
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It made their partnership so much more powerful in our
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servants class like-mindedness. You've already learned is super
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important to serve in this church.
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We learned first that it's essential that you are
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like-minded with your pastor. It's essential non-negotiable,
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but we Define that very clearly, didn't we very carefully?
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Not your human pastor, but your Chief Shepherd, Jesus, yeah.
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To have your pastor's heart serving with a pastor's heart in
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his church is non-negotiable the second study that we'd built on
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like-mindedness. Was that be like-minded with
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those? They oversee you, your pastor,
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your leaders. You want to be like-minded.
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Otherwise you'll be divisive. You'll always be fighting going
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to directions. The Bible says, how can two walk
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together, unless they're agreed. But its first with Jesus, then
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with one another, we see this in this example here, between Paul
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and Timothy, They were like-minded.
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They generally saw things the same way.
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They did not make a big deal about the little things, they
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didn't agree with even. So if there were disagreements,
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Timothy was careful to always be in a position to help.
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Paul Timothy was careful to always be in a position to serve
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Paul. Timothy was careful to always be
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in a position to support Paul in his work for the kingdom.
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We could say it this way God's call upon Timothy's life was to
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serve and support our Paul. That was his call and this
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season later on he will end up pastoring a church in Ephesus
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Timothy does that's what the letters at the back of your
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Bible first and second Timothy, those are letters later on that
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Paul writes to the pastor Timothy Timothy knew that his
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role was to be a support to Paul, which made me think back.
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I spent eight years serving at Calvary Chapel in Downey.
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California, where his got where I got saved my call, for those
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eight years, my call was very simple and very clear.
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I was there to serve and support my pastor to hold up, his arms
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and help him succeed. In what God has called him to
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do. Because I knew that if he
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succeeded, then I would succeed because the church will move.
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Forward for the kingdom of God. And I knew my role and I
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fulfilled a lot of different responsibilities, they're
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teaching in the nursery, teaching the kids, I taught new
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Believers. I took out the trash, I clean
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the building. I you name it, I did all kinds
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of things. There it was wonderful, it was
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glorious, it was great. To enjoy the eight years of
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ministry there and with Timothy it's important that we
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understand, there's no mention of Timothy selfishness.
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Is no mention of Timothy's desire to usurp Paul or make
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life harder for Paul. But like we learn with Moses, he
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was holding his arms up and not hanging on them and the great
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Leonard Bernstein was once asked what the most important
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instrument was, and the most difficult to play in an
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orchestra. And he thought for a moment and
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said and I quote, the second fiddle, I can get plenty of
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first violinist he said, but to find someone who can play the
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second fiddle with With enthusiasm, that's a problem and
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if we don't have second fiddle, we can have no Harmony together.
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What we need in the church today are more second fiddle
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Believers, whose aim in life is to serve, completely keep the
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Harmony and surrender. Wholeheartedly to Jesus, we need
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more men and women like Timothy. There are no second-class
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Believers here in roles and responsibilities.
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Don't take it that way, like well, maybe, They'll grow up and
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be appalled, everyone is appalled and everyone is a
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Timothy. If you look at their lives it
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there is a great relationship that will remind us of our life
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in the church. For example Paul to us here
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could represent older more mature believer and I don't
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necessarily mean older in age although that can apply.
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But you've been walking with the Lord for two or three years,
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you're appalled every Paul needs a Timothy every Paul needs a
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Timothy What I mean by that, is there needs to be men and women
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in your life, women pouring into women men, pouring in the men,
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in that relationship, where you are training and discipling,
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someone else you're there to read the Bible with them.
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You're there to answer questions.
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You're there to pray with them. You are truly pouring yourself.
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And to someone else everything that you've learned you can pour
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into someone else. Listen, it doesn't you don't
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even need to wait four years of maturity.
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If you receive something, give it away.
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Every Paul, every one of us should have the role of Paul and
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have a Timothy in our life. And if you're a Timothy here,
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younger newer in the faith, you should have a Paul.
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There should be someone either personally or by way of example
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that you can look to and follow their life.
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So that like Paul said, imitate me as I imitate Christ, there's
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no Lone Ranger Believers. Here were not all on our own
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were in this together. Paul should have Timothy's
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Timothy should have Paul's and you know, what happens over time
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like-mindedness and we grow together and we serve together.
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God uses Us in amazing ways that will shock us and we're like
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this is amazing what God is doing in our lives which brings
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up a good question for us. What matters to Jesus what
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matters to Jesus when it comes to minister?
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You stepping into service in this church and you might even
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ask what matters to Jesus, how I'm going to serve in the cafe
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and I'm making a espresso drink for someone.
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How should I make that? I'm going to serve in the
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children's ministry and I'm going to serve the kiddos here.
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How should I do? What did Jesus care about?
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Not only in the church but outside in the world, let me
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show you a few things. Turn over to Luke, chapter 4,
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with me. Would you Luke chapter 4 What
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was the Heart of Jesus? There's a lot, you want to learn
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the Heart of Jesus, read the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and
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John watch him. Listen to him.
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Follow him, take good notes. The Holy Spirit Will Show You
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hundreds of things that matter to Jesus.
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As you're studying is life, I'm sure you'll come to the
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conclusion, a lot of things that matter to Jesus.
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Don't seem to matter to the church today.
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Not to problem. A lot of things that matter, to
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Jesus doesn't really matter. It don't really matter to
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Believers today, and that's a problem.
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God is calling us Back to Basics, God's calling us back to
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what matters to him. And here's a few things, Luke
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4:16. So he came to Nazareth where he
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had been brought up. And as his custom was, he went
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into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to
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read. And he was handed the book of
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the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book,
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he found the place where it was written.
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Here are a few things that matter to Jesus.
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First of all, notice the spirit of the Lord is upon me.
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We learned that the empowering presence of the holy spirit is
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matters to Jesus. Believers, that are empowered by
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the Holy Spirit. Not empowered by their own
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wisdom on their own thinking, their own training and all no
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leaning on depending upon the holy spirit.
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That's how Jesus went. That was important to him.
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It should be important to us, number to notice.
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He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.
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There's actually two things here.
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Number two preaching, the gospel super important to Jesus.
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Transferring the message of Hope and salvation from one person to
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another very valuable to Jesus. It's his heart.
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He came to die for the Forgiveness of your sins, and
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Rise Again, from the dead to prove that to you.
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Preaching is important the gospel, but also the pores
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important, the poor is important to Jesus.
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This refers to people And I think it goes two ways at least
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spiritually poor, the lost and those that are spiritually, poor
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that they matter to Jesus. But more importantly, I think
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literally those that are that have less and that are poor are
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important to Jesus. Those that had a different
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upbringing than you do. That started out in a different
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way than you do or hit some hard times.
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It doesn't even matter if they brought it upon themselves, the
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poor matter to Jesus. And they should matter to us as
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well. But you'll notice in our culture
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we have to fight, we really have to fight to hold and clean to
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what matters to Jesus in a world that takes things.
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Like the poor and politicizes them and creates these barriers,
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and these attitudes, so that people don't care about them
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anymore. Label them or look at they
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deserve it really. Is that the Heart of Jesus.
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They deserve it. Yeah.
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They're in a bad spot. And if we're going to talk about
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deserving, let's look in the mirror before we leave out the
24:42
door and just remember what we deserve prior to the grace of
24:45
Jesus, and what we would still deserve had.
24:48
Jesus not kept us, the poor matter to Jesus the poor
24:53
serving, the poor is not the gospel, it is the life of the
24:57
Gospel. So we don't have a Social Gospel
25:00
that usurps what God's real heart is.
25:03
As the way that a poor person has helped at a variety of ways.
25:06
But the greatest way, Way is for them to be born again and to
25:10
know Jesus personally. So we're not in a place where
25:13
we're going to replace the gospel with some social gospel
25:17
but don't you think for a moment that the poor and the homeless
25:22
and the disenfranchised and those without a Homeland and on,
25:26
and on this goes, don't matter to Jesus.
25:28
They do he loves them as he loves us, not only that notice
25:34
not only does that matter to Jesus, but it's next.
25:37
It says he Sent me to heal the brokenhearted.
25:40
The Brokenhearted matter to Jesus, I would even say that.
25:44
Today. Those of you that are broken
25:46
hearted, you matter, you are not forgotten or overlooked, you
25:50
matter to him. He wants to see your heart
25:54
healed. He want.
25:56
He need, he desires for you to get through this.
25:59
You're broken hearted today. I know this for a fact.
26:02
It is not God's heart for you to end your life.
26:05
Your life is valuable and important even though you are
26:09
crushed Beyond crushing today. Jesus came to the Brokenhearted,
26:15
the world's filled with broken hearts.
26:17
This room is filled with broken hearts.
26:20
If you don't have a broken heart yet, give it some time.
26:24
The world will do it to you. Families will do it to you.
26:29
Our own failures will do it to us.
26:32
Some are brokenhearted a because a grief some are brokenhearted
26:36
today because of family issues. Some are brokenhearted because
26:39
of a prodigal kid or I heard a saying recently, I don't know
26:45
how true it is universally but it was an interesting phrase to
26:48
meditate on but someone said that that every family always
26:52
has a kid that will bring you to their knees.
26:55
And I know there's many families like that today.
26:57
Day. You're broken hearted and you
27:00
know, God wants to use that he values.
27:02
Weakness and broken hearts. It's a part of the human
27:05
condition. We fight so much to get out of
27:08
it, but God is going to use that.
27:10
It's interesting that most of the time ministry, to
27:13
brokenhearted people comes from people that have had their heart
27:16
broken, right? The Bible says that God is the
27:19
God of All Comfort, who comforts Us in all our tribulation, why?
27:23
So that we can Comfort others with the Comfort.
27:25
We've received and broke it. Hardness is the way.
27:28
That God equips us and prepares us to serve others.
27:31
And I'll just tell you I'll tell you right now, you're a part of
27:34
this church family. You're a part of this church
27:36
family. You're listening on the radio
27:38
and you're going to serve in this church, you're watching
27:41
online. This is your church home.
27:43
I want you to know. There are there are two types of
27:45
people that have been predominantly drawn to this
27:48
church. Over the years directly related
27:50
to my testimony. One are those that want freedom
27:54
from addiction. Freedom from addiction.
27:57
Why? Because they hear a testimony
27:58
from a pastor who was freed from addiction are?
28:01
Like, if God can do it for that crazy guy, he could do it for
28:04
me. And I say today, I'm I agree
28:06
with you, God can deliver you from your addiction today.
28:10
Absolutely 100%. And when I share my testimony on
28:14
the radio, or from a Bible study, there will be people
28:16
listening on. I need that hope.
28:19
I want that hope and if the gospel gave it to him, then I'm
28:22
I'm there and I'm in and so a lot of people come through the
28:25
church. Or sometimes they don't stay
28:27
because they don't really want to walk away from addiction.
28:30
They really don't want to put in the hard work.
28:32
They don't really want to repent.
28:33
They don't really want to change.
28:34
So, they come through, but they come in and out and many do
28:37
change their got. Yes, I'm living in Freedom right
28:39
now. Number one, and that's it, by
28:41
the way, that's another group. That's the Heart of Jesus.
28:44
Did you notice if you look back, he wants to preach, Deliverance,
28:48
to the captives, and to set at Liberty, those who are
28:51
oppressed, when I think of captivity and oppression, I
28:54
think of addiction. I mean who thinks that they're
28:57
trapped and can't get out of it and they what they want to be
29:01
sober, but they feel like they can't be sober and they go a few
29:04
weeks and then they fall off the wagon and on and on that sounds
29:07
like captivity to me. And Jesus says, I've come to
29:10
free the captives. You don't have to live your life
29:13
like that anymore and it's so good to know.
29:17
And I've been sober 30-plus years by the grace of God, and I
29:20
don't expect ever to leave sobriety.
29:22
Like God has delivered me and changed my life.
29:24
You can change yours too. To the church is filled with
29:27
that. But so is the world.
29:28
It's a great way to step into someone's life.
29:31
The second type of person that has come and as drawn to this
29:34
church, over the last 10 years. At least, are those that are
29:37
brokenhearted. Because ten years ago, after the
29:40
death of my son, my wife, and I and my kids, our hearts were
29:44
destroyed. Just crushed by the death of our
29:49
sun and all the complications that surrounded that whole
29:52
situation just crushed. And I was looking back actually
29:57
recently, some of the notes of Bible studies.
30:00
I was teaching in 2013 and 14 and seeing the healing process
30:05
of the Lord through those Bible studies including the set of
30:08
Bible studies help for the troubled heart, that became the
30:11
book that we put out that we're like, wow, Lord, I could see the
30:15
power of your healing. I can see the power of your
30:18
strength. I could see an almost this
30:19
picture where your, you know, your face down.
30:21
You can't get up and then you kind of get to your hands and
30:24
knees and you kind of get to your knees and you kind of get
30:26
to your hand, are to your feet and then you're kind of standing
30:29
wobbly and then you're finally ha, yes, you're standing.
30:33
And there's hope for the Brokenhearted.
30:35
I don't know where you are. On that journey of hurt and
30:37
Brokenness and and pain and challenges, whatever the reason
30:42
God is the God of all hope, he is the God of All Comfort.
30:48
He is the God of all strength. So it's important in the
30:52
servants class. I mentioned this today because
30:55
if you're going to serve in this church, those are the types of
30:58
men and women, primarily you'll be serving.
31:02
But that is what the church and isn't that what the church
31:04
should be filled with broken people.
31:06
The gods, repairing and changing.
31:09
This isn't a place of perfect people don't believe any Pastor
31:13
that would come and go. Where are the Church of Perfect
31:15
People? Nah bro.
31:17
Especially you, you you're wrong, man.
31:20
It starts with you. Like the Church of Jesus Christ
31:23
is and always has been a place where broken people can meet
31:28
him. And it's often the hurt and pain
31:31
in the Brokenness that get your attention to even seek him and
31:36
to even come to him. And as you serve here that you
31:39
got to have the things that are important to Jesus.
31:42
This is his heart. Do you want help?
31:44
And how to develop that? Let me give you a few things
31:46
before we head out and then we have one more point.
31:49
But what matters to Jesus is that his church would genuinely
31:52
care for people, South sacrificially, and love them
31:57
self sacrificial. Really and be there for them
32:01
self sacrificially. The love of Jesus was untainted
32:06
by any worldly ambition which is what made one of the things in
32:11
Jesus life that made him so powerful.
32:16
And so usable in the human realm, God, in human flesh, as
32:21
you grow in maturity and faith. You'll see this begin to
32:25
develop. You were looking for a plate.
32:27
A pathway to grow in maturity and Faith.
32:30
Let me give you a few things. Number one, These are choices
32:34
choose to love what Jesus loves. We looked at a few now, you just
32:40
use this list. As a prayer list, choose to love
32:44
what Jesus loved. And I would add to that number
32:48
to choose to love the people that Jesus loves.
32:54
These are conscious choices and as I was talking to a brother,
32:57
after the service earlier, the part of this choice is like,
33:00
what is described as like humanly impossible?
33:04
So you like wait a minute. What do I do when it's humanly
33:06
impossible to love someone. You pray for the agape.
33:09
Love of God. That's self sacrificial.
33:12
Love that comes from God. The fruit of the spirit love
33:15
joy. Peace patience.
33:16
Kindness goodness, faithfulness. Gentleness self-control against
33:20
such. There is no law.
33:21
The Bible says you pray for that.
33:22
God will give it to you. Number 3, hate the things you're
33:26
going to love the things Jesus love.
33:28
Then you also need to hate the things Jesus hated.
33:32
How do you learn these things? Read the gospels.
33:34
You'd be surprised what Jesus hated like, I can think of, I
33:38
think of the, the thing that Jesus hated at the top of the
33:42
list, there was top five things. If we had to get really
33:44
specific. I think in the top five things
33:47
of Jesus hated was religious hypocrisy especially among the
33:51
leaders among those that were responsible to take care of the
33:55
church. He hate.
33:56
I mean, look it, look it up. I think it's Matthew 23 or 25
33:59
somewhere in the 20s. There there's A whole chapter,
34:03
just, let's just read all the 20, so you can find it, okay?
34:05
Matthew. All the 20s somewhere in the
34:07
20s. There, there is a chapter where
34:10
you'll read woe to you, woe to you, woe to you, woe to you.
34:14
Why? Because the religious leaders
34:17
were Hypocrites, and he thoroughly hated in a righteous
34:23
way. Religious hypocrisy, not only
34:26
that, if you're going to love the things, Jesus, love hate the
34:29
things Jesus hated. Love the people, geez.
34:32
Slub, I think along the lines. You also need to choose to be
34:35
hungry for the word of God, for Spiritual nourishment, more than
34:42
Bible study attendance more than Church attendance more than
34:45
being a part of a church. That's not going to do it for
34:47
you. Great beginning.
34:48
Not going to do it for you. It's kind of like giving, right?
34:51
So like what about the tithe, everyone argues about the tie,
34:54
the Old Testament, New Testament, look the tithe it
34:57
did, even if you just give the tide, that's not going to do it
34:59
for you. You know why?
35:00
Because God is looking for a soft.
35:01
Sacrificial life. A generous life that's going to
35:05
be measured in a lot of different ways.
35:07
It's not going to be measured. Just how much and what's the
35:10
math. And if you're not generous in
35:11
your giving to the church, I promise you, you're not generous
35:14
when you leave, you're not generous when there's a need in
35:16
your family, you're not even moved by human need because it
35:20
just your hands are so tight. You're holding on.
35:23
You got too long for to be nourished by God to be built up
35:27
by God. The way we describe that.
35:28
Here today is an everyday, read your Bible and pray.
35:32
Every day, read your Bible and pray.
35:34
Here's what you can do with your Bible.
35:36
You hear it, you read it. And then what you do it, some of
35:42
you, you need a Bible, you need to go get yourself a Bible, a
35:46
real physical Bible that looks something like this with paper
35:50
and a cover. Remember, books Bibles.
35:53
This is a Bible. You need a Bible.
35:55
You go Ed. Come on, I got a phone.
35:57
I know, I read on my phone, too. I got a tablet.
35:59
I know. I read on my tablet to but, you
36:01
know, There's it's not the same. You don't treasure because you
36:05
also play Angry Birds on your laptop.
36:08
And yeah, like I don't know if you're reading a Bible, you you
36:11
do all your banking on your laptop and your phone, you
36:14
making phone calls screaming at people in your phone.
36:16
Like you do a lot of things with the Bible.
36:18
You do one thing. This is God's word to you.
36:22
There's no question in it. I'm not opposed to using
36:24
technology. I use it all the time.
36:25
That's not what I'm saying at all.
36:27
I'm saying that the Bible says something by its own presence
36:34
Says something. It has a message and when you
36:37
open it it's your Bible. This is yours.
36:40
You get to ride in it and circle in it and it becomes a lifetime
36:43
of notes, and things that God is giving you even know, Bible
36:46
study. Like this, you're going to
36:47
forget most of what I say today, but you can remember better when
36:50
you write it down, when you take notes, it's like hunger.
36:54
Like everybody gets hungry. Like, you might have skipped
36:56
breakfast to be here, so just get here on time.
36:59
You skipped breakfast. So, what are you thinking about?
37:03
Now, you are thinking Thinking about lunch.
37:07
And now that I just brought it up, those of you that weren't
37:10
thinking about, it are thinking about lunch and you're hungry
37:16
and you're wondering, when is he going to finish?
37:19
How long is he going to take? We've got reservations, some of
37:23
you have Chipotle burritos in your head, spinning around in
37:26
front of you, like, oh, oh no, Ed.
37:29
It's not that I've got a bowl into the bowl, is in there.
37:32
Whatever, you're going to In-N-Out Burgers, right?
37:34
And Out In and Out, Burgers, just for you guys on the
37:37
servants. Class in and out is the best
37:39
burger. Don't email me.
37:41
Don't get, don't just agree with me.
37:46
I had like last night somebody said what a burger is the best.
37:51
So I had it. What a burger?
37:53
I know this won't, we won't edit this out, you like, why are you
37:55
doing? This is part of the package.
37:57
So I had a Whataburger in Texas. I was in Amarillo Texas teaching
38:01
we went to get Water Burger because they weren't here yet
38:03
and I'm like, oh, so I'm there right there.
38:05
I'm there with the Whataburger and I looked down.
38:07
I go. What is this?
38:10
So the name of the burgers. Right?
38:11
That's right. What is this?
38:14
I want my money back. One of the things you're
38:18
learning is that laughter helps serving the lord and I was
38:24
taught I'm not very good at it but I was taught that if I can
38:27
get your church the church laughing while their mouths are
38:30
wide open you stuff. The truth right down as fast as
38:33
you can so they can take, it's like so good.
38:37
Let's get to the third point, right?
38:39
Third point. You're going to grow as you see
38:41
these things, a couple other things willing to say do and go
38:44
anywhere like that's God's heart for you to get back to that new
38:47
believer. Longing for his soon, return,
38:50
something Lord's. Been convicted me on, let's get
38:53
to number three because we got to cover this.
38:55
We saw preparation, we saw position.
38:58
Here's the third one Timothy was proven.
39:01
He was proven we see that in verse 22.
39:04
If you want to come back to Philippians with me verse 22 of
39:08
chapter 2 but you know, his Vin character that as a son with his
39:13
father. He served with me in the gospel.
39:15
Therefore, I hope to send him at once as soon as I see how it
39:19
goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I
39:21
myself shall also. Come shortly Timothy was proven
39:26
proven another way of looking at that were proven is tested.
39:31
He was tested, we saw in a previous study that character
39:35
integrity are very important to serve in this church.
39:38
Non-negotiables the way A your character and integrity are
39:41
improved over the years is by being tested, your whole life is
39:46
testing situations, come into your life, difficulties come
39:50
into your life. They are test Timothy, was
39:53
strong because he responded to the test and was proven many
39:58
delegation. Many tasks would be delegated to
40:00
Timothy by Paul over the years. Thessalonica, Corinth Philip II
40:05
Ephesus. He was greatly used by God and
40:09
test come in all shapes. And And sizes.
40:12
God is at all times. Drawing us into a deeper firmer
40:15
character, that's what he's developing.
40:18
He's developing character in us when we realize this a changes,
40:22
our whole outlook the difficulty in her and how God is Not
40:25
punishing you, he's not teasing you, he's not messing with your
40:29
life, you're not suffering from some generational curse.
40:32
It's a test God is using it to draw out of you, a deeper
40:37
dependence and faith and character related to him.
40:43
Let me connect it with a word that's being used today.
40:45
A lot this word trigger, this things are triggering you and
40:50
triggering these emotions. Let me read to you the
40:53
definition. It's a pretty big guys familiar
40:55
with the phrase, pretty popular. Today, it's being used a lot and
41:00
I was yesterday, I was texting. Someone on social Idea.
41:04
They had posted something and it drew out all this - nasty bitter
41:09
responses and as I was texting, they go yeah, she was describing
41:13
it like it was all triggering. I can't believe that something.
41:16
So simple was triggering, all these bad responses and I pause
41:19
for a second and I gave her a suggestion that it wasn't
41:23
triggering at all, that it was actually revealing in them.
41:28
But but let me let me show you, I want to be careful with this
41:30
because I want to explain very clearly the way that the He
41:34
defines trickling triggering today is it says, and I quote,
41:38
especially if something red seen or heard distress, someone has
41:43
distress typically as a result of a rousing feelings or
41:47
memories associated with a particular traumatic experience.
41:51
And so, in one way, I would say, I understand what that word
41:55
means, where you're going through something and you hear
41:57
something smell something, see something.
42:00
It brings up, all these emotions takes you back super hard.
42:04
I understand that and that does happen, but the idea that you
42:08
see something on social media and it makes you all angry and
42:11
bitter. I wouldn't, I wouldn't let the
42:13
world redefine that for you and even if some of the emotional
42:17
traumatic things, which I myself experienced.
42:20
So I guess I could say that there are things that I see or
42:23
hear or something like that will stir up in the emotions that I
42:26
don't want or memories that I would rather not have I get that
42:30
but I want to suggest to you believer in Jesus Christ that
42:32
you're a new creation in Christ. So when events like this happen,
42:37
they're actually being used by God to draw you to himself.
42:41
So let's say you see something that makes you super, super
42:44
angry, and it makes you bitter, and you want to go to do with
42:47
your thumbs, instead of that. You got.
42:49
No, you're going to take that bitterness to the lord.
42:51
It's an invitation to come back to the Lord, or a memory of a,
42:54
some horrific abuse that you experience in your home.
42:57
That will can't be unfit, can never be forgotten and and it
43:01
brings up in your sad. And instead of digging deep Into
43:04
the depression and getting all inside yourself God saying, no,
43:07
bring that to me, it's a real memory.
43:09
Bring it to me, that's not a ruin today.
43:12
Maybe you have some relationship issues in the orb.
43:16
You heard or something in a relationship and you sense
43:18
something and it comes up and you're like oh and and instead
43:21
of letting the world to all it's just triggering and you just can
43:23
remote. No no.
43:24
Don't take it to the Lord. And I'm not saying you can't get
43:28
help and somebody walk you through that.
43:29
But the world is co-opted things that God is using to draw us.
43:34
To himself, not to give us permission to, just go off and
43:38
express ourselves in the flesh. That's not from the Lord not for
43:43
us to be angry at a particular group of people or two.
43:46
But rather to walk in forgiveness, to release people
43:51
from the debts that they owe us over and over and over and over
43:56
again. That God would free us, Timothy
44:01
lived, his life. And it appears to me, even
44:04
though there's not a lot said about it appears to me that
44:07
Timothy had a very hard home life.
44:09
Very challenging with an unbelieving, dad mom and grandma
44:14
pointing the word of God into him.
44:16
It had to be very challenging, very difficult, he was proven
44:22
And I reminders, you serve in this church or any church.
44:26
The process of serving will be part of the test.
44:30
It is not easy serving people. Did I get an amen on that?
44:35
You just got to know, it's not easy serving people.
44:37
It's not easy serving pert, broken people.
44:40
It's not serving. It's not easy serving, people
44:42
struggling with addictions, or past hurts or, or all the trauma
44:46
that it is not easy. However, With God, all things
44:51
are possible. And if we learn how to be proven
44:55
and tested ourselves, remember, God is growing us, we're not
44:59
stepping in a service because we've got, we've got it all.
45:01
We're just making ourselves available to God.
45:03
We're going to help other people grow, but guess what serving is
45:06
going to help us grow? And it's a win-win for all of
45:09
us. Timothy had an example that was
45:13
worth following. Timothy had an example that was
45:16
important. William Barclay described in
45:20
this way, the commentator he said and I quote Timothy's Great
45:23
Value was that he was always willing to go anywhere and in
45:27
his hands was a message was a safe as if Paul had delivered in
45:30
himself. Others might be consumed with
45:33
selfish ambition but Timothy's. One desire was to serve Paul and
45:38
Jesus Christ you could call him. He says the patron saint of all
45:42
those who are quite content with the second place so long as they
45:47
can serve. The way he got, there was
45:49
through the test. I love passing a test, don't
45:53
you? I love passing a test.
45:55
I love seeing a plus plus up at the top. 90% would I love
45:59
passing a test? I love it when I'm walking in
46:01
the spirit, but you know, what happens when we don't pass a
46:04
test, you know what happens? You know what?
46:06
Gift you get, you get to take it again.
46:10
And in the spiritual realm, it seems like we keep taking the
46:13
same test over and over and over again.
46:17
But God is proving us. Testing us and he's refining us,
46:22
so we might become more christ-like in our serving.
46:27
Don't forget this who we are as far and more important than what
46:32
we do. I think it was worn.
46:34
Where's be that put it this way. God is more interested in the
46:39
minister than he is in the ministry who we are inside.
46:45
Before the Lord is far more important than what we do.
46:50
There is an Inseparable link between the character of a
46:54
church and the quality of its leadership and servants.
46:58
Let me repeat that, because you're stepping in to serve this
47:01
church, it's going to affect this church and you want to be
47:05
in that place where we can move faster and farther or not be
47:08
hindered. There is an Inseparable link
47:11
between the character of a church and the quality of its
47:15
leadership. Ship and its servants leaders
47:17
and spiritual servants. Must set The Godly example for
47:21
the church to see, and to follow you.
47:25
And I, we must be The Godly examples that people can see.
47:30
And follow just like Jesus said, he spoke a parable to them.
47:34
Luke chapter 6. Verse 39.
47:36
Can the blind lead? The blind?
47:38
Will they not both fall into the ditch.
47:41
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who's
47:44
perfectly trained. Will be like his teacher.
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First under the Lord and then with one another amen.
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Father. Thank you for the example and
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Timothy's life. Just a real brief.
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Look at his preparation. His position in the right place
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at the right time and is proven character.
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And that's what we desire in our lives.
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God, and we come to you afresh and Anew allowing your Holy
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Spirit to refine us and change us from the inside out.
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God, I pray for marriages rescue marriages today.
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I pray, God rescue sexual Purity today.
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I pray God that you will bring Salvation into homes today.
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I pray that you would break the bondage of the diction today.
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God, I pray that you would heal broken hearts.
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I pray, God, even even I was thinking of this God, even with
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the little bit of joking around about, who the favorite kid is
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that might have hit somebody's heart pretty deep.
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And that they would learn that. Even if it hit deep, we can take
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it to you and you can bring us healing that we have identity in
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you not in their home. We grew up in our identity is in
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Christ. We are New Creations.
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And so, even joking around, may not be a joke for everybody.
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And so God, teach us not to emote, and be and respond in the
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flesh, but to a moat and respond in the spirit that we would make
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wise choices. So, have your way with us.
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Lord, as we leave here today that we might believe, stronger,
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and more competent and capable of surrendering Our Lives to
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you. In Jesus name, amen.
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Amen. We pray that you've been
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encouraged by this Bible. Study delivered live from the
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sanctuary. Of Calvary Church for prayer.
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Call us at 877, 30 Grace. That's eight 77304, 2:53 to
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listen to this message in its entirety or to join us for our
49:43
live stream Services. Visit us online at Calvary,
49:47
co.'s Church or download our free
49:50
Calvary Church app be blessed as you worship Jesus this week.
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Of Calvary Church for prayer. Call us at 877, 30 Grace.
49:35
That's eight 77304, 2:53 to listen to this message in its
49:41
entirety or to join us for our live stream Services.
49:45
Visit us online at Calvary, co.'s
49:48
Church or download our free Calvary Church app be blessed as
49:52
you worship Jesus this week.