Latest / INSIGHT FOR LIVING: Biblical Wisdom For Everyday Living / Buying into the Vision │ Msg 78 - Pastor Chuck Swindoll Insight for Living

Transcript

Buying into the Vision │ Msg 78 - Pastor Chuck Swindoll Insight for Living · INSIGHT FOR LIVING: Biblical Wisdom For Everyday Living

0:02
Speaker 1: Great leaders have powerful vision. They see the way things are,
0:06
Speaker 1: but they also imagine the way things could be. They
0:10
Speaker 1: skillfully communicate their ideas to others, and people follow them,
0:15
Speaker 1: often sacrificially, because they buy into their vision. During his ministry,
0:22
Speaker 1: Jesus set forth a vision of the Kingdom of God.
0:26
Speaker 1: Everywhere he traveled, Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom.
0:31
Speaker 1: You'll read of that in Matthew four twenty three. Through
0:34
Speaker 1: his miracles, he offered SIPs of the coming Kingdom, quenching
0:38
Speaker 1: parched lips and whetting people's appetites for a new world
0:43
Speaker 1: free from sin and pain and death. As Jesus disciples,
0:49
Speaker 1: we have tasted the life he offers, the eternal, abundant
0:54
Speaker 1: life available to those who submit to the King's authority.
0:59
Speaker 1: We believe in Gesijesus Christ and his vision for us
1:02
Speaker 1: and our world. But what does the Lord expect from
1:07
Speaker 1: us now? What are the practical implications of embracing his vision?
1:15
Speaker 1: The passage we're looking at today gives us some of
1:17
Speaker 1: the answers to those questions, so we can buy into
1:20
Speaker 1: his vision. Let's read it together. Second Thessalonians, chapter three,
1:27
Speaker 1: verses six through fifteen, locate that in your bible, will you,
1:32
Speaker 1: we'll read second Thessalonians three six through fifteen. Now we
1:38
Speaker 1: command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1:41
Speaker 1: that you keep away from every brother who leads an
1:44
Speaker 1: unruly life, and not according to the tradition which you
1:48
Speaker 1: receive from us. For you yourselves know how you ought
1:52
Speaker 1: to follow our example, because we did not act in
1:55
Speaker 1: an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone's
1:59
Speaker 1: bread without paying for it. But with labor and hardship,
2:04
Speaker 1: we kept working night and day so that we would
2:07
Speaker 1: not be a burden to any of you. Not because
2:10
Speaker 1: we do not have the right to do this, but
2:13
Speaker 1: in order to offer ourselves as a model for you,
2:17
Speaker 1: so that you would follow our example. For even when
2:20
Speaker 1: we were with you, we used to give you this order.
2:23
Speaker 1: If anyone is not willing to work, then he is
2:26
Speaker 1: not to eat either. For we hear that some among
2:30
Speaker 1: you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all,
2:35
Speaker 1: but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and
2:40
Speaker 1: exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet
2:45
Speaker 1: fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren,
2:50
Speaker 1: do not grow weary of doing good. If anyone does
2:53
Speaker 1: not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note
2:57
Speaker 1: of that person, and do not associate with him, so
3:00
Speaker 1: that he will be put to shame. Yet do not
3:03
Speaker 1: regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
3:10
Speaker 1: Christianity is an active and involved faith. Those who model
3:15
Speaker 1: the message of Christ are not known as people who
3:18
Speaker 1: are passive and mediocre and uninvolved. Down through the centuries,
3:25
Speaker 1: they have been the people who have changed the direction
3:29
Speaker 1: of life and altered the shape of history. That's the
3:33
Speaker 1: way it was with Christ himself. Those of us who
3:36
Speaker 1: have studied his life know that he was a model
3:39
Speaker 1: of such things as change, and diligence and determination. I
3:47
Speaker 1: looked over his life this past week and was impressed
3:50
Speaker 1: once again with how he never lost sight of the
3:52
Speaker 1: big picture, and yet he was never uninvolved in the
3:56
Speaker 1: little snapshots of life. The big picture for him to
4:00
Speaker 1: come and seek and save those who were lost, and
4:04
Speaker 1: he did that, and he accomplished that to the point
4:07
Speaker 1: where at the end of his life he was able
4:10
Speaker 1: to say with true authenticity, it is finished. The job
4:15
Speaker 1: is done. And yet when you look back over his
4:18
Speaker 1: life and you study the little vignettes where he placed himself.
4:23
Speaker 1: He never took his hands off and yawned over people's problems.
4:28
Speaker 1: When he was surrounded by the diseased and the dying,
4:31
Speaker 1: he healed them. When he faced the enemy Satan himself
4:37
Speaker 1: and was forced to stand alone, he stood alone and
4:41
Speaker 1: withstood the attacks of Satan. When he found the Pharisees
4:46
Speaker 1: and scribes involved in heresy and hypocrisy, he rebuked them.
4:53
Speaker 1: When he saw the disciples in a room with dirty feet,
4:57
Speaker 1: he washed their feet. When he realized that it was
5:01
Speaker 1: time to give up and surrender himself to the cross,
5:05
Speaker 1: he yielded without a fight. And when he came back
5:09
Speaker 1: from beyond, he spoke to more than a few people
5:12
Speaker 1: of the hope that there was in him All the
5:16
Speaker 1: way through his life. You see that he is actively
5:19
Speaker 1: involved in the moment. Those who walk in his steps,
5:23
Speaker 1: those who follow his examples, those who model his message
5:27
Speaker 1: remain involved and active. Now, the sad part of this
5:32
Speaker 1: is that there are always some who choose not to
5:36
Speaker 1: do that. There are always a few Christians in every church,
5:42
Speaker 1: and our church is not an exception. Always a few
5:46
Speaker 1: Christians who choose to remain aloof safe and uninvolved. Oh,
5:52
Speaker 1: they know the language, but they choose not to act
5:57
Speaker 1: upon what they know. Reminds me of a very familiar
6:01
Speaker 1: philosophical event that occurred in the lives of Charlie Brown
6:06
Speaker 1: and Lucy thanks to Schultz, their originator. The scene is
6:12
Speaker 1: one that you have seen on a number of occasions.
6:15
Speaker 1: As Charlie and Lucy are talking about the values of life,
6:20
Speaker 1: and Lucy says to Charlie, life, Charlie Brown is like
6:24
Speaker 1: a deck chair, like a what asked Charlie Brown, Lucy continues,
6:31
Speaker 1: have you ever been on a cruise ship? Passengers open
6:35
Speaker 1: up their canvas deck chairs so they can sit in
6:39
Speaker 1: the sun. Some people place their chairs facing the rear
6:43
Speaker 1: of the ship so they can see where they've been.
6:48
Speaker 1: Others face their chairs forward so they can see where
6:52
Speaker 1: they're going on the cruise ship of life. Charlie Brown,
6:58
Speaker 1: which way is your deck chair facing? Looking up? Somewhat bewildered,
7:04
Speaker 1: Charlie says, I've never been able to get my deck
7:07
Speaker 1: chair unfolded. Oh, there are a lot of Christians that
7:14
Speaker 1: never quite get their deck chair unfolded. They know there's
7:18
Speaker 1: a deck, and they know there's a ship, and they
7:20
Speaker 1: know there's a sun, and they know there is a
7:22
Speaker 1: place to sit in it and enjoy life. But they
7:25
Speaker 1: spend all their lives unfolding their deck chairs. Some people,
7:31
Speaker 1: on the other hand, unfold their chairs quickly and set
7:35
Speaker 1: them up hurriedly, and get involved in the life that
7:39
Speaker 1: is temporal, which is about like reshuffling the deck chairs
7:43
Speaker 1: on the Titanic. For what good? For what eternal purpose?
7:50
Speaker 1: Let me ask you directly, as friend with friend, have
7:56
Speaker 1: you got your chair unfolded? I mean, would anybody know
8:02
Speaker 1: who becomes a bug on the wall of your home?
8:05
Speaker 1: Would they know by the way you're living that you
8:07
Speaker 1: truly are marked out as a believer in Christ whose
8:11
Speaker 1: life is counting for eternity? Would that show up? What
8:16
Speaker 1: if they watched you when you paid your bills and
8:19
Speaker 1: they saw the priority you placed on the part that
8:22
Speaker 1: God gets in the giving of your life. Would they
8:27
Speaker 1: know by the amount that you gave that your life
8:31
Speaker 1: was marked by integrity in the area of finances. Don't
8:37
Speaker 1: dodge those questions. What about the service of your life,
8:41
Speaker 1: that part which you voluntarily turn over to Christ to
8:45
Speaker 1: use for His glory? Could they tell by watching your
8:49
Speaker 1: service that your life is marked by commitment to Christ?
8:59
Speaker 1: I found when I read through some of the letters
9:01
Speaker 1: of the New Testament, that there is a recurring theme
9:06
Speaker 1: that appears again and again through these letters that have
9:09
Speaker 1: to do with active involvement. You don't find passivity marking
9:15
Speaker 1: the life of the committed believer. Never. Oh, there are
9:19
Speaker 1: times that we may wait on God, but that isn't
9:22
Speaker 1: a passive waiting. That is actively praying, actively trusting, never
9:28
Speaker 1: doubting the Gods at work, and always being ready to
9:31
Speaker 1: move when he says it's time. Let me show you
9:35
Speaker 1: several of these passages of active involvement. Let's take the
9:39
Speaker 1: last verse at the end of chapter fifteen of First Corinthians.
9:45
Speaker 1: If you have a Bible handy turned to First Corinthians
9:48
Speaker 1: fifteen fifty eight, I'm going to point out three or four,
9:53
Speaker 1: maybe five passages in the New Testament letters and one
9:59
Speaker 1: in Revelation that seems to set forth this whole idea
10:03
Speaker 1: of activity fifteen fifty eight. Therefore, my beloved brethren, this
10:07
Speaker 1: is to the believer. You see the Christian, be steadfast,
10:12
Speaker 1: be immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
10:17
Speaker 1: knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
10:21
Speaker 1: I love that Versus scripture. Notice the words steadfast, immovable, abounding,
10:30
Speaker 1: and how can you live a life like that while
10:32
Speaker 1: you know that your toil is not in vain in
10:35
Speaker 1: the Lord. JB. Phillips paraphrases, let nothing move you as
10:41
Speaker 1: you busy yourselves in the Lord's work. There's another one
10:45
Speaker 1: in the Letter to the Galatians, chapter six. Again the
10:50
Speaker 1: last chapter of that letter, verse seven through verse nine.
10:56
Speaker 1: Turn there Galatians six seven through nine, and do not
11:02
Speaker 1: be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man
11:06
Speaker 1: sows this, he will also reap. For the one who
11:10
Speaker 1: sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption.
11:16
Speaker 1: But the one who sows to the spirit shall from
11:19
Speaker 1: the spirit reap eternal life. And he doesn't stop there,
11:23
Speaker 1: because when you sow in the spirit, you will often
11:26
Speaker 1: be involved in exhausting labor. Your enthusiasm will begin to
11:33
Speaker 1: run dry, run low. The next verse says, and let
11:36
Speaker 1: us not lose heart in doing good, for in due
11:40
Speaker 1: time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.
11:45
Speaker 1: There's a word or a term that's come to be
11:47
Speaker 1: known as popular words in our days to describe the tired.
11:52
Speaker 1: They are the words burn out, You who suffer from burnout.
11:56
Speaker 1: Need a big dose of Galatians six'. Nine don't lose
12:00
Speaker 1: heart in doing, Good you who labor in obscure, Places
12:05
Speaker 1: you who serve the cause Of christ without public, Applause
12:10
Speaker 1: you who give, Yourself you who give of your, Money
12:14
Speaker 1: you who give of your, energy your, vision your, leadership
12:17
Speaker 1: your time to the service of the. King don't lose.
12:20
Speaker 1: Heart you'll. Reap don't. Faint there's another one In philippians
12:28
Speaker 1: chapter three that you'll be familiar. With we've talked about it,
12:33
Speaker 1: earlier and just a reminder Of philippians, three verse. Twelve
12:40
Speaker 1: not THAT i have already obtained, it that is the
12:43
Speaker 1: ultimate goal of. Life not That i've already obtained, it
12:47
Speaker 1: or have already become. Perfect, no not. That BUT i
12:52
Speaker 1: press on in order That i'm a lay hold of
12:57
Speaker 1: that for which ALSO i was laid whole By. Christ Jesus.
13:02
Speaker 1: BRETHREN i do not regard myself as having laid hold
13:05
Speaker 1: of it. Yet but one THING i, do forgetting what
13:08
Speaker 1: lies behind and reaching forward to what lies, AHEAD i
13:12
Speaker 1: press on toward the. Goal one man renders, THIS i
13:16
Speaker 1: go straight for the goal for the prize of the
13:20
Speaker 1: upward call Of. God In, Christ, jesus look at this
13:27
Speaker 1: PASSAGE i mentioned In revelation Earlier revelation chapter, three way
13:33
Speaker 1: over at the end of Your. Bible these are words
13:37
Speaker 1: addressed to a church in the first century known as
13:40
Speaker 1: The church At. LAOTICEA i think IF i had been
13:46
Speaker 1: a member of any first century, church the ONE i
13:49
Speaker 1: would least want to be a part of would have
13:51
Speaker 1: been The church At. Laodicea i'd rather be in one
13:54
Speaker 1: that was ice cold and frozen over that one that
13:58
Speaker 1: was dripping with, hypocrisy as it was just warm enough
14:02
Speaker 1: to keep the wolf away from the, door but just
14:04
Speaker 1: cool enough not to get too excited about spiritual. Things revelation,
14:09
Speaker 1: three verse, fourteen addressed to The angel some would say
14:14
Speaker 1: to the leader of the church At, laaticea The, amen
14:18
Speaker 1: the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation Of,
14:21
Speaker 1: god says, This those are all descriptive terms Of jesus.
14:25
Speaker 1: Himself Jesus christ says, THIS i know your, deeds that
14:30
Speaker 1: you are neither cold nor. HOT i would that you
14:36
Speaker 1: were cold or. Hot so because you are, lukewarm neither
14:44
Speaker 1: hot nor, COLD i will spit you out of my.
14:48
Speaker 1: Mouth forgive, me but the literal word is. Vomit because
14:54
Speaker 1: you are, lukewarm you make me sick to my. STOMACH
15:01
Speaker 1: i think it's amazing that verse fifteen SAYS i wish
15:03
Speaker 1: you were either ice cold or fiery. Hot i'd rather
15:08
Speaker 1: you be frozen over than this, tippid lukewarm talking a
15:14
Speaker 1: good fight and doing none of. It but because you're,
15:18
Speaker 1: that you make me want to. Vomit years, ago our
15:23
Speaker 1: younger daughter swallowed a large number of aspirin by. Mistake
15:30
Speaker 1: she got her little fingers into the top of that
15:32
Speaker 1: bottle and popped it off and dropped them right, Down
15:36
Speaker 1: and we found the bottle, empty and we were faced
15:40
Speaker 1: with a very difficult task of getting those aspirin that
15:45
Speaker 1: had just settled into her stomach out of her. Stomach
15:49
Speaker 1: cynthia had found a product called. Epicac you don't want
15:54
Speaker 1: to mess around with epicac in a, crowd believe. Me
15:58
Speaker 1: and with warm water and a little epichac up came
16:02
Speaker 1: the aspirin all over the bathtub and part of the.
16:06
Speaker 1: BATHROOM i, mean we got rid of the aspirin. Quick
16:10
Speaker 1: there's something about that, lukewarm, tepid tepid temperature that just
16:15
Speaker 1: makes you sick to your. Stomach and that's the way
16:19
Speaker 1: it is with lukewarmness in the. Church face. It some
16:27
Speaker 1: of you were. Lukewarm oh you don't look like. It
16:33
Speaker 1: lukewarm people don't look. Lukewarm wonder how lukewarm person would look.
16:37
Speaker 1: Anyway but we usually look hot For. God we usually
16:41
Speaker 1: look enthusiastic and. Excited and we got Our, bible and
16:45
Speaker 1: we got our, notebook and we're ready to. Go and
16:48
Speaker 1: as soon as it's, over it's so see me next.
16:50
Speaker 1: Week don't bother me with. That don't press the. Issue,
16:55
Speaker 1: chuck you're getting a little crotchety on some of these.
16:57
Speaker 1: Points just live and let. Live that's What jesus. Said
17:01
Speaker 1: where Did jesus say, That i'd like to know. That you,
17:06
Speaker 1: see some of the people In thessalonika really bought into
17:09
Speaker 1: the idea that if you really look For christ, coming
17:13
Speaker 1: you don't have to get involved in. Life you could
17:16
Speaker 1: start a free load off of. People there are enough,
17:20
Speaker 1: active Diligent christians in the church to support those that
17:25
Speaker 1: have their hearts set On christ. Coming and, so as
17:28
Speaker 1: one man put, it with excited, idleness they bailed out
17:35
Speaker 1: in the essentials of. Life let's look at those folks Tewod,
17:40
Speaker 1: thessalonians chapter. Three while you're finding your way, There i'm
17:44
Speaker 1: reminded of a line that came out of the journal
17:47
Speaker 1: of the Late Jim. Elliott one of my heroes in
17:51
Speaker 1: life is the martyred missionary who died on The Koureiraya
17:55
Speaker 1: river in the interior Of. Ecuador he had written in his,
18:00
Speaker 1: life wherever you, are be all. THERE i love that
18:06
Speaker 1: ever been with people who aren't all there when they're.
18:09
Speaker 1: There some dads aren't all there when you're, there, right,
18:13
Speaker 1: kids don't say them In you've got some folks that
18:16
Speaker 1: are just in another. World they're not all. There and
18:19
Speaker 1: then he, says live to the. Hilt every situation you
18:22
Speaker 1: believe to be the will Of? God is this you're,
18:26
Speaker 1: now then live it. Up you have small, Children give
18:29
Speaker 1: it all you've. Got children have now left the. Nest
18:32
Speaker 1: give it all you've. Got you're in your sixties seventies of.
18:36
Speaker 1: Life give it all you've. Got be all. There don't
18:41
Speaker 1: let your theology get in the way of your. Enthusiasm
18:46
Speaker 1: that's what had happened In thesalonaika indecision regarding ethical and moral,
18:52
Speaker 1: issues remaining neutral on matters that call for, action leaving
18:57
Speaker 1: the workload and responsibilities or others to take care, of
19:01
Speaker 1: keeping a tight selfish rap on my wants and my
19:05
Speaker 1: comfort and my desire and my profession and my future
19:10
Speaker 1: looking the other way When god taps me on the
19:12
Speaker 1: shoulder saying it's your. Turn this is for. YOU i
19:19
Speaker 1: noticed another thing about indifferent. People they always refer to
19:22
Speaker 1: the church as their. Church thhei, r it's their, church
19:29
Speaker 1: it's his. Vision now in a, family it's our. Church
19:36
Speaker 1: in a, church it's our. Vision we're a part of.
19:40
Speaker 1: It take away those other words and replace them with
19:43
Speaker 1: we and our and even. Mine this is my, church
19:50
Speaker 1: this is my. Family now what do we do with
19:55
Speaker 1: those who want to dream their way into eternity as
19:58
Speaker 1: they look for the coming Of. Christ paul speaks rather
20:02
Speaker 1: strongly in verse. Six he gives a. Command in, fact
20:05
Speaker 1: you're going to be shocked at how strong he. Is
20:08
Speaker 1: we command, you, brethren in the name of Our Lord Jesus,
20:12
Speaker 1: christ that you keep aloof from every brother who leads
20:18
Speaker 1: an unruly, life not according to the tradition which you
20:22
Speaker 1: receive from. Us that says it all in a, nutshell doesn't. It?
20:27
Speaker 1: Notice it's Between. Christians we command you brethren to keep
20:32
Speaker 1: Aloof from every, brother you will never find a lost
20:37
Speaker 1: person looking forward to the coming Of. Christ you will
20:41
Speaker 1: never find a lost person preoccupied With christ so much
20:45
Speaker 1: so that he or she isn't concerned about. Life as
20:48
Speaker 1: a matter of, fact some lost people Put christians to
20:50
Speaker 1: shame when it comes to being active and involved in
20:53
Speaker 1: things that, matter don't? They but this is A christian. Malady,
20:59
Speaker 1: brothers take a look at every brother who leads an
21:02
Speaker 1: unruly life and mark that. Person see the word. Unruly
21:06
Speaker 1: you'll be surprised at what it means in the. Original
21:09
Speaker 1: it means to play, truant to skip. School it's the
21:15
Speaker 1: idea of being idle when you ought to be actively
21:18
Speaker 1: engaged in getting an. Education in my, LIFETIME i was
21:23
Speaker 1: truant on a couple of three. Occasions i'm now able
21:25
Speaker 1: to say that now That i'm in my nineties and
21:28
Speaker 1: no one will catch up with. Me but back THEN
21:30
Speaker 1: i led my mother to believe THAT i was in
21:33
Speaker 1: school every, day faithfully committing myself to a great, education
21:37
Speaker 1: when in, FACT i was swimming in the creek on
21:39
Speaker 1: a couple of three. Occasions and WHAT i found was
21:42
Speaker 1: at about ten o'clock in the, MORNING i was absolutely.
21:44
Speaker 1: Bored being truant wasn't nearly the FUN i thought it
21:48
Speaker 1: was going to. Be and if you can believe it
21:51
Speaker 1: coming from, ME i really missed school toward the. AFTERNOON
21:57
Speaker 1: i miss my. FRIENDS i missed the involvement of the.
22:00
Speaker 1: Education you, see when you are, truant you think that
22:05
Speaker 1: you're going to be involved in something, else but in
22:08
Speaker 1: fact you become, unruly and as we will see in a, moment, undisciplined,
22:14
Speaker 1: bored and a. Busybody this word unruly has in mind
22:22
Speaker 1: the idea of living an idle, life spending our days
22:27
Speaker 1: watching the skies For christ's. Return and he says that
22:31
Speaker 1: wasn't according to the tradition you received from, us Meaning
22:34
Speaker 1: paul's own. Life and with that in, Mind verses seven
22:37
Speaker 1: through ten present us with the, example You, thessalonians you
22:42
Speaker 1: people In, america you folks In Great, britain you who
22:46
Speaker 1: live In, asia wherever may be your. Home think of
22:50
Speaker 1: the model that we have In, scripture namely the Apostle.
22:54
Speaker 1: Paul look at his. Life you yourselves know how you
22:57
Speaker 1: ought to mimic is the word word mimic our, example
23:02
Speaker 1: because we didn't act in an undisciplined, manner same word
23:06
Speaker 1: as earlier rendered. Unruly when we were, there our lives
23:11
Speaker 1: weren't marked by a lack of. Discipline the same term
23:15
Speaker 1: to play truant is used By, demosthenes The greek, poet
23:19
Speaker 1: to describe being in the military and being out of
23:24
Speaker 1: the action because of indiscipline and. Desertion that's the term used.
23:30
Speaker 1: Here when you think of the Apostle paul's, life you
23:34
Speaker 1: don't think of someone who bailed out on his. Responsibilities
23:37
Speaker 1: you don't think of someone who lacked. Discipline you think
23:41
Speaker 1: of someone whose life was marked by hard work and
23:45
Speaker 1: honesty and. Faithfulness he says that in verse, eight nor
23:51
Speaker 1: did we eat anyone's bread without paying for, it but
23:56
Speaker 1: with labor and. Hardship we kept working night so that
24:01
Speaker 1: we might not be a burden to any of. You
24:05
Speaker 1: we weren't out of, Order we weren't absent from you
24:08
Speaker 1: when you needed, Us and, furthermore we weren't ministerial. Sponges
24:15
Speaker 1: hold your place here and go back to the first
24:17
Speaker 1: letter he wrote to The, thessalonians and locate in chapter two
24:21
Speaker 1: words for these same people earlier in Life One thessalonians
24:27
Speaker 1: two verse seven let me give you a little pen
24:31
Speaker 1: portrait Of paul when he ministered In. Thessalonaika he is
24:36
Speaker 1: early on in, ministry and even yet he is a diligent,
24:40
Speaker 1: example or an example of. Diligence verse, Seven chapter. Two
24:44
Speaker 1: we prove to be gentle among, you as a nursing
24:48
Speaker 1: mother tenderly cares for her own. Children these are words
24:52
Speaker 1: right from the. Nursery these are words of a nursing, mother,
24:56
Speaker 1: gently tenderly caring for her own childre having thus a
25:02
Speaker 1: fond affection for, you we were well pleased to impart
25:05
Speaker 1: to you not only the, gospel but we gave you
25:08
Speaker 1: our own. Lives why because you had become very dear to.
25:11
Speaker 1: Us you, remember, brethren he, adds you remember our labor and,
25:15
Speaker 1: hardship how working night and, day so as not to
25:18
Speaker 1: be a burden to any of. You we proclaim to
25:20
Speaker 1: you the gospel Of, god your, witnesses and so Is.
25:24
Speaker 1: God how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved towards, you.
25:29
Speaker 1: Believers you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and
25:32
Speaker 1: imploring each one of you as a father his own.
25:35
Speaker 1: Children do you have that? Mark verse? Seven as a
25:37
Speaker 1: mother verse, eleven as a, father so that you may
25:41
Speaker 1: walk in a manner worthy of The god who calls
25:43
Speaker 1: you into his own kingdom and. Glory now back To Second,
25:46
Speaker 1: thessalonians chapter. Three his point is, this You, thessalonians who
25:51
Speaker 1: were sitting around waiting for the coming Of, Christ you
25:54
Speaker 1: who have stepped away from responsibilities and are getting all
25:58
Speaker 1: of your meals from those who are still. Responsible you
26:03
Speaker 1: are out of. Order you are skipping. School you are.
26:08
Speaker 1: Truant as a matter of, fact you are. Disobedient i've
26:17
Speaker 1: had some laymen say to me on, Occasion, CHUCK i
26:20
Speaker 1: wish it would be possible for you to get a
26:22
Speaker 1: message across to those in Vocational christian service that it
26:26
Speaker 1: would be kind of nice, if on occasion they picked
26:29
Speaker 1: up the. Tab so this is my moment to say
26:33
Speaker 1: that you may be a, missionary you may be a,
26:37
Speaker 1: pastor you may be on a pastoral, staff you may
26:40
Speaker 1: be in some kind Of christian. Service let's learn from,
26:43
Speaker 1: this fellow, ministers that we are not always to be
26:47
Speaker 1: the ones that expect someone else to pay the, tab
26:51
Speaker 1: and we should never be the ones who ask for a.
26:53
Speaker 1: Discount it is so easy to take advantage of our
26:58
Speaker 1: role as minister type ups and gracious laymen and women
27:03
Speaker 1: will regularly pay the freight for. Us surprise them on
27:07
Speaker 1: occasion by, saying, no this bills on. Me this is my. Privilege.
27:12
Speaker 1: Today you, say what's the biblical basis of? That, WELL
27:17
Speaker 1: i think the Apostle paul is a good. Example he,
27:20
Speaker 1: says we didn't need anyone's bread without paying for. It,
27:24
Speaker 1: now there are some times when it's appropriate and it's
27:27
Speaker 1: acceptable for the minister to accept those privileges and those,
27:32
Speaker 1: blessings but let them not be hinted. At let's not
27:36
Speaker 1: take advantage of someone's. Generosity let's be willing to pay
27:40
Speaker 1: our own. Way verse nine puts it in, perspective not
27:45
Speaker 1: because we don't have the right to, this but in
27:49
Speaker 1: order to offer ourselves as a model for you that
27:51
Speaker 1: you might follow our. Example you, see he was an,
27:55
Speaker 1: Apostle he was a miracle working founder of. Churches he
28:01
Speaker 1: had seen the Risen. CHRIST i mean he could have
28:04
Speaker 1: he wouldn't have done, it but he could have strutted
28:07
Speaker 1: his way through the church and made, demands and they
28:10
Speaker 1: could have met those, demands because after, all he was
28:13
Speaker 1: the Apostle. Paul but he doesn't do that, fact he
28:17
Speaker 1: stays away from that. Idea the reason he stays away
28:21
Speaker 1: from it is his motto in verse. Ten even when
28:25
Speaker 1: we were with, you we used to give you this.
28:27
Speaker 1: Order if anyone will not, work neither let him. EAT
28:31
Speaker 1: i didn't Know paul had the same dad THAT i.
28:33
Speaker 1: Had did you ever know that that same dad you
28:37
Speaker 1: Had paul? Had that sound like what your father taught.
28:40
Speaker 2: You.
28:41
Speaker 1: Son if you're going to, eat you're going to have
28:44
Speaker 1: to work for. It from your earliest, days even when
28:48
Speaker 1: you were making an, allowance you were back there paying
28:50
Speaker 1: your way or part of your, way weren't, You, oh
28:53
Speaker 1: you should have. Been isn't it amazing how he stands
28:58
Speaker 1: for the work ethic at this. Point if anyone will not,
29:01
Speaker 1: work neither let him. Eat now he encourages these encourages
29:08
Speaker 1: us further in eleven through, thirteen especially like the way
29:12
Speaker 1: he says. It we hear that some among you are
29:15
Speaker 1: leading an undisciplined, life same word for the third, time
29:19
Speaker 1: unruly in verse, six undisciplined in verse, seven and again
29:24
Speaker 1: undisciplined in verse. Eleven we hear that some among you
29:28
Speaker 1: are leading an undisciplined, life doing no work at, all
29:34
Speaker 1: but acting like. Busybodies now there it is. Again the
29:39
Speaker 1: person who doesn't work as he or she should will
29:43
Speaker 1: not behave himself or. Herself he will. Misbehave something has
29:48
Speaker 1: to fill the vacuum of, time and the vacuum is
29:52
Speaker 1: usually filled with, gossiping an extreme curiosity and, idleness and
30:00
Speaker 1: being involved in other people's, business becoming. Petty you know
30:07
Speaker 1: some folks like, that don't. YOU i do. Too in,
30:10
Speaker 1: fact they are the bane of the, ministry so involved
30:14
Speaker 1: in everyone else's life and yet not home doing their,
30:19
Speaker 1: job doing their own. BUSINESS i came across a couple
30:25
Speaker 1: of three good statements regarding. This one, says there's a
30:28
Speaker 1: vast difference between putting your nose in other people's business
30:32
Speaker 1: and putting your heart in other people's. Problems on one
30:37
Speaker 1: is just, curiosity the other is. Compassion someone, said when
30:41
Speaker 1: you're tempted to, gossip just breathe through your. Nose, well
30:45
Speaker 1: that was a good. Word, another a bright eye indicates,
30:50
Speaker 1: curiosity a black eye too. Much someone, says no one
30:56
Speaker 1: has the right to live in idleness and expect to
30:58
Speaker 1: live a long and happy. Life the ship anchored in
31:02
Speaker 1: the harbor rots faster than the ship crossing the. OCEAN
31:06
Speaker 1: a still pond of water stagnates more rapidly than a running.
31:11
Speaker 1: Stream our unused minds are subject to atrophy much more
31:17
Speaker 1: rapidly than those in. Use the unused cells in our
31:22
Speaker 1: brains deteriorate much faster than those which are constantly. Exercised,
31:27
Speaker 1: hence to remain, young we must remain. Active show me
31:33
Speaker 1: an idle, gossip And i'll show you somebody who isn't
31:36
Speaker 1: working hard. Enough show me someone who has the time
31:40
Speaker 1: to meddle in other people's, affairs And i'll show you
31:43
Speaker 1: someone who has too much time on their. Hands hard
31:48
Speaker 1: working people don't have time to be petty about other people's.
31:51
Speaker 1: Lives this was true even in the first, century where
31:56
Speaker 1: he says if anyone will not, work neither let him.
31:58
Speaker 1: Eat because those who don't work don't simply live at
32:02
Speaker 1: home and behave. Themselves they get involved in other people's,
32:05
Speaker 1: affairs and before long they're making a mess of their,
32:07
Speaker 1: lives other lives and the church in. General by the,
32:13
Speaker 1: way while you're rearranging your deck chairs in, life how
32:16
Speaker 1: hard are you? Working are you in Vocational christian? Service
32:21
Speaker 1: are you earning your pay For it's true that we
32:25
Speaker 1: shouldn't muzzle the ox who treads out the. Corn as
32:29
Speaker 1: a minister of the, gospel are you known as one
32:32
Speaker 1: who is, diligent who works hard when no one is, looking,
32:36
Speaker 1: who if, necessary will burn the candle a little later
32:39
Speaker 1: at night to get the job. Done if you, preach
32:43
Speaker 1: do you preach with heart and, enthusiasm having prepared, well
32:49
Speaker 1: or are you hitting from your hip looking for the
32:52
Speaker 1: benefits of. Ministry i'm talking to my own, kind SO
32:57
Speaker 1: i can be very tough and straight with. You. Too
33:01
Speaker 1: many in the ministry are, freeloaders ministerial sponges that expect
33:07
Speaker 1: an easy life because someone else is going to pay the.
33:10
Speaker 1: Freight come, on men and, women tighten your, belt work,
33:17
Speaker 1: hard earn your. Way it applies to. Us verse twelve,
33:24
Speaker 1: says now such persons who we command and exhort in
33:29
Speaker 1: The Lord Jesus christ to work in quiet fashion and
33:32
Speaker 1: to eat their own. Bread isn't that? Good you have
33:36
Speaker 1: something to, do get at, it stay, home work, hard
33:41
Speaker 1: or get a. Job earn your, way pay your. Way
33:47
Speaker 1: that's what's written between the lines of this. PASSAGE i
33:51
Speaker 1: like the Way moffitt renders that SECTION i just read for.
33:53
Speaker 1: You in verse, eleven neglecting their own business to mind
33:58
Speaker 1: other people's. Business be, quiet work, hard get back into the.
34:09
Speaker 1: Action leave other people's lives to The. Lord he has
34:15
Speaker 1: a way of straightening their lives. Out, NOW i need
34:20
Speaker 1: to balance this because some people hear only the. Extremes
34:24
Speaker 1: there are some engaged in ministry who are absolutely fabulous
34:27
Speaker 1: examples of, diligence paid far less than they. Deserve they
34:32
Speaker 1: do a work that has eternal dimensions without complaining about.
34:37
Speaker 1: It and in those, cases the lay people need to
34:40
Speaker 1: realize that job needs to be better. Compensated there is
34:45
Speaker 1: a reason for paying, well and that job deserves. It
34:51
Speaker 1: now for those who are working hard and seeing many who,
34:54
Speaker 1: aren't and the tendency is to become burdened and. Discouraged
35:00
Speaker 1: verse thirteen is just for. You as for, you, brethren
35:04
Speaker 1: now he's speaking to those who were working hard and
35:07
Speaker 1: doing their. Job don't grow weary of doing. Good stay at, it,
35:13
Speaker 1: hard at the, task faithfully Serving. Christ don't let someone's
35:19
Speaker 1: lack of diligence cut into your life of. Diligence hang
35:25
Speaker 1: in there, now you AND i might think That paul
35:30
Speaker 1: would leave it at that and just place a big
35:32
Speaker 1: benediction here and call it, quits but he. Doesn't he
35:36
Speaker 1: puts a real punch at the end of this. PARAGRAPH
35:39
Speaker 1: i don't know if you play band, instruments but for
35:41
Speaker 1: those of you who have played in a, band you
35:44
Speaker 1: will know WHAT i mean WHEN i talk about a.
35:46
Speaker 1: Stinger most composers of, marches we'll put together a great,
35:53
Speaker 1: march and at the end that's built to a great,
35:57
Speaker 1: climax it'll. Stop then you'll have a. Boom it's called a.
36:02
Speaker 1: Stinger no, no, no, no, no no bum. Boot that's a
36:06
Speaker 1: stinger all. Together no, no that's getting carried away. Here
36:11
Speaker 1: when you've got this march going in this building to a,
36:13
Speaker 1: climax you think it's all. Over then the composer goes,
36:17
Speaker 1: boom and it's a stinger right at the. End that's
36:19
Speaker 1: what he's got here in this great march called A christian.
36:22
Speaker 1: Life he puts a, stinger and it. Hurts it's going
36:26
Speaker 1: to shock, you especially if you're not. Diligent this is
36:30
Speaker 1: the treatment you ought to be getting from the. Church verse.
36:34
Speaker 1: Fourteen if anyone does not obey our, instruction take special
36:41
Speaker 1: note of that, person that, man that. Woman take special
36:45
Speaker 1: note of that, person and do not associate with. Him
36:52
Speaker 1: so that he may be put to, shame but don't
36:55
Speaker 1: regard him as an, enemy admonish him as a. Brother
37:01
Speaker 1: can you imagine the impact this would have on the
37:05
Speaker 1: idle gossips in the, church if they were simply ignored
37:13
Speaker 1: by the. Family the worst kind of treatment is not.
37:18
Speaker 1: Hatred the worst kind of treatment is. Indifference ever been
37:22
Speaker 1: ignored at a, Party ever been ignored in a? Group
37:27
Speaker 1: how about in a little social, club and you're just
37:30
Speaker 1: overlooked and ignored has an effect on. You but you,
37:35
Speaker 1: see in The church Of Jesus, christ for some, reason
37:38
Speaker 1: we give too much time and attention to the. IDOL i,
37:42
Speaker 1: mean they sap our. Energy they drain us from. Enthusiasm
37:49
Speaker 1: you've heard me say it. BEFORE i get on occasion
37:52
Speaker 1: some of these hate letters and they're, unsigned And i'm
37:56
Speaker 1: just Swear i'm not gonna read. Them THEN i memorize.
37:58
Speaker 1: THEM i know every, line AND i get preoccupied and
38:04
Speaker 1: it steals my. Energy and they weren't even man or
38:07
Speaker 1: woman enough to sign. It my dad used to, say, well,
38:10
Speaker 1: son when a mule, kicks you just consider the. Source
38:14
Speaker 1: just consider the source when you get an unsigned. Letter
38:18
Speaker 1: don't let an idle gossip bother. YOU i say, that
38:22
Speaker 1: and THEN i fight with it. Myself this passage says
38:27
Speaker 1: turn them. OFF i am impressed with the strength and
38:31
Speaker 1: determination the apostle said has in, This but he doesn't
38:34
Speaker 1: say treat them like an. Enemy they're not, Enemies they're
38:38
Speaker 1: just wayward family. Members Bob thomas From Talbot's seminary writes
38:44
Speaker 1: wise words as he describes the meaning of this not
38:48
Speaker 1: associating with. Him anyone refusing to comply with the worth
38:53
Speaker 1: with the work ethic set out in this letter was
38:56
Speaker 1: not to be associated with so that he might be
38:59
Speaker 1: a shamed of his. Behavior he was not to be
39:02
Speaker 1: expelled from the, church like the sinning brother referred to
39:05
Speaker 1: In First corinthians. Five in corinth the offense was so
39:10
Speaker 1: flagrant as to bring disrepute on the whole. Church In, thesalonaika,
39:15
Speaker 1: however the lapse was not yet so aggravated as to
39:19
Speaker 1: bring the reproach of The pagans on the. Church, here
39:23
Speaker 1: the erring brother was allowed to continue in the, meetings
39:26
Speaker 1: but probably was denied participation in The lord's. Supper, certainly
39:33
Speaker 1: he was not to be given, food because this would
39:35
Speaker 1: make the community appear to condone his. Offense do not associate.
39:41
Speaker 1: Implies let there be no intimate association with that. Person
39:47
Speaker 1: you have a Lazy christian as a, friend a close.
39:50
Speaker 1: Friend why is the Lazy christian still a close? Friend
39:56
Speaker 1: in light of this? Passage do you support an undisciplined
40:02
Speaker 1: and unruly believer who is not an active part of
40:07
Speaker 1: the ministry Of? Christ why is he so close to?
40:09
Speaker 1: You why do you give your time to? Her there's
40:16
Speaker 1: a place for shame in that kind of. Lifestyle, oh
40:21
Speaker 1: we don't like preaching like. THIS i, mean who knows
40:27
Speaker 1: how many would have to be set aside for a?
40:30
Speaker 1: While strong. Words, now our problem is not one of. Stargazing, okay,
40:40
Speaker 1: well the church THAT i pastor is not filled with
40:47
Speaker 1: people who have used their theology as a cop. OUT i,
40:51
Speaker 1: MEAN i don't know if too many people who live
40:53
Speaker 1: on their housetop looking up waiting For christ's return as
40:58
Speaker 1: they have another. Eras that's not our. Problem but our
41:01
Speaker 1: problem is one of, indifference and some of you are
41:04
Speaker 1: in the center of that. PROBLEM i, mean you talk
41:08
Speaker 1: a good. Fight you realize there's work to be, done
41:11
Speaker 1: there are people needs to be, met there are there
41:13
Speaker 1: are lives to, reach and there are bills to. Pay
41:16
Speaker 1: you know, that but that's someone else's. Responsibility what you
41:21
Speaker 1: want is a good sermon or, well what you really
41:25
Speaker 1: need is is somebody to kind of tickle your your
41:29
Speaker 1: your ears and give you a good, time sing with
41:33
Speaker 1: you and kind of let that pass for. Commitment but,
41:40
Speaker 1: see that Isn't, Christianity that isn't what's reshaped. History men and.
41:49
Speaker 1: Women there's a big job to get, done and it's
41:53
Speaker 1: our job. Ours there's a vision of getting out of
42:01
Speaker 1: debt at this. Church there are visions of expanding our
42:06
Speaker 1: ministry to reach those not only, nearby but those in
42:09
Speaker 1: the international. Scene that's our, vision that's our. Future it
42:16
Speaker 1: isn't my vision and their. Ministry it's. Hours i'm going
42:23
Speaker 1: to give you three targets to shoot. At three that
42:25
Speaker 1: will help you stay on. Course the first target is
42:30
Speaker 1: WHAT i will call praying. Praying there are adventures in
42:36
Speaker 1: prayer going, on and it won't involve hours and hours of,
42:40
Speaker 1: time but it'll involve some of your. Time how many
42:45
Speaker 1: of you would have to, admit as you answer this,
42:48
Speaker 1: now in your, heart that you're praying really is. Lukewarm
42:56
Speaker 1: i'm not asking for people to spend three hours a.
42:58
Speaker 1: DAY i don't have that kind of time, either not
43:00
Speaker 1: even for. Prayer there's an enormous job to be, done
43:04
Speaker 1: and it calls at times for presence and work and
43:08
Speaker 1: conversation and writing and talking and preaching and teaching and.
43:13
Speaker 1: COUNSELING i have many things to take care of as you,
43:16
Speaker 1: Do and so three hours isn't. Practical how about thirty
43:20
Speaker 1: minutes thirty solid how about three minutes a? Day how
43:28
Speaker 1: about two? Minutes how about just two? Minutes and While
43:37
Speaker 1: i'm mentioning these, TARGETS i need to mention. Giving how
43:41
Speaker 1: many of you would have to say in your, heart
43:44
Speaker 1: my giving is really. LUKEWAR i mean if the future
43:48
Speaker 1: of this church depended upon my, Giving i'm not sure
43:51
Speaker 1: that even be able to turn the lights On sunday.
43:53
Speaker 1: MORNING i, mean down deep in your soul kind of
43:59
Speaker 1: giving where you plan carefully and you look at your
44:04
Speaker 1: list of us of, expenditures and right at the top
44:09
Speaker 1: is The lord's part ten twelve fifteen. Percent why our
44:16
Speaker 1: plans at this church are to increase our budget some
44:19
Speaker 1: forty percent to get out of debt in three. Years
44:22
Speaker 1: we're committed to. That it's our. Plan and the way
44:27
Speaker 1: some rock along and sort of drop in a coin,
44:29
Speaker 1: now and then we'll never make. That it can't. CONTINUE
44:35
Speaker 1: i want to assure you will not rely on gimmicks
44:38
Speaker 1: to make this. HAPPEN i read not long ago about
44:40
Speaker 1: a pastor who was pressed to get people to give.
44:42
Speaker 1: More he came up with a very ingenious plan called
44:46
Speaker 1: an offering. Box if you gave five dollars or, more nothing.
44:50
Speaker 1: Happened just drop your money in and walk. By if
44:54
Speaker 1: you gave fifty, cents a little bell. Tinkled if you
44:58
Speaker 1: donated a, quarter it blew. Whistle if you gave a,
45:02
Speaker 1: Die i'm a syreen went. Off you gave A nicolas
45:05
Speaker 1: shot sounded a. Shot if you walked by and gave,
45:09
Speaker 1: nothing it took your. PICTURE i think that's. Terrific some
45:16
Speaker 1: churches that run out of. Film how Many sundays are
45:23
Speaker 1: there where you just virtually give? Nothing come, on face.
45:27
Speaker 1: It it's an enormous job to get, done and giving,
45:31
Speaker 1: is for some of, you your major part in. Ministry
45:36
Speaker 1: how foolish of me to pass this up in my.
45:39
Speaker 1: Exhortation let me tell, you and you're praying, right you'll
45:44
Speaker 1: be giving. Right it's absolutely revolutionized my whole idea of.
45:49
Speaker 1: Giving AND i don't brag about. THAT i just tell
45:52
Speaker 1: you as a fact BECAUSE i wasn't raised to be.
45:54
Speaker 1: GENEROUS i was raised to be tight by very tight
45:58
Speaker 1: fisted parents who meant well but didn't engender generosity in.
46:03
Speaker 1: Me And i'm working on. Generosity there is NOTHING i
46:08
Speaker 1: have That god can't get and hasn't the right to
46:11
Speaker 1: at any time of my. Life i'm planning this year
46:15
Speaker 1: to increase my giving, sizeably are? You third is, serving
46:25
Speaker 1: AND i mean serving in places where the needs are and.
46:30
Speaker 1: Consistently not once a year in the, nursery not just
46:37
Speaker 1: every other Month i'll drop by and see if all
46:40
Speaker 1: the needs are, met but a consistent place of service with,
46:44
Speaker 1: children youth or, adults as an, usher as a parking lot,
46:48
Speaker 1: attendant as a member of a, choir as a part
46:51
Speaker 1: in this family. Serving you, see luke warmness comes out
46:57
Speaker 1: in any number of different. WAYS i want to show
47:02
Speaker 1: you two verses that are some of the finest in
47:05
Speaker 1: The New, testament toward the end Of colossians chapter, three
47:10
Speaker 1: and THEN i want to read you an, illustration and
47:12
Speaker 1: then we're all Through colossians chapter, Three verses twenty three
47:19
Speaker 1: and twenty. Four come, on, now turn to That colossians,
47:22
Speaker 1: three twenty three and twenty. Four whatever you, do do
47:31
Speaker 1: your work. Heartily our music Minister Howie stevenson likes that word.
47:41
Speaker 1: Heartily he talks about our singing. Heartily that's Why i'm
47:45
Speaker 1: hoarse WHEN i come to preach AFTER i have sung
47:48
Speaker 1: heartily as under The. Lord don't just mumble sing. Heartily
47:53
Speaker 1: you know what the word means and its original e
47:57
Speaker 1: suit k from the, soul from deep within the. Soul
48:02
Speaker 1: let it pour. Forth that's the word. Here whatever you,
48:06
Speaker 1: do do it from the soul as for The, lord
48:10
Speaker 1: rather than for. Men knowing that from The lord you'll
48:14
Speaker 1: receive the reward of the. Inheritance it is The Lord
48:16
Speaker 1: christ whom you. SERVE i love that. Verse you do
48:21
Speaker 1: this as unto The. Lord tell no one else about.
48:25
Speaker 1: It just make it your service to The, king And
48:29
Speaker 1: i'll guarantee you the rewards will blow you. Away you'll
48:34
Speaker 1: be free for maybe the first time in your. Life,
48:38
Speaker 1: now let me warn. You our tendency is to give
48:42
Speaker 1: attention to it if people will see, it and not
48:47
Speaker 1: to give too much attention to it if men and
48:50
Speaker 1: women don't find out about. It but in the Committed christian's,
48:54
Speaker 1: life it is the, same even though no one sees,
48:59
Speaker 1: it which brings me to the. Story Oscar hammerstein the
49:04
Speaker 1: second has written a book Called, lyrics and in the
49:08
Speaker 1: book he records these. WORDS a year or so, ago
49:12
Speaker 1: on the cover of The New York Herald Tribune sunday,
49:16
Speaker 1: MAGAZINE i saw a picture of The statue Of liberty
49:21
Speaker 1: taken from a. Helicopter as it showed the top of
49:25
Speaker 1: the statue's. HEAD i was amazed at the detail. There
49:32
Speaker 1: the sculpture had done a painstaking job with the Ladies,
49:36
Speaker 1: corythure and yet he must have been pretty sure that
49:41
Speaker 1: the only eyes that would ever see this detail would
49:44
Speaker 1: be the uncritical eyes of. Seagulls he could not have
49:49
Speaker 1: dreamt that any man would ever fly over her. Head
49:55
Speaker 1: but he was an, artist and to finish off the
50:00
Speaker 1: part of a statue with as much care as he
50:03
Speaker 1: had devoted to her, face her, arms and the torch was.
50:09
Speaker 1: Essential everything that people can see as they sail up the.
50:16
Speaker 1: Bay that isn't the only important part when you're creating
50:22
Speaker 1: a work of art or any other kind of. Work
50:25
Speaker 1: finish the job perfectly. Thoroughly let's pray, Together will you bow?
50:36
Speaker 1: Please for some of you it's time for a very
50:43
Speaker 1: definite conversation with your. Family if you live with a,
50:47
Speaker 1: mate you live with, children it's time to talk seriously
50:55
Speaker 1: about this commitment To Jesus. Christ god's work can't be
50:59
Speaker 1: done warm. Fashion the ministry Of christ can't get done
51:06
Speaker 1: if it rests in the hands of those that lack. Diligence,
51:10
Speaker 1: now some of you have your hands full with a
51:12
Speaker 1: house full of little. Children that's a. Commitment give yourself
51:15
Speaker 1: to that, faithfully. Consistently others of you have time and,
51:22
Speaker 1: Energy you've got the, training you've got the background to
51:30
Speaker 1: get out of that unfolded chair and get on with.
51:35
Speaker 1: Life some of you need to give for the first
51:43
Speaker 1: time in your, life, sacrificially not till it, hurts but
51:50
Speaker 1: till it feels. Good and you could give so much.
51:54
Speaker 1: More If christ were king in your, life he Were
52:01
Speaker 1: lord for some of. You the decision is simply coming
52:08
Speaker 1: to faith In. Christ SO i dedicate this last sixty
52:12
Speaker 1: seconds to. You ever been a time in your life
52:18
Speaker 1: when you, Said Lord, God i'm a stranger to. You i'm.
52:24
Speaker 1: LOST i have no. Future IF i were to die this,
52:30
Speaker 1: DAY i KNOW i wouldn't go to. Heaven, well if
52:33
Speaker 1: that's your. Story Take christ, Today Lord, jesus come into my.
52:40
Speaker 1: Life that's the prayer for. YOU i want to live
52:45
Speaker 1: like A christian ought to, live BUT i don't have the.
52:48
Speaker 1: Power SO i ask you to take over the controls
52:50
Speaker 1: of my life and forgive me of my sins and take.
52:55
Speaker 1: Charge And he'll come, in promise. You While christians around
53:02
Speaker 1: you are praying about their, lifestyle maybe it's time for
53:05
Speaker 1: you to pray about. Life there Are christians that wait
53:11
Speaker 1: your coming in the prayer. Room trained people are there
53:15
Speaker 1: to minister to you. Today Lord, god thank you For
53:19
Speaker 1: christ who loved us and gave himself for. Us forgive.
53:25
Speaker 1: Us do forgive us for the lukewarm days when we
53:31
Speaker 1: have gotten our priorities mixed, up when we have moved
53:34
Speaker 1: in the wrong, direction when we've spent simply spent our
53:38
Speaker 1: time getting our deck chair. Unfolded show us a, purpose
53:43
Speaker 1: show us a reason for, change and then motivate us
53:46
Speaker 1: to do. It, father that the work Of christ might be.
53:50
Speaker 1: Accomplished we pray In his strong and blessed. Name.
53:55
Speaker 2: Amen the preceding Message buying into The vision was copyrighted
54:02
Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty six nineteen ninety one two thousand two
54:05
Speaker 2: and twenty twenty, four and the sound recording was copyrighted
54:09
Speaker 2: in twenty twenty four By CHARLES. R Swindahl. Incorporated all
54:13
Speaker 2: rights are reserved. Worldwide duplication of copyrighted material for commercial
54:18
Speaker 2: use is strictly prohibited