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

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

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