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Stewarding Our Leaders · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Well, so glad to be able to open God's Word with you this morning.
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You can get your Bibles out. We'll turn in just a second.
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As we begin this morning, I wonder how many of us who have been married
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! Can remember the gifts that you received on that day long ago.
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For me, it was about 15 years ago, just two weeks ago.
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And I was thinking about it.
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The only thing that I can remember that we received as a gift that day
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were some blue wedding plates that have no longer survived.
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Now, this is funny to think about.
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If you go to a birthday party, you can see on the expression of your kid's face
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if they were hopeful for a particular gift.
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We can see it in their eyes, their expression.
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This even happens in our marriages when we are giving gifts on anniversaries.
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Some of us have missed the mark, haven't we?
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You see, it's often true that the giver and the receiver are on different pages.
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But this morning, we are going to consider that God is not like us in giving gifts.
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God never once gives bad gifts to His people.
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Now, how we make use of those gifts, if they are used towards their intended purpose,
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is a helpful way for us to think about what we're discussing this morning,
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the biblical idea of stewardship.
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This morning, we will give attention, especially to one form of stewardship,
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and that's the stewardship of pastors and elders
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that have been gifted to each local congregation to lead the body.
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Now, if you're newer with us this morning,
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you may not know that we have just recently appointed and affirmed new elders in this local body.
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Now, it's helpful for us to remember that this is only the beginning for us with these new elders.
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See, there are a lifetime of transactions that occur between a pastor and a church member,
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those church members to their pastor.
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So that's our goal this morning, as we're going to open God's Word in just a second,
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to consider and to prayerfully ask the Lord,
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is there room for me to grow in embracing the gift of elders that God has given to this body?
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So let's do that.
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We're going to pray this morning, and we will open in just a second to our first text.
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So let's pray.
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Father, we, today, this morning, recognize that it is by Your Word that You lead us.
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Lord, Your Word, by Your Holy Spirit, brings new light to our lives.
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There are new ways that the Gospel is intended to transform us,
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to increase our joy, to increase our longing for the day that You will come back.
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And so we pray this morning we would do that.
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Lord, would You give us humble hearts that are no longer blinded to some of the areas that we fall short.
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And Lord, we thank You that we can do this as sons and daughters,
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not under condemnation if we put our trust in Christ,
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but Lord with joyful thanksgiving.
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So would You accomplish that and more as we spend our time together in Christ's name. Amen.
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Now there's a few reasons that we don't normally think much about stewarding our elders and other leaders within the church.
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We don't normally assume that elders and pastors in our life belong in the same category
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that something like a checkbook or a calendar do.
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We don't have a system of evaluating whether or not we are using them correctly,
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only a system in our minds of evaluating how they serve us.
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So sometimes we forget our responsibility.
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We also are more familiar with the biblical qualifications and calling that we see across Scripture.
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So many of us are familiar with the qualifications from 1 Timothy 3, 1 Peter 5, or Titus 1.
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These qualifications are essential for the health and proper care of the body.
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But there's even more that should be considered as a congregation.
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So we're going to turn to a couple of different passages this morning.
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But let me first give you the outline for what we will be looking at this morning.
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So the very first point that we will be covering is actually a question.
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And the question is, why does God give the church elders and leaders?
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And we'll look at Ephesians 4 to answer that question.
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We'll also look at three other points from Hebrews chapter 13.
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These points, how we steward our elders and pastors, are the following.
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Number one, by considering and imitating.
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Number two, by obeying and submitting.
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And by number three, by pursuing the joy of our elders.
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So please turn with me first to Ephesians chapter 4.
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Although most of our time will be in the book of Hebrews, it's helpful to start here.
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And the reason is because this chapter, really, this section of verses helps to lay the foundation and the groundwork for how to understand why God gives qualified men to local congregations.
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So let's read Ephesians chapter 4.
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We'll start in verse 4.
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There is one body and one spirit.
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Just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.
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One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
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Who is over all and through all and in all.
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But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
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Therefore, it says,
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When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives and he gave gifts to men.
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In saying he ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth.
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He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things.
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And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry,
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for building up the body of Christ.
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Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to mature manhood.
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To the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
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As we head towards understanding how we are called to embrace the gift of leadership in the body,
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we first want to understand why elders and leaders are given to the church.
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So first consider with me that this is not a man-made idea.
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Notice in our text who is the primary actor, the origin, and the one who is actively setting his course to achieve a particular goal.
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Verse 7 says,
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But grace was given to each one of us, and it was according to the measure of whose gift?
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Of Christ's gifts.
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At this point, we don't exactly know what is being given, but we can see that the one responsible is the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Because the gifts belong to him.
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And he is given from his own heart, and what we see is from his grace.
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This means that Jesus is not being compelled and he's not being forced.
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But this giving of gifts comes from his own heart.
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But notice also with me, what is the occasion that these gifts are given to?
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So we tend to think of giving out gifts on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or other reasons to celebrate.
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But this particular celebration, it comes in response to what the text describes as an ascension and a descension.
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Do you see that in verse 9 and verse 10?
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Notice it says,
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He descended into the lower regions, the earth.
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Now, kids, if you aren't familiar with what the word descension is,
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Think of somebody coming down from a position of great power, like a king.
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And they come down to make themselves known to you.
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Now, that's a powerful picture.
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And that's what Jesus has done.
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So Jesus has descended in history from his place of glory to become clothed in flesh, like you and I,
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In order that he might ascend and go back.
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Back to glory with his Father.
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So what we have again here is we have the occasion of a celebration.
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A celebration of descension and ascension.
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And Jesus is celebrating the conquering of sin and death that he accomplished on the cross.
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Now, as he accomplishes this great work,
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What Jesus does is he shares the spoils with his people.
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See, it's unlike a birthday party that you go to,
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Where we give gifts to the person being celebrated here.
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What we see is Jesus gives gifts to his body through his accomplishment.
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Jesus has won a triumphant victory.
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And we are the ones who receive the benefit.
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You're familiar with this line.
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It says,
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Why should I gain from his reward?
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I cannot give an answer.
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But this I know with all my heart,
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His wounds have paid my ransom.
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We receive gifts from what he's done for us.
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Now, we're getting closer to answering this question
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of why does God give pastors and elders?
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We've seen that Jesus gives gifts to his people.
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And he does it to further enjoy,
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to further satisfy the things that he has accomplished for us.
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And we also see that Jesus,
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when he gives gifts in this text,
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he's giving to two different categories of people.
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If you look at verse 7,
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he is giving specific gifts.
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And it says,
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For building up the entire body.
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Oh, I'm sorry.
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Let me back up.
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We see that in verse 7,
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he's giving gifts to specific people.
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But in verse 12,
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he is giving gifts to the entire body of the church,
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the collective group of people
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that assembles together to worship the Lord.
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Now, look again with me at verse 11 through 13.
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It says,
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He gave apostles and prophets,
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evangelists, shepherds, and teachers
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to equip the saints for the work of ministry,
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for building up the body of Christ,
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until we all attain to the unity of the faith
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and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
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to mature manhood,
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to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
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See, our corporate gifts are the leaders
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that God has put amongst us.
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They are the ones we are called to steward.
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They have been specifically created and designed and placed
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within each local congregation
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so that the body can progressively enjoy the full bounty
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of the soul-satisfying work of the gospel.
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Now, many churches don't enjoy the benefit
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of seeing those called and appointed
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as elders and leaders in their congregation.
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Perhaps you grew up in one of these churches as well.
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You may have picked up habits from these earlier days
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and become accustomed to viewing pastors
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only on a horizontal level.
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See, the danger that we walk into when we do this
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is we can actually only start relating to our pastors
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in a form of compliance to their leadership,
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perhaps tolerance for their ministry,
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but worse, what can happen is disdain and resistance
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can creep in towards authority,
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and this can have great consequences on the church.
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So I ask you, brothers and sisters,
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do you receive your pastors and elders
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as gifts that we see from Ephesians chapter 4?
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These are for your good,
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and their placement is a primary means of grace
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so that we can know Christ more.
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Now we're going to switch,
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and you can flip over to Hebrews chapter 13.
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We're going to read through a short section here,
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but before we get that,
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those of you who may be a little bit unfamiliar
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with the book of Hebrews,
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it's helpful to remember
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that the author of Hebrews
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spends a lot of his time laboring
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to challenge, exhort,
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and uphold the superior hope of the gospel
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as the end that the Old Testament anticipates.
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So the sacrificial system of the Old Testament
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has been replaced
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by the once and for all sacrifice
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of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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But the book of Hebrews
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doesn't just hold out the hope of Christ.
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It also warns us
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about drifting in our own hearts.
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So chapter 2, verse 1 says,
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Therefore we must pay closer attention
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to what we have heard
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lest we drift away from it.
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Chapter 4 says,
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Let us therefore strive to enter the rest
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so that no one may fall
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by the same sort of disobedience.
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In Hebrews 10,
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For if we go on sinning deliberately,
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after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
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there no longer remains
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a sacrifice for sins,
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but a fearful expectation of judgment.
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These sober reminders
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are attention worthy.
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They call us to shackle
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the hidden areas of self-confidence
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and to root out any drifting of the heart
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that exists within us.
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The closing words of Hebrews
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then are intended to protect us,
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to point us towards
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God's preserving grace
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that we receive
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through conduits
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of the Great Shepherd Himself,
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namely our leaders.
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So point one
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is how to embrace biblical leadership
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to consider and imitate.
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Chapter 13, verse 7,
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we read this.
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It says,
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Remember your leaders,
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those who spoke to you
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the Word of God,
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and consider
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the outcome
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of their way of life,
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and imitate their faith.
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There is a progression
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within this verse
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that's important for us to follow.
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The progression begins
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with the idea
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of first remembering
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leaders of the past.
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The past tense word spoke
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and the focus on the outcome
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of their way of life
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leads us to assume
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that these particular leaders
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being referenced
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have now gone on
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to be with the Lord.
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Now, our text alerts us
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that the call
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to remember our leaders
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does not stop
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only with admiration
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of our leaders.
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You see,
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the world celebrates
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and it memorializes leaders
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in an outward way.
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But we are called
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to a different type
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of remembering.
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We remember leaders
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of the body
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with an eye
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towards consideration
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and imitation.
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It says,
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consider the outcome
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of their way of life
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and imitate
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their faith.
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Now, why would God
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call us
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to imitate men?
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Doesn't that put us
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in a position
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of vulnerability
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to their own failures?
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Well, consider
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just a few chapters
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before.
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In the chapter
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called the Hall of Faith,
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chapter 11,
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those mentioned
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are extremely flawed men
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with flawed resumes.
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So, we recall
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Moses was a man
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who struggled
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with anger
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such that he
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was guilty
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of murder.
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Now, David
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was the same
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as well.
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He succumbed
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to the pleasures
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of his flesh
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by committing adultery.
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in themselves,
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these are
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ordinary men
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and so
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are your
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elders.
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But why
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do we remember?
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Why does God
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call us
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to remember
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these leaders
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of the past?
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What is actually
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worthy
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of being considered
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and imitated?
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The point
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of remembering
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our leaders
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is found
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in the connection
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to verse 8.
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It says,
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Jesus Christ
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is the same
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yesterday,
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today,
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and forever.
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The verse
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is intentionally
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positioned
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right here
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in the context
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of imitating
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our leaders
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because
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we remember
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in such a way
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that we fix
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our gaze
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not on men,
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but on the
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faithfulness
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of the one
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who sustained
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them
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until the
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very end.
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See,
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Jesus is the one
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who gives
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pastors
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as gifts
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to demonstrate
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not sufficiency
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in men,
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but the
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sufficiency
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of his grace
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which works
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within them.
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We should
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expect
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a particular
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way
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that God
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will show
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us Christ
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in the men
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that are called
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to lead
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the church.
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So,
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how is the
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gospel
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manifested
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in their
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public
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and in
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their
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private
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lives?
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Where do
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we witness
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their strength
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coming from
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when their
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flesh
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is weak
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and exposed?
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Hebrews 11
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verse 13
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reminds us
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of these
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leaders.
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These all
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died in
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faith,
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not having
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received the
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things which
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were promised,
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but having
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seen them,
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they greeted
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them from
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afar,
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having
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acknowledged
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that they
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were strangers
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and exiles
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on the
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earth.
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Now,
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these are
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the types
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of leaders
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who bring
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great benefit
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to the
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body of
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Christ.
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Many
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leaders
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clothe
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themselves
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in signs
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of external
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strength,
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but look
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to leaders,
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imitate
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leaders,
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and pray
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for our
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leaders,
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that they
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would be
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the type
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of men
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who wear
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the banner
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of Jesus
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Christ
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yesterday,
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today,
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and forever.
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So,
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our flesh,
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it's good for
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us to think
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about,
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our flesh
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naturally
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wants to
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resist the
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call to
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imitate,
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to submit,
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and to
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obey and
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follow our
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leaders.
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leaders.
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Now,
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at least in
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my own
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heart,
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there are
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a couple
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reasons why
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this happens
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so naturally.
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The first
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is because
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individualism
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reigns
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supreme
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in our
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country.
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We place
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value on
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thinking
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independently,
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on being
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able to
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navigate our
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course without
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needing help
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from outsiders,
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and this
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can be very
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sneaky within
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our own
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hearts.
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What does
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it look
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like?
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Well,
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thoughts can
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quietly enter
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and say
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to us,
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we would
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do things
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just a
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little
21:54
differently.
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They don't
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exactly see
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the things
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that we
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see.
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They might
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have a
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funny
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personality.
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And slowly,
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our
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imitation
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turns only
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outward towards
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observation,
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or even
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reservation.
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Is the
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Lord calling
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us to
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repent in
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this area?
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Could it
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be that
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the grace
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of receiving
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care from
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our Father
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means to
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fight against
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the spirit
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of individualism
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in our own
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hearts?
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The second
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reason is
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that our
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leaders are
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sinful,
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as we
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well know.
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While it's
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good to be
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discerning about
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the direction
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that our
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leaders will
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take,
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we can
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easily fall
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prey to
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the schemes
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of the evil
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one,
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which tell
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us to
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resist their
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influence for
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our safety.
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can you
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imagine the
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sheep coming
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together with
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a call to
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resist the
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care of
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their
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shepherds?
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This is a
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very dangerous
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point,
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place to
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be,
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church.
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You see,
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God has
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ordained
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biblical
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standards for
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our elders
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amongst us.
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Paul says,
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even if an
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angel comes
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proclaiming
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another gospel,
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let him be
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a curse.
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God gives
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our leaders
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guidelines.
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How we
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are to be
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influenced
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should be
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very similar
23:28
to the
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words of
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Paul in
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1 Corinthians
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chapter 11.
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It says
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this,
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follow me,
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but follow
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me as I
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follow Christ.
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Our
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imitation
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is grounded
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in Christ.
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Point two,
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how to
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embrace
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biblical
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leadership
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by obeying
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and submitting.
23:51
So for the
23:52
sake of time,
23:52
we're not
23:53
going to
23:53
unpack all
23:54
the verses
23:54
here in
23:55
the next
23:55
section of
23:58
Hebrews
23:58
chapter 13,
23:59
but in
23:59
brief fashion,
24:01
notice verse
24:02
9 and the
24:04
warning that
24:04
is mentioned
24:05
in this
24:07
particular
24:07
verse.
24:08
One of
24:10
the primary
24:10
reasons we're
24:11
called to
24:11
embrace
24:12
leaders by
24:13
obeying and
24:14
submitting to
24:15
them is
24:16
because there
24:16
is no
24:17
shortage of
24:18
what verse
24:18
9 calls
24:19
strange and
24:21
diverse
24:21
teachings.
24:23
Now we
24:24
aren't told
24:25
precisely what
24:25
these teachings
24:26
are, but we
24:27
do know that
24:28
believers are
24:29
being threatened
24:30
to find false
24:31
strength in
24:33
some custom
24:34
of food
24:35
observance.
24:36
notice that
24:38
the writer
24:38
says halfway
24:39
through this
24:40
verse, it
24:41
is good for
24:42
the heart to
24:43
be strengthened
24:43
by grace
24:45
rather than
24:46
by foods
24:47
prepared at
24:49
altars.
24:51
So pastors
24:51
are called
24:53
to do
24:53
exactly what
24:55
we find
24:56
here by
24:58
the author
24:58
of Hebrews.
25:00
They warn
25:01
us to
25:01
protect us
25:02
from reaching
25:03
for false
25:04
strength.
25:05
The gospel
25:07
is indeed
25:08
sufficient, the
25:10
elders must
25:11
declare, and
25:12
that is their
25:13
only banner.
25:15
Now why is
25:16
this important?
25:17
It's because we
25:18
all reach for
25:19
something when
25:20
weaknesses are
25:21
exposed in our
25:22
life.
25:23
That is built
25:24
within our
25:25
fabric.
25:26
I am weak,
25:27
I need
25:28
strength.
25:29
I'm not
25:30
content with my
25:31
circumstances,
25:32
what hope can
25:34
I find in
25:35
other circumstances
25:36
where I've
25:38
fallen down,
25:39
what will
25:39
lift me up?
25:41
I see this
25:43
example in my
25:44
beautiful daughter
25:45
Savannah that
25:46
many of you
25:46
know.
25:47
So she's not
25:48
quite comfortable
25:49
in a pool
25:50
all by herself.
25:53
And while she
25:54
reaches for her
25:55
mom continually
25:56
around the
25:56
house, it can
25:57
be hard for me
25:58
to even capture
26:00
a moment of
26:01
her attention.
26:03
But when we
26:04
head over to
26:05
the pool,
26:06
there's only
26:07
one person
26:08
that she
26:09
wants to be
26:10
with.
26:11
See, she
26:12
reaches for
26:13
the strongest
26:14
thing that
26:15
she can when
26:17
her weakness
26:17
is exposed.
26:19
And thankfully,
26:20
that's her
26:21
dad.
26:23
Now, us
26:24
elders are
26:25
called to
26:27
do just like
26:28
I do for
26:29
Savannah.
26:29
I do not
26:31
let her reach
26:32
for her
26:32
brothers and
26:33
her sisters.
26:35
The pool
26:35
noodle that
26:36
looks really
26:37
easy to
26:38
hang on is
26:40
just a trap.
26:42
And that is
26:43
what elders
26:43
do for the
26:45
congregation.
26:46
When we
26:47
are weak
26:47
only, Christ
26:49
is sufficient
26:50
to sustain
26:52
us until
26:53
the end.
26:55
Now, God's
26:56
under-shepherds
26:56
have this
26:57
glorious privilege
26:59
of upholding
27:00
the worth
27:01
of Jesus.
27:03
But it
27:03
also says
27:04
in verse
27:05
17,
27:07
obey your
27:07
leaders and
27:08
submit to
27:09
them, for
27:10
they are
27:10
keeping watch
27:12
over your
27:12
souls as
27:14
those who
27:15
will give
27:15
an account.
27:18
So be
27:18
encouraged,
27:19
church.
27:20
Our
27:20
obedience and
27:21
our submission
27:22
to elders
27:23
is grounded
27:24
in their
27:25
accountability
27:26
ability before
27:27
God Almighty.
27:30
They are
27:31
only stewards
27:32
themselves,
27:33
and God
27:34
is presiding
27:36
over their
27:36
care for
27:37
you.
27:39
Oh, how
27:39
the Lord
27:40
loves you.
27:42
Having not
27:42
spared his
27:43
son, he
27:45
can be
27:45
trusted with
27:47
the ones that
27:48
he has put in
27:48
charge of
27:50
your care.
27:50
our last
27:52
point this
27:53
morning is
27:54
how to
27:55
embrace
27:55
biblical
27:56
leadership
27:57
by pursuing
27:59
the joy
28:00
of our
28:01
leaders.
28:03
And this
28:03
also comes
28:04
from verse
28:05
17.
28:06
It says
28:07
this,
28:07
obey your
28:09
leaders and
28:10
submit to
28:11
them, for
28:12
they are
28:12
keeping watch
28:13
over your
28:14
souls as
28:15
those who
28:16
will give
28:16
an account,
28:16
but let
28:18
them do
28:18
this with
28:19
joy and
28:21
not with
28:21
groaning,
28:22
because that
28:23
would be of
28:24
no advantage
28:26
to you.
28:29
So there
28:29
are two
28:30
goals in
28:31
mind here
28:32
with this
28:32
final instruction,
28:34
and the
28:34
first of
28:35
which is
28:36
to pursue
28:37
the joy
28:38
of your
28:39
pastors.
28:40
Let them
28:41
do this
28:42
with joy.
28:44
This is a
28:45
call,
28:46
church,
28:46
to us,
28:48
to you,
28:49
to care
28:49
specifically
28:50
for the
28:51
hearts of
28:53
your leaders.
28:54
You see,
28:55
our groanings,
28:56
our complaints,
28:58
our
29:00
dissatisfaction
29:01
has the
29:01
potential to
29:02
deplete the
29:04
heart of
29:04
those who
29:06
care for
29:07
us.
29:08
So fill
29:09
them with
29:09
joy,
29:10
church.
29:11
Refuel
29:11
and replenish
29:13
and guard
29:14
your words
29:15
against
29:16
groaning.
29:17
Measure
29:18
the ambition
29:18
of your
29:19
heart by
29:20
setting your
29:21
course for
29:22
joy in
29:24
their ministry.
29:26
And secondly,
29:27
remember that
29:28
this is also
29:29
designed for
29:31
your good.
29:33
Verse 17
29:34
reminds us
29:36
that we
29:36
are advantaged.
29:39
We are best
29:40
cared for.
29:41
we are best
29:43
stewards
29:44
ourselves
29:45
when we
29:46
are pursuing
29:48
their joy.
29:50
Now let me
29:51
say this,
29:52
I am brand
29:53
new to the
29:54
role of
29:54
being an
29:55
elder,
29:55
as you
29:55
know,
29:56
but from
29:57
talking to
29:58
those who
29:58
have labored
29:59
faithfully
30:00
year after
30:01
year at
30:02
Christ's
30:02
family,
30:04
they find
30:05
it a joy
30:06
to serve
30:06
you because
30:07
you do
30:08
these things
30:09
very well.
30:12
You
30:12
increase
30:13
our joy
30:14
in Christ
30:15
by the
30:15
way that
30:16
you live,
30:17
by the
30:17
way that
30:18
you are
30:18
gracious
30:19
with our
30:19
weaknesses,
30:21
and by
30:22
your desire
30:23
to be
30:23
led
30:24
towards
30:25
streams
30:26
of living
30:26
waters.
30:27
But as
30:29
we strive
30:30
to do
30:30
this even
30:31
more,
30:32
there are
30:33
just a
30:34
few
30:34
practical
30:35
steps
30:35
for us
30:37
to
30:37
consider.
30:38
So four
30:39
steps for
30:40
our
30:41
consideration.
30:42
The first,
30:42
you don't
30:42
have to
30:43
turn there,
30:44
comes from
30:45
3 John
30:46
chapter 1
30:47
verse 4.
30:52
It says
30:53
this,
30:53
I have
30:54
no greater
30:55
joy
30:56
than to
30:57
hear that
30:58
my
30:59
children
30:59
are
31:00
walking
31:01
in the
31:02
truth.
31:03
The first
31:04
step is
31:05
to walk
31:05
in the
31:06
truth.
31:07
What is
31:08
your compass
31:08
church that
31:09
navigates
31:10
your
31:11
relationship
31:12
with your
31:13
elders?
31:14
Do your
31:15
engagement
31:15
with your
31:16
pastors
31:16
demonstrate
31:16
that you
31:17
are hungry
31:18
for intimacy
31:19
with Christ?
31:21
Does
31:22
truth
31:22
preside
31:24
over
31:24
preference?
31:26
step
31:27
number
31:27
two,
31:28
pray.
31:30
Second
31:31
Thessalonians
31:32
3
31:32
verse 1
31:33
says this,
31:34
finally
31:35
brothers,
31:36
pray for
31:37
us that
31:37
the word
31:38
of the
31:39
Lord may
31:40
speed
31:40
ahead
31:42
and be
31:42
honored
31:42
and that
31:44
we may
31:44
be delivered
31:45
from wicked
31:46
and from
31:47
evil
31:47
men.
31:50
Are
31:51
you
31:51
praying
31:52
for your
31:53
pastors?
31:55
A couple
31:56
specific ways,
31:57
pray that
31:58
God would
31:58
fuel us,
32:00
that we
32:00
ourselves
32:01
would hunger
32:02
for more
32:03
of Christ.
32:05
Pray that
32:05
God would
32:06
protect us
32:07
from the
32:07
schemes of
32:08
the evil
32:09
one that
32:10
are many
32:10
times directed
32:11
precisely
32:12
at your
32:14
elders.
32:16
And pray
32:16
for grace
32:17
within our
32:18
families,
32:19
that our
32:20
wives and
32:21
that our
32:21
children would
32:22
be healthy
32:23
and established
32:25
in the truth
32:26
of the
32:27
gospel.
32:28
Number
32:29
three,
32:31
provide.
32:32
1 Timothy
32:33
chapter 5
32:34
verse 17
32:35
says,
32:37
let the
32:37
elders who
32:38
rule well
32:39
be considered
32:41
worthy of
32:42
double
32:43
honor,
32:45
especially
32:45
those who
32:46
labor
32:47
in preaching
32:49
and in
32:50
teaching.
32:51
This is a
32:52
great verse
32:53
that probably
32:54
deserves more
32:55
time than
32:56
we are giving
32:57
it this
32:57
morning.
32:59
But consider
33:00
what is this
33:01
verse calling
33:02
us to?
33:04
Those who
33:04
labor in
33:05
teaching and
33:06
preaching are
33:08
those who
33:08
make their
33:09
living by
33:10
proclaiming
33:11
the gospel.
33:12
We are
33:13
privileged to
33:13
have two
33:14
men who
33:15
are currently
33:16
doing that
33:16
in our
33:17
body.
33:18
What a
33:19
gift to
33:19
excel in
33:20
providing for
33:22
these men.
33:23
See, we
33:24
can be
33:24
intentional and
33:25
do our
33:25
best to
33:26
remove any
33:27
obstacles of
33:28
provision that
33:30
a full-time
33:30
pastor may
33:32
feel.
33:33
We want
33:34
them to be
33:35
freed from
33:36
the concerns
33:37
of outside
33:38
work.
33:39
By God's
33:40
grace, our
33:41
pastors do
33:43
not seek
33:44
riches,
33:45
marriages, but
33:46
they do
33:46
have families,
33:48
they do
33:48
have weddings
33:49
of the future
33:50
to prepare
33:50
for, and
33:52
they do
33:53
have
33:53
retirements
33:54
that one
33:54
day they
33:56
need just
33:57
like we
33:57
do.
33:59
Number four,
34:00
clothe
34:00
yourselves in
34:02
humility.
34:04
First Peter
34:05
chapter five
34:06
says this,
34:07
likewise,
34:08
sorry,
34:09
verse five,
34:10
likewise you
34:11
who are
34:11
younger.
34:13
Be subject
34:13
to the
34:14
elders.
34:15
Clothe
34:16
yourselves,
34:16
all of you,
34:17
with humility
34:18
toward one
34:20
another.
34:22
For God
34:22
opposes the
34:23
proud, but
34:24
he gives
34:26
grace to
34:28
the humble.
34:29
Are you
34:30
humble in
34:31
the way
34:31
that you
34:33
speak of
34:33
things that
34:34
you see
34:35
differently?
34:36
Are you
34:37
inclined to
34:38
be persuaded
34:39
by the
34:40
direction and
34:41
the encouragement
34:42
that you
34:44
receive?
34:45
Are you
34:46
quicker to
34:47
share a
34:49
different
34:49
opinion or
34:50
way of
34:51
looking at
34:51
things?
34:53
One last
34:53
question,
34:54
how would
34:54
your elders
34:55
feel if
34:56
they heard
34:57
the way
34:58
that was
34:58
spoken of
34:59
them in
34:59
private?
35:01
Church,
35:02
remember,
35:03
there are
35:04
many other
35:05
ways to
35:06
care for
35:07
our elders.
35:08
But the
35:10
way as
35:10
stewards of
35:11
a great
35:12
gift, we
35:14
are to
35:14
honor and
35:15
pursue the
35:16
joy of
35:17
our pastors
35:17
is also to
35:18
pursue the
35:19
joy that
35:21
we find in
35:21
Christ
35:22
ourselves.
35:23
There are
35:24
many other
35:25
ways that
35:27
we can
35:28
consider how
35:29
to walk in
35:30
faithfulness
35:30
with our
35:32
elders.
35:33
But let
35:33
me close
35:34
with this
35:35
encouragement
35:36
from 1
35:38
Peter 3.
35:39
It says
35:40
this,
35:40
finally,
35:41
all of
35:41
you have
35:43
unity of
35:43
mind,
35:45
sympathy,
35:46
brotherly
35:47
love,
35:48
and a
35:48
tender heart,
35:50
and a
35:50
humble mind.
35:52
I am
35:53
confident you
35:53
will continue,
35:55
church, to
35:55
do this
35:56
because you
35:57
know what
35:58
good gifts
35:59
our Father
35:59
gives.
36:00
and you
36:02
know that
36:02
your ultimate
36:03
trust is not
36:04
in men,
36:05
but it is
36:06
in the one
36:06
who upholds
36:07
these men
36:08
for your
36:09
good and
36:10
for his
36:11
great glory.
36:13
We love
36:13
you, church.
36:14
Let's pray
36:14
together.
36:15
Amen.