Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / We Need One Another | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Maranatha Shabiba Conference 2022)

Transcript

We Need One Another | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Maranatha Shabiba Conference 2022) · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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Good morning. How are you surviving?
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Amen. Hardly my voice is hardly
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surviving and so I asked to be patient with me.
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I might not be as dynamic as I would like to be gonna hope that
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entrusted. The holy spirit will use this
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weakness for his glory. Let's pray one more time.
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I'd rather pray, the let's pray, one more time and ask and invoke
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the holy spirit's help though. We thank you this morning that
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you have sustained us in our sleep and Lord that you have
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awoken us for another day, a day to experience your mercies.
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And then we thank you for the mercies that are known in the
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truth being provided to us. Thank you.
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That at our disposal, we have the fullness of your Revelation.
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All that we You know, concerning you and what you desire from us,
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is right before us Lord. We borrow the words of the
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Apostle. Paul.
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And boasting in our weakness. We can do so because in our
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weakness is your power made known and Perfection and so let
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that power be known in the delivery of this message in the
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reception of this message. Lord continue to guide us
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through this series on Deception that we may be at people of
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Truth. People confident that we are in
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the light. This is our request Lord in
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Jesus name. Amen.
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We live in a cruel world, Jesus prophesied that it's only going
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to get more cruel. I can't think of anything more
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cruel than being deceived and being told something with the
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preface that it is true with the veneer that it is legitimate
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only for it to be false and not just false with a neutral
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consequence. But false, with the intention of
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destroying you and me. And I hope you feel the gravity
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of the warnings in the New Testament about the dangers of
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deception because it is multifaceted.
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In other words, deception is all around us and it is so near that
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it is in US. In other words, if you consider
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where Deception comes from, is should in a holy way, frighten
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us. Because scripture says that the
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very thing that is in your heart is incredibly deceptive.
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In other words, never mind. Deceiving, people never mind
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Satan, right? Who is in Revelation known as
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The Deceiver of the nation's if you were left to yourself on an
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island with no one else, you would still be susceptible to
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deception consider that If you were just left on your own, you
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can still fall prey to deception.
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And so if my heart can deceive me and there are ambassadors of
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Satan who want to deceive me and if there is Satan himself, who
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wants to deceive me? Where's my hope?
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I can't look in. I can't look out and even if I
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want to look at a different realm, there is a whole realm
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invisible realm, that hates me because I'm creating the image
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of God. The only hope is God himself.
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The only hope is to look up and to see how we can be protected
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from those around us and even from ourselves.
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And so I draw your attention to one verse one, verse in
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Galatians 6, verse 3, as we continue our series on The
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Bible's warnings to Christians about how they can be deceived.
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Galatians 6, verse, 31 verse and I want to show you by reading
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this verse how important it is to consider the context so that
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we can know the full meaning of a text.
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Or any statement found in the Bible, one of the greatest
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dangers that you and I can do in our relationship with the word
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is take a single verse and created Doctrine out of it.
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That's how Cults are started, right?
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Galatians 6, 3 reads for if anyone Thinks he is something.
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When he is nothing, he deceives himself.
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If anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing,
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he deceives himself. Now I'm sure you can imagine
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that. If you pluck this verse up and
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hold it in the air without considering its roots, it can
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mean a thousand things. And that is why you and I have
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to understand the context to see exactly what this means and when
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you just read the verses before you will have a laser precise
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Clarity of what this statement is trying to teach us about
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deception in a particular way. So, look at verse 1, Paul writes
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to this church Brothers. If anyone is caught in any
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transgression, you who are spiritual, should restore him in
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a spirit of gentleness, keep watch on yourself.
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Less you to be tempted. Bear one another's burdens and
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so fulfill the law of Christ for if anyone thinks he is
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something, when he is nothing he deceives himself.
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This snapshot of the Bible gives us some kind of preparation of
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what we're going to hear tonight.
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Because what we're going to hear tonight is how you and I can
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discern between true spirituality and empty religion.
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That's an important thing to get clarity on and I wonder how
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surprised some will be. When we see the standard that
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God has the emphases that God has on what true spirituality
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looks like you might be shocked because because it's actually
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much more simple and achievable than what our own imaginations
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have conjured up. Like if I say spiritual
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Christian, what comes to mind, right?
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Well, what does that person look like?
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What how does that person live? Is he a Hermit?
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Does he wear certain things easy sound in a certain way?
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Maybe to an extent. But when you see what the Lord
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demands of us, in our pursuit of spiritual health, Holiness and
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godliness, you will actually be more encouraged and discouraged.
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And we get a glimpse of that, we get a little peek into what true
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spirituality looks like. And it will be a sigh of relief
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because it's not in your ability to or eight.
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The scriptures is not your ability to win thousands of
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souls or pack out stadiums. It's right here in verse 1.
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Going to be any more clear Brothers.
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If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are
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spiritual So he's calling out the spiritual, it's possible to
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be a spiritual Christian. It's possible to be a carnal
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Christian and Paul says, I'm addressing the spiritual in the
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churches of galatia, you who are spiritual, what is a spiritual
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person? Do they feel the call and then
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necessity? To participate in the ministry
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of restoration. That's what a true spiritual man
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does. That's what a Godly woman.
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Does they feel and act upon the need to look at a brother or
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sister who has fallen into sin and then to make whatever effort
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is necessary to pick them back up.
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Is that what you think? A true spiritual person is.
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I don't think Paul is speaking about being gentle and
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tolerating about those who are deliberately stubborn and
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persist in Disobedience. Jesus tells us what we do with a
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person who claims to be a Christian and does Isis treat
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him like a gentile treat him like a tax collector.
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They want to persist in their sin and don't repent.
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Then there is a different measure but the word that Paul
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uses here is caught, is it not if anyone is caught and the idea
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there is somebody who Has suddenly fallen into
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transgression. Somebody who was captivated by
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specific sin, in a way that they did not think would happen to
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them. It wasn't some premeditated
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thing. It was something that almost
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caught them by surprise and what the holy spirit is saying is
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those who are spiritual. Look at somebody like that who
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has a heart for God, who is soft towards the Lord, but something
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happened, something sway them away.
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And all for a sudden, they got into something that they know,
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Grieves, the holy Spirit. And they know ruins their
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testimony and the spiritual. Listen to this compassionately
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deals with them. And sees it as a great priority
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to bring them back to a true and sincere walk with the Lord.
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That's amazing here, because when he says, you who are
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spiritual, should restore that word restore is precious, it's
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the very same word that is used. And when Jesus walked on the
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shores of Galilee, and he saw these two brothers James, and
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John, they were what we're told and Mark, they were mending.
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The fishing nets. And when Jesus saw them in the
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holy spirit says, they were mending their Nets.
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He says follow me. The same word for Mend to repair
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is the same word as restore here in Galatians.
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And I Think Jesus saw something in those brothers that he longed
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to develop in a spiritual way, the wisdom, and the patience,
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and the care that is required to fix something in the physical,
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is what the Lord wants to develop in his disciples.
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As we are each call to handle people's hearts.
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So, he's not just looking for because you and I think.
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Oh, yeah. Spiritual person is someone who
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fishes for Souls true. But don't forget that he
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highlights. The fact that a spiritual person
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is someone also men's them. And nurtures them and cares for
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them and through their words and their counsel and love puts a
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bomb on their wound and brings him back to a place of strength.
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In the Lord says you who are spiritual if you really want to
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determine somebody spirituality, more importantly, if you really
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want to evaluate your own spirituality, ask and answer
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this question this morning. What am I compelled to do?
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When I learn of a Christian that I know who has failed?
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What's my reaction? What do I feel in my soul?
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Shun them. Shunned them, reject them.
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Or how about may be participating in an apparent?
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Restoration when you just really want juicy details about the
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situation. how about spreading it to some people because for
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some reason of some exhilaration and being the person who has the
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latest in the newest about somebody else, The spiritual.
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Their hearts are moved to say. What can I do?
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Man to pick you up. Yeah, I heard about it.
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I saw it. What do you need for me to help
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you? I'm here for you.
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That's a spiritual person. And we see that Paul is
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addressing this people. and then he expands his instruction and
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verse to, look what he says in verse to Bear one another's
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burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ Remember the Stone
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Connection, the verse 1. What does this true spiritual
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Christian look like? Well, they bear burdens so there
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are better able to identify the things that are weighing other
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Christians down, and that could be anything from a Temptation
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that was not lying at them. That can't be easily shaken off
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to a trial as we heard yesterday.
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That seems to just drain them from any encouragement.
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And then, once you identify that you and your heart through your
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fellowship, through your, your counsel, whatever it is to say,
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how can I make this lighter? How can I make this lighter?
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You see how simple spirituality is, you see how wonderfully
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achievable it is? Do you see what the Lord looks
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for for his people to be able to see burdens practical burdens
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spiritual burdens and say, how can I make this a little
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lighter? How can I be able to infuse in
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you, some strength, to be able to continue to carry this cross?
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With this background in mind, we have a clear vision of what Paul
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means in verse 3. If anyone Thinks he is
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something. When he is nothing.
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He deceives himself, pay attention, Shake It Off. he says
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here, if anyone thinks he is something meaning, if anyone
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thinks he is spiritual When he is nothing. meaning, when he
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does not see the importance of lovingly, restoring, a fallen
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brother or consistently being around and for believers to help
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them carry their burdens, you're deceived, That's what he say.
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You think you're something in your spirituality but you're
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actually nothing because you don't see the you don't see the
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need to care for a fallen brother or help their burdens be
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a little lighter. Then in reality, you're deceived
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about your own spirituality. Now, that that's not going to
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mean much to the person who was not even saved.
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I'm not speaking to those who are not say this morning, but to
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those who have a desire for Holiness, keep in mind, the
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direction of the Lord is pointing us into.
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And our lord. Jesus provides a perfect example
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of one of his teachings. When he brings up what a false
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righteousness. Looks like when he teaches about
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the Pharisee and the tax collector, who go into the
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temple to pray and he says, you don't have to turn there but he
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says this and preparation to teach on that.
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He says in Luke 18:9, if you're taking notes for references, he
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also told this Parable to some who trusted in themselves that
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they were righteous who trusted that they were.
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Reaches, but listen and treated others with contempt.
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Here's how you know that your righteousness is illegitimate.
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I'm not talking about your positional righteousness because
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of what Jesus has done. I'm talking about your
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practical, righteousness, in the name of Jesus, is your
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righteousness. If it is coexisting with
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contempt, for others is futile. It's flawed, it's empty.
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Especially if your contempt is for those who are supposedly
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weaker spiritually, like a tax collector in this context.
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Could not even look to heaven but beat his own chest and says
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I'm not worthy have mercy on me. I think that's frightening.
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I think it's training that you can actually and I can actually
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believe I am something. When in fact, I am nothing and
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one of the ways that you and I know that we are, nothing is how
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our righteousness our spirituality translates
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impractical service to other people. and how we view other
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people, especially those who might not be on the same caliber
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of your theology or your Your practice.
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I see the opposite and one of the Disciples of Jesus Christ.
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I see the complete opposite attitude in a very subtle way.
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With one of the Disciples of Jesus Christ, you remember, John
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the Beloved, who wrote that prize gospel, the Gospel of John
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most Christians are familiar with how John addresses himself,
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how he in, humility veils, his identity in a very in a, very
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special way throughout the gospel.
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What does he say about? Ourself the disciple?
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What? Whom?
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Jesus loved. I love that.
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People joke. Oh, look how John is speaking
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about us. I'm not a John, had this
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confidence in the Heart of Jesus.
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There's a love for me. Imagine living like that.
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The reason why your soul fluctuating in your love for the
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Lord is because you're focusing on your love for the Lord.
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If you just if you just focus on his love for you, you'll have a
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glorious motivation to continue to serve him the disciple, whom
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Jesus, loved the disciple, whom Jesus loved it.
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And I loved that because in humility, he doesn't want to
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bring his identity to the spotlight especially with
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associations of his success. I mean, as simple as him beating
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Peter to the tomb The guy beat him.
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I'm not going to say to me though.
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The disciple right whom Jesus loved.
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Even go as far to say the other disciple the other disciple.
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You'll never see John referring to himself by name.
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He wants to put Christ there in the Forefront of the readers
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mind. He wants to exalt Christ and so
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he just tries to hide in the background.
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He wants to be accurate. He wants to say that he was a
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witness, but he fails his identity.
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He fails his good works. He fails the fact that he was
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the only one that stood before the cross.
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When all the others scattered and went home.
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And yet, at the same time, I argue that there is one place
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where I believe John tries to make his identity a little bit
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more clear. There is one place in the entire
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Book of John. We gives a strong indication.
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He gives a greater clue that it is really him.
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And it's in, it's in a place that you wouldn't suspect.
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It's in a place that you wouldn't think.
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It's it wouldn't be in a place that you would put.
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A greater emphasis on your identity.
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Would you like to know where it is?
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Go to John 21. The last chapter and it's not
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just because it's the last chapter.
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It's because of what that last chapter teaches John 21 verse 1.
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After this, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples
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by the Sea of tiberias and he revealed himself in this way.
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Simon Peter Thomas called the twin Nathanael of Cana in
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Galilee the sons Of Zebedee. And two other disciples were
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together. Who are the sons of Zebedee?
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James n John. And no other place in the Gospel
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of John, will you see a reference to the sons of
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Zebedee? The only place where you'll see
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the sons of Zebedee mentioned in John is here.
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Right here. And he says the sons of Zebedee
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with the knowledge that those who read would have known who
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the sons of Zebedee were You can have a wider speculation with
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the disciple whom Jesus loved, but if you knew whose ebony was,
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you knew who his sons were. And what I find so hard stirring
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is that John and the Holy Spirit.
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Obviously, let him and back this up John chooses to make the
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strongest reference to himself at the lowest point in his walk
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with the Lord, because in John 21 when Peter with his natural
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leadership, abilities says, I'm going fishing are has a you're
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going, we're going, okay? Peter is going, we're going to
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go, he just had that magnetic pull and so they go back to do
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what Jesus called them from. They went back fishing.
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Now, fishing might not be a sin, in your eyes, but in their eyes.
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This is what Jesus called them from to turn away from so that
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they can pursue fishing of men. And yet, at this low Point, not
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knowing where to go next not knowing how to handle Of this
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whole Resurrection thing, Peter says, you know, I'm just gonna
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go back and some of the disciples follow including who
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the sons of Zebedee. What do you learn from this?
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What do you take from this? Here's what I take from it.
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Humility is not boasting in your failures.
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I'm a sinner. I'm this.
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I'm a ratchet. And that's just an empty way of
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really boasting about your Righteousness, and some sense.
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But spirituality humility is being conscious of our
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weaknesses. And being mindful of how we are
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equally capable of falling into sin, just like anybody else.
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So this the disciple whom Jesus loved.
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In a more obvious way, wants to show.
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Yeah, even me the same disciple who put his head on the bosom of
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Jesus came to a place where I went back to what Jesus called
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me from. And that's exactly what Paul is.
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Communicating back in Galatians when he says you who are
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spiritual restore him, who has been caught up in transgression,
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caught up in sent just keep watching your on yourself less
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you to be tempted. In other words every time you
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face a brother or sister is fall into sin right there in that
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moment is a lesson for you that you are able to fall in the very
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same sin that this brother is being disciplined for So it's a
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call to humility. It's a call to reality of what
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we are capable of. And when you walk with that,
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Revelation, that that is what opens up.
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Your arms to be more loving and more accepting and more patient
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with those who actually fall. Even if they fall before you.
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And I want to say this, that if you feel like you're in that
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place, and I'm not saying this is about everybody, but this is
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a particular mindset. There are some people who in
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their spirituality cannot find themselves to relate to those
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who are weaker than them, kind of find themselves,
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fellowshipping with those who might not have an astute or
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accurate. Understanding of systematic
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theology, or who may not seem to be interested in the things of
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God with greater depth, like you, whatever the case may be,
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you have people pulled themselves away from common
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Folk. Christian's.
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So to speak. Not talking about carnal
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Christians and about Christians who don't grow as fast as you
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might have grown. And here's my question, what's
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the point of your strength? If that's you in this place?
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Let me ask you this question. What's the point of the
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spiritual muscles that you've developed over the years and
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maybe quicker than other people in your life?
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Like my dad used to say to me and my brothers whenever we
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would help him with some physical work, whether at his
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work right at home, you'd always jokingly say.
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All right, let's see what your gym time.
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Has brought you, come on. You can't lift it.
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You're tired already. He's like you don't have to go
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pay for the membership just come here.
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You can do it for free. I won't charge you.
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And that's the same for Spiritual strength.
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What's the point of your spiritual strength?
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What's the point of reading? All those books?
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What's the point of listening to all those sermons?
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What's the point of memorizing? What's the point with
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evangelizing on the streets when nobody else?
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Evangelized what's the point? What's the point?
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Here's what Paul says, in Romans 15 one we I love that was Paul
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proud. No he but he says we who are
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strong. We including me.
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It's not, it's not an arrogant thing to be aware of your
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spiritual strength. We who are strong have an
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obligation to bear with the failings of the week.
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And not please ourselves. So if you feel like you have
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this unusual, Insight unusual connection with the Lord.
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If you distance yourself from a local church because they don't
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seem to be as strong as you. Even if you think that you have
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more insight than the pastor who preaches every single week, if
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you feel like you have more depth in the scriptures and you
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remove yourself from the local church, you're no different than
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the Pharisee. Paul says, if you're truly
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strong, you're drawn to those who are weak and you want to
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Bear their weaknesses, you want to lift them up, you want to
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inspire them, you want to be in their presence.
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You want to encourage them, don't walk in there, arrogantly.
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Hey, Paul said we are a strong I'm strong.
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I'm here to help don't do that, please.
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What come with humility come with like John like attitude
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aware of your own weaknesses despite how how much your head
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is filled. And bear the failings of the
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week. Paul is saying here and this
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message is going to be too too long.
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What Paul is saying here in Galatians goes beyond what we
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just heard and we're going to elaborate more on what true
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spirituality is tonight. There is another dimension to
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the deception and verse 3 that is more subtle than what I just
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said. And this is where I think more
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of you can relate. If we're honest listen, we can
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be deceived about being in the will of God.
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Now only by refusing to extend Grace, your presence, your help
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to a fallen brother or two people around you.
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But by also refusing to receive. The help.
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By those that God has called to minister to you.
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By failing to receive. When do I get that?
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Thought from back in verse to Bear one another's burdens.
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In other words, every single one of us have burdens, no
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exception, we all have them and some days are lighter than
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others, but each of us have challenges each of us.
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Faced persecution in different ways.
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Each of us have our own private Wars as Saints.
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Paul says, you're not called to carry those alone, you're not
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called to walk this thing alone. So you see the deception is to
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part one the refusal because of a sense of superiority.
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To come to other people because of self-importance.
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I'm, I'm too busy. I'm too concerned, I have too
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much going on in my life, to meddle in your Affairs.
26:28
Paul says, you think you're something when you're actually
26:32
nothing and you're deceived. But secondly, the deception can
26:37
also be known. In self-reliance, not
26:42
self-importance. And so you distance yourself
26:46
because you believe that you yourself walking solo on the
26:52
narrow path is possible without consequences.
26:57
So here's who I'm addressing this, this message to listen
27:01
very carefully because I know the people who are part of
27:04
Maranatha Bible Church who are here And there are a lot of new
27:07
faces. I don't know you.
27:09
I don't know where you're from. I don't know where you're coming
27:11
from. I know that you're here.
27:14
So I want to say to those who constantly feel and fall into
27:18
the temptation of isolating yourself from other believers
27:23
and who walk long stretches of time without meaningful
27:29
intentional and accountable interaction with serious
27:33
Disciples of Jesus Christ. This is for you.
27:37
So, I'm speaking to those who are not committed members of a
27:40
local church. Who have not communicated a
27:44
covenant with a local assembly to say, I'm here to be
27:49
accountable and I am here to offer accountability with this
27:54
pocket of God's people, in his Grand Kingdom across the globe,
27:59
as speaking of those people. I'm also speaking to those who
28:02
might have, who might have quieted their conscience by
28:05
becoming a member, but your membership is not seen in
28:10
practicality, so you, Come to the service.
28:13
Barely barely but there is no sense of your presence in an
28:18
intentional Fellowship, that is provided either by the church or
28:21
with Saints outside of the walls.
28:25
I'm speaking to those who when they do feel an overwhelming
28:30
burden, they don't, they don't stay with the Saints.
28:34
They remove themselves from the Saints because of one either
28:38
shame or two because of this weird notion, I don't want to
28:42
put my burden on people who already have battles to face
28:45
themselves. Let me, let me tell you this, if
28:48
you are there that kind of train of thought is laced with
28:53
self-deception laced with it. Now I'm not speaking to those
28:58
who are having difficulty finding a local church because
29:01
they want to obey the scriptures and they want to find
29:04
God-fearing elders and God-fearing people.
29:06
I know that that is that is something I've heard from across
29:09
America with emails and messages, where can I find if
29:12
I'm not speaking to you? I'm speaking to those who are
29:15
actually Comfortable. With at best in your mind doing
29:20
Church online. This is what Paul would say to
29:26
you. You ready?
29:27
If he knew this this what he would say to you, you think
29:29
you're something when you're actually nothing.
29:34
And you're deceived. You disappear?
29:39
If you wholeheartedly believe in, this is even for people who
29:42
have who might have some association with our local
29:45
church by name only, but it's not real. what I mean is, if you
29:50
wholeheartedly believe that you are perfectly fine, Without
29:55
having a community of godly people that you engage with.
30:00
The know that you are in danger, my prayer is not for you to do
30:05
anything more than leave this place with a personal plan, like
30:09
what changes do I need to make? What do I need to do to ensure
30:13
myself that I can escape this deception?
30:17
That does not show the severe consequences immediately?
30:23
How can I make myself by the will of God convinced that I
30:27
need? I need godly people in my life.
30:31
Deception is like sin and I'll tell you how deception is not
30:35
satisfied with keeping you at one level of deception sin is
30:39
not like you can't be like I'm going to sin and I'm going to
30:41
stay right here. I'm just going to keep to this
30:44
sin and I'm going to manage the consequence in never works
30:48
deception. Just like sin will always seek
30:50
to pull you deeper. And just like sin that opens
30:55
ways for nuisance deception. When you believe one false thing
30:58
leads you to believe sequential false things.
31:02
And so Satan is extremely clever.
31:07
Because before he can get you to be deceived about this thing, he
31:10
gets you to be deceived about this thing.
31:12
He's very, very clever that people who, like, talk down to
31:17
Satan, that's actually anti-biblical.
31:19
That's anti-biblical. Michael.
31:20
The Archangel himself would not, even dare rebuke Satan.
31:23
Directly. He said the Lord rebuke you all
31:26
these people that run around and on platforms and they speak down
31:29
to Satan, even even Michael would not do that, it's very
31:33
dangerous attitude, there is a level.
31:37
Let me say this and I hope you understand what I'm saying.
31:38
A level of respect that we need to have.
31:41
Even for evil spirits, not respect like I venerate, you
31:45
respect of the potential harm that they can bring about.
31:48
Right. You've heard the term.
31:49
Respect the ocean. My mom used to always say that
31:51
respect the ocean, don't just walk.
31:53
Walk in there and play, you can be pulled in at any moment.
31:55
So there should be that level of awareness and that's how Satan
31:59
Works before he can get you to be deceived about ABCDEF,
32:03
whatever he brings you to the first point and then he lets
32:06
that deception do the work. It's almost like a leech that
32:09
just latches on to you and just give it a little time and I'll
32:11
suck the life out of you. And here's how he does it with
32:15
what I'm presenting to you today, because Satan is aware of
32:19
the effectiveness of what I'm trying to tell you, more than
32:21
most Believers are. So, let me present, you just one
32:24
thing which will be emphasized more on tomorrow when we're
32:26
going to learn about. Maybe five, six ways of being
32:29
deceived proof. Look at Hebrews chapter 3, in
32:32
one verse in verse 13, very famous Passage.
32:36
Hebrews 3:13. Here's what the author says, but
32:50
exhort one another every day. As long as it is called today,
32:55
that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
33:00
Deception is everywhere. In the New Testament, see here
33:02
to see if you see there. Here's what he's saying, be
33:05
careful. Sin can deceive you.
33:11
And this will be discussed in further detail, but the spirit
33:14
of God through this verse shows us something.
33:15
So insightful. And that is this, that a
33:18
particular protection against this heart from becoming
33:22
crystallized and numb, and deadened to my involvement with
33:28
sin. Cannot be separated.
33:32
From abiding in an environment where I am experiencing
33:36
external, exhortation continually.
33:41
He could have said exalt yourself every day.
33:43
That's what people think that this is means.
33:45
Exhort yourself every day. He's not saying that exhort one
33:48
another every day because your heart and mine was designed to
33:55
be in need for others, to continually in regularly, speak
33:59
to it. In order for it to remain soft
34:02
and sensitive. if you don't believe that, you did what
34:08
Galatians 6 3 that when you think, you think your something
34:11
when in fact you're nothing and you're deceived If you don't
34:14
think this is a real thing, you'd be amazed to know how many
34:19
Facebook and Instagram evangelist and Prophets out
34:22
there have who are not connected and submitted to a local church.
34:29
This is not being limited to having somebody.
34:31
Correct this every once in awhile, it's beyond that.
34:34
It's being in the presence of people.
34:37
Who have holy speech? It's being with those who sing
34:40
praises to God and you hear that over you, as you join them in
34:44
song, it's about conversations, you have with people about
34:48
Jesus. It's about having that cup of
34:50
coffee with a brother or sister Crossing that table, and you're
34:53
hearing the testimonies of what's happening in their
34:55
workplace. What's happening in their
34:57
marriage, what's happening with their children?
34:59
And here, you are being encouraged and excited to remain
35:02
on that faithful path of service because the same God, who is
35:05
doing it in their lives, can do it in mind.
35:09
It's having your heart exposed to Christ exalting exhortation
35:13
whether that's directly given to you one-on-one or being in an
35:16
environment of people who cannot help out of the abundance of
35:20
their hearts to give glory to God.
35:24
Satan knows the power of this. He knows him.
35:29
And every time I read this verse or I quote, this verse I cannot
35:32
help but bring up to myself and to others of the inside of how
35:36
quickly our hearts can become deceived by sin.
35:40
Exhort one another, how often? Is that hyperbolic is that
35:46
poetic is that exaggeration? Or is that an Insight that tells
35:50
you and me, that all the takes is 24 hours for your heart to
35:55
become hardened by sin? Like all it takes is after this
36:00
weekend for you to get home and Monday night, be deceived by
36:05
sin. No matter what kind of
36:08
preaching, no matter what kind of invitation, no matter what
36:10
kind of insight. We are in need of continual
36:15
consistent, fellowship with people.
36:18
And some would say, well, I am exhausted every single day.
36:21
My favorite preachers are on YouTube and it's working just
36:26
fine for me. Preaching is good, preaching is
36:29
important. But you know what's amazing?
36:32
This is for you, spiritual people, okay?
36:33
Here's what's amazing. Paul says that each one of us in
36:37
1st Corinthians, 12:7 have been given a measure of the spirit
36:41
for what for the common good that each of us has been given a
36:45
manifestation of the spirit for the common good.
36:49
So here's what that saying God has not given you individually
36:55
all that you can know about the spirit.
36:58
Got again, has designed it in such a way that if you want to
37:01
know the manifold manifestation of the Holy Spirit, spiritual
37:05
people, listen up, you love the Holy Spirit, right?
37:08
You love the manifestations of the spirit, right?
37:10
You want to know more of the spirit, right?
37:12
Then you are dependent upon the spirit.
37:15
Who is deposited, unique manifestations in each believer.
37:21
what that means is, every time I step into the local assembly,
37:24
every time I step in to a fellowship of Believers, what I
37:28
can expect is that the Holy Spirit Will manifest in Sister,
37:32
Jenny and manifest through brother, Joe and manifests
37:36
through Sally and manifest through Doug And in that
37:42
environment, can I No Greater Heights of the experience of the
37:46
spirit and God in his wisdom, made it in such a way that you
37:49
could not know those manifestations if you do this
37:52
thing, so low. So are you get preaching on
37:55
YouTube? That's one manifestation of the
37:58
spirit through the gift of speaking.
38:00
And even in that, you are limited through that screen
38:03
because Paul himself knew that I can only impart the fullness of
38:07
my gift when I come to you Romans.
38:11
I don't want to just write to you.
38:12
I want to come to you because in this how many of you have known?
38:16
I've heard this Brothers. We're blessed by the messages
38:19
online but there's difference when we're in person.
38:21
Well, yeah, that's biblical. And so Satan knows the full
38:26
power of this. So what does he do?
38:30
Well, he deceives you from point A you're good, you're something.
38:36
You can do this without others. You can make your commitment of
38:42
peppered thing. It can be stretched out.
38:46
It does not have to be constant. It does not have to be
38:49
committed. It does not have to be life on
38:51
life. You are something.
38:56
Oh yeah. Or how can you show up, you keep
39:01
failing, you keep messing up. You're an embarrassment, you're
39:07
in shambles. You're going to be a burden the
39:10
pastor's already busy with so much.
39:12
What you think is going to help you.
39:13
You've already talked to so many Christians about the issue.
39:16
You think they want to hear the issue again.
39:17
It's been eight months, man. Just keep to yourself.
39:21
Get better. And then go back.
39:25
Okay. Yeah, that's true.
39:28
And Satan is they're salivating at his mouth because he knows I
39:33
got him here just a little bit more time, until the
39:36
deceitfulness of sin will harden their hearts.
39:40
And I got him where I want him. You see how clever he is?
39:48
Satan knows that we are social creatures.
39:50
Does he not? You know, that you're a social
39:52
creature. So if he can't convince you to
39:55
do solo, you know what he'll convince people to do, he'll
39:57
convince you to believe that. Any company is good company.
40:03
First Corinthians 15:33, do not be deceived Bad Company
40:09
corrupts. Good morals.
40:14
I wonder if I were to ask 10 people in this room, what Bad
40:17
Company looks like, what answers we would get.
40:21
I think the general consensus unfortunate would be.
40:24
Yeah, Bad Company. Are those drug using gang
40:27
affiliating club dancing people? And that is part of it, but
40:34
you'd be surprised to know what the Apostle Paul had in mind in
40:39
the category of Bad Company. And the only way you can know
40:41
just like with our first verses when you see the context, what's
40:44
First Corinthians 15, all about? All you have to do is get an
40:47
idea in verse 32, the verse right before, what do I gain if
40:51
humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus.
40:54
He's not talking about literal animals, he's talking about what
40:57
people are capable of when they have no conscience.
41:00
When you dead in your conscience, you can become like
41:02
an animal. And he says here, if I fought
41:05
with the beat the beasts at Ephesus, if the dead are not
41:07
raised, if the dead are not raised.
41:09
In Believers are not resurrected, then why let us eat
41:12
and drink for tomorrow? We die the whole chapter of
41:15
First Corinthians 15 is Paul teaching about the bodily
41:18
resurrection of the believer. For some reason, these
41:22
Corinthians got duped into believing that as Believers in
41:25
Jesus Christ, we do not have this Resurrection thing.
41:29
It kind of stops at a certain point and Paul sought to correct
41:34
that. And he gives the list of
41:35
implications of not believing in that.
41:38
And how did the Corinthians come to this point?
41:40
Well, at some point, they begin to entertain the presence of
41:43
those who taught, otherwise, Of people who came in and
41:47
propagated the idea through philosophy through human wisdom.
41:52
That it doesn't make sense for us to have bodily resurrection
41:55
and for us to no life beyond this life.
41:58
And here's the thing theology, whether it's good or bad cannot
42:02
be divorced and how it influences your behavior.
42:06
That's why we get a straight in ourselves to the word of God,
42:09
because something as as Grand, as eventful as the resurrection
42:13
of our bodies. Can have direct influence on the
42:17
way you live day to day. Paul says it, if we don't
42:22
believe this. Let's party.
42:25
What is this all about? Let's just eat.
42:28
Let's just drink. Let's just do vacations all the
42:30
time. Let's just make our lives about
42:32
the food that we explore. Let's just do all of this stuff
42:35
and forget about it. Zero investment in the kingdom
42:38
of God. No.
42:39
Resurrection, no future reward. No future Kingdom.
42:42
Let's just enjoy this life. And all of that stems from a
42:47
group of people that influence the Corinthians to say, there is
42:50
no Resurrection. And that is the context in which
42:56
Paul says Bad Company corrupts good behavior.
43:00
Here's how you can worded do not be deceived.
43:03
You ready for this? This might shock you if you
43:06
regularly entertain the company of those who live without a
43:11
concrete belief in the resurrection, it could ruin you.
43:17
I don't think the danger for the modern.
43:19
Christian is being allured by those who teach otherwise about
43:23
the resurrection. I don't think that's the threat.
43:26
I think the greater threat for the common believer today is to
43:30
associate with those who don't practically live out as though,
43:33
the resurrection was real, huge difference?
43:37
No. Have you heard the term
43:41
practical atheism? That in theory and confession.
43:45
You believe there's a God but I'm practically you live as
43:47
though. He doesn't exist.
43:48
You can do that with the resurrection.
43:51
You can in theory in your statement of faith believe in
43:54
the resurrection. But practically you don't
43:56
believe with with view of the Revelation and view that there
44:00
is a future time coming where there is a life more real than
44:04
this life. And to listen to this, this is
44:10
the, this is the definition of Bad Company, not the drug using
44:12
Club going gang, affiliating heroin shooting casino going
44:17
person. No, no, no Bad Company.
44:20
Can be simply those who do not live with an eternal mindset.
44:26
That frames their living. So here's what I think happens,
44:31
here's Bad Company, the list, they just filled up, didn't it?
44:37
I just filled up, didn't it? I didn't say the Bible said it.
44:42
And so, what's the threat here? That your Christian Life can be
44:47
deducted can be reduced to doing exactly what Paul warned about.
44:51
If we live with the thought, that there is no Resurrection,
44:54
your listen, your life is just about eating Your life is just
44:59
about living from one event to the next, and that's the height.
45:02
That's the ceiling of your excitement.
45:05
And there is absolutely no inclusion, no thought, no plan,
45:10
no investment into the Eternal kingdom of God.
45:18
And all it takes for you to get. There is just to be with that
45:21
group of people, long enough who might even attend meetings like
45:25
this, but outside of this world, movable Always abounding in the
45:29
work of the Lord. Knowing that in the Lord, your
45:32
labor is not in vain. So, knowing believing that my
45:38
labor is not in vain. Why?
45:39
Because there is a resurrection, there is a time that I will meet
45:43
a resurrected Lord, he will look at me with piercing eyes and
45:47
unless I have a renewed mind and a new renewed heart, I would be
45:50
like the prophets of old and barely stand.
45:52
Unless the spirit of God picks me up every time that's what's
45:55
coming knowing that your labor is not in vain owing because you
45:59
have a future reward in mind. This is what it will do to you
46:02
today. Steadfast, you know what that
46:05
means? You're not swayed by Oceans like
46:08
a bad breakup will not cause you to give up on Jesus.
46:12
That's a very practical way of looking at it.
46:15
The report of sickness afflicting, your family member
46:18
will not cause you to press the eject button.
46:22
You're still steadfast, why? Because the resurrection in
46:25
view. Steadfast immovable and movable
46:31
just that you're just there. You're like Concrete in the will
46:35
of God. Like you're, you're like you
46:37
look on the word. You like, there's literally
46:39
nothing that this world can offer me.
46:42
And how can I make my life about just eating and drinking and
46:44
doing in this? And that when there's a
46:46
resurrection ahead of me? Immovable.
46:50
And here it is. Always abounding like richly
46:53
invested in the will of God richly invested in the work of
46:58
God. Like your life orbits around
47:00
serving the lord. Like that's your priority, not
47:03
out of Duty out of great joy and even more joy knowing that there
47:07
is a resurrection that will evaluate and Beyond me just
47:11
being saved on to get this rewarded for the service that
47:13
God empowers me to do not fascinating.
47:17
I always use the example of the father, who was lifting a couch,
47:20
and a little boy, his little son because his daddy, can I help
47:22
you move? He is like four years old.
47:25
Is he gonna do? You know?
47:27
Okay, I'll you will help me and I'll reward you.
47:31
If you can help me I will reward you.
47:32
And here's this some putting his little hands on the couch doing
47:35
absolutely nothing. And the father's, lifting it
47:38
with all his strength and afterwards, just because the sun
47:40
had the tenderness to volunteer, the father rewards, and that's a
47:44
picture of you and me serving Jesus Christ.
47:48
We want to serve the Lord you and I do not have the strength
47:51
to be able to do it with any fruitfulness.
47:53
So God, empowers us, he strengthens us, he gives us, he
47:57
anoints us and then he rewards us.
48:01
Do not abandon the work of the Lord.
48:04
Knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.
48:11
If anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing.
48:15
He is deceived. And this is two ways of thinking
48:19
falsely that you are something one that you're Superior to
48:21
others. So you distance yourself, or
48:24
you, you're there, but you There's a arrogance.
48:30
Or you are somebody who thinks that there is no value in the
48:33
body of Jesus Christ. That you have no need for
48:37
Ministries to be active apart from you, but towards you. if
48:45
that is you, and I'm speaking more about the latter may exalt
48:47
you in these final messages, this final words, Pray
48:52
desperately for a healthy. Holy local church.
48:56
You'd be amazed to know how God can open your eyes to things
48:58
that are very close to where you are today.
49:01
And God is extremely patient with the process of being able
49:03
to identify that body. You'd be amazed to know how God
49:09
will move Heaven and Earth for you to be in the right place
49:11
with the right people. But when you do look and when
49:13
you do pray yes, although the company of people should be as
49:17
Paul described because of the Resurrection but also know that
49:20
not everybody is on the same level and so do not look for a
49:23
church filled with Apostle Paul's I think some people are
49:28
so critical of the local church that even if the church was
49:31
filled with a pulse of positive, still find something to
49:32
criticize. Like I don't like the color of
49:35
the walls, it's distracting me during worship something like
49:37
that. The carpet is just it's rough on
49:40
my shoes. Because even if you are somebody
49:46
who thinks it is strong, don't think the church is about you,
49:50
receiving something though. That is something we need to
49:52
believe, but believe that as a strong person, there are weak
49:54
people who God calls you to help with their feelings.
49:59
Here's my college, very simple. Don't be a Christian who lives
50:02
on conferences. Don't.
50:06
Like, if this is the only experience and expression of
50:10
fellowship with other like-minded believers, you're
50:12
doing it wrong. It's not going to help, you're
50:18
stifling your spirituality and you're actually hindering the,
50:21
the fullness of what your ministry can offer, the members
50:25
of Jesus's body be serious about the local church.
50:29
I remember. When I first got saved, my
50:31
attitude was not the same as I'm presenting to you today II.
50:35
Just didn't see the value of the local church to me.
50:38
It was like you have a sea of people who are dying and going
50:41
to hell and you want to hear two sermons a week.
50:44
Like get out like half a sermon at most.
50:47
Let's go. Until the Lord taught me in a
50:51
very, very practical way by putting me in the position of
50:54
being in a local church. Did I see the incalculable value
51:01
and riches that are found in imperfect people who love a
51:05
perfect savior that come together continually And I
51:10
praise God that he opened my eyes early.
51:13
And sometimes the only way you can know it is when you just
51:16
dive into it with faith, all that we do is in faith,
51:19
including what I'm presenting to you.
51:20
Today, some of you here, do not go to church because you have a
51:24
bad taste in your mouth about church, especially those who
51:28
come from a middle eastern background, I get it, I
51:32
understand the frustration is real.
51:37
I say that as a middle eastern person, But don't let Satan
51:41
deceive. You don't let him trick you.
51:46
Don't let him have you. Swimming in this ocean by
51:50
yourself, get on the boat with other believers.
51:54
That is your safety. That is your provision from
51:58
Heaven. That is God's way of getting you
52:01
to know total maturity in his will.
52:05
And so know, this God will bring you somewhere.
52:07
If you desire it that's his will for your life.
52:10
And you be amazed to know how do I'm not saying he will do this,
52:12
but he could do this. He might give you a job in
52:14
another state. And it's not because of the job.
52:20
A preacher said and I landed here he said don't look for the
52:23
church that is closest to your house.
52:25
Look for a church that is closest to the Bible.
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And I wonderful. My rant is complete.
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I'm done. I hope your heart is stirred
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with the limited Insight that we had today though, even one
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inside from the word of God is plenty for our soul.
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Let's pray and ask God to help us with these truths.
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Louis, thank you that we do have a conference like this.
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But this conference is not an end in itself.
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Thank you for the local church. where we are to be dedicated and
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committed to And so what happens here, only fuel our devotion?
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to the people that you've called us to be devoted to Lord for
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those who are tempted to think that they are something either
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in their self importance or their self-reliance.
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Me that deception be broken today.
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It may we see that there is a call for us to offer something
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to others and there's even a call for us to be humble enough
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to receive from others. Look for those who are
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struggling to find a local church.
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Would you make a way where there seems to be?
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No way? Hello.
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Would you help them in the meantime?
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Still be committed to a body of believers do maybe few. to love
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and worship you to know the softening work of external
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exhortations that our hearts are desperately in need of
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continually Do we pray for pastors to be raised up in this
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time? Faithful Men of God.
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Faithful Men of God, who will just do what the Bible says, who
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will structure their churches? The way the Bible says, we ask
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Lord that you raise up Elders, we ask Lord that you would raise
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up leaders, who be able to provide true, local
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congregations that people can feed off of that people can
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settle down in and raise their families with Lord we don't we
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don't have a strategy apart from you supplying these things to
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us. And so we look to you.
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You are the great Shepherd lead us to the right under Shepherds
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and Lord, we just ask that you would help us be patient.
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You would help us be truly spiritual.
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And not removing ourselves because of the failings of those
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around us. But the opposite drawing closer
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to those who fall for this is the law of Christ.
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But we love you. It is fellowship.
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Be true. And sincere would you bless our
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food as we eat together and continue to be in our midst?
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As you have been up to this point in Jesus name, we pray.
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Amen. Standing sing to the Lord.