Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / 1 Corinthians 16 - 1/7/26 - Pastor Charlie Branch

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1 Corinthians 16 - 1/7/26 - Pastor Charlie Branch · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

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Welcome to the podcast of Meadows
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Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North
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Carolina. We're so glad you joined us
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today. If you enjoy today's message, be
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sure to subscribe, follow, and share
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with your friends. Now, let's join
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Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from
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God.
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I want to look at one verse tonight, two
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verses if the Lord help us for just a
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moment of time and consider a thought
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here this evening. And uh the
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opposition, I want to tell you this, the
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opposition to the church in this day and
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time, I believe, is at an all-time high.
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And the devil does not want this thing
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going forward. And uh the quicker we
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realize that, the better off we'll be.
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And uh it's time to prepare ourselves.
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Amen. and to get ourselves ready and to
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go forward for the glory of God in these
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days. And if you're not going forward,
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amen, you're going backward. Amen. And
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we need God to help us.
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>> And uh it's going to take strength. It's
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going to take training and a
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willingness, amen, to serve. I want to
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look tonight here in uh the text 1
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Corinthians 16 verse 13 and 14. 1
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Corinthians 16 verse 13 and 14.
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And uh I'll be honest with you, I've
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kind of been a little bit out of my
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comfort zone the last several uh weeks,
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just not really having a specific place
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to go to. I generally don't like to
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teach or preach off the cuff in
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different uh meetings. I'm I've studied
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not when I say off the cuff, I mean just
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different text every service. And I feel
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like sometimes I'm just cherrypicking
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things that I want to say, but that's
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not the truth. I'm just trying to tell
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you what the Lord's told me and uh where
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he's led me to. And I want to look here
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at this thought tonight in these verses.
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Notice verse 13. And uh Lord willing,
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we'll get started back in a series here
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uh directly. And so you uh Sherman can
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be annoyed at me for preaching in the
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same book every week for 6 months or a
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year. And uh he fussed me. He's the
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first person when I came to this church.
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He said, "Now you can't just bore us to
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death with series all the time now. You
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got to change it up a little bit." And
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uh I got to pick on you, brother. You
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got to mess with you a little bit. But
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uh I appreciate you. Amen. and our
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faithful door greeter. Somebody say,
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"Amen."
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>> 1 Corinthians 16:13,
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the Bible says, "Watch ye stand fast in
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the faith. Quit ye like men. Be strong.
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Let all your things be done with
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charity." Notice verse 15 and 16.
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Tonight, we'll not preach on these, but
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just notice the verse there. The Bible
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says, "I beseech you, brethren, you know
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the house of Stephanus, that it is the
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first fruits of Aaya, and that they have
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addicted themselves to the ministry of
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the saints, that you submit yourselves
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unto such, and to everyone that helpketh
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with us, and labor." I love that wording
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in verse number 15. I'm not going to
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preach there tonight, but boy, I could.
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If you're addicted to anything, what are
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you addicted to tonight?
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Bible says that the house of Stephanus
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was addicted to the ministry of the
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saints, taking care of God's people. And
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uh I can tell you what, there's nothing
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more rewarding in this life than that
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right there. And uh you say, "Preacher,
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well, how is that?" Well, James chapter
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1, the last verse says, "Pure pure
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religion and undefiled before God and
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the father is this, to look on the
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widows in their affliction and to keep
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himself unspotted from the world."
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taking care of the people of God. That's
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the highest calling.
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>> Amen.
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>> Amen. And uh if you love if you love the
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church, Amen. It's a good sign you love
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Christ. Amen. I want to look at this
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thought here tonight. Consider in verse
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number 13 and 14. And uh really there's
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a this is a closing admonition, I guess
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you would say, of the Apostle Paul here
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uh to the Corinthian church in his first
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letter. And uh I notice in this tonight
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just considering by in the chapter
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leading up to this point I note there's
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some things that he's dealing with. I
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love the ending of the epistles because
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a lot of times um the chap the last
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chapters of these epistles are the etc
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chapters of the Bible. And what I mean
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by that is is Paul is just dealing with
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miscellaneous topics in every verse.
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It's a different subject. And uh I was
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thinking about you look at the book of
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Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 5. He
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deals with a lot of different subjects
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uh in that chapter and much the same in
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this one. I want to point out uh these
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two tonight. But I notice here in this
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chapter concerning the leading up to
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this there he begins with the membership
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of the church and their giving in verses
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one down through verse number seven.
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He's talking about the church at
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Corenth. And he says in verse one now
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concerning the collection for the saints
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as I have given order to the churches of
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Galatia. Even so do ye upon the first
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day of the week. Let every one of you
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lay by him in store as God hath
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prospered him that there be no
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gatherings when I come. And so he has
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orchestrated here the principle of
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giving in the house of God uh to take
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care of the church and its needs as well
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as the people of the church and its
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needs. Those uh people that do not have
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uh to take care of themselves. And so he
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deals with that all the way down through
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uh verse number seven. his desire to
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come and see them uh to spend some time
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with them. And to the best of my
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knowledge, Paul never made it to Corinth
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to see these people according to
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scripture. Now, I may be wrong about
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that, but that's what I've discovered uh
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from my study. And so, he writes these
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letters unto them. And so, you notice
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not only he deals with the membership uh
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and their giving in this chapter, but he
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also deals with the ministry. And in
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this ministry that's been given to him,
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he deals with this great door. Notice
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that in verse number eight and n he
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says, "But I will tarry at Ephesus until
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Pentecost." And notice verse 9. He says,
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"For a great door and effectual is open
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unto me, and there are many
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adversaries." And uh this verse gives me
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comfort many days in my life because the
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truth is the greatest doors come with
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the greatest adversaries.
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>> The greatest opportunities come with the
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greatest opposition. It's a fact
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tonight. It's a fact of the word of God.
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Where the most effectual work is taking
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place, there is going to be the greatest
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desire of the enemy to hinder the work
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of God. But Paul said, "I'm going to
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stay at Ephesus until Pentecost because
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there's an open door." And I'll say
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this, where God's given you an open
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door, you ought to stay there until he
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closes it. Amen. And then you move on
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again after that. So I notice not only
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the membership and the ministry, but
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then he mentions the men here in the
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text. Verse number 10 through 12.
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There's the men and the gospel. Here you
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notice verse 10. The Bible says, "Now if
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Timoth has come, see that he may be with
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you without fear, for he workketh the
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work of the Lord as I also do." And so
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he here is vindicating Timothy to the
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Corinthian church. He is he is possibly
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going to come by. And he's telling the
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church, all right, if he comes by, you
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receive him because uh you don't despise
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him because of his age. That's why he
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told Timothy in his epistle, he said,
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"Let no man despise thy youth, but be
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thou an example of the believers." And
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he's telling this church, he said,
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"Look, he's coming and you need to
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receive him gladly." Notice that. He
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said, "See that he may be with you
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without fear." He's timid. Amen. But
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he's doing the work of God. Notice that
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in verse 10. For he worketh the work of
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the Lord as I also do. And so Paul
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vindicates the ministry of Timothy. And
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he says further in verse 11, "Let no man
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therefore despise him, but conduct him
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forth in peace that he may come unto me,
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for I look for him with the brethren."
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And so they were to receive him in peace
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and allow him to minister unto them as
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the Apostle Paul ministered to them in
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these writings. But they were also to
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send him forth in peace that he might
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come unto Paul again as well. And so he
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mentions Timothy in verses 10 and 11.
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Then he mentions Apollos in verse 12. He
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says, "As touching our brother Apollos,
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I greatly desired to him to come unto
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you with the brethren, but his will was
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not at all to come at this time, but he
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will come when he shall have convenient
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time." And so Paul here addresses the
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the the thought, the hearing that they
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had had that uh Paulus was going to come
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unto them, said he's not quite ready at
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this time. And I find it interesting
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that the subject matter literally just
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changes completely 180 degrees into
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verse 13. He's given them all of this
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information about everything that's
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going on at the church and he just drops
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this bomb of truth right in the middle
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of this letter. And I love that. You
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know what? That's what we need
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sometimes, ain't it?
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>> Right.
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>> We need a bomb of truth to just blow up
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all of our plans, ideas, and thoughts.
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Amen. I think it helps us. Amen. And I
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noticed that. Notice verse 13. He
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begins, "Watch ye stand fast in the
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faith. Quit ye like men. Be strong. Let
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all your things be done with charity."
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And what I find interesting about this
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subject here in the middle of this
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number one, I would say that these two
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verses are the central point. Now,
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they're the central point of the
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chapter. This chapter has 24 verses.
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here in verse 13 and 14, right in the
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middle of this chapter. Paul gives this
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admonition. But I'll say this, not only
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it's central in the chapter as we read
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it physically, but it's central in the
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context of this this scripture. You
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think about this. Everything that Paul
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is telling them in this chapter
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surrounding these two verses is leading
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off of these verses. He is talking to
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them not only uh it's not only
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picturesque uh central in the chapter
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and in the context but it's also what he
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what he's dealing with here is what
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should be central in their character.
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These principles in verse 13 and 14 is
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the focus of the Christian.
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>> Amen.
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>> And I notice not only that it's central,
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it's central here in the chapter in the
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context of what he's dealing with that
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everything in this chapter is founded
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upon this. But it and it should be
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central in our character. He wanted it
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to be central in their character. But
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also note that it's a command. Notice in
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verse 13, you don't see any suggestion.
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You don't see any question. There's not
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a a exhortation to try. Amen. The Bible
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doesn't say try to be holy.
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>> It says be holy. Amen. The Bible does
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not say try to be righteous or try to be
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Amen. Try to follow the Lord. But it
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tells us that we are to do it. Amen.
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Right?
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>> You say, "Well, how is that? I'm just
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trying to serve God." Well, the thing
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about it is you either are or you're
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not.
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>> Right?
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>> Amen. That's what it comes down to
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tonight. And in this, this is a command.
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You see, Paul's not asking for an
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attempt. And when I preach to you, I'm
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not asking for an attempt for you to do
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right. Amen.
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>> I'm not asking for an attempt, but what
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I am preaching for, and what the Holy
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Ghost is calling for is apprehension of
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truth. Amen.
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>> And not only apprehension, but
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application of that truth. You're right.
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>> Amen. If you receive truth, Amen. If you
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apprehend it, you take hold of it, it's
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only going to be right that you're going
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to apply it. You're
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>> right.
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>> Amen. It's like hooking a plow to a
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tractor, amen, and sitting there and
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looking at it. Amen. And never doing
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anything with it.
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>> It ain't going to do any good. It can be
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hooked to the tractor from now on, but
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until you let it in the ground, Amen.
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>> Well, I had the intention of doing that.
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Well, intentions don't get anything
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done. Amen.
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>> Amen. That's right. And so I notice here
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it's a command. He's not asking for an
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attempt, but he's asking for them to
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apprehend this truth and to apply these
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principles. And I notice this thirdly,
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and I'll give you the thought tonight. I
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see it's not only central, it's a
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command, but I see it is Christ. And you
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say, "What do you mean by that?" Well,
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verse 13 and 14 literally are the
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embodiment of everything that Christ is
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and everything that Christ did. He
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exemplified these principles in every
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part of his life. If anybody was aware,
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Christ was aware. If anybody was firm,
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Christ was firm. If anybody was a man,
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Amen. Christ was a man.
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>> If anybody had strength, Christ was full
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of strength and he possessed all
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strength. Amen. And if anybody has ever
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loved anybody, Christ loved everybody.
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>> And so these principles are Jesus
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tonight. And so I want to give you this
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tonight concerning this admonition here
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in the text. Paul's last admonition, I I
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pinned this in my notes earlier today.
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Paul's last admonition in these two
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verses is sufficient instruction for
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total success in the church of God.
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>> If you obey what's in those two verses,
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you can have total and complete success
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in your Christian life. I'm convinced
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the further I go along, which ain't very
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far, but I'm getting further every day.
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Somebody say amen. I'm convinced the
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further I go along, the Christian life
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really is simple.
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>> Amen.
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>> It's hearing truth and heeding truth.
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>> Amen. It's receiving it and obeying it.
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>> The problem is, amen, we don't have a
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problem receiving it many times, but we
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have a problem with obedience,
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>> right?
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>> And so, notice this. I want to give you
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these five principles here in our text
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tonight. Verse 13 and 14. And I could
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deal on down to verse number 16. Really,
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I believe in the context it goes all the
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way to verse 16. But I want to deal with
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just these two tonight for sake of time.
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Notice number one tonight with me
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concerning this admonition here uh Paul
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gives to the church. There's number one,
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there's a patient perception that's
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mentioned in verse 13. He says, "Watch
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ye." Now, when you think about this
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statement tonight, what Paul is
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literally applying this to, he is using
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it in the masculine sense. We notice
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that in the verse when he uses the
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phrase quit you like me, but he's also
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not only using it in the masculine
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sense, but he's also you using it in the
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sense of a warrior that is going to a
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battle. It's much the same principle
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that he uses in the book of Ephesians
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when he talks about the armor of God.
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And it's the same expression that he
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would share with us that we are warriors
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that are in a battle. Amen. We fight a
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battle every day of our life whether you
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like it or not. We don't like to admit
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that. Amen. But the moment that you wake
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up in the morning until the time that
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you lay your head on the pillow at
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night, and I'll be honest with you, I've
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come to find it here lately, even
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sometimes in between that time, there's
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a battle that we're facing around the
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clock. We are in a battle. And so the
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first admonition he gives is that there
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is to be patient perception. Now what
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does that mean? Well, that word watch
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there, the phrase watch means this. It
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means to keep awake or to be vigilant.
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And Matthew Henry said this, and I like
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what he said. He said, "The Christian is
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in constant danger." Constant. It does
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not stop. You You say, "Preacher, well,
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I thought when I got saved that all of
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that was supposed to subside." Well, I
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wish it was that way. Amen. But the
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enemy is constantly raged. Now, the
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constant danger, it comes from different
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places in our life. There's, you know,
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we we think of the big three, sin, self,
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and Satan. But I'll be honest with you,
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a lot of times it's all three at the
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same time,
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>> right?
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>> Amen. The devil is pushing on our self,
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and our self is pushing on us to sin.
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And so, because of that, we are in
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danger. And all three of those are
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present at the hardest moments of our
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tenure on this earth. You understand
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that every day of our life, we are faced
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with something. And often times it's
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new,
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>> right?
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>> And and here's the thing about it now.
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The tactics are old,
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>> but the temptations are new every time.
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>> Just like God's mercies are new, the
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devil's temptations
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are new every day.
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If you get victory in one place, you
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just better watch out because the moment
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you turn away from that and say, "Thank
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you, Lord, for giving me victory there,"
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you're going to walk right into
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something else.
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>> Amen. You're going to come headlong with
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something else. And the admonition is
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here to watch. Now, what are we watching
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for? I would there's many things tonight
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that we could we could say, you know, we
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we look at those those three truths
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there, sin, self, and Satan. So,
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basically, we're to watch ourselves and
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the influence of sin in our lives. But
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it goes much further than that. In
16:24
scripture, the Bible commands us. Jesus
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told us in Matthew chapter number 24 and
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verse number 42, he said, "Watch ye, for
16:31
you know neither the day nor the hour
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where the son of man cometh.
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>> You don't know when the Lord's coming
16:36
back. He could be here at any moment in
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time." And the truth is that's the
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biggest event of him that we're waiting
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on.
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>> Amen. And so in the moment when we're
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watching oursel and we're watching sin
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in our life, trying to keep it out and
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we're trying to guard ourselves from the
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influence of Satan all that time, we're
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to be giving credence and watching unto
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the coming of Jesus.
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>> Right?
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>> We got to be open eyes, don't we?
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>> Amen.
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>> He told us to watch because he's coming.
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But he also told us told those disciples
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in chapter 26 in verse number 42 he said
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watch and pray lest you enter into
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temptation. Why is that? The spirit
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indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.
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You see there's a watching unto eternity
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but there's also a watching that's
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present. We're watching for a moment
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that's that's to come. We're not expect
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not to expect it at any moment per se in
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the sense of uh you know we don't know
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when the Lord's coming but we're also to
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expect it at any moment. You're right.
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>> You know what I'm saying tonight? To be
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ready always.
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>> I'll say this tonight. In the broader
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sense, we're to be watching over our
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family.
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>> Dads, we're to watch our children. Men,
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we're to watch the church. Christians,
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we're to watch other Christians. You
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say, "Preacher, well, I'm not supposed
17:52
to keep my brother in check." Well, the
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Bible teaches us that,
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>> right? that we're to exhort one another,
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to encourage one another. And if we see
18:00
a brother stumble, Paul said that we're
18:02
to restore such a one in the spirit of
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meekness, considering yourself, lest you
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also be tempted. I'm saying Christianity
18:08
is not a place for blind people.
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>> Amen. I'm not talking about physically.
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>> You're right.
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>> But what's our problem? We're a bunch of
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Christians walking around with glasses
18:17
on. Amen.
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>> We need to be watching. I'm not knocking
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you if you got glasses on tonight. But I
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am knocking Tilly. Amen. It's messed
18:28
with me. Amen. He come the other night.
18:29
We had meeting over there at New Hope
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and I got up there and preached and he
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was sitting what? Two rows back. Two
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rows back. I preached the entire sermon
18:37
and he was saying amen just like he
18:39
always does.
18:41
And I still didn't know it was him. All
18:44
because of the glasses.
18:46
And so I'm sorry, brother. I had to just
18:48
throw that out there. But
18:50
where was I at? Amen. I'll never recover
18:54
from that, will I? Amen.
18:57
>> Oh yeah. Perception. Amen. You need a
18:59
clear perception. You see? See, here's
19:01
the thing about it in this day and time.
19:03
This is where we all most often fail.
19:06
Because where distraction is, there is
19:08
not clear perception. Where defilement
19:11
is, there's not clear perception. Where
19:13
division is, there is not clear
19:16
perception. And the Bible teaches us,
19:18
Peter said this way in first Peter
19:20
chapter 5 and verse number eight. What
19:22
was his first admonition? He said, "Be
19:24
sober,
19:25
>> right?
19:25
>> Be vigilant, for your adversary, the
19:28
devil, is as a walking line is as a
19:30
roaring lion walking about seeking whom
19:33
he may devour." And if we are constantly
19:36
filled and moved by something else, we
19:38
are not watching
19:40
>> for the enemy.
19:42
>> So, there is a patient perception. I'll
19:45
say this tonight. It's just like the
19:46
hunter. If there's going to be a side of
19:48
anything that we're going to to take in
19:50
or if we're going to bag that game,
19:52
amen, we're going to have to be patient
19:54
in our perception.
19:55
>> Right?
19:56
>> The same way it is in battle. You think
19:58
about the the enemy. You think about the
20:01
war war and the sense of this world that
20:03
we're acquainted with in this day and
20:05
time. All the tools that men have in
20:07
order to fight battles. You understand
20:09
the Christian life. The Christian battle
20:11
is the same way it's always been.
20:13
We don't have scopes and long range
20:15
missiles.
20:16
>> Amen. We don't have all of the newness.
20:19
Amen. It's still fought and still
20:21
learned and still done the exact same
20:23
way it's always been. You're
20:25
>> right.
20:26
>> It it requires steady attendance. And so
20:29
there is patient perception here
20:31
tonight. Notice second of all here in
20:33
the text, not only patient perception,
20:36
we're to be watchful, but there also is
20:38
an admonition here of a permanent
20:40
position. And look what he says in verse
20:41
number 13. Watch ye stand fast
20:47
in what?
20:48
>> In the faith. You know, there's some
20:51
things in our life that ought not
20:52
change.
20:53
>> Amen. There is some things that about
20:56
who we are and what we believe that are
20:58
non-negotiables.
20:59
And I think where we've lost it in this
21:01
church world today is we've adopted the
21:03
mentality of the world that everything's
21:05
debatable.
21:06
>> Right.
21:06
>> Well, there's just some things that's
21:07
not up for debate tonight. Amen. There's
21:10
there's ideas, Amen. And and our our
21:12
world, Amen. I'm not going to harp on
21:14
this very long, but they've tried to
21:15
redefine marriage. Amen. And and bring a
21:18
question where God put a period. Amen.
21:20
But we know the truth tonight. That's
21:22
settled.
21:23
>> Amen. There's no if and buts about it.
21:25
Amen. It's settled tonight. That is not
21:27
arguable. But I'll tell you this,
21:29
greater than anything else in this
21:31
world, this truth ought to be settled to
21:32
us. What does he say? He says that we
21:35
are to stand fast in the faith. Well,
21:38
that standing fast means to persevere.
21:42
But persevere in our language gives us
21:44
the idea of a person running a race. We
21:47
think we got to persist and persevere
21:50
until the end. But this truth goes
21:52
beyond that. It's not talking about
21:53
moving. But if you look at the
21:55
definition of this word in its fullness,
21:57
it means to stand still. Means to be
22:00
stationary or to persist. And so when he
22:05
says here in the text to stand fast,
22:07
he's telling us there's some things that
22:08
you're to stand firm on and stay still.
22:10
>> Right?
22:11
>> You know, we we get we get our mind
22:13
crossed up sometimes talking about and
22:14
I've even said this tonight that we're
22:16
always to be moving forward, but that's
22:18
not in progressivism. Amen.
22:20
>> That's in sanctification is what that
22:22
is. We're to be moving forward, getting
22:24
more like Christ. Amen. I think a lot of
22:26
people are moving forward and staying on
22:28
the same level.
22:29
>> You're right.
22:29
>> Amen. The Christian life is like a
22:31
staircase. If you're moving forward,
22:33
you're going up. Somebody say amen.
22:35
You're not going to be going forward and
22:36
staying in the same place. But there is
22:39
going to be an elevation. And so I'll
22:41
say this tonight. He tells us to stand
22:43
fast in the faith. What is that? That's
22:45
the gospel.
22:46
>> That's Jesus Christ. That's the death,
22:48
the burial, and the resurrection of
22:50
Jesus. That is the faith. Amen.
22:53
>> What is that faith? Well, it's our final
22:54
authority. You're
22:55
>> right.
22:56
>> It's what we believe tonight. Everything
22:58
else hinges on the gospel. Somebody say,
23:01
"Amen. That is what our life hinges
23:03
upon. If the gospel moves, then we're
23:06
not then we then we're moved.
23:09
>> Amen. That's right. If the gospel
23:11
changes, then we have to change. You're
23:13
right.
23:13
>> But you know what? It doesn't change.
23:14
You're
23:15
>> right.
23:15
>> Amen. Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
23:17
today, and forever. Amen. Hey, he's not
23:19
going to change. And so, he is our final
23:22
authority. I'll say this, he's not only
23:24
this this position, it it gives us our
23:26
final authority, but it's our faith
23:28
acquisition. And I I say that for sake
23:30
of literation, but it's also a point I
23:32
want to make. This is what we're
23:33
striving for.
23:34
>> You're right.
23:35
>> What' Paul say? Said that I may know
23:37
him. This is what we've zeroed in on.
23:40
This is what we're heading towards. This
23:42
is where we're going. You know, tonight,
23:44
if you don't have a plan with your life,
23:46
if you don't have a plan in whatever it
23:48
is you're doing, you're probably not
23:50
going to get anything done.
23:51
>> You're right.
23:52
>> Our acquisition is him.
23:55
>> It's the faith.
23:56
>> Amen. That's where we're headed. It's
23:59
our final authority. It's what we're
24:01
standing on. But it's also where we're
24:03
going.
24:04
>> Isn't that interesting? It's what we're
24:06
standing on right now. But even far out
24:08
yonder, the same thing we're standing on
24:10
is what we're headed towards. You know
24:12
what that is? That's a path, ain't it?
24:13
>> Right.
24:14
>> Amen.
24:15
>> Notice this. It's not only our final
24:18
authority and our faith's acquisition,
24:20
but it's our future's assurance.
24:23
>> That when you get out there, Amen. When
24:26
you've when you've when you stood on it
24:27
here, when it's the final authority here
24:29
and it's what you're aiming for out
24:31
there, when you get out there, man, I'm
24:34
telling you, I feel something down on
24:35
the inside of me. Amen. When you get out
24:38
there, the assurance that you have here,
24:40
hey, knowing what you've been aiming for
24:41
all THIS TIME, IT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING
24:43
TO GET. IT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
24:45
WHEN YOU get there. Amen. Hallelujah.
24:47
Have you ever made a trip sometimes and
24:49
you had all this excitement
24:51
thinking, "Man, this is going to be
24:53
awesome." Man, I do that when me and dad
24:56
used to go look at bulldozers,
24:59
thinking, man, this is just going to be
25:02
the ticket to our work. Amen. I remember
25:04
we get there and the guy with the seller
25:06
talk it up. Man, this looks great. You
25:08
know, it's a great machine. It's
25:10
perfect. You know, if you talk a truck
25:11
or something like that, you know, man,
25:13
there's nothing wrong with it. It's
25:15
clean title, no rust. You know what I'm
25:17
talking about, man. Amen. You get there
25:19
and the thing's literally falling all to
25:21
pieces. Amen. Is that not the way it is?
25:25
>> But I'll tell you this, it ain't going
25:26
to be this way with this thing, is it?
25:28
>> Hey, when we get there, it's going to be
25:29
better than we ever could have dreamed.
25:32
>> Amen. When when we what we are laying
25:34
our eyes on right now, we see it a far
25:37
off. But I'll tell you this, when we get
25:38
there,
25:39
>> Amen.
25:39
>> Amen. When faith becomes silent, man,
25:42
I'm telling you, the half that ain't
25:43
never been told, that's why I want to
25:45
have a permanent position.
25:47
>> Yes.
25:47
>> I'm just going to stay here. Amen.
25:49
>> Right. just going to stay in the path
25:51
because I'm headed somewhere. I'll say
25:54
this. We need to get a lock tight vice
25:56
grip hold on the faith.
25:58
>> Amen.
25:58
>> Amen. Take hold of it. What what what
26:01
Paul say to lay hold on eternal life
26:03
where unto that are called. That is the
26:05
faith. That's the gospel. That eternal
26:07
life that Jesus came to impart, we're to
26:10
grab hold and hang on tight. Amen.
26:13
>> Get us a hold on that thing. It's why
26:15
Jude said in Jude verse number three, he
26:17
said, "We're to earnestly contend for
26:19
the faith that's once delivered for the
26:21
saints." I'll tell you this, if you
26:22
hanging on to it, amen, and it gets to
26:24
shaken all around, you know what it's
26:25
going to look like? You're fighting.
26:26
Amen.
26:27
>> Right?
26:27
>> I tell you what, the world's going to
26:29
try to shake us up. The devil's going to
26:31
try to shake us up. Amen. Friends,
26:33
family, and all of that other everything
26:35
else going to try to shake us up. Let me
26:37
tell you something. Just keep your
26:39
position. Don't change. Just stay with
26:42
it. Amen. Don't back up on the doctrines
26:45
of this Bible.
26:48
That ought not be quiet tonight. Amen.
26:49
That ought to be that's that's that's
26:51
foundational. Amen. What Paul say in 1
26:54
Corinthians 3, for other foundation can
26:55
no man lay,
26:56
>> right?
26:57
>> Than that that is laid. You're
26:58
>> right.
26:58
>> Which is Christ Jesus. Peter said in
27:00
Acts chapter 4, he said, "For there's
27:02
none other name under heaven given among
27:03
men whereby we must be saved." Amen.
27:06
It's his name. He is the faith and that
27:08
is our permanent position. Amen.
27:11
>> Not changing. Hallelujah.
27:13
Notice not only our patient perception
27:16
and our permanent position, we've been
27:18
given this foundation according to
27:20
Romans chapter number five and verse
27:22
number two. We stand there by grace
27:24
through faith on this foundation of
27:26
faith. Notice verse three or the third
27:30
thing. It's verse 13. You see he says,
27:33
"Watch ye stand fast in the faith. Quit
27:35
you like men." So there is our
27:38
perception, our position. Now there's
27:40
our posture. We're to have a p
27:42
persistent
27:44
posture. So what does he say? He says,
27:47
"Quit you like men." Now, I've heard men
27:49
preach this and I actually listened to a
27:51
message today out of this text and he
27:53
preached it a lot better than I did, but
27:54
he preached it out of context. Amen. He
27:56
talked about some things you ought to
27:58
quit like a man. Amen. And it was good.
28:00
I enjoyed it. Amen. But that's not what
28:03
this is saying. Amen. That word quit
28:06
there in the text literally means this.
28:07
It means to be a man.
28:10
He says, "Quit you like men." That's
28:12
speaking of bravery. That's speaking of
28:15
boldness. It means to equip yourself or
28:18
to armor up. Amen. Put on the Lord Jesus
28:22
Christ, Paul said, and make no provision
28:25
for the flesh to fulfill it in the lust
28:27
thereof. Hey, we're if we put him on,
28:29
our posture, amen, is going to fit that
28:31
armor. You ever studied about that armor
28:33
in the word of God?
28:35
>> That Roman soldier, you know that armor?
28:37
My daddy, I'll never forget him
28:38
preaching this as long as I live. He was
28:40
preaching through the armor of God over
28:41
there in the book of Ephesians and he
28:43
said this. He said, "You know that
28:44
armor," he said, "It was made to fit."
28:46
>> Right?
28:46
>> Amen. It didn't fit just an old lazy fat
28:49
slob. Amen.
28:50
>> Right.
28:51
>> But it was made for somebody that to
28:53
fit. And you know what? The muscles,
28:55
Amen. And that thing, if you didn't feel
28:56
it out, you weren't going to be able to
28:57
work with it.
28:58
>> Right.
28:59
>> Amen. And that's the way it is with this
29:01
tonight. If you don't fit this truth,
29:03
the armor is not gonna not going to help
29:05
you, but it's going to hurt you.
29:07
>> You're right.
29:08
>> Amen.
29:09
>> You ever wore something that don't fit?
29:11
Amen. Y'all dead as a hammer tonight.
29:14
Y'all going to have to come on help me a
29:15
little bit. Amen. You get chapped and
29:17
charred. Amen. And all kinds of other
29:19
stuff. Amen. You get hurt because it
29:22
don't fit. You're
29:23
>> right.
29:23
>> But I'll tell you this, the armor is not
29:24
the problem.
29:25
>> You're right.
29:26
>> Amen.
29:27
>> It's the one wearing it.
29:28
>> You're right. And if our posture is
29:30
right, the armor will fit. Amen. We're
29:33
to be a man. Hey, don't be fearful.
29:35
Don't be fake. Amen.
29:38
>> It ain't It's not time to be fake. Amen.
29:40
We don't need fake nice guys. We need
29:42
men that'll be real. Amen. And right.
29:45
>> Amen. Here's what I'm seeing in this day
29:47
and time. We got a lot of men that's
29:49
real.
29:51
>> Amen. We got a lot of men that's real.
29:53
But you know what the problem? You can
29:55
be real all you want to be real, but if
29:56
you ain't right, your realness don't
29:58
amount to nothing.
29:58
>> You're right.
29:59
>> Amen.
30:00
>> That's right. Tonight, you've got to be
30:02
right with the word of God. And then if
30:04
you're real on the terms of that, that
30:06
means you got to believe it, but you
30:07
also got to believe it. Amen.
30:09
>> You got to love it, but you have to live
30:11
it. Amen.
30:13
>> It's got to be more than just black
30:15
black ink on white paper, but it's got
30:17
to be life. And everything that you are,
30:19
it is this that makes the posture. What
30:21
did Paul describe the last days as? He
30:23
said they have a form of godliness,
30:26
>> but denying the power thereof.
30:28
>> Right?
30:28
>> Amen. They have an image, but you see
30:31
the posture is not within. Look what he
30:34
says. He says, "Quit you like a man.
30:36
Quit you like men."
30:38
You know what I say this, a man will
30:41
stand, but I'll say this. A godly man
30:44
will stand and stay.
30:45
>> You're right.
30:46
>> Amen.
30:48
A man will stand on anything.
30:50
>> We sit all over this country. Yeah,
30:52
>> there's a man up there in New York right
30:54
now that's standing for demonic ideas
30:57
and beliefs that if they're not dealt
30:59
with, they will send this country to
31:01
destruction faster than we can blink.
31:03
>> Right?
31:04
>> He's standing for it. That'll make it
31:06
right. You're
31:07
>> right.
31:08
>> Somebody say amen right there.
31:10
>> What I'm saying is it's right for us to
31:12
stand. We got to stand in the right
31:13
place and on the right thing. We got to
31:16
have the right posture
31:18
>> and we got to stay. You know, I don't
31:21
want to ever I don't want my kids to
31:23
grow up and say, "My daddy believed that
31:25
when I was little, but he don't believe
31:26
it no more."
31:27
>> That's good.
31:28
>> My daddy did that when I was little, but
31:30
he don't do it no more.
31:32
>> I don't want a a person in this
31:34
congregation to ever say that that
31:35
preacher used to preach on that, but he
31:37
don't preach it no more.
31:39
>> Good.
31:40
>> Amen. I want it to stay the same.
31:44
>> I want to stand on it, but I'm going to
31:46
stay with it. Amen. We ought to make
31:47
that our resolve. Hey, that's not just
31:49
for men. That's for all of us,
31:51
>> right?
31:52
>> And don't mistake the message tonight.
31:54
He's using it in the masculine sense
31:56
because that's what we're that's who
31:57
we're warriors in this time. And the
31:59
principle applies across the board for
32:01
all of us,
32:02
>> right?
32:02
>> Amen.
32:03
>> To stand.
32:06
What did he tell them in the book of
32:07
Ephesians? He said in Ephesians, he
32:09
said, "Be strong in the Lord
32:11
>> in the power of his might." He said,
32:13
"Stand therefore with your loins g about
32:15
truth having on the breastplate of
32:17
righteousness and them feet shaw with
32:19
the preparation of the gospel peace and
32:20
that belt of truth." He lists all those
32:22
all that armor. But what's the most
32:24
important thing? He says, "Stand having
32:26
done all to stand." There ought to be a
32:29
persistent posture. You know, I want it
32:32
to be like it was in 1st Samuel chapter
32:34
number 9 and verse number six, I believe
32:37
it is, when uh they was looking for a
32:40
preacher and that man came and got Saul
32:43
and chapter 9 verse number six, he he
32:46
said, "There is in this city a man of
32:47
God."
32:50
Could could somebody say that about your
32:52
house?
32:53
>> Come on.
32:54
>> Could somebody say that about this
32:56
church?
32:56
>> Good.
32:58
>> You know, I don't want to lose that.
33:00
>> Amen. Amen.
33:02
>> There is in this city a man of God that
33:05
ain't just a preacher.
33:06
>> That's good.
33:07
>> That ain't just a man.
33:08
>> You're right.
33:10
>> I was thinking about this the other day.
33:11
I was going to actually say something
33:12
about this on Sunday, but you know,
33:15
there's there's something that Miss
33:17
Modina, Brother Paul Cisk, and there was
33:20
a few others I was thinking about that
33:22
y'all don't know about, but those two
33:24
have in common. Probably I don't even
33:25
know if they ever knew each other, but
33:27
I'll tell you this, they operate the
33:29
same way.
33:29
>> All right. They believe the same thing
33:31
and they operate the same way. And
33:33
that's by faith and on their knees in
33:34
prayer.
33:35
>> Yeah.
33:37
>> Two totally different worlds.
33:39
>> But they believe and behave the same
33:40
way.
33:42
>> I tell you this, that's what it's going
33:43
to take.
33:44
>> You're right.
33:46
>> Persistent posture.
33:49
That posture is a posture of prayer.
33:51
>> Yes.
33:52
>> That posture is a posture of praise.
33:58
>> Notice this.
34:00
there. I I can't get over that. There is
34:01
in this city a man of God.
34:05
Notice verse number the fourth thought
34:06
here in our verse, verse 13. Quit you
34:09
like men. Be strong. So there's a
34:13
persistent posture that we ought to
34:14
have. We're to equip ourselves to be a
34:16
man. Be bold. Don't be fearful, afraid,
34:19
or fake. Be real and right.
34:23
I got to give you this before I move off
34:25
of that. I'll say this. A man number one
34:29
tonight, he's touchable. What do you
34:31
mean by that? Well, when God deals with
34:34
him, puts his finger on him, you know
34:36
what? He don't just back up to that
34:39
thing.
34:40
>> Good.
34:40
>> But when God touches him, it's like that
34:42
potter in the clay.
34:44
>> Yes.
34:44
>> That vessel was marred,
34:47
>> painful, agonizing.
34:50
A man of God's touchable. But I'll say
34:52
this, a man of God's trustworthy.
34:54
>> Yes.
34:55
>> Amen. and you can depend on him. He's
34:57
faithful. What's our verse? It's
34:59
required in stewards that a man be found
35:02
faithful. He's trustworthy. But I'll say
35:04
this, man of God's not only touchable
35:07
and truthful or trustworthy,
35:10
but he's teachable.
35:15
>> I'll tell you this, the reason why
35:16
people aren't teachable in this day and
35:17
time is because they're not touchable.
35:19
>> You're right.
35:20
>> You can't teach people anything because
35:22
they won't let God touch them.
35:23
>> You're right.
35:26
He said, "Quit, you like me." Man will
35:30
admit the fact he don't know it all.
35:31
>> You're right.
35:32
>> Man will admit the fact he needs to
35:33
learn. Man admit the fact that he ain't
35:36
got it all together.
35:37
>> Yeah.
35:37
>> I'll tell you the days that helped me
35:38
the most for my daddy growing up is when
35:40
he looked at me and said, "Son, I'll be
35:42
honest with you. I don't know. I don't
35:43
really know what to tell you right now,
35:45
but I'll tell you this. I'm going to
35:46
pray and you need to pray and we need to
35:48
figure this thing out."
35:49
>> Yes.
35:50
>> I'll tell you what, that helped me as
35:52
much as more than anything else she ever
35:54
told me. Amen.
35:55
>> We ain't got it figured out.
35:57
>> But you know what? The posture don't
35:58
change.
35:59
>> Amen.
36:01
>> What we do have figured out,
36:04
don't back up on it. Notice this. I'm I
36:08
moved tonight. He says, "Be strong."
36:10
There's there's prominent power.
36:12
Prominent power. Be strong. What does
36:14
that mean? Well, strong means to empower
36:19
or to increase in vigor. Of course, we
36:22
know tonight this is spiritual, not
36:23
physical.
36:25
It's hidden power. It's not visible.
36:28
It's not inherent, but it's attained.
36:31
>> Something you wasn't born with.
36:34
Something that you just didn't get.
36:37
Something you don't just stumble across,
36:38
but it requires effort. You see,
36:43
Ephesians 6:10, be strong, the Lord in
36:45
the power of his might. You see the
36:47
strength that we have, it's endued.
36:50
You're
36:50
>> right.
36:51
>> It's given to us.
36:53
>> Yes.
36:53
>> But you understand that strength is
36:56
given to you without measure. But the
36:58
difference of how strong you are is how
37:00
much of that strength you employ.
37:02
>> You're right.
37:02
>> You see, see strength was in dude. What?
37:05
Acts chapter 1 verse number eight. He
37:06
told him said, "You shall receive power
37:08
after that the Holy Ghost come upon
37:10
you." So it's spiritual strength. It's
37:11
Holy Ghost. You shall receive power
37:14
after that the Holy Ghost has come upon
37:16
you. Shall be witnesses. You know the
37:17
verse. Well, what comes out of that? Why
37:20
is it that people who are saved and have
37:21
that strength endued to them do not use
37:24
it? Well, it's endued, but most people
37:25
don't employ it. You're
37:27
>> right.
37:29
>> It's the same the same idea of having um
37:32
you know, having a machine that can do a
37:33
do a do a job, you know, at your
37:35
workplace or something, does something,
37:37
but if you don't use that,
37:39
>> you know, you think about everything
37:41
used to be made by hand. Now you have,
37:43
you know, a machine that's able to do
37:44
those things, you know, clothing, things
37:46
of that nature when when, you know,
37:47
ladies and men men would have to sit for
37:49
hours and sew. And then there would be a
37:52
machine that you hook in the wall and
37:53
you just move that thing around. A lot
37:55
less labor involved in that.
37:56
>> It's a lot quicker to go that way. Well,
37:58
you see, here's the thing about the
37:59
Christian life. God's given us power,
38:02
>> right?
38:03
>> We're given the operation. We know how
38:05
this thing ought to go, but what
38:06
happens? We try to do it ourselves.
38:08
>> That's right.
38:10
We've been endued with power, but we
38:12
don't employ it.
38:15
Notice that he says, "Be strong.
38:18
Be strong." It's not something that that
38:22
you just get.
38:24
And and I like what John said. You
38:26
remember what John said, 1 John 2, he
38:27
said, I said, "I've written unto you
38:29
young men because you are strong and
38:31
you've overcome the wicked one." But you
38:33
know, he wasn't talking about their
38:35
inherent strength. It's not youth that
38:38
just brings strength in the spiritual
38:39
world. Their strength come from the
38:42
Lord. Amen. That's where their power
38:44
comes from. That's where our strength
38:46
comes from. And if we do not employ
38:48
that, you see this strength is
38:50
sovereign. It comes from God. It's
38:52
spiritual. It is the Holy Ghost within
38:54
us. It is imp it is employed through
38:57
scripture.
38:58
The spirit of God has no foundation to
39:01
work in your life without the word of
39:03
God.
39:03
>> Right? You can have all the power in the
39:06
world invested in you by being saved and
39:08
having the spirit of God within. But it
39:10
is the scripture in which the Holy
39:13
Spirit writes the pages of your life
39:15
upon.
39:16
>> Right?
39:16
>> But what do we do? We just set that book
39:19
aside.
39:21
I I'll write my own story today, Lord.
39:25
>> It's sovereign. It's spiritual. It's
39:26
scriptural. It's sanctifying. This
39:29
strength sets you apart. Think about
39:31
Samson. You know, we have the image in
39:33
our mind and the kids Bibles. I had one
39:35
of them. Kids Bibles picture Samson's
39:37
looking like Arie,
39:40
some big old buff guy. But I'll tell you
39:42
what, I don't believe Samson was that
39:43
way. I think he was just a small guy.
39:46
And I think the Holy Ghost gave him
39:48
power.
39:49
>> Bible says the spirit of God began to
39:51
move him.
39:52
>> Right?
39:52
>> God empowered him. He was different. Why
39:55
is that? Because God put the power on
39:57
him. God made him distinct. God made him
40:00
different. He didn't just look like
40:02
somebody that lifted weights all the
40:03
time.
40:04
>> Right?
40:04
>> You know what? Real spiritual people,
40:06
what you'll notice about them is they
40:08
have no distinction of themselves. They
40:10
look just like the rest of us.
40:12
>> Right?
40:13
>> They might dress different. I'll say
40:14
this, the further we go along in this
40:16
world today. All of that's going to get
40:18
more and it's going to get farther and
40:20
farther and farther out. The world's
40:22
going to keep going farther and farther
40:24
and farther away. And Christians are
40:26
going to have to look more different.
40:27
Amen. We're peculiar people. But what
40:29
I'm trying to say tonight is this is
40:31
spiritual people, holy people that have
40:33
power and it's prominent in their life.
40:35
You get around them and it ain't nothing
40:37
they say. It ain't nothing they do. But
40:40
just being around them, you know that
40:42
God's power
40:44
>> is on their life. You're
40:45
>> right.
40:46
>> I'll say it again. Sister Modina is one
40:48
of those people.
40:49
>> You're right.
40:51
>> You get around her and the Holy Ghost
40:52
was just there.
40:53
>> Yeah.
40:54
>> My grandmother was like that. My
40:56
great-grandmother was like that. My
40:58
great granny's the reason probably that
41:00
my family saved and preaching. My my
41:02
brother and my daddy and myself all
41:05
preaching and and and I know it was her
41:07
prayers that put salvation in our life.
41:09
>> Amen.
41:10
>> Just a bunch of farm kids.
41:13
And God saved us out of that.
41:16
>> Called us, saved us, sealed us, called
41:19
us to the ministry. And it was because
41:21
of a woman of WOMEN THAT HAD THE HOLY
41:23
GHOST DRIPPING OFF THEIR LIVES. AMEN.
41:30
>> That imprint,
41:33
you see, the power was there, but it
41:35
wasn't just there. It was prominent,
41:37
>> right?
41:37
>> It had precedence.
41:39
You've got power tonight.
41:42
>> It's in you.
41:44
>> But is it prominent?
41:46
Is that what everybody sees?
41:50
You see, I'm afraid I don't want people
41:52
to get to the end. I don't want to get
41:53
to the end of my ministry and people
41:55
look at me and say, "Well, he was the
41:57
Bible expositor."
41:59
Now, I I'm thankful for the word of God,
42:01
and I love it, and I love to to to
42:04
expositionally teach and preach the word
42:06
of God, but I'll tell you this, that
42:08
book without the power of God is just as
42:10
dead as yesterday or tomorrow's
42:12
newspaper.
42:14
>> Without God's presence, WITHOUT GOD'S
42:16
POWER, WE'LL NEVER GET anything out of
42:19
that Bible.
42:20
>> RIGHT? AND POWER HAS TO BE PROMINENT. IT
42:22
HAS TO BE PREEMINENT IN EVERYTHING THAT
42:25
WE DO, BUT more importantly in who we
42:27
are.
42:28
>> Right?
42:31
>> Be strong.
42:33
>> I'll remind you again, it's not
42:35
inherited, but it's inherent, but it's
42:37
attained. It's cultivated.
42:40
It's endued. It's it's increased by
42:43
steady use. You remember Hebrews chapter
42:45
5. Hebrews chapter 5 verse number 14
42:47
said though he said even to them that
42:49
strong meat belongth to them that are
42:50
full age. You remember what we talked
42:52
about there a few weeks ago Sunday
42:53
school it belongth to them who are full
42:55
age. He said what did he say? He said to
42:57
them who by reason of use have exercised
43:01
their exercised their senses to discern
43:03
both good and evil.
43:05
>> Power belongs to people who's willing
43:07
willing to work for it.
43:08
>> You're right.
43:10
>> If you give five minutes a day to your
43:11
Bible study and two minutes a day to
43:13
prayer, you're probably not going to
43:14
have power. You're right.
43:16
>> If you give that much to prayer and to
43:17
Bible study a day, you probably don't do
43:19
it every day.
43:22
>> Here's here's what I'm saying to you.
43:24
Power belongs to those who invest time
43:26
in it.
43:26
>> Yes.
43:27
>> To receive it.
43:30
It's got to be prominent in your life.
43:32
It it's increased by steady use
43:34
according to Hebrews chapter 5 verse
43:35
number 14. It's also increased by
43:38
obedience according to Philippians
43:40
chapter 2 verse number 12. Paul said, he
43:42
told that Philippian church, he said,
43:43
"To work out your own salvation with
43:46
fear and trembling."
43:47
>> You're right.
43:48
>> How's that done? He said, he said, "As
43:49
you've always obeyed, Amen. Not now." He
43:52
said, "I'm in my absence." He said, "You
43:54
obeyed in my presence, but now in my
43:55
absence," he said, you're going to have
43:56
to work out your own s your work out
43:59
your own salvation with fear and tremor.
44:03
Can't have somebody holding you by the
44:04
hand all the time.
44:06
>> Right?
44:06
>> Y'all don't have to have a preacher, a
44:08
Sunday school teacher, or somebody to
44:09
hold you by the hand. You ought to have
44:11
a spiritual life for yourself,
44:12
>> right?
44:13
>> You can't live off somebody else's
44:15
power. You can't live off somebody
44:17
else's prayer life. I'll be honest with
44:19
you. I think sometimes in our church,
44:21
I'll be real honest with you, can you
44:23
with tonight? I think we're operating
44:25
off the prayers of some faithful saints
44:26
of God tonight.
44:27
>> You're right.
44:28
>> No, matter of fact, I know we are.
44:29
>> You're right.
44:33
>> Cuz this young generation ain't got time
44:34
to pray.
44:35
>> You're right, brother.
44:38
They ain't got time to come to church
44:40
for different events other than Sunday
44:42
morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday
44:43
night. They ain't no way they got time
44:45
to pray.
44:46
>> Good.
44:47
>> I'm being honest with you.
44:49
>> Come on.
44:49
>> Okay. And what are we going to do when
44:52
the faithful prayers are gone?
44:53
>> You're right.
44:56
>> I feel like this is something every
44:57
every service I preach, Brother Rick,
44:59
feels like it's something comes up every
45:00
time. What are we going to do when the
45:03
next generation has to take it?
45:10
Be strong.
45:12
Prominent power. Y'all right tonight. I
45:14
got one more.
45:15
>> Y'all hand to one more.
45:18
>> Prominent power. Be strong. Then there's
45:20
the last one. This This is where it gets
45:22
better. Amen. And this ain't bad. Amen.
45:25
This ought to be what you love. Amen.
45:28
I tell you what, when I got saved and
45:30
got right with God,
45:32
later on life, I got really right with
45:34
God and got surrendered to his will. You
45:36
know what? There ain't been preaching
45:37
I've heard since then I thought was too
45:39
hard.
45:40
>> Right.
45:41
>> There's been some preaching I thought,
45:42
well, that ain't biblical. Amen. But
45:44
there's been that I never heard a sermon
45:46
I thought, man, that's too harsh.
45:49
It's just right.
45:50
>> You're right.
45:51
>> Notice this verse 14. Let all your
45:53
things be done with charity.
45:57
There's a prevailing passion
46:00
that we are to have. And why is that
46:03
passion prevailing? Well, notice the
46:04
verse. There's the outlets in verse 14.
46:06
Let all your things I don't know about
46:09
you, that sounds like everything to me.
46:11
>> You're right.
46:12
>> That's every outlet.
46:14
>> Every relationship, every employment,
46:16
everything that you are, and everything
46:18
that you do summed up in that verse.
46:20
>> You're right.
46:20
>> Let all your things, every outlet, every
46:24
operation, look what he says. Let all
46:26
your things be done.
46:28
This ought to be the seasoning on top of
46:30
every meal. This ought to be the staple
46:34
of every event. It ought to be the
46:36
center point of everything that goes on
46:38
in your life.
46:40
What is it? Well, because he's talking
46:44
to the church. You know what it is? It's
46:46
oneness.
46:47
>> Notice the verse. Let all your things be
46:49
done with charity. That charity in the
46:52
church is brotherly kindness. What did
46:54
Jesus say to the disciples? He said, "By
46:56
this, amen. By this shall all men know
47:00
that you're my disciples." When you have
47:02
because you have love one to another,
47:06
charity. Every outlet is designed, the
47:09
operation of every false facet of life
47:12
is designed to be done with oneness.
47:15
That oneness first of all comes between
47:16
you and Christ.
47:18
>> Right?
47:19
>> There's got to be fellowship.
47:21
>> There has to be closeness. There has to
47:23
be Christian fellowship between you and
47:26
your master. And then it goes beyond
47:27
that. Not just to fellowship with the
47:29
Lord, but it goes to fellowship with the
47:31
brethren.
47:34
>> You got to be right with God and right
47:35
with the church. Now, oh man, people
47:37
don't like to hear that, but I'll say
47:38
this. If you're not right with a church,
47:40
you're not right with God.
47:41
>> You're right.
47:44
>> That's the book.
47:45
>> If you are not right I'll say this. If
47:47
you're not right with a family member or
47:49
a spouse, you're not right with God.
47:52
Come on.
47:53
>> WHAT DID THE BIBLE teach us? That we if
47:55
we if we go apart, if we mess up in our
47:58
marriage, what would it do? It hinder
47:59
our prayers. Right.
48:00
>> Amen.
48:02
Say, it's important.
48:05
Why does that happen? Because we don't
48:07
have love.
48:08
>> You're right.
48:09
>> What does the Bible say? Love will hide
48:11
a multitude of sins. Love is the is the
48:15
ingredient that God operates his mercy
48:18
upon.
48:18
>> Yes.
48:21
The long-suffering hand of God towards
48:23
sinners is is BECAUSE OF WHAT? HIS LOVE
48:25
for
48:28
>> The only reason God would give us a
48:30
chance to serve him is because he loves
48:32
us.
48:32
>> You're right.
48:33
>> THE ONLY REASON GOD WOULD GIVE US A
48:35
CHANCE TO TRY to live the Christian life
48:37
the best we can is because he loves us.
48:40
He knows how big of a failure we are.
48:42
>> You're right.
48:42
>> Amen.
48:44
>> On our best day, WE MISS IT EVERY 5
48:46
SECONDS. SOMEBODY SAY, "AMEN."
48:48
>> You're right. I think to myself some
48:49
days, man, could you be any more stupid?
48:51
Amen.
48:56
You know what this life comes down to?
48:58
It comes down to operating in the realm
49:00
of God's holiness.
49:01
>> You're right.
49:02
>> And that's where his love is. I'll say
49:05
this tonight, and I'm done.
49:08
Paul points out here and really it's
49:11
pointed out in all the word of God. But
49:12
God has designed the church so that the
49:15
church must be reliant on Christ.
49:18
>> Yes.
49:18
>> Amen.
49:19
>> The church must be relied on Christ. But
49:22
don't miss this. It's also dependent on
49:24
Christian brotherhood.
49:26
>> You're right.
49:31
>> It's dependent on us.
49:33
>> You're right.
49:34
>> What did the Bible say? It please God by
49:36
the foolishness of preaching to save
49:38
them that would believe. I don't know
49:40
about you, but you don't have preaching
49:42
without a preacher and a people to
49:43
preach to. You're
49:44
>> right.
49:46
>> You don't have fellowship. You don't
49:47
have Christianity without Christians.
49:52
This thing ain't just throw away and
49:53
pick it up again somewhere else down
49:55
along the way. It's not. It don't work
49:56
that way.
49:57
>> You're right.
49:58
>> This thing's holy. It's the eternal
50:00
purpose, by the way. It's what Jesus
50:02
died for.
50:03
>> It is. Amen.
50:05
>> He died for the church. You're
50:07
>> right.
50:07
>> The grace dispensation. Just get a hold
50:10
of this tonight. The mystery that has
50:13
been hid from all the prophets. And God
50:15
loved his men.
50:16
>> Yes.
50:17
>> Every one of them. He loved John the
50:19
Baptist. He said there's not been a man
50:21
born of woman greater.
50:22
>> You're right.
50:23
>> Than John the Baptist. But you remember
50:24
what he said? He that's least in the
50:28
kingdom of God is greater.
50:31
>> Y.
50:31
>> He loved Moses. He loved Noah. He loved
50:34
David. He loved Abraham, Isaac, and
50:36
Jacob. He loved Solomon, and everyone
50:39
that followed him. Let me tell you this.
50:42
He hid what we're doing tonight from all
50:44
of them.
50:45
>> Yes, you're right.
50:49
>> How do we treat him?
50:52
>> The admonition of the apostle here, I'll
50:54
say it again tonight. This last
50:56
admonition that he interjects in the
50:58
central point of this chapter is
51:01
sufficient instruction for total
51:03
success.
51:05
If you apply verse 13 and 14,
51:08
sky's is the limit.
51:09
>> Amen.
51:10
>> Amen. I believe that tonight.
51:14
>> Just that
51:16
it's enough. Amen. Father, thank you for
51:19
this time tonight.
51:21
Thank you for these truths, Lord. I
51:22
believe it with every fiber in my being.
51:26
And God, I know if I should falter,
51:29
Lord, if I should fail and Lord, some
51:31
way, somehow I get put out of this thing
51:35
because of a mistake that I made.
51:38
Lord, I know tonight and I want these
51:39
people to know that this is still right.
51:43
>> Regardless of who fails it, of who
51:45
misses it, and who makes it,
51:49
>> it's still right. Lord, I pray you'd
51:51
help us to apply it. Not just to
51:53
apprehend it, but to apply it. Lord, I
51:56
love you. Thank you for loving us and
51:58
giving us this wonderful church. And
52:00
Lord, I know it's not perfect, but God,
52:03
I know one day you're going to make us
52:04
perfect.
52:05
>> Amen.
52:05
>> And so, Lord, help us to strive to be
52:07
until you come. Lord, we love you. Bless
52:09
us as we depart in Jesus name. And God's
52:12
children say it.
52:14
>> Amen.
52:14
>> I love each and every one of you. I hope
52:16
you have a good rest of your week.
52:17
>> Thank you for joining our service today.
52:20
We'd love it if you'd join us in person
52:22
the next time you are able at Meadows
52:24
Baptist Church. Our physical address is
52:27
2988
52:28
Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North
52:31
Carolina. Our service times are Sunday
52:34
school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning
52:36
worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening
52:39
worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday
52:41
evening Bible study at 7:00 p.m. For
52:44
more information, visit us at
52:46
meadowsbaptisturch.com.
52:48
Thanks again for tuning in.