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Acts 20:25-38 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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A copy of God's Word, which I hope is with you and well read and meditated on day and night and treasured in your heart.
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! And turn with me to the book of Acts chapter 20.
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This morning's text for our consideration is Acts chapter 20 verses 25 through 38.
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That's to the end of the chapter. This is the second half of Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders.
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Last week we looked at the measure of successful ministry as Paul holds up his ministry as an example in the beginning of this address.
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He shows us ways in which we can see that a ministry is successful, which so often does not look the way the world measures success.
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This week we'll look at specific exhortations that Paul gives to the Ephesian elders.
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That's the turn he takes as we begin in verse 25 this morning.
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Paul in effect says to them, to these Ephesian elders, shepherd the church well in the following ways.
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So today there's very clear instruction to the leaders of a church.
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Explicit instruction to the leaders of a church.
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But I also want us to consider the implications of this text for all of us.
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As we're all given some measure of charge over someone, somebody that we're responsible to, to shepherd.
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And particularly this morning, I want fathers and future fathers to consider some of these implications.
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As that's the case, I'm going to structure our study of Acts 20, 25 through 38 in six points.
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They do not alliterate this morning.
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And they are as follows, and of course I'll go back through them.
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But I want to give you the structure in your mind before we read the text and launch into our study.
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Faithful shepherds, number one, look after themselves.
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Number two, lead their people.
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Number three, protect their people.
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Number four, pray and study.
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Number five, serve the weak.
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And number six, love and are loved.
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So let's read together our text for today.
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But I think to be fair to Paul's address, we ought to back up and start in 17.
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So we looked at verses 17 through 24 last week.
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But I want to start reading in 17, and then we'll pick up at verse 25 and read to the end of the chapter.
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Before we read, beloved, let me remind you that this is God's word to us.
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It was written for His glory and for our good.
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And as such, we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.
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So I'll begin in verse 17 of chapter 20.
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Now from Miletus, He sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to Him.
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And when they came to Him, He said to them,
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You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
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serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews.
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How I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable
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and teaching you in public and from house to house,
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testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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And now behold, I am going to Jerusalem constrained by the Spirit,
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not knowing what will happen to me there,
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except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
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But I do not count my life of any value nor as precious to myself.
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If only I may finish my course in the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus
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to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
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And our text for this morning begins here.
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And now behold,
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I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
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Therefore, I testify to you this day that I'm innocent of the blood of all,
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for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
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Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers
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to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
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I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
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And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them.
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Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.
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Now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace,
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which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
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I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
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You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
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In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way,
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we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
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how he himself said,
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it is more blessed to give than to receive.
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And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
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And there was much weeping on the part of all.
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They embraced Paul and kissed him,
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being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken.
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They would not see his face again.
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And they accompanied him to the ship.
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Now in verse 25,
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Paul states that he will never see these men again.
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He's confident of this fact.
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He'll never see them again.
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So these are his parting words, right?
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In his thinking, these are his parting words.
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Later, he writes a letter to them.
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So there's more instruction given to the church of Ephesus.
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But in his mind, these are parting words.
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It's the last time he'll speak to them.
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And I think that that fact really punctuates this address, right?
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The closing address for the church at Ephesus in Paul's thinking.
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What does Paul deem of greatest importance to remind these men of before his departure?
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Verse 25 is clear about that, right?
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You'll never see my face again.
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And the first point that Paul makes about the faithful shepherd
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is that faithful shepherds look after themselves.
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They look to themselves.
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The beginning of verse 28.
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Pay careful attention to yourselves.
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In order for the man of God to lead others to God,
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he must be pursuing and growing in holiness.
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That is to say, you cannot lead others faithfully
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if you yourself are not walking uprightly.
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If you yourself are not excelling in things of holiness.
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If you're not ahead of the people that you're leading.
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Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2, verses 20 and 21.
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And do you recall where Timothy's at when Paul writes 1 and 2 Timothy?
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He's in Ephesus.
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Now in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver,
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but also of wood and clay.
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Some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
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Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,
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he will be a vessel for honorable use.
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Set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house,
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ready for every good work.
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So as faithful shepherds,
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we must be putting off those things that are dishonorable.
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Putting off sin.
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And putting on rather than righteousness.
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Right?
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Excelling in holiness.
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And as such,
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the faithful shepherd is set apart as holy.
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Sanctified as holy.
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I think one of the most wonderful examples I've ever heard,
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household simple example of what it means to be set apart in this way,
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and something we do in our families,
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the idea of a special birthday plate.
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If any of you do that.
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But we have a plate at our house that's bigger than you should ever eat off of,
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and very colorful,
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and it says on it,
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I am very special around the edge.
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And it only gets used on someone's birthday.
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So I get to eat off of the I am very special plate on my birthday.
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So the plate is set apart for the purpose of celebrating a birthday.
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And that's what Paul's communicating here to Timothy.
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Right?
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And what Paul's communicating to the Ephesian elders,
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and what he's communicating to us.
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If we want to be useful to the master of the house,
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we must be pursuing holiness.
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We must be becoming a vessel for honorable use.
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Faithful shepherds are out ahead of others in their pursuit of holiness.
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In their pursuit of the God who is holy.
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Faithful shepherds ought not be like the Pharisees
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of whom Jesus said the following in Matthew chapter 23 verse 27.
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He said to them,
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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
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For you are like whitewashed tombs,
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which outwardly appear beautiful,
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but within are full of dead peoples, bones,
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and all uncleanliness.
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And this is not to say that the faithful shepherd is perfect.
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This just means that the faithful shepherd is pressing on,
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by the grace of God,
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in perfection.
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A Puritan pastor by the name of Richard Baxter
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wrote a book called The Reformed Pastor.
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If you have any inkling of becoming a pastor,
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you need to read his work.
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In it he said this,
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Take heed to yourselves,
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lest you live in those sins
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which you preach against in others,
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and lest you be guilty of that which daily you condemn.
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Will you make it your work to magnify God,
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and when you have done,
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dishonor Him as much as others?
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Will you proclaim Christ's governing power,
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and yet contemn it and rebel yourselves?
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Will you preach His laws and willfully break them?
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If sin be evil,
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why do you live in it?
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If it be not,
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why do you dissuade men from it?
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If it be dangerous,
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how dare you venture on it?
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If it be not,
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why do you tell men so?
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If God's threatenings be true,
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why do you not fear them?
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If they be false,
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why do you needlessly trouble men with them,
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and put them into such frights without a cause?
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Take heed to yourselves,
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lest you cry down sin,
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and yet do not overcome it.
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Lest while you seek to bring it down in others,
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you bow to it and become its slaves yourselves.
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Oh, brethren,
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it is easier to chide at sin
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than to overcome it.
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And so faithful shepherds
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look after themselves,
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examine themselves,
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press on by God's grace
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in holiness themselves.
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Secondly,
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faithful shepherds
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lead their people.
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You see this in the last part
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of verse 28.
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Take careful attention to yourselves
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and
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to all
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the flock.
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And Paul here is referring
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specifically to
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the Ephesian church.
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And I would
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suggest
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those who would be added to that number.
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Right?
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To all
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the flock.
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In which the Holy Spirit
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has made you overseers
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to care for the church of God
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which He obtained
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with His own blood.
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Whether you have been charged by God
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with the care of a church
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or with the care of a family,
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in some cases both,
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you are to give those people leadership.
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If you are a man,
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then you most likely
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have been given the responsibility
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to lead someone.
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Do not shrink from that responsibility.
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Do not think that your job
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ends with the chauffeuring
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of your wife and children
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to school
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or to practice
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or to church.
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Do not think that your responsibility
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to your family
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and friends
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and neighbors
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and co-workers
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ends
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with an invitation
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to a church event.
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We are meant
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to lead
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the people
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that God has given us
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charge over
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in our lives.
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Sometimes that's more clear
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than in other cases.
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Certainly,
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fathers,
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we know
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who we've been given
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charge over.
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What is the tool
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of the faithful shepherd
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in leading
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His people?
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The Word of God.
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It's the Word of God.
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Paul states in verse 26
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and 27
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as an example himself.
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He says,
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Therefore,
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I testify to you this day
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that I am innocent
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of the blood
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of all.
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The saying is,
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I have done
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everything I could
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possibly do for.
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Verse 27,
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I did not shrink
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from to glaring to you
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the whole counsel
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of God.
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Paul says
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that he has done
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everything
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that he could do
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to lead
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the Ephesians
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because
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he had boldly
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declared to him
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the whole counsel
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of God.
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Now,
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I do not believe
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that this means
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that Paul preached
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an expositional sermon
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on every text
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of the 39 books
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of the Old Testament.
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What they had
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in that day
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as their Bible.
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I don't think
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that it means that.
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I do believe
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it means
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that Paul was
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very clear to them
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how a man
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is to be saved,
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God's purpose
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in his salvation,
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and the way
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of obedience
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to God,
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which meant
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he preached
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a lot of that text,
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but probably
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not every bit
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of it.
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They understood
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all things
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necessary
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to be in relationship
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with the Lord
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and to please Him.
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The whole counsel,
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the whole purpose
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of God.
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He gave to them
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a biblical theology.
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There is great need
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in our day
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for faithful shepherds
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to lead their people
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by the Word
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of God.
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In Amos 8,
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verses 11 and 12,
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God issues
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a frightful prophecy
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which I believe
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that our nation
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and our community
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is now
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participating in.
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Listen to these words.
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Behold,
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the days are coming,
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declares the Lord God,
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when I will send
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a famine
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on the land,
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not a famine
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of bread
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nor a thirst
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for water,
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but of hearing
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the words
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of the Lord.
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They shall wander
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from sea to sea
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and from north
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to east.
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They shall run
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to and fro
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to seek
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the Word of the Lord,
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but they shall
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not find it.
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Is Christ's family
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church
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and our influence
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in our community
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a place
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where people
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can find
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the Word of the Lord?
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Let's be
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bastions
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of light
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so that our people
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know God's Word
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and can share it
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with those
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who so desperately
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need it,
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those who run
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to and fro.
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God's Word
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is good
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for His people
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and we should be
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concerned about
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the good
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of God's people
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because God's people
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were obtained
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with Jesus'
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own blood.
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Jesus died
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for the church.
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It is true,
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if you have placed
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believing faith
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in Jesus Christ,
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that Jesus died
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for you.
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But I think
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it's wrong
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for us to constantly
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have this personal
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relationship
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with Jesus Christ
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mentality
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because Jesus died
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for the church.
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He saved a people
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for His own possession.
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And beloved,
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if you love Jesus,
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you will love
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the church.
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And therefore,
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you'll be concerned
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for the way
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that it goes.
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So faithful shepherds
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lead their people.
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Thirdly,
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faithful shepherds
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protect their people.
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Faithful shepherds
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protect their people.
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Verses 29-31,
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and we'll pick up
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a little bit
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from verse 26-27.
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Paul says
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that people
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will come
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from outside
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and inside
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the church
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to deceive
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the disciples.
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So both from
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without
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and within.
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How is it
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that our people
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are deceived?
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How is it
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that people
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are led astray?
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through the
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transmission
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of ideas.
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This is how
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they're led astray,
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which means that
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in our day,
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we will have to be
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all the more
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vigilant
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as media
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brings ideas
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of all varieties
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to the minds
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of our people.
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The teeth
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of the ravenous
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wolves,
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the fierce
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wolves,
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are ideas.
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we affect
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people
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at the level
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of their
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thinking.
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Men,
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you must
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protect your
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homes from
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ideas that
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are not
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consistent
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with the
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teaching
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of God.
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And this
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is a work.
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We have
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to be paying
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attention
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to what's
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coming into
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the minds
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of our
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wives,
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to our
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children,
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our extended
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family,
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our friends,
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our co-workers.
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We must
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pay attention
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to all
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of the winds
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of philosophy
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and their
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contradiction.
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to the
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word of
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God.
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We find
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ourselves
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every day
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in a war
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of ideas
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and the
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faithful shepherd
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protects
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his people.
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We must
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be so
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careful in
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the matter.
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Listen to
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the warning
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of Jesus
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from Matthew
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chapter 7
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verse 15.
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He said,
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Beware
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of false
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prophets
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who come
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to you
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in sheep's
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clothing,
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but inwardly
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are ravenous
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wolves.
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So we
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see someone
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who appears
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to be a
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follower of
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Jesus,
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and therefore
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we listen
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to whatever
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it is
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they may
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have to
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say.
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Some will
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be part,
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seem to
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be part,
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of God's
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people.
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Will not
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be at all,
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but they
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will work
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to devour
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sheep.
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What do
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fierce,
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ravenous
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wolves do
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amongst
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sheep?
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They don't
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sit quietly.
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They devour
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sheep.
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sheep.
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The faithful
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shepherd is
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like the
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Berean
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believer who
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searched the
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Scriptures to
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see if these
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things were
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so.
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And beloved,
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we live in a
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day that we
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need a new
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reformation.
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In Luther and
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Calvin and
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Zwingli's day,
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people didn't
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know the Bible
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because the
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Bible was
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printed in
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Latin.
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It's difficult
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for them to
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know the
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Bible.
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We have no
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excuse.
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We have
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the Word of
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God in
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our language
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with lots
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of helps.
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We have
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no excuse
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not to be
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like those
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Bereans,
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to search
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the Scriptures,
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to be sure
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that the
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things that
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are being
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told to
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us are
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in fact
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true.
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And we
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have a
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standard
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of that
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truth.
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We ought
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to say
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less and
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less,
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I believe,
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and more
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and more,
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the Bible
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says.
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Paul issues
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similar warning
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in Romans
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16,
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verse 17
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and 18,
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where he
21:00
says,
21:00
I appeal
21:01
to you
21:01
brothers,
21:02
to watch
21:03
out for
21:03
those who
21:04
cause
21:04
divisions
21:05
and create
21:05
obstacles,
21:07
contrary to
21:08
the doctrine
21:08
that you
21:09
have been
21:09
taught.
21:11
Avoid
21:11
them.
21:13
For such
21:13
persons do
21:14
not serve
21:14
our Lord
21:14
Christ,
21:15
but their
21:16
own appetites.
21:17
And by
21:18
smooth talk
21:19
and flattery,
21:20
they deceive
21:21
the hearts
21:22
of the
21:23
naive.
21:25
Beloved,
21:25
the church
21:25
is meant
21:26
to be set
21:28
apart from
21:29
the world
21:29
so that
21:30
it can
21:31
serve
21:32
the world.
21:33
We're
21:33
meant to
21:34
be distinct
21:35
from
21:36
the world.
21:38
We're
21:39
meant to
21:40
contend
21:40
for the
21:41
faith.
21:43
Turn with me,
21:44
please,
21:44
to the book
21:45
of Jude.
21:46
You can
21:46
mark Acts
21:47
20.
21:47
We will
21:48
come back
21:48
to it.
21:50
Turn to
21:50
the book
21:51
of Jude.
21:52
It's just
21:52
before the
21:53
book of
21:53
Revelation.
21:54
Jude was
22:07
one of the
22:08
brothers of
22:08
Jesus.
22:10
We are not
22:10
sure who
22:11
this letter
22:11
is addressed
22:12
to specifically,
22:13
but we know
22:14
that it was
22:14
addressed to
22:15
either a
22:16
church or
22:17
to a
22:18
region of
22:18
churches.
22:19
It could
22:19
have been
22:19
an open
22:20
letter,
22:21
quite
22:21
possibly.
22:23
Anything
22:23
we might
22:24
think is
22:24
really
22:25
conjecture.
22:25
We're not
22:26
exactly
22:26
sure.
22:28
However,
22:29
it is
22:29
addressed to
22:30
Christians,
22:31
and it
22:31
contains the
22:32
theme that
22:32
the church
22:33
must contend
22:35
for the
22:35
one true
22:36
faith once
22:37
for all
22:38
delivered to
22:39
the saints.
22:39
That's in
22:40
verse 3.
22:41
And people
22:41
of faith
22:42
must preserve
22:43
to the
22:43
end by
22:45
resisting the
22:46
false
22:46
teachers and
22:47
following
22:48
the truth.
22:50
So I
22:51
want to
22:51
read to
22:51
you just
22:51
a few
22:52
verses from
22:52
Jude,
22:54
beginning
22:54
in
22:54
verse 3.
22:55
This is
22:56
verse 3
22:56
and 4.
22:59
Beloved,
22:59
although I
22:59
was very
23:00
eager to
23:00
write to
23:01
you about
23:01
our common
23:02
salvation,
23:04
I found
23:04
it necessary
23:05
to write
23:05
appealing to
23:06
you to
23:06
contend for
23:07
the faith
23:07
that was
23:08
once for
23:09
all delivered
23:10
to the
23:11
saints.
23:12
Seems
23:12
that Jude
23:13
really just
23:13
wanted to
23:14
write and
23:14
rejoice in
23:15
this common
23:16
salvation.
23:17
Just speak
23:18
of these
23:19
beautiful
23:19
doctrines that
23:20
they believed
23:21
together,
23:22
but instead
23:23
he's
23:25
compelled
23:25
instead
23:27
to say
23:28
hold fast
23:29
to those
23:29
things that
23:30
we've said
23:30
we believe
23:31
to be
23:31
true.
23:33
Verse 4,
23:33
4,
23:35
certain people
23:36
have crept
23:36
in unnoticed.
23:39
Wolves
23:40
and sheep
23:40
clothing
23:41
who long
23:42
ago
23:42
were designated
23:44
for this
23:45
condemnation.
23:45
ungodly
23:47
people
23:47
who
23:48
pervert
23:49
the grace
23:49
of our
23:49
God
23:50
into
23:50
sensuality
23:50
and deny
23:51
our only
23:52
Master
23:52
and Lord
23:53
Jesus
23:54
Christ.
23:56
And then
23:56
skip down
23:57
to verse
23:57
10.
24:00
But these
24:00
people
24:01
blaspheme
24:02
all that
24:03
they do
24:04
not
24:04
understand
24:05
and they
24:06
are destroyed
24:06
by all
24:07
that they
24:08
like unreasoning
24:09
animals
24:09
understand
24:11
instinctively.
24:13
Woe to
24:13
them
24:13
for they
24:15
walk in
24:15
the way
24:15
of Cain
24:16
and abandon
24:17
themselves
24:17
for the
24:17
sake of
24:18
gain
24:19
to
24:19
Balaam's
24:19
heir
24:20
and
24:20
perished
24:21
in
24:21
Korah's
24:22
rebellion.
24:23
We won't
24:23
get into
24:24
all of
24:24
that.
24:25
These
24:25
are
24:26
hidden
24:26
reefs
24:27
at your
24:28
love
24:28
feast.
24:29
Hidden
24:29
reefs
24:29
cause
24:30
ships
24:31
to
24:31
shipwreck.
24:32
As
24:32
they
24:32
feast
24:33
with
24:33
you
24:33
without
24:33
fear,
24:34
shepherds
24:35
feeding
24:36
themselves,
24:37
waterless
24:38
clouds
24:39
swept
24:39
along
24:40
by
24:41
winds,
24:42
fruitless
24:42
trees
24:43
in
24:43
late
24:44
autumn,
24:44
twice
24:45
dead,
24:46
uprooted.
24:47
Wild
24:48
waves
24:48
of the
24:49
sea
24:49
casting
24:50
up the
24:51
foam
24:51
of their
24:51
own
24:52
shame,
24:53
wandering
24:53
stars
24:54
for whom
24:55
the gloom
24:55
of utter
24:56
darkness
24:57
has been
24:57
reserved
24:58
forever.
25:00
So Jude
25:01
gets rather
25:01
poetic
25:02
to say
25:03
these are
25:05
serious
25:06
infractions
25:07
to the
25:07
church
25:08
of God.
25:09
Serious
25:10
matters
25:10
that must
25:12
be dealt
25:12
with.
25:13
These
25:13
people
25:14
are
25:14
damaging
25:15
to the
25:16
church
25:16
of
25:16
Christ.
25:17
I'm
25:17
in no
25:18
way
25:18
suggesting
25:18
that we're
25:18
unloving
25:19
toward
25:19
these
25:19
people,
25:20
but we
25:20
must
25:20
contend
25:21
for the
25:21
truth,
25:21
for the
25:22
sake
25:22
of
25:23
God's
25:23
people.
25:24
We
25:24
must
25:25
stand
25:26
for the
25:27
truth.
25:28
So the
25:29
faithful
25:29
shepherd
25:29
must
25:30
protect
25:30
their
25:30
people.
25:33
But the
25:33
aim is
25:33
not just
25:34
that our
25:34
people would
25:35
know some
25:35
things about
25:36
God,
25:38
that someone
25:38
could recite
25:39
to us
25:39
orthodox
25:40
doctrine,
25:41
just knowing
25:42
it,
25:43
but that
25:43
they would
25:44
know
25:45
God.
25:47
Not too
25:48
many decades
25:48
after Paul
25:49
says his
25:50
final goodbye
25:51
to the
25:51
Ephesian
25:51
elders,
25:53
the apostle
25:53
Paul receives
25:54
a vision.
25:55
So this is
25:56
20 to
25:57
45 years
25:58
later.
25:59
I'm on the
26:00
longer side
26:01
of that.
26:02
About four
26:02
decades
26:03
later,
26:04
the apostle
26:04
John receives
26:05
a vision
26:05
which is
26:06
recorded in
26:07
the book
26:07
of Revelation.
26:08
So turn
26:08
with me to
26:09
Revelation
26:09
chapter 2.
26:14
By the
26:14
time of
26:15
the apostle
26:15
John's
26:16
vision,
26:16
what had
26:17
happened
26:17
to the
26:18
Ephesian
26:19
church?
26:27
Beginning in
26:27
verse 2,
26:28
Revelation 2.
26:31
Jesus says,
26:32
I know
26:32
your works,
26:34
your toil,
26:35
and your
26:36
patient endurance,
26:37
and how you
26:37
cannot bear
26:38
with those
26:39
who are evil,
26:41
but have
26:41
tested those
26:42
who call
26:42
themselves
26:42
apostles and
26:43
are not,
26:44
and found
26:45
them to be
26:46
false.
26:46
So they're
26:47
commended,
26:48
in verse 2,
26:49
right off the
26:49
bat,
26:50
good for you
26:51
guys,
26:52
right?
26:52
You have
26:53
been holding
26:53
orthodox
26:55
belief.
26:56
Good.
26:57
In verse
26:58
3,
26:58
I know
26:59
you are
26:59
enduring
26:59
patiently
27:00
and bearing
27:00
up for
27:01
my name's
27:01
sake,
27:02
and you
27:02
have not
27:03
grown weary,
27:05
but I
27:06
have this
27:06
against you,
27:08
that you
27:08
have abandoned
27:09
the love
27:10
you had
27:11
at first.
27:13
Remember
27:13
therefore,
27:14
from where
27:14
you have
27:15
fallen,
27:15
repent,
27:16
and do
27:17
the works
27:17
you did
27:18
at first.
27:20
If not,
27:20
I will
27:20
come to
27:21
you and
27:21
remove
27:21
your lampstand
27:22
from its
27:23
place,
27:24
unless you
27:24
repent.
27:27
Yet this
27:27
you have,
27:28
verse 6,
27:29
you hate
27:29
the works
27:30
of the
27:31
Nicolaitans,
27:32
which I
27:33
also
27:34
hate.
27:35
Boy,
27:36
I would
27:36
have hated
27:36
to be a
27:36
Nicolaitan,
27:37
wouldn't you?
27:38
They had
27:39
defended
27:40
the church
27:41
against
27:42
false
27:42
teachers.
27:44
They hated
27:45
the Nicolaitans,
27:47
and we don't
27:47
know exactly
27:48
what the
27:48
heresy was.
27:50
However,
27:50
contextually,
27:51
it would
27:52
seem that
27:53
Jesus is
27:53
calling them
27:54
to repent
27:54
and return
27:55
to works
27:56
of love,
27:57
things that
27:58
are driven
27:58
and fueled
27:59
by love,
28:00
things that
28:01
are consistent
28:01
with God's
28:02
moral law.
28:05
And so
28:05
there's
28:05
some conjecture
28:06
at this point,
28:07
but many
28:07
believe that
28:08
the Nicolaitans
28:09
believed the
28:10
heresy of
28:10
antinomianism,
28:12
which means
28:13
without the
28:13
law,
28:14
that they
28:14
had disregarded
28:15
that there
28:16
was any
28:16
necessary to
28:17
keep any
28:18
of the
28:18
commands of
28:18
God
28:19
any longer,
28:20
which is
28:20
just not
28:21
true.
28:21
It has
28:22
been
28:22
renounced
28:23
as a
28:23
heresy
28:23
again and
28:24
again and
28:25
again,
28:25
this morning
28:26
as well.
28:27
We're still
28:28
meant to
28:29
keep the
28:29
moral law
28:30
of God,
28:30
not to
28:30
be accepted
28:31
by God,
28:31
but out
28:32
of loving
28:32
obedience
28:33
to Him.
28:35
So probably
28:36
that's what
28:36
they had
28:37
hated,
28:38
was that
28:38
kind of
28:40
teaching.
28:40
But,
28:41
they were
28:42
failing to
28:44
love one
28:45
another.
28:46
They were
28:46
failing at
28:47
this,
28:47
the love
28:48
that they
28:48
had at
28:49
first,
28:50
which means
28:51
that they
28:52
were not
28:53
rightly
28:53
believing
28:54
the truth
28:55
of God's
28:56
love
28:56
for them.
28:58
They knew
28:59
about it.
29:00
They knew
29:01
about it,
29:01
but they
29:02
were failing
29:02
to believe
29:02
it the
29:03
way they
29:04
should.
29:06
So as we
29:06
lead our
29:07
people and
29:07
as we
29:08
protect our
29:09
people,
29:09
we want to
29:10
do so in
29:10
a way that
29:11
doesn't just
29:11
stack up
29:12
information in
29:13
their heads.
29:14
That they
29:15
would be able
29:15
to refute
29:16
false doctrine
29:17
and know
29:17
right doctrine,
29:18
which is
29:19
good.
29:20
We want to
29:20
lead people
29:21
and protect
29:22
people so
29:23
that they
29:23
will know
29:24
God
29:25
himself.
29:27
So faithful
29:28
shepherds
29:29
protect their
29:30
people.
29:32
Let me at
29:33
this point
29:33
give you
29:34
an unplanned
29:36
aside.
29:39
If you
29:40
are a
29:40
follower of
29:40
Jesus Christ
29:41
and you
29:42
are not
29:43
committed
29:44
to a
29:44
local
29:45
fellowship
29:45
of
29:46
believers,
29:48
you have
29:49
not been
29:49
given the
29:50
tools that
29:51
God intends
29:52
for your
29:53
protection.
29:55
You have
29:55
not joined
29:56
yourself to
29:57
a group of
29:57
people who
29:57
are meant
29:58
to work
29:59
with you,
30:00
to keep
30:00
you accountable,
30:01
not to
30:02
be your
30:03
assurance,
30:03
but being a
30:04
member of a
30:05
biblical church
30:06
is an
30:07
element of
30:08
assurance.
30:09
That a
30:10
group of
30:10
Christ followers
30:11
have said to
30:11
you,
30:11
we have a
30:12
confidence that
30:13
you are in
30:14
the faith.
30:16
The biblical
30:17
doctrine,
30:18
the not
30:20
often practiced,
30:21
but altogether
30:22
biblical
30:22
practice of
30:23
church
30:24
discipline is
30:25
about taking
30:26
sin seriously
30:27
and steering
30:28
people as
30:29
they should
30:29
away from
30:30
error and
30:31
to the
30:32
truth.
30:33
Loving
30:33
restoration,
30:34
walk in the
30:35
ways of
30:35
God,
30:36
it's the
30:36
best thing
30:36
for you.
30:37
We want
30:38
you to
30:38
know Him
30:39
and be
30:39
obedient to
30:40
Him,
30:41
to serve
30:42
Him as
30:42
you should.
30:44
The final
30:45
step of
30:46
church
30:46
discipline is
30:47
that a
30:47
person is
30:48
removed from
30:48
the fellowship
30:49
of a
30:49
church.
30:50
Because the
30:51
church no
30:51
longer can
30:52
be confident
30:52
that they
30:53
are in
30:53
fact in
30:54
the faith.
30:55
Their works
30:55
are evidencing
30:56
otherwise.
30:57
Their unrepentant
30:58
sin says
30:59
no.
31:01
So for
31:01
their sake,
31:02
we say we
31:03
just can't
31:03
say this
31:04
anymore.
31:05
We love
31:06
you and
31:06
we want
31:06
you to
31:06
come back
31:07
and be in
31:07
fellowship
31:08
with God
31:08
and in
31:08
fellowship
31:09
with the
31:09
church,
31:09
but we
31:10
just can't.
31:12
Yesterday I
31:12
heard a
31:13
quote by
31:13
Jay Adams,
31:14
a pastor
31:15
and a
31:16
newtetic
31:17
biblical
31:17
counselor.
31:19
And he
31:19
said this,
31:21
if you
31:21
are not
31:21
a member
31:22
of a
31:22
local
31:22
church,
31:23
you
31:23
have
31:23
excommunicated
31:24
yourself.
31:28
So be
31:29
part of
31:30
a biblical
31:30
church
31:31
with
31:32
faithful
31:33
shepherds,
31:34
a group
31:34
of people
31:35
who want
31:35
to love
31:35
you with
31:36
the truth
31:36
of the
31:36
gospel.
31:38
I would
31:38
suggest to
31:39
you that
31:39
you are
31:40
sinning
31:41
not to,
31:42
so do
31:42
so.
31:44
Okay,
31:45
back to
31:45
the script.
31:47
Number
31:47
four,
31:47
faithful
31:48
shepherds
31:49
pray
31:50
and
31:51
study.
31:53
Pray
31:53
and
31:54
study.
31:54
Verse
31:54
32,
31:55
we're
31:56
back in
31:56
Acts 20
31:56
now.
31:58
Paul
31:59
says,
31:59
and now
32:00
I commend
32:01
you to
32:02
God.
32:03
And I
32:03
recognize
32:03
that this
32:04
text is
32:04
not
32:04
specifically
32:05
calling
32:06
the
32:07
shepherds,
32:08
these
32:08
elders in
32:08
Ephesus,
32:09
to pray.
32:10
But it
32:11
is another
32:11
example of
32:12
Paul and
32:13
his
32:13
commitment
32:13
to
32:14
prayer.
32:14
prayer.
32:15
And if
32:16
we rightly
32:16
understand
32:17
the gravity
32:18
of the
32:18
task of
32:20
faithfully
32:20
shepherding
32:21
God's
32:21
people,
32:22
we will
32:23
pray.
32:25
I find
32:26
my
32:26
prayerlessness
32:27
is most
32:29
often because
32:30
I don't
32:31
get the
32:31
gravity of
32:32
it.
32:32
It is a
32:33
serious,
32:34
serious
32:34
matter,
32:35
which I
32:36
am not
32:36
capable of
32:37
accomplishing
32:38
on my
32:39
own.
32:39
I must
32:40
cry out
32:41
to God
32:42
to help
32:42
me in
32:43
giving
32:44
leadership
32:44
in our
32:44
church
32:45
and to
32:45
my
32:46
family.
32:48
Prayer
32:48
expresses a
32:49
dependence
32:50
on God
32:51
and biblical
32:53
prayer lines
32:54
up our
32:55
wills with
32:56
His.
32:58
A
32:59
shepherd who
32:59
does not
33:00
pray
33:00
shepherds
33:02
in vain.
33:04
I love
33:05
the Latin
33:06
phrase
33:06
sine qua
33:07
non.
33:09
Knowing
33:10
Latin helps
33:11
me remember
33:11
things.
33:11
Maybe it
33:12
doesn't
33:12
for you.
33:12
Sine qua
33:13
non,
33:14
which the
33:15
reformers
33:15
applied to
33:16
prayer,
33:16
which means
33:17
without
33:17
which
33:18
nothing.
33:21
Sine qua
33:21
non.
33:22
At least
33:22
remember the
33:23
English.
33:24
Prayer
33:24
without
33:25
which
33:26
nothing.
33:28
God moves
33:29
in the hearts
33:29
of His
33:29
people to
33:30
pray and
33:31
He empowers
33:31
our lives
33:32
in our
33:32
praying.
33:33
And we
33:34
can pray
33:34
in confidence
33:35
that our
33:35
people would
33:36
know God
33:37
and walk
33:37
in His
33:38
ways.
33:39
Jesus
33:39
states in
33:40
John 14
33:41
verse 13,
33:42
whatever you
33:43
ask in
33:43
my name,
33:44
and He's
33:44
not instructing
33:45
us just
33:45
to tack
33:46
His name
33:46
to the end
33:47
of any
33:47
prayer that
33:47
we would
33:48
pray.
33:48
What He's
33:49
saying is
33:49
whatever you
33:50
ask that
33:51
is consistent
33:52
with my
33:53
person,
33:54
in my
33:55
name,
33:55
with my
33:56
person,
33:57
consistent
33:57
with my
33:58
character,
33:59
and consistent
33:59
with my
34:00
commands,
34:01
which we
34:01
have here,
34:03
this I
34:04
will do,
34:05
that the
34:06
Father may
34:07
be glorified
34:07
in the
34:08
Son.
34:10
So we
34:10
can pray
34:11
with confidence
34:12
that God
34:13
would help
34:14
us in
34:15
giving
34:15
faithful
34:17
leadership
34:18
to our
34:19
people.
34:20
We can
34:20
pray that
34:20
with confidence
34:21
and know
34:22
that He'll
34:22
supply what
34:23
we need.
34:24
So my
34:25
encouragement to
34:25
you would be
34:25
to pray
34:26
and then
34:26
act.
34:28
Pray that
34:28
it'll work,
34:29
pray that
34:29
it'll give
34:29
you what
34:30
you need,
34:30
and do
34:30
so confidently,
34:31
and then
34:31
go lead
34:32
by the
34:34
Scripture's
34:35
standards.
34:35
So Paul
34:36
commends them
34:37
to God.
34:38
That's an
34:39
example in
34:40
prayer.
34:40
And he
34:40
also commends
34:41
them to
34:41
the Word
34:42
of His
34:44
grace.
34:44
The Word
34:45
of His
34:46
grace,
34:46
the Bible.
34:48
If we
34:48
are to look
34:49
to ourselves
34:49
to lead
34:51
and protect
34:51
our people,
34:53
then we
34:54
must be
34:54
students of
34:56
the Word.
34:57
We must
34:57
be.
34:58
We must
34:58
know it
34:59
and be
35:00
increasing
35:01
in our
35:01
knowledge
35:01
of it
35:02
and our
35:03
understanding
35:04
of its
35:05
application.
35:07
This means
35:07
we must
35:08
read.
35:10
I find a
35:11
Christian who
35:11
says they
35:12
don't like
35:13
to read
35:13
to be
35:13
inconsistent.
35:15
We have
35:16
to.
35:16
We have
35:17
to.
35:18
God's
35:19
very Word
35:20
is conveyed
35:20
to us
35:21
in words
35:23
recorded
35:24
on pages.
35:26
You have
35:27
to read.
35:29
It's been
35:29
a great
35:30
work of
35:30
missionaries
35:31
throughout
35:31
history
35:32
to educate
35:33
people,
35:34
to teach
35:35
them to
35:35
read so
35:36
that they
35:36
could read
35:37
the Word
35:38
of God.
35:39
What a
35:39
privilege
35:40
that we're
35:41
readers.
35:42
The people
35:43
who can't
35:44
read in
35:44
our congregation
35:45
are few
35:46
and were
35:46
probably
35:46
sitting on
35:47
the floor
35:47
earlier
35:48
this morning.
35:50
We have
35:50
the opportunity
35:51
to take
35:51
up and
35:53
read.
35:54
And beyond
35:55
the Scripture
35:56
as the most
35:56
important book
35:57
we could
35:57
ever read,
35:58
we have
35:59
such a wealth
36:00
of other
36:00
things to
36:01
read.
36:01
That's why
36:02
I'm
36:02
promoting
36:02
reading in
36:03
our church.
36:05
Books that
36:06
systematically
36:06
take themes
36:08
of the Bible
36:08
and lay them
36:09
out for us,
36:09
help us to
36:10
understand and
36:11
to comprehend.
36:12
We have
36:12
access to
36:13
the church
36:14
across history
36:15
which is
36:15
such a
36:16
blessing,
36:17
beloved.
36:18
I get to
36:18
sit down
36:19
on any
36:19
given afternoon
36:20
of the week
36:21
and have a
36:22
conversation
36:22
with Jonathan
36:23
Edwards.
36:24
It's a
36:25
wonderful thing
36:26
that I get to
36:26
sit with him
36:27
and hear all
36:28
that he has
36:29
to say
36:29
about the
36:30
Scripture.
36:31
It's a
36:32
great thing
36:32
that we get
36:33
to do
36:33
to pick
36:33
up and
36:34
to read.
36:36
If you don't
36:36
fancy yourself
36:37
a reader,
36:38
you need to
36:38
start working
36:38
at it.
36:39
You need to
36:40
become a
36:41
reader primarily
36:42
of the
36:44
Word of
36:44
God.
36:45
Read more,
36:47
read more
36:47
broadly,
36:49
read books
36:51
that speak
36:52
of God's
36:52
Word if
36:54
you're reading
36:54
books that
36:54
aren't God's
36:55
Word.
36:57
Paul says
36:58
to Timothy
36:59
2 Timothy
36:59
3, 16
37:00
and 17.
37:02
All Scripture
37:03
is breathed
37:04
out by
37:04
God.
37:05
He's the
37:05
very source
37:06
of it.
37:07
And it's
37:08
profitable.
37:08
It's profitable.
37:09
It's good
37:10
for us.
37:11
For teaching,
37:12
for reproof,
37:13
for correction,
37:15
and for
37:15
training in
37:15
righteousness.
37:16
These are all
37:16
just different
37:17
words that
37:17
give this
37:18
idea of
37:18
guiding in
37:19
the ways
37:20
of God.
37:21
Guiding
37:21
people to
37:22
God
37:22
himself.
37:23
17,
37:25
that the
37:26
man of
37:26
God may
37:27
be complete,
37:29
equipped for
37:30
every good
37:31
work.
37:32
So if we're
37:33
to be
37:33
faithful
37:33
shepherds,
37:34
we must
37:35
pray.
37:36
We're
37:36
dependent on
37:36
God to
37:37
move into
37:37
work in
37:38
our activity.
37:39
And we
37:40
must study.
37:41
We must
37:42
know this
37:42
precious book
37:43
that is so
37:44
useful in
37:46
giving leadership
37:47
and protection
37:48
to our
37:49
people.
37:50
So faithful
37:51
shepherds
37:51
pray and
37:52
study.
37:53
Number
37:54
five.
37:57
Faithful
37:58
shepherds
37:58
serve the
38:00
weak.
38:03
Faithful
38:03
shepherds
38:04
serve the
38:04
weak.
38:05
Verse
38:05
33-35
38:07
of Acts
38:08
20.
38:09
For the
38:10
sake of
38:10
time,
38:11
I won't
38:11
belabor this
38:12
point.
38:13
The
38:13
faithful
38:14
shepherd
38:14
does not
38:16
look to
38:16
his own
38:17
self-interest
38:18
but rather
38:19
serves
38:20
others.
38:22
Humbles
38:22
himself,
38:23
becomes the
38:24
least of
38:25
all.
38:26
Someday he'll
38:27
be the
38:27
greatest of
38:27
all, but
38:28
here the
38:28
least of
38:29
all, a
38:29
servant to
38:30
all.
38:31
Not lording
38:31
this over
38:32
people like
38:33
the Gentiles
38:33
do, but
38:34
becoming a
38:34
servant of
38:35
all.
38:38
Paul said
38:39
to the
38:40
Corinthian
38:40
church in
38:41
2 Corinthians
38:41
12-15,
38:44
I will
38:44
most gladly
38:45
spend and
38:47
be spent
38:48
for your
38:49
souls.
38:51
The
38:52
faithful
38:52
shepherd
38:52
puts
38:53
aside
38:53
his
38:54
self-interest
38:55
and pours
38:56
out his
38:57
life for
38:57
the sake
38:58
of his
38:59
people.
39:00
Dads,
39:01
this needs
39:01
to be
39:02
true of
39:03
us.
39:04
We are
39:05
not meant
39:05
to have
39:06
family so
39:06
that they
39:07
can serve
39:07
us.
39:08
We have
39:08
family so
39:08
that we
39:09
can serve
39:09
them to
39:11
the glory
39:11
of God.
39:12
Empty
39:13
yourself.
39:13
Lay your
39:15
life down
39:16
on the
39:16
altar of
39:17
Christ and
39:17
then get
39:18
up and
39:18
love your
39:19
family with
39:20
the gospel
39:21
of Jesus.
39:23
And this
39:23
is not
39:23
burdensome.
39:25
This is not
39:25
burdensome.
39:27
Paul said,
39:28
I will
39:28
most gladly
39:29
spend and
39:31
be spent
39:32
for your
39:33
souls.
39:35
So faithful
39:35
shepherds
39:36
serve the
39:38
weak.
39:40
Just in
39:40
case any
39:41
of the
39:41
ladies think
39:41
I'm calling
39:42
them weak,
39:42
I'm not.
39:44
Sixth,
39:45
faithful
39:46
shepherds
39:46
love and
39:48
are loved.
39:51
Love and
39:51
are loved.
39:53
Verse 36,
39:54
when he had
39:55
said these
39:55
things he
39:55
knelt down
39:56
and prayed
39:56
with them
39:56
all and
39:58
there was
39:58
much weeping
39:59
on the
39:59
part of
40:00
all.
40:01
They
40:01
embraced
40:02
Paul and
40:03
kissed
40:03
him,
40:04
being sorrowful
40:05
most of
40:06
all.
40:07
Most of
40:08
all,
40:08
he said
40:08
some things
40:09
to them,
40:09
some charges,
40:10
right?
40:10
There's going
40:10
to be error
40:11
in the
40:11
church,
40:12
protect the
40:12
flock.
40:13
Most of
40:14
all,
40:14
the reason
40:15
that they're
40:15
so sad
40:16
is because
40:17
he had
40:17
said that
40:17
he would
40:18
not see
40:18
his face
40:19
again and
40:20
they accompanied
40:21
him to
40:22
the ship.
40:23
So I
40:24
take the
40:24
all to
40:26
mean that
40:27
Paul also
40:29
wept.
40:30
There was
40:30
much weeping
40:31
on the
40:31
part of
40:33
all.
40:35
If you
40:35
do not
40:35
love your
40:36
people,
40:37
sacrificially
40:38
love your
40:39
people,
40:39
most
40:40
most
40:41
gladly
40:41
willing
40:42
to
40:42
lay
40:43
your
40:43
life
40:43
down
40:43
for
40:44
your
40:44
people,
40:45
pray
40:46
with
40:46
desperation
40:47
that
40:48
God
40:48
would
40:48
work
40:49
in
40:49
you
40:49
a
40:50
love
40:50
for
40:51
them.
40:52
You
40:52
will
40:52
not
40:52
effectively
40:53
serve
40:54
them
40:54
until
40:54
you're
40:55
ready
40:55
to
40:55
sacrifice
40:55
for
40:57
them.
40:58
If
40:58
you
40:58
love
40:59
people
40:59
well,
41:01
they
41:01
will
41:02
love
41:02
you.
41:04
Paul
41:04
wrote
41:04
to the
41:05
Corinthian
41:05
church
41:06
in
41:06
1 Corinthians
41:07
13,
41:07
which I'd
41:08
like
41:08
for
41:08
you
41:08
to
41:08
turn
41:08
with
41:09
me
41:09
to
41:09
we
41:10
will
41:10
conclude
41:10
with
41:10
this.
41:13
He wrote
41:14
in
41:14
1 Corinthians
41:15
13
41:15
concerning
41:16
love,
41:17
the famous
41:17
love chapter
41:18
which is
41:19
so often
41:19
read
41:20
at weddings
41:21
and certainly
41:22
applies in
41:23
that setting
41:23
but it's
41:24
written to
41:25
the church.
41:26
It has a
41:27
much broader
41:28
meaning,
41:29
a much more
41:29
layered and
41:30
textured
41:30
meaning
41:32
for our
41:32
everyday
41:33
lives.
41:34
And
41:38
Paul
41:38
elevates,
41:39
he gives
41:40
us a
41:40
high
41:41
view
41:41
of what
41:42
love
41:43
looks like.
41:45
Unconditioned,
41:45
right?
41:46
In the
41:46
way that
41:47
God has
41:47
loved us,
41:48
we then
41:48
turn around
41:49
and we
41:49
love
41:50
others.
41:52
Paul
41:53
wrote
41:53
this,
41:54
if I
41:55
speak in
41:55
the tongues
41:56
of men
41:57
and of
41:57
angels
41:58
but have
41:58
not
41:59
love,
42:00
I am
42:00
a noisy
42:01
gong
42:02
or a
42:03
clanging
42:03
symbol,
42:05
worthless,
42:06
no good.
42:08
And if I
42:09
have prophetic
42:09
powers and
42:10
understand all
42:11
mysteries and
42:12
all knowledge
42:13
and if I
42:13
have all
42:14
faith so
42:15
as to
42:15
remove
42:15
mountains
42:16
but have
42:17
not love,
42:18
I am
42:19
nothing.
42:21
If I
42:22
give away
42:22
all I
42:22
have and
42:23
if I
42:23
deliver up
42:23
my body
42:24
to be
42:24
burned
42:24
but have
42:26
not love,
42:27
I gain
42:28
nothing.
42:30
Love is
42:31
patient
42:31
and kind.
42:33
Love does
42:34
not envy
42:35
or boast.
42:36
It is
42:37
not arrogant
42:37
or rude.
42:39
It does
42:40
not insist
42:40
on its
42:41
own way.
42:43
It is
42:44
not irritable
42:45
or resentful.
42:46
It does
42:47
not rejoice
42:48
at wrongdoing
42:49
but rejoices
42:51
with the
42:52
truth.
42:53
Love
42:53
bears
42:54
all
42:55
things,
42:56
believes
42:56
all
42:57
things,
42:58
hopes
42:58
all
42:59
things,
43:00
endures
43:01
all
43:02
things.
43:03
Love
43:04
never
43:04
ends.
43:06
As for
43:06
prophecies,
43:07
they will
43:07
pass away.
43:08
As for
43:08
tongues,
43:09
they will
43:09
cease.
43:10
As for
43:10
knowledge,
43:10
it will
43:11
pass away.
43:13
For we
43:13
know in
43:13
part and
43:14
we
43:14
prophesy
43:14
in part,
43:15
but when
43:16
the perfect
43:16
comes,
43:17
the partial
43:17
will pass
43:19
away.
43:20
When I
43:21
was a
43:21
child,
43:21
I spoke
43:22
like a
43:22
child,
43:23
I
43:23
thought
43:23
like a
43:23
child,
43:24
I
43:24
reasoned
43:25
like a
43:25
child.
43:27
When I
43:27
became a
43:27
man,
43:28
I gave
43:28
up
43:28
childish
43:29
ways.
43:29
For now
43:31
we see
43:31
in a
43:31
mirror
43:32
dimly,
43:32
but then
43:32
face
43:33
to
43:33
face.
43:34
Now
43:34
I
43:35
know
43:35
in
43:35
part,
43:36
then I
43:36
shall
43:36
know
43:36
fully,
43:37
even
43:37
as I
43:38
have
43:38
been
43:38
fully
43:39
known.
43:40
So
43:40
now,
43:41
faith,
43:42
hope,
43:43
and love
43:43
abide.
43:44
These
43:45
three,
43:46
but the
43:47
greatest
43:47
of these
43:47
is love.
43:51
So
43:51
faithful
43:52
shepherds
43:52
look after
43:54
themselves,
43:55
lead their
43:56
people,
43:57
protect
43:57
their
43:58
people,
43:58
pray and
44:00
study,
44:00
serve
44:01
the
44:02
weak,
44:02
and they
44:03
love
44:04
and are
44:05
loved.
44:06
Let's
44:06
pray
44:07
together.