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Requirements For a Soul-Winner | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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If you have the word of God in your hands, please meet me in
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the book of 2nd Timothy. Second Timothy Chapter 2
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beginning. And verse 24. 2nd, Timothy 2:24
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reads. and the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but
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kind to, everyone able to teach patiently, enduring evil
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correcting, his opponents with gentleness, God May perhaps
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grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth and
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they may come to their senses and Escape From The Snare of the
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devil after being captured by him to do his will Pray with me,
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Louis asked for the assistance of the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Lord bathe us in your mercy at this time, that we may receive
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all that you have to give us through the written word.
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We ask Lord that there would be a tangible sense of your power
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of your conviction of your comfort.
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Lord help us realize what we just saying because he lives you
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live this morning. You have Your word set before us
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and it is your will today for us we pray o God that for those who
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do not know you they would surrender to the lordship of
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Jesus Christ and embrace his saving work.
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We pray for the saint who might be struggling with sin with
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doubt with temptation that they would be liberated by the power
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of the word. And we ask, oh God that your
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church would be built according to your word and your word alone
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in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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Our time together. Last week, we discovered the one
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condition that God prescribed for, for his people to be used
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by him for his glory. Just one condition and that one
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condition can be summarized by this a willingness in the heart
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of that redeem soul to be consecrated unto.
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The Lord, in Holiness, not skill, not ability, not
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experienced not pedigree. One thing that God requires of
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you and me, To be able to be used by him for his glory in
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ways that we can't even imagine. And that is this cleanse
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yourself from that which is dishonorable and praise.
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God, as Christians, we don't have to be in the dark to
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theorize. What it means to be cleansed
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from that, which is dishonorable.
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The scriptures tell us. Plainly.
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Clearly obviously, what it means to be a holy people ready for
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the use of the Master of the House.
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It's right here in verse 22. Flee youthful, passions and
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pursue righteousness, Faith, love and peace along with those
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who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
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It's not just ceasing to do certain things, it's about
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pursuing other things, holy things, honorable things, and
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even making sure that you are surrounded by those who will not
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contaminate your character and disqualify you from God,
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recruiting you to be used in this generation.
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But it's beyond that it's even a next verse.
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In verse 23, have nothing to do with foolish ignorant
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controversies. You know, that they breed
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quarrels. What does that have to do with
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me, being a candidate for God's use?
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What does that have to do with cleansing myself?
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Well you see, in order to be a cleanse vessel for God to use
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you, and I have to be able to continually discern what may be
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distracting us. From God being able to use us
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and the distraction that Paul has in mind by this spirit that
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would limit a Believer from being an instrument in God's
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Mighty hands is that they would use all their energy and their
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focus to argue and debate about things that do not hold any
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benefit at the end. Here's the thing.
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The principle is true across the board, whether the distractions
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are unprofitable arguments or an overindulgence and things like
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entertainment, you and I have to be careful.
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If we would be used by God, what is it in my life?
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That might be limiting the capacity to which the power of
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God would flow through my life? I know we don't like to hear it.
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I know we're at people, that preach the gospel of Grace,
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Grace will save you. The blood of Jesus Will redeem
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you and it is sufficient but guess.
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What you need to do something about being used by God.
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Those are God's rules. Not mine.
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Not Maranatha. Bible Church.
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It is written. That there must be a willingness
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and eagerness a longing to be cleansed.
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Not just in the sense of, you know, I'm not going to do this.
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No, no, I'm gonna pursue these things and if there's people in
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my life that don't want to pursue it, I love you.
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I might see you in heaven, but I'm going to be used by God.
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Distractions, Lord, whatever is in my life, this is mature.
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Christianity, brothers and sisters.
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We want to be holy. It's more than just if this is
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sin. Let's go further.
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Is this profitable want to be used by God?
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You want God's power on your life?
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Is this beneficial The immature Christian says, is this sinful
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the mature? Christian says, this has helped
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me run. What does it hinder me?
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And yet, Paul here is not quite finished about this concept of
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being ready for the Masters use because he wants to now, move
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forward. As we just read in these verses
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to further furnace, Timothy as a young man, as a young pastor and
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not just him, but us, so that he can be even more effective for
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God's kingdom. And so he gives further
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instructions so that he can polish this vessel and that this
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vessel could be more clear and Clean.
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So that he would be a force against the kingdom of darkness.
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Oh, I hope you're praying this prayer, in the midst of all your
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other prayers. God, make sure that in my life I
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do as much damage to the kingdom of darkness as possible.
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Paul is saying here, I want you to know that there is a work
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within this Masters house. That is a great work but
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requires specific things for you to honor to be a candidate.
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And the great work amongst every good work that we should be
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prepared for is the work of what we just read here.
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It's a very specific word, a very, very important task being
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part of the kingdom and it deals with seeing people delivered
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from the deceptions of Satan. This is what we just finished
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reading. There are things here that Paul
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lists for Timothy to adopt into his own life for what reason
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visit again here in verse 26, that they that they who are,
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they those who are in deception that they may come to their
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senses and Escape From The Snare of the devil after being
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captured by him to do, his will that fits the context, doesn't
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it? Didn't we just read a few weeks
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ago about two individuals causing trouble in the church
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him and as, and fi L false teachers that were Disturbing
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the faith of some. Paul now, focuses on these two
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people, and he draws principles, because he wants Timothy to know
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how to deal with them because although they were causing
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trouble, although him, and as was even excommunicated, Paul
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wants him to know that there is a way of dealing with such
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stubborn people in a way where they can be won to Christ.
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We're about to hear this morning about how you and I whether
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you're a pastor or not can be ready for God to use in the
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business of saving Souls. specifically, those who are even
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preaching and teaching, and posting about false things,
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whether it's about Christ or other beliefs, and if you and I
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are passionate about being used by God to nin, Paul says, in
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verse 24 and the Lord's servant the Lord's servant, Now, we
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might generalize this to believe that this is about all of
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Christ's servants. But the context suggest that the
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Lord's servant here, speaks about those who have dedicated
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their lives to preaching Divine truth.
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Paul uses this term servant to himself and many of his
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Epistles. I'm a bond servant.
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I am a slave to Jesus Christ and now he applies it to Timothy and
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he applies it to anybody else that has devoted their lives to
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full-time Ministry. But before you tune yourself
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out, thinking that this is just for those.
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In the pasture it, remember that one of God's purposes in
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establishing leadership in the local church is not just to tell
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you things about God. It's to set an example for you.
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That's why I'm personally. And even the leaders of this
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church are not fond of the idea of churches where you see the
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pastor on a screen. Why?
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Because the scripture says that you're supposed to be able to
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observe that life and see how that life beyond the message
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interacts with people and deals with issues so that you can draw
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example from. And the Lord's servant here,
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although these are yes and context directed towards those
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who have said, I will give my life.
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I've been called by the Holy Spirit, to preach the gospel.
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This is also for all of God's servants because these men who
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have been established in these positions are worthy of
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imitation, if they are walking in Light of Christ, And so we
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have a few things listed here. And the first thing about the
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Lord's servant, who would be used from the household of God.
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To be a better instrument to fulfill the Great Commission
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that has been given to all Disciples of Christ.
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Is that the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome.
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Not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone.
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That is the first trait. That is the first characteristic
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that Paul brings to our attention.
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Concerning an effective vessel for God's use in this work.
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The Lord's servant cannot be characterized as one who is
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energized by heated arguments, who easily escalates
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conversations to the point of unnecessary tension between
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people Or one who is overly sensitive.
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And when they are challenged about what they believe or what
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they say, without notice explode, into embarrassing,
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rage. No Such Thing can be true of the
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person who serves God, if we're not careful failure to apply
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what I just said. This thing can do more damage to
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the message than you can imagine.
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The delivery of the message is just opposite important as the
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message itself, regardless of the depth of the truth that you
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were entertaining and explaining or how clever your arguments
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Maybe. Isn't it amazing that Paul sets
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this as a first thing? He even says this the holy
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spirit says, before the ability to teach the ability to preach
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the ability to expound scripture.
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The first thing that Paul lists is that you and I must not be
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quarrelsome people, but kind to some to everyone.
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Because the principal is true. This is by Divine Design.
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Our conduct has the power to convince people about our
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message, but it also carries the force to push them away, to
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never hear from us again. Turn your Bibles to First Peter
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chapter 3, verse 1. You know, this very well Peter
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says, likewise wives be subject to your own husbands?
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so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won
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without a word by the conduct of their wives.
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You know, what's so amazing about this you and I Believe
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that people are saved by hearing understanding and believing
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gospel truth. You can't be saved apart from
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that. You can only be saved by hearing
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the gospel, understanding the gospel and then choosing to
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place your faith and trust in the content of that message.
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And yet, I read here in this text that there are some
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unbelieving people that could be won without a word.
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Without a word. How can that be?
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We are people believe that by the word you're saved.
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Well of course this is not suggesting that we do not give
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the message so that people can comprehend.
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What Christ is saying, and then choose to do what they would
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want with that truth. But it does show us this That we
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are able to make the transforming Grace of Christ
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more believable by our conduct. The danger of that truth is in
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the opposite sense that if my behavior can actually dismantle
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and disarm somebody skepticism or reluctance to believe and
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surely my behavior or conduct, no matter how many words I use
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can cause somebody to cancel any receptivity to this message.
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I want to give you an example that Charles Spurgeon gave and I
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will read it. So please pay attention as my
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eyes will be looking down. Charles Spurgeon says, quote, we
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have heard of a wife, a Godly woman who for 20 years has been
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persecuted by a brutal husband, a husband.
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So excessively bad. That her faith at last failed
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her and she ceased to be able to believe that he would ever be
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converted. But all this while she was more
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kind to him than ever. One night at 12:00 in a drunken
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State. He told his friends, he had such
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a wife as no other man had, and if they would go home with him,
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he would get her up to try her temper and she would get supper
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for the mall. They came and the supper was
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soon, very ready, consisting of such things as she had prepared
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as well as rapidly as the occasion would allow.
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And she waited at the table with, as much cheerfulness as if
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the feasts had been held at a proper time, she did not utter a
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word of complaint at last one of the company, more sober than the
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rest asked how it was. She could always be so kind to
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such a And seeing that our conduct had made, some little
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impression. She ventured to say to him, I
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have done all, I can to bring my husband to God, and I fear, he
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will never be saved. Since therefore, his portion
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must be in Hell forever. I will make him as happy as I
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can, while he is here. For, he has nothing to expect
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hereafter be kind to everyone. Because without a word, this
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woman made an impression. Pain.
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A drunken band of men. You know, some people who are
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very sound and teaching and Doctrine and theology would
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object to that famous phrase where it says, preach the
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gospel. And when you have to use words,
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right? Preach the gospel.
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And when you have to use words, very clever, but you got to
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preach the gospel with words. But I'm not going to go to The
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Other Extreme. Because who cares?
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If you preach the gospel, if your actions contradict the
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gospel I don't care how many views you get, I don't care how
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talented you are. My Bible says that you're able
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to disarm any conviction that your message holds because your
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conduct contradicts your words, and we have many people today
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that want to be so focused on the depth of the Theology and
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the cleverness of their minds and they neglect their character
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all the, while not realizing that they are harming themselves
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and their Ministries, whatever is left of it.
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There is a kindness that we can walk in and obtain and apply
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that has the ability to kill. Kill unbelief.
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Kill skepticism, kill hostility in any resistance to the gospel.
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The Bill speaks about that power.
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In fact, he tells us in different places and Romans, for
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example, that that instead of overcoming evil with evil
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overcome it with good, give give bread to your enemy, give water
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to your enemy and it will be like, heaping, coals on their
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heads. What is he saying there?
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That if you were to just be kind to, the most undeserving and
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unlikely that has the ability and the power to disturb their
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conscience, And so, for serious people who are serious about
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seeing people rescued by the snare of Satan you and I will be
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serious about something as simple as kindness practical
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kindness. But from there we go.
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To the second portion with says able to teach If there is going
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to be any any hope, for a Christian to be an agent that
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would lead people to repentance, they must have an ability to
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communicate truth. Now, this should remind us of
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one of the qualifications for an elder back in first Timothy
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chapter 3, it's the only qualification for a pastor that
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requires skill. Every other qualification deals
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with moral makeup shows you the emphasis that God has for even
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as leaders It's about the way you speak in the way, you manage
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your household and the way you respond to people, that's the
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thing that God cares about and tucked.
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In with all of that you must be able to teach.
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Okay, thank you Pastor, I'm over.
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No no you're not done yet. Just because this is a
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requirement for pastors. Does it mean that we are off the
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hook? Because yes, this is a
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requirement for those who are leaders in the church who would
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exercise Authority in the church.
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But the Great Commission is for all disciples.
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All of us have to be able to have by the power of the Holy
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Spirit, despite your personality, or your
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temperament. A willingness to be used by God
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not to preach at conferences. Not to teach a theologian class
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in front of people, but to transfer the truth that saved
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you into somebody else's heart. And if anybody's not convinced
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this morning and maybe I'm reading too much into this text
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and I hope you're still in First Peter 3.
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Because all you have to do is scroll down to verse 15 and
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realize that the holy spirit gives very similar instructions.
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But guess what? He applies.
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All of us in 1st, Peter 3:15, we read but in your hearts honor
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Christ as holy Always being prepared to make a defense to
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anyone who asks you for a reason.
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For the hope that is in you yet do it with gentleness and
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respect very similar instructions.
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Only difference is now he applies it to the whole body of
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Christ. If anyone asked you, for the
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reason that you have this hope in Christ in the gospel, this
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phrase, stood out to me, you and I must always be prepared That's
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convicting. It means at least two things.
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Number one, it means that you're always ready to take advantage
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of the opportunity. When someone pursues the
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knowledge of your faith, you must be always ready.
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And you saying, why wouldn't I be ready?
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Oh, you'd be amazed to know when somebody comes to ask you about
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your faith. Right at the end of work, when
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you're ready to go home, and you're tired and you have to
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commute, and it's snowy, and it's freezing.
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And guess what? Somebody comes from work, and
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ask you, what are you doing this weekend?
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And you're going to tell them? I go to bible study on Friday
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nights, and I got church on Sunday, morning, really.
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And here you are. You're hungry.
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And you're tired and somebody's inquiring about your faith,
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always be prepared. Not just to share.
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But to know how to answer. Always being prepared.
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Implying that there should be this continual mindset in the
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life of the believer despite your business, despite your
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work, despite anything else. There needs to be an equipping
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that you apply to your own life, so that you are ready for the
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opportunity, that would come your way.
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And so this morning, if I were to ask everybody here, are you
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passionate about souls being saved from Satan?
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I'm sure everybody would lift their hand here without
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hesitation But I think there's a better way of asking it and so
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I'm going to ask it with these questions and answer them
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honestly before the Lord because they are related.
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And if you can answer these with with certainty then you are
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better confident to realize. Yes, I am passionate about this,
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this work that God would have me on and if you can't say yes to
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what I'm saying, then perhaps it is giving an indication that
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maybe my heart is not as set. On this task.
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As much as I thought I was though, I may not be a
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theologian or an expert on every subject or difficult passage of
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the Bible. Do I long to grow in my
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knowledge of the faith? Where's that desire?
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Non-existent am I eager to make a personal investment in order
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to receive greater light about divine revelation, or do I
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completely depend on what others share with me like in this
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moment right here? When I feel like I'm unfamiliar
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with a certain Doctrine, Am I comfortable remaining ignorant?
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Or do I make it a joyful ambition to discover the truth
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of the matter? So that I may be better
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prepared. You see the vessel that God uses
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to shake Souls from the spell of Satan is the one who he sees
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making the effort to know his word and, to know, truth and
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brothers and sisters. That is not limited to
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full-time. Ministers, can I tell you
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something? I've learned in my own life more
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from people who are not in full-time Ministry than I did in
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seminary and I'm not shooting down.
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Seminary, I went to Seminary Seminarians, doesn't mean that,
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you know, the word of God as deep as other people might know
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it. And I want to show you an
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example of this. I want to show you an example of
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this because the one person that came to mind when studying this
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text about being prepared. Always prepared.
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Was Philip. Philip not the Apostle, Philip
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the man that was chosen with six others to wait on tables in the
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church that was designated the hospitality Ministry of the
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early church. Philip the man later on that we
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learn had four daughters and only later on in his life are we
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told he was an evangelist, Philip was not an apostle, he
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was not a pastor, Philip was a father, who did practical things
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in the church? I don't want you to see what
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happens with Philip. In Acts chapter 8, verse 26.
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After Revival breaks out and Samaria.
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And yes, it was initiated by Philip.
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But remember, there were other apostles.
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Other Apostles on the scene. And acts 8:26.
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We read now, an angel of the Lord said, to Philip rise, and
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go toward the South to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to
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Gaza. This is a desert place.
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I'm so encouraged by that verse saying, what's so encouraging
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about it? I'm so encouraged because God
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sent an angel, an angel of the Lord to call a man to be ready
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to witness to a gentile God is ready to do a supernatural work.
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This is not. This is not providential.
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This is Supernatural. This is not circumstances being
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orchestrated by a Divine hand. No this is God.
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Speaking clearly to a servant and getting them ready to go to
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another person who is really wanting to know truth and in
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once he deals with them he's going to evaporate from the
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scene and be transferred, somewhere else, this is
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Supernatural and when God is ready to do this Supernatural
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work, he doesn't go to Peter He doesn't go to John.
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Mathias. Because the Phillip.
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Because Philip a Dad Philip whose main Ministry was
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characterized by waiting on tables.
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Phillip. I'm calling you and I want you
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to go somewhere so that you can preach the gospel.
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Why Philip some would say, well he had the gift of evangelism.
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Okay, you can argue that but I think the reason why God called
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Philip was 41, basic condition, he was prepared.
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And you're going to see how he was prepared and some of you
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already know where I'm going with this.
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So fill up an axe 827. We were told and he, he rose and
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went think about that. Think about this, you want to
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talk about obedience Revival, is a breaking out and Samaria.
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You have people being delivered by demons, you have people being
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healed, supernaturally, and in the midst of this move of God.
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God calls. The one who is the vessel to
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initiate this move of the, spirit says, I need you to leave
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this revival and go to a desert. And guess what?
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He rose and went and even ask a question Lord.
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Are you sure? I'm there's a huge move of God
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happening here as though. God was unaware.
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I know what you're doing here. I know what's happening here but
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I need you to go to one shows, you God's heart for the one.
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He rose and went and there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court
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official of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians who is in charge
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of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to
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worship and was returning seated in his Chariot, and he was
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reading the prophet Isaiah. And the spirit said to Philip,
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go over and join this Chariot. It's amazing.
26:46
Philip heard, from the angel of the Lord, and angel from of the
26:50
Lord, not the angel. An angel of the Lord and then
26:52
the spirit speaks him. It just shows how precise how
26:56
sensitive he was to the voice of the spirit.
27:00
The spirit says, go to this chariot.
27:03
What's incredible here is that this is what this mission was
27:06
all about to meet one. Gentile who prove to God that he
27:10
was yearning to know the truth. How do we know he was yearning
27:13
to know the truth? Because as a gentile he traveled
27:16
all the way from where he was to go to Jerusalem to worship.
27:21
And not only did he go to Jerusalem to worship listen to
27:23
this, he had in his hands one of the Scrolls if not all of them
27:28
concerning the writings of the prophet Isaiah that might not
27:31
impress us because you can download a Bible for free on
27:34
your app. But in this day, it was not so
27:38
readily accessible. In this day, you would have to
27:41
go to the synagogue, to hear the word of God, because it was not
27:46
common to have a copy of the scriptures at your home.
27:49
So, this man had a version had a copy, and he probably paid a
27:55
very high price for it. He probably paid a lot of money
28:00
for this so that it would be ready at his disposal.
28:03
And not only that we're about to find out that Phillip hears him.
28:09
Reading the scriptures out loud. I mean he's so hungry that even
28:15
on his way back he is reading what Isaiah wrote out loud.
28:23
Have you ever wondered why the eunuch was so intrigued by the
28:26
prophet? Isaiah We don't understand
28:31
necessarily why it was because there's many writings, there's
28:34
Jeremiah there was Ezekiel, there is the first five books of
28:37
the Old Testament. Why was this eunuch?
28:41
This Ethiopian? So drawn to Isaiah, the prophet,
28:46
Consider this idea that maybe at one point.
28:51
He was in Jerusalem at a feast or he went to a synagogue and he
28:55
heard this portion being read out of Isaiah and it's so moved
29:00
his heart. That he said, I have to have a
29:03
copy of that and I need to know who this God is.
29:06
Don't turn there. But listen to these words, just
29:08
imagine with me this eunuch in Jerusalem and as he's walking
29:12
around and as he's there to worship, he sits in one of the
29:14
synagogue's or maybe even the temple, and one of those priests
29:18
gets ready. And he pulls out the scroll,
29:20
like we see in Jesus, And look for and he reads this portion
29:23
out of the prophet, Isaiah, Isaiah 56 3.
29:27
Let not the Foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord, say
29:30
the Lord will surely separate me from his people and let not the
29:35
eunuch. Say, behold, I am a dry tree for
29:39
thus, says the Lord to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbath's,
29:43
who choose the things that please me and hold fast.
29:46
My Covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a
29:50
monument and a name better than Sons and Daughters.
29:54
I will give them an everlasting name that shall not.
29:57
Be cut off. Imagine this eunuch.
30:02
Not able to Bear children. Hearing that this God of this
30:08
people even gives hope to the eunuch and that the Unix should
30:14
not consider themselves, a dry tree.
30:15
But that they are invited into the house of God and they will
30:19
have something better than children.
30:21
A name in my house, my fellowship, my presence and I
30:25
just love to imagine it that eunuch their tears streaming
30:29
down his face thinking to myself.
30:30
There's even hope for me. I must know who this God is that
30:35
invites me a eunuch, a gentile Foreigner into his presence
30:39
forever? So he went into his purse and he
30:43
paid whatever price. It was, convincing, whatever
30:46
priest was there. I must have this and I must
30:49
study this and I must know who this God is.
30:53
There he is, in the Chariot. Scrolling through the scriptures
30:57
and he comes to Isaiah 53. Where we are told about the
31:00
suffering servant. And then Phillip hears him
31:04
reading it out loud. So in verse 34, We read after
31:09
the, the eunuch is heard by Phillip Phillips is.
31:13
Do you understand what you're reading?
31:16
Now? Remember, this is a royal
31:17
official. This is a man in a chariot
31:18
probably surrounded by men and Philip had the boldness to be
31:22
able to come here and reading the scriptures out loud and he
31:25
took advantage of the opportunity and he says Hey do
31:27
you even understand what you're saying?
31:28
Do you understand what you're reading?
31:30
And the man turns his, how can I understand?
31:32
Unless someone guides me Invites this stranger up.
31:37
Look, look how hungry was. He didn't even kids.
31:38
Who are you? Where'd you come from?
31:40
You just appeared. He says if you know something,
31:43
get in here. So he comes.
31:48
And then the man asked in verse 34.
31:50
The eunuch said to Philip about whom I asked you that the
31:52
prophets say this about himself or about someone else.
31:56
Jews today are still trying to convince others that the
31:59
suffering servant is not speaking about Christ.
32:02
Speaking about the nation speaking, about Israel's
32:05
suffering, which has a lot of problems when you interpreted
32:07
that way verse 35, then Philip opened his mouth.
32:12
And beginning, with this scripture, he told him the good
32:15
news about Jesus from the Old Testament.
32:20
From the Old Testament. Not from John, not from
32:23
Ephesians. No.
32:25
No from Isaiah. From that scripture, he begins
32:29
to present the gospel What's Happening Here in light of what
32:34
we're learning today. This is what's Happening Here.
32:38
God saw a man, so desperate to know the truth.
32:40
Desperate enough to travel desperate enough to pay a price.
32:43
Perhaps desperate enough to even invite a stranger into his car.
32:49
So that he can better understand this God, that intrigued him and
32:53
pulled his heart toward him and listen to this.
32:57
When God sees such a person on any corner of the earth, he will
33:01
move Heaven and Earth to make sure the gospel gets to him.
33:04
People often ask this question. What about those?
33:06
Who have never heard the gospel? What will happen to them?
33:10
And I answer it this way. I have proof, you have proof in
33:14
the scriptures that when God sees a man, who is desperate,
33:17
God Will Make A Way. For him to receive the Gospel.
33:21
You see here with the eunuch who had the scriptures, you see with
33:23
Cornelius who didn't have the scriptures but he had enough
33:26
sense to fear. God, he knew that there was a
33:28
god out there, he helped the Jews out, but he didn't have the
33:31
person of Jesus Christ in mind and God did with that man.
33:36
What he did with this unique, he sent a disciple, he sent a man
33:39
to preach the gospel. God will move Heaven and Earth
33:42
for any person. Even on the basis of just
33:44
general Revelation from creation, who says, I need to
33:47
know who is this designer. Behind these things, these trees
33:50
and my hands and my hair. And this food, who is this?
33:53
God, God will move Heaven and Earth to make sure that the
33:56
gospel gets them. But as much as God saw this,
34:01
man, he saw another man, he saw a father of four.
34:06
He saw one in the hospitality Ministry, but he saw a vessel
34:11
that was prepared. He saw and Philip a student of
34:15
the word he saw and Phillip somebody that was willing to sit
34:19
patiently and expound the scriptures and he wasn't a
34:22
pastor And in his sovereignty and in his Supernatural
34:28
orchestration, he brings them together.
34:32
And God is willing to do the same today.
34:36
With somebody who's not an elder or an evangelist or traveling
34:39
Minister. All these looking for somebody
34:41
who is who is able and willing to know the truth and share the
34:46
truth. now, we come to the third characteristic, in 2nd, Timothy
34:52
2:24 not only able to teach but patiently enduring evil.
35:02
This is perhaps the most difficult qualification.
35:04
You want to be used to see Souls getting snatch from Satan.
35:07
You want to be used for God to even allow Supernatural
35:11
testimonies to be real in your life.
35:13
As in the case of Philip, as some of you already know that
35:16
what that feels like you've been in those moments where it was
35:18
divinely. Appointed.
35:20
You thought it was just an average day, you thought you got
35:23
lost, you thought that you missed your bus and all the
35:25
while it was. God setting you up to meet
35:27
somebody to hear the gospel. Yes.
35:32
Here we read that. Not only he or she must be able
35:36
to share the truth and you can't share the truth.
35:38
Unless you know the truth you can't answer questions unless
35:40
you know the answers, and let me say this.
35:43
Before people feel condemned, God is not waiting for you to
35:47
become a PhD before he uses. You just like we heard last
35:50
week. God is not waiting for you to be
35:52
completely refined and completely cleanse without a
35:55
speck of dust on your soul before he utilizes you for the
35:58
menial tasks. No God uses you as he He's you
36:02
pursuing the truth. As you see you growing in the
36:05
knowledge of the truth. I can tell you this, that many
36:08
of the things that I learned especially in the realm of
36:10
apologetics have not come because I lock myself in my room
36:13
for hours necessarily know. It came from me willing to just
36:16
go out have conversation with people and they ask me a
36:19
question. I looked at my says I don't know
36:20
the answer right now but I'll get back to you.
36:24
And then I run to my room and I stuffed myself in the books and
36:27
I try to discover what it is so I can better be prepared when
36:30
God sees that he makes more opportunities.
36:33
Real in your life patiently, enduring evil, the King James
36:39
and new King, James would say, simply patient, patient.
36:43
The ESV would say, patiently, enduring evil, the nasb would
36:47
say, patient, when being wronged, why?
36:52
Because when you go to the Greek, The word is much more
36:54
specific than just a general sense of being a tolerant
36:57
person. The Greek actress as patient
37:00
with ills and Wrongs And so it's not just being about, you know,
37:06
calm and collected, when things don't go your way, it's
37:09
specific. It's when you are in the pursuit
37:12
of presenting truth, evangelizing, sharing counseling
37:17
are being wronged in the process.
37:21
You must be patient forbearing. This tells me something for Paul
37:28
to use this, by the spirit, this precise word implies this very,
37:31
very clearly that if you're going to get in the business of
37:35
being a being a vessel to see people saved from Satan's
37:38
deception, you will be treated wrongly.
37:45
At one point or another, you will be wronged for doing so
37:50
it's not a pain-free mission brothers and sisters, it's
37:53
actually filled with pain. Yes we make ourselves available
37:57
for Supernatural testimonies like Philip but we also position
38:02
ourselves to be objects of great scorn and mockery I remember
38:08
when I was first saved in college my second year of
38:10
college. So, people knew me before I was
38:12
saved, and they knew me when I got saved, and after I got
38:15
saved. And you know what?
38:17
It's like when you're lit on fire by the gospel.
38:21
I have to run around and try to change people's minds about my
38:24
testimony about my reputation. I have to go around telling
38:28
people that I'm a changed person because I didn't want them to
38:31
think I'm the same day all that I was during frosh week.
38:38
And I remember people started to catch on in our classrooms, were
38:40
not very big, and there was one specific young lady.
38:43
I don't know where she is today. She was in that classroom, and
38:47
she was tough. She heard that Daniel became a
38:50
Christian. And so, she would take advantage
38:52
to step into that classroom from time to time and make an open
38:56
mockery of me in front of everybody.
39:00
And I remember one time before class just a few minutes before
39:03
she stepped in there. And she saw me, she goes, oh
39:06
guys, it's Daniel the guy that hates gays.
39:08
Is and there was somebody in our class who was a regular
39:11
attending a class who is obviously a homosexual hates
39:14
gays, and doesn't believe gays should be met.
39:16
And she just went on and on and I thought never thought this, I
39:21
want class to start now. Right now.
39:27
And I just in that moment, didn't want to say anything,
39:31
just kept my mouth shut. Let her do what she wanted to
39:34
do. And it was a non-believer in
39:37
atheist that stood up for me and quieted her.
39:42
Are you ready for that? Kind of stuff at work?
39:46
You ready for that kind of stuff with your family, dinners when
39:48
you have Christmas, and people know that you're the part of a
39:51
cult as an Evangelical. You ready for that?
39:57
I was reading the Gospel of John this week.
39:59
That's my time, my personal time.
40:01
And I saw something that never caught my attention before, it
40:04
may not sound profound to you, but it deeply ministered to me
40:07
and it had to do with the personal insults that Jesus had
40:11
to endure. That's what it was, remember,
40:14
seeing it and it and it showed up, so real to me as John 3:16.
40:18
I was like, I can't believe what Christ actually endured in the
40:23
context in the setting of him. Giving life transforming truth.
40:28
Can I show you a couple examples turn your Bibles to John 8?
40:32
John 8, verse 40. John 8:40 in this wonderful
40:42
wonderful dialogue between Jesus where we see his famous words
40:48
that I am statement about Abraham later on but we see
40:51
early on but now look what Jesus says in verse 40 but now You
40:55
seek to kill me. A man who has told you the truth
41:00
that I heard from God, this is not what Abraham did and look at
41:03
verse 41. Look what they say you are doing
41:06
The Works of your father, that the fought your father did.
41:09
And they said to him, we were not born of sexual immorality.
41:13
We have one father, even God. This is what they're saying
41:18
here. We were not born of sexual
41:22
immorality. What do you think they meant by
41:25
that? They're essentially insulting
41:29
the parentage of Jesus. We know from scriptures that
41:34
there was much controversy of the origins of Christ.
41:38
And we know that Mary was pregnant before she was even
41:41
married herself and news traveled abroad and that even
41:44
carried along to Jesus adult life.
41:47
And these people frustrated with Jesus claims and convicting
41:50
words decided to viciously imply that he was Illegitimate, as a
41:57
child. Guess what?
41:59
They were calling. His mom, a harlot.
42:03
So, as though they were saying, we were not born of sexual
42:05
immorality, but we don't know about you.
42:07
Jesus of Nazareth, brother. Hot-blooded brother, listen to
42:11
me. What would you do if somebody
42:14
insulted your mother? What would you do if somebody
42:18
called your mom, a prostitute as your evangelizing, her sharing
42:21
your faith? Mmm Christ.
42:24
Is your example, amazing. How specific the Bible is Christ
42:28
is your example because he did not retaliate, though.
42:32
He was reviled he didn't revile in return.
42:35
Any convicting thing? That Jesus said was true because
42:39
he does say in this context. Your father is the devil.
42:42
He does, but he wasn't saying that because you called my mom,
42:46
a harlot. You want to see how patient
42:50
Jesus is scroll down to verse 48.
42:53
Jesus continues with his amazing words and his wisdom.
42:57
And they could not confound him and they could not argue against
43:00
them. The Jews answer them.
43:02
Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a
43:05
demon? Jesus answered, I do not have a
43:08
demon, but I honor my father and you dishonor me.
43:12
So now they went from insulting his mother, and his parentage.
43:17
And they go against his very person and they say, you know
43:21
what, word in town is actually true your demon possessed.
43:27
And you are a Samaritan, which was a scathing thing to say in
43:29
this time because, you know, the Samaritans and Jews were not the
43:33
best of Pals. They were half-breeds, they were
43:35
not full blooded Jews and it's almost as though they're there.
43:39
They're making this claim again. Maybe your dad is actually
43:41
Samaritan. This doesn't feel good.
43:46
We read it on paper and we just glanced by it.
43:49
That hurts that stings and you're trying to help these
43:53
people. Your Samaritan.
43:57
Your false teacher because Samaritans have false teaching.
44:00
And not only are you a false teacher, you're a false teacher
44:03
that's energized by a devil. The perfect Son of God you think
44:08
you and I are going to just walk through this life without such
44:10
things. And I love what Jesus does Jesus
44:15
denies. That he was demon possessed
44:16
because he didn't want anybody to think otherwise concerning
44:19
the purity of his spiritual state, but he doesn't say
44:21
anything about him being a Samaritan.
44:24
Notice that? He doesn't say anything about
44:27
him being a smart, he would not entertain that insult from the
44:29
people. They said you're a Samaritan.
44:31
He just completely bypasses that.
44:35
Because Jesus had a different heart for the Samaritans, and
44:37
these Jews did. Are you willing to patiently
44:42
endure? Evil.
44:47
And remember this, when people can't answer your arguments,
44:50
they often will attack your character.
44:52
Just keep that in mind. But we come to the last Point
44:56
here. Paul says not only patiently
45:02
enduring evil remaining in the spirit even though Satan will
45:06
try to get under your skin and try to pull out of you fleshly
45:08
response. But correcting his opponents
45:12
with gentleness. Correcting his opponents with
45:18
gentleness. Now let me say this.
45:22
Because in our minds right now, we're all going to that word,
45:24
gentleness, aren't we. And it's true.
45:26
We need to be gentle. But this point demands,
45:29
something else and it demands this that if we're going to be
45:31
vessels that God would use as God.
45:33
Used Philip as God used. Many people that do not have
45:35
their names on Billboard's or in books, but to win souls, you
45:39
must be, I must be willing to have uncomfortable
45:42
conversations. Because God says here, that if
45:47
you're going to be such a vessel for my use, you must be able to
45:50
willing to tell somebody that they're wrong and that they
45:53
don't have the right belief and that their understanding of the
45:56
Lord is not, right? And their, interpretation of the
45:59
scripture is not in line with traditional Orthodoxy, you must
46:02
be willing to say those things with somebody and that is
46:06
becoming increasingly difficult in our age.
46:10
We are living in a time when our culture is discipling, a
46:13
generation to A false sense of respect.
46:19
To the point where even if you dare State your own opinion, you
46:23
should expect the fury of the cancer police.
46:27
And so, you have people now who are very educated, who are in
46:31
prominent positions, that will not say certain things because
46:35
you now, live in a society where you are threatened and
46:38
intimidated for even stating what you believe about
46:40
something, do you think that's just a cultural phenomenon?
46:45
Do you think this oversensitivity and this push
46:48
for people to be silenced or fired or smeared or cancel?
46:53
Do you think that's just a just a humid?
46:55
It's spiritual We're in a spiritual war.
46:59
So what's happening here? Satan is discipling, a
47:02
generation and future Generations.
47:05
To make sure that there would be no critics of evil and sin
47:09
without a price. That's what it is.
47:14
And if the church is not on guard, what's intimidating, the
47:18
media to not say certain things. What's arresting people from
47:22
even voicing their opinion about politics or Trends.
47:26
What's even causing students in a learning environment to feel
47:29
crippled and paralyzed and fearful lest.
47:31
They be highlighted as being rebellious for not adopting.
47:34
The Narrative will come into the Church of Jesus Christ.
47:41
Paul says, they must be willing to correct their opponents and
47:45
face falsehood. And now one might object and
47:49
say, well, it says right here, gentle, they have to be yes, of
47:52
course, gentle. We're not arguing against that,
47:56
but can I challenge your definition of gentle please?
47:59
What is your understanding of gentleness?
48:01
Is it to remain silent for fear of offending, those who are
48:04
clearly in the wrong? Is it to remain in a neutral
48:07
position with everyone? Even though they are promoting
48:10
heresy or disruption in the church?
48:12
I would damage the reputation of Christ.
48:14
What's your definition of gentle?
48:18
Now if you would think to yourself that gentle means timid
48:22
and silent and making sure that what you believe would never
48:27
cause friction in an environment or in a relationship.
48:32
You might have very great trouble with the definition of
48:34
gentle in the Bible. because instead of debating about it,
48:40
and instead of coming up with our own ideas, why don't we go
48:43
to the best example of gentleness as personified?
48:48
And embodied by someone, you know where I'm going, right?
48:52
Listen to these words from the lips of the perfect.
48:54
Son of God. In Matthew 11:29, take my yoke
48:59
upon you and learn from me for I Am.
49:03
What gentle And lowly in heart. And you will find rest for your
49:11
souls. You know what Jesus, just said
49:13
to us this morning, do you want to learn what it means to be
49:17
gentle? Do you want to learn what it
49:19
means to be meek, learn from me. And you know, some parts of the
49:28
Bible with Jesus that might not fit our understanding of gentle.
49:37
Because gentle doesn't mean bold rather.
49:40
It does mean. Bold gentle does mean,
49:43
courageous gentle does mean willingness to confront what
49:48
Paul has a mind about gentleness.
49:49
It's about an attitude that is framed by a righteous goal and
49:52
that righteous goal is what we read later on in second Timothy
49:55
with those verses that we heard earlier to see someone delivered
49:59
from Satan snares. That you have God's glory in
50:03
mind and man's good. In mind.
50:06
Paul is not advocating a manner of correction that satisfies
50:10
self. You're not in the business of
50:14
heresy hunting online. Or finding a minut error and
50:19
somebody's teaching or their practice so that you can feel
50:23
better about yourself because you look more Superior.
50:25
That's not what Paul is talking about.
50:29
It's about an attitude of the heart that will frame your words
50:34
and your tone even though it comes in the form of rebuke.
50:38
Like, you know, that there are some people in your life that
50:40
are passionate about truth that will even lift their voice if
50:44
they have to. But all the while you can sense
50:47
the love You can sense, Christ's love.
50:53
And there are other people who are trying to do the same thing,
50:55
but because they don't have the spirit of God operating through
50:58
them. It shuts people off.
51:00
Immediately Jesus says, learn from me for.
51:05
I am gentle and lowly in heart. Gentle doesn't mean you keep
51:09
quiet. Gentle doesn't mean that you
51:11
don't question. Gentle doesn't mean that
51:13
sometimes you even have to rebuke.
51:15
No no. You know what I'm worried about.
51:17
When I read this verse, I'm worried about what's happening
51:19
in our culture is affecting the church to what degree.
51:24
Imagine I just imagine you're oblivious to those certain text
51:27
about Jesus and how he dealt with certain people and I just
51:31
read to you about a person who spoke these things to certain
51:34
people. You know what, I think would
51:36
happen with most Christians, they would think that Christ was
51:39
very uncrossed, like they would think crisis very unchristian,
51:46
like, And so, we have to understand that there is a
51:52
righteous boldness and confrontation, but it is always
51:56
tamed by humility. And it is always stained by
52:00
wisdom that knows when to speak up in a certain way and when to
52:04
be patient and correct seeing someone because the opposite
52:07
extreme, right? Because I know what can happen
52:09
with a snippet like this. Somebody can cut this off and
52:11
say, look, what look what this man is saying, Jesus whipped up
52:15
people in the temple. So we should Jesus.
52:17
Did it twice in his ministry, not every Sunday.
52:21
Jesus didn't go around with a whip around his belt whipping,
52:24
people. Every time he saw them.
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He knew when he knew when to stand up for the truth.
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He knew when to sit down with a woman who was in sin and be very
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patient. And I would say this look at the
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connection and closing as we come back to 2nd Timothy.
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These things are so important, those so simple so very
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important that it connects to The Sovereign work of God which
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says here in verse 25 God May perhaps grant them repentance
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leading to a knowledge of the truth.
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God works with human agents in the business of redemption, he
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does. See this excludes this concept
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that if God can move, someone's heart and change them and
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convict them and regenerate, and then I can sit on my hands.
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No, he looks for a specific quality of Christians and then
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he works through them. And what I see here in the
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progression of thought, is when we as Believers, we furnish
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ourselves, this way, when we place these things in our lives,
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we better position ourselves and people that we confront to know
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truth and to be led to repentance.
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Some of you in here, maybe more passionate than others.
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Some of you in here are better at the kindness thing that the
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teaching thing. And some in here are more
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better. The teaching thing that the
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kindness thing, we need both and let me say this, this is so
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important to apply because when we deal with people as a church
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that is passionate about truth. Notice Paul's language.
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He says that they may come to their senses and Escape The
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Snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will
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people are not your enemy. They're held hostage, you want
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to be gentle, you want to be soft, you want to be calculated
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with your words. You want to know when to say it
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and how to say it realize that they are held prisoner, they are
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not your enemy. They're duped and they're
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clouded and they need you by the grace of God to help them see.
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Liberty. May we pray and ask God to help
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us apply these things and wisdom for the sake of the glory of
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Jesus Christ and his gospel. Let's pray.
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Heavenly Father, we come before you as vessels in your house.
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Longing to cleanse ourselves from that, which is
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dishonorable. So that we may be vessels of
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honorable use Lord. We heard your word concerning
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the instruments that you see Fit for your use, in the business of
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rescuing people from satanic, bondage.
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And Lord, we want to be those people.
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We want to be those people. That would be found ready when
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you see a soul. In the neighborhood, that
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doesn't know, but his longing to know Christ.
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Thank you for the awesome truth that your roster is very large.
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You do not only have a handful that will do all this work.
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You have a great roster of people fathers and mothers
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students, doctors businessmen, stay-at-home moms Part-time
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workers at a retail store. Lord, you have a great roster.
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But Lord, we lay our lives down. We ask you to help us to not be
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quarrelsome, but to be kind to everyone Lord, to be able to
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know the truth and to be able to communicate the truth, despite
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our personalities are limitations.
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Got your. Holy Spirit has been given to us
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to be powerful Witnesses. Look to patiently endure evil,
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because this is a difficult work where people will scorn us and
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mock us even within the church. Helped us be like the master who
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did not retaliate with Insults but remained on the path of not
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sinning with his mouth but being bold with the truth and Lord, we
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ask that you would give us the love and the compassion to be
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able to correct others. But with a certain attitude that
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would not turn them off. But also at times to be bold,
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when we need to to shake people from their deception, give us
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the wisdom to know how to walk in.
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What at what time with which person Lord, we submit ourselves
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because we Not to be used with our lives and we give you glory
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for the wisdom that you have provided this morning.
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So that we would not be left in the dark.
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We say yes to your will and to your commands.
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And we ask you o God in heaven, use us use us in 2021 for your
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namesake and Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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Can we stand as We Worship the Lord?