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The Practice of Honour · Near East Christian Fellowship Sermons

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Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
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designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
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walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
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the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
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right in. Okay, like my mom said, what is this
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one doing today? Okay. You see what I'm doing?
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All right, so let's go back to our main text,
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which is 1 Timothy 5, 17 -18. 1 Timothy 5 .17
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-18 It reads, Let the elders that rule well be
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counted worthy of double honor, especially they
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which labor in word and doctrine. For the scripture
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saith, Thou shalt not mosew an ox when it traded
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out the corn, for the laborer is worth his reward.
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So, we're just going to do some word study on
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these scriptures, two of them. So we want to
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look who are the elders, who are the elders.
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In verse 17, it says, let the elders that rule,
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that rule all be counted worthy of double honor,
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especially they that labor in word and in doctrine.
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So the word that appears there for elders, the
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word that appears there for elders is presbyterios.
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Presbyterios in the Greek. P -R -E -S -B -Y -T
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-E -R -O -S That's the word that appears there.
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And it is a term of rank or office among the
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Jews. They were elders in the Jewish community.
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It was used for members of the Great Council.
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or the Sanandrin, which were the rulers of the
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people and the judges. But here as it is used
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by Apostle Paul, it means those that oversee
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the local assembly. The same word is used interchangeably
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with the word bishop, elders, presbyterians,
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and overseers. I hope you're taking note of that.
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It is the same word, bishop, overseers, elders,
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presbyters. We're going to see this as we are
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going to do our study. So these are the men that
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were made to preside over local assemblies. So
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Apostle Paul was communicating to Timothy, who
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happens also to be a pastor. And he's telling
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him that let the elders that rule well be accounted
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of double honor, especially those that labor
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in word and in doctrine. So we're going to see
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along the scriptures that who are these elders?
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Who are they inside the church? So let's go to
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Acts chapter 20. Acts 20 from verses 17 to 28.
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I believe Pastor Victor has taught this and has
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gone over it exhaustively. So we're just going
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to bring it back to our remembrance. Acts chapter
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20 from verses 17. to Ephesus and called the
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elders of the church. We see here they are put
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as the elders of the church, meaning that those
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that preside over the local assembly. 18. And
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when they were come to him, he said unto them,
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Ye know from the first day that I came unto Asia,
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what manner I have been with you all seasons,
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serving the Lord with all humility? There's 22.
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And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto
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Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall
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befall me there, save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth
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in every city, saying, Bones and affliction abide
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thee. But none of these things move me, neither
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count I myself dear unto myself, for that I might
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finish my course with joy, and the ministry which
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I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
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the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold,
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I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching
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the kingdom of God shall see my face no more.
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Wherefore, I take you to record this day that
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I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have
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not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel
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of the Lord. He says, take heed therefore unto
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yourselves and unto all the flock. I want you
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to pay attention to verse 28. Take heed therefore
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unto yourselves and all the flock over which
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the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. So we
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see from verse 17, he called them elders. Now
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he told them that they are to oversee, they are
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overseers. So elders and overseers are the same
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people. Okay, let's continue. And to feed the
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church of God, which he hath purchased by his
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own blood. For I know this, that after my departing
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shall grievous wolves come among him, not sparing
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the flock. So, what we see from our reading here,
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from verse 17, it shows that these elders were
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leaders over the local assembly. And they are
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the same people who were called overseers. In
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verse 28, it says, And the word that appears
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there for overseers is the word episkopos. Episkopos.
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E -P -I -S -K -O -P -O -S. E -P -I -S -K -O -P
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-O -S. It means a guardian or a superintendent,
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an elder and an overseer. So these are the same
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people. And what they do is that they feed. Verse
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8, 20, 80 says, Therefore take heed unto yourselves,
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unto the flock, which the Holy Ghost hath made
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you overseers, to feed the church of God. And
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there we see the word poimeno, for feed, to feed,
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which means to nourish. It's a verb. It means
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to nourish. And the same word was used by our
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Lord Jesus in John chapter 21, verse 16. Let's
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see. John 21, verse 16. When he was talking to
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Peter. John 21, verse 16. So why are we doing
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this? We want to know who are the elders. John.
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John 21. From verses 16. Okay, let's start from
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verse 15. It says, So, okay. So when they had
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dined, Jesus said unto Simon Peter, Simon, son
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of Jonas, lovest thou me more than this? He said
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unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love
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thee. He said unto him, Feed my lambs. Feed my
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lambs. And the word that appears there in 15
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is the word Bosco. It's the word Bosco, which
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means to keep. Then verse 16 then says, And he
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said unto him again, second time, Simon, son
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of Jonas, lovest thou me? And he said unto him,
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Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. And
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he said unto him, Feed my sheep. And we see another
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word occurring here. The first one in 15 is bosko,
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which means to keep. But the one that appears
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here is a noun. That is poimen. The word is a
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noun called poimen. P -O -I -M -E -N. A shepherd.
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It means a shepherd. And it is the same exact
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word that appears in Ephesians chapter 4 verse
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11. So, we are going to see that these same men
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who are called overseers, bishops, are the same
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men that are called pastors. It is the same.
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It's the same thing. Ephesians chapter 4 verse
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11. Let's just go there quickly. Ephesians 4
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verse 11. Okay. He gave some apostles. He gave
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some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
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some pastors. Their pastors, it appears, poor
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men. Which is the same as shepherd. So, now we've
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seen that the elders were the overseers. They
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are the same people who are the pastors. They
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are also the bishops. It's the same thing. And
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we see something similar to this in the book
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of Numbers. Numbers 11, verse 16. Numbers 11
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from verses 16 to 17. These were the men who
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were to bear the burden with Moses. They were
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also called the elders of the people, meaning
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that they were overseeing the people, groups
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of people. We'll see it again. Let's read from
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there. Numbers chapter 11, from verse 16. And
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the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy
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men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest
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to be the elders of the people. and officers
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over them and bring them unto the tabernacle
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of the congregation, that you may stand there
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with thee, and I will come down and talk with
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thee, and I will take of the Spirit which is
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upon thee, and I will put it upon them, and they
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shall bear the burden of the people with thee,
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and thou shalt bear it not thyself alone. So,
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we see that these were men that were set over
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the people of Israel. We see this, it happened
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in Exodus chapter 18. Let's go to Exodus chapter
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18. Exodus 18. Exodus chapter 18 from verses
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14. 22. And when Moses' father -in -law saw all
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that he did to the people, he said, What is this
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that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou
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thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee
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from morning to evening? And Moses said unto
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his father -in -law, Because the people come
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unto me to inquire of the Lord. 16. When they
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had When they have a matter, they come unto me,
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and I judge between one and another, and I do
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make them know the statutes of God and his laws.
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And Moses' father -in -law said unto him, The
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thing that thou doest is not good. Thou surely
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wear away both thou and this people that is with
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thee, for this thing is too heavy for thee. Thou
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art not an ebb. that thou art not able to perform
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it thyself alone. 19. Hearken now unto my voice,
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and I will give thee counsel, and God shall be
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with thee. Be thou for the people to Godward,
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that thou mayest bring the causes unto God. 20.
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And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws,
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and thou shalt show them the way wherein they
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must walk and work. that they must do. Moreover,
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thou shalt provide out of the people able men,
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such as fear God, men of truth, hurting covetousness,
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and place such to be rulers of thousands, rulers
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of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of
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tens, and let them judge the people at all seasons.
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It shall be that every great matter they shall
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bring unto thee, but every small matter they
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shall judge. So shall it be easier for thyself,
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and they shall bear the burden with thee. So,
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what we see here is, Moses said to choose men.
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They were called able men. People who had covetousness,
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people who fears the Lord, and he said them to
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be rulers over the people. So they were not chosen
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at random. It was not just to pick and say, I
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think this one, this one showed me good character
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when we were still in Egypt. I'll pick this one.
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No. There was a criteria of how they chose the
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men. We see the same thing in Titus. Titus chapter
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1. The same pattern. of how these men were selected.
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Titus chapter 1, verse 5. It says, For this cause
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left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set
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in order the things that were wanting, and to
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ordain elders. In every city, as I have appointed
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thee, if any be blameless, the husband of one
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wife, having fruitful children, not accused of
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unruly, for a bishop must be blameless as the
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steward of God, not self -willed, not soon angry,
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not given to wine, not a striker, not given to
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filthy lucre. We see the same thing, the same
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criteria that Moses used to choose the elders
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in Exodus 18. Verse 8. So we see that it was
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not just to pick. These are elders, people who
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have matured in the Lord. We have now the responsibility
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to oversee others. We see something from Acts
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we read, Acts chapter 20. It starts from chapter
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19 when Paul was passing through Ephesus and
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he found disciples there. These are the men he
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trained day and night. until they grow to the
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position whereby they are to oversee others.
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So it is not by accident. Alright. So we see
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other references. We can take this down. Other
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references of the word elder. Acts 21 verse 17.
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1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 1 to 2. These were
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elderly people in age. In 1 Timothy chapter 5
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verse 1 to 2. Titus chapter 1 verse 5. Those
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who oversee the local church. Then James chapter
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5 verse 14, when it talks about if there be anyone
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who is sick, let him call for the elders. These
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were overseers of the church. 2 John chapter
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1 verse 1. 3 John chapter 1 verse 1. I'll repeat
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again. Acts 21 verse 7. 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse
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1 to 2. Titus 1. Titus chapter 1 verse 5. James
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5 .14. 2 John 1 .1. 3 John 1 .1. Okay. Let's
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go back to Timothy. We're still in Timothy. 1
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Timothy 5 .17 -18. Let's turn back quickly. 1
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Timothy. 5 .17 -18 Let the elders that rule well
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be counted worthy of double honor, especially
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they that labor in word and in doctrine. For
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the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle an
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ox that traded out corn, and the laborer is worthy
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of his reward. So, verse 18, it will tell you,
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that what Apostle Paul is saying is not to greet
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pastors, hello, hello, sir. Because 18 brings
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to light that the scripture says, thou shalt
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not muzzle an ox when it traded out the corn,
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for the laborer is worthy his reward. Are you
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following? Okay, so the word that appears there
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for double, Double is the word daplus. D -I -P
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-L -O -U -S. For double, it's the word D -I -P
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-L -O -U -S. It means twofold. Twofold more.
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Abundant. I'll repeat, it is the word daplos,
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twofold more, twofold all abundant. That is what
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you give to a fellow believer when it comes to
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the pastor, do it double. So Apostle Paul didn't
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leave us in dark. He told us the measure we are
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supposed to give, that is twofold. And the word
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honor there, It's not, there's a word that is
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similar to it. We'll talk about it. But for now,
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it is the word time. Time. T -I -M -E. I know
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it sounds like time. It's the word time. T -I
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-M -E. It is a valuing by which a price is fixed.
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a valuing by which a price is fixed, an honor
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that belongs or should be shown to one. So, by
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saying, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox that shredded
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the corn, and the laborer is worth his reward.
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What? Apostle Paul was bringing to light here
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is not that his owner, as in, I esteem Pastor
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Koston. When I meet him, Pastor, how are you?
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Did you sleep well? In this context, he's talking
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about meeting the physical needs of the elders
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of the church. We see the same, Jesus used the
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same in Luke 10, verse 17. when he sent forth
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the disciples to preach. Luke 10, 17. Luke 10,
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17. It reads, Okay. Okay, I got this wrong. Verse
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7. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Thank you. Verse 7. 7
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and 17, they look similar. Verse 7. And in the
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same house remain. eating and drinking such things
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as they give. For the laborer is worth of his
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hire. Go not from house to house. So there he
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was talking about taking care of the ministers.
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As they go forth to preach, they were to be taken
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care of. Yes. And we see a church, the church
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of... The Philippian church, they met the need
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of Apostle Paul. They honored Apostle Paul's
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ministry and they met his needs. Philippians
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chapter 1 verse 15 to 18. Philippians. Let's
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look at it. Philippians 1, verses 15 to 18. When
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they talk that they met their needs, he met his
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needs. Wait. Okay. It's chapter, the last chapter,
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chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4 from verses
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15. It reads, Now ye Philippians, Know also that
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in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed
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from Macedonia, no church communicated with me
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as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
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Verse 16. For even in Thessalonica ye send once
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and again unto my necessity, not because I desire
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a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to
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your account. Verse 18. And I am full, having
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received of Epaphroditus the things which were
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sent from you, an order of sweet smell, a sacrifice
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acceptable and well -pleasing to God. So the
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church at Philippi, they met the need of Apostle
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Paul. Yes, they prayed for him. But they met
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the needs that he required for the work of ministry.
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That is, they honored Apostle Paul's ministry
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and they gave. Their honor was demonstrated in
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giving out in support of his ministry. So, God
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commands us to give, to meet the needs of our
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pastors. And he gives us a measure that we should
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do it double, twofold. That is what you give
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to this person or what you give to a brother
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when it comes to the pastor, do it times two,
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twofold. So honoring the pastors is honoring
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God. Now, what is the importance of honor? What
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is the importance of honor? So honor is a constant
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practice in the scripture. You see it littered
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all throughout. People honored the man of God.
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People honored those that ministered to them.
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Meeting their physical needs and honoring them
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in service, helping out. So, as believers, we
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should constantly renew our minds on this. Yes,
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the world defines honor in a certain direction,
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but we should keep our minds, we should guide
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our minds from what the world says and to follow
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what God says. Let's read Romans chapter 12.
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Romans 12 from verses 1 and 2. Romans 12 from
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verses 1 and 2. We should keep our minds constantly
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on the word of the Lord. We should renew our
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minds by the word of the Lord, not what the word
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says or not what we pick from the word and come
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to the church. Or some of the people who tell
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us that the pastors are stealing or the pastors
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are thieves, themselves are not believers. You
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ask them, have you believed? They have not. So
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they want to teach you, who is in church, how
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to honor the pastors. No, we follow what the
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word says. What the Lord says is what we do.
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Romans 12, from verses 1. It reads, I beseech
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you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
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that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice
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wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
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service. Verse 2. Be not conformed to this world,
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but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
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that you may prove what is good and acceptable
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and perfect will of God. So, Apostle Paul gives
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a charge that we should not conform to this world,
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which is such a matizo, which is to fashion oneself
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according to the world. That is, the trend that
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goes in the world, that's what you go with. Today,
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the world honors, you go with that. Tomorrow,
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it shifts. No, but we should always stick to
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what the Lord says. We should guard our hearts.
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We should be transformed by the word of the Lord
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in our thinking. Let's look at Proverbs 4, verse
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23. Proverbs 4, verse 23. Keep your heart with
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all diligence. From out of it spring the issues
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of life. The word keep there, it means it's a
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verb. It's a verb. You have to do it by yourself.
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And how do you do it? By feeding on the word
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of the Lord. That is how you keep yourself from
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the influences of the world. You remain untarnished
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when you read the word of God, when you study
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the word of God, when the word of God is what
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governs your life. When it comes to honor, don't
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lose this. We are talking about honoring the
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ministers of God. Let's see it. So we see that
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it says, keep your hearts with all diligence
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from out of it spring the issues of life. And
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you see that the keep there is Nasa, N -A -S
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-A -R, which means to guard, to watch over, to
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preserve, to protect with all diligence. Well,
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his honor is of the heart. And as a man of God,
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as a child of God, you should by all means guard
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what comes in your mind by the word of the Lord.
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You renew your mind by the word of the Lord.
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So believers, we as believers should not copy
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the word. But to let our thinking, our conduct
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and life be governed by the word of the Lord.
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That's why week in, week out, Sunday service,
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Wednesday service, Friday soul meeting, we are
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always learning. Because our life is to be governed
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by the word of the Lord. Not by what the world
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says. Not about the trends in the world. So,
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Let's see something. It is possible that if you
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don't renew your mind, you walk like one of the
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people in the world. You walk like them, meaning
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that in your actions, you walk in the flesh.
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1 Corinthians 3, verses 1 to 3. Let's read this
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one. Yes, this will be our last reading. 1 Corinthians
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3 1 Corinthians 3 It reads, And I, brethren,
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could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but
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unto, as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
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I have fed you with milk, When he talks about
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walking as men, talking about the unbelievers.
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So, that is, a believer is not expected to conduct
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himself as an unbeliever. That is, if an unbeliever
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dishonors, it is not for you. Yes, it is not
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for you. Galatians tells us that we should walk
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in love. Galatians chapter 5, it talks about
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we should walk in love. It is love that we show
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for honor. It is in love whereby we recognize
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the work of our pastors and give out. Love is
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liberal. We give out. We see how hard they work.
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I tell you, I saw it when I was preparing the
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teaching. But this thing is not simple. So they
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have sleepless nights. I felt the impact of catatismus.
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Pastor Fred will be teaching from today until
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tomorrow. They have to be honored. They have
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to be honored. It's something that drove me even
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to give more. Because as believers, we are obliged
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to do so. And we have been given a measure on
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how we should give. We should do it double. Right?
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I know some of us have been ignorant of this,
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but I just want us to pray. The Lord, I thank
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you for the pastors. I acknowledge the work that
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they are doing and I give out to support the
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work of ministry. Just pray. Just pray. Father,
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we thank you. We appreciate you being here today.
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We hope you carry this word with you throughout
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your week. Don't forget to check the show notes
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for additional insights. Stay connected with
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us through our website or follow us on social
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media. If you are encouraged, share this message
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with someone you care about. Until next time,
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stay blessed.