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Romans 12:3-8 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning, everybody. Take out your Bibles and turn to the book of Romans, chapter 12.
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I just want to express briefly my gratitude for all your prayers and encouragement.
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! As we were gone up at Duke Hospital, kind of fighting through some infection that I have,
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and still kind of doing it. I have my stuff going this morning.
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I have a little medicine ball, and it pushes medicine through it, which is pretty cool.
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But it's also too big to fit in my pocket of these cowboy-cut Wranglers, so I have it in a fanny pack,
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which is really embarrassing. So, returning to the 80s slowly.
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But I really want to just thank you for your prayers and encouragement.
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That said, I still am a little short of breath, so it might take me longer to kind of get out everything.
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But I will be watching the time. I promise not to keep you here longer.
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At least at this point, Lord willing, I'm supposed to preach the next passage next Sunday.
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So if I have to, I may wrap up some of this and just put it in with next week.
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So, we'll see how it goes.
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But it's times like this that it's good for the Lord to remind me to not rely on any kind of gifting or ability I have,
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but on His strength and His power.
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So just join me in a word of prayer.
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Father, we offer this time to you.
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Please just work in and through me to accomplish your purpose.
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And may your word be applied to our hearts through your Holy Spirit.
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And may it have the desired effect that you meant for it to have on our souls and our lives as we go from here.
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So may you be pleased, Lord, during this time and this preaching and the hearing of your word.
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In Christ's name, amen.
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Amen.
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All right.
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Romans 12.
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Nathan did a wonderful job last week on Romans 1 and 2, kind of the focus on renewing our minds.
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And so, the book of Romans can be really hard to reconnect and just to make sure you don't lose the overall picture of it.
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But in short, God's saving grace leads to a new life in Christ.
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And in chapter 12 through 15, 13, Paul begins to work out the practical gospel implications of his saving mercy.
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So, in light of all that God has done for us, in light of all that the book of Romans has unpacked, the idea that we were chosen by his grace, we've had our sins forgiven, we've been made right with God, justified in his sight, that Christ's righteousness has been given to us, that we are reconciled to him.
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We've been adopted into this family, we've been given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance.
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So, in light of all that stuff that Romans has just talked about, now he's saying, therefore, live this way.
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That's what starts in chapter 12 and kind of goes forward through the rest of the book.
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And today, looking at, that's kind of where we've been, and now where we're going, starting in verses 3 through 8, Paul begins expounding on what the new life in Christ actually looks like.
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As in most of his letters, he begins talking with teaching about doctrine, theology.
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He does that in Ephesians very clearly.
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Maybe the first three chapters are about our great salvation and what God has done for us, and the other three chapters are about working that out in response to that, how godly living, what it looks like.
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Very similar at this point.
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He concludes this letter with a practical outworking and application of what he's already expounded on.
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And so, don't fall off on either side of this cliff, okay?
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Truth and knowledge and sound doctrine are vital.
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And without it, you will not be saved, all right?
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But it is also insufficient without the Holy Spirit's empowerment and application to the inward man.
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So, your learning must translate into living.
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It must, your theology must transform into doxology.
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Doxology.
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It's not meant just to be head knowledge.
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It must impact your heart.
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It must impact your soul.
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It must impact the way you think.
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Or else it's just dead knowledge in your head.
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Both are important, right?
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Your head knowledge and your heart response to that truth are vital.
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And so, the following verses, just to give you a simple outline, Paul begins with an exhortation in verse 3, an illustration in verses 4 through 5, and then an application in verses 6 through 8.
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So, let's read together Romans 12.
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We'll start.
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You know what?
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I'm just going to start with verse 1 just for fun.
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To kind of not lose if you weren't here last week or whatever.
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But, Paul says,
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And he goes on in verse 3.
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Let's read together Romans 12.
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Let's read together Romans 12.
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Let's read together Romans 12.
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Let's read together Romans 12.
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Let's read together Romans 12.
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Let's read together Romans 12.
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Let's read together Romans 12.
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Let's read together Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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Let's read Romans 12.
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The one who leads with zeal.
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The one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness.
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All right.
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So, for you people out there that are particularly looking at the second part of verse 6,
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that's not where we're going today.
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So, just hang tight.
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We're going to have a walk through this outline.
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But three points today.
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Number one, and this is the exhortation,
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number one is right attitude.
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That's the exhortation in verse 3.
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He says,
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For by grace given to me, I say to everyone among you,
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not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,
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but to think with sober judgment,
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each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
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So, Paul begins this whole part by recognizing
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that what he has is a result of God's grace,
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his apostleship, his ministry,
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all stems not because of any greatness that's in him,
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but completely by God's grace.
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He was set apart for the service of Christ.
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So, then he's connecting that truth to what we just read,
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verses 1 and 2,
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the idea of renewing our minds.
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In light of that,
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Paul calls all believers to think humbly and rightly
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about themselves and their role in the church.
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So, very clearly at the heart of our sin
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and our rebellion against God
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is wrong thinking,
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temptations to boast about ourselves
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and to demean others.
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Every single good thing we have is from God.
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Everything, including our gifts and our rules
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that are in the body.
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And Paul makes that crystal clear.
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Everything that we have that is good is from God.
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Every passage that mentions gifts,
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okay,
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which there's four, really.
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It says in 1 Corinthians 12,
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to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit
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for the common good.
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So, given,
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God has appointed in the church
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and that he gave,
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Ephesians 4.11.
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So, anytime gifts are mentioned,
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Paul wants you to see it clearly
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that it was given to you by God.
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And so, if you understand that,
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it excludes boasting.
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So, he goes hard at that.
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So, he's saying,
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don't come at this
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with an approach of pride.
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So, the right response to this,
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what is the right attitude?
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The right attitude is humility
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and not pride.
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Richard Baxter,
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one of my favorite Puritan writers,
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said,
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humility is not a mere ornament
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of a Christian,
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but an essential part
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of the new creature.
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It is a contradiction in terms
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to be a Christian
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and not be humble.
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So, humility is our only
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right response to God
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because it recognizes
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that we live the Christian life
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in the same manner
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in which we first became believers,
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completely by his grace.
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So, humility isn't just pretending,
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faking that we're unworthy,
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right,
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that,
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to sound spiritual,
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but it's acknowledging
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the true reality
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that we are unworthy,
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that everything we have
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is from God,
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and that excludes boasting.
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So, in light of that,
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Paul is calling them to think,
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and he says,
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in this verse,
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I say to you,
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right,
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I say,
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exhort,
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warn everyone among you.
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Not,
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there's this idea of
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don't do this,
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but do this.
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So, here's the negative part.
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Not to think,
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which means to estimate,
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to evaluate himself
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more highly
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than he ought to think,
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or to have an overblown,
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exaggerated opinion
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of your own importance.
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Okay?
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A man that I respect a lot
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said this,
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that a desire for preeminence
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is the death
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of spiritual usefulness.
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Pride is cancerous
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to the body,
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and few things
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can cause more harm
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in a local church
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than a person
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who overrates himself
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and tries to perform
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a ministry
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that he really isn't
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gifted to do,
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and he boasts about
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those gifts
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that he doesn't possess.
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We've all seen that
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in the church.
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We've seen people
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overrating themselves,
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overrating their importance
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and their role
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in the church
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and what great harm
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that does.
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We've seen people
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who don't have gifts
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destroy things
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because they think
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they have them,
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and that we haven't
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been bold enough
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and honest enough
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to say,
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hey, you really
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don't have that,
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brother or sister.
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So,
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that's okay
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because you've been
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gifted in other ways.
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So, let's find out
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what that is.
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Don't do that.
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We also have seen
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people boast about
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gifts that God
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has given
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and use them
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for their own glory
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to exalt themselves.
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And both
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are expressions
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of pride.
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God wrote,
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or James wrote,
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God opposes the proud
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but gives grace
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to the humble.
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In the writer of Proverbs,
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pride goes before destruction
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and a haughty spirit
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before the fall.
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So, Paul's really
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just saying,
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hey, look,
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everything we have
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is from God,
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so what's so special
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about you?
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And that was
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the sickness
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that had infected
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the Corinthian church
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and why Paul
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gives them
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so many loving
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rebukes
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about them
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boasting
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in their spiritual
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gifts and saying,
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well,
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you're neglecting
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the biggest mark
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of a true believer
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and that mark
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is Christ-like
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love.
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You don't have it.
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So,
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I don't really care
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about what other
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gifts you have.
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And so,
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that means
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that godly character
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counts more
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than our gifting,
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right?
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Our hearts,
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what God has done
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in us.
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So,
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Paul is warning,
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do not have
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a over-inflated,
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arrogant opinion
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of yourself,
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right?
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We've seen
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people abuse
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these gifts.
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I have a friend
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who is
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a campus pastor
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of a larger
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megachurch.
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We disagree
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on ecclesiology
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a lot,
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but he's a brother.
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And
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he was in
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a large staff meeting
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of all the different
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campuses
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that represent
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this church.
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church,
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and the guy
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who,
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he helped
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start this
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church many
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years ago,
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he just kind
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of dominates
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the meetings.
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And most people
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are afraid to speak
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up.
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You ever been
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in a meeting
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like that
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where everybody's
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just like,
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okay,
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okay,
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just sort of
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nodding along?
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Well,
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my friend
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noticed that
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he just
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thought he
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would speak
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up and
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just say,
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hey,
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how about
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instead of
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doing this,
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we maybe
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think about
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doing this.
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You know,
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fair assessment.
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The guy
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who is the
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head guy,
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the guy
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who telecasts
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himself,
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broadcasts
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himself over
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all these
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campuses,
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his remark
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back to my
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friend was,
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well,
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one day
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when you
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start a
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church,
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you can do
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things the
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way you see
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fit.
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And that
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is dangerous.
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This man
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has an
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over-exaggerated
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view of
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himself and
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an arrogant
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view that if
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he pulled out,
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this whole thing
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would just fall
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apart,
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right?
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We have to be
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careful that
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there could be
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something there
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just besides
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boasting.
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It could be
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someone who
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thinks they're
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a believer and
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is not because
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they lack the
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humility that
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believers are
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supposed to be
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characterized by.
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This is why
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Paul wrote
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in verse
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Corinthians 4,
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7,
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for who
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sees anything
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different in
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you?
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What do you
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have that you
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did not receive
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from God?
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If then you
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received it,
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why do you
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boast as if
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you had not
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received it?
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So a gift
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can never be
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the source of
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spiritual pride
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because it's a
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gift.
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Pride is
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deception
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because,
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again,
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everything we
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have,
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this good,
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comes from
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God,
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including our
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gifts from
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His hand.
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So therefore
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we have no
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grounds to
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boast.
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But look at
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the next part
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of this verse.
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He says,
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rather,
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right,
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but to
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think or
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rate your
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own ability
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with sober,
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sound,
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clear-headed
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judgment,
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which leads
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us to
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recognize in
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ourselves we
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are nothing.
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but in
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Christ we
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can be
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used to
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glorify God
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with the
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gifts that
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the Spirit
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has bestowed
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on us.
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So a quick
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question.
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I mean,
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I guess you
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could say it's
16:17
a real question
16:18
for the elders
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of our church,
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including me,
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but just a
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question to
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all of us.
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Do you think
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that this church
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would fall
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apart if you
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left?
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Do you think
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that if you
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weren't here to
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get things done
16:30
that things would
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just become
16:31
unraveled?
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Do you
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cherish an
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overly
16:35
exaggerated
16:36
idea of
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your own
16:37
importance?
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Paul responds
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to such people
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in Galatians 6,
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For if anyone
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thinks he is
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something when
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he is nothing,
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he deceives
16:48
himself.
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Think about
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this.
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Do you use
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the gifts
16:54
that God
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has given
16:56
you to
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exalt
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yourself and
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make a name
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for yourself?
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Jesus would
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respond,
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whoever exalts
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himself will
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be humbled,
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and whoever
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humbles himself
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will be
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exalted.
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Matthew 23,
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12.
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Or do you
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recognize that
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any gift,
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any ability
17:16
you have,
17:16
has been
17:16
graciously given
17:17
by God,
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and that he
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intends to
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use those
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gifts for you
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not to make
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a name for
17:22
yourself,
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but to use
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it for his
17:25
glory and the
17:26
strengthening of
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the church?
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Another scary
17:30
prospect,
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do you recognize
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that he could
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take that
17:32
gift from
17:33
you?
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Because he
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gave it to
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you.
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Those are all
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things that
17:37
stem from
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God.
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Have you
17:40
asked God
17:40
to help
17:42
you evaluate
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yourself
17:44
realistically
17:46
with sober
17:46
judgment about
17:47
your role in
17:48
the body,
17:49
a single
17:50
member of
17:51
the body
17:51
of Christ?
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All right,
17:53
and he goes
17:54
on and he
17:54
uses this
17:55
phrase in our
17:55
text in
17:56
verse 3,
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this idea
17:57
of the
17:58
measure of
17:58
faith.
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Now,
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real quickly,
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it doesn't
18:01
mean saving
18:02
faith,
18:02
it doesn't
18:02
mean quantity
18:04
or amount
18:05
of faith
18:06
given to
18:07
individuals,
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rather,
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each according
18:10
to the degree
18:12
of faith
18:12
apportioned
18:13
or allocated
18:14
by God
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for each
18:17
believer to
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properly
18:18
exercise
18:19
their gifts.
18:21
This kind
18:22
of faith is
18:23
a spiritual
18:24
endowment,
18:24
an ability
18:25
given by
18:26
the Holy
18:26
Spirit to
18:27
empower
18:27
them to
18:28
use their
18:29
particular
18:29
gift.
18:30
Another way
18:31
to read
18:31
this verse,
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each according
18:33
to the
18:34
degree of
18:34
faith that
18:36
God has
18:36
assigned or
18:37
apportioned,
18:39
allotted,
18:40
allocated,
18:42
it seems to
18:42
refer right to
18:43
the correct
18:44
measure of a
18:44
spiritual gift
18:45
in its
18:46
operating features
18:47
that God
18:48
has given
18:48
to every
18:49
believer.
18:49
So,
18:52
if you ever
18:53
sat in a
18:53
hospital room,
18:54
it gets
18:54
long days.
18:56
There's not
18:57
always cool
18:57
stuff to
18:58
watch on
18:58
TV,
18:59
and you
18:59
don't really
19:00
feel like
19:01
reading because
19:01
you're about
19:02
to fall
19:02
asleep because
19:03
you feel
19:03
sick.
19:05
So,
19:05
what do you
19:06
do?
19:06
You talk
19:07
about kids,
19:08
and you talk
19:08
about your
19:09
kids,
19:09
and you look
19:09
at pictures.
19:11
But at the
19:12
time,
19:13
we were,
19:14
my mother-in-law
19:15
sent us a picture
19:16
of our two
19:17
Labradors,
19:18
and I was
19:18
like,
19:19
wait a minute,
19:21
and I had
19:21
an apostrophe
19:23
epiphany.
19:26
But,
19:26
some of you
19:29
got that
19:29
reference.
19:30
All right.
19:32
An example,
19:33
it's just an
19:33
example.
19:34
All right,
19:35
we're going to
19:35
use an example
19:35
of dogs.
19:36
So,
19:37
you either love
19:37
dogs or you
19:38
hate them,
19:38
so I don't
19:38
know which
19:38
one you are
19:39
today.
19:40
But,
19:41
there are
19:42
different
19:43
categories of
19:44
dogs.
19:46
Right?
19:46
Whether you
19:46
knew that
19:46
or not.
19:47
There are
19:48
sporting dogs
19:49
like mine,
19:50
Labradors,
19:52
Spaniels,
19:53
Setters,
19:54
really good
19:55
at just
19:55
going out
19:55
and having
19:56
fun with
19:56
and swimming
19:57
and chasing
19:58
balls.
20:00
There are
20:01
hounds,
20:02
bloodhounds,
20:03
blue ticks,
20:04
basset hounds.
20:05
My brother
20:05
used to coon
20:06
hunt,
20:06
so he had
20:07
walker hounds
20:10
and blue ticks.
20:12
There's
20:12
herding dogs
20:13
like German
20:14
shepherds,
20:15
collies.
20:16
Healers.
20:17
And then
20:18
there's toy
20:18
dogs,
20:19
the most
20:19
worthless
20:19
category.
20:20
I'm just
20:20
kidding.
20:22
I'm going to
20:23
get mean
20:23
emails later.
20:25
Pomeranians,
20:26
Yorkies,
20:27
just lap
20:27
dogs,
20:28
right?
20:29
Each kind
20:29
of dog,
20:30
listen,
20:31
each kind
20:32
of dog
20:32
is given
20:33
a specific
20:34
but limited
20:35
set of
20:36
capabilities
20:37
and functions
20:38
to do
20:38
what God
20:39
intended it
20:39
to do.
20:40
it's
20:41
amazing
20:42
to watch
20:42
each breed,
20:44
each type
20:44
of dog
20:45
function in
20:47
the way
20:47
they're
20:47
supposed to.
20:48
Like,
20:49
I'm amazed
20:49
to watch
20:50
my Labradors,
20:51
like,
20:52
the younger
20:52
one,
20:52
he'll swim
20:53
down in
20:53
the bottom
20:54
of the
20:54
lake
20:56
and get
20:57
something that
20:57
we threw
20:58
down there
20:58
and he'll
20:58
bring it
20:59
back up.
20:59
It's like,
21:00
he'll find
21:01
things in
21:01
the dark.
21:02
He'll do
21:02
a zigzag
21:03
pattern to
21:03
find it.
21:04
I've seen
21:05
my brother's
21:05
hounds,
21:06
you know,
21:07
like,
21:07
track down
21:07
things.
21:11
I've seen
21:12
toy dogs
21:12
just sit
21:13
and be
21:14
fed
21:14
and petted.
21:16
I've seen
21:17
German
21:17
shepherds
21:18
being protective
21:19
of their
21:20
family members.
21:22
So,
21:22
given specific
21:23
but limited
21:24
set of
21:24
capabilities,
21:25
so,
21:26
awesome to
21:26
watch them
21:27
function.
21:28
However,
21:29
you would
21:29
not want
21:30
a St.
21:31
Bernard
21:31
to function
21:32
as a lazy
21:33
indoor
21:33
toy dog.
21:35
Anybody
21:36
seen
21:36
Beethoven?
21:37
He would
21:38
just,
21:39
without a
21:39
job to
21:40
do,
21:40
he would
21:40
go crazy
21:41
and he
21:41
would just
21:41
chew up
21:41
your
21:41
furniture.
21:44
Likewise,
21:44
he wouldn't
21:45
want a
21:45
Pomeranian
21:46
swimming out
21:47
in the
21:47
middle of
21:47
a freezing
21:48
cold lake
21:49
to retrieve
21:49
a duck
21:50
on a
21:50
hunt.
21:51
It would
21:51
just not
21:52
make it.
21:52
It would
21:52
just sink
21:53
and drown.
21:55
So,
21:56
you wouldn't
21:56
want a
21:56
Yorkie
21:57
to herd
21:58
and protect
21:58
your sheep
21:59
from coyotes.
22:00
It just
22:00
wouldn't
22:00
work.
22:02
So,
22:03
I know
22:03
this is
22:03
silly,
22:04
but I'm
22:04
telling you
22:05
this for
22:05
a reason.
22:05
So,
22:06
like dogs,
22:06
every believer
22:08
has his
22:08
own special
22:09
but limited
22:11
set of
22:12
capabilities.
22:13
Trying to
22:14
operate outside
22:15
those capabilities
22:16
only produces
22:17
frustration,
22:20
mediocrity,
22:21
anger,
22:22
discouragement,
22:22
and ultimately
22:23
defeat.
22:24
But when we
22:25
joyfully
22:25
fulfill what
22:27
God has
22:27
given us,
22:28
we function
22:28
according to
22:29
what He
22:29
has designed
22:30
to us.
22:31
It's a
22:31
beautiful
22:32
thing.
22:32
right?
22:34
And Paul
22:34
says in
22:34
Corinthians
22:35
12-11,
22:36
all these
22:37
are empowered
22:38
by the
22:38
one and
22:39
the same
22:39
Spirit
22:40
who appoints
22:41
to each,
22:42
each one
22:43
individually
22:44
as He
22:44
will.
22:45
So,
22:45
He's given
22:45
us individually
22:46
gifting.
22:48
As God
22:50
has given
22:51
different gifts
22:52
to different
22:52
people,
22:53
He also
22:54
provides
22:54
everything
22:55
we need
22:55
to serve
22:56
in that
22:57
capacity,
22:58
to serve
22:58
one another.
23:00
So,
23:00
that's what
23:00
that means.
23:02
So,
23:02
that's the
23:03
right attitude.
23:04
It's humility,
23:05
not pride.
23:06
It's to
23:06
serve others,
23:08
not yourself.
23:09
It's to
23:09
exalt God
23:10
and not to
23:11
make a name
23:11
for yourself.
23:13
This goes
23:14
to point
23:14
two,
23:16
which is
23:17
right
23:17
relationship.
23:19
Alright?
23:20
Right
23:21
relationships.
23:22
And this
23:22
is the
23:23
illustration
23:23
part,
23:24
verses
23:24
four and
23:24
five.
23:26
Verse
23:26
four,
23:28
for as in
23:28
one body
23:29
we have
23:29
many members,
23:30
and many
23:31
members do
23:32
not all
23:33
have the
23:33
same
23:33
function.
23:35
So,
23:35
we,
23:36
though we
23:36
are many,
23:37
are one
23:38
body in
23:38
Christ and
23:39
individually
23:40
members of
23:41
one another.
23:43
Alright?
23:44
So,
23:44
this is this
23:44
faithful
23:45
cooperation we
23:46
see.
23:47
Paul uses,
23:47
again,
23:48
this very
23:48
endearing,
23:49
familial
23:50
language.
23:52
If you
23:52
want to
23:52
remember the
23:55
beginning of
23:55
the book of
23:55
Romans,
23:56
which was a
23:56
long time
23:57
ago at this
23:57
point,
23:58
he said,
23:59
in chapter
23:59
one,
24:00
verse seven,
24:01
to all
24:02
those in
24:02
Rome who
24:03
are loved
24:03
by God,
24:05
called to
24:06
be saints,
24:08
grace to
24:08
you and
24:09
peace from
24:09
our Father
24:10
and the
24:11
Lord Jesus
24:12
Christ.
24:13
So,
24:14
emphasizing this
24:15
familial
24:16
language,
24:17
he points
24:17
out the
24:18
reality that
24:18
each individual
24:19
Christian is
24:21
a part of
24:22
a larger,
24:23
greater
24:24
whole,
24:24
the church.
24:25
church.
24:26
So,
24:26
to show the
24:27
diversity and
24:28
unity of the
24:29
church,
24:30
when Paul is
24:30
speaking about
24:30
diversity,
24:31
he doesn't
24:31
mean skin
24:32
color,
24:33
gender,
24:33
he's talking
24:34
about giftedness,
24:35
people that,
24:36
the ways that
24:37
we as
24:37
individuals serve
24:39
the body and
24:40
the variety that
24:41
that brings.
24:43
He uses it by
24:45
an analogy to
24:46
the human body
24:47
to teach
24:48
believers humility
24:49
and interdependence.
24:52
Paul gives you a
24:53
larger illustration
24:54
of the body
24:54
in 1 Corinthians
24:56
12,
24:58
12 through
24:58
27.
24:59
You can go and
25:00
check that out.
25:01
He just goes on
25:02
and on about
25:02
the function
25:03
of the body.
25:05
All right?
25:05
But just as
25:06
Paul wrote here,
25:08
just as one
25:09
human body
25:10
is one with
25:11
many members.
25:13
So,
25:13
the Greek word
25:14
for members
25:15
means body
25:16
parts,
25:17
limbs.
25:18
All right?
25:19
So,
25:20
if the church
25:20
is united,
25:22
though it is
25:22
composed of
25:23
many,
25:24
different
25:24
members.
25:25
So,
25:26
on the theme
25:26
as the body
25:27
of Christ,
25:28
just as the body
25:29
has different
25:30
things to do,
25:31
different functions,
25:33
different needs,
25:35
so the church
25:35
has and needs
25:37
people with
25:38
different gifts
25:38
and different
25:39
abilities to
25:40
function properly.
25:42
It says here,
25:43
look,
25:44
it says,
25:44
individually members
25:45
of one another,
25:46
which means that
25:47
we are connected
25:48
connected and
25:49
bound to one
25:51
another.
25:52
Just as an arm,
25:54
a leg,
25:55
an eye,
25:55
an ear,
25:56
a foot,
25:57
a hand,
25:58
has a role
25:59
in the way
26:00
your body
26:00
functions.
26:02
We need all
26:03
those things.
26:04
They're there for
26:05
the benefit of the
26:06
entire body.
26:08
So,
26:08
furthermore,
26:09
these gifts
26:10
do not,
26:10
this is important,
26:11
these gifts
26:11
do not
26:12
belong
26:13
to you.
26:15
They belong
26:17
to the body.
26:18
See that?
26:19
It's not,
26:20
this is my gift,
26:22
my ministry,
26:24
me,
26:24
me,
26:24
me.
26:24
It's like,
26:25
no,
26:25
this is a gift
26:26
that God has
26:27
given to you
26:28
for the benefit
26:29
of the entire body.
26:32
It's really
26:33
important to hear
26:33
that.
26:35
And so,
26:35
as we
26:37
understand this,
26:39
we won't think
26:40
too highly
26:40
of ourselves,
26:41
like you just
26:42
mentioned.
26:43
And we
26:44
give ourselves
26:44
fully to God,
26:46
we will give
26:47
ourselves fully
26:47
to one another.
26:49
Paul wrote
26:50
in 1 Corinthians
26:51
12,
26:52
if one member
26:53
suffers,
26:54
all suffer
26:56
together.
26:57
Think about this,
26:58
think about your
26:59
life inside
26:59
the body of
27:01
Christ.
27:02
If one member
27:03
suffers,
27:03
all suffer
27:04
together.
27:05
If one member
27:06
is honored,
27:08
all rejoice
27:08
together.
27:09
together.
27:10
Now you
27:11
are the body
27:12
of Christ
27:12
and individually
27:13
members of
27:14
it.
27:15
Beautiful
27:16
illustration,
27:17
1 Corinthians
27:18
12,
27:18
26.
27:20
So,
27:20
it's important
27:22
for you to
27:22
hear this.
27:24
So,
27:25
Paul's goal
27:26
when he wrote
27:26
this 2,000
27:27
years ago
27:28
was not
27:29
to spark
27:31
a fight
27:32
or a debate
27:32
over what
27:33
prophecy means.
27:34
He wasn't
27:35
thinking,
27:35
you know,
27:36
in the future
27:37
they're just
27:37
going to
27:37
have fun
27:38
with this
27:38
one.
27:39
That's not
27:40
what's on
27:40
his mind.
27:42
His emphasis
27:43
here in this
27:43
passage is on
27:44
our interdependence,
27:45
our love,
27:46
and our
27:47
responsibility,
27:48
our faithful
27:48
cooperation
27:49
towards each
27:51
other.
27:52
God has given
27:53
different gifts
27:53
by his spirit
27:54
to different
27:55
people by
27:56
his grace,
27:57
and we should
27:57
use them in
27:58
a manner
27:58
appropriate to
27:59
that gift
28:00
in order to
28:01
build up or
28:03
to edify
28:04
the rest of
28:05
the body.
28:06
So,
28:07
just think
28:07
about your
28:08
own life
28:08
inside this
28:10
local church.
28:11
Do you
28:12
have a
28:13
spiritual
28:13
sense that
28:15
you belong
28:16
to one
28:16
another,
28:17
that when
28:17
someone suffers
28:19
in this
28:19
church,
28:19
you suffer
28:20
with them?
28:21
When they
28:21
rejoice,
28:22
you rejoice
28:23
with them
28:24
because we
28:26
are members
28:28
of one
28:28
another.
28:29
We belong
28:30
to one
28:31
another.
28:32
And any
28:33
harm that's
28:33
done to the
28:34
body is a
28:34
harm done
28:35
to you,
28:35
and any
28:35
good done
28:36
to the
28:37
body is a
28:37
good done
28:38
to you
28:38
because we
28:39
are all
28:39
one.
28:41
So,
28:42
very important
28:43
then that we
28:44
learn to
28:44
cherish one
28:46
another,
28:48
and to
28:48
cherish our
28:49
brothers and
28:50
sisters in
28:50
Christ and
28:51
to see them
28:51
as a
28:52
critical part
28:54
to the
28:55
body
28:55
functioning.
28:57
Alright?
28:59
Let's see
28:59
what we got
29:00
here.
29:00
The third
29:00
one and just
29:01
see how far
29:01
we can get.
29:02
Alright?
29:03
We may have
29:04
to park
29:05
it before
29:05
I run
29:06
out of
29:07
time.
29:07
But,
29:08
this is
29:09
point number
29:09
three.
29:10
So,
29:11
we've had
29:11
right attitude,
29:13
right
29:14
relationships,
29:15
and this is
29:16
right service.
29:18
Alright?
29:19
And this is
29:19
the application.
29:22
Verse six,
29:22
having gifts
29:25
that differ
29:26
according to
29:27
the grace
29:27
given to
29:28
us,
29:29
let us
29:29
use them
29:30
if prophecy
29:32
in proportion
29:33
to our
29:34
faith,
29:35
if service
29:36
in our
29:36
serving,
29:37
and one
29:37
who teaches
29:37
in his
29:38
teaching,
29:39
the one
29:39
who exhorts
29:40
in his
29:40
exhortation,
29:42
the one
29:42
who contributes
29:43
in his
29:44
generosity,
29:45
the one
29:45
who leads
29:46
with his
29:47
zeal,
29:48
and the one
29:49
who does
29:49
acts of
29:49
mercy
29:50
with cheerfulness,
29:51
all right?
29:54
Excuse me.
29:58
Alright,
29:59
so Paul
29:59
mentions these
30:00
gifts we
30:01
possess to
30:03
show that
30:04
they don't
30:05
come from
30:05
us,
30:06
they come
30:06
from God
30:07
and to be
30:08
used for
30:09
his glory.
30:10
Rather,
30:11
these gifts,
30:12
as he says
30:12
right here,
30:13
grace given
30:14
to us
30:15
in that
30:16
passage.
30:16
Therefore,
30:17
because we've
30:18
received these
30:18
gifts by God,
30:19
grace,
30:20
let us use
30:21
them,
30:22
alright?
30:22
In light
30:23
of all
30:23
that,
30:24
Peter says
30:24
it in a
30:26
wonderful way
30:26
about gifts
30:28
in 1 Peter
30:28
4.10,
30:29
as each
30:30
has received
30:31
a gift,
30:33
use it
30:33
or employ
30:34
it.
30:35
You know,
30:36
you've got
30:36
this amazing
30:37
tool,
30:39
use it.
30:39
Use it
30:40
for the
30:40
function
30:40
that God
30:41
has ordained
30:42
for it,
30:42
to serve
30:43
one another
30:44
as good
30:45
stewards
30:46
of God's
30:46
very grace.
30:47
gifts.
30:48
So,
30:49
I think
30:50
it's pretty
30:50
well accepted
30:51
on any
30:53
side of
30:53
the aisle.
30:55
There's just
30:55
a definition
30:56
for you.
30:58
A spiritual
30:58
gift is
30:59
an ability
30:59
that is
31:00
given
31:00
and empowered
31:01
by the
31:02
Holy Spirit
31:03
to be used
31:05
in any
31:05
ministry
31:05
of the
31:06
church
31:06
for its
31:08
equipping
31:08
and strengthening
31:10
until
31:11
Christ returns.
31:13
The most
31:26
familiar list
31:27
of these
31:28
are in
31:28
1 Peter 4,
31:30
Romans 12,
31:31
1 Corinthians 12,
31:33
and Ephesians 4.
31:34
So,
31:35
all kind of
31:36
coming together.
31:38
But,
31:38
you know,
31:38
just to pose
31:39
the question
31:39
though,
31:40
like,
31:40
why are
31:41
spiritual
31:41
gifts so
31:42
controversial?
31:43
you know,
31:45
again,
31:46
we preach
31:46
verse by
31:47
verse,
31:48
and this
31:48
is one of
31:49
the passages
31:49
that some
31:49
people will
31:50
be like,
31:50
I just don't
31:50
want to
31:51
touch that
31:51
one,
31:51
because I'm
31:52
afraid of
31:52
what might
31:54
happen,
31:54
how people
31:55
will respond.
31:56
But we
31:56
have a
31:57
tendency to
31:58
wrap up
31:58
too much
31:59
of our
31:59
worth and
32:00
our identity
32:01
and our
32:01
giftedness,
32:02
and I think
32:02
that's one
32:03
reason that
32:04
we tend
32:05
to quarrel
32:05
over these
32:06
things.
32:06
It gives
32:06
us a chance
32:07
to become
32:07
tribal and
32:08
pick a
32:09
camp,
32:10
and so
32:11
we're not
32:11
going to do
32:11
that.
32:12
But the
32:12
most
32:13
controversial
32:13
gifts of
32:15
the Spirit
32:15
are healing,
32:16
miracles,
32:17
prophecy,
32:18
tongues,
32:19
and their
32:20
interpretation,
32:21
all found in
32:21
1 Corinthians 12,
32:23
9 and 10.
32:25
So,
32:26
I will go
32:27
ahead and
32:27
just say
32:27
that there
32:29
are two
32:29
main views
32:33
of the
32:33
gifts,
32:34
of these
32:35
controversial
32:36
gifts.
32:37
things.
32:38
And to
32:39
the best
32:40
of my
32:41
knowledge,
32:42
our
32:43
congregation
32:43
is almost
32:44
split down
32:45
the middle,
32:45
okay?
32:46
I think.
32:48
That's just
32:48
my observation.
32:51
And these
32:52
don't define
32:53
us.
32:54
They're not
32:54
first-tier
32:55
issues at
32:56
all.
32:57
They're not
32:58
something to
32:58
fight and
32:59
divide over.
33:00
Wouldn't that be
33:00
a shame?
33:01
Like,
33:01
everything is
33:02
supposed to
33:02
make us
33:02
stronger and
33:03
tearing us
33:04
apart.
33:04
But,
33:05
there are
33:06
two main
33:06
views.
33:07
There's
33:08
cessationism,
33:10
which is the
33:11
view that some
33:12
of the charismatic
33:12
gifts of the
33:13
Holy Spirit,
33:14
such as tongues,
33:15
prophecy,
33:16
have ceased
33:17
being practiced
33:19
since the early
33:21
church,
33:22
especially following
33:23
the compiling of
33:25
the canon of
33:25
Scripture.
33:26
All right?
33:27
Like,
33:27
so those gifts
33:27
have stopped.
33:28
They served
33:28
a purpose for
33:29
a time,
33:30
and now they've
33:31
ceased.
33:31
And now,
33:32
it's just
33:33
that ceased
33:34
with the
33:35
coming of
33:35
the Scripture
33:35
particularly.
33:37
And there
33:38
are many
33:38
faithful brothers
33:39
in this
33:39
church,
33:40
and men
33:41
that I do
33:41
respect.
33:43
John MacArthur
33:43
is probably
33:44
the most
33:44
noted guy
33:46
in this
33:46
camp,
33:47
but there
33:48
are others.
33:49
And this
33:51
is a
33:51
misconception
33:52
about
33:53
cessationists,
33:54
okay?
33:56
About them.
33:58
That would
33:58
be they don't
33:58
believe that
33:59
God heals
34:00
people,
34:00
or that God
34:01
doesn't do
34:01
miraculous things
34:02
anymore.
34:03
They don't
34:04
really believe
34:05
the Holy Spirit
34:05
is active
34:06
in the life
34:07
of the church.
34:08
That's not
34:09
true.
34:10
Like,
34:10
the cessationists
34:11
that I know
34:11
don't believe
34:12
that at all.
34:13
That's a
34:14
misconception
34:14
from the
34:16
other side.
34:18
And then
34:18
there's
34:19
continuationism.
34:22
There's so
34:23
many different
34:23
ways to
34:24
frame this,
34:25
but in
34:26
short,
34:27
that the
34:27
charismatic
34:28
gifts of
34:28
the Holy Spirit,
34:29
such as
34:29
tongues,
34:30
prophecy,
34:30
healing,
34:31
are still
34:32
in operation
34:32
today,
34:34
as they
34:34
were in
34:35
the early
34:35
part of
34:35
the church,
34:36
and they
34:37
will continue
34:37
until Christ
34:38
returns.
34:40
So here are
34:41
some misconceptions
34:42
about
34:43
continuationists.
34:45
They all
34:45
believe in
34:46
health,
34:46
wealth,
34:47
and prosperity.
34:49
Like,
34:49
unfortunately,
34:50
there are many
34:51
people on TV
34:52
and other
34:52
places that
34:53
really abuse
34:54
this stuff,
34:55
and that we
34:56
would not
34:57
ever associate
34:57
with,
34:59
right?
35:00
Name it
35:01
and claim it.
35:02
Or they
35:02
think that
35:03
God still
35:03
speaks through
35:04
prophets,
35:06
thus saying
35:06
the Bible
35:07
is not
35:08
sufficient.
35:09
That's not
35:10
true.
35:12
I,
35:12
myself,
35:13
am a
35:13
continuationist,
35:15
and like you,
35:16
so a big
35:16
example would
35:17
be cessation
35:18
was to say,
35:19
hey,
35:19
the Bible
35:20
is sufficient,
35:21
so why do
35:22
we need
35:22
all this
35:23
stuff?
35:24
As we
35:24
would say,
35:25
it is because
35:25
the Bible
35:26
is sufficient.
35:27
that we
35:28
practice these
35:28
things.
35:28
It says to
35:29
practice them
35:29
in the Bible.
35:31
So that's,
35:32
yeah,
35:32
we agree,
35:33
it's sufficient.
35:35
So,
35:36
the goal today
35:36
is not to
35:37
unpack all
35:39
the different
35:39
differences
35:41
and issues
35:43
that each
35:43
camp has
35:44
with the
35:44
other.
35:45
That's not
35:45
really the
35:46
goal.
35:46
I don't
35:46
think that's
35:46
what Paul
35:47
meant by
35:48
writing any
35:48
of this.
35:50
But,
35:50
as we move
35:51
forward as
35:52
a church,
35:52
I hope we
35:53
can find ways
35:54
to cooperate
35:55
and move
35:56
forward in
35:56
a way
35:57
that's
35:58
glorifying
35:59
to God
35:59
and loving
36:00
to the rest
36:00
of the body.
36:02
So,
36:03
just a few
36:04
things,
36:04
and then we'll
36:04
see what we
36:05
can do
36:05
to get here
36:07
with these
36:08
gifts.
36:09
Just trying to
36:10
watch the time
36:10
a little bit.
36:12
It's important
36:12
to understand
36:13
why we have
36:14
spiritual gifts.
36:16
Why do we
36:16
have them?
36:17
I have at
36:18
least four
36:18
reasons why
36:19
we have
36:19
them,
36:20
okay?
36:20
and they're
36:21
not exhausted
36:22
but there's
36:22
just a few.
36:23
But the
36:24
ultimate one
36:25
is to bring
36:25
glory to
36:27
Christ through
36:28
his church.
36:30
Peter wrote
36:31
that God
36:32
gives us
36:32
gifts.
36:33
He says
36:34
this,
36:34
as each
36:35
has received
36:35
a gift,
36:36
use it to
36:36
serve one
36:37
another in
36:38
order that
36:39
in everything
36:39
God may be
36:41
glorified through
36:43
Jesus Christ.
36:45
To him belong
36:45
glory and
36:46
dominion forever
36:47
and ever.
36:48
So,
36:48
first and
36:49
foremost,
36:49
the gifts
36:50
are given
36:50
to us
36:50
not to
36:51
make a
36:51
name for
36:52
ourselves,
36:53
which we've
36:53
covered.
36:54
It's also
36:54
not to
36:54
make a
36:54
name for
36:55
our church.
36:56
And how
36:57
many churches
36:57
do you know
36:58
that boast
36:58
about their
37:00
preacher or
37:01
their ministry?
37:02
And that's
37:03
like their
37:03
boast.
37:04
And that's
37:05
not the
37:05
goal.
37:05
The goal
37:06
is to
37:06
point to
37:07
Christ and
37:08
to glorify
37:08
him in all
37:09
things.
37:09
We are
37:10
stewards of
37:11
the gifts
37:12
that he's
37:12
given to
37:13
us.
37:13
And not
37:14
to depend
37:14
on our
37:15
own strength,
37:17
but depend
37:17
on the
37:18
strength that
37:18
God supplies
37:20
so that he
37:21
alone gets
37:22
the glory.
37:24
That's the
37:24
most important
37:25
one.
37:26
Underneath
37:26
that,
37:27
secondly,
37:28
to equip
37:29
and build
37:30
up the
37:30
church with
37:31
both our
37:32
words and
37:32
our deeds
37:33
inside the
37:33
body.
37:34
Our words
37:35
and our deeds
37:36
either serve
37:37
to tear
37:37
down or
37:39
to build
37:39
up.
37:40
Right?
37:41
And when we
37:42
cherish
37:42
over-exaggerated
37:44
ideas of our
37:45
own importance,
37:47
it only
37:48
tears down
37:48
the local
37:49
body.
37:51
Gifts
37:51
are tools
37:52
to build
37:54
with,
37:54
not toys
37:56
to play
37:56
with or
37:56
weapons to
37:57
beat each
37:57
other in the
37:58
head with.
37:59
We focus
38:00
on honoring
38:00
Christ with
38:01
our gifts
38:01
with humility
38:02
and love
38:03
towards
38:03
fellow
38:04
believers.
38:05
This is
38:06
everywhere in
38:07
these passages
38:07
about gifts.
38:09
1 Corinthians
38:10
14,
38:10
26,
38:11
let all
38:11
things be
38:12
done for
38:14
the building
38:14
up.
38:16
It means
38:16
constructive,
38:17
edifying,
38:18
good for
38:18
all people.
38:20
1 Corinthians
38:21
12,
38:21
7,
38:22
but to each
38:23
is given
38:23
a manifestation
38:24
of the
38:25
Holy Spirit
38:25
for the
38:26
common
38:27
good of
38:28
the body.
38:30
Ephesians
38:30
4,
38:32
the gifts
38:32
help us
38:32
to equip
38:33
the saints
38:34
for the
38:35
work of
38:35
ministry,
38:35
for building
38:36
up of the
38:37
body of
38:38
Christ.
38:38
John
38:40
Piper wrote
38:41
this.
38:41
I really
38:41
appreciated it.
38:43
He said,
38:44
the handling
38:45
of spiritual
38:46
gifts is
38:47
like handling
38:47
dynamite.
38:49
I knew
38:49
a demo
38:51
guy in
38:52
the army
38:52
many years
38:52
ago and
38:53
had classes
38:54
with him
38:54
talking about
38:55
how you're
38:56
holding so
38:57
much stuff
38:57
in your
38:58
hand when
38:58
you're putting
38:58
all this
38:59
stuff together
38:59
and just
39:00
the weight
39:01
of that.
39:01
The handling
39:01
of spiritual
39:02
gifts is
39:03
like handling
39:03
dynamite.
39:05
Dynamis,
39:06
the Greek
39:06
word for
39:07
power,
39:07
is often
39:08
used when
39:10
referring to
39:10
the Holy
39:11
Spirit.
39:12
When used
39:13
rightly,
39:14
the gifts
39:14
are explosively
39:15
loving.
39:16
When used
39:17
wrongly,
39:18
they are
39:19
explosively
39:19
destructive.
39:21
It is
39:21
tempting to
39:22
not use
39:22
them at
39:23
all.
39:24
So that's
39:25
another reason
39:25
we tend
39:26
to just
39:26
not want
39:27
to go
39:27
down this
39:27
road.
39:28
But again,
39:29
they're in
39:29
the Scripture.
39:30
We need
39:30
to talk
39:30
about them.
39:32
Thirdly,
39:33
while we have
39:34
spiritual
39:34
gifts,
39:34
to strengthen
39:35
unity.
39:38
Not to
39:39
create
39:39
unity,
39:40
but to
39:41
strengthen
39:41
unity.
39:42
Paul wrote
39:43
in Ephesians,
39:43
Be eager to
39:44
maintain the
39:45
unity of the
39:46
Spirit and
39:47
the bond of
39:47
peace.
39:48
So we already
39:49
possess unity
39:50
in Christ.
39:52
We are
39:52
united to
39:53
one another.
39:54
So we are
39:54
called to
39:55
maintain that
39:56
unity that
39:57
already exists
39:58
in the Spirit.
40:00
So gifts
40:01
are given to
40:02
us to build
40:04
upon, to
40:04
strengthen, to
40:05
toughen, to
40:06
fortify,
40:07
the already
40:08
existing unity
40:09
we have.
40:10
And serving
40:11
one another
40:11
with our
40:11
gifts is a
40:12
way to
40:13
prevent
40:13
division.
40:15
So again,
40:16
the irony,
40:17
what many
40:18
people in
40:18
the church
40:19
want to
40:19
fight over
40:19
and divide
40:20
over is
40:21
the very
40:22
thing that's
40:22
supposed to
40:23
be a
40:23
strengthening,
40:25
a fortifying
40:26
of our
40:26
unity.
40:28
1 Corinthians
40:28
12, 25,
40:30
Paul wrote
40:30
that there
40:31
be no
40:31
division in
40:33
the body,
40:33
but that
40:34
the members
40:35
may have
40:36
mutual
40:36
interest in
40:37
and care
40:38
for one
40:39
another.
40:40
So, and
40:41
then lastly,
40:43
to include
40:44
all believers
40:45
in the work
40:45
of the
40:46
Lord.
40:47
So, in
40:48
other words,
40:48
the work of
40:49
the church,
40:49
the work of
40:50
the ministry
40:50
is not for
40:51
a few
40:51
highly gifted,
40:53
talented,
40:53
educated,
40:54
elite.
40:55
Right?
40:56
They're for
40:56
all of us.
40:57
If you're a part
40:57
of the church,
40:58
you are born
40:58
again.
41:00
You are
41:00
given gifts
41:01
to help
41:02
in the
41:03
Lord's work.
41:04
Every member
41:05
has a role
41:06
in the body.
41:08
Now, you
41:09
are the body
41:09
of Christ
41:10
and individually
41:10
members of
41:11
it.
41:12
1 Corinthians
41:13
12, 27.
41:15
So, it's
41:17
important to
41:17
understand the
41:18
why first.
41:20
Just looking
41:20
at our time.
41:23
So, here's
41:24
what I'm
41:24
going to do.
41:25
I'm going to
41:26
work my way
41:26
maybe through
41:27
two of these.
41:28
You know,
41:28
may have to
41:28
stop.
41:29
And I'll
41:30
pick them
41:30
up for
41:30
next week.
41:32
So, don't
41:33
worry, I
41:33
say prophecy
41:34
for next
41:35
week.
41:37
So, you'll
41:37
be tempted
41:38
to come
41:38
back.
41:40
So, anyway,
41:41
even though
41:42
it says
41:42
prophecy first,
41:43
and there
41:44
may be some
41:44
inspired reason
41:45
that it is
41:46
first, we're
41:47
going to start
41:47
with service.
41:49
Alright?
41:50
So, remember,
41:50
these are the
41:52
gifts that are
41:52
mentioned.
41:53
They're not
41:53
meant to be
41:54
exhaustive lists
41:55
of gifts,
41:56
but the
41:57
variety in the
41:58
body is
41:58
evident through
41:59
our various
42:00
gifting in
42:01
proportion to
42:02
our faith.
42:03
Alright?
42:05
So, let's
42:06
talk about
42:06
service first.
42:07
This is one
42:07
that's clearly
42:07
mentioned right
42:08
here in our
42:08
passage.
42:09
The gift of
42:10
service, or it's
42:11
also called the
42:12
gift of
42:12
helps.
42:14
A spirit-given
42:14
capacity and
42:15
desire to
42:16
serve God by
42:18
rendering practical
42:19
help, both in
42:20
physical and
42:21
spiritual matters.
42:22
It recognizes the
42:24
practical needs in
42:25
the body and
42:26
joyfully goes to
42:27
meet those needs
42:28
of people.
42:29
I know many of
42:29
you that have
42:30
this gift, and
42:30
man, I'm so
42:31
thankful for you.
42:33
Christians that
42:35
have that gift
42:36
typically don't
42:37
mind being behind
42:38
the scenes.
42:39
They don't like
42:40
the attention.
42:42
They don't like
42:43
for you to point
42:44
out what they're
42:44
doing.
42:45
They're just
42:46
humbly doing it
42:47
behind the scenes
42:48
to honor God.
42:49
And it's mentioned
42:50
in 1 Corinthians,
42:52
Romans, and
42:52
in 1 Peter.
42:54
Some biblical
42:54
examples of that
42:55
gift are Rebekah
42:56
in Genesis 24,
42:58
and then Tabitha
42:59
in Acts 9.
43:02
So some
43:03
characteristics of
43:04
that gift of
43:05
serving, as
43:06
again, like I
43:06
said, they prefer
43:07
to be behind the
43:08
scenes, especially
43:10
when it frees up
43:11
other people to
43:12
serve in a
43:13
different role.
43:13
Like, let me
43:14
take that so you
43:15
don't have to, and
43:16
you can go and do
43:17
that instead.
43:19
People who tend
43:20
to have that gift,
43:20
and they enjoy
43:21
helping without
43:22
being asked, they
43:23
take initiative,
43:25
they see the
43:27
practical needs of
43:28
people in the
43:29
church, and they
43:30
usually are
43:32
characterized by
43:33
humility, quiet,
43:35
and they're active.
43:37
All right?
43:37
Some of the
43:37
misuses, though,
43:39
of this gift is
43:41
people who have
43:42
this gift sometimes
43:42
can become very
43:43
weary in doing
43:45
good, stressed,
43:47
frustrated.
43:48
They tend to
43:49
take on more
43:49
work than they
43:50
should sometimes,
43:52
and the
43:53
admonishment to
43:55
them is to not
43:55
grow weary, but
43:56
to continue
43:57
serving with
43:58
gladness.
44:00
So that's
44:01
service.
44:01
Within teaching
44:02
is mentioned.
44:05
This may be an
44:06
obvious one, but
44:07
really clearly,
44:09
the spirit of
44:09
giving ability to
44:10
instruct believers
44:11
in the truths and
44:12
doctrines of
44:13
God's Word, to
44:14
help explain it,
44:16
clarify it,
44:17
unpack it, and
44:18
then help people
44:18
apply it in
44:20
their lives for
44:21
the building up
44:22
and unifying and
44:24
maturing of the
44:25
body.
44:27
All right?
44:27
So some people
44:28
have that gift.
44:29
Obviously, Paul had
44:29
it, but also
44:31
Apollos had it,
44:32
Acts 18, 24.
44:35
Some characteristics
44:36
about this person
44:37
is they have a
44:37
desire, a
44:39
commitment, and
44:39
ability to
44:40
communicate God's
44:41
Word clearly and
44:42
to help people
44:43
apply it.
44:44
They enjoy
44:45
learning and
44:46
diving into the
44:47
Scripture, learning
44:48
biblical truth, and
44:49
the ability to help
44:50
people understand
44:51
hard passages and
44:52
why they're there.
44:54
Misuses of this
44:55
gift, very true.
44:58
As someone who
44:58
at least I think
44:59
has this gift,
45:01
you expect others
45:03
to completely tune
45:03
in to you when
45:04
you're talking.
45:06
Like, just listen
45:06
to me.
45:07
I'm saying
45:07
something important.
45:08
And tend to get
45:09
frustrated when
45:10
people can't
45:11
understand what
45:11
you're teaching.
45:12
That's some of
45:13
the misuses.
45:17
Alright,
45:18
exhortation.
45:20
Also in our
45:20
passage.
45:22
Those who have
45:23
this gift
45:23
encourage members
45:25
to be involved
45:26
joyfully,
45:27
enthusiastically
45:28
about the work
45:29
of the Lord
45:29
in the body.
45:31
Members that
45:31
have that gift
45:32
usually are good
45:33
counselors,
45:33
they're people
45:34
who motivate,
45:35
they're people
45:36
that when you're
45:37
going through a
45:37
hard time,
45:38
they're usually
45:38
the people you
45:38
want to go talk
45:39
to sometimes
45:39
to help you
45:40
get pushed on.
45:42
the word
45:43
actually means
45:44
like coming
45:44
alongside somebody
45:45
that's not
45:46
doing well
45:46
and helping
45:47
them go the
45:48
right direction
45:49
when they're
45:49
wanting to
45:50
just quit.
45:51
Right?
45:53
Biblical
45:53
examples of
45:54
this you see
45:55
is Barnabas,
45:56
Acts 4,
45:56
36.
45:59
Characteristics
45:59
of it is
46:01
they see
46:02
problems in
46:03
people's lives
46:04
and they see
46:05
those presents
46:05
with struggling
46:06
people.
46:07
They're the
46:07
people who
46:08
always have
46:08
a word of
46:09
encouragement
46:10
for you.
46:11
The people
46:11
who just
46:12
somehow
46:13
just know
46:14
exactly what
46:14
to say.
46:15
God has
46:16
given them
46:16
the ability
46:16
to say
46:18
things to
46:18
you that
46:19
are like,
46:19
wow,
46:20
how did
46:20
you know
46:20
that's what
46:21
I was going
46:21
through?
46:22
Right?
46:23
And so
46:24
that's the
46:25
it could be
46:26
words or
46:26
deed.
46:27
Some of
46:27
the misuses
46:28
of the
46:30
gift
46:30
can be
46:32
sometimes
46:33
these people
46:33
can come
46:33
across as
46:34
insensitive
46:35
just trying
46:36
to get
46:36
their point
46:37
across.
46:38
They can
46:38
sometimes
46:39
treat people
46:40
as projects
46:41
not really
46:41
meaning to
46:42
but like,
46:43
hey,
46:43
I'm trying
46:43
to help
46:44
you get
46:44
better,
46:44
bro.
46:45
Come on.
46:46
What are
46:46
you doing?
46:47
And they
46:48
sometimes can
46:48
be too quick
46:49
to talk
46:50
before fully
46:51
understanding
46:52
the situation.
46:52
Just some
46:53
observations
46:53
about that
46:55
gift.
46:57
And let's
46:57
just do
46:57
one more
46:58
and then
46:58
we will
46:59
pause and
47:00
let it go
47:00
into next
47:01
week.
47:03
Paul
47:03
mentions
47:04
here in
47:04
Romans 12
47:04
the gift
47:06
of generosity.
47:08
All right,
47:08
members with
47:09
this gift
47:10
give freely
47:12
and joyfully
47:13
to the work
47:13
and mission
47:14
of the body.
47:15
And they
47:15
do it with
47:16
cheerfulness
47:16
and their
47:19
characteristics
47:19
of those
47:20
individuals
47:20
with those
47:21
gifts are
47:21
in Romans
47:21
12.
47:22
8.
47:23
I guess
47:23
one good
47:24
example of
47:24
this might
47:24
be Zacchaeus
47:25
in Luke
47:26
19 or
47:28
the Macedonian
47:28
church in
47:30
2 Corinthians
47:31
8.
47:32
Important
47:33
to point
47:33
out here
47:34
that
47:35
automatically
47:36
when you
47:36
hear the
47:36
word
47:36
generosity
47:37
you think
47:37
the people
47:38
who have
47:38
a lot
47:38
of money
47:39
don't you?
47:40
That's like
47:40
what naturally
47:41
comes to your
47:42
mind.
47:42
They have
47:42
a lot
47:42
of money.
47:45
No.
47:46
Not
47:47
necessarily.
47:48
You don't
47:48
have to be
47:49
wealthy to
47:50
have the
47:50
gift of
47:50
generosity
47:51
at all.
47:53
But these
47:54
people are
47:54
motivated to
47:55
help others
47:56
with their
47:56
resources.
47:57
What little
47:57
or how much
47:58
they have.
47:59
And they're
47:59
careful to
48:00
invest the
48:01
money into
48:01
Christ's
48:02
kingdom.
48:03
I know
48:03
people who
48:04
have this
48:04
gift.
48:06
They have
48:06
a strong
48:06
sense of
48:07
stewardship.
48:08
Like look
48:08
everything I
48:09
have has
48:09
been given
48:10
to me by
48:10
God and
48:11
he wants
48:11
me to
48:11
use it
48:12
for the
48:13
advancement
48:13
of his
48:14
kingdom.
48:14
And I
48:15
have to
48:15
use it
48:15
wisely.
48:17
And they
48:17
know how
48:17
to usually
48:18
manage money
48:19
and resources
48:19
that help
48:20
serve the
48:21
body to
48:21
surround them
48:22
and to
48:23
help others.
48:24
Some of
48:25
the misuses
48:26
of this
48:26
gift.
48:28
You've
48:29
seen this
48:29
before.
48:31
Some of you
48:31
have, I
48:32
have.
48:33
They may
48:33
think that
48:35
because they
48:35
give so
48:36
much that
48:36
they have
48:37
the right
48:37
to control
48:38
how that
48:38
money is
48:39
used.
48:40
You ever
48:40
seen that
48:40
in the
48:41
church?
48:42
They could
48:43
neglect
48:43
leaving the
48:44
results in
48:45
God's hands
48:45
once they
48:47
give over
48:47
something.
48:49
And can
48:49
sometimes
48:50
overgive,
48:52
do too
48:53
much, like
48:54
bankrupt
48:54
themselves in
48:55
the process.
48:55
I knew
48:56
a guy
48:57
that
48:58
biggest
48:59
heart in
49:00
the world
49:00
but a
49:01
tiny wallet.
49:02
And he
49:02
would just
49:02
like, dude,
49:04
you need to
49:04
save some
49:04
of that for
49:05
your family,
49:05
okay?
49:06
So he
49:06
was just
49:07
always wanting
49:07
to help
49:08
people.
49:09
But again,
49:10
people who
49:11
have that
49:11
gift don't
49:11
have to be
49:12
wealthy.
49:13
So next
49:14
week, we'll
49:15
talk about
49:16
leadership,
49:17
mercy, and
49:18
prophecy, and
49:19
then we'll
49:20
jump into the
49:21
next passage.
49:23
But thank
49:24
you for
49:24
bearing with
49:25
me.
49:25
I appreciate
49:26
it.
49:27
But yeah,
49:27
we need to
49:28
have these
49:29
conversations
49:29
about our
49:30
gifting and
49:31
functioning in
49:32
the body.
49:32
We're all
49:32
members of
49:33
one another.
49:34
Each one of
49:35
you has been
49:35
given gifts,
49:37
and it
49:38
should be an
49:39
honor to
49:40
employ that
49:40
in the work
49:41
of the
49:41
church.
49:42
It's not
49:42
just the
49:42
people up
49:43
here.
49:43
It's you.
49:44
It's all
49:45
of us
49:45
serving Christ
49:46
together.
49:47
So pray
49:48
with me.