1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,560 Alright, are you ready for God's Word today? Why don't you grab your Bible and turn with me to Ephesians chapter 4? 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:09,400 Ephesians chapter 4 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:14,600 Now I believe in now Paul writes Ephesians 4 most scholarship is pretty 4 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:21,640 Conclusive on that and the fact that well, I should say I should say conclusive we have consensus 5 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,520 So the consensus is a better word 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,260 There are some arguments that perhaps because of some of the language and whatnot 7 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:30,580 That that is used in Ephesians. Maybe it wasn't Paul 8 00:00:30,580 --> 00:00:34,380 but the writer identifies himself as Paul and I think Paul wrote it and 9 00:00:35,100 --> 00:00:39,140 In in Paul's writings like Romans to me is almost like his 10 00:00:41,060 --> 00:00:48,060 What would you call it like his magnum opus I mean it's like it's like the most amazing thing I think Paul wrote in my opinion 11 00:00:48,860 --> 00:00:52,580 but Ephesians is awesome too because have you ever been to like 12 00:00:52,580 --> 00:00:57,700 I you know any I don't know a city or theme park where they have like a town like maybe you went to New York 13 00:00:57,700 --> 00:00:59,020 If you go to New York 14 00:00:59,020 --> 00:01:04,240 You can go to top of the rock or you can go to the Freedom Tower or you can go to the Empire State building 15 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,140 And if you like go top of the rock it's kind of cool 16 00:01:07,820 --> 00:01:11,320 Because you know you can see all the way to almost the other side of Central Park 17 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:15,420 You see all the way and so you can see like it gives you this view of the whole landscape 18 00:01:15,540 --> 00:01:18,220 You understand Ephesians is kind of like that 19 00:01:18,220 --> 00:01:24,060 It's a concise summary of the whole landscape because Paul talks the first three chapters are about how we believe 20 00:01:24,420 --> 00:01:32,700 the next three chapters are kind of how we behave in a sense and Paul covers like Christ and salvation and marriage and I mean 21 00:01:33,340 --> 00:01:39,140 Community and relationship. I mean a spiritual warfare like he covers all of it in Ephesians 22 00:01:39,140 --> 00:01:41,620 And so to me it's an awesome book. He wrote in his first imprisonment 23 00:01:41,980 --> 00:01:47,040 Most scholars believe he was imprisoned in Rome's the early 60s not 1960s 24 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,940 He wasn't at Woodstock, but he was like the 60s AD so 25 00:01:51,580 --> 00:01:53,580 and so he writes it 26 00:01:53,940 --> 00:01:55,500 probably to 27 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:59,300 we know this because so like one of the earliest kind of 28 00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:05,580 full complete Bibles if you will that we have is called the Codex codex and Atticus and 29 00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:10,100 And from like the mid was that mid force so about 30 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:16,720 350 to 370 somewhere in there it was and codex just means is how it's bound so instead of being papyrus 31 00:02:16,980 --> 00:02:20,520 You know in a scroll it was actually bound more like a book 32 00:02:21,180 --> 00:02:26,140 And it was actually discovered at Mount Sinai, and that's how I got the name sonaticus, but but anyways 33 00:02:28,260 --> 00:02:34,540 Those earlier documents don't have in Ephesus, so it doesn't so when Ephesians talks about Ephesus 34 00:02:34,540 --> 00:02:40,300 They don't have that actual word in there, so probably this was more of a circular letter than to a specific 35 00:02:41,180 --> 00:02:42,860 Church like the Ephesian Church 36 00:02:42,860 --> 00:02:44,900 It was probably a lot of churches in Asia Minor 37 00:02:44,900 --> 00:02:49,780 But that would have been one and so it stayed in there because it still makes sense anyways 38 00:02:49,780 --> 00:02:53,620 I know you were just sitting there, and you were wondering this morning, and you're like man 39 00:02:53,620 --> 00:02:58,140 I hope he explains this stuff. You know and and so you're you're welcome anyways 40 00:02:58,140 --> 00:03:01,500 Um and so why don't you stay with me? We're just going to read a few verses together 41 00:03:01,500 --> 00:03:07,580 So we're in chapter 4, so this is kind of the kind of how we live the Christian life if you will and 42 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:12,700 Verse 11 is where we're going to pick up reading very familiar passage 43 00:03:13,420 --> 00:03:17,620 But it says it was he who gave some everybody say some 44 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:20,300 He gave some 45 00:03:20,300 --> 00:03:28,580 Right it was he who gave some to be apostles some prophets some evangelists some pastors and some teachers now the reason 46 00:03:28,580 --> 00:03:32,660 We said some is because you don't need a lot of those people right you know 47 00:03:32,660 --> 00:03:35,700 They don't need a lot of those people amen praise the Lord right 48 00:03:37,260 --> 00:03:44,700 And then verse 12 to prepare God's people for works of service alright, so let me just make this point really quickly 49 00:03:45,460 --> 00:03:50,020 According to Paul now. I you know this is the the NIV. I'm using it today 50 00:03:50,020 --> 00:03:58,780 I changed versions depend on what I'm emphasizing because different translations emphasize to me different things or they word things differently I 51 00:03:59,020 --> 00:04:04,020 Was raised on old King James so a lot of times I can quote you that these and the dows and the four witch calls 52 00:04:04,020 --> 00:04:06,060 and therefore and but um 53 00:04:07,100 --> 00:04:11,100 Anyways and hither unto I mean there's a lot of words in King James 54 00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:14,460 that I like King James because it feels like they just made words up and 55 00:04:15,100 --> 00:04:17,580 I mean, but and now do that a lot anyways 56 00:04:17,580 --> 00:04:24,980 The point is this it says that that he gave these apostles prophets pastor teachers evangelists to to equip the saints to do ministry 57 00:04:25,540 --> 00:04:29,780 And I don't have time to preach it, but I just want you to understand according to the Bible 58 00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:33,580 You're not actually supposed to watch the pastors do ministry 59 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:37,500 You're supposed to do the ministry and let the pastors help you 60 00:04:38,220 --> 00:04:42,020 Okay according to the Bible, so if you're like oh, I came to watch you do ministry 61 00:04:42,020 --> 00:04:44,500 Then you don't understand the Bible yet, and that's okay 62 00:04:44,500 --> 00:04:48,060 That's why he gave some of us so we could help you understand 63 00:04:48,580 --> 00:04:53,140 So that you understand you have a great purpose and you have great significance in the body of Christ 64 00:04:53,140 --> 00:04:57,660 And you don't have to be a pastor to have a purpose and you don't have to be a pastor to have a ministry 65 00:04:57,660 --> 00:05:02,860 And you don't have to be a pastor to be called by God and you don't have to be passed a pastor to be spiritually 66 00:05:03,340 --> 00:05:09,540 Significant in the body of Christ or some of the most significant people I know have never stepped on a platform or preach them 67 00:05:09,540 --> 00:05:14,620 Are preached a message in public, but they are so powerful and significant in the body of Christ 68 00:05:14,620 --> 00:05:18,100 Are you with me just so we're clear amen praise the Lord 69 00:05:19,380 --> 00:05:22,420 And he did this so that the body of Christ may be a built-up 70 00:05:22,420 --> 00:05:28,820 Did you notice the body of Christ gets built up when the when the believers do ministry not when the pastors do ministry 71 00:05:29,620 --> 00:05:33,940 I'm just we're just reading the Bible. This is not in my sermon, but I like to like read the Bible with y'all 72 00:05:33,940 --> 00:05:38,580 You are the some of the funnest people in the world read the Bible with verse 13 until the end of the verse 73 00:05:38,580 --> 00:05:43,620 13 until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature 74 00:05:44,020 --> 00:05:46,780 Obtaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ 75 00:05:46,980 --> 00:05:53,700 Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching 76 00:05:53,820 --> 00:05:58,820 And by every post on Instagram and by everything on the news. Oh 77 00:06:01,020 --> 00:06:06,980 No, I don't think he said that I'm sorry you're like that's not in my translation pastor, but it's the same thing 78 00:06:06,980 --> 00:06:08,660 I'm just helping you out 79 00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:13,500 By every wind and teaching by every cunning craftiest men and by every tick-tock doctrine. Oh 80 00:06:14,460 --> 00:06:17,740 No, it's deceitful scheming. I'm so well same thing anyways 81 00:06:19,060 --> 00:06:24,820 Instead speaking the truth and love we will in all things grow up into him who is the head that is Christ 82 00:06:24,980 --> 00:06:29,060 From the whole body is joined and held together by every supporting ligament 83 00:06:29,700 --> 00:06:33,420 Grows and builds by the way that word ligament is such a cool word 84 00:06:33,420 --> 00:06:37,340 It actually could be translated in a way pathogen 85 00:06:38,340 --> 00:06:42,580 Like a communicable disease almost but in a very positive sense 86 00:06:43,300 --> 00:06:46,780 It's it's the word is hafei. I think in the Greek 87 00:06:48,460 --> 00:06:50,180 H-a-p-h-e 88 00:06:50,180 --> 00:06:58,700 Interesting, but anyways, so he's just saying that we can be contagious when we're together and and that actually think about this our health is 89 00:06:58,700 --> 00:07:04,220 Contagious our life is contagious. We'll come back to that. It's a really cool word 90 00:07:04,660 --> 00:07:09,220 But grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its own work 91 00:07:09,620 --> 00:07:14,820 Man, that's a lot that we need to talk about and I only have like ten minutes. So we're gonna talk fast everybody 92 00:07:15,620 --> 00:07:20,700 Let's pray together. I want to talk today. I'm kind of concluding this series unstuck 93 00:07:21,420 --> 00:07:23,420 And I want to talk today 94 00:07:24,220 --> 00:07:25,380 and 95 00:07:25,380 --> 00:07:31,260 And I really struggle with the message, but I finally landed on this growing forward 96 00:07:32,340 --> 00:07:38,660 Yeah growing forward. So let's pray together father. Thank you so much for the word of God and Lord today 97 00:07:38,660 --> 00:07:40,860 Help us to be thorough, but really quick 98 00:07:42,380 --> 00:07:49,340 Lord we want to see a miracle almost like the Red Sea parting when pastor Marty has a short message and amen God 99 00:07:49,340 --> 00:07:53,880 You're good. So help us here well and fast in Jesus name and everybody said 100 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,480 Amen. All right, you can be seated. Thank you so much 101 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,880 Growing growing forward growing forward 102 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:07,400 I almost want to call it but I didn't like this because it was kind of a had a negative connotation to it 103 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,040 But I almost want to call it grow out of it 104 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,920 You know what I'm saying and the reason is here's here's kind of the big idea 105 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,120 All right, then we'll kind of break it down and then we'll be done 106 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:17,440 To me 107 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:22,040 I want to talk just a little bit because what Paul is doing in Ephesians is he is really talking about 108 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:27,720 Unifying the body of Christ because you have to remember Jesus came and his ministry was to the Jews 109 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:33,760 Right. So even Paul says, you know preach the gospel the God preaching the gospel is the power of God unto salvation 110 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:39,360 To the Jew first and then the Gentile and so you have to understand these are two 111 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,080 Very different races of people, right? 112 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:49,520 So the Gentiles like the Jews and then all these other a lot of Greek culture and a lot of Roman stuff 113 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:54,920 And I mean there's a lot going on here, right and and now when the gospel goes to the Gentiles 114 00:08:55,440 --> 00:09:01,000 Now we got a problem because we had Jew people that were saved and and Judaism, you know 115 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,800 It's not necessarily bad in a sense. It's just not what saves you 116 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,840 So the practice of the law is not what saves you its faith in Christ 117 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:14,600 And so they're they're they're they're still eating the Jewish diet and they're still doing you know 118 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:20,400 The Jewish culture still exists and now these Gentiles get saved and theirs is all over the place man. There's like wild 119 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:28,400 And so there's a lot of problems because to the Jews Gentiles were unclean to the Gentiles Jews bunch of religious snobby people 120 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,440 You don't want to hang out with and now we're all trying to become one church 121 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,440 And so you got to remember a lot of your New Testament 122 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:39,280 especially the writings of Paul trying to help Jews and Gentiles figure a lot of things out and 123 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:47,200 Ephesians is kind of one of those books and that's why he Paul kind of starts with you know in Christ that this wall that has 124 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:52,120 Separated it's been torn down and now we're all God's people everybody 125 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,680 You know what I'm saying? And and so Paul is talking a lot about 126 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:00,240 Relationships in Ephesians and and he's talking about Jews and Gentiles 127 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,920 He's talking about race talking about marriage talking about the body of Christ 128 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,480 And so Paul's Paul's trying to take on a lot of topics here 129 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:13,920 When we get to a vision chapter four though specifically Paul is really talking about our growth and 130 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:19,920 Our maturity in Christ and you could say that theme runs throughout really the whole book of Ephesians 131 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:26,120 But he really gets into kind of the nuts and bolts four or five and six is about how we live this life, right? 132 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:32,160 And that's why we get into our marriage relationships and spiritual warfare and chapter six and all those things 133 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:36,720 But the point Paul is trying to make is hey you guys we got to be careful 134 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:40,120 You guys we got to get together and we have to grow 135 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:47,560 Here's what I want you to understand because we're in this series called unstuck. This is what I know and maybe you know this too 136 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:51,720 your relationships can keep you stuck and 137 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,480 Relationships can get you unstuck 138 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:03,980 This is the truth this I mean I think it's truth the Bible, but I think it's just truth in life 139 00:11:03,980 --> 00:11:11,460 Because some people are stuck because you're in some relationships that that maybe you just those people are always gonna be 140 00:11:12,140 --> 00:11:14,140 Where they are? 141 00:11:14,460 --> 00:11:19,100 Okay, and I you know, I'm I want to do a sermon time called those people but 142 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:26,460 But there are people that aren't going anywhere and there are people that pull us down and there are people that are just permeated with 143 00:11:26,620 --> 00:11:30,380 negativity and there are people that are critical of everything and 144 00:11:30,380 --> 00:11:37,940 There are also people with differing desires or you could say values and a lot of times if we don't understand 145 00:11:38,140 --> 00:11:44,780 That God is wanting to move us forward and we don't assess the relationships that we have 146 00:11:45,460 --> 00:11:48,100 Sometimes the relationships we have keep us stuck 147 00:11:49,060 --> 00:11:53,100 See what you need to understand remember Ephesians 4 says he equips the saints for the work of the ministry 148 00:11:53,540 --> 00:11:58,100 You are significant you have purpose you have a calling from God 149 00:11:58,100 --> 00:12:01,460 You are significant in the body of Christ your life is 150 00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:06,280 Supposed to have great meaning God has ascribed to it 151 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:11,620 He you were created on purpose for a purpose right those things are true about you 152 00:12:11,620 --> 00:12:13,540 I hope you believe that if not 153 00:12:13,540 --> 00:12:18,740 We'll talk more about it the rest of our lives together, but but because one of my favorite things to talk about 154 00:12:18,740 --> 00:12:20,740 So you've got to believe in you and 155 00:12:21,540 --> 00:12:26,700 Then there comes a time you got to kind of look around and say okay if God's called me here 156 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:30,820 I never forget my um I went to college and 157 00:12:31,740 --> 00:12:34,020 And as started out I was going to be 158 00:12:34,740 --> 00:12:40,340 In the medical field and so I was not at a Christian University. It wasn't a seminary or anything like that 159 00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:43,980 And so I was taking classes well in that time 160 00:12:43,980 --> 00:12:49,500 That's when God really called me and I knew okay. I need to transfer and I need to go to seminary 161 00:12:49,500 --> 00:12:51,740 You know I'm gonna really follow God in this 162 00:12:51,740 --> 00:12:58,060 This calling, but in that time. I'm in a not Christian. You know you know college and 163 00:12:58,580 --> 00:13:03,980 And so I was being invited by people that I like to go do things that I'm like 164 00:13:03,980 --> 00:13:09,220 I don't think in good to come out of that you know and what I realized is I like the people 165 00:13:09,220 --> 00:13:12,940 But I can't go with them because see they're not going where I'm going 166 00:13:13,540 --> 00:13:16,500 So it's not anything personal. I like them 167 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:20,660 They were wonderful people and we you know we had class together and hung out together 168 00:13:20,660 --> 00:13:25,620 And you know at school and those type of things, but you know on the weekends and at night 169 00:13:25,620 --> 00:13:30,540 I didn't need to go with them because anything I wasn't gonna work for where I needed to go 170 00:13:30,540 --> 00:13:32,540 Are you with me and sometimes? 171 00:13:32,540 --> 00:13:37,900 It's okay to look at people and say I love them. They're good people, but they're not going where I'm going I 172 00:13:38,420 --> 00:13:43,160 Love them. They're good people, but they've been stuck for 20 years, and I don't want to be stuck for 20 years 173 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:44,100 I love them 174 00:13:44,100 --> 00:13:47,340 They're good people, but you know what they've been bitter for the last 15 years 175 00:13:47,340 --> 00:13:53,580 And I don't want to really taste their bitterness anymore, and it's okay to look and say where are some people who are going? 176 00:13:53,580 --> 00:13:58,940 Where I'm going who are embracing the values that I have that understand 177 00:13:58,940 --> 00:14:05,180 They're significant and their purpose and they're called and they're chosen and I want to get with those people 178 00:14:05,540 --> 00:14:08,020 Because here's what I can tell you in 179 00:14:09,220 --> 00:14:13,740 Five years your life will look like your relationships today 180 00:14:14,740 --> 00:14:15,820 in 181 00:14:15,820 --> 00:14:19,380 Five years your life will look like your friend circle today 182 00:14:20,460 --> 00:14:25,860 Who you hang out with determines where your life goes in fact let me give you a fun verse 183 00:14:26,980 --> 00:14:32,340 Proverbs 13 20 says he who walks with wise men will be wise 184 00:14:32,980 --> 00:14:38,340 But the companion of fools will be destroyed come on say it plainer Solomon 185 00:14:39,580 --> 00:14:44,940 And so our relationships determine a lot about our life three things 186 00:14:44,940 --> 00:14:48,700 We're gonna go through them kind of quick, but I want you to write these three things down number one is this 187 00:14:49,140 --> 00:14:51,140 You won't get there unless you grow there 188 00:14:53,060 --> 00:14:55,300 You won't get there unless you grow there 189 00:14:57,300 --> 00:15:03,540 When you talk about the vision for your life right like a lot of people you know what and we just say this 190 00:15:04,180 --> 00:15:09,480 It's a good example because everybody understands money most people want to have money, right? 191 00:15:10,420 --> 00:15:12,340 Most people want to have money 192 00:15:12,340 --> 00:15:18,780 But the problem is that having getting money is is not actually what gives you security 193 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:24,240 Because have you ever watched those documentaries on lottery winners, and now they're bankrupt 194 00:15:24,820 --> 00:15:28,700 Do you know the problem? Do you know the problem they didn't grow into it? 195 00:15:29,620 --> 00:15:37,140 Have you ever watched you know documentaries about even even kids who never their parents never made them work hard because their parents 196 00:15:37,140 --> 00:15:37,780 Had so much money 197 00:15:37,780 --> 00:15:41,620 They just kind of gave them everything through money after and in their life turned out to be a trainwreck 198 00:15:41,620 --> 00:15:48,540 You ever seen those documentaries what happened they didn't grow into the wealth see the parents grew the wealth grew into the wealth, right? 199 00:15:48,740 --> 00:15:52,660 But unfortunately they didn't they passed the wealth on but not the growth on 200 00:15:54,540 --> 00:15:59,020 You see what I'm saying and so a lot of times we say well I want to be financially secure 201 00:15:59,020 --> 00:16:02,180 I want to be this I want to be that I want to be healthy want to have good relationships 202 00:16:02,180 --> 00:16:05,400 Let me explain something you don't get there unless you grow there 203 00:16:06,860 --> 00:16:09,900 You grow there you don't go there you grow 204 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:15,620 There that's really what Paul is telling the Ephesians. He uses word verse 13 until we reach 205 00:16:15,620 --> 00:16:19,340 Here's what he's saying growth is a process and you're not there yet 206 00:16:20,820 --> 00:16:25,780 He says until we reach this unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God becoming mature and 207 00:16:26,260 --> 00:16:33,540 Growing into the fullness of Christ, so here's what I've learned in my life say it with me. It will free you. I'm not there yet 208 00:16:34,820 --> 00:16:37,940 Like it's okay. I'm okay with saying. I don't know 209 00:16:37,940 --> 00:16:41,820 I'm okay with saying I don't know I'm okay with saying I'm not there yet 210 00:16:42,980 --> 00:16:45,100 But I'm okay with saying but I'm gonna grow there 211 00:16:45,860 --> 00:16:51,860 I'm gonna grow there like I can't get there unless I grow there and and here's what I have to understand that growth is 212 00:16:51,860 --> 00:16:54,540 A process and growth is really important 213 00:16:54,540 --> 00:17:01,020 I could talk about all the things that happen when we grow you just think about maturity and all the things that happen Paul 214 00:17:01,020 --> 00:17:06,340 Kind of gives us cool metaphor. He basically gives us a picture of a baby in a boat with no rudder 215 00:17:06,340 --> 00:17:10,720 That's what we read a minute ago like toss to and fro on the waves, you know, like a kid in a boat with no rudder 216 00:17:11,420 --> 00:17:13,420 Does that sound like a fun life to be in? 217 00:17:13,420 --> 00:17:15,140 You know, does that sound like fun? 218 00:17:15,140 --> 00:17:16,940 You know like let's go out on you know 219 00:17:16,940 --> 00:17:21,860 There's a storm on the sea and let's throw a baby in a boat with no rudder and just see how things go. I 220 00:17:23,580 --> 00:17:28,380 Think one of the greatest things about growing is but and this is really one of the greatest points 221 00:17:28,380 --> 00:17:32,980 He's making is you think about a baby in a boat with no rudder 222 00:17:32,980 --> 00:17:36,220 So here and he's talking really about growing and in 223 00:17:36,540 --> 00:17:41,740 Maturing in our faith and in growing up to be who God has called us to be but think about this 224 00:17:42,420 --> 00:17:44,420 Baby in a boat with no rudder 225 00:17:44,420 --> 00:17:51,220 So here's what he's saying when I grow first of all first of all I get I get a rudder I can steer 226 00:17:52,460 --> 00:17:55,940 See it takes growth and maturity to make right decisions 227 00:17:57,220 --> 00:18:01,560 Immature people make bad decisions all the time. Hello. Did y'all go to college? 228 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:08,600 Aren't you glad they didn't have snapchat and Instagram when I'm thankful at what didn't exist when I was in college dear Lord 229 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,920 Okay, some of you you're just not gonna be honest 230 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:16,520 That's okay, it's all right you'll grow into it 231 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:24,400 But then he's talking about being in a storm talking about being a baby well, baby doesn't know how to navigate a storm 232 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:30,480 Wouldn't it be great if I knew how to navigate the storms of life and my life had a rudder? 233 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,480 Where I could steer myself through storms of life 234 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:37,480 See we get mad all the time because we get mad at God all the time because we're in a storm and we get mad 235 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:43,000 At God all the time because we're being tossed around and God's saying listen you're gonna you can either go through it or grow through it 236 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,680 But if you grow through it, you're gonna learn how to use your rudder 237 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,480 And you're gonna learn how to navigate storms because everyone's gonna have storms 238 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:56,960 Are you with me? And so when we're talking about growth listen, I don't I don't just I don't just go there 239 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:06,080 I have to I have to grow there. Um, listen the life that you're dreaming of is on the other side of your growth. I 240 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:09,680 Think success in life 241 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:13,720 I think when we're talking about growing into I think success in life and I'll give you this and we go to the next point 242 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:20,400 But success in life is this like if you really want to be successful in life grow bigger on the inside than you are on the outside 243 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,880 If you can get bigger on the inside than you are on the outside you say was that me well 244 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:33,000 the outside wants a big car big house lots of money or whatever the inside wants to have character and 245 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:40,840 Integrity and wisdom, right? Those are things you grow on the inside and if you really want to enjoy life get bigger on the inside 246 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:47,700 Right grow there get bigger on the inside. Here's the second thing growth is not automatic. It's intentional 247 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,840 The only thing you can accidentally grow is your waistline 248 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:54,680 Come on somebody where my people at I 249 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,040 Found man. Did y'all go through the holidays? 250 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:03,760 I thought I was doing good and I weighed in January and I was like did somebody put lead my body somewhere like what happened? 251 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:10,800 Something has happened all those good treats just they love me. They just stick to me and never let go 252 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:17,660 But the truth the matter is that's about the only way you can you can accidentally grow is your waistline 253 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:22,120 Every other way we grow is not by accident. It's by intention. I 254 00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:27,520 Think sometimes we miss this and I just want to say it very clearly and I'm gonna put it in the first person 255 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,240 Actually, I'm gonna say it in the third. Yeah. Anyways, I'm gonna say it directly 256 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:37,080 It's just saying we and being you know, including everybody like, you know kind of a third, you know 257 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:41,400 Yeah, I'm gonna say you okay, but I don't mean anything bad. I just need to make a point 258 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,400 I want to say this very clearly 259 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:45,720 you are 260 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,000 responsible for your 261 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,880 growth 262 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:52,880 I 263 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:57,160 Just want to say it like I'm not responsible for your growth, right? 264 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,120 I'm responsible to you not for you 265 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:06,400 See, I'm responsible to do what I did this week. I prepared I've studied I have a message. I'm ready 266 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:10,840 I'm ready to teach you ready explain I prayed for you, you know, I've talked with people this week 267 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,920 I've done all the pastor things this week, right? 268 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:18,400 I'm responsible to be who God's called me to be but I'm not responsible for whether or not you grow 269 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,400 right 270 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,360 Like like you have to show up and eat the food 271 00:21:22,360 --> 00:21:25,560 I mean I can cook it but you got to show up and eat it. Are you with me? 272 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:31,400 Right. I mean you you have to make the decision to go and be a disciple to take class 273 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,680 You know to take those classes and those opportunities to go to first step 274 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:42,080 you have to take their the opportunity to find a group of people and you you are in charge of your growth and and 275 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:47,000 Oh, I don't want to say this in a mean way. But since we're just talking, can I be your friend and be honest? 276 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:53,920 You're responsible for your growth and if life isn't working then start growing 277 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,320 And so many times in our culture is a 278 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:05,160 Culture is permeated with this victim mentality of it's everybody else's fault. Well, nobody ever gave me a puppy 279 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,000 Well grow up and get a job and buy five puppies if that's what you want 280 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:12,720 dear Lord 281 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,720 right 282 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,200 right 283 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,200 And and I know I'm being a little facetious 284 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,920 But y'all live in this world too and everybody's a victim and nobody's responsible. Listen to me 285 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:29,680 You're you're responsible and it doesn't matter what situation you're in and what you've gone through in life the situation my life 286 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,600 Maybe you know they have not been perfect because I share all the craziness of my life 287 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,720 That's the great thing about that's why you don't want to be a pastor because God will make you share 288 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:41,120 things about your life that you just wish you never talked about and and so 289 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:43,680 but 290 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,680 Nobody's life has been perfect 291 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,160 Hear me on this. No one's life has been perfect 292 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,680 The problem is you're watching Instagram highlight reels and you don't know how life works. No one's life is perfect 293 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,520 No one escaped the fall 294 00:22:55,520 --> 00:23:03,200 Everybody has a story. It's just some people decided to grow through it and other people just kind of went through it and 295 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:10,360 I'm just telling you if you want to grow you have to be intentional. I can give you kind of categorically two ways 296 00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:15,160 I always work on growth. I break it down this way being and doing 297 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:21,280 Okay, these are my two categories of growth. Let me explain what I mean. So in the being category 298 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,320 Sometimes I I need to work on my attitude 299 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,040 Right. Sometimes I need to work on my patience 300 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:35,760 Sometimes I need to work on the fact that I don't like for me as a pastor one of things I really have and I still 301 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:42,200 Work on this really had to do is I had to learn to celebrate people well and also to learn and to celebrate 302 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:47,760 Accomplishments because I'm a visionary and I'm on to the next thing like yeah, that was good. Let's go work on this 303 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:54,600 Right, but your team they need you to say that was awesome and to be specific what you did right there 304 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:58,760 like one of the jokes with one of our staff people I won't say which one but 305 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:04,880 I would say they would present something I'd say well, I don't hate it, you know, well, that's not very helpful is it? 306 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:07,760 No, and so I would say yes, I love it or no 307 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,560 Let's work on this right here and then I'll love it, you know 308 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:15,160 And so it gets very specific but but the point is I work on the being part of me 309 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:19,320 So I'm always working on the being part of me and then I'm working on the doing part of me 310 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:25,280 Which is more external in other words their skills or things that I need to learn or things I need to develop 311 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:30,080 You know like for me because I'm a communicator. Sometimes I'm reading a book on communication 312 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,440 You know one of the things that I want to do a long time is I want to go back and do 313 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:39,640 back and do master's work and maybe eventually doctors doctoral studies and so I'm doing that right now 314 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,720 Because something I always want to do and that's the doing part of me 315 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:45,440 But I still have to work on the being part of me 316 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:50,840 And so but you have to be intentional with those things because you have to kind of embrace some discomfort 317 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:56,160 Sometimes those things are not always fun learning something, you know doing something or especially 318 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:02,360 The being part is usually the hardest part, you know for a lot of us, right when we look and say hey 319 00:25:02,360 --> 00:25:06,360 I need to adjust some attitudes or some thought patterns or whatever the case may be 320 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:10,320 But this is what you need to understand you will not grow if you're not intentional about it 321 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:17,540 You will not grow so you have to say I'm gonna work on this in my being and this in my doing and then you 322 00:25:17,540 --> 00:25:19,200 Have to make a plan 323 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,760 To do those things and then you have to work that plan 324 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:25,280 That's what I do every year 325 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,280 I've been doing it for years and years and years 326 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:31,360 It's what our staff does mostly because they all want to but I also require it 327 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:32,680 right 328 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:40,560 Because I want us to grow right because I want us to be able to reach more people love more people serve more people well 329 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,760 Which means we have to grow to do that. Are you are you hearing what I'm saying? 330 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:49,600 And so growth is not automatic, you know, here's the thing you need to understand most of the time and I've said this before 331 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,520 Let me say it really quickly 332 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:57,560 Most of the time we have downhill desires, but we really need some uphill habits 333 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:03,760 Are you with me because if you leave me to myself, I've got downhill desires. I can eat 334 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,320 untold amounts copious amounts of 335 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,760 M&M peanut M&Ms and never get tired of them, you know 336 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:15,480 If you eat the same thing over and over sometimes you get tired of it. This is not me and M&Ms 337 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,680 This does not describe our relationship at all 338 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:23,400 I can eat four pounds of those things and think you know a big better for four more pounds and 339 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:28,960 And it's like bacon, you know what go with M&Ms more M&Ms, you know, what goes well with bacon more bacon 340 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:30,720 You know, it's just that kind of thing 341 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:36,320 And and so I have some downhill habits everybody you see what I'm saying are downhill desires 342 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:41,900 But I also have some uphill habits. So my uphill habits are well, I have to eat this much protein a day 343 00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:47,000 I can't go over this many carbs a day and I'm kind of loose in my translation of those things 344 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:51,600 But still I kind of have some guidelines that keep me from looking like something you can stamp 345 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:57,800 Good year on and fly over a baseball game. You know what I'm saying? And so um, and so I go to the gym 346 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:00,160 You know, but those are my uphill habits, you know 347 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:05,240 I the other day pastor mark and I go to the same gym and we're usually in there at similar times and 348 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:08,880 I went over the other morning said hi and he said how's it going? 349 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:13,880 I said, I got a really bad attitude about this whole gym thing today and he said yeah, but you made I said 350 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:15,880 Yeah, I'm here but I'm real mad about it 351 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:19,480 And so I don't always have the joy of the Lord at the gym 352 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:23,800 But I'm there because that's my uphill habit. Are you with me everybody? You understand what I'm saying? 353 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:27,880 And so we have to grow intentionally. Here's the third thing and write this down 354 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:35,240 Relationships aren't optional for growth. They're essential for growth. And this is really this whole idea of Ephesians 4 355 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,880 Because he says from whom the whole body joined and held together by what every 356 00:27:40,360 --> 00:27:45,880 supporting ligament that that word ligament like I said in the Greek is almost like a like a 357 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:49,080 You know like a contagion. It may even be a better word 358 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:54,880 Because it's just talking about basically. Here's the point. He's making there's this symbiotic 359 00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:03,600 Benefit of being in relationships in the body of Christ in that I receive from you and you receive from me 360 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:10,760 And the point he's trying to make is you have to be you have to be connected in that symbiotic kind of relationship 361 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,720 for everyone to grow because sometimes you're needing 362 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:18,440 Something like sometimes I need encouragement. I need support right? 363 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:19,440 I need a good word 364 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:25,600 I need prayer and the other times someone else needs and then I'm giving support or encouragement or prayer or 365 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:31,840 Any number of things love I mean you could go on and on and on with all the things and in the point of it being 366 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:36,160 Is that when we're working like that and that give and take relationship, right? 367 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:40,320 Right. This is where you know to be honest assessing our relationships 368 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:46,080 Sometimes you have to assess relationships to say do I have give and take relationships or do I just have take relationships? 369 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:51,760 And then you'd be honest and say in my relationships do I give or do I just take? 370 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:56,120 Right. This is a good evaluation, but Paul is making the point 371 00:28:56,120 --> 00:29:01,960 Hey, if there's not going this what he's saying there's not going to be growth without those connections. That's what he just said 372 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,080 Not gonna be growth without those connections 373 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:10,560 And so we really want to grow then we have to we have to get in community listen to me 374 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:14,280 You may be one community away from changing your life forever 375 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,320 You could be one community away from changing your life forever 376 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:23,640 and so I want you to understand that Paul is putting an 377 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:28,720 Extreme amount of importance on relationships now now. So what do we do? 378 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,120 Well, let me just give you three things really quickly to do 379 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:35,920 That I think in life that I have to do so you need to remember pastor Marty is actually an introvert 380 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:40,800 Most people don't understand this because I'm very uncomfortable stand up here and talk and you put me that matter how? 381 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:45,440 How big the crowd is I can just stand up talk be myself. It's a weird thing 382 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:50,160 It's the way God made me but I'm an introvert which just means that I recharge by myself 383 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:53,280 Right like I can give and give and give but then you know 384 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,480 I'm gonna go home and I just kind of need some quiet just a little bit right now 385 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:01,120 Jana is an extroverted extrovert extrovert and 386 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:04,920 So, you know, she just stay forever and talk to people and me 387 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,480 I'm like after everybody kind of gets gone like I need to go home sit down for a minute 388 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:10,480 Like I've spent all my energy, you know 389 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:13,600 and so 390 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:15,600 so to me 391 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:22,000 Unfortunately, because I'm an introvert one of the things I've had to look at my life is I don't always seek out new relationships. I 392 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:24,840 Can be very happy just with Jana 393 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:29,000 I can be very happy just with Jana like I'm happy. I've Jana 394 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:32,180 We're happy and we have the dogs. They're weird and 395 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:40,840 Y'all pray for my dog too. He's got high anxiety. We think he got struck by lightning. Anyways, not really, but he freaks out. But anyways, um 396 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:47,180 That's Milo Coco doesn't care Coco. You could drive a bus through the house. She'd probably just feel like that's weird 397 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:51,760 Milo'd have four heart attacks and three seizures. Anyway, so 398 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:56,560 But anyways, the point is that I can sometimes not pursue relationships 399 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:59,360 So I'm giving you some things that have helped me number one 400 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:05,360 I have to be courageous in other words, I have to understand like sometimes trying to make new friends or 401 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:08,000 or 402 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:13,920 Enter into new relationships. It's a little bit of courage, you know, because like what if it doesn't go well, you know 403 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:18,360 What if they're weird? What if they think I'm weird? You know, I mean, there's all the things that we deal with 404 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:24,040 And here can I help you usually we're thinking what do they think about me and they're not thinking about you 405 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:25,640 They're thinking the same thing as you 406 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:26,840 What do they think about me? 407 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:32,440 And so if we can all get out of our head a little bit we can be courageous and engage some new people 408 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:37,400 So number one be be courageous take a risk make a phone call send a text 409 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:43,720 You know go talk to some people in the chapel, you know, take a risk and number two be friendly. I 410 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:48,280 Had to realize one time I met with a pastor friend of mine who's now a good friend of mine 411 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:50,840 But he said for the longest time I thought you didn't like me 412 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:54,680 And I said why I said just the way you looked at me and I said well 413 00:31:55,400 --> 00:32:00,920 Bless it. I got this from my mama. It's it's the rest in frowny face. That's what we're gonna call it 414 00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:07,160 Yeah, the rest in frowny face. We're just gonna call it that and and so I realized that you know, I'm happy 415 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:11,640 I'm like I'm happy on the inside like I'm you know, but I look like I'm happy on the inside 416 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:18,360 Like I'm you know, but I look like someone just stole my dog. And so I had to learn to smile a little bit 417 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:20,760 And say hi 418 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:22,760 It's so good to see you 419 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,120 I'm so glad you're here 420 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,240 I'm very happy right now 421 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:35,480 As I had to learn to do that. So so this is what Proverbs 18 24 by the way says Proverbs 18 24 422 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:37,480 A man who has friends 423 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:39,240 must himself 424 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:40,760 be friendly 425 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:46,920 I'm just want to say something lovingly as we're taking responsibility for our lives if you've made the complaint 426 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:50,680 I don't have any friends. It could be because you're not friendly 427 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:58,360 So take a risk be courageous be friendly and number three be open to new people 428 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:03,160 Be open to new people your best friend. You may not have even met yet 429 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:08,200 So be the person may impact your life the most even in your faith 430 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:13,400 Maybe you haven't even met yet and you could even go to the same church, but you just haven't met yet 431 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:20,600 And so I want you I want to encourage you like be courageous take some risk, right? Be friendly smile everybody 432 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,120 We're so happy 433 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:30,840 Right and then just be open to some new people be open to some new groups and here's why here's why because according to Paul 434 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:33,840 You can't get there. You got to grow there and 435 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:36,440 relationships are 436 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:38,440 Essential to our growth. Amen 437 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:41,280 All right. Can you give Jesus praise today? 438 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:46,640 Hey pastor Marty here from pathway church 439 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:52,800 I just want to say thank you for joining us and I want to encourage you to get connected and stay connected 440 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:55,120 And there's several ways you can do that number one 441 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:58,120 You can download the pathway app that we are all the time offering 442 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:01,360 Resources and information on that app for you 443 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:03,880 You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel 444 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:07,760 And if you do make sure you click the bell so that you never miss any 445 00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:12,720 life-giving and life-changing content as we add it to the channel and then also 446 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:17,040 Make sure you follow us on social media on Instagram on Facebook 447 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:25,140 Look our hope and heart for you is that you walk in the purpose for which God made and created and redeemed you for 448 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:29,560 We love to connect people to purpose. We thank you for giving us this opportunity 449 00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:32,220 And if you're ever in long view or you are in long view 450 00:34:32,220 --> 00:34:38,360 I'd love to invite you to join us in person each weekend. Listen, I pray God's best for your life 451 00:34:38,360 --> 00:35:06,360 I believe if you follow Jesus your best is ahead.