1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,800 If you have your Bibles, Ephesians chapter 4 is where we will be this morning. 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:07,120 It's time to jump back into it. 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:09,600 We're going to be in chapter 4 this morning. 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,440 We're going to be in chapter 4 all the way leading up to Advent. 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:17,520 I forgot how many weeks that is, but we're going to finish chapter 4 before Advent. 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:22,240 Before we jump into chapter 4, though, I think it's important that we quickly summarize 7 00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:26,280 where we have been in Ephesians up to this point. 8 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:34,600 The first half of Ephesians, the first three chapters of Ephesians, is primarily doctrine. 9 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:42,760 For three chapters, Paul outlines who God is, what He has done, who we are, and what 10 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,280 the benefits are of being adopted into His family. 11 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:52,480 We learn that even the faith that we have to believe in Jesus wasn't something that 12 00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:54,600 we got on our own. 13 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,840 It was given to us by God. 14 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:05,680 Everything that we have in Jesus is because God initiated the relationship. 15 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:12,800 He provided everything we need to have the relationship, and then He rewards us for having 16 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,720 that relationship that He initiated for us. 17 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,240 That's what the first three chapters of Ephesians are. 18 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,920 We learn that nothing can separate us from the love of God. 19 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:28,000 We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and God claims us as His own. 20 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:35,680 As much as the enemy will lie to you regarding your salvation, God did not make a mistake, 21 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:41,040 and He has no regrets when He adopted you into His family. 22 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,400 We spent 14 weeks then going through the book of Hosea. 23 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:51,880 For 14 weeks, we saw how the people of Israel were neglecting the Lord in His contentment. 24 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,240 Continuous pursuit of them. 25 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,200 Throughout the book, He warned them. 26 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:58,440 He sent prophets. 27 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:03,600 He sent warnings, and eventually He sent judgments. 28 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:10,160 Throughout the entire book of Hosea, it was like God was holding up a mirror to show them 29 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:15,720 their reality, to show them what they had become, and they refused to look into it. 30 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,680 Now, that doesn't mean they stopped being His people, but sometimes parents have to 31 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:25,840 make some hard decisions to get their children's attention. 32 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,560 And that's what ended up happening with God and Israel. 33 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:36,080 So it's almost like Paul took a page from Hosea, and for three chapters, he reminded 34 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:41,720 the people of God of who he was and what he had done. 35 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:48,840 And now the next three chapters are going to be, how do we live in light of that reality? 36 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,800 How are we supposed to live with that information? 37 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:58,000 Israel failed to see it in Hosea, and it ended badly for them. 38 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,880 My prayer is that we can do better. 39 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:07,680 So let's read the first three verses together, and then we'll go from there. 40 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:12,440 Paul says, I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of 41 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,800 the calling to which you have been called. 42 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:20,320 With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to 43 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:24,920 maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 44 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:32,840 So right out of the gate, Paul says, therefore, referencing chapters one through three. 45 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:40,960 So in light of who God is, the one who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in 46 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:42,840 the heavenly places. 47 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,320 The one who chose us before the foundation of the world. 48 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,240 The one in whom we have redemption. 49 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:56,960 In light of that, Paul urges us to walk in a worthy manner. 50 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:02,920 So I think there's at least three aspects that we can gather from this text. 51 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,320 There's three things that we need to focus on, and we need to remember. 52 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,440 The first one comes from verse one. 53 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:09,640 It's a calling. 54 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,360 This is a calling. 55 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,480 Now let's understand what this calling is. 56 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,320 Notice real quick that this is a call you receive. 57 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,840 This is not a call you make. 58 00:04:19,840 --> 00:04:21,840 You are not the caller. 59 00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:25,280 This goes back to everything we've already covered in the previous chapters. 60 00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:29,960 By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. 61 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:31,800 This is not anything you've done. 62 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,720 It is a gift from God. 63 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:38,880 The call that we receive is a gift from God. 64 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:45,480 So if we were to keep this in the context of what Paul has already written in Ephesians, 65 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,240 this is not talking about a job. 66 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,440 There are many of us who have had callings, and you are living that out. 67 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,600 Some have been called into the ministry. 68 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,920 Some have been called to work in a particular field. 69 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,920 Some have been called to be a parent. 70 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:03,800 Those are all great callings, but this is not what Paul is saying that you have been 71 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,680 called to in this text. 72 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,440 This is a calling to salvation. 73 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:17,600 So although I am called to preach, although I am called to be a pastor, I have a higher 74 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,960 calling, and that's my salvation. 75 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,680 Paul says in 2nd Timothy chapter 1, therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our 76 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:30,040 Lord nor of me and his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of 77 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:34,440 God who saved us and called us to a holy calling. 78 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,600 Not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace which he gave us in 79 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,240 Christ Jesus before the ages began. 80 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,560 Does that sound familiar to you? 81 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,000 Does that sound like something we've already covered? 82 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,240 It's like Paul has this theme going on. 83 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:55,800 Your salvation was given to you before you took your first breath. 84 00:05:55,800 --> 00:06:00,440 I grew up like many of you that I grew up in a time before cell phones. 85 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:05,360 I know I'm not that old, but I grew up before cell phones. 86 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:16,280 Believe it or not, my parents would just send me out into the world and hope for the best. 87 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:18,720 Hope I made it safely. 88 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:23,120 Hope I was where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there. 89 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:30,880 They would send me out without even giving me a quarter to make a phone call. 90 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:32,640 I laugh at my kids all the time. 91 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:37,360 I laugh at many of you as well. 92 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,560 When they wonder, how am I going to survive if I don't have a cell phone? 93 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,560 My son last night, he has a screen limit, right? 94 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:53,080 What if, what if I need to text somebody after my screen time is over? 95 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:54,080 I don't know. 96 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:59,560 I mean, you're going to make it. 97 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:04,400 When I needed to get a hold of my parents, I would go to a pay phone and I would dial 98 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:05,400 1-800-CALL-ATT. 99 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,200 You know the number? 100 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,200 I knew that. 101 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,480 Boom, boom, boom. 102 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,600 I had their number memorized, which many of us don't have numbers memorized anymore, 103 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,440 but I had their number memorized and I would make a collect call. 104 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:26,060 They would answer and they would hear, you have a collect call from, and this is the 105 00:07:26,060 --> 00:07:29,280 time you would say your name so they knew who was calling. 106 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:34,360 Instead of giving my name, I would get in as many words as possible in that one second 107 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:38,880 after the beep. 108 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:43,280 You have a collect call from, pick me up at school. 109 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:44,520 Right? 110 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,080 I forgot my keys. 111 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,680 I forgot my backpack. 112 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:50,880 Right? 113 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:51,880 That's it. 114 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:52,880 That was it. 115 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,440 They couldn't respond unless they wanted to pay for the phone call. 116 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:02,120 In that moment, they had to stop whatever they were doing and come help me. 117 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:07,000 It was a one-sided conversation. 118 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:12,920 When somebody makes a phone call, there is a purpose behind it. 119 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:23,120 The purpose in God's call to us is because He has a purpose for our lives. 120 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:28,840 When God makes a call, it's because of the grace that He wants to bestow. 121 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,440 So when you think about your salvation, you think about, okay, I was saved before the 122 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,560 foundation of the world. 123 00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:37,400 He chose me before I took my first breath. 124 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:42,720 The question we need to be asking is, why? 125 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:47,240 What purpose does God have in mind for redeeming me? 126 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:51,240 Why did He choose me? 127 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:56,600 Why do we have an Amazon distribution center in Davenport? 128 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,760 It's because Jeff Bezos was thinking, I really like those people in Iowa. 129 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,200 I want to provide a bunch of jobs for them. 130 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:05,200 No. 131 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:06,200 No. 132 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:10,960 It was because he was being strategic and getting things that he sells closer to the 133 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,120 people who were buying them. 134 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:18,400 If he can put a distribution center in different parts of the country, then we can get stuff 135 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,120 faster than we would if they were just on the coast. 136 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:23,120 And guess what? 137 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,760 He makes more money. 138 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:32,160 God calls you because you might be the only believer in your workplace. 139 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,160 You might be the only believer in your neighborhood. 140 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:40,000 And He is calling you to spread His message. 141 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:45,440 He calls you to help distribute His love to those around you. 142 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,240 He calls you to walk with others as they go through a hard time. 143 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,200 He calls you for a purpose. 144 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:58,000 Now our locations might be different, but the purpose is the same. 145 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,000 Penn Gillette. 146 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:00,000 Many of y'all know him. 147 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,240 He's a magician. 148 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:06,680 He's half of the team, Penn and Teller, where they perform their magic act in front of sold-out 149 00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:07,680 shows. 150 00:10:07,680 --> 00:10:11,400 They perform on television, they do all these things. 151 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:16,120 Penn is an atheist, and he boldly proclaims that. 152 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,560 He's proud of the fact that he is an atheist. 153 00:10:19,560 --> 00:10:23,280 A few years ago, he gave an interview about Christianity. 154 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,680 This is what he said. 155 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:31,840 He said, if you believe there is a heaven and a hell, and you think it's not worth telling 156 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:37,640 someone about, how much do you have to hate him to not proselytize? 157 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:43,520 To believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell people? 158 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:51,600 Now, proselytize simply means to advocate or promote your beliefs. 159 00:10:51,600 --> 00:11:00,840 So a prominent atheist is promoting evangelism. 160 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:07,600 If you have received the free gift of salvation, and you are going to reign and rule with the 161 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:15,920 people, and you are going to rule with Jesus, if God has called you with a purpose, how 162 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:20,840 much do you have to hate someone to not tell them about it? 163 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:29,800 If you've been forgiven of your sin, if you've been redeemed, why would you not tell someone 164 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,480 how they can be forgiven of their sins? 165 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,160 How they can be redeemed? 166 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,720 I mean, we pass on all kinds of information, don't we? 167 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,000 Hey, there's this great sale going on at this store. 168 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,000 You should jump in on that. 169 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,360 Hey, the roads are bad today. 170 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,040 You might want to take another route or leave a little early. 171 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,560 Hey, kids sign-ups are going on right now. 172 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:54,560 If you want your kid to participate, you better get on that. 173 00:11:54,560 --> 00:12:00,640 So it's not like we're afraid to pass on information, but for some reason, when it comes to our 174 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:08,360 faith, we forget that we have been called with a purpose. 175 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:14,160 When something good is going on, tell people about it. 176 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,800 Tell people about your church. 177 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:21,200 Tell people about the opportunities where they can hear the gospel. 178 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,320 Tell people what the Lord has done in your life. 179 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:29,120 We have a great opportunity this week. 180 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:33,920 When you leave, I want you to grab one of these cards. 181 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,320 We've advertised it. 182 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,320 It's the Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast. 183 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,480 Do you know what the Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast is? 184 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:45,440 It's for you to invite any nonbeliever to come sit at a table where they're going to 185 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,520 hear the gospel. 186 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:56,200 It's a free meal where you can hear the gospel. 187 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:57,200 Take one of these cards. 188 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:58,480 Get the tickets. 189 00:12:58,480 --> 00:12:59,480 Invite your neighbors. 190 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:00,880 Invite your coworkers. 191 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,760 Do it. 192 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:13,720 You can't spare three hours on a Saturday to share the good news of Jesus. 193 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:18,080 You don't think that's going to create opportunities for you down the line to have conversations 194 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:19,240 about Jesus? 195 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,120 You were called with a purpose. 196 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:26,120 And so when things like this come up, you need to jump on those things because not all 197 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:30,920 of us feel comfortable going to our neighbor and just talking about Jesus. 198 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:31,920 But guess what? 199 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,320 They have to eat. 200 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,080 Invite them to breakfast. 201 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:37,720 So grab one of these on the way out. 202 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:38,720 Scan the QR code. 203 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:40,280 Get your tickets. 204 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:46,280 Do it. 205 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:55,640 I can't think of one time that I called my parents collect and they didn't respond. 206 00:13:55,640 --> 00:14:00,960 They came because they were good parents. 207 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,960 They didn't just leave me out there to figure things out on my own. 208 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,320 But he'll make it home. 209 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,760 He'll get the keys unstuck. 210 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,160 You have received a call. 211 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:17,300 If you were a believer in Jesus, you have received a call. 212 00:14:17,300 --> 00:14:21,200 Are you walking in a manner worthy of that calling? 213 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:26,000 Are you understanding that you have been called with a purpose? 214 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,120 Next you see in verse 2 that we are to have a certain attitude. 215 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:33,560 Verse 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in 216 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:37,200 love. 217 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:45,160 One of the greatest oxymorons on earth is an arrogant Christian. 218 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:50,960 One of the greatest oxymorons on earth is arrogant Christian. 219 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,560 What do we have to be arrogant about? 220 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:55,480 You didn't do anything to earn your salvation. 221 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:56,760 We've covered that. 222 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,800 You didn't do anything to make yourself right before a holy God. 223 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:06,760 As Christians we are to walk in humility because it is only by the grace of God that 224 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:10,600 we were chosen by him before the foundation of the world. 225 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:14,120 Our attitudes should reflect Jesus. 226 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,960 What was Jesus like when he walked the earth? 227 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,120 He ate dinner with sinners. 228 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:24,320 He socialized with the outcasts of culture. 229 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,360 He relied on God's word when he was tempted. 230 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:32,080 He took seriously the worship of God in the temple. 231 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,360 He put other needs before his own. 232 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:39,600 He sacrificed because of the calling that he had on his life. 233 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:46,120 He laid down his life so that you and I could be recipients of the grace of God. 234 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,520 Paul tells the Corinthian church what the attitude of a believer should look like. 235 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:54,880 In 2 Corinthians chapter 6 he writes, we put no obstacle in anyone's way so that no fault 236 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:56,920 may be founded with our ministry. 237 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:03,480 But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way by great endurance in afflictions, 238 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:08,960 hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger, 239 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:14,480 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, by truthful 240 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,360 speech and the power of God. 241 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:24,800 Is that the description of your attitude? 242 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:34,400 You see the problem with a lot of us, at least for me, is that I tend to put my comfort and 243 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:38,160 my needs and wants before others. 244 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:44,280 I begin to think that I deserve something or I begin to think that I can accomplish things 245 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,640 on my own. 246 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:51,120 Jesus relied on God for everything he did. 247 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:56,080 His attitude was one of dependence on the Father. 248 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,320 Our culture says, look out for number one. 249 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,200 You get yours. 250 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:07,040 When you're having a bad day, how do you respond? 251 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:12,960 When you are facing an uphill climb with some illness in your family or you personally, 252 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:19,720 when you face hardship and difficulties, what is your attitude like? 253 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:25,160 This past week I was at a conference and one of the speakers was Catherine Wolfe. 254 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,040 I would encourage you to Google her. 255 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,280 I would encourage you to read her story. 256 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:33,120 I would encourage you to get to know her. 257 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:36,840 At 26 years old she suffered a massive stroke. 258 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:40,920 She almost died but she was left paralyzed on her right side. 259 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:45,360 She could have easily thrown in the towel. 260 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:53,680 But instead she responded with a message of hope and her attitude is contagious. 261 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:59,400 God is using her because she sees the bigger picture. 262 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,680 She sees what all this is for. 263 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:07,880 Paul says in every way we want our attitude to reflect Jesus so that no obstacle is put 264 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,960 in someone else's way. 265 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:18,040 I am sure we all know someone or maybe you used to be this but a person who refuses to 266 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:25,120 go to church because they have some church hurt. 267 00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:27,640 The pastor did them wrong. 268 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,840 Church leadership did them wrong. 269 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:33,160 And now they want nothing to do with the Lord. 270 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:40,200 I feel like our primary ministry in La Mesa was to the de-churched population of our 271 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,240 town. 272 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:49,200 God kept bringing us people who grew up in church as a kid but left because the culture 273 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:50,240 was toxic. 274 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:56,560 I mean it's hard enough to get people to come to church. 275 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:03,000 It's even harder to get them to come back to church when they've had a bad experience. 276 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:07,120 The greatest command according to Jesus is to love God. 277 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:08,120 The second is like it. 278 00:19:08,120 --> 00:19:09,120 Love people. 279 00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:10,920 Paul tells us what love is. 280 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,920 I'm sure many of you had this read at your wedding. 281 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,040 Love is patient and kind. 282 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:17,920 Love does not envy or boast. 283 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,640 Love is not arrogant or rude. 284 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,120 It does not insist on its own way. 285 00:19:22,120 --> 00:19:24,200 It is not irritable or resentful. 286 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:29,240 It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 287 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:34,600 This text is not limited to marriage. 288 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:38,080 This is how we are to live as people of God. 289 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:43,040 As Christians we are to be long suffering. 290 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:51,000 In a culture that wants to cancel anything that is offensive. 291 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:56,680 That wants to get rid of anything that goes against what it thinks is right. 292 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,600 We are to be the antithesis to that. 293 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:04,720 People are not my enemy. 294 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:09,520 Republicans and Democrats are not my enemy. 295 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,880 Drug addicts are not my enemy. 296 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,000 Homosexuals are not my enemy. 297 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:21,560 People that wrong me and talk bad about me, they are not my enemy. 298 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:27,280 My enemy is not flesh and blood but the spiritual forces of evil. 299 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,640 As a church we have to understand that. 300 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:34,640 When we begin to think that people are the enemies of the church, we are putting up an 301 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,400 obstacle for them. 302 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,880 It's us versus them. 303 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:48,400 If someone leaves this church, may it never be because of how they were treated. 304 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,880 We rejoice in truth. 305 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:56,400 And if someone leaves this church, let it be for that reason. 306 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:02,720 Not because they were unloved but because they chose to believe a lie rather than the 307 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:03,960 truth. 308 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:14,360 The problem with the church today is that it is rejoicing over wrongdoing and then we 309 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:17,800 are calling it love. 310 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:22,480 Rejoice of sin is not loving. 311 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:31,040 Changing the word of God to fit into some cultural movement is not loving. 312 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,560 I don't rejoice in homosexuality. 313 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:40,640 The same way I don't rejoice in adultery or pride or any other sin that people are walking 314 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,040 in. 315 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:49,720 We rejoice in truth and we refuse to put up obstacles that might keep someone from experiencing 316 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:53,760 the freedom that is found in Christ. 317 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:55,640 That's what our attitude should be. 318 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:59,280 Finally in verse 3, Paul gives us the challenge. 319 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:08,560 Eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. 320 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:18,440 Are you eager to maintain unity? 321 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:23,520 Are you eager to maintain unity? 322 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:28,480 Are you eager to keep the bond of peace? 323 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,280 When things are going well, I think that's an easy yes. 324 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,080 Yeah, we like unity. 325 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:35,960 Yeah, we like peace. 326 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:41,360 But what about when things get a little hard? 327 00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:45,000 What about when you don't get your way? 328 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:51,240 I texted a couple of my pastor friends yesterday to ask them for some examples that they have 329 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:55,640 witnessed or been a part of regarding church splits. 330 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,680 Here are some of their responses. 331 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,800 Names were removed from the pews. 332 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:08,840 If you grew up in church, you know exactly what I'm talking about. 333 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:13,040 One church split happened because one of my friends stopped wearing a tie and it upset 334 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:17,720 a whole bunch of people. 335 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:23,080 One friend said the worship pastor had too long of a beard. 336 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:29,880 That's why we have drew clean shaven today. 337 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:36,160 The volume was too loud. 338 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:40,080 The volume was not loud enough. 339 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:45,360 One church split over the color of the carpet that was installed in the new sanctuary. 340 00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:51,000 One of my friends said 40 people left his church because they switched the brand of 341 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:56,720 coffee they used. 342 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:04,000 He laughed, but that's reality. 343 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:08,160 Who would leave a church over coffee? 344 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:14,520 Apparently, apparently in this situation, 40 people left. 345 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:20,880 How dare you not serve soldiers? 346 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:29,840 Think about the message that that sends to the community. 347 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:38,680 When churches split over any one of those reasons, in La Mesa, where we moved here from, 348 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:45,800 there are over 60 churches for a town of less than 10,000. 349 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:51,640 In my 10 years there were four new churches that began simply because they split from 350 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:53,560 another church. 351 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:57,320 It was for reasons similar to these. 352 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:01,320 There was a developer that came in town and he was going to put in this big manufacturing 353 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:05,400 facility and it was going to create a whole bunch of jobs for people. 354 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:10,640 The town needed something like this because we needed jobs. 355 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:14,160 After meeting with the economic development board, after meeting with the city council 356 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:19,400 and other city leaders, they decided not to move their facility into La Mesa. 357 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,960 Do you want to know the reason? 358 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:28,520 They said if the churches can't seem to get along, this is not a town we want to be a 359 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,000 part of. 360 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:39,880 If the people of God can't get along, this is not something we want to be a part of. 361 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:44,640 Even the people of God don't have a spirit of unity. 362 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,000 It affects the community. 363 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:55,560 We all need to have an eagerness to maintain a spirit of unity even when we don't get our 364 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,080 way. 365 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:02,000 Even when it's not our preference. 366 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:09,520 I'm all about having more churches in a community, but not at the cost of the ones we already 367 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:10,520 have. 368 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:26,080 Now, I want to commend so many of you because some things have changed around here and you've 369 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:29,520 been upset about some of the changes. 370 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:38,480 But as far as I know, you have informed a committee to have me fired yet. 371 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:43,160 Some of you prefer to get your newsletter in the mail instead of being emailed and you're 372 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:47,920 still here. 373 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:53,120 Some of you might be upset because the color of the paint has changed in some places and 374 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:56,200 you're still here. 375 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,240 Thank you. 376 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,320 Thank you. 377 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:06,760 One of the things that hasn't changed is the fact that we rejoice in the truth and we stand 378 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:12,880 on the authority of the Word of God as our source of life. 379 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:17,560 That is one thing that cannot change. 380 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:23,400 But everything else is probably going to fall into the category of preference. 381 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:29,920 And if our preferences begin to overshadow what we know to be true, then we're going 382 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:31,800 to be in some trouble. 383 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:39,280 Now, I'm not one to look for the devil under every rock, but I have to be real honest with 384 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:42,640 you this morning. 385 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:53,800 If we are not careful and if we are not on guard, we can easily let the enemy disrupt 386 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:58,520 our unity. 387 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:10,640 Also you are aware my guard has been up in a significant way since May. 388 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:21,880 I walked out of our experiencing God's service in May uneasy because I didn't sense unity. 389 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:26,840 I heard things like we need to build a bigger building for DeWitt. 390 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,380 Then I would hear no, we don't need a bigger building for DeWitt. 391 00:28:29,380 --> 00:28:34,840 We need a bigger building in Eldridge. 392 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,220 Then I would hear no, we don't need a bigger building in just DeWitt. 393 00:28:38,220 --> 00:28:41,320 We need a bigger building in both. 394 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:44,360 There's not unity. 395 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:49,880 There have been accusations thrown out there that if we don't build or don't buy, we don't 396 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:53,360 have faith that the Lord will provide. 397 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:58,080 If we don't move this direction, then we are not trusting the Lord. 398 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:01,520 Those are things that have been said to me. 399 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,120 There is not unity on the Elder Board as to what direction to go. 400 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:07,440 Now, I'm not going to speak for them. 401 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,640 I can only speak for me, but here's how I see it. 402 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:15,360 If the Lord calls us to move forward and we're going to expand the way we're going to expand 403 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:16,360 Eldridge, we're going to do it. 404 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:20,960 If the Lord calls us to that, and let's say the cost is $20 million. 405 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:28,040 If the Lord calls us to that, I will be the front of the line moving forward because I 406 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:31,280 have no doubt that He will provide. 407 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:35,120 I won't hesitate to move forward for a second. 408 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:40,480 Now one of the ways the Lord will confirm that to me is that we are unified as a church. 409 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:42,160 We are unified as a staff. 410 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,200 We are unified as an Elder Board. 411 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:51,960 In the meantime, while we wait on the Lord to lead, we have to continue to do what the 412 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,160 Lord has called us to. 413 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:56,640 We don't just sit back and wait. 414 00:29:56,640 --> 00:30:01,520 If we get so full that we have to go to three services. 415 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:02,720 I don't want to. 416 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,680 That's not my preference, but that's what we'll do. 417 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:14,720 If our classrooms are so full and it's hot and cramped and kind of miserable, I'm going 418 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:20,520 to put my comfort aside and celebrate that the Lord has grown our church. 419 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:23,360 We're going to be faithful while we wait. 420 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:28,840 If I have to sit on the floor because there's not enough seats, I'm going to celebrate the 421 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:33,120 fact that there's somebody there to sit in it. 422 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:39,360 Let's not let the good things the Lord is doing amongst us be ruined by our comfort and our 423 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:41,960 preferences. 424 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:44,840 There are Christians in the Middle East. 425 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:51,800 There's Christians in the Middle East who risk time in prison to come to church, and 426 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:59,040 they sit on a dirt floor with no air conditioning. 427 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:07,400 I get upset at times when I'm a little warm sitting in a pad of chair. 428 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:12,760 If I feel that way at times, I'm sure maybe some of you do as well. 429 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:21,000 In light of who God is, in light of what he has done, let's walk in a worthy way to the 430 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:25,840 calling that we have received. 431 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:32,520 Who are you showing hatred to right now because you haven't shared with him the hope of the 432 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:35,800 gospel? 433 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:41,160 What do you need to repent of? 434 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:49,860 Where do you see your preferences taking precedence over what we are called to as a church? 435 00:31:49,860 --> 00:31:52,840 We have to fight for unity. 436 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:53,840 It's not just going to happen. 437 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,240 We have to fight for it. 438 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:56,760 We have to be eager for it. 439 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:58,640 We have to walk in humility. 440 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:05,480 Now, if we're sitting in a meeting and I get out voted, that's okay because unity is more 441 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,280 important to me. 442 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:13,360 If I don't get my way, that's okay because unity is more important to me. 443 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:17,880 And so I'm pleading with you, put your guard up. 444 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:18,880 Join me. 445 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:22,680 Put your guard up because the enemy would love nothing more than to split what God is 446 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:26,480 doing in this place. 447 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:29,480 We have to fight for unity. 448 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:36,960 It's not going to happen naturally. 449 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:42,000 We don't fight with each other. 450 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:44,440 We fight against the forces of evil. 451 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:53,640 In a few chapters, we'll get to the armor of God and we'll talk all about that. 452 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:58,880 But when you think about the armor of God, when you think about all the pieces that you 453 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:06,080 have to put on to fight the battle that you don't see, so many of us are walking into a 454 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:10,240 battle but naked because we're not prepared for it. 455 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:15,160 And so I'm pleading with you, put your guard up. 456 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:16,680 Pray for unity. 457 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:18,360 Seek unity. 458 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:22,720 Pray for the will of God to move in this place. 459 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:33,960 In the meantime, understand that you've been called for a purpose. 460 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:43,440 You are the distribution center for the Lord's message. 461 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:50,080 You might be the only Jesus that people interact with on a daily basis. 462 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:54,600 You're the one that hates them, loves them. 463 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:56,040 Take them out to lunch. 464 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:57,320 Have them over for dinner. 465 00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:58,320 Watch their kids. 466 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:04,360 Whatever it takes, love them because that's what you're called to do. 467 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:05,360 Let's pray. 468 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:17,400 Father, I pray that as we just stop and sit in silence, 469 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:30,880 I pray God that you'll speak. 470 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:38,920 We pray for unity. 471 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:49,760 I pray God for renewed understanding of the call that you have called us to. 472 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:59,120 Help us understand our purpose in the world around us. 473 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:11,080 And so Father, as we just sit here for a second, 474 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:29,040 we'll speak.