1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:20,080
Good morning, family.

2
00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:27,840
Please turn to Matthew chapter 19, just short detour.

3
00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:38,120
I try not to get into topical sermons, though they're not biblical.

4
00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:48,240
Topical sermons have a tendency to be very, kind of, I don't know, topical.

5
00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,420
But it doesn't mean that we can't be expository in it.

6
00:00:51,420 --> 00:00:58,760
So we're going to be dealing with a subject that needs to be dealt with.

7
00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:09,080
Over the last couple weeks, Christendom has been rocked with some very bad advice, in

8
00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:23,200
my opinion, concerning how we need to handle the family, marriage, and whether a Christian

9
00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:28,400
should participate or not participate in such celebrations.

10
00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,600
I did not want to have to answer this question.

11
00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:36,140
I wanted to expound on that as we went through the Scripture.

12
00:01:36,140 --> 00:01:42,480
But because of the days we live in and the times that we live in, it has to be addressed,

13
00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,040
for one, so that everyone knows where we as a church stand.

14
00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:51,480
I've already spoken to the elders about this particular message, and they agreed.

15
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:56,000
And where we stand as elders and where I stand as a pastor, what my responsibility is as

16
00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:01,240
a pastor, and what your responsibility is as a believer.

17
00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,400
It is a straight-to-the-point message.

18
00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,200
This is not a matter of opinion.

19
00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:08,480
This is a matter of Scripture.

20
00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:13,280
So I will tell you, it's going to be hard for some.

21
00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:19,040
It's just like it's not really, in a sense, hard for me to talk about, because I have

22
00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,160
no problem talking about God's Word.

23
00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:30,360
But me as a shepherd and caring for your heart, I know that this can cause some uneasiness,

24
00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,200
and it's not what I want for you.

25
00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:39,320
But in all growth, growth requires growing pain, so I'm okay with that.

26
00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:44,240
That being said, I'm not going to bring up the individual's name who really kind of started

27
00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:49,680
us – not really started us on this issue, but really brought it home for many of us.

28
00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:54,840
I said we're going to answer a lot of questions, deal with it directly and biblically, and

29
00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,480
then I have to leave it to you that you submit yourself to the authority of God's Word.

30
00:02:58,480 --> 00:02:59,480
It's not an issue of me.

31
00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,280
It's an issue of God's Word.

32
00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,280
It's not an issue of opinion.

33
00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:04,440
It's an issue of truth.

34
00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,880
So that being said, let's address it.

35
00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,600
Father, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness.

36
00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:15,040
The Lord has asked that as we deal with this issue of the family and of marriage, that

37
00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,360
you would give me wisdom, that the full counsel of your Word would be taught, that your people

38
00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:26,720
have prepared their hearts, and the importance of marriage and the reflection of Christ in

39
00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:27,720
His church.

40
00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:28,720
Lord, we thank you.

41
00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:33,600
There are many ways we could go about this, Lord, but we are asking for your guidance

42
00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,560
and your wisdom in dealing with this concisely for your honor and glory.

43
00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,840
In Jesus' name, amen.

44
00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:46,800
As many of you have heard, there has been a major stir in Christendom.

45
00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,760
The issue of where God's people should stand concerning marriage and family has been in

46
00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,280
the courts of public opinion, and I will tell you that God does not care about your opinion

47
00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,040
or mine.

48
00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,080
So let's deal with that right away, okay?

49
00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:06,520
This may be something that affects people and it hurts their feelings, but God does

50
00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,120
not care about my opinion.

51
00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:14,020
He cares about His truth and my aligning to His Word.

52
00:04:14,020 --> 00:04:17,680
We all have a lot of opinions, but opinions do not matter when it comes to the reality

53
00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,440
of the conviction of the Word of God.

54
00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:25,460
The Word of God is concise to the point, and we have everything for life and godliness

55
00:04:25,460 --> 00:04:26,880
in it.

56
00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,280
So God deals with this very clearly.

57
00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:33,360
So it's not an issue of opinion, it's an issue of fact, it's an issue of truth.

58
00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:38,680
I have decided to address this issue to clarify where we as a church and I as your pastor

59
00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:44,660
stand concerning the sanctity of marriage and what God clearly states on this issue.

60
00:04:44,660 --> 00:04:49,240
This will be a very clear and biblical statement on what God says about marriage, what it is,

61
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,680
what it is not, what you should and should not do as a child of God concerning marriage

62
00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,840
outside of God's standard.

63
00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:04,780
It is a very straight to the point message, so I'm just letting you know that.

64
00:05:04,780 --> 00:05:08,680
I am open for any conversations or if you want to meet and have a conversation about

65
00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,040
these issues, I am open to do that.

66
00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:17,240
My job is to shepherd you through this time and also walk in wisdom and love and in kindness,

67
00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,860
but yet in truth with conviction.

68
00:05:20,860 --> 00:05:25,880
And I think that was the main issue and the failure of this particular man.

69
00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:31,760
So I will not address his name, but I will address his issues.

70
00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:37,440
First you would think it's a no-brainer and that it is true if you're holding to biblical

71
00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:44,160
standard concerning the reality of marriage and family, but we live in a very corrupt

72
00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,840
world and confusion is at the top of the list.

73
00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:52,560
If you have any question about the reality of the spirit of confusion, and I use that

74
00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:58,120
loosely, not actual spirit, it is everywhere.

75
00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:03,340
It is everywhere concerning migration, it's everywhere concerning family, it's everywhere

76
00:06:03,340 --> 00:06:09,440
concerning a man's role and his responsibility in the family, it's concerning the issue of

77
00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,680
women, it's concerning the issue of feminism.

78
00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,540
Everywhere is confusion.

79
00:06:15,540 --> 00:06:23,920
Everyone has an opinion on everything, even to the point of abortion.

80
00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,680
And God does not care about our opinions on these issues.

81
00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:31,960
There are very clear distinct truths and that's what matters and that's how I'm going to address

82
00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:33,380
this.

83
00:06:33,380 --> 00:06:37,240
So we need to eliminate this issue of confusion because God does not give us the spirit of

84
00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:43,360
fear nor of anything else but the power of love and of sound mind and His Word is true

85
00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:44,600
and we can bank on that.

86
00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,440
So the first thing we need to understand is the standard of all things is Christ and He

87
00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,120
has created and established that standard.

88
00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:58,880
God did this from the beginning, He said it, He established it, it doesn't change because

89
00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,360
of what we think or feel.

90
00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:07,040
Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 2, Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 2, here is the principle,

91
00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,480
no one should add or take away from what God has commanded.

92
00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:17,960
We don't break God's commandment or take away from God's commandment because it doesn't

93
00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,840
fit my life.

94
00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,840
God's standard will never fit your life apart from Jesus.

95
00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:31,240
That being said, this is what He says in Deuteronomy 4 2, you shall not add to the word that I

96
00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:37,440
command you nor take from it that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God

97
00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,640
that I command you.

98
00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:44,760
So we don't have the authority to take away or add anything to God's Word besides what

99
00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:50,160
God's Word says, regardless of what we think we imply.

100
00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:55,000
It's one of the reasons why we are an expository church.

101
00:07:55,000 --> 00:08:02,000
An expository church, as Dr. Steve Lawson says, is a biblical church.

102
00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:06,980
When you expound on the reality of the truth of the Word of God verse by verse, context

103
00:08:06,980 --> 00:08:13,000
upon context, precept upon precept, you can be sure that God will speak through His Word.

104
00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:18,720
It's not me speaking, I am speaking what He says.

105
00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,400
Pretty simple.

106
00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:27,320
In Matthew chapter 5 verse 17 through 19 says this, do not think that I have come to abolish

107
00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,040
the law or the prophets.

108
00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:35,160
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

109
00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:41,720
For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota and not a dot will

110
00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:46,040
pass from the law until all is accomplished.

111
00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,960
So I want you to get that.

112
00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:55,320
It does not matter what we think or say, what the Supreme Court or anyone else says.

113
00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,160
I don't care.

114
00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:02,320
I follow Christ and Christ alone in His Word.

115
00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,640
It's important that you understand that.

116
00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:11,600
So if the Supreme Court decides they're going to approve gay marriage, that does not mean

117
00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:16,160
that it's a marriage.

118
00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:21,360
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to

119
00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:25,380
do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

120
00:09:25,380 --> 00:09:33,280
Rule number one for the individual who did not think through as he gave advice.

121
00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:37,480
Whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

122
00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:42,880
So our responsibility as believers is to do the commandments, to follow His Word and we

123
00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,360
will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

124
00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:50,080
We will hold true to the Word of God.

125
00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:57,440
And we will willingly give our lives for the freedom that Christ gives through His gospel.

126
00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:03,420
Alright second principle, the commandment of marriage and the establishment of the institution

127
00:10:03,420 --> 00:10:05,640
of marriage is God's and God's alone.

128
00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:11,260
Man does not have the biblical or God-given authority to redefine what God has ordained

129
00:10:11,260 --> 00:10:16,100
or established, period.

130
00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:19,800
I will clarify this so that you know this is all biblical.

131
00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:25,160
Matthew chapter 19 verse 4 through 6 says this, He answered, have you not read that

132
00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:33,840
He who created them from the beginning made them male and female?

133
00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,480
So I want you to get this very important statement here.

134
00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:43,040
God created them and He created them male and female.

135
00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:48,000
So anybody who decides that they're not a man because they feel like a woman does not

136
00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:49,880
matter.

137
00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,800
As a matter of fact, God has made it very clear He created you as a man.

138
00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,480
You may not like it.

139
00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,960
Well sin doesn't like God anyway.

140
00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:03,040
But that doesn't change anything.

141
00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:07,320
As a matter of fact, if you're in the medical field, you know it doesn't change anything

142
00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:11,440
because your chromosomes clearly tell you what you are.

143
00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:17,920
Your delusion does not change the reality of God's truth and the reality of your life.

144
00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:28,480
So, have you not read that He who created, God is the one who made you.

145
00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,560
He made them male and female, period.

146
00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:38,920
Secondly, He said, therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast

147
00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,920
to his wife and the two will become one flesh.

148
00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:49,040
First, very important thing, God has ordained genderism through the DNA.

149
00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:50,760
You are a man or you are a woman.

150
00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,920
That is a God-ordained created creature.

151
00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:56,200
Number one.

152
00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:01,520
Number two, God has ordained and established the family and marriage.

153
00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,640
For this reason, a man shall leave his mother and father and hold fast to his wife and the

154
00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,360
two will become one flesh.

155
00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,040
There is the family and there is marriage.

156
00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,840
It is not for you to self-define.

157
00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,140
Does not matter.

158
00:12:18,140 --> 00:12:22,680
God has made this very clear what it is.

159
00:12:22,680 --> 00:12:30,020
As a matter of fact, Jesus then states in verse 6 of Matthew 19, so they are no longer

160
00:12:30,020 --> 00:12:32,840
two but one flesh.

161
00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,600
And what God has joined together, let not man separate.

162
00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,800
Notice He doesn't say you cannot separate.

163
00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,920
He says you should do your absolute best to avoid it.

164
00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:46,760
Don't let it happen.

165
00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,000
If you can avoid it, avoid it.

166
00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:57,040
God has joined that institution and those two people together to create a family.

167
00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,740
The family is specifically designed for two reasons.

168
00:13:00,740 --> 00:13:04,900
To exemplify the love of Christ for His church.

169
00:13:04,900 --> 00:13:05,900
Number one.

170
00:13:05,900 --> 00:13:09,860
Number two, to procreate godly children.

171
00:13:09,860 --> 00:13:15,240
If there is not a family unit committed to the reality of the gospel of Christ, the family

172
00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,080
will die.

173
00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,680
Welcome to America.

174
00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:23,000
That's exactly what's happening today.

175
00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:30,120
Based on those two truths, well three truths really, I want to give some clarity on our

176
00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,200
response to those truths.

177
00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:39,600
These are very clear distinct truths that God has given concerning the reality of our responsibility

178
00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,760
according to His word and that will never change.

179
00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:51,160
And His creation of the institution of marriage and of the family and the creation of His

180
00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:55,520
creatures.

181
00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:59,240
Your responsibility, principle number three.

182
00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:04,660
Compassion without conviction leads to compromise.

183
00:14:04,660 --> 00:14:10,640
You do not participate in unfruitful deeds of darkness.

184
00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,560
Compassion without conviction leads to compromise.

185
00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:19,000
That was problem number three for this particular pastor.

186
00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:26,480
He let his compassion overrule his conviction which led to compromise and now he can't take

187
00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:31,800
it back.

188
00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,440
In Romans chapter 12 verse two, which I read last week, I'm going to use it again because

189
00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:37,520
it's very clear.

190
00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:43,440
So if you want to understand the mind of Christ and walk in the truth of Christ, then you

191
00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:47,000
need to be transformed in the renewal of your mind.

192
00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,800
What is the opposite of the transformation of your mind?

193
00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,680
The conformity to the world.

194
00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:57,960
If your mind is not being changed to be like is, then you cannot test and approve what

195
00:14:57,960 --> 00:14:58,960
God's will is.

196
00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:00,940
It's good, pleasing, and perfect will.

197
00:15:00,940 --> 00:15:06,360
You will automatically conform to the ideals and the philosophies of the world and think

198
00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:07,360
it's okay.

199
00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:11,280
When it's not.

200
00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:18,040
Proof Ephesians chapter five verse three through 13.

201
00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:23,560
This is going to be hard, but I say it in love.

202
00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,420
This is God's word, not me.

203
00:15:27,420 --> 00:15:35,120
The sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among

204
00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,400
you as is proper among the saints.

205
00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,720
Do you hear that?

206
00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,400
Can't even be named among us.

207
00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:49,600
Let there be no filthiness or foolish talk nor crude joking which are out of place, but

208
00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:54,320
instead let there be thanksgiving.

209
00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:58,360
Here it is, for you may be sure of this.

210
00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,960
This is a guarantee.

211
00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:06,180
When Paul says you may be sure, it is a declarative.

212
00:16:06,180 --> 00:16:08,880
You can bank on it.

213
00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:19,280
That everyone who is sexually immoral or impure or who is covetous is an idolater has no inheritance

214
00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,080
in the kingdom of God.

215
00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:23,780
That's his word.

216
00:16:23,780 --> 00:16:25,160
It's not mine.

217
00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:29,620
This is not for me to decide on my opinion what I will accept and not accept.

218
00:16:29,620 --> 00:16:32,480
This is the reality of the situation.

219
00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:38,720
This is the truth unadulterated straight from the word.

220
00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:47,720
Anyone who practices sexual immorality, impurity, or is covetous has no inheritance in the kingdom

221
00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,900
of God.

222
00:16:50,900 --> 00:16:58,760
That's hard because we have loved ones that we want in the kingdom of God.

223
00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:03,920
That does not mean that our compassion for them and the reality of the lostness isn't

224
00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:04,920
there.

225
00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,600
Absolutely, it's there.

226
00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:09,600
My aunt is a homosexual.

227
00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:10,600
She's a lesbian.

228
00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:17,240
She lives with a woman in union with a woman named Michelle.

229
00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:21,360
Going to her wedding was never an option.

230
00:17:21,360 --> 00:17:22,360
Made that very clear.

231
00:17:22,360 --> 00:17:28,640
I love you, Anna Reen, and I love Michelle, but I cannot agree nor participate and say

232
00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:34,760
it's okay that what you're doing is okay because it's not.

233
00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:37,200
But understand something.

234
00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:43,320
I will sit down with them and have a meal and love them and tell them I love them like

235
00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,080
I do all the time.

236
00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,960
My love for them doesn't change.

237
00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:59,640
My heart is heavy for them because they're living in a deceitful, living in a fake relationship.

238
00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:01,560
It's not a God-ordained relationship.

239
00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:08,440
It's heartbreaking, but that's the truth.

240
00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,200
That doesn't mean that God doesn't have compassion for them either.

241
00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,000
I mean, he gave his son.

242
00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:19,040
How much more compassion do you want?

243
00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:20,440
Let there be no...

244
00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:21,440
Let's continue reading.

245
00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:22,440
I'm sorry, verse 6.

246
00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:27,040
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things, the wrath of God

247
00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,640
comes upon the sons of disobedience.

248
00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:33,520
The reason why God will judge the world is because of sin.

249
00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,960
It's coming.

250
00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:41,320
You either accept God's wrath being poured out on his son on your behalf, or you will

251
00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,840
experience the wrath of God for your sin.

252
00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:49,400
One way or another, you let him be your substitutionary atonement for it, or you're going to have

253
00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:50,400
to deal with it yourself.

254
00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:51,680
But guess what you don't get?

255
00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:57,040
You don't get the free gift of eternal life.

256
00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:58,040
This is God's word.

257
00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,680
It's not an issue of opinion.

258
00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:08,320
Therefore, do not become partners with them, for at one time you were darkness, and now

259
00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:14,180
you are light in the Lord, walkers children of light.

260
00:19:14,180 --> 00:19:19,480
My compassion and heart for people doesn't change my conviction.

261
00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:25,480
If anything, my convictions to solidify my compassion in order to tell them the truth

262
00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:36,080
and warn them that they're going to walk into a forest fire and burn to death.

263
00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:37,080
But what do we do?

264
00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:43,640
We classify and say, it's okay, go ahead and walk into the fire and burn to death because

265
00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:54,080
I love you just the way you are when I have to be made a new creature in Christ Jesus.

266
00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,840
God makes me new.

267
00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:03,720
He doesn't keep me old.

268
00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:10,840
Focus children of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good, right, and true,

269
00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:14,040
and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

270
00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:15,760
This is what Paul is saying here.

271
00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:21,480
Your responsibility, if you are being transformed in the renewing of your mind, so you can test

272
00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:26,080
and approve what God's will is, good, pleasing, perfect will, you need to be able to discern

273
00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,440
what is good.

274
00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,240
What is the right thing to do?

275
00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:37,840
Call a grandmother to go to a transgender wedding and put a Bible on her lap?

276
00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:38,840
I get it.

277
00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:39,840
I understand.

278
00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:41,600
I said this on Wednesday.

279
00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:47,080
I totally get why he would have said that.

280
00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:54,560
But the one thing he wasn't taking into consideration is she wasn't his sheep.

281
00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:55,560
He didn't belong.

282
00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,080
She didn't belong to his church.

283
00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:02,760
He should have never given advice to a sheep that didn't belong to him.

284
00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:09,720
Send her to her pastor.

285
00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,760
That's the problem with celebrity pastors.

286
00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:14,800
They think they shepherd everybody.

287
00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:22,280
I will address this in 2 Timothy chapter 2 in a minute.

288
00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:26,280
But when anything is exposed, for it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in

289
00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:30,920
secret, but when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible for anything that

290
00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,320
becomes visible as light.

291
00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,280
Principle number 4.

292
00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:37,760
Test everything.

293
00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,440
Hold on to the truth and walk as children of light.

294
00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,920
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak

295
00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:52,680
on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak and He will declare to you the

296
00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:54,620
things that are to come.

297
00:21:54,620 --> 00:22:01,480
He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you.

298
00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:06,680
John chapter 16 verse 13 through 14.

299
00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,720
That's the other issue.

300
00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:16,080
As pastors, we have a responsibility to listen to the Spirit of God as He guides us in His

301
00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:24,760
truth, not guides us in our opinion of compassion.

302
00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:30,480
First Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 19 through 22.

303
00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,680
Do not quench the Spirit.

304
00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:39,160
Do not despise prophecies, but test everything.

305
00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:45,200
Hold fast to what is good, abstain from every form of evil.

306
00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:55,740
Your responsibility is to test everything, to hold to the good for the sake of the lost.

307
00:22:55,740 --> 00:23:06,160
If we give in at one little moment, they will miss the grace of God and walk in their compromise.

308
00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:07,940
Responsibility as a pastor.

309
00:23:07,940 --> 00:23:16,540
My final thoughts, faith that the men of God must have.

310
00:23:16,540 --> 00:23:22,800
This is what Paul says to Timothy, and I want you to hear clearly, you then, my child, be

311
00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:29,600
strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus and what you have heard from me in the

312
00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,160
presence of many witnesses and trusted faithful men.

313
00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,360
What have you heard?

314
00:23:35,360 --> 00:23:40,000
Not what you think or what your opinion is or what your advice would be.

315
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:43,200
What have you heard?

316
00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:48,280
Because these faithful men must be able to teach what they've heard.

317
00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:50,440
Who will be able to teach others also?

318
00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:51,560
Verse 2.

319
00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:52,560
Verse 3.

320
00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:57,020
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

321
00:23:57,020 --> 00:24:07,000
Verse 4, no soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one

322
00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:08,480
who enlisted him.

323
00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:10,040
He's saying this to Timothy.

324
00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:15,960
Timothy, don't get involved in everybody's issues that doesn't belong to you.

325
00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:18,400
That's what he's saying here.

326
00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,900
That was the problem that this particular pastor did.

327
00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:26,480
He got involved in a situation he should never have been involved in because he is not her

328
00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,280
pastor.

329
00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:33,240
His responsibility was to tell her to go to your pastor.

330
00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:37,840
And if she decides that she doesn't want to go to that pastor anymore but is willing to

331
00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:42,800
come under his shepherding, then that's a different story.

332
00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:48,920
But either way, there is something called confidentiality.

333
00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:54,420
That what you give, advice or counsel to someone doesn't mean that you go onto a radio show,

334
00:24:54,420 --> 00:24:59,840
the third largest radio show in all of the world and proclaim it to everyone for them

335
00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:03,680
to hear.

336
00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:09,080
Because you don't know the realities of what's happening in everyone's life who listens to

337
00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,520
you.

338
00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:13,760
Give Biblical truth.

339
00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:15,540
Teach the Word in its full counsel.

340
00:25:15,540 --> 00:25:18,000
But don't give advice.

341
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:19,000
That's your opinion.

342
00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:23,600
You can't give opinion.

343
00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:28,320
And if I do give an opinion, for example, I will let you know this is my opinion.

344
00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,240
Don't take my opinion.

345
00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:36,840
Because sometimes I'm very opinionated.

346
00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:37,840
This is not one of them.

347
00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:38,840
This is not an issue of opinion.

348
00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,760
It's an issue of truth here.

349
00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:50,580
So as your pastor, I have counseled several people and I continue counseling people.

350
00:25:50,580 --> 00:25:55,640
If those individuals are willing to come under my shepherding as their pastor and under the

351
00:25:55,640 --> 00:26:04,280
elders as their shepherds, as shepherds for him or them or her, then we can deal with

352
00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:06,080
issues like that.

353
00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:11,400
But if you're already under the shepherding of someone else, don't come to me and ask

354
00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:17,760
me my opinion for you to use it against me in the future.

355
00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:19,760
Because that's not going to be good.

356
00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:20,760
Number one.

357
00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:27,440
Number two, I'm hoping I'm wise enough to deal with the issue of confidentiality.

358
00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:30,680
I'm a counselor.

359
00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:37,760
That's my degree, that in the Bible.

360
00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:39,200
When they talk to me, it stays with me.

361
00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,160
It doesn't go anywhere else.

362
00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:45,280
That's called good counseling.

363
00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:51,640
So ethically he failed and morally he failed because he got involved with a situation that

364
00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:58,000
wasn't for him to get involved in in the first place.

365
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:04,120
Wisdom must prevail.

366
00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:10,040
This is what Paul says, continues to say, he says, an athlete is not crowned unless

367
00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:11,720
he competes according to the rules.

368
00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:16,640
In other words, everyone who's involved must follow the rules.

369
00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,280
You don't get to make up your own rules.

370
00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:27,120
It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

371
00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:31,800
Think over what I say for the Lord will give you understanding.

372
00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,940
This is what it means.

373
00:27:34,940 --> 00:27:43,000
Don't get involved in people's business and do your own work.

374
00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,740
Pretty simple.

375
00:27:44,740 --> 00:27:46,280
Mind your business.

376
00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:47,480
That's what should have happened here.

377
00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:52,760
And if he was going to give counsel, it should have been confidential.

378
00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:56,640
Never brought up in the reality of a radio show.

379
00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:04,380
Lastly, he says, remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead, the offspring of David as preached

380
00:28:04,380 --> 00:28:10,320
in my gospel for which I am suffering bound with chains as a criminal.

381
00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:14,280
But the word of God is not bound.

382
00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:15,920
That's the one thing I think he forgot.

383
00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,720
It's the one thing I think a lot of us forget.

384
00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:25,560
Priest the truth of God in love and let the word do the work.

385
00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:31,000
Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of Christ, for the sake of the elect.

386
00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:32,000
Here it is again.

387
00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,520
Can never outrun that doctrine.

388
00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:37,720
It just shows up everywhere.

389
00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:43,240
And they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

390
00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,840
The saying is trustworthy.

391
00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:48,720
For if you died with him, you will also live with him.

392
00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:51,880
And if we endure, we will also reign with him.

393
00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,640
And if we deny him, he will also deny us.

394
00:28:54,640 --> 00:29:00,760
And if we are faithless, he remains faithful regardless of whether we're faithful or not.

395
00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:01,760
Why?

396
00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,040
Because he cannot deny himself.

397
00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:11,480
And then he says to Timothy this, remind them of these things.

398
00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:16,320
Timothy gives us, Paul gives us very clear, distinct responsibility as a pastor and as

399
00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:18,080
men as elders.

400
00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:22,640
I'm speaking to our elders too.

401
00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:25,540
We have to be reminded of these things.

402
00:29:25,540 --> 00:29:28,080
We have more at stake.

403
00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:29,780
The gospel is at stake.

404
00:29:29,780 --> 00:29:32,760
The picture of Christ's love for his church is at stake.

405
00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:38,280
And the truth is at stake.

406
00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:44,200
And he says, and I charge them and charge them before God not to quarrel about words.

407
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:50,880
In other words, opinions don't matter here.

408
00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:54,440
Which does no good, but only ruins those who hear it.

409
00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:59,760
That's exactly what's been happening on YouTube and everyone's quote unquote opinions.

410
00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:08,080
I am not going to throw out this man's amazing ministry of truth and sound doctrine over

411
00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:13,680
a failed advice.

412
00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:21,960
Nor am I going to slander or say things that are belittling in order to prove my point.

413
00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:23,800
One of the things that's driving me nuts about this.

414
00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:27,960
I got to commend Dr. John MacArthur.

415
00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,840
He has not said a single word.

416
00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:38,300
Wise man.

417
00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:43,520
We have to be thoughtful and kind and thinking through the reality of the impact of these

418
00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:50,480
moments and not on a whim because we are moved by compassion to miss the point of what's

419
00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:55,240
at stake.

420
00:30:55,240 --> 00:31:01,420
This is what he says, do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker

421
00:31:01,420 --> 00:31:09,260
who needs no needs, has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

422
00:31:09,260 --> 00:31:14,920
But look what he says, but avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more

423
00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:22,520
and more ungodliness, which is what we're seeing.

424
00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:27,500
And their talk will spread like gangrene and it has.

425
00:31:27,500 --> 00:31:34,680
That's why I have to address this issue because it's even, even our people here have heard

426
00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,200
what's been happening.

427
00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:41,880
If I don't address it and kill the gangrene, then people will come up with their own opinions

428
00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:44,720
and walk around going, it's okay.

429
00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:46,720
And I can't do that as a pastor.

430
00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:51,080
I have to address it.

431
00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:59,280
And make a clear, concise statement because I didn't have enough time on Wednesday.

432
00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:10,320
Among them, two particular individuals who have, who are gangrenous, Hemenius and Phaletus,

433
00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:20,160
their names in general sound, sound contagious.

434
00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:21,160
Just saying.

435
00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,120
I figured you guys would find that funny.

436
00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,240
Who have swerved from the truth.

437
00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,280
You ever notice that?

438
00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:29,280
That's the issue.

439
00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:33,720
When someone swerves from the truth, it's because they got involved with everyone's

440
00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:36,640
opinions.

441
00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:37,640
That's the problem.

442
00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:48,240
Verse 19, but God's firm foundation stands bearing this seal.

443
00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:49,840
What is God's firm foundation?

444
00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,580
His word.

445
00:32:52,580 --> 00:32:55,080
This firm foundation stands bearing a seal.

446
00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:56,080
What's that?

447
00:32:56,080 --> 00:33:02,440
That the Lord knows those who are His and that everyone whose name, who names the name

448
00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:05,840
of the Lord, depart from iniquity.

449
00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:06,840
Quote unquote.

450
00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:09,520
That's what Paul's giving a quote here.

451
00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:14,360
That's the one thing I think that this particular individual wasn't thinking.

452
00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:19,680
It doesn't matter if the granddaughter was going to be saved.

453
00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:24,240
It will happen because God will make sure it happens.

454
00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:29,880
Grandmom doesn't have to show up.

455
00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:39,960
The reality is we as God's people must depart from iniquity.

456
00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:47,720
Now in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay.

457
00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:51,080
Some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.

458
00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:57,720
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel

459
00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:04,800
of honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every

460
00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:05,800
good work.

461
00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:06,800
What's that mean?

462
00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:11,360
We were all dishonorable vessels.

463
00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:15,480
All of us were dishonorable vessels.

464
00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:17,600
He's made us honorable.

465
00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,600
That's the point.

466
00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:26,400
It's kind of confusing when you read it, but that's what it means.

467
00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:32,080
So flee useful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who

468
00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:36,200
call on the name of the Lord from a pure heart.

469
00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:44,160
Have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant controversies.

470
00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:47,120
This should not be even something that we...

471
00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:51,400
If we're teaching the full counsel of God's word and God's people are growing in the truth

472
00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:57,360
of his word, this should not be an issue on YouTube.

473
00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:01,640
The problem is there are not enough pastors teaching the full counsel of God's word, and

474
00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:04,400
they're lazy in the pulpit.

475
00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:09,700
And some of them probably even shouldn't be in the pulpit.

476
00:35:09,700 --> 00:35:10,700
So what do they do?

477
00:35:10,700 --> 00:35:14,160
They get involved with these ignorant controversies over and over and over again when they're

478
00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:15,720
missing the point.

479
00:35:15,720 --> 00:35:19,680
Where is Jesus in all this?

480
00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:22,240
That is the main issue here.

481
00:35:22,240 --> 00:35:26,640
Where was Jesus in this advice?

482
00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,000
Why?

483
00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:34,880
These particular ignorant controversies you know breed quarrels and fights.

484
00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:38,000
Verse 24, and the Lord's servant, you hear this?

485
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,880
He's talking to Timothy, the pastor.

486
00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:46,760
This is for all of you, but especially for the elders and the deacons.

487
00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:48,380
I want to give this to the deacons.

488
00:35:48,380 --> 00:35:55,200
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently

489
00:35:55,200 --> 00:36:02,920
enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.

490
00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:06,540
This particular individual is not my opponent.

491
00:36:06,540 --> 00:36:09,080
He's my brother.

492
00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:17,160
My wife and I watched a lot on this issue, and trust me.

493
00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:20,480
She knows I get extremely passionate about God's truth.

494
00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:24,360
She goes, why are you yelling at me?

495
00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:30,480
I said I'm not yelling at you, I'm yelling at the TV.

496
00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:31,480
Why can't they get it?

497
00:36:31,480 --> 00:36:41,120
She goes, I don't know.

498
00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:49,000
Verse 26, oh sorry, God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of

499
00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:55,600
the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after

500
00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:58,840
being captured by him to do his will.

501
00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:04,400
I'm not going to get into the terminology of the, or the words of this, the word study

502
00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:09,240
of this particular last verse, but the reality is, is when we get involved in these things,

503
00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:15,140
we participate in the evil things, and as a result of us participating in the evil things,

504
00:37:15,140 --> 00:37:21,040
we are captured by them, and we end up doing exactly what our sinful nature wants us to

505
00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:22,040
do.

506
00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:28,120
So, what do I want to leave with you?

507
00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:30,560
This is not an issue of public opinion.

508
00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,840
This is an issue of biblical truth.

509
00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:33,840
Marriage is marriage.

510
00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:35,160
It's between a man and a woman.

511
00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:43,080
There is only two people, two genders, male and female, and he has established the family

512
00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:48,560
as the institution to continue to propagate the gospel, to proclaim the truth of Christ's

513
00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:52,480
love for his church, and to bring about godly children.

514
00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:58,500
That is the only means by which the church continues to survive and live.

515
00:37:58,500 --> 00:38:04,880
One day he will return, and all of these opinions and things will go out the door.

516
00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:12,840
Because, when I see face to face perfection, and I will know even as I am fully known,

517
00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:18,720
the reality is, it doesn't matter.

518
00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:23,200
The only thing that matters is him.

519
00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:31,540
My promise to you as your pastor is, I will absolutely do my best to not get involved

520
00:38:31,540 --> 00:38:40,640
in public affairs that are not my responsibility.

521
00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:45,520
My responsibility is, if anyone comes to me and they have no church, and I counsel them,

522
00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:47,120
it stays there.

523
00:38:47,120 --> 00:38:51,480
If they want to come under my shepherding and the shepherding of the elders, praise

524
00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:56,960
God, we have had that happen several times, and I am thankful.

525
00:38:56,960 --> 00:39:01,520
But if they are under the shepherding of someone else, I'm going to tell them, go to your pastor,

526
00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:05,720
and work this out.

527
00:39:05,720 --> 00:39:08,800
And if you can't, no problem.

528
00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:10,880
I understand.

529
00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:15,960
But it's not my job to shepherd someone else's sheep.

530
00:39:15,960 --> 00:39:17,000
So that's my promise.

531
00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:18,640
I will shepherd you.

532
00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:25,720
And anyone who God brings to us becomes part of our family, as I have continued to do for

533
00:39:25,720 --> 00:39:27,920
the last two years.

534
00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:30,800
Where do we stand on this issue of marriage?

535
00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:34,280
Marriage is between a husband and a wife, between a man and a woman.

536
00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:36,040
This is God's biblical standard.

537
00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:39,120
I can't change that standard, nor will I.

538
00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:41,560
And I will not apologize for that standard.

539
00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:45,700
It makes a lot of people uncomfortable, it makes a lot of people very unhappy.

540
00:39:45,700 --> 00:39:48,960
But you need to work that out with God, not me.

541
00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:53,160
I will help you walk through the truth of God's Word so that you can come to the conviction

542
00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,440
of the reality of God's Word.

543
00:39:55,440 --> 00:39:57,680
I will absolutely love to do that with you.

544
00:39:57,680 --> 00:40:00,020
I will love you through it.

545
00:40:00,020 --> 00:40:09,200
I have done it for several people who have at one time had same-sex attraction and now

546
00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:18,800
don't, just through letting God's Word do the healing in their life.

547
00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:20,280
Where do we stand concerning marriage?

548
00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:21,920
I mean, concerning the family.

549
00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:23,920
There is only a family.

550
00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:27,000
A family is a husband, a wife, and children.

551
00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:32,640
And in some cases, because of sin, that family gets broken.

552
00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:37,880
And then there's a mom who raises kids or a dad who raises kids or there are blended

553
00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:41,500
families.

554
00:40:41,500 --> 00:40:46,400
God in His grace handles all that anyway.

555
00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:51,920
Lastly, what is your responsibility?

556
00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:54,680
I cannot tell you what you should and should not do.

557
00:40:54,680 --> 00:41:00,000
I can tell you what the Word of God says you should and should not do.

558
00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:04,480
I would tell you that if there is sin in your life and we have to deal with that as a church,

559
00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:08,840
then we would deal with that through church discipline.

560
00:41:08,840 --> 00:41:13,400
But that being said, you have to decide.

561
00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:15,240
I've given you the truth.

562
00:41:15,240 --> 00:41:19,800
It's your responsibility to work that out.

563
00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:26,600
I will not go to a same-sex wedding, transgender wedding, at all.

564
00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:30,580
That does not mean that I do not love them, nor does that mean that I do not want them

565
00:41:30,580 --> 00:41:32,440
to come to Christ.

566
00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:43,060
But my presence there supports a false reality for them in that they are a family ordained

567
00:41:43,060 --> 00:41:46,080
by God and they are not.

568
00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:48,360
God has defined marriage.

569
00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:53,600
It does not matter what we say concerning what we think marriage is.

570
00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:59,360
A union between a man and a man and a woman and a woman is not a marriage.

571
00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:05,840
That's not the definition of marriage.

572
00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:13,120
So that being settled on those things, I think it's important that we as a church love people

573
00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:22,600
deeply and that we stand in the gap, warning them of the impending doom and giving them

574
00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:26,000
a hope called the gospel.

575
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:33,040
But if they continue running headlong into a forest fire that's fully engulfed, regardless

576
00:42:33,040 --> 00:42:37,480
of your warning, there's nothing you can do.

577
00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:44,640
But pray that God would be merciful and by His grace snatch them out.

578
00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:49,280
That's the whole point of soteriology.

579
00:42:49,280 --> 00:42:54,560
God is the one who saves out of His wrath.

580
00:42:54,560 --> 00:42:58,640
Not you.

581
00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:03,160
We answered this question, we dealt with it, had to deal with it, and if you guys ever

582
00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:08,560
want to get together, if you guys ever want to meet and discuss these things, please schedule

583
00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:09,560
time with me.

584
00:43:09,560 --> 00:43:13,440
I will sit down with you, we will open up the Word of God, we will talk about it, I

585
00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:18,080
will help you to work through those feelings.

586
00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:19,080
Here's the reality.

587
00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:31,520
My aunt and her friend, when they die, will die and go to hell.

588
00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:39,120
I have warned her and she believes the opposite of God's Word.

589
00:43:39,120 --> 00:43:41,880
Well, God's love.

590
00:43:41,880 --> 00:43:48,440
That's right, God is love and God warns you that if you don't repent, His wrath is going

591
00:43:48,440 --> 00:43:51,560
to be poured out upon you.

592
00:43:51,560 --> 00:43:55,840
That's a loving God warning you of what's to come, not saying it's okay to go out and

593
00:43:55,840 --> 00:44:00,520
run in the middle of the street and play in traffic.

594
00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:04,080
It's not love.

595
00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:13,640
So we have to lovingly care and warn and guide and help, but the only help you can give is

596
00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:14,640
the gospel.

597
00:44:14,640 --> 00:44:17,700
Father, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness.

598
00:44:17,700 --> 00:44:23,440
Thank you Lord for your Word and thank you Lord for our time together.

599
00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:27,640
Thank you Lord that you have helped us to get through this very hard issue.

600
00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:32,080
Help us to walk in wisdom and love and in grace.

601
00:44:32,080 --> 00:44:37,760
To stand not in compassion without conviction, which leads to compromise, but to stand in

602
00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:42,760
conviction because of compassion, which leads to grace.

603
00:44:42,760 --> 00:45:01,160
Lord we thank you in Jesus name, amen.