WEBVTT 00:00:08.959 --> 00:00:12.460 Good morning family. Good morning. All right. 00:00:13.740 --> 00:00:15.859 So before we get started, we're going to do our 00:00:15.859 --> 00:00:18.059 little reading today. Except today's reading, 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:22.179 today's doctrinal focus is in the 1689 London 00:00:22.179 --> 00:00:26.359 Baptist Confession, chapter 14, section 1. We 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:28.500 will all read it together. And then we're going 00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:31.359 to dive into 2 Timothy. So we have four chapters. 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:33.420 I've got four weeks before I go on sabbatical. 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:38.859 I get 30 days to get refreshed and come back 00:00:38.859 --> 00:00:41.079 raring to go for another three years. So I'm 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:47.100 excited. So this gives me some time where I can 00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:51.740 just relax in Jesus and just focus and then come 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:54.340 back raring to go again. So that being said, 00:00:54.460 --> 00:01:00.340 let's read the 1689 London Baptist Confession. 00:01:00.340 --> 00:01:05.439 The grace of faith whereby the elect are enabled 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:33.370 to believe to the saving of their souls. So it 00:01:33.370 --> 00:01:37.920 is the work of the Spirit. of God that He saves, 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.659 and the process by which He brings us to the 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:42.500 saving knowledge of Christ is through the Word. 00:01:42.980 --> 00:01:47.019 And our building up, our working out of our faith 00:01:47.019 --> 00:01:52.060 comes through all of these other means by which 00:01:52.060 --> 00:01:55.040 God uses to sanctify His people. So, are you 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:58.400 guys ready for a little walk today in 2 Timothy 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:00.920 chapter 1? All right, let's pray. Father, I want 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:02.500 to thank You so much for Your goodness. Thank 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:05.040 You, Lord, for Your Word. Thank you that we can 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.780 come before you in awe and in wonder that you 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:11.340 are God. Thank you for holy time that we can 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:14.580 bow our hearts and minds, not only as little 00:02:14.580 --> 00:02:17.620 ones, but also as adults to hear from you. We 00:02:17.620 --> 00:02:20.620 are listening. Lord, when our ears are attentive 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:24.379 to what you say, help us, Lord, to honor and 00:02:24.379 --> 00:02:27.330 glorify you in all that we do. to walk in wisdom, 00:02:27.330 --> 00:02:31.669 and to lead by living obediently according to 00:02:31.669 --> 00:02:33.310 your word. Lord, we praise you and thank you. 00:02:33.530 --> 00:02:36.169 Your name is great, and there is no name greater 00:02:36.169 --> 00:02:39.610 in all of the universe and all of creation. You 00:02:39.610 --> 00:02:44.050 are the almighty God. In Jesus' name, amen. 2 00:02:44.050 --> 00:02:47.389 Timothy chapter 1. Paul, an apostle of Christ 00:02:47.389 --> 00:02:51.550 Jesus, by the will of God, according to the promise. 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:55.759 of the life that is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:59.740 my beloved child, grace, mercy, and peace from 00:02:59.740 --> 00:03:03.099 God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank 00:03:03.099 --> 00:03:08.219 God, whom I serve, as did my ancestors. with 00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:11.240 a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:14.860 in my prayers night and day. As I remember your 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:18.759 tears, I long to see you, that I would be filled, 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:23.060 or I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:26.020 your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first 00:03:26.020 --> 00:03:29.460 in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:34.639 Now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:39.300 reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:42.120 of God, which is in you through the laying on 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:46.699 of my hands. For God gave us a spirit not of 00:03:46.699 --> 00:03:50.580 fear, but of power and love and of self -control. 00:03:51.870 --> 00:03:55.509 Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our 00:03:55.509 --> 00:03:59.069 Lord Jesus, nor of me, his prisoner, but share 00:03:59.069 --> 00:04:02.930 in suffering for the gospel by the power of God 00:04:02.930 --> 00:04:07.150 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, 00:04:07.229 --> 00:04:10.590 not because of our works, but because of his 00:04:10.590 --> 00:04:14.289 own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ 00:04:14.289 --> 00:04:19.560 Jesus before the ages began. and which now has 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:23.000 been manifested through the appearing of our 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:27.149 Lord Jesus Christ. who abolished death and brought 00:04:27.149 --> 00:04:30.230 life and immortality to light through the gospel, 00:04:30.430 --> 00:04:34.230 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle 00:04:34.230 --> 00:04:39.670 and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But 00:04:39.670 --> 00:04:44.209 I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, 00:04:44.509 --> 00:04:48.029 and I am convinced that he is able to guard until 00:04:48.029 --> 00:04:51.769 that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow 00:04:51.769 --> 00:04:56.470 the pattern of sound words. that you have heard 00:04:56.470 --> 00:05:00.129 from me in the faith and love that are in Christ 00:05:00.129 --> 00:05:04.230 Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, 00:05:04.310 --> 00:05:08.389 guard the good deposit entrusted to you. You 00:05:08.389 --> 00:05:12.769 are aware that all who are in Asia turned away 00:05:12.769 --> 00:05:17.790 from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 00:05:18.310 --> 00:05:22.529 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of 00:05:22.529 --> 00:05:26.779 Onesiphorus. For he often refreshed me and was 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:30.519 not ashamed of my chains. But when he arrived 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:33.259 in Rome, he searched for me earnestly and found 00:05:33.259 --> 00:05:37.560 me. May the Lord grant him to find mercy from 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:40.980 the Lord on that day. And you well know all the 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:44.120 service he rendered in Ephesus. So it's quite 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:46.220 a bit. We're going to get through the chapter, 00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:51.449 I promise. First principle, godly leaders are 00:05:51.449 --> 00:05:55.310 called by the will of God to preach, teach, and 00:05:55.310 --> 00:05:58.810 proclaim the gospel. Godly leaders are called 00:05:58.810 --> 00:06:01.569 by the will of God to preach, teach, and proclaim 00:06:01.569 --> 00:06:05.069 the gospel. Mark 16, 15, and he said to them, 00:06:05.110 --> 00:06:08.509 go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to 00:06:08.509 --> 00:06:11.730 the whole creation. What we see here in verses 00:06:11.730 --> 00:06:15.089 one and two is a very important phrase here. 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:18.000 And it is the word according to the promise of 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.480 life. I want you to see this. Paul, an apostle 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:25.220 of Christ Jesus by the will of God. It is God's 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:28.360 will that he is an apostle. It is God's will 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:31.860 that he has been called to come and preach. Now, 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:34.959 this term that we see in the English ESV says 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:37.600 according to the promise of the life that is 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:42.980 in Christ Jesus actually is kata ipanjalia zoe. 00:06:43.850 --> 00:06:47.370 and Christos Isus. That's how you say it. What 00:06:47.370 --> 00:06:49.850 it means is to proclaim life in Christ Jesus. 00:06:50.230 --> 00:06:53.290 That's what it means. So Paul, an apostle of 00:06:53.290 --> 00:06:57.589 Christ Jesus, by the will of God, to proclaim 00:06:57.589 --> 00:07:02.579 life. in Christ Jesus. Very important that we 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:05.360 see that. Why? Because that's Paul's purpose. 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:09.720 That's God's will for every believers to proclaim 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.360 the life of Christ, that there is life in Jesus. 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:16.839 And that very promise that Paul has concerning 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:20.579 life in Christ is also offered to all who believe. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:23.620 That's the idea here. So in verse two, it says, 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:26.980 to Timothy, my beloved child. Now this is a common 00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:30.740 phrase for people who have disciples, people 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:36.500 that are mentored, right? And so Paul has this 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:40.100 young man who has, he's come alongside to raise 00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:43.560 up as a pastor to develop, right? It's a very 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:46.040 similar, and I'm not saying this because where's 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:49.459 Bob? Bob's here. Anyway, so it's very similar 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:53.040 to my relationship with Owen as a mentor and 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:56.639 a pastor. I've come alongside him. That's the 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:00.160 idea. And so Paul's come alongside Timothy, and 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:03.079 he looks at him and treats him and develops him 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:06.519 as a pastor as he would a son. Right? And so 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:09.199 it's important that we see why Paul does that. 00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:12.139 Number one. Number two, Paul really has grown 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:14.480 to have an attachment for this young man because 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:16.720 he doesn't have a dad. His dad is gone. His dad 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:21.139 has passed away. And so Paul takes this on. personally, 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:25.000 as someone who's highly invested in this young 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.120 man. And you see this relationship a little bit 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:31.240 later in this chapter. He says, to Timothy, my 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:34.919 beloved child, grace, mercy, and peace from God 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:38.620 the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Very important. 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:41.740 So he's getting Timothy to understand, you mean 00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:45.710 a lot to me. Now, So godly leaders must continue 00:08:45.710 --> 00:08:48.529 to proclaim the gospel, preach it, and teach 00:08:48.529 --> 00:08:51.610 it, and come alongside those who are being trained 00:08:51.610 --> 00:08:53.970 in it to raise up godly leaders for the future. 00:08:54.090 --> 00:08:58.330 Now, godly leaders have and live a life of sincere 00:08:58.330 --> 00:09:02.190 faith. Godly leaders have and live a life of 00:09:02.190 --> 00:09:04.970 sincere faith. Let us hold fast the confession 00:09:04.970 --> 00:09:08.610 of our hope without wavering, for he who promised 00:09:08.610 --> 00:09:12.250 is faithful. Hebrews 10, 23. You're going to 00:09:12.250 --> 00:09:15.250 see this here in verses 3 through 5. I thank 00:09:15.250 --> 00:09:18.889 God whom I serve. Notice what Paul says here. 00:09:19.049 --> 00:09:22.950 I thank God whom I serve. The word serve here 00:09:22.950 --> 00:09:28.230 is the word that implies a render homage or worship. 00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:32.679 So it's one thing to come and do work. We have 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:34.419 people that aren't even believers that come here 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:36.639 and work. That doesn't mean that they're serving 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:40.019 God. This is to serve with a heart and an act 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:44.820 of obedience. So when I come and I render homage, 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:51.919 I also give worship. I obey as did my ancestors, 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:55.500 Paul says. In the same way that Abraham believed 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:59.539 God and obeyed, I do the same. That's the point 00:09:59.539 --> 00:10:03.320 here. Can we say that as God's people, as the 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:07.159 people that we have watched and witnessed that 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:10.320 they have been obedient servants, that they have 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.340 rendered homage and obeyed God in all that they 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:16.279 do. And Paul says that he does the same thing 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:19.179 as my ancestors did. Now think about that in 00:10:19.179 --> 00:10:24.299 that Paul persecuted the church. He was radically 00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:29.350 changed, completely regenerated, renewed. changed. 00:10:29.350 --> 00:10:32.490 His mind was completely changed. And now he says, 00:10:32.610 --> 00:10:37.350 I am just like them, just like my ancestors. 00:10:37.570 --> 00:10:40.610 And I do it with a clear conscience. I do it 00:10:40.610 --> 00:10:45.490 with no guilt, no shame, no accusation above 00:10:45.490 --> 00:10:49.330 reproach. Why? Because in Christ, he has been 00:10:49.330 --> 00:10:55.029 cleansed, changed. As I remember you constantly 00:10:55.029 --> 00:10:57.769 in my prayers day and night. Do you remember 00:10:57.769 --> 00:11:00.950 each other constantly in prayers day and night? 00:11:01.470 --> 00:11:04.110 When you're driving down the road and you think 00:11:04.110 --> 00:11:06.870 of someone, do you call and pray with them or 00:11:06.870 --> 00:11:10.409 talk with them? Do you spend time praying and 00:11:10.409 --> 00:11:12.769 thinking about them? Or do you just take those 00:11:12.769 --> 00:11:16.509 particular moments where you just set aside for 00:11:16.509 --> 00:11:18.990 your day? Because prayer is more than just ritual. 00:11:19.409 --> 00:11:22.549 There is a ritualism to prayer. Prayer can be 00:11:22.549 --> 00:11:27.059 ritualistic. It's a good thing. but it's so much 00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:31.139 more. Like when I'm driving and the Lord brings 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:34.379 to mind a person's name, and I immediately pray 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:36.620 for them, and I'm like, I got to call them. My 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:39.299 wife goes, who are you calling? I just got to 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:44.600 call. Right? It's important. And so do you do 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:48.019 that? Do you remember God's people day and night? 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:52.980 You know, even in my days off, I'm thinking of 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:56.679 y 'all and my family. specifically my kids and 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:59.480 my wife and my grandkids. And it's like constant 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:02.100 all the time. But that's the way, that's the 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:04.799 way it should be. You should be, we should be 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:07.759 on each other's minds constantly praying for 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:10.340 each other all the time. Notice what he says 00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:14.919 in verse four, as I remember your tears. He remembers 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:19.200 when Timothy and him had to split. Timothy had 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.840 to go. And what happens immediately, Timothy 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:27.080 cries and Paul remembers the love Timothy had 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:31.740 for him. And as a result, he says, I long to 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:36.419 see you that I may be filled with joy. Do you 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:39.399 get excited when someone walks in you haven't 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:42.019 seen in a while? I mean, to be honest with you, 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:46.480 Colleen's on the phone. I was like, yo Colleen, 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:49.559 are you guys excited about seeing each other? 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:52.799 When you haven't seen somebody come in a while. 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:56.259 Of course we are. That's how we should be with 00:12:56.259 --> 00:13:00.879 each other. But are we really being filled with 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:03.919 joy when we see someone we haven't seen in a 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:07.399 while? Do they know that you love them? He says, 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:10.820 I am reminded of your sincere. This word sincere 00:13:10.820 --> 00:13:14.000 means genuine, not hidden faith. You'll see why 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:16.679 this is important, because later on he deals 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:20.120 with the issue of not being ashamed and not being 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:26.080 afraid. Because when we are afraid, we keep things 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:30.860 hidden. But not Timothy. Timothy reminds Paul, 00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:33.580 he's reminded, Paul's reminded of the sincere, 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:38.720 the genuine, the unhidden faith of Timothy. A 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:42.360 faith that dwelt, that word dwelt means to dwell 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:46.200 in or influence. A faith that influenced first 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:50.200 his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Does 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:53.080 the faith of Christ influence you to be different? 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:56.980 Does it influence you to have courage? Does it 00:13:56.980 --> 00:14:00.360 influence you to commit all? your ways to him. 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.879 Acknowledge him in all that you do. Does your 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.740 faith really drive you, or do you just say that 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:14.120 you believe? Then he says this, for now I am 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:20.269 sure dwells in you as well. Paul has seen the 00:14:20.269 --> 00:14:23.330 faith of Christ, which was in his grandmother 00:14:23.330 --> 00:14:26.809 Lois and in his mother Eunice. He has seen at 00:14:26.809 --> 00:14:30.889 work the influence of faith in Timothy also. 00:14:31.090 --> 00:14:35.509 So what kind of men and women should we be? Godly 00:14:35.509 --> 00:14:39.139 leaders. must preserve all that God has entrusted. 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:42.059 Now, when we look at this, why should we preserve 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:44.679 what was entrusted to us? Why should we guard 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:48.259 what was entrusted to us? Because it's something 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:51.100 that God has given that we should be fanning 00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:54.399 into flame. Look what it says in 2 Timothy 1, 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:59.340 6 -7. For this reason, what reason? What cause? 00:15:00.250 --> 00:15:03.429 because of your faith. In verse 5, he talks about 00:15:03.429 --> 00:15:07.029 the faith that Timothy has. And for this reason, 00:15:07.129 --> 00:15:10.870 Timothy, for this cause, I remind you to fan 00:15:10.870 --> 00:15:16.190 into flame, to kindle, inflame one's mind, strength, 00:15:16.250 --> 00:15:19.830 and zeal. In other words, when we think about 00:15:19.830 --> 00:15:24.990 the gospel, are we going in inflamed? Have we 00:15:24.990 --> 00:15:29.090 kindled the fire of the gospel of evangelism 00:15:29.090 --> 00:15:32.399 in our lives? Okay. Now I love the gospel. Okay. 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:35.360 And every Sunday I get to come and preach. I'm 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:38.399 like, let's go. Like that's like, it's like, 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:41.279 they know that. Cause I do that every time I 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.279 get done praying. Every time I get done praying 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.919 in the back, I'm like, let's go. It should be, 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:47.480 that should be flammed in, fanned into flame. 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:51.019 You should be so excited because you get to tell 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:53.879 someone about Christ. Like that's, that's, that 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:57.960 excites me. And so are you fanning into flame? 00:15:58.179 --> 00:16:02.000 Are you kindling one's mind, strength, and zeal 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.440 for the gospel, for the gift of evangelism? Are 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:08.940 you excited to go out? And Paul says, which is 00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:11.460 in you through the laying on of my hands. Paul 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:14.580 has departed this gift of evangelism through 00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:18.080 the laying on of hands. God, Paul has given him 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:23.039 the biblical authority to go. The same thing 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:26.779 Jesus did with his disciples. Okay. Now notice 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:31.220 verse seven, for God gave us a spirit. Now the 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:34.480 way this is rendered in ESV, it should be capital 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:38.580 S, right? God gave us a spirit. God gave us the 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:43.159 spirit, not a fear. So the spirit of God is not 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:47.539 a fear. This word spirit is disposition or influence 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:52.139 that fills and governs a person. Does the person 00:16:52.750 --> 00:16:56.570 Are you being influenced by the Spirit of God 00:16:56.570 --> 00:17:00.149 that has filled you in governing you? Or are 00:17:00.149 --> 00:17:04.049 you being controlled by fear? This word fear 00:17:04.049 --> 00:17:08.029 means cowardice. Are you a coward? Are you chicken? 00:17:08.329 --> 00:17:12.170 Are you afraid to tell people about Jesus? Because 00:17:12.170 --> 00:17:14.890 Jesus says, if you deny me before men, I will 00:17:14.890 --> 00:17:16.650 deny you before my Father which is in heaven. 00:17:17.170 --> 00:17:20.789 Think about that. God doesn't want cowards. He 00:17:20.789 --> 00:17:23.640 wants bold believers. And these people were so 00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:26.119 bold in their faith that they were willing to 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:29.839 suffer for the sake of the gospel. So, for God 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:33.940 gave us a spirit, an influence that governs us. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:38.940 His name is the Holy Spirit. He lives in you. 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:42.500 He doesn't live in you to make you afraid. He 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:46.160 lives in you to make you courageous. God does 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:50.359 not give us a spirit of fear, but of power. and 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:52.220 of love, and of sound mind. What's interesting 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:56.940 about that is it's His power, and His love, and 00:17:56.940 --> 00:18:01.759 His soundness of mind is what means here. How 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:05.039 can we say that? Because the Spirit Himself lives 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:08.420 in you. It's His power He gives you. It's His 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:12.359 love, His agape that He gives you. It's His mind 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:16.440 that He gives you. Philippians 2. What's it say 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:19.119 in Philippians 2? That we have been given the 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:24.059 mind of Christ. You have it. It's yours. You 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:29.420 can be sound in your mind. So walk with the Spirit. 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:33.900 Let Him be the key influencer and filler and 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:37.180 governor of your life. Don't let fear control 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:40.720 and dominate you. Why? Walk in His power. Walk 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:44.400 in His love. And walk in His sound -mindedness. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:48.099 Fear not in preaching, teaching, and proclaiming 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:51.960 the gospel. Third, godly leaders must not be 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:54.859 ashamed of the gospel and must be willing to 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:59.900 suffer. Anyone who goes into ministry must learn 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:06.319 to suffer well. This includes anybody. Missionaries, 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:10.299 pastors especially, elders must learn to suffer 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:13.470 well. One of the reasons, one of the things that 00:19:13.470 --> 00:19:15.849 we see within churches today, especially young 00:19:15.849 --> 00:19:19.529 men coming out of college, going out of university, 00:19:19.650 --> 00:19:22.170 got all the book stuff they can get. They come 00:19:22.170 --> 00:19:24.730 out and they think they can go and lead a church, 00:19:24.789 --> 00:19:27.289 and within five years they quit because they 00:19:27.289 --> 00:19:31.089 can't handle it. Why? Because they're weak. There's 00:19:31.089 --> 00:19:35.250 a strengthening in the suffering. There's a strengthening 00:19:35.250 --> 00:19:37.950 in the suffering. There's an ability to stand 00:19:37.950 --> 00:19:42.269 the pressure, persevere in suffering. Suffering 00:19:42.269 --> 00:19:45.470 is necessary. Y 'all know that scripture, okay? 00:19:45.829 --> 00:19:49.009 Character, perseverance, perseverance, love. 00:19:49.369 --> 00:19:53.630 Look what it says in 1 Peter 4, 16. Yet if anyone 00:19:53.630 --> 00:19:57.589 suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, 00:19:58.089 --> 00:20:01.930 but let him glorify God in that name. Therefore, 00:20:02.049 --> 00:20:06.420 verse 8, Timothy, therefore do not be ashamed 00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:10.440 of the testimony about our Lord. That word testimony 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:14.799 is witness or gospel. Therefore do not. It's 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.339 an imperative. It's a command. You don't have 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:21.559 an option. You cannot just like, yeah, it's commanded. 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:26.140 You cannot be ashamed of the gospel of our Lord. 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:29.079 And Paul says that I am not ashamed of the gospel 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:32.319 of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:35.539 Look what else he says. He says, therefore, do 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:38.140 not be ashamed of the gospel of our Lord Jesus 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:42.579 or our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, his captive. 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:45.619 Are you ashamed of each other? So he's telling 00:20:45.619 --> 00:20:47.480 Timothy, listen, don't be ashamed of the gospel 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:51.279 of Christ. And don't be ashamed of me, his captive. 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:55.539 Are we ashamed of each other? Are we really so 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:58.460 uncomfortable with each other that we aren't 00:20:58.460 --> 00:21:02.819 willing to live with one another in peace? Purpose 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:06.440 to fulfill the kingdom and the call of God as 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:09.319 brothers and sisters. Are we ashamed to be associated 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:12.099 with each other? Are you just not fitting my 00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:17.380 way? He says he's the captive. But share in suffering. 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:21.299 Share in suffering. Suffer with and suffer together 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:25.720 for the gospel by the power of God. Meaning his 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:30.079 power. It's one thing to... not be ashamed of 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:33.619 somebody. It's another to say, I'm willing to 00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:36.579 suffer with you. Are any of you willing to suffer 00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:39.319 with people that you really don't like, but they're 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:41.720 part of the family? I mean, that's pretty deep, 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:45.059 right? Am I really willing to suffer with you 00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:47.900 because you're my sister or brother in Christ 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:52.900 for the gospel by the power of God? Or am I just 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.700 not willing to be associated with you at all 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:57.390 because you just don't fit me? Or as the young 00:21:57.390 --> 00:22:00.690 people say, we're not vibing. You and I just 00:22:00.690 --> 00:22:03.529 aren't vibing. And so look what he says here. 00:22:04.130 --> 00:22:08.250 God, but share in suffering for the gospel by 00:22:08.250 --> 00:22:13.029 the power of God, who saved us and called us 00:22:13.029 --> 00:22:15.609 to a holy calling. Notice this word, this term, 00:22:15.650 --> 00:22:19.769 this phrase, who saved us means to make a partaker 00:22:19.769 --> 00:22:24.670 of salvation. God has made you a partaker of 00:22:24.670 --> 00:22:28.220 salvation. And called us. Now, what's interesting 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:31.640 about the call of God to salvation is it's two 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:36.839 things. One, it's an invitation. He invites you 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:40.579 as a friend. Hey, you know, I got this and I'd 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:42.480 really like for you to have it. You're like, 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:45.480 yeah. That's the first. He does it as a friend. 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:48.920 The second is he summons you as a king. You see, 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:52.980 the invite is like, hey. And then he says, you 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:56.150 must bow. It's both. Isn't that interesting? 00:22:56.470 --> 00:22:59.289 Kind of reminds me of election. Isn't that interesting? 00:23:00.069 --> 00:23:04.950 He's like, hey, come. All who come, come. Then 00:23:04.950 --> 00:23:07.809 he says, by the way, get over here and bow before 00:23:07.809 --> 00:23:12.869 the king. Yes. Very interesting. That word called 00:23:12.869 --> 00:23:16.069 literally means both. Both are required. Now, 00:23:16.109 --> 00:23:20.130 look what it says. He has saved us and called 00:23:20.130 --> 00:23:26.309 us to a holy calling. A sacred embrace of salvation, 00:23:26.750 --> 00:23:30.190 kingdom, and station of life. I want you to get 00:23:30.190 --> 00:23:36.569 that. This invite and this summoning, he has 00:23:36.569 --> 00:23:41.349 brought us into a sacred embrace of his salvation, 00:23:41.589 --> 00:23:43.869 his kingdom, and station of life. Now, what's 00:23:43.869 --> 00:23:47.109 interesting is he saves us in spite. He puts 00:23:47.109 --> 00:23:50.109 us in a kingdom and makes us a kingdom. And then 00:23:50.109 --> 00:23:53.480 he actually changes. the station of life for 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:56.579 you. In God's heaven, you're not poor. You're 00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:59.960 a prince or a princess. In God's heaven, you're 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:01.599 no longer children of darkness, but children 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:04.039 of light. In God's heaven, you are children of 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:07.400 the living God. That's a station of life. Yes, 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:11.160 I'm privileged, and I am not going to apologize 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:15.960 for it. Now, not because of our works, not because 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:18.359 you guys did something, not because I earned 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:21.599 it. It's not because I saved myself or called 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:24.279 myself or decided I'm going to go into a holy 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:27.599 calling myself. It's because of his own purpose 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:32.740 and grace, which he gave. He didomized the word 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:35.559 here. He granted, he delivered, and he committed. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:39.369 He granted salvation. through purpose and grace. 00:24:39.549 --> 00:24:41.890 He's delivered salvation through purpose and 00:24:41.890 --> 00:24:44.230 grace, and he has committed salvation through 00:24:44.230 --> 00:24:47.930 purpose and grace to us in Christ Jesus. Where 00:24:47.930 --> 00:24:50.970 is our purpose, and where is the purpose and 00:24:50.970 --> 00:24:54.670 grace fulfilled? In Christ alone. Now get this, 00:24:54.789 --> 00:24:58.890 before the ages began. You hear that? Before 00:24:58.890 --> 00:25:02.700 any epoch. before earth was even created, before 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:05.619 God instituted, there was morning and evening 00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:11.539 and first day. Before any of that, God has saved 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:14.839 you in Christ. You're like, well, I thought I 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:17.220 had a part of that. That should, anybody who's 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:20.779 free will, that should wreck you. Because this 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:22.299 has nothing to do with free will, because it's 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:24.700 not something that you decided like yesterday. 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:27.940 This is something that has been determined before 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:31.839 the ages began. This work of Christ for you. 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:36.299 Notice in verse 10, in which now has been manifested, 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:40.259 meaning revealed or made known through the appearing 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:43.740 of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the proof of that 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:47.420 is he abolished, who abolished death and brought 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:51.900 Zoe, brought eternal life. So he destroys death. 00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:56.380 He brings eternal life and immortality. This 00:25:56.380 --> 00:26:01.080 word immortality means incorruptibility. imperishableness. 00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:06.539 We are incorruptible in Christ and imperishable 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:10.319 in Christ. You're like, well, we're dying. But 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:13.400 when he resurrects you, or if we're raptured, 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:17.799 i .e. taken up, you're going to receive a incorruptible 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:22.619 body. Now, this immortality, this incorruptibleness, 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:26.980 this imperishableness has come to light through 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:30.359 the gospel. It's the gospel that has brought 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:33.559 the reality of the truth of the eternity with 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:40.480 Christ and the abolition of death and the immortality 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:44.859 of our souls has come through the gospel. This 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:47.920 word through means dia, which is by the means 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:52.410 of. So when Jesus says, There is only one way. 00:26:52.490 --> 00:26:58.309 There is only one way. There is no other way. 00:26:58.529 --> 00:27:02.609 Now, let's keep reading. Paul says, for which 00:27:02.609 --> 00:27:06.450 I was appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher. 00:27:07.029 --> 00:27:10.509 God has appointed him as a preacher, apostle, 00:27:10.609 --> 00:27:17.589 teacher for the gospel's sake, not for my mission 00:27:17.589 --> 00:27:23.809 or my church or my ministry. It's not yours. 00:27:24.210 --> 00:27:28.650 It's God's. Your responsibility wherever he places 00:27:28.650 --> 00:27:33.890 you to work is the gospel, period. There is no 00:27:33.890 --> 00:27:37.650 other vision. Kind of hard for some pastors to 00:27:37.650 --> 00:27:40.529 hear. What's the vision for the church? I know 00:27:40.529 --> 00:27:43.710 I got to pray on that. Really? Holy smokes. I 00:27:43.710 --> 00:27:48.769 didn't know God had another plan. That's a pretty 00:27:48.769 --> 00:27:51.089 big book to try to find a vision outside of the 00:27:51.089 --> 00:27:53.250 vision that's already been cast. I mean, this 00:27:53.250 --> 00:27:55.230 vision has been going on for a couple thousand 00:27:55.230 --> 00:28:00.109 years and still going and still going and still 00:28:00.109 --> 00:28:03.109 going. There is one vision. There's one purpose. 00:28:03.210 --> 00:28:05.869 And Paul understands this. It's the gospel, which 00:28:05.869 --> 00:28:10.509 is why I suffer as I do. Are you willing to suffer 00:28:10.509 --> 00:28:13.630 for the gospel? Or can you be like Paul who says, 00:28:13.710 --> 00:28:18.259 but I am not. ashamed, for I know whom I have 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:21.339 believed. The reason why he is willing to die 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:24.680 for the gospel and die for Christ is because 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:28.119 he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt who he has 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:31.660 believed. He has seen him. He has been taught 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:35.099 by him. You know what Jesus said, blessed are 00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:38.019 those who believe and yet have not seen. Everyone 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:42.119 who believes and has not seen has a faith that 00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:45.750 is so great. You have great faith. if you believe. 00:28:45.970 --> 00:28:50.690 But belief without obedience isn't faith. Now, 00:28:50.730 --> 00:28:54.809 let's keep going. For I am convinced he is able. 00:28:55.410 --> 00:29:00.569 Dunatas. Dunatas. He has the power, the might. 00:29:00.829 --> 00:29:05.210 Do you hear that? I am convinced that Jesus has 00:29:05.210 --> 00:29:10.809 the power and the might to guard, to fulaso. 00:29:11.390 --> 00:29:14.920 Fulaso means to guard, protect, or keep. Keep 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:18.799 from being snatched. Does your Jesus, does my 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:22.960 Jesus, does he have the power to and might to 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:28.779 keep the gospel, my salvation, my inheritance 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:33.680 from being snatched? Yes, he does. Yes, he does. 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:36.420 He is more than capable, more than powerful. 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:41.380 And he will do it until that day what has been 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:44.940 entrusted. What has been entrusted to me, the 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:48.140 gospel. He will guard and protect and keep from 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:52.160 being snatched until that day what has been entrusted 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:55.799 to me, the gospel. He will keep the gospel from 00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:58.519 being taken from me. Why are so many churches 00:29:58.519 --> 00:30:01.759 running away from the gospel? Why are so many 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:05.339 people, so many pastors removing the gospel as 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:08.220 it was intended to be preached and heard? Don't 00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:11.500 want to be offensive. The very thing that Paul 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:14.420 warns Timothy not to do, churches today are doing 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:19.140 in droads. Don't want to offend you. Sorry. I 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:21.380 don't want to talk about sin. It hurts your feelings. 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:26.319 Oh, isn't that a shame? God forbid. It's okay. 00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:29.200 Run in the middle of the street. It's good. You're 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:33.200 welcome to. Hey, there's a truck coming. Beep, 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:38.420 beep. Come on, man. We must stand for the gospel. 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:41.180 Now look what else it says. Until that day he 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:44.619 has entrusted, entrust to one's faithful keeping 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:49.140 and stewardship. Can you hold to the gospel? 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:53.039 Can you keep the gospel? the way it was intended 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:56.220 to be heard and preached, the gospel, that wonderful, 00:30:56.359 --> 00:31:01.579 beautiful gospel. Godly leaders keep and guard 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:04.420 with their lives the faith and purpose to live 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:07.579 in obedience. Look carefully then how you walk. 00:31:08.109 --> 00:31:10.809 not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use 00:31:10.809 --> 00:31:13.650 of the time because the days are evil. Therefore, 00:31:13.789 --> 00:31:16.529 do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's 00:31:16.529 --> 00:31:19.529 will is. Ephesians 5, 15 through 17. What is 00:31:19.529 --> 00:31:21.890 God's will? Preach the gospel in its entirety. 00:31:22.670 --> 00:31:26.089 Christ was crucified, buried, rose again on the 00:31:26.089 --> 00:31:28.789 third day. Why? Because you're a sinful human 00:31:28.789 --> 00:31:32.990 being. And without Christ, you are destined a 00:31:32.990 --> 00:31:36.500 child of wrath. Now, Notice what it says in verse 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:41.799 13 and 14, follow, keep, take hold, seize the 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:46.480 pattern, seize the example, copied and modeled 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:52.140 of the sound words. Now this word, hugiaino, 00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:54.960 hugiaino is the word where we get hygiene from. 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:59.599 These sound words, the word sound means hugiaino, 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:04.440 logos, healthy words of Christ is what that means. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:09.819 So take hold and seize the example that has been 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:13.180 copied and modeled for you, which are the healthy 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:16.900 words of Christ that you have heard from me, 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:19.980 Paul says to Timothy. In other words, these words 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:23.660 of Jesus are good for you. And sometimes, I don't 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:26.319 know about you, but not all kids want to take 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:31.200 a bath. I mean, I know I didn't. Sometimes. Why? 00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:34.329 Because I was having fun. We don't want to be 00:32:34.329 --> 00:32:37.390 healthy sometimes. We like to be dirty, but that's 00:32:37.390 --> 00:32:40.849 not good. We need healthy. God's words are healthy 00:32:40.849 --> 00:32:43.769 for us. Notice what it says. Where do these healthy 00:32:43.769 --> 00:32:47.329 words come from? They are in faith and love that 00:32:47.329 --> 00:32:50.750 are in Christ Jesus. The only way to have healthy 00:32:50.750 --> 00:32:55.690 words is through Jesus. What does John 1 say? 00:32:56.269 --> 00:32:59.259 In the beginning was the... word. And the word 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:02.480 was with God and the word was God. He is the 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:05.799 healthy word. And he's given you his healthy 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:12.380 word on paper. Now, notice he says here, these 00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:16.339 healthy words, which are in Christ Jesus, are 00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:19.940 by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. The 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:23.779 Spirit, the word of God lives in you, in the 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:28.220 person of the Holy Spirit who dwells. who is 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:32.200 the influencer of your life. He says guard. This 00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:36.519 word guard means obey, watch, and keep from being 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:41.460 snatched. Are we keeping the word of God? I think 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:43.819 there are many churches like ours. Yes, I think 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:45.940 we're striving. That's our hunger. That's our 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:47.880 thirst. I think there's a lot of churches that 00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:52.099 aren't because they want the easy Jesus. And 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:54.259 it's not easy. Christian life is meant to be 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:57.630 hard. Why? Because it makes muscles. which I 00:33:57.630 --> 00:34:00.230 need to do. Got my blood pressure down, but I 00:34:00.230 --> 00:34:02.529 need to work out because it keeps me healthy. 00:34:02.910 --> 00:34:06.369 It's the same idea in our spiritual life. Guard, 00:34:06.529 --> 00:34:09.989 obey, watch, keep from being snatched the good, 00:34:10.090 --> 00:34:13.670 the kalos, the proper, beautiful, valuable, and 00:34:13.670 --> 00:34:16.469 virtuous deposit entrusted to you. I want you 00:34:16.469 --> 00:34:20.840 to hear that. This good deposit, this... beautiful, 00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:24.400 valuable, virtuous, and proper deposit that's 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:27.219 been entrusted to you is the gospel of Jesus. 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:31.179 Why do we think we got to fix it? I mean, the 00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:34.139 cross is a beautiful thing for us. It is the 00:34:34.139 --> 00:34:37.679 power of God for us. The cross is foolishness 00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:40.679 to those who are embarrassing, but to us, men 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:44.159 and women of God seek out opportunities to serve. 00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:47.460 This is the end. Like, why? would Paul at the 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:50.239 end of chapter one, which I don't think that 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:53.360 was intended. I think he was just a continual 00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:57.920 thought. He mentions being like abandoned. But 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:01.039 I want you to notice this one individual, Onesiphorus, 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:05.460 he's like out of everybody, he's mentioned. It's 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:08.599 because men and women of God seek out opportunities 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:11.159 to serve and minister to others. Why do I share 00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:14.920 that? It's providential, I will tell you. You 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:17.760 guys, should be finding every opportunity to 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:20.460 serve here. There should not be a moment that 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:22.840 you're not getting involved serving and caring 00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:25.579 and connecting and praying for God's people and 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:27.460 working with God's people because there's a kingdom. 00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:31.039 And all the little things matter. All of them 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:33.900 matter. From the beautification of the property 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:38.139 to helping over with spaghetti and meatballs, 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:41.380 helping Grace Alliance, helping each other in 00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:43.659 men's ministry. I'm going to call this. I got 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:47.199 to do it. I'm going to do it. Men, I'm going 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:49.519 to be very frank with you. There should not be 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:51.579 four or five guys showing up at men's meeting 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:54.820 every other month. Every man in this church should 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:57.340 be there if they can be there. How are you going 00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:59.699 to sharpen? How are you going to learn to continue 00:35:59.699 --> 00:36:02.239 to grow in your faith if you're not there? Even 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:04.239 if you came once a month, that would be a good 00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:06.880 thing. You wonder why women have a hard time 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:09.679 following? Because you're not leading in some 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:12.900 cases. And I'm being honest. I got to call you 00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:15.300 out on this. I want to see the men involved, 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:19.059 growing in their faith, fully committed to the 00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:23.380 word, being men of the living God, learning his 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:27.559 ways. Take a little bit of time to spend time 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:30.699 with Jesus. Just a little. You won't grow if 00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:33.039 you don't. You'll be like, well, pastor, you're 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:38.940 not there. Pastor can't be everywhere. The church 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:43.519 goes as the men go. Where the men go? The church 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:46.960 will go. And the leaders, the men, must lead. 00:36:47.639 --> 00:36:51.880 It's hard. Make a point to be there. We have 00:36:51.880 --> 00:36:56.260 several opportunities to gather and serve. And 00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:58.420 some of you guys already know you're serving 00:36:58.420 --> 00:37:02.019 a lot. You're serving a lot of other areas. Okay? 00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:04.340 You're involved in a lot of other areas. This 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:06.619 is not a guilt trip. This is challenging the 00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:10.119 men who are not involved. But I needed to do 00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:11.820 that before I went on sabbatical, so I got it 00:37:11.820 --> 00:37:14.570 out of the way. At least a month in advance so 00:37:14.570 --> 00:37:18.130 you won't be too mad at me in three weeks. I 00:37:18.130 --> 00:37:20.429 love you all. Really, I do. You're like, you're 00:37:20.429 --> 00:37:26.710 a jerk, pastor. Let love be genuine. Abhor what 00:37:26.710 --> 00:37:29.429 is evil. Hold fast to what is good. Love one 00:37:29.429 --> 00:37:33.309 another with a brotherly affection. Outdo. What's 00:37:33.309 --> 00:37:35.329 interesting about this word, outdo, in Romans 00:37:35.329 --> 00:37:38.889 12, 9 through 10, is this word means to show 00:37:38.889 --> 00:37:43.849 the way, lead, and give preference. Be the example. 00:37:44.849 --> 00:37:48.889 Outdo one another in showing honor, in showing 00:37:48.889 --> 00:37:53.130 value, in showing specialness. Isn't that interesting? 00:37:53.510 --> 00:37:57.409 Or in to show preciousness. Are others more precious 00:37:57.409 --> 00:38:00.889 than you? So here you go. Verse 15 through 18. 00:38:01.650 --> 00:38:05.289 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned 00:38:05.289 --> 00:38:09.309 away from me, among whom are... You'll never 00:38:09.309 --> 00:38:11.130 guess what I said early in first service. It 00:38:11.130 --> 00:38:14.869 was so funny. I said Pelagius. It was so bad. 00:38:18.150 --> 00:38:22.789 Phagellus and Hermogenes. Now, why is Paul abandoned? 00:38:23.610 --> 00:38:26.409 Well, he gets arrested. And now, if you're in 00:38:26.409 --> 00:38:28.630 another area and, you know, the dude that was 00:38:28.630 --> 00:38:31.050 persecuting and killing the church ends up getting 00:38:31.050 --> 00:38:33.429 arrested, you're like, uh -oh, what'd he do now? 00:38:33.849 --> 00:38:36.889 And so, like, all of Asia was like, I'm out. 00:38:38.090 --> 00:38:40.369 But, He mentions this one person. He says, may 00:38:40.369 --> 00:38:44.130 the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus. 00:38:44.630 --> 00:38:49.349 Why? Onesiphorus. Because for he often refreshed 00:38:49.349 --> 00:38:52.929 me and was not ashamed of my chains. He wasn't 00:38:52.929 --> 00:38:57.349 ashamed of Paul's arrest because of the gospel. 00:38:57.769 --> 00:39:00.750 But when he arrived in Rome, he searched for 00:39:00.750 --> 00:39:03.369 me earnestly and found me. He went out of his 00:39:03.369 --> 00:39:05.769 way to find where he was at in house arrest. 00:39:06.269 --> 00:39:10.599 Why? to serve him. I can't help but think he 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:12.800 remembered what Paul had done for the church 00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:15.440 there in Ephesus. Look what it says. May the 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:19.019 Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on 00:39:19.019 --> 00:39:22.920 that day, and you well know all the service he 00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:26.380 rendered at Ephesus. So why do I challenge the 00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:29.579 men? Why am I challenging the men? Why am I being 00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:34.849 hard on us as men to serve? because it speaks 00:39:34.849 --> 00:39:38.110 volumes of where the church is going. It speaks 00:39:38.110 --> 00:39:40.590 volumes. It's not because I'm being condemning. 00:39:41.090 --> 00:39:44.969 It's to stir you up. It's like if I went into, 00:39:44.989 --> 00:39:47.210 I said this before in a message. I know I did. 00:39:47.309 --> 00:39:49.530 It's like going into a football game, and you're 00:39:49.530 --> 00:39:51.190 at halftime, and you're getting like down by 00:39:51.190 --> 00:39:53.750 two touchdowns, and you're defeated, and you're 00:39:53.750 --> 00:39:56.210 like, oh, we ain't gonna win. It's sort of like 00:39:56.210 --> 00:40:00.750 the Eagles and the Chiefs, but they were already 00:40:00.750 --> 00:40:04.079 done. It didn't matter what. Reed said, you know, 00:40:04.079 --> 00:40:06.659 let's go out there, you guys stink, you're terrible, 00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:08.980 but you can still win. You know, that's the kind 00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:11.679 of idea. But that's sort of like what I get here. 00:40:12.219 --> 00:40:16.840 It's like, as men, let's continue to strive to 00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:19.900 serve one another, to learn and to walk in Christ, 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:23.360 to allow each other to sharpen each other. Can 00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:26.639 you imagine how much more further we would be 00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:29.599 as a church? How strong our church would be? 00:40:30.699 --> 00:40:33.440 considering everyone else around us. We have 00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:35.139 a good, strong church and we have a good group 00:40:35.139 --> 00:40:37.880 of men that do serve, but we have men that aren't. 00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:39.760 And so my challenge is to you, if you're not 00:40:39.760 --> 00:40:42.239 involved, get involved. That's my challenge to 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:45.199 you. And you're like, how can you say that? Because 00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:48.360 you already know me. I've set the example and 00:40:48.360 --> 00:40:51.539 my family's given sacrifice. And if I can do 00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:55.380 it, you do it. Father, I want to thank you so 00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:59.800 much for this wonderful letter. It's a reminder 00:40:59.800 --> 00:41:05.539 of our call to the gospel, our commitment to 00:41:05.539 --> 00:41:09.980 not be ashamed, but to contend, to keep it from 00:41:09.980 --> 00:41:13.079 being snatched, to walk with purpose, to lead 00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:16.980 in living. And Lord, I know even these things 00:41:16.980 --> 00:41:18.920 that are difficult to handle and talk about, 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:22.840 it is for our good. Lord, we so thank you and 00:41:22.840 --> 00:41:25.179 we do praise you. I thank you for all the men 00:41:25.179 --> 00:41:27.739 and the women here. I thank you for the service. 00:41:28.440 --> 00:41:30.820 for those who are serving and giving and working 00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:34.219 and really working hard to honor and glorify 00:41:34.219 --> 00:41:35.900 you. But Lord, I pray that you would continue 00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:38.579 to stir in the hearts of everyone here the importance 00:41:38.579 --> 00:41:42.300 of being part of what you are doing, the establishment, 00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:44.460 the continued establishment of your kingdom to 00:41:44.460 --> 00:41:46.760 build upon what you have already laid. Help us 00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:49.820 to be faithful keepers of the gospel. In Jesus' 00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:50.780 name, amen.