WEBVTT 00:00:08.650 --> 00:00:11.269 All right, so I'm going to read chapter 5, and 00:00:11.269 --> 00:00:13.849 then we're going to dig in, okay? So I exhort 00:00:13.849 --> 00:00:16.350 the elders among you as a fellow elder and a 00:00:16.350 --> 00:00:20.170 witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well 00:00:20.170 --> 00:00:22.670 as a partaker in the glory that is going to be 00:00:22.670 --> 00:00:25.690 revealed, shepherd the flock of God that is among 00:00:25.690 --> 00:00:29.809 you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, 00:00:30.269 --> 00:00:33.149 but willingly, as God would have you, not for 00:00:33.149 --> 00:00:36.509 shameful gain, but eagerly, not domineering over 00:00:36.509 --> 00:00:40.670 those in your charge, but being examples to the 00:00:40.670 --> 00:00:43.710 flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you 00:00:43.710 --> 00:00:47.509 will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, 00:00:47.689 --> 00:00:50.350 you who are younger, be subject to the elders, 00:00:50.609 --> 00:00:54.890 clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility 00:00:54.890 --> 00:00:57.899 toward one another. For God opposes the proud 00:00:57.899 --> 00:01:00.539 but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:04.780 therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:08.180 at the proper time he may exalt you, casting 00:01:08.180 --> 00:01:10.980 all your anxieties on him, for he cares for you. 00:01:11.739 --> 00:01:14.599 Be sober -minded, be watchful. Your adversary, 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:16.799 the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.719 seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:23.340 the faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering 00:01:23.340 --> 00:01:25.980 are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:29.200 the world. And after you have suffered a little 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:32.859 while, the God of all grace, who has called you 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:35.959 to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:40.140 restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:43.540 to him. be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:48.900 By Silvanus, a faithful brother, as I regard 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:53.180 him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting 00:01:53.180 --> 00:01:56.780 and declaring that this is the true grace of 00:01:56.780 --> 00:02:01.079 God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:04.620 who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, 00:02:04.739 --> 00:02:09.060 and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:12.789 the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are 00:02:12.789 --> 00:02:15.229 in Christ. May the Lord bless the reading of 00:02:15.229 --> 00:02:20.969 his word. There is a lot in this chapter. There's 00:02:20.969 --> 00:02:22.889 a lot of doctrine, a lot of stuff we need to 00:02:22.889 --> 00:02:26.069 deal with. And I will give you a very good overview 00:02:26.069 --> 00:02:29.550 of it. And we'll dig in another time to get even 00:02:29.550 --> 00:02:33.009 deeper into some of these things. But I think 00:02:33.009 --> 00:02:35.669 for the most part. you'll get a really good understanding 00:02:35.669 --> 00:02:38.629 of why this chapter is so important and why he 00:02:38.629 --> 00:02:42.210 finishes this letter that way. The principle 00:02:42.210 --> 00:02:45.210 number one, the men whom God has ordained have 00:02:45.210 --> 00:02:49.389 been called and commanded to the care of the 00:02:49.389 --> 00:02:53.370 flock of God. The men whom God has ordained have 00:02:53.370 --> 00:02:56.969 been called and commanded to the care of the 00:02:56.969 --> 00:03:02.080 flock of God. In Acts 20, 26 through 28, therefore, 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:05.139 I testify to you this day that I am innocent 00:03:05.139 --> 00:03:08.800 of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:11.479 declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:14.479 careful attention to yourselves and to all the 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:17.979 flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers 00:03:17.979 --> 00:03:21.759 to care for the church of God, which he obtained 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:25.659 by his own blood. Now, this is important. If 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:30.819 I can, there you go. This is important because 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:34.580 what we're going to read in chapter 5, verse 00:03:34.580 --> 00:03:38.000 1 through 4, is almost the same declaration. 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:44.240 That the reality of God's flock, his church, 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:50.419 Paul has made every attempt to proclaim to the 00:03:50.419 --> 00:03:55.300 people and the doctrine of God to the people. 00:03:55.710 --> 00:03:59.550 that he is innocent of all their blood. In other 00:03:59.550 --> 00:04:05.409 words, it is on them if they shrink away. And 00:04:05.409 --> 00:04:07.629 then he says, for I did not shrink from declaring 00:04:07.629 --> 00:04:10.629 to you the whole counsel of God. So as elders, 00:04:10.849 --> 00:04:15.530 and there's only two of us here, I think. As 00:04:15.530 --> 00:04:19.889 elders, we are held responsible to teach the 00:04:19.889 --> 00:04:21.970 full counsel of God's word, whether you like 00:04:21.970 --> 00:04:26.720 it or not. The word is offensive. It is difficult. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:31.139 And we can't skip things or go over things because 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:33.899 they're too difficult to handle. Or they're going 00:04:33.899 --> 00:04:37.839 to be offensive. And the scary part in the day 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.379 that we live in, which is thriving in deception, 00:04:41.660 --> 00:04:46.899 is men of God do this all the time in the pulpits 00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:54.420 today. And we don't have the option. To do that, 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:59.660 we must declare the whole counsel of God, not 00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:03.139 part of it. We must not tickle the ears so that 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:07.279 you feel comfortable and happy. Pay careful attention 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:12.620 to yourselves. Are you walking and preaching 00:05:12.620 --> 00:05:16.639 the gospel to yourself? Are you walking and teaching 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:19.399 the full counsel of the word of God and studying 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:21.339 the full counsel of the word of God for yourself? 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:25.240 Are you? Paying attention to yourself carefully 00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:29.600 as you should also to all the flock that God 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:32.839 has entrusted. And God has entrusted each and 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:35.879 every person that walks in this building to us 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:40.620 as elders. You don't carry the burden. We do. 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:45.000 And that's important to understand. And it is 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:49.240 a heavy burden to carry. But that does not mean 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:53.860 that we don't. Love and enjoy the moment. I love 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:58.240 shepherding the flock of God with all her beauty 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:02.079 and with all her ugliness. There is no greater 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:04.420 calling for any man on the face of the earth 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:06.600 than to be a shepherd of God's people. And that 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:08.339 includes the president of the United States. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:13.420 There is no greater purpose of any man than to 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:21.519 care for God's people. And it is humbling that 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:26.819 he would call such a man as I or such men as 00:06:26.819 --> 00:06:32.540 we. Because we don't deserve it. But he is wise 00:06:32.540 --> 00:06:37.680 and good and he knows. And so we do. Because 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:42.339 we love you. And because we love him. Notice 00:06:42.339 --> 00:06:45.459 it says, in which the Holy Spirit has made you 00:06:45.459 --> 00:06:53.180 overseers. He has made us as overseers to care 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:57.680 for the church of God. Beautiful word. Which 00:06:57.680 --> 00:06:59.920 he obtained by his own blood. So what does this 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:05.839 mean? We don't own you. God owns us. And the 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:10.100 cost is a cost that can never be repaid. There 00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:13.240 is nothing that is greater value than the blood 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:16.819 of Christ, which he has paid for you. Not gold, 00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:19.220 not silver, no precious stones could ever match 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:24.019 the value of the blood of Jesus. And so in 1 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:27.759 Peter 5, 1 through 4, this is what he says. So 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:34.759 I exhort, I plead, I beg the elders. Presbyteros 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:45.319 is Y is typically an U. So he begs, he pleads 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:49.019 the elders among you. Why? As a fellow elder 00:07:49.019 --> 00:07:54.060 and a witness, one who testifies. Testifies to 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:56.740 what? To the sufferings of Christ. This is a 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:59.980 term that's used as if someone is being brought 00:07:59.980 --> 00:08:04.550 as a witness before a judge. This is an... eyewitness, 00:08:04.649 --> 00:08:08.350 one who clearly can testify to the truth of the 00:08:08.350 --> 00:08:11.449 reality of the sufferings of Jesus, as well as 00:08:11.449 --> 00:08:14.870 a partaker, a participant in the glory that's 00:08:14.870 --> 00:08:17.629 going to be revealed. Why? Do you remember when 00:08:17.629 --> 00:08:21.009 he ascended and the angel said, do not marvel? 00:08:21.870 --> 00:08:24.850 In the same way that he has ascended, he will 00:08:24.850 --> 00:08:27.930 descend. And Jesus says, if I go to prepare a 00:08:27.930 --> 00:08:30.149 place for you, I will come again to take you 00:08:30.149 --> 00:08:33.350 to myself. John, I mean, Peter knows full well 00:08:33.350 --> 00:08:39.570 of Christ's return. And he is a participant in 00:08:39.570 --> 00:08:42.070 the glory that is going to be revealed. You are 00:08:42.070 --> 00:08:46.950 a participant. Get that. We're not just spectators. 00:08:47.970 --> 00:08:53.450 We're involved. How are we involved to this day? 00:08:54.049 --> 00:08:57.870 Shepherd. So this is to our elders. And this 00:08:57.870 --> 00:09:03.210 is also to the men who lead and teach. And for 00:09:03.210 --> 00:09:05.870 those who do lead and teach, even the women, 00:09:05.970 --> 00:09:08.529 be mindful. Because the principle can apply. 00:09:10.690 --> 00:09:14.029 Not the office, but the principle to care for 00:09:14.029 --> 00:09:18.250 those who have been put in your care. Shepherd. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:23.299 Full care. This is important. Because a lot of 00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:25.120 times we think shepherding is just this or that. 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:28.799 It's actually to feed, tend, keep, or govern. 00:09:29.700 --> 00:09:33.620 And govern, sorry. In other words, the full care 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:36.740 of the flock of God has been placed upon you. 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:41.620 That's a burden that is very heavy. And it's 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:44.960 not easy. And it's not supposed to be easy. But 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:48.789 it is supposed to be a place of joy. And I will 00:09:48.789 --> 00:09:51.570 tell you for the men who serve with me, it is 00:09:51.570 --> 00:09:58.789 our joy. It is our joy. The flock of God clearly 00:09:58.789 --> 00:10:03.889 is implying God is the owner. It's his flock. 00:10:04.269 --> 00:10:07.789 Not my flock. My responsibility is to care for 00:10:07.789 --> 00:10:13.490 his flock. That is among you. That is a term 00:10:13.490 --> 00:10:18.340 that's used to imply a local body. or a local 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:25.360 flock among the flock. This is a group of people 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:30.120 which God has purposed to send to an overseer 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:33.580 or a group of overseers in order to care for 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:41.179 and take, feed and to govern and to tend and 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:46.299 keep. Exercising oversight. This term means to 00:10:46.299 --> 00:10:49.960 serve as overseers or to see to or care for. 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:54.559 It's the same idea as it reminds me, as that 00:10:54.559 --> 00:11:02.500 we are stewards of what God owns. We are your 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:07.639 stewards. Not under compulsion. That means by 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.740 constraint, force, or unwilling. We aren't to 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:14.539 do it because we're forced to. We are to do it 00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:18.759 because we're willing. And he says this, and 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.360 not under compulsion, willing, which means the 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:24.139 same thing. He gives you the negative and he 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:26.779 gives you the positive, which means the same 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:30.559 thing. But it's really the attitude of the heart 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:35.120 and the mind, isn't it? You ever see men who 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:38.440 all they want to do is just sit in their office? 00:11:40.429 --> 00:11:45.629 They don't really want to shepherd because shepherding 00:11:45.629 --> 00:11:51.490 is work. And they've taken on the thought from 00:11:51.490 --> 00:11:54.409 a misunderstanding concerning what it says in 00:11:54.409 --> 00:11:59.110 the book of Acts when the apostles had set aside 00:11:59.110 --> 00:12:02.590 deacons to serve the tables and take care of 00:12:02.590 --> 00:12:07.250 the needs of the people. So their responsibility 00:12:07.250 --> 00:12:10.200 is just to do the Bible. So he'll sit in her 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:11.899 office, do the Bible all day, but not be connected 00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:13.820 to the people that they got to care for. Can 00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:15.519 you imagine what would have happened with Moses 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:19.139 if that's what he did all day? And he wouldn't 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:21.720 be sitting down and meeting and dealing with 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.059 the needs of the people by judging the issues 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:27.759 of the day. If you want to see what a shepherd 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.860 looks like, look at Moses. Not only did he deliver 00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:33.460 the word and that he also made sure that the 00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:36.279 people ate and that they were well taken care 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:39.759 of and that they were governed. But he also had 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:44.259 assigned by God's leading elders to oversee the 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:46.679 tribe so that when they would bring to Moses 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:49.360 issues that they could not resolve, Moses could 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:52.500 take care of those issues. He didn't stop and 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.799 say, you know what? You know what? I'll just 00:12:53.799 --> 00:13:01.679 sit and write another tablet of stone. Shepherding 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:06.779 is so much more. Look what it says, as God would 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:09.100 have you. It's interesting, the term as God would 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.320 have you is not in the scripture itself, but 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:13.720 it's clearly implied under the word willing. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:17.179 Because it's exactly what God would have you 00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:20.740 to do. Do it because you're willing to do it. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.820 Not for shameful gain, greediness for money, 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:29.580 but eagerly, being prompt, ready, cheerful, and 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:35.600 wholehearted. That is something that I think 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.779 is missing in many of our brothers. Because they've 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:44.779 let the burden and the weight of people's stuff 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:48.019 keep them from the cheerfulness and the wholeheartedness 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:52.200 of why they're doing it. For the glory and the 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:54.899 edification of the church so that the kingdom 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:58.419 of God is built. That's why we do it. It's not 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:01.809 because I want to be happy. My happiness and 00:14:01.809 --> 00:14:04.629 my joy is found in serving the Lord and loving 00:14:04.629 --> 00:14:11.009 his people well. What else is there? Not domineering 00:14:11.009 --> 00:14:14.649 to be master or exercise lordship over those 00:14:14.649 --> 00:14:21.110 in your charge. So what happens in many cases, 00:14:21.169 --> 00:14:24.409 and I'll say this, it is dangerous to be in a 00:14:24.409 --> 00:14:27.590 church with a single elder -led pastor or a single 00:14:27.590 --> 00:14:32.159 pastor. Who runs the church. No man should have 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:35.759 that kind of power. The only one who runs the 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:39.299 church is Jesus Christ himself, the chief shepherd. 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:43.179 And we as under shepherds are to care for his 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:49.899 people as stewards, as God has intended. And 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:54.320 that's why we are an eldership. It's never meant 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:56.440 for one man to do the work by himself. It's meant 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:59.100 for us to do it together. And in many cases, 00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:01.840 just like Moses, he needs someone on his right 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:06.559 and on his left to hold his arms up. Thank you, 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:14.580 Ben. Over those in your charge, over those assigned 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:18.679 to one's oversight and care. That's what this 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:28.259 means. Oversight and care. How? But being examples, 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:32.960 a type or pattern. How do we live this way? How 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:37.720 do we oversee and shepherd and keep and care? 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:43.639 By being examples, a type or pattern. 1 Corinthians 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:47.899 11 .1, be imitators of me as I am of Christ. 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:55.250 To the flock. It's the same idea here. My type 00:15:55.250 --> 00:15:58.649 or my pattern is Christ, and I must be as Christ, 00:15:58.929 --> 00:16:06.029 not perfectly, but consistently. And when the 00:16:06.029 --> 00:16:08.809 chief shepherd appears, you will receive the 00:16:08.809 --> 00:16:10.970 unfading crown of glory. This is our reward. 00:16:12.809 --> 00:16:16.929 This is our reward. We receive a crown that no 00:16:16.929 --> 00:16:20.590 one else will receive. It's our reward. So let's 00:16:20.590 --> 00:16:23.590 be faithful. Don't worry, I spoke to the other 00:16:23.590 --> 00:16:26.549 elders too, but they're not here. So it's just 00:16:26.549 --> 00:16:34.049 me and you, bro. Second principle, because God 00:16:34.049 --> 00:16:37.169 cares for you, he will exalt those who walk humbly 00:16:37.169 --> 00:16:42.850 before him. Micah 6 .8, he has told you, oh man, 00:16:42.929 --> 00:16:45.809 what is good and what does the Lord require of 00:16:45.809 --> 00:16:48.590 you, but to do justice and to love kindness and 00:16:48.590 --> 00:16:52.149 to walk humbly with your God. It's really a question. 00:16:52.210 --> 00:16:55.529 It's a statement question, nonetheless. But hasn't 00:16:55.529 --> 00:16:58.789 he told you, oh man, what is good and what the 00:16:58.789 --> 00:17:01.169 Lord requires of you, that you do justice and 00:17:01.169 --> 00:17:03.830 love kindness and walk humbly with your God? 00:17:03.929 --> 00:17:07.789 Hasn't he told you that already? Yes, he has. 00:17:07.869 --> 00:17:10.789 Has he not? This is for every one of us. This 00:17:10.789 --> 00:17:16.529 is not just for the elders. 1 Peter 5, 5 -7, 00:17:16.630 --> 00:17:19.829 likewise, in the same way. In other words, this 00:17:19.829 --> 00:17:23.269 term is being used like this. The elder must 00:17:23.269 --> 00:17:26.710 be humble and subject to the Lord. So in the 00:17:26.710 --> 00:17:31.390 same way, you also must be humble and subject 00:17:31.390 --> 00:17:33.950 to the Lord. That's what he means here. So he 00:17:33.950 --> 00:17:38.250 gave you a list of how the shepherd or the overseer, 00:17:38.250 --> 00:17:41.809 the elder should live. The only way he can accomplish 00:17:41.809 --> 00:17:45.049 those tasks in verses 1 through 4 is to be humble. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:55.440 We cannot sit on the horse of pride. Now, understanding 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:59.559 that, he says, likewise, you who are younger. 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:03.599 So, got some good news for you guys who are young. 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:10.819 Darrell, has nothing to do with age. Nothing 00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:14.460 to do with age. This word younger has nothing 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:18.240 to do with how old you are. This word younger 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:23.740 means recent, new, young in the faith or lacking 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:29.859 experience. I was talking to Karen Koons after 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:32.259 the service. She had shared this with me. She 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.799 goes, I really love that. She goes, do you know 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:36.460 what the Hebrew Bible I use says? I said, what? 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:38.460 She goes, lacking experience. Oh, I love that. 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:40.700 I got to use that. So you guys got it. First 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:43.220 service did it. But that's exactly what it means. 00:18:47.869 --> 00:18:51.670 Likewise, you who lack experience, be subject. 00:18:52.529 --> 00:18:59.609 Place or arrange oneself under the elders. Why? 00:18:59.829 --> 00:19:03.109 Because it's our responsibility to care and to 00:19:03.109 --> 00:19:06.150 shepherd you, to help you grow, to see what God 00:19:06.150 --> 00:19:11.710 has for you. Clothe yourselves. Now, what's interesting, 00:19:11.869 --> 00:19:16.250 this word clothe, is a term that's used for slaves. 00:19:18.109 --> 00:19:20.490 In Dalton Abbey, you ever notice that all of 00:19:20.490 --> 00:19:24.309 the servants that lived in the house did not 00:19:24.309 --> 00:19:29.549 dress as those who lived there? They wore servants' 00:19:29.650 --> 00:19:35.109 clothes. They put on the servants' clothes so 00:19:35.109 --> 00:19:37.549 that when the guests and those who came in would 00:19:37.549 --> 00:19:40.569 be able to know who the servant is versus who 00:19:40.569 --> 00:19:45.180 isn't. That's what he means here. Because we 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:47.599 are slaves to Christ, put on the servant clothes. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:52.660 And what is the servant's clothes? Humility. 00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:56.660 Clothe yourselves with humility, with a deep 00:19:56.660 --> 00:20:02.460 sense of one's littleness. Do you get that? That 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:07.819 we think of ourselves less than we ought. Not 00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:13.539 more, but less. This deep sense of one's littleness 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:18.019 toward one another. Philippians 2. Do nothing 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:21.539 from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:24.079 count others more significant than yourselves. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:27.640 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:32.440 but also to the interests of others. Littleness. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:37.740 Lowliness. For God opposes. God has set himself 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:42.109 in opposition. to the proud, the arrogant, but 00:20:42.109 --> 00:20:45.869 gives grace to the humble, the lowly. Humble 00:20:45.869 --> 00:20:49.069 yourselves. It's a different term, actually. 00:20:50.009 --> 00:20:55.809 It means to lower oneself. Humble yourselves, 00:20:56.069 --> 00:20:58.769 therefore. Lower yourselves, therefore, by any 00:20:58.769 --> 00:21:04.049 means, under the strong, powerful hand of God. 00:21:08.069 --> 00:21:12.970 So that at the proper time, he will exalt you. 00:21:13.690 --> 00:21:16.069 I know, Jody and I had a conversation about the 00:21:16.069 --> 00:21:20.970 word may. But I don't do Old English. And everyone 00:21:20.970 --> 00:21:24.190 else thinks may is may, kind of, sort of. At 00:21:24.190 --> 00:21:27.269 least I think so. And so the reality is, it's 00:21:27.269 --> 00:21:31.970 not that he might. He will exalt you. God will. 00:21:32.210 --> 00:21:34.849 You see, if God might, then God is not a... A 00:21:34.849 --> 00:21:37.609 God who keeps his promises. Because if I'm obedient 00:21:37.609 --> 00:21:40.450 and I do what he commands me to do, then he says, 00:21:40.609 --> 00:21:45.970 I will do this for you. Not maybe. And what will 00:21:45.970 --> 00:21:49.670 he do? He will lift me up and elevate. He will 00:21:49.670 --> 00:21:54.089 lift you up and elevate you. And so as a result, 00:21:54.170 --> 00:21:56.869 if he is lifting you up and elevating you, what 00:21:56.869 --> 00:21:59.809 should you do? Cast and throw upon. Means to 00:21:59.809 --> 00:22:04.460 throw all your anxieties on him. Why? Because 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:11.420 he cares for you. Matthew 11, 28 through 30. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:15.759 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:19.299 and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:22.319 and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:25.339 in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:29.000 for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. He's 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:31.460 saying, listen, take all your junk and just put 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:34.380 it on me. I can carry that. Then what I have 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:37.740 to give you to carry is nothing in comparison. 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:44.960 Here, you take my yoke, I take your yoke. My 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:49.720 yoke doesn't have all the junk. He carries our 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:55.650 junk. Third principle, we must be willing to 00:22:55.650 --> 00:22:58.250 suffer for his glory, knowing he is faithful 00:22:58.250 --> 00:23:01.549 to do as he's promised. In Ephesians 5, 15 through 00:23:01.549 --> 00:23:04.369 17, look carefully then how you walk, not as 00:23:04.369 --> 00:23:06.869 unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the 00:23:06.869 --> 00:23:09.930 time because the days are evil. Therefore, do 00:23:09.930 --> 00:23:12.970 not be foolish, but understand what the will 00:23:12.970 --> 00:23:20.150 of the Lord is. Now, I'm going to deal with some 00:23:20.150 --> 00:23:23.930 controversial issue right now. Now, I want you 00:23:23.930 --> 00:23:27.849 to understand something very important. When 00:23:27.849 --> 00:23:30.490 he says, be sober -minded, 1 Peter 5, 8 -11, 00:23:30.710 --> 00:23:33.769 be vigilant, clear -headed, be watchful for your 00:23:33.769 --> 00:23:36.789 adversary, the enemy, the devil, the culminator, 00:23:36.809 --> 00:23:39.809 the accuser, the slanderer, prowls around, roves, 00:23:39.809 --> 00:23:44.450 roams, and accompanies or follows like a roaring 00:23:44.450 --> 00:23:49.529 lion. There is not a day, I think, in all of 00:23:49.529 --> 00:23:52.210 world history When deception has not been the 00:23:52.210 --> 00:24:01.369 greatest we have ever seen. And I do pray that 00:24:01.369 --> 00:24:04.069 one day the president will hear what I'm about 00:24:04.069 --> 00:24:07.349 to say. The president of the United States must 00:24:07.349 --> 00:24:10.990 be a man of integrity and keep his word. When 00:24:10.990 --> 00:24:12.569 he says he's going to do something, he needs 00:24:12.569 --> 00:24:15.609 to do what he says. If he says he's going to 00:24:15.609 --> 00:24:18.190 do a ceasefire, then do a ceasefire. Stop playing 00:24:18.190 --> 00:24:23.650 games. It is wrong, it is sin, and it is a mockery 00:24:23.650 --> 00:24:26.109 to the responsibility of the office of the President 00:24:26.109 --> 00:24:34.970 of the United States. We must understand this. 00:24:35.789 --> 00:24:37.990 Regardless of his pride and regardless of the 00:24:37.990 --> 00:24:41.730 man he is, he has a woman in his office who tickles 00:24:41.730 --> 00:24:51.079 his ear. And deception is at the greatest I've 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:54.779 ever seen. And it's from every side. We are, 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:57.839 as believers, being attacked from every side. 00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:04.980 Why do I say that? Because we must be sober -minded, 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:10.579 vigilant and clear -headed and be watchful. All 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:15.160 of us. And not only are we dealing with the reality 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:18.819 of deception. In everything that we're dealing 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:20.539 with, we're also dealing with in the church. 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:27.859 How do we know what truth is? The word of God. 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:35.000 All scripture is God -breathed. It is the final 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:39.720 authority in all things. It is his word, period. 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:45.680 So your adversary, the enemy, The devil, the 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.039 culminator, the accuser, the slanderer, prowls 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:52.279 around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:58.400 devour. What's interesting here is it's the pictures 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:01.680 that Peter is painting here. It's not about the 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:07.480 devil. It's about suffering. There are enemies 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:17.059 around about us. And I will tell you, this term 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:20.519 to roam, accompany, follow is exactly what aligned 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:26.519 us. Just waiting for that moment. And there are 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:29.140 those who are devilish who continue to do the 00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.700 same thing. I will tell you this, and I have 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:33.539 been praying and thinking about this quite a 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:38.240 bit. And I'm more convinced now than I've ever 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:42.519 been that the evil one has been released and 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:46.990 is at. and is out deceiving the nations. Revelation 00:26:46.990 --> 00:26:52.990 20 and Revelation 13. Every nation is in this 00:26:52.990 --> 00:26:57.369 moment of deception and the people of God, unless 00:26:57.369 --> 00:27:00.349 they know the word of God, will be deceived so 00:27:00.349 --> 00:27:03.910 much so that some of them will believe it. And 00:27:03.910 --> 00:27:09.410 Jesus makes this claim that even the elect, if 00:27:09.410 --> 00:27:12.109 it were possible, would be deceived. But it's 00:27:12.109 --> 00:27:14.289 not possible for the elect to be deceived because 00:27:14.289 --> 00:27:17.230 the Spirit of God lives in us. We have something 00:27:17.230 --> 00:27:21.269 the world would never have. God living in us. 00:27:22.809 --> 00:27:30.910 Emmanuel. This word devour means to swallow greedily. 00:27:31.930 --> 00:27:35.170 Isn't that exactly what it's like, isn't it? 00:27:36.210 --> 00:27:41.849 Resist, oppose, withstand, firm. steadfast, strong 00:27:41.849 --> 00:27:44.849 in your faith. I don't know why they put the 00:27:44.849 --> 00:27:48.789 word him here. Resist him because it's really 00:27:48.789 --> 00:27:53.450 a list that Peter is placing here that we must 00:27:53.450 --> 00:27:57.130 resist firm in the faith, knowing the same kinds 00:27:57.130 --> 00:27:59.730 of sufferings or afflictions are being experienced 00:27:59.730 --> 00:28:04.690 by your brotherhood. It's really a list. It's 00:28:04.690 --> 00:28:08.289 not resist him. It's resist anything that's antithetical 00:28:08.289 --> 00:28:13.609 to God. Firm in the faith. Firm in the gospel. 00:28:13.809 --> 00:28:17.329 So let me share this with you. There is only 00:28:17.329 --> 00:28:20.650 one thing that has been given to you that's your 00:28:20.650 --> 00:28:25.369 responsibility. To contend for the faith. The 00:28:25.369 --> 00:28:28.230 gospel. So let me give you the gospel very plainly. 00:28:28.410 --> 00:28:33.710 Okay? This is a gospel that has justified you 00:28:33.710 --> 00:28:38.250 in the work of Jesus Christ. Okay? Very important. 00:28:39.529 --> 00:28:42.650 What is the gospel? That Christ came and died 00:28:42.650 --> 00:28:44.349 on the cross, was buried and rose again on the 00:28:44.349 --> 00:28:48.309 third day. He came and put on flesh to be in 00:28:48.309 --> 00:28:50.869 the image of the creation in which he is created. 00:28:51.049 --> 00:28:55.769 And as a result, sinful man. Because of one man, 00:28:55.970 --> 00:29:01.549 Adam, all sinned and all have died. But through 00:29:01.549 --> 00:29:06.490 one man, the second Adam, all will live. Very 00:29:06.490 --> 00:29:10.049 important. Second, without the shedding of blood, 00:29:10.109 --> 00:29:12.549 there is no forgiveness of sin. That means to 00:29:12.549 --> 00:29:15.849 be justified before God. Nothing can justify 00:29:15.849 --> 00:29:18.190 anyone except for the blood of Christ itself 00:29:18.190 --> 00:29:21.349 and the work that he has done on the cross. For 00:29:21.349 --> 00:29:24.049 the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God 00:29:24.049 --> 00:29:27.049 is eternal life in Christ Jesus. And why is that 00:29:27.049 --> 00:29:29.410 important? Because there's no one who is righteous, 00:29:29.490 --> 00:29:32.950 no, not one. No one does good. No one seeks God. 00:29:38.260 --> 00:29:42.039 Now, understanding this reality, the condition 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:45.299 of the total depravity of man has brought man 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:47.960 to one position before God, and that is under 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:52.779 his wrath. That means all people born are under 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:56.200 the wrath of God. And the only way one comes 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:59.240 out from underneath the wrath of God, erkomai, 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:02.720 is to be born again in Christ, washed by the 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:06.180 blood of Jesus, and placed from death to life. 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:14.180 There is no greater work in all of creation than 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:17.460 the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. There 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:23.000 is no greater work. No one has the power to do 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:27.059 so except for him. Now understanding this, how 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:32.200 should we live? The willingness to suffer. knowing 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:35.299 that the same kinds of suffering, affliction 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:38.700 are being experienced, fully undergone or endured 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:40.619 by the brotherhood throughout the world. Now 00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:43.640 this is important. The reason why this is important 00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:47.539 is because of this statement right here. Your 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:50.099 adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:53.859 lion seeking someone to devour. We can't take 00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:56.480 it out of context. We know what the context is 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:59.829 here. Exactly what it says, knowing that the 00:30:59.829 --> 00:31:02.230 same kinds of suffering or affliction are being 00:31:02.230 --> 00:31:05.430 experienced and endured by the brotherhood throughout 00:31:05.430 --> 00:31:10.589 the world. What does this mean? That the very 00:31:10.589 --> 00:31:14.990 works of the enemy are at work against every 00:31:14.990 --> 00:31:22.349 believer. People that live in the world that 00:31:22.349 --> 00:31:25.309 are under the curse are still under the curse. 00:31:25.369 --> 00:31:29.049 There is no need for that. They live in deception. 00:31:32.829 --> 00:31:40.349 Now, this also implies one very important characteristic 00:31:40.349 --> 00:31:47.210 that Satan does not have. Omnipresence. Because 00:31:47.210 --> 00:31:51.490 he can't be fully... He can't be... And afflicting 00:31:51.490 --> 00:31:54.250 all the believers around the world at the same 00:31:54.250 --> 00:32:00.829 time. Just want to throw that out there. And 00:32:00.829 --> 00:32:04.069 after you suffered. Now this term after you have 00:32:04.069 --> 00:32:07.549 is not present. Nor in the tense. But I can see 00:32:07.549 --> 00:32:09.470 why they put it there. Because it makes sense. 00:32:10.230 --> 00:32:13.509 At least from an English perspective. And suffering 00:32:13.509 --> 00:32:18.150 a little while. Not a really good sentence. But 00:32:18.150 --> 00:32:21.109 I get it. So after you've endured a little while, 00:32:21.230 --> 00:32:25.410 briefly, the God of all grace, do you hear that? 00:32:25.730 --> 00:32:28.089 Where sin increases, grace increases all the 00:32:28.089 --> 00:32:31.210 more. Suffering for the cause of Christ is a 00:32:31.210 --> 00:32:35.710 result of persecution under the sin of someone 00:32:35.710 --> 00:32:39.170 else or something else. And where sin increases, 00:32:39.230 --> 00:32:43.549 grace increases all the more. Why? Because the 00:32:43.549 --> 00:32:48.000 God of all grace. Who will give you all that 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:50.619 you need to endure and suffer under it for his 00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:56.000 glory. And he will fill your life full of grace. 00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:59.759 Has called you, has summoned you to his eternal 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:03.019 glory in Christ. Do you get that? Eternal security. 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:07.700 Isn't it a beautiful thing? To know that in Christ, 00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:16.139 I'm eternally secure in him. Will himself. Restore, 00:33:16.139 --> 00:33:23.740 complete, prepare, equip, and train. Philippians 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:26.420 1 .6, and I am sure of this, that he who began 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:28.940 a good work in you will bring it to completion 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:33.380 at the day of Jesus Christ. What is God's purpose 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:36.099 for our suffering? What is God's purpose for 00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:38.480 our life on earth? What is your purpose for being 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:40.880 on earth to be conformed into the image of his 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:45.720 son, which he has predestined you to be? There 00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:50.700 is no greater calling nor greater privilege that 00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:55.400 God would bestow upon a creature rebellious and 00:33:55.400 --> 00:33:59.799 evil to be like his son. What an amazing grace. 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:07.359 Now, if God has restored us or is restoring us, 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:10.320 he will confirm, he will establish, strengthen, 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:15.219 be resolute. Do you hear that? You need to be 00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:18.659 established, strengthened, and be resolute. Resolute 00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:21.559 in what? In the truth of the word of God. In 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:23.880 the truth of the gospel. In the truth of the 00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:29.760 person of the divine Jesus Christ. Be strengthened 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:32.119 and established. This word established is a foundation. 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:38.579 So for us who are being restored and confirmed 00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:42.659 and strengthened, he has established us on a 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:48.969 foundation. Psalm 40 verse 2, he drew me up from 00:34:48.969 --> 00:34:51.550 the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, 00:34:51.769 --> 00:34:55.690 and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps 00:34:55.690 --> 00:35:01.750 secure. Who is my rock? Jesus Christ. And he's 00:35:01.750 --> 00:35:06.230 done that through the gospel. What an amazing 00:35:06.230 --> 00:35:11.090 thing. Christ is our foundation. The foundation 00:35:11.090 --> 00:35:14.780 is the gospel. The words that the prophets and 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:18.960 the apostles have taught us. Christ being the 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:22.619 chief cornerstone. To him be dominion forever 00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:26.980 and ever. Amen. Lastly, God's word is given to 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:31.840 exhort us and for us to stand firm in it. Deuteronomy 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:35.300 624. And the Lord commands us to do all these 00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:39.260 statutes to fear the Lord our God for our good 00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:44.880 always. Do you hear that? So I will tell you 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:50.300 again, obedience. I will tell you every single 00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:57.320 day of your life, obedience. You want to be firm 00:35:57.320 --> 00:36:01.039 and established in the fear of God? Obedience. 00:36:01.239 --> 00:36:05.639 Do all these statutes. Why? Because in Christ, 00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:09.739 I can do them now. It is my freedom and my joy 00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:12.840 to obey because I want to please him, not because 00:36:12.840 --> 00:36:17.260 I am obligated to. And if it's difficult to hear, 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:23.000 then maybe you should check yourself. For our 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:26.579 good always. Isn't that beautiful? The word of 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:29.880 God and the fear of God and the obedience to 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:33.679 God by the work of Christ in and through us is 00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:37.010 for our good always. He causes all things to 00:36:37.010 --> 00:36:38.690 turn to the good of those who love him and be 00:36:38.690 --> 00:36:41.829 called according to his purpose. We don't get 00:36:41.829 --> 00:36:44.289 the fringe benefits of salvation without the 00:36:44.289 --> 00:36:51.650 responsibility of living it. That he might preserve 00:36:51.650 --> 00:36:55.480 us alive. Remember I told you the word that the 00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:58.539 law of God is not just the school teacher and 00:36:58.539 --> 00:37:00.619 it's not the revealer that we are dead in our 00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:03.059 trespasses and sins, but for us who are alive 00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:07.739 in Christ, it is life and freedom. There it is. 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:15.619 Notice what he says, as we are to this day. Isn't 00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:19.559 that beautiful? Man does not live by bread alone, 00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:21.019 but by every word that comes from the mouth of 00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:26.739 God. 1 Peter 5, 12 through 14, by Silvanus. In 00:37:26.739 --> 00:37:29.219 other words, by this brother, a faithful brother 00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:34.059 as I regard him. I am sending this letter by 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:39.579 Silvanus. I have written briefly this letter 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:43.500 to you, exhorting and declaring that this is 00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:47.559 the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. In other 00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:49.460 words, what he's saying is this letter I'm writing 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:53.199 to you. is the doctrine of God for your life. 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:58.079 Stand firm in it. It is the true grace of God 00:37:58.079 --> 00:38:01.800 for you. During this great time of dispersion. 00:38:04.139 --> 00:38:09.559 And she, who is in Babylon, who is likewise chosen. 00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:16.329 Now what's this mean? Well, come to do a little 00:38:16.329 --> 00:38:18.769 study on this issue of Babylon. There was like 00:38:18.769 --> 00:38:20.429 a little city called Babylon, but it's not that 00:38:20.429 --> 00:38:23.550 type of Babylon. What's he talking about here? 00:38:23.789 --> 00:38:29.889 Well, almost all of the commentaries refer to 00:38:29.889 --> 00:38:33.050 Babylon as the environment they were living in, 00:38:33.150 --> 00:38:38.449 Rome. The Babylonian system. And I want to make 00:38:38.449 --> 00:38:43.429 this very clear for you. We live in Babylon. 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:50.679 Every church on the planet lives in Babylon today. 00:38:50.940 --> 00:38:58.579 That's correct. She who is at Babylon or in Babylon, 00:38:58.639 --> 00:39:00.980 who is likewise chosen, do you understand that? 00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:06.639 You are a chosen people, a people for his own 00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:10.360 possession. You are to reflect him in every way, 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:13.059 especially in these very deceitful days. And 00:39:13.059 --> 00:39:19.159 your responsibility is to know the word. So this 00:39:19.159 --> 00:39:23.000 church, whom John is speaking of, the chosen 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:28.320 in Babylon, sends you greetings. And so does 00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:34.320 Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:39.039 of love. You guys do that very well. You guys 00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:44.019 do. Some are huggers. Some are kissers. Some 00:39:44.019 --> 00:39:47.199 are handshakers. But you guys do this so well. 00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:53.739 That's how you know the love of God is present 00:39:53.739 --> 00:39:59.099 in the brotherhood. Isn't it exciting to see 00:39:59.099 --> 00:40:00.820 someone who hasn't been here in a while and you 00:40:00.820 --> 00:40:06.699 see them, you're like, oh! Peace to all of you. 00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:14.179 who are in Christ. We live in some very tough, 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:19.059 tough days. So here's my challenge to you, which 00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:20.800 we will be talking about over the next several 00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:25.920 weeks, which is going to be 2 Peter. I'm going 00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:28.440 to be dealing with this issue of the devil that 00:40:28.440 --> 00:40:32.199 prowls around like a roaring lion. During 2 Peter, 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:35.320 he deals with a particular issue about false 00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:40.159 teachers. So as we go through 2 Peter, we're 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:44.820 going to address the doctrine of truth so that 00:40:44.820 --> 00:40:48.420 you can discern and expose the false doctrine. 00:40:49.619 --> 00:40:55.860 So we will be exposing other denominations, churches, 00:40:56.039 --> 00:41:00.679 who deal or teach false doctrine and who have... 00:41:00.920 --> 00:41:03.780 Clearly faded away from the full gospel of Jesus 00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:07.000 Christ. It's our responsibility to do so. So 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:08.340 just letting you know that's going to be coming 00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:11.179 over these next several weeks. And you're going 00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:15.280 to learn a lot. So I pray that you would not 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:17.320 only walk in the grace, but pray for those brothers 00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:19.619 and sisters who are in those situations that 00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:22.579 God would draw them out. It just happens to be 00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:26.699 in 2 Peter, he deals with it. So we got to deal 00:41:26.699 --> 00:41:31.170 with it. So it's okay. All right? Anyway. So 00:41:31.170 --> 00:41:36.630 please stand as I give you the benediction. Now 00:41:36.630 --> 00:41:40.750 may the God of peace who brought again from the 00:41:40.750 --> 00:41:43.690 dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the 00:41:43.690 --> 00:41:47.510 sheep by the blood of eternal covenant, equip 00:41:47.510 --> 00:41:51.829 you for everything good that you may do his will. 00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:55.480 working in us that which is pleasing in his sight 00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:58.539 through Jesus Christ. To him be glory forever 00:41:58.539 --> 00:42:01.159 and ever. May the Lord bless you and keep you 00:42:01.159 --> 00:42:03.039 and shine his face upon you and give you peace. 00:42:03.159 --> 00:42:05.460 And may the Holy Spirit guide you in all truth. 00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.579 In Jesus' name.