WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:04.759 Today we are going to continue in our study of 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:07.639 the book of 1 Corinthians. We are in chapter 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:15.820 4, looking at verses 6 through verse 17. Verse 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:26.579 6 through 17. I'd like to speak about the Apostles' 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:31.339 fatherly warning against spiritual pride. Hear 00:00:31.339 --> 00:00:34.659 now the word of the Lord. Now these things, brethren, 00:00:34.979 --> 00:00:38.140 I have figuratively transferred to myself and 00:00:38.140 --> 00:00:41.859 Apollos for your sakes. You may learn in us not 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:44.979 to think beyond what is written, that none of 00:00:44.979 --> 00:00:47.700 you may be puffed up on behalf of one against 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:51.119 the other. For who makes you differ from another? 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:54.320 And what do you have that you did not receive? 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:57.840 Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you 00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:01.299 boast as if you had not received it? You are 00:01:01.299 --> 00:01:04.280 already full. You are already rich. You have 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:07.379 reigned as kings without us. And indeed, I could 00:01:07.379 --> 00:01:10.540 wish you did reign, and that we also might reign 00:01:10.540 --> 00:01:13.400 with you. For I think that God has displayed 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:17.700 us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death, 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:20.560 for we have been made a spectacle to the world, 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:24.620 both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:27.650 sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, 00:01:27.670 --> 00:01:30.170 but you are strong. You are distinguished, but 00:01:30.170 --> 00:01:33.450 we are dishonored. To the present hour, we both 00:01:33.450 --> 00:01:35.769 hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed 00:01:35.769 --> 00:01:38.670 and beaten and homeless. And we labor, working 00:01:38.670 --> 00:01:41.269 with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless. 00:01:41.530 --> 00:01:44.930 Being persecuted, we endure. Being defamed, we 00:01:44.930 --> 00:01:47.689 entreat. We have been made as the filth of the 00:01:47.689 --> 00:01:50.290 world, the offscouring of all things until now. 00:01:50.890 --> 00:01:53.969 I do not write these things to shame you, but 00:01:53.969 --> 00:01:57.879 as my beloved children, I warn you. For though 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:00.500 you might have 10 ,000 instructors in Christ, 00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:04.799 yet you do not have many fathers. For in Christ 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:06.980 Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 00:02:07.379 --> 00:02:11.500 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason 00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:14.340 I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:17.300 and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:20.639 you of my ways in Christ as I teach everywhere 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:25.740 in every church. Father, we come before you today 00:02:25.740 --> 00:02:28.759 and ask for your blessing on this word. I pray 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:30.979 that you would maintain your word, Lord, by the 00:02:30.979 --> 00:02:33.020 power of the Spirit. I pray that you would give 00:02:33.020 --> 00:02:36.740 me a voice that's clear and that can speak forth 00:02:36.740 --> 00:02:39.860 your word today in clarity, in boldness, but 00:02:39.860 --> 00:02:42.740 in faithfulness, Lord. Please open up our eyes 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:47.319 to this wonderful word as we consider it today. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:50.620 We ask for the unction and the power of the Holy 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:58.610 Spirit. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. The word 00:02:58.610 --> 00:03:01.650 of God is the best rule by which to judge concerning 00:03:01.650 --> 00:03:06.289 men. Judging rightly concerning men and not judging 00:03:06.289 --> 00:03:10.090 more highly of them than is fit is one way to 00:03:10.090 --> 00:03:14.610 prevent quarrels and contentions in the church. 00:03:15.330 --> 00:03:20.689 Pride commonly lies at the bottom of these quarrels. 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:24.939 With these words from Matthew Henry, we come 00:03:24.939 --> 00:03:28.879 today to the apostles' strong words about the 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:33.159 heart of the situation in Corinth. The preceding 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:35.919 chapters were building up to this moment of truth 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:39.460 when Paul switches from speaking figuratively 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:42.919 and indirectly about Christian ministers to blunt 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:47.620 commands, to rhetorical questions, and giving 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:51.800 strong warnings. But note that all of this comes 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:54.919 from a very fatherly heart warning his children. 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:58.379 Warnings are a tool of discipling that Paul used, 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:01.879 along with teaching, illustrating, exhorting, 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:04.960 and encouraging. Paul tells the Ephesian elders 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:07.680 in Acts chapter 20, he says, Therefore watch 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.300 and remember that for three years I did not cease 00:04:11.300 --> 00:04:17.019 to warn everyone night and day with tears. And 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:19.560 surely the problem of pride, that of being puffed 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:24.500 up on behalf of one against the other, is a big 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:28.980 problem. It is a corrosive sin that destroys 00:04:28.980 --> 00:04:33.560 congregations, and it fosters envy and strife 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:36.439 and divisions, as he wrote in chapter 3, verse 00:04:36.439 --> 00:04:42.160 3. By pride comes nothing but strife, says Solomon 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:45.459 in Proverbs 13, verse 10. And when things are 00:04:45.459 --> 00:04:49.060 going well, then the temptation to pride comes. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:53.120 Now this can happen in any church that is prospering, 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:57.120 or if a minister becomes renowned, or is granted 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:00.439 a measure of fame. But this temptation especially 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:05.230 comes when ministers become celebrities. Attempting 00:05:05.230 --> 00:05:08.910 to groom a flashy or performative media presence 00:05:08.910 --> 00:05:12.790 or branding themselves in a certain way, shifting 00:05:12.790 --> 00:05:18.490 focus from substance to persona. This can happen 00:05:18.490 --> 00:05:23.490 by being men -pleasers, but also by saying or 00:05:23.490 --> 00:05:27.529 writing outlandish or outrageous statements or 00:05:27.529 --> 00:05:30.990 social media posts designed to just get attention 00:05:30.990 --> 00:05:36.779 and Create media clicks. Now, at the same time, 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:39.800 we do greatly appreciate the works of renowned, 00:05:40.100 --> 00:05:43.120 faithful, and even famous ministers, but that's 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:48.259 different than being a celebrity. Early Christianity 00:05:48.259 --> 00:05:52.240 spread through ordinary believers, traveling 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.860 apostles and preachers, and the faithful meeting 00:05:55.860 --> 00:06:00.139 of churches in the towns and the villages throughout 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:04.519 the empire. with local elders, not through rock 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:08.860 star evangelists with entourages. The apostles 00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:13.100 had influence, but how? Through suffering, through 00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:16.860 preaching, and through teaching, and not in polished 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:20.879 images. And in our passage today, Paul warns 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:22.819 the Corinthians about their wrong understanding, 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:26.579 and he gives them a sound corrective, warning 00:06:26.579 --> 00:06:29.459 them not to think. that the ministers of Christ 00:06:29.459 --> 00:06:33.980 beyond what is written and not to be puffed up 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:38.300 on behalf of a particular one against another. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:44.019 For our first point, we want to consider verse 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:47.860 6, that ministers should be evaluated by scriptural 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:51.129 standards. Now these things, brethren, I have 00:06:51.129 --> 00:06:55.029 figuratively transferred to myself and to Apollos 00:06:55.029 --> 00:06:58.550 for your sakes, that you may learn in us not 00:06:58.550 --> 00:07:02.009 to think beyond what is written, that none of 00:07:02.009 --> 00:07:05.319 you may be puffed up on behalf. of one against 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:08.259 the other. With these beginning words, Paul shifts 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:11.339 from speaking of ministers in general to speaking 00:07:11.339 --> 00:07:16.000 directly of himself and Apollos. Peter, although 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:19.300 mentioned earlier as Cephas, is not in view right 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:22.000 here in this place. It seems like that Paul and 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:26.899 Apollos were the main ministers to the Corinthian 00:07:26.899 --> 00:07:32.439 church in the prior time. He says that he's driving 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:38.019 this point home with direct application to himself 00:07:38.019 --> 00:07:41.759 and to Apollos so that they, as the congregation, 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:46.420 might learn. It is one thing to speak hypothetically 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:50.180 and in generalities, but able teachers and preachers 00:07:50.180 --> 00:07:54.339 must be able to drive a point home to their audience, 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:59.339 to the needs or the blessings of the time and 00:07:59.339 --> 00:08:02.800 in their place, to the ones to whom they have 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:06.680 been entrusted. Now we see this happening also 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:09.199 at other times in the scriptures, sometimes in 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:12.139 prophetic speech. For example, when David sins 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:15.060 by committing adultery with Bathsheba and then 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:17.399 he murders her husband after she got pregnant 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:20.660 by him, Nathan the prophet comes to him and he 00:08:20.660 --> 00:08:23.420 tells him a story. He gives him a parable about 00:08:23.420 --> 00:08:26.720 a rich man who had many sheep and about a poor 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:29.240 man who had one sheep. And the rich man went 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:32.100 and took the one sheep away from the poor man. 00:08:34.090 --> 00:08:37.789 And thus made him impoverished him because of 00:08:37.789 --> 00:08:41.450 it. And David responds with anger at the rich 00:08:41.450 --> 00:08:44.149 man. And then Nathan looks at him. And these 00:08:44.149 --> 00:08:50.789 words that are so direct. You are the man. You 00:08:50.789 --> 00:08:53.490 have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword. 00:08:53.649 --> 00:08:56.970 You have taken his wife to be your wife. And 00:08:56.970 --> 00:08:59.250 have killed him with the sword of the people 00:08:59.250 --> 00:09:03.490 of Ammon. But remember also that while Paul is 00:09:03.490 --> 00:09:06.129 speaking directly, he is also writing as a father. 00:09:06.289 --> 00:09:09.690 And we'll see this in verse 15. Sometimes, fathers, 00:09:09.889 --> 00:09:13.669 we need to speak directly about things as they 00:09:13.669 --> 00:09:16.570 are. Yes, we need to use grace in our speech, 00:09:16.830 --> 00:09:20.950 but we need to speak forthrightly and directly 00:09:20.950 --> 00:09:24.940 to God. our children or to the situation. And 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:28.659 Paul is doing this here to his children in the 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:31.720 faith. He continues that you may learn in us 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:35.039 not to think beyond what is written. The Corinthians 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:38.659 needed to learn how to think about their ministers 00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:42.080 and the apostles. Rather than elevating them 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:45.559 or some of them to celebrity status and then 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:48.940 creating factions around them, they are to learn 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:54.120 to think not To think not beyond what is written. 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:58.000 In this, Paul is writing about the entire Old 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:00.759 Testament, which shows the authority of the Old 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:03.720 Testament as the whole counsel of God. There 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:06.059 is much about faithful ministry and the sin of 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:09.600 pride written, and to this Paul appeals. Do not 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:13.860 think about us beyond what is written. Now in 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:16.580 this, Paul may well have had in mind the words 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:19.879 of the prophet Jeremiah, who said, Thus says 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:24.419 the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:28.539 Let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor 00:10:28.539 --> 00:10:32.159 let the rich man glory in his riches. But let 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:37.639 him who glories, glory in this, that he understands 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:42.529 and knows me. that I am the Lord, exercising 00:10:42.529 --> 00:10:44.950 loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness 00:10:44.950 --> 00:10:50.049 in the earth. For in these I delight, says the 00:10:50.049 --> 00:10:53.990 Lord. This is from Jeremiah 9, verse 23 and 24. 00:10:54.289 --> 00:10:56.169 And there are many other passages that we could 00:10:56.169 --> 00:10:59.179 turn to. that paul could have been referring 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:02.580 to but we will suffice with this now the apostles 00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:05.639 are a living demonstration of these words they 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:08.159 view the old testament as scripture they quoted 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:11.200 extensively they are obedient to it not being 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:14.179 prideful or puffed up in the demonstration of 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:17.440 the holy spirit's power in them and in this there's 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:20.940 a synergy and a unity between the apostles and 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:24.379 the prophets The apostles and the prophets. And 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:26.700 you'll see these words put together a number 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:29.600 of times in the New Testament describing the 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:32.940 foundation of the church as the apostles and 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:36.139 the prophets with Jesus as the chief cornerstone. 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:40.080 For example, Ephesians 2 verse 20. Christ's church 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:43.070 has been built. on the foundation of the apostles 00:11:43.070 --> 00:11:47.350 and prophets, Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone. 00:11:47.529 --> 00:11:49.769 The lesson is that the Corinthians were puffed 00:11:49.769 --> 00:11:53.330 up. They were proud of man's wisdom and of themselves 00:11:53.330 --> 00:11:56.649 being learned in it. And so they envied one another 00:11:56.649 --> 00:11:59.529 and they strove together. But it should not be 00:11:59.529 --> 00:12:03.009 so. Ministers must be evaluated and thought about 00:12:03.009 --> 00:12:08.570 in biblical terms. In biblical terms and not 00:12:08.570 --> 00:12:12.879 according to the world's wisdom. Do not think 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:17.080 of them beyond what is written, so that none 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:20.559 of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:23.980 the other. Then our second point is where he 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:27.559 gives three questions. These three questions 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:32.299 expose the folly of pride. It says, for who makes 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:34.759 you differ from one another? And what do you 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.519 have that you did not receive? Now, if you did 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:41.860 indeed receive it, why? Do you boast as if you 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:46.019 have not received it? These three questions get 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:48.679 to the heart of this matter, and they are probing, 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:52.679 they are searching questions designed to bring 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:59.720 humility to men, to bring humility to men and 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:04.200 women before God. This is a devastating rebuke 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:08.779 to pride, to factionalism. and to self -glory, 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:14.139 especially among those who boast in gifts, in 00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:19.419 status, or as leaders. This verse is a summary 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:25.080 of what the Old Testament teaches about us, that 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:28.580 which is written. These basic questions, who, 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:32.820 what, why, they drive us back to our sovereign 00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:36.860 God. and His divine and free blessings from Him 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:40.220 that are given freely, which is His sovereign 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:45.419 grace. Our life and all distinctions, all our 00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:49.440 abilities, the blessings, the gifts, our rank 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:55.000 and station in life, all are given from Him as 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:57.840 a gift. We'll look at the first question, who? 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:03.899 Who makes you differ from one another? Is this 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:07.179 something that you all decided to be different 00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:10.120 and decided to excel in one way or another and 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:13.340 you set yourselves apart? Who makes you differ 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:17.210 from one another? Now over in 1 Corinthians 12, 00:14:17.289 --> 00:14:20.090 Paul is going to list a large amount of differing 00:14:20.090 --> 00:14:23.169 gifts that people have and how they are indeed 00:14:23.169 --> 00:14:26.250 valuable. He also does this in Romans chapter 00:14:26.250 --> 00:14:29.129 12. He speaks, one person has this gift, another 00:14:29.129 --> 00:14:32.090 one this, and another one this. And he goes through 00:14:32.090 --> 00:14:36.629 and gives a whole list of gifts. But why is it 00:14:36.629 --> 00:14:39.909 that people have different gifts? Why are they 00:14:39.909 --> 00:14:43.509 different? Why are each one of you unique? From 00:14:43.509 --> 00:14:46.690 all of the others. You have certain abilities. 00:14:46.990 --> 00:14:50.049 You have certain gifts. But then it goes beyond 00:14:50.049 --> 00:14:54.570 that. We have no control about the color of our 00:14:54.570 --> 00:14:58.129 skin. Or how our hair is. Or physical features. 00:14:58.429 --> 00:15:01.809 We have all been given different gifts. Some 00:15:01.809 --> 00:15:04.210 are developed more than others. Some less. Some 00:15:04.210 --> 00:15:08.669 more. Who gave them to us? He asks. Who makes 00:15:08.669 --> 00:15:12.070 you differ from one another? Now the obvious 00:15:12.070 --> 00:15:15.190 answer. is that God did. We go back to Genesis 00:15:15.190 --> 00:15:19.309 chapter 1 and verse 1. In the beginning, God. 00:15:20.029 --> 00:15:25.669 In the beginning, God. God is their Elohim. He 00:15:25.669 --> 00:15:30.570 is the one true supreme God. God said, God made, 00:15:30.750 --> 00:15:34.490 God created, and God blessed. We see this in 00:15:34.490 --> 00:15:41.120 Genesis 1 and 2. God saw that it was good. God 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.740 the creator through Jesus Christ by the Holy 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:46.960 Spirit formed and fashioned each one of us in 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.539 such a way that we are unique and we are different 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:53.960 and yet we are all created in the image of God 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:57.940 and then he has dispersed gifts among us. 1 Corinthians 00:15:57.940 --> 00:16:01.120 12 verse 11 but one in the same spirit works 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:04.759 all these things distributing to each one individually 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:10.590 as you would like. No, as he wills. God and his 00:16:10.590 --> 00:16:14.129 sovereignty determines these things about us. 00:16:14.330 --> 00:16:17.190 Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 7. 00:16:17.350 --> 00:16:21.210 Each one has his own gift from God, one in this 00:16:21.210 --> 00:16:25.669 manner and another in that. Let's take this question 00:16:25.669 --> 00:16:28.149 a little bit further. Who caused you to be born 00:16:28.149 --> 00:16:32.159 when you had nothing to do with your birth? And 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.120 why were you not born a hundred years ago or 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:38.860 five hundred or a thousand or back even before 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:42.940 the flood? Or why were you not born as a slave? 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:45.840 Or maybe one of those really low caste people 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:48.179 that all the other people of the nation look 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:52.139 down on and despise. Did you decide when and 00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:55.340 where to be born so that you could enjoy the 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:59.200 wonderful blessings that you experience? No. 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:03.179 We know that it is God. The answer here is that 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:09.740 God made us in this way. And he made us to differ 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:13.079 one from another. David's prayer in the assembly 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:16.140 gives us a great sense of this back in 1 Chronicles 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:19.880 28, verse 1. This is when David had assembled 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:22.180 at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel and he 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:25.660 testified that God had instructed him to choose 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:29.299 Solomon to be the next king. And also, then he 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:31.779 gave Solomon the plans for the temple that he 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:34.839 would build for the worship of God. He presents... 00:17:35.130 --> 00:17:37.670 Solomon with gold and with gifts, and then all 00:17:37.670 --> 00:17:40.289 of the leaders follow suit, and they offer gold 00:17:40.289 --> 00:17:43.009 and silver and bronze and iron and precious stones 00:17:43.009 --> 00:17:46.089 to the Lord for the king to use. But then David 00:17:46.089 --> 00:17:50.009 prays this prayer in 1 Chronicles chapter 29 00:17:50.009 --> 00:17:53.410 and verse 10. Therefore David blessed the Lord 00:17:53.410 --> 00:17:57.490 before all the assembly, and David said, Blessed 00:17:57.490 --> 00:18:00.309 are you, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever 00:18:00.309 --> 00:18:04.230 and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness. the 00:18:04.230 --> 00:18:07.210 power and the glory, the victory and the majesty, 00:18:07.430 --> 00:18:12.210 for all that is in heaven and in earth is yours. 00:18:12.589 --> 00:18:15.910 Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted 00:18:15.910 --> 00:18:19.960 as head over all. Both riches and honor come 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:23.880 from you, and you reign over all, and in your 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:27.079 hand is power and might, and in your hand it 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:29.519 is to make great and to give strength to all. 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:32.900 Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:37.299 your glorious name. But who am I and who are 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:40.720 my people that we should be able to offer so 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:44.039 willingly as this? For all things come from you 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:48.069 and of your own will. We have given you and of 00:18:48.069 --> 00:18:50.869 your own we have given you. For we are aliens 00:18:50.869 --> 00:18:53.250 and pilgrims before you as were our fathers. 00:18:53.390 --> 00:18:55.730 Our days on earth are as a shadow and without 00:18:55.730 --> 00:18:59.269 hope. O Lord our God, all this abundance that 00:18:59.269 --> 00:19:01.309 we have prepared to build you a house for your 00:19:01.309 --> 00:19:07.269 holy name is from your hand and all is your own. 00:19:09.190 --> 00:19:12.930 Then the apostle moves on and says, What? What 00:19:12.930 --> 00:19:18.490 do you have that you did not? So who made you 00:19:18.490 --> 00:19:20.829 different from one another? Who gave you all 00:19:20.829 --> 00:19:22.950 the unique characteristics and gifts that you 00:19:22.950 --> 00:19:26.349 have? It is God who distributed them. But next, 00:19:26.509 --> 00:19:29.930 what do you have then that you did not receive? 00:19:30.690 --> 00:19:33.230 A man can receive nothing unless it has been 00:19:33.230 --> 00:19:36.430 given to him from heaven. Jesus told Nicodemus 00:19:36.430 --> 00:19:39.789 in John chapter 3 and verse 27. There remains 00:19:39.789 --> 00:19:43.200 no ground for our glorying. Calvin writes, because 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:46.059 it is by the grace of God that we are that we 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:49.759 are. Your life, your health, your bodily design 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:52.200 and strength with the abilities that you have, 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:55.599 you received that. The fact that you can choose 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:59.099 and will to do good is even because God enabled 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:02.740 you to do it. Philippians 2 verse 13, for it 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:07.420 is God who works in you both to will and to do 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:14.450 for his good pleasure. God has given to us mercy 00:20:14.450 --> 00:20:17.869 and life and resurrection life and salvation 00:20:17.869 --> 00:20:21.210 and eternal life. Blessed be the God and Father 00:20:21.210 --> 00:20:24.069 of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has re -blessed 00:20:24.069 --> 00:20:26.470 us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly 00:20:26.470 --> 00:20:31.009 places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him 00:20:31.009 --> 00:20:34.390 before the foundation of the world, that we should 00:20:34.390 --> 00:20:37.309 be holy and without blame before Him in love. 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:41.200 What do we have that we didn't receive from the 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:45.220 good and fatherly hand of God? You received life 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:48.180 from your parents, but who caused the spark of 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:52.380 life at conception? And who created your parents? 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:55.799 For you formed my inward parts, David says in 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:59.279 Psalm 139. You covered me in my mother's womb. 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:02.799 Now God works through people. We readily grant 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:06.339 that. We do not deny secondary causes. But it 00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:09.079 is nonetheless that God grants the abilities, 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:12.900 the gifts, and the means that work for all of 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:16.359 life. And he gives them to us and we receive 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:19.940 them from his hand. We have received education 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:22.839 from others. We were taught by others what is 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:25.380 dangerous and what is not, what math is or what 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:27.940 good grammar is and all sorts of other things. 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:30.420 We're even taught what to eat and what is not 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:33.759 good, what might be fatal to eat. We have received 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:39.259 from others so much in our life, in all of life. 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:42.259 We've received from others how to create shelter 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:46.099 and how to live safely. Who gave you the ability 00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:49.809 to eat food? And it breaks apart into various 00:21:49.809 --> 00:21:52.549 nutrients and feeds your body. And how did you 00:21:52.549 --> 00:21:55.430 even receive a body like that? Why isn't your 00:21:55.430 --> 00:21:59.470 body like an animal or a bird or a worm or a 00:21:59.470 --> 00:22:03.750 monkey or a parasite? You might even be a good 00:22:03.750 --> 00:22:06.490 working craftsman. Did you create the raw material? 00:22:06.930 --> 00:22:10.670 No, you received it. Did you develop the mental 00:22:10.670 --> 00:22:13.670 capacity and ability to think and make your mind 00:22:13.670 --> 00:22:17.490 different than that of a sloth? What do you have 00:22:17.490 --> 00:22:20.490 that you did not receive? Now you might say, 00:22:20.589 --> 00:22:23.990 I work hard for what I receive. I labor diligently 00:22:23.990 --> 00:22:27.130 and I earn money by the sweat of my brow. But 00:22:27.130 --> 00:22:29.289 where did you receive the strength to work hard, 00:22:29.390 --> 00:22:34.230 to labor? And a body with two ears and arms and 00:22:34.230 --> 00:22:37.029 two arms and two legs and two feet and two hands 00:22:37.029 --> 00:22:40.309 with eight fingers and two thumbs, but you only 00:22:40.309 --> 00:22:43.440 have one head and one nose. What do you have 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:46.960 that you did not receive in a well -designed 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:51.039 body that God created? You received it. You didn't 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:54.819 design it. And so even the true wisdom that the 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:57.440 Corinthians had cannot be acclaimed as their 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.819 achievement. For true wisdom, that is righteousness, 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:04.599 holiness, and redemption, is a gift of God in 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:08.279 Christ Jesus. Paul wrote to them in chapter 1, 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:12.519 verse 30 and 31. He says, But of him, You are 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:17.420 in Christ Jesus. Of him. You are in Christ Jesus. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:21.579 Who became for us. Wisdom from God. And righteousness 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:26.359 and sanctification. And redemption. That as it 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:31.559 is written. Let him who glories. Glory in the 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:34.539 Lord. This should cause us to break forth in 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:39.720 praise. For God. Who is so good. Who has given 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:45.920 to us. So. And then Paul continues with the next 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:55.140 question. So excuse me. If you received it, then 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:58.400 why do you boast as if you have not received 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:02.730 it? Why do you boast? As if you have not received 00:24:02.730 --> 00:24:05.509 it. And so Paul drives this all home and he asks 00:24:05.509 --> 00:24:08.730 the why question. Why are you so proud, so self 00:24:08.730 --> 00:24:11.190 -sufficient, so filled with your own arrogance 00:24:11.190 --> 00:24:13.710 and self -righteousness? You're not autonomous. 00:24:13.849 --> 00:24:16.809 You're not a self -made man or woman who created 00:24:16.809 --> 00:24:20.309 everything about you. But oh, how the deceitfulness 00:24:20.309 --> 00:24:24.490 of the heart ensnares us and we boast as if we 00:24:24.490 --> 00:24:29.980 have done it all. Why do you boast? Deuteronomy 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:33.319 chapter 8. God gives a warning to the children 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:35.680 of Israel just before they enter into the promised 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:38.930 land. Moses recounts the history of the Exodus, 00:24:39.269 --> 00:24:41.829 reminds them of what God had done for them and 00:24:41.829 --> 00:24:44.690 what God's commandments are. He promises that 00:24:44.690 --> 00:24:47.529 God will bring them into a good land. It's a 00:24:47.529 --> 00:24:49.910 land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs 00:24:49.910 --> 00:24:53.210 and wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees 00:24:53.210 --> 00:24:56.309 and pomegranates and a land of olive oil and 00:24:56.309 --> 00:24:59.130 honey in which they will eat bread without scarcity 00:24:59.130 --> 00:25:01.670 and they will lack nothing. A land whose stones 00:25:01.670 --> 00:25:03.670 are iron and out of whose hills they would be 00:25:03.670 --> 00:25:07.370 able to dig copper. But then he says, Beware 00:25:07.370 --> 00:25:11.049 that you do not forget the Lord your God by not 00:25:11.049 --> 00:25:13.170 keeping his commandments, his judgments, and 00:25:13.170 --> 00:25:15.930 his statutes which I commanded you this day. 00:25:16.109 --> 00:25:19.069 Lest when you are eaten and are full and you 00:25:19.069 --> 00:25:21.390 build beautiful houses and you dwell in them 00:25:21.390 --> 00:25:24.230 and your herds and your flocks multiply and your 00:25:24.230 --> 00:25:26.849 silver and gold are multiplied and all that you 00:25:26.849 --> 00:25:30.400 have is multiplied. When your heart is lifted 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:32.839 up. And you forget the Lord your God. Who brought 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:36.640 you out of the land of Egypt. He again then describes. 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:39.680 All that God led them through. And the great 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:42.000 and terrible wilderness. And the fiery serpents 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.960 and scorpions. And the land where there was no 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:46.779 water. And God provided water for them. He says 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:49.640 that he might humble you. And he might test you 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:52.759 to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:57.180 in your heart. My power. And the might of my 00:25:57.180 --> 00:26:02.910 hand. has gained me this wealth. Beware, he says. 00:26:03.470 --> 00:26:06.430 When we understand the sovereignty of God and 00:26:06.430 --> 00:26:08.910 how we have nothing that we did not receive from 00:26:08.910 --> 00:26:11.910 God, both directly and through others, then how 00:26:11.910 --> 00:26:16.789 can we boast in ourselves? Why, O Corinthian 00:26:16.789 --> 00:26:19.309 believers, did you boast as if you had not received 00:26:19.309 --> 00:26:24.049 it? And why do we boast of our own self -sufficiency? 00:26:25.369 --> 00:26:30.079 By the grace of God. We are what we are and no 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:35.440 room is left for taking pride in ourselves. This 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:40.180 is the point that Paul presses on them in verse 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:44.819 8. He continues then and goes into a rebuke. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:49.119 A rebuke of their pride and their self -conceit 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:54.420 in verses 8 and 10. He says, You are already 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:58.000 full. You are already rich. You have reigned 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:00.240 as kings without us. And indeed, I wish you did 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:04.000 reign. We also might reign with you. Paul goes 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:07.960 on to deride their view of themselves. He launches 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:11.380 into three ironic, even sarcastic statements. 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:14.220 Because we know that they were not really full. 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:16.700 They were not really rich. And they were not 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:20.180 really reigning with Christ in the sense of which 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:23.599 they thought they were. And yet he says, this 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:26.940 as this though is what they were thinking we 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:29.599 are already full we're already rich we are reigning 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:33.680 as kings barnes says it is generally agreed that 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:37.000 this is spoken in irony and that it is an indignant 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:40.759 sarcasm uttered against the false and self -confidence 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:44.740 teachers in corinth The design is to contrast 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:48.220 them with the apostles, to show how self -confident 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:51.460 and vain the false teachers were and how laborious 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:54.660 and self -denying the apostles were, and to show 00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:57.980 to them how little claim they had to authority 00:27:57.980 --> 00:28:01.900 in the church and the real claim which the apostles 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:07.119 had from their self -denials and labors. He continues 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:09.559 in verse 10 saying, we are fools for Christ's 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:12.400 sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:14.660 but you are strong. You are distinguished, but 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:18.500 we are dishonored. Having shown how they think, 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:22.599 they have left the poor apostles far behind in 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:25.799 their own advanced wisdom and knowledge. He states 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:29.890 that he wishes. That they did actually enjoy 00:28:29.890 --> 00:28:32.730 the happiness and blessedness as they thought 00:28:32.730 --> 00:28:35.089 they were experiencing. That indeed they would 00:28:35.089 --> 00:28:37.730 be full, rich, and as princes needing nothing 00:28:37.730 --> 00:28:40.529 so that he could partake in the joy. But that 00:28:40.529 --> 00:28:43.750 time is not yet. And he contrasts their circumstances 00:28:43.750 --> 00:28:48.289 and shows them that they are puffing up. Or that 00:28:48.289 --> 00:28:52.809 their puffery is wrong. It is misguided and misunderstanding. 00:28:53.269 --> 00:28:57.480 And so he rebukes them. But then he goes into 00:28:57.480 --> 00:29:01.700 the contrast, the contrast of the suffering apostles 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:07.400 in verses 9 to 13. And this one is just a moving 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:12.099 declaration of what these men of God went through 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:16.279 and how they proclaimed the gospel in spite of 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:20.500 it. He says, For I think that God has displayed 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:24.440 us, the apostles, last as men condemned to death. 00:29:25.289 --> 00:29:27.650 For we have been made a spectacle to the world, 00:29:27.690 --> 00:29:31.430 both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's 00:29:31.430 --> 00:29:34.789 sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, 00:29:34.910 --> 00:29:38.069 but you are strong. You are distinguished, but 00:29:38.069 --> 00:29:40.809 we are dishonored. To the present hour, we both 00:29:40.809 --> 00:29:43.849 hunger and thirst. We are poorly clothed and 00:29:43.849 --> 00:29:47.650 beaten and homeless. And we labor, working with 00:29:47.650 --> 00:29:51.450 our own hands. Being reviled, we bless. Being 00:29:51.450 --> 00:29:55.609 persecuted, we endure. Being defamed, We entreat. 00:29:55.690 --> 00:29:57.910 We have been made as the filth of the world, 00:29:57.970 --> 00:30:01.630 the offscouring of all things until now. Now 00:30:01.630 --> 00:30:04.829 he shows here how that the apostles are as a 00:30:04.829 --> 00:30:09.430 spectacle, someone to be derided, to be laughed 00:30:09.430 --> 00:30:13.630 at and watched with scorn or even with hatred. 00:30:13.849 --> 00:30:16.750 The word spectacle to the world relates to the 00:30:16.750 --> 00:30:19.829 spectacles of the Colosseum, much like the martyrs 00:30:19.829 --> 00:30:21.890 or others who were condemned to death would. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:25.559 come and the crowds around would shout with glee 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:28.099 as the lions would come out or the wild beasts 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:31.359 or or the gladiators would turn on them and would 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:34.559 slaughter them sometimes by the tens sometimes 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:38.799 by the fifties or even larger amounts they were 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:43.680 a spectacle to the world the eyes around all 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:48.799 looking at them and see he says that that he 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:51.920 thinks that god has displayed them the apostles 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:55.619 as a spectacle. He then goes into the great contrast. 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:59.480 These apostles, they were last in the world's 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:02.880 eyes. They were considered fools. They were weak. 00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:05.839 They were dishonored. They were hungry, thirsty. 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:08.779 They were poor, clothed in rags. They were beaten. 00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:11.900 They were homeless. They were slandered. Whereas 00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:16.200 the Corinthians were wise, strong, distinguished, 00:31:16.579 --> 00:31:21.400 and self -satisfied. Now, there is a time, When 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:23.660 Christians can be considered wise, strong, and 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:26.220 distinguished. When the work of God is so mighty 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:28.519 in a land that the culture changes. But that 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:31.680 was not the case with them. While that is a possibility, 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:35.019 this is not the case. In Corinth, they had a 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:37.940 misguided understanding. The daily realities 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:41.579 of apostolic life were laboring hard. They were 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:44.039 working with their own hands even while in far 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:46.740 off cities, preaching the gospels and building 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:49.180 Christ's church. They didn't live off of the 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:52.180 people they served. Rather, they worked hard 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:54.460 so that they would not be chargeable to any. 00:31:54.740 --> 00:32:22.269 They were often reviled. But these apostles and 00:32:22.269 --> 00:32:25.369 ministers, These laborers for the sake of Christ 00:32:25.369 --> 00:32:29.509 who endured such a hostility and persecution. 00:32:29.890 --> 00:32:34.509 Now these were those of whom the world was not 00:32:34.509 --> 00:32:39.690 worthy. These are the ones who overcame the great 00:32:39.690 --> 00:32:42.910 dragon, that serpent of old. And how did they 00:32:42.910 --> 00:32:46.869 overcome? By the blood of the Lamb and by the 00:32:46.869 --> 00:32:50.609 word of their testimony. And they did not love 00:32:50.609 --> 00:32:55.019 their lives. To the death. As the last phrases 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:57.819 of the hymn. The son of God goes forth to war. 00:32:58.039 --> 00:33:02.480 They climbed the steep ascent of heaven. Through 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:07.039 peril, toil and pain. Oh God to us may grace 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:14.000 be given. To follow in their train. To walk in 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:19.339 such a way. With that dedication. With that stability 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:23.369 and firmness of character. to bless those who 00:33:23.369 --> 00:33:29.569 persecute and to be faithful. Then he moves on 00:33:29.569 --> 00:33:34.190 after giving this great contrast and he switches 00:33:34.190 --> 00:33:38.450 his tone some in verse 14. He begins, I do not 00:33:38.450 --> 00:33:42.150 write these things to shame you, but as my beloved 00:33:42.150 --> 00:33:47.609 children, I warn you. For though you might have 00:33:47.609 --> 00:33:50.960 10 ,000 instructors in Christ, yet you do not 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:54.740 have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I have 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:57.519 begotten you through the gospel. Therefore, I 00:33:57.519 --> 00:34:00.920 urge you, imitate me. For this reason, I have 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:03.880 sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful 00:34:03.880 --> 00:34:07.079 son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:10.599 in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:14.780 With this change in tone, Paul speaks as a venerable 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:18.320 father to beloved children. He does not write 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:21.599 this to shame them. He might have had the right 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:25.860 to do so, but he didn't do it. He says, I do 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:28.900 not write this to shame you. He's not humiliating 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:31.440 them or belittling them and make them cower before 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:35.539 them because he loves them. He doesn't deride 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:37.920 them or cast them off or walk away from them 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:41.380 and says, forget you guys. I'm done with you 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:45.880 in the way that you are. No, he loves them. He 00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:49.360 reaches out toward them. Nor does he come at 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:52.519 them with scorching fire. In some ways, he would 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:55.599 have had the right to do that. But no, he did 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:59.500 not. Why not? Because he's a loving father. He 00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:02.380 has the gravitas, but also love. And they are 00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:05.260 his beloved children. And fathers do hard things 00:35:05.260 --> 00:35:10.019 for their children, as also do mothers. He loves 00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:14.320 them. But as their father, he warns them. Beware 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:17.059 of this problem. Deal with it. Make it right. 00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:20.019 Change your ways. Embrace Jesus Christ and him 00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:23.400 crucified. Secondly, he shows the need for fathers 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:26.360 then in the church. There are many who are able 00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:29.559 teachers. They are able to clearly set forth 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:32.039 the scriptures and tie them together and show 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:35.099 great mysteries and explain wonderful truths 00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:38.440 and draw lines and connect things and speak of 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:41.559 great types and shadows and all sorts of things 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:43.920 and it's wonderful and we are edified by it. 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:47.360 But Paul says, although there are 10 ,000 instructors 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:50.460 and he is not blaming the instructors, but he 00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:53.619 said, you don't have many fathers. You don't 00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:58.079 have many fathers. Here's where honor your father 00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:00.460 and mother takes on a whole additional layer 00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:03.659 because Paul is asking for them to heed him, 00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:07.000 even to imitate him because he is their father 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:12.519 in. The faith. He has in Christ Jesus. Begotten 00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:16.900 them through the gospel. Having just gathered 00:36:16.900 --> 00:36:19.900 as churches this past week. For our spring presbytery. 00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:23.769 I am very grateful to be around older men. who 00:36:23.769 --> 00:36:26.889 have ministered faithfully for many years and 00:36:26.889 --> 00:36:30.150 be considered and revered as fathers. It is a 00:36:30.150 --> 00:36:32.969 blessing to talk to them, to hear their wisdom, 00:36:33.170 --> 00:36:36.230 to hear how they work through situations or problems 00:36:36.230 --> 00:36:40.449 and are able to speak into the life of the church 00:36:40.449 --> 00:36:45.650 today. Paul then goes on and he urges them not 00:36:45.650 --> 00:36:48.869 only to regard him as a father, but to imitate 00:36:48.869 --> 00:36:53.420 him. This is written a number of times. For it 00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:55.739 is a principle that faithful apostles and ministers 00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:58.820 are to be followed and to be imitated as they 00:36:58.820 --> 00:37:02.579 follow Christ. Christian leaders are to be examples. 00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:06.139 1 Corinthians 11, verse 1, he brings it again. 00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:10.099 Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. Or 00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:14.199 Philippians 3, verse 17. Brethren, join in following 00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:17.239 my example and note those who walk so as you 00:37:17.239 --> 00:37:21.239 have us for a pattern. And 1 Thessalonians 1, 00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:24.329 verse 6. You became followers of us and of the 00:37:24.329 --> 00:37:26.789 Lord, having received the word in much affliction 00:37:26.789 --> 00:37:29.969 with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became 00:37:29.969 --> 00:37:34.230 examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 00:37:35.150 --> 00:37:38.829 And finally, in 1 Peter 5, verse 3, elders are 00:37:38.829 --> 00:37:42.269 not to be lords over those entrusted to them, 00:37:42.369 --> 00:37:47.909 but they are to lead as examples to God's people, 00:37:48.050 --> 00:37:52.309 to the flock. And then he goes on to say, For 00:37:52.309 --> 00:37:54.969 this reason, because I want you to imitate me, 00:37:55.010 --> 00:37:58.170 I want you to hear me. I'm speaking to you as 00:37:58.170 --> 00:38:01.929 a father. I sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved 00:38:01.929 --> 00:38:04.489 and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind 00:38:04.489 --> 00:38:09.190 you of my ways in Christ. He will be a fresh 00:38:09.190 --> 00:38:13.429 reminder to speak to you of my ways as I teach 00:38:13.429 --> 00:38:19.010 everywhere in every church. This is the apostles 00:38:19.010 --> 00:38:22.429 direct and clear summary in one sense leading 00:38:22.429 --> 00:38:24.650 up to this all the way from the very beginning. 00:38:24.829 --> 00:38:29.550 Giving them this strong rebuke and asking for 00:38:29.550 --> 00:38:32.969 their consideration of this matter. He's going 00:38:32.969 --> 00:38:35.710 to move on then in dealing with church discipline 00:38:35.710 --> 00:38:38.869 in the next section. Which rather than beginning 00:38:38.869 --> 00:38:41.349 in chapter 5 verse 1 I think it actually begins 00:38:41.349 --> 00:38:46.840 in verse 18 of chapter 4. And so, Lord willing, 00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:49.800 we'll look at that next Sunday. Let's look here 00:38:49.800 --> 00:38:54.460 at just a few final applications. Now, a gifted 00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:57.559 communicator can exposit Scripture to thousands, 00:38:57.619 --> 00:39:01.019 sometimes who wouldn't otherwise hear it. There 00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:04.500 have been famous preachers who have drawn massive 00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:07.340 crowds without modern celebrity machinery, and 00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:10.360 their work did indeed produce lasting fruit. 00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:13.719 The difference, though, lies... in how their 00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:17.559 influence is stewarded. Accountability, local 00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:20.480 and doctrine -centered versus platform -driven 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:25.400 and image -managed. Not every visible minister 00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:28.780 is a celebrity in the toxic sense. Faithful teaching 00:39:28.780 --> 00:39:31.760 with significant influence and reach, sometimes 00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:35.420 speaking to thousands, is different than being 00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:38.639 a celebrity who cultivates a fan base, has the 00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:41.000 merchandise to go with it, and a lifestyle that 00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:44.460 screams success. The New Testament does indeed 00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:48.380 recognize distinguished and esteemed elders and 00:39:48.380 --> 00:39:52.960 teachers. 1 Thessalonians 5 says, We urge you, 00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:56.139 brethren, to recognize those who labor among 00:39:56.139 --> 00:39:58.800 you and are over you in the Lord and admonish 00:39:58.800 --> 00:40:03.000 you, and to esteem them very highly in love for 00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:06.059 their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 00:40:07.460 --> 00:40:10.239 And so I want to give this as an application 00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:14.639 that sometimes There are faithful ministers of 00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:18.800 Christ where God providentially brings a large 00:40:18.800 --> 00:40:21.780 amount of people who listen to their teaching. 00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:26.179 And it's good. I'm not speaking against that. 00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:30.320 But there still needs to be local church with 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:34.119 accountability, faithfulness before Christ, serving 00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:37.039 him, and to do it without being puffed up and 00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:40.619 all of the puffery types of things that are so 00:40:40.619 --> 00:40:44.429 common. around us they're understood to be those 00:40:44.429 --> 00:40:46.889 who've embraced faithfulness and sober responsibility 00:40:46.889 --> 00:40:52.349 and are not seeking stardom secondly i'd like 00:40:52.349 --> 00:40:56.090 to point out again the insidiousness of pride 00:40:56.090 --> 00:41:00.769 the spirit even so -called spiritual pride is 00:41:00.769 --> 00:41:05.150 an ever -present temptation we see it sometimes 00:41:05.150 --> 00:41:08.190 and then we see them fall and then we might see 00:41:08.190 --> 00:41:11.969 a fall from somebody who's famous Somebody who 00:41:11.969 --> 00:41:15.329 allowed the pride to build up in their heart 00:41:15.329 --> 00:41:20.010 and then they fell through cultivating or harboring 00:41:20.010 --> 00:41:22.650 secret sin in their life and then it all of a 00:41:22.650 --> 00:41:28.590 sudden becomes exposed. But the pride comes first 00:41:28.590 --> 00:41:35.050 in most cases. Now, this pride can even be a 00:41:35.050 --> 00:41:39.050 wrong pride about good things. Have you also 00:41:39.050 --> 00:41:42.949 seen that? We can have pride in our correct interpretation 00:41:42.949 --> 00:41:47.070 of doctrine or pride because of how God is using 00:41:47.070 --> 00:41:51.010 us or is prospering our life of our congregation 00:41:51.010 --> 00:41:54.909 or prospering our congregation. We can even have 00:41:54.909 --> 00:41:59.880 pride over... How we understand God's sovereignty 00:41:59.880 --> 00:42:02.860 and the doctrines of grace. And instead of being 00:42:02.860 --> 00:42:06.500 completely humbled by the God who shows us undeserved 00:42:06.500 --> 00:42:11.239 mercy. We are proud that we are so humble. We 00:42:11.239 --> 00:42:14.320 are proud in that way. And we look down on others 00:42:14.320 --> 00:42:17.340 who don't see it just in the way that we do. 00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:24.539 Pride is insidiousness. So how can we help this? 00:42:24.760 --> 00:42:29.739 How can we hope? to stop any vestiges of pride 00:42:29.739 --> 00:42:34.320 in us. Well, the antidote to pride is humble 00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:38.360 gratitude and thanksgiving to God with acknowledgement 00:42:38.360 --> 00:42:44.119 of his wonders and our unworthiness. That's an 00:42:44.119 --> 00:42:48.610 antidote to pride. Psalm 149 verse 4. For the 00:42:48.610 --> 00:42:52.130 Lord takes pleasure in his people. He will beautify 00:42:52.130 --> 00:42:55.889 the humble with salvation. So don't you go claiming 00:42:55.889 --> 00:43:00.130 salvation is because of you. No. God does it. 00:43:00.150 --> 00:43:03.170 And he beautifies the humble with salvation. 00:43:04.150 --> 00:43:08.800 We desire to see God work. in a mighty way. We 00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:11.480 desire for God to revive our hearts and to bring 00:43:11.480 --> 00:43:14.239 renewal and revival and reformation to our land, 00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:17.760 to pity the nations, O our God, to constrain 00:43:17.760 --> 00:43:21.260 the earth to come, to send thy victorious word 00:43:21.260 --> 00:43:26.000 abroad and bring the strangers home. But we do 00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:30.780 this with gratitude, with prayer, with thanksgiving, 00:43:30.920 --> 00:43:35.239 with humility before the God who disposes all. 00:43:36.030 --> 00:43:39.110 And then we thank him. And as we live a life 00:43:39.110 --> 00:43:42.190 of thankfulness and humility before him, that 00:43:42.190 --> 00:43:47.469 strikes at the very root of pride. Let us then 00:43:47.469 --> 00:43:50.610 close with the words from the high and lofty 00:43:50.610 --> 00:43:54.050 God who inhabits eternity in Isaiah 57 and verse 00:43:54.050 --> 00:43:58.090 15. For thus says the high and the lofty one 00:43:58.090 --> 00:44:02.630 who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy, I 00:44:02.630 --> 00:44:07.280 dwell. In the high and holy place. With him. 00:44:07.579 --> 00:44:12.780 Who has a contrite. And humble spirit. To revive 00:44:12.780 --> 00:44:16.360 the spirit of the humble. And to revive the heart. 00:44:16.820 --> 00:44:21.500 Of the contrite ones. May it be so. Amongst us 00:44:21.500 --> 00:44:22.619 all. Let's pray.