WEBVTT 00:00:03.209 --> 00:00:06.710 Let's open our Bibles together to Romans chapter 00:00:06.710 --> 00:00:16.210 12. Our text today is verses 3, 4, and 5 of Romans 00:00:16.210 --> 00:00:21.030 12. And our theme is Self -Esteem, the Biblical 00:00:21.030 --> 00:00:26.530 Perspective. Self -esteem is the bread of life 00:00:26.530 --> 00:00:31.370 to the human personality. Dr. James Dobson... 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:35.880 And his book, Hide or Seek, reminds us that one 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:39.679 of the most important aspects of parenting is 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:43.020 seeking to develop within our children a healthy 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:46.799 self -esteem. By the way, I would recommend that 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:50.219 book to all of you who are parents. Hide or Seek 00:00:50.219 --> 00:00:54.960 by Dr. James Dobson. We're living in a day of 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:59.380 extremism in many areas, including this particular 00:00:59.380 --> 00:01:03.280 area. Recently, Dr. Robert Shuler authored a 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:07.400 book entitled Self -Esteem, The New Reformation, 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:12.140 in which essentially he takes Orthodox Christian 00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:15.079 terms and redefines them according to the need 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:19.040 of the human personality for self -esteem. In 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:21.400 so doing, in the book, he seems to place himself 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:24.060 outside the mainstream of Orthodox Christianity. 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:28.180 That's on the one extreme. On the other side, 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:31.120 we have those who... believe in what might be 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:36.260 called worm theology. Probably in reaction to 00:01:36.260 --> 00:01:39.859 that, Dr. Shuler wrote his book. But those who 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:43.459 believe in worm theology see man only as a worm. 00:01:43.859 --> 00:01:47.079 They think of themselves as nothings, as big 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:52.579 fat zeros. And that too is an unbiblical extreme. 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:57.260 What we need is to get a biblical perspective 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:02.260 on self -esteem. That perspective will lead us 00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:05.540 to a healthy balance on what each of us should 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:10.479 think of himself. Right thinking is based upon 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:16.439 having a right perspective. Let me repeat that. 00:02:16.580 --> 00:02:20.460 Right thinking is based upon having a right perspective. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:27.099 If one has a wrong perspective on an issue He 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:30.819 will think wrongly about it. Let me give you 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:34.620 some examples of what I mean. These days we sometimes 00:02:34.620 --> 00:02:39.400 hear the statement from well -meaning but probably 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:43.740 unregenerate people, certainly a good God won't 00:02:43.740 --> 00:02:47.780 send anyone to hell. Now they really think that, 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:51.020 but that is wrong thinking. What is the problem? 00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:55.500 They have an improper perspective on what God 00:02:55.500 --> 00:03:01.930 is like. They zero in on God's love, but forget 00:03:01.930 --> 00:03:07.530 God's holiness and God's judgment. And because 00:03:07.530 --> 00:03:10.189 they forget that perspective and have a wrong 00:03:10.189 --> 00:03:15.110 perspective, they have wrong thinking. Likewise, 00:03:15.210 --> 00:03:18.909 we sometimes hear the statement, abortion is 00:03:18.909 --> 00:03:21.509 an expression of a woman's right to her own body. 00:03:23.030 --> 00:03:25.969 That too is wrong thinking, and the problem is, 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:30.400 that it comes from a wrong perspective. The perspective 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.860 is distorted and forgets about the value of life 00:03:33.860 --> 00:03:38.960 and the right of the most helpless of all, the 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.979 unborn. And that wrong, distorted perspective 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:49.020 leads to wrong thinking. And then one often hears 00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:52.460 the statement among students, it's okay to cheat, 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:56.259 everybody else does it. And if I don't, I'm going 00:03:56.259 --> 00:04:01.520 to get lower marks. Or you may hear among adults, 00:04:01.819 --> 00:04:04.800 it's okay to cheat. Everyone else does it. And 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:07.120 if I don't, I'm going to have to pay more taxes 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:11.620 than the other guy. That's wrong thinking. What's 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:14.960 the problem? A wrong perspective. A perspective 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:18.459 which does not include God's honoring of the 00:04:18.459 --> 00:04:23.329 virtues of honesty and truthfulness. And because 00:04:23.329 --> 00:04:25.670 the perspective is wrong, the thinking is wrong, 00:04:25.769 --> 00:04:29.670 and therefore the actions are wrong. I want to 00:04:29.670 --> 00:04:32.089 take that principle into our subject for today 00:04:32.089 --> 00:04:37.009 about self -esteem. A proper self -esteem will 00:04:37.009 --> 00:04:40.509 develop when how one thinks about himself is 00:04:40.509 --> 00:04:45.709 based upon having the right perspective. My two 00:04:45.709 --> 00:04:49.189 key phrases are right thinking and right perspective. 00:04:49.410 --> 00:04:53.660 Follow along with me. thinking for a moment, 00:04:53.779 --> 00:04:56.339 and we see that in the first part of verse 3, 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:03.399 where we are warned not to hold an exaggerated 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:07.800 opinion of our own importance. He says, through 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:11.060 the grace given to me, I say to every man among 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:15.639 you not to think more highly of himself than 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:19.300 he ought to think, but to think so as to have 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:24.100 sound judgment. In other words, he exhorts us 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:27.779 here to think rightly or properly about ourselves. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:31.120 And this is how verse 3 ties together with the 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:34.579 previous context. In verse 2, he has reminded 00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:36.600 us that if we're going to keep the commitment 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:40.920 of offering our bodies as a sacrifice, living 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:45.259 and holy, to God, then we have to have renewed 00:05:45.259 --> 00:05:50.680 minds, enabling us to be transformed. It is out 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:53.839 of our renewed minds that we are to think about 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:59.139 ourselves properly. Only a renewed mind really 00:05:59.139 --> 00:06:03.420 can do that in a proper way. Our minds being 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:08.879 renovated delivers us from self -centeredness 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:12.680 and pride and the me -first attitude so that 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:16.740 we develop over the process of time a mind like 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:23.129 the Lord Jesus Christ. Right thinking is having 00:06:23.129 --> 00:06:28.050 a properly balanced self -esteem. Now, there's 00:06:28.050 --> 00:06:30.170 actually a play on the Greek words that's impossible 00:06:30.170 --> 00:06:32.949 to pick up in the English translations of this 00:06:32.949 --> 00:06:38.889 text. One commentator has written this literal 00:06:38.889 --> 00:06:44.470 rendition of the Greek. He says it means not 00:06:44.470 --> 00:06:47.660 to be high -minded above what... He ought to 00:06:47.660 --> 00:06:51.139 be minded, but to be minded as to be sober -minded. 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:55.259 There is a play upon the Greek word for mind 00:06:55.259 --> 00:06:59.199 or to think in this particular passage. He says 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:03.759 we are not to think above what we ought to think 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:07.519 about ourselves. The word ought means what is 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:11.180 necessary. Someone has said we are to think of 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:14.819 ourselves as we are compelled to think by the 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:22.279 warranted. William Graham Scroggie has put it 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:25.839 this way, and I think in a good way. Self -estimate 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:31.540 must be on one or other of three levels. Super, 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:40.319 above. Sub, below. Or seen, right. On the super 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:45.750 level are the superiority complex people. On 00:07:45.750 --> 00:07:49.449 the sub -level are the inferiority complex people. 00:07:50.430 --> 00:07:57.209 They are both off the right level. God wants 00:07:57.209 --> 00:08:01.589 us to think of ourselves as we are compelled 00:08:01.589 --> 00:08:05.930 to think. Not to think more highly of ourselves 00:08:05.930 --> 00:08:11.089 than we should, or to think more lowly of ourselves 00:08:11.089 --> 00:08:15.490 than is proper. We are to think of ourselves 00:08:15.490 --> 00:08:20.990 as we ought. Therefore, we should avoid both 00:08:20.990 --> 00:08:28.050 false humility and foolish pride. Both are out 00:08:28.050 --> 00:08:32.070 of balance. In saying that, I think of a dear 00:08:32.070 --> 00:08:36.929 lady who lives in a city far from here, who teaches 00:08:36.929 --> 00:08:45.039 kindergarten. And she does a super job. And yet, 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:47.500 at the end of every kindergarten year, without 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:51.980 fail, she comes to the pastor of the church where 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:56.240 the kindergarten is to resign. And why does she 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:59.779 wish to resign? Because she feels she is a complete 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:03.740 failure and has done a terrible job and has no 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:08.080 abilities whatsoever. And yet, there is a waiting 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:10.500 list for her kindergarten, and she is greatly 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:13.460 loved. by every student who's ever gone through 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:16.000 the kindergarten. Now, what is the problem there? 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:21.940 An inferiority complex, which is out of balance 00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:29.120 and is not a biblical self -esteem. On the other 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.639 hand, I think of the young man who thought he 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:34.139 was God's gift to young women in the college 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:40.919 where he attended. Handsome, talented, an athlete, 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:46.320 above average grades, everything that any girl 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:51.000 could possibly want. And yet his character was 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:56.240 so marred by his egotism that no one desired 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:01.919 him. He was far too self -assured without that 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:04.740 self -assurance being based upon warranted facts. 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:12.830 Is your opinion of yourself healthy? Do you have 00:10:12.830 --> 00:10:18.769 a good self -esteem? I must say that it is far 00:10:18.769 --> 00:10:22.370 more common for people to have inferior feelings 00:10:22.370 --> 00:10:27.009 than to have the opposite. Because we grow up 00:10:27.009 --> 00:10:32.149 in a cruel world where all of us experience at 00:10:32.149 --> 00:10:38.490 times rejection. Sometimes that rejection comes 00:10:38.490 --> 00:10:42.730 from parents. though they may not mean to come 00:10:42.730 --> 00:10:46.590 across that way. Sometimes it comes from friends, 00:10:46.629 --> 00:10:51.149 the school, or someone else who is in authority, 00:10:51.309 --> 00:10:55.929 perhaps a teacher. But that rejection cuts the 00:10:55.929 --> 00:11:00.529 self -esteem until one is left feeling inferior. 00:11:03.350 --> 00:11:06.490 But there are those who, on the other hand, think 00:11:06.490 --> 00:11:10.000 too much of themselves. Far more than they should. 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:17.379 What is your opinion of yourself? Or let me ask 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:20.659 it this way. What do others say your opinion 00:11:20.659 --> 00:11:27.500 of yourself is? Have you dared ask anyone? Would 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:31.440 you dare ask your wife, how do you think I view 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:36.340 myself? Do I have a healthy self -esteem? Would 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:39.860 you ask your husband that same question? Or a 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:44.700 friend that you could trust? It is important, 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:49.799 dear people, for us to have a proper self -confidence 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:55.740 and self -respect. God does not intend for us 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:59.899 to go through life as a Rodney Dangerfield, getting 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:10.250 no respect. balanced, biblical self -esteem. 00:12:12.190 --> 00:12:14.549 But if we're going to have that self -esteem, 00:12:14.590 --> 00:12:17.330 we have to look at ourselves from the right perspective. 00:12:18.129 --> 00:12:20.450 And that brings us to the second point of the 00:12:20.450 --> 00:12:25.490 message. The right perspective is found in the 00:12:25.490 --> 00:12:29.450 last part of verse 3 through verse 5, where it 00:12:29.450 --> 00:12:33.309 says, God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 00:12:34.190 --> 00:12:37.230 For just as we have many members in one body 00:12:37.230 --> 00:12:40.230 and all the members do not have the same function, 00:12:40.490 --> 00:12:45.330 so we who are many are one body in Christ and 00:12:45.330 --> 00:12:50.070 individually members one of another. There are 00:12:50.070 --> 00:12:52.269 basically two facts that I want to point out 00:12:52.269 --> 00:12:54.830 in summing up what is said in those verses we've 00:12:54.830 --> 00:12:58.970 just read. To get the right perspective on myself 00:12:58.970 --> 00:13:05.039 so that I think properly about me, I must understand 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:09.740 these two truths. Truth number one is that God 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:16.299 has given me what I possess. Fact number two, 00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:22.659 God has made me a vital functioning part of the 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:26.019 body, capital B. We'll discuss that in a moment. 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:29.600 Let's reverse direction and go back to point 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:33.519 number one. God has given me what I possess. 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:37.460 When it says God has allotted to each member, 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:41.100 it means God has distributed, God has apportioned, 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:48.080 God has divided to each a measure of faith. The 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:51.039 word measure is the root of our word for metric. 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:57.379 You musicians should see in this word metronome. 00:13:58.409 --> 00:14:03.730 which measures out beats per minute. A measure 00:14:03.730 --> 00:14:08.950 is that which is measured. It is a portion. Again, 00:14:09.009 --> 00:14:11.070 there's a play on words, actually. The apostle 00:14:11.070 --> 00:14:15.529 is saying, God has measured to each a measure. 00:14:16.549 --> 00:14:20.830 God has allotted to each a portion, an allotment. 00:14:21.509 --> 00:14:24.769 And he calls this measure the measure of faith. 00:14:25.590 --> 00:14:32.090 What that means is, that faith brought it. It 00:14:32.090 --> 00:14:36.629 comes with saving faith. In other words, at the 00:14:36.629 --> 00:14:39.470 moment that I was saved, when I believed in the 00:14:39.470 --> 00:14:43.190 Lord Jesus Christ, God divided to me a portion. 00:14:43.769 --> 00:14:49.730 He gave to me a measure. Now, what is that measure? 00:14:50.370 --> 00:14:53.470 Well, I believe we find the answer to that even 00:14:53.470 --> 00:14:56.309 in verse 3, where the apostle begins by saying, 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:01.659 For through the grace given to me, I say to every 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:06.759 man among you, the measure or the portion that 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:10.000 God gives to us when we're saved is the measure 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:13.000 by which we can serve him. It is our spiritual 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:19.700 gifts and our potential ministry in life. So 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:21.860 at the moment that you trusted the Lord Jesus 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:25.929 Christ, God gave to you... abilities by which 00:15:25.929 --> 00:15:29.649 you may serve Him, and He put within you a potential 00:15:29.649 --> 00:15:34.070 ministry for your life. That is your measure. 00:15:35.190 --> 00:15:40.629 It is an assignment, plus the ability to fulfill 00:15:40.629 --> 00:15:43.309 that assignment. And notice that God has given 00:15:43.309 --> 00:15:46.850 this to each. And as Paul writes that in the 00:15:46.850 --> 00:15:49.809 original, he emphasizes that. He says, to each, 00:15:49.809 --> 00:15:54.590 God has allotted a measure of faith. In other 00:15:54.590 --> 00:15:59.090 words, there are no exceptions. For those who 00:15:59.090 --> 00:16:02.830 have an inferior mind, let me put that a different 00:16:02.830 --> 00:16:06.269 way. For those who are inferior minded, let's 00:16:06.269 --> 00:16:09.929 put it that way. For those who are inferior minded, 00:16:10.110 --> 00:16:15.889 it means that there is no excuse for a passive, 00:16:16.029 --> 00:16:21.460 inactive spectating in the church. In other words, 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:24.740 I cannot legitimately say I am a nothing. I have 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:27.620 no abilities. I can't do anything. Therefore, 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:33.220 I will just sit and watch. That's unbiblical. 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:42.360 God has given to each of us some gifts and a 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:45.379 potential ministry by which we may serve Him. 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:50.590 No exceptions. On the other hand, For those who 00:16:50.590 --> 00:16:53.850 are superior -minded, it means that there is 00:16:53.850 --> 00:16:59.129 no excuse for pride. I cannot say, well, you 00:16:59.129 --> 00:17:00.929 know, I'm pretty great. I can do this and do 00:17:00.929 --> 00:17:02.909 that, and surely God is blessed to have me on 00:17:02.909 --> 00:17:08.849 His team. For those who are minded that way, 00:17:08.890 --> 00:17:12.109 what is said here brings them down a bit, because 00:17:12.109 --> 00:17:15.650 God is the one who's given us what we have. And 00:17:15.650 --> 00:17:19.920 the pride... actually nullifies one's service. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.299 What I'm saying here is corroborated by other 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:26.220 scriptures in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:29.400 4, 7 says, And what do you have that you did 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:34.940 not receive? Good question. What do you have 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:38.180 that you didn't receive from God ultimately, 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:43.220 perhaps through your parents or for those who 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:46.119 have trained you in your life? What do you have 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:49.000 that you did not receive? He goes on to say, 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:51.319 but if you did receive it, why do you boast as 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:53.339 if you had not received it? In other words, as 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:56.000 though it were innately yours. Why do you brag 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:59.099 about it? In other words, there's no place for 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:03.539 boasting about one's abilities, one's service, 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:06.720 one's ministry. Because God is the one who's 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:10.579 given us everything we have. Ephesians 4, 7. 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:14.200 But to each one of us, grace was given according 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:18.799 to the measure of Christ's gift. 1 Corinthians 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:22.079 12, 7. But to each one is given the manifestation 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.480 of the Spirit for the common good. To each one 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:30.920 is given the manifestation of the Spirit. 1 Peter 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:35.200 4, 10. As each one has received a special gift. 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:39.519 employ it in serving one another as good stewards 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:43.500 of the manifold grace of God. So I have received 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:46.279 a special gift from God and now I am responsible 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:50.539 to God as a steward of something He's given to 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:59.400 me to employ that for the good of others. Have 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:02.140 you got a hold of that in your own life? That 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:05.039 God has given you what you possess? You say, 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:07.859 I don't possess anything. You're wrong. You do 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:11.880 possess. You say, I possess a lot. Look at it 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:13.779 again and realize that whatever you have came 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:19.660 from God and not from you. Second truth, God 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:22.160 has made me a vital functioning part of the body. 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:27.700 In other words, not only are we individually 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:31.740 assigned a task and the ability to perform it, 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:38.279 But we are interdependently related to others 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:44.640 who are also assigned the same thing. What I 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:46.920 mean is that God has not given this person over 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:49.779 here a certain ministry, a measure of faith, 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:52.660 and this person over here a certain measure, 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:55.420 and this guy back here a certain measure. No. 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:58.819 God has given it to each, but then he's put us 00:19:58.819 --> 00:20:04.490 together. so that we are dependent on each other. 00:20:05.890 --> 00:20:09.650 We are not independent, we are interdependent. 00:20:10.630 --> 00:20:13.549 And the analogy that he uses is the analogy of 00:20:13.549 --> 00:20:17.730 the human body, which he says has many members, 00:20:17.809 --> 00:20:25.369 but one body. How many fingers do I have? How 00:20:25.369 --> 00:20:32.250 many? Wrong, eight. Two thumbs. Caught you. I 00:20:32.250 --> 00:20:36.470 have ten toes, my last count. Though when I stubbed 00:20:36.470 --> 00:20:37.890 it the other night, I thought I'd reduced it 00:20:37.890 --> 00:20:44.630 to nine. Two legs, two ears, a little crooked, 00:20:44.750 --> 00:20:48.730 but two of them on there. Two eyes. See, I have 00:20:48.730 --> 00:20:51.069 many different members to my body, and yet my 00:20:51.069 --> 00:20:55.029 body is one. We all go along the same places, 00:20:55.190 --> 00:21:01.880 do the same things. See, we're together. Furthermore, 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:05.420 all the members of my body do not serve the same 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:09.839 function. I don't hold a rose up to my ear to 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:16.180 smell it. I don't put headphones on my feet to 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:20.579 listen to my stereo. I mean, my members each 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:25.579 have a function, unique and special. And yet 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:29.119 the members are members one of another. They 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:33.720 are dependent on each other. My mouth is quite 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:36.279 dependent on my hands to get the food up there. 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:40.599 If my hands don't work, my mouth is embarrassed 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:42.599 to be so messy to go down to the plate to get 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:54.039 it. Though it will. My feet govern where my body 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:57.390 goes. and the rest of me is dependent on my feet 00:21:57.390 --> 00:22:02.970 for getting me there. My members belong to each 00:22:02.970 --> 00:22:05.109 other, and they depend on each other so that 00:22:05.109 --> 00:22:09.829 I am a whole. Now, what are the applications? 00:22:10.210 --> 00:22:11.809 Well, they seem to be very obvious, don't they? 00:22:12.049 --> 00:22:14.690 But let me just state them in three statements. 00:22:15.529 --> 00:22:20.869 Number one, there is an organic spiritual unity 00:22:20.869 --> 00:22:24.539 among the differing members. of the body of Christ. 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:30.700 Turn over to 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and look 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:35.099 at verses 12 and 13. Verse 12, he reminds us 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:39.019 of what we've just said. Even as the body is 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:42.400 one and yet has many members, and all the members 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:44.619 of the body, though they are many, are one body, 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:50.980 so also is Christ. Same analogy. For by one Spirit 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:55.660 we were all baptized into one body. For the Jews 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:58.440 or Greeks, for the slaves or free, we were all 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:02.420 made to drink of one Spirit. So though we come 00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:06.559 out of different backgrounds and different nationalities, 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:10.680 different colors, and though we have differing 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:16.769 spiritual gifts, Yet we are members of one body. 00:23:16.849 --> 00:23:21.609 There is an organic spiritual unity among the 00:23:21.609 --> 00:23:25.250 differing members of the body of Christ. And 00:23:25.250 --> 00:23:28.890 how is this unity achieved? It's not something 00:23:28.890 --> 00:23:31.769 we have to work up. It's something that happens 00:23:31.769 --> 00:23:34.190 through what he calls the baptism of the Holy 00:23:34.190 --> 00:23:37.910 Spirit. He says by one spirit we were all baptized 00:23:37.910 --> 00:23:41.940 into one body. Now let's just talk about that 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:44.559 a minute because of a lot of confusion on the 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:48.359 subject of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Let's 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:51.420 go back first to Matthew chapter 3 and see some 00:23:51.420 --> 00:24:04.500 words of John the Baptist. In verse 11 of Matthew 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:10.059 3, that Old Testament... the greatest of them, 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:14.779 says, As for me, I baptize you with water for 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:18.960 repentance. But he who is coming after me is 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:22.480 mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:26.700 sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:32.960 and fire. Now, what does the fire refer to? That's 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.079 often a question asked, and boy, are there ever 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:38.759 some interpretations of it. You see a lot of 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:42.759 wildfire in that fire. But in verse 12, he explains 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:46.220 to us what the fire is. And his winnowing fork 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:48.619 is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clear 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:52.000 his threshing floor, and he will gather his wheat 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.339 into the barn, and he will burn up the chaff 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:57.319 with unquenchable fire. In other words, the fire 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:59.460 that's talked about in verse 11 is the fire of 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:03.339 judgment upon those who reject him. Primarily 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:07.119 in the context here, it's national Israel. But, 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:09.119 of course, the application can be broader than 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:11.980 that. But the thing I want to point out in verse 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:15.279 11 is what he talks about in the baptism with 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:20.259 the Holy Spirit or in the Holy Spirit. It can 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:23.079 be read either way. Well, let's turn over to 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:28.140 Acts chapter 1 where we see a similar phrase 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:36.490 used. In verse 4, we have now the words of the 00:25:36.490 --> 00:25:56.130 Lord Jesus Christ himself. Not many days from 00:25:56.130 --> 00:25:59.779 now. Notice he left out the fire. And he says, 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:02.500 you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Now, 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:04.680 in other words, it had not happened at this point. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:11.680 The word had been given by John that it was coming, 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:15.339 that Jesus would do it, and yet Jesus says, after 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:17.940 his death and resurrection, that it had not yet 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:20.819 happened. But he said it's going to happen shortly, 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:25.160 in a few days. He tells them to wait there in 00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:28.789 Jerusalem until that time had come. And that 00:26:28.789 --> 00:26:32.730 time occurs in Acts chapter 2. It's when the 00:26:32.730 --> 00:26:37.390 day of Pentecost had come. That is the celebration 00:26:37.390 --> 00:26:41.829 of that Old Testament Jewish feast of Pentecost. 00:26:42.289 --> 00:26:44.990 That was the proper time. And in Acts chapter 00:26:44.990 --> 00:26:48.630 2, we have the historical coming of the Holy 00:26:48.630 --> 00:26:53.970 Spirit. And the initial baptism of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:54.509 --> 00:26:57.750 which began the body of Christ. Please remember 00:26:57.750 --> 00:27:01.190 that before this, the church, the body of Christ, 00:27:01.190 --> 00:27:04.990 did not exist. There was national Israel, but 00:27:04.990 --> 00:27:08.230 that was all. Now God is doing something new, 00:27:08.269 --> 00:27:10.710 and the Holy Spirit comes forth from the Father 00:27:10.710 --> 00:27:14.730 and the Son into the world in this special ministry 00:27:14.730 --> 00:27:20.069 to indwell believers permanently and to begin 00:27:20.069 --> 00:27:24.339 to glue them together. as the body of Christ. 00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:28.680 So the body of Christ, comprised only of a few 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:31.440 score of people on that day, has been growing 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:33.799 ever since. He's the one that brings us together, 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:38.259 1 Corinthians 12, 13. The Holy Spirit places 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:41.700 us into the body of Christ. He began that work 00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:45.259 in Acts chapter 2. Now for us today, that work 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:51.700 is done at the moment of salvation. We hear a 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:53.720 lot of teaching these days about the baptism 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:55.779 of the Holy Spirit. Let's clarify some things 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:58.880 as far as the New Testament is concerned. Number 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:01.640 one, nowhere are we told that Pentecost is going 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:07.740 to be repeated. In fact, Pentecost does not anymore 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:10.880 need to be repeated than Calvary, the work of 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:17.200 Calvary does. It is a once -for -all work of 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:22.279 God. When Jesus died for our sins, He died once 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:24.539 and for all in shedding His blood for our sins. 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:27.460 And when the Holy Spirit came, He came once and 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:31.359 for all to begin His work of uniting believers 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:34.299 and bringing them together, among other things. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:38.980 And so that is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:44.160 Furthermore, never once in the New Testament 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:46.279 are we commanded to be baptized with the Holy 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:50.809 Spirit. We are never told once in all of the 00:28:50.809 --> 00:28:53.450 New Testament to seek the baptism of the Holy 00:28:53.450 --> 00:28:55.289 Spirit. Not once. I don't care what you hear 00:28:55.289 --> 00:28:57.549 on television, what you read in books, it's not 00:28:57.549 --> 00:29:02.589 there in the Bible, friend. We are never commanded 00:29:02.589 --> 00:29:05.829 to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The filling 00:29:05.829 --> 00:29:08.170 of the Holy Spirit, in other words, His empowering, 00:29:08.490 --> 00:29:13.069 yes, but never the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:14.529 --> 00:29:16.910 Furthermore, even in Acts chapter 2, did you 00:29:16.910 --> 00:29:19.529 know the word baptism is not even used in terms 00:29:19.529 --> 00:29:24.309 of the work of the Holy Spirit? It's the fulfillment 00:29:24.309 --> 00:29:26.769 of what Jesus talked about in Acts chapter 1. 00:29:26.869 --> 00:29:29.529 In fact, in the book of Acts, the word baptize 00:29:29.529 --> 00:29:34.890 or the word baptism are found 27 times. And 25 00:29:34.890 --> 00:29:40.390 of those times it refers to water baptism. Only 00:29:40.390 --> 00:29:42.690 two times in the book of Acts is the baptism 00:29:42.690 --> 00:29:45.349 of the Holy Spirit even mentioned. It was mentioned 00:29:45.349 --> 00:29:47.890 in the one context we read in chapter 1, another 00:29:47.890 --> 00:29:50.769 time in chapter 11, verse 16, where that is quoted. 00:29:52.130 --> 00:29:54.190 And so those who try to tell you that the book 00:29:54.190 --> 00:29:56.210 of Acts is all about the baptism of the Holy 00:29:56.210 --> 00:29:59.450 Spirit had better look again at even the language 00:29:59.450 --> 00:30:03.569 that is used within the book. On that day of 00:30:03.569 --> 00:30:08.380 Pentecost, amazing things happened. It says in 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:10.759 verse 2, Suddenly there came from heaven a noise 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:13.140 like a violent rushing wind. It filled the whole 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:15.859 house where they were sitting. And there appeared 00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:18.720 to them tongues as a fire distributing themselves, 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:23.839 and they rested on each one of them. And they 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:26.000 were all filled with the Holy Spirit. That's 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:29.099 the term that's used here. And began to speak 00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:31.380 with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:34.519 utterance. Amazing things happened. They began 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:39.079 to speak in languages they had never heard. So 00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:40.940 when the Bible talks about the gift of tongues, 00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:43.579 that's what it's talking about. The gift of languages 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:46.180 which they've never learned, I should have said. 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:50.940 It was the ability to speak in a foreign language. 00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:53.819 And people from all around the world gathered 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:56.359 there for that feast that day, heard them speak 00:30:56.359 --> 00:31:00.000 in their languages. That is, the apostles were 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:02.400 speaking in languages they had never studied. 00:31:05.649 --> 00:31:08.430 Another point I'd like to make is that on that 00:31:08.430 --> 00:31:10.849 day of Pentecost, tongues was not just the sign 00:31:10.849 --> 00:31:12.529 of the coming of the Holy Spirit. There was a 00:31:12.529 --> 00:31:15.390 flame of fire over the head, and there was the 00:31:15.390 --> 00:31:21.009 noise of wind blowing, rushing. So if we're going 00:31:21.009 --> 00:31:23.009 to talk about the signs, as some people want 00:31:23.009 --> 00:31:24.869 to do, they should take all the signs or none 00:31:24.869 --> 00:31:31.470 of the signs. Well, that's my point. And so baptism 00:31:31.470 --> 00:31:35.720 of the Holy Spirit is that which brings about 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:40.420 the organic union of the body of Christ. Do you 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:43.720 understand that? The baptism of the Holy Spirit 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:46.000 is not something that happens after we get saved. 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:49.359 The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the work of 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:52.460 God's Spirit putting you into the body of Jesus 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:55.119 Christ the moment you're saved. You don't have 00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:57.700 to seek it. You don't have to tarry for it. It's 00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:59.880 not another work of grace that God does in your 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:03.279 life. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the Holy 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:05.420 Spirit bringing you together with other believers, 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:07.880 putting you into the body so that we're members 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:10.380 one of another. And even though we come out of 00:32:10.380 --> 00:32:12.200 different backgrounds, we have different gifts, 00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:18.440 we are a part of the same body. Now, a second 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:21.759 statement to summarize what is being said back 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:27.619 in the book of Romans. Within the unity of the 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:31.859 body, there is diversity of function. so that 00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:40.480 the body will be healthy. In other words, each 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:46.480 member of the body has a job to do. And those 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:50.819 jobs are diverse. How we need to be careful of 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:53.240 judging other members of the body because they're 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:55.460 not doing exactly the same thing we're doing. 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:59.599 I mean, it would be a terrible thing if your 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:04.059 body was all mouth, right? Suppose your hands 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:06.440 talked, your feet talked, your ears talked, your 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:09.240 nose talked, your eyes talked. Everything talked 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:13.359 about you. You'd be in a mess. A worse mess than 00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:17.480 you are with the one tongue you've got now. You 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:20.180 see, the body is made up of different members 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:22.880 that have different purposes and functions, and 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:27.170 so is the body of Christ. And so there are some 00:33:27.170 --> 00:33:29.490 who are gifted for teaching, but not everybody 00:33:29.490 --> 00:33:33.390 can teach or should teach. There are some who 00:33:33.390 --> 00:33:35.890 are gifted for evangelism, and while all of us 00:33:35.890 --> 00:33:38.829 are to be witnesses, not everyone has the gift 00:33:38.829 --> 00:33:43.170 of evangelism. And on and on it can go. We have 00:33:43.170 --> 00:33:46.049 different functions. We are to harmoniously work 00:33:46.049 --> 00:33:48.890 together. There is to be a mutual dependence. 00:33:49.490 --> 00:33:51.990 There is to be respect for the other members 00:33:51.990 --> 00:33:55.750 of the body. Your physical body is in trouble 00:33:55.750 --> 00:33:59.269 when its members don't function harmoniously. 00:34:01.890 --> 00:34:06.549 Simply, that's what cancer is. For example, the 00:34:06.549 --> 00:34:09.610 white blood cells in your bloodstream are vital 00:34:09.610 --> 00:34:13.969 to the germ disease fighting ability of your 00:34:13.969 --> 00:34:18.489 body. And yet, if those white blood cells commit 00:34:18.489 --> 00:34:23.590 mutiny and rebel against the body, They can begin 00:34:23.590 --> 00:34:26.570 to reproduce themselves many more times than 00:34:26.570 --> 00:34:28.809 they are needed and you are struck with leukemia. 00:34:31.630 --> 00:34:36.070 Cancer, in essence, is the mutiny of certain 00:34:36.070 --> 00:34:38.710 cells within the body against the rest of the 00:34:38.710 --> 00:34:43.489 body. They become diverse in a very bad sense. 00:34:43.650 --> 00:34:46.889 There is no harmony and eventually it can cause 00:34:46.889 --> 00:34:50.889 death to the body. And so, my friend, it is so 00:34:50.889 --> 00:34:54.380 in the body of Christ. We are diverse. We are 00:34:54.380 --> 00:34:56.940 different. We are to respect each other's differences. 00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:06.440 But we're to work together as one. The third 00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:09.400 statement I'd like to make regarding this fact 00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:15.880 that we are each one members of the body is that 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:19.199 because we are members one of another, we must 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:22.000 look out for one another. Let's go back to Romans 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:24.800 12. I want you to notice there that very statement, 00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:35.460 we are members one of another. In verse 5. And 00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:39.039 because we are members of each other, we have 00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:44.500 certain responsibilities. Your physical members 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:48.500 are related, are they not? You stub your toe 00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:50.840 on the bed post at 3 o 'clock in the morning, 00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:54.380 your little finger hurts. Your earlobe aches, 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:57.280 right? I mean, every part of your body suddenly 00:35:57.280 --> 00:36:00.739 goes into spasms of pain when all you did was 00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:05.880 to stub your toe on the bed. Your members are 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:09.760 one of another, you see. Likewise, because we 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:11.820 are members one of another, when one of us hurts, 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:15.239 the whole body hurts. When one of us is in sin, 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:18.440 it affects the whole body. When one of us has 00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:20.739 a victory, the whole body shares in that victory. 00:36:21.420 --> 00:36:23.820 And we have responsibilities for one another. 00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:26.659 Let's survey some very quickly. Look in chapter 00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:31.420 12, verse 10. We have, be devoted to one another 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:35.659 in brotherly love. In other words, there is to 00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:38.739 be a family loyalty about us, a close -knittedness. 00:36:39.949 --> 00:36:42.429 The last part of verse 12, give preference one 00:36:42.429 --> 00:36:50.250 to another in honor. Let me illustrate that in 00:36:50.250 --> 00:36:54.250 this way. It may be that an accompanist is more 00:36:54.250 --> 00:36:59.769 talented than a soloist. But for the moment of 00:36:59.769 --> 00:37:03.610 that solo, the accompaniment needs to be subjected 00:37:03.610 --> 00:37:08.590 to the solo. And so the accompanist obediently... 00:37:10.230 --> 00:37:13.630 giving preference of honor to the one who is 00:37:13.630 --> 00:37:18.170 singing the solo. So it is in the body. We are 00:37:18.170 --> 00:37:23.690 to prefer others before ourselves. Turn to chapter 00:37:23.690 --> 00:37:26.510 15, verse 5. We'll be looking at these in detail 00:37:26.510 --> 00:37:28.630 as we move on through the rest of this book. 00:37:29.889 --> 00:37:32.070 But just now to survey them, he says, Now may 00:37:32.070 --> 00:37:34.610 the God who gives perseverance and encouragement 00:37:34.610 --> 00:37:38.309 grant you to be of the same mind with one another. 00:37:38.860 --> 00:37:40.860 According to Christ Jesus. So we're to be of 00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:43.420 the same mind with one another. Satan's strategy 00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:48.380 is to what? To divide. To magnify differences 00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:52.980 out of proportion. To destroy harmony. My friend, 00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:55.599 harmony is the result of the Holy Spirit's control 00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:59.639 and of spiritual maturity. Look down at verse 00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:03.639 7. Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ 00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:07.050 also accepted us to the glory of God. We are 00:38:07.050 --> 00:38:09.969 to accept each other for what we are and where 00:38:09.969 --> 00:38:13.909 we are. We don't have to accept the sins of someone 00:38:13.909 --> 00:38:16.449 else, but you know there are people who come 00:38:16.449 --> 00:38:19.409 into our church out of different backgrounds. 00:38:19.530 --> 00:38:24.150 They may be immature spiritually. We need to 00:38:24.150 --> 00:38:26.250 accept them, though they may do some things or 00:38:26.250 --> 00:38:28.889 say some things that don't quite match where 00:38:28.889 --> 00:38:31.949 we are. But we accept them as brothers in Christ, 00:38:32.090 --> 00:38:34.150 not on the basis of their actions necessarily, 00:38:34.449 --> 00:38:39.500 but of who they are. their identity. We need 00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:42.159 to avoid judging one another in those kinds of 00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:45.579 things. But to balance that, look in verse 14. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:48.739 He says, As concerning you, my brethren, I myself 00:38:48.739 --> 00:38:52.260 am convinced that you yourselves are full of 00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:54.340 goodness and filled with all knowledge and able 00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:59.800 also to admonish one another. And so there is 00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:05.400 a place in which we are to correct or warn others. 00:39:06.030 --> 00:39:09.690 regarding sin in their lives. That balances what 00:39:09.690 --> 00:39:11.690 we've said before about accepting one another. 00:39:12.409 --> 00:39:15.670 He says admonish one another, and notice the 00:39:15.670 --> 00:39:18.469 qualifications for doing that, being full of 00:39:18.469 --> 00:39:22.389 goodness and filled with all knowledge. And then 00:39:22.389 --> 00:39:26.210 in chapter 16, verse 16, we're going to find 00:39:26.210 --> 00:39:28.949 a verse now that all of you teenagers will appreciate. 00:39:29.050 --> 00:39:30.989 You haven't appreciated what I've said thus far, 00:39:31.110 --> 00:39:33.789 but here's one you will like. Greet one another 00:39:33.789 --> 00:39:39.500 with a holy kiss. If you don't get anything else 00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:41.179 out of the message this morning, you'll probably 00:39:41.179 --> 00:39:45.619 get this. Did you know that five times in the 00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:47.840 New Testament that is said? I did not know that 00:39:47.840 --> 00:39:50.039 until this last week, that it was five times. 00:39:51.380 --> 00:39:55.940 The Holy Spirit repeats the same words. Greet 00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:58.699 one another with a holy kiss. The thought is, 00:39:58.699 --> 00:40:03.880 of course, that we are to allow nothing to be 00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:06.980 between us in our fellowship. The kiss was the 00:40:06.980 --> 00:40:09.940 oriental custom of greeting. And as we greet 00:40:09.940 --> 00:40:14.019 each other in our customary way, we are to allow 00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:16.679 nothing to interrupt our fellowship. I should 00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:21.480 never go out of my way to avoid somebody. If 00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:23.440 I do that, if I say, I'm not speaking to that 00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:26.739 person, then somewhere I've got sin in my attitude. 00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:30.940 It also means we're to develop a genuine interest 00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:36.119 in others and their welfare. Greet one another. 00:40:37.159 --> 00:40:39.579 Now, putting all of this together, let's summarize 00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:42.639 it by saying, when we understand, dear people, 00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:46.539 our relationship to others in the body of Christ 00:40:46.539 --> 00:40:51.679 and God's sovereign allotment to each of us, 00:40:51.739 --> 00:40:57.360 whatever gifts and ministry we have, it gives 00:40:57.360 --> 00:41:01.679 us a proper perspective. which results in right 00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:04.420 thinking about ourselves, we'll have a good self 00:41:04.420 --> 00:41:09.460 -esteem, a biblical self -respect. And so I ask 00:41:09.460 --> 00:41:12.780 you again, is your self -esteem properly balanced? 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:17.420 Do you think of yourself on the right level? 00:41:18.559 --> 00:41:25.760 Not superior, not inferior, but balanced? Would 00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:29.920 your friends, your family agree with you? And 00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:32.739 as a member of the body of Christ, what is your 00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:37.340 God -assigned function? What are your gifts and 00:41:37.340 --> 00:41:42.019 abilities? And then are you a healthy, functioning 00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:47.400 member of the body? There is another member of 00:41:47.400 --> 00:41:49.619 the body that needs your ministry this week. 00:41:51.280 --> 00:41:58.090 Someone needs you. We cannot spectate. We cannot 00:41:58.090 --> 00:42:00.610 sit on the sidelines and say, let others do it. 00:42:02.590 --> 00:42:06.409 We need to say, God, you have given me this measure. 00:42:09.429 --> 00:42:15.170 You have made me a part of the body. Now enable 00:42:15.170 --> 00:42:21.170 me that I might fulfill my function in that body. 00:42:22.250 --> 00:42:29.760 Let's pray. closed as the Spirit of God brings 00:42:29.760 --> 00:42:34.739 the point of His finger into our hearts and shoves 00:42:34.739 --> 00:42:37.219 it to that place where we have a need, a commitment, 00:42:37.340 --> 00:42:41.300 a decision. What is it, my friend, He's talking 00:42:41.300 --> 00:42:47.460 to you about? Will you today confess that sinful 00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:53.400 inferiority complex? Will you confess that sinful 00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:58.050 superiority complex? And ask God to give you 00:42:58.050 --> 00:43:05.949 a balanced self -esteem. Are you a functioning 00:43:05.949 --> 00:43:10.170 part of the body of Christ in a local church? 00:43:11.409 --> 00:43:13.949 You may be a member far from here. You're just 00:43:13.949 --> 00:43:17.449 visiting today. Are you functioning in that body 00:43:17.449 --> 00:43:20.590 where you belong? Do you belong to a church? 00:43:20.909 --> 00:43:23.809 I can say without hesitation, that is God's will 00:43:23.809 --> 00:43:27.750 for you. God does not intend for us to be floaters 00:43:27.750 --> 00:43:31.510 month after month, year after year. We are gifted. 00:43:31.610 --> 00:43:34.150 We are measured out. We are allotted to have 00:43:34.150 --> 00:43:38.949 a ministry. Where are you employing your measure 00:43:38.949 --> 00:43:43.829 that came with your faith? Heavenly Father, I 00:43:43.829 --> 00:43:45.969 pray that whatever the decisions are that need 00:43:45.969 --> 00:43:48.050 to be made today, we'll make them in obedience 00:43:48.050 --> 00:43:52.510 to your word. May we be doers and not just hearers. 00:43:52.809 --> 00:43:58.809 In Jesus' name. Amen. I invite you to take a 00:43:58.809 --> 00:44:01.929 hymnal and turn with me in closing to Hymn 450 00:44:01.929 --> 00:44:08.329 as we sing about living for Jesus, a true life. 00:44:09.849 --> 00:44:12.389 And if today in order to live for Jesus Christ 00:44:12.389 --> 00:44:15.190 you need to make a commitment of some sort, we 00:44:15.190 --> 00:44:18.989 invite you to do that. If you today would trust 00:44:18.989 --> 00:44:21.110 the Lord Jesus Christ, you're not even a part 00:44:21.110 --> 00:44:24.219 of the body of Christ. Would you come today that 00:44:24.219 --> 00:44:26.380 we might have counselors pray with you and show 00:44:26.380 --> 00:44:30.079 you how to be saved? Are you saved but you're 00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:31.960 not a member of a local church? Have you been 00:44:31.960 --> 00:44:33.840 coming here? Are you thinking about membership? 00:44:34.059 --> 00:44:36.579 When will you make your decision? God wants to 00:44:36.579 --> 00:44:39.019 know. That is an important commitment for you 00:44:39.019 --> 00:44:42.500 to make, to plug into a local expression of the 00:44:42.500 --> 00:44:44.960 body of Christ and put your measure to work. 00:44:46.659 --> 00:44:50.340 Are you a Christian who's been disobedient? Maybe 00:44:50.340 --> 00:44:53.119 your esteem has been off balance one way or the 00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:55.960 other. My friend, if we can pray with you and 00:44:55.960 --> 00:44:58.059 help you, I invite you to come as we stand and 00:44:58.059 --> 00:44:59.820 sing together this hymn. I'll wait right here 00:44:59.820 --> 00:45:01.300 at the front. Let's stand together.