1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,640 to know you and understand you, 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,600 that you are the Lord who exercises loving kindness 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,680 and justice in the earth. 4 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,040 And we worship you this morning. 5 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:11,880 Amen. 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,320 Would you open your Bibles with me please 7 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:20,480 to 1 Corinthians chapter three 8 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,660 as we look into God's word together. 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,700 In our recent trip we went to an area of Greece 10 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:30,760 that is called Matera. 11 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,760 The word Matera means hovering in the air. 12 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,480 It's where we get our word meteor. 13 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:38,840 It seems to hover in the air. 14 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,360 And this area is called Matera, 15 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,640 hovering in the air because of the kinds of formations 16 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,920 that you see on the screen before you. 17 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,680 Amazing rock formations there. 18 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:56,680 Monks in the 11th century began to live in these rocks 19 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:01,680 in the caves as a way to express their spirituality. 20 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,640 Later they built structures on top of the rocks. 21 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,880 We visited one of them, saw several of them. 22 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,440 Until very recently actually, relatively recently, 23 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:20,400 these monasteries were accessible only by ladders 24 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:24,680 and by ropes and baskets, believe it or not. 25 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,720 Now back in the days when the baskets were the only way 26 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,640 in which to get to the monasteries, 27 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,040 the story is told of a nervous pilgrim 28 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,640 who asked his host, Monk, 29 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,680 do you ever replace these ropes? 30 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,280 To which the monk replied, well of course we do. 31 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:42,660 Whenever they break. 32 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:50,320 Now if renunciation of companionship and vows of poverty 33 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,360 brought spirituality, 34 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,880 then we should follow that pathway. 35 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:57,600 But the fact is they don't. 36 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,980 We're not called by God to go up on that pathway, 37 00:02:01,980 --> 00:02:05,760 but we're called by God to be wise stewards 38 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,560 of our earthly possessions and to use what he has given us 39 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,800 in this life for the advance of God's kingdom. 40 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,680 Whether those be relationships or possessions 41 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:17,600 or spheres of influence, 42 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,600 whatever we have we're to use for God. 43 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:26,600 What matters is what possessions we base our lives upon. 44 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,320 Those that we will one day leave behind 45 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:35,580 or those that we are given by God that will last forever. 46 00:02:35,580 --> 00:02:38,660 And that's what I wanna talk about today. 47 00:02:38,660 --> 00:02:40,120 Now the Corinthian believers, 48 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,400 like many believers today were deceived 49 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,480 because they had their eyes on possessions and people 50 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:52,480 and they used these to advance their own agendas. 51 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,360 They even boasted in their spiritual leaders 52 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,680 in ways that were divisive and carnal. 53 00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:03,600 You see they had divided themselves up into groups. 54 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,960 They belonged to various factions. 55 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,660 They were what we might call preacher groupies. 56 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,920 And frankly Paul had had enough of it. 57 00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:18,920 He writes to them beginning in verse 18 of chapter three. 58 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,920 Do not deceive yourselves. 59 00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:25,200 If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards 60 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,900 of this age, he should become a fool 61 00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:30,720 so that he may become wise. 62 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:35,400 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. 63 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,400 As it is written, he catches the wise in their craftiness. 64 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,080 And again, the Lord knows what the thoughts of the wise 65 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,000 that the thoughts of the wise are futile. 66 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:51,000 That is the thoughts of the worldly wise are futile. 67 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,740 So then, no more boasting about men. 68 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:57,880 All things are yours. 69 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,720 Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world 70 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,800 or life or death or the present or the future, 71 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:06,680 all are yours. 72 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:11,680 And you are of Christ and Christ is of God. 73 00:04:14,420 --> 00:04:16,980 Other translations put it perhaps a little better 74 00:04:16,980 --> 00:04:20,840 than the NIV and they say, all things belong to you. 75 00:04:22,580 --> 00:04:27,260 And you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. 76 00:04:28,860 --> 00:04:29,940 What I wanna say to you today 77 00:04:29,940 --> 00:04:32,940 and what I think God wants to write in our hearts is this. 78 00:04:32,940 --> 00:04:37,660 That what you possess and who possesses you 79 00:04:38,780 --> 00:04:43,220 are two of life's most important questions. 80 00:04:43,220 --> 00:04:47,940 What you possess and who possesses you. 81 00:04:47,940 --> 00:04:50,660 How you answer these questions of possession 82 00:04:51,740 --> 00:04:54,780 determine your outlook on life. 83 00:04:54,780 --> 00:04:58,480 They determine the way you choose to conduct yourself. 84 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:03,480 They choose how you view your essential identity, 85 00:05:03,860 --> 00:05:05,040 who you are. 86 00:05:05,940 --> 00:05:08,500 And so I'd like for us to think about these possessions 87 00:05:08,500 --> 00:05:10,180 that will last forever. 88 00:05:11,060 --> 00:05:14,660 Paul makes three statements of possession. 89 00:05:14,660 --> 00:05:16,260 I invite you to look at them with me 90 00:05:16,260 --> 00:05:19,440 in reverse order for our purposes today. 91 00:05:20,380 --> 00:05:22,060 The last statement in Paul's list, 92 00:05:22,060 --> 00:05:24,180 but the first we'll look at is this one. 93 00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:28,260 It says Christ belongs to God. 94 00:05:29,460 --> 00:05:32,220 Christ belongs to God. 95 00:05:33,820 --> 00:05:35,140 It's an amazing statement. 96 00:05:36,220 --> 00:05:39,900 It's difficult to plumb the meaning of that statement. 97 00:05:40,900 --> 00:05:44,260 But it's a reflection of the inexplicable unity 98 00:05:44,260 --> 00:05:47,000 that is present in the triune God. 99 00:05:48,180 --> 00:05:50,940 We are touching here in this statement of possession 100 00:05:50,940 --> 00:05:54,900 upon the very nature of God himself. 101 00:05:54,900 --> 00:05:57,540 Christ belongs to God. 102 00:05:59,260 --> 00:06:02,540 And what we begin to understand here is that God 103 00:06:02,540 --> 00:06:07,540 eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 104 00:06:09,740 --> 00:06:14,740 Three distinct persons in absolute oneness. 105 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:20,420 Now that is a statement, that is a truth 106 00:06:20,420 --> 00:06:23,180 that is very difficult, indeed impossible 107 00:06:23,180 --> 00:06:24,980 to fully understand. 108 00:06:26,500 --> 00:06:29,100 If you try to understand it, you'll lose your mind. 109 00:06:30,100 --> 00:06:32,780 But if you deny it, you lose your soul. 110 00:06:34,620 --> 00:06:37,280 Because it is a revelation of the mystery 111 00:06:37,280 --> 00:06:39,220 of God's own person. 112 00:06:39,220 --> 00:06:44,060 The titles that are given help us distinguish 113 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:47,540 the uniqueness and the specific roles 114 00:06:47,540 --> 00:06:49,220 of each person of the Trinity 115 00:06:49,220 --> 00:06:52,420 in carrying out the eternal purposes of God. 116 00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:56,580 God is one, but he eternally exists 117 00:06:56,580 --> 00:06:59,660 as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 118 00:07:01,780 --> 00:07:02,820 It's important to understand 119 00:07:02,820 --> 00:07:05,140 that God never disagrees with himself. 120 00:07:06,860 --> 00:07:09,920 God is never in division about anything. 121 00:07:11,380 --> 00:07:16,060 He always acts in absolute unity and constancy. 122 00:07:16,060 --> 00:07:20,540 He says, I am that I am. 123 00:07:21,540 --> 00:07:22,660 That is his name. 124 00:07:23,860 --> 00:07:25,820 I am that I am. 125 00:07:25,820 --> 00:07:28,580 And it reveals to us not only God's eternity, 126 00:07:28,580 --> 00:07:30,940 but his unchangeableness. 127 00:07:30,940 --> 00:07:35,740 It says, Christ belongs to God. 128 00:07:35,740 --> 00:07:38,380 Now there's no verb in the way that Paul wrote this. 129 00:07:38,380 --> 00:07:40,740 It really says Christ, God's. 130 00:07:42,020 --> 00:07:43,940 And so different translations vary 131 00:07:43,940 --> 00:07:45,140 the word they put in there, 132 00:07:45,140 --> 00:07:49,540 but belongs seems to be a very good interpretation of it. 133 00:07:49,540 --> 00:07:52,060 Christ belongs to God. 134 00:07:52,060 --> 00:07:53,900 How are we to understand that? 135 00:07:55,020 --> 00:07:56,900 Well, let me give you an illustration 136 00:07:56,900 --> 00:07:58,940 that is on a human level. 137 00:07:58,940 --> 00:08:01,060 And it's really in no way a parallel 138 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:04,260 to Christ belonging to God. 139 00:08:04,260 --> 00:08:09,260 But I can say, my son belongs to me. 140 00:08:11,260 --> 00:08:12,380 My son belongs to me. 141 00:08:12,380 --> 00:08:13,780 Now, how can I say that? 142 00:08:13,780 --> 00:08:17,060 Because his mother and I generated him. 143 00:08:17,060 --> 00:08:18,500 We gave him birth. 144 00:08:18,500 --> 00:08:23,500 And as such, my son shares my DNA. 145 00:08:23,700 --> 00:08:28,540 He shares my nature for the good or the ill. 146 00:08:28,540 --> 00:08:30,220 My son belongs to me. 147 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,500 Now, please understand that the father 148 00:08:33,500 --> 00:08:36,060 did not generate the son. 149 00:08:36,060 --> 00:08:37,940 He did not begin the son. 150 00:08:39,140 --> 00:08:42,980 The son has existed eternally with the father. 151 00:08:42,980 --> 00:08:44,780 But I think what we're touching on here 152 00:08:44,780 --> 00:08:47,580 is the fact that the son, Christ, 153 00:08:48,860 --> 00:08:52,740 fully shares the nature of God the father 154 00:08:52,740 --> 00:08:55,140 that they are in absolute unity. 155 00:08:55,140 --> 00:08:57,560 Christ belongs to God. 156 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:00,340 Now, out of that truth, 157 00:09:00,340 --> 00:09:01,980 we're going to have two other truths 158 00:09:01,980 --> 00:09:05,380 that will telescope as we work backward. 159 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,340 The second statement of possession is this. 160 00:09:09,340 --> 00:09:13,380 You belong to Christ. 161 00:09:13,380 --> 00:09:15,360 Christ belongs to God. 162 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,700 You belong to Christ. 163 00:09:18,700 --> 00:09:20,180 Think about that. 164 00:09:20,180 --> 00:09:21,020 Say it with me. 165 00:09:21,020 --> 00:09:22,660 I belong to Christ. 166 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:28,140 Let that sink down into your mind. 167 00:09:28,140 --> 00:09:32,060 I belong to Christ. 168 00:09:33,460 --> 00:09:35,620 Paul says in Romans chapter 14, 169 00:09:35,620 --> 00:09:39,540 if we live, we live for the Lord, if we die, we die 170 00:09:39,540 --> 00:09:42,580 for the Lord, therefore whether we live or we die, 171 00:09:42,580 --> 00:09:46,740 we are the Lord's. 172 00:09:46,740 --> 00:09:48,240 We belong to Him. 173 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,600 In what ways, I might ask? 174 00:09:51,660 --> 00:09:56,020 Well, in the first place, we belong to Him by creation. 175 00:09:56,940 --> 00:09:59,940 Just as a potter forms a vessel, 176 00:09:59,940 --> 00:10:04,300 an artist paints a picture, a writer crafts a story, 177 00:10:04,300 --> 00:10:07,300 a programmer designs software, 178 00:10:07,300 --> 00:10:09,520 a musician composes a song, 179 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:12,800 they own what they make. 180 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,920 Jesus Christ is our maker. 181 00:10:18,540 --> 00:10:22,560 And so by creation, we belong to Him. 182 00:10:24,020 --> 00:10:28,860 We are His offspring, Paul says in Acts chapter 17. 183 00:10:28,860 --> 00:10:33,500 In Colossians one, he says, all things, including us, 184 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:36,100 were made by Him. 185 00:10:36,100 --> 00:10:38,180 We belong to Him by creation. 186 00:10:39,060 --> 00:10:42,980 But secondly, by redemption, we belong to Christ, 187 00:10:42,980 --> 00:10:44,780 by redemption. 188 00:10:44,780 --> 00:10:47,540 The word redemption relates to the Roman slave market, 189 00:10:47,540 --> 00:10:50,340 in which someone would go to the slave market 190 00:10:50,340 --> 00:10:54,780 and purchase, pay the purchase price for a slave, 191 00:10:54,780 --> 00:10:58,140 and take Him out of the market to belong to Himself. 192 00:10:58,140 --> 00:11:03,140 The Bible says that we are redeemed by Jesus Christ. 193 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:08,920 He has paid a price for us, so that we might belong to Him. 194 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,840 Paul says in Titus chapter two, 195 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,160 our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 196 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:21,160 gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness, 197 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,640 and to purify for Himself a people 198 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:30,600 that are His very own. 199 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,240 We belong to Christ by redemption. 200 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:37,860 He paid for us. 201 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,800 I happen to be thinking about this some more 202 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:44,680 after I did the outline, and I realized there was 203 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:47,720 yet a third way in which we belong to Christ, 204 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,920 and I would title it this way by presentation. 205 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:56,280 We belong to Christ by presentation. 206 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:01,280 Jesus said, all that the Father gives me will come to me, 207 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,360 and the one who comes to me I will in no wise cast out. 208 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,000 All that the Father gives me, five times 209 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,360 in His high priestly prayer in John chapter 17, 210 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,080 Jesus prays to the Father for those 211 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:19,960 whom Thou hast given me, he says. 212 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:24,960 Do you realize that the Father loves the Son so much 213 00:12:28,140 --> 00:12:31,980 that He has given Him a special gift? 214 00:12:32,940 --> 00:12:37,940 And that gift is you who are followers of Jesus. 215 00:12:39,700 --> 00:12:43,220 You belong to Jesus because the Father 216 00:12:43,220 --> 00:12:47,100 has presented you to Him as a love gift. 217 00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:51,700 And so we don't belong to Jesus like a slave 218 00:12:51,700 --> 00:12:54,400 belongs to his master as though we were some piece 219 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:55,980 of property or chattel. 220 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,060 This belonging I'm talking about is in the context 221 00:13:01,060 --> 00:13:04,520 of relationship, relationship. 222 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:07,580 It's the same sense in which I can say 223 00:13:07,580 --> 00:13:10,780 that my wife belongs to me. 224 00:13:10,780 --> 00:13:15,780 Out of all of this world, she is the one who belongs to me. 225 00:13:21,420 --> 00:13:24,540 And vice versa, she can also say that I belong to her 226 00:13:25,740 --> 00:13:28,180 for the good or the ill, I belong to her too. 227 00:13:29,340 --> 00:13:32,300 We belong to each other based upon relationship. 228 00:13:32,300 --> 00:13:37,300 And so we belong to Jesus Christ based upon relationship. 229 00:13:37,380 --> 00:13:39,340 That's the kind of belonging it is. 230 00:13:39,340 --> 00:13:44,340 We belong to Him and it can be said He belongs to us. 231 00:13:45,980 --> 00:13:48,100 There's a beloved Him that captures the sense 232 00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:53,100 of this romantic belonging, this mutual belonging. 233 00:13:55,060 --> 00:13:58,540 It says loved with everlasting love, 234 00:13:58,540 --> 00:14:01,620 led by grace that love to know. 235 00:14:01,620 --> 00:14:06,620 Gracious spirit from above, Thou has taught me it is so. 236 00:14:06,620 --> 00:14:10,460 Oh this full and perfect peace, oh this transport, 237 00:14:10,460 --> 00:14:14,160 all divine in the love which cannot cease, what? 238 00:14:15,340 --> 00:14:17,940 I am His and He is mine. 239 00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:24,060 Another verse says His forever, only His. 240 00:14:24,060 --> 00:14:26,340 Who the Lord in me shall part? 241 00:14:27,260 --> 00:14:29,980 Oh with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill, 242 00:14:29,980 --> 00:14:33,660 the loving heart, heaven and earth may fade 243 00:14:33,660 --> 00:14:37,540 and flee earth born light in gloom decline. 244 00:14:37,540 --> 00:14:42,540 But while God and I shall be, I am His and He is mine. 245 00:14:45,660 --> 00:14:49,720 Friend, before salvation we belonged elsewhere. 246 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,980 We could say that we belonged to the world. 247 00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:57,540 John chapter 15, Jesus says, 248 00:14:57,540 --> 00:15:00,140 don't be surprised if the world hates you, 249 00:15:00,140 --> 00:15:01,520 it hated me first. 250 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:06,400 He says it hates you because you no longer belong to it. 251 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:09,840 But I've chosen you out of the world. 252 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:13,320 You see before we came to Christ, 253 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,400 we belonged to the world that is passing away. 254 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:18,980 Now we belong to Him. 255 00:15:21,180 --> 00:15:22,960 Every person listening to me right now 256 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:27,720 belongs either to the world or to Jesus Christ. 257 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:32,720 All of your eternity hangs in the balance of this question. 258 00:15:34,900 --> 00:15:36,600 Who possesses you? 259 00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:41,220 Who do you belong to? 260 00:15:43,420 --> 00:15:45,020 If you don't belong to Jesus yet, 261 00:15:45,020 --> 00:15:48,380 you can belong to Him today by coming to Him in faith 262 00:15:48,380 --> 00:15:51,060 and trusting Him as your Lord and Savior. 263 00:15:53,060 --> 00:15:56,460 Christ belongs to God, says Paul. 264 00:15:56,460 --> 00:15:59,500 You belong to Christ. 265 00:15:59,500 --> 00:16:03,140 Thirdly, he says, because these two are true, 266 00:16:03,140 --> 00:16:08,100 all things, all things belong to you. 267 00:16:08,100 --> 00:16:11,460 Notice that twice Paul says this in our text, 268 00:16:11,460 --> 00:16:14,640 all things are yours, all things. 269 00:16:15,780 --> 00:16:18,180 Paul aligns with this in Romans chapter eight 270 00:16:18,180 --> 00:16:21,220 when he says, he who did not spare his own son 271 00:16:21,220 --> 00:16:23,980 but gave him up for us all. 272 00:16:23,980 --> 00:16:28,740 How will he not also, along with his son, 273 00:16:28,740 --> 00:16:33,420 freely give us all things? 274 00:16:35,220 --> 00:16:36,660 All things. 275 00:16:36,660 --> 00:16:40,020 Now Jesus is the rightful heir of all things, 276 00:16:40,020 --> 00:16:43,760 but because you and I are coheirs with Jesus, 277 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:48,040 all things belong to us as well in Him. 278 00:16:49,540 --> 00:16:52,660 Now what Paul is saying here is the antithesis 279 00:16:52,660 --> 00:16:56,620 of that partisan spirit that was in Corinth, 280 00:16:57,860 --> 00:17:02,860 that sought to draw lines to divide up the body of Christ. 281 00:17:04,620 --> 00:17:06,300 Paul is saying to them and to us, 282 00:17:06,300 --> 00:17:10,420 you are an heir of everything that God has made. 283 00:17:10,420 --> 00:17:13,940 You don't have to be jealous for one leader or another. 284 00:17:15,180 --> 00:17:17,440 You don't have to be territorial. 285 00:17:18,540 --> 00:17:20,420 All things belong to you. 286 00:17:20,420 --> 00:17:23,660 Therefore you can't embrace others 287 00:17:23,660 --> 00:17:27,500 and be gracious and generous in your attitudes. 288 00:17:29,220 --> 00:17:32,420 Now Paul doesn't leave it to our imagination 289 00:17:32,420 --> 00:17:33,360 what belongs to us. 290 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:35,420 He begins to form a list. 291 00:17:35,420 --> 00:17:37,620 It's not all inclusive by any means, 292 00:17:38,500 --> 00:17:41,060 but he says all things belong to you, 293 00:17:41,060 --> 00:17:43,580 including your spiritual leaders. 294 00:17:43,580 --> 00:17:46,520 He names himself an Apollos and Cephas or Peter. 295 00:17:48,180 --> 00:17:50,380 Do you know that your spiritual leaders belong to you? 296 00:17:50,380 --> 00:17:52,740 You don't have to divide up sides around them. 297 00:17:54,060 --> 00:17:56,140 Warren Wearsby writes, 298 00:17:56,140 --> 00:17:59,520 each one of God's servants belongs to each believer. 299 00:18:00,620 --> 00:18:02,460 No member of the church should say, 300 00:18:02,460 --> 00:18:06,780 I belong to Paul or I like Peter 301 00:18:06,780 --> 00:18:11,220 because each servant belongs to each member equally. 302 00:18:12,420 --> 00:18:15,460 Perhaps we cannot help but have our personal preferences 303 00:18:15,460 --> 00:18:19,260 when it comes to the way different men minister the word, 304 00:18:19,260 --> 00:18:22,740 but we must not permit our personal preferences 305 00:18:22,740 --> 00:18:26,340 to become divisive prejudices. 306 00:18:28,340 --> 00:18:31,140 In fact, the preacher I may enjoy the least 307 00:18:31,140 --> 00:18:33,080 may be the one I need the most. 308 00:18:34,300 --> 00:18:35,260 Think about that. 309 00:18:36,380 --> 00:18:39,460 You see the Corinthians needed to focus on what 310 00:18:39,460 --> 00:18:44,460 they were being taught rather than who was teaching them. 311 00:18:45,540 --> 00:18:48,500 They needed to build their lives on God's wisdom 312 00:18:48,500 --> 00:18:52,520 and not follow after the foolishness of the world's wisdom. 313 00:18:53,820 --> 00:18:56,100 So you and I can thank God for all of those 314 00:18:56,100 --> 00:18:58,700 who are leading and teaching, 315 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:01,740 for all of those serving gifts in the body of Christ. 316 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:06,340 No one needs to be jealous about anyone else, 317 00:19:07,780 --> 00:19:11,660 but rather we can respect and appreciate all 318 00:19:11,660 --> 00:19:14,040 the gifts that God has given his body. 319 00:19:14,900 --> 00:19:17,780 Your spiritual leaders belong to you, 320 00:19:17,780 --> 00:19:19,180 whether you want them or not. 321 00:19:21,020 --> 00:19:23,900 There is a chain letter that was going around 322 00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:26,400 some time ago, perhaps you heard about it. 323 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,300 It was addressed to the board of deacons. 324 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,620 It says this is a chain letter. 325 00:19:32,620 --> 00:19:35,300 The result of a computerized survey indicates 326 00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:39,580 that the perfect preacher preaches 15 minutes. 327 00:19:39,580 --> 00:19:42,360 Condemns sin but never offends anyone. 328 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,260 Works from eight till midnight, 329 00:19:45,260 --> 00:19:48,180 including custodial work at the church. 330 00:19:48,180 --> 00:19:52,980 He makes $60 per week, wears good clothes, buys good books, 331 00:19:52,980 --> 00:19:56,440 drives a good car and gives $50 a week to the poor. 332 00:19:57,460 --> 00:20:01,940 He's 28 years old and he's been preaching for 30 years. 333 00:20:01,940 --> 00:20:04,220 He's wonderfully handsome. 334 00:20:04,220 --> 00:20:07,140 He has a burning desire to work with teenagers 335 00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:09,380 but spends all of his time with the older folks 336 00:20:09,380 --> 00:20:10,180 in the church. 337 00:20:11,060 --> 00:20:14,300 He smiles with a straight face. 338 00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:17,340 Because his sense of humor keeps him seriously dedicated 339 00:20:17,340 --> 00:20:18,180 to his work. 340 00:20:19,060 --> 00:20:22,000 He makes 15 calls per day on the church family, 341 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,140 on shut-ins and hospitalized, 342 00:20:24,140 --> 00:20:27,340 while at the same time evangelizing the lost. 343 00:20:27,340 --> 00:20:30,260 He's always in his office when he's needed. 344 00:20:31,180 --> 00:20:34,600 If your preacher does not measure up to this chain letter, 345 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,500 send this letter to six other churches 346 00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:39,700 who are tired of their preacher too. 347 00:20:40,580 --> 00:20:43,580 Bundle up your preacher and send him 348 00:20:43,580 --> 00:20:45,840 to the church at the top of the list. 349 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:52,100 In one year, you will receive 1,643 preachers 350 00:20:52,340 --> 00:20:55,300 and one of them should be perfect. 351 00:20:55,300 --> 00:20:58,980 But warning, keep this letter going. 352 00:20:58,980 --> 00:21:02,580 One church broke the chain and got their old preacher back 353 00:21:02,580 --> 00:21:03,820 in six months. 354 00:21:07,780 --> 00:21:09,600 Your spiritual leaders belong to you, 355 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,020 whether you want them or not. 356 00:21:11,020 --> 00:21:16,020 Paul says also the world belongs to you. 357 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,440 What an amazing thought. 358 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,080 The world belongs to you. 359 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,880 John MacArthur quotes a preacher of another generation 360 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,560 by the name of Joseph Parker who said, 361 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,080 and writing about his first pastorate. 362 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,760 He said, I began my ministry in Branbury in England 363 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,520 and my upper window looked over the vast estate 364 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,560 of a wealthy man. 365 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,840 It was I really who inherited that estate. 366 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:48,240 Oh, I did not own a foot of it, but it was all mine. 367 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,880 You see, the owner came down to see it once a year, 368 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,840 but I walked its miles day after day. 369 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,920 You and I may not own very much in this world 370 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,720 and the bank may own most of what we have. 371 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:08,240 Really, but the fact is that it's all ours, 372 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:11,120 the whole world, the sea coast up and down it. 373 00:22:11,120 --> 00:22:13,720 You would like some beachfront property. 374 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,520 It's all yours. 375 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,320 Now don't go build a house on it because I said that, 376 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,000 but it's all yours to enjoy. 377 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,320 You enjoy the mountains, you enjoy the desert, 378 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,160 you enjoy the sky, the birds, 379 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,000 you enjoy flowers in the springtime. 380 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,680 Aren't the flowers beautiful this time of year? 381 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:35,680 The beautiful California poppies up along the street here 382 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:37,640 as you come into the church property. 383 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,160 They're all yours, all yours. 384 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,800 Another preacher of the name of Maltby Babcock. 385 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:49,920 If I had a name like Maltby, I would probably change it, 386 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,380 but he had enough self-confidence to keep it. 387 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:57,840 Maltby Babcock died at 42 years of age in 1901 388 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,720 while on a trip to the Holy Land, if you can believe that. 389 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:05,220 But he's the one who penned the words that we love to sing. 390 00:23:05,220 --> 00:23:08,420 This is my father's world. 391 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:13,480 And to my listening ears, all nature sings 392 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:17,860 and round me rings the music of the spheres. 393 00:23:17,860 --> 00:23:21,100 This is my father's world. 394 00:23:21,100 --> 00:23:25,120 I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, 395 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:30,120 of skies and seas, his hand, the wonders wrought. 396 00:23:30,120 --> 00:23:32,580 This is my father's world. 397 00:23:32,580 --> 00:23:35,240 The birds their carols raise. 398 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,880 The morning light, the lilies white, 399 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,880 declare their maker's praise. 400 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:41,880 This is my father's world. 401 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,080 He shines in all that's fair. 402 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:50,080 In the rustling grass, I hear him pass. 403 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:51,520 He speaks to me everywhere. 404 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,280 This is my father's world. 405 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:59,280 Oh, let me never forget that those who are in the world 406 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:04,080 though the wrong seems off so strong, 407 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,680 God is the ruler yet. 408 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,680 This is my father's world. 409 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,560 The battle is not done. 410 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,920 Jesus who died shall be satisfied 411 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,800 and earth and heaven be won. 412 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:22,360 Friend, it's all yours. 413 00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:24,240 It's all yours to enjoy 414 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,040 because your father is this maker. 415 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:29,280 Paul says all things belong to you. 416 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,480 He also includes life itself. 417 00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:35,320 Life, he says, belongs to you. 418 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:39,080 All that it entails, the ups and the downs of life, 419 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:41,220 its opportunities, its privileges, 420 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:44,400 Christ's followers, my friend, 421 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,880 have an entitlement to the delights of life 422 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,200 that no one else has. 423 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,580 We can live with a passion for life. 424 00:24:53,580 --> 00:24:57,440 We can use life for its God intended purposes. 425 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:03,440 We can enter into every season of life with pleasure. 426 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:08,440 We can enjoy the experiences of life to the full 427 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,000 because life belongs to us. 428 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:13,720 It's ours. 429 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,040 God gives it to us 430 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:18,680 and we know why he's given it to us. 431 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:22,840 And not only this life, but eternal life belongs to us. 432 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:26,040 He who has the Son has what? 433 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:27,280 Has the life. 434 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:31,360 If you have the Son, you've got it all. 435 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,280 Paul includes also in this list death. 436 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,080 Death, you say, well, there are some things 437 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:40,300 I might not want. 438 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,320 Listen, either death has you 439 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:47,200 or you have death. 440 00:25:48,860 --> 00:25:50,360 It's one or the other. 441 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:54,460 And for the follower of Christ, we own death. 442 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,240 Paul is thinking here about the process of dying 443 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:01,280 and leaving behind this world. 444 00:26:02,340 --> 00:26:06,000 We possess it because the great enemy 445 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:11,160 has been broken and defeated by Jesus Christ. 446 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,640 Its sting has been removed by the one 447 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,600 who lives again, our savior. 448 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:21,180 So that death for us who are in Christ 449 00:26:21,180 --> 00:26:25,880 is relegated to the position of gatekeeper only. 450 00:26:27,780 --> 00:26:31,000 So that when our time comes, he can only serve 451 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,880 the purpose of God by opening the gate 452 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,480 and allowing us to leave this world 453 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,080 to go into the presence of the Lord. 454 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:44,980 We possess death in Jesus Christ. 455 00:26:44,980 --> 00:26:49,500 We also possess the present, the present. 456 00:26:50,340 --> 00:26:54,580 Whatever today holds for you belongs to you. 457 00:26:56,220 --> 00:26:59,460 It is already sanctified by God for your good. 458 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,780 All of the contingencies of today, 459 00:27:04,780 --> 00:27:07,900 all of the possibilities will fall out 460 00:27:07,900 --> 00:27:11,060 to your eventual advantage. 461 00:27:11,060 --> 00:27:13,900 I'm not saying to you that everything today 462 00:27:13,900 --> 00:27:16,320 will be pleasant, it may not be. 463 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:19,380 Nor am I saying it will be easy 464 00:27:20,780 --> 00:27:22,720 because all of life is not easy. 465 00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:27,300 But whatever the present has belongs to you 466 00:27:27,300 --> 00:27:32,300 because God has shaped that present for your good 467 00:27:32,820 --> 00:27:37,460 and nothing can keep God's purpose 468 00:27:37,460 --> 00:27:39,900 from being achieved in your life in the present. 469 00:27:41,140 --> 00:27:42,940 But not only the present, 470 00:27:42,940 --> 00:27:46,340 he says furthermore the future belongs to you. 471 00:27:46,340 --> 00:27:49,220 That is whatever tomorrow holds 472 00:27:50,340 --> 00:27:54,140 and beyond tomorrow, the future of Christ coming, 473 00:27:54,140 --> 00:27:55,280 that's yours. 474 00:27:56,220 --> 00:27:58,660 The ultimate culmination of all things 475 00:27:58,660 --> 00:28:02,080 with the new heaven and the new earth, it's yours. 476 00:28:03,260 --> 00:28:07,760 He who overcomes will inherit all things, the Bible says. 477 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:11,020 Now Paul's point here is this. 478 00:28:11,020 --> 00:28:16,020 God's children already possess all things in Christ. 479 00:28:20,100 --> 00:28:25,100 Just as Christ belongs to God, is that forever? 480 00:28:27,020 --> 00:28:29,540 Of course, the eternity of God. 481 00:28:30,460 --> 00:28:35,460 Just as you belong to Christ, is that forever? 482 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:40,100 We're absolutely secure in Jesus Christ. 483 00:28:40,100 --> 00:28:44,300 So all things are forever yours. 484 00:28:47,620 --> 00:28:49,360 So don't sweat the small stuff. 485 00:28:50,780 --> 00:28:52,580 That's what the Corinthians were doing. 486 00:28:54,180 --> 00:28:57,460 Paul wants them to get their eyes off the small stuff. 487 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,100 He says everything is yours, live like it. 488 00:29:02,380 --> 00:29:04,100 When everything belongs to you, 489 00:29:04,100 --> 00:29:06,980 you don't have to stake a claim for part of it. 490 00:29:06,980 --> 00:29:11,620 You don't have to mark out your territory 491 00:29:12,860 --> 00:29:14,860 because it's all yours. 492 00:29:14,860 --> 00:29:16,460 You can forget about yourself. 493 00:29:17,460 --> 00:29:20,620 You don't need to worry about being overlooked or offended. 494 00:29:22,220 --> 00:29:24,440 You're not going to be shortchanged. 495 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:29,060 So you don't have to live a graspy, greedy life. 496 00:29:29,060 --> 00:29:31,860 God's freely given you all things in Christ, 497 00:29:31,860 --> 00:29:33,160 everything you'll ever need. 498 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,680 You don't need to develop a competitive spirit 499 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,240 to try to get ahead. 500 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:44,040 Don't divide yourself into teams promoting one leader 501 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:47,880 over another or be jealous for your leader or your group. 502 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,520 You don't need to because it all belongs to you. 503 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:54,880 You don't need to live like a victim in this world 504 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:58,880 because all of life's experiences belong to you. 505 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:02,440 And God will use even the most adverse 506 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:06,320 things in your life for good. 507 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:12,120 So do the Corinthians need to think 508 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:14,800 in terms of rivalry with others? 509 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:16,940 No, nor do we. 510 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,560 We should not think of ourselves as rivals of other churches 511 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,240 as though if they win, we lose. 512 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,060 Or if they lose, we win. 513 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:29,680 That's not the kingdom of God. 514 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:33,540 We should not be resentful over a church 515 00:30:33,540 --> 00:30:36,700 which gets more publicity or more acclaimed than our own. 516 00:30:37,580 --> 00:30:41,240 We should never compare pastors and pick favorites. 517 00:30:42,540 --> 00:30:44,740 We should not choose whether to attend church 518 00:30:44,740 --> 00:30:47,780 based upon who's speaking this weekend. 519 00:30:49,460 --> 00:30:52,740 We should never create celebrities out of ministry leaders 520 00:30:52,740 --> 00:30:55,620 and develop personality cults. 521 00:30:55,620 --> 00:30:59,520 To all of that Paul says, no more boasting about men. 522 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:03,440 Be done with that because all ministry leaders 523 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:08,020 belong to you and you possess all things in Christ. 524 00:31:08,020 --> 00:31:11,460 If one is honored, then everyone benefits. 525 00:31:12,540 --> 00:31:15,540 If one church advances, God's kingdom grows. 526 00:31:15,540 --> 00:31:16,520 Praise God. 527 00:31:17,620 --> 00:31:19,540 If another group is in the spotlight, 528 00:31:19,540 --> 00:31:22,780 rejoice with them away with the competition 529 00:31:22,780 --> 00:31:29,780 in the kingdom of God, all things belong to you. 530 00:31:29,780 --> 00:31:32,660 We belong to Christ who in turn belongs to God. 531 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:35,940 Therefore we don't need to be anxious. 532 00:31:37,420 --> 00:31:41,540 We should not squabble over anything as God's children. 533 00:31:41,540 --> 00:31:43,500 We can be perfectly content 534 00:31:44,820 --> 00:31:47,340 because we possess all things in the shepherd 535 00:31:47,340 --> 00:31:49,480 we shall not want. 536 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:52,600 And we cannot be robbed by anyone else. 537 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:56,600 But we can rob ourselves. 538 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:01,600 By our own attitudes we can rob ourselves 539 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:06,600 of that inner contentment, of that joy, of that peace. 540 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,600 We can have the spirit of harmony disrupted 541 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:14,600 by following the pathway of the Corinthians 542 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:19,600 and being immature and carnal in our attitudes. 543 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,600 If we ignore the riches of Jesus Christ, 544 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,600 we will live in poverty by our own choice 545 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,600 and rob ourselves of our inheritance. 546 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:30,600 How sad that any of us should do that. 547 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:34,600 To be close today, I want us to think about 548 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:36,600 what God may be saying to me. 549 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:38,600 And maybe we can each ask that question 550 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:43,600 and jot down on your notes what I hear God saying 551 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:45,600 to me. 552 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,600 Take a moment to think about that. 553 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:51,600 Is there something I need to let go? 554 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:59,600 Do I need to take down the fences in my life? 555 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:03,600 Do I need to forgive another person? 556 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:08,600 Like the Corinthians, have I deceived myself 557 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:13,600 into thinking that I'm better than others? 558 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,600 Is my attitude contributing to the building up 559 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,600 of God's temple? 560 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:24,600 Am I living as the heir of all things 561 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:29,600 or as a pauper in the kingdom of God? 562 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:34,600 My friend, these are things that you can never lose, 563 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,600 but you can lose the benefit of them. 564 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:42,600 Will you determine in your own heart today 565 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:44,600 to listen to God's voice, 566 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:47,600 to do whatever it takes to live in the light 567 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,600 of the fullness that you have in Jesus Christ, 568 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,600 and don't miss out on anything that God wants you 569 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:57,600 to enjoy in this world? 570 00:33:57,600 --> 00:33:59,600 Let's pray together. 571 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:02,600 Father, 572 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:06,600 I thank you today for the truths of belonging, 573 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,600 that we belong to Jesus Christ, your Son, 574 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:12,600 by your grace. 575 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,600 We certainly have not done anything to contribute 576 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:17,600 to that or to earn it, 577 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,600 but it is your gift when we have trusted Him. 578 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,600 And I want to pray, Father, if there's some friend 579 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:25,600 who's here who's never yet trusted Christ 580 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:28,600 and who still belongs to the world, 581 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:32,600 that even in the quietness of this moment, 582 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,600 that one would trust the Savior, 583 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:37,600 believing that he died on the cross for Him, 584 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,600 and rose again from the dead, 585 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:46,600 inviting Jesus to come into His life as Lord and Savior. 586 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:51,600 Oh, Father, in belonging to you, 587 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:58,600 may we then understand that all things belong to us. 588 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:02,600 Lord, help us to live in the relationship 589 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:06,600 that you have brought to us in Christ. 590 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,600 Thank you that we are yours, 591 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:14,600 that you are ours forever. 592 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:19,600 Amen.