1 00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:11,600 This is Lee to serve with Ed Taylor, a leadership podcast, a 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:16,100 welcome to today's edition of lead to serve podcast. 3 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,000 This is the place where we want to learn how to be better 4 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:25,000 servants so that the Lord can encourage Us in his leadership. 5 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,600 I know it's been a while since our last episode I've been 6 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,100 working on putting Season 3 together. 7 00:00:31,700 --> 00:00:36,000 But today, I really believe it's important that I speak to those 8 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,700 of you that are leading and serving in the church perhaps 9 00:00:40,700 --> 00:00:45,000 even in our church. But how important it is in our 10 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,600 recognition of how hard it is during covid to lead and never 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:54,600 before really in our generation, is there a greater need for 12 00:00:54,600 --> 00:01:00,500 strong submitted spiritual leadership, then now This 13 00:01:00,700 --> 00:01:04,599 podcast is Loosely based upon the time. 14 00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:10,300 I recently spent with our staff here at Calvary Church, talking 15 00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:17,600 through things bringing about some Unity dialoguing about the 16 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,300 challenges that we've been facing. 17 00:01:19,300 --> 00:01:23,600 It seems like every single week. There's A new challenge, every 18 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:28,300 single week, There's a new difficulty, its it seems like 19 00:01:28,300 --> 00:01:32,300 the political atmosphere that In right now, the covid atmosphere. 20 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:37,200 The the idea of feeling like the government is oppressing, the 21 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,400 church, all of that pressing in besides the marriage issues, 22 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,400 besides the pornography issues, besides the financial issues. 23 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:50,300 There's just a lot of pressure in people's lives and we wanted, 24 00:01:50,300 --> 00:01:54,400 we just want to continue every week, be reminded by the holy 25 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:59,900 spirit that he wants us to. Lead the people to the Cross to 26 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:02,900 get their eyes on the Lord, not to have the message of the 27 00:02:02,908 --> 00:02:07,800 Gospel co-opted by some other cause or some other concern. 28 00:02:08,100 --> 00:02:11,600 But to stay focused. I want to invite you on this 29 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:16,500 discussion that I had with the staff recently and we started in 30 00:02:16,500 --> 00:02:19,800 Numbers Chapter 13, I was just listening to some of the 31 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,300 conversation going on in our staff meeting and numbers 13 32 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,600 immediately popped into my mind. And I was reminded of how we 33 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:35,200 commonly remember numbers 13 as Moses, sending in the spies. 34 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,700 That's how I refer to it all the time. 35 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:42,200 The twelve spies went in and, you know, two spies came back 36 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,300 with a good report. 10 had a bad report. 37 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:49,500 So we started reading in numbers 13 verse 25, and they returned 38 00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:51,600 from spying out the land for 40 days. 39 00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:56,000 And after, after they departed, came back to Moses and Aaron and 40 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,200 all the congregation Of the children of Israel, the 41 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,200 Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh, they brought back word to them, 42 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:05,900 to all the congregation, showed them the fruit of the land. 43 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,800 Then they told him said, we went to the land where you sent us a 44 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,500 truly flows with milk and honey. And this is the fruit. 45 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,200 Nevertheless, the people who own the land are strong, the cities 46 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,100 are fortified very large, moreover, we saw the descendants 47 00:03:22,100 --> 00:03:25,600 of aynak their the amalekites to own the land, the Hittites, the 48 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,800 jebusites, the amorites. The Canaanites are all there. 49 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,500 And then verse 30 says Caleb, this obviously stirred up, the 50 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:36,600 people because it says, Caleb quieted the people before Moses 51 00:03:37,700 --> 00:03:41,200 and said, let us go up at once and take possession for. 52 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:45,100 We are well able to overcome it but the men who had gone up with 53 00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:48,800 him said, we are not able to go up against the people for they 54 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,000 are stronger than we. And they gave the children of 55 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,700 Israel bad report of the land, which they had spied out saying, 56 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,000 the And through which we have gone as spies as a land that 57 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,400 devours. Its inhabitants, all the people. 58 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,400 Whom we saw in it are men of great stature, they're Giants. 59 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,500 The descendants of a neck and were like grasshoppers in our 60 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:14,700 own side it's such a sad situation where these men these 61 00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:18,600 spies as we're referring to him right now went and it's a 62 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,900 classic example of the same group of people seeing the same 63 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:26,300 thing at the same time and coming to radically different 64 00:04:26,300 --> 00:04:29,100 conclusions. Does that sound familiar here? 65 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:32,700 We are in the body of Christ. We're so much division is taking 66 00:04:32,700 --> 00:04:37,500 place so much animosity, so much finger-pointing even pharisaism. 67 00:04:37,500 --> 00:04:39,600 You know, you're not doing it right and you're not doing it 68 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,500 right, and you're not doing it, right? 69 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,100 And you should do it this way. And and, and it just stirring up 70 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:47,500 the church and and stirring up people. 71 00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:51,200 And it's so divisive, and we're all experiencing the same thing, 72 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,800 but we're coming to very different conclusions. 73 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,800 But here's the thing. These were not spies That should 74 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,700 not be there title. These were not spies. 75 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:05,800 These were leaders elders from one. 76 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,900 From each of the tribe, these weren't these were leaders sent 77 00:05:08,900 --> 00:05:13,700 out to spy out the land these. These as we cannot forget, that 78 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:18,400 we are leading people and maybe we have a role here and there. 79 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:23,000 Our roles are changing depending on the circumstances. 80 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:29,200 In this case, the role was added to these leaders to go spy out 81 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,300 the land. But they weren't spies, they 82 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:35,700 were God's men. And in the case of art 83 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,600 application, God's men and women leading, the church through a 84 00:05:38,608 --> 00:05:42,900 significant crisis and how careful we need to be to give 85 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:46,900 good reports, to keep people's eyes on the Lord. 86 00:05:46,900 --> 00:05:50,800 These guys aren't career spies. They were trusted men called to 87 00:05:50,808 --> 00:05:55,000 be leaders to survey the land that Bible says, in verse 2. 88 00:05:55,100 --> 00:05:59,500 God says, send out men to spy that to the land that I'm giving 89 00:05:59,500 --> 00:06:01,500 them. So it really doesn't matter what 90 00:06:01,500 --> 00:06:03,600 they see. It doesn't matter how hard it 91 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:04,900 is. Yeah, the spies are there, but 92 00:06:04,900 --> 00:06:07,200 God's given them. Yeah, the walls were big, but 93 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,600 God has given him to them. God is going to bring Victory 94 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,800 and tie in times of change. I want to speak to you directly 95 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,000 like, in times of change, we can be easily distracted. 96 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:23,500 Dad and we can get off on topics and things that have no bearing 97 00:06:23,500 --> 00:06:27,500 eternally and we can be overwhelmed by the circumstances 98 00:06:27,900 --> 00:06:31,500 and we can be overwhelmed by the odds and we can be overwhelmed 99 00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:34,500 by all the decisions that need to be made being sensitive to 100 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:39,800 being distracted. Will then get us back on to that 101 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:41,300 place where our eyes are back on the Lord. 102 00:06:41,300 --> 00:06:44,500 And we're seeking the Lord. What is it that he wants to do 103 00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:47,600 in particular with this covid crisis? 104 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:51,000 And all the political ramifications and all the 105 00:06:51,008 --> 00:06:54,000 conspiracy theories. And all of the things that are 106 00:06:54,008 --> 00:06:56,000 coming out. The restrictions, the 107 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:01,200 requirements of masks, the court things, the lawsuits we 108 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,700 approached our church early on and some of you come to our 109 00:07:04,700 --> 00:07:06,400 church and I want to remind you of this. 110 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,400 We stepped into this with three words. 111 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:15,300 Remember, patient's preference and humility, patience. 112 00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:18,000 Because we need to have patience with one another and other 113 00:07:18,100 --> 00:07:20,700 People's viewpoints and how they're viewing things. 114 00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:24,200 And what we walking in the fruit of the spirit patient's 115 00:07:24,900 --> 00:07:28,500 preference, we need to remember that our churches in the 116 00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:31,700 community for the long-term for the long game. 117 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,000 And so if it means dying to ourselves and putting on a face 118 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,500 covering so that we can be in a place, we could be more readily 119 00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:43,400 used in our community and just tell our community we care about 120 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:48,700 you, we may not view the virus like you do or even A political 121 00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:50,800 view like you do, but that's not what we're worried. 122 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:52,900 We're not concerned about that. What we're concerned about is 123 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:57,300 the gospel. And so, will we put on a face 124 00:07:57,300 --> 00:08:00,100 covering? If it means that the Gospel of 125 00:08:00,100 --> 00:08:01,700 Jesus Christ can come into your life. 126 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:06,100 Yes, we'll will wear the mask and then the third word, 127 00:08:06,100 --> 00:08:08,300 humility. I mean everything we got to 128 00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:12,500 Humble ourselves in order to die to ourselves That's just the way 129 00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:14,500 it is. That we don't think of ourselves 130 00:08:14,500 --> 00:08:18,000 more, highly of ourselves but we think of ourselves in light of 131 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,900 Eternity. And so recently in our state, 132 00:08:22,900 --> 00:08:27,600 there was a lawsuit that I read where a couple of churches, sued 133 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:33,299 the state and they won on two points, they won on the need the 134 00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:36,400 that they saw that they don't want to wear mastering services 135 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,100 and they don't want to limit the amount of people that come to 136 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:43,400 their service and that opens up A an opportunity for us to make 137 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,200 a decision on what we're going to do in terms of face 138 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,400 coverings. But but let's just say that. 139 00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:53,700 The lawsuit says completely 100%, you don't have to wear 140 00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:56,000 face, coverings. And then we've come to that 141 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,300 conclusion and we say, okay, we're going to make face 142 00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:05,700 coverings optional, which I hope to do one day, but that may stir 143 00:09:05,700 --> 00:09:06,900 up. All this excitement. 144 00:09:06,900 --> 00:09:08,300 Yay. We won. 145 00:09:08,500 --> 00:09:11,100 We won against the state and they can't tell us. 146 00:09:11,100 --> 00:09:13,400 What What to do. But what have we want, exactly 147 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,900 what have we want, what is it that are we going to have a mask 148 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:20,900 burning service? Now, how does that communicate 149 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:25,500 to the community? I have personal whatever a 150 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:27,600 person might view about face coverings. 151 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:32,900 In covid-19 view is we admit that covid is real and that it 152 00:09:32,900 --> 00:09:35,900 has hurt people to the point of death. 153 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:40,500 And I'm not a doctor, I'm not going to get involved in being a 154 00:09:40,500 --> 00:09:43,700 doctor or trying to be. I'm not, and I don't become a 155 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:45,900 doctor because I read an article. 156 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:49,100 I don't become a doctor because I read or watched a YouTube 157 00:09:49,100 --> 00:09:53,600 video. I'm just a man that is a trying 158 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,700 to lead and pastor and just be open to wisdom from God. 159 00:09:58,100 --> 00:10:01,300 But would we be more excited about a court Victory than we 160 00:10:01,300 --> 00:10:04,000 are about salvation? Are we so excited? 161 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,200 Like we are going to put up a fight. 162 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:07,700 Right. And we're going to demand to be 163 00:10:07,700 --> 00:10:11,800 recognized when you walk into the land here, like the like, 164 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:17,000 these leaders and look at the the land, the leaders are not, 165 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:21,000 the leadership of the world is not favorable to the church 166 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,300 there, especially those that are unbelievers in places of office, 167 00:10:25,300 --> 00:10:28,300 they don't respect the church. They don't believe in the 168 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:32,200 church. They don't, they are blinded 169 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,100 spiritually, and And here we are as Leaders. 170 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,500 What are we going to promote? I'm not going to promote. 171 00:10:40,500 --> 00:10:44,000 Yay, we won a victory. As much as I'm going to promote. 172 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,300 Yay! We have a spiritual battle that 173 00:10:46,300 --> 00:10:48,800 we're fighting a spiritual battle. 174 00:10:49,700 --> 00:10:52,800 And I think about of the 12 men that went out. 10 of them came 175 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,600 back with a demoralizing response. 176 00:10:56,900 --> 00:11:01,500 And ruined a whole generation and it just reminded me as we 177 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:03,900 were talking with the team yesterday that our response 178 00:11:03,900 --> 00:11:08,200 during this time, can either encourage a generation or ruin a 179 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:13,000 generation perhaps. That we are what we find with 180 00:11:13,700 --> 00:11:19,100 Caleb and Joshua is they came back with a positive response to 181 00:11:19,100 --> 00:11:21,900 the word of God. They got that they want to, you 182 00:11:21,900 --> 00:11:27,600 know, Caleb's trying to quiet the people to hey wait a minute, 183 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,900 get your eyes back on the ward. Like we're going to do what 184 00:11:30,900 --> 00:11:35,700 God's called us to do, and how important it is to keep our eyes 185 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:39,500 on the Lord and not on circumstances and when we come 186 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:42,200 to these Times when we don't know what to do and we don't 187 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,300 know exactly what decisions to make. 188 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:47,500 We want to fall back on the things that we do know, and I 189 00:11:47,508 --> 00:11:50,800 can say, is a pastor and a leader, I am not interested in 190 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:55,100 getting our and discipling. Our church to be excited, more 191 00:11:55,100 --> 00:11:58,100 excited about a court case than they are about sharing the 192 00:11:58,100 --> 00:12:02,600 gospel with their neighbors. And even as I record this, we 193 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:08,100 just had a service last night in person and three people 194 00:12:08,100 --> 00:12:11,500 responded to the gospel. And I prayed with them to 195 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:14,500 receive the Lord while their masks. 196 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:16,400 Us were honor their face. Coverings were on. 197 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:18,800 They re-entered into the kingdom of God. 198 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,600 Don't misunderstand me. I'm not a, I'm not in favor of 199 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,500 all these restrictions and I'm they make me uncomfortable too, 200 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:28,200 but we've got to lead during difficult times. 201 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:33,800 And Times of change in chaos often if there was ever a time. 202 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:39,900 If there was ever a time when this verse comes to light, you 203 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:44,400 know, fast-forwarding now into the letter that Paul wrote to 204 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,400 Timothy. So I want to fast forward all 205 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,300 the way to Second Timothy because sometimes this verse is 206 00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:52,000 misunderstood and I just want to bring Clarity to it. 207 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:56,100 So you understand you that are leading the church right now you 208 00:12:56,100 --> 00:13:00,100 that are following leaders. Paul is writing to Young Timothy 209 00:13:00,100 --> 00:13:03,800 and second Timothy chapter 4 and he says, I charge you therefore 210 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,900 before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the 211 00:13:06,900 --> 00:13:10,600 living and the dead, as if at his appearing and his kingdom, 212 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:14,200 preach. The word be ready in season and 213 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:19,900 out of season convince rebuke exhort with all long suffering. 214 00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:23,700 For the time will come. When they will not endure sound 215 00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:26,800 Doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have 216 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:30,500 itching ears will Heap up Themselves teachers, they'll 217 00:13:30,500 --> 00:13:35,400 turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to 218 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,900 fables. Now, of course, Timothy had his 219 00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:42,300 own issues in his own church of things that were tickling ears, 220 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:47,000 that were itching. But many people interpret verse 221 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,700 3, the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine. 222 00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:52,500 As if that speaking of unbelievers, it's not. 223 00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:55,800 It's speaking of the church and if there was ever a time you're 224 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,900 witnessing right now. Pitching ears among Believers 225 00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:02,300 because of their personal preferences. 226 00:14:02,500 --> 00:14:06,100 It's now we literally have people leaving from the door of 227 00:14:06,100 --> 00:14:10,400 our church to go to another nearby church because at nearby 228 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,300 church is not handling this crisis. 229 00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:14,900 Like we are, I mean, this is their church. 230 00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:17,400 This is where they worship is, where their kids are growing up, 231 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:20,900 but because we're handling, and in such and such a way, not a 232 00:14:20,908 --> 00:14:26,200 sinful way, just a more cautious approach, a more measured 233 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,300 approach of patience. Friends humility another church 234 00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:30,800 down the street, or down the road or down. 235 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,300 The highway is doing things differently and no restrictions 236 00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:36,400 and don't worry, we don't believe them a virus and we 237 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:42,100 don't Listen, we need to preach the word in love, and convince, 238 00:14:42,100 --> 00:14:45,700 and rebuke and exhort because this is all a test. 239 00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:50,300 This is a test. And because so many things are 240 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:53,700 outside of our control, you find people really wrestling for 241 00:14:53,700 --> 00:14:57,900 control so that they can control something their own Comfort, 242 00:14:57,900 --> 00:15:00,700 their own. He's and if they don't agree 243 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:02,900 automatically, there's opposition. 244 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:07,200 And if you lead, if you're leading correctly, like these 245 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,100 two spies, you can often feel like you're in the minority, and 246 00:15:11,100 --> 00:15:13,800 if you feel like you're in the minority right now, you're in 247 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:18,700 good company with men, like, Joshua and Caleb. 248 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,300 And you two need to be focused on the word of God, for your own 249 00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:26,700 life focused on the power and presence of the holy spirit 250 00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:30,500 being faithful to do, what God has called you to do so that you 251 00:15:30,500 --> 00:15:33,900 can continue to love and serve the people. 252 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:37,500 It's good to be reminded that, you know, God has not hindered 253 00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:41,900 by the government that there are limitations may be on buildings. 254 00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:45,000 And Gatherings with God is never limited by the God. 255 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:48,400 He rules over the governments of man. 256 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:54,300 And we can't be more excited by a Court ruling, then what God is 257 00:15:54,300 --> 00:15:59,800 doing, in people's lives with the gospel, nothing changes for 258 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,200 the church, it continues to do what it's always done. 259 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,100 It continues to find a way when there is no way and we want to 260 00:16:08,100 --> 00:16:10,400 celebrate the victories of changed lives. 261 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,100 We want to celebrate the victories of ministering to the 262 00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:15,600 poor and to the needy. We want to celebrate the 263 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,400 victories of. Yes, we come together and 264 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:23,300 worship and prayer. Bible study but wow, how are we 265 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:30,200 discipling as Leaders? How are we discipling our kids, 266 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:34,300 the people that are calling the church the people that are 267 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,700 reaching out to the radio, stations and calling live, 268 00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:41,200 call-in shows and coming to services or very, very broken. 269 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:47,900 Marriages pornography grief, Wayward kids, prodigals 270 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:54,600 hopelessness, Enos addictions. Can I say, I even spoke to a 271 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,900 young man last night for Great Lengths, first time in our 272 00:16:57,900 --> 00:17:00,700 church, he didn't care about mask. 273 00:17:01,100 --> 00:17:02,600 That wasn't the thing on his mind. 274 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,099 The thing on his mind were the things in his life. 275 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,400 He didn't stop for a moment ago, you know, I can't, I don't even 276 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,000 know why I'm here. I don't want to wear like no he 277 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,800 began to share x y&z with me. I was life. 278 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,500 I got to pray with him and encourage them, you know, 279 00:17:20,500 --> 00:17:22,099 somebody praying for a prodigal kid. 280 00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:26,700 They don't care about masks, someone dealing with addiction 281 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:29,600 doesn't care about restrictions. And every moment that you're 282 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,800 distracted by circumstances is a moment that were no longer 283 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:38,100 Faithfully aware of the movement of the Holy Heard among us. 284 00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:41,900 And so what was Timothy called? The Dewey he was told to preach 285 00:17:41,900 --> 00:17:47,600 the word to be ready. To be available. 286 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,200 And so today I on lead to serve it to special broadcast. 287 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:57,500 I just plead with you to be ready to see ourselves, not as a 288 00:17:57,500 --> 00:18:00,700 segment of the body. But is a part of the whole to 289 00:18:00,700 --> 00:18:06,400 resist division to resist putting other Ministries down or 290 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,700 other churches, down or other believers down. 291 00:18:08,900 --> 00:18:15,000 But jumping in full force, not not not really getting caught up 292 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:20,900 in the momentary issues. That you know, the pulpit was 293 00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:22,900 given to man to preach the gospel. 294 00:18:22,900 --> 00:18:27,600 That's the purpose of that Pulpit is for the edification of 295 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,900 the body, through the teaching of the word of God. 296 00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:33,200 Paul was very clear to Timothy because Timothy is going through 297 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,200 all this stuff, right? He's got all these issues, 298 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,100 what's happening? People are upset, people are 299 00:18:37,100 --> 00:18:40,800 leaving. People are mad, Timothy fellow 300 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:46,400 leader, Ed preach, the word. Be ready in season and out of 301 00:18:46,408 --> 00:18:50,700 season. Convince people Pastor rebuke 302 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:55,000 people leader, exhort people be long-suffering but teach them it 303 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:59,800 says, second Timothy 4 verse 2 because the time will come, when 304 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,500 many in the church, won't endure sound Doctrine. 305 00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:06,000 You'll hear Calvary Chapel. We always use that one. 306 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,500 We're teaching this. Oh you know people won't endure 307 00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:11,300 the verse-by-verse systematic teaching of the word of God. 308 00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:14,600 The expository teaching but that's a great application. 309 00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:17,600 That's not the interpretation. What won't be? 310 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:22,100 Endured is the sound teaching that convinces, that rebukes, 311 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:27,000 that exhorts that teaches. We have a responsibility to 312 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:31,100 teach people as a part of the whole, not just a segment 313 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,900 because this trial to where it's going to end, and we're 314 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:35,800 discipling people for the next trial. 315 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:38,600 How do we endure? How do we make it through? 316 00:19:39,900 --> 00:19:44,000 And we we want not to be distracted ourselves so we can 317 00:19:44,008 --> 00:19:46,900 help people. Not to be distracted so that we 318 00:19:46,900 --> 00:19:49,500 can get their eyes on the Lord, get their eyes and sharing the 319 00:19:49,508 --> 00:19:53,500 gospel so that the Hopeless will find Hope and and we will be the 320 00:19:53,500 --> 00:19:57,100 ones to help them get there. And you know, when the election 321 00:19:57,100 --> 00:20:01,400 ends and there's either a another four years of this 322 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:03,800 Administration or a new Administration. 323 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:07,100 They're still be a group of people that are discontented, 324 00:20:07,100 --> 00:20:09,600 they'll still be a group of people that are upset. 325 00:20:10,900 --> 00:20:14,500 Still the country will still be just as divided as ever has. 326 00:20:14,700 --> 00:20:20,900 Ben and The Mask rulings and the lawsuits. 327 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,700 They don't simplify things. They only complicate things and 328 00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:27,600 it's just another distraction. You know, we're not going to 329 00:20:27,608 --> 00:20:30,300 have a mask burning service when this is all over. 330 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:33,300 So as ye we can Stick it to the Man. 331 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:35,600 No, no. We recognize the role of 332 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,900 government and we know government overreach has you 333 00:20:38,900 --> 00:20:41,800 might look into go all, you know, at just he just says, do 334 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:45,300 it. And don't don't Don't say a 335 00:20:45,300 --> 00:20:46,800 word. No no no, no. 336 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:49,400 You miss please. Don't misunderstand me. 337 00:20:50,100 --> 00:20:52,100 I recognized government overreach. 338 00:20:52,500 --> 00:20:55,100 I can see it. I experience in our own State 339 00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:58,200 ice. I understand the same things 340 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,000 that you're seeing, the foundation of our country. 341 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,300 I was listening recently to a guy teaching, a were teaching a 342 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,800 what he called a Bible study but for 20 minutes he shared about 343 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,300 the government in the history of the government and all and I'm 344 00:21:10,300 --> 00:21:13,100 like, I started thinking, how's that message going to preach in 345 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:14,500 Thailand? How's it going? 346 00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:18,700 Reaching Ukraine, or how will the gospel, how will the word of 347 00:21:18,700 --> 00:21:20,400 God? Get into the hearts of people 348 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:24,200 and transform lives? That's what our pulpits need. 349 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:27,800 That's what we need to be doing. We need to be preaching the word 350 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,600 and the more, and more distractions, that come the more 351 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:32,900 and more opinions. That come the more and more 352 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:36,300 divisions come or more Temptations to get our eyes off 353 00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:40,000 the Lord. And what's needed is endurance, 354 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:44,000 this sense of lifting up and supporting that's what the word 355 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,300 endure me. Ins here, in verse 3 of second 356 00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:49,500 Timothy the lifting up and supporting of the teaching of 357 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:52,600 God's word and receiving it. And so we spent a lot of time 358 00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:56,600 With our staff yesterday in our team. 359 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:00,700 The just be reminded we can't get caught up in all the 360 00:22:00,700 --> 00:22:02,900 confusion. We've got to lead people to the 361 00:22:02,900 --> 00:22:07,400 one thing that always matters. The gospel that Jesus Christ was 362 00:22:07,700 --> 00:22:13,000 lived died and rose again. And I want to acknowledge that. 363 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:17,900 I know it's hard right now. And I know it's difficult and I 364 00:22:17,908 --> 00:22:21,200 know it's challenging for you. It's challenging for all of us. 365 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,900 And I know that people are leaving your church, people are 366 00:22:23,900 --> 00:22:28,400 mad. There are other churches in town 367 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:33,400 that seemed to have a larger draw, because they might be 368 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:38,000 preaching a different message or taking a different approach, but 369 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,000 be fully convinced in your own mind. 370 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:44,400 As the Holy Spirit, leads you to preach the word. 371 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:50,000 Be In season and out of season, convince rebuke, exhort with all 372 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,500 long-suffering, and teaching. And just for those, that that 373 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:58,800 have stuck with me to the end that May think that, I don't 374 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,200 love our country. I do, I love this country. 375 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,300 I love the freedoms that we have. 376 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,700 I'm grateful for the men and women that have gone before us 377 00:23:07,700 --> 00:23:10,200 and laid their lives down for the very freedoms. 378 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:14,900 I'm not anti Freedom at all. I believe that we are to 379 00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:18,500 participate in our government. I believe that we are to be 380 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:22,900 Godly men and women, living out our lives, within the construct 381 00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:27,000 of our country and that where to vote our Biblical conscience. 382 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,600 And we're Vote for, you know, remember Jesus is not on the 383 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,400 ballot. So we can't vote for Perfection 384 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,900 and righteousness. We're voting for sinfully flawed 385 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:42,700 men, and we need to cast that vote with a clean conscience 386 00:23:42,700 --> 00:23:46,600 before the Lord, for the issues and the things that are going to 387 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:48,300 affect our kids and our grandkids, and our 388 00:23:48,300 --> 00:23:50,200 great-grandkids, I believe in that. 389 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:55,600 But my calling, as a pastor, Shepherd is to lead you to the 390 00:23:55,600 --> 00:24:01,000 one who will lead you. The Holy Spirit, I believe, God, 391 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,300 is yours. I believe Jesus is the chief 392 00:24:03,300 --> 00:24:06,700 Shepherd. And the best thing I can do is 393 00:24:06,700 --> 00:24:09,500 lead you to the shepherd, not encourage distraction. 394 00:24:09,500 --> 00:24:11,400 I'm not going to encourage distraction in you. 395 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,400 I'm not going to encourage you to get excited about things. 396 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,100 That don't matter. That won't last forever. 397 00:24:17,700 --> 00:24:19,900 I want you to be excited about the things of God. 398 00:24:19,900 --> 00:24:21,900 I want you to be talking about the things of God. 399 00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:24,800 I want you to be living out. The things of God, I want us to 400 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:28,400 come together and worship so that we can leave And affect our 401 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:33,400 culture in our community. And and so it's important to 402 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,700 remember our influence. It's important to remember on 403 00:24:36,700 --> 00:24:40,600 this special edition of the podcast that we do have 404 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,000 influence. We're not spies, we're not, 405 00:24:43,900 --> 00:24:48,400 we're not that, we're not the some of the title of our role 406 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,600 within the body. We are leaders communicating and 407 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,400 established word. God's word is fixed. 408 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:00,300 God's promise. Cesare sure and yeah governments 409 00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:04,700 come and go oppression comes and goes difficulties, come and go 410 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:06,600 and we will stand up for what is right? 411 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,200 And we will stand up for what is good and we will stand up for 412 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:13,400 what is Holy and we will stand up for what God has given, but 413 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:16,200 we will preach the word and we will teach the word and we will 414 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,700 convince. And so today, if you're a leader 415 00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:22,800 in God's church and you're tired, and you're weary and it's 416 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,900 hard, I'm sorry, it is. I'm sorry that you're tired and 417 00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:30,400 weary We're all little bit under the pressure of what's going. 418 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,800 But as you prepare for what God has given to you keep keep yours 419 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,500 eyes on. Keep your eyes on the Lord and 420 00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:40,300 also Point others to the Lord, and we'll get through this 421 00:25:40,300 --> 00:25:43,100 together and the Lord will strengthen us. 422 00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:48,300 And even if we have to die to ourselves, you mean it's it's 423 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,600 let's do it. Let's be patient with one 424 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,800 another, let's show preference to one another and let's 425 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,500 continue to go down in unit, in humility, right? 426 00:25:59,500 --> 00:26:05,600 Jesus said the greatest in God's Kingdom. so, servant of all So, 427 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,700 I'd love to hear from you. Contact me through the website, 428 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:12,300 Ed, Taylor, dot-org, Ed Taylor dot-org. 429 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,800 You can contact me through there through my social media Outlets, 430 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,200 communicate with me directly, email me, Ed Ed, Ed, Taylor 431 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:21,600 dot-org. I love to hear from. 432 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:25,000 You agree disagree, add subtract. 433 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,700 I love to hear that the Lord is doing in your life know that 434 00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:31,500 we're praying for you. We're encouraged by you and I 435 00:26:31,500 --> 00:26:34,900 hope this little time was a strength and encouragement for 436 00:26:34,900 --> 00:26:36,000 you. Bless you guys. 437 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,400 Thank you for joining us for this episode of lead, to serve 438 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,700 with Pastor Ed, Taylor, a leadership podcast from Calvary 439 00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:45,000 Church in Aurora. Colorado, if you have a 440 00:26:45,008 --> 00:26:47,900 leadership question, you want to hear answered on a future lead 441 00:26:47,900 --> 00:26:51,800 to serve podcast, please email it to Pastor Ed at Calvary Co 442 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,900 dot church and if you like our podcast Please Subscribe rate or 443 00:26:55,900 --> 00:26:58,900 review us on iTunes and share us with your friends on social 444 00:26:58,900 --> 00:27:01,200 media. Thanks again for joining us and 445 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,000 we'll see you next time right here on the lead to serve 446 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:04,800 podcast.