1 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,300 Good morning. How are you surviving? 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:10,200 Amen. Hardly my voice is hardly 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,800 surviving and so I asked to be patient with me. 4 00:00:15,700 --> 00:00:20,400 I might not be as dynamic as I would like to be gonna hope that 5 00:00:21,300 --> 00:00:24,600 entrusted. The holy spirit will use this 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,800 weakness for his glory. Let's pray one more time. 7 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:33,000 I'd rather pray, the let's pray, one more time and ask and invoke 8 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,800 the holy spirit's help though. We thank you this morning that 9 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,700 you have sustained us in our sleep and Lord that you have 10 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,200 awoken us for another day, a day to experience your mercies. 11 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:49,300 And then we thank you for the mercies that are known in the 12 00:00:49,300 --> 00:00:52,400 truth being provided to us. Thank you. 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,400 That at our disposal, we have the fullness of your Revelation. 14 00:00:56,900 --> 00:01:00,500 All that we You know, concerning you and what you desire from us, 15 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:05,600 is right before us Lord. We borrow the words of the 16 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:06,900 Apostle. Paul. 17 00:01:08,300 --> 00:01:11,700 And boasting in our weakness. We can do so because in our 18 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:16,700 weakness is your power made known and Perfection and so let 19 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:20,400 that power be known in the delivery of this message in the 20 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:24,800 reception of this message. Lord continue to guide us 21 00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:29,300 through this series on Deception that we may be at people of 22 00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:32,300 Truth. People confident that we are in 23 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:35,000 the light. This is our request Lord in 24 00:01:35,008 --> 00:01:36,600 Jesus name. Amen. 25 00:01:38,900 --> 00:01:42,600 We live in a cruel world, Jesus prophesied that it's only going 26 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,800 to get more cruel. I can't think of anything more 27 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:52,400 cruel than being deceived and being told something with the 28 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,200 preface that it is true with the veneer that it is legitimate 29 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,700 only for it to be false and not just false with a neutral 30 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:03,800 consequence. But false, with the intention of 31 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:08,800 destroying you and me. And I hope you feel the gravity 32 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,500 of the warnings in the New Testament about the dangers of 33 00:02:11,500 --> 00:02:14,200 deception because it is multifaceted. 34 00:02:14,700 --> 00:02:22,300 In other words, deception is all around us and it is so near that 35 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:27,300 it is in US. In other words, if you consider 36 00:02:27,300 --> 00:02:31,900 where Deception comes from, is should in a holy way, frighten 37 00:02:31,900 --> 00:02:35,700 us. Because scripture says that the 38 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:43,300 very thing that is in your heart is incredibly deceptive. 39 00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:46,900 In other words, never mind. Deceiving, people never mind 40 00:02:46,900 --> 00:02:49,900 Satan, right? Who is in Revelation known as 41 00:02:49,900 --> 00:02:56,500 The Deceiver of the nation's if you were left to yourself on an 42 00:02:56,500 --> 00:03:00,400 island with no one else, you would still be susceptible to 43 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:06,700 deception consider that If you were just left on your own, you 44 00:03:06,700 --> 00:03:09,800 can still fall prey to deception. 45 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:16,000 And so if my heart can deceive me and there are ambassadors of 46 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:21,000 Satan who want to deceive me and if there is Satan himself, who 47 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,300 wants to deceive me? Where's my hope? 48 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,400 I can't look in. I can't look out and even if I 49 00:03:27,408 --> 00:03:31,000 want to look at a different realm, there is a whole realm 50 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,600 invisible realm, that hates me because I'm creating the image 51 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,500 of God. The only hope is God himself. 52 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:42,000 The only hope is to look up and to see how we can be protected 53 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,900 from those around us and even from ourselves. 54 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,900 And so I draw your attention to one verse one, verse in 55 00:03:48,900 --> 00:03:55,400 Galatians 6, verse 3, as we continue our series on The 56 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,000 Bible's warnings to Christians about how they can be deceived. 57 00:03:59,700 --> 00:04:03,500 Galatians 6, verse, 31 verse and I want to show you by reading 58 00:04:03,500 --> 00:04:08,400 this verse how important it is to consider the context so that 59 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,100 we can know the full meaning of a text. 60 00:04:10,100 --> 00:04:12,800 Or any statement found in the Bible, one of the greatest 61 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,700 dangers that you and I can do in our relationship with the word 62 00:04:15,700 --> 00:04:19,700 is take a single verse and created Doctrine out of it. 63 00:04:19,899 --> 00:04:22,400 That's how Cults are started, right? 64 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:29,900 Galatians 6, 3 reads for if anyone Thinks he is something. 65 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:37,000 When he is nothing, he deceives himself. 66 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:42,700 If anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, 67 00:04:43,300 --> 00:04:48,200 he deceives himself. Now I'm sure you can imagine 68 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,600 that. If you pluck this verse up and 69 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,300 hold it in the air without considering its roots, it can 70 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:58,800 mean a thousand things. And that is why you and I have 71 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,100 to understand the context to see exactly what this means and when 72 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:06,200 you just read the verses before you will have a laser precise 73 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,400 Clarity of what this statement is trying to teach us about 74 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:15,200 deception in a particular way. So, look at verse 1, Paul writes 75 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:20,100 to this church Brothers. If anyone is caught in any 76 00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:24,600 transgression, you who are spiritual, should restore him in 77 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:28,600 a spirit of gentleness, keep watch on yourself. 78 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,900 Less you to be tempted. Bear one another's burdens and 79 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:37,100 so fulfill the law of Christ for if anyone thinks he is 80 00:05:37,100 --> 00:05:42,400 something, when he is nothing he deceives himself. 81 00:05:43,900 --> 00:05:47,700 This snapshot of the Bible gives us some kind of preparation of 82 00:05:47,707 --> 00:05:48,700 what we're going to hear tonight. 83 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:52,900 Because what we're going to hear tonight is how you and I can 84 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:57,600 discern between true spirituality and empty religion. 85 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:03,700 That's an important thing to get clarity on and I wonder how 86 00:06:03,700 --> 00:06:07,500 surprised some will be. When we see the standard that 87 00:06:07,500 --> 00:06:12,200 God has the emphases that God has on what true spirituality 88 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:16,300 looks like you might be shocked because because it's actually 89 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:20,300 much more simple and achievable than what our own imaginations 90 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:23,700 have conjured up. Like if I say spiritual 91 00:06:23,700 --> 00:06:26,100 Christian, what comes to mind, right? 92 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:27,700 Well, what does that person look like? 93 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:29,700 What how does that person live? Is he a Hermit? 94 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,200 Does he wear certain things easy sound in a certain way? 95 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,500 Maybe to an extent. But when you see what the Lord 96 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:43,000 demands of us, in our pursuit of spiritual health, Holiness and 97 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,500 godliness, you will actually be more encouraged and discouraged. 98 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:52,400 And we get a glimpse of that, we get a little peek into what true 99 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,700 spirituality looks like. And it will be a sigh of relief 100 00:06:56,700 --> 00:06:59,400 because it's not in your ability to or eight. 101 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,500 The scriptures is not your ability to win thousands of 102 00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:06,100 souls or pack out stadiums. It's right here in verse 1. 103 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,500 Going to be any more clear Brothers. 104 00:07:09,500 --> 00:07:13,200 If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are 105 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:18,000 spiritual So he's calling out the spiritual, it's possible to 106 00:07:18,008 --> 00:07:20,400 be a spiritual Christian. It's possible to be a carnal 107 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,400 Christian and Paul says, I'm addressing the spiritual in the 108 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,500 churches of galatia, you who are spiritual, what is a spiritual 109 00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:32,300 person? Do they feel the call and then 110 00:07:32,300 --> 00:07:36,300 necessity? To participate in the ministry 111 00:07:36,300 --> 00:07:40,000 of restoration. That's what a true spiritual man 112 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,100 does. That's what a Godly woman. 113 00:07:42,100 --> 00:07:47,900 Does they feel and act upon the need to look at a brother or 114 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:52,900 sister who has fallen into sin and then to make whatever effort 115 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:55,700 is necessary to pick them back up. 116 00:07:57,100 --> 00:07:59,700 Is that what you think? A true spiritual person is. 117 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,800 I don't think Paul is speaking about being gentle and 118 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,100 tolerating about those who are deliberately stubborn and 119 00:08:07,100 --> 00:08:10,500 persist in Disobedience. Jesus tells us what we do with a 120 00:08:10,508 --> 00:08:12,700 person who claims to be a Christian and does Isis treat 121 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:15,800 him like a gentile treat him like a tax collector. 122 00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:18,200 They want to persist in their sin and don't repent. 123 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:22,300 Then there is a different measure but the word that Paul 124 00:08:22,300 --> 00:08:27,100 uses here is caught, is it not if anyone is caught and the idea 125 00:08:27,100 --> 00:08:31,500 there is somebody who Has suddenly fallen into 126 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:34,100 transgression. Somebody who was captivated by 127 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:37,299 specific sin, in a way that they did not think would happen to 128 00:08:37,299 --> 00:08:39,299 them. It wasn't some premeditated 129 00:08:39,299 --> 00:08:41,299 thing. It was something that almost 130 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:45,200 caught them by surprise and what the holy spirit is saying is 131 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:50,400 those who are spiritual. Look at somebody like that who 132 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,300 has a heart for God, who is soft towards the Lord, but something 133 00:08:53,300 --> 00:08:55,200 happened, something sway them away. 134 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,000 And all for a sudden, they got into something that they know, 135 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:00,900 Grieves, the holy Spirit. And they know ruins their 136 00:09:00,900 --> 00:09:06,000 testimony and the spiritual. Listen to this compassionately 137 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:11,300 deals with them. And sees it as a great priority 138 00:09:11,300 --> 00:09:16,000 to bring them back to a true and sincere walk with the Lord. 139 00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:21,600 That's amazing here, because when he says, you who are 140 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:25,600 spiritual, should restore that word restore is precious, it's 141 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:29,500 the very same word that is used. And when Jesus walked on the 142 00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:32,600 shores of Galilee, and he saw these two brothers James, and 143 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,300 John, they were what we're told and Mark, they were mending. 144 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:40,800 The fishing nets. And when Jesus saw them in the 145 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,500 holy spirit says, they were mending their Nets. 146 00:09:42,500 --> 00:09:48,000 He says follow me. The same word for Mend to repair 147 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:51,200 is the same word as restore here in Galatians. 148 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,600 And I Think Jesus saw something in those brothers that he longed 149 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:00,200 to develop in a spiritual way, the wisdom, and the patience, 150 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:04,800 and the care that is required to fix something in the physical, 151 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:07,900 is what the Lord wants to develop in his disciples. 152 00:10:07,900 --> 00:10:11,300 As we are each call to handle people's hearts. 153 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:15,200 So, he's not just looking for because you and I think. 154 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,000 Oh, yeah. Spiritual person is someone who 155 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,800 fishes for Souls true. But don't forget that he 156 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,400 highlights. The fact that a spiritual person 157 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:26,500 is someone also men's them. And nurtures them and cares for 158 00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:31,700 them and through their words and their counsel and love puts a 159 00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:35,900 bomb on their wound and brings him back to a place of strength. 160 00:10:37,100 --> 00:10:41,500 In the Lord says you who are spiritual if you really want to 161 00:10:41,500 --> 00:10:44,300 determine somebody spirituality, more importantly, if you really 162 00:10:44,300 --> 00:10:47,700 want to evaluate your own spirituality, ask and answer 163 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:52,300 this question this morning. What am I compelled to do? 164 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:56,600 When I learn of a Christian that I know who has failed? 165 00:10:58,500 --> 00:11:03,200 What's my reaction? What do I feel in my soul? 166 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:08,500 Shun them. Shunned them, reject them. 167 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:14,200 Or how about may be participating in an apparent? 168 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,300 Restoration when you just really want juicy details about the 169 00:11:18,300 --> 00:11:24,100 situation. how about spreading it to some people because for 170 00:11:24,100 --> 00:11:27,400 some reason of some exhilaration and being the person who has the 171 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:32,600 latest in the newest about somebody else, The spiritual. 172 00:11:35,500 --> 00:11:37,900 Their hearts are moved to say. What can I do? 173 00:11:37,900 --> 00:11:41,200 Man to pick you up. Yeah, I heard about it. 174 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:45,000 I saw it. What do you need for me to help 175 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,200 you? I'm here for you. 176 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:53,500 That's a spiritual person. And we see that Paul is 177 00:11:53,500 --> 00:11:58,600 addressing this people. and then he expands his instruction and 178 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,400 verse to, look what he says in verse to Bear one another's 179 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:06,200 burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ Remember the Stone 180 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,000 Connection, the verse 1. What does this true spiritual 181 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,800 Christian look like? Well, they bear burdens so there 182 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,500 are better able to identify the things that are weighing other 183 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:19,600 Christians down, and that could be anything from a Temptation 184 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:23,100 that was not lying at them. That can't be easily shaken off 185 00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:25,000 to a trial as we heard yesterday. 186 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,800 That seems to just drain them from any encouragement. 187 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:33,400 And then, once you identify that you and your heart through your 188 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,500 fellowship, through your, your counsel, whatever it is to say, 189 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:40,900 how can I make this lighter? How can I make this lighter? 190 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,400 You see how simple spirituality is, you see how wonderfully 191 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,500 achievable it is? Do you see what the Lord looks 192 00:12:47,500 --> 00:12:52,000 for for his people to be able to see burdens practical burdens 193 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:56,800 spiritual burdens and say, how can I make this a little 194 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,400 lighter? How can I be able to infuse in 195 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,500 you, some strength, to be able to continue to carry this cross? 196 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:09,300 With this background in mind, we have a clear vision of what Paul 197 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:13,900 means in verse 3. If anyone Thinks he is 198 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:16,500 something. When he is nothing. 199 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:22,700 He deceives himself, pay attention, Shake It Off. he says 200 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:26,400 here, if anyone thinks he is something meaning, if anyone 201 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:33,900 thinks he is spiritual When he is nothing. meaning, when he 202 00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:37,600 does not see the importance of lovingly, restoring, a fallen 203 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:42,400 brother or consistently being around and for believers to help 204 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:48,600 them carry their burdens, you're deceived, That's what he say. 205 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,700 You think you're something in your spirituality but you're 206 00:13:52,700 --> 00:13:56,200 actually nothing because you don't see the you don't see the 207 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,200 need to care for a fallen brother or help their burdens be 208 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,700 a little lighter. Then in reality, you're deceived 209 00:14:02,700 --> 00:14:07,600 about your own spirituality. Now, that that's not going to 210 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,100 mean much to the person who was not even saved. 211 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,300 I'm not speaking to those who are not say this morning, but to 212 00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:15,200 those who have a desire for Holiness, keep in mind, the 213 00:14:15,208 --> 00:14:17,000 direction of the Lord is pointing us into. 214 00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:21,000 And our lord. Jesus provides a perfect example 215 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:25,600 of one of his teachings. When he brings up what a false 216 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,400 righteousness. Looks like when he teaches about 217 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,200 the Pharisee and the tax collector, who go into the 218 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,600 temple to pray and he says, you don't have to turn there but he 219 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,100 says this and preparation to teach on that. 220 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,700 He says in Luke 18:9, if you're taking notes for references, he 221 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:45,400 also told this Parable to some who trusted in themselves that 222 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,500 they were righteous who trusted that they were. 223 00:14:48,700 --> 00:14:52,800 Reaches, but listen and treated others with contempt. 224 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,900 Here's how you know that your righteousness is illegitimate. 225 00:14:57,900 --> 00:15:00,400 I'm not talking about your positional righteousness because 226 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,400 of what Jesus has done. I'm talking about your 227 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:06,200 practical, righteousness, in the name of Jesus, is your 228 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,000 righteousness. If it is coexisting with 229 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:15,400 contempt, for others is futile. It's flawed, it's empty. 230 00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:21,000 Especially if your contempt is for those who are supposedly 231 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:26,100 weaker spiritually, like a tax collector in this context. 232 00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:29,500 Could not even look to heaven but beat his own chest and says 233 00:15:29,500 --> 00:15:33,600 I'm not worthy have mercy on me. I think that's frightening. 234 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,100 I think it's training that you can actually and I can actually 235 00:15:36,100 --> 00:15:40,700 believe I am something. When in fact, I am nothing and 236 00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:43,900 one of the ways that you and I know that we are, nothing is how 237 00:15:43,900 --> 00:15:46,400 our righteousness our spirituality translates 238 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:50,300 impractical service to other people. and how we view other 239 00:15:50,300 --> 00:15:52,700 people, especially those who might not be on the same caliber 240 00:15:52,700 --> 00:15:57,900 of your theology or your Your practice. 241 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:03,100 I see the opposite and one of the Disciples of Jesus Christ. 242 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:07,300 I see the complete opposite attitude in a very subtle way. 243 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,300 With one of the Disciples of Jesus Christ, you remember, John 244 00:16:10,300 --> 00:16:13,900 the Beloved, who wrote that prize gospel, the Gospel of John 245 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,300 most Christians are familiar with how John addresses himself, 246 00:16:17,300 --> 00:16:21,200 how he in, humility veils, his identity in a very in a, very 247 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:22,900 special way throughout the gospel. 248 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,400 What does he say about? Ourself the disciple? 249 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:26,600 What? Whom? 250 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,100 Jesus loved. I love that. 251 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:30,300 People joke. Oh, look how John is speaking 252 00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:31,800 about us. I'm not a John, had this 253 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,500 confidence in the Heart of Jesus. 254 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,600 There's a love for me. Imagine living like that. 255 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,200 The reason why your soul fluctuating in your love for the 256 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,400 Lord is because you're focusing on your love for the Lord. 257 00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:47,900 If you just if you just focus on his love for you, you'll have a 258 00:16:48,500 --> 00:16:53,400 glorious motivation to continue to serve him the disciple, whom 259 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,500 Jesus, loved the disciple, whom Jesus loved it. 260 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:58,600 And I loved that because in humility, he doesn't want to 261 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,500 bring his identity to the spotlight especially with 262 00:17:02,500 --> 00:17:06,000 associations of his success. I mean, as simple as him beating 263 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:09,000 Peter to the tomb The guy beat him. 264 00:17:09,599 --> 00:17:10,700 I'm not going to say to me though. 265 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:12,500 The disciple right whom Jesus loved. 266 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:17,000 Even go as far to say the other disciple the other disciple. 267 00:17:17,099 --> 00:17:19,900 You'll never see John referring to himself by name. 268 00:17:21,099 --> 00:17:23,599 He wants to put Christ there in the Forefront of the readers 269 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:25,700 mind. He wants to exalt Christ and so 270 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,000 he just tries to hide in the background. 271 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,300 He wants to be accurate. He wants to say that he was a 272 00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:32,600 witness, but he fails his identity. 273 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,700 He fails his good works. He fails the fact that he was 274 00:17:36,700 --> 00:17:39,000 the only one that stood before the cross. 275 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:41,100 When all the others scattered and went home. 276 00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:45,300 And yet, at the same time, I argue that there is one place 277 00:17:45,300 --> 00:17:48,200 where I believe John tries to make his identity a little bit 278 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:52,200 more clear. There is one place in the entire 279 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:56,500 Book of John. We gives a strong indication. 280 00:17:57,100 --> 00:18:01,600 He gives a greater clue that it is really him. 281 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,600 And it's in, it's in a place that you wouldn't suspect. 282 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:06,900 It's in a place that you wouldn't think. 283 00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:09,300 It's it wouldn't be in a place that you would put. 284 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,500 A greater emphasis on your identity. 285 00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:13,900 Would you like to know where it is? 286 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:19,700 Go to John 21. The last chapter and it's not 287 00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:20,900 just because it's the last chapter. 288 00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:32,900 It's because of what that last chapter teaches John 21 verse 1. 289 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:38,700 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples 290 00:18:38,700 --> 00:18:42,800 by the Sea of tiberias and he revealed himself in this way. 291 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:47,200 Simon Peter Thomas called the twin Nathanael of Cana in 292 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:54,300 Galilee the sons Of Zebedee. And two other disciples were 293 00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:57,300 together. Who are the sons of Zebedee? 294 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:02,900 James n John. And no other place in the Gospel 295 00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:05,100 of John, will you see a reference to the sons of 296 00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:07,000 Zebedee? The only place where you'll see 297 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,300 the sons of Zebedee mentioned in John is here. 298 00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:16,700 Right here. And he says the sons of Zebedee 299 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,300 with the knowledge that those who read would have known who 300 00:19:20,300 --> 00:19:25,300 the sons of Zebedee were You can have a wider speculation with 301 00:19:25,300 --> 00:19:28,900 the disciple whom Jesus loved, but if you knew whose ebony was, 302 00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:34,200 you knew who his sons were. And what I find so hard stirring 303 00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:36,500 is that John and the Holy Spirit. 304 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:41,400 Obviously, let him and back this up John chooses to make the 305 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:45,000 strongest reference to himself at the lowest point in his walk 306 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:51,200 with the Lord, because in John 21 when Peter with his natural 307 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,900 leadership, abilities says, I'm going fishing are has a you're 308 00:19:54,900 --> 00:19:56,300 going, we're going, okay? Peter is going, we're going to 309 00:19:56,300 --> 00:20:02,000 go, he just had that magnetic pull and so they go back to do 310 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,100 what Jesus called them from. They went back fishing. 311 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,400 Now, fishing might not be a sin, in your eyes, but in their eyes. 312 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,300 This is what Jesus called them from to turn away from so that 313 00:20:11,300 --> 00:20:16,000 they can pursue fishing of men. And yet, at this low Point, not 314 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,300 knowing where to go next not knowing how to handle Of this 315 00:20:18,300 --> 00:20:21,100 whole Resurrection thing, Peter says, you know, I'm just gonna 316 00:20:21,100 --> 00:20:25,200 go back and some of the disciples follow including who 317 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:29,200 the sons of Zebedee. What do you learn from this? 318 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,500 What do you take from this? Here's what I take from it. 319 00:20:31,900 --> 00:20:33,900 Humility is not boasting in your failures. 320 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:35,500 I'm a sinner. I'm this. 321 00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:38,500 I'm a ratchet. And that's just an empty way of 322 00:20:38,500 --> 00:20:43,800 really boasting about your Righteousness, and some sense. 323 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:47,600 But spirituality humility is being conscious of our 324 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,200 weaknesses. And being mindful of how we are 325 00:20:51,300 --> 00:20:55,200 equally capable of falling into sin, just like anybody else. 326 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,000 So this the disciple whom Jesus loved. 327 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,100 In a more obvious way, wants to show. 328 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:05,400 Yeah, even me the same disciple who put his head on the bosom of 329 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,400 Jesus came to a place where I went back to what Jesus called 330 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:14,900 me from. And that's exactly what Paul is. 331 00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:17,300 Communicating back in Galatians when he says you who are 332 00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:21,100 spiritual restore him, who has been caught up in transgression, 333 00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:23,900 caught up in sent just keep watching your on yourself less 334 00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:27,200 you to be tempted. In other words every time you 335 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,500 face a brother or sister is fall into sin right there in that 336 00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:35,000 moment is a lesson for you that you are able to fall in the very 337 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:39,900 same sin that this brother is being disciplined for So it's a 338 00:21:39,908 --> 00:21:42,700 call to humility. It's a call to reality of what 339 00:21:42,700 --> 00:21:46,900 we are capable of. And when you walk with that, 340 00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:50,500 Revelation, that that is what opens up. 341 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,900 Your arms to be more loving and more accepting and more patient 342 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:57,700 with those who actually fall. Even if they fall before you. 343 00:21:59,300 --> 00:22:02,700 And I want to say this, that if you feel like you're in that 344 00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:04,800 place, and I'm not saying this is about everybody, but this is 345 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,400 a particular mindset. There are some people who in 346 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:12,100 their spirituality cannot find themselves to relate to those 347 00:22:12,100 --> 00:22:14,400 who are weaker than them, kind of find themselves, 348 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:17,300 fellowshipping with those who might not have an astute or 349 00:22:17,300 --> 00:22:19,800 accurate. Understanding of systematic 350 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,900 theology, or who may not seem to be interested in the things of 351 00:22:22,900 --> 00:22:25,600 God with greater depth, like you, whatever the case may be, 352 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,600 you have people pulled themselves away from common 353 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:29,700 Folk. Christian's. 354 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:32,000 So to speak. Not talking about carnal 355 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,100 Christians and about Christians who don't grow as fast as you 356 00:22:35,100 --> 00:22:37,500 might have grown. And here's my question, what's 357 00:22:37,500 --> 00:22:40,400 the point of your strength? If that's you in this place? 358 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,200 Let me ask you this question. What's the point of the 359 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,100 spiritual muscles that you've developed over the years and 360 00:22:46,100 --> 00:22:48,500 maybe quicker than other people in your life? 361 00:22:49,700 --> 00:22:52,200 Like my dad used to say to me and my brothers whenever we 362 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,200 would help him with some physical work, whether at his 363 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:56,100 work right at home, you'd always jokingly say. 364 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:58,000 All right, let's see what your gym time. 365 00:22:58,100 --> 00:22:59,600 Has brought you, come on. You can't lift it. 366 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,200 You're tired already. He's like you don't have to go 367 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:03,400 pay for the membership just come here. 368 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:04,900 You can do it for free. I won't charge you. 369 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,200 And that's the same for Spiritual strength. 370 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:10,900 What's the point of your spiritual strength? 371 00:23:11,300 --> 00:23:12,900 What's the point of reading? All those books? 372 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:14,500 What's the point of listening to all those sermons? 373 00:23:14,700 --> 00:23:16,700 What's the point of memorizing? What's the point with 374 00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:18,200 evangelizing on the streets when nobody else? 375 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,500 Evangelized what's the point? What's the point? 376 00:23:21,900 --> 00:23:26,200 Here's what Paul says, in Romans 15 one we I love that was Paul 377 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,700 proud. No he but he says we who are 378 00:23:29,700 --> 00:23:31,200 strong. We including me. 379 00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:33,500 It's not, it's not an arrogant thing to be aware of your 380 00:23:33,500 --> 00:23:37,000 spiritual strength. We who are strong have an 381 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,600 obligation to bear with the failings of the week. 382 00:23:43,100 --> 00:23:47,600 And not please ourselves. So if you feel like you have 383 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:54,300 this unusual, Insight unusual connection with the Lord. 384 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,200 If you distance yourself from a local church because they don't 385 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,300 seem to be as strong as you. Even if you think that you have 386 00:24:02,300 --> 00:24:04,900 more insight than the pastor who preaches every single week, if 387 00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:07,600 you feel like you have more depth in the scriptures and you 388 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,300 remove yourself from the local church, you're no different than 389 00:24:10,300 --> 00:24:13,900 the Pharisee. Paul says, if you're truly 390 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:17,100 strong, you're drawn to those who are weak and you want to 391 00:24:17,100 --> 00:24:20,300 Bear their weaknesses, you want to lift them up, you want to 392 00:24:20,300 --> 00:24:22,700 inspire them, you want to be in their presence. 393 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,100 You want to encourage them, don't walk in there, arrogantly. 394 00:24:25,500 --> 00:24:27,000 Hey, Paul said we are a strong I'm strong. 395 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:28,800 I'm here to help don't do that, please. 396 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,300 What come with humility come with like John like attitude 397 00:24:33,300 --> 00:24:36,200 aware of your own weaknesses despite how how much your head 398 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:42,300 is filled. And bear the failings of the 399 00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:46,000 week. Paul is saying here and this 400 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:47,900 message is going to be too too long. 401 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,700 What Paul is saying here in Galatians goes beyond what we 402 00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:53,800 just heard and we're going to elaborate more on what true 403 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,300 spirituality is tonight. There is another dimension to 404 00:24:57,300 --> 00:25:00,000 the deception and verse 3 that is more subtle than what I just 405 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,500 said. And this is where I think more 406 00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:07,900 of you can relate. If we're honest listen, we can 407 00:25:07,900 --> 00:25:11,100 be deceived about being in the will of God. 408 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:17,900 Now only by refusing to extend Grace, your presence, your help 409 00:25:17,900 --> 00:25:21,100 to a fallen brother or two people around you. 410 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:28,800 But by also refusing to receive. The help. 411 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,000 By those that God has called to minister to you. 412 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:40,600 By failing to receive. When do I get that? 413 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:45,200 Thought from back in verse to Bear one another's burdens. 414 00:25:45,300 --> 00:25:49,200 In other words, every single one of us have burdens, no 415 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:53,000 exception, we all have them and some days are lighter than 416 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,800 others, but each of us have challenges each of us. 417 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:57,400 Faced persecution in different ways. 418 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,800 Each of us have our own private Wars as Saints. 419 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:06,400 Paul says, you're not called to carry those alone, you're not 420 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:10,400 called to walk this thing alone. So you see the deception is to 421 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,300 part one the refusal because of a sense of superiority. 422 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,200 To come to other people because of self-importance. 423 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:24,400 I'm, I'm too busy. I'm too concerned, I have too 424 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,600 much going on in my life, to meddle in your Affairs. 425 00:26:28,300 --> 00:26:32,100 Paul says, you think you're something when you're actually 426 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:37,600 nothing and you're deceived. But secondly, the deception can 427 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:42,600 also be known. In self-reliance, not 428 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:46,300 self-importance. And so you distance yourself 429 00:26:46,900 --> 00:26:52,100 because you believe that you yourself walking solo on the 430 00:26:52,100 --> 00:26:55,800 narrow path is possible without consequences. 431 00:26:57,700 --> 00:27:01,300 So here's who I'm addressing this, this message to listen 432 00:27:01,300 --> 00:27:04,500 very carefully because I know the people who are part of 433 00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:07,900 Maranatha Bible Church who are here And there are a lot of new 434 00:27:07,900 --> 00:27:09,500 faces. I don't know you. 435 00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:11,500 I don't know where you're from. I don't know where you're coming 436 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:12,800 from. I know that you're here. 437 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,900 So I want to say to those who constantly feel and fall into 438 00:27:18,900 --> 00:27:23,200 the temptation of isolating yourself from other believers 439 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:29,000 and who walk long stretches of time without meaningful 440 00:27:29,100 --> 00:27:33,400 intentional and accountable interaction with serious 441 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,100 Disciples of Jesus Christ. This is for you. 442 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,000 So, I'm speaking to those who are not committed members of a 443 00:27:40,008 --> 00:27:44,500 local church. Who have not communicated a 444 00:27:44,500 --> 00:27:49,900 covenant with a local assembly to say, I'm here to be 445 00:27:49,900 --> 00:27:54,800 accountable and I am here to offer accountability with this 446 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:59,300 pocket of God's people, in his Grand Kingdom across the globe, 447 00:27:59,300 --> 00:28:02,200 as speaking of those people. I'm also speaking to those who 448 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,300 might have, who might have quieted their conscience by 449 00:28:05,300 --> 00:28:10,500 becoming a member, but your membership is not seen in 450 00:28:10,500 --> 00:28:13,300 practicality, so you, Come to the service. 451 00:28:13,300 --> 00:28:18,200 Barely barely but there is no sense of your presence in an 452 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,900 intentional Fellowship, that is provided either by the church or 453 00:28:21,900 --> 00:28:24,300 with Saints outside of the walls. 454 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:30,600 I'm speaking to those who when they do feel an overwhelming 455 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:34,700 burden, they don't, they don't stay with the Saints. 456 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:38,000 They remove themselves from the Saints because of one either 457 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:42,200 shame or two because of this weird notion, I don't want to 458 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,000 put my burden on people who already have battles to face 459 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,700 themselves. Let me, let me tell you this, if 460 00:28:48,700 --> 00:28:53,500 you are there that kind of train of thought is laced with 461 00:28:53,500 --> 00:28:58,700 self-deception laced with it. Now I'm not speaking to those 462 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,400 who are having difficulty finding a local church because 463 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,000 they want to obey the scriptures and they want to find 464 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,400 God-fearing elders and God-fearing people. 465 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:09,300 I know that that is that is something I've heard from across 466 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,900 America with emails and messages, where can I find if 467 00:29:12,900 --> 00:29:15,700 I'm not speaking to you? I'm speaking to those who are 468 00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:20,900 actually Comfortable. With at best in your mind doing 469 00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:26,000 Church online. This is what Paul would say to 470 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:27,000 you. You ready? 471 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:29,900 If he knew this this what he would say to you, you think 472 00:29:29,900 --> 00:29:33,000 you're something when you're actually nothing. 473 00:29:34,100 --> 00:29:36,200 And you're deceived. You disappear? 474 00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:42,600 If you wholeheartedly believe in, this is even for people who 475 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,300 have who might have some association with our local 476 00:29:45,300 --> 00:29:50,500 church by name only, but it's not real. what I mean is, if you 477 00:29:50,500 --> 00:29:55,400 wholeheartedly believe that you are perfectly fine, Without 478 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:59,000 having a community of godly people that you engage with. 479 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:05,200 The know that you are in danger, my prayer is not for you to do 480 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:09,900 anything more than leave this place with a personal plan, like 481 00:30:09,900 --> 00:30:13,900 what changes do I need to make? What do I need to do to ensure 482 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:16,500 myself that I can escape this deception? 483 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:21,500 That does not show the severe consequences immediately? 484 00:30:23,300 --> 00:30:27,500 How can I make myself by the will of God convinced that I 485 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:31,900 need? I need godly people in my life. 486 00:30:31,900 --> 00:30:35,500 Deception is like sin and I'll tell you how deception is not 487 00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:39,600 satisfied with keeping you at one level of deception sin is 488 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:41,700 not like you can't be like I'm going to sin and I'm going to 489 00:30:41,708 --> 00:30:44,300 stay right here. I'm just going to keep to this 490 00:30:44,300 --> 00:30:47,800 sin and I'm going to manage the consequence in never works 491 00:30:48,300 --> 00:30:50,300 deception. Just like sin will always seek 492 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:55,400 to pull you deeper. And just like sin that opens 493 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:58,700 ways for nuisance deception. When you believe one false thing 494 00:30:58,700 --> 00:31:02,000 leads you to believe sequential false things. 495 00:31:02,900 --> 00:31:06,000 And so Satan is extremely clever. 496 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:10,700 Because before he can get you to be deceived about this thing, he 497 00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:12,700 gets you to be deceived about this thing. 498 00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:17,100 He's very, very clever that people who, like, talk down to 499 00:31:17,100 --> 00:31:19,100 Satan, that's actually anti-biblical. 500 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:20,900 That's anti-biblical. Michael. 501 00:31:20,900 --> 00:31:23,400 The Archangel himself would not, even dare rebuke Satan. 502 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:26,300 Directly. He said the Lord rebuke you all 503 00:31:26,300 --> 00:31:29,600 these people that run around and on platforms and they speak down 504 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:33,500 to Satan, even even Michael would not do that, it's very 505 00:31:33,500 --> 00:31:36,800 dangerous attitude, there is a level. 506 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:38,700 Let me say this and I hope you understand what I'm saying. 507 00:31:38,700 --> 00:31:41,400 A level of respect that we need to have. 508 00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:45,400 Even for evil spirits, not respect like I venerate, you 509 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:48,300 respect of the potential harm that they can bring about. 510 00:31:48,300 --> 00:31:49,100 Right. You've heard the term. 511 00:31:49,100 --> 00:31:51,100 Respect the ocean. My mom used to always say that 512 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:53,400 respect the ocean, don't just walk. 513 00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:55,700 Walk in there and play, you can be pulled in at any moment. 514 00:31:55,700 --> 00:31:59,200 So there should be that level of awareness and that's how Satan 515 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:03,000 Works before he can get you to be deceived about ABCDEF, 516 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,100 whatever he brings you to the first point and then he lets 517 00:32:06,100 --> 00:32:09,400 that deception do the work. It's almost like a leech that 518 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:11,700 just latches on to you and just give it a little time and I'll 519 00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:15,500 suck the life out of you. And here's how he does it with 520 00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:19,300 what I'm presenting to you today, because Satan is aware of 521 00:32:19,300 --> 00:32:21,500 the effectiveness of what I'm trying to tell you, more than 522 00:32:21,500 --> 00:32:24,200 most Believers are. So, let me present, you just one 523 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:26,200 thing which will be emphasized more on tomorrow when we're 524 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:29,300 going to learn about. Maybe five, six ways of being 525 00:32:29,300 --> 00:32:32,000 deceived proof. Look at Hebrews chapter 3, in 526 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,700 one verse in verse 13, very famous Passage. 527 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:50,400 Hebrews 3:13. Here's what the author says, but 528 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:55,100 exhort one another every day. As long as it is called today, 529 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:59,200 that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 530 00:33:00,100 --> 00:33:02,700 Deception is everywhere. In the New Testament, see here 531 00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:05,900 to see if you see there. Here's what he's saying, be 532 00:33:05,900 --> 00:33:09,700 careful. Sin can deceive you. 533 00:33:11,900 --> 00:33:14,000 And this will be discussed in further detail, but the spirit 534 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:15,600 of God through this verse shows us something. 535 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:18,500 So insightful. And that is this, that a 536 00:33:18,500 --> 00:33:22,400 particular protection against this heart from becoming 537 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:28,100 crystallized and numb, and deadened to my involvement with 538 00:33:28,100 --> 00:33:31,400 sin. Cannot be separated. 539 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:36,700 From abiding in an environment where I am experiencing 540 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,500 external, exhortation continually. 541 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:42,900 He could have said exalt yourself every day. 542 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:45,200 That's what people think that this is means. 543 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:48,800 Exhort yourself every day. He's not saying that exhort one 544 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:55,100 another every day because your heart and mine was designed to 545 00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:59,600 be in need for others, to continually in regularly, speak 546 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:02,700 to it. In order for it to remain soft 547 00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:08,300 and sensitive. if you don't believe that, you did what 548 00:34:08,300 --> 00:34:10,800 Galatians 6 3 that when you think, you think your something 549 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:14,800 when in fact you're nothing and you're deceived If you don't 550 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:18,400 think this is a real thing, you'd be amazed to know how many 551 00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:22,400 Facebook and Instagram evangelist and Prophets out 552 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:25,800 there have who are not connected and submitted to a local church. 553 00:34:29,500 --> 00:34:31,600 This is not being limited to having somebody. 554 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:34,300 Correct this every once in awhile, it's beyond that. 555 00:34:34,300 --> 00:34:36,400 It's being in the presence of people. 556 00:34:37,500 --> 00:34:40,600 Who have holy speech? It's being with those who sing 557 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:44,800 praises to God and you hear that over you, as you join them in 558 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:48,199 song, it's about conversations, you have with people about 559 00:34:48,199 --> 00:34:50,199 Jesus. It's about having that cup of 560 00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:53,699 coffee with a brother or sister Crossing that table, and you're 561 00:34:53,699 --> 00:34:55,699 hearing the testimonies of what's happening in their 562 00:34:55,699 --> 00:34:57,000 workplace. What's happening in their 563 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,400 marriage, what's happening with their children? 564 00:34:59,500 --> 00:35:02,900 And here, you are being encouraged and excited to remain 565 00:35:02,900 --> 00:35:05,700 on that faithful path of service because the same God, who is 566 00:35:05,700 --> 00:35:07,200 doing it in their lives, can do it in mind. 567 00:35:09,300 --> 00:35:13,500 It's having your heart exposed to Christ exalting exhortation 568 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:16,900 whether that's directly given to you one-on-one or being in an 569 00:35:16,900 --> 00:35:20,500 environment of people who cannot help out of the abundance of 570 00:35:20,500 --> 00:35:23,000 their hearts to give glory to God. 571 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:28,000 Satan knows the power of this. He knows him. 572 00:35:29,300 --> 00:35:32,700 And every time I read this verse or I quote, this verse I cannot 573 00:35:32,700 --> 00:35:36,300 help but bring up to myself and to others of the inside of how 574 00:35:36,300 --> 00:35:39,400 quickly our hearts can become deceived by sin. 575 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:46,600 Exhort one another, how often? Is that hyperbolic is that 576 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:50,700 poetic is that exaggeration? Or is that an Insight that tells 577 00:35:50,700 --> 00:35:55,000 you and me, that all the takes is 24 hours for your heart to 578 00:35:55,000 --> 00:36:00,400 become hardened by sin? Like all it takes is after this 579 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:05,200 weekend for you to get home and Monday night, be deceived by 580 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:08,500 sin. No matter what kind of 581 00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:10,800 preaching, no matter what kind of invitation, no matter what 582 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:14,600 kind of insight. We are in need of continual 583 00:36:15,100 --> 00:36:18,100 consistent, fellowship with people. 584 00:36:18,900 --> 00:36:21,100 And some would say, well, I am exhausted every single day. 585 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:26,000 My favorite preachers are on YouTube and it's working just 586 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:29,600 fine for me. Preaching is good, preaching is 587 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,800 important. But you know what's amazing? 588 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,600 This is for you, spiritual people, okay? 589 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:37,100 Here's what's amazing. Paul says that each one of us in 590 00:36:37,100 --> 00:36:41,100 1st Corinthians, 12:7 have been given a measure of the spirit 591 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:45,500 for what for the common good that each of us has been given a 592 00:36:45,500 --> 00:36:49,400 manifestation of the spirit for the common good. 593 00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:54,400 So here's what that saying God has not given you individually 594 00:36:55,100 --> 00:36:57,800 all that you can know about the spirit. 595 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:01,700 Got again, has designed it in such a way that if you want to 596 00:37:01,700 --> 00:37:05,300 know the manifold manifestation of the Holy Spirit, spiritual 597 00:37:05,300 --> 00:37:08,400 people, listen up, you love the Holy Spirit, right? 598 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:10,500 You love the manifestations of the spirit, right? 599 00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:12,300 You want to know more of the spirit, right? 600 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:15,400 Then you are dependent upon the spirit. 601 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,900 Who is deposited, unique manifestations in each believer. 602 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:24,600 what that means is, every time I step into the local assembly, 603 00:37:24,700 --> 00:37:28,300 every time I step in to a fellowship of Believers, what I 604 00:37:28,300 --> 00:37:32,800 can expect is that the Holy Spirit Will manifest in Sister, 605 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:36,800 Jenny and manifest through brother, Joe and manifests 606 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:42,800 through Sally and manifest through Doug And in that 607 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:46,100 environment, can I No Greater Heights of the experience of the 608 00:37:46,100 --> 00:37:49,700 spirit and God in his wisdom, made it in such a way that you 609 00:37:49,700 --> 00:37:52,600 could not know those manifestations if you do this 610 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:55,800 thing, so low. So are you get preaching on 611 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,000 YouTube? That's one manifestation of the 612 00:37:58,000 --> 00:37:59,600 spirit through the gift of speaking. 613 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:03,200 And even in that, you are limited through that screen 614 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:07,800 because Paul himself knew that I can only impart the fullness of 615 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,500 my gift when I come to you Romans. 616 00:38:11,300 --> 00:38:12,600 I don't want to just write to you. 617 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:16,100 I want to come to you because in this how many of you have known? 618 00:38:16,500 --> 00:38:19,400 I've heard this Brothers. We're blessed by the messages 619 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:21,200 online but there's difference when we're in person. 620 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:26,500 Well, yeah, that's biblical. And so Satan knows the full 621 00:38:26,500 --> 00:38:28,200 power of this. So what does he do? 622 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:35,000 Well, he deceives you from point A you're good, you're something. 623 00:38:36,100 --> 00:38:42,800 You can do this without others. You can make your commitment of 624 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:46,400 peppered thing. It can be stretched out. 625 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:49,600 It does not have to be constant. It does not have to be 626 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:51,800 committed. It does not have to be life on 627 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:54,500 life. You are something. 628 00:38:56,000 --> 00:39:01,500 Oh yeah. Or how can you show up, you keep 629 00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:07,200 failing, you keep messing up. You're an embarrassment, you're 630 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:10,100 in shambles. You're going to be a burden the 631 00:39:10,100 --> 00:39:11,900 pastor's already busy with so much. 632 00:39:12,100 --> 00:39:13,300 What you think is going to help you. 633 00:39:13,900 --> 00:39:16,100 You've already talked to so many Christians about the issue. 634 00:39:16,100 --> 00:39:17,500 You think they want to hear the issue again. 635 00:39:17,500 --> 00:39:21,500 It's been eight months, man. Just keep to yourself. 636 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:23,400 Get better. And then go back. 637 00:39:25,200 --> 00:39:28,000 Okay. Yeah, that's true. 638 00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:33,200 And Satan is they're salivating at his mouth because he knows I 639 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:36,400 got him here just a little bit more time, until the 640 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:39,800 deceitfulness of sin will harden their hearts. 641 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:43,300 And I got him where I want him. You see how clever he is? 642 00:39:48,100 --> 00:39:50,000 Satan knows that we are social creatures. 643 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:52,600 Does he not? You know, that you're a social 644 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:55,100 creature. So if he can't convince you to 645 00:39:55,100 --> 00:39:57,900 do solo, you know what he'll convince people to do, he'll 646 00:39:57,900 --> 00:40:00,900 convince you to believe that. Any company is good company. 647 00:40:03,500 --> 00:40:09,200 First Corinthians 15:33, do not be deceived Bad Company 648 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:13,000 corrupts. Good morals. 649 00:40:14,300 --> 00:40:17,000 I wonder if I were to ask 10 people in this room, what Bad 650 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:20,500 Company looks like, what answers we would get. 651 00:40:21,500 --> 00:40:24,000 I think the general consensus unfortunate would be. 652 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:27,000 Yeah, Bad Company. Are those drug using gang 653 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:34,700 affiliating club dancing people? And that is part of it, but 654 00:40:34,700 --> 00:40:39,000 you'd be surprised to know what the Apostle Paul had in mind in 655 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,800 the category of Bad Company. And the only way you can know 656 00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:44,800 just like with our first verses when you see the context, what's 657 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:47,800 First Corinthians 15, all about? All you have to do is get an 658 00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:51,100 idea in verse 32, the verse right before, what do I gain if 659 00:40:51,100 --> 00:40:53,900 humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus. 660 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:57,300 He's not talking about literal animals, he's talking about what 661 00:40:57,300 --> 00:40:59,900 people are capable of when they have no conscience. 662 00:41:00,900 --> 00:41:02,900 When you dead in your conscience, you can become like 663 00:41:02,900 --> 00:41:05,300 an animal. And he says here, if I fought 664 00:41:05,300 --> 00:41:07,700 with the beat the beasts at Ephesus, if the dead are not 665 00:41:07,700 --> 00:41:09,700 raised, if the dead are not raised. 666 00:41:09,700 --> 00:41:12,600 In Believers are not resurrected, then why let us eat 667 00:41:12,600 --> 00:41:15,600 and drink for tomorrow? We die the whole chapter of 668 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:18,900 First Corinthians 15 is Paul teaching about the bodily 669 00:41:18,900 --> 00:41:22,000 resurrection of the believer. For some reason, these 670 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,600 Corinthians got duped into believing that as Believers in 671 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:28,800 Jesus Christ, we do not have this Resurrection thing. 672 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:34,200 It kind of stops at a certain point and Paul sought to correct 673 00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:35,900 that. And he gives the list of 674 00:41:35,900 --> 00:41:38,400 implications of not believing in that. 675 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:40,400 And how did the Corinthians come to this point? 676 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:43,800 Well, at some point, they begin to entertain the presence of 677 00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:47,700 those who taught, otherwise, Of people who came in and 678 00:41:47,700 --> 00:41:52,100 propagated the idea through philosophy through human wisdom. 679 00:41:52,100 --> 00:41:55,900 That it doesn't make sense for us to have bodily resurrection 680 00:41:55,900 --> 00:41:58,200 and for us to no life beyond this life. 681 00:41:58,900 --> 00:42:02,800 And here's the thing theology, whether it's good or bad cannot 682 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:05,700 be divorced and how it influences your behavior. 683 00:42:06,900 --> 00:42:09,100 That's why we get a straight in ourselves to the word of God, 684 00:42:09,100 --> 00:42:13,600 because something as as Grand, as eventful as the resurrection 685 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:17,700 of our bodies. Can have direct influence on the 686 00:42:17,700 --> 00:42:22,300 way you live day to day. Paul says it, if we don't 687 00:42:22,300 --> 00:42:24,300 believe this. Let's party. 688 00:42:25,400 --> 00:42:28,200 What is this all about? Let's just eat. 689 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,800 Let's just drink. Let's just do vacations all the 690 00:42:30,808 --> 00:42:32,600 time. Let's just make our lives about 691 00:42:32,600 --> 00:42:35,600 the food that we explore. Let's just do all of this stuff 692 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:38,300 and forget about it. Zero investment in the kingdom 693 00:42:38,300 --> 00:42:39,300 of God. No. 694 00:42:39,300 --> 00:42:42,400 Resurrection, no future reward. No future Kingdom. 695 00:42:42,500 --> 00:42:47,100 Let's just enjoy this life. And all of that stems from a 696 00:42:47,100 --> 00:42:50,000 group of people that influence the Corinthians to say, there is 697 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:56,000 no Resurrection. And that is the context in which 698 00:42:56,000 --> 00:43:00,500 Paul says Bad Company corrupts good behavior. 699 00:43:00,500 --> 00:43:03,800 Here's how you can worded do not be deceived. 700 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:06,400 You ready for this? This might shock you if you 701 00:43:06,400 --> 00:43:11,600 regularly entertain the company of those who live without a 702 00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:15,700 concrete belief in the resurrection, it could ruin you. 703 00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:19,000 I don't think the danger for the modern. 704 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:23,800 Christian is being allured by those who teach otherwise about 705 00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:26,100 the resurrection. I don't think that's the threat. 706 00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:30,000 I think the greater threat for the common believer today is to 707 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:33,800 associate with those who don't practically live out as though, 708 00:43:33,800 --> 00:43:37,000 the resurrection was real, huge difference? 709 00:43:37,900 --> 00:43:41,100 No. Have you heard the term 710 00:43:41,100 --> 00:43:45,200 practical atheism? That in theory and confession. 711 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:47,200 You believe there's a God but I'm practically you live as 712 00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:48,300 though. He doesn't exist. 713 00:43:48,700 --> 00:43:50,300 You can do that with the resurrection. 714 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:54,100 You can in theory in your statement of faith believe in 715 00:43:54,100 --> 00:43:56,500 the resurrection. But practically you don't 716 00:43:56,500 --> 00:44:00,400 believe with with view of the Revelation and view that there 717 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:04,400 is a future time coming where there is a life more real than 718 00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:10,200 this life. And to listen to this, this is 719 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:12,800 the, this is the definition of Bad Company, not the drug using 720 00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:17,800 Club going gang, affiliating heroin shooting casino going 721 00:44:17,800 --> 00:44:20,500 person. No, no, no Bad Company. 722 00:44:20,500 --> 00:44:26,300 Can be simply those who do not live with an eternal mindset. 723 00:44:26,300 --> 00:44:31,300 That frames their living. So here's what I think happens, 724 00:44:31,300 --> 00:44:35,700 here's Bad Company, the list, they just filled up, didn't it? 725 00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:40,300 I just filled up, didn't it? I didn't say the Bible said it. 726 00:44:42,200 --> 00:44:47,600 And so, what's the threat here? That your Christian Life can be 727 00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:51,600 deducted can be reduced to doing exactly what Paul warned about. 728 00:44:51,600 --> 00:44:54,200 If we live with the thought, that there is no Resurrection, 729 00:44:54,400 --> 00:44:59,200 your listen, your life is just about eating Your life is just 730 00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:02,400 about living from one event to the next, and that's the height. 731 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:04,800 That's the ceiling of your excitement. 732 00:45:05,900 --> 00:45:10,800 And there is absolutely no inclusion, no thought, no plan, 733 00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:14,800 no investment into the Eternal kingdom of God. 734 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:21,800 And all it takes for you to get. There is just to be with that 735 00:45:21,800 --> 00:45:25,100 group of people, long enough who might even attend meetings like 736 00:45:25,100 --> 00:45:29,700 this, but outside of this world, movable Always abounding in the 737 00:45:29,700 --> 00:45:32,700 work of the Lord. Knowing that in the Lord, your 738 00:45:32,700 --> 00:45:38,800 labor is not in vain. So, knowing believing that my 739 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:39,800 labor is not in vain. Why? 740 00:45:39,800 --> 00:45:43,000 Because there is a resurrection, there is a time that I will meet 741 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:47,100 a resurrected Lord, he will look at me with piercing eyes and 742 00:45:47,100 --> 00:45:50,100 unless I have a renewed mind and a new renewed heart, I would be 743 00:45:50,100 --> 00:45:52,300 like the prophets of old and barely stand. 744 00:45:52,300 --> 00:45:55,800 Unless the spirit of God picks me up every time that's what's 745 00:45:55,800 --> 00:45:59,600 coming knowing that your labor is not in vain owing because you 746 00:45:59,607 --> 00:46:02,800 have a future reward in mind. This is what it will do to you 747 00:46:02,800 --> 00:46:05,100 today. Steadfast, you know what that 748 00:46:05,100 --> 00:46:08,000 means? You're not swayed by Oceans like 749 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:11,600 a bad breakup will not cause you to give up on Jesus. 750 00:46:12,100 --> 00:46:13,900 That's a very practical way of looking at it. 751 00:46:15,100 --> 00:46:18,200 The report of sickness afflicting, your family member 752 00:46:18,200 --> 00:46:20,200 will not cause you to press the eject button. 753 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:25,000 You're still steadfast, why? Because the resurrection in 754 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:30,800 view. Steadfast immovable and movable 755 00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:35,000 just that you're just there. You're like Concrete in the will 756 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:37,800 of God. Like you're, you're like you 757 00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:39,200 look on the word. You like, there's literally 758 00:46:39,200 --> 00:46:40,900 nothing that this world can offer me. 759 00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:44,900 And how can I make my life about just eating and drinking and 760 00:46:44,900 --> 00:46:46,500 doing in this? And that when there's a 761 00:46:46,500 --> 00:46:50,100 resurrection ahead of me? Immovable. 762 00:46:50,900 --> 00:46:53,600 And here it is. Always abounding like richly 763 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:58,000 invested in the will of God richly invested in the work of 764 00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:00,900 God. Like your life orbits around 765 00:47:00,900 --> 00:47:03,300 serving the lord. Like that's your priority, not 766 00:47:03,300 --> 00:47:07,300 out of Duty out of great joy and even more joy knowing that there 767 00:47:07,300 --> 00:47:11,000 is a resurrection that will evaluate and Beyond me just 768 00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:13,900 being saved on to get this rewarded for the service that 769 00:47:13,900 --> 00:47:16,600 God empowers me to do not fascinating. 770 00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:20,400 I always use the example of the father, who was lifting a couch, 771 00:47:20,400 --> 00:47:22,600 and a little boy, his little son because his daddy, can I help 772 00:47:22,600 --> 00:47:24,700 you move? He is like four years old. 773 00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:26,600 Is he gonna do? You know? 774 00:47:27,400 --> 00:47:30,600 Okay, I'll you will help me and I'll reward you. 775 00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:32,900 If you can help me I will reward you. 776 00:47:32,900 --> 00:47:35,000 And here's this some putting his little hands on the couch doing 777 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:38,000 absolutely nothing. And the father's, lifting it 778 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:40,900 with all his strength and afterwards, just because the sun 779 00:47:40,900 --> 00:47:44,100 had the tenderness to volunteer, the father rewards, and that's a 780 00:47:44,107 --> 00:47:46,300 picture of you and me serving Jesus Christ. 781 00:47:48,400 --> 00:47:51,700 We want to serve the Lord you and I do not have the strength 782 00:47:51,700 --> 00:47:53,500 to be able to do it with any fruitfulness. 783 00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:57,600 So God, empowers us, he strengthens us, he gives us, he 784 00:47:57,600 --> 00:47:59,600 anoints us and then he rewards us. 785 00:48:01,600 --> 00:48:03,100 Do not abandon the work of the Lord. 786 00:48:04,500 --> 00:48:07,900 Knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain. 787 00:48:11,200 --> 00:48:14,400 If anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing. 788 00:48:15,500 --> 00:48:19,600 He is deceived. And this is two ways of thinking 789 00:48:19,600 --> 00:48:21,900 falsely that you are something one that you're Superior to 790 00:48:21,900 --> 00:48:24,700 others. So you distance yourself, or 791 00:48:24,700 --> 00:48:28,900 you, you're there, but you There's a arrogance. 792 00:48:30,100 --> 00:48:33,100 Or you are somebody who thinks that there is no value in the 793 00:48:33,100 --> 00:48:37,600 body of Jesus Christ. That you have no need for 794 00:48:37,600 --> 00:48:45,000 Ministries to be active apart from you, but towards you. if 795 00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:47,500 that is you, and I'm speaking more about the latter may exalt 796 00:48:47,500 --> 00:48:52,200 you in these final messages, this final words, Pray 797 00:48:52,200 --> 00:48:55,300 desperately for a healthy. Holy local church. 798 00:48:56,300 --> 00:48:58,600 You'd be amazed to know how God can open your eyes to things 799 00:48:58,600 --> 00:49:00,500 that are very close to where you are today. 800 00:49:01,500 --> 00:49:03,900 And God is extremely patient with the process of being able 801 00:49:03,900 --> 00:49:09,300 to identify that body. You'd be amazed to know how God 802 00:49:09,300 --> 00:49:11,600 will move Heaven and Earth for you to be in the right place 803 00:49:11,600 --> 00:49:13,900 with the right people. But when you do look and when 804 00:49:13,900 --> 00:49:17,700 you do pray yes, although the company of people should be as 805 00:49:17,700 --> 00:49:20,400 Paul described because of the Resurrection but also know that 806 00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:23,800 not everybody is on the same level and so do not look for a 807 00:49:23,800 --> 00:49:28,900 church filled with Apostle Paul's I think some people are 808 00:49:28,900 --> 00:49:31,100 so critical of the local church that even if the church was 809 00:49:31,100 --> 00:49:32,900 filled with a pulse of positive, still find something to 810 00:49:32,900 --> 00:49:35,000 criticize. Like I don't like the color of 811 00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:37,500 the walls, it's distracting me during worship something like 812 00:49:37,500 --> 00:49:40,400 that. The carpet is just it's rough on 813 00:49:40,400 --> 00:49:46,900 my shoes. Because even if you are somebody 814 00:49:46,900 --> 00:49:50,100 who thinks it is strong, don't think the church is about you, 815 00:49:50,100 --> 00:49:52,000 receiving something though. That is something we need to 816 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:54,800 believe, but believe that as a strong person, there are weak 817 00:49:54,800 --> 00:49:58,100 people who God calls you to help with their feelings. 818 00:49:59,100 --> 00:50:02,200 Here's my college, very simple. Don't be a Christian who lives 819 00:50:02,200 --> 00:50:04,800 on conferences. Don't. 820 00:50:06,000 --> 00:50:10,100 Like, if this is the only experience and expression of 821 00:50:10,100 --> 00:50:12,400 fellowship with other like-minded believers, you're 822 00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:18,000 doing it wrong. It's not going to help, you're 823 00:50:18,000 --> 00:50:21,900 stifling your spirituality and you're actually hindering the, 824 00:50:21,900 --> 00:50:25,300 the fullness of what your ministry can offer, the members 825 00:50:25,300 --> 00:50:28,500 of Jesus's body be serious about the local church. 826 00:50:29,200 --> 00:50:31,700 I remember. When I first got saved, my 827 00:50:31,700 --> 00:50:35,400 attitude was not the same as I'm presenting to you today II. 828 00:50:35,400 --> 00:50:38,700 Just didn't see the value of the local church to me. 829 00:50:38,700 --> 00:50:41,300 It was like you have a sea of people who are dying and going 830 00:50:41,300 --> 00:50:43,800 to hell and you want to hear two sermons a week. 831 00:50:44,700 --> 00:50:47,600 Like get out like half a sermon at most. 832 00:50:47,600 --> 00:50:51,200 Let's go. Until the Lord taught me in a 833 00:50:51,200 --> 00:50:54,100 very, very practical way by putting me in the position of 834 00:50:54,100 --> 00:51:01,600 being in a local church. Did I see the incalculable value 835 00:51:01,600 --> 00:51:05,700 and riches that are found in imperfect people who love a 836 00:51:05,700 --> 00:51:10,500 perfect savior that come together continually And I 837 00:51:10,500 --> 00:51:12,400 praise God that he opened my eyes early. 838 00:51:13,700 --> 00:51:16,200 And sometimes the only way you can know it is when you just 839 00:51:16,200 --> 00:51:19,100 dive into it with faith, all that we do is in faith, 840 00:51:19,100 --> 00:51:20,300 including what I'm presenting to you. 841 00:51:20,300 --> 00:51:24,600 Today, some of you here, do not go to church because you have a 842 00:51:24,607 --> 00:51:28,400 bad taste in your mouth about church, especially those who 843 00:51:28,400 --> 00:51:32,000 come from a middle eastern background, I get it, I 844 00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:35,200 understand the frustration is real. 845 00:51:37,600 --> 00:51:41,900 I say that as a middle eastern person, But don't let Satan 846 00:51:41,900 --> 00:51:45,100 deceive. You don't let him trick you. 847 00:51:46,300 --> 00:51:50,600 Don't let him have you. Swimming in this ocean by 848 00:51:50,600 --> 00:51:54,300 yourself, get on the boat with other believers. 849 00:51:54,900 --> 00:51:58,300 That is your safety. That is your provision from 850 00:51:58,300 --> 00:52:01,600 Heaven. That is God's way of getting you 851 00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:04,300 to know total maturity in his will. 852 00:52:05,300 --> 00:52:07,700 And so know, this God will bring you somewhere. 853 00:52:07,700 --> 00:52:10,100 If you desire it that's his will for your life. 854 00:52:10,300 --> 00:52:12,700 And you be amazed to know how do I'm not saying he will do this, 855 00:52:12,700 --> 00:52:14,500 but he could do this. He might give you a job in 856 00:52:14,500 --> 00:52:17,600 another state. And it's not because of the job. 857 00:52:20,700 --> 00:52:23,800 A preacher said and I landed here he said don't look for the 858 00:52:23,800 --> 00:52:25,300 church that is closest to your house. 859 00:52:25,300 --> 00:52:27,200 Look for a church that is closest to the Bible. 860 00:52:28,600 --> 00:52:33,300 And I wonderful. My rant is complete. 861 00:52:34,900 --> 00:52:37,300 I'm done. I hope your heart is stirred 862 00:52:37,300 --> 00:52:41,500 with the limited Insight that we had today though, even one 863 00:52:41,500 --> 00:52:45,100 inside from the word of God is plenty for our soul. 864 00:52:45,300 --> 00:52:47,200 Let's pray and ask God to help us with these truths. 865 00:52:59,000 --> 00:53:02,100 Louis, thank you that we do have a conference like this. 866 00:53:06,600 --> 00:53:08,700 But this conference is not an end in itself. 867 00:53:10,600 --> 00:53:15,500 Thank you for the local church. where we are to be dedicated and 868 00:53:15,500 --> 00:53:21,400 committed to And so what happens here, only fuel our devotion? 869 00:53:23,200 --> 00:53:27,800 to the people that you've called us to be devoted to Lord for 870 00:53:27,800 --> 00:53:31,400 those who are tempted to think that they are something either 871 00:53:31,400 --> 00:53:33,800 in their self importance or their self-reliance. 872 00:53:34,200 --> 00:53:36,100 Me that deception be broken today. 873 00:53:37,500 --> 00:53:40,200 It may we see that there is a call for us to offer something 874 00:53:40,200 --> 00:53:44,600 to others and there's even a call for us to be humble enough 875 00:53:44,600 --> 00:53:49,100 to receive from others. Look for those who are 876 00:53:49,100 --> 00:53:51,300 struggling to find a local church. 877 00:53:53,000 --> 00:53:55,300 Would you make a way where there seems to be? 878 00:53:55,300 --> 00:53:57,600 No way? Hello. 879 00:53:57,600 --> 00:53:59,100 Would you help them in the meantime? 880 00:53:59,100 --> 00:54:04,200 Still be committed to a body of believers do maybe few. to love 881 00:54:04,200 --> 00:54:08,400 and worship you to know the softening work of external 882 00:54:08,400 --> 00:54:12,000 exhortations that our hearts are desperately in need of 883 00:54:12,000 --> 00:54:16,500 continually Do we pray for pastors to be raised up in this 884 00:54:16,500 --> 00:54:19,100 time? Faithful Men of God. 885 00:54:19,600 --> 00:54:22,300 Faithful Men of God, who will just do what the Bible says, who 886 00:54:22,300 --> 00:54:26,000 will structure their churches? The way the Bible says, we ask 887 00:54:26,000 --> 00:54:28,500 Lord that you raise up Elders, we ask Lord that you would raise 888 00:54:28,500 --> 00:54:32,300 up leaders, who be able to provide true, local 889 00:54:32,300 --> 00:54:37,400 congregations that people can feed off of that people can 890 00:54:38,500 --> 00:54:44,400 settle down in and raise their families with Lord we don't we 891 00:54:44,400 --> 00:54:49,500 don't have a strategy apart from you supplying these things to 892 00:54:49,500 --> 00:54:51,600 us. And so we look to you. 893 00:54:52,600 --> 00:54:55,800 You are the great Shepherd lead us to the right under Shepherds 894 00:54:57,300 --> 00:55:00,300 and Lord, we just ask that you would help us be patient. 895 00:55:02,200 --> 00:55:05,300 You would help us be truly spiritual. 896 00:55:06,700 --> 00:55:09,800 And not removing ourselves because of the failings of those 897 00:55:09,800 --> 00:55:12,600 around us. But the opposite drawing closer 898 00:55:12,600 --> 00:55:16,400 to those who fall for this is the law of Christ. 899 00:55:17,400 --> 00:55:20,300 But we love you. It is fellowship. 900 00:55:21,000 --> 00:55:22,800 Be true. And sincere would you bless our 901 00:55:22,800 --> 00:55:26,000 food as we eat together and continue to be in our midst? 902 00:55:26,000 --> 00:55:29,000 As you have been up to this point in Jesus name, we pray. 903 00:55:29,000 --> 00:55:31,400 Amen. Standing sing to the Lord.