1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,800 Give me in the book of Galatians, Galatians chapter 6. 2 00:00:05,300 --> 00:00:08,200 It's been quite some time since we do of into the book of 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:16,500 Galatians. but here we are were finding ourselves near the end 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,600 chapter 6 where we left off was verse 1 and 2. 5 00:00:22,100 --> 00:00:24,100 We're going to pray again in a moment, but I want you to just 6 00:00:24,100 --> 00:00:34,200 put your finger there. Galatians 6, chapter 6, verse 1 7 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:39,200 and 2. Let's pray again. 8 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:44,300 Can we father in Jesus name? Thank you for the honor of being 9 00:00:44,300 --> 00:00:45,900 in your house, with God's people. 10 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,400 We pray that you would take this word drive it deep into our 11 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:54,100 hearts Lord, we pray for freedom from confusion, distraction, 12 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,500 Lord, let there be just the pure word empowered by your Holy 13 00:00:57,500 --> 00:01:00,000 Spirit. We ask that Jesus Christ would 14 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,900 be loved and adored obeyed as a result of this word in your 15 00:01:03,900 --> 00:01:04,700 name. We pray. 16 00:01:05,300 --> 00:01:09,400 Amen, where we left off? Galatians in our series of this 17 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:14,200 book is Paul's instruction in a very practical way of how you 18 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,500 and I as Christians should deal with other Christians, not just 19 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:24,000 in service, not just in Fellowship, but when another 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,800 believer falls into sin, when another Christian actually fails 21 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:31,100 to Bear the fruit of the spirit is actually Walking In the 22 00:01:31,107 --> 00:01:33,000 Flesh. What do we do? 23 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,800 When that happens? And we summarized it in this way 24 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,900 that the goal is always one thing. 25 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,100 Restoration, restoration is always the goal. 26 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,900 No matter how Grievous, no matter how dark, no matter how. 27 00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:50,600 Filthy the sin might be, our hearts must be like the hearts 28 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,200 of Jesus. Say, I long to see you made 29 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,100 whole again, I long to see you made clean again. 30 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,100 And yet restoration must be coupled with a specific type of 31 00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:03,600 attitude and that attitude is always gentleness. 32 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:07,700 And we use the illustration of a person who has broken a leg or 33 00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:10,199 an arm. You and I would not rush up to 34 00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:12,600 that person and grab them by the shoulder of grab them by the 35 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,800 foot and say, get up and get. Well, we take our time, we are 36 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,700 gentle in our approach, we are careful and so it is in this 37 00:02:20,700 --> 00:02:22,900 Spirit. We know how to come with a 38 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:24,700 sincere. Yes. 39 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:29,200 But also a very soft and sometimes Stern. 40 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,900 But always with an attitude of humility and love to show that 41 00:02:33,900 --> 00:02:36,900 we long for this. And to be coming back to Jesus. 42 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:42,500 With that in mind, actually many of us are familiar with Jesus in 43 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:47,300 John Chapter 13 when he showed his humility and striking 44 00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:52,200 fashion as he after-dinner stepped on the scene by washing 45 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:57,600 what the feet of his followers. And I want us to turn there just 46 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,100 for a moment in light of this teaching, to see something very 47 00:03:01,100 --> 00:03:03,000 important. We're very familiar with it. 48 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,600 But in John 13. Verse 6. 49 00:03:08,700 --> 00:03:11,200 Jesus, it says, he came to Simon Peter. 50 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:12,500 Who said to him? Lord. 51 00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:15,800 Do you wash my feet? So, Jesus went to each of those 52 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,500 disciples one by one, and then he comes up to Simon, Peter and 53 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:22,700 Peter is going Lord. Are you seriously going to wash 54 00:03:22,700 --> 00:03:25,500 my feet right now? You're the king of glory. 55 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:27,600 You're the Messiah. You're the leader. 56 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,600 You're the master and you're going to step down and clean my 57 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,700 feet. Jesus answered him. 58 00:03:33,700 --> 00:03:35,400 Verse 7. What I am doing? 59 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,100 You do not understand now, but afterward, you will understand. 60 00:03:38,100 --> 00:03:41,500 And Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet. 61 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:45,200 Look at Jesus answers. Jesus answered. 62 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,700 If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. 63 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,900 Then he goes on to say, Simon Peter said to him, Lord, do not 64 00:03:51,900 --> 00:03:54,300 my feet only but also my hands and my head. 65 00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:57,000 And Jesus said to him in summary, listen, if you've 66 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,000 already been bathed, you're clean. 67 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,000 If you've been bathed your clean, except for your feet, 68 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,000 your feet and mind continually need to be washed house. 69 00:04:07,300 --> 00:04:09,200 Jesus is speaking symbolically here. 70 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,600 And this act is symbolic, and we know this in that if we are 71 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,900 saved, if we've been washed, we're clean. 72 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,000 We do need to take another bath again. 73 00:04:17,100 --> 00:04:22,900 We don't keep on getting saved. We are saved once but it is our 74 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:25,900 feet as we Trek through this world, that picks up dirt. 75 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,200 That Strays away that gets cut that picks up twigs and and 76 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,600 Thorns that need to be washed and cleansed continually by 77 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,300 Jesus. And notice that Jesus is not 78 00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:38,700 just eager to wash Us, in the sense of bathing, has 79 00:04:38,700 --> 00:04:44,000 completely, but continually washing us. he's just as eager 80 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:49,100 to wash our feet as he was, when he first bathed us, But we 81 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:52,400 stopped at teaching there and we fail to realize that Jesus gave 82 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,300 an ordinance. Jesus gave an instruction from 83 00:04:55,300 --> 00:04:58,600 this symbolic act, you scroll down your Bibles. 84 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,800 He says here in verse 14, if I then your lord and teacher have 85 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:08,400 washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet for. 86 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,200 I have given you an example that you should also do just as I 87 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,500 have done to you. And so up to this point, we 88 00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:17,800 understand the symbolism, we understand that teaching that 89 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,400 Jesus is bringing through this in the spiritual sense. 90 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:22,900 But then when we come to when Jesus gives the ordinance, we 91 00:05:22,900 --> 00:05:26,800 make it purely physical. And so you know what some people 92 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,100 do, some people in local churches, actually practice 93 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:32,500 this, they They met in a in a expression of their humility, 94 00:05:32,500 --> 00:05:35,400 wash other people's feet, and sometimes we've done that here 95 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,500 even. But the Jesus really teach this 96 00:05:38,500 --> 00:05:43,600 for us to just wash each other's feet or is this principle still 97 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,300 continuing and understanding that? 98 00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:49,400 Just as Christ was, eager to cleanse us from our filthiness 99 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,300 as we walk through this world. That you also ought to be just 100 00:05:52,300 --> 00:05:55,700 as eager to cleanse another that you. 101 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:58,900 And I towards one another, when we see another person picking up 102 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:01,100 filth Gathering dirt or walking, another way. 103 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:05,500 We just like our Master must be wanting and longing to cleanse 104 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:09,900 the other to play any part that I can to make sure that I can 105 00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:12,700 see your feet be like the feet of Jesus again. 106 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,000 So we don't, we don't take this just in the physical sense that 107 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,400 okay, just like Jesus, humbled himself and physically wash 108 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:20,300 their feet. Let's do the same. 109 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:23,200 That's the easy part. It's not hard for you to take 110 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,100 off your shoes and for some, maybe it's harder for some than 111 00:06:25,100 --> 00:06:28,200 others. But what Christ had in mind here 112 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:34,200 was for us to do. So, in the spirit, But you know, 113 00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:38,100 the other person willing to receive that must be humble 114 00:06:38,100 --> 00:06:40,800 enough to receive it. Peter said don't wash my feet. 115 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,800 Jesus, if I don't wash your feet, you have no part of me. 116 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:45,600 And so we can't force people's feet to be washed. 117 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,600 In the spiritual sense, people must be willing and repentant 118 00:06:49,300 --> 00:06:53,200 and open to Restoration and cleansing from another brother 119 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:58,200 or sister. this is where as we go back to Galatians 6 with a 120 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,000 rubber, really meets the road when it comes to our Christian 121 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:07,300 walk weeping with those who weep Praying for those who request it 122 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,400 counseling with those who are confused. 123 00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:17,700 Restoring someone who has fallen all these things are categorized 124 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:21,600 under the Christian mandate as what we see here in Galatians 6. 125 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,000 Verse to Bear one another's burdens. 126 00:07:26,900 --> 00:07:31,200 That's a mandate you and I as Believers are called to carry 127 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,400 the load for another person and help them carry. 128 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,000 The burdensome task that they might be facing. 129 00:07:37,300 --> 00:07:39,800 And I love this past weekend. As we re at the conference where 130 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,600 Pastor Madison gave us the very practical teachings that he gave 131 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,400 us. Because we understand bearing. 132 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:49,000 One another's loads as yes, coming and interceding for 133 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,600 somebody. That is burying somebody else's 134 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:54,500 load and yes counseling and yes restoring yes, speaking 135 00:07:54,500 --> 00:07:56,500 exhortations. But when it comes to the 136 00:07:56,500 --> 00:08:00,900 practical We shy away from it, don't we? 137 00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:05,800 There are physical burdens and I love the examples he gave 138 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,300 because there are very convicting. 139 00:08:07,700 --> 00:08:11,000 You think about the burden of somebody who is moving. 140 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:18,400 From one house to another. and we think to ourselves, I'll pray 141 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:19,800 for you but I don't know about that. 142 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:24,000 Just different little practical things that he was giving, but 143 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,500 it is yet, we have to understand that it is the Christian mandate 144 00:08:27,500 --> 00:08:31,600 to Bear one another's. Heavy loads and it's not easy. 145 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:33,700 It's not easy. That's why we need of 146 00:08:33,700 --> 00:08:37,500 empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do this, to come to that 147 00:08:37,500 --> 00:08:38,700 place of bearing. One another's. 148 00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:41,700 Burdens is tiring, is exhausting. 149 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:46,900 Sometimes it takes up my time. It takes up my energy and if 150 00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:48,900 we're honest, sometimes it gets downright messy. 151 00:08:48,900 --> 00:08:51,600 So I just rather altogether avoid It. 152 00:08:51,900 --> 00:08:54,000 But it is the Fulfillment of something called The Law of 153 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,200 Christ that listen, if you. And I, as we just read earlier 154 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,600 in chapter 5, want to Bear the fruit in the spirit, we better 155 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,600 believe that a part of that packages were going to Bear each 156 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,100 other's loads. In fact, the manifestation of 157 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:09,600 the fruit of the spirit will be shown as Galatians. 6, is the 158 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,500 sequence and how we deal with one another. 159 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,000 And the beautiful thing is this that I'm not just called to Bear 160 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,800 one another's. Burdens and neither are you? 161 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,700 There's a calling in which you and I are supposed to let others 162 00:09:20,700 --> 00:09:25,000 bear my My burdens. And help me and pray for me and 163 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:29,200 exhort me and Council me and come to my assistance as well. 164 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:34,300 It's not just a one-way Street. I have to be open for that to be 165 00:09:34,300 --> 00:09:37,900 true as well. But with keep someone from 166 00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:41,300 doing, this is one main thing and that's what Paul is about to 167 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,800 speak on. We don't touch on this last 168 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,500 time, but there is something that keeps me from bearing, 169 00:09:47,500 --> 00:09:50,600 somebody else's burden. And there is something within me 170 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,200 that keeps me from letting somebody else bear my burden. 171 00:09:57,500 --> 00:10:00,500 We're tempted to live in this individual individualistic, 172 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,300 understanding in this sense of isolation in our Christian walk 173 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:04,700 and pauses, there's no room for that. 174 00:10:04,700 --> 00:10:07,700 In fact, he categorises it something that's kind of scary. 175 00:10:07,700 --> 00:10:11,000 He says here, look in verse 34. Anyone thinks he is something, 176 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:12,800 when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 177 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:16,800 That's just not a random statement. 178 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,700 He's saying this in light of what we call Bearing one 179 00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:22,100 another's, burdens he goes, listen to me. 180 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,600 If you have convinced yourself that you should not for some 181 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:30,800 reason, help somebody else or you fail to understand that you 182 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,100 yourself, need help, you're deceiving yourself. 183 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:39,100 You're not actually walking in light as much as you think that 184 00:10:39,100 --> 00:10:41,200 you might be strong. As much as you think. 185 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:47,200 You might be spiritual, you are, in fact, under a spell, You've 186 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:51,100 missed it. Paul saying you've lost track of 187 00:10:51,100 --> 00:10:53,600 what this whole thing is really about. 188 00:10:53,600 --> 00:11:01,800 And then he goes on to say that. True Christianity will be shown 189 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,000 and how we understand this truth of bearing one another's, 190 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:09,500 burdens. Do you ever think that thought 191 00:11:10,300 --> 00:11:13,400 that's important as we move on as a thought ever occurred to 192 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,200 you that especially in this context? 193 00:11:18,300 --> 00:11:20,900 if somebody else is under a burden, even under the burden of 194 00:11:20,900 --> 00:11:26,000 their own sin, suck it up and carry your own cross and Shake 195 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,700 It Off. Get it together, man. 196 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,000 You got to learn how to do this thing on your own. 197 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:38,600 Pick up yourself. or is there ever the thought of I can't have 198 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,900 somebody pray for me. I can't call somebody. 199 00:11:43,900 --> 00:11:45,800 I can't let somebody speak into my life. 200 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,700 I can't ask questions. How are they going to know? 201 00:11:48,700 --> 00:11:53,000 I'm spiritual? I'm not actually spiritual if 202 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:57,600 I've come to that place. What Paul means when he says 203 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:02,200 that we are deceiving ourselves when he's actually trying to say 204 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,000 is that those two things are actually two faces of pride, 205 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:10,600 those are two faces of Pride to say that I and to spiritual to 206 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:15,200 help you in the practical. Or I am too spiritual for you to 207 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:20,200 help me in any way is deception and one of the greatest ways of 208 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:21,600 being deceived as when we're proud. 209 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:25,900 And sometimes we think those thoughts. 210 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,300 But if I can give some personal advice according to the word of 211 00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:33,900 God, I think one of the greatest ways to filter our faulty 212 00:12:33,900 --> 00:12:36,100 understanding of helping others are letting others help us. 213 00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:39,900 Is when we look at Paul himself, I love the Apostle Paul. 214 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:45,100 The greatest Theologian of all time, But this Theologian is one 215 00:12:45,100 --> 00:12:48,500 of the most practical Christians, an example of for us 216 00:12:48,500 --> 00:12:51,300 today. So think of a person who might 217 00:12:51,300 --> 00:12:56,400 be struggling to do the little things and to do the Practical 218 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:03,500 things and to extend a hand for burden or for assistance Who 219 00:13:03,500 --> 00:13:05,000 here has read the book of Romans? 220 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:08,800 We were talking about this early on in prayer that you have to 221 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,400 read that book, verse-by-verse very slowly or else you'll miss. 222 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:14,700 The thought you have to rehearse and you have to return to that 223 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:18,700 chapter again and again it is a theological Masterpiece 224 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:20,700 concerning justification by faith. 225 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:27,000 And then you come to chapter 16. and I would encourage you to to 226 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,800 go there and not sure if you realize this, but you come to 227 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:35,800 Romans chapter 16 and there's a turn in the writing at least for 228 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:40,600 a moment. Look at verse 1 and scroll down 229 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,100 to verse 16. Romans 16 12, 16. 230 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,600 And you would think that Paul could have continued to exhaust 231 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,200 the truth of the Gospel. You think the Holy Spirit would 232 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,400 want to continue to Pummel this truth about how we are saved by 233 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,400 faith through the finished work of Jesus Christ. 234 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,400 But you know what, Paul does by the spirit, he takes the time to 235 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,400 verses, 1 to 16 to name people by name into simply greet them. 236 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,800 And he goes on to just say, greet Mary greet this person, 237 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:16,400 Rita pelas greet Rufus and to commend them and to thank them. 238 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,100 and I look at that and to be honest, it's a little convicting 239 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,000 Because, as much as this man was caught up in Theology and 240 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,600 teaching and preaching, and traveling, he still had a heart 241 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,700 for the individual. And he knew them by name, and he 242 00:14:32,700 --> 00:14:34,700 took the time out of his letter to make sure that they were 243 00:14:34,700 --> 00:14:36,700 greeted to. Whoever would read this letter, 244 00:14:37,700 --> 00:14:42,400 how encouraging would that have been from Rufus and stakus to 245 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,600 say? Paul is asking about me. 246 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,400 Paul is greeting me Paul, is thanking me? 247 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,500 So, you see, a man who is more spiritual than we can. 248 00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:57,800 Imagine concerning the miraculous concerning Revelation 249 00:14:58,300 --> 00:15:02,900 concerning preaching power and yet he proves his spirituality 250 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:08,100 in this, he knew how to greet people, it is, simply make sure 251 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:09,900 that they knew that they were on his mind. 252 00:15:10,700 --> 00:15:13,200 Wow. Is that spiritual to us? 253 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:18,200 Is this spiritual to thank someone is a spiritual to let 254 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:19,500 someone know that you're thinking about them is a 255 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:22,200 spiritual to let them know that you are for them and that you 256 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,800 are ready to serve them in any way possible. 257 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,500 Look at Paul and how he considered the other. 258 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:33,100 Now, look how Paul how he himself knew he was in need of 259 00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:35,000 the other. That's the second face. 260 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,100 So you have a verse here in 2nd Corinthians, 7 6. 261 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,900 You know, sometimes in our pursuit of spirituality, we 262 00:15:43,900 --> 00:15:46,200 really have trouble understanding this idea of 263 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,300 needing one another. We think that if we're truly 264 00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:50,400 spiritual, we can do this on our own. 265 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,700 Forget you, I can do this. You need me. 266 00:15:52,700 --> 00:15:54,200 Actually, you need me to pray for. 267 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:55,700 You need me to quote, scripture to you. 268 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,600 You need me to comfort. You, you need me to counsel you, 269 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:00,200 okay? Is anybody in here more 270 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:05,100 spiritual than Paul? I doubt it yet. 271 00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:11,000 Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 7 verse 6. he says but God who 272 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:17,900 comforts the downcast comforted Us by the coming of Titus, I 273 00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:25,500 love that he says God comforted us how When we were down cast, 274 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:30,000 he brought Titus on the scene. And so, if you and I need help 275 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,200 to be humbled in our understanding of our need, one 276 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,500 for one, another, let us understand it this way, Paul 277 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:37,300 knew that when Titus came to comfort him, it was actually God 278 00:16:37,300 --> 00:16:41,400 who sent Titus. So my relationship to my 279 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:46,100 brothers and sisters and my need for them is actually at the Ruth 280 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:49,600 my need for God because the body of Christ is connected to the 281 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,500 head and you being the Hands of Christ and you being the feet of 282 00:16:52,500 --> 00:16:56,100 Christ and you being the ears of Christ are actually an extension 283 00:16:56,100 --> 00:16:58,400 of who he is. So to say that I don't need use 284 00:16:58,400 --> 00:16:59,900 to say that, I don't need Christ. 285 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:05,099 Paul knew that this man Titus Flesh and Blood, who came to 286 00:17:05,099 --> 00:17:08,500 comfort him was actually God, many people, pray God comfort. 287 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:11,800 Me and a brother calls, and they still say, brought God come for 288 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:12,800 me. God, I need you. 289 00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:14,700 And we come to church and somebody speaks a word of 290 00:17:14,700 --> 00:17:16,500 encouragement. And as though, we think that we 291 00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:20,300 need a specific Divine, showering of God's revelation 292 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:23,599 upon our minds and hearts for us to experience that when it is 293 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:25,500 God. Who uses others? 294 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:31,900 To do that. To express that, touch our 295 00:17:31,900 --> 00:17:36,400 hearts. And so, the mentality of I don't 296 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,100 need so-and-so. I don't need this. 297 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,900 I don't need that because of the fear of seemingly to be less 298 00:17:41,900 --> 00:17:48,300 spiritual or dependent is false. Because to reject the bodies to 299 00:17:48,300 --> 00:17:52,300 ultimately reject the head. God comforted Us by the coming 300 00:17:52,300 --> 00:17:57,700 of Titus. Paul a prayer Warrior. 301 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,600 An intercessor. One, who knew how to count all 302 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:07,800 things with Joy, says in Romans 15:30, I appeal to you to the 303 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:09,400 Romans. He goes, I beg you. 304 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,100 I plead with you Brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ. 305 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:17,400 And by the love of the spirit to strive together, with me, in 306 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,500 your prayers, to God on my behalf. 307 00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:23,200 Paul, can you done it by yourself, aren't you spiritual? 308 00:18:24,500 --> 00:18:26,700 Can you have cried out to God by yourself? 309 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,900 Now, I need the church in Rome to get together and rally in 310 00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:36,900 intercession for me. Because I realize that I'm in 311 00:18:36,908 --> 00:18:42,900 need of them. If we do not believe these 312 00:18:42,900 --> 00:18:45,700 things that we need to help others in the most practical 313 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:49,100 ways. And that we need to be helped 314 00:18:49,100 --> 00:18:52,000 ourselves in every way. We are deceived. 315 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:58,200 If Paul showed it surely, we can exemplify it as well. 316 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,000 One proof that I am not walking a deception is that I believe 317 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:10,100 those things about myself. then we come back to Galatians 6, and 318 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:14,300 Paul takes a turn in his teaching, he says here in verse 319 00:19:14,300 --> 00:19:18,500 4, but let each one test his own work and then his reason to 320 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:21,300 boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 321 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:23,100 We thinking, what is he trying to say here? 322 00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:26,600 The danger of deception is so real. 323 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,700 The danger of me telling myself something to be true when it is 324 00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:35,100 actually false can extend to a Paul is saying now, it could 325 00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:38,900 extend to the place in which, I believe, not only that, I am not 326 00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:40,900 in need of somebody else or that, I don't need to help 327 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:43,600 somebody else in their fallen state or their broken state. 328 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:48,300 It can go to the point where I believe listen to this, where my 329 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:52,400 works are something. When in fact, they are nothing. 330 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,400 Paul doesn't want to just now teach about how we are called to 331 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,000 carry each other's. Loads here, me very carefully. 332 00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:04,100 He now wants to teach the importance of understanding that 333 00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:08,400 we each have a load to carry. Look at verse 5 for each will 334 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:15,800 have to bear his own load, and so right now, the Holy Spirit 335 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,300 wants to use this opportunity of talking about burden and 336 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:22,700 responsibility to not just keep it at the other that I'm called 337 00:20:22,700 --> 00:20:24,700 to help carry their burden for know. 338 00:20:24,900 --> 00:20:27,200 Plus has check it out, listen very carefully. 339 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,100 You realize that as much as your call to help somebody else, you 340 00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:31,900 yourself have a load to carry, right? 341 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,700 That you have a responsibility that as much as your responsible 342 00:20:37,700 --> 00:20:40,500 for somebody else to certain degree, ultimately you. 343 00:20:40,500 --> 00:20:43,300 And that other person will be held accountable for how they 344 00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:45,800 live their lives. Will be held responsible and I 345 00:20:45,808 --> 00:20:49,000 want to touch on this pauses. I want to remind you that each 346 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,200 of us has their own load to bear. 347 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,900 Exception of me. Think that I'm someone when I 348 00:20:56,900 --> 00:20:58,600 actually nothing. We're all nothing. 349 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,700 That's what Paul is trying to say, don't think you're someone, 350 00:21:01,100 --> 00:21:03,500 but that extent of, that deception can come to the place 351 00:21:03,500 --> 00:21:06,900 where it affects how I view my life, and how it is live for 352 00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:09,800 Christ. I can actually believe that my 353 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,300 Works. My load, my responsibilities, my 354 00:21:12,300 --> 00:21:16,000 Ministry is something. When, in fact, it is nothing. 355 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:20,800 Do you think about that? Can you imagine? 356 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,300 Because here is a Christian doctrine that is stable that is 357 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:26,600 pillar very carefully. We have to understand this, we 358 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:28,900 know this most of us, maybe we don't, so let's rehearse it 359 00:21:28,900 --> 00:21:32,000 again. There is a day in which Jesus 360 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:36,900 Christ will judge not the World by his People based on how they 361 00:21:36,900 --> 00:21:40,100 live their lives. We sang the beautiful songs 362 00:21:40,100 --> 00:21:43,700 about the cross about the Divine exchange about how he has given 363 00:21:43,700 --> 00:21:47,100 us salvation by faith solely based on his finished work. 364 00:21:47,100 --> 00:21:49,000 Praise God. But there is a judgment that 365 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,900 will Upon something called our works. 366 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:56,500 Each of us will be examined evaluated and ultimately judge 367 00:21:56,500 --> 00:22:00,500 based on how we live, this thing called the Christian walk, and 368 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:02,700 what that will do is not determine whether we get to 369 00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:05,500 heaven or not, that's determined by Jesus Christ. 370 00:22:06,300 --> 00:22:08,900 What it is determining, though is how you and I will experience 371 00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:13,700 rewards in the next life. And what he's saying here in 372 00:22:13,700 --> 00:22:17,100 verse 4 is that I really want you to come to a place where you 373 00:22:17,100 --> 00:22:20,100 are living your life, to a degree and with Clarity. 374 00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:23,600 And with assurance that when you are being tested at the end of 375 00:22:23,608 --> 00:22:27,900 the day, you will rejoice. You will rejoice. 376 00:22:30,700 --> 00:22:32,700 None of us. I hope want to know the 377 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:36,900 disappointment of coming before the Lord and in the end finding 378 00:22:36,900 --> 00:22:40,200 out as I stand before, the judge of the earth that my whole 379 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,100 Christian Life was actually nothing when I thought it was 380 00:22:43,100 --> 00:22:48,600 something. And if this is going to produce 381 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,500 any sense of fear or guilt, we have understood it wrong because 382 00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:53,900 there is no guilt or fear in Christ. 383 00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:57,300 We have salvation. We have eternal life. 384 00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:01,600 But again that does not negate the truth that we will be judged 385 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:06,400 based on how we bear fruit. So Paul wants to assure that the 386 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,900 load that you're carrying, which is your life. 387 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,300 Is actually a value and is not brought down to dust when it is 388 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:18,700 tested by fire. And if you and I want to know 389 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:22,500 how we can make sure before that day, that our works and our life 390 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:25,200 and our character, and our days spent on the earth will have 391 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,300 some value. All we have to do is what he 392 00:23:27,308 --> 00:23:29,600 said in verse 4. Look at your Bibles and see what 393 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:34,200 it says. He says here, but let each one 394 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:40,000 test his own work. Just test it. 395 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:45,000 So it's possible for me in this life to test my own work before 396 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,200 it is ultimately brought to Christ who will ultimately test 397 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,600 it and see if it actually has value. 398 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,300 So that here's the biblical question that we can all. 399 00:23:54,300 --> 00:23:57,900 Ask remember Revelation comes from questions, asking the text 400 00:23:57,900 --> 00:24:00,900 questions, I'm reading this last night and I go but let each one 401 00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:03,200 test his own work. And here's the question I have, 402 00:24:03,300 --> 00:24:09,600 how do I test it? What questions do I ask my Works 403 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,700 in order to know if they will pass the ultimate test before 404 00:24:13,700 --> 00:24:17,400 the judge of the Earth. How can I assure that? 405 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,100 What I'm doing on a day-to-day basis is actually going to be 406 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:26,300 pleasing to the master and I think there are three simple 407 00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:30,200 questions that you and I can ask, but before we get there, we 408 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:35,400 have to determine this truth As Christians, we bear fruit, as 409 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:37,300 Christians. We actually do something called 410 00:24:37,300 --> 00:24:39,300 works as Christians. We actually live out in a 411 00:24:39,308 --> 00:24:41,300 different way when we receive Christ. 412 00:24:43,100 --> 00:24:45,700 Do you know when Jesus came on the mission to die on the cross? 413 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,900 It was not reduced to just simply redeeming us and bringing 414 00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:53,300 us to heaven, right? Him being nailed upon the tree 415 00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:56,900 that motive behind that is not simply wrapped up in this 416 00:24:56,900 --> 00:24:59,400 understanding that he's going to take us to a place in the 417 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:03,100 future. It is true that he will do 418 00:25:03,100 --> 00:25:06,000 though, do that? But he is also having in mind 419 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,200 that it will affect our present in the now I'm talking about the 420 00:25:09,208 --> 00:25:12,200 motive is not a byproduct. It is one of the motives than 421 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:15,900 when Christ died that it would just go beyond Redemption and it 422 00:25:15,900 --> 00:25:18,200 would be practical in every sense of the word. 423 00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:23,000 Here's some scripture for that. Titus 2:14 Look at this verse 424 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,200 and realize the motive in which Jesus went to the cross and 425 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:32,900 maybe it will shock us more. And we thought who gave himself, 426 00:25:32,900 --> 00:25:37,200 this is what the verse says, who gave himself for us to. 427 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:42,200 So, here's the reason who gave himself for us to do what redeem 428 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,800 us from all lawlessness. Let's sing about it to redeem us 429 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:47,400 from all lawlessness. Absolutely. 430 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,500 Not just that, though, to purify for himself, a people for his 431 00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:53,500 own possession, or we know that he's going to call us his own. 432 00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:56,800 He's going to take us home one day but it doesn't stop there. 433 00:25:58,300 --> 00:26:00,500 Who are zealous for? Good works. 434 00:26:02,700 --> 00:26:04,700 So he gave himself up for us to do. 435 00:26:04,700 --> 00:26:09,200 What redeem us purify us and not just that make us a people that 436 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,900 are bubbling with Zeal to do. Good works. 437 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:17,600 That is a result of salvation. That now, your whole life is 438 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,600 centered the planning of your future. 439 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:25,100 How you view your outlook on your day-to-day is centered 440 00:26:25,100 --> 00:26:27,800 around this truth, I long to serve him. 441 00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:32,600 I long to do things for him. I long to walk like him Works. 442 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,200 Can I just simply be reduced to just doing Ministry. 443 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,800 It's also manifested in character character that are 444 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:43,400 ultimately manifested in Deeds. Yes, but it encompasses all of 445 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:45,600 that. See if you don't have a Zeal to 446 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,900 serve Christ, if you don't have a longing to walk in his ways, 447 00:26:49,100 --> 00:26:52,400 if there's not a reprioritizing to how you You your day-to-day. 448 00:26:52,700 --> 00:26:55,100 We have to understand that. I know true redemption in my 449 00:26:55,100 --> 00:26:59,200 heart. Are there Seasons where there's 450 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:00,600 some more zealous times than others. 451 00:27:00,700 --> 00:27:02,700 Absolutely. That's why there's exhortations 452 00:27:02,700 --> 00:27:06,600 to be zealous. But you know, when you got saved 453 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,100 that, there is this Breath of Life that came into you, to say, 454 00:27:09,100 --> 00:27:11,200 I long to do things for him, from this moment on with the 455 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,300 rest of my life. I love that because many people 456 00:27:14,300 --> 00:27:16,900 that I've met, especially guys, when they first get saved, they 457 00:27:16,900 --> 00:27:18,400 everybody thinks they're going to be a preacher. 458 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,900 Isn't that true? You talk to anybody that saved 459 00:27:21,900 --> 00:27:23,600 up to the first two months? In the like, I'm called to 460 00:27:23,608 --> 00:27:25,800 Ministry? And in four months, I was like, 461 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,600 I don't know about that. No, I think I'm gonna stick with 462 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,400 my career here, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, because 463 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,700 you see a desire to serve God in that there's this. 464 00:27:34,900 --> 00:27:37,800 This is new beat in the heart, to say, I long to just live for 465 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:42,600 him. But that being establish, how do 466 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:45,100 I know now? If my works are going to be 467 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,400 something in which Christ will smile over and reward? 468 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:50,800 Very simple, it's not complicated. 469 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:52,800 I praise God. That it's not complicated. 470 00:27:53,100 --> 00:27:57,600 Number one, here's a simple question to ask is my life, 471 00:27:57,600 --> 00:27:59,600 being measured, according to God's word. 472 00:28:01,100 --> 00:28:04,500 Am I measuring my life? According to God's word, look 473 00:28:04,500 --> 00:28:06,500 what he says here in the second part of verse 4. 474 00:28:07,100 --> 00:28:12,500 And then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not 475 00:28:12,500 --> 00:28:17,200 in his neighbor. The reason for your joy will be 476 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,000 in your personal relationship with God and not in how you 477 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:22,900 compare yourself to your neighbor. 478 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:28,800 Unfortunately a lot of people have based their faithfulness to 479 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:33,300 God on how they see other believers and how they live 480 00:28:33,300 --> 00:28:36,900 Faithfully for God. So many people try to soothe 481 00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:42,200 their own conscience through comparison Without even 482 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:46,900 realizing they're doing it. And listen, if you, and I 483 00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:49,500 compare our walk with the Lord, and the measuring the standard 484 00:28:49,500 --> 00:28:51,900 in which we live for him, based on his how somebody else is 485 00:28:51,900 --> 00:28:57,400 doing it. The Bible calls that unwise You 486 00:28:57,400 --> 00:28:59,100 don't have to turn there, but let me read this verse To You, 487 00:28:59,100 --> 00:29:02,100 Paul criticizes, these false teachers and second Corinthians 488 00:29:02,500 --> 00:29:05,700 because they were doing. Just that in second, Corinthians 489 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:09,100 10:12, listen to this. And the second party says, but 490 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:11,600 when they measure themselves by one, another, and compare 491 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,500 themselves with one another, they are without understanding. 492 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:18,500 The King James, I believe it says they are unwise. 493 00:29:19,700 --> 00:29:22,600 To look at my life and to compare it to somebody else's as 494 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,900 the measure of my faithfulness. To theirs is actually a person 495 00:29:25,900 --> 00:29:29,000 who is walking with a failure of understanding. 496 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:33,400 What this is all about. So what is the wise thing to do? 497 00:29:33,500 --> 00:29:37,400 Listen, the scriptures are the standard you continually come to 498 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,500 the word of God. And you see how the word of God 499 00:29:39,500 --> 00:29:44,000 describes my speech, my axe, my thoughts, my ambitions, my 500 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,900 Pursuits, and you stay there because this is what you and I 501 00:29:47,900 --> 00:29:49,800 are going to be judged by at the end of the road. 502 00:29:50,300 --> 00:29:52,600 It's not going to be how so-and-so did it or how your 503 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,400 leader even Did It. Ultimately it's going to come to 504 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,800 this place. Does the word of God stated and 505 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,000 I've heard some people even make remarks like this. 506 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:06,100 Well, So and so doesn't do it and they're a Christian, so it's 507 00:30:06,100 --> 00:30:09,700 not a big deal if I don't do it. Well sister. 508 00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:13,300 So and so talks like that and she dresses like that and she 509 00:30:13,300 --> 00:30:15,800 goes to those kind of places. So what's the big deal? 510 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,600 If she calls herself a Christian she posted on Instagram reverse, 511 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:20,400 their numbers, their what's the big deal? 512 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:24,500 If I do it? Here's the problem, brother 513 00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:27,000 so-and-so and sister. So and so is not the standard 514 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:32,800 Jesus. And so sometimes we can soothe 515 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:36,700 ourselves by saying the majority of Christians don't do it like 516 00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:41,100 that so why do I need to do it? The Bible says hmm you are 517 00:30:41,100 --> 00:30:44,100 actually not going by the curriculum so to speak. 518 00:30:44,100 --> 00:30:48,900 You're not looking at what the word of God States and when you 519 00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:53,500 come to facing him, he's going to bring this up and didn't 520 00:30:53,500 --> 00:30:58,500 measure up to that. And the context here is that a 521 00:30:58,500 --> 00:31:02,900 person might find joy in their walk with the Lord when they see 522 00:31:02,900 --> 00:31:06,300 somebody else failing, right? This context speaks about 523 00:31:06,300 --> 00:31:10,100 somebody who's fallen and some people can make the mistake to 524 00:31:10,100 --> 00:31:12,500 say, look, he felt I didn't fall. 525 00:31:12,500 --> 00:31:14,900 Praise God, more points for me, less points for them. 526 00:31:16,100 --> 00:31:18,600 I'm more spiritual when you put a side-by-side. 527 00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:21,000 Listen, if we all want to be humbled in this place and if we 528 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,900 all really want to walk and true spirituality, forget the person 529 00:31:23,900 --> 00:31:26,700 who fails, forget the person who's inconsistent, forget the 530 00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:28,500 person that preaches. One thing in this in practice 531 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,400 line yourself up beside the perfect man Christ, Jesus. 532 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,100 That is the standard to which you and I will be judged. 533 00:31:38,500 --> 00:31:40,500 Have you ever wondered what were the final words of Jesus in The 534 00:31:40,500 --> 00:31:45,100 Book of John? In that chapter, I love that 535 00:31:45,100 --> 00:31:47,200 chapter 21. Peter is restored, and when 536 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:50,000 Peters restored Jesus prophesized him how he's going 537 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,700 to die. And as they're walking away, 538 00:31:53,700 --> 00:31:56,600 Peter looks and he sees John the disciple and he goes, as he's 539 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,100 looking to goes, hey, Jesus what about him? 540 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:00,100 He told me how I'm gonna die. What about him? 541 00:32:00,100 --> 00:32:01,400 What's going to happen with his life? 542 00:32:03,700 --> 00:32:06,200 so many Christians are like that their eyes are off of Jesus in 543 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:12,600 the looking at John, And Jesus turns around as he staring at 544 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:15,200 John and these are some of the final words Jesus gives the 545 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:18,500 Peter in the whole book of John. Jesus said to him, it is my 546 00:32:18,500 --> 00:32:20,300 will. If it is, my will that he remain 547 00:32:20,300 --> 00:32:21,900 until I come. What is that to you? 548 00:32:21,900 --> 00:32:29,800 Hear the words you follow me. Stop worrying about how I'm 549 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,000 going to lead somebody else. Stop wearing a Bahama to use 550 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:33,400 somebody else. Stop worrying about somebody 551 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,300 else's failures and their inconsistency. 552 00:32:35,500 --> 00:32:38,200 All you need to do is follow me. That's your job. 553 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,400 You'd be amazed to know how many people are measuring their 554 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:46,300 faithfulness based on the faithfulness of others, or the 555 00:32:46,300 --> 00:32:49,100 faithlessness of others. See, if you and I go there, we 556 00:32:49,100 --> 00:32:51,000 put ourselves in danger into extremes. 557 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:54,000 One of the extremes is that we will find ourselves in extreme 558 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:55,900 legalistic rituals and recommend. 559 00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:00,300 And rehearsing because why? Because a person here has come 560 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:02,500 to a place where they've taken the word of God beyond the 561 00:33:02,500 --> 00:33:05,300 measure in this, and the standard that it is set and you 562 00:33:05,300 --> 00:33:07,600 have people that are thinking that they are spiritual, when 563 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:10,300 they have placed tradition above, the word of God. 564 00:33:10,900 --> 00:33:14,400 And the second issue is, if I continue to compare myself, I 565 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:16,800 can now follow someone's faithlessness who has little to 566 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:18,600 no, understanding of true biblical Holiness. 567 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:23,700 So just stick to the book. Is my life measured by the word 568 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:28,000 of God or by somebody else's walk with the Lord. 569 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:34,500 Secondly, it's not about now. Questioning other works. 570 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,900 But questioning my Works in terms of motive. 571 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,000 Turn your Bibles to First Corinthians 4. 572 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:45,900 And see what Paul says in verse 3. 573 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:52,200 The first question is, am I measuring my life according to 574 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:57,000 God's word, and secondly, am I motivated to live a certain way? 575 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:03,600 With the wrong purpose. First Corinthians 4 and 3. 576 00:34:03,900 --> 00:34:08,400 Look what Paul says, but with me it is a very small thing that I 577 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:12,199 should be judged by you. Or by any human Court. 578 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:14,400 In fact, I don't even judge myself. 579 00:34:14,900 --> 00:34:18,800 You go to verse 5, therefore do not pronounce judgment before 580 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:22,100 the time before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the 581 00:34:22,100 --> 00:34:26,300 things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes 582 00:34:26,300 --> 00:34:29,699 of the heart. Then each one will receive his 583 00:34:29,699 --> 00:34:34,600 Commendation from God. The test of our works will not 584 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:39,800 just be in quantity but will be in the quality in terms of the 585 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,699 reason why we're doing it, it's not just the action that Jesus 586 00:34:42,699 --> 00:34:44,300 is looking for. It will be the motive. 587 00:34:44,300 --> 00:34:47,199 Paul says, it here that there's a day in which the light will be 588 00:34:47,199 --> 00:34:49,699 so bright that what's going to show? 589 00:34:49,699 --> 00:34:54,400 Not just my Deeds, but the purposes of the heart will come 590 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:58,800 forth before him. So that's another terrifying 591 00:34:58,800 --> 00:34:59,900 thing. I mean, you can have a person 592 00:34:59,900 --> 00:35:02,900 who has a worldwide Ministry and they did it all for the wrong 593 00:35:02,900 --> 00:35:03,900 reason. And when it comes to the 594 00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:06,200 Judgment seat, he'll come down to nothing because they did it 595 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:09,900 for what for self-glory for money. 596 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:12,900 Oh, do you know how many people are Ministry for money? 597 00:35:15,300 --> 00:35:18,500 They might have started out well but then the Love of Money took 598 00:35:18,500 --> 00:35:21,500 root in their hearts and now their invitations and now 599 00:35:21,500 --> 00:35:25,000 they're speaking and other worshipping for what the check 600 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:31,400 at the end of the meeting. The praise of, man. 601 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,800 Wanting to be wanted. Etc. 602 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:36,700 Etc. Etc. 603 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:40,100 Christ, at the end of the day is going to look at the purposes of 604 00:35:40,100 --> 00:35:46,000 the heart and part of the battle of this is that we want to do it 605 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:48,700 for God's praise, but God's praise is not shown right away 606 00:35:48,700 --> 00:35:52,300 in the moment, God's Commendation is not express. 607 00:35:52,300 --> 00:35:55,500 Every time we come to church and we serve wouldn't that be nice 608 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,500 if he told us. Great job. 609 00:35:57,500 --> 00:35:59,400 Wonderful. You're a faithful servant. 610 00:35:59,500 --> 00:36:02,800 Well done. His Commendation of Reserve is 611 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:07,200 reserved for a specific day to come, but that does not mean he 612 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:12,600 is not currently observant. And the reason why people fish 613 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:15,100 for the praise of man, is because it provides immediate 614 00:36:15,100 --> 00:36:20,200 satisfaction you're stroking. My ego now, you're feeling my 615 00:36:20,300 --> 00:36:25,100 heart now. And what Paul saying is, there's 616 00:36:25,100 --> 00:36:29,100 a day in which one person's praise will be louder than 617 00:36:29,100 --> 00:36:33,200 anybody else's will have more weight and significance than the 618 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:42,700 person that you esteem to impress the most The beginning 619 00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:49,500 of verse 3, look. But with me it is a very small 620 00:36:49,500 --> 00:36:52,700 thing. That I should be judged by you. 621 00:36:52,700 --> 00:36:59,300 Do you see that? It's a very small thing. 622 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:05,800 Of what you think about me. That's it. 623 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,300 Is it a small thing or is it a big thing? 624 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:15,500 DePaul little no significance for that matter. 625 00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:18,600 I'm not concerned if you judge me or for human courts. 626 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:21,800 Judge, I know this one thing that there's a day coming in 627 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:23,800 which God will validate my Ministry. 628 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:27,400 God will put a ribbon so to speak on my efforts and my Works 629 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:30,900 in my life. So Corinthians, measure me up to 630 00:37:30,900 --> 00:37:32,600 these false teachers Corinthians. 631 00:37:32,900 --> 00:37:34,700 You can line me up to any other person. 632 00:37:34,700 --> 00:37:36,200 You don't think I'm a good speaker. 633 00:37:36,300 --> 00:37:38,200 That's fine. You think that I'm a better 634 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:40,000 writer than I do and that's okay. 635 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:42,000 If you're not impressed with this, you're not impressed with 636 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:45,000 my looks, you're not impressing my eloquence, that's totally. 637 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:50,700 Alright, what you say is very small to me, but what God says 638 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:54,300 is everything and that's what I'm ultimately living for. 639 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:58,300 So, here's a very practical thing if you and I want to test 640 00:37:58,300 --> 00:38:01,800 our works, Paul says it in one simple, verse in a specific 641 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,600 context of First Corinthians 11 31, he goes. 642 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:08,000 But if we had judged ourselves, we ourselves would not be 643 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:11,600 judged. He's saying that in light of 644 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:14,500 approaching the Lord's table, he goes, examine your heart before 645 00:38:14,500 --> 00:38:16,100 you come and partake of communion. 646 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:20,100 Lest you be judged by coming flippantly to this holy 647 00:38:20,100 --> 00:38:22,600 ordinance. And I think that's a principle 648 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,800 not just for the Lord's table, but for everything. 649 00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:29,600 If I had judged myself before performing something or before 650 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:33,200 doing something or continually evaluating my day-to-day life, I 651 00:38:33,207 --> 00:38:35,200 would not be judged. It's as simple as that. 652 00:38:35,300 --> 00:38:38,000 All the Lord is asking you and I to do is to look into our hearts 653 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:39,800 and say, why am I really doing this? 654 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:41,800 Why am I really talking, like this? 655 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:43,800 Why am I really serving in this way? 656 00:38:43,900 --> 00:38:47,000 Why am I displaying myself in such a manner? 657 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:53,100 And if we judge ourselves, And see those things in our hearts 658 00:38:53,100 --> 00:38:55,900 that are not truly for God's glory of God's praise. 659 00:38:56,100 --> 00:38:56,700 You know. Awesome. 660 00:38:56,700 --> 00:38:59,800 God has you and I can come into a place in which we open our 661 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:01,600 hearts before him with those motivations. 662 00:39:01,900 --> 00:39:04,000 And God says, thank you for coming to me and I let me wash 663 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:08,700 your feet. Let me sanctify your motives and 664 00:39:08,700 --> 00:39:11,200 let me sanctify your hard. Let me sanctify your mind. 665 00:39:13,500 --> 00:39:16,000 It's going to be a struggle, but bring it before the Lord and let 666 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:17,200 him wash it. And guess what? 667 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:21,600 He does not just washes it. He builds in you, he builds 668 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:27,300 within you. A concrete desire, more and more 669 00:39:27,300 --> 00:39:31,300 as the days go by to realize, it's simply for him, it's simply 670 00:39:31,300 --> 00:39:35,100 for him. Am I measuring my life? 671 00:39:35,100 --> 00:39:37,600 According to God's word? Am I motivated to live in a 672 00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:42,200 certain way? But with the wrong motive, 673 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:46,700 Lastly. And my set on living 674 00:39:46,700 --> 00:39:51,900 consistently in Good Works. Here's our last scripture Titus 675 00:39:51,900 --> 00:39:56,600 Chapter 3 Verse 8, Look up. Paul says here. 676 00:39:58,900 --> 00:40:03,600 Titus 3 and 8. The saying is trustworthy and I 677 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:05,300 want you to insist on these things. 678 00:40:05,300 --> 00:40:08,600 He's talking to a pastor named Titus, he's saying Titus, when 679 00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:10,600 you preach, can you bring this up a lot? 680 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:13,500 I want you to bring this up a lot in your sermons. 681 00:40:13,900 --> 00:40:17,300 I want you to insist, I want you to hammer this point for your 682 00:40:17,300 --> 00:40:19,900 people to hear. What are we supposed to insist 683 00:40:19,900 --> 00:40:22,700 on that? Those who have believed in God, 684 00:40:22,700 --> 00:40:29,800 may be careful to devote themselves to Good Works. so, 685 00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:34,300 Pastor tea, Could you make sure that your congregation 686 00:40:34,500 --> 00:40:38,300 continually hears from your mouth through the word of God? 687 00:40:38,300 --> 00:40:41,300 That if they've chosen to believe in God that they have 688 00:40:41,300 --> 00:40:45,000 the responsibility to be careful to make sure that not just in 689 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:49,300 one season but in all seasons I am swimming in. 690 00:40:49,300 --> 00:40:52,900 Good Works. Why would he have to give that 691 00:40:52,900 --> 00:40:55,200 instruction? Because we can have a season of 692 00:40:55,200 --> 00:41:00,700 that and then offer sudden lose it, walk away from it and what 693 00:41:00,700 --> 00:41:05,200 we can do is that our works were there and then for a good 694 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:08,400 portion of Our Lives Are not there. 695 00:41:08,500 --> 00:41:11,800 And when it comes to our works being tested, there was so much 696 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:14,200 that God wanted us to do. There was so much that God 697 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:16,900 wanted us to develop in. There's so much gifting that God 698 00:41:16,900 --> 00:41:19,100 wanted us to mature it. But because we've not been 699 00:41:19,100 --> 00:41:21,400 careful to give ourselves to these things. 700 00:41:22,100 --> 00:41:24,200 The measure of our reward will not be as great. 701 00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:27,900 I must be careful. I must watch my life. 702 00:41:27,900 --> 00:41:31,200 Listen, because you and I both know this. 703 00:41:32,900 --> 00:41:35,100 That when we come to the Lord, It's All About the Lord. 704 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:40,200 My life is rearranged, but that can start in such a way but not 705 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:43,100 finish it. So he says, keep a watch on 706 00:41:43,100 --> 00:41:45,300 yourself in All Seasons. Some of you in here, you're in 707 00:41:45,300 --> 00:41:48,600 different seasons than others and that requires you to, maybe 708 00:41:48,600 --> 00:41:52,800 pull back a little bit more, but that doesn't mean that you don't 709 00:41:52,800 --> 00:41:56,100 in your mind. Still give God what you can give 710 00:41:56,100 --> 00:42:00,400 him and plan for the future. I love when I meet a Christian 711 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:03,300 couple, that has a young family. I love when I hear from a 712 00:42:03,308 --> 00:42:06,700 husband and a wife that they are planning where to live, they're 713 00:42:06,700 --> 00:42:09,100 planning their jobs, everything around, how they're going to 714 00:42:09,100 --> 00:42:12,700 solve serve the local church. How are we going to serve God as 715 00:42:12,700 --> 00:42:13,900 a family? How are we going to give him? 716 00:42:13,900 --> 00:42:16,800 What we can give him? And so marriage. 717 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:20,500 Didn't change that. Children didn't change that new 718 00:42:20,500 --> 00:42:21,700 job. Didn't change. 719 00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:25,900 That We must be careful because Seasons come and go and they 720 00:42:25,908 --> 00:42:29,400 require different timing and different energy and different 721 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:30,500 Focus. That's fine. 722 00:42:30,500 --> 00:42:33,800 And God is so gracious. But in my life, may everything 723 00:42:33,800 --> 00:42:36,800 be planned and surrounded around how I can serve him with the 724 00:42:36,808 --> 00:42:38,100 gift things that he has given me. 725 00:42:38,500 --> 00:42:40,600 Why? Look what he says, these things 726 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:43,100 are excellent and profitable for people. 727 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:47,000 Because the reason why I want you to be careful is because 728 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:50,600 there's so much benefit for people, which people number one, 729 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:52,100 for the very ones that are doing The Works. 730 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:57,600 Can we all testify in this place that the greatest joy and the 731 00:42:57,607 --> 00:43:00,100 greatest sense of purpose and the greatest sense of excitement 732 00:43:00,100 --> 00:43:03,200 is when you and I know we're serving God, there's nothing 733 00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:06,200 that can compare to that when you and I are doing something 734 00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:08,400 with the knowledge that it's advancing, the kingdom of God 735 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:12,200 with a certain degree, that is excellent to us and it is 736 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:15,800 profitable for our own souls and for our own Lines of her own 737 00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:18,400 sense of being and not just for me. 738 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:23,200 But for others who are receiving the works that I am giving it's 739 00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:27,500 a process, you will fail to see that sometimes you fail to see 740 00:43:27,500 --> 00:43:30,000 how it is profitable, and excellent for both yourself and 741 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:32,400 for others. So be careful and determined 742 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:35,500 that I am willing to be consistent in this thing walking 743 00:43:35,500 --> 00:43:39,300 out with the Lord day by day, my character, and my Ministry. 744 00:43:40,500 --> 00:43:43,800 So, that I have a full platter of fruit to give him at the end 745 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:48,400 of the road. Let each one test his own work 746 00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:51,900 because we will all have a burden to bear for ourselves and 747 00:43:51,900 --> 00:43:54,300 in the end, bring to the Lord himself. 748 00:43:55,800 --> 00:43:58,100 And if you, and I simply asked those questions throughout our 749 00:43:58,100 --> 00:44:01,500 lives, we can make sure that when we stand before him, he 750 00:44:01,500 --> 00:44:03,800 will look at us and say you bore it. 751 00:44:03,800 --> 00:44:07,400 Well, well done, you didn't compare yourself. 752 00:44:08,300 --> 00:44:12,200 You stay to the word the motives, when I bit into that 753 00:44:12,200 --> 00:44:14,400 fruit because sometimes people have fruit and outside, it looks 754 00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:15,900 well. But when you bite into that 755 00:44:15,900 --> 00:44:17,600 peach, it's all black and rotten inside. 756 00:44:17,600 --> 00:44:20,400 He goes, no, but I see your motives and it was for my glory. 757 00:44:21,900 --> 00:44:24,200 And lastly, you came with a lifelong? 758 00:44:27,100 --> 00:44:31,500 Servanthood. And fruit. 759 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:35,700 You didn't give up, you didn't turn aside, you didn't have it 760 00:44:35,700 --> 00:44:38,700 for a season and for most of the rest of your life, you walked 761 00:44:38,700 --> 00:44:40,300 away from it. It's all here. 762 00:44:40,300 --> 00:44:42,800 You finished. Well, that's it. 763 00:44:44,100 --> 00:44:47,100 And the way you and I will be reward will blow our minds based 764 00:44:47,100 --> 00:44:49,400 on our faithfulness, it'll be amazing. 765 00:44:51,800 --> 00:44:54,300 Now, Paul is about to go into some more practical, teaching 766 00:44:54,300 --> 00:44:58,000 concerning this law. Not just the law of bearing. 767 00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:01,400 One another's burdens, but the law of sowing and reaping, it's 768 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:03,100 a law. Just like gravity is a law. 769 00:45:03,100 --> 00:45:07,500 What I put into something, I will eventually reap, but that's 770 00:45:07,500 --> 00:45:09,100 for another message for another time. 771 00:45:09,300 --> 00:45:14,400 Let's pray Lord. In this moment, we choose to 772 00:45:14,400 --> 00:45:19,600 test their own works. And the floor. 773 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:22,100 We've been looking at another disciple rather than looking, at 774 00:45:22,100 --> 00:45:27,000 you, forgive us and Lord, if we've been doing something for a 775 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:29,600 long period of time for the wrong reason, forgive us. 776 00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:34,400 And Lord if we've lost our Zeal for good works and I've kind of 777 00:45:34,500 --> 00:45:37,100 walked away from the ambition and the pursuit of serving you 778 00:45:37,107 --> 00:45:42,800 with our lives, forgive us. Wash your feet again. 779 00:45:45,200 --> 00:45:48,500 And we pray and ask that you would receive our works as 780 00:45:48,500 --> 00:45:51,600 something that would be fragrant that our lives would be an 781 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:55,200 incense unto you. And Lord help us hear the words 782 00:45:55,200 --> 00:46:00,400 that you gave at the end of The Book of John, you, follow me.