1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:08,119 This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Clark 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:12,240 Wofford, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland, 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:16,400 County of Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Clark as he 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,720 continues teaching through God's Word. 5 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,880 We're all so self focused. Unfortunately, and we're all so 6 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,240 easily offended and the Bible tells us that love is not easily 7 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,200 offended, but we unfortunately outside of having the love. 8 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,600 Of God working in our life, we get offended over the most 9 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,320 ridiculous. Things don't we? 10 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,440 Sometimes people won't talk in a family for years and they can't 11 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,320 even remember at times why they don't talk anymore because it's 12 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,160 such a stupid thing. Well, why didn't you talk to 13 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:07,480 your dad all these years? Or your mom or whatever? 14 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:09,880 Picture this. You find yourself in a Little 15 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:11,560 Mix up with someone you care about. 16 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,240 Sometimes, rather than patching things up, you let your pride 17 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,120 take the wheel and end up causing them pain. 18 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,080 Your ego can cause some serious emotional damage. 19 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,120 How often do you find yourself choosing to forgive and move on? 20 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,880 Today, Pastor Clark shares a heartfelt message about the 21 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,160 importance of embracing humility in your life. 22 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,120 God decided to wipe the slate clean for your sins. 23 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,720 How about doing the same with your loved ones now? 24 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:44,840 Here's Pastor Clark in Acts Chapter 15 as he begins his 25 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,760 message ministry. Leadership fallout. 26 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,720 We are in the book of Acts turn there in your Bibles Acts 27 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,440 chapter 15 and. Title The message today. 28 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,560 Is ministry leadership fallout? So. 29 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:04,800 Let's pray as we open our Bibles to Acts chapter 15, verses 36 30 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,040 through the end of that chapter. Father. 31 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,960 God, we thank you this morning. For your word, we thank you, for 32 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,280 the body of Christ, we thank you for a body of believers around 33 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,920 the earth today, Lord, and churches everywhere that are 34 00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:20,560 true to your word, that are more desperate than ever, Father. 35 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,840 For change. Not any change in our country, 36 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,720 but change in the hearts of the human race, Lord. 37 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,960 And we know the only thing that can change a heart is the word 38 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,320 of God as you transform us as you convict. 39 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,680 Us as you teach. Us, Lord, your ways and Lord we 40 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,240 come to the acknowledgement and conclusion that Lord, we are. 41 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,600 All fallen people and we. Need a savior? 42 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,720 We need someone to deliver us from ourselves and this morning 43 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,240 as we look at the text, Father we. 44 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,560 Pray you would teach us about. The importance of reconciliation 45 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,920 and how we're to forgive and how Lord were to be. 46 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,760 First reconciled to. You and then Lord. 47 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,440 By your spirit of. Grace being reconciled to one 48 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,320 another. And so, Lord, guide us, help us, 49 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,880 Holy Spirit, teach. Us not only to. 50 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,080 Understand these things intellectually, but experience 51 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,400 them in our daily life to live them out. 52 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,480 To be doers of the word and not hear only bless all those you've 53 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,120 brought today and may you be glorified in everything we do. 54 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:27,000 In Jesus name we pray, Amen. So let me read these verses that 55 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,080 we're going to look at today and then we'll begin to make some 56 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,040 comments. This is. 57 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:36,120 The challenge of life. And challenge of ministry that 58 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,320 I'm thankful. That in the Bible it teaches us 59 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,800 about how to deal with conflict and how to deal with. 60 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:47,560 Challenges of relationships. God doesn't skip over anything 61 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,040 that we might. Have to deal with as. 62 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,720 Human beings he addresses everything in the Bible and how 63 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,640 we can become more like Christ and so they had this finished 64 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:02,600 some wonderful conversation the. Apostles and the Elders. 65 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,560 In the Church of Jerusalem, they were having a conflict with the 66 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,000 Judaizers who were pushing the need to be. 67 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,440 Circumcised to be saved. Obviously there's nothing that 68 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,520 anybody needs to do to. Be saved other than to believe 69 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,880 on the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible says we shall be saved 70 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:23,040 and. So they were going to report to 71 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,440 the churches on the second missionary journey. 72 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,000 Paul and Barnabas were going to head out and follow up churches 73 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,800 they had visited. About five years previous at 74 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,560 this. Point to see how they were 75 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,840 doing, but some difficulty occurred and so I'll start with 76 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:41,360 verse 36. Then after some days, Paul said 77 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,200 to Barnabas, Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every 78 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,920 city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how 79 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,440 they are doing now. Barnabas was determined to take 80 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,120 with them. John called Mark, but Paul. 81 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,440 Insisted that they should not take with. 82 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,400 Them, the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia. 83 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,880 And that. Not gone with them to the work. 84 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,920 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one 85 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,520 another. And so Barnabas took Mark and 86 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,480 sailed to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and 87 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,480 departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 88 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,960 And he went through Syria and Cecilia, strengthening the 89 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:27,120 churches. A tragic encounter here with 90 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:28,680 two. Brothers who loved each other 91 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,320 deeply, who served the Lord together faithfully for many 92 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,960 years. Barnabas word is encourager. 93 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:38,680 That's the definition, the meaning of the. 94 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,320 Word Barnabas and encourager he was a great encouragement to 95 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:46,760 Paul and now they had this disagreement now when you. 96 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,280 Read the commentaries about why this could have happened or how 97 00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:53,880 it happened or what was the purpose of this happening some. 98 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:58,200 People say, well, this is just God's sovereign plan to get the 99 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,480 gospel spread out with more people than this Paul and 100 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,400 Barnabas going together. Now there will be two teams. 101 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,240 And so that's one way that some people can look at it. 102 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,800 But I've come to understand personally, as a pastor of 26 103 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,240 years, that we all. Fail. 104 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,680 As leaders, we all make mistakes. 105 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,520 Things we say and do that we regret, that we can't take back. 106 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,280 But that doesn't mean that. There isn't a possibility by the 107 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:28,440 Spirit of God and the grace of God to be reconciled. 108 00:06:28,840 --> 00:06:33,360 To anyone that we might have stumbled or discouraged or was a 109 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,320 bad witness or testimony. Before in this case, both 110 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,920 Barnabas and Saul, Paul the Apostle are not great 111 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,800 testimonies. I talked to a lot of pastors. 112 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:50,040 Around the world, friends, others who have been in ministry 113 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,600 for a long time. That say this is one of the more 114 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,960 difficult times in the history of the church in the evangelical 115 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:01,120 world to be a pastor. Than ever before, there's many 116 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:05,480 contentions and disagreements. Among believers, whether it's 117 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:12,440 cultural things, moral things, political things, medical. 118 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:17,040 Things this unbelievable difficulties and challenges. 119 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,440 There's been more. Pastors who have resigned over 120 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,960 the last several years. Than probably any other time in 121 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,320 the history of the modern evangelical church. 122 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,480 I visited a church just to go take a tour of it as I was on 123 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,080 business. I went in and it's a very large 124 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:35,840 church. At the peak of their growth, 125 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:40,080 they had over 3000 people coming every Sunday to hear the Word 126 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,120 and people getting saved and baptized and discipled. 127 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,880 Now they have less than 2000 people over. 1/3 of the. 128 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,600 Congregation as left and no longer attends the church or 129 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,560 goes to the church. Some people have decided that 130 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:57,640 the way they do churches online and some people have to do 131 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:01,160 church online because of health issues I understand or distance 132 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,360 issues, but. God has called us to assemble 133 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:10,320 together physically. He told us not to, not to stay 134 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,280 away from the church or to stay away from one another. 135 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:19,000 We're to be with one another, to worship and honor the Lord, and 136 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,400 to be in the Word together. And to learn how to do life 137 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,960 together. No matter what the conflicts 138 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,800 might be, we're working through a book together as leaders right 139 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:35,159 now in regard to ministry itself and leading the church with 140 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:41,840 grace and very divisive times. And so we have to learn when we 141 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,360 read the Scriptures, what it is that the Holy Spirit wants us to 142 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,200 understand. It's interesting as we read 143 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,960 these. Verses today that when Paul and 144 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,440 Barnabas were having an argument, they didn't ask for 145 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,200 any. Input from the. 146 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,320 Rest of the council, the other elders. 147 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,760 They earlier had gone to Jerusalem when there was a 148 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,800 disagreement about this issue of circumcision and the Gentiles 149 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,160 being forced to be circumcised in order to be. 150 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:11,360 Saved from the Judaizers and their position on what they 151 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,920 thought salvation entailed, they prayed. 152 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:16,920 They met together. They discussed there was 153 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:21,520 contentious argument during that time, but the truth ruled. 154 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:27,480 Out and they gave the council that together they were to deal 155 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:32,760 with this issue of legalism in the church in a gracious way. 156 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,960 It's interesting when Paul and Barnabas started having problems 157 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,800 about John Mark. That they didn't say, well, you 158 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,640 know, first of all, we should pray about this together. 159 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,160 We should get some input from some of the other brothers that 160 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,000 we just are with here in Jerusalem. 161 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,360 How do we deal with this conflict in our relationship? 162 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:53,080 We've been together all these years. 163 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,360 God's used us. Many people have come to know 164 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,040 Christ. And now we're getting mad and 165 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:00,840 our pride is in the way. And we're not allowing the 166 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,400 Spirit of God to control our hearts. 167 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:08,680 So there was much dispute. This wasn't a simple issue here 168 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:14,320 and there was problems between both of them in their. 169 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,200 Hearts at this time. So you might say, well, who is 170 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,600 wrong in this contention? Was it? 171 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,440 Paul. Or was it Barnabas more than the 172 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,320 other person? Or was it both of them together? 173 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:33,640 This confrontation became so sharp that they actually stopped 174 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:34,880 on ministry. Together. 175 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:39,120 And this happens in just about any kind of church you've 176 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,360 probably ever been in. You see people that used to be 177 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,560 there that served. That loved one another. 178 00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:47,720 They're no longer there. Or you see the doors shut of 179 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,720 churches. That used to be very vibrant, 180 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,320 but because of contention and arguments and. 181 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,840 Inability to be reconciled. The work of God is is thwarted 182 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,880 and and destroyed. And we know who's behind all 183 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,840 that. It's the evil one who wants to 184 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,320 scatter the sheep. Destroy your life as a 185 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,800 Christian. Destroy the integrity of the 186 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,000 body of. Christ and close churches down 187 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:16,200 this heated disagreement. This difference of opinion was 188 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,120 basically a difference of opinion. 189 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,040 Paul didn't like John Mark for whatever reason anymore. 190 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,480 Didn't want to give. Him a chance Barnabas was 191 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:26,520 related. To John. 192 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,440 Mark and he had a heart for him. He saw the. 193 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,960 Potential in him what's interesting is in spite of 194 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,480 everything that happened in this section of scripture, eventually 195 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:40,360 John Mark. Was reconciled to Paul, and Paul 196 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,200 said later on in one of his epistles, Please send John, he's 197 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,920 needful to me. And so there was that beauty of 198 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,760 reconciliation. Eventually it tells us in 199 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,640 Proverbs 1310. Only by pride cometh contention, 200 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,800 but with the well advised is wisdom, and so we see here that 201 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,760 there's pride. In the Apostle Paul's life. 202 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:08,400 And there's pride also in Barnabas life, God tells us in 203 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,000 the book of Proverbs chapter 6, verse 16 through 19. 204 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:16,600 These six things the Lord hates. Yeah, they are an abomination 205 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:21,560 unto him, A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent 206 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:25,800 blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that 207 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:30,160 be swift and running to mischief, a false witness that 208 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:34,120 speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the 209 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,520 brethren. So we see this disagreement 210 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:40,680 between people, in this instance Paul and Barnabas, leaders of 211 00:12:40,680 --> 00:12:44,160 the church. I was thinking as I was studying 212 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,880 this, what scriptures did they have access? 213 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:52,440 To in regard to dealing with conflict up until this point, 214 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:54,520 well. We know that Jesus taught 215 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,760 clearly in the Beatitudes. How we're to live out our faith 216 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:03,440 and how we're to live in regard to conflict that arises in our 217 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:05,720 life. The Beatitudes were. 218 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,040 Responsible to help. Us to understand how to have. 219 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,840 A blessed. And a happy life, it says, 220 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:16,160 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of 221 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,400 God. Being poor in spirit is to be 222 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:24,000 humble, to acknowledge our own shortcomings, and to have 223 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:30,440 humility in the opposition of pride, the sin that comes before 224 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,320 the fall. Humility is always rooted. 225 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:39,680 In forgiveness and this desire to be at peace, that's the first 226 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:43,120 beatitude that Christ. Gave this is how he has been 227 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:47,040 toward us. Jesus, the lover of my soul. 228 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:53,200 Jesus, I will never let you go. You've taken me from the miry 229 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,840 clay. You lifted me up. 230 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,200 And the Lord. Wants us to be this way with one 231 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:04,680 another and we all fall so short in actually doing this this 232 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:07,480 morning I'm sure there's not one of us here who has not 233 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,960 experienced conflict in our lives, whether it's in our 234 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:15,400 marriages with our children, our family, our neighbors, our. 235 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:20,280 Co laborers in the ministry at work, it's everywhere and. 236 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:24,240 Unfortunately, I find that conflict is never really dealt 237 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,600 with in a biblical way. Usually it could. 238 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,720 Be someone in the church that's upset about something, about 239 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,480 someone who said. Something or did something and 240 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,800 they decide they're not going to go to the church anymore because 241 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,760 one person maybe didn't say hi to them or didn't smile at them. 242 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:46,160 Or wasn't pleasant toward them? I mean we're all so self focused 243 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,600 unfortunately. And we're all so easily 244 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,560 offended. The Bible tells us that love is 245 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,600 not easily offended, but we unfortunately outside of. 246 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,000 Having the love of God working in our life, we get offended 247 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,280 over the most ridiculous. Things don't we sometimes. 248 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,640 People. Won't talk in a family for years 249 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,440 and they can't even remember at times why they don't talk 250 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,440 anymore because it's such a stupid thing. 251 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,400 Well, why didn't you talk to your dad all these years or your 252 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,600 mom or whatever? Well, to be honest with you, I 253 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,600 can't remember. I just knew we fought about 254 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,040 something, we were upset and I can't even remember what it is 255 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:22,280 anymore. Isn't that sad? 256 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,520 And so the Lord looks at these things and wonders, you know, 257 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,200 how can we call ourselves as followers and we behave this 258 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,000 way. Blessed are they that mourn, for 259 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,520 they shall be comforted. Mourning is this morning over my 260 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:41,760 own sins, the sins of the world and the suffering. 261 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,960 That other people go through that should break us and make us 262 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,360 sad. And make us prayerful that we 263 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:53,320 want to see situations change and reconcile first in our own 264 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:57,280 heart with the Lord, and then in our hearts with one another, and 265 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,320 then our hearts in this broken world. 266 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,560 If we as believers. Can't forgive one another in 267 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,760 this. World, How in the world can we 268 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:09,120 reach lost pagans and people that are really out there that 269 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,440 are doing everything that would offend us as human beings? 270 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,200 How can we have love in our hearts to take the gospel, the 271 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:20,440 people that really need Jesus, if we can't live out the gospel 272 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,440 with one another as Christians? There's a movie coming out in 273 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,320 February called The Jesus Revolution and it's on the. 274 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,920 History of the Calvary Chapel movement. 275 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:32,800 Kelsey Grammar. The guy that played and cheers, 276 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,040 you remember him. He plays a part of Chuck Smith 277 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:40,080 of all people and but anyway, this is a phenomenal film about 278 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,280 this little. Church called Calvary Chapel. 279 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:44,560 That was. Dying because of religion and 280 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:46,560 self righteousness and. All the. 281 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,120 Suits and the ties and. Everybody thought that because 282 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,120 of the way they. Looked outwardly, they were 283 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:52,320 acceptable. God. 284 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,760 Inwardly, hippies started coming to this church because they were 285 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,480 in desperate need of a savior. They were broken people. 286 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,280 Their lives were messed up and ruined because of sin. 287 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,079 Chuck didn't know how to deal with it when they started coming 288 00:17:04,079 --> 00:17:06,359 in and some of the wealthy people in the church said if 289 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:07,880 these. Kind of people come to our 290 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:09,119 church. The people. 291 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:12,040 That support this church financially will no longer be in 292 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,480 this church. Chuck took a deep breath and 293 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,079 swallowed. And said, I understand, but he 294 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:20,240 didn't know what to do. And finally this one young 295 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,440 hippie came to him and looked him straight in the eye and 296 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:28,600 said, Pastor Chuck, someone has to be willing to love people 297 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:32,720 that are not easy to love. Someone has to be willing to 298 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,600 give them a chance and invite them in, in spite of the way 299 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,760 they look and the way they dress and the things they've done. 300 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,400 Chuck heard this young man started getting choked up, 301 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,680 excuse himself, moved away to go wash his hands at the sink, 302 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:49,480 thinking about what was being said to him by. 303 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,120 This hippie who had just recently. 304 00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:55,240 Become saved he then made the decision that he. 305 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,280 Was going to open the doors to whoever wanted to come into the 306 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,120 church regardless of the outcome. 307 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:02,560 And he told the. Congregation that the door 308 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,880 swings both ways. The door swings inwardly for 309 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,560 those who are broken. For those who are easily 310 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:12,400 offended, the door swings the other way for them to leave and 311 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:14,080 so. Some of those people got up and 312 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,840 left and never came back. But what happened because of 313 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:21,480 this brokenness in this one pastor's heart, which I need in 314 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:25,120 my own? Life, as we all need, is to be 315 00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:27,800 at the point in our lives as Christians that we're not 316 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:31,960 letting things get in the way of what's most important, and 317 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,040 that's our relationship to Jesus. 318 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,360 And our. Love for one another, Jesus 319 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:39,720 said. By this people will know that 320 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:44,160 you're my disciples, not by your understanding of doctrine, which 321 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,920 is important, by the teaching in the Bible, which is also 322 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,880 critically important, but he said by the love you have for 323 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,760 one another. By this, people will know 324 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,840 you're. My disciples, what would 325 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:03,560 Barnabas and Saul say Paul say to those who would ask them? 326 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:08,200 Where's Barnabas now, Paul? What would they have said? 327 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,360 Well, we had an argument. And then the. 328 00:19:10,360 --> 00:19:12,640 Christians would say, well you guys are supposed to be. 329 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,160 Leading us on how? To be Christians and how to act 330 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,120 as Christians. And you guys can't? 331 00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:21,720 Get along together anymore. That's a That's a bad situation, 332 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,080 isn't it? It's not acceptable. 333 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:28,080 The Bible doesn't go into great detail on this, but later on it 334 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,920 goes into great detail and how Paul taught about dealing with 335 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,040 conflict because I'm sure he never forgot about this 336 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,040 situation that occurred in his life. 337 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,760 It was a a mark in his ministry, a bad mark in his ministry. 338 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:45,200 It says blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. 339 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:50,000 The meek are the humble people, obedient and submissive to the 340 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,240 will of God. Jesus was meek and humble of 341 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,560 heart, it tells. Us in Matthew 1129. 342 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,360 He's learned of me. For I am meek and lowly of 343 00:19:58,360 --> 00:20:01,120 heart, and you will find rest into your soul. 344 00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:07,200 The only way that we can become like Christ is to become humble 345 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,640 and to meet our mistakes and our wrongdoings. 346 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:16,400 And ask for forgiveness. To those we have. 347 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,720 Perhaps hurt and offended, Blessed are the merciful, for 348 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,720 they shall receive mercy. And boy, do we need mercy. 349 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:28,760 Lord have mercy on us, the publican said. 350 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:30,760 Lord, have mercy upon me, this Sinner. 351 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,400 He wasn't judging the self-righteous person that 352 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,360 didn't think he had any problems, he was looking at his 353 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:42,360 own need of mercy. It tells us in the book of 354 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:47,680 Leviticus, you shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge 355 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:51,360 against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbors 356 00:20:51,360 --> 00:20:53,000 yourself. I am the Lord. 357 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,400 That's straight from the scriptures. 358 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:58,360 That we're to love our neighbors. 359 00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:02,640 We love ourselves. Ephesians 430. 360 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:08,000 One and 32 says And let all bitterness and wrath and clamor 361 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,520 and evil speaking be put away from you. 362 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,160 Anybody ever have any problem with any of those things? 363 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:21,560 Be kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as 364 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,920 God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 365 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:31,120 I mean, who am I to hold a grudge or be bitter or 366 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:37,000 unforgiving against anybody for what the Lord has done for me 367 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:41,760 and what He's done for you? This is the heart of the church. 368 00:21:42,120 --> 00:21:46,640 Forgiveness. We preach forgiveness of sins 369 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:49,720 through the death, burial and resurrection and. 370 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:53,560 Shed blood of Jesus Christ. But how do we live out this 371 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,560 forgiveness? It says in the Beatitudes, 372 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,720 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of 373 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:05,040 God, a peacemaker, someone who can step between two warring 374 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,160 parties. The peacemaker initiates 375 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,280 reconciliation when others have. Wronged them the. 376 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:15,400 Peacemaker is quick to repent when they have wounded others, 377 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:17,760 so we're. All to be peacemakers, aren't 378 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,400 we? Christ is the ultimate 379 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,000 peacemaker. He stands between US. 380 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,120 And God the Father and through. What he's done on the. 381 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:27,560 Cross for us. He made it possible. 382 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,680 For us to not be at. War with God anymore? 383 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:36,520 Because of our sin in Jesus own words in John 1335. 384 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:40,640 By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you 385 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:45,480 have loved one for another. I struggle at times when people 386 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:46,960 come to our. Church for the first. 387 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,520 Time I find out like. Hey, nice to see. 388 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:50,840 You where you from where you've been? 389 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:52,240 I always love it when they say, well we. 390 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,000 Moved and we used to go to a really good. 391 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,400 Church in some other state, and we're here now, and we want to 392 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:57,920 come here because the Bible's taught. 393 00:22:58,360 --> 00:23:00,680 I love that. But if they're at the door and 394 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,680 says, well, let me tell you, we were at such and such a church 395 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,360 and the pastor did this or I don't want to hear any of that 396 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,120 because I'm thinking it won't be too long before they're leaving. 397 00:23:10,120 --> 00:23:11,680 You're saying that about me, right? 398 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:13,720 I mean, none of us are perfect, right? 399 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,440 And there's always going to be something, no matter what church 400 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:19,360 you go to, where you find that there's going to be some kind of 401 00:23:19,360 --> 00:23:21,480 issue you got to either deal with or. 402 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,240 You know not deal. With I guess and. 403 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:29,960 So when does the? Migration of Christians begin to 404 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,200 end. Probably not until Christ comes 405 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,520 and sets up his Kingdom on earth and he rules and he's the pastor 406 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:39,920 and we're sitting at his feet. But when would end this 407 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:43,280 migration from one church to the next church to the next church 408 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:45,760 to the next church? How many churches do we have to 409 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,120 move to before we realize that the problem isn't really the 410 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:51,040 church? The problem is my own heart 411 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,600 usually and how I deal with conflict. 412 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:58,920 Or don't deal with conflict. For joining us on this journey 413 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,440 through Acts on today's edition of Living Waters of Grace, 414 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,400 Pastor Clark shares that one of the most remarkable things about 415 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,320 the book of Acts is how it shows the disciples transformation. 416 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:15,240 The followers of Jesus we meet here are very different from the 417 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:19,040 often confused and fearful disciples in the Gospels. 418 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:23,120 After Jesus's death and resurrection, and especially 419 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:27,320 through the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostles experienced 420 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:30,800 a profound change in their hearts and boldness. 421 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,640 Their faith became unwavering, and they move forward with 422 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:38,800 courage to spread the gospel despite opposition and hardship. 423 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:43,560 Acts reminds us that the same Spirit who empowered them is at 424 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:48,280 work in US today, shaping our hearts and giving us strength to 425 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:52,160 live boldly for Christ. Living Waters of Grace is a 426 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,760 ministry of Calvary Chapel Westmoreland. 427 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,400 If you're in the Greensburg, PA area, we invite you to join us 428 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:03,040 this Sunday at 10:30 AM at 400 E Pittsburgh St. 429 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:07,720 Unit 6B. Visit calvarychapelonline.com 430 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,520 For more information where you can also join our e-mail list, 431 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:16,200 submit prayer requests, give online and download our mobile 432 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,680 app. If you are in the Greensburg 433 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:23,160 area, you can listen to Grace FM on the new 91.7 frequency. 434 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,680 Pray about helping support the new station that will reach 435 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:31,160 thousands more listeners. Send gifts to Grace FMPO Box 436 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:37,560 716, Greensburg, PA 15601. If you can join us in person, 437 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,480 you can subscribe to the Calvary Chapel Westmoreland YouTube 438 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:44,160 channel so you'll be alerted when new material becomes 439 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:46,440 available. We're so grateful that you 440 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:50,000 joined us today in Axe TuneIn again soon for another edition 441 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:51,920 of Living Waters of Grace.