1 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,480 Oh, there we are. OK, OK, thank you. 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,280 Well, good morning. We are in the book of First 3 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:13,320 Corinthians today. We're going to finish up First 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:18,920 Corinthians chapter 16, and we'll start Second Corinthians 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,040 next Sunday. I don't know if you noticed in 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:26,360 the news that there was a group of Calvary Chapel people over in 7 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,040 Israel. Didn't anybody see that? 8 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,840 And they were stuck there obviously because of the war and 9 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,400 they weren't able to get out and they were able to get out, I 10 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:38,040 believe yesterday they got home. That was, I'm sure a scary 11 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,840 situation. And they weren't able to use the 12 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:43,680 normal airlines. They had to get a special 13 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:44,880 airlines I guess to get them out. 14 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,080 And it was like 2020, $500 a person. 15 00:00:48,480 --> 00:00:51,520 And so they, they weren't anticipating that expense. 16 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,360 And, and somehow I guess the word got out and the word 17 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,160 provided the, the funds. So they're all home safely. 18 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:01,440 But boy, that would be scary, wouldn't it, being over there on 19 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:05,400 a tourist experience and then having a bombs going off 20 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,840 everywhere. So but we need to continually 21 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:12,960 pray about that war over there. It's very, very challenging for 22 00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:17,000 obviously everybody that's in that region, but also also 23 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,600 having an impact on on the rest of the world. 24 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,480 So Jesus said in the last days, there'll be wars and rumors of 25 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,560 wars, didn't they? And they've been going on ever 26 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,880 since he was on the earth himself. 27 00:01:29,320 --> 00:01:31,480 But they'll increase in frequency. 28 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,080 And prophetically, we don't know where all these things are 29 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:39,440 actually landing right now. There are indications that God 30 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:44,560 is stirring the earth and one of these days the Lord will return. 31 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,960 But in the meantime, we just keep on keeping on, keep living 32 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:52,640 our lives joyfully and trusting God and all the experiences of 33 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:56,200 everyday life and, and pray for all those folks that are are 34 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,520 less fortunate and they're really going through it right 35 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:00,200 now. So let's pray as we begin. 36 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,520 Father, we're thankful today that we are at this point in 37 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,240 time in the country, Lord, where we don't have to worry about 38 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,479 bombs going off or being threatened, the Lord, by any 39 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:11,600 kind of terrorism as far as we know. 40 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,920 We we know, Lord, that you are a keeper and you're our sustainer. 41 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,480 You're the one we look to to trust in with all of our hearts. 42 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,280 And Lord, we pray for Israel. We pray for the regions over 43 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:29,080 there that are being impact by the war and all the people that 44 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,040 are in turmoil. And Lord, we think of the cargo 45 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,880 ships that need to get through the Strait of Hormuz and that's 46 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,240 the challenge right now and how it's impacting a pricing of gas 47 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,800 and other things. Lord, the war effects everyone 48 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,520 everywhere in different ways. We pray, God, for wisdom. 49 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,800 We pray for peace. That's what you tell us to pray 50 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,480 for the peace of Jerusalem. We don't know when that is all 51 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,640 going to calm down, but we pray it would be soon be with our 52 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,080 nation's leaders and our president and all those who make 53 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,560 the decisions. Lord and regard to that 54 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,640 particular situation right now, we, we pray for our leaders as 55 00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:08,760 you tell us to in the Scriptures, God, that you would 56 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,440 grant them wisdom and wisdom and favor and direction and 57 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,160 protection. Lord, and we, we thank you for 58 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:16,680 this morning. Lord, we thank you for the 59 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,640 beautiful day you've given us yesterday with the sunshine and 60 00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:24,040 the 70 almost 80° temperatures. And it was so different a couple 61 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,880 weeks ago. And this amazing father, how 62 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,120 quickly things can change. And so we we have hearts that 63 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,200 are full of thankfulness this morning. 64 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,080 We pray for anyone here today who's going through challenges 65 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,560 and heartaches, through loss of loved ones or issues with 66 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,800 marriages or kids or finances, all the things that health that 67 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,440 at times can impact us. Lord, we hold all these things 68 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,040 up before your throne of grace on behalf of one another. 69 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,560 And we pray, Lord, this morning that your spirit with this guide 70 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,080 us as we conclude this amazing book of First Corinthians. 71 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:02,200 We've learned so much about challenges that churches have 72 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,680 just because we're all people and human and sinful people and, 73 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,960 and Lord, we still struggle. God, and we pray that you would 74 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:14,320 continually help us to love you first of all with all our heart, 75 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,399 soul, mind and strength and to love one another as you've given 76 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,079 us commandment. And so Lord, fill us with your 77 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:24,280 Holy Spirit today again that we would be able to hear the word 78 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:28,160 and and believe again, Lord, what it is that you teach us and 79 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,440 we pray these things in Jesus name, Amen. 80 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:36,000 So First Corinthians 16, we're picking up in verse 5 and it 81 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,440 says now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia. 82 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,680 For I'm passing through Macedonia. 83 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,440 And it may be that I will remain or even spend the winter with 84 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,240 you, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. 85 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,440 For I don't wish to see you now on the way, but I hope to stay 86 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,280 while with you if the Lord permits. 87 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:01,040 But I will tarry an Ephesus until Pentecost, for a great and 88 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:06,400 effective door has opened to me. And there are many adversaries. 89 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,480 So Paul's continually on the move in his missionary journeys. 90 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:14,960 He's obviously at this point in time writing from Ephesus, he 91 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,440 needs to get back to Corinth to, to deal with some issues in the 92 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:22,280 church there and follow up some of the things he spoke about in 93 00:05:22,280 --> 00:05:24,880 the earlier chapters regarding the conflicts that they were 94 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,120 having because of immaturity and not understanding spiritual 95 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,360 gifts and, and that's how to get along. 96 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,920 People in the church weren't really getting along well. 97 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:34,920 And so he was burdened about that. 98 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:40,320 But he's a ways away from that place and he's talking about 99 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,360 taking this trip to Macedonia. And Macedonia is in Greece not 100 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,080 too far, about an hour and a half from Thessaloniki. 101 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,080 So these are the region's initial stages of where the 102 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:54,000 church started and where he served and where he shared the 103 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,520 gospel. So he's talking about the 104 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:00,200 journey and, and he's thinking that it would be good to be able 105 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,240 to stay with them because traveling on the seas at that 106 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:07,080 time of year in the winter would be impossible, very, very life 107 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,160 threatening and dangerous. So he was talking about hanging 108 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:14,520 out with them in in the winter time and, and in Corinth. 109 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:19,560 But again, he was presenting these plans before the people in 110 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,480 a letter so that they would pray for him and that he would be 111 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:30,520 able to take this journey. And the issue with us as human 112 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,240 beings, we always have plans what we want to do, where we 113 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,000 want to go, what we think the Lord wants us to do when he 114 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,680 wants us to do it, careers, marriages, relationships, 115 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:43,120 churches, whatever it might be in our journey in life. 116 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,000 And lots of times we have a tendency to make decisions based 117 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,120 upon our own wisdom, our own strength. 118 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,240 We, we just have an idea and we think, well, that's what I'm 119 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,360 going to do as opposed to running it by the Lord and 120 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,840 asking God what his will is and what he would want us to do. 121 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:04,240 And we're taught that and James that we're supposed to say, God, 122 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,600 you know, show us what it is you want us to do. 123 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,120 And if it's sure, will I'll do it right? 124 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,280 But how many times do we actually wait to get 125 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,240 confirmation that what it is that we're thinking about doing 126 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,880 or planning on doing is actually the Lord's will? 127 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,320 Sometimes we circumvent the Lord's will because we want our 128 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,280 will to be done. And that's usually never going 129 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,560 to be a good way to, to to lead your life. 130 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,240 You want to be led by the Lord, but in order to be led by the 131 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,280 Lord, you have to know the Lord. And in order to be led by the 132 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:39,000 Lord, you have to be able to hear from the Lord. 133 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,760 And so we have to learn to wait on the Lord and wait patiently 134 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,680 for what it is that we sense He's prompting us to do. 135 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:52,000 And I don't know about you, but it's, it's difficult at times to 136 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,960 wait because we're always like full of action and energy. 137 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,360 And I'm going to do this and this is my plans. 138 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,520 I'm going to vacation here and I'm going to buy this or I'm 139 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,880 going to go here and do that. And it's amazing when you think 140 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,920 about life, how little of our lives are actually filtered 141 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,160 through the will of God. Be honest, right? 142 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:14,600 We're we're just human beings and we do things according to 143 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:18,880 our own will so often and we we see that through the Bible many 144 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:22,800 times when things went sideways and and not in a good direction, 145 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,000 it was always because people didn't really wait upon the 146 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:30,440 Lord. And so Paul is really 147 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:35,799 emphasizing here in this chapter after he talks about his plans, 148 00:08:35,799 --> 00:08:39,799 he says, but I hope to stay while while with you, if the 149 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:45,640 Lord permits, and that's a good thing to weighed upon what is 150 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:50,840 the Lord's will? What is he confirming to you 151 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,720 about what it is you think is a good decision. 152 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,440 And if you're married, you should always talk to your 153 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,480 spouse about plans. You shouldn't make plans 154 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,400 independently of one another because that's what creates 155 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:08,560 marriage chaos and bitterness. You should say with your wife or 156 00:09:08,560 --> 00:09:11,840 your husband, Let's pray about this and and see what the Lord 157 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:16,520 wants us to do. And if you do that and you wait 158 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,560 on the Lord, the Lord will truly guide you. 159 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,600 He promises to guide you if you trust in him with all your heart 160 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,840 and not lean into your own understanding and all your ways. 161 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,680 Acknowledge him. Every little thing, acknowledge 162 00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:32,840 him. Is this your will? 163 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:37,880 He says he will direct your paths and boy, that's comforting 164 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:42,560 to know that you're in the center of the will of God and 165 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:44,800 that he's guiding you and he's directing you. 166 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:49,720 And Paul was an example of that kind of lifestyle in his 167 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,520 ministry and in his life. He had so many things on his 168 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,160 heart, so many things he wanted to do, but he he knew they had 169 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:02,120 to be done in God's time and in his way according to his will. 170 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:08,680 And so he says in verse 8 there that I will tarry or wait in 171 00:10:08,680 --> 00:10:12,920 Ephesus until Pentecost for a great and effective door has 172 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,400 opened to me and there are many adversaries. 173 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,600 This is an interesting verse because Ephesus was, as we 174 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:25,240 studied this, a really bad city, a lot of crime and immorality 175 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,160 and this false teaching, and it was just like a epicenter of 176 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:34,600 Pagan lifestyle. And yet Paul saw the opportunity 177 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,520 there because there was a church. 178 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:41,440 It was planted there by him, and Timothy eventually ended up 179 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,640 taking over the responsibility for that church. 180 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:48,840 But Ephesus had so much. It'd be like maybe being in Los 181 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:53,240 Angeles, New York, Vegas, or whatever, like centers of 182 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,520 influence and commerce and entertainment and just a lot of 183 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:02,160 stuff going on at one time. And because of that, masses of 184 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,080 people would be in these places and they would be on the streets 185 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,200 and partying or doing whatever. So Paul, like being an 186 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,160 evangelist and being a missionary, that was like the 187 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,880 ideal place to be, even though it was dangerous and and 188 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,520 godless, it didn't really bother him. 189 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,960 That was just part of like being a follower of Jesus Christ 190 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:22,640 entering into these kind of places. 191 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,600 So he didn't see it as something, oh, it's scary. 192 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,200 I shouldn't do this. I'm afraid I want to go 193 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:29,600 somewhere else where it's easier. 194 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:34,560 It says here that he saw there was a great and effective door 195 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:38,800 that God had opened to him and and there are many adversaries. 196 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:43,680 So there was two sides of the coin, opportunity and adversity. 197 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:48,640 And he didn't look at adversity as being something that wasn't a 198 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,240 good thing. He just recognized adversity is 199 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,400 part of following the Lord. The more you press into wanting 200 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,480 to be used by the Lord and serve Him, it's not an easy path. 201 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:05,280 Now, the Lord will calm the waters and make things possible 202 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,320 and give you the strength and the wisdom and the ability to to 203 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,880 do what He's called you to do. But don't think that that's 204 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:12,640 because you're in the center of God's will. 205 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:14,400 There's not going to be any problems. 206 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,280 That's a real delusion. Many times when you're in the 207 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,880 center of God, will you have many, many more problems And you 208 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,160 think, well, I thought, if I'm in your will, Lord there being 209 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:29,200 everything would be easy and and it will eventually level out. 210 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:35,680 But the warfare that comes at us because we serve God is intense 211 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:38,480 at times. And I was thinking about the 212 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,040 song you guys are singing about break every stronghold. 213 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:46,000 So we're here today, all of us, and some of us have strongholds 214 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:52,160 in our lives. They could be strongholds of all 215 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:57,600 kind of things, addictions. They could be strongholds of 216 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:03,200 relationships of people that drive you crazy and they just 217 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,600 are on your mind all the time and making you upset. 218 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:12,680 They could be strongholds of how do you persevere and work 219 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:18,160 through being able to live and work in an environment that is 220 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,960 not pleasant? How can you break the 221 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:26,080 strongholds of a marriage that is no longer intimate or no 222 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:29,800 longer loving like it was when it first started? 223 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:34,040 Or are breaking strongholds of of children that are just sort 224 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:38,520 of making decisions that don't make sense and strongholds that 225 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:43,600 are political or strongholds that are dealing with issues of 226 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:45,400 morals. There's all these things. 227 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,320 Whatever's in your life today, it's keeping you from the joy of 228 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,480 the Lord and keeping you from the peace of the Lord and 229 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,440 keeping you from actually wanting to really go deeper in 230 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:57,960 the Lord. It's a stronghold. 231 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,880 It's the enemy putting things in front of you and around you to 232 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:05,240 keep you in bondage. So you can't be free. 233 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,160 And the enemy loves to do that. When we first come to Jesus, 234 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,160 Jesus sets us free. That's what's so exciting when 235 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,240 you first get saved and you're born again, right? 236 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,800 And then all of a sudden, like life happens and all of a sudden 237 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,720 attachments start occurring or maybe sinful things come back 238 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:23,560 into your life that you're involved in or participating in. 239 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,680 And all of a sudden you find that you're not free anymore. 240 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,920 You're uptight. You feel like there's all kind 241 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:32,560 of stuff around your, your physical frame and your mind and 242 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,000 your heart and, and you just can't be what God wants you to 243 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,200 be. You, you just are frustrated and 244 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,440 you're angry and you're bitter and you're anxious and you're 245 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:47,880 fearful and you all these emotions that stir up because of 246 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,080 adversity and, and these issues of strongholds. 247 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,880 So Paul recognized in Ephesus there, the adversaries that he 248 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:03,160 was going to confront were people that were in bondage to 249 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,760 what I'm talking about, the enemy being under the control of 250 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:12,920 the evil 1, being addicted to sin, and willfully doing things 251 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:18,200 that we're going to try to make it very difficult for Paul to do 252 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,920 the ministry. And so you're in a city, you're 253 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:25,200 in a family, you're in a business, you're in a job, 254 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:29,240 you're in a community where there's adversaries every day 255 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:33,160 you're going to face them. And how do you work within the 256 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,560 midst of dealing with adversaries? 257 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,000 You just going to say, well, this is just too hard. 258 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,760 I'm not going to do this. I quit or I'm moving or I'm 259 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:46,160 leaving or whatever. And whatever you do to try to 260 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,560 avoid being impacted by adversaries, you're going to 261 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,200 find out that they're everywhere, right? 262 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:56,840 Adversaries are wherever you go and God will give you the wisdom 263 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,840 to know how to circumvent those adversaries and breakthrough 264 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,000 them to be able to do what God's called you to do. 265 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,320 But again, that requires prayer waiting on the Lord Lord, how do 266 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:11,000 I handle this relationship? How do I handle this thing in my 267 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,760 life right now that isn't good? And how do I get rid of it and 268 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:19,360 how do I like get cut set free from it again and it always 269 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,640 comes back to moving back to Jesus again. 270 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:28,080 He, he's the, he's the father waiting for us to come to our 271 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,480 senses and say, you know, the Lord, this isn't working anymore 272 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,720 in my life and I got to make a change, right? 273 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,160 You got to make a change. Remember that song by Michael 274 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,200 Jackson, the man in the mirror? If you want to make a change, 275 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,480 you got to look at yourself in the mirror and make that change, 276 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,440 right? I was in New York and I saw 277 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,880 Michael Jackson on Broadway. Jessica and I were working there 278 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,880 this past week. My daughter went, I said, is 279 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,840 there any good plays in, in, in, in New York? 280 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,600 And, and we read the reviews and there was no immorality in it. 281 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,600 It was just really classic of him when he was a little boy and 282 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:06,920 Jackson 5 singing And I was 18, work in Atlantic City. 283 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,319 And I remember hearing this kid, I said that guy's Got Talent, 284 00:17:10,319 --> 00:17:13,599 that kids Got Talent, right? And boy did he have talent. 285 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:18,440 Number one album of all time. But it was it was sad watching 286 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:23,160 Michael when all his gifting and musical ability, he was in 287 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:27,599 bondage to fear. Fear of his over dominating 288 00:17:27,599 --> 00:17:30,520 father, fear of all the people wanted to control him and 289 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,120 manipulate him and get money from him. 290 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:36,040 And this the guy you know, you know, his story died a 291 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,360 miserable, terrible death from fentanyl. 292 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:45,320 And people are, excuse me, controlled by all kind of stuff 293 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:52,320 in our culture and our society. Pride, self centeredness, ego, 294 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:59,920 all these things that are causing, if you're a Christian, 295 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,800 the Holy Spirit to be grieved and be quenched in your life. 296 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:09,440 And so when Paul's dealing in ministry, whether it's an 297 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,320 Ephesus or Corinth and all the other places he was, or with the 298 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:18,000 Christians in the church in Corinth, he was always called to 299 00:18:18,120 --> 00:18:21,960 preach the gospel #1 so that lost people could get saved. 300 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:27,480 But he was also always talking about repentance so that people 301 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:32,200 could get right with God moment by moment, not letting stuff in 302 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:36,520 their lives just lay there day after day, week after week, 303 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,160 month after month, year after year. 304 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:41,160 And I'm talking about Christians many times where they're in 305 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:46,520 bondage to themselves and no longer enjoying their 306 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:50,640 relationship with Jesus. So I, every time I come to 307 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,800 church on Sunday with you guys, I'm hearing the worship and I'm 308 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,960 thinking about the teaching that they, whoever's teaching me or 309 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:02,800 whoever, where am I at with the Lord today, this moment? 310 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:09,400 Is there anything in my life that's in the way of what God 311 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,960 wants? And if I ask that question and 312 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,920 I'm opening that, the Lord will usually show me some things that 313 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,240 need to be addressed or dealt with in my heart. 314 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:23,440 And I always think about that as I'm sitting here waiting to come 315 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:27,160 and preach. Not information, but hopefully 316 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:32,200 transformation, transformative things from God's Spirit that 317 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:36,440 he'll touch you some way today and he'll be real to you. 318 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,520 He'll he'll manifest himself to you in a very special way 319 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,080 because he loves you and he wants you to leave here 320 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,840 different than you came today for all of us. 321 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,880 And so then I think about the supper we take. 322 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,600 And I don't want to take this out of a tradition or a ritual 323 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,760 or I'm going to take it like I'm communing with God. 324 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,560 I'm breaking bread with the Lord, He's breaking it with me. 325 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,880 I'm breaking it with you. You're breaking it with me. 326 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,120 And that we're one body and that God's healing us. 327 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:10,640 And he's he's. He's changing us. 328 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,000 And he's. He's transforming us and He's 329 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,240 giving us faith to believe Him for things that we need to 330 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,720 believe Him for. And He's given us hope and 331 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,160 situations that seem hopeless at times and that our eyes are on 332 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,320 Him and not the circumstances, not the adversaries, but our 333 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:30,440 eyes are completely on His power and how great He is and what He 334 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,000 wants to do in and through our lives. 335 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:38,920 And so the adversaries, they're always around. 336 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:43,320 And then verse 10 he says, And if Timothy comes, see that he 337 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,920 may be with you without fear, for he does the work of the 338 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:52,320 Lord, as I also do. Therefore let no one despise 339 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,360 him, but send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to 340 00:20:56,360 --> 00:21:00,640 me, for I am waiting for him with the brethren. 341 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,880 Timothy. Paul said there was no one like 342 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:09,360 Timothy. Timothy was the kind of disciple 343 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:11,520 that couldn't get enough of the truth. 344 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,920 He just hung out with Paul all the time. 345 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:18,520 He wanted to know him better. He wanted to know Jesus better. 346 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,480 And he knew that Paul knew Jesus in a very deep way. 347 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:27,840 So Timothy knew that it would be good to be hanging out with with 348 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:32,040 Paul and it would help him to grow in his faith and his 349 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,520 understanding and prepare him for ministry and give him the 350 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:40,240 ability to do ministry. Timothy, Timothy was a young 351 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:44,920 follower of, of Jesus at the time and Paul had to tell him in 352 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,240 first Timothy that no, let no man despise your youth. 353 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:51,480 So we have two pastoral interns here. 354 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:55,720 We have Sam Morris and we have Case and Harrell and they're 355 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:57,880 young guys. One's 28, I believe the other 356 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:02,400 one's 3132 and they're learning how to serve you guys. 357 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,360 They're learning how to teach the word and preach the word. 358 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:08,400 And you'll, you'll see them periodically here on Sundays 359 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:12,600 beginning to learn to, to break the word of God with you folks. 360 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,000 And, and don't never look down on them. 361 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:21,280 Don't don't despise their youth. Encourage them, pray for them 362 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:23,880 and pray for all the younger guys in our church and serve 363 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:26,640 whether it's Wednesday night or what other ministries, teaching, 364 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,480 whatever. This is the future of of God's 365 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,800 work in this ministry down down the road here. 366 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:37,520 And these young men that bring the word of God here to us. 367 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,680 They're they're wonderful and we don't want them to feel 368 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:45,680 intimidated or insecure or fearful by the call of God on 369 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:47,520 their lives. We want them to be able to do 370 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:52,160 what God's called them to do without insecurity and and 371 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:56,800 feeling, you know, constrained or intimidated. 372 00:22:57,120 --> 00:23:01,080 And Paul made it very clear how they were to, to deal with 373 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,480 Timothy and Timothy, you eventually became the the 374 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:08,000 pastor, the main leader in the Church of Church of Ephesus. 375 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:13,400 And and so Paul says clearly he does the work of the Lord that 376 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,080 he may be without you without fear. 377 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:20,440 He may be with you without fear. How we need to come alongside 378 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:24,240 one another in the ministry. Women and men who serve to say, 379 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:26,480 hey, you're doing a wonderful job. 380 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:31,880 God's using you. You're a blessing to me in in my 381 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,720 life, the things you're teaching God, speaking to me through what 382 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:40,320 it is you're bringing to to me or anybody else from the word of 383 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,440 God. We we need to be mindful to 384 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:45,160 bring encouragement to one another. 385 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:50,000 And so Paul was looking forward to them sending him so that he 386 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,400 would come to Paul and then the Paul would be able to the 387 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,960 fellowship with him again. And he said, he's waiting for 388 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,440 him with the brethren. And then verse 12, it says now 389 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:05,560 concerning our brother Apollo's. Paul spoke about Apollo's in the 390 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,480 first section of of Corinthians. Some people had a favorite 391 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:11,880 teacher in the church at the time, which wasn't a healthy 392 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:13,760 thing. Some people would say I'm of 393 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,800 Paul, I'm of Apollo's, I'm a Cephas. 394 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,080 And so there was division in the church over who was teaching or 395 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,120 whatever. And it became more of a 396 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:27,360 popularity contest and a calling of God upon these men's lives 397 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:29,560 and the lives of the people that tended to the church. 398 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,600 But Apollo's, when he first started a ministry, he was very 399 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,120 charismatic. He was real and he just had the 400 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:39,360 gift of communication and he was able to speak about a lot of 401 00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:42,680 stuff, but he would make mistakes in the early stages of 402 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,160 his understanding of what the gospel is about. 403 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,360 And so Priscilla and Aquila will mention them here in a minute. 404 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:53,680 They explained to him, it tells us and acts more Excellency the 405 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,920 word of God, more Excellency of the word of God and how to 406 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:59,520 preach and how to proclaim it. So they really came alongside 407 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:02,240 and mentored him. But Paul says here now 408 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,160 concerning our brother Apollo's, I strongly urged, urged him to 409 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:11,200 come to you, to the church in Corinth with the brothers, but 410 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:13,760 he was quite unwilling to come at this time. 411 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,800 However, he will come when he has a convenient time. 412 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,200 This is really an important verse because even though Paul 413 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:22,160 was an apostle, he wasn't the boss. 414 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,560 Jesus is the boss. There is no hierarchy in the 415 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:27,200 church. The Lord's the head. 416 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,840 And so we, each of us do what we're called to do is he leads 417 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:37,520 us individually and corporately. But me or Lewis or no one else, 418 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,040 we, we, we don't have the ability or the right to tell you 419 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,360 what to do and how you should do it in regard to what it is that 420 00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:46,680 God's wanting you to do, we're calling you to do. 421 00:25:47,120 --> 00:25:48,800 And Paul made it real clear here. 422 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:53,840 He urged him to come now, but he was not able to. 423 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:55,920 It says he was unwilling to come at this time. 424 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,720 So Paul didn't get all upset and say, don't you understand? 425 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,160 I'm an apostle and you need to get over there and work with 426 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,800 these people and do whatever. Just the timing just wasn't 427 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,600 right at this time, he said, but he'll come when he has a 428 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,200 convenient time. And that's the same thing in 429 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,400 your lives. You know, people can prompt you 430 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:17,920 to do things, but at the end of the day, you have to allow the 431 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,800 will that God's given you to direct you to do what you're to 432 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,480 do whenever it's his time for you to do it. 433 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,960 It's not any of our call in regard to those things. 434 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,920 We can ask a request and some people say, Oh yeah, I'd love to 435 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:32,520 do that. I want to be a part of that all. 436 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:34,240 I'll serve here. I'll do this. 437 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:38,360 But, you know, if you choose not to do something, that's OK too. 438 00:26:38,360 --> 00:26:40,360 It's it's all up to what the Lord wants. 439 00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:45,520 So then as we move near the end here, he says in verse 13, 440 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:51,600 watch, stand fasten of faith, be brave, be strong, let all that 441 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:56,680 you do be done with love. This is the important admonition 442 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:02,520 here that as God calls us to do things that we have emotional 443 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:07,160 and mental spiritual stability and maturity, not immaturity. 444 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,520 We're not flying off the handle, we're not freaking out, we're 445 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,000 not getting offended, we're not getting uptight. 446 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:18,920 We're, we're standing strong in the faith and we're, we're not 447 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,080 being wimps. We're, we're, we're strong in 448 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:22,720 the Lord, in the power of his might. 449 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,760 And that everything we do in our callings, and every one of you 450 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:30,360 have a calling, whether it's serving in the church or in the 451 00:27:30,360 --> 00:27:34,320 community or in your home, whatever, we're to do everything 452 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,040 with love. Without love, the Bible says, 453 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:38,840 and we went through 1st Corinthians 13. 454 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:40,360 Without love, we're nothing, right? 455 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,200 We have to have. The power of the Holy Spirit 456 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:50,160 working in US and through US that everything we do is done 457 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:53,800 with His love. If it isn't with His love, then 458 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:57,240 it's going to burn and be a waste and it's not going to have 459 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:02,760 any, any power to change or encourage or bless other people. 460 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:09,680 Be done with love. And I sense that happens here. 461 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:14,120 I sense his love here every time I come here with you guys. 462 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:19,680 I sense his love and I, I sense him moving in this place by his 463 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,760 love. And the greatest asset of the 464 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,040 church isn't the bank account or the building. 465 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:27,520 The greatest asset of the church is you guys. 466 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:33,800 You, you're loved by God. He cherishes you, He sees great 467 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:38,160 value and potential in every one of our lives and he doesn't push 468 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:42,200 us, he he prods us and pokes. At us to give us. 469 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:46,480 Thoughts about callings or ministry or things that need to 470 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:48,920 be dealt with. He does that by His Holy Spirit, 471 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:50,760 right? Because He loves us. 472 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:55,320 He waits for us. He's always waiting for us. 473 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:01,480 Whenever you have the greatest. Failures in your life or to 474 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,920 times of humiliation as a Christian that you did something 475 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:06,840 that you regret the rest of your life. 476 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:10,160 God never abandons you or forsakes you. 477 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:17,800 He's always waiting for you to restore you, but also to use 478 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:22,560 you. And he knows that our failings 479 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:24,200 are what brings us to our senses. 480 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:29,000 Many times a prodigal when he was out there blowing his 481 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:35,800 inheritance on wild lifestyle. God didn't turn his back. 482 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:38,920 On the prodigal, every day he was standing waiting for him to 483 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:42,160 come back, because he. Knew when he did come. 484 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,240 Back his life would be ready to be used by God and be 485 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:49,160 transformed, and he wasn't going to give God a hard time anymore 486 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:51,520 he's going to want to do things God's way and not his way 487 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:53,520 anymore. One of the. 488 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,600 Most beautiful. Teachings and stories in the 489 00:29:56,600 --> 00:30:00,240 Bible is that when that prodigal was out there and finally got 490 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,520 fed up with like and he knew better because his dad grew 491 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,760 raised him up to understand like the way to live, but he wasn't 492 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:11,160 ready to live that way. And God didn't get mad. 493 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,440 At him or he said I'm done with you, you know, you're not 494 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:15,480 getting anything from me anymore. 495 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:20,680 God isn't that way. And so how many years? 496 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,920 It doesn't say how long that journey was for that prodigal, 497 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:29,040 but we're we're all prodigals because we're always coming back 498 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:32,960 to deeper levels to God. You might know someone that is 499 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:36,280 really really a super prodigal not. 500 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:38,880 Realizing how much of A. Prodigal, you still are. 501 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,080 How much deeper do you got to go back and return to God? 502 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,040 You can judge other people what they need to do this and they're 503 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:47,640 acting this way and blah blah blah. 504 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:51,320 Don't judge them. Look at your own heart and pray 505 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:57,040 for them. And then eventually this person, 506 00:30:57,120 --> 00:30:59,080 this prodigal came to his senses. 507 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:01,960 He's with the pig pen and and then the mess. 508 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:05,320 This is why I could go home and at least I could be a. 509 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,400 Servant of my. Father's house and be much 510 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,680 better than living in this condition. 511 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:15,480 I'd have a roof over my head and it would be nice and wouldn't be 512 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:21,080 in this pig style pig pen. So he comes back and. 513 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,640 I'm sure he came with his head down and probably thinking, 514 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:27,160 what's this going to be like when I see my father's eyes? 515 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:29,000 What's what's he going to do to me? 516 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,880 What's he going to say to me? Is he going to say get away and 517 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:36,400 reject me or whatever? And there's the father. 518 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:42,640 He comes running toward the sun with his arms out, so excited to 519 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:46,680 have him back in his house again and be able to have a 520 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:50,080 relationship with him again. Oh, how beautiful that is. 521 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:55,320 And that's how God is with us. He's, He's been that way with 522 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:57,240 me. I'm sure he's been that way with 523 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,120 you. God's never tired of. 524 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:02,680 Me. He's never tired of you. 525 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:07,360 He's always just. Wanting to go deeper with you 526 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,600 and to love you more and to know you deeper. 527 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,720 So that then you can. Take on his characteristic and 528 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:18,360 be that way to other people that need to know about the Father 529 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:22,440 heart of God. And so Paul is. 530 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:26,840 Giving this reflection of these people that have just been a 531 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:31,880 tremendous blessing to him. Verse 15, I urge you. 532 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:35,200 Brother and you know the household of Stefanus, that it 533 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:40,120 is the first fruits of Archaea, and that they've devoted 534 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,120 themselves to the ministry of the Saints. 535 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:45,240 This Stefanus had gotten saved in Paul's ministry. 536 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:49,360 He was baptized by him and he's there serving God. 537 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:52,840 He's not waiting for like an invitation. 538 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:55,200 He was the type of guy and we got people like us in the 539 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:56,840 church. They just see something needs to 540 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:58,760 be done and they just, they just do it. 541 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:01,400 They just help. Like some of you will be 542 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:04,240 compelled to help bring the stuff down or whatever today. 543 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:07,440 Like everybody, you know, is wired differently. 544 00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:10,680 But some people like, they just want to like whatever I can do 545 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:14,160 to help other people or help the church, I want to, I want to be 546 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,440 involved. And that's the way Stefanus was. 547 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,520 They devoted themselves. To the ministry of serving the 548 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:26,280 Saints that you also submit to such and to everyone who works 549 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:28,880 and laborers with us. So like this body life, this 550 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:33,400 community of this local assembly and the people and they were all 551 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,680 important, they were all involved, he says in 17. 552 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:41,680 I am glad about the coming of Stefanus, Fortunus and Archaeus 553 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:45,920 for what was lacking on your part, they supplied for they 554 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:49,600 refresh my spirit and yours therefore acknowledge such men. 555 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:53,160 So there's always people in the ministry that are sort of going 556 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,960 out of their way that is called that way to be able to bless 557 00:33:56,960 --> 00:34:00,760 people and and encourage them and build them up and refresh 558 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,800 them. I have people like that. 559 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:09,159 That send me texts or say a prayer for me or whatever at the 560 00:34:09,159 --> 00:34:13,239 right time and even behind the scenes that I don't even know 561 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,480 that they're praying for me. I just know that there's this 562 00:34:16,679 --> 00:34:19,960 spirit of refreshment that comes to be able to give you the 563 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:22,880 ability to keep doing what you're what you're called to do. 564 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:26,280 We all need to be encouraged and Paul had these people in his 565 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:30,400 life and he talks about them and commends them for they refresh 566 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:35,639 my spirit in verse 18 and yours. Therefore, acknowledge such men 567 00:34:35,639 --> 00:34:38,679 or people, and then as. A worship team can. 568 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:42,320 Come forward we we just get down these next few verses here. 569 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:45,520 He he gives the final greetings and farewell. 570 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:47,600 He says the churches of Asia greet you. 571 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:52,239 Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord with the 572 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:56,000 church that is in their house and all the brethren greet you. 573 00:34:56,719 --> 00:34:59,520 Priscilla and Aquila were mentioned six times in the New 574 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:03,920 Testament and they helped plant the church in Ephesus and they 575 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:06,440 were always available to be beside Paul. 576 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:09,600 If he went to Corinth, they'd pack up and move and go there 577 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:10,800 and then they go back to Ephesus. 578 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:14,320 Whatever they were tent makers to their, their occupation was 579 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,720 to make tents like Paul. So that's how Paul initially got 580 00:35:17,720 --> 00:35:19,720 to know them. And they were very deep. 581 00:35:19,720 --> 00:35:24,120 A matter of fact, this, this couple, Priscilla, she was like 582 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:26,640 sort of the leader spiritually in the family. 583 00:35:27,240 --> 00:35:30,040 Her husband was just as committed, but she was the one 584 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:33,880 that was more outward and, and, and used I think in a, in a way 585 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:37,640 of community. And so they, they were just a 586 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:40,080 great team together. We have married couples at 587 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:43,080 Calvary here, the team of the husband and wife and just how 588 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,200 they serve and that they're just beside each other. 589 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:48,880 One might be a little bit more like this and the other one's a 590 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,000 little more like that. But they're, they're A-Team and 591 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,920 God uses them mightily. And, and Paul talks about them 592 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:58,480 as being a great blessing. Back in those days, there was no 593 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:02,160 shopping center churches or cathedrals or buildings or 594 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:04,640 whatever they, they had to meet in houses because of 595 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:06,520 persecution. It was dangerous to be a 596 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:09,000 Christian. And many times it was hidden in 597 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,320 underground, so to speak, like it is in China. 598 00:36:11,720 --> 00:36:15,440 And so they might have 20-30 people when a church down this 599 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:17,880 house down the street and another side of the community. 600 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:21,040 And that's how it was back in those days. 601 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:24,960 And, and then Paul says, greet one another with a holy kiss. 602 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:28,880 Well, we, I, I noticed when you're in Europe and you, you 603 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:31,520 see people, it's their tradition to kiss you on both cheek. 604 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:33,680 It's sort of weird at first when it happens, like, wait, what's 605 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:35,480 up here? You know, And then you think, 606 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:38,840 how do I have to do this too? How do I maybe just hug them? 607 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:42,360 But everybody has a different way of like showing love or 608 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:43,840 compound. I think a lot of us here at 609 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:46,720 Calvary, we hug each other and that's that's another similar 610 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:50,040 thing here of greeting each other or shaking hands with one 611 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:54,320 another, all these things. And Paul then says, if anyone 612 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:59,280 does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed O. 613 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:03,880 Lord, come. And what an ending here. 614 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:07,520 And it wasn't so much this judgment of anger. 615 00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:13,720 It says in John 336, He that hath the Son hath life. 616 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:19,160 He does not have the Son of God hath not life, but the wrath of 617 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:22,440 God abides on him. The accursed aspect isn't that 618 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:27,080 God does not love, but there's wrath and judgment that'll come 619 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:31,240 on anyone that doesn't come to faith and trust in Jesus and 620 00:37:31,240 --> 00:37:33,200 love him. That's the consequences. 621 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:37,320 Yeah, we know for God so. Loved the world, he gave his 622 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:40,480 only begotten Son. John 316 But later on, as you 623 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:46,960 read down the, the, the, the blowback, the feedback of not 624 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:51,880 believing and trusting in Jesus is that you're, you're under 625 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:54,720 the, the anger and judgment of God because of sin. 626 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:58,880 And Christ is the only one that can bear your sin and forgive 627 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:01,960 you of your sins so that you're not held responsible for it. 628 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:06,000 And you're, you're foolish if you want to live life without 629 00:38:06,120 --> 00:38:08,840 Jesus because you're under the wrath of God. 630 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:11,440 And one day when you pass from this world, you'll unfortunately 631 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:14,280 experience the horror of what that wrath really means. 632 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:18,440 So that's why the gospel is so important to preach everywhere 633 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:21,040 and every day and every time and every opportunity. 634 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:24,920 And then he says at the end, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 635 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:29,160 be with you, my love, be with you all in Christ Jesus. 636 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:32,480 Amen. So Paul always ended in and 637 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:36,560 opened a lot of his, his teachings with talking about the 638 00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:41,320 grace of God, the unmerited favor of love of God, in spite 639 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:44,920 of you and me. God is always wanting to extend 640 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:49,120 his grace toward us, whether we're believers or unbelievers. 641 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:53,400 The grace of God, you never can get enough of the grace of God. 642 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:56,960 And, and you're, you're doing what you're doing today, 643 00:38:56,960 --> 00:38:59,320 worshipping God because of his grace. 644 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:05,440 I would trust you're not here to earn anything or try to impress 645 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:07,960 anybody or whatever. You're, you're here because of 646 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:09,840 God's grace. He's worked in your life. 647 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:14,400 You love him, you love his word, you love his people and you want 648 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:20,480 to be with him, right? Nothing better than being under 649 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:24,640 the favor and grace of God. Every day, every moment. 650 00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:27,800 Of life. And so Paul concluded the book 651 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,080 that way. And he'll start the next one 652 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,480 with more grace. So we'll get more grace next 653 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:33,280 week. How about that? 654 00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:36,680 Grace, grace, grace, grace, grace, grace, grace. 655 00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:40,440 God's grace, grace. It is greater than all my sin. 656 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:45,240 If I can get this thing. Open. 657 00:39:45,240 --> 00:39:47,040 I need grace to get this thing open. 658 00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:52,360 I'm not mechanically inclined. I need them up here to help me. 659 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:58,080 OK, I got it. All right, let's thank. 660 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:00,920 The Lord Father God, we thank you for this book of First 661 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:04,800 Corinthians and all that we've learned, how it's impacting us, 662 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:09,000 how it has impacted us, and how it will impact us in the days 663 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:10,280 ahead. Things we've learned, and we're 664 00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:11,880 looking forward to 2nd Corinthians. 665 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:15,040 God, thank you for the word of God that when we come here 666 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:17,920 together at Calvary Chapel, we're not making it up as we go 667 00:40:17,920 --> 00:40:20,120 along. We're going right to the truth. 668 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:24,240 Of what you written, verse by verse, line upon line, precept 669 00:40:24,240 --> 00:40:26,520 upon precept, not skipping anything. 670 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:30,800 Thank you again, God, for giving us Your word so that we have 671 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:34,680 something to talk about when we gather together in Your name 672 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:37,400 and. The night to Jesus is. 673 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:41,080 Betrayed. He took the bread in his. 674 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:44,600 Hands And he broke it and he gave thanks and he said take, 675 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:46,560 eat. This is my body which is given 676 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:50,520 for you. Eat this in remembrance of me. 677 00:40:52,800 --> 00:41:00,880 In the same manner in. That evening he took the cup and 678 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:05,560 he said this cup is a new covenant in my blood which was 679 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:08,080 shed for the forgiveness as sins of many. 680 00:41:08,880 --> 00:41:16,040 Drink this in remembrance of me. For as often as. 681 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:18,000 You eat this bread and you drink this cup. 682 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:21,200 You show forth the Lord's death. There he comes again. 683 00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:24,240 Amen. Have a great, great day guys. 684 00:41:24,240 --> 00:41:24,840 God bless.