1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:03,800 You're listening to the Bridgetown Church Podcast with 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,840 Pastor Casey Kendall, where our vision is Jesus, our mission is 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,760 people, and our cause is love. Thanks for tuning in. 4 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:13,760 Let's dive in through this fasting and prayer time that we 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,920 just had completed last week. I I realized on Friday I was 6 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,880 waiting in urgent care and I realized again how much I hate 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,680 waiting. And the Lord reminded me of that 8 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,480 after not being able to see the doctor for three hours in that 9 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,400 waiting room. And I waited and I waited. 10 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,120 And as I waited, the medical assistant every 15 minutes would 11 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,520 come and knock on the door and, and she would say he's coming. 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,040 And again, 15 minutes later, are you OK? 13 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,920 He's coming. And I just wanted to tell you a 14 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:50,160 knock on your door of your heart today and tell you that he's 15 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:52,480 coming. I don't know what you've been 16 00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:54,200 waiting for. I don't know how long you've 17 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,440 been waiting for it to happen. I don't know what you've been 18 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,280 going through in your life, but Jesus is coming. 19 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,240 He is the fulfillment. He is the answer. 20 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,400 And many times I believe in my own life through the fast, what 21 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,240 I've realized as I look for God's hand, but I neglect to 22 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,800 seek God's face. And I want the gifts of God, but 23 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,280 I don't want God himself oftentimes. 24 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:20,360 And that leads to a life that is in my own heart, in my own life 25 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:25,680 through the fast that has led to a shallow depth many times in 26 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,160 walking with the Lord because I'm looking for the gift and not 27 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,080 the giver of that gift. So I've been praying since 28 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:36,520 October this prayer in the book of Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 6, 29 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,320 the Bible says in the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah said, I 30 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:43,520 saw the Lord high and lifted up in the train of his robe filled 31 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:45,680 the temple. And the Bible goes on to 32 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:49,920 describe what Isaiah experienced in seeing the Lord. 33 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,960 He saw the Lord and the Bible says that there was a seraphim 34 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,600 that took a coal as Isaiah saw the Lord, he said I'm a man of 35 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,120 unclean lips. The seraphim took the coal 36 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:07,280 touched Isaiah's lips and after that being cleansed of his life. 37 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:13,360 Isaiah says this to the Lord, here am I send me and that's 38 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:18,520 been my prayer since October is this specific prayer everyday. 39 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:22,760 Lord, here am I send me. My hands are open and we've. 40 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,480 Come up. Come to this. 41 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:28,760 Motto for church in 2026 that we really want to lean into a 42 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,880 vision wise and that is this. You can either be a goer, you 43 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,040 can either be a sender, you can be either, but you can't be 44 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,840 neither. And that's how we want to live 45 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:43,920 as the church is us getting involved in the hand of the 46 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:46,880 mission of God and what he has for us. 47 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,960 So our hearts desire is to hit the streets in which you all 48 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,360 have joined in in this past year in the parade, in the holiday 49 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,360 stroll and getting the gospel out with Henry and Condellario 50 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,200 through the campuses and on the streets. 51 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,400 And and another way that we're doing that is through Cambodia. 52 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:09,040 And now we're setting slaves free and Pakistan, but we're 53 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,600 sending Judah to Japan. I'm just going to reiterate 54 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,560 this. I know it's like a reiterating 55 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,680 something that you're constantly being reminded of. 56 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:22,240 But last week he was 66, zero, 60% funded. 57 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,960 And I want to support him 100% to go. 58 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,920 And so if you're inclined by the Lord to give, not out of 59 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:36,560 compulsion, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver, just 60 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,960 as you click on that QR code, just start laughing and a 61 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:44,000 hilarious, no, I'm just kidding, But God loves a cheerful giver 62 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,920 and we want to support him. We also with Kevin and I don't 63 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,640 know if Sabrina's going to be able to go, but we're planning 64 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,720 on an Africa mission trip in the month of June. 65 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:59,000 And that is for us to reach into Kenya and to host conferences 66 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,400 and to reach into the Masai tribe. 67 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,440 And so it will be that kind of mini folds in this outreach. 68 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:10,520 But June 4th through the 14th, Sabrina has information on it. 69 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,200 Sabrina sings. She's on my far right when she's 70 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:14,920 up here. But if you need any more 71 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,160 information in the Lord's putting that mission trip on 72 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,320 your heart, we want you to get involved. 73 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,240 One of the things that we were able to do this past year was to 74 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,280 support a local missionary in his high school. 75 00:04:26,280 --> 00:04:31,000 His name's Gavin, and so he's going to come up and just share. 76 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,680 Just a brief. Minute on what you guys have 77 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:40,880 done for the glory of God. Hi, guys. 78 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:43,440 If you don't know me, my name is Gavin Hamilton. 79 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,680 I'm a youth here. You'll usually find me more 80 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,720 casually dressed, but today I'm saying thank you. 81 00:04:50,280 --> 00:04:54,240 You guys raised $1200 for my Eagle project. 82 00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:01,040 Yeah, clap that up. So my original budget was $1400 83 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,920 and you guys enabled me to get my Eagle project done. 84 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,920 After like my one day a couple months ago, I no longer needed 85 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,160 to fundraise. It was amazing. 86 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:11,840 I was able to jump right into my project. 87 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,840 If you don't know what my project was, I built helmet 88 00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:16,800 boxes for my high school baseball team. 89 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,680 There's pictures in the back. I hope that we can connect back 90 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,000 there after service. Yeah. 91 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,400 I just want to say thank you because God enabled me through 92 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:26,800 you. And I hope that you guys can do 93 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,720 the same for our missionaries up here that we're talking about 94 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,280 because you guys did that for me. 95 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:35,040 So thank you guys 100%. I feel the church behind me 96 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:36,560 every step of the way, so thank you. 97 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:43,960 Amen. Amen. 98 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,320 The church is not made-up. The youth are not the Church of 99 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,080 tomorrow, they're actually the Church of today. 100 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:54,360 And Judah just turned 21, I believe, and he's heading to 101 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,600 Japan. And so we want to support every 102 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,080 generation and getting the gospel out into this world 103 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,080 around us. Amen. 104 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:07,800 We at one time we were painting a building on up in Hesperia, 105 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,360 actually, just for free. We're painting one of their rec 106 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,800 buildings and a lady came up to me and she said, what are you 107 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,520 guys doing? And I said, we're just painting 108 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,000 this building. And she said, well, where are 109 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:19,560 you from? I said, oh, we're from Calvary 110 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,960 Chapel. And she said, you're from 111 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:23,960 Calvary Chapel. And she said, what, what, what's 112 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,080 Calvary Chapel and what are you guys doing? 113 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,280 So I invited her to Easter and she came to Easter service that 114 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,440 that Sunday. And so it's just a tremendous 115 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,960 opportunity for us to get the gospel into people's hands in 116 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:38,720 line with that. Easter is coming up. 117 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,960 There's a flyer on your seat. Actually right now, we actually 118 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,840 purposefully put it there so you wouldn't sit on it, but that you 119 00:06:44,840 --> 00:06:48,160 would actually grab it and that you would invite your friends to 120 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,800 Easter service at 10:30 here at the church. 121 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,920 We're going to explode our hospitality and make it bigger 122 00:06:54,920 --> 00:07:00,440 and make it fun and have a, we call it a, an Easter egg 123 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,640 resurrection egg hunt for your kids. 124 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,200 We get to tell your kids the story of the resurrection 125 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,640 through an Easter egg, a really cool opportunity for us to get 126 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,640 the gospel out. And so we're going to do that 127 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,760 this year. And that flyer is on your seat. 128 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,080 We have more Flyers that are at the connect table and we want to 129 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,280 get your friends hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. 130 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,720 And so with that being said, grab that Easter flyer and 131 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,560 invite them out. The whole thing will be rise out 132 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:33,480 of Isaiah 61, verse three. God takes our ashes and he turns 133 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:37,240 into something beautiful. So we rode on there. 134 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:42,000 Because he rose, we can rise. All right, that was kind of 135 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,320 weak. Because he rose, we can rise. 136 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,560 Amen. All right, let's go. 137 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,880 We're in Galatians chapter 4 today. 138 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,960 I had been speaking to you guys. In regards to boundaries out of 139 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:57,280 Second Samuel chapter 3 and it was so well received, I had 140 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,680 another question come to me. And that. 141 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,120 Was how do I have hard conversations? 142 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:06,800 And so I want to just talk with that today and I want I want you 143 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,400 to talk to you today about in Galatians chapter 4, the 144 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:16,280 elephant in the room, the elephant in the room. 145 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,560 So if you have your Bible. Handy if you can. 146 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,640 Turn to Galatians chapter 4 in your Bible. 147 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,000 Galatians chapter. Four and we'll begin there. 148 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:27,600 You could just look. At your neighbor and say 149 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:31,280 neighbor my neighbor. There's an elephant in the. 150 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:37,760 Room There's an elephant in the room I. 151 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,919 Want to begin not in. Verse 11 but in verse. 152 00:08:39,919 --> 00:08:44,400 Eight of your Bibles and Paul the apostle says these words he 153 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,760 says, but then indeed in Galatians chapter 4 when you did 154 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,720 not know God. You serve those with which. 155 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,200 By nature are not gods. But now, after you have known 156 00:08:55,200 --> 00:09:00,000 God, or rather you are known by God, how is it, he says, that 157 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:04,000 you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements to which you 158 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:10,400 desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and 159 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:13,840 seasons and years. And this is what the apostle 160 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,760 Paul says to the church at Galatia. 161 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:23,120 I'm afraid for you lest I have labored for you in vain. 162 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,720 Brethren, he says, notice this term. 163 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:32,440 I urge you to become as I am, for I am as you are, and you 164 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,600 have not injured me, injured me at all. 165 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:38,280 You know that because of the physical infirmity I preach the 166 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:43,440 gospel to you at the 1st, and my trial, which was in my flesh you 167 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:47,680 did not despise or reject, but you received me as an Angel of 168 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:52,480 God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you 169 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,560 enjoyed? For I bear you witness that if 170 00:09:55,560 --> 00:09:59,200 possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them 171 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,640 to me. Have I therefore become your 172 00:10:01,680 --> 00:10:05,160 enemy because I tell you? The truth I want to. 173 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,760 Read that to you again and let that sink in. 174 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:14,400 If I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth, 175 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,960 they zealously court you, but not for no good. 176 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:22,200 Yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for 177 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,640 them. But it is good to be zealous and 178 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,600 a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you, 179 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:33,480 my little children, for whom notice Paul says, I labor and 180 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,000 birth again until Christ is formed in you. 181 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:40,640 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone, 182 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:46,560 for I have doubts about you. I want to talk to you today 183 00:10:46,560 --> 00:10:51,920 about this verse tucked in these multiple verses. 184 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:56,640 In verse 16, the apostle Paul tells the church at Galatia, 185 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:01,560 have I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you? 186 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,680 The truth, the. Story was shared by Charles 187 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:11,800 Swindoll of Joe Gibbs and as he spoke of Joe Gibbs, the head 188 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,000 coach formerly of the Washington Redskins. 189 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,640 Joe's friend Frank looked out the window 1 morning and there 190 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,360 was his faithful Labrador retriever sitting on the front 191 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,840 porch with something hanging from the dog's jaws. 192 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:30,800 A closer look revealed it was his neighbor's pet rabbit and 193 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,080 Frank panicked. What was he to do? 194 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,360 His mind raced through the options and he landed on one he 195 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,800 thought was best. He pulled the rabbit from his 196 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,600 dog's mouth and he brought it into his kitchen. 197 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:48,160 He washed off all the dirt and all the gunk and then he too. 198 00:11:48,680 --> 00:11:52,040 He put it into the bathroom and pulled out the hair dryer and 199 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:56,560 blew the dead creature until it was nice and fluffy. 200 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,280 For a dead rabbit, it looked quite nice. 201 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:03,160 He shared in the story and that night after dark, Frank crawled 202 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:07,240 over the back fence and he placed the dead rabbit back in 203 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,760 his cage. He then slipped back through the 204 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:15,240 darkness, hopped the fence and breathed a sigh of relief. 205 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:19,360 His scheme seemed perfect until the next morning when there was 206 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,760 a loud banging on his front door. 207 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,200 When Frank opened it, there was his neighbor with the dead 208 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:29,080 rabbit clutched in his hand. Frank, he said. 209 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:31,880 We have a real sicko in the neighborhood. 210 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:37,480 My rabbit died 3 days ago and I buried it in the back and some 211 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,320 crazy nut dug it up and cleaned it off and stuck it back in his 212 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:47,760 cage. I would say this morning there's 213 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:54,280 a dead rabbit in the room. There are topics that we are 214 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:58,720 afraid to discuss. We're afraid to discuss false 215 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,720 teaching. We're afraid to discuss things 216 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:07,840 like over Thanksgiving, politics, ICE, Iran, Venezuela, 217 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,840 Mexico. We're afraid to discuss topics 218 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:13,840 that have come up in friendships. 219 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,160 We're afraid to discuss things that are coming up in our 220 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,160 family. We're afraid to bring things up 221 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:25,360 in conversation of things that seem to be a little bit. 222 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,240 Let's say they're taboo topics that are in the room. 223 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:33,360 These are the unspoken delicate matters. 224 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:38,040 These are the skeletons in the closet of your family and your 225 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,520 friendship. These are the moments in the 226 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:45,720 topics where we would say in that term, there's an elephant 227 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,440 in the room. I want to just define that for a 228 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:54,800 moment if you take note, because I wanted us to learn how we deal 229 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:59,840 with the elephant in the room. A elephant in the room is this. 230 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:05,240 If you're taking note, it is a problem or issue that everyone 231 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,840 is aware of but that no one wants to talk about. 232 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:13,360 Once again, the elephant in the room is a problem or an issue 233 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:18,680 that everyone is aware of but no one wants to talk about. 234 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,960 Yes, I want to submit this to you this morning. 235 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,760 We avoid what needs to be addressed. 236 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:31,720 We in our lives cover up what needs to be communicated. 237 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:36,080 We often times will jump to conclusions without concrete 238 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,240 convictions about the matter. We can find that in our own 239 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,120 lives. We sweep things under the carpet 240 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:45,840 that need to be shared in the light. 241 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:52,320 I think we become professionals at Verbal Veneer and this is 242 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,920 what I submit to you this morning is your avoidance of 243 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,240 conflict. Does not mean your deliverance 244 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,200 from that conflict. I want you to understand this 245 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:06,320 morning as we've come together, that you cannot from boundaries 246 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:12,360 change someone else, but you can change how you respond to them. 247 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,920 And that changes everything. I want you to understand as 248 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:22,360 we've come into this place many times we've become peace fakers 249 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:26,600 and not really peacemakers. We are people that are unwilling 250 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:32,400 to wrestle up the waters because our whole hearts desire is to 251 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:36,600 please people at the expense of pleasing God. 252 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,240 But I want you to understand this today, that conflict does 253 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,920 not disappear just because you don't discuss it. 254 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:47,320 It disappears from your view. It is still there, lurking, 255 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:52,720 moving, drawing our attention as it eats away at so much of our 256 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,440 life in the long run. Do you see, the goal of our 257 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:00,600 communication, which was the goal of Paul's communication in 258 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:05,400 the book of Galatians, was correction and restoration. 259 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:09,160 And I love what Charles Spurgeon said about this text. 260 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:14,520 He wrote these words, if you are drawn into a controversy, use 261 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:19,960 very hard arguments and very soft words. 262 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:25,400 And that's what the Apostle Paul in his heart towards the Church 263 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:31,000 of Galatia, who had drifted away from the sole purpose of Jesus, 264 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:35,880 and they wanted to add the circumcision of the believer to 265 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:40,280 the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the Apostle Paul is 266 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:46,320 continually pointing them back to Jesus Christ alone, and he 267 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:51,280 brings them to this place of communication, but his whole 268 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:56,080 desire is restoration. The apostle Paul at the Church 269 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:00,720 of Galatia follows what Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs. 270 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:05,560 If you're taking note, if you ever have to address a conflict, 271 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,920 probably no one in this room ever has to address a conflict. 272 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,280 If you've ever entered into controversy in the break room, 273 00:17:15,839 --> 00:17:20,440 if you've ever found yourself having to lovingly correct 274 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:25,000 another brother or sister in Jesus Christ, if you have to 275 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,680 bring them back doctrinally or you have to show them 276 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:33,040 pinpointedly through Scripture, this is what I want you to do. 277 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,160 Will you write this down? Will you take this into your 278 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,520 Monday meetings and your Tuesdays and your Wednesdays and 279 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:41,600 your Thursdays? Will you take this into the 280 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:46,560 drama of your home? Here's what I want you to do. 281 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,440 Write this down. The person that will handle 282 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:56,960 conflict well, number 1, he or she shows up, he or she shows 283 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:01,200 up. Proverbs chapter 28, verse 25, 284 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,200 look it up. You show up humble and trusting 285 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:08,560 God for the outcome. If I'm going to address 286 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:11,520 conflict, I'm going to 1st show up. 287 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:17,240 I'm not going to address conflict through a text message. 288 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,160 I'm not just going to one person agrees with that. 289 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:27,360 I'm not just going to address conflict through an e-mail. 290 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:33,120 If I get in front of your face, my whole heart is to win your 291 00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:36,200 heart. And the goal is not. 292 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:41,160 To do this without showing up, can you write this down? 293 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:45,040 If you're handling conflict, he or she doesn't throw up. 294 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:53,160 Proverbs 16, verse 24. You use your words to heal. 295 00:18:53,840 --> 00:19:01,320 Not to weaponize proverbs. 1624 if you would write this down in 296 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,800 your conflict, you're going to seek to build up. 297 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,800 You're going to seek to build up in Proverbs 14 verse one. 298 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:14,680 The heart is, is that I'm building the person up, not just 299 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,840 tearing them down. If you would write this down, if 300 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,680 you're taking note in conflict or controversy, when I have to 301 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:25,160 approach a situation, he or she doesn't blow up. 302 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,840 He or she doesn't blow up in Proverbs 15, verse 18. 303 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:35,240 Did you see, we can disagree, but we don't have to be 304 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:40,440 disagreeable and we can live in such a way when we approach 305 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:44,200 people, we can follow Paul as our model. 306 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:48,320 I I want you to remember this is you cannot change someone else, 307 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:53,160 but you can change how you respond to them and that 308 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,640 changes. Everything. 309 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,760 So what does Paul? Do notice this, Paul says these 310 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:01,320 words. I am concerned. 311 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:02,600 For you, would you write that down? 312 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,120 I believe that as you deal with conflict, it has to deal with 313 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:13,320 this posture in my heart that I am concerned for you. 314 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:18,040 The Church of Galatia was giving their lives to false teaching. 315 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:21,560 These men by the name of Judaizers were coming into the 316 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:27,400 mix and adding as we shared to Jesus's work upon the cross. 317 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:31,760 And Paul says, you know God, you are known by God. 318 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,360 And how is it that you're turning your back again to old 319 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:41,880 bondage and observed days, months, seasons and years? 320 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:47,920 And then in verse 11, the apostle Paul says I am afraid 321 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:53,560 for you. I am afraid for you that this 322 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:59,480 word afraid there. Notice as the the the Judaizers 323 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:03,200 were coming in and the Church of Galatia was getting legalistic 324 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,800 on the outside. Notice what happened. 325 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,680 It didn't change Paul's love for them on the inside. 326 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:14,040 He says I'm afraid for you. Look, what Paul sees with his 327 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:19,800 eyes breaks his heart, and thus he communicates with his mouth. 328 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:26,840 What Paul saw with his eyes broke his heart, and thus he 329 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:31,720 communicated with his mouth. And he says after all of this, I 330 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,640 am. Afraid for you now notice. 331 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,520 The concern of the apostle Paul, the word afraid there means to 332 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,960 be frightened. It means to be terrified for 333 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,960 you, he says. Have I labored for you? 334 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:51,120 He says in vain in verse 11. The word labor there in your 335 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:56,440 Bible means to be at a point of working so hard that you're 336 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,400 exhausted. No, no. 337 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,440 Notice that this word vain means failure. 338 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:05,920 No. Notice the Apostle Paul's heart. 339 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:09,760 I'm, I'm frightened for you. I'm, I'm terrified for you. 340 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:14,280 I'm, I, I'm actually, I've worked myself to the point of 341 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:21,120 exhaustion and I have failed. I have failed in this. 342 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:27,040 See the Apostle Paul's heart. Have I poured so much into you 343 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,200 and now you're, you're, you're just going to go back to this 344 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,880 old way of living? Have I given you so much of my 345 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,240 heart and my time and discipling you? 346 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:39,880 Now you're deserting the doctrine of grace in Jesus. 347 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,440 Have I now come to a spot of all that I've taught you? 348 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:47,320 And now you're tempted to go back to all of the drugs, all of 349 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,480 the alcohol, all of the relationships that were illicit 350 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,760 and all of the things that were unreasonable in the way that you 351 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,640 lived in sin. Look at Paul's approach. 352 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,360 I am concerned for you. I'm troubled for you. 353 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:02,440 I I'm uneasy. It's easy. 354 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:07,640 I'm distressed. For you notice the apostle 355 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,760 Paul's heart. I see Paul with, with, with this 356 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:17,720 heart that is broken, but his hands are open and his eyes are 357 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:22,560 stained with tears. That's the approach. 358 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,520 When I come into. A place of conflict. 359 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,640 Your approach must come before your address. 360 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:34,040 I want to say that. Again, your approach must come 361 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,240 before you're addressed so. The goal? 362 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:41,280 Is not necessarily that you begin to work on the person. 363 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,200 The goal in the conflict is that you begin. 364 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:51,600 To work on yourself the. Elephant in the room and if we 365 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:55,280 do not have a broken heart, we will not desire to see their 366 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:59,280 heart brought back to God. Did you see Paul says I I'm 367 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,880 concerned for you. Paul did not say notice this. 368 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,280 This is what we say I'm angry with you right now. 369 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,520 Paul didn't say that Paul didn't say I'm frustrated at you. 370 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:17,040 Paul didn't say I'm bitter at you notice this Paul didn't say 371 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:20,600 I hate you. Look at what Paul proclaims. 372 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,600 I'm afraid for you. Did you see the? 373 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:28,960 Level of care that. Paul had Paul's concern, 374 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:36,200 directed Paul's call, and you could have put up so many lines 375 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:41,920 and drawn so many lessons that you come to a place in your life 376 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:47,920 where you have found yourself in this moment, no longer 377 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:52,600 concerned, but you're just ready to cut out, no notice. 378 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,800 These are the moments. These are the moments that you 379 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,240 could say I'm hurt, I'm angry, I'm frustrated. 380 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,360 But notice this. Notice what comes first. 381 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:10,480 His heart of concern. His heart of concern as he 382 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:15,840 deconstructs this down for us, notice he brings us to a place 383 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:21,080 where we cannot conceal what is causing us the concern. 384 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,520 We. Can't conceal it any longer. 385 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,680 We can't hide it any longer. Listen to me, please. 386 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:35,600 I'm not responsible for how they respond, but I am responsible 387 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:40,320 for how I reach to them. And there was a time in my life 388 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:45,640 where bitterness led to emptiness until it was 389 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:49,240 addressed, confessed, and. Wept. 390 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:54,600 Over and we grew from it. Do you see what Paul does? 391 00:25:54,960 --> 00:26:00,920 Paul always sought the restoration of people over over 392 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:04,240 his own pain. That's not that Paul dismissed 393 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:05,040 his own. Pain. 394 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,480 Thank you, Mike. That's not that Paul dismissed 395 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,200 his own pain. Just look at your neighbor and 396 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:10,400 say there's an elephant in the room. 397 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:17,600 Sorry, little upper respiratory infection cutting into my sermon 398 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:23,720 this morning. We cannot conceal what God has 399 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:29,160 called us to be concerned about, but as we approach situations, 400 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:33,360 notice this. I approach it with concern. 401 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:38,120 Now let me ask you, wives, when was the last time you approached 402 00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:48,200 your husband in that concern? Let me ask you husbands, when 403 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,880 was the last time that you approached your wife with that 404 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:55,960 type of concern? Let me ask you church member, 405 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:00,480 when was the last time that you approached a brother or sister 406 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:05,760 with that same type of concern? When was the last time that you 407 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,680 spoke to your children with that type of concern? 408 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:13,440 When was the last time that you approached your Co workers or 409 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:17,080 your boss with that type of concern now? 410 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:23,000 If you would please, how do we often times go into 411 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,800 conversations? Can you just write this? 412 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:29,800 Stuff down I think this is going to be important for you I. 413 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:35,320 Think we go into conversations. For the win, I think we go into 414 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:39,400 conversations for the win, I, I, my, my, I'm not. 415 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,520 The goal is not my concern. For you or your restoration? 416 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,960 The goal is for. My control and for my. 417 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,640 Win and that's how many. Times we can go into 418 00:27:50,120 --> 00:27:56,040 conversations and we use this strategy and this approach of a 419 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:01,080 person will sacrifice the relationship to remain right and 420 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,560 get their way. I want to. 421 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,160 Just read that again. The approach of the person 422 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:07,680 that's. Going in for the win. 423 00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:13,080 Is of a person who sacrifices the relationship to remain right 424 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,680 and get their way. There will always be a 425 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,120 difference of opinion. Vaccinated or? 426 00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:22,040 Unvaccinated. There will always be a 427 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,360 difference of opinion. Republican or Democrat, Be 428 00:28:25,360 --> 00:28:28,640 dogmatic where God is calling you to be dogmatic. 429 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:32,920 According to. Scripture, but be flexible on 430 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:37,080 your opinion. One person is agreeing with 431 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,840 that. Listen, I think we often go into 432 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:41,800 conversations with. Avoidance. 433 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,880 We go in there avoiding it and it builds and it. 434 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:48,400 Builds and it builds. This has been. 435 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:53,520 My weakness in my life throughout growing up, my heart 436 00:28:53,840 --> 00:29:00,680 has been to be the pleaser. So if the waters are unmet or 437 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,560 they're wrestled up, I have to do everything in my power to try 438 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,360 to control that. Because your peace actually 439 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:10,960 means my peace. And I avoid hard conversations 440 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:15,840 with people I have in the past because I don't want to see 441 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,960 those waters wrestled up. Because I want to make sure that 442 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:23,120 you are happy all of the days, all of the year, all of the 443 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,880 time. And So what? 444 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:30,440 We do is we go into the conversation and we've avoided 445 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,400 it. Important decisions have been 446 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,760 postponed. The issues are. 447 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:39,840 Bubbling up and they never get addressed. 448 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:42,520 And this. Leads to superficial 449 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:45,320 relationships. It's not true. 450 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,440 Again, you avoid it. That does not mean you're 451 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,800 delivered from it. Some of us. 452 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:53,600 This is our approach. We just give in. 453 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:57,640 We just give in. I am tired of fighting with you. 454 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:00,440 I am. Tired of fighting? 455 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:02,960 With you and you know. It's not right, but this is what 456 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:06,680 we do. We just give in and we yield to 457 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,680 maintain. Peace, but we never have peace 458 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:19,360 then we go in with compromise. We. 459 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:22,160 Address the conversation with compromise. 460 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:29,480 All of this is now giving. Up when you know there are some 461 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:31,520 boundaries that you should have kept. 462 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:43,120 Then we do this is we now become at a spot in our lives where we 463 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:47,760 just. Never deal. 464 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:53,320 With the issues and the issues never deal with repentance and 465 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:57,640 confession, and we all live according to our heightened 466 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:05,160 emotion and we never trust. Anyone, men and women. 467 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:11,480 If we will do this in a healthy way, we have to be concerned 468 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,400 with people. It has to start. 469 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:16,760 With a concern. And then it. 470 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:19,680 Leads to a second thing. It leads to. 471 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:22,040 This not only am I. Concerned with you but. 472 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:25,360 Paul says I'll suffer with you. Now notice this. 473 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:29,720 This approach, brethren, I urge you to become as I am, for I am 474 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:31,600 as you are. And you not you've not injured 475 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,200 me at all. You know that because of the 476 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,760 physical infirmity, I preach the gospel to you at the 1st and my 477 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:40,880 trial, which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but 478 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,680 you received me as an Angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 479 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:47,560 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? 480 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:51,440 For I bear you witness that if possible, you would have plucked 481 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:55,560 out your own eyes and given them to me. 482 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:58,640 I'm concerned with you. Then I'm going to suffer with 483 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:01,720 you. Paul says, Brethren, this is an 484 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,880 endearing term. He's speaking to the Christian. 485 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:09,680 Then he says, I urge you, which means that he's placing himself 486 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:12,920 in a specific need. Then he gives them the call. 487 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:18,040 He says, become as I am, notice, become as I am. 488 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:21,240 I love what John Stott writes about this section. 489 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:25,000 He says in Galatians one through 3, we've been listening to Paul 490 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:29,080 the Apostle, Paul the theologian, Paul the defender of 491 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:31,440 the faith. But now we're hearing Paul the 492 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:36,160 man, Paul the pastor. And notice what's coming out of 493 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:42,400 Paul's heart was Paul was a passionate lover of souls. 494 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:47,840 John Stott writes Paul had some type of physical infirmity and 495 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:53,080 this led him to Galatia in Acts chapter 13 verse 14 through 15. 496 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:58,000 If you want to take some note in this time, Paul points is that 497 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:02,680 that his converts were ready to do anything for him in those 498 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,400 early days. They did not. 499 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:08,520 Despise him or reject him. You see, a physical infirmity 500 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:12,720 during this time was a sign of God's displeasure over 501 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,360 somebody's life. They thought so, Paul said. 502 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:19,680 You received me, and there's nothing like when someone is 503 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:24,520 willing to suffer with you. There's nothing like it. 504 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:27,280 They're not there to. Argue with you. 505 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:30,120 They're not there to debate you. They're not there in your 506 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:34,000 moment. On time of difficulty to tell 507 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:40,680 you what you should do. The diet you should have. 508 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,400 They're not there to tell you, the doctor, you should. 509 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:46,680 See, they're just there to. Sit with you. 510 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:55,080 There is something about that in our life that we can learn from. 511 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:57,640 And see that we. Will. 512 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:01,560 Sit with people and notice. This I feel your pain. 513 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:04,440 I don't have to have all the answers, but I'm going to choose 514 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:08,760 to listen and I'll. Suffer with you in this moment. 515 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:13,560 Now is there ever a time where you in a boundary have to say, 516 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:19,600 this is the time where now I can no longer in this boundary carry 517 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:24,159 your consequences? There is a time and a place 518 00:34:24,639 --> 00:34:28,040 where we have to come to a decision between the Lord, where 519 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:32,040 you have to stop. Caring other people's. 520 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:36,400 Emotional baggage and the consequences to their actions. 521 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,840 There is a time where in friendships. 522 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:43,360 You or relationships you might find yourself in a spot where 523 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:50,080 you are willing to no longer. Marry someone else's 524 00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:54,199 responsibility, but that's between you and the Lord and His 525 00:34:54,199 --> 00:34:57,840 Word and knowing when that time will come. 526 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:00,280 Do you see? I'm concerned with you? 527 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:01,920 I will. Suffer with you. 528 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,120 But I'm also going to, Paul says. 529 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:07,360 Speak the truth to you. Listen to what Paul says. 530 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:08,880 He says. Have I therefore become your 531 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:10,480 enemy? Because I tell you the truth. 532 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:13,840 Now notice this. They zealously court you. 533 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:14,960 But for no. Good. 534 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:18,760 Yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for 535 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:22,080 them, but it is good to be zealous and a good thing, Paul. 536 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:24,680 Says always. And not only when I'm present 537 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,480 with you, he says. And notice, Paul says, have I 538 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:31,200 become your enemy because I'm willing to speak the truth to 539 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:34,200 you? We have to speak the truth to 540 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:35,360 people. 'S lives. 541 00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:40,480 Can I just say that again? We have to be willing to speak 542 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:43,600 the truth. Not only was Paul present with 543 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,280 them, Paul proclaimed the truth. To them. 544 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:50,280 The word truth means real, actually actual, not 545 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:53,080 counterfeit. This is not just feeling good, 546 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:54,680 this is. Speaking what is good. 547 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:58,680 And speaking what is good doesn't always feel good. 548 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,760 And there's moments when you share the message of truth that 549 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:06,320 it seems like you become the enemy to a person and not the 550 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:08,840 ally. To the person, the word. 551 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,000 Enemy here means hateful and hostile. 552 00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:16,200 Paul was not just concerned on how he said it, but what he said 553 00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:21,000 was vital to the vision to the church in Galatia. 554 00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:27,320 We need Paul's in our lives. We need Paul's in our lives who 555 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:30,120 can see where we can't and walk. Where we haven't walked. 556 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:33,640 Just yet, we need people. In the. 557 00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:36,720 Bible says there's a way that seems right to a man, but the 558 00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:41,720 end thereof is destruction. There are some lessons you will 559 00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:44,520 learn by yourself, but there's some lessons that you don't have 560 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:48,040 to go through by yourself if you're willing to listen to the. 561 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:51,840 Paul, in your life? Or you're willing to listen to 562 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:53,920 the Barnabas. Or you're willing to listen to 563 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:56,200 the silence. Or you're willing to listen to 564 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:58,000 the Timothy. Listen. 565 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:03,240 The pitfalls that come through our lives can often times be 566 00:37:03,240 --> 00:37:07,160 avoided if we're willing to give ear and. 567 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:12,520 Heart. To the truth, so Proverbs. 20. 4 568 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:16,920 For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of 569 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:21,960 advisers there's victory. Listen, the Bible says that he 570 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:28,080 who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely 571 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:34,000 will be delivered. Whoever loves truth loves 572 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:38,440 knowledge, but whoever hates correction, the Bible says, is 573 00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:40,800 stupid. Now I don't have to put my hand 574 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,720 on the hot stove to know that it will cause. 575 00:37:43,720 --> 00:37:48,600 Some pain in my life. I was drinking a lot of tea this 576 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:52,760 week. Not really a tea. 577 00:37:52,760 --> 00:37:58,680 Person, I'm a kind of. AK cup person just throw in that 578 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:02,000 little pod and then push down and just click the button and 579 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:04,800 it's there within like a few seconds. 580 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:08,200 I had to wait for the water to boil. 581 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:20,280 I had to put my own water in my own kettle, and then I had to 582 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:25,080 let it boil. I didn't know this, though. 583 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:28,080 I wish I would have learned this. 584 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:32,960 I wish my tea professionals would have shared something 585 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:38,960 along these lines. Let the water while it's boiling 586 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:44,760 settle from its boil. Don't lift the spout lid and try 587 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:49,400 to pour it because the moment that you do that while it's 588 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:52,280 boiling, it's going to come out bubbling and boiling. 589 00:38:53,760 --> 00:39:00,720 And that's exactly what it did in my hands, not just my lungs. 590 00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:08,360 My hand was burning up because I needed the truth. 591 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:15,160 And I think we need some truth in our lives, truth that will 592 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:17,840 come in and say, hey, don't do that just yet. 593 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:20,760 Truth that would say it's boiling right now. 594 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:22,320 Let's let this simmer a little bit. 595 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:24,040 Hey, truth. You know what? 596 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:26,640 That's probably not the guy for you. 597 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:29,760 The truth. That's probably not the girl for 598 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:32,640 you. The truth of hey, you continue 599 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:34,760 using those drugs. This is what it's going to lead 600 00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:37,160 to, the truth. Of a if you keep. 601 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:40,280 Diving into pornography, this is what it's going to end up doing 602 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:42,520 in your life. The truth of hey. 603 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:45,960 That alcohol that you keep? Consuming will leave you empty, 604 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:49,360 just as empty as that bottle is sitting next to your your room. 605 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:52,840 We need the truth. If you enter into a flirter 606 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:57,640 flirting relationship while you're married, it's going to 607 00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:03,160 damage your soul and your heart and it will ruin your kids and 608 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:06,760 your grandkids and their lives to come. 609 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:10,560 Oh that. We just need the truth. 610 00:40:12,240 --> 00:40:15,320 The truth to come in at. Such a time like the apostle 611 00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:21,440 Paul and say we are willing to give the instruction of the 612 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:24,160 Lord. One author put it we need Paul's 613 00:40:24,160 --> 00:40:27,800 who will instruct us. We need Barnabas, who will. 614 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:29,280 Encourage us. We need Peters. 615 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:31,160 Who will challenge us? We need. 616 00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:34,840 Silences who will walk alongside of us, but if you. 617 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:40,440 Don't have the humility? To learn you'll never fully live 618 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:42,920 the life that Christ wants you to live. 619 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:49,720 Speaking the truth, remember, in a culture of lies is an act of 620 00:40:49,720 --> 00:40:56,880 spiritual warfare. You're going to offend someone. 621 00:40:56,880 --> 00:41:04,320 You're going to offend someone. At some point in your 622 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:06,440 relationship, you're going to offend someone. 623 00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:10,160 Church, we're not going to do this perfectly. 624 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:16,200 It's not final, though, when you don't do it perfectly. 625 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:21,080 It is final when there is unforgiveness in your heart and 626 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:24,280 their heart. And we must come to a. 627 00:41:24,280 --> 00:41:30,080 Spot in our lives and in this room that we're willing to 628 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:35,000 offend even people into heaven rather than watching them 629 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:39,680 silently go to hell. We have to be willing to. 630 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:42,280 Address the situation because the. 631 00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:44,280 Goal. Is to do this. 632 00:41:44,280 --> 00:41:47,120 With humility. To honor this with love. 633 00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:51,480 And to bring peace between them and God and them and us. 634 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:53,240 Do you see? Paul says I'm. 635 00:41:53,240 --> 00:41:56,000 Afraid and you might be saying the same thing. 636 00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:57,760 I'm afraid they're older than me. 637 00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:01,640 If I say something, I'm afraid they're they're my husband or 638 00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:05,240 they're my wife. I'm afraid of of this situation. 639 00:42:05,240 --> 00:42:09,200 Listen, the one thing that we have to be afraid of is our 640 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:12,760 disobedience to God. I want to encourage you to speak 641 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:14,000 the truth. If anywhere. 642 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:16,040 I learned that it was in the country of Germany. 643 00:42:17,280 --> 00:42:19,560 They have no problem telling you the truth in German. 644 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:22,680 The fact of the matter is I just couldn't understand what they 645 00:42:22,680 --> 00:42:25,680 were saying. But they're not afraid to tell 646 00:42:25,680 --> 00:42:29,800 you honestly and truthfully where they're at and where they 647 00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:32,320 think your relationship with. Them is that. 648 00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:36,440 In the long run, but listen, I just want you to know the last 649 00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:38,400 part is we're going to walk with people. 650 00:42:38,720 --> 00:42:41,880 Paul says, my little children for whom I labor in birth again 651 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:46,320 until Christ is formed in you. What was the goal of the apostle 652 00:42:46,320 --> 00:42:53,200 Paul in his confrontation? I'll ask that again and I want 653 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:58,160 you to look at verse 19. What is the goal of the Apostle? 654 00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:01,880 Paul. In his communication with the 655 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:05,920 church at Galatia. Good. 656 00:43:05,920 --> 00:43:08,720 I'll ask you again, what is the goal? 657 00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:12,160 The goal? Is the apostle Paul says until 658 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:17,760 Christ is formed in you until Christ is formed in you. 659 00:43:17,760 --> 00:43:25,280 What was the goal was to see Jesus birth in the life of 660 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:28,880 someone who claims to follow him or her. 661 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:33,240 The goal was Paul. Said I'm not going to give way 662 00:43:33,560 --> 00:43:36,360 to this. Cancel culture. 663 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:38,960 We will walk with you through this. 664 00:43:40,080 --> 00:43:44,240 We will walk with you until Christ is formed in you. 665 00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:47,880 I love what one pastor said and we'll just end it here, he said 666 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:51,640 trees don't grow in moments of passion and Christians don't 667 00:43:51,640 --> 00:43:55,200 develop overnight. Marriages don't flourish based 668 00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:59,520 on the weekend, no. These things grow as a as a 669 00:43:59,520 --> 00:44:01,760 result. Of being rooted, planted, 670 00:44:01,760 --> 00:44:04,320 watered. In the House of God, surrounded 671 00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:07,000 by the people of God, transformed in the presence of 672 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:09,360 God. And here's what I found the 673 00:44:09,360 --> 00:44:10,400 pastor. Wrote it's. 674 00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:14,040 Easier to have a passionate. Spiritual moment than it is. 675 00:44:14,040 --> 00:44:16,720 To have consistent spiritual movement. 676 00:44:18,600 --> 00:44:20,960 If we want to see people. Transform. 677 00:44:20,960 --> 00:44:25,160 We must have obedience in a long direction. 678 00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:29,320 This will not happen overnight. We must put our hand to the plow 679 00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:31,800 and not look back. This is not for the faint of 680 00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:33,920 heart. This is not a place for you to 681 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:36,800 retire your spiritual life. We need people. 682 00:44:37,440 --> 00:44:40,240 Of every generation, in every tribe, in every tongue. 683 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:43,600 That will. Buy. 684 00:44:43,600 --> 00:44:47,200 Houses start, businesses raise families, and contend for the 685 00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:51,080 awakening of God's church. And I just want to challenge you 686 00:44:53,040 --> 00:44:56,680 in this. We hope you enjoyed this message 687 00:44:56,800 --> 00:44:59,880 and we'd love for you to join us in person every Sunday at 10:30 688 00:44:59,880 --> 00:45:01,480 AM. For more information and 689 00:45:01,480 --> 00:45:03,680 updates, visit wearebridgetown.com. 690 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:05,960 Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you next week.