1
00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:05,700
You know, the Bible gives us 
many examples. 

2
00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:11,300
Of those who were called. 
We can look through the pages of

3
00:00:11,300 --> 00:00:14,200
the old New Testament and find 
many stories of men and women 

4
00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,400
who have been called throughout 
time just one that comes to mind

5
00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,700
is in Matthew chapter 4. 
And this is Jesus. 

6
00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:26,600
After he's been baptized by, 
John the Baptist, and he's will 

7
00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,000
begin reading in there, in verse
17. 

8
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,400
This is after he was tempted by 
the devil as well. 

9
00:00:30,700 --> 00:00:35,300
And Matthew chapter 4 beginning 
in verse 17, the Bible says 

10
00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:37,800
there from that time. 
Jesus began to preach and to 

11
00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:41,900
say, repent for the kingdom of 
Of Heaven is at hand and Jesus 

12
00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:45,200
walking by the Sea of Galilee. 
He saw two brothers Simon called

13
00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,100
Peter and Andrew. 
His brother, casting a net into 

14
00:00:48,100 --> 00:00:51,400
the sea for they were fishermen.
Then he said to them, follow me.

15
00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,200
And I will make you, Fishers of 
Men. 

16
00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:56,800
They immediately left their Nets
and followed him going on from 

17
00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:58,400
there. 
He saw two other brothers, 

18
00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,600
James, the son of Zebedee and 
John, his brother, in the boat, 

19
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,700
with Zebedee, their father, 
mending their Nets, he called 

20
00:01:04,700 --> 00:01:08,400
them and immediately, they left 
the boat of and their father, 

21
00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:12,000
and followed him. 
So here we have an example of 

22
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:17,400
Jesus directly out of out of his
own mouth calling these men to 

23
00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,200
follow him. 
And if we look back into the Old

24
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,100
Testament, we can think about 
stories of Abraham how God from 

25
00:01:24,100 --> 00:01:28,400
Heaven called, Abraham directly 
to leave his home and to leave 

26
00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:31,600
that, which he knew to go in to 
serve him. 

27
00:01:32,900 --> 00:01:36,400
So some people say and some 
people might think, well, you 

28
00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,300
know, if God would just talk to 
me and if God would just come to

29
00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:44,300
me and call me, I would, I would
drop everything. 

30
00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:46,900
I would, I would disregard 
everything as we talked about 

31
00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:50,300
this morning a little bit and I 
would serve him and follow him. 

32
00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:54,900
But, you know, when people say 
that the story that always comes

33
00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:57,700
to my mind is the story of the 
rich man and Lazarus. 

34
00:01:58,500 --> 00:02:01,600
And you remember when Lazarus 
was there and torment after he 

35
00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,500
had begged for just a drop of 
water? 

36
00:02:05,900 --> 00:02:09,500
He asked if someone could be 
sent from the dead to talk to 

37
00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:13,300
his Brethren to convince them 
that they should live, right? 

38
00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:15,600
Because they don't want to end 
up where he ended up, you know, 

39
00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,400
that was a rich man. 
And if I just said Lazarus, 

40
00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,400
after the rich, man, wanted he 
wanted someone to go to talk to 

41
00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,500
his Brethren so that they 
wouldn't end up where he was in 

42
00:02:24,500 --> 00:02:27,900
torment. 
And you remember the Bible says 

43
00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:30,400
that they have Moses and the 
prophets. 

44
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:36,000
And as I paraphrase, the Bible 
tells us that if his Brethren 

45
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,700
are going to listen to Moses and
the prophets, they won't even 

46
00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:40,600
listen to someone who's come 
back from the dead. 

47
00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,600
So you see, when we're called 
today by the Bible, by the word 

48
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,900
of God, it has just as much 
impact. 

49
00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,800
And just as much significance as
those who were called before, by

50
00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:59,200
God himself, or by Jesus 
himself, It's just as important 

51
00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,900
and the calling is just as 
important. 

52
00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:05,600
And the service to God is just 
as important as it was, for 

53
00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,400
Abraham as it was for Peter, and
for Simon, and for James and 

54
00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:13,800
John as it was for any who were 
called directly by either God or

55
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,200
Christ. 
So that's important for us to 

56
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,600
understand that the calling that
we received through God's word 

57
00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,800
and through the preaching and 
teaching of it is just, as 

58
00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:27,000
important as it was to those who
have been called directly by 

59
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:27,700
God. 
God. 

60
00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:32,200
So I wanted to make that point 
before we get into what we 

61
00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,400
really want to talk about which 
is walking in a worthy way or 

62
00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,700
walk a w having a walk that's 
worthy of that calling you know 

63
00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:45,300
sometimes when people We'll ask 
you, how are you or, how are you

64
00:03:45,300 --> 00:03:50,000
doing, things that come to our 
mind, you know, in way of 

65
00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,800
response to a question like 
that? 

66
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,300
And I know it's a very everyday 
day-to-day question, sometimes. 

67
00:03:56,300 --> 00:03:58,800
We don't even give much thought 
to how our reaction is. 

68
00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,000
But, you know, sometimes will 
think about our health. 

69
00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:02,600
When someone asks us, how are 
you? 

70
00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,500
And we'll respond based on our 
current health situation. 

71
00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,300
Sometimes when someone asks how 
are you will think about maybe 

72
00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:14,100
some some problems or some 
financial troubles that were 

73
00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:16,700
having and will respond based on
that? 

74
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,300
Sometimes it'll just be based on
our mood, whatever kind of 

75
00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:22,500
attitude or mood. 
We have that day. 

76
00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:29,000
But you know, when when we're 
asked how how we are or how are 

77
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,100
we doing? 
Sometimes we don't think about 

78
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,200
How well, we really are doing. 
Sometimes we tend to focus on 

79
00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:38,700
the bad. 
We've talked about that idea. 

80
00:04:38,700 --> 00:04:43,200
Before here we focus on the bad,
we focus on what our most recent

81
00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,200
problem is or what are our most 
recent trouble is. 

82
00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,600
And when we talk to people about
how our life is going, or how 

83
00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,700
our day is going even, sometimes
we don't focus on the things 

84
00:04:53,700 --> 00:05:00,200
that are the most important and 
and for us, We have been called 

85
00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,400
to do something. 
That is greater and more 

86
00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,800
significant than anything. 
Anyone could do in this world, 

87
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,900
and that's to serve God. 
And when we live, and when we go

88
00:05:09,900 --> 00:05:14,300
about our daily walk in our 
daily, our business, and whether

89
00:05:14,300 --> 00:05:19,200
it's school or work or whatever 
we need to, remember that what's

90
00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,900
really important to us? 
And what we really answered a 

91
00:05:22,907 --> 00:05:26,300
call to do is greater than 
anything we could be doing in 

92
00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:33,500
this life, anything So serving 
God is greater than any other 

93
00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:35,400
activity. 
We could, we could even think to

94
00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,800
do in this life, you know, we 
have physical dreams and 

95
00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:44,500
aspirations and those are fine. 
We strive to be better. 

96
00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:48,500
We strive to do, you do more fun
things or more adventurous 

97
00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:51,800
things? 
Every time I see Roger bun, I 

98
00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,600
always think about how he likes 
to bungee jump and I always ask 

99
00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,200
them, what's the next thing you 
want to do? 

100
00:05:57,300 --> 00:06:00,200
You know, you're going to want 
to bungee jump off a bridge or, 

101
00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:05,300
you know, we can strive to like,
accomplish those kinds of things

102
00:06:05,300 --> 00:06:07,700
or we can strive to do 
adventurous things and that's 

103
00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:10,400
okay. 
But as far as our service to God

104
00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,600
is concerned, that is the most 
important thing. 

105
00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:17,100
Ever do ever. 
So, when someone talks to us 

106
00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:21,800
about how we're doing, should 
always be a positive reaction. 

107
00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,400
We're serving God, after we be 
doing any better. 

108
00:06:27,100 --> 00:06:28,500
How could we be doing any 
better? 

109
00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:33,600
So that's important for us to 
know when we think about walking

110
00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:39,000
worthily, Paul in this letter to
the Ephesians, he talks a lot 

111
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,500
about what it is that we are we 
have been blessed with he tells 

112
00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:46,000
us that we're blessed, he tells 
us that were chosen. 

113
00:06:46,300 --> 00:06:49,000
He tells us that were 
predestined that were adopted 

114
00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:51,900
that were accepted that were 
redeemed and then we're forgiven

115
00:06:51,900 --> 00:06:53,400
all in a couple of chapters that
here. 

116
00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:57,500
Rights to these brethren in 
Ephesus, that's important for us

117
00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:01,400
to know. 
That we're all of those things. 

118
00:07:02,300 --> 00:07:05,800
And that we should remember that
but I suppose the deeper 

119
00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,000
question is does our Behavior 
match? 

120
00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,900
What it is that we believe to be
true and does our walk match 

121
00:07:11,900 --> 00:07:16,200
what it is that we speak or what
it is that we what the words are

122
00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,700
that we believe in? 
Is there a lifestyle that we can

123
00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:21,900
live? 
That's worthy to this great and 

124
00:07:21,900 --> 00:07:26,100
awesome calling and there are a 
lot of words that we could talk 

125
00:07:26,100 --> 00:07:29,000
about or just try to describe if
that's the case. 

126
00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,600
But we're just going to study 
what Paul has written to these 

127
00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:32,400
brethren. 
Earth. 

128
00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,600
He says, first of all, that it's
a walk. 

129
00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,400
And I think that's an important 
analogy for us to think about, 

130
00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,800
you know, we talked about 
running life's race and and 

131
00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,500
Paul, of course, himself. 
We get that from his teachings 

132
00:07:45,500 --> 00:07:48,400
as well. 
But you know, the idea of walked

133
00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:52,300
to me, depicts the idea of 
moving forward and I know that 

134
00:07:52,300 --> 00:07:56,200
seems simplistic, right? 
But if you think about run, or 

135
00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,200
if you think about someone 
running, you think about someone

136
00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,000
making great progress in a short
amount of time? 

137
00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:04,700
Time. 
But what happens when you run 

138
00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:07,500
when you run, you get tired a 
lot faster, don't you? 

139
00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,600
When you run you don't have as 
much energy to go all the way. 

140
00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:17,700
So Paul says we walk which means
we are constantly moving forward

141
00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,400
and I think a lot of what it is 
that we do from day to day as we

142
00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,500
talked about, as uncle Frankie 
talk about this morning is we 

143
00:08:24,500 --> 00:08:26,300
only have to be a Christian 
today. 

144
00:08:26,500 --> 00:08:28,900
We only have to live the 
Christian Life today. 

145
00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,000
We'll worry about tomorrow when 
tomorrow comes and that's the 

146
00:08:32,100 --> 00:08:35,299
Idea to me of walking, as we 
just keep walking. 

147
00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,000
And however, many days we get to
walk, we keep walking. 

148
00:08:40,900 --> 00:08:44,200
We can walk a long time just as 
physical being without getting 

149
00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:45,800
tired. 
We truly can. 

150
00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:50,400
And spiritually in the same 
sense we can go on forever. 

151
00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,000
If we keep the, we keep the 
right pace. 

152
00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,400
So he tells us first that this 
is a walk that this life is a 

153
00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,800
walk. 
Now, back in Ephesians chapter 

154
00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,700
2, it was kind of a different 
situation. 

155
00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:05,400
The Paul describes, their, Paul 
talks about how in the world 

156
00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,200
when we were apart from Christ. 
There was no purpose. 

157
00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,100
There was no goal. 
There was no progress. 

158
00:09:11,300 --> 00:09:14,400
We were kind of just Meandering 
and we were wandering about from

159
00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,500
Darkness from this Darkness to 
that. 

160
00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:19,300
That and whichever The Winds of 
the world blue. 

161
00:09:19,300 --> 00:09:24,300
We kind of just went that way. 
But with Jesus, we have Forward 

162
00:09:24,300 --> 00:09:27,900
Motion, we have progress and 
that's the picture that Paul 

163
00:09:27,900 --> 00:09:30,900
makes here. 
So the question becomes, where 

164
00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:34,000
we going or, how is it that we 
are living to our lives. 

165
00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:39,000
Truly reflect God's glory 
Colossians 1:27 says to them, 

166
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,400
God, willed to make known what 
are the riches of the glory of 

167
00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,400
this mystery, among the 
Gentiles, which is Christ in you

168
00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:48,800
the hope of glory. 
So, do our lives. 

169
00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,200
Reflect that that kind of 
beautiful word. 

170
00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,900
Do our lives. 
Reflect what it is that it's 

171
00:09:54,900 --> 00:09:59,600
supposed to or what it is that 
we have accepted to attempt as 

172
00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,500
Christians we have been called 
by God to live a life. 

173
00:10:02,500 --> 00:10:06,400
That demonstrates his love and 
his grace and his Mercy to the 

174
00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,100
rest of the world and it's a 
matter of life and perspective 

175
00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:13,000
and attitude. 
So we're going to talk about 

176
00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,700
three, I think three ideas that 
Paul says here, the Paul lays 

177
00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:20,900
out for us here that are things 
that we need to consider and 

178
00:10:20,900 --> 00:10:24,700
think about when we talk about 
walking a worthy walk and the 

179
00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:27,900
first thing is do we have the 
right perspective? 

180
00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,800
Do we have the right 
perspective? 

181
00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,600
Paul begins this chapter by 
talking about how he was a 

182
00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:47,700
prisoner for the Lord. 
Now, Paul was literally a 

183
00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:50,800
prisoner. 
He was literally in bonds. 

184
00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,000
He was imprisoned and he could 
not leave where he was. 

185
00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,100
But here, when Paul talks about 
being a prisoner he puts it in a

186
00:10:59,108 --> 00:11:00,700
different perspective than 
sometimes. 

187
00:11:00,700 --> 00:11:04,000
We would think here. 
He talks about being a prisoner 

188
00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,500
of the Lord. 
And, you know, his words then 

189
00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:10,100
that follow really ring a lot 
more. 

190
00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,100
They have a lot more weight 
behind him. 

191
00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:15,800
It seems like because when he 
starts about talking about how 

192
00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,100
he's a prisoner of the Lord, 
that gets your attention, then 

193
00:11:18,100 --> 00:11:21,600
you want to listen, As if he 
didn't have enough Authority and

194
00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:29,200
already being an apostle. 
Now, he's basically saying live 

195
00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,200
what I teach because what I 
teach I live as well. 

196
00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,400
So his words here have a lot of 
weight behind them because he 

197
00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,700
has living what he is preaching.
He is living exactly what it is,

198
00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:44,500
that he is preaching, and it's 
possible that if Paul had never 

199
00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:49,900
decided to fully yield to Jesus 
and fully accept Jesus, And full

200
00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:52,200
decide fully to live for him 
that he wouldn't have been in 

201
00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:54,400
prison. 
Fact, we know he wouldn't have 

202
00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:59,400
So he's making a statement right
away, right off the bat here 

203
00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:03,300
that he is a prisoner but he's 
doing it because he's doing it 

204
00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,700
for the Lord. 
And I suppose a that I would 

205
00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:10,600
like to follow someone that does
say that and practices what they

206
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,300
preach. 
Sometimes we talk about double 

207
00:12:13,300 --> 00:12:16,400
standards in this world. 
We talked about contradictions, 

208
00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,900
we talked about compromises and 
these are all things that are 

209
00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:22,600
stumbling blocks for 
authenticity authenticity. 

210
00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,000
So when Paul practices what he 
preaches we are inclined to 

211
00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:31,500
listen to him and for good 
reason Paul has lived for Jesus 

212
00:12:31,500 --> 00:12:34,900
to the point of imprisonment. 
He's not living in a mansion 

213
00:12:34,900 --> 00:12:37,700
somewhere. 
He's not driving that nice, new 

214
00:12:37,700 --> 00:12:42,600
Mercedes-Benz Chariot, he's not 
lapped and luxury as sometimes 

215
00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,700
we see people who are so-called 
evangelist today but he's living

216
00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:49,500
a life. 
That's reflective of his 

217
00:12:49,500 --> 00:12:53,900
teaching on how to live. 
So he says, I beseech you there 

218
00:12:53,900 --> 00:12:55,700
and chat. 
Let's read chapter 4, verse 1 

219
00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:57,600
again. 
So we understand exactly what 

220
00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,600
the verse is telling us again. 
It says, I therefore, the 

221
00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,500
prisoner of the lord, we covered
that. 

222
00:13:02,700 --> 00:13:06,300
Then Paul says, beseech, you to 
walk worthy of the calling, of 

223
00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:08,400
which you were called. 
Now, this word besiege or this 

224
00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:09,800
phrase. 
I beseech. 

225
00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:14,600
You can also be translated I beg
you or I exhort you the word 

226
00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:19,700
beseech in the Greek, also can 
be to call Near or to comfort or

227
00:13:19,700 --> 00:13:22,300
to council. 
And it's the same word that's 

228
00:13:22,300 --> 00:13:27,700
used to describe the works of 
the Holy Spirit Paul Begins by 

229
00:13:27,700 --> 00:13:32,000
telling us that beseeching us 
and this way or or, or exhorting

230
00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:36,300
us in this way to walk a walk. 
That is worthy of our calling. 

231
00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:40,500
You know, I find often that 
stumbles and and frustrations 

232
00:13:41,300 --> 00:13:45,000
can get in our way And that's 
certainly true today. 

233
00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,000
Often we try to walk in a way 
that is apart from our calling 

234
00:13:49,900 --> 00:13:51,900
often. 
There are those who try to live 

235
00:13:51,900 --> 00:13:55,200
without live right without being
right first. 

236
00:13:55,900 --> 00:13:58,500
You know, they try to go through
the motions without changing the

237
00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:01,400
inside. 
They try to do the routine 

238
00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,800
without first making. 
Right? 

239
00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,100
What needs to be made, right? 
And that's the heart. 

240
00:14:07,300 --> 00:14:11,100
So Paul is telling us to walk 
worthy of the calling that we've

241
00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:14,400
been called, but he doesn't tell
us to act. 

242
00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,000
Worthy or he doesn't tell us to 
fake. 

243
00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,900
Worthiness is my point. 
He's not telling us to just go 

244
00:14:22,900 --> 00:14:25,900
through the motions. 
He's saying that we have to 

245
00:14:25,900 --> 00:14:29,700
live. 
We have to live in a way that is

246
00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:31,700
worthy and we're going to talk 
about that a little more. 

247
00:14:31,900 --> 00:14:33,700
I don't want to get too far 
ahead of ourself. 

248
00:14:34,700 --> 00:14:38,200
So here's the danger, it can be 
easy to believe that we are the 

249
00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,700
initiators and that God is the 
responders sometimes. 

250
00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:46,700
People think that way that if we
are, you know, if we pray enough

251
00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:49,400
or if we give enough, or if we 
do enough, then God will bless 

252
00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,000
us because of all the things 
that I've done and we talked 

253
00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,900
about this last time when I was 
up here. 

254
00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,400
It's not because of anything 
special. 

255
00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:00,300
It's not because we are anything
amazing, that makes us Worthy. 

256
00:15:01,100 --> 00:15:04,000
There's nothing that we have 
done and that's especially 

257
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:08,000
Grandeur. 
Great of our own of our own you 

258
00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,100
know divisiveness or whatever. 
That's makes us worthy. 

259
00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,100
We are worthy because he made us
worthy. 

260
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,900
So since he made us worthy since
God has made each and every one 

261
00:15:18,900 --> 00:15:23,200
of us worthy. 
Now, we have the obligation to 

262
00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:27,600
walk a certain way. 
Now we have the obligation and 

263
00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,700
the duty. 
To respond to that worthiness, 

264
00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:34,300
he's given us. 
And that's the lifestyle choice 

265
00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:37,100
that we've made. 
So it's not something that we 

266
00:15:37,100 --> 00:15:41,600
are especially great at You 
know, not because shot, hey, is 

267
00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,600
better than anyone else that he 
can walk this this life or he 

268
00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,000
can walk this walk and he 
worthier than ever to anyone 

269
00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,800
else because he's that much more
special. 

270
00:15:50,100 --> 00:15:53,600
It's not that at all we all have
the same opportunity. 

271
00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,200
All have the same ability to 
walk as a Christian because God 

272
00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,100
has given that to us. 
Not because we've given it to 

273
00:16:00,100 --> 00:16:03,100
ourselves and that's an excuse 
me. 

274
00:16:03,108 --> 00:16:05,500
And that's important for us to 
know as well. 

275
00:16:06,100 --> 00:16:09,500
Nehemiah 8 and 10 says, then he 
said to them go your way. 

276
00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:13,300
Eat the That drink the sweet and
send portions to those who for 

277
00:16:13,300 --> 00:16:16,600
whom nothing is prepared. 
For this day is Holy to our 

278
00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,900
Lord. 
Do not sorrow for the joy of the

279
00:16:18,900 --> 00:16:23,700
Lord is your strength. 
The joy of the Lord is your 

280
00:16:23,700 --> 00:16:27,300
strength. 
So with the right perspective, I

281
00:16:27,300 --> 00:16:31,500
think that it helps us to walk a
little bit See, we have to have 

282
00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:35,900
the right frame of mind to have 
the right way of looking at it. 

283
00:16:36,700 --> 00:16:40,200
When we think about all the 
things that we can't do, oh, how

284
00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,400
I wish I could do all those 
things I used to do, that's the 

285
00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,000
wrong perspective. 
That's the wrong perspective. 

286
00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,800
Oh man, just everyday. 
I just, I'm so tempted. 

287
00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:53,900
I can't even take it. 
I just want to give in, that's 

288
00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:57,700
the wrong perspective. 
We have to have the same 

289
00:16:57,700 --> 00:17:03,000
respective that Paul had. 
Yeah, I'm prisoner but I'm a 

290
00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:07,700
prisoner for the Lord. 
Yeah, I've suffered but I suffer

291
00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:11,400
for the cause of price. 
Yes I'm persecuted. 

292
00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:16,200
But I do it because my calling 
is higher than that persecution.

293
00:17:17,099 --> 00:17:19,099
And that's the right 
perspective, that's the right 

294
00:17:19,099 --> 00:17:23,200
perspective that we all have to 
have we all have to have that. 

295
00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:26,599
But in addition to the right 
perspective, I think Paul tells 

296
00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:28,900
us that we also have to have 
something else. 

297
00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,100
We also have to have the right 
position. 

298
00:17:36,900 --> 00:17:41,100
We have to have the right 
position as well, in chapter 4 

299
00:17:41,100 --> 00:17:43,900
again, in verse two and three, 
let's read those verses. 

300
00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,100
So after he beseeches us to walk
worthy of the calling of which 

301
00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:52,600
we were called, he says to do. 
So in this way with all 

302
00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:56,000
lowliness and gentleness with 
long-suffering bearing with one 

303
00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:00,400
another in love, endeavoring to 
keep the unity of the spirit of 

304
00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:04,600
the in the bond of Peace. 
So This is the position that he 

305
00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,800
wants us to. 
After we've got the perspective,

306
00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,600
now he gives us the position. 
He says to do this with all 

307
00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:15,500
lowliness with meekness and a 
life lived in the grace of God, 

308
00:18:15,500 --> 00:18:18,700
I think leads to lowliness. 
And I think that we can see that

309
00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:22,400
easily the word, lowliness 
literally means to be brought 

310
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,500
low. 
It's the opposite of asserting 

311
00:18:24,500 --> 00:18:26,800
yourself. 
There are some people that 

312
00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,000
aren't that, simply are not 
happy, unless they are the 

313
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,700
center of attention, where all 
their ideas are preeminent, 

314
00:18:33,700 --> 00:18:36,800
where their voices heard above, 
Anyone else's where they are 

315
00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:39,700
constantly center stage stage at
all times. 

316
00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:43,700
Those people want to lift 
themselves up to be recognized 

317
00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:47,400
by others. 
Philippians chapter 2 and verse 

318
00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:52,100
3 says, do nothing from 
selfishness or empty conceit. 

319
00:18:52,100 --> 00:18:54,800
But with humility of Mind, 
regard one another as more 

320
00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:59,400
important than yourselves, So 
those people that just want to 

321
00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,000
be elevated, those people that 
just want to be a little bit 

322
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,500
better than everybody else. 
God doesn't accept that. 

323
00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,500
God does mix-up that. 
I read once about a young 

324
00:19:11,500 --> 00:19:15,800
Seminary Student in Scotland, he
was highly gifted and a leading 

325
00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,500
student in the school because of
his reputation and excellent. 

326
00:19:19,500 --> 00:19:22,900
Grades, a local church, invited 
him to teach their one Sunday 

327
00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:26,700
morning since he was a rising 
star in that denomination. 

328
00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,900
He entered the pulpit with great
pride and expectations, when he 

329
00:19:30,900 --> 00:19:34,400
stood before the congregation to
preach, he was confused. 

330
00:19:34,500 --> 00:19:38,000
He was overtaken with fear and 
Stage Fright, he couldn't say a 

331
00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,100
word. 
He began to Cry and weep and ran

332
00:19:41,100 --> 00:19:44,200
out of the church. 
Humiliated, then a sweet dear 

333
00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,700
elderly member, followed him out
the door and caught up with him.

334
00:19:47,700 --> 00:19:51,600
She shared these insightful 
words with him at that time. 

335
00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,900
She said, young man, if you had 
only walked into the pulpit as 

336
00:19:55,900 --> 00:20:00,400
you came down, you would have 
walked down the way you went up.

337
00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,600
That is with all lowliness and 
meekness. 

338
00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:07,100
So see the point is is that if 
we go into a situation or we 

339
00:20:07,100 --> 00:20:11,900
live this life, with the Dude, 
of being lonely and being meet. 

340
00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,300
God will raise us up. 
God will lift us up in the end. 

341
00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:21,700
I know a lot of people who just 
like to be number one all the 

342
00:20:21,700 --> 00:20:25,800
time. 
I know a lot of people who just 

343
00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,500
they want to be Top Dog all the 
time. 

344
00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:32,700
Maybe they just like the praise 
of men. 

345
00:20:33,100 --> 00:20:37,600
I know a lot of people that like
that too, but for the Christian,

346
00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,600
that's not what we are. 
That's not what we were called 

347
00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:43,500
to be. 
We weren't called to be number 

348
00:20:43,500 --> 00:20:45,700
one. 
We weren't called to be the 

349
00:20:45,700 --> 00:20:49,700
greatest in the best. 
We were called to be servants 

350
00:20:50,100 --> 00:20:52,500
who were called to be humble 
servants. 

351
00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:58,300
So, when we talk about walking 
in a way, that's worthy of that 

352
00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:03,900
calling We have to reflect that 
in our lives. 

353
00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,900
We can't always be the best. 
We can always be number one. 

354
00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:12,900
Sometimes we just have to accept
that we're not going to always 

355
00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:15,600
be the ones to win the argument 
if we're just stubborn enough 

356
00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,300
and if we just hold on and long 
enough, sometimes we have to 

357
00:21:19,300 --> 00:21:22,900
give into that mentality. 
And it's certainly something 

358
00:21:22,900 --> 00:21:27,500
that easily and grips and 
entangles US, meekness is a term

359
00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:30,000
used to describe power under 
control. 

360
00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:34,700
If you ever thought about that 
power under control, it's used 

361
00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:38,800
to measure yourself in relation 
to God, I think, and I think we 

362
00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,100
can listen to what was written 
in John chapter 3, and verse 30.

363
00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:44,300
When John, the Baptist said he 
must increase. 

364
00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:47,800
But I must decrease, I think 
it's kind of like that Jesus 

365
00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,000
represented the best example, of
course of this, in all of the 

366
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:55,000
Bible, You remember in Matthew 
chapter, 11 verses 28 and 29. 

367
00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,700
Some very familiar verses to us 
where Jesus said, come to me, 

368
00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:00,700
all you who labor and are heavy 
laden. 

369
00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:04,100
And I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you and learn 

370
00:22:04,100 --> 00:22:07,400
from me for. 
I am gentle and lowly in heart 

371
00:22:07,700 --> 00:22:09,800
and you will find rest for your 
souls. 

372
00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:15,400
Power under control. 
That's meekness when you think 

373
00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,900
about Jesus, man, that's power 
under control. 

374
00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:25,900
That's Supreme divine power 
under amazing control. 

375
00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,900
At any moment in time, Jesus 
could have wiped out his 

376
00:22:29,900 --> 00:22:33,800
adversaries. 
At any moment in time. 

377
00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,400
Jesus could have decided, you 
know what I'm done? 

378
00:22:37,300 --> 00:22:40,100
I'm done. 
You're not worth it. 

379
00:22:41,700 --> 00:22:45,000
At any moment in time while on 
the cross Jesus could have come 

380
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:50,200
right down. 
Power under control. 

381
00:22:50,300 --> 00:22:54,300
That's meekness and Paul tells 
us here in order to walk in a 

382
00:22:54,308 --> 00:22:57,800
way, that's worthy of your 
calling, you have to do that. 

383
00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:05,700
You have to do that. 
So he says in lowliness and 

384
00:23:05,700 --> 00:23:09,200
meekness. 
Someone of course, who is not 

385
00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,100
lowly and meek, that would be 
what we call Pride and a 

386
00:23:12,100 --> 00:23:14,300
prideful person tries to control
everything. 

387
00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:18,300
As we've said, Pride makes one 
feel like they know it all like 

388
00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:20,600
they're smarter than everyone 
else, like they're wiser than 

389
00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:24,200
everyone else. 
My way is the right way, but 

390
00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,800
humility lowliness. 
Meekness these things are not 

391
00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:31,700
that it's being occupied with 
your own life and not meddling, 

392
00:23:31,700 --> 00:23:34,300
or destroying the lives of 
others, it's allowing God to 

393
00:23:34,300 --> 00:23:37,000
work through. 
You first Peter chapter 5 and 

394
00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:38,600
verse 5. 
Says, likewise the younger 

395
00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:40,700
people submit yourselves to your
elders? 

396
00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:42,700
Yes. 
All of you be submissive to one 

397
00:23:42,700 --> 00:23:44,900
another, and be clothed with 
humility for God. 

398
00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:48,100
Resists, the proud, but gives 
grace to the humble and 

399
00:23:48,100 --> 00:23:52,900
lowliness and meekness. 
These are important. 

400
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,000
We can't miss these. 
These are important. 

401
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,300
Especially when you look at the 
life of Jesus and you understand

402
00:24:01,300 --> 00:24:04,500
that that's the life that we 
model our own after these are 

403
00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:08,000
important. 
So if you don't take anything 

404
00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:12,800
else from this lesson tonight, 
just know we all need to work on

405
00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,100
these myself, definitely 
included. 

406
00:24:15,100 --> 00:24:18,600
We all need to work on these 
lowliness meekness humility. 

407
00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,900
These are really important. 
He also tells us to Bear one 

408
00:24:22,900 --> 00:24:26,000
another in love and we won't 
talk too much about this because

409
00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,000
we've been covering this concept
A Lot in our Wednesday night 

410
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,600
studies. 
But basically this phrase 

411
00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,900
bearing with one, another in 
love is kind of talking about 

412
00:24:34,900 --> 00:24:38,100
patient endurance. 
It's long-suffering, really. 

413
00:24:38,300 --> 00:24:40,000
And that's, of course, listed in
Galatians. 

414
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,300
Chapter 5 is one of the fruits 
of the spirit. 

415
00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:46,500
When you and I are walking in 
the spirit controlled by the 

416
00:24:46,500 --> 00:24:49,900
spirit, led by the spirit, as as
is through the word of God. 

417
00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,700
We will be long and suffering 
when someone you know, Cuts us 

418
00:24:53,700 --> 00:24:55,500
off on the freeway. 
We let it go. 

419
00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,700
What an unkind word is shot. 
Our way we turn the other cheek 

420
00:24:58,700 --> 00:25:02,500
when we are wronged hurt or 
wounded, we don't retaliate all 

421
00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:05,600
the power, all the rights, all 
the ability held under control. 

422
00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,600
Bearing one another in love 
means that we even though we are

423
00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:13,600
feeling pain from time to time, 
we do what we need to do to help

424
00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,600
others. 
Bearing one another in love 

425
00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,100
means that we are always there 
for each other, always no matter

426
00:25:19,100 --> 00:25:21,600
what, no matter what's going on 
in our lives. 

427
00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:26,400
That's bearing one another in 
love and that's, you know, I 

428
00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:29,900
think something that's easy to 
do in the church because there's

429
00:25:29,900 --> 00:25:31,300
a lot of people who want to do 
that. 

430
00:25:31,300 --> 00:25:35,500
Also, it's hard. 
When you're the only one, it's 

431
00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:37,000
hard. 
If you were the only one I 

432
00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,600
should say. 
But when there's so many who 

433
00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:43,200
have this attitude around us, I 
think it's a lot easier. 

434
00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:48,100
You know? 
I The world's kind of a rough 

435
00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:53,500
neighborhood, if you think about
it that way and from time to 

436
00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:57,400
time, when I think about that, I
think about the great Sanctuary 

437
00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,700
that we really have in the body 
of Christ. 

438
00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:03,600
And we're going to talk a little
bit more about this in a minute,

439
00:26:03,900 --> 00:26:08,400
but we can come here with people
who think and talk and act like 

440
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,800
we do because we all have the 
same Mission. 

441
00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:16,100
We all have were called by the 
same calling and this really is 

442
00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:20,300
a sanctuary from the turmoils 
that the world presents. 

443
00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:26,800
So when we talk about bearing 
one another in love, We should 

444
00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,600
want to do that, and I think 
that we do, especially here at 

445
00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:31,300
this place, I see that all the 
time. 

446
00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:35,900
Every every time I'm with The 
members of this congregation. 

447
00:26:35,900 --> 00:26:38,700
I can see that just in the way 
that people treat each other 

448
00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:42,100
here and that beautiful. 
That's all they'll be half that 

449
00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:45,100
but let's not take it for 
granted and everyone needs to be

450
00:26:45,100 --> 00:26:48,100
working out and everyone needs 
to be doing their part. 

451
00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,600
The right perspective in the 
right position and those are 

452
00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:56,000
important thirdly though, I 
think that Paul tells us one 

453
00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,000
more thing. 
He tells us that we need to have

454
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,400
the right perspective, the right
position, and the right purpose.

455
00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:11,100
The right perspective, the right
position. 

456
00:27:11,900 --> 00:27:15,600
And the right purpose. 
He tells us in verse 3 

457
00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:20,800
endeavoring to keep the unity. 
So after we've decided to walk 

458
00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:25,100
from the right perspective and 
after we've decided to walk in 

459
00:27:25,100 --> 00:27:28,100
the right position that is with 
lowliness and humility. 

460
00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:31,300
Always trying to live at peace 
with one. 

461
00:27:31,300 --> 00:27:35,100
Another is something else that 
we're commanded to do Romans 

462
00:27:35,100 --> 00:27:38,400
chapter 12 and verse 18 says, if
it is possible as much as 

463
00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,800
depends on, you live peaceably 
with all men. 

464
00:27:41,900 --> 00:27:45,900
With all men, then he says to 
Endeavor or literally exert 

465
00:27:45,900 --> 00:27:49,400
yourself diligently, try to keep
the unity. 

466
00:27:51,500 --> 00:27:53,400
Diligently. 
Try to keep the unity. 

467
00:27:53,700 --> 00:27:55,200
That's working at loving with 
what? 

468
00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,700
Loving one another in unity and 
peace. 

469
00:27:58,700 --> 00:28:02,300
You know, this verse basically 
to me says that we're not to 

470
00:28:02,300 --> 00:28:06,300
fight we're not to compete with 
one another, we're not to 

471
00:28:06,300 --> 00:28:10,400
complain about one. 
Another one man said it is too 

472
00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,700
bad that anything so obvious 
should need to be said at this 

473
00:28:13,700 --> 00:28:17,000
late date, but from all 
appearances, we Christians have 

474
00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,100
about forgotten the lessons. 
So carefully taught by Paul 

475
00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:24,200
God's servants are not to be 
competitors, but coworkers 

476
00:28:25,300 --> 00:28:30,800
Coworkers, if I'm going to work,
I want to work my very best. 

477
00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:34,500
If I'm going to do something, I 
want to do the very best I can 

478
00:28:34,500 --> 00:28:37,800
do. 
And when we all do that together

479
00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:41,300
there's nothing we can't 
accomplish nothing, there's 

480
00:28:41,300 --> 00:28:43,900
nothing. 
We can't do together as God's 

481
00:28:43,900 --> 00:28:46,800
family. 
So he tells us to have the right

482
00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:49,800
perspective, the right position,
and the right purpose, you know,

483
00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:52,200
we talked about the right 
purpose. 

484
00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,800
We talk we can talk about the 
right purpose, and when we have 

485
00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,400
the right purpose, that's why 
we're here in the first place, 

486
00:28:59,700 --> 00:29:03,200
right? 
When we have the right purpose 

487
00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:06,400
and the right goals, when we are
all striving for the same thing.

488
00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:08,500
That's what brings us here 
together in the first place. 

489
00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:17,100
So sometimes when we think about
difficulties, We all have those 

490
00:29:17,700 --> 00:29:21,100
but we need to focus on our 
common purpose, our common 

491
00:29:21,100 --> 00:29:26,000
purpose of service to God and he
illustrates that by now listing 

492
00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:27,900
things, he's going to make a 
list right now. 

493
00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:31,000
Beginning in verse 4. 
Let's briefly look over this and

494
00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,100
we'll talk about it just a 
little bit more, and we're 

495
00:29:33,100 --> 00:29:36,700
nearing nearing the completion. 
But he says in verse 4 that 

496
00:29:36,700 --> 00:29:39,700
there is one body that is one 
family of Believers where. 

497
00:29:39,700 --> 00:29:42,600
Jesus is our head. 
The Oneness of the church I 

498
00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,400
believe is essential for the 
work of the Gospel on Earth. 

499
00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:49,100
Today one Spirit, he says, now 
the Greek word for Spirit. 

500
00:29:49,100 --> 00:29:52,300
Here can also be translated as 
breath, which I think is 

501
00:29:52,300 --> 00:29:54,700
interesting. 
But this verse is basically 

502
00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:57,600
illustrating the power of the 
Holy Spirit as we have 

503
00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:01,100
manifested today through God's 
word, there's one hope in our 

504
00:30:01,100 --> 00:30:04,000
calling and this is the great 
power of our Unity. 

505
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,900
As I said we are all moving 
toward one goal that's to see 

506
00:30:07,900 --> 00:30:10,400
the face of Jesus. 
You remember Titus Chapter 2 

507
00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,100
Titus Chapter 2 verses 11 
through 13. 

508
00:30:13,100 --> 00:30:15,400
The Bible says for the grace of 
God that brings salvation 

509
00:30:15,500 --> 00:30:18,900
Salvation has appeared to all 
men teaching us that denying 

510
00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:22,000
ungodliness and worldly lusts. 
We should live soberly 

511
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,500
righteously and godly in this 
present age. 

512
00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,700
Looking for the Blessed, hope 
and glorious appearing of our 

513
00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:30,500
great God and Savior, Jesus 
Christ, that's our common goal. 

514
00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:34,400
We want to see that. 
We want to be ready for that in 

515
00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:37,000
verse 5. 
He says one Lord, of course, 

516
00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,200
talking about Jesus who is our 
Master, our leader, in our King,

517
00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:43,900
the one that we follow and 
example, Our Lives after one 

518
00:30:43,900 --> 00:30:47,100
Faith, he says, Faith. 
Of course, being the first step 

519
00:30:47,100 --> 00:30:49,900
for one entering the kingdom. 
And it's our belief and 

520
00:30:49,900 --> 00:30:53,400
unyielding trust that keeps us 
guides us and strengthens us, 

521
00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:55,400
Ephesians 2. 
And 8, of course, says for 

522
00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:57,500
Grace. 
You are saved through faith and 

523
00:30:57,500 --> 00:31:00,800
that and not and and that not of
yourselves. 

524
00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:04,100
It is the gift of God. 
He says, also, in verse 51, 

525
00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:07,100
baptism are outward 
demonstration of what it is that

526
00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:10,500
we believe internally. 
It's the one way to wash away 

527
00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:14,000
man sins here on Earth. 
The one way to put us in the 

528
00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,200
family of God one. 
Baptism in verse 6. 

529
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,900
He says one God and Father we, 
of course know there is but one 

530
00:31:20,900 --> 00:31:24,600
God, he is the father of all. 
And I think that's the greatest 

531
00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:29,600
description of God is being 
father to us of all the things 

532
00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:32,600
that we can look at throughout 
all of the pages of the Bible, 

533
00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,600
as way as a description of God. 
He is our father, he keeps us, 

534
00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:40,500
he loves us. 
He takes care of us, he nudges 

535
00:31:40,500 --> 00:31:46,900
us nudges us on when we need it.
That's always been my favorite 

536
00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:48,800
description of how God works 
today. 

537
00:31:48,900 --> 00:31:55,300
He's our father He's our father.
Galatians chapter 4. 

538
00:31:55,300 --> 00:31:57,700
And verse 6 says, and because 
you are Sons. 

539
00:31:57,900 --> 00:32:01,900
God has set forth the spirit of 
his son into your hearts crying 

540
00:32:01,900 --> 00:32:04,700
out. 
Abba, Father, he is above all. 

541
00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:07,900
He is sovereignty, he is 
absolute power and he is our 

542
00:32:07,900 --> 00:32:13,000
father and he chooses to be that
he chooses to take care of us. 

543
00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,600
He chooses to love us the way 
that he does. 

544
00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:22,700
He's chosen to give us a plan to
redeem us, he's chosen to send 

545
00:32:22,700 --> 00:32:28,700
his son because he loves us. 
All because he is our father. 

546
00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:33,400
In closing tonight, I'd like to 
read a few words that Adam Clark

547
00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,200
writes about this passage. 
And I think this very well 

548
00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,500
illustrates some of the thoughts
we'd like to portray. 

549
00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:43,700
He says here that the calling is
the free invitation that they, 

550
00:32:43,900 --> 00:32:47,000
they have had from God to 
receive the Privileges of the 

551
00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:52,400
gospel, and become his sons, and
daughters their vocation, or 

552
00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,700
calling took in their Christian 
profession with all the 

553
00:32:55,700 --> 00:33:00,100
doctrines precepts, privileges 
and duties, He goes on to say, 

554
00:33:00,100 --> 00:33:04,100
Among Us, a man's calling 
signifies his trade or 

555
00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:08,900
occupation in life that that at 
which he works. 

556
00:33:08,900 --> 00:33:12,900
And by which he gets his bread 
and it is termed his calling 

557
00:33:12,900 --> 00:33:16,200
because his because it is 
supposed that God in the course 

558
00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:20,400
of his Providence calls, the 
person to be thus employed and 

559
00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:24,600
thus, to acquire his livelihood,
It's our profession. 

560
00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:31,000
And like any other job, it 
requires effort and work on our 

561
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,900
parts. 
But God has called us to work 

562
00:33:34,900 --> 00:33:40,000
for him and he's called us to 
work for him in a specific way. 

563
00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:44,800
And those of us who have 
answered the call and who are 

564
00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:48,200
here tonight because we continue
to answer the call. 

565
00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,500
We need to remember that. 
There's a certain way in which, 

566
00:33:51,500 --> 00:33:55,200
we need to walk certain way, 
which we need to live. 

567
00:33:56,100 --> 00:33:58,800
And that's in a way that is 
worthy of such a great calling 

568
00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,500
in close tonight. 
Paul, begs and pleads with us, 

569
00:34:02,500 --> 00:34:05,400
he exhorts us to have a walk 
worthy of our calling with 

570
00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,400
lowliness meekness, 
long-suffering bearing with one 

571
00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:12,000
another because of his grace and
God's great love. 

572
00:34:12,500 --> 00:34:16,100
He tells us to walk in a certain
way to make progress together 

573
00:34:16,699 --> 00:34:19,100
and that our Behavior should 
match our beliefs, that our 

574
00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:23,100
actions match, our attitudes, 
our decisions, and our life. 

575
00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:28,100
We thank you for listening to 
our podcast, put on by the 

576
00:34:28,100 --> 00:34:33,900
Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you 

577
00:34:33,900 --> 00:34:37,000
would like any additional 
information or you would like to

578
00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,100
receive a free Bible 
correspondence, course by mail. 

579
00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:44,600
Please email us at info at True 
Church of Christ 

580
00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:48,600
Bakersfield.com. 
Our service times are on Sundays

581
00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:54,000
at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 

582
00:34:54,100 --> 00:34:58,300
M, please make plans to join us.
We would love for you to be our 

583
00:34:58,300 --> 00:34:59,200
honored guest