The church at Ephesus is truly an interesting church.
We read about it in many different circumstances as found
in the New Testament. For example, we read of the
establishment of it in the book of Acts, and then we find a
letter to them, divinely inspired by the Apostle, Paul in
the Ephesian letter and finally John's letter to them in
Revelation, chapter 20 and verses 1 through 7 where it is
recorded there that the Lord recognize the fact that they had
labored. The Lord recognize the fact that
they were patient and how they could not bear those that were
evil. And even stood against them that
would say that they were Apostles and were not the Lord
even recognized that they had not fainted they had not
compromised one iota and yet the Lord had this to say of them.
He said, nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because
thou Hast left thy First Love, he tells them to remember,
therefore, from It's now art fallen and repent and do the
first works or else he would come unto them quickly and would
remove their Candlestick out of his place.
Unless they repent. You see they had left their
first love and they had gone through the motions of service
from a legal standpoint, only and their labor ceased being
what it was supposed to be. And that is a labor of love as
Paul mentions to those in thessalonica, in 1st
Thessalonians, chapter 1 and verse Verse 3 for a little while
this morning, I want to discuss with you.
How it is? That we can avoid losing our
first love and how it is that we can all Supply our part.
First of all, as I mentioned, briefly in passing in our
introduction, I said we must recognize and remember that each
and every member of the Lord's church is important equally.
I don't know about you but I think that's great.
I think it's a wonderful concept to realize and to see that in a
world where we have pecking orders in a world, we have
ranking systems in a world, we have people that are more
powerful than others, more important than others.
That among those that are members of the body of Christ
each and every member is important equally and all are
necessary. There's a work for each and
every one of us, regardless of our abilities.
All are needed. Let me just say this, God does
not have a specific will for one person that he does not have for
another person. For example, let me just say it
like this, isn't it? True, or I'll just back up.
I knew a doctor one time that was telling us his life story.
And what he said is, he said that he's lived his entire life
and every decision that he made, he would sit back and he would
pray and God would direct him in the way that he would go for.
Example, he used to say to the Lord in a prayer.
If you want me to turn this way, make me turn that way.
If you want me to turn that way, make me turn in that direction.
But you know God never imparts his will on us to the degree
that he removes the freedom of choice and to determine will of
man. You know, God did not grab me by
the back of the neck one day and say, you are going to be a
preacher. You are going to be an
evangelist. What God does is God, blesses us
with ability. He blesses us all with talents
and our talents are different. Our abilities are different but
he doesn't have a specific will for me.
That's separate from Bob Smith or Terry Osburn or anyone else
what God. Choirs of me, he requires of
you, whether you're a man or a woman and that is he requires
that we will serve him with every fiber of our being with
the talents that he's blessed us with will serve him with all
that. We have all the days of our
life. That's what God requires from
each and every one of us. And, you know, that's what God
requires from someone that's been a member of the Lord's
church for 50 years. And it's also required from a
person that's been been a member of the church for five minutes
now. That's a babe in Christ.
When we talk about somebody that's newly converted we are
talking about someone that is a babe in Christ just like a
little baby comes out of the womb.
We know that but what God requires from that person is the
same thing that he requires from someone.
That's been a member of the church, all of their life, and
that is to serve him with everything they can to the best.
Of their ability in First Corinthians.
Chapter 12 and verse 22 there. The Bible says nay much more
those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are
necessary and those members of the body, which we think to be
less honorable upon these, we bestow more abundant honour and
our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
What I'm talking about is you remember last a couple weeks ago
and I wanted to make a point here?
I In the introduction that we talked about evangelism a couple
of weeks ago. This sermon is not about
evangelism. This is something that's
different. This is something that every
person can do that's under the sound of my voice right now, and
you can do it from the very time that you obey the gospel, all
the way to living the in the gospel, all of your life.
Things that we can do specific things that we can do to help in
a work. The point of these verses is in
1st Corinthians chapter 12 is every member though is equally
important and no one is insignificant in any way.
You know Paul describes this idea and proves this out.
When he describes the body of Christ being like the human body
in First Corinthians chapter 12, notice a few verses that are
found there. Beginning there in verse Verse
First Corinthians chapter 12. Beginning in verse 12.
For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members
of that one, body being many are one body.
So, also is Christ for by one Spirit.
Are we all baptized into one body?
Whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be Bond or free and
have been all made to drink into one spirit for the body is not
one member. But many if the foot shall say
because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it?
Therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say,
because I am not the eye, I am not of the body, is it?
Therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye?
Where were the hearing, if the whole were the hearing where
were the smelling. But now hath God set in set, the
members every one of them in the body as it hath, pleased him and
if they were all one member where were the body.
But now are they many members yet?
But one body and the eye cannot say unto the hand.
I have no. No need of view nor again the
head to the feet. I have no need of you.
We are all important, you know, one of the things that we need
to do in working together is we need to know each other.
You know, in verse 25. And 26 of this same chapter, the
Bible says that there be no Schism in the body but that the
members should have the same care one for the other.
And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it,
or one member be honoured all members Rejoice with it.
You know, there is no way. There is no way.
That we can be there for each other. if we don't know each
other, There is no way that we can come to the aid of someone
that's hurting or struggling if we don't know who they are, and
we will never know who they are without spending time with each
other. Do you remember when we talked
about evangelism? We talked about how imperative
it is, to establish relationships with people that
are in the world or we will not have, we will not have any
influence or impact in their life in converting them.
That's all True. But the greatest relationships
that we need to have our with each other.
You know there I hear stories of days gone by.
I remember a preacher a couple years ago at the preacher study.
His topic was talking about church history and the history
of the church in the state of California and so forth.
And he was talking about how in the days that were before mine,
the generation prior to me and how people spent so much time
with one another, maybe it was because he said that people
didn't have any money, they didn't have anything to do.
So what they did is they got together and they spent Time
with each other. That's why so many people went
to gospel meetings. There was nothing else that they
could afford to do. And he got up and he said, you
know what we used to do when we had nothing else to do, we would
get together and we would sing that was our entertainment.
He said we spent time together. I'll tell you something folks,
we can't help each other if we don't know what our problems
are. If we don't know each other, you
know what's sad is. Sometimes there are people that
are on the fringes and they're struggling and yet we don't know
that they're struggling, but the Apostle Paul would describe it
like this. If he says, when one member
suffer, all members suffer with it, or one member be honoured
all members Rejoice with it. Then in verse 27, he gives the
reason for this care, one for the other.
When he said now, ye are the body of Christ and members.
In particular, the next point is we need to consider each other
to provoke unto love and good works.
You know, the word provoke is often times used in a negative
sense. For example, you might say,
Well, he provoked me into an argument.
He provoked me. It was his fault.
I know I said the wrong things to him but it was his fault
because after all either by his words or his actions, he
provoked me and most of the time we use the word provoke in a
negative sense. But in Hebrews chapter 10, you
know we always talk about Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 25
regarding forsaking the assembling and it's true, it's
true that Hebrews 10:25 means that we need to make certain
that when we, we will assemble with the Lord's church.
That when we go out of town, every decision that we make,
every decision that we make on where we're going to be is I'm
going to get the directory out and find out where am I going to
be on the Lord's Day? You know why?
Because our whole life surrounds our service and the Lord has
commanded, we cannot forsake the assembly in the bare minimum of
the Lord's Day morning. We must assemble like we
assemble here today. But look at verse 24.
Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to Good
Works. You know what that saying?
You know what the word provoke means?
It means to stimulate or induce. You know what, Paul, I, which I
believe is the writer of Hebrews is saying he's saying to me that
I needed to do something to provoke, stimulate encourage,
whatever it might be, or induce you to good works.
And you to me, That sounds like a an assignment for us to do
work is involved and time is involved.
Next, we must realize that we are members one of the other in
Romans chapter 12 and verse 5, where Paul says, so we being
many are one body in Christ and everyone members of another, I
am a member of you or part of you and you are a part of me.
And because of that, the Bible says that we love one another in
John, chapter 13, Beginning in verse 34, the Bible says a new
commandment. I give unto you that you love
one. Another as I have loved you and
that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that
you are my disciples if you love one.
Another another words we cannot be the Disciples of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ without having this kind of love for
one. Another one more point I'm going
to sum up what we've talks about so far.
And when we do that, and because of our loved one for the other,
we help each other and Galatians chapter 6, and verse 10, Paul
says as we therefore have opportunity let us do good unto
all men especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
So what did Paul say? Paul says all are necessary.
He says that we must know each other and then when we know each
other then what are we going to do?
We are going to induce them. Going to entice them, we are
going to stimulate them to Good Works.
Considering them then we're going to realize that we are
members one of the other working together.
When that happens, we're going to have love one toward the
other. And finally if we're going to
have this kind of a relationship, we're going to be
right there side by side and shoulder to shoulder to help one
another get to heaven. Each member can supply something
to make the church strong. God said certain in the early
church and Ephesians 4 and verse 11 that we read in your hearing,
Where it says, and he gave some Apostles and some prophets and
some evangelists and some pastors and teachers.
Now, there was a time when the apostles were the ones who
brought the word to the world. There were those Apostles that
were those that were inspired by the Holy Spirit and they became
walking Bibles and they were able to bring God's word to man.
We know though, that all of those things that happened back
then Apostles prophets Miracle, spiritual And all of that, all
of those things were for a time before the inspired written word
was completed, but that which is perfect has come and therefore,
we don't have apostles today. We don't have prophets today.
We don't have Miracles today, miraculous measures of the Holy
Spirit, and spiritual gifts that were passed down through the
laying on of the Apostles. Hands to confirm the word of
God. That was revealed to the people.
Ew. We have this book.
We have God's word, God's will toward man.
And this is done to enable the church as it guides us today as
the Lord desires beginning in verse 12 of Ephesians 4.
It's for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the
ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come
in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God
unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ that we henceforth.
Be Be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about by
every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of man and cunning
craftiness whereby, they lie in wait to deceive but speaking the
truth in love may grow up into him, in all things, which is the
head even Christ. The Saints will be perfected
equipped and trained. For what?
What do we train for? We are equipped and trained for
a life of service. Now, that doesn't sound very
much like fun in the world, a life of service.
How many times have you talked to someone?
And they talk about all the things they were not getting
from whatever Church they were going to, People talk about
there not being entertained, the world is filled with
entertainment and entertainment has gone into the religious
business to to get people to come and live.
Whatever kind of Life they want to live and still have some sort
of semblance of God in their life or some relationship with
the Lord. And yet these things are to
equip us for a life of service. Our life is to serve God and
also serve our fellow man. Do you remember in Luke chapter
10? when there was a lawyer and that
lawyer came to Jesus and the lawyer says, what must I do to
inherit eternal life And Jesus says what saith the law and how
readest thou and the lawyer says that thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy
strength. And with all thy mind, and my
neighbor as myself. And Jesus says Thou sayest well,
he says do this and thou shalt live.
Now I'm not going to go into the parable of the Good Samaritan.
I'm just going to talk about one aspect of what happened there in
that Narrative of all the questions that this lawyer could
have asked. He didn't have a problem with
the concept of loving God, with all of his heart.
He didn't have a problem with the idea of loving God, with all
of his mind and all of his strength and all of his soul.
He didn't have a problem with that concept.
What he wasn't understanding is he wasn't understanding that the
next part also demonstrates how we love God and how we serve
God, and that is how we serve our fellow, man.
So this is what he says, he says, well, who then is my
neighbor. You know, Webster defines
neighbor as an eye dweller. Somebody that lives close by, we
all know the story of the Good Samaritan where Jesus just
describes a certain man. Meaning this anybody we're
responsible for helping anybody that we have the ability and the
opportunity to We serve God today by the way that we serve
each other. Let me just say this to When
God's people get their feet in motion, when we get to work
going, you know, I've been talking about momentum for the
last few weeks and it's true. Momentum is a very powerful
thing. Momentum is something that once
it gets going, it's easier to keep it going sometimes.
The hardest thing to do in any aspect of life in a work or
whatever you're doing is to get it started sometimes.
All we need is just somebody to stand behind it and push it so
we can all just get moving and get started.
David. I was talking to Darryl the
other day about how, how impressed I am with the
congregation here. Where everyone that I know and I
know you will we have history together.
We go way back. We know each other better than a
lot of times a preacher can know a congregation when he just
moves into a town that he's never been in.
So we know each other. That's a good thing.
It's a wonderful thing. One of the things that I have
always noticed about these Brethren, all of you.
Right here is your your ability and your willingness to do
whatever it is, that's needed. I can't tell you how many people
in the last couple weeks and it's not the first time I heard
it. What can I do to help?
Or people being excited? About inviting people over to
their house and spending time with them spending time with the
people of God. But you know, why we have to
pull together. Do you know why that it's
imperative? That we work side-by-side and
pulled together? Do you remember what Jesus said
about that? I'm going to say this so that we
don't get discouraged because I'm going to tell you something,
there's something going to happen when we get working, and
we are going to get working and we have been working and we're
doing it right now. But I'm going to tell you
something, you can count on something happening - against
the work. You know what Jesus said?
Jesus in the parable of the tares, he describes it.
The enemy goes and Fields that are not his and he sews also the
tears. When God's people get moving,
the devil does to in a field that is not his.
And if the devil can get us to be opposed to one another, if
the devil can get us to be at odds with one another, if the
devil can figure out a way that we're going to backbite each
other and snip out each other and cause her to one another.
If they can do that, if the devil can do that.
On the Lord's ground, he can destroy the work of the church.
That's why we have to pull together.
What does that mean? Then grow discouraged.
No, just realize what's happening and when those things
happen around us and these peripheral issues are happening
around us. And the devil's working just
recognize what it is. It's the devil.
So what are we going to do? We're going to be closer than
we've ever been before. We're going to love each other
more than we ever have in days gone by we're going to grow
together and be stronger together than we've ever been.
We're going to study our Bibles, Ryan, praise about studying your
Bible, every time he prays, we're going to study our Bibles
more than we ever have and get more knowledge than we've ever
had in days gone. By, we're going to pray to God,
to we're going to wear our knees out, praying to God, for what
for wisdom. So that God's going to help us
in handling? Whatever Endeavor is before us
handling any obstacle, that comes our way and the work will
survive and it will Thrive and it will be the kind that the
Lord talks about. That produces 100 fold if we
pull together. If we stay together, if we work
together. When we do this, the church is
going to be edified. We are going to grow in number.
We are going to grow and spiritual strength.
This working would continue. Even though that they, we no
longer have Apostles because that's been replaced, by the
written word, every member is going to provide something to
the strength of the church in Ephesians, 4 and 16 from whom
the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that,
which every joint supplieth get that.
Every joint supplieth according to the effectual, working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself. In love.
The whole body is fitly joined together.
According to this passage this joined together is compacted by
everyone, supplying something, thirdly, this will work,
effectually, fourthly. The body is going to grow and be
edified. Number five, this growth comes
because of whatever. Every single member is doing.
We talked about some things that every member can supply.
Number one, we can all Supply financial aid to the work.
On the Lord's day, when we come together, one of the aspects of
one of the items of worship is the contribution in the Bible
tells us that we lay by him in store as God hath prospered.
Us First Corinthians 16 1 and 2 says, now concerning the
collection of the Saints is, I've given order to the churches
of galatia, even, so do ye upon the first day of the week, let
every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him
that there be no Gatherings. When I come second Corinthians
chapter 9 beginning in verse, 6 Paul says, but this I say he
which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he which
soweth bountifully shall reap. Also bountifully every man
according as he had purposed in his heart.
So let him give not grudgingly or out of necessity for the lord
loves a cheerful Giver. you know what happens though sometimes
Isn't it true that sometimes the Lord just gets the rest?
That the Lord just gets what's left over. remember when Jesus
spoke about the Widow, when she gave the two mites, it was
greater than all the others that were giving.
And the amount was so small. and the Lord said, she gave more
because she gave all she had Sometimes we allow the Lord to
be an afterthought in our life and it's manifested in the
contribution. You know, when we give of our
means the gospel and a work is furthered I quote from the book
of a Philippians quite often. But I want to notice another
passage in Philippians, chapter 4 in verse 16 and 17.
For even in thessalonica, you sent once again unto my
necessity not because I desire a gift but I desire fruit that may
abound to your account. You know, that's an amazing
passage of scripture because I think that passage is saying
this, that Paul was praising them for support.
Paul was praising them for coming to his need.
Paul was praising them for coming to his Aid.
And he said this though, he says not I desire a gift.
In other words, I'm not praising you because I desire to gift and
you gave me a gift. He says I'm praising you because
I desire fruit given or fruit on your account.
You know, I believe that when you send me to the Philippines
and financially, it takes money to do that.
That when I go and preach the gospel.
And there are people that you have never seen before.
There are people that you have never known, you don't know who
they are, you don't know their names, you don't know what they
look like but they hear the gospel and the gospel is planted
in their heart and God gives the increase and they're baptized
into Christ that there's going to be people in heaven.
One day that you have never met that are credited to your
account because you gave to support the effort.
That is something that all of us can do.
In fact, the Bible says that this is proof of our love.
Second Corinthians chapter 8, and verse 8.
Paul says that the things that are that he was speaking of, was
to prove the sincerity of their love and their liberality would
prove that. Also, this is done cheerfully,
because each has already been given a given themselves to the
Lord. Second Corinthians, chapter 8
and verse 5. Paul says.
And this, they did not as we hoped but first gave unto their
own Selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God, we can
give that way and do our part. The next thing is our presence
at Services. Hebrews 10:25, not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but
exhorting, one another, and so much, the more as you see the
day approaching. Now, let me just say this, In
case you didn't know every single one that's here.
Under the sound of my voice encourages me and everybody else
when you're here. The singing is better.
The service is better. The edification is better.
It helps the preacher it helps everyone.
When we come together for services, we accomplish three
things. One is we worship God, and God
is to be worshiped. God is deserving of in every way
of our service. That's first and foremost, and
that ought to be enough. But there's more, we edify one
another. We build each other up and we
are also edified, we are encouraged.
When all of us are here. When we assemble together with
the Saints. The third thing that we can do
is do all that we can. To restore those that have
fallen. How many times have we said, if
we only had the people that were once enlightened, by the gospel
and have quit, if we just got them back.
How many times we said, we'd have to build new buildings and
so on. We wouldn't have a facility to
house them and so forth. you know, I'll tell you something,
one of the greatest ways to grow, and we've done that, by
the way, in the past, one of the greatest ways to grow and to get
things moving is to go and try to restore those that have
fallen What a great work that is.
Paul said in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 1 Brethren, If any man
be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore, such an
one in the spirit of meekness considering thyself lest thou
also be tempted, those that are spiritual is talking about
faithful Christians got talking about somebody that special or
somebody that separate or apart is talking about someone that is
a faithful member of the church go and try to restore such an
one. It is the duty of every member
of a congregation to actively work to try to restore the
Fallen. But notice we do so, with
meekness meaning without self-esteem, as if some
Misfortune could never happen to us, It's true in Matthew 18.
And also in Luke 15, Jesus talked about the lost sheep he
said if a man has a hundred sheep He leaves the ninety and
nine to go find the one that has left.
Remember in Luke 15. Now whether this is one Parable
with three illustrations or three different Parables, I
don't know but here's the point. The first thing he does is he
talks about the lost sheep and he says that the man leaves the
ninety and nine to go find the one that's wandered away.
Then he talks about the woman with the Lost coin.
She sweeps, the floor to look for the one calling that was
carelessly lost. But then the third one though,
he talks about the Prodigal Son, the one who has rebelliously
left, did you see that? Nobody ever went after that guy.
Have you ever noticed that? Why didn't the father now if
there's even more. So a picture of beauty, it's a
picture of the father. More than the Sun that left.
It's a picture and a story about the forgiving father and the
father that longs to forgive his child.
Waiting back there watching and waiting for the return of the
one that left. But why didn't he go and go
after the young son that left? Why didn't anybody go?
I think that's different than somebody that just wandered
away. That somebody that was
carelessly lost, you know, sometimes a new member might
slip through the cracks, maybe they were struggling and pretty
soon we look around and we don't see him any longer?
What are we going to do? Hey, we better sweep that floor.
We got to find that coin. We got to bring that one back.
But what about that? Prodigal, what's different.
What's different is this father knew that it would do absolutely
no good to try to stop the sun before the sun left.
You know why? Because the heart was already
gone. And you've heard me say this in
the past, folks, apostasy of heart will always precede
apostasy of life. That's a fancy way of saying the
heart goes first. And that's what happened.
The heart was gone first and this person went to see it, it's
like this give you an example of a person like this.
I am tired of doing, what's taught?
There's too many rules. I'm sick of the rules.
I'm sick of all that. I'm tired of hearing about.
There are things in life that are wrong.
I'm tired about having to give up things to be a Christian or a
member of the Church of Christ. So I'm just not going to do it
anymore, I'm going to turn my back and go and do whatever I
want. You ever notice when somebody
leaves like that, often times, they leave hateful hateful in
their heart. Blaming someone else.
That's when somebody re leaves with a rebellious heart.
Isn't that kind of what Paul was talking about, in Hebrews 6, he
said, if somebody knows all this, they've been enlightened
by all this, and they leave. They depart, they rejected after
they know it. No, we're not just talking about
somebody that was weak and didn't know any better.
We got to go teach them. We're talking about, somebody
that knows what the book says, but they leave anyway, I think
that's what Paul's meaning when he says it's impossible to
restore such an one. I like what Richard golf says,
is how he says it? Best way I've ever heard that.
I think he says, you can't restore them.
They got to restore themself, they got to come back to this.
That's the only way when you re Bill, you've got to change your
heart and get your heart going back in the proper direction.
That's someone that leaves rebelliously.
You know, I'll tell you something, we need to try to
soften heart, but I don't think too just to a degree.
They had their you get to the point where there's nothing more
you can do. How can we do that though?
To restore those that have fallen send a card?
I appreciate so much folks that lately have sending cards to
people that are out of Duty. Sometimes people say, I don't
know what to say. Just say this, we miss you.
We want you back. Have you ever been angry?
Because somebody says, you know, Darryl, I really miss.
You think he's gonna get mad at me.
You can't even hear those words and get angry.
And if you say it with the right kind of heart and you really
mean it, we love you. And we miss you.
How is anyone going to ever have a problem with that?
We can talk to folks like that and do so with the spirit of
meekness meaning without self-esteem.
Like, it could never happen to me.
I'm going to tell you something, folks, if there's one thing
we've all learned, it can happen to anybody.
If there's one thing that we've learned in our short lifetime,
Anybody can fall. anyone can make a mistake, anyone can fall
from grace, Another thing too that we can do is encourage the
week and discouraged. Paul said in first
Thessalonians, chapter 5 and verse 14.
Now we exhort you Brethren, warn them?
That are unruly Comfort, the feeble-minded support the week,
be patient toward all men. The word feeble-minded here does
not mean those who are not mentally responsible.
When it says feeble-minded, it doesn't.
It's not talking about those that are not all there.
Mentally feeble, Minded. Here means faint-hearted those
that grow discouraged. Thayer says, these are the
disciples who are inclined to be easily discouraged in the
presence of a trial. Now listen, We're all made up
differently. There may be things that I can't
handle that. You can There may be things that
you could just go right through. Like it's nothing and it just
kills me. Sometimes folks are more
inclined to fall during a trial. Paul says comfort, those
feeble-minded fight, for those who can't fight for themselves.
It is always gracious to have an attitude of patience and
long-suffering too. You know, someone once said, one
time that now I love this. Listen to this.
A word of encouragement during failure.
Is worth more than a dictionary of Praise after success.
I don't know about you when we talk about The Love Languages.
Mine's words of affirmation. I like to hear positive things.
It's well-made can't help it. And I enjoy that.
We all enjoy, though. Hearing words of Praise after we
do something good after a success.
After Victory. We love to hear words of praise
But as the poet said, though it's better to have a word of
encouragement, just one word of encouragement during failure
than a dictionary of Praise after success.
Another thing we can do is live a Godly example of life in the
community. Not long ago.
We talked about in Matthew chapter 5, verses 13 through 16.
Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and we are the
light of the world. We are the seasoning ability, it
keeps this world standing and keeps it palatable in the eyes
of God. While his patient long-suffering
waits for those that are still lost, that have good hearts and
would come to him. And Jesus says, we are lights,
and we are a city. We are a light, take your light,
don't put it under a bushel. If you want to know what you
really can do, you can do this without speaking one word.
You can live the Christian Life in the presence of man you can
live the Christian Life in the world.
You can have the kind of life that shows that you're a
Christian and when people know that you are Are a certain way
and it's because you serve God and because you are a child of
God, then you are letting your light shine among men.
Everyone can do that. But lastly, on this line, We can
teach others by the word with the word of God.
When the opportunity arises in First Peter chapter 3 and verse
15. The Bible says, but sanctify,
the Lord God in your hearts and be ready.
Always to give an answer to every man.
That asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear. Paul said, in first, Timothy 2
and verse 2. And the things that thou Hast
heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou
to Faithful Men Who Shall be able to teach others also when
we do this future. Leaders of the church come
Elders in the future preachers and teachers are being
developed. I wanted to share something with
you. I was very impressed with this
because I don't remember at any point in time in my life.
I don't ever remember hearing this to the degree that we heard
it in Oklahoma at the New Year's meeting during the young men
talks the last night. Somebody had set up whoever it
was that was putting this together.
Had asked these men. When they got up in the Pulpit
before they gave their little five-minute talk, they were
asked, would you say who you are, where you're from, and what
are your spiritual goals long-term for the future?
Now, most of a time when you get young men that are in the Pulpit
during these times, they say, I would like to be an evangelist,
I would like to be a preacher. And there were those two that
said, that they really were, that's great because we need
preachers. I'll tell you some, we need
preachers bad, we need preachers bad, especially in this state.
Lord's church needs preachers. I'm going to say something.
We need others to and you know what the most common thing that
was spoken of these men as a goal, it was over and over
again. I would like to be an elder one
day. I don't know that I've ever
heard it that much any one time one after the other after the
other a young man stands up. Great speaking abilities.
I want to be an elder. That's a wonderful thing.
The Lord's church needs leaders. Sometimes things go by the
wayside because we don't have good strong leadership.
And I'm going to tell you this, this congregation is at peace
and this congregation has good leadership.
That's a wonderful thing working together for a common goal.
It's not always like that in conclusion, though.
Some failed to make the church stronger, like the man.
That was described in First Corinthians chapter 5, when he
was boastful about a sin, that wouldn't even have been named
among the Gentiles. Paul said, Purge out the old
leaven because a Leaven leaveneth, the whole lump sum
are like diotrephes. They just want the preeminence.
They just want the praise. They want the position of Honor.
Some are like Dimas where Paul said in second Timothy 4 and
verse 10, my Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present
World. Some gossip complain and murmur
as Paul warned against in Philippians 2 and verse 14.
And by so doing these things they destroy the church instead
of building it. You and I will give an account
to how we provided for the strength of the church.
The Lord's church is the greatest institution in all the
world. It was blood bought by Jesus.
It's in our care. And I'm going to tell you
something, we're going to give an account to how we built it
up, or did we tear it down? Did we build it up or tear it
down? It's going to take all of us.
It's going to take every single one of us working together for
the common goal. Remember that the devil is going
to do, all he can to undermine our efforts.
But remember this remember that? The battle is the Lord's.
The wars against the devil. If we're just recognize what it
is will pull together and be stronger than we've ever been
before and will move about in this world, serving God, the
best we can We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on
by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional
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