1 00:00:01,900 --> 00:00:05,400 As I mentioned, just a moment ago, the Apostle Paul had the 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,800 need to address, various topics, and various things that they 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:14,500 needed to correct things that come to mind deal with a one 4 00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:19,100 that was guilty of incest in the fifth chapter, we talked about 5 00:00:19,100 --> 00:00:22,800 the communion and the 11th chapter, and how they were 6 00:00:22,900 --> 00:00:26,900 making a very mockery out of the Lord's supper and turning it 7 00:00:26,900 --> 00:00:30,200 into a common meal, and he had to address things like that as 8 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,299 well. Well, but something else that 9 00:00:32,299 --> 00:00:35,300 they had to change and something else that was of great 10 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:39,400 importance was the fact that they were acting in a carnal 11 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,200 way. You know, we can look at chapter 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,000 3 beginning in verse 1 before we do that though. 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,900 Go back to chapter one of First Corinthians and beginning there 14 00:00:48,900 --> 00:00:52,100 in verse 10. This was the contention and this 15 00:00:52,100 --> 00:00:54,000 was the problem that was going on. 16 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:58,300 Among them beginning in verse 10, Paul says, now I beseech you 17 00:00:58,300 --> 00:01:02,300 Brethren by the name of our Jesus Christ that you all speak 18 00:01:02,300 --> 00:01:06,100 the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that 19 00:01:06,100 --> 00:01:10,200 ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same 20 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,300 judgment for it. Hath been declared unto me of 21 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:17,100 you my brethren by them, which are of the House of Chloe that. 22 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:21,000 There are contentions among you notice what the contention was? 23 00:01:21,300 --> 00:01:25,200 Now this, I say that every one of you saith, I am of Paul. 24 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,700 And I have a policy, and I of cephas. 25 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,800 And I of Christ is Christ. Divided was Paul crucified for 26 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:38,000 you or were you baptized in the name of Paul there was factions 27 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,100 among them that were saying, we'll wait a minute instead of 28 00:01:41,100 --> 00:01:44,700 looking to the Lord as the great one instead of looking to the 29 00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:48,600 Lord as one to follow. They were having factions in the 30 00:01:48,607 --> 00:01:52,200 Lord's Church saying. I am of Paul and another would 31 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,100 say and I am of Apollo's, you know, when the Apostle Paul 32 00:01:56,100 --> 00:01:59,600 addressed that very thing he says, I'm so thankful that I 33 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:04,300 didn't baptize Is any of you because that you could be taken, 34 00:02:04,300 --> 00:02:10,199 as you were of me or you were from me, factions in the body of 35 00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,300 Christ are sinful and he pointed those things out. 36 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:18,700 Then in chapter 3 beginning in verse 1, he says, and I Brethren 37 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:24,000 could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, 38 00:02:24,100 --> 00:02:28,600 even as unto babes in Christ, I want to make this point though, 39 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,700 that this is Is used in a modified sense because we 40 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:37,200 understand that we are babes in Christ when we obey the gospel. 41 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,400 In fact, the very minute that we come from the Waters of baptism 42 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,600 We rise to walk in newness of life. 43 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,400 And when we do, we have become a babe in Christ. 44 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,500 Everyone that has ever obeyed. The gospel has a point in time 45 00:02:52,500 --> 00:02:56,300 in their spiritual life. When they are considered as 46 00:02:56,300 --> 00:02:59,300 babes, just like children, children are born into the 47 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:01,800 world. They're Adults, they can't 48 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,800 handle strong meat. They can't handle things that we 49 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,500 can handle as an adult. And neither can somebody 50 00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:12,600 spiritually that come from the Waters of baptism and becomes a 51 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,300 babe in Christ. So that's a good thing. 52 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,400 It's a good thing in one sense. And Paul is you to using this 53 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,500 phrase, or this term in, a modified sense in a way. 54 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,300 That is not so good. Here's the good way First, Peter 55 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:30,800 chapter 2 and verse 2. What did what did Peter Or say 56 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,100 there he says as newborn babes desire, the sincere milk of the 57 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:41,900 word that ye may grow thereby. But you know, there comes a time 58 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:44,500 when we need to be past the milk. 59 00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:49,700 There comes a time when our infancy needs to be over. 60 00:03:50,300 --> 00:03:53,500 There comes a time when we need to start taking in spiritual 61 00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:57,900 food of Greater substance. There comes a time when we need 62 00:03:57,900 --> 00:04:02,500 to not be needing others but needing but put in a position 63 00:04:02,500 --> 00:04:06,700 where we are helping others you know, little babies when they're 64 00:04:06,700 --> 00:04:11,200 little. We carry them around, we pick 65 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,000 them up. There are babies in this 66 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,100 audience right now. They are carried around. 67 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,600 That is a wonderful thing. Let me just ask you this what 68 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,600 happens when they get to be about 16? 69 00:04:23,100 --> 00:04:26,100 How would it look if you start packing them around and you're 70 00:04:26,100 --> 00:04:29,300 carrying them around like they're an infant, you know 71 00:04:29,300 --> 00:04:32,300 really, that sounds kind of funny but if you think about it 72 00:04:32,300 --> 00:04:35,600 that's exactly what happens to Somebody That is supposed to be 73 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:39,000 passed. That Lea speaking, they have 74 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,700 grown past that. So they need to start behaving 75 00:04:41,700 --> 00:04:45,100 and acting like that. What did Paul say regarding 76 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:47,900 these Brethren? Why were their factions among 77 00:04:47,900 --> 00:04:49,800 them? Why were they not growing 78 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,100 spiritually? Why was Jesus Christ? 79 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:55,200 Not first in their life, why were they looking to the wisdom 80 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,000 of man and not the wisdom of the scriptures? 81 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:01,300 Why were they rejecting? What Paul, the Apostle had 82 00:05:01,300 --> 00:05:04,500 taught them all the way back from the very beginning when he 83 00:05:04,500 --> 00:05:08,700 planted the seed of the Gospel right there in Corinth, what 84 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:12,100 were they doing wrong? Well, Paul says back when, when 85 00:05:12,100 --> 00:05:15,500 I planted the seed of the Gospel, I had to speak to you 86 00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:20,100 concerning the milk of the word, the first principles, the basic 87 00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:24,400 things, and not the strong meat. And why does he say that? 88 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,600 He says, because if I would have given you the strong meat of the 89 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,200 word back, then you were not able to Bear it. 90 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,300 You would have choked to death. And here's the whole Clincher, 91 00:05:33,900 --> 00:05:41,100 neither yet now are ye able You still can't handle the meat. 92 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:47,400 You still have not grown they look to men and not to Christ 93 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:52,300 and because of that there was envying and strife and divisions 94 00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:55,400 he says, are you not carnal and walk as men? 95 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,800 And then he says for won't for one saith, I am of Paul and 96 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,500 other of a Polish and are you not carnal who then is Paul, and 97 00:06:03,500 --> 00:06:08,100 who is Apollo's, but notice what they are, who are we What 98 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:13,000 distinction should we have? Who is Paul, who is Apollo's, 99 00:06:13,500 --> 00:06:18,200 but we are ministers by whom he believed even as the lord gave 100 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:22,600 to every man. I have planted Apollo's watered 101 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,200 but God gave the increase. You know, verse 7 of chapter 3 102 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:31,400 is a verse that I think every preacher Ought to wake up in the 103 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,800 morning and read. I really do. 104 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:39,500 There'd be no. Arrogant people in the world. 105 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,400 There'd be no. Arrogant preachers in the world. 106 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:46,700 If they would pick up this, but this book and read verse 7. 107 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,800 Because this tells the tale, this tells exactly what we are. 108 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:53,200 Verse 7. Paul says this. 109 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,300 So then neither, is he that planteth? 110 00:06:56,500 --> 00:07:00,300 Anything? Neither he that watereth, but 111 00:07:00,300 --> 00:07:06,000 God giveth the increase, you know what he's saying, don't 112 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,200 have factions in the body of Christ and don't follow me and 113 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,400 don't follow Paula's. Now, listen, Paul was an 114 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,900 apostle. Paul was above you and I there 115 00:07:15,900 --> 00:07:19,700 are no modern day apostles. This was a man that was a chosen 116 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:23,400 vessel of the Lord and he says and your you have a group that's 117 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,400 following saying there after Paul another one after a policy 118 00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:29,800 and so on and so forth, who are we? 119 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,700 I'll tell you what. We are, we're ministers and 120 00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:36,600 that's it. And he says don't Elevate the 121 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:42,100 man, because who are we? He says what I do is nothing 122 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:45,600 makes me nothing. What a Polish does makes him 123 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,500 nothing, but God gives the increase. 124 00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:52,000 If this doesn't tell us that preachers in the eyes in that 125 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,700 way, in that respect our nothing. 126 00:07:55,300 --> 00:08:00,700 I don't know what it is, but let me just say this though, I'm not 127 00:08:00,700 --> 00:08:04,700 saying that we don't have an important role in taking the 128 00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:07,900 gospel, to the Lost, not saying that at all, in fact, it is 129 00:08:07,900 --> 00:08:11,800 imperative that we do that. We have a responsibility of 130 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:15,400 taking the gospel to the Lost, we do that. 131 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,200 That is our job. That is our responsibility, not 132 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,600 only preachers, but every member of the body of Christ, every 133 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,300 child of God, has a responsibility to do what they 134 00:08:25,300 --> 00:08:29,600 can within the parameters of their talents and abilities and 135 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,400 roles that God has given them in the Lord's church. 136 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:38,299 So, we have a responsibility but one is not greater than the 137 00:08:38,299 --> 00:08:40,000 other. In fact, Paul goes on In the 138 00:08:40,008 --> 00:08:44,100 very next verse and says, just that he says one is not greater 139 00:08:44,100 --> 00:08:46,900 than the other. He says this the one that plants 140 00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:55,400 and the one that Waters R1 R1 You know, what's wonderful to me 141 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,800 is the fact that we can go to places like the Philippines and 142 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:04,100 preach the gospel and preach the same gospel that the Filipino 143 00:09:04,100 --> 00:09:05,900 preachers have been preaching all along. 144 00:09:06,700 --> 00:09:09,400 And sometimes when they hear it from an American, all the way 145 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,800 across the other side of the world, sometimes it it lends, a 146 00:09:13,808 --> 00:09:17,300 little greater weight to them. Sometimes when they are around, 147 00:09:17,300 --> 00:09:19,800 these Filipino Brethren all the time, maybe that maybe they 148 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,500 don't listen to them as much as they ought to. 149 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,600 I don't know. I do know of specific cases 150 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,700 where we ended up baptizing with the last couple years. 151 00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:32,300 Somebody that had heard the same gospel story and then found out 152 00:09:32,300 --> 00:09:36,100 later they obeyed the gospel because what we said was 153 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,900 consistent with the word of God consistent with what they had 154 00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:43,000 heard all along. But, you know, the greatest 155 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:48,000 thing is, it doesn't matter, who does the final converting 156 00:09:48,900 --> 00:09:53,000 because they're converted by the word of God and God gets the 157 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,600 increase. God gets the glory, you know 158 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:00,500 what? We are were equal, neither one 159 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:02,400 that plaintiff is not greater than the other. 160 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:06,200 He, that watereth is not greater than the one that plants God 161 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,500 gives the increase. He gets the glory, he gets the 162 00:10:09,500 --> 00:10:11,900 praise. If we would look to pass. 163 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,300 Passages like verse 7, and we would see that and apply that in 164 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:18,400 our life, it would change. Every arrogant heart in the 165 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,600 entire world, I believe realizing what our 166 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:27,400 responsibilities are and how great God is and not ourselves. 167 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,100 I will like to say this though, that of all the baptisms that we 168 00:10:31,100 --> 00:10:36,000 had, while we were gone, there's nothing that warmed our hearts, 169 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:40,000 any greater than when Christina obey the gospel here at home. 170 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,000 There's nothing greater than that. 171 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,400 It doesn't matter where the souls are save anywhere in the 172 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,400 world. We Rejoice together and there 173 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,300 was brethren in the Philippines that didn't know her that were 174 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:55,400 rejoicing and rejoicing with the people of God right here at 175 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:00,500 plans road because somebody was saved, I know for a fact that 176 00:11:00,500 --> 00:11:03,500 you don't care where they're saved in supporting me as a 177 00:11:03,508 --> 00:11:07,200 gospel preacher. I know that I know that you are 178 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:11,000 just as elated to have somebody obey the gospel boss gospel 179 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,100 8,000 miles away. As if it was right here, the 180 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:16,700 bottom line is we are in the business of saving Souls. 181 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:23,000 Souls wherever they are and we all Rejoice together. 182 00:11:24,700 --> 00:11:27,100 Did you know I love that passage. 183 00:11:27,100 --> 00:11:31,000 You've heard me quote from it, but when Paul was writing the 184 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:35,500 Philippian letter in Philippians chapter 4, And he praised them 185 00:11:35,500 --> 00:11:39,600 for their financial support, he praised them for that. 186 00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:42,600 You know, there were times when Paul was not chargeable to a 187 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:46,500 congregation here, he Praises them in the book of Philippians 188 00:11:46,500 --> 00:11:52,000 chapter 4, he Praises them for helping him monetarily for the 189 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,400 work. And you know what he says, he 190 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,700 Praises them for it, and then he says not that. 191 00:11:56,700 --> 00:12:01,100 I desire a gift but that I desire fruit, that is credited 192 00:12:01,100 --> 00:12:04,700 to your account. I'm going to tell you something, 193 00:12:05,300 --> 00:12:09,200 every one of those Souls that just obeyed, the gospel across 194 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,800 the other side of the world are credited to your account. 195 00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:18,700 There's going to be people in heaven because you backed a 196 00:12:18,700 --> 00:12:23,800 preacher and sent a preacher to preach the word of God and I am 197 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,900 not greater than you at all. We're together we are equal. 198 00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:32,800 We equally had a part in that if you talk to somebody about the 199 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,500 gospel for the very first time and they don't obey it. 200 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:39,000 But there was a seed there, there was a seed that was 201 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,800 planted. It didn't produce fruit yet and 202 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,800 five years down the road, Buddy else, preaches a sermon and it 203 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,500 Pricks their heart. You had something to do with 204 00:12:48,500 --> 00:12:49,700 that. And you know what the greatest 205 00:12:49,700 --> 00:12:51,900 thing is? We all Rejoice together. 206 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,100 We all rejoice. Together. 207 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,700 We need to realize we are all equal and whatever power 208 00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:06,600 produced the fruit it was not of man, it was of God. 209 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:11,400 And then in chapter 4, Paul says, let a man so account of us 210 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:16,600 as of Ministers of Christ Paul here, returns to the question 211 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,300 and what a steam, The Inspired teachers of the Gospel should be 212 00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:25,600 held or should have this word. He says we are ministers. 213 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:26,900 You know, that's a very interesting. 214 00:13:27,100 --> 00:13:30,400 Sting word ministers. It's also the comes from the 215 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,600 same root word that we get the word Deacon. 216 00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:38,000 But what was Paul referring to? There's also a form of this word 217 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,800 that is translated under workers or under rowers. 218 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,300 Interesting, isn't it? Does that sound like a boss? 219 00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:52,100 Does that sound like a preacher? Being a boss? 220 00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:58,200 Know an under rower. We are ministers today. 221 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,900 We're not Apostles but if Paul can be an under rower and not a 222 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:05,000 boss, that sure should shed a lot of light to you. 223 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,200 And I and our attitude about ourself to he says we are under 224 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,900 rowers interesting term. You know what under roller was 225 00:14:11,900 --> 00:14:15,300 an under roller were those that were on the ship that were 226 00:14:15,300 --> 00:14:18,200 lower, they were down lower in the ship and they were the ones 227 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,500 that actually rode the ship. They were the ones that kept it 228 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:25,100 moving but they were not the captain and they didn't dictate 229 00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:28,500 where the ship was going. Going to go, they didn't come up 230 00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:30,600 with the policy. They didn't come up with the 231 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,800 maps. They didn't come up with a plan. 232 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:36,700 All they did was they kept, they under Road and they kept the 233 00:14:36,700 --> 00:14:40,700 ship moving in the direction that the ship's Captain had said 234 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:44,300 they were going. That's what a minister is. 235 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:48,400 A minister is an under over keeping the as one preacher 236 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:51,400 said, one time keeping the ship of Zion. 237 00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:53,500 Moving through the waters toward Heaven. 238 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,500 God is the boss. Not man. 239 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,000 Jesus Christ is the king not man. 240 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,000 We are. But under workers or under 241 00:15:03,300 --> 00:15:06,900 rowers. You know. 242 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:14,400 He also says that we are stewards or he was stewards of 243 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,400 the mysteries of God, the word Steward comes from a word which 244 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:22,400 we get the term superintendent or Foreman. 245 00:15:23,100 --> 00:15:26,400 Let me put it to you this way. If a man and that's really his 246 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:30,400 point, they were, they were judging whether Paul was 247 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:34,300 faithful that Paul was really credible. 248 00:15:34,700 --> 00:15:38,200 And so what he's saying is this, when he says we are stewards, 249 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,500 he's saying we are Superintendents, or we are 250 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:47,200 foreman. If you owned a company and you 251 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,800 hired a man, don't you think you'd have a man that was 252 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:56,000 faithful and honest and just and a good Steward. 253 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:00,600 You know, Jesus dealt with a man that was an evil Steward. 254 00:16:00,700 --> 00:16:04,300 He was a wicked man. He was not good with what his 255 00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:09,400 boss or his master had entrusted him with as we find in the Book 256 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,900 of Luke and The Gospel. According to Luke, we've studied 257 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:16,100 that here at this place. So being stewards are being 258 00:16:16,100 --> 00:16:18,500 superintendents. Now, what do we know about a 259 00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:22,400 foreman or a superintendent? These are things that we know 260 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,500 number one, they don't own the company. 261 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:29,000 Number two, they are not the boss. 262 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,300 Number three, they do not determine the policy. 263 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:35,800 And number four, they're hired to make sure that the company 264 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:41,600 follows the boss That's what an apostle was. 265 00:16:42,500 --> 00:16:47,300 Not the boss. Under rowers, and good stewards. 266 00:16:48,500 --> 00:16:51,600 You know, it's true that we are stewards of all manner of 267 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,200 things. There has been things that are 268 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,500 ours because we've been entrusted with it, that we have 269 00:16:56,500 --> 00:17:00,200 to do something good with it. There's a lot of that, a lot of 270 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:04,300 those things in our life. Our kids are tremendous example 271 00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:06,800 in that way. They are, we are in, they are 272 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,500 entrusted to us how we going to rear them and raise them. 273 00:17:10,700 --> 00:17:12,900 What about our money? What about the things that we 274 00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:14,700 have? We have a responsibility of 275 00:17:14,700 --> 00:17:17,400 being a good Steward. What about the Lord's money? 276 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:20,400 The Lord's. Money is to be given to the Lord 277 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,599 on the first day of the week. And then we must be good. 278 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:27,599 Stewards of the monetary get gain that the Lord gets. 279 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:32,900 It is all the Lord's we are stewards in almost every walk of 280 00:17:32,900 --> 00:17:36,200 our life. We've been entrusted with many 281 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:39,500 things. And Paul is basically saying as 282 00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:44,000 I paraphrase, the boss is not going to have a man that's not 283 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,900 faithful. Well, let me just give it to you 284 00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:50,100 like this. When you talk about the gospel 285 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,200 and you talk about the word of God being entrusted to us as 286 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,200 being a good Steward. That tells me and Paul says I 287 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:02,300 have preached It All, We Have to preach every bit of this word in 288 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:04,500 order to be a good Steward of it. 289 00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:08,900 It, regardless of the opposition that comes our way. 290 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,200 You remember, when Paul was writing to that young evangelist 291 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:18,400 Timothy, when Paul would say these words, he says the things 292 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,800 that I have entrusted to you, the things that I have spoken to 293 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,900 you, the things that I have taught, you commit, thou to 294 00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:31,500 Faithful Men that they may be able to teach others also a 295 00:18:31,500 --> 00:18:34,200 steward. Must be faithful. 296 00:18:34,300 --> 00:18:39,600 We must be faithful man. But interesting, I got to 297 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,800 talking to somebody about leaders the other day. 298 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,000 You know, the world needs leaders. 299 00:18:47,300 --> 00:18:51,400 Don't we need leaders? Our country looks to somebody 300 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,400 that stands up. It's going to lead us in the 301 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,100 proper way. Companies need good leadership 302 00:18:58,100 --> 00:19:00,600 and a lot of times companies fail because they didn't have 303 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:04,600 proper leadership. Same within the body of Christ, 304 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:08,800 but somebody said one time and I'm going to share this with 305 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,300 you, I'm going to use this. He said leaders are not chosen. 306 00:19:13,300 --> 00:19:16,300 They emerge that's powerful to me. 307 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,300 Because isn't it true that when you're younger you want people 308 00:19:20,300 --> 00:19:23,000 to follow you you want people to listen to your voice. 309 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:27,300 There comes a time when being a child, no longer is acceptable 310 00:19:27,300 --> 00:19:30,100 and you want people to look at you in a different way. 311 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:33,800 You want people to follow you in a different way now. 312 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,300 So you're looking at me to come on now follow me, I'm a leader. 313 00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:41,800 It's kind of like this. You can take a rookie 314 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,600 quarterback and you can put him in the Huddle. 315 00:19:44,700 --> 00:19:46,300 And the coach can tell that team. 316 00:19:46,300 --> 00:19:49,700 This is the leader follow him, but they're not going to follow 317 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:53,300 him until he demonstrates the leadership qualities that he can 318 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:59,000 lead the team leaders emerge, and sometimes in the midst of 319 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:03,500 Crisis, a leader will emerge. And sometimes it's a person that 320 00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:05,800 you least expect isn't that true? 321 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,200 Sometimes it's the quiet fell over him. 322 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,700 Corner that never says a word and then a crisis, comes up and 323 00:20:11,700 --> 00:20:15,000 what happens? A leader emerges. 324 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,400 And you know why people follow them, they follow them because 325 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:21,900 their life is consistent with their leadership and that's what 326 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:25,000 we have to do. Our life has to be consistent 327 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:29,000 with the things that we say, the things that we say, we practice 328 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:34,100 and all the things that we do in First Peter chapter 4 and verse 329 00:20:34,100 --> 00:20:36,600 10. Beginning there in verse 10, 330 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,100 notice the attitude also about God getting the credit and the 331 00:20:40,100 --> 00:20:44,900 glory as we are ministers and as we are stewards, beginning there 332 00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:48,900 in verse 10 it says that every man hath received the gift even 333 00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:53,500 so Minister the same one to another as good stewards of the 334 00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:57,500 manifold grace of God. If any man speak let him speak 335 00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:01,200 as the Oracles of God. If any man Minister let him do 336 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,100 it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things. 337 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:09,800 Things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praised 338 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:18,000 and Dominion forever and ever again, God gets the praise and 339 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:19,900 God gets the glory even an elder. 340 00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:24,600 Paul said that a bishop must be blameless as God's Steward. 341 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:27,900 We must be blameless in all that we do. 342 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:30,600 Why would Paul bring these things up, though? 343 00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:34,900 Well, as I mentioned before some doubted, Paul, but God is not 344 00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:37,000 going. Choose a steward that was 345 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,700 unfaithful in any way. God is going to choose somebody, 346 00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:45,300 that is faithful and then Paul says that there's going to come 347 00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:50,300 a time first he says being judged of you Brethren is a very 348 00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:56,400 small thing to me now. Why is that That's not an 349 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:01,100 attitude of arrogance. He's trying to establish in 350 00:22:01,100 --> 00:22:03,700 their minds who the judge is going to be. 351 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:09,500 And he says, being judged of you is a very small thing to me. 352 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,400 It is insignificant. Why he says, first of all, I 353 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,500 know that I'm following the book, I know that I'm following 354 00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:20,600 that which is right. I know that I know that I'm 355 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:24,500 going along with that and then he says, but God is going to be 356 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:27,800 the ultimate judge. God is going to reveal the 357 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,900 hidden things and darkness, the hidden things in the heart in 358 00:22:31,900 --> 00:22:36,800 his due time. He ever considered the hidden 359 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:42,800 things. Sometimes we think we get away 360 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:48,500 with things, but we don't. Because one day, the hidden 361 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:54,600 things, the things that are in darkness now will be revealed 362 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:58,100 one day. Sometimes we think that we can 363 00:22:58,100 --> 00:23:01,400 go outside the building, go outside the assembly and live 364 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,800 our life in a certain way, and nobody's going to know. 365 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,400 The hidden things. Remember that sermon on the Good 366 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,200 Samaritan that I preached from time to time I preached at once 367 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:16,700 here but I used the idea that those people that were on that 368 00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:21,400 Rogue on that 15-mile Rocky Road or however long it was. 369 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:27,400 In that, there was two people, a priest in a levite that probably 370 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,900 would not have behaved. Like, they behaved had, they 371 00:23:29,900 --> 00:23:33,900 been back in Jerusalem, but all, but because they were out in the 372 00:23:33,900 --> 00:23:35,900 middle of nowhere. They thought maybe nobody could 373 00:23:35,900 --> 00:23:38,100 see them. So they disregarded this poor 374 00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:40,800 soul that was laying over there and left for dead. 375 00:23:41,300 --> 00:23:46,900 Here's the point that I like to use, what we really are is 376 00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:52,000 better determined and defined in the way that we behave in. 377 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:58,500 Places where we are not known. The way we dress when we're away 378 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:01,800 from the body of Christ is what we are. 379 00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:04,500 The way we talk. In the things that we say, 380 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,500 that's really what we are. These are the things that we 381 00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:10,800 consider to be the hidden things, the things in secret, 382 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:14,800 the things in darkness, these things are going to be revealed 383 00:24:14,900 --> 00:24:20,100 one day, and what we are is better determined not about how 384 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:22,500 we behave at the assembly or around Christians. 385 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:24,700 But how we behave in the workplace? 386 00:24:24,900 --> 00:24:26,500 How we behave at school? Cool. 387 00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:30,400 How we behave in the world. Now, that is what we really are 388 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,000 and leaders come from those that live Christian lives, consistent 389 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,900 with the word of God, and they emerge, and they rise up and 390 00:24:38,900 --> 00:24:42,200 people follow them because they respect them. 391 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:47,300 I think that's a powerful thing. I think it's something to work 392 00:24:47,300 --> 00:24:49,700 for. In our life. 393 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:56,200 Paul says, I'm not the standard but then Paul says this he says, 394 00:24:56,300 --> 00:25:00,000 in examining one of the reasons why he felt some confidence, not 395 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:05,300 arrogance, but confidence, he felt some confidence because he 396 00:25:05,300 --> 00:25:08,600 and examining his life. Couldn't think of one thing that 397 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:10,900 he was doing, that was not correct. 398 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,100 Now, that didn't mean, he was perfect in any way, shape, or 399 00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:15,700 form. For only one was perfect. 400 00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:19,100 And that's Jesus, but he was saying this, in fact, Studying 401 00:25:19,100 --> 00:25:22,100 on Wednesday night, the Epistles of John, we talked about that. 402 00:25:22,100 --> 00:25:24,200 What do we do? If we examine our heart and we 403 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,500 look to the word of God and we test our self against the word 404 00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:30,400 of God. When we do that, then we can 405 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,500 know if we're saved or not, we can know and have the Assurance 406 00:25:34,500 --> 00:25:39,400 of whether we are living as we should You know what Paul says 407 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,000 though? God is the ultimate judge to 408 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,600 this point to. I don't know of anything in my 409 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:45,700 life. That is not right? 410 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:49,900 But just because I'm not aware of it doesn't, excuse me if I'm 411 00:25:49,900 --> 00:25:54,900 wrong and God if he found something and he may just 412 00:25:54,900 --> 00:25:58,700 because I think I'm okay. And it God find something later 413 00:25:58,700 --> 00:26:00,400 on. I'm going to be condemned and he 414 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:04,300 I'm going to be judged for that whether I know it now or whether 415 00:26:04,300 --> 00:26:09,300 I don't know what now. Because God is the standard and 416 00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:13,700 not Paul. Verse 7 for who make it be to 417 00:26:13,700 --> 00:26:17,300 differ one from the other. And what hast thou? 418 00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:21,000 That thou didst not receive. Now if thou dis receive it. 419 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,800 Why Dost thou Glory as if thou hats not received it. 420 00:26:25,500 --> 00:26:29,600 There's a really not really sure whether Paul is speaking 421 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:33,000 specifically here to spiritual gifts or if he's speaking about 422 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,000 other gifts or talents or abilities or whatever it is, 423 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,300 really the application is still the same. 424 00:26:38,500 --> 00:26:41,000 What were they doing? They were glorying in 425 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,800 themselves. They were glorying in the flesh. 426 00:26:43,900 --> 00:26:47,500 They were elevating man, higher than man ought to be. 427 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,600 And he says everything. You receive everything. 428 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:55,200 You have, you got it from somebody else and if that's the 429 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,000 case why are you glorying like you're some great one because 430 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:03,000 the reason that you are, what you are even even because you're 431 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,800 saved is because of somebody else. 432 00:27:06,300 --> 00:27:11,400 And why is it that you glory? When somebody else had something 433 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:20,400 to do with that. But finally, In verse 8. 434 00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:25,200 He says, now you are full. Now you are rich, you have 435 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:29,300 reigned as kings without us and I would to God that you did 436 00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:31,700 rain. That we also might reign with 437 00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:37,600 you instead of being persecuted. I added that last part instead 438 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:41,000 of being persecuted. There's sarcasm noun in the tone 439 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,900 of Paul. And he was saying I would that 440 00:27:43,900 --> 00:27:47,500 you did do all that because if you did do all that, you'd be 441 00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:50,200 with us and I would that you would do all that. 442 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:52,600 So we wouldn't be persecuted but you're not with us. 443 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:58,500 You're not among us. And then he says this for I 444 00:27:58,500 --> 00:28:03,200 think that God has set forth us Apostles, last as it were 445 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,800 appointed to death for. We are made a spectacle unto the 446 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:12,000 world and to angels and to men look at this word here, 447 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,400 spectacle You know what a spectacle is? 448 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:21,000 It's a climax. He says you because of your 449 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:25,700 worldly wisdom, because you're still carnal, you've elevated 450 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:29,200 Man, Too High. You've put yourself in, asserted 451 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,200 yourself, even above the apostles themself. 452 00:28:32,900 --> 00:28:36,700 But I'm here to tell you. He says, I know that we the 453 00:28:36,700 --> 00:28:42,400 apostles are set in last. In fact, we are a spectacle. 454 00:28:42,500 --> 00:28:48,000 We are the climax. Historically, speaking in 455 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:53,300 ancient times, they were great big, a theaters and sometimes 456 00:28:53,300 --> 00:28:56,900 these a theaters would hold 20 to 25 thousand people. 457 00:28:57,700 --> 00:29:00,400 What they would do is that men would come together and they 458 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:04,000 would start the day off early, and as the day would start off, 459 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:08,500 they begin with athletic games games of skill games of speed 460 00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:11,100 and so on. In the middle of this great 461 00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:14,500 Amphitheatre that housed all these people, there would be a 462 00:29:14,500 --> 00:29:18,100 field for battle and it would begin early that day. 463 00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:20,900 I don't know what time, just early enough in the day to get 464 00:29:20,900 --> 00:29:23,200 all the things in that they had to get in. 465 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,400 So here comes all the athletic games, here they go and it's 466 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:30,400 kind of Of wedding, the appetites of those that are in 467 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,700 attendance. But pretty soon they become 468 00:29:33,700 --> 00:29:37,200 bored with that. They wanted to see some blood. 469 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:42,200 So they bring into animals animals, that were imported all 470 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:45,300 over the world. I'm told and they let him fight 471 00:29:45,300 --> 00:29:49,200 to the death right in the eye. Sight of these people that were 472 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,200 sitting in the Amphitheatre, Fanning them self, having, 473 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,100 whatever it was, that shaded them and all the refreshments 474 00:29:55,100 --> 00:29:58,200 that they could stand as they were in the heat refreshing 475 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,800 themselves. While they increase their thirst 476 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:05,200 for blood But pretty soon. They got tired of that too. 477 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:09,500 So the next thing would happen, a gladiator would be brought in 478 00:30:10,100 --> 00:30:12,500 and a gladiator would fight against an animal. 479 00:30:12,500 --> 00:30:15,800 And almost every time, the Gladiator would stand Victorious 480 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:20,600 as as the, as the Gladiator killed the animal shedding his 481 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:24,200 blood. But pretty soon that would grow 482 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,600 old too so they bring in another Gladiator. 483 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:31,800 You know, I'm told that in Rome every every boy wanted to grow 484 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,800 up and be a gladiator. These were the heroes kind of 485 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:38,300 like sports Heroes today. Football, players on TV little 486 00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:40,100 kids that want to grow up. Be a football player. 487 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,900 I want to grow up to be this person or that person, that's 488 00:30:42,900 --> 00:30:45,200 kind of what they said about these Gladiators. 489 00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:49,100 The Gladiators now would fight them self, not animals, now they 490 00:30:49,100 --> 00:30:53,000 would fight each other. And the crowd would decide 491 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,500 whether they lived or died with a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. 492 00:30:59,500 --> 00:31:03,900 But it still wasn't over. After that event. 493 00:31:05,100 --> 00:31:07,300 They take a person and strip them naked. 494 00:31:08,900 --> 00:31:12,900 And they put him down on the blood-stained ground of the 495 00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:18,300 floor of this Amphitheater. And they bring in a lion. 496 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,800 A lion that was starved for two or three days. 497 00:31:23,300 --> 00:31:25,600 The lion would destroy the human being. 498 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:30,700 And shed his blood. To the Delight of the crowd. 499 00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:34,600 I'm told they took what was left of that body and they would 500 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,000 hoist it up the side of the wall and light it on fire. 501 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:40,600 So they could see in the Amphitheatre. 502 00:31:41,900 --> 00:31:43,200 Brethren. You won't know who the people 503 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:48,300 were who were those people? They were Christians. 504 00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:52,000 They were members of the body of Christ. 505 00:31:54,100 --> 00:32:00,200 That was called the spectacle. That was called the climax. 506 00:32:00,500 --> 00:32:04,600 The end, the big finale. That's the big finale. 507 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:07,900 You know what? Paul said, you're elevating 508 00:32:07,900 --> 00:32:09,800 yourself above, man. I'm going to tell you something. 509 00:32:09,900 --> 00:32:12,000 We were set first in the in the Lord's church. 510 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:13,200 And we're going to be a spectacle. 511 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,100 We're going to be persecuted in the eyes of man. 512 00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:19,300 And we're going to lose our life violently and all the apostles 513 00:32:19,300 --> 00:32:21,700 did die. Just like that, except for the 514 00:32:21,700 --> 00:32:26,500 Apostle, John. He says we are a spectacle. 515 00:32:29,500 --> 00:32:32,300 I kind of makes me think that I can live this Christian Life. 516 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:39,300 Little easier than I thought. That kind of tells me that 517 00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:41,400 regardless of what I think is tough. 518 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:46,900 It's nothing. It's nothing compared to being a 519 00:32:46,908 --> 00:32:53,100 spectator. a spectacle Paul says, in the eyes of man and of 520 00:32:53,300 --> 00:32:58,200 angels that they look at wonderment and what the apostles 521 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:03,700 would have to go through in the violence, that was brought on to 522 00:33:03,700 --> 00:33:08,900 them but finally, In verse 10, he says, we are fools. 523 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:14,800 He says, we're fools. We are fools for the cause of 524 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:19,900 Christ. you know, in the introduction part of our lesson, 525 00:33:19,900 --> 00:33:24,100 I said, That you're a fool to somebody. 526 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,900 We all are we are a fool to somebody. 527 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,200 The question is going to be, are we going to be wise in the 528 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:34,600 world? Because that's what the Brethren 529 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:36,800 at Corinth were doing. You know what they were doing? 530 00:33:37,100 --> 00:33:39,700 They were taking their Christianity and trying to 531 00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:46,300 benefit from them as being worldly wise He says your wives. 532 00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:50,900 I'm a fool. How can you be a fool for 533 00:33:50,900 --> 00:33:53,500 Christ? Today. 534 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:58,400 When the world says, you don't have to be baptized in order to 535 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,200 be saved, but you obey the gospel. 536 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,700 Anyway, you're a fool for Christ. 537 00:34:06,300 --> 00:34:09,000 When you worship on the Lord's day and you assemble with those 538 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:12,600 of like Precious faith and you never miss, except when it's 539 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:16,000 beyond your control, you're sick, can't get there beyond 540 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:19,100 your control, but never is the decision that you choose 541 00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:21,600 something else. When you do that yet the world 542 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:25,000 says come on. What's one time? 543 00:34:26,199 --> 00:34:29,199 What's one time? That's the wisdom of the world, 544 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:31,699 you know what the world says? When you say no, I'm going to 545 00:34:31,699 --> 00:34:33,100 get up. And I'm going to go to church 546 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:35,699 this morning, and I'm going to worship God, they think, well, 547 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:46,000 that is a fool. when a sister in Christ, Has long uncut hair? 548 00:34:47,699 --> 00:34:52,300 With the styles of today. The world says you're a fool. 549 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:58,500 When you do what's right, you are a fool for Christ. 550 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:03,400 When you stand for what's right? You are a fool for Christ. 551 00:35:04,300 --> 00:35:06,800 When the world says, you can have a social drink here and 552 00:35:06,808 --> 00:35:08,000 there. Go ahead. 553 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:09,400 You're not going to be convinced. 554 00:35:09,500 --> 00:35:12,200 I had somebody tell me one time. I don't think that I'm going to 555 00:35:12,207 --> 00:35:17,000 be condemned for that. It's foolish to think so. 556 00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:20,700 When you abstain from that in every way. 557 00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:29,100 You're a fool for Christ. I'd rather be a fool for Christ. 558 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:32,500 And be saved in heaven. One day. 559 00:35:33,700 --> 00:35:37,900 As Paul said, this second Corinthians chapter 12 most 560 00:35:37,900 --> 00:35:41,600 gladly therefore, will I rather glory in my weaknesses? 561 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,000 You want to talk about your strength. 562 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,900 He says, I'm going to glory in my weaknesses that the power of 563 00:35:47,900 --> 00:35:52,400 Christ May rest upon me. Wherefore, I take pleasure in 564 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:56,900 weaknesses in injuries, in Necessities, in persecutions in 565 00:35:56,900 --> 00:36:02,300 distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I 566 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:12,100 strong. In closing. if we've not made 567 00:36:12,100 --> 00:36:19,200 provision for our soul, We're a fool in the eyes of the Lord 568 00:36:19,900 --> 00:36:21,700 thou fool. This night thy Soul shall be 569 00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:26,200 required of thee, but I want to tell you something, when the 570 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:31,100 world puts you down, use that as a guide, that you must be doing 571 00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:35,600 something right? These people were glorying in 572 00:36:35,607 --> 00:36:38,000 the fact that they were, they were calling the Nate, wearing 573 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:40,600 the name of Jesus wearing the name of Christ, as a Christian, 574 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:42,800 but the world thought, they were great. 575 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:45,000 The world elevated them and all that. 576 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:49,200 He said no, no, I glory. In my infirmities. 577 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:50,800 I'm a fool. You want to be wise? 578 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:53,700 You're wise in the eyes of, man. I am a fool. 579 00:36:55,100 --> 00:37:01,000 Are you a fool for Christ? We thank you for listening to 580 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:05,800 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 581 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,300 Road in Bakersfield, if you would, like any additional 582 00:37:09,300 --> 00:37:12,600 information, or you would like to receive a free Bible 583 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:18,100 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her 584 00:37:18,100 --> 00:37:20,500 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 585 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:26,400 Our service times are Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 586 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:30,800 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 587 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:33,600 We would love for you to be our honored guest.