1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,040 I love the last verse of that song. 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:06,200 Then in Fellowship suite, we will sit at his feet or walk by 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,800 his side in the way that's those are some special words we got to 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:11,880 sing this morning. Thank you for singing them 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:13,880 together. Thank you for teaching me 6 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,160 through song as scriptures say. And thank you that you are here. 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,320 Thank you that you care about godly things. 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:25,120 Thank you that you share with all of us and the best thing we 9 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:27,680 have going in our lives and that is being children of God. 10 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,160 And what a great set of passages we get to study this morning 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,240 that we get to finish up in first. 12 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,000 Peter, my goal is to get through the end of the chapter so we can 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,760 kind of wrap up the 1st letter from Peter. 14 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:44,400 And, and I want to thank you for, for teaching me things that 15 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,840 are in this letter because there's a lot of stuff that is, 16 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,400 that is the ideal, that is the top goal. 17 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,720 And, and I hope from these scriptures we see the ideal. 18 00:00:55,280 --> 00:01:00,200 I hope we don't see achievement. I hope we don't see where we are 19 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:01,400 right now. Like, yeah, this is me. 20 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,800 OK, cool, I did all that. I hope we see that we can be 21 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,880 better. And I hope that brings us hope. 22 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,960 And I hope that gives us some looking forward to the future as 23 00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:15,120 to what we can be individually and as what we can be together 24 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,080 for the glory of God, as we'll see in this set of Scriptures. 25 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,200 So thank you for showing me what it looks like for many of you. 26 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,760 You've taught me so much about what these passages mean in 27 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,880 example. And may we continue to teach one 28 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,440 another what this stuff means in real life. 29 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,760 May we learn to apply this and teach one another. 30 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,360 Because I don't have all the answers. 31 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,640 I'm not going to exemplify at all. 32 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,880 And there's going to be things as we learn this letter that you 33 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,760 are going to better exemplify than I do simply because God 34 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:44,000 gave you a strength that I don't have. 35 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,720 So may we together learn this and teach this to one another 36 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,920 going forward beyond the words we studied this morning. 37 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:59,480 So as we continue on in chapter chapter 5, we left off talking 38 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,720 about, Well, we'll go back to chapter 4 a little bit. 39 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,160 We left off with these verses. Therefore, since Christ suffered 40 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,120 for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same 41 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:10,960 mind. For he who has suffered in the 42 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,760 flesh has ceased from sin, that He no longer should live the 43 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,280 rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts or the desires of 44 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,840 men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our 45 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,680 past lifetime and doing the will of the Gentiles when we walked 46 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,520 in lewdness, lust, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and 47 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,640 abominable disgusting idolatries in regard to these, they think 48 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:36,240 it's strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,200 dissipation, speaking evil of you. 50 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,880 And we talked a little bit before these abominable, these 51 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:45,040 abominable idolatries were a lot of things, but their worship got 52 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,920 nasty, it got perverted, it got very sexual and and worship to 53 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:51,360 these idols. We as humans will mess this 54 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,360 stuff up when we try to do for God what we think is right for 55 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,240 God and become so self-centered in regard to these things. 56 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,520 They think it's strange that you don't run with them in the same 57 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,880 flood of dissipation. Why aren't you partying and 58 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,440 drinking and doing these nasty things to glorify God? 59 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,720 This is what we all do. You're crazy for, for not doing 60 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:10,880 that. That's what they would say. 61 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:14,960 They will give an account to him who's ready to judge the living 62 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,320 and the dead. Don't worry about them. 63 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,360 For this reason, the gospel is preached also to those who are 64 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,480 dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, 65 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,160 but live according to God in the Spirit. 66 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,520 All right, now we're back up to speed where we left off last 67 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,840 time, and I want to provide a point of clarification. 68 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,200 In verse 7 it says, but the end of all things is at hand. 69 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,120 And when I was discussing last week, I was talking about that 70 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,680 from a perspective of the end of the world. 71 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,080 And while some people do believe that, you've got to read a 72 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,120 little bit further, and I didn't get to the part where we would 73 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,160 have been talking about probably the more accurate context, which 74 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:57,560 is referring to the end of Judaism, the end of all things 75 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:03,160 being the end of the Old Law and the end of of the destruction of 76 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,280 Jerusalem. And that is, I believe, the more 77 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,320 precise end of all things he's talking about here. 78 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,280 Now, the good news is that all still applies. 79 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,640 Everything we talked about is still the same motivations. 80 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:22,320 He tells us to watch and pray because of the end being near. 81 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:27,520 So he's talking to these people who it says in just a minute, 82 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,760 verse 12, who are about to go through a fiery trial. 83 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:33,680 And don't be surprised when this happens. 84 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,240 We learned that the the Jerusalem is shortly after 85 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,440 destroyed. Now, if you're reading this 86 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,840 verse and you're like, how does that the end of all things mean 87 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:44,440 the end of Judaism? It seems like he means the end 88 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,320 of everything. Well, is this hyperbolic? 89 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,120 Is he exaggerating? Well, I mean, think about it. 90 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,920 Human history was built on the Israelite nation. 91 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:58,440 So much of God's role in this world was centered around this 92 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:03,600 national entity called Israel. And God spoke to the world 93 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,440 through them. He revealed his will through 94 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,640 them. He put the Messiah through this 95 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:09,800 lineage. He built this nation and took 96 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,560 them down multiple times. This nation was not some small 97 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,640 thing. This was God's presence on 98 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,920 earth. It was a nation, it was an 99 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,520 economy, it was the world's only true God ordained theocracy, 100 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,160 meaning this is a nation God is in charge of. 101 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,800 So saying that it's the end of all things is not exaggerating. 102 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,280 It's a big deal for the Jews and for the whole world who is 103 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:40,560 involved in spiritual things. And in addition to that, this 104 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,560 phrase at hand, as I understand, whatever at hand is used in the 105 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,080 New Testament, it's usually going to be something that's 106 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,600 like really coming soon. Not like, hey, it's going to be 107 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:50,800 coming soon. Be ready. 108 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,800 It's like it's here. And because of the more 109 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,320 immediate context of the words used, it's even more. 110 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:58,720 Clear. I believe that this is talking 111 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,560 about the destruction of Jerusalem, but then like I said, 112 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:07,800 verse 12 kind of confirms that. So, as we said, why be so 113 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,480 serious and watchful in prayer last week or last time I spoke, 114 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,120 all these things still apply. We need to be serious and 115 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:15,880 watchful because we have responsibility, we have 116 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,000 weaknesses, we have an enemy, we have people who need us, and we 117 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,200 have new frontiers that we need to be going into and seeking 118 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:23,840 out. But I'm just going to. 119 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:26,760 Throw at the top of this list. The fiery trial is the 1st and 120 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:30,120 primary reason they need to be serious and watchful in their 121 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:31,280 prayer life. OK. 122 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,360 That was a clarification and we read this verse last time, but I 123 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,840 want to provide a little bonus insight I didn't get into 124 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:39,440 because we're running out of time. 125 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,720 Verse seven said, but the end of all things is at hand. 126 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,800 Therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 127 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,000 Let's remember who he's talking, who's writing right now. 128 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,480 This is Peter. Do you remember Peter the last 129 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:58,640 time someone told him to watch and pray because of present 130 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:03,720 distress? Peter, James and John were taken 131 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,400 into the garden of and Jesus went and prayed alone, and he 132 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:11,680 said, watch and pray. He said be serious and watchful 133 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:12,920 in prayer. That's what he's telling us. 134 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:17,240 He's telling us that because he failed when the time was near 135 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,400 for the end of all things, so to speak, being the Messiah's death 136 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,440 coming and Jesus told him, guys, you need to be wake up and pray. 137 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,400 They fell asleep on him. And so now we have Peter 138 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:32,320 relaying the same message to us to be watchful in our prayers 139 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,920 because the answer is for us. Please hear me lovingly and 140 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:43,160 gently. We will fail if we do not be 141 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,720 serious and watchful in the tasks that are in front of us 142 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,080 that are daunting. We will fail. 143 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:53,120 I will fail, you will fail. They fail because they didn't 144 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:54,800 listen to Jesus and what they go and do. 145 00:07:55,040 --> 00:08:01,520 They denied Him. They they absolutely mocked him. 146 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:04,440 I don't know the man, Peter said. 147 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,120 And if we think we're going to be any different, the devil is 148 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:13,840 winning so far beyond what we realize we will lose. 149 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,040 That's why when Jesus knew something big was coming, he 150 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:18,960 knew a big temptation or challenge was coming. 151 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:20,520 He went alone into the wilderness. 152 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,200 Remember what Jesus did? He fasted 40 days and 40 nights. 153 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:26,040 Was that the trial in the wilderness? 154 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,760 No, the temptation came after the 40 days and 40 nights. 155 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:34,240 He spent time being serious and watchful in prayer when he knew 156 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:41,760 he was in the middle of a trial. Coming if Jesus needed it, who 157 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:42,799 are we to think we don't need it? 158 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,920 And Jesus was the example, and we'd be serious and watchful in 159 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:50,880 a prayer life. Because of things that are 160 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,680 coming now here's what's completely new verse 8 and above 161 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:56,480 all things. So more than anything else, he 162 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,600 can give us advice in have fervent love for one another. 163 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,040 We've talked about this I feel like several times recently. 164 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,840 Fervent means aggressive straining. 165 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:07,720 You know, it's not a passive love. 166 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:14,000 It's so effort driven and that's going to drive us to be powerful 167 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,440 examples. It's going to drive us to solve 168 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,760 things in the midst of fiery trials that other things won't. 169 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:26,400 Fervent love will solve that he says for for love will cover a 170 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,080 multitude of sins. Now that's a proverb he's 171 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,840 referencing. And and this is coming from 172 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,680 Proverbs chapter 10, verse 2. And remember, Proverbs is 173 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:39,200 general truths. Now, if you apply this statement 174 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,200 in too many ways, it becomes inaccurate. 175 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,760 So don't, please don't apply this beyond and say if people do 176 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:47,960 wrong stuff, love will just cover up your sins. 177 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:50,400 Love is just going to say, yeah, do whatever you want. 178 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,200 Just love is going to cover you. That's not what this is teaching 179 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:55,640 by any stretch of the imagination. 180 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,160 It's a proverb that's speaking a truth that I think is well 181 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:03,360 expressed in this quote, where love abounds in a fellowship of 182 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,760 Christians. Many small offenses and even 183 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,560 some large ones are readily overlooked and forgotten. 184 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,520 We can move on, but where love is lacking, every word is viewed 185 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:16,360 with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding, and 186 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:21,200 conflicts abound. To Satan's perverse delight, one 187 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:22,840 man described this. I think that's a good 188 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,680 representation of what he's really trying to say here is we 189 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:29,800 need some buffer between us. We need some cartilage. 190 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,520 We need some. When you lose the ligaments in 191 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:34,200 your knee, you start to feel bone on bone. 192 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,200 The thing that's going to help us work together and not be so 193 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:41,040 bone on bone is going to be love because it's going to help cover 194 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,840 some of that, you know, the grinding that happens with our 195 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:47,680 interpersonal workings. And maybe you could further 196 00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:49,920 explain this by saying Jesus love covered. 197 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,560 Now Jesus love also convicted, but his love was a covering 198 00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:55,880 love. It was a protecting and a 199 00:10:55,880 --> 00:11:00,720 healing love. And our submission to this 200 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:05,600 system will protect others instead of harming others. 201 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,800 It will heal our soul by having love for people and it will also 202 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,360 heal the souls of people we are trying to support if we have a 203 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:18,640 love that will cover, not seek to only expose. 204 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:23,120 Now to be clear, 1st and 2nd Corinthians letters address how 205 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,040 sin can't just be left to linger. 206 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,440 He says you have to purge out the old leaven. 207 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:30,720 Leaven is sin, right? And and it's he's saying you 208 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,040 can't let sin just pollute A congregation. 209 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,120 So that's not the answer either. You can't just let it live 210 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:37,680 because that's not loving either. 211 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:43,160 But the answer is some balance between having grace but also 212 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:44,200 being. Willing to teach. 213 00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:51,040 And show what is right, OK? Verse 9, he says be hospitable 214 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,120 to one another without grumbling. 215 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,080 So he's saying all this in light of the fact that the end of all 216 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,440 things is at hand, primarily being understood that the fiery 217 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,000 trials are coming and even the end of the world is coming. 218 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,680 That's true too. The second thing he says is to 219 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:08,840 be hospitable, right? Yes. 220 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:12,520 The third thing, prayer. Pray carefully and watchfully, 221 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,840 he says, love fervently and be hospitable. 222 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:23,280 How is our hospitality individually and as a 223 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:25,080 congregation? How is our hospitality? 224 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,160 I want to commend so many of you because you've taught me what it 225 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,200 means to be hospitable. But I want to challenge us as 226 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,280 well because Scripture is meant to cut. 227 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:39,120 How is your home's hospitality? And this passage is kind of a 228 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,000 comforting, frank admission. It's a, it's a, it's a like, 229 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:49,280 blatant admission that hospitality can be very costly 230 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,800 and burdensome and irritating sometimes. 231 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:54,840 That's why he says do it without grumbling. 232 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,920 Hospitality can be burdensome, irritating and costly. 233 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,200 But he says don't let that be what defines your hospitality. 234 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,560 Don't be a person that's burdened and too aware of the 235 00:13:06,560 --> 00:13:10,040 cost and too mindful of how irritating others can be. 236 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,320 Don't focus on that, he says. Do without grumbling. 237 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:19,000 But on the flip side of that, there's some words in Hebrews 238 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,480 13, I think that that helped me kind of think about the other 239 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,120 side of this, and maybe we also. Need to hear? 240 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,280 What He's writing the letter Hebrews. 241 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,320 He's talking to the to the congregation saying let your 242 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,840 leaders do their work with joy, not with grief. 243 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,280 OK. He's, he's like saying these 244 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:40,160 people need to shepherd you and, and watch over you, but do good 245 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,400 to them and don't make it hard on them to do this for you. 246 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,600 Don't make it hard on your leaders to lead. 247 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,400 Make make an environment for them where it's joyful for them 248 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,960 and not grievous. So I think we can say the same 249 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,000 thing with the hospitality. If we are receiving hospitality, 250 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,960 may we receive hospitality a way that doesn't make it grievous 251 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:01,440 for the people giving hospitality. 252 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:07,840 But that we would be thankful and and not overstepping and 253 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,240 over assuming and just take, take, take. 254 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:14,560 That is not the scriptural way. Jesus says I came to serve, not 255 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:17,680 to be served. So there's two sides of this. 256 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,640 But the passage is focusing on the responsibility of us to be 257 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:29,200 hospitable. So that's the the third thing in 258 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:30,760 light of the fact that the end is near. 259 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,440 Now in verse 10, he gives us the fourth thing. 260 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:39,000 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as 261 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,320 good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 262 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,640 So everything we have, he wants us to start with the assumption 263 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,240 that everything you have to offer, whether it's an ability, 264 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:55,240 a, a thing or a how is it or a gift, whatever it is, minister 265 00:14:55,240 --> 00:15:00,040 means to serve, serve it to one another as good stewards of the 266 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,800 manifold grace of God. I don't think I want to spend 267 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,840 the time to go through the full passages in Matthew about about 268 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,200 what it means to be a good steward. 269 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:12,200 But basically that was a a term they used to describe somebody 270 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,880 who was responsible for the for the investments of a more 271 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,760 powerful person. And God gave them the instruct 272 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,040 the parable. Jesus gave them the parable of 273 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,720 these different people who are entrusted with investments. 274 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,760 One of them was given a lot. One of them has given 10 275 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:30,240 talents. As I understand, the talent was 276 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,560 a year's worth of wages. He's given 10 years worth of 277 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:36,680 wages, maybe $1,000,000. And he was trusted with that. 278 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,400 And then he gave somebody else maybe 500,000 and gave somebody 279 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,480 else maybe 100,000. OK. 280 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,400 And he told them. To go out and do wisely with it 281 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,640 in the in this parable. And and most of those people did 282 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:53,160 good with it, but the person who had the least didn't do anything 283 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:54,440 with it. He buried it. 284 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:59,680 He didn't use that talent for the for the, for the master. 285 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:03,120 The master wanted to come back and say, hey, all these people 286 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:08,400 used my investments wisely. I hope you see, God invested a 287 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,040 lot in us. He put things inside of us. 288 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:14,920 I mean, aside from all the spiritual blessings we sang 289 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,360 about this morning, He put things inside of you. 290 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,400 He put things in your hands. He put things in my hands and it 291 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,880 doesn't matter if we think we're the 10 talent, 5 talent and one 292 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,240 person man, they were all required to do. 293 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:31,160 Something with it. And maybe it's a warning that it 294 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,680 can be easy for the people who don't think they have much to 295 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:35,720 offer. To bury it. 296 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,320 He doesn't say that about the 10 talent person, although it could 297 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,880 happen for sure. He specifically mentions the 298 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:47,880 person who didn't. Have a lot if you feel like 299 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:55,360 you're the person who has the one talent man he sell, he says 300 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,560 to the others, he says good and faithful servant enter into the 301 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,560 joys of your Lord. But to the one who buried the 302 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:05,160 talent he says you wicked and lazy servant, he calls him 303 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,319 wicked. He doesn't call him a passive, 304 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:12,280 he calls him wicked. Please do not underestimate what 305 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,800 God has has offered you as an individual. 306 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,520 He says, for to everyone who has, more will be given, and he 307 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,760 and he who he will have abundance, but from him who does 308 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,520 not have even what he has will be taken away and cast the 309 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,720 unprofitable servant into outer darkness. 310 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,040 There will be weeping, gnashing of teeth. 311 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,960 The words from Peter he says as good stewards of the manifold 312 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,200 grace and gifts of God, may we serve one another. 313 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,600 Jesus teaches pretty harshly on this matter that if we don't use 314 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:53,240 whatever little thing we have. This is a condemnation, so if 315 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,720 maybe you're afraid of using your gift, like I'm going to be 316 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:56,600 made fun. Of or I. 317 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,840 Like I don't have much to offer. Maybe this is a worse fear. 318 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,400 I don't know. That that seems worse to me, to 319 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,640 be afraid of Jesus final condemnation then whatever fears 320 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,080 might keep us from doing something. 321 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:09,800 I'm not implying that anybody here is doing nothing. 322 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,320 That's not what I'm saying. I'm just challenging any of 323 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:14,640 those thoughts in our mind that might think. 324 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,640 That I have nothing to bring. Now how do you do this? 325 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:20,560 How do you be the person who's a good steward? 326 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,720 When do you do this? How do I know that I'm not the 327 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:28,320 the unfaithful servant that he's going to cast an outer darkness? 328 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,760 Here's what he says actually, a couple verses later, This is 329 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,720 really interesting. He says he will set the sheep, 330 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,240 which is the good on the right hand, but the goats, the evil on 331 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,040 the left. Then the King will say to those 332 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,320 on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, and 333 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,640 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, for the from the foundation 334 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:50,160 of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me 335 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,480 food. I was thirsty. 336 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,240 And you gave me a drink. He was just talking about being 337 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:59,280 a good steward and now he makes it as simple as seeing a need 338 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:04,040 and filling it. I was hungry, you fed me. 339 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:06,360 And now he goes after that to say. 340 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:11,080 He goes on to say the people said, when did we do this for 341 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:12,520 you? I never saw you, Jesus. 342 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,880 And they and Jesus says as much as you did it to one of the 343 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:17,720 least of these my brethren, you did it to me. 344 00:19:22,120 --> 00:19:24,400 So it's serving people, serving needs. 345 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,360 You don't have to come up with some grand program in this grand 346 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:29,840 charity event. You don't have to cramp. 347 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:31,760 I'm not saying. That's what you need to do to do 348 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:34,560 something good. It says see a need, fill the 349 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,640 need. I was thirsty, you gave me a 350 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,320 drink. See need fill need. 351 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,640 Where? First in the family, our first 352 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:47,160 responsibility and our most direct responsibilities to our 353 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:52,000 own families, including people who are your extended unit, 354 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:53,480 right? So we have the people who are 355 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:57,000 maybe our siblings or our children, but our parents and 356 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,600 maybe even our uncles, cousins, they're part of the unit that we 357 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,800 are responsible to care for when they need it the most, when 358 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,600 they're in lacking, when they're lacking it. 359 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,600 So our family is the 1st place we need to see needs and fill 360 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,120 needs. Secondly, in the church. 361 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,240 There are so many scriptures written that say do this for the 362 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,280 brethren. Do this for the brethren. 363 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:24,560 God gives the most direct instruction and toward good 364 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,920 works toward first your brethren in in church. 365 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,200 That is our first line of responsibility. 366 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,080 Now that doesn't excuse the our efforts to the world. 367 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,200 That doesn't alleviate our responsibility. 368 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:39,080 Remember the parable The Good Samaritan? 369 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,840 That was supposed to be somebody that was outside of the Jewish 370 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:46,880 need for for for goodness. That was outside of their own 371 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:47,800 length. That is not their 372 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:49,320 responsibility. Jesus says. 373 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,560 You sure? You sure that person's not 374 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:54,160 somebody you could have helped out. 375 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,360 So we do have responsibility to these three groups, but let's 376 00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:02,600 start with our families in the church before we neglect needful 377 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:09,360 responsibilities there. So we have to see need, fill 378 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:14,600 need where in the family church, in the world by being present 379 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,240 enough to see the need. First of all, to be able to fill 380 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,080 needs, we have to be present enough. 381 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:24,080 We need to be involved enough to even see the need in the first 382 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:30,800 place. Secondly, we need to be present 383 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,200 enough to be seen as a viable person to fill a need. 384 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,760 Some people might say, hey, nobody's asked me for anything. 385 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,520 I don't know, do I try? I mean, nobody's asked. 386 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:43,280 I would do if they ask. But are you there to where they 387 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:48,480 even see you as an option? Are we here in a way that people 388 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:52,960 see us as an option? Because no one's going to ask 389 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:54,160 people they don't think want to help. 390 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:02,040 Nobody wants rejection. May we be present enough in all 391 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,320 the ways we can manage ourselves to show people we are available 392 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,720 so that when times come up they don't just ask the same two 393 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:14,240 people in the congregation for every little thing, but that we 394 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,960 would all be a resource to everyone in this building to 395 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:18,920 where they will know there's more than just one or two. 396 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:20,200 And I'm not saying there is one or two. 397 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,720 I'm just saying we all carry this responsibility. 398 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,360 Dare and pray for the work of the church. 399 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:30,200 We as the church are the work. We are the workers, individually 400 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,160 as the body. It's not. 401 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,640 Just leaders responsibility to take care of these needs. 402 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,280 We are the church, we're the hands and the feet of Jesus. 403 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,120 May we be present enough. So we said as each one has 404 00:22:45,120 --> 00:22:47,720 received a gift, minister to one another, serve one another as 405 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,440 good stewards of the manifold manifolds means variegated or 406 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,720 very coloured. We have a lot of different 407 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:56,240 skills here. We have a lot of different 408 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,040 backgrounds here. We have a lot of different 409 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:02,560 things that are from the grace of God to be used for others. 410 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,040 So how do we not waste God's gifts? 411 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,560 We need to know, we need to see, and we need to be. 412 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,200 We need to know that we are supplied with God's ability and 413 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,840 be aware and use our gifts as if it's not ours. 414 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,680 It's God alone who provides. We need to see. 415 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:19,400 We have to need to have our eyes open to needs. 416 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,160 We need to be present to be used. 417 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:26,520 Now verse 11, if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of 418 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,080 God. So we're, I think #5 right now 419 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,280 of things we need to do in light of the fact that the end is 420 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,400 near. If you're going to speak if. 421 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,440 You're going to open your mouth. Let it be God's words. 422 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,760 That's what he says, the oracles of God. 423 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:42,440 It's kind of a, it's kind of a, an epic line to describe the 424 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,720 Oracle of God. It's the word of God. 425 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:50,800 You get to speak that. Did you know that you, your 426 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,880 words should be no less valuable than the apostles who wrote 427 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:59,280 these ones? Why? 428 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:02,240 Because he just said open your mouth to speak God's word. 429 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:03,520 Isn't that what the apostles did? 430 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,320 The word apostle means one sent from God. 431 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,520 Now those are capital A apostles, because it was a 432 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:10,720 title. Given by God, but. 433 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:12,680 We are maybe lowercase A apostles. 434 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:16,400 We are sent from God to do what? To speak his words to the world. 435 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:19,960 Did Paul get to talk to my neighbor? 436 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:27,720 So my words need to get to my neighbor because Paul didn't 437 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:29,640 talk to them. So it's my responsibility to the 438 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,560 people who are here with me now to talk to them about the 439 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,480 oracles of God, to speak to them. 440 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:40,600 God's words now, just because I wasn't the first one to say it, 441 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:44,560 it's less valuable. Paul was the first one. 442 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:46,000 No, he wasn't. God said it first. 443 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,400 Holy men were inspired by the will of God. 444 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,080 God spoke it first. They just relate it to man. 445 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:59,520 And as an extension, we have a chance to speak the words of 446 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:06,160 God, no less important than the apostles themselves, to a 447 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,080 generation that needs it. Just because we're not the first 448 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,760 one who said it doesn't make it any less powerful or any less 449 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:23,840 needed. If anyone ministers the 450 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:26,200 second-half of this verse, which is serves. 451 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,960 If anyone serves, let him do it, as with the ability with which 452 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:35,040 God supplies. That in all things God may be 453 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:39,880 glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the 454 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,840 dominion, forever and ever. Amen. 455 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:48,360 We need to keep in mind these are gods, God supplying these 456 00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:51,320 things so that we, when we do the things, don't get the glory, 457 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:54,280 so that we don't ask for the glory, expect the glory, draw 458 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,200 the glory towards us. But that God himself will be 459 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:01,760 glorified through Jesus Christ. Verse 12 Beloved, this is the 460 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,200 SV. I think it words a little bit 461 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:07,160 more clearly here, beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery 462 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,200 trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something 463 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:13,000 strange were happening to you. We've talked about that a lot in 464 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:14,320 this letter. So I'm not going to belabor 465 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,400 this. But he's saying it's it's going 466 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,000 to happen for them. It was the destruction of 467 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,120 Jerusalem, but don't be surprised when we get fiery 468 00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:23,800 trials. It's not it's not something 469 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,240 strange, it's expected, but rejoice. 470 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,480 Verse 13 in so far as or as much as you share in Christ's 471 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,120 sufferings, Christ's sufferings are up here, but was in so much 472 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:40,400 as you suffer, rejoice. Be happy about that. 473 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:45,120 Take joy in that, that when you also rejoice that you may also 474 00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:48,760 rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. 475 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:56,360 That is the build up. Suffering is the build up so 476 00:26:56,360 --> 00:26:59,520 that when he comes there is more rejoicing. 477 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,680 That is the lead up. That's the preparation. 478 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:09,640 So to live like there's no tomorrow. 479 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:13,160 These are what he says, Pray, love, be hospitable, serve with 480 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,960 God gifts, speak God's words and rejoice. 481 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:21,640 Especially when you have a chance to suffer for Jesus. 482 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,880 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you're blessed 483 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:29,160 because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 484 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:35,360 You miserable dust of a man. Even you, God's Spirit and His 485 00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:41,360 glory gets to rest and land upon a child of the dust. 486 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:45,760 God pulled us out of the dirt and we're going back to the 487 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,680 dirt. But for a brief time, the glory 488 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:54,760 of God himself can rest on a poor, hopeless soul. 489 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:03,440 What a beautiful from dust to glory to carry the the glory of 490 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:06,360 God for just a while. It's through suffering. 491 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:09,520 It's not from feeling good. It's not from a feeling that 492 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,160 enters your heart and just makes you like so happy that you're 493 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,960 having a good day. It's from suffering. 494 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:17,080 Now we can have joy in suffering. 495 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:18,440 So I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the good 496 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,240 feeling, but but that's what he's talking about here verse 497 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,080 15. But let none of you suffer as a 498 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,880 murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 499 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:27,920 He's going to say that's a waste of time. 500 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,600 It's a waste of your suffering. Suffer for something good like 501 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:32,600 the glory of God, not for your own mistakes. 502 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,160 He says don't suffer as a meddler. 503 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:38,480 Somebody who's in other people's business, People who are all up 504 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,040 in people's other people's business cause suffering for 505 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:43,680 themselves. They cause toxicity for 506 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,440 relationships. They cause hardship for 507 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:47,840 everyone. Don't suffer like that. 508 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:49,960 He says suffer for the good stuff. 509 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,720 Verse 16 if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be 510 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:57,040 ashamed. Don't let people make you put 511 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:01,480 your head down and shame when they're when they're ridiculing 512 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,400 you. Glorify. 513 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,040 God in that. For it is time. 514 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:09,040 For judgement to begin at the household of God. 515 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:12,320 And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome of those who 516 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:15,480 did not obey the gospel of God? Now, I believe this is referring 517 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:19,760 to the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jude, the Judaic nation is 518 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,360 going to be judged and God is going to come down on them part 519 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:25,720 Why? Well, they crucified the Son of 520 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:27,760 God and there's judgment that comes with that. 521 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:29,400 And he says US. Why? 522 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,640 Well, Peter came from a Jewish Home. 523 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:34,560 He was a Jew. So the judgment is beginning 524 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:37,640 with the Jews. And he says, what will become of 525 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:39,680 those who do not obey the gospel of God? 526 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,240 Verse 18. And if it and if it is with 527 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:47,600 difficulty, this is the NASB like it says it more clearly. 528 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,880 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, 529 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:53,280 what will become of the godless man and the Sinner? 530 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:58,760 Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust 531 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:03,720 their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 532 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,160 When things are going well, we trust the source of our 533 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:12,960 prosperity. We trust the relationship that's 534 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:18,200 bringing us all the good stuff. We trust the money that's buying 535 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,560 us all the fun stuff. We trust the circumstances that 536 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:24,280 you're so good right now. We trust that stuff. 537 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:30,120 But when we suffer, we trust the source of hope for something 538 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:35,000 better. When we suffer, we are forced to 539 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:36,960 look beyond things that are temporary. 540 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:41,800 And that's when we start to trust our souls to a faithful 541 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:46,160 Creator. Going on to chapter 5, many of 542 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,240 the things we've already studied are covered, and we're going to 543 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,600 kind of move quickly through this if you're worried about 544 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:52,520 time. So I exhort the elders among 545 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:54,560 you, who are the elders? He's going to mention in a 546 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:57,840 minute, They're the shepherds, they are the pastors, they're 547 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:02,240 the God, or they're the elect, the ordained leaders of the 548 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:04,720 congregation. So I exhort the elders among you 549 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,600 as a fellow elder. Peter is an elder and a witness 550 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:12,280 of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker of the glory 551 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:13,840 that is going to be revealed, he says. 552 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:19,120 So I exhort the leaders as someone who is to shepherd the 553 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:24,480 flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under 554 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:30,840 compulsion, not because you have to, but willingly as God would 555 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:34,080 have you. Not for shameful gain, not so 556 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:39,960 that you can get the glory and be the top dog, but eagerly to 557 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:41,320 serve. Eagerly. 558 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:48,040 Remember what Jesus told Peter. Jesus told Peter in John 21. 559 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:51,640 Feed my sheep, he says. Peter, do you love me? 560 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:56,080 Tend my sheep, says Peter. Do you love me? 561 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:58,200 He's the third time, Piers, Yes. You know I love. 562 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:03,640 You, he says, feed my sheep. The leaders are told by Peter 563 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:08,400 now relaying this to us. He's saying leaders need to 564 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,080 lead. This is speaking specifically 565 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:15,080 about the elders, but that applies to every single leader 566 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:17,880 in any capacity. If you're the head of your home, 567 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:24,640 you're to shepherd your home. The flock of God is the church 568 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:30,440 and to do it eagerly with love, not domineering over those verse 569 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:34,800 3 in your charge, not wielding the power over them, but being 570 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:39,680 examples to them. The shepherd doesn't go and and 571 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:42,600 whip his sheep and and and yell at them. 572 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,200 The shepherd leads and the sheep follow. 573 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:51,840 That's the model of a, of a godly leader who leads by 574 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:54,560 example, first and foremost, verse 4. 575 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:59,360 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the 576 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:04,160 unfading crown of glory. If you're a leader in whatever 577 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:08,800 capacity, but especially a leader in the church, there are 578 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:14,120 burdens that you carry, and many of life's joys can fade because 579 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:16,120 of burdens and things that weighed down. 580 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:23,000 But he gives you just this, this unifying picture. 581 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:26,760 The chief shepherd is coming. Who knows what it means to lead 582 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:29,040 and suffer? Who knows what it means to 583 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:35,040 endure? He says he's going to come back. 584 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:38,200 And when he shows up, when he appears, because he's already 585 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:42,160 there, but when he appears before you, you will receive the 586 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:45,400 unfading crown of glory. There are burdens with 587 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:49,800 leadership, but Jesus says I'm going to connect with you in 588 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:53,880 that as the other shepherds who are among the congregation. 589 00:33:56,480 --> 00:34:00,640 Everything in this world fades. You know that many of you who 590 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:03,080 are older, you've seen that Terry's taught me a lot about 591 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:07,840 all the all the paints, the the products, the plastics, the 592 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:09,679 wood, everything fades by the sun. 593 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:11,800 You can't hide anything from fading. 594 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:14,199 It falls apart no matter what it is. 595 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:17,120 And as I tried to. Make it make a list. 596 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:19,080 In my head, is there anything that doesn't fade? 597 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,560 Well, there's there's gold and diamonds, which is kind of 598 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:24,280 referred to in this in this lesson already. 599 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:26,840 But I can't think of like anything that doesn't fade, that 600 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:28,800 doesn't need a refreshing or restoring. 601 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:32,320 It reminded me of first Corinthians says, oh, now these 602 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:37,080 abide faith, hope and love. And this is tied to the unfading 603 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:38,760 crown's glory. Verse 5. 604 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:42,280 Likewise, you who are younger be subject to the elders. 605 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:47,199 That is our responsibility for those of us who are younger to 606 00:34:47,639 --> 00:34:52,920 to subject ourselves to them. Clothe yourselves, all of you, 607 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:54,760 with humility towards one another. 608 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:57,480 We've covered that extensively in this letter already about 609 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:01,960 having humility and humbling ourselves, but now he just says 610 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:04,160 it's a blanket statement. We should all be humble toward 611 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:07,080 one another. Leader or not, leader or being 612 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:10,240 LED, we all humble ourselves toward each other. 613 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,440 If you can think of any relationship in this 614 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:15,920 congregation where you are not humble towards someone in this 615 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:19,680 congregation, or if there's any relationship in your life when 616 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:21,880 you're not humble towards them because you think you have an 617 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:24,680 excuse. He says no, there's no 618 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:27,280 relationship, there's no dynamic where humility does not need to 619 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:32,560 be shown by every person, says 4. 620 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:36,080 God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 621 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:40,840 I want God's grace. Why should I want God's grace? 622 00:35:41,240 --> 00:35:43,080 Because God's grace, yes, forgives. 623 00:35:43,240 --> 00:35:44,560 And maybe that's the first thing we think of. 624 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:48,080 Grace is for forgiveness. Yeah, but if God forgave me and 625 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,680 then left me where I'm at, I would never get any better. 626 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:55,360 Grace doesn't just forgive, Grace waits. 627 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:01,720 Grace accommodates. Grace finds a way to get me from 628 00:36:01,720 --> 00:36:04,920 my stuck position to a better place through mentorship and 629 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:07,880 patience. God's grace doesn't just 630 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:09,720 forgive, it waits and it accommodates. 631 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:14,280 And grace teaches, grace teaches. 632 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:18,160 So I sure want the grace of God and I need humility to get that 633 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:21,240 grace. Verse 6 Humble yourselves, 634 00:36:21,240 --> 00:36:24,160 therefore, not just to one another, but under the mighty 635 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:30,560 hand of God, so that the proper time he may exalt you so that 636 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:32,200 every day you're going to feel exalted. 637 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:35,280 No so at the. Proper time. 638 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,280 There's been a time that comes where he will lift you up. 639 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:41,760 He will exalt you when you humble yourself. 640 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:47,600 Jesus says the way up is down. To climb the ladder we have to 641 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:51,960 bow before God. Humble ourselves under the 642 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:54,680 mighty hand of God and He will lift us up. 643 00:36:55,720 --> 00:36:58,080 Verse 7 casting all your care upon Him. 644 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,960 How do you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God? 645 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:06,280 Part of it is by laying down not only yourself, but all of your 646 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:09,080 cares. Now the translation says 647 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:11,840 anxiety, cares and anxieties are the same thing, but I like how 648 00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:14,720 this translation keeps the cares together. 649 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:18,160 Cast your cares upon him, for he cares for you. 650 00:37:18,160 --> 00:37:20,800 You are his cares. He wants your cares because you 651 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:27,840 are his cares. He wants you so bad that he 652 00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:31,000 wants you to. Throw casting is throwing is 653 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:33,520 dropping it. He didn't say show God your 654 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:35,720 cares and then put them back in your pocket for you to carry. 655 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:42,480 He says throw them down on the ground, throw it down, cast it 656 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:48,040 down and drop it under the mighty hand of God, for he cares 657 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:54,840 for you. We may have to, as we humble 658 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:59,600 ourselves under the mighty hand of God, we may have to be told, 659 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,720 stay down. You've humbled yourself, now 660 00:38:02,720 --> 00:38:05,840 stay down as you get disrespected by a Co worker. 661 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:09,800 You may have. God may have to tell you humble 662 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,360 yourself and stay down. I know you want to rise up and 663 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:15,160 defend yourself and and show pride. 664 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:17,520 That's the world. Once the world says pride is the 665 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:20,480 option. God says stay down as you wait 666 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:22,040 patiently through a trial of life. 667 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:27,760 Stay down as your health fails you. 668 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:32,040 Stay down. Stay humbled as you as you get 669 00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:33,560 criticized. We have people who don't really 670 00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:38,920 understand you. God says stay down and humble 671 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:41,800 yourself as you hand over a sin that you've kept close to your 672 00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:45,640 heart for way too long. Humble yourself under His hand 673 00:38:47,720 --> 00:38:48,880 and release that. Sin. 674 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:54,440 Humble yourself and stay down as you clear idols out of your home 675 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:58,920 that are keeping God from being #1 There's a tendency for us to 676 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:01,320 want to humble ourselves and then get right back up whenever 677 00:39:01,320 --> 00:39:04,720 something crosses our plate that we don't want to be humble to. 678 00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:07,920 God says at the proper time stay down. 679 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:11,480 You stay humble and at the proper time you get up. 680 00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:13,120 No, God will. Lift you up. 681 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:20,640 We don't lift ourselves up. That's not our job, the Bible 682 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:22,840 says he exalts himself. We'll be humbled if we think 683 00:39:22,840 --> 00:39:27,520 it's our time now to stand up and and stake our claim. 684 00:39:27,520 --> 00:39:32,280 No, that's not our place. Verse 8 be sober. 685 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:36,640 I'm almost done. Be sober, be vigilant, watchful. 686 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:39,360 The Bible says because your adversary, the devil, walks 687 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:41,680 about like a roaring lion, seeking. 688 00:39:41,680 --> 00:39:44,520 Whom he may. Devour Do you know when lions 689 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:48,240 roar? Most of the time, not during the 690 00:39:48,240 --> 00:39:51,040 day and not a lot during the night. 691 00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:56,880 They roar at dusk, in the morning or in the evening. 692 00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:01,360 At dusk and at dawn when the sun's coming up, that's when 693 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:06,240 animals feed. Lions roar when they're either 694 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:09,160 about to feed or they just got done feeding. 695 00:40:10,560 --> 00:40:15,320 The devil has fed on people this week. 696 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:20,520 Maybe you picture the blood dripping from a lion's mouth 697 00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:22,880 because the devil has won this week. 698 00:40:24,240 --> 00:40:28,720 He's won a lot. He has just made a kill and 699 00:40:28,720 --> 00:40:31,840 that's why he's roaring, but he's also roaring because he's 700 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:36,200 looking for another one. It's feeding time. 701 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:40,440 We're in the age of feeding time for the devil, but this age is 702 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:43,920 not going to be forever. The Day Will Dawn and The 703 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:46,240 Morning Star. Will come back. 704 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:51,760 If you don't have any care to cast on the Lord, do you have 705 00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:54,680 cares now? Do you have cares now, knowing 706 00:40:54,680 --> 00:40:58,440 that the devil is trying to get you And if you don't see any way 707 00:40:58,520 --> 00:41:02,240 if you're not right now watchful and vigilant, aware of how the 708 00:41:02,240 --> 00:41:05,040 devil may be getting close to you and you might be watching 709 00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:07,680 his path into. Your camp, into your village. 710 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:10,440 Maybe he's standing behind you, ready to pounce. 711 00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:14,600 And when you don't see how it could possibly matter now, if 712 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:18,400 the devil's whatever, that's when he's got you dead to 713 00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:21,400 rights. Be vigilant, the Bible says. 714 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:26,640 Resist him verse 9 firm in your faith, knowing that the same 715 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:28,960 kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood 716 00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:31,920 throughout the world. This is the ESV James floor 717 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:35,080 verse 7 says resist him and he will flee from you. 718 00:41:35,760 --> 00:41:37,840 You think you're powerless to this scary line. 719 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:40,560 No, you're not. You stand firm in the faith. 720 00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:41,880 You resist him. You'll be fine. 721 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:46,280 Does firm in the faith mean I carry the extremes of emotion 722 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:48,840 where I'm up and up one week down another and not say how my 723 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:50,000 faith is? No, he says. 724 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:50,560 Be. Firm. 725 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:54,840 You hold on, you be firm, you stand your ground because your 726 00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:57,400 spiritual life depends on it. Are you strong enough? 727 00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:01,160 No, stay under the mighty hand of God. 728 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:09,000 He through resisting through His will will lead you through and 729 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:11,640 find community through Christ's sufferings. 730 00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:14,400 We do not know. I'm convinced we do not know 731 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,800 everybody that's out there that is faithfully serving God. 732 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:21,640 We may think we have a directory. 733 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:23,680 We don't know everybody. That's out there who is 734 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:26,480 faithfully serving God. They're throughout the world, 735 00:42:28,520 --> 00:42:30,840 they're throughout the world, and if you don't see those 736 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:32,160 people, all you see is the wrong. 737 00:42:32,360 --> 00:42:35,560 Just know God says there are people out there suffering for 738 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:38,280 what's right and I need to take community in the people even 739 00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:39,080 though I can't. See. 740 00:42:40,720 --> 00:42:43,040 I need to take encouragement knowing that there are people 741 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:46,200 out there doing this. Verse 10 and after you have 742 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:50,840 suffered a little while, 100 years, 80 years, 70 years. 743 00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:57,400 Just a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to 744 00:42:57,400 --> 00:43:03,880 his eternal glory in Christ, will himself perfect. 745 00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:09,400 Some translations say restore, establish, strengthen, and 746 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:11,480 settle you. This is one of my favorite 747 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:15,760 verses. He's going to perfect. 748 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:18,880 That means to complete you. He's going to make you more 749 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:21,040 complete and more fully developed and mature than you 750 00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:22,680 are right now. He will develop you. 751 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:27,160 The word restore kind of takes like, you know, taking like 752 00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:29,960 Terry just took an old car and he restored it from this broken 753 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:32,200 and disheveled position and he made it new. 754 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:36,360 God will make you new. He will establish you. 755 00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:39,600 He will take you from somebody who's wishy washy and flaky and 756 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:42,000 doesn't come through for people and doesn't fulfill your 757 00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:44,960 responsibilities, take you from somebody who's worthless and 758 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:49,040 establish you in a stable, strong position in your family 759 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:51,800 and in the Lord's work. God will do that. 760 00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:53,600 Don't think you're good enough to do that on your own. 761 00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:54,960 You're not. I'm not. 762 00:43:55,840 --> 00:43:59,920 God will himself establish you and strengthen you. 763 00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:02,800 So you may say, OK, I'm in that role, but I'm pretty weak in 764 00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:04,880 this role. God will strengthen you for that 765 00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:07,680 work, and He will. Also settle you. 766 00:44:08,360 --> 00:44:12,560 At times I felt decent on some of these other areas, but at 767 00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:16,440 times I felt really unsettled for I can zoom in. 768 00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:18,640 At times I felt really unsettled. 769 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:21,360 In my faith. But I can tell you by the grace 770 00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:24,680 of God, I feel. So much more settled today than 771 00:44:24,680 --> 00:44:27,120 I ever have. That's by the grace of God. 772 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:33,400 And He will do that for each and every one of us after you've 773 00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:36,680 suffered a little while. To him be the Dominion forever 774 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:39,720 and ever. Amen by Sylvanus. 775 00:44:39,720 --> 00:44:43,200 So he's now closing this letter. That is the closing powerful 776 00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:45,960 statement, and we'll just read the closing real quick by 777 00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:48,520 Sylvanus, our faithful brother for so I regard him. 778 00:44:48,840 --> 00:44:51,560 I have written to you briefly. So that was 5 chapters. 779 00:44:51,560 --> 00:44:55,080 That was a brief writing. Exhorting and testifying that 780 00:44:55,080 --> 00:44:58,560 this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 781 00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:01,680 You hold on, you stand your ground. 782 00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:03,720 This is the NASB that says it that way. 783 00:45:04,080 --> 00:45:06,880 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you. 784 00:45:07,360 --> 00:45:11,600 And my son Mark does also greet one another with a kiss of love, 785 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:15,000 Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. 786 00:45:16,160 --> 00:45:19,760 Amen. Greet one another with a kiss of 787 00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:23,120 love, peace to all of you who are in Christ. 788 00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:26,040 And that closes the letter first. 789 00:45:26,040 --> 00:45:31,920 Peter, what a what an inspiring, challenging, humbling, honoring 790 00:45:31,920 --> 00:45:34,560 letter we just got to read and may we live these things and may 791 00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:38,560 you help me see what that looks like in daily life because I 792 00:45:38,560 --> 00:45:43,160 have a lot to learn. And I believe that for every 793 00:45:43,160 --> 00:45:45,760 single person in this room, better is ahead of us and what 794 00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:48,240 can be by the grace of God. And today, if you haven't 795 00:45:48,240 --> 00:45:52,120 started this walk, the Bible says that faith comes by hearing 796 00:45:52,840 --> 00:45:54,440 and and hearing by the word of God. 797 00:45:54,440 --> 00:45:58,440 So we need to hear God's word to believe it to, to understand 798 00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:01,320 what God has provided for us and is is teaching us. 799 00:46:01,720 --> 00:46:03,400 And we need to repent of our past life. 800 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:06,160 Luke 13 and three. We need to confess that. 801 00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:07,880 Jesus. Christ is the Son of God. 802 00:46:08,240 --> 00:46:11,320 There's no salvation by anybody else out there except for the 803 00:46:11,320 --> 00:46:14,440 door of the gate. That's Jesus Christ and we can 804 00:46:14,440 --> 00:46:18,000 be baptized as we read already in this letter in first Peter 3 805 00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:22,360 where he said that the like figure unto worth baptism does 806 00:46:22,360 --> 00:46:26,040 not also doth now does not also save us. 807 00:46:26,840 --> 00:46:31,400 We're baptized to be saved and washed and cleaned and then from 808 00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:32,680 there we're going to live faithfully. 809 00:46:32,680 --> 00:46:35,240 That's the call to the Christian revelation. 810 00:46:35,240 --> 00:46:37,400 Chapter 2, verse 10 says he is faithful unto death. 811 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:40,640 I will give a crown of life. That's our charge, that's our 812 00:46:40,640 --> 00:46:43,640 challenge, that's our work. And today, if you haven't 813 00:46:43,640 --> 00:46:45,960 started that process, if you would like to be baptized for 814 00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:47,760 the remission of your sins, we could do that today. 815 00:46:48,400 --> 00:46:52,480 Or if you need to get something right, you need to pray for 816 00:46:52,480 --> 00:46:53,880 forgiveness. Or you need to. 817 00:46:54,960 --> 00:46:57,640 Have prayers for for whatever. It might be we're here to 818 00:46:57,640 --> 00:47:00,320 support and strengthen one another while we stand and while 819 00:47:00,320 --> 00:47:00,880 we sing this song.