1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,960 Welcome to the Liberty Baptist Sermon Archives. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,040 The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty Baptist 3 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,040 Church in Easton, MA. You can find out more about us 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:17,280 or contact us at my libertybaptist.org or just look 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,760 us up on Facebook. And now we hope that this 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,080 message from God's Word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,080 Would you turn once? Again to. 8 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:30,360 First Corinthians chapter #9. We were in the midst of looking 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,800 at this chapter several weeks ago before. 10 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,320 I left and now we are going to try to catch you back up to. 11 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,200 Where we were in First Corinthians chapter. 9 and. 12 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,960 Finish the chapter here this evening and the title of the 13 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,440 message was and continues to be. Who does Paul think he is? 14 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,600 You'll remember that right at the beginning of the chapter, 15 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,280 Paul starts to give a defense of himself. 16 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:53,960 He gives a defense of. Who he? 17 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,240 Is that there were some within the congregation, or maybe there 18 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,400 were some who were trying to manipulate the congregation to 19 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,400 try to convince them that? Paul. 20 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,720 Was a greedy man, that. Paul was someone who. 21 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,080 Really did not have their best. Interests in heart that his. 22 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,880 Doctrine who was wrong that his method of ministry was wrong and 23 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,800 Paul takes this chapter to really defend himself and his 24 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,320 manner of ministry and it wasn't that he was just being sensitive 25 00:01:20,320 --> 00:01:24,400 and it wasn't just the fact that he felt like he defend himself 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:25,720 because his. Pride or his? 27 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,080 Ego was hurt, but rather Paul had the very real understanding 28 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,320 that if his credibility was being challenged, then the 29 00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:36,640 credibility of the gospel that he preached was also being 30 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,600 challenged because he was being faithful to the gospel. 31 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,240 And so we took some time to look at several different things. 32 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,360 And even before we read the text tonight, just by way of review, 33 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,280 I'll give you these first few points to kind of remind us. 34 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,680 Where we were. Before we read our text this 35 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,280 evening, but we saw that there was the first question. 36 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,400 What about the preacher's money? Remember that Paul was a tent 37 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,360 maker and there were times and seasons that as he was out doing 38 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,240 ministry that he would make tents to be able to support 39 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,639 himself. But yet he also made the claim 40 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,240 and he also told the people that were there. 41 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,160 He said that it wouldn't have been wrong if he had taken money 42 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,200 from the church that was at Corinth because he gave the 43 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,720 principle of the laborers. Remember the principle of the 44 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,040 laborers. You don't muzzle the ox that 45 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:24,360 treads the corn. You don't. 46 00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:27,840 You take care of the provisions of those who go out to battle 47 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:32,560 and in the same way the minister is to be provided for as well 48 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,720 when the minister can be provided for. 49 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,400 And we saw that, Paul says if I have to. 50 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,600 Work that I have. To work if I receive a paycheck. 51 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,920 If we could put it that way from the church, then that's OK as 52 00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:46,640 well. But really, his whole. 53 00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:49,640 Focus was not about money. But it was about ministry. 54 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,400 And the whole issue of money was this, that his needs would be 55 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,880 met so that he could to the ministry that God called him to 56 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:58,360 do. Paul wasn't trying to get rich 57 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:00,960 in the ministry. Paul was just trying to be able 58 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,720 to survive and to live so he could do the things that he. 59 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:06,480 Knew that God had. Called him to do. 60 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,120 And then he also gave the example of the Levites, not just 61 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:11,920 the laborers, but also the Levites. 62 00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:15,600 You'll remember that we saw that the Levites as we went back. 63 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,200 To the old. Testament. 64 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,800 And we saw that the Levites received of the tithes. 65 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,400 And that is how. They were to survive, but at the 66 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,840 same time as they received the ties, they tithed as well. 67 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,960 That it wasn't just the fact that they were free from tithing 68 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,800 because they received the tithe. They literally gave a tithe of 69 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,000 the tithe of which they got, because here's the principle, 70 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,720 everybody's supposed to tithe. Yeah, that never gets amens a 71 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:42,520 whole lot of times when I say it, but I'll say it again. 72 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,120 Everybody supposed to tie. Well, pastor, you don't 73 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,040 understand that. That's not the way that it 74 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:48,760 works. I believe in grace giving. 75 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:50,760 I've had people tell me that before. 76 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,160 And I will say that grace giving is a wonderful thing. 77 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,600 If you believe in grace giving, it ought to be more. 78 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,240 Than 10% because grace. Is more than the law, isn't it? 79 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,520 But tithing was found before the law and tithing was found during 80 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,800 the law, and tithing is found, I believe after the law as well. 81 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,160 And so the principle of tithing is good and it's right. 82 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,040 And Paul's making it clear that if he was to receive of some of 83 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,600 that, it wouldn't be bad. But that didn't make him exempt 84 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,720 to make sure that he also did that which he encouraged others 85 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,720 to do as well biblically. So he answered that question 86 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,080 first, what about the preacher's money? 87 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,200 But then the second question was this. 88 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:30,080 What about the preachers motivations? 89 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:34,760 And it really came down to a crux in verse #19 or rather 90 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,360 verse #16 he says. For though I preach the gospel, 91 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,120 I have. Nothing to glory of. 92 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,360 Of necessity or for necessities laid upon me? 93 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,160 Yeah. Woe is unto me if I preach not 94 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,480 the gospel. What was his motivation? 95 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,720 This was the calling that was laid upon his life. 96 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,200 His motivation was not making sure that he received enough 97 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,520 money. His motivation was this, the 98 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,560 gospel message, and he was going to reach as many people as he 99 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,080 possibly could not so that he could get. 100 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,400 More people. Inside some kind of Christian 101 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,400 Ponzi scheme, the more people that come, the more people that 102 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,920 give, the more money I get. You know, you recruit 3 people 103 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,680 and then they recruit 3 people and as long as I'm at the top, 104 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,040 everything is good, right? No, that's not what this is. 105 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,840 It is all about the fact that Paul was motivated by the 106 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:25,440 gospel. And even as we saw on Sunday 107 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,080 night as well, that it wasn't that he was to get a pat on the 108 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,920 back or an attaboy, He wasn't going above and beyond the Call 109 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,880 of Duty. It was his Call of Duty to go 110 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,320 and to give the gospel. And so he's defending himself in 111 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,520 this way as well. And so tonight we're going to. 112 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,400 Look at the third and final point we'll reveal. 113 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,400 That in just a moment and we'll explain why Paul did what he did 114 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,000 and how he did what he did for the sake of the gospel and how 115 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,760 would it help us as well as we reach other people with the 116 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:56,760 gospel. So why don't you remain seated 117 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:58,560 tonight? As we often do on on Wednesday 118 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,120 night. And we're going to read all of 119 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:04,080 Chapter 9, so just stay with me. I know we read a larger piece of 120 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,960 scripture the mind can start to wander somewhere in. 121 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,680 Between so you just. Dial in as I read. 122 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,840 I'll dial in as I read. And let's read this chapter and 123 00:06:12,840 --> 00:06:16,920 then we'll really, we'll really. Focus on verse #19. 124 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,240 To the end of the chapter, so it says, Am I not an apostle? 125 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,800 Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our 126 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,280 Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? 127 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,720 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to 128 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,320 you for the seal of mine apostleship. 129 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,320 Are ye in the Lord? My answer to them that do 130 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,560 examine me is this Have we not power? 131 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,360 To eat and to drink. Have we not power to lead about 132 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,880 a? Sister, a wife, as well as other 133 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,640 apostles. As is the brethren of the Lord, 134 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,840 and Cephas, or I only and Barnabas. 135 00:06:51,840 --> 00:06:54,600 Have we not power to for bear working? 136 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:57,160 Who? Goeth a warfare at any. 137 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,920 Time in his own charges. Who plants a vineyard Eateth. 138 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:01,960 Not of the fruit thereof, or who feedeth the. 139 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,560 Flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock. 140 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,440 Say I these things as a man or sayeth not the law the same also 141 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:11,680 4 is written in the Law of Moses. 142 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,120 Thou shalt not muzzle. The mouth of the ox that 143 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,800 treadeth out the corn doth God take care for. 144 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:21,000 Oxen and we saw the. Last time we were in this text, 145 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,840 that's from Deuteronomy chapter #25 verse 4. 146 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:28,680 Or sayeth he it all together? For our sakes, for our sakes, 147 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,520 for our sakes. No doubt this is written that He 148 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,400 has that he that ploweth should plow and hope, and that he that 149 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,520 thresheth in hope shall be partaker of his hope. 150 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:42,000 If we have sown unto you spiritual things is a great 151 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,760 thing if we shall reap unto you. Or is it a great thing if we 152 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,840 shall reap your carnal? Things. 153 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,080 If others be partakers of this. Power over you. 154 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:55,640 Are not we rather nevertheless we have not used this power, but 155 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,600 suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of 156 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,400 Christ? Do you not know that they which 157 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:05,280 minister about holy things live of the things of the temple, and 158 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,600 they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 159 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,320 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the 160 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,920 gospel should live of the Gospel. 161 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,960 But I have used none of these things, neither have I written 162 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,640 these things, that it should be so done unto me. 163 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,880 For if it were better for me to die, than that any man should 164 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,840 make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, 165 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,280 I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me. 166 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,360 Yeah, woe isn't to me if I preach not the gospel, For if I 167 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,640 do this thing willingly, I have a reward. 168 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,120 But if against my will a dispensation of the gospel is 169 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,600 committed unto me, what is my reward then? 170 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,920 Verily, that when I preach the gospel I may make the gospel of 171 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:53,040 Christ without charge. That I abuse not my power in the 172 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,040 gospel. And this is where we will start 173 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,320 afresh here tonight. For though I be free from all 174 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:03,440 men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might 175 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,000 gain the more. And under the Jews I became as a 176 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,200 Jew, that I might gain the. Jews. 177 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,760 To them that are under the law, as under the law that I might 178 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,280 gain them that are under the law, To them that are without 179 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,120 the law, as without the law, being not without law to God, 180 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,840 but under the law to Christ, that I might gain them that are 181 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:27,000 without the law, To the weak became I as weak that I might 182 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,680 gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, 183 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,640 that I might by all means save some. 184 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,480 And this I do for the gospel sake, that I might be partaker 185 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,600 thereof with you Know ye not that they which run in a race 186 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,200 run all but one receiveth the prize. 187 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:48,200 So run that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for 188 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,720 the mastery is temperate in all things. 189 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,320 Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown. 190 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:57,120 But we and incorruptible I therefore so run not as 191 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:01,200 uncertainly, so fight I not as one that beateth the air, but I 192 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,960 keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that by 193 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:09,480 any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a 194 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,880 castaway. So in the 1st 18 verses we saw 195 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,640 first what about the preachers money, and then we saw secondly, 196 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,840 what about the preachers motivations? 197 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,040 And 3rd I want us to look at this tonight. 198 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,560 What about the preachers methods beginning in verse #19 what 199 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:30,480 about the preachers methods? Now Paul is free from the 200 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,680 expectations and criticisms of the people of Corinth. 201 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,520 Paul is not going to be held down by those who are 202 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:40,400 criticizing them or those who are holding him by wrong 203 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,880 expectations. But yet do not think that Paul 204 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:47,960 is simply a free man who can just do whatever he wants to do. 205 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,800 No, Paul says this, that he is a servant. 206 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,560 And what kind of servant does he say that he is? 207 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,800 He says that he is a servant of the gospel. 208 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:01,440 This is who Paul is and he is a servant of the Lord Jesus 209 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,360 Christ. He says I be free from all men 210 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,560 meaning this. Thank you, Dave. 211 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:09,800 For those who are his. Critics. 212 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,840 He's free from them. He is already given the 213 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,200 biblical. Argument. 214 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:21,160 For why he is not to follow that which these people are telling 215 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,400 him to do. When it comes to money and his 216 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,040 motivations, he. Explains. 217 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,360 All of those things but. He says this If you think that 218 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,000 I'm free, I'm not free completely, he says actually. 219 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,000 I'm just servant and. Who is he a servant to? 220 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:38,000 Well, it says, and the remainder of verse #19 Yet have I made 221 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,440 myself servant unto all that I might gain the more. 222 00:11:42,680 --> 00:11:46,920 He is a servant of the Gospel, meaning this he is a. 223 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,200 Servant of all. And may I remind you here 224 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,400 tonight that for me as a pastor, and I know I keep shining the 225 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,520 light on myself as a pastor in this chapter, and I don't like 226 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,160 it, but it's what it is and it's what's here and it's what needs 227 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,280 to be preached for me. My job first and foremost is to 228 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:06,760 be this a servant, and not just a servant, but a servant of the 229 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,040 gospel. This is the charge that is laid 230 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,400 upon me as a pastor. That's why in Acts chapter 6, 231 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,840 when there was dissension within the young church, because the 232 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,080 widows were not given their daily ministration, they were 233 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,120 not given the portions of food that they were supposed to be 234 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:26,240 given by the church because the apostles had so much work to do. 235 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:30,600 They took deacons, they took men to be able to help and to serve 236 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,680 because they said it is not meat for us to serve tables. 237 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,520 Rather, we must give ourselves to the word of God and to 238 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,280 prayer. You know this didn't mean that 239 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,080 they. Weren't to serve the poor. 240 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,480 This didn't mean that they weren't to serve the widows. 241 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,120 This didn't mean that they were high and mighty above everyone 242 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,280 else. But they said this first and 243 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:50,680 foremost, we've got to make. Sure that we are servants. 244 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,480 Of the gospel that we're ready to give the good news of Jesus 245 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,800 Christ to anyone that we come upon. 246 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:58,520 You might say, Pastor, I'd like your job. 247 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,920 You can do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you 248 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:03,960 want. Nobody tells you when to come 249 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:05,720 and when to go or anything like that. 250 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:07,760 Well, and there is some truth to that. 251 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:09,400 There's no time clock back there. 252 00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:11,640 No ones typically. Checking when I come into the 253 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,120 building and when I leave the building. 254 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,160 But I will tell you this. What motivates me, What keeps me 255 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,120 moving? What makes me make sure that I 256 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,120 work? Be honestly, more than 40. 257 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,800 Hours a week is this is that I am a servant of the gospel, the 258 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,000 good news of Jesus Christ. And there's a whole world out 259 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,800 there that needs to hear that message and there's a whole 260 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:32,600 world out there that needs to know. 261 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,040 And I am a servant of that world. 262 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,160 And I'm a servant of you in the sense that I am to give the 263 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,400 gospel. This is what God has called me 264 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,160 to do, but this is what God listened to this. 265 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,600 Has called all of us to do. This is true for me. 266 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,080 This is the daily calling upon my life. 267 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,960 This is what I do as a pastor. It it keeps me motivated to make 268 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,240 sure that I remember what being a pastor is all about and that I 269 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,760 don't veer too far One Direction or veer too far from the other 270 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:05,160 and lose track of the mission. But yet God has called us all to 271 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,320 be servants. Of the Gospel. 272 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,280 And this is something that we need to understand is the true 273 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,160 secret of soul winning. Do you ever wonder why? 274 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,680 You don't win more people to Christ if you're a wonder why? 275 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,200 There are not. There's not more. 276 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,040 Fruit, that is. Born to your account now again I 277 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,640 want to make clear as I always make. 278 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:26,400 Clear. You can't force someone. 279 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:30,240 To be saved, you can take someone's shoulder and bring 280 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,560 them down to their knees. You could tell them recite this 281 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:38,520 prayer and they can recite it and be twofold a child of. 282 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,200 Hell, the Bible would say. Because now they think they're 283 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:42,800 saved and they're not saved because. 284 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,200 You have brought them to a place where they don't even understand 285 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:46,000 the. Gospel, but they. 286 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,240 Prayed a little prayer and they have. 287 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,640 No idea what they've done, how they've done it. 288 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:51,640 They don't even know who Jesus Christ is. 289 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:57,200 It's problematic. So I'm not saying that you can. 290 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:01,360 Force anybody to be saved. I'm not saying that if you do. 291 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:03,840 Soul winning the right way. You will be. 292 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,720 Guaranteed to have. Fruit to your account. 293 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:07,920 There's some very faithful missionaries overseas that 294 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:09,640 history tells us. That they would. 295 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,880 Sow and sow and sow the seed and. 296 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:15,720 Sometimes they didn't even see. The fruit in their lifetime and 297 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:19,160 they were faithful but I would tell you the secret of soul 298 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,120 winning that is often forgotten. Is that the? 299 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,560 Secret of Soul winning is service. 300 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,480 If you want to win more people to Christ, serve others. 301 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:33,920 If you want to have. More opportunities to tell 302 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:38,360 people about Jesus Christ. Be a servant when you meet. 303 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:42,520 Strangers find ways to serve. Them when you find people who 304 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,560 are acquaintances, find ways to serve them when you have loved 305 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,360 ones that are. Hardened to the. 306 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:55,040 Gospel serve them service is often the secret sauce of soul 307 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,920 winning. It's often forgotten, you know, 308 00:15:57,920 --> 00:15:59,560 we just. Had a soul winning training 309 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,760 seminar just a few weeks. Ago and it's. 310 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,120 Important that we do so it's important that we understand. 311 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,800 What the verses are and where the verses are and how to be. 312 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,960 Able to make a good presentation of the gospel. 313 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,280 But in the midst of all of that, if you are not being a servant 314 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:18,160 to those who are around you, you are going to miss a multitude. 315 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,920 Of opportunities to be able. To give the gospel. 316 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,160 Of Jesus Christ. There are times we do things 317 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,880 here at Liberty Baptist Church in the community that it would 318 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:32,280 seem like at first has no real tangible part of what our 319 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,960 mission is in giving the gospel. But I found this if. 320 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,840 We're just out in the community serving. 321 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:42,640 There are people that will know who we are, know where we are, 322 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:45,760 and that we have more opportunity in the midst of that 323 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:49,160 to be able to go and tell other people about Jesus Christ. 324 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,200 You'll always find opportunities to give. 325 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,920 The Gospel. If you're willing to be a 326 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,040 servant, Paul says. I'm free from the expectations 327 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:01,360 of those crazy people in Corinth that think that I'm supposed to 328 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,600 be something that God doesn't want me to be. 329 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,720 He's but don't think that I'm free because I'm a servant of 330 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,520 those same people in the sense that they need to hear the 331 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:15,280 gospel message. Paul, by calling himself a 332 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,440 servant, puts himself in line with. 333 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,680 Well. All the other apostles if you 334 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:22,160 look. At the writers of the Epistles. 335 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,079 Of the New Testament every. Single one of them, at some 336 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:26,839 point or another identifies himself. 337 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:31,920 As a servant James One verse 1 James. 338 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,440 A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes 339 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:41,280 which are scattered abroad. Greeting second Peter 11 Simon. 340 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:45,520 Peter, a servant and an. Apostle of Jesus Christ to them 341 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,080 that have obtained like precious faith with us through the 342 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:52,360 righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ Jude one. 343 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,560 Jude. The servant of Jesus Christ, and 344 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:59,080 brother of James to them that are sanctified by God the 345 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,960 Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called Revelation 346 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,720 11. The revelation of Jesus Christ, 347 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:09,760 which God gave unto him to show unto His servants things which 348 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,200 must shortly come to pass. And he sent and signified it by 349 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,680 his Angel unto his servant John. Every single one of these men 350 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:21,600 who wrote one of the epistles identified themselves sure as 351 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,520 apostles, sure as some sort of leadership. 352 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,160 But what did they say in the midst of that? 353 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:29,280 I may be apostle, but I'm not. Above being a servant. 354 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,680 And if you want to be big in the ministry of the Lord Jesus 355 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,400 Christ, and I use that word big very loosely and I. 356 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,760 Use that word big with quotes around it but. 357 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,280 If you want to be big in the ministry of Jesus Christ, you 358 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:47,840 better get small if you want to be big in the Kingdom work that 359 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:51,400 God has for us in this community and at Liberty Baptist Church, 360 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:55,680 you better get small and that means this finding ways to serve 361 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:57,800 the people around you. Paul says this. 362 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,760 I am a servant. If there was ever anyone who 363 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:02,880 could say they were a. Servant it would be Paul. 364 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:08,200 Paul was educated. Paul had a powerful speaking 365 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:12,400 ability in the sense that, well, they said if you saw him speak 366 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,440 that you maybe would think that. He wasn't a powerful speaker. 367 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,520 But he was obviously very persuasive in the way he spoke. 368 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,560 By the Spirit he was big. Time. 369 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,080 In the way the world would look at those kind of things. 370 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:31,280 But what was he? A servant and if you want to 371 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,600 find more ways to reach people. It's not about handing more. 372 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,640 Tracks out to people, and we should hand out more tracks to 373 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,920 people. We want to make those tracks 374 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,200 more effective. Serve people. 375 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,000 Find little ways to be a blessing to someone before you 376 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,240 give them a track and you'll find they might be more apt to 377 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,080 listen. There's hardness of hearts of 378 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,400 family members that you're trying to reach and they just 379 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,840 won't listen anymore. Be a servant to them. 380 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:01,840 You say, well, what will that do? 381 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:06,400 It might soften their heart to realize that there's something 382 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:10,040 different about them. Well, why would service be so 383 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:13,880 important? It's because that's our way of 384 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:19,280 mimicking our Savior came in a form of a servant. 385 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:21,080 Do we need to go back to Christ as servant? 386 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,840 We saw that a few weeks. Ago Philippians chapter 2. 387 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,720 It's our way of showing Christ within us, because everything of 388 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:31,160 mankind is this. I want, I need to have. 389 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:34,880 I want it in my account. And the thought of a servant is, 390 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,760 I want to help you. I want to give you what you 391 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:42,920 need. I'm going to go out of my way to 392 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,960 be a blessing to you, and all of a sudden you can help people 393 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,400 with the ministry of the gospel if this is your heart's desire 394 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:51,560 now. In this section, Paul gives. 395 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:55,640 Two directives about the methods of the preacher he gives. 396 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:57,480 Two different directives and the first is this. 397 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:02,720 Be moldable, be moldable. Look at verse #20. 398 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:07,480 It says, And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might 399 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,600 gain the Jews to them that are under the law, as under. 400 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,400 The law. That I might gain them that are 401 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,960 under the law to then they're without the law. 402 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:17,320 As without the law. Being not without the law to 403 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,080 God, but under the law to Christ, that I might gain. 404 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,240 Them that are without. The law to the weak became I as 405 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:24,160 weak. That I might. 406 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:25,560 Gain the weak. I am made. 407 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,600 All things unto all men. That I might by all means save 408 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:31,000 some now. We'll stop here. 409 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:35,200 For a second verse number. 22 is one of the most abused verses 410 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,400 that you will find perhaps in all the new. 411 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,560 Testament why is that that there are sometimes that people will 412 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:42,840 use? Verse #22 as an excuse. 413 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:45,920 To use ungodly. Means to try to reach people 414 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,440 with the gospel. I will be. 415 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:52,200 All. Things to all men that I might 416 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:56,320 gain some. There are churches that are out 417 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:58,240 there today. This is becoming a very popular 418 00:21:58,240 --> 00:21:59,160 thing. And no, this is not a. 419 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:00,720 Pastor that's. Just ranting and raving. 420 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,320 From the pulpit? Well, maybe a little ranting and 421 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:05,040 a little. Raving but this is not ranting 422 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:06,960 and rave of me to say this and I've mentioned this. 423 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:08,960 Before that, there's a popularity, a growing 424 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,080 popularity. Of having programs. 425 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:15,760 Called Bible and Bruise. Come to the church and have a 426 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:19,840 beer maybe? Have more than one beer and then 427 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:21,760 let's read the Bible together. Why? 428 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,280 Because that's going to appeal to a certain group of people 429 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:27,480 that normally wouldn't come to church, that now we're going to 430 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,960 come to church. And in their mind they will take 431 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:33,040 this verse and they will say we're being all things to all 432 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:37,920 men, that we might save some. There are churches that will 433 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:39,400 take. The world's music. 434 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,080 And they will bring it into the. Church house and try to. 435 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:47,000 Make it more Christian and they will do so. 436 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,960 Using this verse as an example to be able to. 437 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,400 I know churches that I have in my office right now, a Rick 438 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,920 Warren. Book The Purpose Driven Church. 439 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,240 A church growth manual that he said that when he. 440 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,560 Started his church that. What he would suggest people do 441 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,720 is to go around in the. Community and say we have a 442 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:05,400 short survey. We're just asking people, what 443 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:06,600 are you? Looking for in a church? 444 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,920 And whatever the popular music. Is in the in the community, then 445 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:11,960 that's the kind of music you. Bring into the church, because 446 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:14,160 after all. You're doing all things to. 447 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:15,720 All people that you can save some. 448 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,000 Now that's not gospel. Ministry, that's pragmatism, 449 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:26,680 that's taking the world and the world's methods to try to win 450 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:28,880 people. To Christ, and they remind you 451 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:30,240 that what you win. People with IS. 452 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:31,360 What you have to keep people with. 453 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,760 You win people with worldly ideas. 454 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,960 You're going to have to keep them with worldly ideas if 455 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:39,520 you're going to keep them. If you're a winner with Bibles 456 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:41,240 and bruises, what happens when the tap runs dry? 457 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:45,640 If you. Win them with music that is of. 458 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:47,520 The world what? Happens when a church comes, 459 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:52,360 when the music's louder and the fog machines are foggier and the 460 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:58,120 lasers are more multiplied than what you have, no? 461 00:23:58,520 --> 00:23:59,920 I. May sound like I'm being 462 00:23:59,920 --> 00:24:03,160 facetious about this, but I'm very serious and there are those 463 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,640 who would take that verse and say Paul's saying do whatever 464 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,440 you need to do. To be able to win people to 465 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:11,560 Christ. But that's exactly the opposite 466 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,400 of what he's trying to say here. And that is taking that verse 467 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:18,080 and plucking it out of all of the other teaching of which Paul 468 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:22,120 has ever taught about holiness and godliness and that which is 469 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:23,800 right. No, no, this is not what he's 470 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:25,760 saying here. It's not what he's saying at 471 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,560 all. But rather what he is saying is 472 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:32,000 that when you come across someone who doesn't know Jesus 473 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,160 Christ, their Savior, what you ought to do is to be able to 474 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:39,920 find a way to relate the gospel to them so that they can know 475 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,600 that they are lost and in need of a savior. 476 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,080 And that's different with every group. 477 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,880 Now I'm going to say something. You might think that I'm I'm 478 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:49,640 crazy. Well. 479 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:51,560 If you've been here this long, you probably don't think I'm 480 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:52,640 crazy. Or maybe you just know I'm 481 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:53,480 crazy. I don't know. 482 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,840 I love the Romans Rd. I'm. 483 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:58,920 Thankful for the Romans Rd. You know what I'm talking about, 484 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,040 the Romans Rd. We just taught about it a few 485 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:02,480 weeks ago, didn't we? To be able to take someone 486 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,600 through the book of Romans, help them understand that they're a 487 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:07,520 Sinner and there's judgment, but that Christ died on the cross 488 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,000 for them and they could be saved. 489 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:11,200 There's one problems with the Romans Rd. 490 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,760 Sometimes we use it in such a way. 491 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:17,760 That we're so enslaved to it. That we end up missing. 492 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,880 Real conversations with people. And using the whole. 493 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,640 Counsel of God instead of just these few verses. 494 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,560 I I just talked with someone a few days ago. 495 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,920 As an example. He said to me, I feel like God's 496 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:34,720 always against me. I feel like I can't get ahead. 497 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:39,560 Every time I move everywhere I turn, it's like God's trying to 498 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,440 get me and he's sharing his heart with me. 499 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,000 Now if I just turn around and quote for all of sin and come 500 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:53,240 short of the glory of God, which is typically the first verse of 501 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,200 the Romans Rd. Have I really addressed the 502 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,640 needs of the heart? I would say that I haven't. 503 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,120 What I be good for me to say? Was to maybe address. 504 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,920 The fact that, you know, you haven't really lived your life 505 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,160 in a way with that you've given much regard for God, but yet 506 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:17,000 Despite that God's love for you is still real, that even though 507 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,000 we do not love God. And this is where sometimes we 508 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,640 get nervous because maybe we can't quote those other verses. 509 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:23,880 Well, you may not know the address. 510 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,680 Well, you can quote part of the verse or you may have to go on 511 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:28,120 your phone and find it. Or you might have to. 512 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:29,200 Go in your Bible. And find it. 513 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:32,240 But you can remind. Them that God loved us, even we 514 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,600 didn't love him. John 316 makes that clear. 515 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,960 What I'm saying is that Paul is talking about having. 516 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,560 A moldable form of ministry that when he was talking to a Jew. 517 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:47,120 He would answer the Jews. Questions about the Gospel with 518 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:51,280 their unique slant of their previous beliefs, we talked. 519 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:52,960 About those who were under the law, I believe that's talking 520 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:54,960 about the proselytes. Those who had come into the 521 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,400 household of. Jews, they were following the. 522 00:26:57,400 --> 00:26:59,520 Law. But they weren't natural born. 523 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:01,160 Jews. And so they would. 524 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,560 Have some of their own unique questions, but then. 525 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:05,840 Those who were not under the law, that would seem to be the. 526 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,600 Gentiles and the Gentiles. Would come from a completely. 527 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,080 Different background. Do you think that when? 528 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:15,040 Paul went into the. Into the synagogue and preached 529 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:19,720 that he preached with the same method as he would when he was. 530 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,120 Talking to the Gentiles. He would not. 531 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:24,800 Was it the same message? Yes. 532 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,320 Why? Because the Gospel. 533 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:31,400 Is to all the Jew. 1st and also to the Greek Romans 116 There's 534 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:35,680 only one message, but a Jew is naturally going to look at Jesus 535 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:38,400 Christ differently through the lens of him who was calling 536 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:42,200 himself to be the Messiah, than those who were the Gentiles who 537 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:44,880 wouldn't even have thought about a Messiah because it wasn't even 538 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:48,280 part of the teaching of which they would have had because they 539 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:50,040 weren't familiar with the Old Testament. 540 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,000 Paul at Athens is a. Perfect example of this. 541 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,400 Because he's on Mars Hill and what does he do? 542 00:27:55,480 --> 00:28:00,160 He says there's a tomb here to an unknown God, and he goes on 543 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:02,160 a. Rabbit trail, if you will, a 544 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,360 sanctified. Rabbit trail where he talks 545 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:07,000 about that tomb, the unknown God, and he says there is an 546 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,280 unknown God. You have all this pantheon of 547 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,080 gods out here but you missed one. 548 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:13,800 They don't want to introduce you to him and his name is. 549 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,600 Jesus. This is what he's talking about, 550 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,840 not talking about using the world to win people to Christ. 551 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:21,920 He's saying this. To the Jew. 552 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,160 I want to answer the questions of the. 553 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,320 Jews. In a way where they understand 554 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,920 the gospel. To the proselytes, I want them 555 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:30,720 to understand. To the Gentiles, I want them to 556 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,520 understand. To those who are weak, I want 557 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:34,360 them to understand. To those who are strong, I want 558 00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:36,840 them to understand. But it's not just saying Romans 559 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:42,080 310, Romans 323, Romans 5/8, Romans 10910 and 13. 560 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:43,680 There's nothing wrong with those verses. 561 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,600 They're blessed verses, but what I'm saying. 562 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,240 Is when you. Talk to people, don't just think 563 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:50,760 about the next. Verse on the Romans Rd. 564 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:55,000 Listen to them. Ask them questions. 565 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:01,240 I'm done with religion. Someone might tell you good 566 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,840 answer would be well I am too at least. 567 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:08,560 Dead religion. James chapter 1 talks about pure 568 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:11,280 religion. The only time the word religion, 569 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,720 in my estimation is used in a good way in all of the word of 570 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:15,800 God. But the way that the world looks 571 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:17,240 at religion, I'm done with that too. 572 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:22,000 But if you just quote Romans 310 and Romans 323, reminding them 573 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:26,000 they're a Sinner right that moment, you might have missed 574 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:30,800 the cry of their heart and explain to them the real 575 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,200 relationship with Jesus Christ that's needed. 576 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:35,800 I'm all about memorizing the verses. 577 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,280 I'm all about all those things, but don't get so caught up in 578 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:43,200 the rigidity of trying to quote this verse and that verse that 579 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,000 you're not listening to the Sinner and that you're not 580 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,400 molding your presentation to their very unique questions and 581 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,920 needs. We're not changing the message. 582 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:55,240 Listen. We're not changing the message. 583 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:57,120 Someone cut this and put it online. 584 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,880 We're not changing the message. Wait, I'm the one who would cut 585 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:01,000 it and put it online? So never mind. 586 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,680 I guess that's not that's not as interesting putting it that way, 587 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:09,560 but we are re recognizing that the message should be given to 588 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:13,120 people in a way that answers their very specific questions. 589 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:18,880 Jew proselyte, gentile, weak, strong. 590 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:23,760 Paul says be moldable. Just be moldable about these 591 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,080 things. But then. 592 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:28,040 Excuse me, He also says this letter B. 593 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:39,240 Be methodical, be methodical. Drop down to verse #23 and this. 594 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,280 I do for the gospel's sake. That I might be partaker thereof 595 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:43,800 with you. He does all this for the gospel, 596 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:47,600 not for himself. And we made brief mention of 597 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,640 this last week or several weeks ago now. 598 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:52,840 Know ye not that they would? Run. 599 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:57,040 In a race run, all but one receiveth the prize, so. 600 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:01,720 Run, that ye may obtain, and every man that striveth. 601 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:03,880 For the mastery is temperate in all things. 602 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,080 Now they do it to obtain a. Corruptible crown, but we an 603 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:11,360 incorruptible I therefore so run not as uncertainly, so fight, I 604 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,080 not as one that beateth in the air. 605 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,080 But I keep under the body, my body, and bring it into 606 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:18,600 subjection. Listen by any means when I have 607 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:24,200 preached to others, I myself should be a castaway, Paul says, 608 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:28,600 just as much as he is a servant. He says there's a seriousness 609 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:33,400 that comes with the ministry that God has entrusted all of us 610 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:36,760 with. Myself, but also for you as 611 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,160 well. He says that there are. 612 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:44,480 People who will go to great lengths to be able to win a 613 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,800 prize in a contest that doesn't matter. 614 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:54,120 And he uses 2 words to be able to explain the seriousness of 615 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:55,880 which they have. One is temperance. 616 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:58,880 He says that they're temperate in all things. 617 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,760 What does that mean? That they have made sure that 618 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:04,240 they are not engaging in excesses. 619 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,120 They're going to do exactly. What they need? 620 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,760 How they need it to make sure that they get the prize that 621 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:14,680 they're looking for. But also in verse #27 the word 622 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:18,440 there in the middle of the verse, subjection, bring it into 623 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,760 subjection. What does that mean? 624 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,560 It means that there's no part of the life that is going to. 625 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:29,560 Pull you off the. Course of that which God has put 626 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:34,200 you on that you are in control not those other parts of your 627 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:36,120 life. Now I will say this, you hear 628 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:38,880 the term self-control. Self-control is a myth. 629 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:42,600 Say oh, oh. Pastor, now I know you're 630 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:46,040 cracked up. self-control is a myth. 631 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:49,920 Spirit control is what the Bible teaches. 632 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:52,680 Now the Bible does. Teach us that we have. 633 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:56,360 To make that decision. That we have to decide they use 634 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:58,240 our. Volition to be able to say no, 635 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:01,440 I'm not going to do that, but if you do that without the Spirit's 636 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:04,280 help, it is folly. I've tried to give up. 637 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,280 I've tried to give up this. Vice in my life. 638 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:10,360 Well, you need to stop trying on your own, and with the Lord's 639 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:11,920 help He can give you what you need. 640 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:14,760 He can help you bring it into subjection. 641 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,120 I can't quit drinking well on your own you can't. 642 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:20,920 I can't quit smoking on your own, you can't. 643 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:23,320 I can't. I can't quit the online gambling 644 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,160 on your own, you can't. I can't quit porn on your own. 645 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:28,880 You can't on your own. You can't do any of those 646 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:30,040 things. But it's the spirit. 647 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,240 self-control is a myth on its own. 648 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,760 Again, you have to decide to be able to make those things, but 649 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:39,040 you can't do it on your own. It's the Spirit. 650 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,960 The the Bible says our flesh is weak, but the Spirit's willing. 651 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:46,040 And so he says, there's those two. 652 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:48,360 Things that the world will do I I I made mention. 653 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:49,520 Of this a couple weeks. Ago. 654 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:52,800 But I want to read this. Of course, Tom Brady was the 655 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:56,080 most decorated football player in NFL. 656 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,760 History. This is general routine. 657 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:03,480 Sleep and recovery lights out at 83830 to 9:00 PM. 658 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,680 This is during his playing. Days up at 5:00 to 5:30. 659 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:09,480 He has a bedroom that's cold and dark. 660 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:13,960 Hydration Nutrition 20 ounces of electrolyte water of on. 661 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:18,199 Waking largely, plant forward. Diet 80% vegetables, whole 662 00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:20,760 grains 20% lean protein Little or no? 663 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:22,239 Caffeine, he said. He's never. 664 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,120 Had coffee. And I was like the. 665 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,239 Guy until that, but training and. 666 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,080 Pliability Daily. Soft tissue work. 667 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:33,480 Resistance bands to keep the. Muscles long and soft, mental 668 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:35,280 prep and film front loads opponent. 669 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:38,000 Study early in the week cycles of watching, then sleeping, then 670 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:42,360 watching more video. Flexible realism diet has 671 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:44,639 loosened with age and now retirement. 672 00:34:45,159 --> 00:34:46,679 Now he'll eat. This is a court. 673 00:34:46,679 --> 00:34:48,280 His article. Quality pizza. 674 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:50,880 I don't know what. Quality pizza is I think any 675 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:52,760 pizza is a quality pizza. In my opinion. 676 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:55,840 Quality. Pizza and bacon occasionally. 677 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:58,000 That's what the article says. So his daily. 678 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,000 Routine during his playing days would be something like this 679 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:04,360 5:30 AM wake up hydration. Ritual 6 to 730. 680 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:08,240 Fuel for Performance 7. 30 to 8:00 AM Flexibility. 681 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:11,720 Prep 8. O'clock to 10:00 functional. 682 00:35:11,720 --> 00:35:16,240 Training 9:50. 30 Recovery Integration 6:00 PM, Family 683 00:35:16,240 --> 00:35:20,720 Connection 8:00 PM Evening. Recovery Protocol 830 PMI know 684 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:25,320 the ultimate the the ultimate discipline of going to bed. 685 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:29,480 Early. That's crazy. 686 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:35,640 But it worked. He got. 6. 687 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:38,720 Super Bowl rings out of it could have won nine. 688 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:43,680 I think it was. It worked for what he wanted to 689 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:46,600 do. As I mentioned before, it didn't 690 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:49,760 work to be a family man when you slaughtered 2 hours of family 691 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:52,200 connection time. In you. 692 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:57,160 Start to understand why he had two marriages, but what? 693 00:35:57,160 --> 00:35:59,840 He got what he wanted. Which is this Super Bowl rings 694 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:03,720 and money. You know, there's a word we 695 00:36:03,720 --> 00:36:09,160 could use for that. It's temperance subjection. 696 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:12,400 I'm not going to drink. Coffee. 697 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:17,040 I'm going to measure out my water to the ounce. 698 00:36:18,240 --> 00:36:22,640 I'm going to make sure that my macros are right on to the 699 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:27,200 percentage point because I got to make sure my body is perfect 700 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:30,440 for Sunday. And we can laugh at. 701 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,520 All we want, but he got what he was looking for. 702 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:36,600 But here's what Paul says. Of course, he didn't have 703 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:38,080 football in mind when he was writing this. 704 00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:41,760 He was thinking of the Olympiad, I believe, and the Corinthian 705 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:44,880 Games would have been much like the Olympiad that they would 706 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:48,320 have held in Athens. And so these people would have 707 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:50,520 been very familiar with the imagery that's here. 708 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:52,280 But he says. Look at all. 709 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:55,760 That they will do for something that doesn't matter. 710 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:02,080 He says so how? Much more should I, as a servant 711 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:05,480 of God, make sure that I'm doing what I need to do. 712 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:08,960 Why? Verse 27? 713 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:12,840 I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that by 714 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:16,320 any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a 715 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:20,720 castaway. As a pastor, I have to be very 716 00:37:20,720 --> 00:37:27,120 careful in how I live my life. I'm not perfect, not even close, 717 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:32,280 but I do have to live in a way that's above reproach as best as 718 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:33,160 I can. Why? 719 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:38,640 Because when you hear me preach, you need to be able to focus on 720 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:43,240 what I'm saying and not on those things that made me not above 721 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:48,520 reproach. I can't distract myself, or 722 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:51,760 rather, I can't distract you from the preaching because I 723 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:55,320 have lived in a way that has made me a castaway. 724 00:37:57,240 --> 00:38:01,120 It's a high and holy calling. I'll be honest with you. 725 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:09,840 It weighs on me on days it does. It ought to weigh on you as a 726 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:12,560 pastor. If it doesn't, I wouldn't trust 727 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:14,120 you behind the pulpit to be quite honest with you. 728 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:18,960 But that high and holy calling that Paul is talking about here 729 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:26,280 once again, is not reserved just for me that God calls all of us 730 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:31,760 to be able to do those things. So pastor, I have a job. 731 00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:36,200 Your job is to be a pastor. But I have a job. 732 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:39,760 And that's true. And thank the Lord that you do, 733 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:46,080 but you know, that bonus that you're striving for, or that 734 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:49,440 next account that you're looking for, or the promotion that 735 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:54,000 you're wanting in the light of eternity really won't matter 736 00:38:56,120 --> 00:38:58,600 compared to being involved with the ministry of Jesus. 737 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:03,200 You know, making. Sure that your house is the 738 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:07,320 biggest on the block. Making sure that you have two 739 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:12,800 cars or three cars for the two or three car garage, making sure 740 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,240 that your vacations are bigger and better every year than the 741 00:39:15,240 --> 00:39:18,240 one before. Making sure that you're winning 742 00:39:18,240 --> 00:39:22,120 in life. Don't mean a cent at the 743 00:39:22,120 --> 00:39:25,960 judgment seat of Christ. You know what does? 744 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:28,120 You're going to be faithful to the ministry. 745 00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:32,600 God's called you to that. There's people that you need to 746 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:36,400 reach that by God's grace, only you can reach. 747 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:40,520 You say, well, you're talking like this is serious, pastor, 748 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:46,760 serious. It's almost like we got to give 749 00:39:46,760 --> 00:39:49,880 our life to this. Now you're getting there. 750 00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:52,360 What? Is it? 751 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:54,400 Is it? What are you saying? 752 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:58,960 I mean this seems so extreme. Well, it may just seem extreme 753 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,520 because we don't live it as God intended us to live, and we're 754 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:04,480 so far from it. It just seems extreme that we 755 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:08,120 would live our life that way. But everything within our life 756 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:12,360 should be about this. I'm a minister of the Gospel of 757 00:40:12,440 --> 00:40:16,440 Jesus. Christ say, well, what's what's 758 00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:19,800 my reward then? If that's what you're saying, 759 00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:20,760 then what's? My reward. 760 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:23,480 I think Paul covered that in verse 18. 761 00:40:24,440 --> 00:40:25,880 Well, he said. What is my reward then? 762 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:31,880 Verily then, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of 763 00:40:31,880 --> 00:40:35,360 Christ without charge. That I abuse not my power in the 764 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:37,440 gospel. You remember when we said a few? 765 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:41,000 Weeks ago, basically he's saying there my reward is that. 766 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:44,200 I do get to preach. That's my reward. 767 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:48,000 The. Reward in the Gospel ministry. 768 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:50,600 Is that we're in the gospel ministry. 769 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:54,560 Remember we talked about this. They took the one with a 770 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:56,960 dishonorable discharge and made him commander in chief. 771 00:40:57,960 --> 00:40:59,800 Made the one that guy expelled from the school made him the 772 00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:02,720 principal. And that he would take. 773 00:41:02,720 --> 00:41:07,040 Us who are sins placed Him on the cross and made us 774 00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:10,720 ambassadors for Christ. I'd say that's pretty good 775 00:41:10,720 --> 00:41:13,520 reward right there. Better than anything this world 776 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:15,240 can offer. Certainly a lot more. 777 00:41:15,240 --> 00:41:18,960 Lasting than anything. This world could offer so. 778 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:23,360 As we back. Out as we conclude tonight and 779 00:41:23,360 --> 00:41:25,800 consider Paul's original argument about his character and 780 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:27,720 his honor. There's three. 781 00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:31,400 Things that we have to. Understand a pastor must be 782 00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:34,960 motivated to take care of others, but the church must be 783 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:38,280 motivated to take care of the pastor, a pastor. 784 00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:41,280 Must be motivated properly to reach people for Christ. 785 00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:44,760 But the church must be equally motivated to help him make his 786 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:47,200 time available for that pursuit. The. 787 00:41:48,520 --> 00:41:51,160 Pastor's method should reflect servant leadership. 788 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:57,280 But the church should be willing to serve under the leader that 789 00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:00,960 all of us working together, all of us doing ministry together, 790 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:03,960 can bear great fruit and great results. 791 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:08,280 Not because we're great, but because we serve a great God and 792 00:42:08,280 --> 00:42:11,880 you'll never go wrong being a servant of the gospel of Jesus 793 00:42:11,880 --> 00:42:13,640 Christ. Who did Paul think he was? 794 00:42:14,240 --> 00:42:17,240 Well, a servant, and that was good enough. 795 00:42:18,440 --> 00:42:21,120 Thank you for listening to this sermon from the pulpit of 796 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:24,040 Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 797 00:42:24,040 --> 00:42:27,520 to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 798 00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:32,120 know by contacting us at info@mylibertybaptist.org. 799 00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:36,920 Or you can visit us this Sunday at 800 Washington St. in Easton, 800 00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:39,760 MA. May the Lord bless you as you 801 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:40,960 grow in His Word.