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 --> 00:00:17,120 or contact us at mylibertybaptist.org or just 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,760 look us up on Facebook. And now we hope that this 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,040 message from God's Word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,000 And if you would turn your Bibles to 1st Corinthians 8 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,560 chapter #5 this evening? You'll remember that it was on 9 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,000 Sunday night a couple weeks ago before our missions conference, 10 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,840 we looked at a very difficult text in the Word of God that was 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:40,440 in Second Samuel chapter #13 dealing with Amnon and. 12 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,240 His issue with Tamar, and I don't mean to bring that up 13 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,440 tonight because I'm going to re preach that this evening, but 14 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,640 what I'm saying is we are going to another very difficult 15 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,200 passage of scripture. Now I understand that we have a 16 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,440 lot of young people in here this evening and so I would be very 17 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,520 careful in what I say. And very likely next week we'll 18 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,560 have them out of the room for the message because I do want to 19 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,640 go into the issue in more detail. 20 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,920 So we are going to look at First Corinthians chapter #5 Lord 21 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,320 willing, for the next three weeks as we look at several 22 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:12,640 different around it. But what we are looking is a 23 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,880 very sobering chapter of the Word of God. 24 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,720 And tonight the angle in which we are going to look at this 25 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,560 chapter deals with the issue of church discipline. 26 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:26,680 Church discipline, You might wonder what is that? 27 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,200 What is it not? What does it entail? 28 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,920 Perhaps when you think of the words church discipline, 29 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,280 immediately your mind goes back to those old Catholic days and 30 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,400 you think of the word excommunication. 31 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,280 That could be something that you were thinking. 32 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,720 It could be that your mind goes to a place like Lancaster, PA, 33 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,320 or somewhere around there where the Amish are. 34 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:49,960 And what do you find there? That they have something that's 35 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,080 similar in some ways that they call. 36 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,160 The shunning where some. One that has gone against the 37 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,720 group has to be shunned from the group. 38 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,320 But yet we ask ourselves this question tonight. 39 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,920 What is church discipline? What does it entail? 40 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,560 It's a very serious matter. It should be something that is 41 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,400 very rare within the body of believers, but it is something 42 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:15,760 that the Word of God talks about for us to understand this 43 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:17,480 evening. What is church discipline? 44 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,400 Well, if I was to give it a definition here tonight, very 45 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,120 quickly, it would be this. It is the last resort to turn 46 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:30,200 rebellion into repentance. It is the very last resort to 47 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:35,560 turn rebellion into repentance. It is not excommunication, it is 48 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,440 not shunning, and it may not be what you have seen in other 49 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,880 ministries in the past. You say, what do you mean, 50 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:43,760 pastor? Well, what I'm saying is tonight 51 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,080 we want to look at the biblical nature of what it is, why it was 52 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,720 used in the first place here as Paul talks about it in First 53 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,640 Corinthians chapter #5 and what it relates to us here tonight. 54 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:57,280 So why don't you read along with me? 55 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:00,040 We'll read all 13 verses. We'll do this the next several 56 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,800 weeks to give you the full context of what's going on, the 57 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,280 full gravity and seriousness of what's taking place here. 58 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,480 In First Corinthians chapter #5 it says this. 59 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,080 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, 60 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,520 and such fornication as it is not so much named among the 61 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,000 Gentiles that one should have his father's wife. 62 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,680 You're puffed up and have not rather mourned that he had done 63 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,360 this deed might be taken away from among you. 64 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,720 For I verily is absent in body, but present in spirit. 65 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,520 Have judged already as though I were present concerning him that 66 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,720 hath so done this deep in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 67 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,600 When you are gathered together, and my Spirit, with the power of 68 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,480 our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an 1 unto Satan for 69 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,800 the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in 70 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,040 the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. 71 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,440 Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 72 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,840 Purge out there for the old leaven, that ye may be a new 73 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,840 lump as ye are unleavened. For even Christ. 74 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,360 Our Passover is sacrificed for us. 75 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,160 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither 76 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,760 with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the 77 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,000 unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 78 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,480 I wrote unto you an epistle not to company with fornicators, yet 79 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,400 not all together with the fornicators of this world, or 80 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,480 with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters. 81 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,080 For then you mice needs go out of the world. 82 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,680 But now I have written unto you not to keep company. 83 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,720 If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or 84 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,960 covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an 85 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,360 extortioner, with such an one know not to eat. 86 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,840 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? 87 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,760 Do not you judge them that are within, but them that are 88 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,760 without? God judges therefore put away 89 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,040 from among yourselves that wicked person. 90 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,280 And although you may not see the phrase church discipline here in 91 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,400 First Corinthians chapter #5 there's no doubt in my mind that 92 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,760 the principle of it is found all throughout this chapter as deals 93 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:12,400 with this very, very difficult, very, very sinful situation that 94 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,600 has been allowed to take place in the Church of Corinth. 95 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,800 And has not just been allowed to take place in the Church of 96 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,680 Corinth, but they're actually proud of the fact that has taken 97 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,840 place within their own ranks. There was a Puritan preacher of 98 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:30,520 yesteryear named Daniel Cadre and Daniel Cadre said this. 99 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,240 If there were never so fair a garden planted and left without 100 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,760 a fence, its herbs and plants would soon be rooted up. 101 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:39,800 So it is in a. Church where? 102 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:41,920 Discipline. Is lacking. 103 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,560 What do we see? Well the church is a very 104 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,600 special place, isn't it? The church, not just Liberty 105 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,880 Baptist Church and I believe Liberty Baptist Church is a very 106 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,080 special place, but any church that names the name of Jesus 107 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,440 Christ, any church that preaches the truth of the word of God is 108 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,600 a very, very special place. Why? 109 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:04,120 Because Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for that church to be 110 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,360 able to be there. You say, well I thought it was 111 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,800 that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. 112 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,440 Well, that is true, but we also seen Ephesians chapter #5 that 113 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,040 Christ gave himself for the church, that it wasn't just that 114 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,480 He gave himself for us. Yes, that is very much true. 115 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,280 And if that alone is the truth, then that would be a blessed 116 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:23,520 truth. But even more beyond that is 117 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,280 that Jesus died not just so that you could be saved, but also 118 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:31,160 that you could be saved and be part of His institution, which 119 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,640 is called the church. Listen, church discipline isn't 120 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,280 palatable to many, and it's understandable. 121 00:06:37,280 --> 00:06:39,560 Some of you might even be getting nervous here tonight. 122 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,680 You're clenching your bodies there wondering is, is this your 123 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,880 way of saying we're going to have church discipline at the 124 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:49,320 end of the service here tonight? And the answer is no, it is not. 125 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,240 It just happens to be the very next thing that we see here in 126 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,120 the Word of God. We've gone from chapter to 127 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,600 chapter, verse to verse. We're in First Corinthians 128 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,520 chapter #5 we're not going to skip over it because it's 129 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:05,200 something that is unpalatable to our senses because this is God's 130 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,280 church. We've said this before because 131 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:09,280 this is God's church. It's God's. 132 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:13,400 Rules that make up God's church. We don't get to decide what the 133 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,160 church is. We don't get to decide what the 134 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,840 rule book is, so to speak, of the church. 135 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,440 Listen, this is the rule book. This is what decides what takes 136 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,560 place and what does not take place within his church. 137 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,880 It's God's Word, it's God's church. 138 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,600 We are God's people. We must do what He says that we 139 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,960 are to do. We must not do the things He 140 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:38,320 says we are not to do. This is his church and not ours. 141 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:40,600 He is the one who tells us how to act. 142 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,960 He's the one who tells us how we are supposed to act. 143 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaking of Ephesians. Chapter 5, right before that 144 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,520 verse I just mentioned. Verses 8 through 11 says this. 145 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,520 For ye were that word were is a verb. 146 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,520 What kind of verb? A verb in the past. 147 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,880 Ye. Were what sometimes darkness, 148 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:05,680 but now are ye light in the Lord walk as children of light for 149 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,240 the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness 150 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,320 and truth, proving what is acceptable into the Lord and 151 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:15,640 have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, 152 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:19,160 but rather reprove them. Meaning this don't approve 153 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,960 unfruitful works of darkness, but reprove them. 154 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,600 Rebuke them, say I don't want them to be part of my life. 155 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:29,360 And listen, we don't want them to be part of the church either, 156 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,000 Pastor. So what you're? 157 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,600 Saying is this church has got to be made-up of perfect people. 158 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,640 Listen, if this church is made-up of perfect people, this 159 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,120 building will be empty tonight. Do you understand that from the 160 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,800 pastor to everyone who's sitting here, we are not perfect. 161 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,680 You won't be perfect until you get to glory. 162 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,720 He's still working on us. But listen, that doesn't mean we 163 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,280 get to say, Oh well, I'm not perfect, I'll live however I 164 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,480 want. No, no, we are to reprove those 165 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,360 works of darkness. Listen that he saved us from 166 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,640 we're not to go back to the through of which we fed from 167 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,680 before like the prodigal who is eating of the slop. 168 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,440 No, no, we have a new father, we have a new master. 169 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,400 We have a new way of living. And he says don't live that way, 170 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,240 don't act that way. You're a child of the king. 171 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,960 But listen, it's not just. That God tells us how we're to 172 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,160 act. Listen, He tells pastors how 173 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,920 they're supposed to act, too. I don't get to be a free agent 174 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,240 as a pastor in the sense that I get to lead Liberty Baptist 175 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,160 Church in the way that I see fit. 176 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,800 Now, do I have some autonomy in places where the Word of God 177 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,080 does not? Speak yes, as long as I do not 178 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,680 violate the word of God. However, I got to do what the 179 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:44,200 word of God says. I'm going to preach the Word. 180 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,920 I've got to make sure I oversee the flock properly. 181 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:51,480 It says in Acts 2028. Take heed therefore unto 182 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,320 yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost has 183 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,200 made you overseers. Paul's talking to a group of the 184 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,480 elders in Acts chapter 20. He's in Ephesus. 185 00:10:00,680 --> 00:10:02,240 He's never going to come back again. 186 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,960 He knows in his heart he's about to go bound in the Spirit to 187 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:06,880 Jerusalem. He's never going to see these 188 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:08,320 men again. And he says this. 189 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:12,320 Understand that you are overseers of the Church of God, 190 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,880 the Holy Spirit here. It has made you the overseer. 191 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,560 And he says to feed the Church of God, which he had purchased 192 00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:23,360 with his own blood. His blood was shed for you, His 193 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:28,480 blood was shed for the church. So I must, as an overseer, do 194 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:32,200 what I must do to be the overseer that God wants me to 195 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,240 be. So as we look at this issue of 196 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,840 church discipline, there's several things I want us to look 197 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:37,960 at. You can write these down in your 198 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:39,600 prayer bulletin. The first is this. 199 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,280 I want us to see the reasons for church discipline. 200 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:44,440 The reasons for church discipline. 201 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,040 Verse #1 says this. It is reported commonly. 202 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:49,800 What does that word commonly mean? 203 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,160 This is a very public matter what is being discussed. 204 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,760 And again, I'm going to be very careful in how I discussed this 205 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:57,720 this evening. If you're not sure exactly 206 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,920 what's going on here, we'll explain it more specificity next 207 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,960 week when I don't necessarily have to talk in the way I am 208 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:05,720 tonight with the young people here. 209 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,760 But I think as an adult here this evening, you can read this 210 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,680 and say this isn't good. This is not activity which 211 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:14,520 should be taking place inside of a church. 212 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:17,200 And not only is an activity that is taking place inside of the 213 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,120 church with a man and a woman, it is the issue of the fact that 214 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,280 it is commonly reported. Everybody knows about it. 215 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,840 They are talking about it. It is a subject of conversation 216 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,240 within the church that there is this impurity among you. 217 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:36,080 And then it says this, and it's not so much as named among the 218 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,920 Gentiles. Now understand this, the 219 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,040 Gentiles were very sinful people. 220 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,840 The Gentiles were very much involved with the sins of the 221 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:48,960 flesh. I have quotes here tonight. 222 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,840 I will save them for next week. But I will tell you this, that 223 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,280 the Greeks, the Gentiles, the Romans, of course, Greeks and 224 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:59,120 Romans fall under the umbrella of Gentiles, but specifically 225 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:04,760 those of the Greek and Roman cultures of which Corinth was a 226 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:06,920 mixture of both of those being in Greece. 227 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:10,760 But yet under the Roman occupation that there was no 228 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,880 problem in Corinth to be able to do whatever you wanted to 229 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,240 physically. There was no thought about it. 230 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,520 In fact, there was really no stigma whatsoever. 231 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:25,360 Remember that there was that great temple to Diana and that 232 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,520 there was that great temple that was there. 233 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,200 And in that temple, I'm sorry, not to Diana, to Aphrodite, 234 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,040 there was that great temple that was there. 235 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:37,200 Diana was in Ephesus and there and in that were all of these 236 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:41,840 temple prostitutes and people from all over the world, men, 237 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,080 sailors from all over the world, where they would come to Corinth 238 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,320 to be able to indulge themselves. 239 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,760 And this was commonplace. But here's what Paul's saying. 240 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:56,640 Even the Gentiles would say what you're doing is wrong. 241 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,000 What you are tolerating within the church. 242 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,880 Even the Gentiles who have no problem with this such thing 243 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,440 would say this is a bridge too far. 244 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,480 Paul says, don't you understand what's going on among you? 245 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,720 And here's the problem. It's not just the fact that this 246 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,680 gentleman is engaged in this activity. 247 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,320 By the way, he was no gentleman, but he was engaged in this 248 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,480 activity with a woman that seems to be not part of the church 249 00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:26,800 from how this is phrased here in this chapter. 250 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,760 But it was the fact that they were puffed up about it. 251 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,160 Look at verse #2 ye are puffed up and not have rather mourned. 252 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:38,400 Look at what it says in verse 6. Your glorying is not good. 253 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,280 They were puffed up about it. They were glorying in it. 254 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,440 What were they doing? Well, they had to have been of 255 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,160 this nature that they were saying something along these 256 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,120 lines. Aren't we a really open minded 257 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,720 people? Isn't it great that we are so 258 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,520 tolerant? Does that sound familiar to 259 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,360 anybody's culture today? Isn't it just great to be 260 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,680 tolerant? Isn't it just great to just, 261 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:05,200 hey, whoever you want to love, however you want to love him? 262 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,880 Listen, it's completely and totally up to you. 263 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:10,720 Now again, I want to be very careful how I say this tonight 264 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,840 so it doesn't come across as being insensitive, but I have to 265 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,080 be clear about what the Word of God says tonight. 266 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,720 God is the one who decides what love is, not man. 267 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:24,600 God has decided in His Word what is love and what is lust. 268 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,080 We looked at 2nd Samuel 13 a few weeks ago. 269 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,560 There's this man Amnon who was vexed. 270 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,680 This man Amnon who had this burning desire within him. 271 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,200 He called it love. The Bible called it lust, He 272 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,960 called it love. The Bible called it absolute and 273 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:43,160 utter grotesqueness that there was nothing loving about it. 274 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:47,520 No, mankind does not get to decide for itself, for himself 275 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,000 what love is, just as much as this is His church and He 276 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,640 decides what activity is here and not. 277 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,480 We don't get to decide what love is. 278 00:14:56,480 --> 00:15:00,560 Listen, He decides, has decided, He has shown it to us. 279 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:04,400 Greater love hath no man than this man lay down his life for 280 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:05,800 his friends. Romans chapter 5. 281 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,720 He is the living example of love. 282 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:11,760 We cannot sully love by trying to put our own definition or our 283 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,360 own spin on it. And we expect the world to do 284 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,240 that. But here's the problem. 285 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,000 It's happening right here in the church, and they're proud of it. 286 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,240 They're proud of it. This is a problem. 287 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,040 What are we going to do? Well, it's just about being 288 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,360 tolerant. Pastor, let me ask you this. 289 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,160 Should you be tolerant of an infection? 290 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,200 Would you ever be tolerant of cancer? 291 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:41,680 Well, I know the cancer cells are within me, but I'm just 292 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:44,880 really a tolerant person. That's foolishness. 293 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:47,920 That's falling. Sin is the infection. 294 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,560 Sin is cancerous, You say? Well, why would you make that 295 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,400 assumption? Well, because the Word of God 296 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:58,720 says it. Your glory is not good. 297 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:02,080 Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 298 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,040 Now, I don't know if you've ever made bread before. 299 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:09,440 I I love Kaylee making bread. I love Diane making bread. 300 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:14,360 I really love eating bread. If I ever had to go gluten free, 301 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,880 like if I end up having a gluten intolerance, I'll be just like, 302 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,160 Lord, take me now. I don't know what I would do. 303 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,240 I really don't know what I would do. 304 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,800 But it's amazing to me how you can have just that little ball 305 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:29,040 of dough and put just a little leaven inside of it and what 306 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,440 happens? Put in a dark place, a little 307 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:36,720 bit warm, and over a period of just a few minutes, what it do? 308 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:41,400 It'll rise up, won't it? You punch it down, you cover it 309 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,360 up, and it does it again, over and over again. 310 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,640 Do you know why we can't be tolerant of sin in a church 311 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:48,720 setting? Why? 312 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,520 Why can't we just be tolerant? Just let everybody do what they 313 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,440 want to do as long as they believe in Jesus? 314 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,840 Do you know why a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump when 315 00:16:57,840 --> 00:16:59,560 it's allowed to remain unchecked? 316 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,600 Nobody is unscathed. By the way, that may be true to 317 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,119 church. That's true to life as well. 318 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,280 Well, I mean, pastor, it's not really a big deal. 319 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:12,440 It's a it's a small sin. Listen, we don't register sins 320 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,359 by how small or how big they are. 321 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:16,319 Sin is a transgression against God. 322 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,800 And little sins don't just turn into big sins. 323 00:17:20,079 --> 00:17:23,640 Little sins unconfessed can turn into any sin. 324 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,160 Did you get that? Little sins unconfessed can turn 325 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:32,360 into any sin. People don't typically go to do 326 00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:35,720 some of the things that an Amnon and a Tamar or an Amnon did with 327 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,520 Tamar rather or this man did here in First Corinthians 328 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:40,880 chapter 5. They don't do that without. 329 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:44,520 Their going through a lot of speed bumps and going through a 330 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,000 lot of barriers that God tries to put in their place. 331 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,080 And instead of slowing down and repenting, what do they do? 332 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,120 They hit the gas. So when you have an unrepentant 333 00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:55,040 heart, what happens? There's really no barrier. 334 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,480 Well, I wouldn't go that far. Well, if you're unrepentant, 335 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,600 don't say how far you wouldn't go, because you don't know the 336 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,800 total depravity of your flesh and what you will be do and what 337 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,200 you will be willing to do if you refuse to repent. 338 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,120 So there's some reasons for church discipline. 339 00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:13,240 What is it that there is a sin? That has been allowed to fester 340 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,040 within the church. It's publicly known. 341 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,480 Now you say this little pastor, that means if everyone sins in 342 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,800 the church, everyone has to be brought before the church and 343 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,200 church discipline. And the answer to that is 344 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,600 absolutely not for several reasons. 345 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:26,720 One, this is not a private. Sin. 346 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,400 Typically, private sins are handled privately. 347 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:33,360 Public sins are handled publicly because if they are not 348 00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:37,240 acknowledged, again, not in a way that is just trying to get a 349 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,640 pound of flesh from someone, not trying to make a spectacle of 350 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:44,240 someone, but just so the church knows that sin cannot be 351 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:48,000 tolerated in a very public way. And by the way, may I remind you 352 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,120 again, this is not the first thing that's done. 353 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:54,600 It is the last resort to turn rebellion into repentance. 354 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,240 It is the very last thing to be done. 355 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,960 Not the very first thing. We'll see that in just a moment. 356 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,400 By the way, when it comes to pastors, the standard's a little 357 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,960 bit different. When it comes to pastors, the 358 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,560 standard's a little bit higher. What does that mean? 359 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,000 Well, they're going to be private things within my own 360 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:19,080 life that if I was a violation of first Timothy chapter #3 361 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,280 Titus chapter one, that it would be likely that I would have to 362 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,840 go before the church. And to be able to tell someone 363 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,560 that I was disqualified from being a pastor, say, well, if 364 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,400 it's private, it needs rare. But I wouldn't be able to stand 365 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,040 behind this desk and preach the word of God. 366 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:35,920 I'm not saying that would be something that would take place 367 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,520 forever, but it would have to be something that would be dealt 368 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,160 with. And so pastorally, there is a 369 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,400 little bit of a different issue because of the very specific 370 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,680 requirements of First Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter one 371 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,640 in the life of a pastor. But typically private sins are 372 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,680 dealt with privately and public sins, things that were done in 373 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:56,280 front of all that would be done, dealt with publicly if it could 374 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:00,280 not be dealt with any other way. So what's the road map for 375 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,320 church discipline? Well, that's number two this 376 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,680 evening, the road map for church discipline. 377 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,320 It's a very serious thing. What is it not? 378 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:09,800 Well, as I mentioned a few moments ago, it's not almost 379 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:12,080 shunning. There was a woman from the 380 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,960 Western Michigan University named Jessica Sullivan who said 381 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:18,120 this about Amish shunning. Shunning in Amish society is a 382 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:21,880 type of solitary confinement from friends and family in an 383 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,560 attempt to purify and preserve the Amish faith. 384 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,000 Shunning is often applied then to members of the community who 385 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,680 refused to join the church through baptism, which is 386 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,640 interpreted as a rejection of the community. 387 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,400 It may also be applied to those who have been baptized into the 388 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,840 church but lost their way. Also at risk are those that do 389 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,920 not respect the decision to shun others which are most often 390 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,520 immediate family members of a shunned individuals. 391 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,880 So understand this that if someone is shunned in the Amisha 392 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,760 community, no one can do business with them, no one can 393 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,840 talk to them, no one can have them in their home. 394 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,640 And if that is your family member who has been shunned by 395 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,520 the community and you have. Harbored them in any way, shape 396 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,560 or form, then you will also be shunned as well. 397 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:11,160 Can I tell you that while the Amish would look at that and say 398 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,560 that that is biblical and that is the way that things should be 399 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,800 done, there is nothing biblical about Amish shunning. 400 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:22,520 While certainly it is important that there is some place, some 401 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,520 things that are in place, and we'll look at these in just a 402 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:27,440 moment, but Amish shunning is not what we're talking about. 403 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:29,440 When the Bible talks about church discipline. 404 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,360 It's not excommunication. I mentioned this a few moments 405 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:34,200 ago as well. Well, why is it not 406 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,600 excommunication? Excommunication is when someone 407 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:39,800 has been withheld of the sacraments. 408 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,480 If you're excommunicated, that doesn't just mean you cannot 409 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,640 come to church anymore. It literally means this. 410 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:46,560 You can no longer receive the sacraments. 411 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:48,840 You can no longer have the Lord's Supper. 412 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:50,480 You can no longer go to confession. 413 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,960 Well, what does that mean? Literally, the Catholic Church 414 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:55,560 is withholding salvation from you. 415 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:58,680 You'll understand that's what's being done because if you can't 416 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,320 have the sacraments, remember we don't call baptism in the Lord's 417 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,360 Supper sacraments as Baptist. We call them ordinances because 418 00:22:04,360 --> 00:22:07,320 they are not salvation giving ordinances. 419 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:08,640 What are they? They're just simply an 420 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:10,000 ordinance. There's something that we do in 421 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:12,280 the church that we've been commanded to do, but they don't 422 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:14,920 give salvation. If you are being withheld from 423 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:18,600 those things, what is it saying? You cannot be saved until you 424 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,600 bow the knee, not to God, but to the Catholic Church. 425 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,720 That was never so vivid as it was in 1077, when, during the 426 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:32,240 Investiture Controversy, Pope Gregory the 7th excommunicated 427 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,880 King Henry the 4th for defying papal authority over appointing 428 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,000 bishops to have the excommunication lifted. 429 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:43,920 King Henry the 4th famously traveled in winter to Canosa 430 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,840 Castle in northern Italy, where the Pope was staying. 431 00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:52,000 The Pope had him stand outside, barefoot in the snow. 432 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:58,120 For three days, dressed in penitential clothing, seeking 433 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:00,920 forgiveness. It was only at that time that 434 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,080 Gregory eventually lifted the excommunication. 435 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,920 Say, why would someone stand in the snow for three days? 436 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,040 Well, if you thought you were going to lose your chance at 437 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:16,240 eternal life, you do it too. Church discipline is not. 438 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,160 Text communication. Remember, church discipline is 439 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,600 the true last resort to turn rebellion into repentance. 440 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,000 It's not worth holding eternal life. 441 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,520 It's not meant to be punitive or hurting someone for the 442 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:32,000 satisfaction of hurting someone just to get your pound of flesh. 443 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,960 As I mentioned a few minutes ago, it's not to hold someone up 444 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,640 in front of the church and point at them and laugh at them and 445 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:39,360 mock at them. Listen, it's something that is 446 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:42,680 done with a heavy heart. Can it be done the wrong way? 447 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:44,880 Absolutely. Can disciplining a child be done 448 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,160 the wrong way? You better believe. 449 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:48,840 It. But does that mean a child 450 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,800 shouldn't be disciplined? Can church discipline be done 451 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,520 wrong? It can, It has, and some of you 452 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:57,320 may even have witnessed it in the past. 453 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,000 But that doesn't. Mean it's wrong if it's done 454 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,280 with the right heart. Warren Weirsby said this about 455 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:06,480 church discipline. Church discipline is not a group 456 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,040 of pious policemen out to catch a criminal. 457 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,680 Rather, it's a group of broken hearted brothers and sisters 458 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:16,440 seeking to restore an erring member of the family. 459 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,480 See, the issue is not this. It's not about how quick can we 460 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,160 get them out the door. The issue is this. 461 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:26,760 How quick can we see that we can try to do everything we can to 462 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:30,320 get them right with God? Not how quick can we get them 463 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,880 out the door and hope we never see him again, but how quick can 464 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,360 we try to help them to get them right with God? 465 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:40,760 Now, what does it look like? Well, Matthew 18 gives us the 466 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,040 procedure to follow. We turn to Matthew chapter 18 467 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:44,960 very quickly. Matthew chapter 18, we'll look 468 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:52,610 at verse 15. It's heavy stuff tonight. 469 00:24:52,610 --> 00:24:55,610 I understand that I don't have a Tennessee accent. 470 00:24:55,610 --> 00:24:56,530 You know, I don't have any of that. 471 00:24:56,810 --> 00:24:58,610 All right, that's I'll throw one of those in there tonight. 472 00:24:58,610 --> 00:25:00,410 You know, I can't do any of that stuff. 473 00:25:00,450 --> 00:25:01,730 Actually, AJ is not in here right now. 474 00:25:01,730 --> 00:25:06,880 So we're good. All right, one time I was 475 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:08,360 sitting in the back with him. I don't get to sit with my 476 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:10,800 family during church very often, but it was nice to be able to 477 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:12,760 sit with my family during missions conferences last week. 478 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,520 And there was one time Brother Abel said something along the 479 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,800 lines of, you know, Bream Baptist Church has painted 36 480 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,760 churches over the years, the 60 years they've been there. 481 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,040 And AJ, unrelated, just made a lot of noise. 482 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,800 I don't know what he was doing, but unrelated, he said 36 years, 483 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,960 you know, 36 churches and and he's sitting in the back goes 484 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,760 like that, like big deal. You know, it's like, I mean, 485 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:35,440 that is a big deal. All right, we missing something. 486 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:39,040 There's a battery going. All right, Matthew chapter 18 is 487 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:40,600 where we are. Let's just get right back to it. 488 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,480 Matthew 18, look at verse #15 here's what we see. 489 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,320 Moreover. If thy brother shall trespass 490 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:49,640 against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him 491 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:51,920 alone. If he shall hear thee, thou hast 492 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:55,000 came to brother. If someone is found to be within 493 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,760 a fault, what do you do? You go to them personally and 494 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,680 you go to them privately and you say this is something that I've 495 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:04,000 seen in your life. This is something that that I've 496 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,160 noticed and as a brother in Christ, as a sister in Christ. 497 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,200 Who? Loves you who just wants to 498 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:13,040 bring this to your attention, not as being a pious policeman 499 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,200 as Weirsby said, but just as someone who loves you. 500 00:26:15,360 --> 00:26:18,120 James Chapter 5 trying to restore a brother. 501 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:21,520 This is what I see in you and you pray that that will be it. 502 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:26,600 And by the way, 90% of times I have found in church life that 503 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,600 step #1 handles everything if you're willing to go to someone 504 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,520 with humility. And by the way, you kind of had 505 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:34,800 to step out of your comfort zone a little bit to do that, don't 506 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,400 you? But to be able to do that takes 507 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,560 care of it. But if that doesn't work, going 508 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:45,240 to them separately #2 you got to go to them with some support. 509 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:47,080 Look at what it says. But if he will not hear thee, 510 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:50,160 then take with thee one or two more then the mouth of two or 511 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:52,400 three witnesses. Every word may be established 512 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,160 and that were every word being established is important goes 513 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:56,640 all the way back to the Old Testament. 514 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,640 It's why they tried to find 2 witnesses to be able to talk 515 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,520 against Jesus Christ and say that he was blaspheming because 516 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,720 of this idea of the Jewish law of having two or three 517 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:08,920 witnesses. But the idea here is this. 518 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,040 Jesus says if you go to him and that doesn't work, bring some 519 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,520 guys along with you, bring someone else and talk to you, 520 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:14,640 say pastor. If you've ever had to do this 521 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,000 before, unfortunately I have. There have been times in the 522 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:19,760 past where having a conversation with someone is a pastor was 523 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,040 ineffective. And I brought the trustees or I 524 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,160 brought some trusted men to be able to talk to that man, to be 525 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,880 able to talk to that family. And in those situations, you 526 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,760 pray that whatever it is is able to be resolved. 527 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:32,920 But first you go to them separate, then you go to them 528 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:34,720 with support. But if that doesn't work, the 529 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,640 number three, look at this. And if we shall neglect, if he 530 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:41,440 shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church. 531 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,240 But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as 532 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:48,400 a heathen man and a public and meaning this there may be a 533 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,000 point for his own sake. You have to bring this before 534 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,440 the body and if he doesn't listen to the body. 535 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:58,520 If a church again, not saying we're accusing you this. 536 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,000 This is we're pressing charges against you. 537 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:05,520 We want to find you guilty so we can get you out saying we want 538 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:09,000 to tell you we're begging you. We want you to get right. 539 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:11,680 We're begging you. We want you to make this right. 540 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,360 And if they still rebel against the love of the church, then the 541 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:17,520 Bible says that they are to be removed from the body. 542 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,600 Now what happens? It says, verse #18 verily I say 543 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,640 unto you, whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in 544 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:26,240 heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed 545 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:27,720 in heaven. Listen what that saying is. 546 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:30,600 God has given His church authority to make these 547 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,240 decisions. As long as they follow His 548 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,440 precepts and principles, they cannot go rogue. 549 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:39,440 They cannot go their own way. As long as they follow what God 550 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:43,240 says in His Word, then yes, the church has the authority to be 551 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,760 able to do this. Listen, you say I don't think 552 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,880 this is right, Pastor. Well, understand this is 553 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:51,800 something that doesn't take place often. 554 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,440 By God's grace, we pray it never takes place at Liberty Baptist 555 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:58,080 Church. In 12 years, it has never taken 556 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:01,320 place at Liberty Baptist Church. We've gone to people with step 557 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,680 number one. We've gone to people with step 558 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:07,680 #2 but often times really this, these kind of issues can only be 559 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,960 handled 3 different ways. One, we pray for repentance. 560 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,240 We pray for repentance. We want that person to get 561 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:15,760 right. This is not an opportunity for 562 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:17,680 the pastor to say, you know, I never wanted that person around 563 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:21,680 here anyway. This is not a vehicle for the 564 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,840 pastor to be able to kick people out of the church. 565 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,800 We pray for repentance. Second, it could lead to 566 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,520 resignation. Several times I've talked with 567 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:34,240 people in step #2 and they refuse to be able to get right. 568 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,640 And they say this, I don't want to go before the church. 569 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,000 I'm not going to listen to the church, so I don't want to be 570 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,640 part of your church anymore. And they willingly and 571 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:43,280 voluntarily resign their membership. 572 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:48,080 Or third, they have to be brought before the church and to 573 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:50,320 be removed. Can I be honest with you? 574 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:53,240 I hope I never have to go to step three. 575 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,840 I pray that in my ministry I never have to be able to see. 576 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:02,880 But I will say this have to be willing to follow what God says 577 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:08,760 if the situation arises and not to do what man does, which is 578 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,520 just to run. We don't want to deal with it, 579 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:12,400 but. You say well. 580 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,520 I don't feel like this is right, Pastor. 581 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:15,760 I don't feel like this is something. 582 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,280 That we should be a part of. But understand if you are a 583 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:22,960 member of something, there are always rules and rights and 584 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,400 responsibilities. There always are. 585 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,040 If you're a member of a church, there are rules, there are 586 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:30,080 rights and their responsibilities. 587 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,880 Listen, we know this in life. If you're a member of a gym. 588 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,160 There are rules. You can't just go in and do 589 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:37,960 whatever you want. I'm, I'm a member of Planet 590 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:39,640 Fitness. I went there once, I think like 591 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,000 6 or 8 months ago. I'm a member of Planet Fitness. 592 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,800 You know what you can't do? You can't yell and scream when 593 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:46,360 you are trying to lift the weights. 594 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,840 There's an alarm that will go off inside if you yell too much 595 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:52,160 inside the gym. Now, that's no, the only time 596 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:53,840 I'd be yelling is if I hurt myself. 597 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:56,360 All right? But listen, there's rules, 598 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:58,480 there's rights. I can use any equipment I want. 599 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:00,760 There's responsibilities I need to clean up after myself. 600 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:04,920 We understand that when it comes to the gym, there are rules and 601 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,800 rights and responsibilities. If you're a member of a club, we 602 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:09,680 know this. If you're a member of a board, 603 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:11,760 there's rules, there's rights and responsibilities. 604 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:16,360 Listen, if you if you go to the library, there's rules and 605 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:17,920 rights and responsibilities. You know how I know that? 606 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,800 Because it seems like every few months we have fines at the 607 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:24,160 library because we either lose. Books. 608 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,080 Or bring them late or whatever it is. 609 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:30,440 There's responsibilities. Why is it that there are people 610 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:34,560 who think that every facet of this world has rules and rights 611 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:38,920 and responsibilities, but you can do or say or act however you 612 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:41,760 want within God's church? For that's crazy. 613 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,480 That is absolutely insane that someone would think that they 614 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,880 could run roughshod over God's church. 615 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,000 Well, I'll act how I want. The Bible says judge not. 616 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:54,440 Well, listen, the Bible says judge not if you want to take a 617 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:59,320 big red marker and just do this all over the Bible because it 618 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:01,200 also says this judge, righteous judgment. 619 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:03,760 Paul says this. I'm not even with you right now, 620 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:05,120 but what do you say? I'm judging. 621 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:07,600 Where I'm at, I got to judge this. 622 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,120 Where I'm at, you have not used your judgment. 623 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:12,840 You're puffed up. I've got to judge and you got to 624 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:14,240 take care of it when you get there. 625 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:17,400 Listen, if you don't judge between what's sin and what's 626 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:21,320 righteousness, you're a fool. I'm not trying to talk tough. 627 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,880 I'm really just trying to be serious. 628 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,440 Well, I'm not going to judge between what's righteous and 629 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:27,720 unrighteous. I'm just going to live my life. 630 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:30,600 That's foolish talk, and we've got to be the. 631 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:34,600 Same way in the church. Now listen, you better whatever 632 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,720 effort you put in looking what other people are doing. 633 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:39,920 What does the Bible say? You better be putting equal, 634 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:42,520 greater effort into your own life. 635 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:47,160 For every finger that's pointing out, three fingers are pointing 636 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:48,240 back. Remember, unless you're doing 637 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:49,880 this and then you can point to people however you want. 638 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:53,240 But but what I'm saying is that typically, what do we know? 639 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:56,360 Listen, whatever you do, you better judge righteous judgment, 640 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:58,920 which means your. Heart's got to be right that 641 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:02,480 it's not about I'm going to take this guy out, we're going to 642 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:06,360 take this woman out. It's and my heart breaks. 643 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:08,720 I want them to get right with God. 644 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,240 We're going to do everything we can to make sure that they do. 645 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:16,280 What's the church's reaction to discipline? 646 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:19,600 Let's look at this. Even if it seems unpalatable, 647 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:23,000 it's important as a church that we're willing to participate. 648 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:25,840 What's the reaction? Well, first of all, what's the 649 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:28,600 reaction of the church? There's three things that the 650 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:30,280 church needs to do. You can write these down. 651 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:31,880 They're not in your outline, but you write these down. 652 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,360 First of all, there needs to be participation in church 653 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:37,240 discipline being this. Who's involved with that? 654 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:39,760 The church. Well, pastor, you take care of 655 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:40,880 it. You can you see by. 656 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:44,640 The third part, the separate supported and then shared the 657 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:46,360 pastor's already been through the 1st 2. 658 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,400 It's the church that needs to gather together. 659 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:52,280 It's the church that the one that says we're not going to be 660 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:55,120 puffed up. In fact, what did say you were 661 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,800 puffed up and you're not mourning what? 662 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,200 What's our heart position? We're mourning over this. 663 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:04,480 Our hearts hurt. Our hearts are so heavy over 664 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,440 what this is. What should the church do? 665 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:08,000 They need to participate in church discipline. 666 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,000 Secondly, pray for the one who is disciplined. 667 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:13,760 That person ought to move right up to near the top of your 668 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,239 prayer list. Pray for them daily. 669 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:18,280 Pray for them whenever they come to mind. 670 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:21,760 Pray for them that they would listen to what the Lord is doing 671 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:23,719 in their life. You say, well, why do we have to 672 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:25,960 remove them? Because they need to have every 673 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:29,199 safety net removed for them. In fact, it says, if you go back 674 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:33,480 to First Corinthians chapter #5 it says that you do so because 675 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:36,320 they are being delivered their flesh to Satan. 676 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:38,960 Basically the idea is this. You are on your own. 677 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:42,639 So they realize I don't want. To be on my own, I need the 678 00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:47,000 Lord, I need his church so that that person can be saved. 679 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,639 Not that they were going to fall away and lose their salvation, 680 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:52,719 but the idea is, is as they can get back into a right 681 00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:56,679 relationship with God, we're to participate, we're to pray, but 682 00:34:56,679 --> 00:34:59,280 also we're to persuade the one who's disciplined. 683 00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:04,120 Listen, I've seen churches, when someone's in a church 684 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:06,040 discipline, the pastor says this, don't talk to him. 685 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:08,960 Don't have them over to your house. 686 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:14,280 Don't fellowship with him. And then if someone does, the 687 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:19,360 pastor will put the same curse, if you will, on the people who 688 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:23,840 decided to fellowship with them. First Corinthians chapter 5 says 689 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:25,560 this near the end of the chapter. 690 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:27,440 It says it says not to eat with them. 691 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,040 But I will say this. I believe that's really talking 692 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:35,200 about in First Corinthians chapter #11 the Lord's Supper. 693 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:37,960 It says don't keep company with them. 694 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:41,800 It says that twice for that company means this, to be mixed 695 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:45,400 together mean this, that if they're going to persuade you, 696 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:49,080 you need to cut off ties. But if you see them at the 697 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:50,520 grocery store, don't pretend you didn't see them. 698 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:54,320 Don't. If they're your family member, 699 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:59,080 have them over for supper. Don't cut them out of your life. 700 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:01,080 Listen. They need somebody who's willing 701 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:04,440 to be strong in their life to be able to do so. 702 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:06,200 Now listen. If they're your best friend, 703 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:09,680 there's going to be a string. There's going to be, but that 704 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:11,080 doesn't mean you never talked to him again. 705 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,360 The Bible does make clear that we need to cut ties in certain 706 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:17,520 ways, but that doesn't mean that we just pretend like they don't 707 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:18,920 exist. Listen, if they want to get 708 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:20,560 right with the Lord, they need to know they can find you. 709 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:23,480 They need to know that you were the one that would be able to 710 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,400 help them to that which is good and right for the gym sitting in 711 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:28,880 the back here tonight. And he knows this because he is 712 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:30,760 the one who does all the cards, the birthday cards. 713 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:31,760 You all thought that was me, right? 714 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:37,320 But but the handwriting forensic analysis says Jim Weatherby is 715 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:39,160 the one who does it. He's asked me here and there 716 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:41,160 about people who've left the church, sometimes angry. 717 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,360 And he'll say not during church discipline, but just the idea 718 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:45,720 they've got left and it's not great. 719 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:47,040 He says, should we still send them a card? 720 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:50,040 And I said, send them till they say return to sender. 721 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:57,560 Let them know we're still here. They still have birthdays, they 722 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:02,320 still have anniversaries. It's OK if they throw it away. 723 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:05,440 Then we just wasted 4950. I don't remember how much the 724 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:06,760 stamp is anymore. What time is it? 725 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:08,400 OK. It keeps changing. 726 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:14,720 But I do know this. It's OK if you see someone just 727 00:37:14,720 --> 00:37:16,280 out and about. It's OK. 728 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:18,920 Believe it or not, your pastor sees people who have left the 729 00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:23,160 church at Walmart, at Shaw's. And you know what I do? 730 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:28,320 You say you yell at him. Yeah, yeah. 731 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:30,440 Curse him out in Jesus name. Of course, right? 732 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:33,840 You know, you just go down another aisle because you don't 733 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:36,840 want to see him. And what I like to do is do the 734 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,920 exact opposite what they expect me to do, which is walk up to 735 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:44,440 them, smile, shake their hand. And as I'm walking up to them, 736 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:47,840 praying to the Lord that I'm not being fake or trying to prove a 737 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:51,400 point, just that, hey, it's good to see, you know why? 738 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:54,160 Because someday that person might have someone in their 739 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,720 family that dies. Someday that person might be in 740 00:37:57,720 --> 00:38:00,560 the hospital. And if they call me, do you know 741 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:03,040 what I'm going to do? I'm going to go check on them. 742 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:05,920 They say, but but they didn't, they didn't treat you right. 743 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:06,920 They didn't treat the church right. 744 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:10,880 Well, this might be the way that they are able to come back to 745 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:12,400 the Lord. If they're not right with the 746 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,720 Lord, there's a responsibility laid on us all. 747 00:38:16,240 --> 00:38:18,280 Get don't make them your best friend when they're gone, but 748 00:38:18,280 --> 00:38:22,320 don't cut them out of your life. If there's a way that you can be 749 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:25,720 a persuasive element for that which is right, do so, but be 750 00:38:25,720 --> 00:38:28,160 careful. But what's the job of the 751 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:32,200 offender? Well, the job of the offender is 752 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:38,440 to be removed and to get right, and it's the prayer of the 753 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:40,360 church that they are to be repentant. 754 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:44,000 Their isolation should help them realize their need to get right 755 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:46,400 with God. Their support system of people 756 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:48,400 affirming their behavior disappears. 757 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:52,480 They should come to realize their need to return to Christ. 758 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:56,760 It is an act of love if it's done properly. 759 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:00,480 It's an act of love if it's done properly, just as much as 760 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,080 discipline to a child as an act of love is done properly. 761 00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:06,320 Then we just read Hebrews chapter 12 a few weeks ago on a 762 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:07,680 Sunday morning. What is that? 763 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:10,400 That's God chastising us when we need it. 764 00:39:11,560 --> 00:39:16,120 In the end, we're to mourn the sin, judge the sin, and purge 765 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:18,520 the sin. This is church discipline. 766 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:20,680 Now. I'm going to give you just a 767 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:22,200 couple more moments and then we're done. 768 00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:24,760 Pastor, have you ever seen church discipline? 769 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:32,080 Once I was saved and I was baptized and I was in Westgate 770 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:36,920 Baptist Church for two weeks. I've never been, I don't know 771 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:38,360 that I've ever been to a Sunday night service. 772 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:40,000 I've been to very few Sunday night services. 773 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:44,640 If I had in the Sunday night, Pastor Turn says it's gonna be a 774 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:46,200 little bit of a different service tonight. 775 00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:50,440 And boy, was he right. There was a gentleman, and I'm 776 00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:52,720 going to withhold the name because this gentleman is still 777 00:39:52,720 --> 00:39:56,880 alive, but there's a gentleman who over a long period of time 778 00:39:56,880 --> 00:39:58,600 had been stealing from the church offerings. 779 00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:04,520 The ushers had been all taking the offerings to one man who 780 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,800 then deposited in the safe. One problem with that, that one 781 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:11,040 man had total access to the funds before it went in the 782 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:13,240 safe. There's a reason we always have 783 00:40:13,240 --> 00:40:15,880 two people with the offerings here at Liberty Baptist Church 784 00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:18,880 that any organization would do well to do so. 785 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:23,120 What this gentleman did not realize was that after a period 786 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:26,760 of time where there's some some suspicion, a small camera was 787 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:30,880 placed near the safe. He was called in the pastor's 788 00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:34,080 office. Pastor Turner says, calls him by 789 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:36,240 name. I know you've been stealing the 790 00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:39,480 offerings. I need you to admit it now, He 791 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:40,560 says. It's not true. 792 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:42,240 I can't even imagine why you would say that. 793 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:46,200 And he slid over Avhs cassette. That's the time frame we're 794 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:48,720 talking about. He slid over VHS cassette. 795 00:40:48,720 --> 00:40:51,720 And he says this tape says you have been. 796 00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:54,800 And he said, well, looks like you caught me. 797 00:40:56,280 --> 00:41:01,040 Totally rebellious, brought before the deacons, rebellious. 798 00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:04,640 The next and final step was to bring him before the church. 799 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:08,120 There had to be an accounting. And for some reason he decided 800 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:10,000 he was willing to go before the church. 801 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:12,440 He went before the church that night. 802 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:16,000 I think the reason I think he did so was to try to save face. 803 00:41:17,440 --> 00:41:19,640 He was brought before the church in a very loving manner, but was 804 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:24,080 brought forth for discipline. He said he repented, he got 805 00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:28,360 right, the church came around him and gathered around him and 806 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,800 prayed. Now it was clear that he had to 807 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:35,360 make restitution down to the penny, but the church prayed for 808 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:38,600 him and it was a beautiful scene for an 18 year old to see. 809 00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:43,880 The problem was that he wasn't truly repentant, never paid a 810 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:47,880 penny back, and a few weeks later it skipped town and was 811 00:41:47,880 --> 00:41:51,920 gone. I saw church discipline, you 812 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:53,120 say? Well, it didn't work, pastor. 813 00:41:53,920 --> 00:41:56,480 It did in the sense that it protected the church from 814 00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:59,800 further damage. It worked. 815 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:02,880 Not the way we wanted it to, but it worked. 816 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:05,680 Don't you kind of wish you knew what happened to this guy? 817 00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:12,920 I mean, what he did was bad. You can read it was bad. 818 00:42:13,880 --> 00:42:15,040 Don't you wish you knew what happened to him? 819 00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:19,720 We've got good news, the Bible tells us. 820 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:23,080 Second Corinthians chapter #2 and then we're done. 821 00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:29,520 I can't, I can't skip over this part. 2nd Corinthians, chapter 822 00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:35,280 number two, obviously, Second Corinthians chapter. 823 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:36,720 Second Corinthians, second letter. 824 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:39,600 Paul writes back to them after First Corinthians. 825 00:42:46,240 --> 00:42:48,600 Who it says, But I determined this with myself, that I would 826 00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:50,240 not come again to you in heaviness. 827 00:42:50,640 --> 00:42:54,080 For if I made you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but 828 00:42:54,080 --> 00:42:55,680 the same which is made sorry by me. 829 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:59,280 And I wrote the same unto you, lest when I came, I should have 830 00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:02,600 sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice, having confidence in 831 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:05,240 you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 832 00:43:05,560 --> 00:43:08,520 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto 833 00:43:08,520 --> 00:43:11,520 you with many tears. So what was Paul saying before? 834 00:43:11,560 --> 00:43:16,080 I was saddened, I had tears, I had anguish over what was taking 835 00:43:16,080 --> 00:43:19,360 place, But that you might know the love which I have more 836 00:43:19,360 --> 00:43:22,320 abundantly unto you. But if any have caused grief, he 837 00:43:22,320 --> 00:43:26,200 has not grieved me, but in part that I might not overcharge you. 838 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:30,800 All sufficient to such a man is this punishment which was 839 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:32,640 inflicted of many. Hold on a second, what is he 840 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:34,760 saying? There's an issue that took place 841 00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:37,760 before it sorrowed my heart, but it was done in love. 842 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:41,680 And it was an issue of someone who an affliction, A punishment 843 00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:44,200 was inflicted upon this person by many people. 844 00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:46,640 Well, who was it? The only answer to that is the 845 00:43:46,640 --> 00:43:49,880 man from First Corinthians chapter 5 who the church had 846 00:43:49,880 --> 00:43:51,240 removed. Well, what happened? 847 00:43:51,680 --> 00:43:55,080 So that contrary wise you might, you ought rather to forgive him 848 00:43:55,920 --> 00:43:59,880 and comfort him, lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed 849 00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:04,120 up with over much sorrow. Wherefore, I beseech you, that 850 00:44:04,120 --> 00:44:07,080 you would confirm your love toward us. 851 00:44:07,680 --> 00:44:12,480 What is Paul saying here? He says this man's in a place 852 00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:16,840 that now he needs to know we're going to rally around him. 853 00:44:18,240 --> 00:44:20,360 I believe it makes clear here this man got right with the 854 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:22,760 Lord. This man was restored to 855 00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:26,200 fellowship within the church. And he said this, make sure he 856 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:30,400 knows that you love him. And until I get back, make sure 857 00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:35,600 he knows that I love him too. 2nd Thessalonians for chapter 3, 858 00:44:35,600 --> 00:44:38,920 verse 14 and 15. If any man obey not our word by 859 00:44:38,920 --> 00:44:42,560 this epistle, note that man have no company with him. 860 00:44:42,560 --> 00:44:45,480 There's that word company again, that mixing, that he may be 861 00:44:45,480 --> 00:44:48,600 ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, 862 00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:54,480 but admonish him as a brother. Say, pastor, what does all this 863 00:44:54,480 --> 00:44:57,760 have to do with me tonight? I'm not even under church 864 00:44:57,760 --> 00:44:59,040 discipline. You said no one's here under 865 00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:00,640 church discipline tonight. So what does it have to do with 866 00:45:00,640 --> 00:45:02,320 me? And I remind you what I said at 867 00:45:02,320 --> 00:45:05,840 the very beginning. Small sins don't just lead to 868 00:45:05,840 --> 00:45:09,720 big sins. Small sins unconfessed can lead 869 00:45:09,720 --> 00:45:13,240 to any sin. We're looking at the last 870 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:17,560 resort. What should be our first option 871 00:45:18,480 --> 00:45:22,400 to get our knees every time we sin and get right with the Lord. 872 00:45:23,280 --> 00:45:26,000 We have a rule at our house that Diane instituted a while ago for 873 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:28,920 the kids. If it takes less than 60 seconds 874 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:33,240 to pick it up, then pick it up. If it takes longer than that, we 875 00:45:33,240 --> 00:45:36,280 can do it later. So there's a pile of clothes, 60 876 00:45:36,280 --> 00:45:38,280 seconds, more than 60 seconds, we'll do that later. 877 00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:42,240 If there's a toy that's in the wrong place under 60 seconds, 878 00:45:42,240 --> 00:45:45,080 you got time to put it away, you know? 879 00:45:45,600 --> 00:45:47,520 I think it. Ought to be something similar 880 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:52,240 for us in our Christian life. Not that we need to wait until 881 00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:56,280 later, but boy doesn't it get harder the longer we wait to get 882 00:45:56,280 --> 00:45:58,880 right with the Lord? How much easier would it be to 883 00:45:58,880 --> 00:46:02,480 say, well, instead of just confessing my sins once a day or 884 00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:06,920 once a week, how about now when it's small in the sense that 885 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:10,440 it's just this one, Let me get it right with the Lord right 886 00:46:10,440 --> 00:46:11,960 now. Lord, I shouldn't have cussed. 887 00:46:13,240 --> 00:46:15,680 Will you forgive me? Lord, I knew I popped off of 888 00:46:15,680 --> 00:46:19,560 that guy, will you forgive me? Lord, I knew I told tell a 889 00:46:19,560 --> 00:46:21,440 little white lie, but it's still a lie. 890 00:46:22,200 --> 00:46:24,400 Will you forgive me? Lord, I knew I shouldn't have 891 00:46:24,400 --> 00:46:25,640 got angry at the kids like I did. 892 00:46:26,160 --> 00:46:29,000 Will you forgive me, Church discipline? 893 00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:31,560 Listen, for most of us, that's a faraway thing. 894 00:46:32,440 --> 00:46:34,960 But where are we today? Well, we need to make sure we 895 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:38,760 confess our sins on a daily basis because He's faithful and 896 00:46:38,760 --> 00:46:41,440 just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all 897 00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:43,440 unrighteousness. And that's what church 898 00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:47,080 discipline is all about. Let's take care of it far before 899 00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:50,760 any of us ever have to see that within our own lives or anywhere 900 00:46:50,760 --> 00:46:52,680 here within Liberty Baptist Church. 901 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:56,320 Thank you for listening to the sermon from the pulpit of 902 00:46:56,320 --> 00:46:59,240 Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 903 00:46:59,240 --> 00:47:02,720 to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 904 00:47:02,720 --> 00:47:07,320 know by contacting us at info@mylibertybaptist.org. 905 00:47:07,600 --> 00:47:12,120 Or you can visit us this Sunday at 800 Washington St. in Easton, 906 00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:14,960 MA. May the Lord bless you as you 907 00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:16,160 grow in His Word.