Five Wise, Winsome, Weirdo Traits

[0:00] Prepare our hearts, open God, help us to receive.

[0:39] Break the heart and stone we come, help our unbelief.

[0:50] Let your word down, defense, cause it to bear proof.

[1:03] Open up our ears to hear. Lead us in your truth. Show us Christ.

[1:20] Show us Christ. Oh God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word until every heart confesses Christ is love.

[1:48] The word is living right upon our darkened eyes.

[2:08] God does through temptations makes us simple wise.

[2:19] The word is food for flesh, freedom for the same.

[2:31] Riches for the meekest soul come speak to us today.

[2:42] Show us Christ. Show us Christ.

[2:52] Show us Christ. Oh God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word.

[3:06] until every heart confesses Christ is Lord. Oh God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word.

[3:19] Where else can we go, Lord? Where else can we go? Where else can we go, Lord?

[3:36] Where else can we go? You have the words of eternal life. Where else can we go, Lord?

[3:46] Where else can we go? You have the words of eternal life. Where else can we go, Lord? Where else can we go?

[3:59] You have the words of eternal life. Show us Christ.

[4:17] Show us Christ. Show us Christ. Oh, God, show us Christ.

[4:33] Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word.

[4:44] Until every heart confesses Christ is Lord. Oh, God.

[5:01] Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word. Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word.

[5:21] Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word. Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word.

[5:41] Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word. Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word. Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word.

[5:53] Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word. What do you say? Oh, God, reveal your glory through the preaching of your word. Tis using him the sinner's ear, His heart can help and peace.

[6:12] He breaks the power. He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free. His blood can make a power sweet, His blood of hell for me.

[6:30] Let's say that again. He breaks. He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free.

[6:41] His blood can make a power sweet, His blood of hell for me. He speaks and listening to his voice, Who light the dead receive.

[6:58] The mournful broken hearts rejoice, The humble poor believe. With you, He can be, We are a few下一 God and praise and love we ever, ever give.

[7:38] I stand below and stand above the church in earth and heaven.

[7:52] Thank you, Lord. If you washed away my vanity, if you took away my words, if all my world was swept away, would you be enough for me?

[8:42] Would my beating heart still sing? If I lost it all, would my hands stay lifted to the God who gives and takes away?

[9:02] If you take it all, this life you've given, still my heart will sing to you.

[9:16] If you take it all, it's not what I expected. When my life is not what I expected.

[9:36] The plans I made have failed. When there's nothing left to steal me away.

[9:50] Will you be enough for me? Will my broken heart still sing?

[10:01] If I lost it all, would my hands stay lifted to the God who gives and takes away?

[10:16] If you take it all away. If you take it all, this life you've given, still my heart will sing to you.

[10:30] Even if you take it all away, you'll never let me go. Take it all away. Take it all away. Take it all away. Take it all away.

[10:41] But I still know that I'm yours. I'm still yours. I'm still yours.

[10:57] I'm still yours.

[11:19] I'm still yours. I'm still yours. I'm still yours.

[11:37] Tell me if you have camp forts for the for a gross theme. Because you'll come for Patrons. I 꼭 keep that help you will sing from my dwellers.

[11:48] Turn to your hands. When you go to profoundly, I get the Greek'sstäb of six quarters and a half hour. I'm still yours. I'm still yours.

[11:58] Thank you.

[12:28] Thank you.

[12:58] Thank you.

[13:28] Thank you.

[13:58] Thank you.

[14:28] Thank you.

[14:58] Thank you.

[15:28] Thank you.

[15:58] Thank you.

[16:28] Thank you.

[16:58] Thank you.

[17:28] Thank you.

[17:58] Thank you.

[18:28] Thank you.

[18:58] Thank you.

[19:28] Thank you.

[19:58] Thank you.

[20:28] Thank you.

[20:58] Thank you.

[21:28] Thank you.

[21:58] Thank you.

[22:28] Thank you.

[22:58] Thank you.

[23:28] Thank you.

[23:58] Thank you.

[24:28] Thank you.

[24:58] Thank you.

[25:28] Thank you.

[25:58] Thank you.

[26:28] Thank you.

[26:58] Thank you.

[27:28] Thank you.

[27:58] Thank you.

[28:28] Thank you.

[28:58] Thank you.

[29:28] Thank you.

[29:58] Thank you.

[30:28] Thank you.

[30:58] Thank you.

[31:28] Thank you.

[31:58] Thank you.

[32:28] Thank you.

[32:58] Thank you.

[33:28] Thank you.

[33:58] Thank you.

[34:28] Thank you.

[34:58] Thank you.

[35:28] Thank you.

[35:58] Thank you.

[36:28] Thank you.

[36:58] Thank you.

[37:28] Thank you.

[37:58] Thank you.

[38:28] Thank you.

[38:58] Thank you.

[39:28] Thank you.

[39:58] Thank you.

[40:28] Thank you.

[40:58] Thank you.

[41:28] Thank you.

[41:58] Thank you.

[42:28] Thank you.

[42:58] Thank you.

[43:28] Thank you.

[43:58] Thank you.

[44:28] Thank you.

[44:58] Thank you.

[45:28] Thank you.

[45:58] Thank you.

[46:28] He took my sin.

[46:58] Thank you.

[47:28] Thank you.

[47:58] Thank you.

[48:28] Thank you.

[48:58] Thank you.

[49:28] Thank you.

[49:58] Thank you.

[50:28] Thank you.

[50:58] Thank you.

[51:28] Thank you.

[51:58] Thank you.

[52:28] Thank you.

[52:58] I saw my sins.

[53:28] Thank you.

[53:58] Thank you.

[54:28] Thank you.

[54:58] Thank you.

[55:28] Thank you.

[55:58] Thank you.

[56:28] Thank you.

[56:58] Thank you.

[57:28] Thank you.

[57:58] Thank you.

[58:28] Thank you.

[58:58] Thank you.

[59:28] Thank you.

[59:58] Thank you.

[60:28] Thank you.

[60:58] Thank you.

[61:28] Thank you.

[61:58] Thank you.

[62:28] Thank you.

[62:58] Thank you.

[63:28] Thank you.

[63:58] Thank you.

[64:28] Thank you.

[64:58] Thank you.

[65:28] Thank you.

[65:58] Thank you.

[66:28] I will.

[66:58] Thank you.

[67:28] I live.

[67:58] Love became.

[68:28] I live again.

[68:58] Thank you.

[69:28] We are in the world.

[69:58] For the right?

[70:28] We're in the world.

[70:58] We're in the world.

[71:28] glory be in the world.

[71:58] We're in the world.

[72:28] Christ, We're in the world.

[73:28] We're in the world.

[73:58] Your glory, you're in the world.

[74:28] Nothing compares.

[74:58] We're in the world.

[75:28] My heart is in the world.

[75:58] We're in the world.

[76:28] Your name, you're in the world.

[76:58] Your name, you're in the world.

[77:28] Our creation, you're in the world.

[77:57] You're in the world.

[78:27] We're in the world.

[78:57] We're in the world.

[79:27] We're in the world.

[79:57] You are everything.

[80:27] You are strength, you're in the world.

[80:57] You are everything.

[81:27] We're in the world.

[81:57] You're in the world.

[82:27] So we're in the world.

[82:57] So it looks very nice.

[83:27] We're in the world.

[83:57] We're in the world.

[84:27] Some years back, you're in the world.

[84:57] Uncle Worm, you're in the world.

[85:27] So he's going to be in the world.

[85:57] So they're very good.

[86:27] So they're in the world.

[86:57] Not at all.

[87:27] A formal members, you're in the world.

[87:57] And on Friday, we're in the world.

[88:27] We're talking about deacons, you're talking about deacons, you're in the world.

[88:57] And minister in the world.

[89:27] Yeah, very much so.

[89:57] And invite your family.

[90:27] We will still have a service.

[90:57] We're in the middle type thing.

[91:27] See the basics of the basics.

[91:57] What does it, what does it, what does it mean to be, what does it mean to be a Christian?

[92:27] Oh, how good it is.

[92:57] So with one voice. So with one voice, we'll sing to the Lord. Oh, how good.

[93:59] One voice, we'll sing to the Lord. And with one voice, we'll sing to the Lord. And with one voice, we'll sing to the Lord. One voice, we'll sing to the Lord.

[94:10] Till the Lord. And with one voice, we'll sing to the Lord.

[95:10] The Redeemer, the Redeemer. The Redeemer has come. For he dwells in the presence of the Lord. For he dwells in the presence of his people. So with one people.

[95:22] And with one, so with one voice. So with one voice, we'll sing to the Lord. to the Lord and with one heart we'll live out his word till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come for he dwells in the presence of his people let us pray our gracious heavenly father we thank you Lord for this time we can come together and worship you a holy a just a wonderful God that is in control of all things that sees all things that knows all things and is perfect perfectly holy perfectly just we just pray this morning Lord for our sinfulness we are sinners in your sight Lord we just pray that you would help us to overcome our sin with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we know that is possible that he has died on the cross for our sins and in this time when we have a world that is seems to be at odds with one another we just pray Lord this morning that they would look to you look to their Savior

[96:36] Jesus Christ look to the one and true God and his moral law we just we know that your moral law is the standard by which we are to be set that it is not our own will but your will we just pray Lord this morning that you would unite this country and this world by that law by that moral law by that code and not by our own sinfulness so we pray this morning Lord that you would forgive us of our sins and that you would help us to unite under one common bond and that is our Christ Jesus is Lord and Savior and you are our God these things we ask in his son's name your son's name we pray amen amen please remain standing we're going to read together as a congregation Psalm 34 verses 1 through 11 I will praise the Lord at all times his praise will always be on my lips I will boast in the Lord the humble will hear and be glad proclaim Yahweh's greatness with me let us exalt his name together

[97:40] I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears those who look to him are radiant with joy their faces will never be ashamed this poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and rescues them taste and see that the Lord is good how happy is the man who takes refuge refuge in him you who are his holy ones fear Yahweh for those who fear him lack nothing young lions lack food and go hungry but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing come children listen to me I will teach you the fear of the Lord if you would take a moment and greet somebody turn greet encourage someone next to you the Lord another boy deep into the sea there be tired just they are a let

[99:15] Thank you.

[99:45] Thank you.

[100:15] Thank you.

[100:45] Thank you. Well, you can find your spots and we can plant ourselves and then...

[100:57] I've been saying this good hymn in a while, Trust and Obey. Amen. Amen.

[101:08] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[101:46] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[101:58] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[102:10] Amen. Thank you.

[102:42] Thank you.

[103:12] Thank you.

[103:42] Thank you.

[104:12] Occupy my lowly heart. Own it all and reign supreme. Conquer every rebel power.

[104:25] Let no vice or sin remain that resists your holy war. You have loved and purchased me.

[104:38] Make me yours forevermore. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[105:13] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you.

[105:52] Thank you.

[106:22] O great sovereign God, all of us on this planet are accounted like nothing in your sight.

[106:32] You do according to your will in the highest heaven and here upon earth. You put people in power and you tear them down.

[106:49] None can stay your hand and say to you, what have you done? No. No. But our God is in the heavens and does whatever he pleases.

[107:00] Thank you, O God. And thank you that it pleased you. Father, it pleased you to crush your son.

[107:10] To crush your son on our behalf, on behalf of sinners. Yes, for us. But primarily, Father, for you.

[107:21] To display. To present a trophy. A trophy that you are a God who's gracious and kind.

[107:34] You are a God who's sovereign in your justice, sovereign in your righteousness, and yet sovereign in your kindness and in your love. Hear us at this time.

[107:49] As we pray for individual members, different churches, our own country, and other people groups abroad.

[108:00] First, we pray for Judy Carlson. We thank you for her joy, contentment, graciousness, faithfulness, servant's heart, and her loyalty to the gospel.

[108:24] Continue to show your grace in her life. You've purified her. Keep purifying her. You are good to her.

[108:36] Guide her from your word. Speak to her from your word. Reminder of your grace from your word. Your word, may she dive deep into it.

[108:48] Be the strength of her heart and her portion. And it's on her heart. You know, Father. Family members. May they respond to Christ.

[109:01] Use her for your glory. To proclaim this gospel of freedom to them. The gospel of grace. May they respond to Christ.

[109:14] We pray for Clarkdale Baptist Church. May they be directed to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[109:24] Not merely as the message to the unsaved, but also to themselves. Knowing that it saves and sanctifies by the power of the Spirit.

[109:38] May they remember what you have done in your Son. Even at this time, may they meditate upon your word. Praising you for your greatness. The greatness that you've shown in Christ.

[109:51] We pray for Harry, their pastor. May he preach the gospel word. May he teach the gospel word.

[110:02] May he shepherd your people with the gospel word. May he shepherd your people with the gospel word. We pray for those within our own government. We do pray for President-elect Donald Trump.

[110:18] We do pray for the U.S. Senate that's coming about. The new U.S. House that's coming about. They need your wisdom. Discernment.

[110:31] Guidance. Guidance. Guidance. They definitely need total humility. Especially, they need to realize that it was you who put them in these positions according to your sovereign will.

[110:48] So we ask you to give your grace to them. That they may hold convictions. While also uniting the country. We pray. We pray that with them in government there will be more proclamation of the gospel.

[111:08] You will be able to bring that about. The freedom to do that. And also, Father, we pray. From President-elect Mr. Trump.

[111:23] Down to those within the Senate and the House. They just flat out need Christ. They need the Lord Jesus Christ. They need to surrender to Jesus Christ.

[111:36] So we pray that for them. Because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. We thank you that we are a church that we have a heart for the people in this city and in our own country.

[111:59] We have a heart for the people groups of the world. At this time we pray for the small country of Croatia. A country that's had to deal with such bitterness and hatred between Bosnians, Serbs, Croats.

[112:19] We pray. Father, we pray that the good news of Jesus which brings friendship with you and with each other it will be proclaimed so that the hatred between the Croats, Serbs, Bosnians will be turned into love because of Jesus Christ.

[112:39] We pray for our brethren that they'll keep demonstrating true reconciliation among themselves Croats, Serbs, Bosnians as a fellowshipping among each other and connecting and uniting with each other under the gospel the banner of Christ.

[112:57] Continue to grow these churches in the gospel with true biblical unity and solid biblical leadership. We thank you for the training center that we are a part of.

[113:10] Masters Academy International and Cropinha. Thank you for that. that we provide for them. Provide for these young men being trained. May they hold to the gospel word.

[113:22] May they be faithful to proclaim and teach the gospel word and we pray you would use them to plant new churches there in Croatia and abroad. May our brethren continue to reach out to all their own people especially Romani people the gypsies.

[113:41] Thank you for the work that the International Mission Board is doing there and that we're a part of that too. Send more of us to go to minister and to serve our brethren in Croatia.

[113:57] For us who are here this morning together we pray that you would do a work that we may continue to display characteristics that show the gospel is truly at work among us.

[114:11] We pray this in your name Lord Jesus. Amen. Please be seated. If you would take your Bibles or devices and go to 1 Peter 1 Peter 3 1 Peter 3 This is going to be odd getting used to this.

[114:53] I'm used to being lower. I know you guys can't see when I'm done either. Ha ha. I'm actually going to put a little thing up here too you can't see at all.

[115:06] No you can't. As you're turning there just we're working on purchasing possibly the replacement for our video projector so again Tyler's done all the leg work on that so thank you Tyler for doing that.

[115:34] 1 Peter 3 we're going to study verses 8 through 12 3 8 through 12 Oh I'm sorry the black Bible in the chair in front of you I didn't say that it's on page 182 if you're looking at that 182 182 towards the back go towards the back 182 I'm going to read and then we'll study to sum up or finally let all be harmonious sympathetic brotherly compassionate and humble not returning evil for evil or insult for insult but blessing for unto this you were called so that you might obtain a blessing verse 10 for let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile and let him turn away from evil and do good let him seek peace and pursue it for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears attend to their prayer but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil the title of the article begins three personality traits that make you more likely to compulsively check your phone the article is actually aimed at college students interesting here's the three personality traits first emotional instability so if you're a college student you're emotional unstable that's why you compulsively check your phone he actually by James Roberts the article he actually compares it to substance addictions so bless you so first emotional instability second extroverts are more likely to check their phones than introverts and third materialistic students the way

[117:50] I think of it is if you have those traits you are a smartphone junkie he ends the article like this our obsession with smartphones is a good example of what has been referred to as the paradox of technology the modern smartphone can free us to do things in places only dreamed of 20 years ago but they also in certain ways enslave us has smartphone use reached a tipping point where it's crossed the line from beneficial tool to detriment and just if you're 20 years old and under you know there was a time we didn't have a phone with you at all times excuse me I gotta check Facebook for just a second certain traits characteristics mannerisms features may make you a smartphone junkie you know as Christians there are certain traits certain characteristics that will identify us as well identify us as weirdos

[119:01] Christian weirdos because of God's grace we can be wise winsome weirdos in this wicked world today God through Peter gives us five wise winsome weirdo traits if you live like this you will be weird you'll be different if we live like this as Christians we'll be so different from our world some statements for you five wise winsome weirdo traits 1st Peter 3 8 through 12 five wise winsome weirdo traits that show we are Christian weirdos who are blessing others doing good instead of retaliating in this way we are truly following in the footsteps of our

[120:06] Lord taking it from chapter 2 verse 21 Christ also suffer for you leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps another statement living our lives this way will truly display to our culture how vastly different we are from them it would radically impact our corporate witness in the Verde Valley towards the gospel due to our actions and reactions to those inside and outside the church this is going to be different from our culture and it will impact our corporate witness in the Verde Valley if we are a people who have these characteristics traits these weirdo traits if you will and so Peter's addressing

[121:06] God through Peter is addressing how Christians should treat all people in general but especially within the believing community we should imitate God's very goodness as seen in our Lord following in his footsteps we do good to all even to those who harm us even to those who hurt us we should be known in our relationships that we serve God in loving one another saved or unsaved especially the saved instead of being driven by our own selfish prideful unloving interest quite ironic on Wednesday nights we've been going through a book by Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp changing your relationships and a lot of those things we're going to be looking at today in 1 Peter coincide with what we've been seeing in the book changing your relationships about how you respond to each other how we should respond to each other

[122:12] I found it striking that God did that so first the five weirdo traits to display the five commands for true gospel wise winsome weird living within our culture verse 8 finally or summing it up let all be harmonious sympathetic brotherly compassionate and humble just a side note he puts it in a chiastic structure so that the middle one which is brotherly which means brotherly love that's actually the focal point so the first and the fifth has to do with how we think the second and the fourth how we feel thinking in terms of unity and humility feeling in terms of sympathy and compassion the first one harmonious or a unified goal or purpose like minded that will stand out in a world that's been divided

[123:31] I mean look at Tuesday Tuesday the nation was divided talk about division I think it was 600,000 more votes popular vote for Hillary than Donald Trump 600,000 that's the population of Milwaukee so by one city that's pretty close it's a huge division will stand out to our culture is within the church amongst us in a local church there's such unity unity of purpose like mindedness unified goal Christ is our goal truth is our goal the gospel is our focus and notice how when you have the harmony how we think corresponds with humility comes of being humble humbling ourselves and we don't have all the answers and then notice sympathy and compassionate those sympathy empathy just feeling that with someone else interesting the word compassionate the root word comes from the greek word which is splagna where you get the word for intestines the idea was that the intestines you have that feeling those feelings in your intestines

[125:20] I mean just ask Jordan and Chloe I mean you know it's just feel that was that out loud I'm sorry but there's the feelings the emotions it's coming from the gut the deepest seed of the emotions so you have the unity unity of purpose goal you have humility sympathy you're feeling what someone else is feeling then you have that the feelings the deepest part that compassion and then there in the middle is brotherly which is actually we get the word brotherly love he talks about this chapter 1 verse 22 brotherly love chapter 2 verse 17 honor all men love the brotherhood the same word so he wants us to be emotionally involved with each other share the joy lessen the sorrow with one another summing it up by being having that familial love loving one another as family

[126:31] I mean it's dare we say it's meant for families to show major grace and mercy to each other because we see everything about each other failures weaknesses and all in the same way show that type of grace and love to each other and by God's grace we can be a Christian community who show unity sympathy compassion humility and love instead of wanting our own way in the way we have chosen and at the time we have deemed best as Lane and Tripp say in their book changing your relationships is it about my agenda or God's agenda harmonious sympathetic brotherly love compassion humility you know these traits are traits of the gospel these are gospel traits

[127:32] God in Christ has shown that he's harmonious the unified purpose of the gospel he's sympathetic and compassionate towards us and how did he show his humility the very son of God took on flesh he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross and then in the book of Hebrews we're called his brother elements of the gospel notice once again the gospel is the only thing that can motivate us and drive us to do this it's our only hope as Christians the gospel because outside the gospel well look at Tuesday that's outside the gospel so when you have the gospel motivating us when we have the gospel that's driving us we have words and comments that bring unity not division or isolation we have words and actions that sympathize not disregard or neglect we have words and comments that show humility not pride we have words and actions that show compassion not insensitivity we have words and actions that display true brotherly love for us within the church and even for those outside too he's going to bring about the opposite but just touching it just for a moment the opposite is wanting attention approval to be right or in control independent

[129:29] I can do it on my own being seen as right before others to have one's own satisfaction or have a platform for one's own opinion on the contrary Lane and Tripp they say this godly relationships flourish best between two humble people who acknowledge their weaknesses and sins and their need for god's grace that's so true we just acknowledge that we're both weak we're both sinful we both need god's grace we want god's agenda to reign supreme not our own so we have words that don't inflame but encourage we have actions that don't hurt but show grace we have words that don't divide but they unify in christ which leads to what he says in verse 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult not retaliating but blessing new american standard says giving a blessing literally it's just the verb you just bless blessing the negative aspects towards those who are negative to us saved or unsaved not returning evil for evil or abuse for abuse again recalling the example chapter 2 verse 23 though reviled he did not revile return that's christ so it's not just retaliating but blessing not just the unsaved but with the christian community the temptation is for us to lash out or to do things to work for me it's easy to retaliate now as i was doing my study it was interesting i read six or seven books commentaries and thoughts from the text okay i think all of them said here from verse nine onwards peter starts uh dealing how christians deal with the unsaved i said really he's speaking about believers too i know someone i know someone who returns evil for evil it's me i've done that haven't you we've done that haven't we we've returned evil for evil i just thought it was striking they all said he's talking about non-christians at this point i said i don't think these guys know each other very well i don't think they know themselves very well i've done this i've returned insult for insult but on the contrary interesting but the the contrast is strong here but on the contrary or in contrast to retaliating bless now the word bless can mean different things it can mean benefit it can mean praise it can mean happy well praise okay happy i don't know it seems like

[133:30] he's saying benefit them benefit them in some way whether it's through words or actions you benefit them so in other words invoke god's grace upon those who sin against us we should give a blessing to those who insult us to benefit them to encourage them with words of encouragement or words of grace or actions of grace or encouragement that's what we should do in contrast to this in contrast to returning the evil for the evil someone does evil to you you're gonna retaliate no don't be like that bless give them a benefit benefit them why it's our calling to bless and then the result we obtain a blessing why because it's our calling he says for and I think the ESV translates this very well for unto this you were called he's looking back you were called to this to bless he looks back saying we're called to be a people who bless why we bless because we're called this

[135:00] God has blessed us so much that that's the only again the only way we'll be able to survive this is when the gospel is at the forefront of our minds and when you're blessed he says the result for the purpose so that you might inherit or again the ESV you might obtain a blessing you'll get God's blessing so God will bless us when we display Christ this way in our lives that's right showing drastically different lives pleases God that was an amen in three year old talk showing drastically different lives that pleases God he likes that he likes when we bless each other he enjoys that

[136:04] God smiles at that now it doesn't mean we won't suffer well I'm blessing people why am I suffering well that doesn't necessity to be blessed by God doesn't equal we won't face hardship or suffering as a matter of fact we're going to look at a moment as we we're dealing with relationships relationships they can be a mess right the book is called relationships a mess worth making and sometimes you're like I don't know if it's worth making yeah it gets hard those relationships can improve but then there'll be more things you'll find out about each other so to be blessed by God doesn't equal we won't face hardship or suffering or difficulties it means God will give us his blessing in the midst of the trials in the midst of the tribulations we face especially if we're being persecuted for our faith obeying

[137:11] God will bring about the blessing he's prepared that's why the songs were chosen on purpose trust and obey a great song to remind us there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey God blesses when we display Christ God blesses when you walk following his footsteps it pleases him it smiles on that and it will bring about his blessing that he's prepared so he does this he goes through this and given us these five weirdo traits he shows us the opposite to that and then tells us instead we should be blessing people which that's how you show these five traits you're blessing you're benefiting people he shows this is why we should do this is the consequence when we do do this and now he in verse 10 through 12 he quotes from psalm 34 more we read verses 1 through 11 he quotes from verses 12 to 16 and what he does is he gives the promise in

[138:30] God's word that's our basis God's word promises that God's going to do this God's word is the basis his promise is the basis by which we do this so we can hold secure that God will do this because he said it in his word that's his promise he begins for let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile let him who means to love life and see good okay whoa is he talking about the future or is he talking about now well God wants us to have an eternal perspective we've looked at that we've seen that in Peter in his letter but it seems more to refer to the now because he was just talking about now how you deal with people now not to mention the fact later on in verse 12 he talks about prayer well prayer doesn't happen in eternity it happens now in eternity it's face to face faith is sight so living this way will bring

[139:45] God's blessings now and he's not talking about material blessings spiritual blessings spiritually benefiting us benefiting us in the spirit so if you want to experience joy in this life and really enjoy it if you want to be happily content in this life in the midst of tough hard persecuting or difficult circumstances speak or act like this which is what refrain your tongue from evil lips from speaking deceit turn away from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it turn from evil in particular sinful speech speech that's why you mentioned words that's why I said that earlier words and comments sticks on stones may break my bones but words will never no they do they can be very hurtful avoid sins of the tongue and sins of actions so obey

[140:59] God's word by stopping the tongue from speaking evil and lips from speaking deceit or the word can mean treachery look God cares for us in this life as we trust him and are faithful to him in the way we treat those around us saved or unsaved when one's life is free from falsehood and deceit one can enjoy life with great satisfaction and live in satisfying days amid the trials that's why he says turn away from evil be careful with your words and notice he says there in verse 11 and do good we've seen this throughout 115 be holy as I am holy chapter 2 verse 1 through 3 put aside malice treachery hypocrisy envy slander long for

[142:01] God's pure word spiritual word chapter 2 verse 11 abstain from fleshly lust keep your conduct excellent among the unsaved so that they see you're living out goodness you're doing good chapter 2 verse 14 because you're doing good chapter 2 verse 20 when you're doing good you're doing what's right and you suffer for it chapter 3 verse 6 a wife if she's doing what is right what is good same word he's using that throughout you're known by how you live you're known people see because you're doing good and notice he says there at the end of verse 11 let him seek peace and pursue it or strive after peace there's a unity unified purpose harmonious peace commit to peace which means peace in our words and actions

[143:05] I mentioned this earlier as we grow in these ways God will bless us so that our lives and our relationships improve in many ways and yet remember keep in mind our relationships may improve praise God but they will get even more complicated and messy because God wants to mature us he wants us to be built up in his son not acting like our culture but imitating Christ that's what we're learning in that book changing your relationships it's this very statement God wants us to mature to be built up in his son not acting like our culture but imitating Christ that's why we have relationships it's not so that we don't have what can I get out of you what can you get out of me that's how people think though isn't it that's why people get married and then they end up getting divorced like two three four years later it's so sad that's not the only reason but that may be one of the reasons the relationship was

[144:17] I'm expecting this and it's not happening for me he was expecting that she's that's hurtful some of you maybe have experienced that yourself or you know people have experienced that hurt in relationships Elaine and Tripp say this quote God chooses to surround us with people who are different from us because he knows it will promote his purpose that's why we can't be around people that are most like us as nice as that would be but so what's his purpose God's purpose of relationships is to conform us into the image of his glorious son he wants us to imitate Christ with the appropriate conduct

[145:19] I mean once again what's motivating us God has has decided to have relationship with us as his creation he shown grace he made us we have rebelled against him but then he steps in again with his grace by sending his son there's the gospel so he steps in with grace he shows his grace and mercy and he says okay now I've shown you grace and mercy go show grace and mercy and then he goes here into verse 12 the basis is God's divine favor and retribution though in other words once again our conduct is motivated by having a real consciousness of God we fear him Proverbs 34 verse 11 come children let me teach you the fear of the Lord that's verse 11 and then verse 12 let him means that him who means to love life and see good days this is how you fear

[146:30] God fearing God motivates drives us our relationship with Christ Jesus affects how we treat others inside and outside the body of Christ our relationship with Christ affects how we treat each other within the body of Christ and it affects how we treat each other outside the body of Christ he says the eyes of the Lord are upon the right God doesn't have eyes he doesn't have ears he's spirit and he's everywhere we learned that last week in the first hour in the adult class he's everywhere he's not more out there than he is in here or in Hong Kong as he is in Cottonwood he's the same everywhere he doesn't have spatial dimensions but it's helping us to understand how God can actually see how he hears he's involved his eyes are upon those who fear him the righteous those who are in a covenant relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ and they trust him chapter 1 verse 8 of 1st Peter though you've not seen him you love him and though you not see him now but because you believe in him you greatly rejoice with inexpressible joy his ears attend to to our intrigues or our prayers a life of pure conduct it displays we've been changed chapter 1 verse 3 blessed be then God and Father who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope

[148:11] God's regenerated us he's changed us once again the gospel if you're here you don't know the Lord Jesus Christ here is the gospel God should condemn us we have rebelled against him and yet he shows grace and compassion and mercy in Jesus he sent Jesus who lived died and rose repent and trust in Jesus Christ turn from sin and put your trust in Jesus he will save you that is the gospel that is the gospel respond notice what he says the end of verse 12 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil there's the warning the Lord is against those who do evil how we live matters because it matters to God true Christians will show drastically different lives from the culture around us those in a covenant relationship with God trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and live wise winsome attractive lives the Lord goes against us if we're doing evil because when there's evil we're just being prideful what will Peter say chapter 5 verse 5 humble yourselves towards one another chapter 4 because

[149:44] God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble may God soften us to his truth this morning and really look at our relationships and look at him with the glasses of the gospel with the gospel glasses on where we're harmonious we're sympathetic there's brotherly love there's compassion there's humility and you know may I say not only does our culture and I mean our immediate culture within our country whether you're angry or happy about what happened Tuesday within our country if there's anything that they need to see not just in terms of us within a church but even towards them towards others a desire to show harmony a desire to be sympathetic a desire to even show that love to them and to have compassion for them and to be humble

[150:59] I mean they need that they need to see that from us towards them and they need to see that we treat each other like this big time because they're not treating each other like that five wise when some weirdo traits that show we are Christian weirdos who are blessing others doing good instead of retaliating in this way we're truly following in the footsteps of our Lord living our lives this way will truly display to our culture how vastly different we are from them it would radically impact our corporate witness in the Verde Valley towards the gospel due to our actions and reactions to those inside the church and outside the church common Bible church here we have a statement that's a reminding statement read it every time we come together in our members meeting it's part of our church documents it helps us to reflect how we desire to live in this world and how we're going to treat each other in this world how we treat each other as the body of Christ it's called our church covenant our three main documents our doctrinal statement our church covenant and our constitution so I actually have it up on the screen and if you're a member you can read it with us but if you are a member you should read this we're going to read it together out loud just as a reminder to us about what we've committed to as a church as a local church here at Cottonwood Bible Church we'll read together then I'll pray okay let's read our church covenant having been brought by God's grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we do now relying on his grace fervently and joyfully covenant with each other to be diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace to walk together in brotherly love exercise affectionate and watchful care over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together nor neglect to pray for ourselves and each other to rejoice with those of us who rejoice and weep with those who weep to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live carefully in the world to remember that we were buried with Christ by baptism and raised again from the symbolic grave to live a holy life to seek the salvation of our family and friends proclaiming the gospel without shame but with gentleness and respect and to work together to be a gospel centered church by sustaining its worship ordinances discipline and teachings and by contributing cheerfully and regularly to the spread of the gospel to all people groups the expenses of this church and to ministry as a whole if we move

[155:02] from this place we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's word may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all amen our father we need you to work in us weirdo traits that we are harmonious and humble that we are sympathetic and splagna we have deep seated emotions for each other we just care for each other in such deep ways because we are family brothers and sisters and Christ

[156:19] Christ himself is our brother having this brotherly love and thank you yes we will return evil for evil and insult for insult we we have done that are doing that and most likely will do that thank you thank you that you show grace and mercy in your son the Lord Jesus and that's why he had to die so that the sting of death the penalty of sin will be paid the power of sin and its enslavement of us broken and then in future the presence of sin no longer there thank you oh Christ yes it is so well with our souls would you take some time and just ponder and think what we've seen in God's word and after a few moments we'll worship in our giving worship again in our singing and worship in our closing prayer so sit think pondering what we've seen in God's word 받 a visiblealnya hi ph Lip

[158:16] Thank you.

[158:46] Thank you.

[159:16] Thank you.

[159:46] Thank you.

[160:16] Thank you. When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, With my soul.

[160:52] And... And... And...

[161:06] And... And... And... And...

[161:18] And... And... And... And... And...

[161:32] And... And... And... And... And... And...

[161:48] And... And... Thank you.

[162:22] Thank you.

[162:52] Thank you.

[163:22] Thank you.

[163:52] Thank you.

[164:22] Thank you.

[164:52] Thank you.

[165:22] Father and Son, Spirit, Triune God, and perfect harmony, and perfect love, and perfect justice, and perfect holiness.

[165:47] Thank you that you've shown your love, your grace, and your mercy in Christ the Lord.

[166:02] Thank you, O Jesus Christ, for humbling yourself, such lost losers, for having such deep emotions for us, to be made like us, so that the purpose of the purpose of the purpose of the universe, is the spirit of God, that the how much we're so thankful.

[167:12] Hallelujah to the King of Kings. Hallelujah to the Lamb who was slain. You are the Lord of Lords. You're the great I Am.

[167:26] And may this worship and song, may it so impact us. Our hearts may impact our relationships with each other within this church and abroad.

[167:45] So those, being Republicans or Democrats, Libertarians or Greens, that we are united in Christ and truth and the gospel.

[168:03] That will show itself in such unbelievable, weird ways in this wicked world. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.

[168:16] Amen. You can be seated at this time. And for our members, Jordan will come and kind of call this to order, to moderate. Daniel's watching, right?

[168:28] So Daniel's our church clerk. I'm going to get one for him. Three.

[168:40] Three. Oh. All right.

[168:56] Let's go ahead and call this special called members meeting to order. Go ahead. So Jordan is our moderator and just, there's just a nomination and that's all that it is.

[169:08] Just nominating, excuse me, Daniel Bartsch as our church clerk and Ellen Daynert as our church treasurer. So we're not voting on anything. Just giving that nomination to you as an elder to you as a congregation.

[169:23] And then if you so choose to not vote on that, we come and that's not going to happen until January 8th because it has to be eight weeks prior. So eight weeks from now, that's when we would vote on it.

[169:36] Or maybe even January 1st. I'm not sure how. It would either be January 1st or January 8th. So one of those two I have to count out. But it has to be eight weeks. So we cannot, will not vote on that come our members meeting in December.

[169:49] which is the 11th, I think it is. So I have nothing else. So Mr. Moderator. And if there are no other nominations, then no, there isn't.

[170:01] We are good to go. All right. Meeting adjourned. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[170:12] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[170:49] Thank you.