WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:05.000 Thank you for that special from our Christmas program. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:06.360 They do a wonderful job. 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:09.519 How many of y'all like seeing the young people up there with them in the choir? 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:10.080 Isn't that awesome? 00:00:10.359 --> 00:00:10.560 Yeah. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:14.259 Let's make that a regular thing. 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:15.019 That is great. 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:18.039 Ephesians, we are continuing on in our series. 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:25.219 We will break next Sunday for Christmas Eve and do a more Christmas-themed sermon next 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:25.539 Sunday. 00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:29.800 But we are continuing on in our series in Ephesians chapter 4. 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:30.859 All right. 00:00:30.899 --> 00:00:34.359 And this is a big Sunday in our series in Ephesians. 00:00:34.579 --> 00:00:37.380 We go from part 1 to part 2. 00:00:38.019 --> 00:00:38.320 All right. 00:00:38.380 --> 00:00:44.140 So the first chapter, the first three chapters of Ephesians talks about who we are in Christ, 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:46.140 our identity in Christ as believers. 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:47.760 And then we get practical. 00:00:48.260 --> 00:00:52.340 We go from the theology to the practicality. 00:00:52.340 --> 00:00:52.840 All right. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:59.340 Understanding our standing in God in that first section and then moving on to how should we 00:00:59.340 --> 00:01:00.120 then live. 00:01:00.820 --> 00:01:06.280 So much of our study and teaching from this series comes from the Christ-centered exposition 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:08.620 series on Ephesians. 00:01:09.219 --> 00:01:14.000 And Tony Merida is the author of that particular volume. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:19.359 The background of the book of Ephesians written by the Apostle Paul around the date 8 AD 62. 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:22.180 The setting was his Roman imprisonment. 00:01:22.180 --> 00:01:24.340 He was under house arrest in Rome. 00:01:24.460 --> 00:01:29.140 And so they had to deliver this letter from Paul all the way back to the church in Ephesus. 00:01:29.900 --> 00:01:32.200 Would be a few weeks journey probably. 00:01:32.820 --> 00:01:34.800 And he was very familiar with this church. 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:39.719 He had been their pastor for three years himself before he had left someone else there in his 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:40.820 place to pastor them. 00:01:41.060 --> 00:01:43.520 You can read all about that in Acts chapter 19. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:47.319 So that's the background, the breakdown of the book. 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:50.060 Again, first three chapters, who we are in Christ. 00:01:50.459 --> 00:01:54.619 And then beginning in chapter 4 through chapter 6, how we live for Christ. 00:01:54.699 --> 00:01:55.859 So that's what we're doing today. 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:58.879 We're talking about how we then live for Christ. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:01.539 The very first part of Ephesians chapter 4. 00:02:01.899 --> 00:02:04.399 Would you mind standing with me if you're able to? 00:02:04.479 --> 00:02:06.219 And let's read the word of God together. 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:07.539 Ephesians chapter 4. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:10.960 I want to welcome once again all of those joining with us this morning. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:14.219 Whether you're a member, a regular attender, or visiting with us this morning. 00:02:14.320 --> 00:02:15.520 Or if you're joining us online. 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:19.540 We know there's some that weekly have to tune in online and join us that way. 00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:23.400 And there's some who maybe would ordinarily be there, but due to health reasons or other 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:27.020 things they're having to watch online right now, I want to make sure they know that we're 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:28.939 grateful for their attendance with us this morning. 00:02:29.300 --> 00:02:32.340 Let's look at Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 1. 00:02:32.480 --> 00:02:35.379 Therefore, I, the prisoner in the Lord. 00:02:36.540 --> 00:02:40.680 You know, when we see the word therefore, what does that mean to us? 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:43.620 We want to know what it's there for, right? 00:02:43.980 --> 00:02:49.599 So you go back and you read Ephesians 1, 2, and 3, and you see what it's there for. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:54.760 So therefore, because of our standing in Christ, because of our identity in Christ, because 00:02:54.760 --> 00:03:02.379 we have learned who Christ sees us as, therefore, Paul writes, I, the prisoner in the Lord, 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:07.379 urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received. 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:11.419 Live worthy of the calling you have received. 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:17.519 With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every 00:03:17.519 --> 00:03:22.500 effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:23.519 Verse 4. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:30.939 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope at your calling, 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:39.800 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:41.700 all and in all. 00:03:42.480 --> 00:03:46.040 Now, grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:51.819 For it says, here's a quote from the Old Testament, when he ascended on high, he took the captives 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:54.419 captive, but he gave and gave gifts to people. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:04:00.439 But what does he ascended mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:00.680 earth? 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:07.219 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens to fill all things. 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:15.080 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:22.819 teachers, equipping the saints for the work of the ministry to build up the body of Christ. 00:04:23.339 --> 00:04:30.939 Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into maturity 00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:36.720 with a stature measured by Christ's fullness, then we will no longer be little children. 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:43.080 Tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness 00:04:43.080 --> 00:04:44.720 and the techniques of deceit. 00:04:45.140 --> 00:04:54.340 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ. 00:04:55.340 --> 00:05:02.100 From him, the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth 00:05:02.100 --> 00:05:09.200 of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part. 00:05:09.900 --> 00:05:10.640 Thanks for standing. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:11.280 You may be seated. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:14.180 God, I pray that you would speak to us through your word. 00:05:14.320 --> 00:05:16.020 Give us your eyes of understanding. 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:18.180 Reveal your truth to us, Lord. 00:05:18.700 --> 00:05:23.280 Help us to learn how we can walk worthy of your gospel, worthy of you. 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:25.040 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:25.200 Amen. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:32.360 So, our theme for today is walking worthy of the gospel. 00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:39.000 We take this directly from this passage right here in Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 1. 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:43.020 Live worthy of the calling you have received. 00:05:43.520 --> 00:05:44.500 So, number one. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:49.100 Taking notes this morning, we've got some blanks for you to fill out in the bulletin. 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:50.939 gospel unity. 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:52.560 Gospel unity. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:58.800 That is our first principle that I hope we can take away that will enable us to walk worthy 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:04.080 of our God, walk worthy of the gospel that we have received and in which we have placed 00:06:04.080 --> 00:06:09.300 our faith, and walk worthy of the calling that God has given to us. 00:06:10.340 --> 00:06:11.360 Gospel unity. 00:06:11.520 --> 00:06:12.460 What do we mean by this? 00:06:12.820 --> 00:06:13.780 Go over to Matthew. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.300 You can look on the screen if you'd like. 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:17.060 Matthew chapter 11, verse 28. 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:23.220 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:30.060 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will 00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:37.379 find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:39.079 What are we talking about? 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:40.240 I thought we were talking about unity. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:46.899 Well, let's look back at Ephesians 4 and understand why we're tying in this passage with 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:50.219 what we're reading about a call to unity in Ephesians 4. 00:06:50.819 --> 00:06:57.779 So he says in, Paul writes in Ephesians 4, 1, I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to 00:06:57.779 --> 00:07:00.039 live worthy of the calling you have received. 00:07:00.719 --> 00:07:01.879 How do we do that? 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:05.579 With all humility and gentleness. 00:07:06.539 --> 00:07:07.699 With patience. 00:07:08.659 --> 00:07:10.739 Bearing with one another in love. 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:13.040 Verse 3, watch this, ready? 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:20.420 Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:26.000 Then he goes on and talks about how there's one body, there's one Spirit, there's one Lord, 00:07:26.139 --> 00:07:32.579 one faith, one baptism, one hope, one God, and one Father of all through and in us all. 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:43.879 So the theme of how to achieve unity is through meekness, through gentleness, through bearing 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:50.979 with one another in love, humility, making every effort to keep this unity. 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:52.459 Well, how do we achieve that? 00:07:52.459 --> 00:08:01.539 How do you and I set aside, number one, set aside ourselves, the big number one, and instead 00:08:01.539 --> 00:08:04.839 prioritize or prefer one another? 00:08:05.719 --> 00:08:07.539 Well, Jesus gives us a picture of that. 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:10.500 He says, be like me. 00:08:11.799 --> 00:08:13.560 Live how I lived. 00:08:13.679 --> 00:08:19.000 I gave you the ingredients to make this recipe for life here. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:22.720 He said, come to me, all who are weary and burdened. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:23.779 I will give you rest. 00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:26.060 Take my yoke upon you. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:27.480 Learn from me. 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:29.319 I am lowly. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:30.360 Watch that word. 00:08:30.459 --> 00:08:33.799 I am lowly and humble in heart. 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:36.700 And then you'll find rest for your souls. 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:39.840 Jesus is not proud. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:46.340 Jesus does not lord himself over us, even though he is the Lord. 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:54.820 Jesus does not brag and boast about all his greatness, even though he has more than any 00:08:54.820 --> 00:08:58.360 of us could ever hope to achieve by which to brag. 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:05.600 And so we see that Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart. 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:12.340 A man named Dane Ortland wrote this book that you see a picture of here called Gentle and Lowly 00:09:12.340 --> 00:09:16.360 several years ago, and it kind of took Christianity by storm. 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:24.180 And I'm really glad it did, because the entire emphasis of this book, and people asked him, 00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:27.280 why did you write this book in particular at this moment? 00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:35.600 And he said, it's because in this era, this age of American Christianity, where we look around 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:41.420 us and we see a country constantly pitted at each other's throats, like few times in our 00:09:41.420 --> 00:09:44.540 nation's history, we are at odds with each other. 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:47.960 There's one side against the other side. 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:54.340 Regardless of what the issue is, more than likely, we're pitted fiercely against each other. 00:09:55.700 --> 00:10:03.519 He said, in the midst of this day, in the midst of this moment, we must interject the true 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:05.100 spirit of Jesus Christ. 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:10.559 And if we read in the Bible, we read all kinds of attributes of God. 00:10:11.579 --> 00:10:12.439 He is mighty. 00:10:12.579 --> 00:10:13.399 He is powerful. 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:15.039 He is all-knowing. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.799 He is all-seeing. 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:17.679 He is everywhere. 00:10:18.439 --> 00:10:20.360 He is the creator of all that is. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:27.419 There are so many amazing, incredible attributes of God of which we stand in awe. 00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:37.519 However, when Jesus described himself, he said, I am gentle and lowly in heart. 00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:46.620 He could have used so many other descriptors, but that's what he wanted us to focus on. 00:10:47.059 --> 00:10:49.039 That's his true nature. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:52.939 We have a quote from Dan Ortlund in this book. 00:10:53.319 --> 00:11:00.139 He says, in the one place in the Bible, Matthew 11, 28 through 30, where the Son of God pulls 00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:06.740 back the veil and lets us peer way down into the core of who he is, we are not told that 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:08.939 he is austere and demanding in heart. 00:11:09.179 --> 00:11:12.519 We're not told that he is exalted and dignified in heart. 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:18.559 We're not even told that he is joyful and generous in heart, though we know that he is. 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:27.639 Letting Jesus set the tone, his surprising claim is that he is gentle and lowly in heart. 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:38.639 So, before we move on, how like Jesus are you and I? 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:43.199 Are we gentle and lowly? 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:47.100 That's the question I've got to look in the mirror and ask myself. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:49.960 Am I gentle and lowly? 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:55.879 Or do I much prefer some of the attributes, some of the other attributes of God to model 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:56.480 myself after? 00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:01.480 God is God and we must let God be God. 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:12.279 But when he says, come and be like me, learn from me, Matthew 11, we read specifically what 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:13.620 we are supposed to learn from him. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.539 And that is that he is gentle and lowly. 00:12:16.680 --> 00:12:17.580 What do we mean by that? 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:20.680 We're gentle in our interactions with each other. 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:23.200 We're gentle in our dealings with each other. 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:29.940 Whether someone agrees with us or someone disagrees with us, I must be gentle in my dealings with 00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:30.259 others. 00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:32.559 Man, that's a learning curve. 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:34.159 That's a work in progress. 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:36.319 That's not natural to us. 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:42.600 Many of us, you know, your type A personalities, your alphas in the room, we're not talking about 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:44.559 generation alpha, that's the little kids. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:52.259 But your, you know, alpha personalities and take the lead, I'm the main guy, you need to 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:53.259 listen to what I say. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:55.279 We don't want to be gentle. 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:58.220 And we sure don't want to be lowly. 00:12:58.220 --> 00:13:00.800 We don't want to debase ourselves. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.480 We want to be ranked at the top. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.440 We want to strive for the top. 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:12.300 You know, I didn't get valedictorian in my graduating class in seminary, but I did have 00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:13.560 a pretty good GPA, all right? 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:14.660 And I'm pretty happy about it. 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:19.699 And if you knew me in undergraduate school, you'd be amazed at the GPA that I had in graduate 00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:20.079 school. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:25.780 We want to strive to be best. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:28.520 We want to strive, come out ranked on top. 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:33.800 But Jesus says, be lowly. 00:13:34.420 --> 00:13:36.320 It doesn't mean don't do your best. 00:13:37.180 --> 00:13:40.220 In fact, the Bible says if you're going to do something, do it with all your might. 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:41.200 Do it with all your heart. 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:43.020 Do it to the glory of God. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.300 But did you catch that last part? 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:48.699 Do it to the glory of God, not the glory of me. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:51.399 That's where the difference comes in. 00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:56.459 He must increase. 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:58.459 Some of you were tracking with me. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:01.620 Harlan's right there. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.599 That's right. 00:14:03.839 --> 00:14:05.939 But I must decrease. 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:10.779 Harlan taught all the BBS kids that back this summer. 00:14:10.779 --> 00:14:13.799 He would say, what time is it? 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:17.199 And then they would have to say, kids, you're with me? 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.019 What time is it? 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.500 There you go. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:23.179 We got a few of them. 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.019 John 3.30. 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.899 He must increase. 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:25.639 I must decrease. 00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:26.299 Isn't that great? 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:32.819 That is a truth that will help us be lowly in heart. 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.439 Just like Jesus. 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:40.440 If we keep that spirit that as we, as he increases, we decrease. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:43.580 So then it doesn't matter my opinion. 00:14:43.800 --> 00:14:45.820 It doesn't matter if I win. 00:14:45.920 --> 00:14:47.420 It doesn't matter if I get the credit. 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:52.060 None of those things matter as long as God is glorified. 00:14:52.640 --> 00:14:55.520 Then he increases as I decrease. 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:59.020 And then I am gentle and I am lowly like Jesus. 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:01.560 So gospel unity, that's how we achieve it. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:04.040 That's how we achieve gospel unity. 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.419 We are gentle with one another. 00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:07.019 We are lowly in heart. 00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:12.659 And then according to Ephesians 4, we can remember that we are all with one body. 00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.799 We're all with one spirit. 00:15:13.939 --> 00:15:15.559 We're all serving the same God. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:22.279 The same God is working through us patiently, step by step, reforming us into his image. 00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:24.599 And so then we can be unified. 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:29.759 And as we are unified together, we recognize that we are different. 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:32.799 There is gospel diversity. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:35.240 Why do we call it gospel diversity? 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:37.179 Why do we call it gospel unity? 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:39.699 Because the gospel is what unifies us. 00:15:39.859 --> 00:15:40.919 There is one Lord. 00:15:41.059 --> 00:15:41.839 There is one faith. 00:15:41.959 --> 00:15:42.740 There is salvation. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:46.099 So that brings us together with a common bond. 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.699 So what is gospel diversity? 00:15:47.959 --> 00:15:51.719 It means that God just didn't all save one type of person. 00:15:52.339 --> 00:15:58.479 He saved all kinds of people with all kinds of backgrounds and all kinds of strengths and all kinds of weaknesses. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.639 And so the unity must come first. 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:04.820 The gentleness and the lowliness must come first. 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:08.220 Otherwise, this diversity will cause problems. 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:14.379 Otherwise, we won't like the differences among our body of believers. 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:20.240 Otherwise, we won't like how somebody else thinks something ought to be done differently than we do. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:25.259 So gospel diversity can actually help unify us. 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:28.019 Galatians chapter 3 teaches this principle. 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:28.980 There is no Jew. 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:30.460 There is no Greek. 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.960 No slave or free. 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:36.980 No male and female since you are all one in Christ Jesus. 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:37.700 Do you see that? 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:42.060 The world teaches us this principle of intersectionality. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.019 Anybody know what intersectionality is? 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.019 Yeah. 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.039 Yeah. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:50.480 I didn't either until I had to study it out. 00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:56.419 But intersectionality is the highlighting the differences between us. 00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:58.299 Whether it's a race gender. 00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:04.220 Whether it's, I'm sorry, race or gender or background or financial condition. 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:07.319 Whatever it is, the differences between us. 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:13.420 Now, it kind of builds on the concept that there is a mainstream of each category. 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:16.600 There is a majority of each category. 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:19.420 And so they are kind of at the top. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:24.519 And then there's all these other underprivileged sectors of each one of those categories. 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:31.259 Whether it's race or gender or background or, you know, the country you're born in or whatever it is. 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:34.380 Whether you have one parent at home or two parents or et cetera, et cetera. 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:42.480 So there's all these different categories that we like to disunify ourselves, right? 00:17:42.760 --> 00:17:45.040 Separate ourselves into all these different categories. 00:17:45.780 --> 00:17:51.780 And this intersectionality teaches that the more underprivileged categories you're in, 00:17:51.840 --> 00:17:58.700 the more they intersect and make you, you know, living a hard life and in need of help. 00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:05.180 So just because you're Hispanic and you're female and you came from a single parent home, 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:08.759 then you're at a disadvantage and you should be helped. 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:12.920 Now, there is certainly some truth in some of those things that oftentimes, 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:18.519 because of different backgrounds, et cetera, it can help set you up for disadvantages. 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:20.120 But you know what the interesting thing is? 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:22.619 God can overcome anything. 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:26.839 The cross is the one unifier. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:30.959 The cross is the one X factor that man can't understand. 00:18:31.659 --> 00:18:38.599 The power of Jesus Christ is the one thing that can overcome all the failings of the world, 00:18:38.699 --> 00:18:42.339 all the failures of the world, all the disadvantages that we find ourselves with. 00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:48.319 You know, if you were born in America, then you're part of that majority, you know, ruling class, so to speak. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:54.759 And if you're born in another, maybe third world country, then there's another intersection of underprivileged, et cetera. 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:59.919 But God is saying, look, you give all that up in Jesus. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:02.059 There is no Jew or Greek. 00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:04.539 There is no slave or free, male and female. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:10.559 All these identifiers that separate us, God says, look, none of that matters anymore, 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:14.240 because now we are all one in Christ Jesus. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:20.400 So, though we are diverse, we are together. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.299 But we don't ignore the diversity. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:28.500 We highlight the diversity and say, wow, God has done something special 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:32.359 in bringing all these different people from different backgrounds 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:36.339 who would probably never hang out in any other setting, right? 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:39.460 I know we would all just totally get along if there was no church 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:41.579 and we all just lived around the same area, right? 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:43.819 We'd all be over at each other's houses all the time. 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:46.059 Probably not, right? 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.359 We probably wouldn't. 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:50.299 But we all gather together weekly. 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:50.720 Why? 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:52.779 Because we love God. 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.399 We have the same God. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.599 We have the same faith. 00:19:57.399 --> 00:20:00.539 And so even though we share this common bond, 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:05.599 we recognize that God has equipped us with different, diverse abilities. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:10.500 how God has uniquely equipped me for life and ministry. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.980 We celebrate that. 00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:16.579 If everyone had my giftings from God, 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:20.419 that'd be a weird church, wouldn't it? 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:24.819 We just got a bunch of pastors and everybody wants to preach on Sunday 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:28.980 and everybody wants to visit and study the Bible 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:32.319 and do the sermon preparation and help lead the church, etc. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:36.399 If everyone was gifted in that way, 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:38.639 well, what good would that church be? 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.460 But instead, 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:47.240 so many people in this room have different gifts than the rest of us. 00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:49.079 And we thank God for that. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:51.299 He has uniquely equipped you 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:54.339 and then uniquely equipped me for life and ministry. 00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:57.519 And then he gives us responsibilities. 00:20:58.139 --> 00:21:00.039 Because of our diverse abilities, 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:02.259 he gives us diverse responsibilities. 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:04.500 So we're not all called to do the same thing. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.940 Because he's equipped us to do different things, 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:10.139 he calls us to different things at different points in our lives. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.240 So when you were 25, 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:15.579 God probably had a different calling for you then 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.879 than when you're 65. 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:20.579 Maybe there was a translate that, you know, 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:23.159 that could translate from one stage of life to the other. 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.299 But more than likely, 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:28.180 your calling from God has changed as you go through life. 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:33.500 Because he has equipped you differently for different stages of your life. 00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:38.060 But each work that God calls you to is a worthy work. 00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:39.980 Whether it's singing in the choir, 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:42.100 or rocking the babies in the nursery, 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.500 or working in the children's church, 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.220 or cooking the meals, 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:49.080 or helping out in the kindness ministries, 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:51.200 we try to show the love of Christ around town, 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:56.220 or praying for those who are in desperate need of prayer throughout each week, 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:58.000 or preaching the sermon, 00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:58.880 or leading the music, 00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.900 or playing the piano, 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.380 or whatever it is, 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.980 whatever it is, 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.059 it is a worthy work. 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:08.080 And God has uniquely called you to that. 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.960 So that's what they're teaching us, 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:13.380 Paul is teaching us here in Ephesians. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:16.340 Would you turn with me over to 1 Corinthians chapter 12? 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:18.139 We'll spend just a couple of minutes here. 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:22.199 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.480 Excuse me. 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.779 Beginning in verse 4. 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:31.579 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 4. 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:33.379 Now there are different gifts, 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:35.000 but the same Spirit. 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:37.319 There are different ministries, 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:39.379 but the same Lord. 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.599 I want to read this passage to you 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:44.079 because the Bible generally says it a whole lot better than I do. 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:46.279 So you can hear it straight from God. 00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.299 It's the same principle. 00:22:48.159 --> 00:22:48.559 Verse 6. 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.960 There are different activities, 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:53.899 but the same God produces each gift in each person. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.960 A manifestation of the Spirit 00:22:55.960 --> 00:23:00.319 is given to each person for the common good. 00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:03.559 To one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit. 00:23:03.679 --> 00:23:06.059 To another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit. 00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:08.059 To another, faith by the same Spirit. 00:23:08.179 --> 00:23:10.079 To another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit. 00:23:10.199 --> 00:23:12.039 To another, the performing of miracles. 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.079 To another, prophecy. 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:15.139 To another, distinguishing between spirits. 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.859 To another, different kinds of tongues. 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:18.439 To another, interpretation of tongues. 00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:21.639 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:24.799 distributing to each person as he wills. 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:28.579 Don't get caught up in the listing of gifts here. 00:23:28.699 --> 00:23:30.159 Get caught up in the understanding 00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:32.399 that God equipses each of us differently. 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.779 He gives each of us different gifts. 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:37.980 The gifts of the Spirit are too numerous 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.779 to list in this passage. 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:43.039 So this isn't an exhaustive listing 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.160 of the gifts of the Spirit, 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.539 but what it is, 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:48.900 is a point that Paul is making 00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:50.400 to the church in Corinth that says, 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:52.799 each one of you is going to be gifted differently 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.400 from the Spirit, 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.519 but they're all valuable. 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.720 They're all unique. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.620 They're all a worthy work. 00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.659 So verse 12, 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:01.479 for just as the body is one 00:24:01.479 --> 00:24:03.259 and has many parts 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.479 and all the parts of that body, 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:06.759 though many are still one body, 00:24:06.959 --> 00:24:08.259 so also is Christ. 00:24:08.459 --> 00:24:10.579 For we were all baptized by one Spirit 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:11.879 into one body, 00:24:11.939 --> 00:24:12.979 whether Jews or Greeks, 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.379 slaves or free, 00:24:14.719 --> 00:24:16.819 we were all given one Spirit to drink. 00:24:16.959 --> 00:24:18.719 Indeed, the body is not one part, 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.500 but many. 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.259 We know that. 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.539 If the foot should say, 00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.359 because I'm not a hand, 00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:23.299 I don't belong to the body, 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.739 it's not for that reason 00:24:24.739 --> 00:24:25.979 any less a part of the body. 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.400 If the ear says, 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.120 I'm not an eye, 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.200 so I don't belong to the body, 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.240 it's not for that reason 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.740 any less a part of the body. 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.420 If the whole body were an eye, 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.960 where would the hearing be? 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.880 If the whole body were an ear, 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.140 where would the sense of smell be? 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.860 But as it is, 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.900 God has arranged each one of the parts 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.740 in the body just as He wanted. 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.579 If they were all the same parts, 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.559 where would the whole body be? 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.700 So, many parts, 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:52.740 one body. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.700 Verse 21. 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:56.360 One, the eye can't say to the hand, 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.080 I don't need you. 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:59.080 The hand can't say to the feet, 00:24:59.180 --> 00:24:59.980 I don't need you. 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.220 On the contrary, 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.259 those parts of the body 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:04.700 that are weaker or smaller, 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.220 more fragile, 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.860 they're indispensable. 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.860 Can't do away with those. 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.400 The parts of the body 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.900 that we consider less honorable, 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:15.059 we clothe these with greater honor. 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.279 Our unrespectable parts 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:18.080 are treated with greater respect, 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:20.220 which our respectable parts don't need. 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:23.100 Instead, God put the body together, 00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:24.660 giving greater honor 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.779 to the less honorable. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.600 Verse 25. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.240 Watch this. 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:27.480 Ready? 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:28.319 Last one. 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.960 So that there would be 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:33.339 no division in the body, 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:35.200 but that the members 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:37.539 would have the same concern 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.720 for each other. 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.759 Don't miss this. 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.839 Don't miss this. 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:44.000 That there would be no division 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.420 in the body. 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:49.640 God's design is diversity. 00:25:51.080 --> 00:25:53.740 Satan's distraction is division. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:57.759 God designed differences. 00:25:58.259 --> 00:26:00.100 He designed a diverse group 00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:02.720 so we would be complete 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:04.120 when we're together. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:08.340 Satan wants to take God's design 00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.700 and distort it 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:12.940 into this horrible, 00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:17.080 destructive concept 00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:18.259 of division. 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:21.160 He wants to divide us. 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:23.700 He wants to take this diversity 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:27.059 and get us worked up about it. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:29.680 He wants to take this diversity 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:33.180 and sow seeds of strife, 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.880 seeds of discord, 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:39.140 and divide this body 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:41.120 that God wants to unite. 00:26:42.040 --> 00:26:43.760 Don't let that happen. 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:46.460 The holidays should be a great time. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.700 Christmas should be a great time 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:50.840 to come together as a church, 00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:53.160 to unite around our faith in Christ, 00:26:53.540 --> 00:26:55.060 around the celebration of Jesus 00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:56.220 and His nativity, 00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:58.320 on the celebration of Jesus 00:26:58.320 --> 00:26:59.760 that He came, 00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:01.300 was sent down by the Father 00:27:01.300 --> 00:27:03.020 to be our Redeemer, 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.980 to save us. 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:06.059 to be the sacrifice 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.259 for the penalty 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.599 for our sin 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:09.579 that we committed. 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.380 He could be our salvation. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.799 So all those years ago, 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.339 we celebrate that baby. 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:18.400 We celebrate the gospel story 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.460 that you and I are sinners 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.799 in need of a Savior. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.620 And Jesus willingly 00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.980 became that Savior. 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:26.299 That should unite us. 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:28.099 That He hung on the cross. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.519 That He bled and died. 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.940 And three days later, 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.319 He arose from the grave. 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.779 And He is alive today. 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.759 And He says, 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:35.940 if you call on Me, 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.779 if you put your faith in Me, 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.139 and say, 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:40.619 God, forgive me of my sins, 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.319 cleanse me, 00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:42.839 make me your child, 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:44.139 then He will do that. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.799 And He will save you 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:47.339 from the penalty of your sin. 00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:49.619 That should be what unites us. 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.440 And my friend, 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:52.039 if you have not done that this morning, 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.799 if there's not been a time 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.279 in your life 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.859 when you've prayed 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.859 that prayer to Jesus 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:57.619 for the forgiveness of your sin, 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:59.240 to put all your faith in Him, 00:27:59.639 --> 00:28:00.680 turn from your sin, 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.440 repent of it, 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:03.160 and turn to Jesus, 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:05.059 then please don't leave this house today 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.740 without doing that. 00:28:06.320 --> 00:28:07.480 Please don't walk out of this building 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:09.200 without making that 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.700 one most important decision. 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:13.340 That is what unites us together. 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.480 But man, 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.500 Satan wants to get in there 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.100 and mess it up. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.360 He wants to say, 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.960 yeah, but 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:20.580 what about how he dresses? 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:22.220 What about his job? 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.299 He makes more money than you. 00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:24.640 What about how he 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:26.200 has this boat 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.460 and you always wanted a boat 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:29.059 and how come he got one 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:29.660 before you did? 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:31.319 We can get mad 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.860 about the silliest things sometimes. 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.019 You know, 00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:34.900 there might come a day 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:36.160 in the next several months 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.080 of building and grounds 00:28:37.080 --> 00:28:38.059 and business meetings 00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.819 and talking about 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.900 maybe doing something 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:40.440 with the carpet 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.519 and trying to update that. 00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:42.259 You know, 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:43.180 there's a great opportunity 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.100 to divide the church. 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.580 Well, I think it ought to be this color. 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:46.340 I think it ought to be 00:28:46.340 --> 00:28:47.059 this kind of carpet. 00:28:48.100 --> 00:28:48.880 And God's sitting here 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:49.080 thinking, 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:49.860 what in the world? 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.500 Be thankful you have a building, 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:53.840 right? 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.759 And come together 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.740 remembering 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:57.559 that gentle 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.919 and lowly spirit 00:28:58.919 --> 00:29:00.699 that can unite us. 00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:02.819 Don't let Satan distract 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.980 with division. 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.119 And then thirdly, 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:05.980 gospel maturity. 00:29:07.199 --> 00:29:07.720 Quickly, 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.539 our last point here, 00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:10.159 gospel maturity. 00:29:10.679 --> 00:29:12.159 Look down at verse 13. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:16.099 Back in Ephesians chapter 4, 00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:17.959 verse 13. 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:20.579 Until we all reach unity 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.399 in the faith 00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:22.759 and in the knowledge 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:24.180 of God's Son. 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.279 So remember, 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.599 He equipped us differently. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.640 He calls us to unity. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:33.500 And then He says, 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:36.539 let's grow in gospel maturity. 00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:39.640 Understanding that the gospel of Jesus, 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.920 the message that saved you 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:43.019 from your sins, 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:45.980 is not the end of its effectiveness. 00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.759 The gospel is there 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:49.920 to propel us through this life. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:51.980 The gospel is there 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:53.160 to help us wake up 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:54.539 and meet each new day. 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.519 And the more familiar 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:59.019 we get with the gospel 00:29:59.019 --> 00:30:00.480 and the more we apply 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.740 the gospel directly 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:03.340 to our days, 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:05.380 we grow in maturity 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:06.039 as a believer. 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.180 This doesn't mean 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:10.340 length of being 00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:11.779 a follower of Jesus. 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.820 There are people 00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:15.759 who are 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:18.980 decades long followers of Jesus. 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:21.200 who are still immature 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:23.480 in their understanding 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.460 and application 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.440 of the gospel. 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.539 Coming to church 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.460 for a long time, 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.660 maybe a Sunday school teacher, 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.480 maybe a deacon, 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.460 doesn't matter 00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:34.120 what role they play 00:30:34.120 --> 00:30:35.220 or how long 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:36.339 they've been coming to church, 00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:38.440 it matters 00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:40.220 how much you've 00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:41.180 internalized 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.460 the gospel of Jesus 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.500 and made it 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.200 an actual, 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.039 real part 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.220 of your life. 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.779 So, 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:48.140 gospel maturity 00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:49.160 is what we're talking about 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:50.920 back in verse 13. 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.740 We reach this unity 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.259 and faith 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.680 and knowledge 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.400 of God's Son 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:56.380 growing into maturity 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.480 with a stature 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:59.579 measured by Christ's fullness. 00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:00.299 Man, 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.920 the fullness of God 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.900 is what we measure 00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:03.640 ourselves against. 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.160 Well, 00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.740 we're never going to 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.160 measure up, 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:05.440 are we? 00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.380 We're never going to 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.500 totally measure up 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.980 to the fullness of God. 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.000 But my goodness, 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.220 God wants to take us 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.460 a little bit closer to Him, 00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:13.880 a little bit more like Him 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.920 every day. 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:15.900 And sometimes 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:17.820 we jump five steps ahead 00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:18.660 and sometimes 00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.480 we'll slide back 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:19.960 a little bit. 00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:21.340 But every day 00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:22.440 is another step 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.020 in that journey 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:23.640 with Jesus 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:26.220 in this maturing process. 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.640 So don't get distracted. 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:30.180 Don't get off the path. 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.400 So you've got to get back 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:35.240 and keep walking 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:36.260 with the Lord 00:31:36.260 --> 00:31:37.000 as He calls us 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.520 to maturity. 00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.300 I love this quote 00:31:39.300 --> 00:31:40.400 by Warren Wearsby. 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.160 If you find something 00:31:41.160 --> 00:31:42.240 written by Warren Wearsby, 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.640 take a chance 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.480 and read it 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.059 because it's probably 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:45.559 pretty good. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.980 Truth without love 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.859 is brutality 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:50.140 and love without truth 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:51.460 is hypocrisy. 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.700 So becoming mature 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.660 as a believer 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:56.539 is learning how to balance 00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:59.460 this truth and love. 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.440 How do we know that? 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:00.920 Well, 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.059 Ephesians chapter 4. 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:05.200 Ephesians chapter 4, 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.099 we left off 00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:07.599 in verse 13. 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.700 So pick it up in 14. 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.500 Then we will no longer, 00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.680 when we grow in maturity, 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:13.060 into this stature 00:32:13.060 --> 00:32:14.259 measured by Christfulness, 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.380 then we will no longer 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:16.779 be little children. 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:20.180 How many little children 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:21.279 Christians do you know? 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.299 I know a few. 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.180 We're not pointing fingers, 00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:25.480 y'all. 00:32:25.560 --> 00:32:26.400 You can raise your hand. 00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:26.860 It's okay. 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.420 How many little children 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:29.279 Christians do you know? 00:32:29.320 --> 00:32:30.000 Anybody know some? 00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:30.779 I do. 00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:31.580 Absolutely. 00:32:31.820 --> 00:32:32.840 I know some little children 00:32:32.840 --> 00:32:33.259 Christians. 00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:34.820 Doesn't mean they're 00:32:34.820 --> 00:32:36.700 little children in age. 00:32:36.820 --> 00:32:37.500 It means they haven't 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.900 developed into maturity 00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:39.960 as a follower of Jesus. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.120 So, 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:43.180 it says, 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:43.920 then we won't be 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:45.059 little children any longer, 00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:46.660 tossed around by the waves 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:48.140 and every wind of teaching, 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:50.059 human cunning and cleverness 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:51.279 and techniques of deceit. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:51.680 Man, 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.380 just a reminder, 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.460 the devil is out there 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.420 trying to mess you up. 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:57.079 He will use whatever it takes. 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.940 He'll use the internet. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.680 He'll use other people. 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.860 He'll use your own flesh. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.860 He'll use your own mind 00:33:02.860 --> 00:33:03.480 against you. 00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:05.440 The devil will use 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.360 whatever it takes 00:33:06.360 --> 00:33:08.799 to mess you up. 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.759 There is real spiritual warfare 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.299 happening. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:12.360 And that's why 00:33:12.360 --> 00:33:13.920 the Holy Spirit of God 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.620 is already the victor. 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:16.940 He's already won. 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.599 We can already be 00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:19.519 firmly planted 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.940 on the winning side 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:22.099 with Jesus. 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.460 But, 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:27.059 it takes walking with Him. 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:28.420 It takes growing 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:30.200 past that little children's stage 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:31.259 into maturity. 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.039 So, 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:32.879 verse 15. 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.180 Here's the big concept 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:34.759 and we'll be done. 00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:38.900 Speaking the truth 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:40.059 in love. 00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:42.379 This is how 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:43.740 we're not little children 00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.559 anymore as Christians. 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:46.279 How we grow in maturity. 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:49.279 Speaking the truth 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.099 in love. 00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:51.700 Let us grow 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.660 in every way 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.799 into Him 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:55.160 who is the head. 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.099 Christ. 00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:56.940 Okay? 00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.660 Speaking the truth 00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.119 in love. 00:33:59.660 --> 00:33:59.839 So, 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.559 that's why I like that 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.000 Warren Wears. 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:01.460 the quote. 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:03.059 Truth without love 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.319 is brutal. 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:09.059 Love without truth 00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:10.800 is deceit. 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.019 False. 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.900 You've got to have 00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.420 a balance 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:16.659 of truth 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.699 and love. 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:19.199 Another way 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.739 to put it. 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.360 Another, 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.760 one of my favorite writers, 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.519 John Stott. 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.280 Ruth, 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:24.500 truth without love 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.599 is too hard. 00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:27.000 Love without truth 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.980 is too soft. 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.780 Maybe just a little 00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:29.460 simpler, right? 00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:30.559 A little easier 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.119 to understand. 00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.500 Truth without love 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.139 is too hard. 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.340 Love without truth 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:35.360 is too soft. 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:36.800 What do we mean by that? 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:38.159 Gospel maturity. 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.139 So, 00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:40.220 back in verse 15. 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:40.599 Listen, 00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:41.559 I don't go to the Greek 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.099 very much, 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:43.159 but I just graduated 00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:44.380 with my master's degree. 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:44.679 So, 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:46.340 in celebration of that, 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.280 we're going to bust out 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.079 a Greek word this morning, 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.380 okay? 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.119 Alephuontis. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.319 Alephuontis. 00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:56.819 It literally means, 00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:57.799 we got that from 00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.619 Ephesians 4, 00:34:59.319 --> 00:35:00.139 verse 15. 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:01.840 Speaking the truth. 00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:03.699 Speaking the truth 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:05.019 literally means 00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:05.900 truthing. 00:35:06.799 --> 00:35:07.539 I didn't know 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.219 that was a thing. 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.360 I don't think it is. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:10.259 But in the Greek, 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:10.819 it was, 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.279 okay? 00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:11.759 So, 00:35:11.819 --> 00:35:12.619 when they wrote this 00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:13.659 in the original languages, 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:15.219 Alephuontis, 00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:17.259 Alephuontis, 00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:18.379 Alephuontis is the root verb. 00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:19.639 It means, 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.839 to truth. 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:23.440 We don't have a word 00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:24.399 like that in English, 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:24.739 right? 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.659 Let me, 00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:27.399 let me truth you 00:35:27.399 --> 00:35:27.839 for a minute. 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:31.059 So, 00:35:31.299 --> 00:35:32.679 when you add on this 00:35:32.679 --> 00:35:33.359 on test, 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.379 it's like the progressive, 00:35:34.879 --> 00:35:35.339 you know, 00:35:35.859 --> 00:35:36.920 participle at the end here. 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.259 It says, 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:38.179 truthing. 00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.559 So, 00:35:39.799 --> 00:35:40.480 truthing 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.879 in love. 00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:43.740 We do need to 00:35:43.740 --> 00:35:45.240 truth with one another. 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:46.960 We need to be truthful. 00:35:47.740 --> 00:35:49.019 We need to speak the truth. 00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.640 But we gotta do it 00:35:50.640 --> 00:35:51.940 in love. 00:35:53.180 --> 00:35:53.539 So, 00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:55.840 do you find yourself 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.800 more often 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:58.860 truthing harshly 00:35:58.860 --> 00:36:00.640 or truthing lovingly? 00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.559 There's a question 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:03.280 that you and I 00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:04.220 gotta ask ourselves. 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:07.619 When you correct someone, 00:36:07.740 --> 00:36:08.320 when you point out 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:08.820 their wrong, 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.680 point out their wrongdoing, 00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:11.680 point out their failures, 00:36:12.640 --> 00:36:13.980 do you truth lovingly 00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.960 or do you truth 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.840 harshly? 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:18.180 When you deal 00:36:18.180 --> 00:36:18.700 with your kids, 00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:19.079 parents, 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:21.240 do we truth lovingly 00:36:21.240 --> 00:36:21.980 or harshly 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.960 with our kids? 00:36:24.240 --> 00:36:25.260 We've got to be 00:36:25.260 --> 00:36:25.740 a people 00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:27.700 who are 00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:28.519 regularly 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.559 truthing 00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:30.440 in love. 00:36:31.180 --> 00:36:31.480 All right? 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.880 John 1, 14, 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:34.380 the word became flesh. 00:36:34.740 --> 00:36:35.640 Notice that capitalize 00:36:35.640 --> 00:36:37.579 on the capitalization 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.680 on the word there. 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:39.860 That's how we know 00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:40.760 it's talking about Jesus. 00:36:40.760 --> 00:36:42.460 The living word 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.060 of God. 00:36:43.060 --> 00:36:44.620 The word became flesh 00:36:44.620 --> 00:36:46.040 and dwelt among us. 00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:47.580 We beheld his glory. 00:36:47.700 --> 00:36:48.780 The glory is of the only 00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.720 begotten of the Father. 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.120 Of course, 00:36:50.200 --> 00:36:50.680 it's Jesus. 00:36:51.140 --> 00:36:52.540 Full of grace 00:36:52.540 --> 00:36:53.320 and truth. 00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:54.860 Jesus lived 00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:55.580 that balance. 00:36:56.100 --> 00:36:57.420 He was that balance 00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.140 of truth 00:36:58.140 --> 00:36:58.700 and love. 00:36:59.660 --> 00:37:00.800 He wasn't too far 00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:01.580 over one way. 00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:04.400 And you just tell everybody 00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:04.960 it's okay. 00:37:05.080 --> 00:37:05.800 God loves you. 00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:07.040 Your sin's not a big deal. 00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:08.420 Well, that's hypocrisy, 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:08.719 isn't it? 00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:09.340 That's deceit. 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:10.779 Sin is a big deal. 00:37:10.840 --> 00:37:12.059 It separates us from God. 00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:13.980 But he wasn't so far 00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:14.719 the other way 00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:15.860 into truth 00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:17.559 that he spoke it 00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:18.360 without any love. 00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:19.759 He wasn't saying, 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:20.360 you're all a bunch 00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:21.139 of evil, wicked sinners 00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:22.039 and you're going to hell 00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:23.000 and rightfully so. 00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:24.259 And that's the end 00:37:24.259 --> 00:37:24.699 of the story. 00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:26.619 I've heard preachers 00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:27.619 preach like that before. 00:37:28.759 --> 00:37:29.759 I don't know what Bible 00:37:29.759 --> 00:37:30.619 they're preaching from 00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:31.619 because that's not 00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.460 who Jesus was. 00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:34.260 Jesus spoke 00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:35.820 the truth 00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.659 in love. 00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:37.579 He was full 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.980 of both truth 00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:40.440 and grace. 00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:42.780 2 John 00:37:42.780 --> 00:37:43.659 in verse 3 00:37:43.659 --> 00:37:45.119 Grace, mercy 00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:45.780 and peace 00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:46.760 will be with us 00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:47.659 from God 00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:48.220 the Father 00:37:48.220 --> 00:37:49.480 from Jesus Christ 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.480 the Son of the Father 00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:52.119 in truth 00:37:52.119 --> 00:37:53.800 and love. 00:37:54.800 --> 00:37:55.440 This 00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:56.360 is what 00:37:56.360 --> 00:37:56.920 Christianity 00:37:56.920 --> 00:37:57.760 looks like. 00:37:58.360 --> 00:37:59.139 The more 00:37:59.139 --> 00:37:59.920 that you and I 00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:00.460 balance 00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:01.900 truth and love 00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:02.740 the more 00:38:02.740 --> 00:38:03.720 we are like Jesus 00:38:03.720 --> 00:38:04.820 and the more 00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:05.380 effective 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:06.680 our witness 00:38:06.680 --> 00:38:07.280 is. 00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:08.220 The more 00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:08.660 effective 00:38:08.660 --> 00:38:09.500 our church 00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:10.000 will be. 00:38:10.240 --> 00:38:10.660 The more 00:38:10.660 --> 00:38:11.079 effective 00:38:11.079 --> 00:38:11.840 our ministry 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.460 will be. 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:13.720 The more 00:38:13.720 --> 00:38:14.400 we balance 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:15.160 truth 00:38:15.160 --> 00:38:16.099 and love. 00:38:16.760 --> 00:38:17.280 Usually 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:18.079 Christians 00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:19.000 get a bad rap 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.599 because we're 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:20.240 out of balance 00:38:20.240 --> 00:38:21.860 one way 00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:22.300 or another. 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.440 Many churches 00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:25.840 across church 00:38:25.840 --> 00:38:26.200 history 00:38:26.200 --> 00:38:26.940 have been guilty 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:28.300 of going 00:38:28.300 --> 00:38:28.940 too far 00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:29.920 toward love 00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:30.480 and away 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.019 from truth 00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.659 or going 00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:32.280 too far 00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:33.179 toward truth 00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:33.599 and away 00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.079 from love. 00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:35.460 But when 00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.199 we strike 00:38:36.199 --> 00:38:37.059 that balance 00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:37.980 God 00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.679 can use it. 00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:39.300 God 00:38:39.300 --> 00:38:39.800 can bless 00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:39.940 it 00:38:39.940 --> 00:38:40.360 because that's 00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:40.920 who he is. 00:38:41.420 --> 00:38:42.340 He is gentle 00:38:42.340 --> 00:38:43.119 and lowly 00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:43.719 in heart. 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:44.880 So here's 00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:45.340 our takeaway 00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:45.880 for today. 00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.079 When we walk 00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:47.940 worthy before 00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:48.340 God 00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:49.059 we apply 00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:49.940 the gospel 00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:50.719 directly. 00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:51.659 You and I 00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:52.599 can walk 00:38:52.599 --> 00:38:53.019 worthy 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.940 of God 00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.659 by applying 00:38:54.659 --> 00:38:55.300 the gospel 00:38:55.300 --> 00:38:55.840 directly. 00:38:56.280 --> 00:38:56.699 What does that 00:38:56.699 --> 00:38:57.199 look like? 00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:58.519 How do we 00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:59.480 apply the gospel 00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.300 directly to 00:39:00.300 --> 00:39:00.820 our lives? 00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:01.920 Maybe for you 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:02.800 it means 00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:03.380 putting your 00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:03.980 faith in Jesus 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.719 for salvation. 00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:06.019 Maybe you need 00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.420 to do that 00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:06.740 today. 00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:07.679 Maybe you've been 00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:08.179 putting off 00:39:08.179 --> 00:39:08.880 for a long time 00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:09.199 and you need 00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:09.599 to do that 00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:10.019 before you 00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:10.360 walk out 00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:10.719 these doors 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.039 today. 00:39:11.260 --> 00:39:11.760 We'll pray 00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:12.139 in a moment 00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:12.539 and you'll 00:39:12.539 --> 00:39:12.820 have an 00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:13.219 opportunity. 00:39:13.340 --> 00:39:13.619 I'll give 00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:13.960 you one 00:39:13.960 --> 00:39:14.360 before we 00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:14.740 leave today. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:15.579 Maybe 00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.940 it means 00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:17.179 you need 00:39:17.179 --> 00:39:17.420 to ask 00:39:17.420 --> 00:39:18.079 these questions. 00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:18.740 One, 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.139 am I 00:39:19.139 --> 00:39:19.500 gentle 00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.179 and lowly 00:39:20.179 --> 00:39:20.719 in heart? 00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:22.380 Am I 00:39:22.380 --> 00:39:22.719 gentle 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:23.260 and lowly 00:39:23.260 --> 00:39:23.679 in heart? 00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:25.159 Or am I 00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:25.940 self-absorbed? 00:39:26.179 --> 00:39:26.559 Am I 00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:26.940 harsh? 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:28.659 How am I 00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:29.420 in my 00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:29.720 heart? 00:39:30.220 --> 00:39:30.720 Out of the 00:39:30.720 --> 00:39:31.480 abundance of 00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:31.920 the heart 00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:33.059 the mouth 00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:33.700 speaks. 00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:35.380 Number two, 00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:36.159 do I embrace 00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:36.920 differences in 00:39:36.920 --> 00:39:37.420 our church? 00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:39.079 Do I embrace 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:39.619 the differences 00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:40.240 in our church 00:39:40.240 --> 00:39:40.639 or do I 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:41.179 resist it? 00:39:41.619 --> 00:39:42.200 Do I buck 00:39:42.200 --> 00:39:42.740 against it? 00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:43.840 Do I only 00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:44.900 go and socialize 00:39:44.900 --> 00:39:45.360 with those 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:45.760 who are kind 00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:46.280 of like me 00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:47.380 and ignore 00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:47.980 everybody else 00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:48.500 in our church 00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:49.360 because I 00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:49.720 don't really 00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:50.079 like them 00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:50.659 all that much? 00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:52.079 Do I embrace 00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:52.740 the differences 00:39:52.740 --> 00:39:53.260 that God 00:39:53.260 --> 00:39:53.700 has brought 00:39:53.700 --> 00:39:54.119 together 00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:54.799 in this 00:39:54.799 --> 00:39:55.239 gospel 00:39:55.239 --> 00:39:56.039 diversity? 00:39:56.239 --> 00:39:56.779 That's how 00:39:56.779 --> 00:39:57.279 we apply 00:39:57.279 --> 00:39:57.779 the gospel 00:39:57.779 --> 00:39:58.239 directly 00:39:58.239 --> 00:39:59.219 in our 00:39:59.219 --> 00:39:59.579 days, 00:39:59.699 --> 00:39:59.920 in our 00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:00.239 lives. 00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:00.619 And then 00:40:00.619 --> 00:40:00.960 finally, 00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:01.339 do I 00:40:01.339 --> 00:40:02.239 find myself 00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:03.420 truthing, 00:40:03.599 --> 00:40:04.400 cut off the 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:04.699 end of it 00:40:04.699 --> 00:40:04.839 there, 00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:05.460 that's my 00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:05.699 bad, 00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:06.359 do I 00:40:06.359 --> 00:40:07.019 find myself 00:40:07.019 --> 00:40:07.599 truthing 00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:08.259 in love? 00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:09.880 Truthing 00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:10.500 in love. 00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:12.299 I guarantee 00:40:12.299 --> 00:40:12.619 you, 00:40:13.619 --> 00:40:14.839 this week, 00:40:15.819 --> 00:40:16.599 some spouse, 00:40:17.839 --> 00:40:18.039 you know, 00:40:18.099 --> 00:40:18.699 husband and wife 00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:19.019 are going to be 00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:19.659 going at it 00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:20.440 with each 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:20.739 other, 00:40:21.099 --> 00:40:22.539 and then the 00:40:22.539 --> 00:40:23.000 wife is going 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:23.360 to say, 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.019 or the husband 00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:24.619 might say, 00:40:25.179 --> 00:40:25.579 sweetie, 00:40:25.659 --> 00:40:26.000 you're not 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:26.559 truthing in 00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.019 love right 00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:27.320 now. 00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:30.179 And you 00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:30.440 know what 00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:30.780 the Greek 00:40:30.780 --> 00:40:31.219 says, 00:40:31.280 --> 00:40:31.659 it says, 00:40:31.780 --> 00:40:33.039 we need 00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:33.400 the truth 00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:33.780 in love. 00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:36.699 It's true, 00:40:36.820 --> 00:40:36.980 y'all, 00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:37.400 we really 00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:37.679 do. 00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:38.380 We've got 00:40:38.380 --> 00:40:38.840 the truth 00:40:38.840 --> 00:40:39.260 in love. 00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:40.420 The community 00:40:40.420 --> 00:40:41.139 around us, 00:40:41.260 --> 00:40:41.679 Henrietta, 00:40:41.780 --> 00:40:42.340 Clay County, 00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:43.820 even the folks 00:40:43.820 --> 00:40:44.480 up in Wichita, 00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:44.960 okay, 00:40:45.019 --> 00:40:45.360 we need to 00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:45.659 love them 00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:45.900 too. 00:40:47.099 --> 00:40:47.719 We need 00:40:47.719 --> 00:40:48.360 the truth 00:40:48.360 --> 00:40:48.880 in love, 00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:49.619 speak the 00:40:49.619 --> 00:40:50.019 truth, 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:51.400 but do it 00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:51.920 like Jesus 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:52.280 did, 00:40:52.280 --> 00:40:53.019 with that 00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:53.420 gentle 00:40:53.420 --> 00:40:54.140 and lowly 00:40:54.140 --> 00:40:54.440 heart, 00:40:54.820 --> 00:40:55.660 embracing the 00:40:55.660 --> 00:40:56.080 differences 00:40:56.080 --> 00:40:57.080 that we're 00:40:57.080 --> 00:40:57.260 going to 00:40:57.260 --> 00:40:57.620 encounter, 00:40:58.620 --> 00:40:59.860 asking God 00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:01.500 to exhibit 00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:02.220 his spirit 00:41:02.220 --> 00:41:03.260 in us 00:41:03.260 --> 00:41:04.300 so that people 00:41:04.300 --> 00:41:04.700 will see 00:41:04.700 --> 00:41:05.160 Jesus, 00:41:06.100 --> 00:41:06.560 and we can 00:41:06.560 --> 00:41:07.140 walk worthy 00:41:07.140 --> 00:41:08.080 of his gospel. 00:41:08.180 --> 00:41:08.519 Let's pray 00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:08.800 together. 00:41:09.200 --> 00:41:09.700 Lord Jesus, 00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:10.300 we thank you 00:41:10.300 --> 00:41:10.780 so much 00:41:10.780 --> 00:41:11.280 for your 00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:11.620 gospel. 00:41:12.040 --> 00:41:12.220 Man, 00:41:12.260 --> 00:41:12.700 it changes 00:41:12.700 --> 00:41:13.060 us. 00:41:13.640 --> 00:41:14.260 It changes 00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:14.960 us from 00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:15.900 separated from 00:41:15.900 --> 00:41:16.600 you to 00:41:16.600 --> 00:41:17.320 united with 00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:17.680 you for 00:41:17.680 --> 00:41:17.940 all of 00:41:17.940 --> 00:41:18.240 eternity. 00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:19.640 It changes 00:41:19.640 --> 00:41:20.060 us from 00:41:20.060 --> 00:41:21.460 sinful to 00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:21.800 righteous. 00:41:22.280 --> 00:41:24.480 it changes 00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:25.180 us from 00:41:25.180 --> 00:41:26.540 lost to 00:41:26.540 --> 00:41:26.940 found, 00:41:27.540 --> 00:41:28.440 from darkness 00:41:28.440 --> 00:41:29.060 to light. 00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:30.220 And God, 00:41:30.260 --> 00:41:30.800 it can keep 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:31.440 doing that 00:41:31.440 --> 00:41:32.380 every moment 00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:33.060 of every 00:41:33.060 --> 00:41:33.400 day. 00:41:33.820 --> 00:41:34.540 The more 00:41:34.540 --> 00:41:35.120 we revisit 00:41:35.120 --> 00:41:35.300 it, 00:41:35.340 --> 00:41:35.620 the more 00:41:35.620 --> 00:41:36.460 we internalize 00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:36.600 it, 00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:37.280 the more 00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:38.140 we celebrate 00:41:38.140 --> 00:41:39.040 gospel unity, 00:41:39.280 --> 00:41:40.120 gospel diversity, 00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:41.180 and we try 00:41:41.180 --> 00:41:42.060 to grow in 00:41:42.060 --> 00:41:43.000 gospel maturity. 00:41:44.200 --> 00:41:44.640 God, 00:41:44.700 --> 00:41:45.240 help us to 00:41:45.240 --> 00:41:45.980 give up to 00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:46.560 you and say, 00:41:46.640 --> 00:41:46.920 I'm going to 00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:47.840 stop running 00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:48.260 from you, 00:41:48.340 --> 00:41:48.680 I'm going to 00:41:48.680 --> 00:41:49.280 stop fighting 00:41:49.280 --> 00:41:49.660 from you, 00:41:49.720 --> 00:41:49.940 I'm going to 00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:51.000 stop bucking 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:51.579 against your 00:41:51.579 --> 00:41:52.260 Holy Spirit, 00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:53.739 I'm going to 00:41:53.739 --> 00:41:53.920 say, 00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:54.159 God, 00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:54.619 work through 00:41:54.619 --> 00:41:54.840 me, 00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:55.679 change me, 00:41:56.219 --> 00:41:56.840 let me walk 00:41:56.840 --> 00:41:57.980 worthy of 00:41:57.980 --> 00:41:59.039 you by the 00:41:59.039 --> 00:41:59.820 Holy Spirit's 00:41:59.820 --> 00:42:00.099 power, 00:42:00.659 --> 00:42:01.179 and it's in 00:42:01.179 --> 00:42:01.739 Jesus' name 00:42:01.739 --> 00:42:02.159 we pray. 00:42:02.980 --> 00:42:03.300 Amen. 00:42:03.760 --> 00:42:04.059 Church, 00:42:04.119 --> 00:42:04.500 before we 00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:04.900 begin our 00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:05.340 invitation, 00:42:05.500 --> 00:42:05.900 let me ask 00:42:05.900 --> 00:42:06.260 you this, 00:42:06.460 --> 00:42:06.980 if you'd like 00:42:06.980 --> 00:42:07.280 to come 00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:08.159 forward and 00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:08.780 talk about 00:42:08.780 --> 00:42:09.920 becoming a 00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:10.260 child of 00:42:10.260 --> 00:42:10.599 God for 00:42:10.599 --> 00:42:10.880 the first 00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:11.159 time, 00:42:11.539 --> 00:42:11.980 please meet 00:42:11.980 --> 00:42:12.300 me right 00:42:12.300 --> 00:42:12.739 down here. 00:42:13.139 --> 00:42:13.460 If you'd 00:42:13.460 --> 00:42:13.840 like to come 00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:14.219 forward and 00:42:14.219 --> 00:42:14.719 talk about 00:42:14.719 --> 00:42:15.460 joining this 00:42:15.460 --> 00:42:15.840 church and 00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:16.159 putting your 00:42:16.159 --> 00:42:16.739 membership here, 00:42:16.820 --> 00:42:17.159 please meet 00:42:17.159 --> 00:42:17.619 me right down 00:42:17.619 --> 00:42:17.840 here. 00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:18.760 If you'd like 00:42:18.760 --> 00:42:19.040 to come 00:42:19.040 --> 00:42:19.520 forward for 00:42:19.520 --> 00:42:20.520 prayer about 00:42:20.520 --> 00:42:21.040 anything, 00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:21.760 something in 00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:22.100 the message 00:42:22.100 --> 00:42:22.580 this morning 00:42:22.580 --> 00:42:23.020 or something 00:42:23.020 --> 00:42:23.460 God's been 00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:23.840 working with 00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:24.220 you about, 00:42:24.640 --> 00:42:25.280 please take a 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:25.680 moment and 00:42:25.680 --> 00:42:26.100 meet me right 00:42:26.100 --> 00:42:26.440 down here. 00:42:26.520 --> 00:42:26.860 Let's pray 00:42:26.860 --> 00:42:27.160 together. 00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:27.740 Would you 00:42:27.740 --> 00:42:28.580 stand and 00:42:28.580 --> 00:42:28.960 join Brother 00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:29.420 Greg as he 00:42:29.420 --> 00:42:29.820 leads us?