WEBVTT

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 Because something that I've been reflecting on recently a lot of is leadership is hard.

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! Can I just have a raise my hand? Who would consider themselves a leader here? In any context, just a leader.

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! And then nod your head or cry if you agree with me that leadership is hard.

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 Man, I used to be that young hotshot in the back of a... I was a teacher when I was in England. I used to just be that young teacher sat at the back of the classroom in the staff meetings, watching NBA highlights,

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 and just thinking, I could do a better job. That was always what I would think.

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 But then you get to the place where you're like, oh, actually, you have to be the leader. Leadership is hard. Whether you're leading a life group, whether you're leading a family,

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 you have to lead when other people aren't feeling it, you have to be there. When other people are late, you have to really be there on time.

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 You have to be the one that is consistent. You have to be the one that shows up consistently every time.

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 And of course, the extra special pie is people look at you as a leader and they go, well, you're not doing that right.

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 Or you're not doing that right. Or I would do this if I was you as a leader. I would be more free and I would let you do this.

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 Or I would do this. And then before, you know, you've got all these other people who are looking at you going, well,

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 they can do a better job than you.

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 Leadership is hard. And it's not for everyone.

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 Yet in Scripture, in 1 Timothy 3, Paul talks about, hey, actually, it is good, it is noble to aspire to be a leader.

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 With that said, you're also going to be measured by a different measuring stick.

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 The office of a leader is hard. The responsibility of a leader is hard.

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 My favorite quotes that I've shared before, leadership is welcoming people on a suboptimal journey.

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 It's recognizing that we have limited resources.

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 We have limited time. We have limited people. We have limited anything.

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 And so you need leaders who can then discern and be wise and go, well, where do we go?

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 What do we do? How do we do it?

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 Leadership is disappointing people at a rate that they can absorb because of those limited resources.

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 So someone is going to be unhappy.

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 So then you have to decide, well, who's going to be the least unhappy?

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 Or rather, can we make the tough decisions for those people to grow?

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 Maybe it's during COVID, especially during COVID, when we were all looking at the leaders of the world and going, you're a terrible leader.

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 You are a terrible leader. You're making the wrong decisions, right?

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 We were in there. There was a snapshot in time where I looked across the world leaders.

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 And I was like, oh, Lord Jesus, it's time to pull the plug on humanity and come back.

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 We're done here.

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 Because leadership is hard, but yet we also see lots of people who crave leadership, who crave power.

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 Why? Because it's for selfish reasons.

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 There's a bishop from Ghana who said this,

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 it is so disheartening that leadership now is about selfishness and greed.

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 So it is unfortunate that service and servants are missing from the church now because the world does not see leadership as a service,

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 but as a status to be served.

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 We see leaders who have charisma, but without character, it leads to catastrophe, is what someone else says.

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 Leaders with charisma, but without character, leads to catastrophe.

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 They may have the gifting to take us there, but they don't have the character to stay there.

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 Leadership is hard.

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 Simon Sinek, one of my favorite people to listen to, to talk about this, he coined the phrase leaders eat last.

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 And he said this, leadership has nothing to do with rank.

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 Leadership is a choice, a choice to look after the person to the left of you and look after the person to the right of you.

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 If you commit every single day to helping them succeed, you become a leader.

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 Leaders are the ones willing to look out for those who need help.

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 When it matters, leaders choose to eat last.

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 Leaders.

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 Leadership is hard.

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 Not a quote by him, but I think I first heard it from the 90s Chicago Bulls basketball coach who said,

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 you are only as strong as the weakest link.

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 I would maybe actually twist that a little bit and go, I think you're only as strong as your leaders.

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 The leaders who choose this job, knowing that it's hard, who know that they will disappoint people,

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 who know they will be stabbed behind the back, and yet they will still choose to do it,

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 because it's what Christ did for them.

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 Especially in the church.

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 I'm going to ask you now, just to throw it out there, maybe just in society, in history,

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 who are some leaders that you look up to and go, oh, that's a good leader?

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 Any thoughts come to mind?

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 Any examples of good leaders that you've observed up close or from afar?

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 Any?

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 Jackie, you're nodding.

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 What have you got?

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 Good leader?

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 Any leaders that you can think of?

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 Yep.

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 Wealthy people who actually automatically resume places of leadership because of their wealth,

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 but they maybe not even should be there.

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 But of course, there are those who genuinely should.

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 Yeah.

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 Yeah.

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 Yeah.

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 Yeah.

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 So leaders who have a lot, and yet they also choose to give a lot.

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 Those kind of leaders.

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 We all aspire.

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 We all are blessed by those kind of leaders.

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 What other kind of leaders come to mind, Queenie?

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 Any leader that comes to mind?

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 Yep.

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 Yep.

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 Yep.

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 Wang Yanlong.

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 See, and I feel as though, I'm guessing you actually know him personally.

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 Because that's something else that they say, right?

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 Never meet your heroes.

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 Never meet those leaders.

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 Because when you pull back the curtain and you see that they're actually real human beings

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 with real struggles and real flaws, that's when the problem comes.

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 From afar, I think I've quite admired, again, I'm a basketball fan.

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 I quite admire the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver.

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 I feel as though the way he holds himself, the way he makes decisions and articulates what

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 he's trying to do.

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 Again, he always makes decisions that not everyone is happy with.

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 But I feel as though that's maybe a trait of a good leader.

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 So I'm tempted to ask people for examples of bad leaders.

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 But I feel as though that would just be a can of worms.

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 Because something else happens when it comes to leadership is that, no doubt, all of you

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 have experienced some sort of bad leadership in some ways.

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 Some of you are just looking at me and going, yeah, right now.

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 And sadly, you've also been burnt by bad leadership.

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 Leaders who haven't had the courage to make decisions that you think are right.

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 Leaders who have looked after themselves.

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 And of course, the hard part comes when we become a leader and we realize, oh, we are

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 that person.

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 We are that person that has been looking out for ourselves, who is worried about how other

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 people perceive us.

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 Leaders are humans.

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 And what we're looking at today is a passage of scripture in Acts 20.

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 So I'd encourage you to turn there now before I invite you to stand.

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 So we were in Ephesus last week.

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 Remember the guys that tried to cast out the demon?

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 And then end up getting into a fight and then looting all their clothes.

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 That group.

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 And there was a riot that happened.

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 Chapter 20, then he starts to go into different, he leaves Ephesus and then he goes to Macedonia

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 and to Greece.

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 We won't really touch on that a little, that much today.

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 And there's this hilarious passage of this young man called Eutychus who is listening to

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 a sermon.

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 And the sermon gets really long.

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 And then he falls asleep.

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 I mean, if all of us had those moments where people would see we were in sermons and we

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 fell asleep, that would really be quite embarrassing, right, Caleb?

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 Like, just really embarrassing.

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 But he was tired that day.

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 But thankfully, I'm not going to speak as long as Paul.

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 And Caleb is a bit more mature and older than Eutychus was.

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 He was probably just a teenager at the time.

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 But then he falls from the third floor and then they take him for dead.

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 And they're like, what?

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 He died.

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 But then actually, he ends up, well, a miracle happens and Paul actually ends up reviving

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 him.

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 And so from that moment on, Eutychus does not fall asleep in a sermon ever again.

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 Or just sit by the window.

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 Don't worry, you're safe, Caleb.

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 You just stay as far from the window as possible.

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 And then we meet this passage here that I think is probably my favorite passage on leadership.

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 Paul offers a leadership blueprint to his leaders in the church in Ephesus.

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 Remember, the church that he just started one chapter ago.

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 The church that he spent two, three years with.

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 So imagine this.

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 It's about this size of group, mate.

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 Well, actually, the church was maybe this size, but then the leaders were a smaller group.

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 But around two, three years, Paul spent with this group.

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 And then something happens.

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 And this is where we're going to move into Acts chapter 20, verse 17 to 38.

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 I believe we have some special readers.

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 Jojo, have we got scripture reading?

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 Who have we got?

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 Ava and JJ.

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 Can you give a round of applause to Ava and JJ?

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 And can I invite us all to stand for the word of the Lord?

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 So you're going to do 17 to maybe there.

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 25 and then we'll do the rest.

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 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

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 And when they came to him, he said to them, you yourselves know how I lived among you the

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 whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility

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 and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews.

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 How I did not shrink from declaring you anything that was profitable and teaching you in public and from house to house,

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 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And now behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing that will happen to me there,

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 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

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 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself.

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 If only I may finish my course on the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

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 And now behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

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 Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,

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 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

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 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.

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 To care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

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 I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

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 And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them.

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 Therefore, be alert, remembering that that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.

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 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

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 I coveted no one silver, gold or apparel.

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 You yourselves know that these hands minister to my necessities and to those who were with me.

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 In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must speak.

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 We must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus.

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 How he himself said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

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 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

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 And there was much weeping on the part of all.

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 They embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken.

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 That they would not see his face again.

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 That they accompanied him to the ship.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Please take a seat.

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 Thank you, guys.

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 So the context.

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 Paul is reaching the end of his life.

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 And if you just peek into scripture, you'll see we're at chapter 20.

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 We've only got a few more chapters left.

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 He's approaching the end of his life.

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 And actually, when you want to see what's most important to that person, you hear their last words.

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 That is probably going to be giving you a good clue.

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 And so he gathers the leaders in Ephesus.

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 But he doesn't have time to go to them again.

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 So he asks them to come over to him.

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 And so he gathers them together.

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 And it's an emotional time.

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 And it's an intense time.

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 And he goes through this.

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 Basically, I think what he does is he tells them.

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 He reminds them what kind of leader he used to be to them.

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 He tells them what kind of leader he is right now.

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 And then he tells them what kind of leaders they should be as they go.

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 Why?

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 Because they're not going to see him again.

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 I mean, just imagine this for a second here.

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 We've been together for three years or so.

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 And then I say that today, guys, this is my last time speaking to you.

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 Remember what I've got to say.

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 Because next week, I'll be gone.

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 Next week, I'm going to be going to Turkey and getting some hair transplants.

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 And you won't ever see me again in the same way.

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 And I may not make it back, guys.

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 So remember my last words.

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 That's the place that we're in.

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 Not exactly, but I'm hoping to be here next week.

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 Still with the same hairstyle.

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 Now, so, and he sits there and then he goes, this is, and this is where he starts.

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 And he, first of all, he reminds them of who he was.

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 And so he says this, you yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia.

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 He says, you know what kind of leader I've been.

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 Why?

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 Because you've seen me up close.

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 You have known me personally, not just as a hero from afar, but you have seen the way I live.

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 That's huge, even right there.

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 You see, it's interesting.

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 In 1 Timothy 3, you'll see this jobster description, this CV of what a leader should be.

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 And he writes about that.

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 And that's a good, basically, I think a good baseline of what a leader is for Paul.

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 But then what you see here is actually even more important.

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 It's actually who he was.

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 So he actually lived this out.

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 How many of us have actually seen leaders who say one thing and then do another thing?

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 So this is where he goes, no, you yourself know how I have lived among you.

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 Our life group on Monday, I shared with them one of my favorite passages on discipleship is 2 Timothy 3,

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 where Paul talks to Timothy and says, hey, you have seen my teaching,

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 but you've also seen my conduct, my life, my aim in life,

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 how I suffered in life.

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 You've seen how I live.

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 This is a leader who says, you have seen every part of how I do my ministry and how I do my life.

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 And you yourselves know how I lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility

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 and with tears and trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews.

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 You'll know what kind of leader you're dealing with when you see them go through tough times.

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 When the going gets tough, then you'll see what their true colors are.

00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:30.080
 How they deal with disappointments, how they deal with frustrations, how they deal with death.

00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:34.800
 You'll get to see a little bit of what is going on in that leader.

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:38.320
 And Paul is essentially saying the same thing here.

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:39.980
 And then he carries on.

00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:44.340
 And how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:46.580
 and teaching you in public from house to house.

00:15:46.780 --> 00:15:49.480
 So what we see here, first of all, is a leader who is invested.

00:15:50.020 --> 00:15:51.780
 Someone who's looking at you and go, I know you.

00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:52.700
 I have been with you.

00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:53.940
 I have spent time with you.

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:57.540
 The organization I was with for these last five years is called Young Life

00:15:57.540 --> 00:15:59.380
 that really works with young people.

00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:02.040
 And the motto always is, earn the right to be heard.

00:16:02.660 --> 00:16:04.720
 Go to where the young people are and earn the right to be heard.

00:16:04.920 --> 00:16:08.700
 You have no right to tell them how to live their lives unless you have earned the right to be heard.

00:16:08.760 --> 00:16:09.220
 What does that mean?

00:16:09.380 --> 00:16:12.560
 That you have spent time with them, that you have invested in them.

00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:16.960
 And when you have that right, then you can speak into that life.

00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:22.320
 In England, in our home, we used to love inviting people over to spend time in our home.

00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:24.480
 To actually live with us.

00:16:24.760 --> 00:16:27.160
 And we had spare rooms so we could do that in England.

00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:30.060
 And they would read stories with our kids.

00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:32.940
 It's those disciples, it's those people that we spent time with,

00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:35.340
 that we actually then felt as though we could earn the right to be heard,

00:16:35.400 --> 00:16:36.520
 to actually speak into their lives.

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:39.240
 We had a rule, just an unwritten rule, which is,

00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:41.260
 actually, unless that person has stayed in our house,

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:43.180
 we won't speak words of rebuke over them.

00:16:44.300 --> 00:16:47.540
 Because we want to feel as though we have invested and earned the right to be heard.

00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:49.080
 And so that's what Paul is saying here.

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.980
 He's doing the same thing.

00:16:50.140 --> 00:16:51.440
 So he's invested in these people.

00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.140
 Well, later in verse 31, he says this,

00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:55.400
 I admonished you, which is I rebuked you, I told you off,

00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.760
 but I did it with tears.

00:16:57.260 --> 00:16:59.360
 And I did it day and night for three years.

00:17:00.020 --> 00:17:00.780
 What does that mean?

00:17:00.920 --> 00:17:04.380
 It means I'm disciplining you, but it's out of just this heartbreak.

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:06.960
 It's out of this love that I have for you.

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.380
 I'm not there to provoke you.

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.580
 I'm there to love you.

00:17:12.100 --> 00:17:15.960
 And I admonish you with tears because my heart breaks as you make those choices.

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:21.200
 Parenting is also hard because parenting is also leadership.

00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:25.480
 And I had someone give me an example that they said with their children,

00:17:25.820 --> 00:17:27.480
 which is, hey, look at this glass.

00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.200
 Just a glass of wine.

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:29.660
 Just a glass.

00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:37.160
 And he says, and he told his kids, actually, my heart as your father is like this glass.

00:17:37.820 --> 00:17:39.180
 You hold this glass.

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.640
 You hold my heart.

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:45.680
 When you make a decision that hurts yourself or hurts me or hurts others,

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:49.060
 you drop it and it smashes and it hurts.

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:55.019
 Often we don't appreciate that as we're looking at the leaders that we have.

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:58.460
 Maybe some of us haven't experienced leaders that have invested in us.

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:05.740
 But this idea of a leader that admonishes his people with tears day and night for three years,

00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:12.899
 whose heart breaks when he watches the people that he leads or she leads make decisions that are destructive to them.

00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:14.980
 And so this leader is invested.

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.259
 But what else is about this leader?

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:20.220
 Verse 20, and how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable.

00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:23.259
 This leader tells the truth.

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:26.820
 Leadership is hard because you have to look at someone and go, I love you,

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:29.500
 but actually, I need to tell you the truth.

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.240
 That's hard.

00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:35.039
 How many of us have felt as though we're supposed to confront someone,

00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:37.079
 but we're like, you know what, that's just too hard.

00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:41.620
 Having those conversations is hard unless you're at Enneagram 8 and you like to challenge,

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.019
 and then it gets a little bit easier.

00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:46.420
 But for a lot of people, that's just hard to actually go to someone and go,

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:49.660
 I see that in you, and I think I want to call you higher,

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.279
 and I want to tell you that that is wrong.

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:54.480
 But not just to do it, just for the sake of it,

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:59.900
 but for declaring to you anything that was profitable to build you up and not to tear you down.

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:04.640
 We've all probably been recipients of leaders who have spoken down to us to tear us down.

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:11.600
 And yet here we have a leader who admonishes with tears to raise you up.

00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:14.280
 That kind of leader is hard.

00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:15.380
 And then it carries on.

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.360
 This leader is not only invested, not only willing to tell the truth.

00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:22.300
 Now, we have a lot of things that as Christians, as followers of Christ in this society,

00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:24.360
 that we have to speak truth into.

00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:26.340
 But of course, you do it with love.

00:19:27.300 --> 00:19:28.860
 But he also does it with integrity.

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:28.939
 integrity.

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.919
 What does that word mean?

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.139
 That he's just the same everywhere.

00:19:31.219 --> 00:19:31.859
 What does he say here?

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:34.139
 And teaching you in public and from house to house,

00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:35.919
 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks.

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.319
 What he's saying, whether we were at church,

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.439
 or whether we were at home,

00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:41.000
 or whether we were out on the sports field,

00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.859
 whether it's to you or to you,

00:19:42.959 --> 00:19:44.319
 it doesn't matter, I've said the same thing.

00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:49.619
 Aren't we all hungry for leaders who are filled with integrity?

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.679
 People who you look at and you go,

00:19:51.719 --> 00:19:54.019
 I know exactly what you're like wherever you are.

00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:55.199
 That kind of people.

00:19:55.199 --> 00:19:57.799
 Don't we yearn to be those kinds of people ourselves?

00:19:57.799 --> 00:20:01.159
 Isn't it amazing that Paul can say,

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.399
 after three years with these people,

00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.480
 he says, hey, you know how I've lived,

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:06.759
 whether it's in the synagogue or whether it's at home,

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.419
 whether it's the Jews or the Greeks,

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.480
 I have done the same.

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:12.680
 So my favorite chapter in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 9,

00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.000
 where he talks about,

00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:14.720
 to the Jews I'm a Jew,

00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.599
 to the Greeks I'm a Greek,

00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:18.359
 I become all things to all people in order to save some.

00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.859
 And at the end of the chapter,

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.220
 he says,

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.539
 I discipline myself,

00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.059
 my body,

00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.460
 train it to do what it should,

00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:24.960
 lest after preaching to others,

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.680
 I myself might be disqualified.

00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:27.279
 So he's saying,

00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.539
 I have paved the way.

00:20:28.620 --> 00:20:29.480
 Leadership is hard,

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:31.600
 because when you don't want to do it,

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.740
 you still have to,

00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:35.779
 for the sake of those who are following you.

00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.980
 That's why it's hard.

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:40.000
 That's why it's a noble task.

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.960
 So what we have here is an invested leader,

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.120
 a truth teller,

00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.100
 who is consistent,

00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.600
 and who is also persistent.

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:48.000
 He's just constantly just saying the same message

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.579
 to these people,

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.000
 repent.

00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.299
 And what is the message?

00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:52.220
 Testifying both to Jews and to the Greeks

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.539
 of repentance toward God

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:56.279
 and of faith in our Lord Jesus.

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.559
 He's saying the same message.

00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:00.799
 At home,

00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:01.339
 at work,

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.480
 with his friends,

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:03.859
 repent.

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.259
 Turn around.

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:07.539
 Turn around and follow him.

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:08.599
 Follow Jesus.

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.480
 That's all he's asking.

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.599
 That was the leader that he was.

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.900
 And so he's reminding them,

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.339
 hey guys,

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.019
 remember,

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.599
 you're about to never see me again,

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.980
 but remember what I was to you.

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.099
 Remember who I was.

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.779
 I think I am a recipient.

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:24.000
 I was blessed by having a father

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.400
 who was a man of integrity,

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.980
 who I got to see whether he was at church

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.319
 or whether he was at work

00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.500
 or whether he was at home.

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.759
 On the most part,

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.460
 we felt he's the same person everywhere.

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.480
 There was never,

00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:36.059
 never any doubt in us that,

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.259
 oh,

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.319
 he's going to show up there

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.539
 and suddenly he's going to do this.

00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.519
 People of integrity.

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.220
 So needed

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.480
 as we look at the leaders

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.720
 in this world right now.

00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.779
 So he reminds them of the leader that he was

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.519
 and then he says,

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.119
 verse 22,

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.480
 and now behold,

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.899
 I am going to Jerusalem

00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:53.319
 constrained by the spirit,

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:55.119
 not knowing what will happen to me there,

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:57.119
 except the Holy Spirit testifies to me

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.680
 in every city

00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.440
 that imprisonment

00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:00.500
 and afflictions await me.

00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.160
 So he says,

00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:01.639
 okay,

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:03.299
 let me tell you about who I am now.

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.059
 I am a leader

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:05.559
 that is constrained by the spirit.

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.099
 That's a really interesting term

00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.399
 that he's saying.

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.279
 I can't help

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.559
 but follow God's lead.

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.940
 I can't help it.

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.099
 And I tell you

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.779
 where the Holy Spirit

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.579
 is telling me to go.

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.259
 He's telling me to go to Jerusalem.

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.539
 And actually,

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.159
 this will probably be my last trip

00:22:20.159 --> 00:22:21.500
 because I also know

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.359
 on this trip

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:24.099
 is where I'm going to experience

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:25.599
 imprisonment and affliction.

00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.839
 A godly leader

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.779
 is one of integrity

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:30.079
 who's invested in people

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.019
 who tells the truth

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.519
 but someone who also follows

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.159
 the Holy Spirit.

00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:35.099
 That is the kind of leader

00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:35.939
 that I hope that you

00:22:35.939 --> 00:22:36.639
 will look for.

00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:37.759
 That is the kind of leader

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.439
 that I hope that you

00:22:38.439 --> 00:22:39.699
 will also become.

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:42.079
 Someone who actually,

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:44.419
 you cut them open

00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:45.240
 and what you see

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.159
 is someone who has

00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:47.139
 a heart for God.

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.679
 You see Psalm 27

00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:48.980
 and you say,

00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:50.539
 that's David's one thing.

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.679
 One thing he asks

00:22:51.679 --> 00:22:53.460
 is that he will be with God.

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:56.059
 As part of a leader

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.779
 of an organization,

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.339
 I often heard,

00:22:58.419 --> 00:22:59.179
 especially a Christian one,

00:22:59.379 --> 00:23:00.359
 I heard this term about,

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:00.960
 hey, actually,

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.740
 you need to have a vision.

00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.359
 You need to have a vision

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:04.519
 in order for your organization

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.799
 to grow and succeed

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.460
 and be fruitful.

00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:07.480
 And the passage

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.379
 that was often used

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.919
 was Proverbs 29, 18.

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.860
 And it was often quoted to me

00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:12.120
 as, hey,

00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:12.700
 without vision,

00:23:12.800 --> 00:23:13.440
 a people perish.

00:23:14.060 --> 00:23:15.220
 Not if you've heard that before.

00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:16.460
 Without vision,

00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:17.060
 a people perish.

00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:18.420
 And often it's been taken

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:20.200
 by organizations,

00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:20.820
 Christian ones,

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.500
 well-meaning ones,

00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:21.940
 to say, hey,

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.700
 you need to have a vision.

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:23.920
 If you don't have a vision,

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.400
 your organization

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.640
 is going to shrink

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.259
 and then close down.

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:28.080
 That's what people used it for.

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.160
 But that's not the vision

00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.080
 that it's talking about here.

00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:32.000
 We've applied a worldly,

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.560
 corporate,

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.600
 strategic context

00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.680
 into that passage

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.600
 when it says,

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.420
 without vision,

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.080
 a people perish.

00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:38.340
 That vision is not

00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:39.880
 a five-year strategic goal plan.

00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:41.820
 In order to grow your business

00:23:41.820 --> 00:23:42.620
 or grow your ministry.

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.420
 That's not the vision

00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.080
 it's talking about.

00:23:44.300 --> 00:23:45.120
 What he's saying here,

00:23:45.320 --> 00:23:46.620
 without a prophetic vision,

00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:49.060
 without sight of God,

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:51.220
 without the knowledge

00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:51.940
 of God's word,

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.320
 people won't perish.

00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:54.259
 The word actually is

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:55.519
 people will lack restraint.

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:57.300
 If you don't hear from God,

00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:58.460
 if you don't see

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.420
 and look for God,

00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:01.000
 you will be all over the place

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.779
 is what it's saying.

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:04.879
 The leader that he is right now

00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:06.639
 is constrained by the Spirit.

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:06.819
 He says,

00:24:06.899 --> 00:24:07.799
 I can't help but do

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.779
 the one thing

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.619
 that the Holy Spirit

00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:10.319
 is telling me to do

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.819
 and that is to go to Jerusalem

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:13.079
 and that is to suffer

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.980
 for his name.

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.779
 Because in Acts 9,

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.819
 when he met me,

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.859
 when he blinded me,

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.279
 he says,

00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:17.920
 you are going to be

00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.740
 my chosen instrument

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:20.220
 and you are going to suffer for me.

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.399
 So he knows

00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:23.259
 that's what it is.

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:27.379
 Would we be the leaders

00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:29.700
 that look to God

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.039
 and say,

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:31.299
 even if it's tough,

00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.319
 I'm going to go there

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.460
 because you tell me

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.079
 to go there.

00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:35.859
 So he's that kind of leader.

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.039
 That is the one thing

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.920
 that he's asking for

00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.720
 in verse 24.

00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.240
 I don't account my life

00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.160
 of any value

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.379
 nor as precious to myself

00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:45.960
 if only I may finish my course

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.539
 and the ministry

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.259
 that I receive

00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:47.960
 from the Lord Jesus

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.599
 does testify

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.579
 to the gospel

00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.480
 of the grace of God.

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.059
 Reminds me of Philippians 1.10

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.539
 where he says,

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.879
 to live or to die,

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.619
 it really doesn't matter.

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.079
 To live is Christ

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.779
 and to die is gain.

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:58.799
 Actually,

00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.919
 I'd rather depart

00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:00.639
 and be with Christ

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.579
 for that is far better

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.700
 but to remain in the flesh

00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:04.119
 is more necessary for you.

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.740
 I want to go there

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.579
 and I'll tell you

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.339
 as a leader right now,

00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:09.539
 I would love to go there.

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.599
 If you gave me a choice

00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.099
 right now,

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.000
 which way would you go?

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.519
 Would you rather stay

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:12.980
 or would you rather go?

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.139
 I would rather go.

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.339
 But to stay

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:18.000
 is more necessary

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.579
 on your account.

00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.960
 I've got something

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:21.379
 that I have to still give you,

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.639
 admonish you with tears,

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.400
 live with you,

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.680
 invest in you

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:26.920
 because it's for your good.

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:28.640
 That's what he's saying here

00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:30.240
 and that's huge.

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.080
 That I may finish

00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.880
 my course

00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.480
 and the ministry

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.280
 that I received.

00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.660
 Wait, Paul,

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.600
 you are the greatest

00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:39.400
 church planter

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.360
 that has ever lived.

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.360
 If you sat in front

00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:42.860
 of donors,

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.800
 you would be able

00:25:43.800 --> 00:25:44.240
 to deliver

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.040
 and share with them

00:25:45.040 --> 00:25:45.840
 the KPIs

00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:48.159
 and you will have

00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:49.000
 been off the charts.

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.059
 All the churches

00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.619
 in the world

00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.359
 started really

00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.099
 from the movement

00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.859
 that you started

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.359
 and yet he wouldn't

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:54.779
 say that.

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:55.720
 He would say,

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.599
 that's just the ministry

00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.339
 that I received

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:57.819
 from the Lord.

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.519
 It wasn't what I started.

00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.459
 It wasn't my dream.

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.319
 I'm not building

00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:01.939
 my dream here.

00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.359
 I'm not building

00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.099
 my kingdom here.

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.439
 All I'm trying to do

00:26:04.439 --> 00:26:05.759
 is that I would focus

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.559
 on God

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.240
 and the ministry

00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:07.959
 that he gave me.

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.839
 Philippians 3 says,

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.740
 I press on toward

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.220
 the goal

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.079
 of the upward call

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.939
 of God in Christ Jesus.

00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.819
 That's all I care about.

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.819
 I don't care about

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.460
 how big

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.619
 my church is growing.

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:18.500
 Man, I would love

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.339
 to be in that place

00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.519
 where I'd say,

00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.779
 I don't really care

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.759
 whether the gathering

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.279
 stays,

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.639
 grows,

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.399
 or shrinks

00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:25.919
 and dies.

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.119
 It doesn't bother me

00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:28.059
 because whatever it is,

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.779
 it's the ministry

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.939
 that the Lord gives to me.

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.200
 I'm receiving it

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.939
 and really,

00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:32.960
 it's none of my business

00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.939
 what he wants to do with it.

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.740
 I would love to be

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.179
 in that place

00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:36.279
 yet every time

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.619
 I'm faced with

00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:38.240
 an opportunity,

00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.519
 I often wrestle

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:40.899
 and go,

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.159
 this is my project.

00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.720
 This is what I want

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.299
 to do to grow

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:47.039
 and that's where

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.519
 I go wrong

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:49.980
 and that's where

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.339
 I go wrong

00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:51.220
 because this is a ministry

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.939
 that I receive

00:26:51.939 --> 00:26:52.500
 from the Lord

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.299
 and I'm supposed

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:54.019
 to do my thing,

00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:54.960
 focus on my race

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.819
 and guess what?

00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.159
 You're supposed

00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:56.899
 to focus on yours.

00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.119
 So the question

00:26:58.119 --> 00:26:58.740
 I have for you is

00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.139
 what ministry

00:26:59.139 --> 00:26:59.480
 do you think

00:26:59.480 --> 00:26:59.939
 you've received?

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:01.779
 Look,

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.119
 as a pastor

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:03.559
 of this church,

00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:03.960
 I'm supposed

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.559
 to just look at you

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:04.799
 and go,

00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:05.179
 hey,

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:05.819
 what's the ministry

00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.919
 that you've received

00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:07.319
 from the Lord?

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.240
 What are you supposed

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.500
 to do?

00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:08.879
 Are you supposed

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.439
 to run an alpha?

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.399
 Then run an alpha.

00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:12.279
 Then go for it.

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.980
 We're all on

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.839
 this journey together.

00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.159
 Oh,

00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:16.539
 you're supposed

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.500
 to lead the worship ministry?

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.460
 Lead the ministry.

00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:19.220
 Let me know

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:19.980
 how I can help

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.599
 support you.

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.359
 You feel compelled

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.939
 to go and do prison ministry?

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:24.819
 Well then go

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:26.000
 and do it.

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:29.640
 this isn't what I dictate

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.119
 and determine.

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.099
 This is what you,

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.519
 now it's then your job

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.579
 to follow through.

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.599
 It's your job

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.799
 to actually live this life

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.880
 and to follow the call

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.140
 that God has on your life.

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.160
 That's what Paul

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:42.160
 is saying here.

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.579
 And now behold,

00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.460
 I know that none of you

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.279
 among whom I have gone

00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:47.039
 about proclaiming

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.819
 the kingdom of God

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:49.700
 will see my face again.

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.259
 There I,

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.440
 for I testified to you

00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.259
 this day that I am

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.000
 innocent of the blood

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.359
 of all,

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.200
 for I did not shrink

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.920
 from declaring to you

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.740
 the whole counsel of God.

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.079
 He's saying,

00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.339
 I'm about to leave.

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.660
 I'm about to drop my mic

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.619
 and actually it's not

00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:00.619
 my responsibility anymore.

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:00.859
 Why?

00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.440
 Because I've already

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.079
 told you the truth.

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:02.880
 I've already told you

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.319
 who God is.

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:04.180
 I've already told you

00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.779
 who Jesus is.

00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.539
 I've already told you

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.259
 who the Holy Spirit is

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:06.880
 and what I'm doing

00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.240
 to follow.

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.359
 I'm going to leave now.

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.640
 You have to follow him yourself.

00:28:10.560 --> 00:28:11.360
 And it's not going to be

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.660
 on me that you're

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.259
 not following him.

00:28:14.040 --> 00:28:14.620
 I've done everything

00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:15.320
 that I can.

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.780
 Now it's your responsibility.

00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:20.120
 This is the part

00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:21.460
 that sometimes I'm reminded of

00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:23.020
 and I get riled up

00:28:23.020 --> 00:28:24.300
 because so often

00:28:24.300 --> 00:28:25.640
 I hear, of course,

00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:26.540
 whether it's people

00:28:26.540 --> 00:28:27.020
 in this church

00:28:27.020 --> 00:28:27.800
 or whether it's people

00:28:27.800 --> 00:28:28.500
 in other churches,

00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:30.000
 oh, I'm just not

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.840
 growing anymore.

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:31.840
 The pastor's not

00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:32.620
 helping me anymore.

00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:35.120
 And I'll be like,

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.580
 hey, well,

00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:37.060
 pastors, leaders,

00:28:37.540 --> 00:28:38.700
 can we do what

00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.360
 we're supposed to do,

00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.759
 which is not

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.459
 stringed from the truth,

00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.259
 to teach them

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.079
 the whole counsel of God,

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:43.099
 to teach from this book

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.559
 and not just

00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.240
 from our own wisdom.

00:28:45.139 --> 00:28:46.039
 But once we're done

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.319
 with that,

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.099
 it's your responsibility.

00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:50.759
 Your growth

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.759
 is your responsibility.

00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:54.419
 Florence's father

00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:55.599
 is my dentist.

00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:57.579
 And so he's the only one

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.059
 in this world

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.719
 who makes me cry

00:28:58.719 --> 00:29:00.559
 every time I see him.

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.899
 So he sees me

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.379
 at my lowest.

00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.019
 That's why he doesn't

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.699
 come to this church anymore

00:29:03.699 --> 00:29:04.179
 because he doesn't have

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.740
 respect for me.

00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.779
 But I see him

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.460
 twice a year.

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.139
 How would it be

00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:13.819
 if I complained

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.519
 about my teeth

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.619
 and saying,

00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:16.879
 my teeth are

00:29:16.879 --> 00:29:17.599
 your responsibility?

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.420
 No, it's not.

00:29:20.899 --> 00:29:21.559
 I've been told.

00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:23.720
 You've got to brush

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.079
 your teeth.

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.220
 You've got to floss.

00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.059
 You only need to floss

00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:27.599
 the teeth that you

00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.019
 want to keep,

00:29:28.639 --> 00:29:29.480
 but floss.

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:32.180
 I can't go to my dentist

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:32.519
 and say,

00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:32.740
 hey,

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.059
 my teeth aren't doing well.

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.839
 What are you doing

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.220
 about this?

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:35.700
 No, no, no.

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.179
 It's each of our

00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:38.679
 responsibility

00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:39.779
 to run our race,

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.879
 to walk the walk

00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.319
 that the Lord

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.319
 has placed in our lives.

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.299
 What we're supposed

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.039
 to do is simply

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.779
 follow the ministry

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.500
 that he's received,

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.359
 that we've received

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:46.740
 from him,

00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.539
 and we'll do what

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.259
 we're supposed to do.

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.639
 Don't shrink from the truth,

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.740
 tell it in love,

00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:51.480
 and then just,

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.179
 that's it.

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.139
 And then we keep

00:29:53.139 --> 00:29:53.740
 running our race.

00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.299
 That's the goal

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.200
 that we should have here.

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.779
 That's what Paul

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.339
 is saying here.

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.720
 Now he turns.

00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.019
 He's saying,

00:29:59.079 --> 00:29:59.220
 look,

00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.179
 you know the leader I was,

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.099
 and you also know

00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:02.159
 the leader I am right now

00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:02.959
 and where I'm going

00:30:02.959 --> 00:30:03.740
 and why I can't be

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.359
 with you forever,

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:06.579
 but now I'm turning to you.

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:07.899
 And then he says,

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.879
 pay careful attention

00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.419
 to yourselves

00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:10.240
 and to all the flock

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.219
 in which the Holy Spirit

00:30:11.219 --> 00:30:12.359
 has made you overseers

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:14.159
 to care for the church of God,

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.099
 which he obtained

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:17.039
 with his own blood.

00:30:17.719 --> 00:30:18.079
 He says,

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.559
 pay careful attention

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.299
 to yourself.

00:30:21.399 --> 00:30:22.079
 And this goes back

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.539
 to the leader

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.199
 who is invested,

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.079
 this leader who is

00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:24.799
 of integrity,

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.139
 who is honest,

00:30:26.439 --> 00:30:26.980
 who is vulnerable.

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.419
 You yourselves

00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:29.119
 have to be there now.

00:30:29.199 --> 00:30:29.779
 You have to look

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.319
 after yourself.

00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:30.939
 How often,

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.899
 when we have leaders

00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:34.299
 who maybe were elevated

00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:35.119
 prematurely

00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:36.439
 because of the wrong reasons

00:30:36.439 --> 00:30:37.740
 and they are not people

00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:38.459
 of integrity

00:30:38.459 --> 00:30:39.779
 and they are not caring

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.659
 for their own souls,

00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.939
 they are not modeling

00:30:41.939 --> 00:30:43.740
 to the people

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.399
 that they're leading

00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:46.079
 what a godly leader

00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.579
 looks like

00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:48.199
 and you watch the flock

00:30:48.199 --> 00:30:49.259
 just suffer for it.

00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.279
 And he's saying,

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.199
 I'm leaving now.

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:52.819
 I'm gone.

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:54.119
 I'm innocent at this

00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:54.539
 because I've done

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.299
 what I need to do.

00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.459
 You now need to do

00:30:56.459 --> 00:30:57.519
 what you need to do,

00:30:57.699 --> 00:30:58.199
 which is this.

00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.519
 I know that after my departure,

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.359
 fierce wolves

00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:01.339
 will come in among you

00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:02.659
 not sparing the flock.

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.539
 Remember the magicians

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.579
 before?

00:31:05.199 --> 00:31:05.799
 Remember those

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.599
 who gave up

00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:07.179
 all their books,

00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:08.979
 the 35,000 US dollars

00:31:08.979 --> 00:31:09.539
 worth of books?

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.419
 All the false prophets,

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.719
 the sons of Sceva

00:31:12.719 --> 00:31:13.199
 that were trying

00:31:13.199 --> 00:31:14.240
 to just conjure up

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.699
 and invoke

00:31:14.699 --> 00:31:15.319
 the name of Jesus?

00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.879
 Those people

00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:17.500
 are going to be back.

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.479
 People like that

00:31:19.479 --> 00:31:20.119
 are going to be back.

00:31:20.439 --> 00:31:21.099
 They're going to come back

00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:21.799
 into the church

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.859
 and they're going to try

00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:23.559
 and lead you astray.

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.519
 And I'm going to be gone

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.259
 and I can't tell you,

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.919
 I can't protect you

00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:26.479
 from them anymore.

00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.319
 Leaders,

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.180
 can you protect your flock

00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:30.039
 in the same way?

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:31.160
 Can you pay careful attention

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:33.319
 to what is the truth?

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.120
 Why?

00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.819
 Not because you're nice people,

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:38.880
 but because Christ obtained it

00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:39.480
 with his own blood.

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.660
 If someone gave up their lives

00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:42.460
 to give you something,

00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:43.940
 you would look after

00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:44.680
 that very well.

00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.339
 You'd be like,

00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:46.559
 oh,

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.220
 someone actually died

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.339
 for these people.

00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:50.420
 As a leader,

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.140
 I'm reminded of that.

00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:52.180
 When I look and lead

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.740
 some of the people

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.740
 and it's hard,

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.599
 I look at you

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:54.940
 and I'm going,

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.279
 oh,

00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:56.500
 but Christ died for you.

00:31:56.620 --> 00:31:57.180
 Christ loved you.

00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.519
 I'm still trying to learn

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:58.960
 how to love you,

00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.039
 but Christ loved you enough

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:00.660
 to die for you.

00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:01.900
 He obtained you

00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.420
 with his own blood,

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.079
 so I'm here

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:04.700
 to try and care for you.

00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.579
 And they're going to come in,

00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:07.400
 not sparing the flock,

00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.500
 and this is where

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.259
 it gets really scary.

00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.180
 Verse 30,

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.660
 and from among your own selves

00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.319
 will arise men

00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:13.259
 speaking twisted things

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.740
 to draw away

00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.680
 the disciples after them.

00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:18.480
 Someone

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.319
 sat here

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.079
 today

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:23.380
 is going to say,

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.799
 a twisted thing

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:26.759
 to pull you away

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.900
 from being a disciple of Jesus.

00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.599
 Isn't that scary?

00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:32.620
 Someone sat right next to you

00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:35.000
 could be doing,

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.140
 me here and Melissa

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:39.559
 just had the hilarious

00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.319
 look at each other,

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:43.000
 among us.

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.319
 And it's interesting

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:45.859
 because those people

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.900
 might not even be malicious.

00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:47.680
 You're not trying

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.480
 to do it on purpose,

00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.039
 but you yourself

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.759
 might be deceived.

00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.359
 What's the definition

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:53.519
 of someone who's being deceived?

00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.400
 It's like you don't know

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.039
 that you're being deceived.

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:55.759
 You don't know

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:57.180
 that this is a wrong thought.

00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:58.379
 And you're trying

00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.319
 to share it with someone else.

00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.960
 He's saying be careful.

00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.240
 There are those.

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.180
 Let me stop here

00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:05.740
 and ask a question.

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.400
 What are the wolves

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.079
 coming to speak

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.559
 to the church

00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:10.180
 in Hong Kong today?

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.599
 What are some of the things,

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.519
 what are some of the messages

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.359
 that the church

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:15.180
 is most in danger of

00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:15.819
 that needs to protect

00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:16.519
 and guard against?

00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:18.980
 in a congregation

00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.639
 like this?

00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:22.619
 What should we be

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:24.200
 guarding ourselves against?

00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:27.900
 Shem,

00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.700
 what thoughts do you have?

00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:32.180
 Hmm?

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:33.799
 Priorities.

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:37.299
 We can always do it tomorrow.

00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:38.400
 Priorities.

00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.480
 When someone goes,

00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.639
 oh, I would love to do that.

00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:41.880
 I would love to read the Bible,

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.040
 but I simply can't

00:33:43.040 --> 00:33:44.259
 because

00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:46.780
 A, B, C, D, E, F, G.

00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:48.600
 Oh, I would love

00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:49.420
 to join a community,

00:33:49.820 --> 00:33:51.380
 but

00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:53.340
 I can't because of this.

00:33:55.540 --> 00:33:55.920
 Priorities.

00:33:56.020 --> 00:33:56.660
 That's a huge one.

00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:57.940
 And it almost sounds right.

00:33:58.100 --> 00:33:58.620
 It almost sounds,

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.000
 okay, well,

00:33:59.080 --> 00:34:00.020
 understand, understand.

00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:00.440
 I get it.

00:34:00.520 --> 00:34:00.759
 I get it.

00:34:02.120 --> 00:34:02.520
 Priorities.

00:34:02.520 --> 00:34:03.100
 That's a huge one.

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.060
 Jasper,

00:34:05.139 --> 00:34:05.980
 what can you think of?

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:09.900
 Division.

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.320
 And if this starts

00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:12.880
 a little bit

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.699
 with people going

00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:15.039
 at the leaders

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.279
 and going,

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:15.940
 well, okay, well,

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.480
 I think you're making

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.199
 the wrong decision there.

00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:20.039
 I think I know better.

00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:21.039
 I think we should do this instead.

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.219
 And then it starts.

00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:24.579
 And then you've got

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:25.119
 these places where,

00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:25.380
 okay, well,

00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:26.199
 I think this and I think that.

00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:26.840
 I prefer this

00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.539
 and I prefer that.

00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:30.699
 And so then we start

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.659
 to whisper

00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:32.460
 and then we start to argue.

00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:35.400
 There's another quote.

00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:36.079
 I don't know if I,

00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:37.039
 I wrote this down.

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:38.400
 It's often when you look

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.440
 at any chaotic problem

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.139
 in your workplace,

00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:40.760
 in your family,

00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.260
 anywhere,

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:42.800
 in the church,

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:44.220
 any chaotic problem

00:34:44.220 --> 00:34:45.059
 that you observe

00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:46.380
 that has to do with humans,

00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.220
 which is so many,

00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.519
 is often,

00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:49.159
 if you can root it

00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:49.619
 all the way back,

00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.460
 it's because of the lack

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.000
 of a good leader.

00:34:54.260 --> 00:34:54.559
 Now,

00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:54.900
 it doesn't mean

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.599
 that leader is perfect

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.240
 who knows what to do

00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:56.980
 every single time,

00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:58.000
 but so often

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:59.260
 the problems that we face

00:34:59.260 --> 00:34:59.900
 are because we're not

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.300
 the leaders

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:01.099
 that we're supposed to be.

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:04.599
 division,

00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:05.619
 priorities,

00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:06.179
 busyness,

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.639
 all these things.

00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.659
 Working to earn

00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:10.320
 your salvation.

00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:11.039
 These are things

00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:11.420
 that I think

00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:12.579
 that maybe our church,

00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.639
 that the church in Hong Kong,

00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.480
 that the city of Hong Kong

00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:15.480
 is probably the most

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.019
 in danger of.

00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:16.820
 These are the things

00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:17.820
 that we really must

00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:19.360
 guard ourselves against.

00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:21.380
 So carry on.

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.360
 Verse 31.

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.039
 Therefore be alert,

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.440
 I haven't talked

00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:25.920
 about this already,

00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.420
 remembering that

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:26.940
 for three years

00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:27.619
 I did not seize

00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:28.139
 night or day

00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:28.659
 to admonish

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:29.360
 every one of you

00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:29.800
 with tears,

00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.679
 everyone with tears.

00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:31.519
 Man,

00:35:31.619 --> 00:35:32.339
 to have that leader

00:35:32.339 --> 00:35:33.299
 who cares so much

00:35:33.299 --> 00:35:33.679
 about you

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:34.079
 that when you're

00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:35.119
 making a stupid decision

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:36.819
 that they break down

00:35:36.819 --> 00:35:37.440
 in tears.

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.539
 They are sad for you.

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:43.839
 Praying.

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.559
 Praying that we would

00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:46.419
 be those kinds of leaders.

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.099
 Verse 32.

00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.199
 And now I commend you

00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.500
 to God

00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.059
 and to the word

00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:49.519
 of his grace

00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.179
 which is able

00:35:50.179 --> 00:35:50.839
 to build you up

00:35:50.839 --> 00:35:51.319
 and to give you

00:35:51.319 --> 00:35:51.899
 the inheritance

00:35:51.899 --> 00:35:53.079
 among all those

00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:54.139
 who are sanctified.

00:35:54.339 --> 00:35:55.279
 I coveted no one

00:35:55.279 --> 00:35:55.839
 silver or gold

00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:56.279
 or apparel.

00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.259
 You yourselves know

00:35:57.259 --> 00:35:57.839
 that these hands

00:35:57.839 --> 00:35:59.019
 minister to my necessities

00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.599
 and to those

00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.259
 who were with me.

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:01.199
 Not only was I

00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:02.820
 invested just in you,

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.659
 I would also

00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:04.519
 look after myself.

00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:06.360
 I would pay my own ways

00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:06.860
 what he's saying.

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:08.039
 You saw how hard

00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:08.579
 I worked.

00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.059
 That I was a tent maker

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.940
 by day

00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:11.980
 and then I was then

00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:12.880
 going into the synagogue

00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.360
 in the evenings

00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:13.940
 and the weekends

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:15.440
 to minister to you

00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:16.219
 and to your house.

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.199
 I was working,

00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:18.039
 I was not lazy.

00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:19.300
 And you could see that,

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.199
 oh, to get to the end

00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:20.739
 of your race

00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:21.800
 with a certain group

00:36:21.800 --> 00:36:22.239
 of people

00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:23.519
 and for you to be able

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:23.920
 to say,

00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:25.079
 I gave you my all.

00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:27.119
 And you saw it.

00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:28.259
 And there's no doubt

00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:28.980
 in my mind.

00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.940
 Now you go

00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:32.160
 and do the same.

00:36:35.160 --> 00:36:35.800
 In all things,

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.340
 I have shown you

00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:37.140
 that by working hard

00:36:37.140 --> 00:36:37.520
 in this way,

00:36:37.560 --> 00:36:38.340
 we must help the weak

00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:39.120
 and remember the words

00:36:39.120 --> 00:36:39.720
 of the Lord Jesus,

00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.660
 how he himself said,

00:36:40.720 --> 00:36:41.320
 it is more blessed

00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:42.280
 to give than to receive.

00:36:42.580 --> 00:36:43.640
 Now, those exact words,

00:36:43.860 --> 00:36:44.300
 it is more blessed

00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:44.840
 to give than receive,

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:45.560
 we don't actually see

00:36:45.560 --> 00:36:46.000
 in scripture.

00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:47.020
 But the book of John

00:36:47.020 --> 00:36:48.120
 at the end also tells us

00:36:48.120 --> 00:36:49.100
 that Jesus said so many

00:36:49.100 --> 00:36:49.520
 other things

00:36:49.520 --> 00:36:51.320
 that they couldn't

00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:51.860
 write it all down.

00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:53.700
 And so this could be

00:36:53.700 --> 00:36:53.960
 one of them.

00:36:54.020 --> 00:36:54.260
 And of course,

00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:54.840
 it's consistent

00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:55.400
 with what he said,

00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:55.880
 which is what?

00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:56.840
 Be generous.

00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:58.579
 If you have lots

00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:58.960
 of wealth,

00:36:59.260 --> 00:36:59.760
 be generous.

00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:01.480
 If you have very little

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:01.780
 wealth,

00:37:02.120 --> 00:37:02.720
 be generous.

00:37:03.320 --> 00:37:04.620
 To be people who give,

00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:05.940
 not just money,

00:37:06.180 --> 00:37:06.880
 but time.

00:37:07.160 --> 00:37:08.039
 Not just time,

00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:08.820
 but care.

00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:09.960
 Not just care,

00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:12.640
 but actually make effort

00:37:12.640 --> 00:37:14.180
 to pay attention

00:37:14.180 --> 00:37:15.360
 to the people.

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.340
 That's what he's saying.

00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:18.220
 Be generous.

00:37:19.160 --> 00:37:20.260
 And then I can just imagine

00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:21.640
 this emotional scene already,

00:37:21.740 --> 00:37:22.340
 verse 36,

00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:22.980
 and when he has said

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.440
 these things,

00:37:23.700 --> 00:37:24.340
 he knelt down

00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.100
 and prayed with them all

00:37:25.100 --> 00:37:26.340
 and there was much weeping

00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:27.120
 on the part of all.

00:37:27.220 --> 00:37:27.880
 They embraced Paul

00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:28.539
 and kissed him,

00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:30.280
 being sorrowful most of all

00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:30.920
 because of the word

00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:31.340
 he had spoken

00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:31.940
 that they would not

00:37:31.940 --> 00:37:32.700
 see his face again

00:37:32.700 --> 00:37:33.660
 and they accompanied him

00:37:33.660 --> 00:37:34.140
 to the ship.

00:37:36.220 --> 00:37:37.019
 They say goodbye.

00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.200
 They leave.

00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:41.059
 And they're in tears.

00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:42.539
 Oh,

00:37:42.579 --> 00:37:43.200
 to be in a place.

00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:43.440
 Now,

00:37:43.700 --> 00:37:44.600
 none of us are ever

00:37:44.600 --> 00:37:45.140
 going to stay

00:37:45.140 --> 00:37:45.980
 in the setups

00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:46.740
 that we have right now

00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:47.160
 with the friends

00:37:47.160 --> 00:37:47.880
 that we have right now

00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:48.380
 forever.

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:49.460
 I mean,

00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.200
 the most morbid thought

00:37:50.200 --> 00:37:50.760
 is that everyone

00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.620
 we know around us

00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.039
 will die,

00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:53.599
 whether it's us first

00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:54.259
 or them firsts.

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.420
 But to be in a place

00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:57.000
 where you've invested

00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:57.519
 in each other

00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:59.500
 so when you leave,

00:37:59.579 --> 00:37:59.699
 you know,

00:37:59.779 --> 00:38:01.000
 I have given everything

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.859
 to this group of people.

00:38:02.779 --> 00:38:03.279
 That's the prayer

00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:04.519
 that I have for me.

00:38:05.299 --> 00:38:05.659
 It's the prayer

00:38:05.659 --> 00:38:06.539
 that I also hope

00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:06.980
 that you have

00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.819
 for your life group,

00:38:08.319 --> 00:38:09.259
 for your workplace.

00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:10.699
 That you can leave

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:10.900
 and go,

00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:12.059
 I have given everything

00:38:12.059 --> 00:38:13.119
 to you.

00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:14.880
 Why?

00:38:14.940 --> 00:38:15.259
 To what?

00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:17.059
 Not just to make you

00:38:17.059 --> 00:38:17.539
 a better person

00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:18.339
 to like me more,

00:38:19.099 --> 00:38:20.019
 but that you would then

00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:21.139
 be closer to the Lord Jesus.

00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:21.920
 You would look

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:22.900
 more like Jesus

00:38:22.900 --> 00:38:23.779
 in all of that.

00:38:24.099 --> 00:38:25.299
 What you see from Paul,

00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:25.900
 and this is where

00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:26.319
 I'm getting close

00:38:26.319 --> 00:38:26.679
 to finishing,

00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.759
 in 1 Corinthians 11,

00:38:28.859 --> 00:38:29.019
 1,

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.579
 he says this,

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:30.339
 imitate me

00:38:30.339 --> 00:38:31.279
 as I imitate Christ.

00:38:31.900 --> 00:38:32.799
 He earned the right

00:38:32.799 --> 00:38:33.279
 to say that

00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:34.259
 because they saw

00:38:34.259 --> 00:38:34.879
 how he lived

00:38:34.879 --> 00:38:35.299
 and he says,

00:38:36.139 --> 00:38:37.339
 now you've seen

00:38:37.339 --> 00:38:38.559
 how I've done it,

00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.859
 now you do it.

00:38:40.900 --> 00:38:41.559
 You've seen

00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:43.119
 how I copied Christ,

00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:45.139
 now you copy me

00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:48.339
 and that's discipleship

00:38:48.339 --> 00:38:49.799
 and that's

00:38:49.799 --> 00:38:50.739
 what it is.

00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:52.059
 If you just scan back

00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.679
 through this passage

00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:53.219
 and I haven't really

00:38:53.219 --> 00:38:53.799
 focused on it

00:38:53.799 --> 00:38:54.460
 but I will now

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.259
 because really

00:38:55.259 --> 00:38:56.079
 it's the center

00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:56.519
 of everything.

00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:57.719
 Verse 21 says,

00:38:57.859 --> 00:38:58.579
 this testifying both

00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.339
 to Jews and to Greeks

00:38:59.339 --> 00:38:59.759
 of repentance

00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:00.319
 toward God

00:39:00.319 --> 00:39:01.339
 and of the faith

00:39:01.339 --> 00:39:02.759
 in our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:03.659
 Verse 24,

00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:04.859
 if only I may finish

00:39:04.859 --> 00:39:05.779
 my course in the ministry

00:39:05.779 --> 00:39:06.679
 that I received

00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:07.719
 from the Lord Jesus.

00:39:07.719 --> 00:39:10.579
 and then later,

00:39:10.859 --> 00:39:11.159
 imitate,

00:39:11.319 --> 00:39:12.199
 remember these words

00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:13.879
 by the Lord Jesus.

00:39:15.099 --> 00:39:15.899
 This is a leader

00:39:15.899 --> 00:39:16.419
 that's not trying

00:39:16.419 --> 00:39:17.219
 to build his own

00:39:17.219 --> 00:39:18.359
 profile,

00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:19.079
 his own campaign.

00:39:19.399 --> 00:39:20.199
 This is a leader

00:39:20.199 --> 00:39:21.159
 that actually everything

00:39:21.159 --> 00:39:22.159
 is centered around

00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:23.919
 the Lord Jesus.

00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:25.899
 Reminds me of the words

00:39:25.899 --> 00:39:26.500
 of John the Baptist

00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:27.039
 in John 3

00:39:27.039 --> 00:39:27.419
 when he says,

00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:28.099
 he must increase,

00:39:28.159 --> 00:39:28.759
 I must decrease.

00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:30.199
 I'm outrageous, guys.

00:39:30.259 --> 00:39:30.919
 I live in the wilderness.

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:31.639
 I dress funny.

00:39:31.859 --> 00:39:32.339
 I shout

00:39:32.339 --> 00:39:33.779
 but it's not about me.

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:36.459
 It's about him.

00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.079
 Can we be leaders

00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:38.699
 that ultimately

00:39:38.699 --> 00:39:40.619
 point people to Jesus

00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:42.699
 and that is it?

00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:44.559
 I'm reminded of

00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:46.860
 Jesus' last words.

00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:47.559
 We've just been looking

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:48.400
 at Paul's last words

00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:49.119
 to the leaders of Ephesus.

00:39:49.300 --> 00:39:50.159
 I'm reminded of Jesus'

00:39:50.360 --> 00:39:51.460
 last words in John 13

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:52.720
 after the last dinner.

00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:54.059
 He says,

00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:54.679
 love one another

00:39:54.679 --> 00:39:55.460
 as I have loved you.

00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:56.199
 How have I loved you?

00:39:56.760 --> 00:39:58.019
 I've washed your feet.

00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:00.519
 John 14 says,

00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:01.159
 I'm the only way,

00:40:01.220 --> 00:40:01.500
 the truth,

00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:01.940
 and the life.

00:40:02.179 --> 00:40:02.679
 Follow me

00:40:02.679 --> 00:40:04.119
 and only me.

00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:06.659
 In my Father's house

00:40:06.659 --> 00:40:07.359
 there are many rooms.

00:40:07.460 --> 00:40:08.079
 You must come

00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:10.099
 but only through me.

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:11.480
 How are you going

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:11.799
 to get there?

00:40:11.819 --> 00:40:12.519
 By the Holy Spirit

00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:13.079
 is what he says.

00:40:13.139 --> 00:40:13.599
 John 15,

00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:13.839
 he says,

00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:14.599
 abide in me.

00:40:14.779 --> 00:40:15.659
 Bear fruit in me.

00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:16.460
 I'm the vine,

00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.199
 you are the branches.

00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:18.839
 Chapter 16,

00:40:18.900 --> 00:40:19.139
 he says,

00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:20.199
 but you can only do that

00:40:20.199 --> 00:40:21.079
 because of the Holy Spirit.

00:40:23.039 --> 00:40:23.559
 And he says,

00:40:23.579 --> 00:40:23.980
 in this world

00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:24.759
 you will have trouble

00:40:24.759 --> 00:40:26.059
 but take heart,

00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:26.960
 I have overcome the world.

00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:28.380
 Those were Jesus' last words.

00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:28.960
 Those are the words

00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:29.960
 that we pay attention to

00:40:29.960 --> 00:40:30.980
 and I hope that these

00:40:30.980 --> 00:40:31.319
 are the words

00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:32.420
 that you pay attention to

00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:34.059
 as I finish my sermon

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:34.920
 and if you forget

00:40:34.920 --> 00:40:35.600
 everything else

00:40:35.600 --> 00:40:36.100
 in the sermon,

00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:37.120
 I pray that you

00:40:37.120 --> 00:40:37.920
 would remember these.

00:40:40.180 --> 00:40:41.140
 That we here

00:40:41.140 --> 00:40:42.080
 are all striving

00:40:42.080 --> 00:40:42.960
 to be leaders

00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:45.019
 who bear the image

00:40:45.019 --> 00:40:45.420
 of Paul,

00:40:46.180 --> 00:40:47.320
 who was invested,

00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.320
 who was committed

00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:48.800
 to truth,

00:40:48.900 --> 00:40:49.640
 who was consistent,

00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:50.460
 who was persistent,

00:40:51.620 --> 00:40:52.460
 a man of integrity

00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:54.820
 and that we would all

00:40:54.820 --> 00:40:55.360
 be leaders

00:40:55.360 --> 00:40:57.320
 pursuing to be

00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.720
 like Christ.

00:40:58.719 --> 00:41:02.299
 everyone wants

00:41:02.299 --> 00:41:02.839
 to be a leader

00:41:02.839 --> 00:41:03.879
 until they realize

00:41:03.879 --> 00:41:04.559
 how hard it is

00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:05.039
 to be a leader

00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:05.739
 and some stay

00:41:05.739 --> 00:41:06.659
 in the position

00:41:06.659 --> 00:41:07.239
 of leadership

00:41:07.239 --> 00:41:08.779
 because of selfish gain.

00:41:10.599 --> 00:41:12.199
 Yet we follow someone

00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:13.559
 who lead,

00:41:13.719 --> 00:41:14.099
 who led,

00:41:14.759 --> 00:41:15.379
 who still leads

00:41:15.379 --> 00:41:16.299
 in a different way.

00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:17.919
 Alex Lee

00:41:17.919 --> 00:41:19.199
 in the pre-service prayer

00:41:19.199 --> 00:41:20.519
 led us on that passage

00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:21.079
 and it's just,

00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:23.079
 it has everything

00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:24.019
 you need to know

00:41:24.019 --> 00:41:26.439
 of what it meant

00:41:26.439 --> 00:41:26.980
 to be a leader

00:41:26.980 --> 00:41:27.519
 for Jesus.

00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:29.159
 Philippians 2.

00:41:31.340 --> 00:41:31.860
 He says,

00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:32.739
 don't do anything.

00:41:34.539 --> 00:41:35.380
 Don't do anything

00:41:35.380 --> 00:41:37.139
 for your own self.

00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:39.300
 Do nothing out

00:41:39.300 --> 00:41:40.039
 of selfish ambition

00:41:40.039 --> 00:41:42.019
 but in humility

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.759
 consider others

00:41:42.759 --> 00:41:43.360
 more significant

00:41:43.360 --> 00:41:44.079
 than yourselves.

00:41:44.340 --> 00:41:44.840
 Let each of you

00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:45.400
 look not only

00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:46.239
 to your own interests

00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:46.980
 but to the interests

00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:47.539
 of others.

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:48.639
 And you might ask,

00:41:48.699 --> 00:41:49.480
 well how can I do that?

00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:50.059
 I'm selfish,

00:41:50.139 --> 00:41:50.699
 I know you are

00:41:50.699 --> 00:41:51.420
 because I am too.

00:41:51.920 --> 00:41:52.340
 And then he says,

00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:52.980
 have this mind

00:41:52.980 --> 00:41:53.579
 among yourselves

00:41:53.579 --> 00:41:54.139
 which is yours

00:41:54.139 --> 00:41:54.739
 in Christ Jesus.

00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:55.840
 You can be that kind

00:41:55.840 --> 00:41:56.759
 of leader that is selfless,

00:41:56.760 --> 00:41:57.440
 that is invested

00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:59.060
 when you have this mind

00:41:59.060 --> 00:41:59.520
 among yourselves

00:41:59.520 --> 00:42:00.300
 when you recognize

00:42:00.300 --> 00:42:01.140
 that actually it's Jesus

00:42:01.140 --> 00:42:01.860
 who's going to help you

00:42:01.860 --> 00:42:02.340
 be the leader.

00:42:03.740 --> 00:42:04.400
 And it's his spirit

00:42:04.400 --> 00:42:05.080
 that's going to help you

00:42:05.080 --> 00:42:05.540
 be the leader.

00:42:06.580 --> 00:42:07.200
 Jesus who,

00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:08.260
 though was in the form of God,

00:42:08.340 --> 00:42:09.300
 did not count equality

00:42:09.300 --> 00:42:09.980
 with God a thing

00:42:09.980 --> 00:42:10.460
 to be grasped

00:42:10.460 --> 00:42:11.360
 but emptied himself

00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:12.260
 taking the form

00:42:12.260 --> 00:42:12.760
 of a servant

00:42:12.760 --> 00:42:13.320
 being born

00:42:13.320 --> 00:42:14.320
 in the likeness of men.

00:42:15.360 --> 00:42:16.740
 He humbled himself

00:42:16.740 --> 00:42:17.780
 by becoming obedient

00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:18.620
 to the point of death,

00:42:18.680 --> 00:42:19.920
 even death on the cross.

00:42:20.180 --> 00:42:21.460
 He became that boss

00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:22.600
 that came to kneel down

00:42:22.599 --> 00:42:23.500
 by your table

00:42:23.500 --> 00:42:25.860
 and leveled with you.

00:42:27.619 --> 00:42:28.980
 He became that

00:42:28.980 --> 00:42:30.579
 authoritative figure

00:42:30.579 --> 00:42:32.279
 that could have just

00:42:32.279 --> 00:42:32.880
 stayed up there

00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:33.719
 with his arms crossed

00:42:33.719 --> 00:42:34.920
 but he came down

00:42:34.920 --> 00:42:36.039
 to be with you

00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:39.920
 and humbled himself

00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:41.219
 to the point of death,

00:42:41.940 --> 00:42:42.900
 even death on the cross.

00:42:45.639 --> 00:42:46.619
 That's the kind of leader

00:42:46.619 --> 00:42:47.019
 he wants.

00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:48.799
 That's the kind of leader

00:42:48.799 --> 00:42:50.400
 that we want to be.

00:42:50.400 --> 00:42:52.300
 So I'll finish

00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:52.940
 by asking again,

00:42:53.019 --> 00:42:53.599
 who of you here

00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:54.059
 is a leader?

00:42:55.360 --> 00:42:55.940
 And of course,

00:42:57.220 --> 00:42:57.900
 a leader is anyone

00:42:57.900 --> 00:42:58.500
 who is looking

00:42:58.500 --> 00:42:59.800
 to the interests

00:42:59.800 --> 00:43:01.000
 of those to his left

00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:02.119
 and her left or right.

00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:05.820
 Would we be

00:43:05.820 --> 00:43:06.760
 those kinds of leaders

00:43:06.760 --> 00:43:08.059
 that lay down our lives?

00:43:08.840 --> 00:43:10.099
 Amongst Jesus' last words

00:43:10.099 --> 00:43:10.740
 in John 15,

00:43:10.840 --> 00:43:11.820
 there is no greater love

00:43:11.820 --> 00:43:12.180
 than this,

00:43:12.220 --> 00:43:13.180
 that someone would lay down

00:43:13.180 --> 00:43:13.700
 their lives

00:43:13.700 --> 00:43:14.220
 or their friends.

00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:16.000
 I hope that you can

00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:17.300
 be inspired enough today,

00:43:17.700 --> 00:43:18.639
 exhorted enough today

00:43:18.639 --> 00:43:19.300
 that you would walk

00:43:19.300 --> 00:43:19.800
 out of this room

00:43:19.800 --> 00:43:20.059
 and go,

00:43:20.059 --> 00:43:22.199
 I am so wanting

00:43:22.199 --> 00:43:22.920
 and desperate

00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:23.739
 to be a leader

00:43:23.739 --> 00:43:24.539
 to that person.

00:43:24.799 --> 00:43:26.119
 I want to lay my life

00:43:26.119 --> 00:43:26.880
 down for them.

00:43:27.279 --> 00:43:28.079
 I want to lay down

00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:29.119
 my priorities for them.

00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:30.340
 You pick where we go

00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:31.019
 for lunch today.

00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:32.440
 I would like to eat

00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:33.679
 what you want to eat.

00:43:33.900 --> 00:43:34.639
 I would like to do

00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:35.659
 the thing that actually

00:43:35.659 --> 00:43:36.139
 you've always been

00:43:36.139 --> 00:43:36.619
 asking me to do

00:43:36.619 --> 00:43:37.239
 but I don't really want

00:43:37.239 --> 00:43:37.940
 to do because I'm selfish

00:43:37.940 --> 00:43:38.360
 and I'm lazy

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:39.679
 but I want to do it today

00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:42.159
 because I want to lead well.

00:43:43.420 --> 00:43:44.179
 What's the secret

00:43:44.179 --> 00:43:44.840
 of being a leader

00:43:44.840 --> 00:43:46.079
 despite the hardships?

00:43:48.079 --> 00:43:48.400
 Humility.

00:43:50.059 --> 00:43:50.779
 And he says it

00:43:50.779 --> 00:43:51.799
 and it's just hidden there

00:43:51.799 --> 00:43:53.299
 at the very beginning.

00:43:53.699 --> 00:43:54.159
 Verse 17.

00:43:54.279 --> 00:43:54.900
 You yourselves know

00:43:54.900 --> 00:43:55.840
 how I lived among you

00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:56.420
 the whole time

00:43:56.420 --> 00:43:57.500
 from the first day

00:43:57.500 --> 00:43:58.340
 that I set foot in Asia

00:43:58.340 --> 00:43:59.259
 serving the Lord

00:43:59.259 --> 00:44:01.619
 with all humility.

00:44:01.619 --> 00:44:05.239
 I was at the privilege

00:44:05.239 --> 00:44:06.179
 a couple years ago

00:44:06.179 --> 00:44:07.219
 spending time with a leader

00:44:07.219 --> 00:44:08.679
 who was well known

00:44:08.679 --> 00:44:10.039
 who was a great leader.

00:44:10.259 --> 00:44:11.099
 Lots of people following

00:44:11.099 --> 00:44:12.559
 and I remember asking him

00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:13.940
 as a young blood

00:44:13.940 --> 00:44:15.679
 going hey can you teach me?

00:44:16.059 --> 00:44:16.900
 Teach me how to be a leader.

00:44:17.559 --> 00:44:18.339
 Teach me the skills

00:44:18.339 --> 00:44:19.559
 of a speaker.

00:44:20.679 --> 00:44:21.639
 Teach me how to be

00:44:21.639 --> 00:44:23.880
 someone who leads well.

00:44:24.539 --> 00:44:25.359
 And he said this

00:44:25.359 --> 00:44:26.079
 and he was just like

00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:26.480
 hmm

00:44:26.480 --> 00:44:29.760
 the best leaders

00:44:29.760 --> 00:44:30.240
 are the ones

00:44:30.240 --> 00:44:30.760
 that are humble.

00:44:31.940 --> 00:44:33.199
 And then he just left me there

00:44:33.199 --> 00:44:35.960
 and then he just walked off.

00:44:39.880 --> 00:44:40.800
 The best leaders

00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:41.659
 in this world

00:44:41.659 --> 00:44:44.260
 are the ones

00:44:44.260 --> 00:44:45.139
 who are the best followers

00:44:45.139 --> 00:44:47.740
 of the kingdom of God.

00:44:49.820 --> 00:44:50.480
 That is all.

00:44:51.260 --> 00:44:51.860
 Let us follow

00:44:51.860 --> 00:44:53.420
 in the footsteps of Paul.

00:44:54.059 --> 00:44:54.660
 Let us follow

00:44:54.660 --> 00:44:57.000
 him as he follows

00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:57.880
 Jesus.

00:44:59.360 --> 00:44:59.960
 We're going to move

00:44:59.960 --> 00:45:01.059
 into a time of communion now

00:45:01.059 --> 00:45:02.579
 as he said there

00:45:02.579 --> 00:45:03.720
 pay attention to the flock

00:45:03.720 --> 00:45:05.599
 which he bought

00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:06.960
 by his own blood.

00:45:08.120 --> 00:45:08.620
 We're going to spend

00:45:08.620 --> 00:45:09.340
 the time in communion

00:45:09.340 --> 00:45:10.120
 where we gather

00:45:10.120 --> 00:45:11.920
 around the elements.

00:45:14.920 --> 00:45:15.700
 And so let's just

00:45:15.700 --> 00:45:16.420
 spend a moment now

00:45:16.420 --> 00:45:17.740
 just to reflect.

00:45:19.440 --> 00:45:20.760
 You can even reflect on

00:45:20.760 --> 00:45:23.640
 what kind of leader

00:45:23.640 --> 00:45:24.040
 you are.

00:45:25.960 --> 00:45:26.840
 What kind of leader

00:45:26.840 --> 00:45:27.340
 you were.

00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:29.760
 What kind of leader

00:45:29.760 --> 00:45:30.560
 you want to be.

00:45:32.760 --> 00:45:33.720
 Or maybe the hurt

00:45:33.720 --> 00:45:34.240
 that you've

00:45:34.240 --> 00:45:35.860
 received

00:45:35.860 --> 00:45:37.100
 from a bad leader.

00:45:38.020 --> 00:45:38.680
 How you've been

00:45:38.680 --> 00:45:39.140
 a victim

00:45:39.140 --> 00:45:40.340
 of poor leadership.

00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:42.840
 And I'll stand

00:45:42.840 --> 00:45:43.500
 right here

00:45:43.500 --> 00:45:44.220
 and say

00:45:44.220 --> 00:45:45.340
 I have invested time

00:45:45.340 --> 00:45:46.460
 and tears

00:45:46.460 --> 00:45:48.200
 into this community

00:45:48.200 --> 00:45:49.220
 but I'll also be

00:45:49.220 --> 00:45:50.080
 the first one to say

00:45:50.079 --> 00:45:51.799
 I've made mistakes

00:45:51.799 --> 00:45:52.539
 that I have not

00:45:52.539 --> 00:45:53.199
 led you well.

00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:56.559
 My prayer

00:45:56.559 --> 00:45:58.880
 my only prayer

00:45:58.880 --> 00:46:02.139
 is that Psalm 27

00:46:02.139 --> 00:46:03.119
 would become your prayer

00:46:03.119 --> 00:46:04.059
 that you would

00:46:04.059 --> 00:46:05.139
 yearn and hunger

00:46:05.139 --> 00:46:06.579
 just for Jesus.

00:46:08.420 --> 00:46:08.960
 Please

00:46:08.960 --> 00:46:09.819
 please

00:46:09.819 --> 00:46:10.819
 don't look to me.

00:46:11.659 --> 00:46:12.860
 I will fail you.

00:46:14.400 --> 00:46:15.299
 But look to him.

00:46:16.579 --> 00:46:17.239
 He is the author

00:46:17.239 --> 00:46:18.879
 and he's the perfecter

00:46:18.879 --> 00:46:21.639
 of your faith

00:46:21.639 --> 00:46:22.419
 of my faith

00:46:22.419 --> 00:46:23.199
 of our faith.

00:46:24.719 --> 00:46:25.519
 Let's spend a moment

00:46:25.519 --> 00:46:26.039
 just to examine

00:46:26.039 --> 00:46:26.759
 our own hearts

00:46:26.759 --> 00:46:27.919
 whatever is coming up

00:46:27.919 --> 00:46:28.799
 whatever the Holy Spirit

00:46:28.799 --> 00:46:29.979
 leads in you

00:46:29.979 --> 00:46:30.599
 and then we'll

00:46:30.599 --> 00:46:32.579
 take the elements together.

00:46:32.579 --> 00:46:50.119
 so as we reflect on leadership

00:46:50.119 --> 00:46:52.500
 again would we center our hearts on

00:46:52.500 --> 00:46:53.179
 Jesus

00:46:53.179 --> 00:46:56.500
 our king, our chief

00:46:56.500 --> 00:46:57.639
 leader, the one who

00:46:57.639 --> 00:46:59.940
 adorned himself in humility

00:46:59.940 --> 00:47:02.559
 humility to the point

00:47:02.559 --> 00:47:04.539
 of becoming obedient to the point

00:47:04.539 --> 00:47:06.000
 of death, even death on our cross

00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:08.139
 so before we leave from here

00:47:08.139 --> 00:47:10.440
 if you just spend a moment, just 30 seconds

00:47:10.440 --> 00:47:11.259
 just you and the Lord

00:47:11.259 --> 00:47:14.639
 just asking the spirit

00:47:14.639 --> 00:47:16.619
 what does obedience

00:47:16.619 --> 00:47:17.900
 look like for me this week

00:47:17.900 --> 00:47:20.500
 Jesus how may I follow after you more this week

00:47:20.500 --> 00:47:22.679
 how may I put aside my own

00:47:22.679 --> 00:47:24.279
 desires in humility for

00:47:24.279 --> 00:47:26.679
 those to my left, those to my right, my family

00:47:26.679 --> 00:47:28.599
 my friends, those

00:47:28.599 --> 00:47:30.619
 I work with, those that are difficult to

00:47:30.619 --> 00:47:32.579
 love, so would we lift

00:47:32.579 --> 00:47:34.440
 those people up to the Lord

00:47:34.440 --> 00:47:36.139
 now, would we lift up our hearts to the Lord

00:47:36.139 --> 00:47:37.420
 now just for a few moments

00:47:37.420 --> 00:47:58.039
 Jesus, we look to you

00:47:58.039 --> 00:48:02.980
 you set the example of what it means to love

00:48:02.980 --> 00:48:04.860
 to lead

00:48:04.860 --> 00:48:06.860
 and to give of yourself

00:48:06.860 --> 00:48:08.139
 so as your people

00:48:08.139 --> 00:48:11.659
 we confess that it's hard for us

00:48:11.659 --> 00:48:12.659
 yet we declare

00:48:12.659 --> 00:48:14.699
 Lord, we want to be those people

00:48:14.699 --> 00:48:15.960
 who embody

00:48:15.960 --> 00:48:18.740
 sacrificial love to those around us

00:48:18.740 --> 00:48:20.300
 so fill us by our spirit

00:48:20.300 --> 00:48:21.500
 send us from here Lord

00:48:21.500 --> 00:48:24.059
 we're grateful for your love for us

00:48:24.059 --> 00:48:26.639
 Jesus, we pray this all in your name

00:48:26.639 --> 00:48:27.279
 Amen