WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.400
 Okay, I want to talk to you this morning about battling independence and contrarianism.

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 Okay, battling independence and contrarianism.

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 First little caveat here, please don't listen to this and think of the person that you think

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 of when you think of independence and contrarianism.

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 Think of yourself, okay?

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 There's a tendency in all of us to try to find independence or to be a contrarian.

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 Again, sometimes just for contrarian's sake, but sometimes for other reasons.

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 And it's not going to help us if we're thinking about other people.

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 We need to ask ourselves, is this about me?

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 Where do I need to grow in this?

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 And with that too, I will say, being a new church plant and being the first church plant

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 of the church that sent us, it's fairly typical that the people who would gravitate towards

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 a church plant, especially the first ones when you've never seen a church plant before,

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 would be the ones who would maybe have a tendency to be a little bit more independent, a little

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 bit more contrarian.

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 And I think that was the case with this group of people.

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 There's a good side of that, right?

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 Because it's the kind of pioneering kind of people that would say yes.

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 And then there's a bad side of that that keeps us knitted together in a way that is fruitful

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 for the kingdom.

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 Okay?

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 And so I think this is an important thing for us to talk about and to realize that if

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 there is independence in us and there is this kind of contrarianism in us, that it's

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 not helpful.

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 It's not helpful in any sense of church, but especially on the front end of a church plant,

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 the first year of a church plant, God really wants us to be united.

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 And we're going to see that here in a second as we look at different scriptures about this.

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 So I'm going to read through a bunch of these scriptures.

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 I'll comment on a few, but I really, in many ways, just want you to let the word of God

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 sink into your heart and hear kind of this theme throughout scripture on unity and agreement

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 and having one mind, having the same mind.

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 And let that just sink into our hearts and just ask the question, hey, am I helping with

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 this?

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 You know, when we do premarital counseling with couples and sometimes marriage counseling,

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 one of the topics we'll talk about is oneness.

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 And we'll often ask the question, does this particular thing promote our oneness or detract

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 from our oneness?

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 And it's actually a good thing to actually ask in the context of church as well, because

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 God wants us to be one.

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 God wants us to have one mind, to be like-minded.

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 And there are things that we can do or say that promote oneness.

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 And there are things that we can do or say that detract from our oneness.

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 And so I'm going to look at some scriptures here.

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 I'm going to start in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 10.

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 And Paul makes an appeal here.

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 He says,

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 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and

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 that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same

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 judgment.

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 Okay.

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 I think it's important to realize that if we don't have agreement and we're not united

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 in the same mind and the same judgment, what ends up happening is there are divisions among

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 us.

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 And a lot of times independence and contrarianism is really a root for division.

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 And so Paul's given this appeal.

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 Now he's given this appeal because number one, he knows that this was happening there, but

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 he also knows that this is human nature as well.

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 Okay.

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 And so he's appealing.

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 And sometimes we have to make this appeal.

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 And I'm making this appeal this morning, that we are conscious of this, that we think of

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 this, that we all agree that there be no divisions among you, that we be united in the same mind

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 in the same judgment.

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 Philippians chapter one, verse 27 says something similar.

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 It says, only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

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 So whether I come and see you or I'm absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm

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 in one spirit with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

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 And again, this is why it's so important because when we are standing firm in one spirit and we

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 have one mind, it causes us to strive side by side for the sake of the gospel, for the

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 faith of the gospel.

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 And really what ends up happening is if we don't have that, it hinders our gospel witness.

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 It hinders gospel advance because we end up being focused on the wrong things.

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 Philippians chapter two, one to four says, if there's any encouragement in Christ, any comfort

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 from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy

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 by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

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 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant

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 than yourselves.

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 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

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 So he's saying, you know, if there's any kind of encouragement, if there's anything good

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 in Christ, complete this by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord

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 and of one mind.

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 Now listen, that doesn't happen naturally.

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 That takes work.

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 Like you're not going to, you're not going to get there by hoping or just thinking that's

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 just going to happen by natural church osmosis, so to speak.

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 It takes effort.

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 Okay.

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 We have to have intentionality to be of the same mind, have the same love, be in full accord

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 and one mind.

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 Now I don't know about you, but when I hear that, I think, wow, that's a pretty strong

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 language in agreement.

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 I mean, same mind, one mind, same love, full accord.

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 You know what I think of that thing?

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 I think it's not even possible.

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 Which brings us to another point.

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 We need the spirit of God to do that.

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 We can't be dependent on our own rationale and our own efforts alone.

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 We must depend on the Holy Spirit to make us one.

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 To pray what Jesus prayed.

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 That we would be one just as him and the Father are one.

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 That we would have the intentionality, not just in our own hearts and minds, but intentionality

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 to say, God, we need your spirit to make us one.

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 We need your spirit to help us to have one mind.

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 Because that's impossible apart from him.

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 There's no way.

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 But if we are all centered on the right things, if we're all focused on Christ, and we are

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 living by the spirit, we'll have this one mind.

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 We'll have the fellowship of the spirit.

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 Philippians chapter 2, again in Philippians, 19 to 20 in the CSB says,

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 Now I hope that the Lord Jesus sent Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged

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 by news about you.

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 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests.

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 That same kind of concept, like-mindedness.

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 1 Peter 3, verse 8 says,

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 All of you have unity of mind.

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 2 Corinthians 13, 11,

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 Brothers, agree with one another.

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 Romans 12, 16,

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 Live in harmony with one another.

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 The good thing about this verse is it takes away that kind of concept that creeps in that

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 says the only way to have unity is with uniformity.

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 Well, there's no such thing as a harmony that has uniformity, that it's not a harmony anymore.

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 And it's just everybody singing the same.

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 The beauty of a harmony is the fact that different people are singing in different ways,

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 and it sounds good together.

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 There's unity, but it's without uniformity.

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 And we can have unity without uniformity.

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 I'm not in any way advocating, nor do I believe as the scriptures advocating that we all have to

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 be the same, and we have to have all the same ideas, but we can take those ideas,

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 work them together, live in agreement, and have one mind, and work in harmony with one another.

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 And we have to ask ourselves sometimes,

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 Does this belief, does what I'm about to say,

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 does what I'm about to challenge,

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 does what I'm about to introduce into the conversation,

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 is this harmony or is this out of tune?

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 Right?

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 Is this going to flow together well?

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 Is this going to keep us all singing the same thing in the same direction,

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 and it's going to be pleasant and give grace to the hearers?

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 Or is this going to sound bad?

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 Is this going to not be harmonious?

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 Is it going to, you know, sometimes if you have a group of people trying to sing in harmony,

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 and then one person gets to their part, and they're just way off,

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 you can stop the whole song sometimes.

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 And everyone's kind of like, oh, okay, I don't know where to go from there.

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 And that can happen in church sometimes.

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 We can be buzzing along, just doing our thing.

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 There's harmony, there's cohesion,

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 and then all of a sudden someone throws something out there,

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 and you're just like, whoa.

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 And the song stops.

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 And we stop moving forward.

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 So we've got to ask ourselves,

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 Am I living in harmony with one another?

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 It doesn't mean you have to be exactly the same.

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 Well, I thought you said we have to be one mind.

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 Yes.

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 You have to take all these scriptures together and interpret them.

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 You can't just take one alone, take them together.

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 There has to be a way to be of one mind,

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 while there's still certain differences where they harmonize together.

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 Okay?

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 And that's what we have to ask ourselves.

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 Is this harmonious?

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 Is this belief?

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 Is this way of doing things?

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 Is this what I'm about to say?

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 Romans 14.19 says,

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 Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

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 It's so easy to be so,

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 and especially knowing how you're gifted.

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 Sometimes it can be so easy to just be so kind of myopic

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 and tunnel vision on what is true or what is right,

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 and we can miss what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

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 Now, I'm not saying you compromise what is true or what is right,

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 but sometimes we can do that at the expense of people.

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 We can do that at the expense of thinking of the harmony,

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 of only thinking of ourselves and not thinking of how we function together.

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 And he says,

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 Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

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 And so we have to ask the question,

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 Is this going to bring peace among us?

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 Is this going to be a mutual upbuilding?

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 Sometimes it might only build us up.

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 It might only be interesting to us.

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 It might only be good for us or maybe even one other person.

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 Maybe if I say this in front of a large group of people,

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 maybe this won't be upbuilding.

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 Maybe this won't be helpful.

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 We got to ask those questions sometimes,

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 and we have to pursue that.

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 It has to be pursued.

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 It's really a mentality,

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 kind of a focus of how we even do church together.

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 Ephesians chapter 4, 1 to 6 says,

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 I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord,

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 urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

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 with all humility and gentleness,

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 with patience,

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 bearing with one another in love.

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 Verse 3,

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 Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

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 There is one body and one Spirit.

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 Just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.

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 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

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 one God, the Father of all,

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 who is over all and through all,

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 and in all.

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 There's a lot of ones in there.

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 I think he's trying to make a point.

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 He's trying to make a point of how we should be one.

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 We should be eager

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 to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

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 Let me ask you the question.

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 When it comes to the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace,

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 what is your disposition?

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 What is your attitude when it comes to that?

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 Are you eager?

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 Is it an afterthought or a forethought?

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 Is it an intention or is it off the radar?

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 Are you eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace?

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 We need to be eager.

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 It needs to be something that we are looking forward to,

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 that we are pressing into.

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 Not an afterthought.

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 Not something we don't think about very often.

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 It needs to be something that we're eager for.

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 One of the reasons we need to be eager for it

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 is because the devil wants to disunify us.

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 And the devil is into aborting things.

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 He loves to abort things before they can get traction and really get started.

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 He loves to do this with churches.

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 He loves to do this with babies.

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 He loves to do this with all kinds of things.

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 We're not unaware of his schemes.

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 And so we need to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

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 Knowing that the devil does not want this church to even get off the ground.

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 We're not even a year into it.

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 Of course the devil would love to abort it before we could even get there.

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 So you have to be aware of that.

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 We have to be aware of the devil's schemes and not say,

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 Oh, it's no big deal.

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 I'd have to think about it.

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:59.399
 No, you do have to think about it.

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 You do have to be eager.

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 You do have to think about what we say, how we do things,

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 who the audience is.

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 We have to be considering those things.

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 Very important.

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 So those are, I mean, just a kind of a cluster of verses.

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 Talking about agreement, oneness of mind, eagerness in this area, pursuing it.

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 There's quite a bit of things there that is definitely a theme in the Scriptures that we are to pursue.

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 And I just, before I get into some roots of what can cause this,

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 I just want you to ask the question again,

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 What is your disposition towards this?

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 How eager or uneager are you at this?

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 Have you been burned in the past by things that have caused you to just say,

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 Well, it's not the big deal.

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 I'm just kind of looking after myself because when I tried to do this in the past,

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 I got burned or it went really horribly.

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 And listen, that's true.

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 Many of us have experienced that where it's gone really poorly.

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 When we actually tried to aim for these noble things that the Scriptures say.

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:59.940
 And the worst thing that could happen when we would get so burnt out on that,

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:03.660
 that we would stop being eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:04.779
 We have to.

00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.440
 We must.

00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:07.200
 And it's a worthy cause.

00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.920
 And I think it's just important for us to say that out loud.

00:14:10.020 --> 00:14:11.200
 This is a worthy cause.

00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:13.520
 And not think, Well, I'm tired.

00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:14.759
 I'm burnt out.

00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:15.920
 I tried that.

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:16.740
 It didn't work.

00:14:17.060 --> 00:14:17.720
 I tried that.

00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:18.900
 And I was a part of a church split.

00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:19.660
 I tried that.

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:21.200
 And I got really hurt.

00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:22.920
 Yes.

00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:25.259
 I know how you feel.

00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:25.940
 That's happened.

00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:27.759
 But to be eager in this thing.

00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:29.600
 To say, Yes, those things have happened.

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.980
 But as far as this church,

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:35.040
 we are going to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

00:14:35.540 --> 00:14:36.500
 We're going to be eager in this.

00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:37.340
 Amen?

00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.019
 Okay.

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:46.039
 I want to look at kind of 10 different roots, I think, of independence and contrarianism.

00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:46.299
 Okay?

00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:51.799
 10 possible roots of what can kind of cause these things to crop up.

00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:52.159
 All right?

00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:53.940
 So let's start with the first one.

00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:54.480
 First one.

00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:55.240
 Unbelief.

00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:56.220
 Okay?

00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:57.500
 Genesis 3.

00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:57.940
 1.

00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:00.740
 Classic tactic of the enemy right from the beginning.

00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:04.720
 The serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.

00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:06.240
 And he said to the woman.

00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:07.720
 And this is...

00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:10.420
 Just know this is a constant tactic of the enemy.

00:15:11.099 --> 00:15:13.579
 Did God really say,

00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:16.459
 You must not eat from any tree in the garden?

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:19.579
 And this is what often I think ends up happening when it comes to unity,

00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:21.879
 when it comes to being of one mind.

00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:22.679
 Is...

00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:24.059
 Did God really say that?

00:15:24.199 --> 00:15:25.120
 I mean...

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:27.259
 Do we really need to be of one mind?

00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:29.319
 Do we really need to be in full accord?

00:15:29.319 --> 00:15:29.919
 Do we...

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:30.419
 I mean...

00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:31.620
 Did God really say that?

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:33.179
 And my answer to you is,

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:34.159
 Yes, He did.

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.279
 We just read it.

00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:37.080
 Said it a few times.

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.360
 Said it many times.

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.960
 And it's easy to say,

00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:41.620
 Well, but we're so different.

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:43.620
 And there's so much...

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:47.080
 There's such an eclectic nature of people in general,

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:48.460
 much less the church.

00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:51.120
 Surely God didn't really mean that.

00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:53.419
 Surely God didn't really say that.

00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:55.899
 But oh yes, He did.

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.399
 He did.

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:59.399
 And so it's good to just...

00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:01.919
 I think that's one that really goes under the radar.

00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.799
 We kind of read these verses and think,

00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.659
 Well, that's not...

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.759
 Surely it can't mean that because that would be impossible.

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.399
 So it must not mean that.

00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:11.779
 When in actuality it does mean that,

00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:13.439
 and we're just in unbelief.

00:16:13.959 --> 00:16:15.319
 We're reading through the scriptures

00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:19.500
 with human eyes and lenses and past experiences

00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.399
 and saying,

00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:22.120
 Surely God couldn't really mean that.

00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:24.299
 Surely God didn't really say that

00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:26.019
 because it's not possible.

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:27.319
 And so we read these verses

00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:31.360
 and we kind of just go to the next verse.

00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:31.740
 You know?

00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:33.020
 It happens.

00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:34.020
 I know it happens.

00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:37.040
 We have to be watch out for that.

00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:40.000
 Do you have faith that it's possible to be of one mind?

00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:42.920
 Do you have faith that it's possible to be in full accord?

00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:44.180
 One accord.

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.940
 Do you have faith in that?

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:47.379
 And if you don't, we need to repent.

00:16:48.140 --> 00:16:49.879
 We need to believe and trust God.

00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:50.820
 Okay?

00:16:51.140 --> 00:16:53.180
 You wanted to do a church plant and not have faith?

00:16:53.260 --> 00:16:53.920
 You're out of your mind.

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.560
 There's no way.

00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:56.159
 We need faith.

00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:58.000
 And one of the things we have to believe

00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.639
 is that God can build his church,

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.419
 that God can keep us together,

00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:05.859
 that God can unify an eclectic group of people,

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:10.519
 a motley crew from all different walks of life

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.960
 and different church backgrounds

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.279
 and different ages.

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:17.519
 You know you hear these voices sometimes.

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.639
 I don't fit in.

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.559
 I don't have a place.

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.440
 I'm too old.

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.159
 I'm too young.

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.019
 I'm not like them.

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.660
 I don't fit in with that person.

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:25.019
 I'm not close to that person.

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:25.759
 They're close.

00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:26.200
 I'm not.

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:27.000
 They do these things.

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:27.759
 I don't do those things.

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.259
 It's all these voices.

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.019
 You're going to listen to them?

00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.240
 You're going to listen to the voice of God.

00:17:33.639 --> 00:17:34.879
 You'll listen to the word of God and say,

00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:35.859
 no, this is possible.

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:39.460
 And yes, although in some areas it looks like

00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:41.740
 the cards are stacked against us,

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.859
 God is for us.

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.960
 What cards really can be stacked against us?

00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:47.879
 Right?

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.039
 God is for us.

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.000
 Who can be against us?

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.779
 I'm not going to have more faith

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:54.839
 in the devil's ability to screw things up

00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.579
 than God's ability to keep things together.

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.539
 Really at its core,

00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.940
 unbelief is not a lack of faith.

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.380
 It's just faith in the wrong direction.

00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:03.160
 It's faith in the wrong things.

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.160
 It's actually believing that the devil

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.380
 has more power to disrupt

00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:07.720
 than God has power to unify.

00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:09.619
 And that's just unacceptable

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:11.559
 for anyone who believes that Jesus is

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.380
 who he says he is.

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:13.980
 Okay?

00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:14.960
 Number two,

00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:17.299
 ignorance I think is a root.

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:19.639
 I think sometimes we don't realize.

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:22.000
 I think sometimes we just kind of pan it off

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.519
 and say, you know,

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:24.879
 yeah, I have some different views on things

00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:28.339
 or I have some different thoughts

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.480
 or I like to challenge things

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.559
 or I like to discuss things

00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.339
 and talk about things.

00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.919
 But again, I'm not saying those things are bad.

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:34.440
 We'll get into more of this more.

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:37.019
 But we're not conscious of the fact

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:39.639
 that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.500
 And we don't think about the fact

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.859
 that this can be very disruptive.

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.579
 Independence and contrarianism

00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:46.299
 are divisive by nature.

00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.199
 Okay?

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.519
 They divide us.

00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.699
 And we have to be careful

00:18:49.699 --> 00:18:51.919
 while we let these things suddenly come in

00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:52.339
 and just think,

00:18:52.419 --> 00:18:53.259
 oh, it's not a big deal.

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.919
 I really actually do think

00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:56.019
 it does become a big deal.

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:58.960
 And I don't think,

00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.980
 I really believe this is something

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:02.299
 we need to hear as a church

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:04.859
 is that we need to be careful of these things.

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.859
 And again, don't think of the person

00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:08.059
 who's not,

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:11.359
 someone sitting next to you in the room.

00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:12.019
 Think of yourself.

00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.019
 Okay?

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:15.759
 Independence and contrarianism are divisive.

00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:16.480
 Mark 3.25.

00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:18.379
 If a house is divided against itself,

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.420
 that house will not be able to stand.

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.299
 Period.

00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:22.379
 Period.

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.279
 Number three, root.

00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:28.079
 This is a big one.

00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:31.299
 It's very easy and often happens

00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:32.839
 that we can find our identity

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.960
 in being different.

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:35.900
 Okay?

00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.099
 And so,

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:39.000
 but the problem is

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:40.319
 if your identity is in being different,

00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:41.759
 then you're not free to be the same.

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.960
 Essentially,

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.960
 you're not free to be one.

00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:47.200
 If your identity is in being different,

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:50.819
 you're actually subconsciously hindering unity

00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:53.559
 because your identity cannot handle

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.660
 being the same

00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:56.700
 or to be one.

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:59.559
 You always have to identify yourself as different.

00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:00.440
 You almost,

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:01.059
 there's like this,

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:03.299
 an identity in being different

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:05.420
 causes a need for contrarianism

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:08.500
 because otherwise I lose my identity.

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.600
 If you agree with me,

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.259
 if we're one,

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.820
 I'm no longer secure

00:20:12.820 --> 00:20:15.000
 because I feel like I'm just lost in the crowd.

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.740
 Whereas me being different,

00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.740
 being a contrarian,

00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.539
 can end up making me feel

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.860
 a sense of worth.

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.539
 So it's finding your identity

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.860
 in something other than the person

00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.720
 and the work of Jesus.

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:26.100
 And what ends up happening

00:20:26.100 --> 00:20:27.860
 is that you actually create

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:29.100
 this unintentional,

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.600
 maybe subconscious friction

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.920
 with each other

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.640
 to have to be our own dog,

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.579
 to have to be different,

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.019
 to have to have different ideas,

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:38.680
 to have to always be the one

00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.779
 who pushes against

00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.860
 or always be the one

00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:44.019
 who has these ideas of things.

00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:46.940
 I think this is,

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:49.420
 we as a church identify

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.480
 as a charismatic church.

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.460
 We believe in the power

00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.000
 and the work

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.220
 and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:57.460
 But one of the extreme bad

00:20:57.460 --> 00:21:01.860
 sections of the charismatic world

00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:03.019
 can be that

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:06.519
 when the gospel isn't centered

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:08.200
 in a charismatic belief system,

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.920
 we have to come up

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.900
 with new revelation

00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:12.740
 in order to find identity.

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.400
 And so I always have to be hearing

00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.660
 some new thing from God.

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.779
 I always have to have

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.579
 this new revelation

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.140
 in a scripture

00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.420
 that nobody else has ever had

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.620
 for all of time and space.

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.860
 And yet I do.

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.779
 And that makes me somewhat special

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:26.320
 when really there's nothing

00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:27.000
 more special,

00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:27.960
 nothing more unique,

00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:29.080
 nothing more grounding

00:21:29.080 --> 00:21:29.880
 and identifying

00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.680
 than the person

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.840
 and the work of Jesus.

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.960
 And if you do not

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.980
 found yourself

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.279
 on the gospel of Jesus,

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.820
 and I'm not talking about

00:21:36.820 --> 00:21:37.779
 whether you're a Christian or not,

00:21:37.820 --> 00:21:38.360
 I'm talking about

00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:39.420
 believing the gospel

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.820
 in all areas of our life.

00:21:41.100 --> 00:21:41.279
 Okay?

00:21:41.320 --> 00:21:42.500
 Because I'm speaking to Christians,

00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:44.200
 but we have pockets of unbelief

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.860
 in the gospel

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:46.340
 where we subtly are

00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:48.240
 pulled into finding our identity

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.620
 and being something

00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:51.460
 other than in Christ.

00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:52.759
 So we say,

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.539
 I have to be different

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:55.859
 because that's what makes me feel valid.

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.859
 It makes me feel like

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:58.099
 I bring value

00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.599
 instead of just finding our value

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.859
 in the person and work of Jesus.

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.500
 Okay?

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.240
 And so,

00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.400
 watch out for that.

00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:05.920
 Watch out for that.

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.740
 If you start to feel uncomfortable

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.519
 even sometimes,

00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:10.380
 sometimes you can almost sense it

00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:12.880
 that someone comes into a conversation

00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:16.260
 and they're coming in

00:22:16.260 --> 00:22:17.180
 thinking I'm for sure

00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.500
 going to be contrarian in this

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.540
 and they find out,

00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:19.740
 oh,

00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:21.100
 we actually agree on this

00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:21.960
 and then almost like

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:23.360
 causes them to feel

00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:24.560
 a little unsettled.

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:24.820
 Like,

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.340
 oh,

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.160
 in that case,

00:22:26.260 --> 00:22:26.420
 well,

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.460
 what about this?

00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:27.780
 You know,

00:22:27.800 --> 00:22:28.180
 it's like,

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:28.940
 wait a second,

00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.880
 like we agree on this.

00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.340
 This is good,

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:30.860
 isn't it?

00:22:31.300 --> 00:22:31.700
 But no,

00:22:31.760 --> 00:22:32.480
 you just literally

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.080
 just stole the person's identity.

00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.620
 You just pulled it out

00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:36.620
 right from underneath them

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.720
 and now they're freaking out.

00:22:38.560 --> 00:22:38.740
 Okay?

00:22:39.260 --> 00:22:40.080
 That's why we must have

00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:41.200
 our identity rooted

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.820
 in the gospel.

00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:42.380
 Okay?

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:44.940
 1 Corinthians 11,

00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:47.140
 there's two schools

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:48.020
 of thought on this verse,

00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:49.460
 whether Paul was being sarcastic

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.700
 or facetious about this.

00:22:51.020 --> 00:22:52.120
 I tend to think he was

00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:53.060
 because of the context,

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:55.560
 but you can pick for yourself,

00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.940
 but I think it's a good example of this.

00:22:57.020 --> 00:22:57.900
 1 Corinthians 11,

00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.520
 17 and 19,

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.100
 he says,

00:23:00.520 --> 00:23:01.660
 in the following instructions,

00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:03.000
 I do not commend you

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.360
 because when you come together,

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.340
 it is not for the better,

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.200
 but for the worse.

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.560
 For in the first place,

00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:08.780
 when you come together as a church,

00:23:08.780 --> 00:23:10.440
 I hear that there are divisions among you

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:13.200
 and I believe it in part,

00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:15.220
 for there must be factions among you

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.000
 in order that those

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.440
 who are genuine among you

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.460
 may be recognized.

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.640
 Some say,

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:19.779
 well,

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.500
 he's saying yes,

00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:21.360
 that as actually,

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.779
 he's not being facetious,

00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:25.380
 that these distinctions

00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.539
 and factions need to be there

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.380
 for it to be recognized

00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:28.380
 who's right,

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:29.780
 but I think there's a good chance

00:23:29.780 --> 00:23:31.400
 he could be being facetious here

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.260
 and saying,

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.920
 this is actually what the problem

00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.700
 I have with you guys.

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.700
 You guys have divisions

00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:37.260
 and it's almost like

00:23:37.260 --> 00:23:38.580
 you must have them

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.320
 in order to prove

00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:40.520
 that you are approved by God.

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:42.480
 You must have them to say that,

00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:42.720
 hey,

00:23:42.800 --> 00:23:44.520
 I'm legit here

00:23:44.520 --> 00:23:46.780
 and I have to distinguish myself

00:23:46.780 --> 00:23:48.020
 because I'm not finding my identity

00:23:48.020 --> 00:23:49.540
 in the person and work of Jesus.

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.880
 Beware of that.

00:23:51.040 --> 00:23:51.660
 Beware of that.

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.380
 Number four,

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:56.480
 I think a root of independence

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.340
 and contrarianism

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:59.420
 is a loose tongue.

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:00.900
 A loose tongue.

00:24:01.300 --> 00:24:01.460
 Now,

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:03.060
 I mean this in a very specific way.

00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:03.500
 Okay?

00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:04.840
 Let me look at some of the verses.

00:24:05.040 --> 00:24:05.700
 Proverbs 15,

00:24:05.800 --> 00:24:06.760
 2 says,

00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:07.560
 The tongue of the wise

00:24:07.560 --> 00:24:08.460
 commends knowledge,

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:10.440
 but the mouths of fools

00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:11.840
 pour out folly.

00:24:13.300 --> 00:24:14.060
 Proverbs 12,

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:14.820
 18 says,

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:16.300
 There is one whose rash words

00:24:16.300 --> 00:24:17.780
 are like sword thrusts,

00:24:17.780 --> 00:24:18.880
 but the tongue of the wise

00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.700
 brings healing.

00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.800
 And then Ephesians 4,

00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.700
 29 says,

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.940
 Let no corrupting talk

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.860
 come out of your mouths,

00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:26.700
 but only such as is good

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.559
 for building up

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:29.039
 as fits the occasion

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:30.519
 that it may give grace

00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.440
 to those who hear.

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.120
 Sometimes,

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:36.259
 you might have thoughts

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.100
 about something.

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:39.299
 You're wondering about something.

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:39.700
 Maybe,

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:43.500
 you're finding your beliefs

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:45.059
 challenged by something

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.700
 and you want a sounding board

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.200
 on that.

00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.120
 And,

00:24:48.840 --> 00:24:50.100
 especially when we feel comfortable

00:24:50.100 --> 00:24:50.799
 with a group of people,

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:52.200
 it's easy to just think

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.819
 it doesn't matter

00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.059
 who that sounding board is.

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:56.059
 I'm saying that it does matter.

00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.360
 Sometimes,

00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:58.360
 being a sounding board

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.299
 to the wrong people

00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:00.460
 doesn't benefit

00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.200
 or give grace

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.059
 to those who hear.

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.019
 It's not,

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.360
 it's not,

00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:03.759
 it's like,

00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:04.259
 hey,

00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.559
 that's a perfectly

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.860
 fine conversation.

00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.100
 Like,

00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:07.799
 we can wonder

00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.660
 and doubt things

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.660
 and have questions

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.100
 about things.

00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:11.100
 We have to have the freedom

00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:11.860
 to be able to do that.

00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:13.059
 But we have to think

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.580
 that sometimes

00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:14.720
 having that conversation

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.680
 with the wrong person

00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:17.180
 can really wig them out

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.060
 and not help,

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:18.740
 and that really

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.779
 does not be helping them.

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.539
 Okay?

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.500
 And so,

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:23.220
 we have to make sure

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.100
 that before we,

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:24.840
 you know,

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.680
 vent about something

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:28.500
 or throw out this new thought

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.640
 we're having about something

00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:32.759
 or disagree about something

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.680
 or think,

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:33.940
 you know,

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.160
 hey,

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.820
 I think we're going

00:25:34.820 --> 00:25:35.640
 the wrong direction

00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:36.920
 and give our opinion

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.519
 on something.

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.140
 We have to think,

00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:39.840
 is this going to build up

00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:40.200
 the church?

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.180
 Is this putting us

00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.980
 in the right direction?

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:44.060
 Is this good for building up?

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:46.319
 And is it as fits the occasion?

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.859
 Or is this the wrong place

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.720
 in time for this?

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.220
 Is it giving grace

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.000
 to those who hear?

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.759
 This might not be helpful.

00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:53.740
 Okay?

00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:55.019
 That's a really important

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.960
 question to ask.

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.500
 And I think

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:58.039
 sometimes when you're

00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.799
 tending towards

00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:00.519
 an individualistic independence

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:02.240
 or you tend to have

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:03.799
 more of a contrarian mindset,

00:26:04.679 --> 00:26:06.039
 you could just say things,

00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:06.779
 again,

00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.659
 especially if it's found

00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:08.179
 in your identity,

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.179
 you just say things

00:26:09.179 --> 00:26:10.500
 or give opinions

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:12.279
 and you're not thinking

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.200
 of who it's affecting.

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.259
 There might be someone

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.180
 who's weak in faith

00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.420
 that you're putting doubts

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:16.819
 in their mind

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:18.160
 that they really don't need it

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:18.559
 and are not going

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.259
 to be helpful to.

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.799
 You might be saying things

00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.840
 that you say it

00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.480
 to the right person,

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.259
 you can go back

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.920
 and forth on it,

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.860
 you have a good conversation

00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:26.340
 and there's mutual upbuilding

00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:27.559
 and this is a good conversation.

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.580
 Whereas others,

00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.140
 it's just like,

00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:29.660
 oh my gosh,

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.960
 that really scared me.

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:31.259
 Like,

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.680
 what if that is true?

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:34.019
 What if that's right?

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.259
 Whereas two other people

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.080
 could have that conversation

00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.700
 and they come out of it

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.059
 and it's like,

00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:37.600
 oh,

00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:38.319
 there's good clarity

00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:38.840
 and there's good,

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.880
 there's no fear.

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.819
 Someone else gets

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.799
 really anxious about it.

00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:42.480
 Someone else starts

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.220
 believing things

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.400
 because they're not

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.440
 as grounded in the scriptures

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.360
 or they're not as grounded

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:46.960
 in their faith.

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:47.920
 Starts believing things

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.700
 they shouldn't believe.

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.140
 We have to be careful

00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.920
 of what we say

00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.839
 and who we say it to.

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.740
 Especially when it comes

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.500
 to opinions.

00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.640
 Everybody's got opinions.

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.620
 All right?

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:59.140
 I have strong opinions.

00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.539
 So who,

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.740
 I'd be a fool,

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.740
 especially because

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.420
 you guys know me,

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.360
 if I'd say,

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:03.480
 hey,

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.700
 no more strong opinions.

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.400
 Not to mention,

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:05.960
 that'd be lame.

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.599
 No one wants to be

00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:07.059
 a brown people

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:08.079
 who don't have strong opinions.

00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:09.759
 I actually enjoy

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.360
 strong opinions

00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.420
 most of the time.

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.400
 Okay?

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:14.700
 But,

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.940
 I have to,

00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:17.360
 I know this about myself

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.420
 and you need to know

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:19.240
 this about yourself

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:21.120
 that just because

00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:21.940
 you have a strong opinion

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.700
 doesn't mean everybody

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.640
 needs to hear it.

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:26.059
 Sometimes it's not beneficial.

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.480
 We should be sometimes

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:27.839
 thinking,

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.120
 is this going to be helpful?

00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.860
 Is this going to be helpful?

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.559
 1 Corinthians 6.12

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.440
 in the CSB says,

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.380
 everything is permissible

00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.900
 for me,

00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:37.759
 but not everything

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.560
 is beneficial.

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:39.900
 Okay?

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:41.200
 Sometimes it's not beneficial.

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.280
 And Proverbs 21.23

00:27:43.280 --> 00:27:43.580
 says,

00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.500
 whoever keeps his mouth

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.019
 and his tongue

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.640
 keeps himself out of trouble.

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.340
 And so sometimes

00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:49.820
 we vent out loud,

00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:50.980
 we give opinions out loud,

00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:52.380
 we say things

00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:53.820
 that we haven't even

00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:54.600
 really figured out

00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.300
 ourselves yet.

00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.600
 And sometimes that's okay

00:27:56.600 --> 00:27:57.340
 because you need the help

00:27:57.340 --> 00:27:57.759
 of someone else

00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.320
 to figure it out.

00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:59.180
 But sometimes

00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.880
 if you haven't figured out

00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:00.120
 yourself,

00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:00.759
 it's not helpful

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.240
 to bring it up

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.800
 to other people.

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:03.859
 and sometimes

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.740
 we have to think too,

00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:05.659
 you know,

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:07.599
 whether it's a church,

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.919
 sometimes it's your job,

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.480
 sometimes it's in your marriage,

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.899
 it can be in multiple

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.579
 different things.

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.819
 Sometimes you have opinion

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.599
 about things going

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.559
 in a different direction

00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:18.619
 and it's not the direction

00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:19.519
 that whoever's leading

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.539
 is taking the people.

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.779
 Okay?

00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.960
 Whether it's your family

00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.119
 with your parents

00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:26.039
 in a marriage

00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.159
 with your husband

00:28:27.159 --> 00:28:28.399
 in a church

00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:29.099
 with the elders

00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:30.079
 and leaders of the church,

00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.980
 sometimes it's like,

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.899
 well, you have an opinion,

00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:34.119
 but what they're doing

00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.839
 isn't wrong,

00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.720
 so maybe that opinion

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.299
 isn't helpful.

00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:38.439
 And I've been in churches

00:28:38.439 --> 00:28:39.679
 where that's been the case

00:28:39.679 --> 00:28:40.480
 where I'm just thinking,

00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.159
 you know what,

00:28:41.179 --> 00:28:41.740
 this isn't the way

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.339
 I would do it.

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.439
 But if I bring this up,

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.939
 it could cause

00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:45.859
 unnecessarily,

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:48.460
 they've made a decision,

00:28:48.679 --> 00:28:49.259
 I don't want to have

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.579
 unnecessary division here.

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:52.559
 Now, if they're inviting it

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.639
 or they're asking for it

00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.799
 or it's in the right,

00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.939
 again, it's using discernment

00:28:55.939 --> 00:28:56.220
 to say,

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.419
 when do I say these things?

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.879
 Sometimes by saying

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.259
 those things,

00:28:59.299 --> 00:28:59.559
 it's like,

00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:00.819
 this is actually going to

00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.940
 shake things up

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.720
 in a way that shouldn't.

00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:03.879
 Sometimes we need to

00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:04.460
 shake things up

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.220
 in the way that they should,

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:06.039
 but there's a time

00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.779
 and a place for that

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.319
 and we need to be

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.119
 thinking about that,

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.539
 right?

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:11.099
 That's why James 1.19,

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.519
 he says,

00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:11.759
 you know,

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.359
 let every person

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:13.339
 be slow to speak.

00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:14.519
 It's just thinking

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.480
 about what we say.

00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.980
 I got to say

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.960
 that this group of people

00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:21.000
 has a lot of strong opinions

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.740
 and has a lot to say

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.599
 about a lot of things.

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.879
 Sometimes I'm surprised

00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.679
 that I didn't think

00:29:25.679 --> 00:29:26.559
 that things could be said

00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.519
 about that said thing

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:29.039
 and then there's a lot of things.

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.639
 And again,

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.799
 part of me loves that,

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.099
 but part of that

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:34.279
 is not helpful.

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.559
 It's not helpful.

00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:36.759
 And I hope you understand

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.639
 where I'm coming from that.

00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.220
 And I think

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:41.240
 trying to lead

00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.039
 in a fatherly way

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.460
 or just say,

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.819
 let's just be a little

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:45.000
 slower to speak sometimes

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.720
 and think about that

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.079
 a little bit more

00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:46.379
 and think,

00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.379
 I want to,

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.079
 for the mutual

00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:49.019
 up in this church

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.440
 and think,

00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.160
 yes,

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:50.720
 I have an opinion

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.319
 about everything

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:51.980
 or you have an opinion

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.519
 about everything,

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.900
 but is it always beneficial

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.500
 to say it

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.140
 or is it always best

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:56.019
 to do it in this context

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.559
 or this people?

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.960
 We got to ask the question.

00:29:59.400 --> 00:29:59.980
 Number five,

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.960
 a root of independence

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.859
 or contrarianism

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.920
 is thinking of yourself

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:05.660
 more highly than you ought.

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.200
 Okay,

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:07.279
 Romans 12, 3 says,

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.539
 for by the grace given to me,

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.380
 I say to everyone among you

00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:11.339
 not to think

00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.500
 of himself

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.559
 more highly

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.539
 than you ought to think,

00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.380
 but to think

00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.319
 with sober judgment,

00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.599
 each according

00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.900
 to the measure of faith

00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:20.799
 that God has assigned.

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:21.660
 Okay,

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:24.600
 we got to watch out

00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:25.160
 for pride

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.380
 and we got to

00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:27.820
 have self-awareness

00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:28.940
 to know like,

00:30:29.300 --> 00:30:29.540
 hey,

00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:32.040
 am I thinking of myself

00:30:32.040 --> 00:30:32.800
 more highly than I ought?

00:30:32.820 --> 00:30:33.840
 Am I thinking of my opinion

00:30:33.840 --> 00:30:34.779
 more highly than I ought?

00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:35.820
 Am I thinking about even

00:30:35.820 --> 00:30:38.840
 who I am

00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:41.620
 and what I know

00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.480
 and how I know it?

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.100
 Am I thinking of it

00:30:43.100 --> 00:30:44.220
 with sober judgment?

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.740
 Or am I just thinking

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.540
 I know better?

00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:49.259
 Am I just exalting my gifting

00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.440
 above other people's gifting?

00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:51.519
 Am I thinking because

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:56.319
 am I thinking

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.259
 because I'm a teacher,

00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.740
 I see things clearer?

00:30:58.879 --> 00:30:59.240
 Am I thinking

00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.579
 because I'm more prophetic,

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.319
 I clearly see things

00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:03.379
 better than other people?

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.440
 Am I thinking because

00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:06.639
 I'm pastoral

00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:08.319
 that I understand people

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.180
 better than other people?

00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:09.500
 Now,

00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:11.500
 that's part of the nature

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.379
 of those gifts, right?

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:12.660
 Like,

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.720
 you do understand

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.460
 certain things better.

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.059
 That's why,

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:17.039
 that's what having the gift is.

00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:18.119
 But sometimes

00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:19.599
 we can exalt things

00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:20.799
 over other people.

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:22.240
 We can not look at ourselves

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.119
 with sober judgment.

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.740
 We cannot respect

00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:26.139
 people who have been

00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:26.779
 in the arena,

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.799
 so to speak,

00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.839
 as Roosevelt said,

00:31:28.919 --> 00:31:29.200
 you know,

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:31.200
 not with those cold

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:31.899
 and timid souls

00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.500
 that have never known

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.339
 victory or defeat,

00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:35.099
 not armchair theologians

00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:36.299
 and armchair critics

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.220
 who are constantly

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:37.919
 giving opinions

00:31:37.919 --> 00:31:38.500
 about everything

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.319
 but have never actually

00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.019
 been in the arena

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:41.559
 and done said thing

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.160
 or have done

00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:43.039
 very little of it.

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.140
 It's like the,

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:45.900
 the amount of like

00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:47.359
 parenting influencers

00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:48.319
 online now

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:51.039
 who are so authoritative

00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.920
 with what they have

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:52.920
 and yet they're,

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.359
 they're talking about parenting

00:31:54.359 --> 00:31:55.640
 and they have one child

00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:56.680
 and their oldest is three

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.440
 and they're the expert

00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:57.960
 on parenting.

00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.880
 You just got to think,

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.619
 you know,

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.720
 I just don't know

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.880
 if you're really

00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:03.160
 looking at yourself

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.000
 with sober judgment.

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.859
 You may have a little more

00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:06.819
 to learn about parenting

00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:08.319
 because your oldest is three

00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.640
 and you have one child

00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:11.539
 and, you know,

00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.440
 you read some posts

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.000
 on Instagram.

00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:13.500
 I like,

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.960
 that's just not enough for me.

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.640
 I think maybe

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.880
 a little more experience,

00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.680
 maybe a little more

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.420
 child rearing

00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:20.319
 before you start saying

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.940
 you're the expert

00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.599
 on parenting

00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:23.200
 and you throw out

00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:24.319
 all the things

00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:25.740
 that have been taught

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.299
 in the scriptures

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:27.240
 or the ways things

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:27.779
 have been done

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.519
 and you say,

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.339
 well, that's all bad.

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:29.579
 You know,

00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:30.859
 and so we have to look

00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:31.220
 at ourselves

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.019
 with sober judgment

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.559
 and just say,

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:32.940
 okay,

00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:34.620
 am I thinking of myself

00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:35.620
 more highly than I ought?

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.860
 Am I thinking that

00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:37.860
 what I think

00:32:37.860 --> 00:32:38.480
 in my opinion

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.360
 is so important

00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:40.720
 that I'm willing

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.120
 to sacrifice

00:32:42.120 --> 00:32:43.500
 the greater unity

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:45.200
 when it's not appropriate?

00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.100
 And there is a place

00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:46.799
 where it's appropriate

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.680
 to share those things

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.799
 and there is things

00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.779
 that God gives us

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:51.500
 and ways that God gives us

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:53.019
 that is helpful.

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.320
 But if we're not thinking

00:32:54.320 --> 00:32:54.740
 of ourselves,

00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:55.860
 if we're thinking of ourselves

00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:56.660
 more highly than we ought,

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:58.100
 we start to become independent,

00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.120
 start to think,

00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:00.160
 well, I don't need other people.

00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:01.840
 I'm the end all, be all.

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.400
 I'm the guru.

00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.580
 I'm the one who gets this.

00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.640
 They don't get this.

00:33:04.820 --> 00:33:05.840
 We become independent

00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:08.720
 and sometimes we can

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:11.280
 almost be combative,

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.040
 combative,

00:33:12.040 --> 00:33:13.680
 is that how you say it?

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:16.460
 And contrarian with people

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.759
 because it's like,

00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:18.700
 I know better.

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:20.080
 And we need sometimes

00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:21.019
 a good dose of humility

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.880
 to realize we don't

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.940
 always know better.

00:33:25.580 --> 00:33:26.740
 Number six,

00:33:27.300 --> 00:33:28.019
 important one,

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.280
 an incorrect view

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.899
 of authority.

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:30.779
 Okay?

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.079
 So the question is,

00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:33.119
 what is authority for?

00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.859
 Two great verses on this

00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.960
 in 2 Corinthians.

00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:38.339
 Chapter 10, verse 8,

00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:39.619
 even if I boast

00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:40.399
 a little too much

00:33:40.399 --> 00:33:41.079
 of our authority,

00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:42.139
 Paul and the apostles

00:33:42.139 --> 00:33:42.839
 speaking here,

00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:44.160
 which the Lord gave

00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.480
 for building you up

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:47.099
 and not for destroying you,

00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.480
 I will not be ashamed.

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.619
 Then it says

00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:51.059
 in chapter 13, verse 10,

00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:52.139
 for this reason

00:33:52.139 --> 00:33:53.019
 I write these things

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:54.059
 while I'm away from you,

00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.460
 that when I come

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:56.919
 I may not have to be severe

00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:59.319
 in my use of the authority

00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:01.359
 that the Lord has given me

00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:02.319
 for building up

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.659
 and not for tearing down.

00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:05.819
 Authority is for building up.

00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.279
 Authority is for protection.

00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:09.460
 Authority is for thinking

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.199
 of the best

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.880
 and the well-being

00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.500
 of the person

00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.579
 who are under your care.

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:13.340
 All right?

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:15.059
 Now, because

00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:16.500
 we have had so much

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.360
 bad authority,

00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:20.159
 we tend to throw out authority

00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.039
 or think it's not

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:22.059
 for building up.

00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:27.639
 And because we have a...

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.079
 Honestly,

00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.039
 Gina and I were talking

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.739
 about this this morning.

00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.699
 Can you imagine

00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.359
 how much health

00:34:31.359 --> 00:34:31.759
 would be brought

00:34:31.759 --> 00:34:32.399
 to the church

00:34:32.399 --> 00:34:33.920
 if everybody

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.980
 who went to a church

00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:37.039
 where the pastor

00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:38.379
 or pastors

00:34:38.379 --> 00:34:40.099
 was not qualified

00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.099
 according to the biblical

00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:42.579
 qualifications of an elder?

00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:43.239
 I mean,

00:34:43.259 --> 00:34:43.839
 it's really simple,

00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.319
 straightforward.

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.359
 There's nothing complicated here.

00:34:45.879 --> 00:34:47.019
 Imagine if all the people

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:47.779
 who are part of churches

00:34:47.779 --> 00:34:49.039
 with unqualified elders

00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:50.099
 just left those churches.

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.139
 Think of how that

00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:53.019
 would change the church.

00:34:54.339 --> 00:34:55.339
 It would drastically

00:34:55.339 --> 00:34:56.019
 change the health

00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:56.579
 of the church

00:34:56.579 --> 00:34:58.259
 because these people

00:34:58.259 --> 00:34:58.879
 get a voice

00:34:58.879 --> 00:34:59.759
 because people go

00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:00.299
 to their churches

00:35:00.299 --> 00:35:01.420
 and then they have

00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:02.199
 these warped views

00:35:02.199 --> 00:35:02.759
 of authority

00:35:02.759 --> 00:35:03.339
 and they say,

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.139
 well, no,

00:35:04.219 --> 00:35:04.899
 that's not what authority

00:35:04.899 --> 00:35:05.219
 is for.

00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:06.980
 Really, it's just because

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:08.399
 you're at a church

00:35:08.399 --> 00:35:09.799
 that clearly didn't meet

00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:10.579
 the qualifications

00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:11.159
 of an elder

00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:12.139
 and everybody

00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:12.920
 kept going there

00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:13.239
 and everybody

00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:14.359
 kept talking about it

00:35:14.359 --> 00:35:15.119
 as if this is okay

00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:16.239
 or it's not okay

00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:17.179
 but we're working with it.

00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:17.899
 It's just like, no.

00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.800
 If this church

00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:20.860
 or any church

00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:21.920
 has elders,

00:35:22.180 --> 00:35:22.480
 leaders,

00:35:22.700 --> 00:35:23.099
 apostles

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:25.059
 who are not qualified

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.360
 according to the very specific,

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.579
 very simple qualifications

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.039
 of an elder,

00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:28.940
 leave.

00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:31.059
 Leave quickly

00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:32.820
 and go find a church

00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:33.539
 that has them.

00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:34.980
 Like that's,

00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:37.180
 it doesn't make any sense

00:35:37.180 --> 00:35:39.240
 where we have these issues

00:35:39.240 --> 00:35:39.820
 with authority

00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:40.539
 because the people

00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:41.740
 just weren't clearly qualified.

00:35:42.379 --> 00:35:43.639
 Why do we even give them a voice?

00:35:44.419 --> 00:35:45.199
 Why do we even try

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:46.339
 to do church that way?

00:35:46.359 --> 00:35:47.039
 It was never meant

00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.899
 to be done that way.

00:35:48.979 --> 00:35:50.059
 So we have this incorrect

00:35:50.059 --> 00:35:50.979
 view of authority

00:35:50.979 --> 00:35:52.819
 and so we end up

00:35:52.819 --> 00:35:53.500
 being independent

00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:54.719
 because we end up thinking,

00:35:54.859 --> 00:35:55.739
 I'm on my own.

00:35:55.939 --> 00:35:57.259
 I can't trust any authority.

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:58.219
 Right?

00:35:58.439 --> 00:35:59.039
 This happens

00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.099
 in multiple levels.

00:36:00.939 --> 00:36:01.199
 All right?

00:36:03.319 --> 00:36:04.399
 The proliferation

00:36:04.399 --> 00:36:06.339
 of divorce

00:36:06.339 --> 00:36:08.659
 or maybe even

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.659
 if you've lost parents

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.179
 and you grew up

00:36:10.179 --> 00:36:11.099
 with bad parents

00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:12.699
 or only one parent,

00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:14.059
 divorced parents,

00:36:14.359 --> 00:36:15.460
 you end up thinking

00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.759
 subconsciously,

00:36:16.839 --> 00:36:17.679
 I'm on my own.

00:36:18.299 --> 00:36:19.559
 I can't trust authority.

00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.000
 Authority's not for me.

00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:22.019
 Authority doesn't build me up.

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:23.239
 Authority doesn't protect me.

00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:25.119
 I have to be my own dog.

00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:27.379
 I have to be independent.

00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:28.879
 I have by nature

00:36:28.879 --> 00:36:29.879
 need to be a contrarian

00:36:29.879 --> 00:36:30.679
 because no one's looking

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.279
 after me

00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:32.239
 but myself.

00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.559
 And it shapes

00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.399
 our way of thinking

00:36:35.399 --> 00:36:36.000
 of authority.

00:36:36.739 --> 00:36:36.879
 Okay?

00:36:37.259 --> 00:36:38.039
 You see this even,

00:36:38.319 --> 00:36:39.259
 but really a parent

00:36:39.260 --> 00:36:40.340
 is supposed to build up

00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:40.800
 their kids

00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.720
 and protect their kids

00:36:41.720 --> 00:36:42.960
 and take the weight

00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.860
 of decision making

00:36:43.860 --> 00:36:44.720
 and a lot of things

00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:45.860
 off their kids

00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:46.860
 and give them the freedom

00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:47.660
 to be kids

00:36:47.660 --> 00:36:49.380
 and to do their job.

00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:50.640
 Parent does their job.

00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:51.700
 Kid does their job.

00:36:51.800 --> 00:36:52.760
 Same thing in a marriage.

00:36:53.600 --> 00:36:54.120
 You oftentimes

00:36:54.120 --> 00:36:55.500
 have wives

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.900
 who are strung out

00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.580
 and anxious

00:36:57.580 --> 00:36:58.600
 about things

00:36:58.600 --> 00:37:00.060
 that they're not even,

00:37:00.200 --> 00:37:01.320
 they don't need to decide

00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:02.360
 because they have

00:37:02.360 --> 00:37:03.060
 a godly husband.

00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:04.300
 They should just be trusting

00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:05.620
 that, hey,

00:37:06.080 --> 00:37:06.540
 that doesn't mean

00:37:06.540 --> 00:37:07.460
 they can't give input.

00:37:07.560 --> 00:37:07.880
 That doesn't mean

00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:08.640
 they don't have conversations.

00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.259
 I'm talking about

00:37:09.259 --> 00:37:10.139
 being quiet

00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:10.659
 and barefoot

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:11.139
 in the kitchen.

00:37:11.299 --> 00:37:12.199
 I'm talking about

00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:12.819
 where,

00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:15.199
 why are you stressing

00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:15.940
 about something

00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.420
 when you have

00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:17.379
 good godly authority

00:37:17.379 --> 00:37:17.920
 in your life?

00:37:18.779 --> 00:37:20.099
 You have good godly authority

00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:20.480
 in your life.

00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.699
 Let that authority

00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:22.920
 be there to build you up.

00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:24.420
 Let that authority

00:37:24.420 --> 00:37:25.460
 be there to free you

00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:26.159
 to be a wife

00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:26.819
 and to be a woman

00:37:26.819 --> 00:37:27.619
 and to be feminine

00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:29.379
 and to do what you're

00:37:29.379 --> 00:37:30.339
 best at doing.

00:37:31.859 --> 00:37:33.059
 In the same way

00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:33.980
 with shepherd

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:34.820
 shepherd

00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:35.880
 and sheep

00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:37.159
 in a church.

00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:38.519
 Listen,

00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:40.059
 if you have elders,

00:37:40.780 --> 00:37:41.199
 apostles,

00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:41.699
 elders,

00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:42.820
 and they are above

00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:43.539
 reproach,

00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:44.300
 they meet the

00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:45.360
 qualification of an elder

00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.219
 in the same way,

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:47.940
 there should be a level

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:48.440
 of freedom

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.019
 to just say,

00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:50.139
 I don't have to be

00:37:50.139 --> 00:37:50.679
 independent

00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:51.840
 and making sure

00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:53.000
 I'm doing the job

00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:53.579
 of an elder

00:37:53.579 --> 00:37:54.719
 for the elder.

00:37:55.320 --> 00:37:56.559
 I don't need to be

00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:57.800
 those things

00:37:57.800 --> 00:37:58.940
 because that's the benefit

00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:00.199
 of being under good authority

00:38:00.199 --> 00:38:02.099
 as they are there

00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.980
 to build me up.

00:38:03.379 --> 00:38:03.739
 They are there

00:38:03.739 --> 00:38:04.559
 to protect me.

00:38:05.319 --> 00:38:06.579
 And then people

00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:07.719
 always just end up saying,

00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:08.480
 well,

00:38:08.939 --> 00:38:09.239
 yeah,

00:38:09.299 --> 00:38:10.259
 but if I don't do that,

00:38:10.319 --> 00:38:11.199
 they're going to go back.

00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:13.139
 And that's the same thing

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:14.099
 a spouse will say.

00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:14.799
 If I don't do that,

00:38:14.859 --> 00:38:15.839
 then my husband

00:38:15.839 --> 00:38:16.519
 will go bad.

00:38:16.980 --> 00:38:17.899
 If I don't do that,

00:38:18.299 --> 00:38:18.619
 you know,

00:38:19.239 --> 00:38:19.879
 this family's,

00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:20.619
 all these things,

00:38:20.659 --> 00:38:21.480
 we end up thinking that.

00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.139
 But who,

00:38:22.879 --> 00:38:24.079
 the Bible doesn't say that.

00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.379
 Where's the trust?

00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.039
 Where's the fact

00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:27.359
 that God has set up authority?

00:38:27.819 --> 00:38:28.699
 That these are God's

00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.579
 delegated authorities

00:38:29.579 --> 00:38:30.559
 and is it not

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.920
 just a lack of trust in Him?

00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:33.039
 Then I get it.

00:38:33.299 --> 00:38:34.380
 You've had bad experiences.

00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:35.599
 But let's ask the question.

00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:37.279
 Did not those bad experiences

00:38:37.279 --> 00:38:37.980
 come because

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.519
 that authority

00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:39.360
 wasn't qualified?

00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:42.019
 That it wandered away

00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:43.199
 from God's ways

00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:44.119
 and God's set

00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:47.039
 statutes that He had?

00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:48.319
 We have to ask ourselves,

00:38:48.420 --> 00:38:49.880
 is that eroded our trust

00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:51.380
 in good godly authority?

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.799
 And if someone's above reproach

00:38:52.799 --> 00:38:53.960
 and they meet qualifications,

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.139
 there should be

00:38:55.139 --> 00:38:55.920
 a level of,

00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:56.699
 oh,

00:38:57.559 --> 00:38:58.099
 oh,

00:38:58.099 --> 00:38:59.119
 I can trust.

00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:00.599
 Should happen in the church,

00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:01.519
 should happen in marriage,

00:39:01.619 --> 00:39:02.860
 should happen with our parents.

00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:04.340
 We should be able to

00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:06.099
 say that God has put authority

00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:07.380
 in the earth to build up.

00:39:07.940 --> 00:39:08.920
 Do you believe that?

00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:10.519
 Do you believe that God

00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:11.340
 has given you authority?

00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:12.319
 Or do you believe that God,

00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:13.599
 or you believe that authority

00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:14.799
 is something that should always,

00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:16.639
 you should always be skeptical of?

00:39:16.819 --> 00:39:17.559
 That authority

00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:19.159
 is something not to be trusted?

00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:20.159
 That authority

00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:21.259
 is inherently evil?

00:39:21.759 --> 00:39:22.739
 These are the kind of things

00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:23.880
 that sink in.

00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:25.039
 And it's the total opposite

00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:26.199
 of what God always wanted.

00:39:26.199 --> 00:39:28.259
 And it erodes trust

00:39:28.259 --> 00:39:28.899
 with each other.

00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:30.619
 It causes division.

00:39:31.159 --> 00:39:31.699
 Whereas really,

00:39:31.839 --> 00:39:32.659
 authority is given

00:39:32.659 --> 00:39:34.339
 to cause us to be unified

00:39:34.339 --> 00:39:35.460
 and of one mind.

00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:37.019
 Authority is given us

00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:38.719
 to help us be in agreement

00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:39.539
 in one spirit,

00:39:39.980 --> 00:39:41.099
 to build us up together.

00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:42.279
 Good authority

00:39:42.279 --> 00:39:43.960
 will hear things from people

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:45.639
 and make good godly decisions

00:39:45.639 --> 00:39:46.919
 and lead in a godly,

00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:47.619
 humble way.

00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:49.980
 But sometimes we channel

00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:50.839
 that into things

00:39:50.839 --> 00:39:52.039
 and we don't let authority

00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:53.339
 actually fight for us.

00:39:53.340 --> 00:39:54.019
 We think,

00:39:54.180 --> 00:39:55.660
 I have to fight for myself.

00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:58.120
 I have to fight for myself.

00:39:58.740 --> 00:39:59.840
 And then good authority

00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:00.340
 is aborted.

00:40:00.900 --> 00:40:02.140
 The benefit of good authority

00:40:02.140 --> 00:40:03.079
 is good authority

00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:04.380
 should be fighting for you.

00:40:05.160 --> 00:40:06.039
 Fighting for your best,

00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:06.820
 fighting for unity,

00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:07.480
 fighting for us

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.519
 to go in the same direction.

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:09.840
 And when everybody thinks

00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:11.140
 I cannot trust authority,

00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:12.579
 I have to be my own authority

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:13.840
 and I have to be skeptical

00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:14.980
 of authority at every place,

00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:16.180
 otherwise it's going to go bad,

00:40:17.180 --> 00:40:18.640
 it causes division.

00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:20.340
 It's an unhealthy independence

00:40:20.340 --> 00:40:21.200
 and contrarianism.

00:40:21.199 --> 00:40:23.339
 Number seven,

00:40:24.139 --> 00:40:25.480
 a root can be ignoring fruit

00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:26.539
 and spiritual gifts.

00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:28.679
 Hebrews 13, 7 says,

00:40:28.779 --> 00:40:29.460
 remember your leaders,

00:40:29.559 --> 00:40:30.339
 those who spoke to you

00:40:30.339 --> 00:40:31.019
 the word of God,

00:40:31.379 --> 00:40:32.159
 consider the outcome

00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:33.319
 of their way of life

00:40:33.319 --> 00:40:35.119
 and imitate their faith.

00:40:35.879 --> 00:40:36.039
 Okay?

00:40:36.379 --> 00:40:38.159
 Matthew 11, 19 in the NIV says,

00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:39.239
 wisdom is proved right

00:40:39.239 --> 00:40:40.179
 by her deeds.

00:40:41.179 --> 00:40:41.539
 All right?

00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:42.539
 And so,

00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:44.579
 ask the question.

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:46.179
 It goes back to what I was saying

00:40:46.179 --> 00:40:47.419
 about the Instagram

00:40:47.419 --> 00:40:48.679
 parenting influencer.

00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:49.779
 All right?

00:40:49.780 --> 00:40:51.300
 What have they done?

00:40:51.800 --> 00:40:53.100
 What is their track record?

00:40:54.100 --> 00:40:54.300
 You know?

00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:55.920
 Have they,

00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:57.740
 how have they led in the past?

00:40:57.860 --> 00:40:58.480
 What is the fruit

00:40:58.480 --> 00:40:59.140
 of their leadership?

00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:00.680
 What is the fruit

00:41:00.680 --> 00:41:01.360
 of their parenting?

00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:02.560
 What is the fruit

00:41:02.560 --> 00:41:03.600
 of their family life?

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:04.720
 What is the fruit

00:41:04.720 --> 00:41:05.820
 of their discipleship?

00:41:06.360 --> 00:41:07.100
 What is the fruit

00:41:07.100 --> 00:41:08.040
 of their decision making?

00:41:08.200 --> 00:41:08.740
 What is the fruit

00:41:08.740 --> 00:41:09.600
 of their church life?

00:41:09.680 --> 00:41:10.660
 What is the fruit?

00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:13.340
 And ask that question.

00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:13.820
 Then we need to look

00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:14.360
 at ourselves and say,

00:41:14.420 --> 00:41:15.500
 what's the fruit of my life?

00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:17.500
 Do I have fruit

00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:18.500
 in the area that I'm saying?

00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:18.920
 I mean,

00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:21.940
 when I was a young man

00:41:21.940 --> 00:41:23.579
 in my 20s,

00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:24.559
 early married,

00:41:24.760 --> 00:41:25.780
 just starting to have kids,

00:41:25.940 --> 00:41:27.000
 I had a whole lot

00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:27.940
 of thoughts on parenting.

00:41:29.699 --> 00:41:30.719
 I had a lot of them.

00:41:31.239 --> 00:41:32.440
 And I thought that I was right.

00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:33.119
 But you know what?

00:41:33.219 --> 00:41:34.000
 I would have been a fool

00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:34.940
 to be talking a lot

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.340
 about them.

00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:36.880
 I had two kids

00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:37.440
 and they were like

00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:39.179
 one in a few months.

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:41.960
 But I made a commitment.

00:41:42.199 --> 00:41:42.840
 I'm going to give this

00:41:42.840 --> 00:41:43.760
 a good 20 years

00:41:43.760 --> 00:41:44.960
 and then I'm going

00:41:44.960 --> 00:41:46.039
 to be vocal about it.

00:41:47.679 --> 00:41:48.659
 Should there be fruit?

00:41:48.960 --> 00:41:49.740
 And if there's not,

00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:50.980
 well then I should

00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:51.639
 probably shut up

00:41:51.639 --> 00:41:52.780
 because I need to defer

00:41:52.780 --> 00:41:53.420
 to someone who knows

00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:53.920
 what they're doing.

00:41:55.539 --> 00:41:56.400
 But if these things

00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:57.119
 are true

00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:58.179
 and they were proved true

00:41:58.179 --> 00:41:59.440
 over 20, 30 years,

00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:01.639
 well,

00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:03.000
 that gives me

00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:03.619
 a lot more authority

00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:04.260
 to say them.

00:42:04.599 --> 00:42:04.900
 Now,

00:42:05.079 --> 00:42:05.940
 certain things have authority

00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:06.280
 to say them

00:42:06.280 --> 00:42:07.139
 just because they're true.

00:42:07.460 --> 00:42:07.980
 That doesn't mean

00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:08.639
 that you can't

00:42:08.639 --> 00:42:10.340
 confront someone's parenting

00:42:10.340 --> 00:42:11.400
 because you don't have kids

00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:12.420
 or because your kids

00:42:12.420 --> 00:42:12.840
 are young.

00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:14.460
 But again,

00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:15.539
 when it comes to

00:42:15.539 --> 00:42:16.460
 all kinds of things,

00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:17.519
 you just got to ask yourself,

00:42:17.800 --> 00:42:18.740
 is this the best time

00:42:18.740 --> 00:42:19.420
 to speak up?

00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:20.900
 Do I have authority

00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:21.380
 in this area?

00:42:22.220 --> 00:42:23.420
 Do I have clout?

00:42:24.119 --> 00:42:24.960
 Have I built trust?

00:42:25.019 --> 00:42:25.880
 Is there fruit in my life?

00:42:25.960 --> 00:42:26.800
 Wisdom is proved true

00:42:26.800 --> 00:42:27.519
 by your actions.

00:42:28.079 --> 00:42:28.599
 If you're saying

00:42:28.599 --> 00:42:29.380
 something that's wise

00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:30.360
 but there's no action

00:42:30.360 --> 00:42:30.880
 behind it,

00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.500
 there's no fruit,

00:42:31.579 --> 00:42:33.180
 I haven't seen in your life.

00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:35.000
 The opposite is true as well.

00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:36.280
 If you see fruit,

00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:37.860
 if you see the outcome

00:42:37.860 --> 00:42:38.920
 of a leader's life,

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.619
 if you see what's there,

00:42:40.619 --> 00:42:42.579
 you should give clout to that.

00:42:43.839 --> 00:42:44.099
 You know,

00:42:44.619 --> 00:42:46.159
 if you have a faithful leader

00:42:46.159 --> 00:42:47.159
 who's been a leader

00:42:47.159 --> 00:42:49.599
 for 30, 40, 50, 60 years

00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:50.799
 and it's like

00:42:50.799 --> 00:42:52.299
 there's a lot of fruit

00:42:52.299 --> 00:42:52.719
 behind them,

00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:53.139
 you should say,

00:42:53.219 --> 00:42:53.659
 you know what?

00:42:53.839 --> 00:42:55.299
 I'm going to listen to them

00:42:55.299 --> 00:42:56.619
 when they talk about leadership.

00:42:59.139 --> 00:43:00.219
 I'm going to listen to this person

00:43:00.219 --> 00:43:01.880
 because of how they've done family

00:43:01.880 --> 00:43:02.880
 or how they do work

00:43:02.880 --> 00:43:03.359
 or business

00:43:03.359 --> 00:43:04.500
 or whatever it may be.

00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:05.940
 But I think a lot of times

00:43:05.940 --> 00:43:07.000
 we ignore fruit

00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:08.799
 or we ignore spiritual gifts.

00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:10.760
 And we just think

00:43:10.760 --> 00:43:12.180
 only what I have is important.

00:43:12.440 --> 00:43:13.620
 1 Corinthians 12, 21 says

00:43:13.620 --> 00:43:15.060
 that I cannot say to the hand,

00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:16.260
 I don't need you.

00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:18.400
 And the head cannot say to the feet,

00:43:18.500 --> 00:43:19.300
 I don't need you.

00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:21.280
 Because you are the body of Christ

00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:22.120
 and each one of them

00:43:22.120 --> 00:43:22.800
 a part of it.

00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:23.160
 Okay?

00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:24.760
 Each part is necessary.

00:43:25.340 --> 00:43:25.940
 I can't say,

00:43:26.019 --> 00:43:26.780
 well, you know what?

00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:27.600
 My gifting,

00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:29.120
 I see things more clearly

00:43:29.120 --> 00:43:30.880
 but I don't really need you.

00:43:31.640 --> 00:43:32.500
 We have to recognize.

00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:34.100
 If you recognize someone

00:43:34.100 --> 00:43:34.620
 as a teacher,

00:43:34.720 --> 00:43:34.960
 you say,

00:43:35.019 --> 00:43:36.060
 what is a teacher for?

00:43:36.580 --> 00:43:37.340
 If you recognize someone

00:43:37.340 --> 00:43:38.120
 gifted prophetically,

00:43:38.180 --> 00:43:38.440
 you say,

00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:39.640
 what is a prophet for?

00:43:40.039 --> 00:43:40.820
 If you recognize someone

00:43:40.820 --> 00:43:41.700
 is gifted apostolic,

00:43:41.760 --> 00:43:42.000
 you say,

00:43:42.059 --> 00:43:43.720
 what is an apostolic gifting for?

00:43:44.160 --> 00:43:44.980
 If you recognize someone

00:43:44.980 --> 00:43:46.100
 as a gift of administration,

00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:46.700
 you say,

00:43:46.760 --> 00:43:47.760
 what is that gift for?

00:43:48.360 --> 00:43:50.039
 And then receive the benefit of it.

00:43:50.620 --> 00:43:51.300
 When you say,

00:43:51.400 --> 00:43:52.200
 only what I think,

00:43:52.280 --> 00:43:53.000
 my independent,

00:43:53.460 --> 00:43:55.000
 I have marked a corner of this,

00:43:55.620 --> 00:43:56.780
 when actuality,

00:43:57.079 --> 00:43:57.700
 nobody does,

00:43:57.740 --> 00:43:58.680
 we need those other gifts.

00:43:58.680 --> 00:43:59.900
 What does that other gift

00:43:59.900 --> 00:44:00.780
 that I don't have

00:44:00.780 --> 00:44:01.920
 have to say about

00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:03.120
 how we do life together

00:44:03.120 --> 00:44:03.760
 as a church

00:44:03.760 --> 00:44:04.880
 that I need?

00:44:04.880 --> 00:44:07.059
 I've said before,

00:44:07.160 --> 00:44:08.099
 I was talking one time

00:44:08.099 --> 00:44:09.019
 to an evangelist,

00:44:09.700 --> 00:44:10.980
 very gifted evangelist,

00:44:11.240 --> 00:44:12.440
 and I was talking about,

00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:13.800
 he was talking about evangelism,

00:44:13.880 --> 00:44:15.320
 I was really appreciating it

00:44:15.320 --> 00:44:15.820
 because I don't think

00:44:15.820 --> 00:44:17.599
 that's like a strong gift of mine.

00:44:18.519 --> 00:44:19.539
 And I was talking to him

00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:20.320
 more about how the church

00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:21.340
 thinks bigger picture,

00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:22.380
 more church planting

00:44:22.380 --> 00:44:23.579
 and apostolic thinking.

00:44:24.340 --> 00:44:25.840
 And I got done saying

00:44:25.840 --> 00:44:26.480
 what I was saying

00:44:26.480 --> 00:44:27.579
 and he says to me,

00:44:27.720 --> 00:44:29.500
 that's a load of crap.

00:44:30.440 --> 00:44:30.920
 And I was like,

00:44:30.980 --> 00:44:31.220
 wow,

00:44:31.400 --> 00:44:31.559
 well,

00:44:31.660 --> 00:44:32.680
 tell me how you really feel.

00:44:32.679 --> 00:44:33.000
 Like,

00:44:34.639 --> 00:44:35.219
 you can't,

00:44:35.480 --> 00:44:36.639
 you can't just say

00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:37.739
 that that's a load of crap.

00:44:37.859 --> 00:44:38.039
 Like,

00:44:38.739 --> 00:44:39.519
 you need me

00:44:39.519 --> 00:44:40.379
 and I need you.

00:44:41.980 --> 00:44:42.779
 You need me

00:44:42.779 --> 00:44:43.639
 and I need you.

00:44:44.019 --> 00:44:44.899
 We're part of the body.

00:44:45.179 --> 00:44:45.899
 You can't just say

00:44:45.899 --> 00:44:46.940
 because you're an evangelist

00:44:46.940 --> 00:44:48.179
 and you're so hell-bent

00:44:48.179 --> 00:44:48.919
 and winning souls,

00:44:49.079 --> 00:44:50.019
 praise God you are,

00:44:51.539 --> 00:44:53.399
 that the church now

00:44:53.399 --> 00:44:53.940
 isn't important,

00:44:54.039 --> 00:44:54.659
 how it's shaped

00:44:54.659 --> 00:44:55.259
 isn't important.

00:44:55.579 --> 00:44:56.199
 What are we going to do

00:44:56.199 --> 00:44:56.759
 with all those souls

00:44:56.759 --> 00:44:57.460
 that get saved?

00:44:58.279 --> 00:44:58.839
 My gifting

00:44:58.839 --> 00:44:59.719
 serves your gifting.

00:45:00.199 --> 00:45:00.659
 Your gifting

00:45:00.659 --> 00:45:01.579
 serves my gifting.

00:45:01.579 --> 00:45:03.119
 We need each other.

00:45:03.599 --> 00:45:04.619
 Stop thinking so highly

00:45:04.619 --> 00:45:05.279
 of yourself

00:45:05.279 --> 00:45:07.420
 and ignoring the fact

00:45:07.420 --> 00:45:08.380
 that I have one gifting,

00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:08.860
 you have another

00:45:08.860 --> 00:45:09.900
 and they're both necessary.

00:45:10.699 --> 00:45:11.559
 Very important.

00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:13.739
 Number eight.

00:45:14.079 --> 00:45:14.819
 Got three more here.

00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:15.460
 Number eight,

00:45:15.599 --> 00:45:16.279
 overreacting.

00:45:17.880 --> 00:45:19.059
 Overreaction can cause

00:45:19.059 --> 00:45:20.159
 a root of independence

00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:21.699
 or contrarianism.

00:45:22.239 --> 00:45:22.400
 Okay,

00:45:22.440 --> 00:45:23.279
 what do I mean by this?

00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:23.579
 Well,

00:45:24.239 --> 00:45:24.519
 you,

00:45:25.299 --> 00:45:26.920
 maybe your own parenting,

00:45:27.019 --> 00:45:27.619
 like I was saying,

00:45:27.739 --> 00:45:28.799
 sometimes you were

00:45:28.799 --> 00:45:30.039
 not parented well.

00:45:30.039 --> 00:45:31.699
 They were distant from you,

00:45:31.759 --> 00:45:32.719
 they weren't there for you

00:45:32.719 --> 00:45:33.460
 and so,

00:45:33.739 --> 00:45:34.300
 I'm on my own,

00:45:34.380 --> 00:45:35.139
 I gotta do things.

00:45:35.659 --> 00:45:36.699
 Maybe even like a belief,

00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:37.119
 you know,

00:45:37.420 --> 00:45:38.840
 one thing that I think

00:45:38.840 --> 00:45:39.699
 has more impact

00:45:39.699 --> 00:45:40.300
 on some people

00:45:40.300 --> 00:45:41.179
 than they realize

00:45:41.179 --> 00:45:42.380
 is in the 70s,

00:45:42.579 --> 00:45:43.360
 there was a movement

00:45:43.360 --> 00:45:44.579
 called the shepherding movement

00:45:44.579 --> 00:45:46.279
 and in the shepherding movement,

00:45:46.380 --> 00:45:47.960
 people took way too much authority.

00:45:48.699 --> 00:45:49.679
 They abused authority

00:45:49.679 --> 00:45:50.119
 in the sense

00:45:50.119 --> 00:45:51.119
 that they were telling people

00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:52.599
 to do a whole lot of things

00:45:52.599 --> 00:45:53.480
 the Bible doesn't tell

00:45:53.480 --> 00:45:54.599
 that authority

00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:55.079
 is supposed to be

00:45:55.079 --> 00:45:55.880
 telling people to do.

00:45:56.579 --> 00:45:56.980
 Well,

00:45:57.179 --> 00:45:58.480
 there was a correction of that.

00:45:58.480 --> 00:46:00.280
 But what ended up happening

00:46:00.280 --> 00:46:02.740
 is there was a huge backlash

00:46:02.740 --> 00:46:03.240
 to that

00:46:03.240 --> 00:46:04.260
 where people just threw out

00:46:04.260 --> 00:46:05.260
 authority altogether.

00:46:06.119 --> 00:46:07.119
 Some of those people

00:46:07.119 --> 00:46:08.139
 were your parents.

00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:09.179
 Okay?

00:46:09.579 --> 00:46:10.599
 Some of those people

00:46:10.599 --> 00:46:12.920
 maybe were yourself.

00:46:13.539 --> 00:46:14.719
 And you grew up thinking,

00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:14.960
 oh,

00:46:15.039 --> 00:46:16.500
 because this was abuse so bad,

00:46:16.539 --> 00:46:17.159
 we have to go way

00:46:17.159 --> 00:46:18.119
 the opposite way.

00:46:18.619 --> 00:46:19.320
 And then you maybe

00:46:19.320 --> 00:46:20.320
 even grew up in a home

00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:22.019
 where there was authority

00:46:22.019 --> 00:46:22.980
 and leadership

00:46:22.980 --> 00:46:24.940
 and church organization

00:46:24.940 --> 00:46:25.699
 was always met

00:46:25.699 --> 00:46:26.619
 with skepticism.

00:46:28.079 --> 00:46:29.019
 Special revelation

00:46:29.019 --> 00:46:29.679
 was exalted

00:46:29.679 --> 00:46:31.039
 to an unhealthy place.

00:46:31.779 --> 00:46:33.059
 And what ends up happening

00:46:33.059 --> 00:46:35.059
 is you start to view things

00:46:35.059 --> 00:46:36.799
 through your lack.

00:46:37.619 --> 00:46:38.039
 Well,

00:46:38.219 --> 00:46:38.519
 okay,

00:46:38.619 --> 00:46:40.980
 I wasn't parented well,

00:46:41.359 --> 00:46:41.960
 taught well,

00:46:42.119 --> 00:46:42.859
 discipled well,

00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:44.419
 I wasn't led well.

00:46:44.859 --> 00:46:45.339
 And so,

00:46:45.839 --> 00:46:47.179
 this is what we all need

00:46:47.179 --> 00:46:48.019
 when it's really

00:46:48.019 --> 00:46:49.099
 you're majorly

00:46:49.099 --> 00:46:49.859
 just reacting

00:46:49.859 --> 00:46:51.339
 to what you didn't get.

00:46:52.059 --> 00:46:52.919
 Instead of looking

00:46:52.919 --> 00:46:54.099
 at what the church is

00:46:54.099 --> 00:46:55.199
 presently that you're in

00:46:55.199 --> 00:46:55.639
 and saying,

00:46:55.819 --> 00:46:56.799
 what do we need?

00:46:57.199 --> 00:46:58.859
 Am I responding to Jesus

00:46:58.859 --> 00:47:00.279
 and the church that I'm in

00:47:00.279 --> 00:47:01.339
 or am I reacting

00:47:01.339 --> 00:47:02.119
 to my upbringing

00:47:02.119 --> 00:47:03.219
 and what I didn't have

00:47:03.219 --> 00:47:04.119
 and responding

00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:05.419
 in too far the other way?

00:47:06.480 --> 00:47:07.359
 Happens all the time.

00:47:08.159 --> 00:47:09.179
 Got to ask ourselves

00:47:09.179 --> 00:47:09.779
 that question.

00:47:10.859 --> 00:47:11.460
 Number nine,

00:47:12.199 --> 00:47:13.619
 a sense of super spirituality

00:47:13.619 --> 00:47:15.000
 can cause independence

00:47:15.000 --> 00:47:17.500
 and contrarianism.

00:47:18.239 --> 00:47:20.980
 1 Corinthians 1, 10 through 13

00:47:20.980 --> 00:47:21.659
 hits this great.

00:47:21.739 --> 00:47:21.960
 He says,

00:47:22.059 --> 00:47:22.579
 I appeal to you,

00:47:22.659 --> 00:47:23.480
 brothers and sisters,

00:47:24.039 --> 00:47:25.079
 in the name of our Lord Jesus,

00:47:25.079 --> 00:47:25.480
 Christ,

00:47:25.559 --> 00:47:26.279
 that all of you agree

00:47:26.279 --> 00:47:26.900
 with one another

00:47:26.900 --> 00:47:28.039
 in what you say

00:47:28.039 --> 00:47:29.099
 and that there be no divisions

00:47:29.099 --> 00:47:29.699
 among you,

00:47:30.179 --> 00:47:31.119
 but that you be perfectly

00:47:31.119 --> 00:47:32.519
 united in mind and thought.

00:47:33.159 --> 00:47:33.460
 He said,

00:47:33.500 --> 00:47:34.319
 my brothers and sisters,

00:47:34.440 --> 00:47:35.639
 some from Chloe's household

00:47:35.639 --> 00:47:37.340
 who inform me

00:47:37.340 --> 00:47:38.759
 there are quarrels among you.

00:47:39.480 --> 00:47:40.659
 What I mean is this.

00:47:40.819 --> 00:47:41.319
 One of you says,

00:47:41.400 --> 00:47:42.179
 I follow Paul.

00:47:42.500 --> 00:47:42.799
 Another,

00:47:42.900 --> 00:47:43.920
 I follow Apollos.

00:47:44.219 --> 00:47:44.500
 Another,

00:47:44.639 --> 00:47:45.579
 I follow Cephas.

00:47:45.940 --> 00:47:46.900
 Still another,

00:47:48.559 --> 00:47:49.599
 much more spiritual,

00:47:50.460 --> 00:47:51.559
 I follow Christ.

00:47:51.559 --> 00:47:51.679
 Christ.

00:47:52.679 --> 00:47:53.759
 And then he says,

00:47:53.880 --> 00:47:54.759
 is Christ divided?

00:47:55.659 --> 00:47:56.860
 Is Christ divided?

00:47:57.279 --> 00:47:58.579
 And we can almost become like,

00:47:58.639 --> 00:47:58.820
 yeah,

00:47:58.920 --> 00:47:59.119
 you know,

00:47:59.199 --> 00:48:00.480
 I don't follow Calvin.

00:48:01.019 --> 00:48:03.380
 I don't follow this group

00:48:03.380 --> 00:48:03.980
 or movement.

00:48:04.299 --> 00:48:05.059
 I don't follow,

00:48:05.480 --> 00:48:05.860
 whatever.

00:48:06.079 --> 00:48:07.119
 Pick your thing.

00:48:07.480 --> 00:48:08.579
 I follow Christ.

00:48:09.139 --> 00:48:09.339
 Well,

00:48:09.359 --> 00:48:10.239
 aren't you spiritual?

00:48:11.179 --> 00:48:11.799
 Aren't you?

00:48:12.539 --> 00:48:13.739
 And what we can end up doing

00:48:13.739 --> 00:48:15.279
 is separating from the body of Christ

00:48:15.279 --> 00:48:16.279
 and exalting ourselves

00:48:16.279 --> 00:48:17.059
 over the other people

00:48:17.059 --> 00:48:18.019
 because he says,

00:48:18.119 --> 00:48:18.839
 is Christ divided?

00:48:19.900 --> 00:48:20.900
 Is Christ divided

00:48:20.900 --> 00:48:22.420
 so that you're the special people

00:48:22.420 --> 00:48:23.480
 and then all these other people

00:48:23.480 --> 00:48:24.500
 are not?

00:48:24.839 --> 00:48:25.719
 And we can end up having

00:48:25.719 --> 00:48:26.859
 a super spiritual alley

00:48:26.859 --> 00:48:27.539
 where it just says,

00:48:27.619 --> 00:48:27.900
 you know,

00:48:28.359 --> 00:48:30.179
 I don't prescribe

00:48:30.179 --> 00:48:32.199
 to that line of thinking.

00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:33.739
 I just follow Christ.

00:48:34.579 --> 00:48:34.799
 Oh,

00:48:34.799 --> 00:48:35.099
 really?

00:48:35.880 --> 00:48:36.099
 Oh,

00:48:36.139 --> 00:48:36.299
 really?

00:48:36.300 --> 00:48:37.460
 Good for you.

00:48:38.060 --> 00:48:39.620
 I'm sure you have no defilement

00:48:39.620 --> 00:48:40.140
 of all,

00:48:40.320 --> 00:48:41.400
 of any purpose

00:48:41.400 --> 00:48:43.920
 or disunifying factor in there.

00:48:44.260 --> 00:48:45.280
 We've got to just ask ourselves,

00:48:45.440 --> 00:48:45.800
 come on,

00:48:46.140 --> 00:48:46.840
 let's be real.

00:48:47.300 --> 00:48:47.860
 We don't want to be

00:48:47.860 --> 00:48:49.180
 super spiritual weirdos,

00:48:49.460 --> 00:48:49.680
 okay?

00:48:50.360 --> 00:48:51.140
 We have to realize

00:48:51.140 --> 00:48:51.860
 we need each other

00:48:51.860 --> 00:48:52.660
 and that,

00:48:52.740 --> 00:48:52.920
 yes,

00:48:52.980 --> 00:48:54.039
 we all follow Christ.

00:48:54.280 --> 00:48:55.120
 You don't have the market

00:48:55.120 --> 00:48:56.840
 cornered on Christ

00:48:56.840 --> 00:48:57.760
 and if you really believe

00:48:57.760 --> 00:48:58.260
 those other people

00:48:58.260 --> 00:48:59.940
 are Christ followers as well,

00:49:00.300 --> 00:49:01.860
 don't act like you're following Christ

00:49:01.860 --> 00:49:03.260
 in a way that other people don't

00:49:03.260 --> 00:49:04.539
 because it causes division.

00:49:04.920 --> 00:49:06.180
 It causes us not to be close

00:49:06.179 --> 00:49:06.779
 to one another,

00:49:07.279 --> 00:49:08.079
 to be one mind.

00:49:09.259 --> 00:49:09.699
 And lastly,

00:49:09.799 --> 00:49:10.359
 number 10,

00:49:11.159 --> 00:49:12.579
 drawing people to yourself.

00:49:13.619 --> 00:49:13.799
 Okay,

00:49:13.839 --> 00:49:15.079
 this is for sure

00:49:15.079 --> 00:49:17.119
 a disunifying way

00:49:17.119 --> 00:49:18.039
 of being independent

00:49:18.039 --> 00:49:19.500
 and contrary to one another.

00:49:19.659 --> 00:49:20.279
 Acts 20,

00:49:20.619 --> 00:49:21.460
 29 to 30,

00:49:21.460 --> 00:49:22.980
 Paul expresses this

00:49:22.980 --> 00:49:24.019
 in his last address

00:49:24.019 --> 00:49:25.579
 to the Ephesian elders.

00:49:26.400 --> 00:49:26.720
 He says,

00:49:26.800 --> 00:49:28.400
 I know that after I leave,

00:49:28.900 --> 00:49:29.639
 savage wolves

00:49:29.639 --> 00:49:30.659
 will come in among you

00:49:30.659 --> 00:49:32.260
 and will not spare the flock.

00:49:32.599 --> 00:49:33.760
 Even from your own number,

00:49:33.860 --> 00:49:34.579
 men will arise

00:49:34.579 --> 00:49:35.679
 and distort the truth

00:49:35.679 --> 00:49:37.480
 in order to draw away disciples

00:49:37.480 --> 00:49:38.840
 after them.

00:49:39.579 --> 00:49:40.699
 And I say this

00:49:40.699 --> 00:49:42.720
 as someone who's planting this church,

00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:44.059
 who will be one

00:49:44.059 --> 00:49:45.300
 who will plant other churches.

00:49:45.900 --> 00:49:47.199
 My role here won't be

00:49:47.199 --> 00:49:48.679
 as prominent as it is now

00:49:48.679 --> 00:49:49.480
 down the road.

00:49:49.480 --> 00:49:51.099
 I will have less of a role

00:49:51.099 --> 00:49:51.940
 at some point in time.

00:49:52.019 --> 00:49:53.380
 I hope I always have some role.

00:49:54.280 --> 00:49:54.679
 Again,

00:49:54.840 --> 00:49:56.280
 not by any show of force,

00:49:56.360 --> 00:49:57.460
 but because of relationship,

00:49:58.000 --> 00:49:58.820
 mutual respect,

00:49:58.880 --> 00:49:59.440
 and trust.

00:50:00.320 --> 00:50:01.059
 But someday,

00:50:01.159 --> 00:50:02.340
 I won't have the same

00:50:02.340 --> 00:50:04.119
 influence that I have.

00:50:04.159 --> 00:50:05.240
 I won't have the same authority

00:50:05.240 --> 00:50:07.059
 in this group of people

00:50:07.059 --> 00:50:07.860
 that maybe I did

00:50:07.860 --> 00:50:08.639
 at one point in time

00:50:08.639 --> 00:50:09.219
 because there will be

00:50:09.219 --> 00:50:10.480
 elders risen up here

00:50:10.480 --> 00:50:11.219
 and this church will

00:50:11.219 --> 00:50:12.719
 grow and mature on its own.

00:50:13.199 --> 00:50:13.940
 But one thing

00:50:13.940 --> 00:50:14.880
 I get concerned about

00:50:14.880 --> 00:50:16.000
 is that if we don't build

00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:17.139
 a foundation of unity

00:50:17.139 --> 00:50:18.500
 and oneness in this church,

00:50:19.400 --> 00:50:20.699
 that after I do leave

00:50:20.699 --> 00:50:21.279
 in a sense,

00:50:22.259 --> 00:50:24.139
 that if there's people

00:50:24.139 --> 00:50:24.639
 who have in them

00:50:24.639 --> 00:50:25.799
 a tendency to draw people

00:50:25.799 --> 00:50:26.559
 to themselves,

00:50:26.900 --> 00:50:28.000
 it will disrupt things

00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:28.980
 in an unhealthy manner.

00:50:29.719 --> 00:50:30.319
 If there's people

00:50:30.319 --> 00:50:30.699
 who say,

00:50:30.819 --> 00:50:31.039
 well,

00:50:31.339 --> 00:50:31.519
 yeah,

00:50:31.519 --> 00:50:32.259
 I know we do things

00:50:32.259 --> 00:50:32.739
 this way

00:50:32.739 --> 00:50:33.179
 and I know

00:50:33.179 --> 00:50:34.839
 Josh has led this way

00:50:34.839 --> 00:50:35.920
 apostolically

00:50:35.920 --> 00:50:36.440
 in this way,

00:50:36.539 --> 00:50:37.039
 but you know,

00:50:37.460 --> 00:50:38.099
 I really think

00:50:38.099 --> 00:50:38.839
 that's a bunch of

00:50:38.839 --> 00:50:41.559
 crap as that one guy said

00:50:41.559 --> 00:50:42.879
 and I'm just waiting

00:50:42.879 --> 00:50:43.739
 for him to kind of

00:50:43.739 --> 00:50:45.079
 not be around as much

00:50:45.079 --> 00:50:45.639
 and I'm going to try

00:50:45.639 --> 00:50:46.299
 and shape things

00:50:46.299 --> 00:50:46.920
 in this way,

00:50:47.119 --> 00:50:49.019
 that could be very divisive

00:50:49.019 --> 00:50:50.639
 and that's not the way

00:50:50.639 --> 00:50:51.460
 to go into a church.

00:50:51.839 --> 00:50:51.980
 Now,

00:50:52.039 --> 00:50:52.359
 does that mean

00:50:52.359 --> 00:50:53.179
 you can't ever challenge

00:50:53.179 --> 00:50:53.920
 what Josh says?

00:50:54.199 --> 00:50:54.679
 Absolutely not.

00:50:54.719 --> 00:50:55.099
 It's ridiculous.

00:50:55.279 --> 00:50:56.099
 You know that that's not true

00:50:56.099 --> 00:50:57.339
 because we've had

00:50:57.339 --> 00:50:58.659
 many of them,

00:50:58.679 --> 00:50:58.920
 okay?

00:50:59.339 --> 00:50:59.879
 And so,

00:51:00.039 --> 00:51:00.940
 and there's a lot

00:51:00.940 --> 00:51:01.859
 of healthiness to that.

00:51:02.239 --> 00:51:02.759
 Praise God.

00:51:03.279 --> 00:51:03.859
 It has to be.

00:51:04.179 --> 00:51:04.839
 I'm not talking about

00:51:04.839 --> 00:51:05.599
 some weird

00:51:05.599 --> 00:51:07.839
 CEO apostolic

00:51:07.839 --> 00:51:08.659
 leadership stuff.

00:51:08.900 --> 00:51:09.679
 That's a joke.

00:51:09.859 --> 00:51:10.559
 You guys know

00:51:10.559 --> 00:51:11.359
 we're not talking about that.

00:51:11.900 --> 00:51:12.940
 I'm talking about

00:51:12.940 --> 00:51:14.400
 that God puts leadership

00:51:14.400 --> 00:51:15.019
 in place

00:51:15.019 --> 00:51:15.960
 to bring about

00:51:15.960 --> 00:51:16.980
 a certain direction,

00:51:17.539 --> 00:51:20.220
 a certain unified way forward

00:51:20.220 --> 00:51:22.500
 and it makes sense for us

00:51:22.500 --> 00:51:23.420
 to say,

00:51:23.559 --> 00:51:23.700
 hey,

00:51:24.000 --> 00:51:24.920
 I want to draw people

00:51:24.920 --> 00:51:25.480
 unto Jesus

00:51:25.480 --> 00:51:26.260
 when he's building

00:51:26.260 --> 00:51:27.079
 and not draw people

00:51:27.079 --> 00:51:27.780
 to myself

00:51:27.780 --> 00:51:29.220
 because if I'm independent

00:51:29.220 --> 00:51:29.639
 in that way

00:51:29.639 --> 00:51:30.139
 and I think

00:51:30.139 --> 00:51:31.300
 my way is the highway

00:51:31.300 --> 00:51:32.360
 or my way is so important,

00:51:32.760 --> 00:51:35.139
 I can unconsciously

00:51:35.139 --> 00:51:36.160
 draw people to myself

00:51:36.160 --> 00:51:36.920
 in such a way

00:51:36.920 --> 00:51:38.599
 where everybody else

00:51:38.599 --> 00:51:39.420
 is maybe going

00:51:39.420 --> 00:51:40.280
 in the same direction

00:51:40.280 --> 00:51:42.019
 that causes these splinters

00:51:42.019 --> 00:51:43.540
 that break things off

00:51:43.540 --> 00:51:44.380
 in an unhealthy way.

00:51:44.980 --> 00:51:46.280
 We've got to ask ourselves that.

00:51:46.760 --> 00:51:47.640
 Is that happening?

00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:48.740
 Do I have a tendency

00:51:48.740 --> 00:51:49.380
 for that to happen?

00:51:49.500 --> 00:51:50.700
 Do I have subtle thoughts

00:51:50.700 --> 00:51:51.280
 of that happening

00:51:51.280 --> 00:51:51.780
 in my heart?

00:51:52.700 --> 00:51:53.740
 I, with all my heart,

00:51:53.800 --> 00:51:54.300
 want this church

00:51:54.300 --> 00:51:55.140
 to be a healthy church.

00:51:55.280 --> 00:51:55.740
 I want it to have

00:51:55.740 --> 00:51:56.480
 good foundation.

00:51:56.640 --> 00:51:57.120
 I want us to be

00:51:57.120 --> 00:51:57.740
 one mind,

00:51:58.100 --> 00:51:58.740
 one accord

00:51:58.740 --> 00:52:01.380
 and regardless

00:52:01.380 --> 00:52:02.160
 of my influence

00:52:02.160 --> 00:52:02.780
 down the road

00:52:02.780 --> 00:52:03.600
 and involvement

00:52:03.600 --> 00:52:04.260
 down the road,

00:52:04.620 --> 00:52:05.340
 I would love

00:52:05.340 --> 00:52:06.060
 for this church

00:52:06.060 --> 00:52:06.840
 to be in unity

00:52:06.840 --> 00:52:07.240
 and oneness

00:52:07.239 --> 00:52:07.879
 and to last

00:52:07.879 --> 00:52:08.979
 for a long time.

00:52:09.559 --> 00:52:10.419
 But that doesn't

00:52:10.419 --> 00:52:11.159
 happen by accident.

00:52:11.579 --> 00:52:12.439
 We've got to be intentional.

00:52:12.739 --> 00:52:13.419
 We've got to be eager.

00:52:13.959 --> 00:52:14.779
 We have to fight

00:52:14.779 --> 00:52:15.299
 for together,

00:52:15.419 --> 00:52:16.019
 so to speak.

00:52:16.839 --> 00:52:18.559
 And close with

00:52:18.559 --> 00:52:19.359
 Romans 15,

00:52:19.500 --> 00:52:20.139
 5-6.

00:52:20.239 --> 00:52:20.919
 May the God

00:52:20.919 --> 00:52:21.899
 of endurance

00:52:21.899 --> 00:52:22.659
 and encouragement

00:52:22.659 --> 00:52:23.939
 grant you to live

00:52:23.939 --> 00:52:24.919
 in such harmony

00:52:24.919 --> 00:52:25.679
 with one another

00:52:25.679 --> 00:52:26.559
 in accord

00:52:26.559 --> 00:52:27.439
 with Christ Jesus

00:52:27.439 --> 00:52:28.599
 that together

00:52:28.599 --> 00:52:29.919
 you may with one voice

00:52:29.919 --> 00:52:31.299
 glorify the God

00:52:31.299 --> 00:52:31.839
 and Father

00:52:31.839 --> 00:52:33.619
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:52:34.899 --> 00:52:35.159
 Amen?

00:52:36.119 --> 00:52:36.479
 Amen.

00:52:37.239 --> 00:52:38.239
 Amen.

00:52:38.239 --> 00:52:38.239


00:52:38.239 --> 00:52:38.239