WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.000 Let me have you turn in your Bibles, if you would, please, this morning to Ephesians chapter 6, and we are going to begin in verse 5 and carry on down in our reading this morning to verse 8. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:42.760 And then we will pray together. Slaves, students, mothers at home, workers at Meijer and Walmart, police officers, all of you, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:57.820 Not by the way of eye service as people pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a goodwill as to the Lord and not to man. 00:00:59.100 --> 00:01:09.680 Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is slave or free. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:11.780 Let us pray. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:30.519 Our Father, we do not pray out of habit or out of ritual or because it's something that we have kind of structured in our order of service and so it's appropriate. 00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:42.560 We pray because we pray because we love you and we pray because we need you and we pray because we are aware that apart from you we can do nothing. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:54.200 And so, it is my call and responsibility to preach the Word faithfully and I trust that your Spirit will enable me to do that. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:02:07.180 And it is the responsibility of your people to listen with the power of the Spirit of God energizing and affecting their thinking that as a result of our listening to the Word that you have given to us, 00:02:07.520 --> 00:02:13.020 that our lives and our hearts would be shaped and formed to be more like Christ. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:15.020 We want you to be glorified. 00:02:15.020 --> 00:02:16.560 We want you to be glorified. 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:30.600 Not just in the moment of emotion or affection at this hour, but Lord, really in the week to come that the thing that would be exceptional in the lives of those who are believers 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:40.879 is that our work ethic would be something that reflects favorably on the cross, that you who are in heaven would be pleased. 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:48.240 And so, I ask for your Spirit's power in my life and in the lives of your people. 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:56.240 And I ask, Lord, that those who are here today that do not know Christ would be under the convicting power of the cross 00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:06.300 that wherever and at what moment in the time we have remaining, your Spirit would work in their heart to draw them to see their need for salvation 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:11.040 and they would cry out and say, I need Jesus to be my Savior. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.879 And Lord, we ask that you would be glorified in your precious name. 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:17.939 Amen. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.840 One of the questions I really want you to start out with and just kind of think to yourself, 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:27.060 every one of us here are involved in work at one form or another. 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:36.539 We're either working at home or we're working in our studies or we're working in a place where other people are dependent upon our performance and our output. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:41.900 And so, I want to begin by asking a couple questions and I want you to note them. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:46.699 And actually, you don't have to raise your hand and wave at me and say, here's why I'm working. 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:50.699 But I want you to know for sure, this is the fact. 00:03:50.699 --> 00:03:54.099 So, here's the question to start with. 00:03:56.019 --> 00:03:57.739 Why do you work? 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:00.780 Why do you work? 00:04:01.099 --> 00:04:06.039 Now, I've seen bumper stickers that say, I owe, I owe, and off to work I go. 00:04:06.739 --> 00:04:06.939 Okay. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:10.079 So, I'll come back again. 00:04:10.299 --> 00:04:11.679 Why do you work? 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:13.459 Why do you work? 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:17.199 Second question is this, is what really motivates you? 00:04:18.039 --> 00:04:19.240 What really motivates you? 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:28.340 I remember years ago when I went from being an independent pain contractor, which is what I did when I was in seminary. 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:30.379 That's kind of how I paid my way through. 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:38.220 And without getting into all the ugly details, I remember when I had a friend say to me, how about working at International Harvester? 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:39.900 And I said, well, might as well try it. 00:04:40.139 --> 00:04:42.319 And I prayed about it and I thought it was the appropriate thing to do. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:44.360 And I went and showed up for the interview. 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:51.599 And as the interview was progressing, the individual that was talking to me said, well, we'd like you to work for us. 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:52.819 And I said, well, okay. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:55.879 And he said, well, here's what we would pay you. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:56.719 Now, listen to me. 00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:01.420 It was a threefold increase on my annual income. 00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:03.579 Threefold. 00:05:04.379 --> 00:05:08.100 Now, do the math on where you are and figure out. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:10.120 Poker face, that was me. 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:12.120 He said, is that okay? 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:14.180 And I was like, yeah. 00:05:14.180 --> 00:05:15.180 Threefold. 00:05:16.400 --> 00:05:16.920 Threefold. 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:19.240 One, two, three. 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:20.120 Threefold. 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:28.480 And I didn't realize that, you know, as an independent contractor, I worked from O Dark 30 to whenever it was over. 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:34.600 And after that, I was on the phone hoping that I would have some other people that desperately wanted me to paint their house. 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:37.399 And I'd take any call that I could get. 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:43.259 And so, about three or four weeks into this, I'm not real good with math. 00:05:43.259 --> 00:05:44.139 And that's a new thing. 00:05:44.219 --> 00:05:45.099 Some of you note that down. 00:05:45.219 --> 00:05:46.439 Pastors are not real good with math. 00:05:46.599 --> 00:05:50.159 But I remember about three or four weeks into it, I started getting checks. 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:51.420 And I noticed that there was something. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:54.319 I mean, I understand what threefold was. 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:58.300 But the rate I was going at, they seemed to be paying me for overtime. 00:05:58.420 --> 00:05:59.659 I'd never heard about that before. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:01.259 Overtime. 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:01.879 I mean, you know what? 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:03.360 I worked a real 40 hours. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:06.259 And then every time I worked beyond that, I got time and a half. 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:11.899 And then when they asked me to work on Saturdays or Sundays, that happened occasionally, I'd get double time. 00:06:11.899 --> 00:06:13.240 And holidays, you know what I got? 00:06:14.159 --> 00:06:15.759 I got three times the pay. 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:22.279 I mean, it was like, I remember looking at the first $1,000 check I'd ever seen in my life. 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:27.399 And I thought, this is too good to be true. 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:29.120 But it kept on happening. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:34.120 And then there I was standing around a bunch of other workers. 00:06:34.280 --> 00:06:39.639 And I had one of these guys say, and he was one of the lazier guys that I had there on the crew, 27 men. 00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:45.120 And I'm trying to motivate him with, you know, a little bit of spiritual encouragement, right? 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:45.740 Do you follow that? 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:49.680 I mean, I came from seminary into UAW plant. 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:54.079 And it took me a while to kind of adapt to the vocabulary and other things. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:58.340 And I was explaining to them that I would appreciate it if he'd do a little more work. 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:01.579 And he said, I can't work any harder for what you're paying me. 00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:04.439 I thought, what? 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:13.540 I worked hard for one-third the payment without overtime. 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:18.519 So why are you working? 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:22.359 What motivates you? 00:07:25.299 --> 00:07:37.779 Paul, when he wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus, he wrote to a group of people so different than us today in a church. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:45.379 At one point in the Roman Empire, almost every other person was a slave. 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:49.819 I mean, you didn't have tractors. 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:52.120 You didn't have lawnmowers. 00:07:52.620 --> 00:07:54.719 You didn't have, you know, everything was done by hand. 00:07:55.159 --> 00:07:55.759 Everything. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:01.300 And Judith and I had our Internet fried yesterday. 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:08.939 And it's amazing what you go through when you discover that what you normally rely upon is not available to you. 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:11.000 Well, I think I'll check email. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:11.740 No, you won't. 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:14.600 I think I'll call a friend. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:15.860 No, you won't. 00:08:16.820 --> 00:08:18.439 I think, stop. 00:08:20.080 --> 00:08:27.000 In the ancient world, about one-half, one-third to one-half, depending on where you were, were actually slaves. 00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:33.220 And so I would imagine that when Paul said to the early church, slaves, obey your earthly masters, 00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:38.200 it was a stunning thing to hear said. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:43.180 And so I want you to listen with me this morning. 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:51.199 And really, as you walk out of here, I trust that as a result of you hearing the Spirit-enabled preaching of the Word of God, 00:08:51.239 --> 00:08:55.659 and you, under the convicting power of the Spirit of God, walk out of here saying, 00:08:55.659 --> 00:09:04.019 man, I am a Christian, and I want everybody to watch my work ethic and say, I don't know what it is about you, but I want some of it. 00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:13.500 And I want your employer to come around and say, do you have any other people you know that are like you? 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:17.579 Because there's something about the way you work. 00:09:17.580 --> 00:09:20.800 I need other people like you. 00:09:25.280 --> 00:09:29.740 Now, bear with me just for a moment as we get a little bit of background, because I think background is important. 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:36.440 And so if I were to summarize Ephesians in one word, I would use the word Christocentric. 00:09:37.660 --> 00:09:41.660 The book of Ephesians, by the way, any book in the Bible is ultimately about who? 00:09:42.520 --> 00:09:43.340 It's about Christ. 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:45.379 But Ephesians is kind of on steroids. 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:47.740 I mean, everywhere you go, you're going to find it. 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:48.700 You can't miss it. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.139 And we're going to see it this morning. 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:50.799 It's there. 00:09:54.179 --> 00:10:01.220 Ephesians overflows with the evidence of the glory and the power and the wonder of Christ. 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:06.039 And Paul says, in essence, that all of life is about him. 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:10.620 I love Ephesians 3, verse 21, where it says, unto him be glory. 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:20.200 And if you back up just a little bit, in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 23, as Paul comes to the end of the first chapter, he makes this statement about Christ. 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:24.340 He says, he is the fullness of him who fills all in all. 00:10:25.500 --> 00:10:30.100 Jesus is the great I am. 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:35.519 He is the one that completely encompasses all that is worthy and significant. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:47.559 And so, understandably, you would have to admit that the recurring theme of the first three chapters in particular is that everything, everything redounds. 00:10:47.939 --> 00:10:49.500 I like that word, so I'll say it again. 00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:52.759 Redounds to the glory of Christ. 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:55.460 In other words, it reflects back on. 00:10:55.579 --> 00:10:57.179 It comes back on Jesus. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:11:03.479 At the heart of his grace in saving us is his glory. 00:11:05.219 --> 00:11:10.779 And so, if you would just follow with me just for a moment, we're going to take a look at only the first part of Ephesians. 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:13.479 And look at Ephesians chapter 1, verse 6. 00:11:13.579 --> 00:11:14.739 It explains salvation. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.639 Go ahead and turn there. 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:18.519 Keep your finger in 6 because we're back in just a minute. 00:11:18.819 --> 00:11:21.039 But I want you to understand this issue. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.139 It's about Jesus. 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:31.639 Ephesians 1, 6 explains salvation as being for the praise of his glorious grace. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.340 Do you follow that? 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:38.379 You stop and think about why you were saved. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:40.899 It's so that Jesus looks good. 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:44.379 People looking at you and saying, I can't believe he did that. 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:45.580 What did he save you for? 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:47.340 So that I make him look good. 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:51.759 Ephesians chapter 1, 7 through 12. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:55.399 Kind of work our way through a little longer passage. 00:11:55.939 --> 00:12:02.080 And it explains his redemption and his forgiveness, his predestination as being to the praise of his glory. 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:03.480 Why did he do all that? 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:05.600 That he would receive glory. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:14.399 And then as we mark in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 14, it says, it explains the seal of the Holy Spirit and our eventual joy in heaven. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:20.079 And it is explained again in the light of the fact that we are all of this is to the praise of his glory. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:35.179 So as you're sitting here and you're ready to hear the word of God, let me summarize our lesson from the very start by saying it is aimed at coaching those who are believers how to live and act so that Jesus looks good. 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:36.659 That's pretty simple, isn't it? 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:38.299 That's all it's all about. 00:12:38.959 --> 00:12:46.480 It's saying to you who know Christ, hey, you were hired by someone who's more important than who you think. 00:12:46.939 --> 00:12:51.100 Your main boss is not who you see Monday morning. 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:56.659 The main boss is the one that someday you are going to see in eternity. 00:12:56.659 --> 00:13:22.779 And it is important, it is important, it is important that whether you are a student or a housewife, whatever it is that you are doing, that you are driven by the reality and the certainty of your eventual presence with the Lord and your readiness to answer him and say, I did my part for you. 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:33.480 Now, I do want to take a moment as we're working our way through this to look at verse 5 to begin with and it says, slaves, obey your earthly masters. 00:13:34.839 --> 00:13:45.620 And so I want to kind of push this together and if you'll throw it up there, what we find here in this opening statement is a comment on the gospel and social justice. 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:53.539 You could put it this way and Alistair Begg says it, you probably have heard him in one of his sermons, he says, keep the main thing the plain thing. 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:56.440 Stay focused on the things that really count. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:06.840 And so here you are, you're reading in the book of Ephesians and you come to chapter 6 and all of us would probably say, hey, listen, slavery is not a good thing. 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:11.159 It's not something that I would recommend and it's not just because I wouldn't recommend it. 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:17.699 It's not something that the Bible advocates, but the Bible does chronicle the fact that slavery was going on. 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:24.600 And so as we take up our text this morning, allow me to note several things from the start. 00:14:24.699 --> 00:14:33.079 For one, probably some of you have some translations, English translations, that use the word bondservant or servant. 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:34.100 How many of you have one of those? 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.959 It says bondservant, okay? 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:44.120 Now I'm not suggesting you write through that necessarily, but the real word in the Greek is doulos, which means slave. 00:14:46.060 --> 00:14:53.940 And a slave in Roman or Greek culture was flat out the property of somebody else. 00:14:54.280 --> 00:15:02.180 He only lived and existed at the will and the pleasure and for the output that he had to give to his master. 00:15:02.179 --> 00:15:10.939 And a little bit like, I don't know for a fact, but we've had, all of us have had pets that eventually they reached their youthful lifespan. 00:15:11.099 --> 00:15:12.000 Do you understand what I'm saying? 00:15:12.479 --> 00:15:15.219 It becomes, and so what do you do when it reaches that point? 00:15:16.479 --> 00:15:17.799 I love the euphemism. 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.659 We put them down. 00:15:18.979 --> 00:15:19.599 Do you follow that? 00:15:20.359 --> 00:15:22.879 A slave was kept so long as he was productive. 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:24.599 And when he wasn't productive, what? 00:15:25.719 --> 00:15:27.719 You didn't hover him around in a hospital bed. 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:32.000 Well, I mean, he can't tote water. 00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:35.639 He's not doing good chopping wood, so gone. 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:43.139 I want you to recognize that Paul did not focus on slavery. 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:49.779 In fact, the Scriptures do not have much to say at all about the subject of slavery. 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:54.840 And that's not because God is indifferent to how men treat one another. 00:15:54.840 --> 00:16:03.860 The reason is, is that the greatest concern in the Bible is for our relationship with Christ or with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:08.780 And nothing deters Christ from being center place. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:16.000 And those who are actively engaged in declaring the supremacy of Christ do not get sidetracked by that. 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:23.580 Everything in life ultimately revolves around our relationship through God or to God through Christ. 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.180 Isn't that right? 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:31.080 At the end, it's about who you are in relationship with the Lord of glory and with Christ. 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:41.020 And Paul is not primarily concerned about all the travesties and wickedness that was taking place in the messy world back then. 00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:46.040 Nor is the Spirit of God primarily concerned about some of the messy stuff we see around us. 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:49.280 He is interested in our own relationship with Him. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:53.519 And so, here we are as believers, and I want to tell you something. 00:16:54.019 --> 00:17:02.819 We are not to be distracted from secondary issues or bi-secondary issues away from what is the primary thing. 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:13.660 We're not to be all over things like missing airplanes or creeping socialism or health care or income redistribution. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:17.819 A social good works gospel or the Second Amendment for that matter. 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:27.299 I want you to understand that the one thing that God wants us to be passionate about is the sufficiency of the gospel and the supremacy of Christ in the life of every man and woman. 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:36.700 So, I want you to think with me just for a moment back to 1 Corinthians 2, verse 1 through 4, and mark what Paul was clearly focused on. 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:39.799 Turn back in your Bible to 1 Corinthians 2. 00:17:39.799 --> 00:18:09.799 desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:18.579 I had a conversation the other day with an individual who actually had spent a number of years in an evangelical church. 00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:27.440 I was, as the momentary contact was playing out, I was praying as I was listening. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.240 How many of you do that? 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:31.919 How many of you learn that it's usually smarter to pray while you listen? 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:39.800 I'd rather take some time and ask God to help me not say stupid things because I can do that without practice. 00:18:40.580 --> 00:18:42.420 And so I was praying, Lord, give me an opportunity. 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.160 Give me an opportunity. 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:51.220 And this guy kind of out of his own mouth, he said, you know, I used to go because I had filled out a little form that said I was a pastor, you know, pastor in a Baptist church. 00:18:51.300 --> 00:18:52.259 Okay, I got it. 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:53.460 So he'd figured that out. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:56.400 And so he kind of drifted over to make conversation with me and I let him go. 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.100 I let him go. 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.700 Let him go. 00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:57.759 Let him go. 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:04.279 And once we'd gone far enough, it was like, hmm. 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:11.259 So if you were to die today and God were to ask you why he's let you into heaven, what would you say? 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:16.440 Well, I'm not all into that judgmental business about judgment and hell and blah, blah, blah. 00:19:16.560 --> 00:19:17.640 And he knew all the vocabulary. 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:21.539 And he announced that he was just flat not interested. 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.940 I said, I appreciate that. 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.920 But what do you do with Putin? 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:27.060 How many of you know who Putin is? 00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:28.940 Just checking, okay? 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.460 I said, what do you do with Putin? 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:34.860 Anyway, the conversation did not go very far, but I got to tell you something. 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:42.279 My heart and my interest is in people knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:45.539 I did not talk to him about social welfare. 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:47.579 I did not talk to him about the Second Amendment. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.900 I did not talk to him about anything but, you know who? 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.460 You know who? 00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:51.559 About Jesus. 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:57.120 Because at the end of the day, that's what counts forever. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:07.599 And I appreciate the fact that Paul stayed focused on the one thing that can change a person's relationship with God. 00:20:08.239 --> 00:20:09.319 Is that the way you are? 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.199 Question. 00:20:11.179 --> 00:20:12.019 Is that the way you are? 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:18.399 When it really boils down to it, if you have a choice, what is the one thing that you are focused on? 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:25.400 Well, let's come back practically now to Ephesians chapter 6. 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:27.780 And here's Paul. 00:20:28.040 --> 00:20:29.400 He's talking to believers. 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.360 He's not... 00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:35.560 If you're here this morning and you don't know Christ yet, and you've never yet trusted in the Lord Jesus, 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:39.840 I got to tell you, one of the prayers that I have been praying prior to coming here, 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:41.740 and I know there are people here praying that. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:44.680 They're praying, hey, Lord, I want people saved this morning. 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.980 That's one of the things we'd be doing. 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:51.019 But Christians can multitask so you can be listening and praying at the same time. 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:51.600 You got that? 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:56.460 So talking to Christians, if you're not a Christian here, people are praying for you. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.140 I want you to know that. 00:20:57.400 --> 00:21:00.539 But to you who are Christians, you're praying and listening, and here's what you need to listen to. 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.120 Look at what it says. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.980 We need to talk about how to serve. 00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:09.539 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:13.560 with a sincere heart as you would Christ. 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:16.740 Now, spirit-filled believer, and I think we need to back it. 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:18.200 We need to be very clear about this. 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:21.179 How many of you recognize that sometimes we're not spirit-filled? 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:26.460 Come on, smile at me so I know you understand what we're talking about. 00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:28.579 Sometimes we're not spirit-filled. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:33.559 How many of you occasionally, rarely get anxious about things you really can't control? 00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:35.960 My father's been in the hospital. 00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:39.859 I got to tell you, I'm a little bit of a... 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:41.159 What do you call it? 00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:41.919 What's the word? 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:45.039 I can be anxious without warm-up. 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.779 Do you follow that? 00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:47.000 I don't have to stretch. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.700 I'm right on it right now. 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:53.420 And I've been doing a little bit of special work on anxiety and prayer, 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:55.840 trying to come over on the right side of this thing. 00:21:56.320 --> 00:22:00.400 And I want you to understand that I had to remind myself, 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:03.140 hey, Tim, you can't pull this off without being spirit-filled. 00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:08.280 Now, if I can't be less than anxious apart from the spirit, 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.520 I can't be a good worker apart from the spirit. 00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:11.480 So keep that in mind. 00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:16.100 A spirit-filled believer is to serve by following instructions. 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:22.500 We'd live in a day where the idea of being subordinate to anybody is almost just a supreme offense. 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.799 What do you mean I got to listen to you? 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:24.740 What? 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:29.700 You mean you're not paying me here just to do whatever I think is a good idea for the day? 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.140 Paul puts it clearly. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.839 He says, hey, obey your superiors. 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:40.480 So, as long as the instruction, the command, is lawful, 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.659 in other words, if your boss comes up to you and says, 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:48.959 I really don't like Tim, would you kill him? 00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:57.199 Going back to an international harvester, I remember one of the lessons I learned very early. 00:22:57.639 --> 00:23:01.559 So long as you were giving a command that was not a direct violation of safety 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:04.019 and the person's well-being, they had to do it. 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.099 Every smile. 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.139 They had to do it. 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:09.920 Now, if it was contrary to the contract, guess what happened after that? 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:14.079 I had a visit from the union steward. 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:16.579 Did you happen to read what's on page 49? 00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:22.559 The guy can't use a broom around his own area, even though he's up to his knees in chips. 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:25.079 It's like, that's the sweep. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:29.559 That's an L-154's job, and you're breaking somebody else's rice bowl. 00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:31.139 I said, oh, okay. 00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:33.619 Well, if it's a lawful instruction, do it. 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:39.519 Now, we may not think that what our boss is asking us to do is logical. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:40.879 Now, smile. 00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.660 Yeah, you know that. 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.059 Or reasonable. 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.720 Or intelligent. 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:45.740 But you know what? 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.299 Just do it. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:56.119 Not only should you do it, so long as it's not a violation of the law, you know, I want you to understand that you are to do it with a certain kind of attitude. 00:23:57.399 --> 00:23:58.639 Look at the passage again. 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:05.839 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with sincere heart, as you would Christ. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:10.099 Now, it's not saying that you walk into work, you know, like this. 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:14.699 That's not what the fear and trembling is referencing, I believe. 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:19.439 I believe the reference is to the fact that Jesus made this statement in the Gospels. 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:22.959 He says, hey, don't fear those who can kill you. 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:27.259 Fear the one who can deal with your soul and send you to hell. 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:36.960 So, the real fear and trembling is I ought to be thinking about Christ even as I am responding to my master, my boss. 00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:45.240 I want to please him, but I want to please him because I am sensitive to Jesus and the day that I'm going to see him. 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.400 Now, look at what it says here. 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:54.019 It says, you serve with fear and trembling with a sincere heart as you would Christ. 00:24:57.259 --> 00:25:02.240 Does Christ give us instructions in the workforce? 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.259 He actually does. 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.599 He gives them through superiors. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:14.500 He just happens to hire somebody else to communicate to you and say, hey, listen, in order to make me look good, 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:16.779 I want you to pick up this load of bricks and move it over here. 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:20.160 And once you get that pile over there, I want you to move it over here. 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:22.640 So, why don't I use a forklift? 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:25.799 You know, I mean, there are a lot smarter ways to move bricks. 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:29.180 In fact, the smartest thing to do would be ask you to move them while I watch. 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.799 Just do it. 00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:35.159 And here's what it says. 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:39.539 Do it with a sincere heart as you would Christ. 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:41.779 You ask me, Jesus, I'll do it. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.419 Now, look at something else here. 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.879 Read in verse 6. 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:53.900 It says that our service is not to be one that changes in the presence of the boss. 00:25:57.100 --> 00:26:03.220 I think about when I, for some strange reason, I decided working two jobs was better than one job. 00:26:03.280 --> 00:26:04.300 Now, that was all about money. 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.440 I want you to know that up front. 00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:06.220 I was in college. 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:09.600 And I had a very interesting experience. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:14.240 I worked with people that were slavishly attentive to where the boss was. 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:17.859 I mean, when the boss walked into the environment, guess what happened to their performance? 00:26:18.899 --> 00:26:19.779 I mean, it was just like... 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:22.859 When the boss walked out... 00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:26.279 You know, it was like night and day. 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:29.639 I really was kind of entertained by that. 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:36.799 But I'll remember when I went to Harvester and started working there, I had a couple people that always knew where I was in the proximity. 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:40.180 How they could work doing this. 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:43.759 And so, I have a little bit of perverse nature in my heart. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:47.680 I want you to understand that it's not entirely sanctified, this little heart that I have. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:51.680 And so, what I would do is I would duck around a corner and then pop right back out. 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.759 It was entertaining, you know. 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.539 I mean, it was just like fun. 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.759 I mean, follow that? 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:59.920 I was having a lot of pleasure at their anxiety. 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.159 When is Tim going to show up? 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.440 I'll never tell. 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:08.559 Now, here's what the Spirit wants you to understand. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:16.240 He says, hey, since you're working for Jesus and He's always there, don't be doing this thing. 00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:24.339 You know, eye service is talking about kind of doing it just because the person's there or, as it says here, a people pleaser. 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:29.639 People pleasers are recognized readily, particularly in restaurants. 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.159 You know, you're sitting there with your wife. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:34.680 You're sitting there with your son-in-law. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.440 You're sitting there with your daughter or whatever. 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:43.380 And so, when it comes time to order on the menu, the person uses the same phrase four times. 00:27:43.820 --> 00:27:44.720 Excellent choice. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.720 Excellent choice. 00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:48.640 Excellent choice. 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.140 Excellent choice. 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:51.140 I mean, I know. 00:27:51.280 --> 00:27:52.960 If it's on the menu, it's got to be excellent. 00:27:53.060 --> 00:28:00.020 But the truth of the matter is, is that have you ever had anybody in a restaurant that's hoping for a decent tip say, that's dumb? 00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:02.160 Okay? 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:05.800 Now, I happen to love liver. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.700 I don't want to go any further than that. 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.920 I just tell you, I happen to love liver. 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:22.640 So, when I go into a restaurant and I say, and Cap City actually will fix me liver even if it's not on the menu, I'll say, could I have fried liver and onions? 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.920 Excellent choice. 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:25.400 Yeah. 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:33.440 I actually, honestly, truly love liver. 00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:38.400 But I would venture to say that I am in a minority. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:47.680 If we took a poll this morning on liver lovers, I mean, other than the liver you have, most of you would say, no, no, no, no, no, right? 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:51.019 I don't eat organ meat. 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:51.300 Okay. 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:56.079 Anyway, a people pleaser is someone who's always thinking about, how's it going to come off? 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.559 Are they going to like what I say? 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.759 Is it going to be okay? 00:28:58.899 --> 00:28:59.919 Is it going to play out for me? 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.539 No. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.440 Jesus says, that's not the way you ought to be. 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:03.559 Okay? 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:07.779 As servants of Christ. 00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:11.940 So, let's deal with the fact, who do we serve? 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.419 Who do we serve? 00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:17.500 And I want you to notice that this is a recurring theme. 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:25.180 The spirit believer, the spirit-filled believer serves his boss just like he would Christ. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.039 Verse 5. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:35.579 And that isn't to suggest that there's a slavish obedience, but that there is a loving and willing attention to the boss that God has given you. 00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:39.460 And you're really doing it because in the whole flow of this, it's about Jesus. 00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:41.119 You're doing it for him. 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:54.479 And in essence, your ministry, your service is an opportunity to say thank you to him who willingly stooped and took your sins and died in your place and has assured you of eternal life. 00:29:55.539 --> 00:30:02.399 And then we read something very similar over in verse 6 where it says that the spirit-filled believer is a slave to Christ. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:04.880 He's the one who owns me. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:08.280 And his word is my absolute law. 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:23.640 And furthermore, we mark the fact that every act of obedience and the effort that we are engaged in is understood not as a burden, but really as an opportunity for us to reflect favorably on Christ. 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:26.360 Listen to what it says there in verse 6. 00:30:26.540 --> 00:30:30.440 It says, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:44.000 Now, one of the things that I have heard over and over again from you who are employers in our fellowship is that you would really like good employees. 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:44.840 Right? 00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:46.000 Huh? 00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:49.240 I mean, how many of you would like to go into work? 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:50.220 Bill, you're over there. 00:30:50.300 --> 00:30:51.560 You work at Original Mattress. 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.580 And Jeff, where are you? 00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:53.259 You're somewhere out here. 00:30:53.800 --> 00:30:54.780 Jeff is over Bill. 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:57.759 And, you know, and there's Tim. 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:59.180 How many people work under you? 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.740 How many? 00:31:01.560 --> 00:31:01.920 75. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.200 75. 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:07.780 And I could name one person after another who is involved in employment here. 00:31:08.080 --> 00:31:11.340 And I'd say, would you like to have Christian workers? 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:18.800 Now, I've known some Christians that were just as lazy and as no good as the next guy. 00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:19.500 Do you follow that? 00:31:20.800 --> 00:31:22.460 By the way, so that I don't miss anything. 00:31:22.780 --> 00:31:25.100 If you're a Christian student, how should you work? 00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.920 Does anybody have an idea? 00:31:27.300 --> 00:31:27.940 Same, same. 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.300 Right? 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:29.080 Hard, hard, hard. 00:31:29.780 --> 00:31:30.320 Happy, happy. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.259 Make Jesus look good. 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:31.580 Right? 00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:31.639 Fine. 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.839 Here's my point. 00:31:36.379 --> 00:31:40.199 Our work ethic is to be a reflection of who we're serving. 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:43.639 And that means that the Spirit-filled believer is really working for Christ. 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:46.320 It's very interesting. 00:31:46.320 --> 00:31:52.160 One of the things I did earlier in the week as I was studying was I kind of checked in on, so what motivates capitalists? 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:53.960 Do you have any idea what motivates capitalists? 00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:57.280 Huh? 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:59.460 Capitalists? 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:01.000 You know what motivates capitalists to work? 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:04.899 You know, sometimes people think that we're a capitalistic society. 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:06.339 The truth of the matter is we're not. 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:14.899 And I'm not going to get into politics here in any way, shape, or form, but I've got to tell you, socialists work for themselves. 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.900 They just don't admit it. 00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.019 They just don't admit it. 00:32:17.300 --> 00:32:20.780 Capitalists work for themselves, and sometimes they admit it. 00:32:21.580 --> 00:32:25.120 Christians work for, say it with me, Jesus. 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:25.239 Jesus. 00:32:26.439 --> 00:32:27.539 It's really Jesus. 00:32:28.919 --> 00:32:34.979 So if you got a 30% cut as a Christian, should you work as hard the day after as you did the day before? 00:32:35.199 --> 00:32:35.839 What's the answer? 00:32:36.699 --> 00:32:37.479 You bet. 00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:38.479 Why? 00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:40.979 Because who controls your paycheck? 00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:42.639 Does anybody know the answer? 00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:44.059 Jesus does. 00:32:44.699 --> 00:32:44.959 Okay. 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:51.799 And so I want you to understand as you think about it this morning, who we work for is Jesus. 00:32:53.620 --> 00:33:02.019 When the wife is vacuuming in the house, and she's picking up after her husband, who she's in the process of helping learn domestic skills, 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:05.700 she is doing that saying, you know, I'm doing this for Jesus. 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.200 Do you follow that? 00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:08.120 Okay. 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:09.000 Why do we serve? 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:11.759 Let me give you three reasons and close. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:15.539 Number one, because we are driven by his love. 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:17.319 We are driven by his love. 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:20.680 Turn over in your Bible to 2 Corinthians 5, verse 14. 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:25.599 I love this passage in particular. 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:28.359 2 Corinthians 5, verse 14. 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:31.180 We could probably pick up on verse 9 as well and tag it together. 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:35.579 It says, so whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.200 Hey, listen. 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:39.660 Most of you are going to drive to work tomorrow. 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.940 I mean, a lot of you are. 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:43.319 Some of you are going to drive to school. 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:48.819 Others of you are going to get up and eventually have to take care of housework. 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.559 So here's what I want you to do. 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:53.859 Instead of just going, all right, I got to do this. 00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:56.759 Someone's going to be breathing down my back if I don't. 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.519 Here's what I want you to do. 00:33:57.559 --> 00:34:00.140 I want you to say, I'm going to do this for Jesus this morning. 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.259 I'm going to do it. 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:06.500 So when my husband shows up, he looks around and says, man, Jesus must have been here. 00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:06.740 Right? 00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:07.119 Okay? 00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:12.340 And hello, am I right? 00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:13.960 Okay. 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:19.880 2 Corinthians 5, verse 14, it says, for the love of Christ controls us. 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:23.860 Now, that's not saying my love for Christ, but Christ's love for me. 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:29.599 It's the thing that dominates and controls and overwhelms and drives me to be the person that I am supposed to be. 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:36.599 I love the emphasis in the scriptures on the love of Christ, his love for me. 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:43.599 Secondly, I want you to understand that because we are driven by his love, we are interested in seeing that his gospel is adorned. 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.779 Do you know what the word adorned means? 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:50.000 I want you to turn, as we're thinking about that, over to Titus chapter 2. 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:58.779 It's very interesting, as I was studying this week, to find out how often the epistles reference this matter of a work ethic. 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:00.920 Work ethic. 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:04.940 Titus chapter 2, let's look at 9 and 10. 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:10.159 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything. 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:17.360 They are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith. 00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:22.679 Now, here's the part that I would encourage you to kind of have underlined and make it part of your work ethic. 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:28.339 So that in everything, they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior. 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:31.380 Now, what does it mean to adorn? 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:34.819 It means to kind of soup up. 00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:37.279 It means to kind of make extra attractive. 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:40.559 It means to kind of, wow, that's good. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:55.139 You, as a Christian believer filled with the Spirit, are to work in such a fashion that other people watching your work ethic want to know about Jesus. 00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:55.339 Jesus. 00:35:58.139 --> 00:36:00.659 And do you know people pay attention all the time? 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.639 Do you know that? 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:03.219 Do you know that? 00:36:03.279 --> 00:36:04.599 People pay attention all the time. 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.599 My dad's in the hospital. 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:22.239 And after he went in Tuesday night, 17 hours in ER and eventually got onto the floor in the last three or four days or however many have passed, you know, over and over again, 00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:28.460 one of the things that our family keeps on hearing from the nurses and from those who are providing care, 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.239 you guys are different. 00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:30.739 You guys are different. 00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:32.039 You guys are different. 00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:37.300 Well, it's not our gene pool. 00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:40.619 Listen, we're going to die just like the rest of us. 00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:45.880 But when Jesus is in control, it ends up controlling the way you behave. 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:46.360 Isn't that right? 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.759 And all God's people said, you bet. 00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:59.680 And so Paul comes around here and he says, listen, talking about Titus, he says that we are to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. 00:37:00.020 --> 00:37:08.060 So when you go into work tomorrow, wherever you're working, I want you to kind of, before you go in the door, kind of, all right, this is about making Jesus look good. 00:37:08.100 --> 00:37:08.940 Would you do that for me? 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.400 I mean, that's practical. 00:37:11.040 --> 00:37:12.000 That's the way it ought to be. 00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:13.620 This is about making Jesus look good. 00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.640 This is about Jesus looking good. 00:37:16.080 --> 00:37:16.980 This is about him. 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:17.660 This is about him. 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:20.740 And some of you may even want to pray about that on your drive in. 00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.880 Do you follow that? 00:37:25.020 --> 00:37:33.520 Third, I want you to think this morning about the fact that you are to be driven by his return. 00:37:34.640 --> 00:37:35.960 You're to be driven by his return. 00:37:36.560 --> 00:37:40.700 Titus 2, verse 11, it says this, 00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:48.199 For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people, slave and boss, training us. 00:37:48.259 --> 00:37:48.960 That's verse 12. 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:57.599 Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present, messy, disgusting, despicable world. 00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:58.900 Broken, broken, bad. 00:37:58.900 --> 00:38:01.799 Training us to live godly lives. 00:38:01.799 --> 00:38:18.159 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:21.920 You know what it means to be zealous? 00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:24.420 It means to be fired up. 00:38:25.159 --> 00:38:26.559 It means to be all over it. 00:38:26.559 --> 00:38:44.079 And the characteristic of a believer who is passionate about the return of Christ is that because he is driven by his love for Christ and his understanding of the love of Christ, his life reflects the certainty of the coming of the Lord Jesus. 00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:47.960 Even so, he says, come on down now. 00:38:49.279 --> 00:38:54.699 And if you're not coming today, then tomorrow, if I have to work, I want one thing to happen. 00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:56.159 I want you to look good. 00:38:56.559 --> 00:39:00.539 So here's a practical question for you. 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.519 You could ask your unsaved... 00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:06.079 How many of you have unsaved co-workers? 00:39:06.199 --> 00:39:06.980 Wave at me if you do. 00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:08.619 Here's the deal. 00:39:10.099 --> 00:39:13.159 You could ask your unsaved co-workers this question. 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:20.460 Does my work ethic and my output attract you to the gospel? 00:39:21.719 --> 00:39:22.340 Fair enough? 00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:29.680 If you're just as grumpy and complaining about the dingbat you work with as the next person, you ain't special. 00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:33.920 Let me say it again slowly so you understand. 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:42.800 Does my work ethic and my output attract you to the gospel or does it mock the power I confess? 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:43.320 Yes. 00:39:51.320 --> 00:39:52.680 God has a word. 00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:55.160 Do you know what? 00:39:56.120 --> 00:39:58.940 The early church turned the world upside down. 00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:01.780 Mostly slaves. 00:40:01.780 --> 00:40:17.480 Because pagan, unregenerate bosses, masters, brutal, cruel, wicked, saw something happen in slaves' lives and said, 00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:20.420 What is going on, you piece of garbage? 00:40:22.179 --> 00:40:22.559 Oh. 00:40:23.940 --> 00:40:26.960 There was a day when I was absolutely trashed in my sin. 00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:28.260 I had no hope. 00:40:28.579 --> 00:40:29.860 My life was a mess. 00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:33.120 And Jesus saved me. 00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:38.840 And not only that, but my future is better than my past. 00:40:39.960 --> 00:40:49.900 Because when the day comes that I draw my last breath, I will slip from this place of misery into the presence of Christ and to eternity. 00:40:50.200 --> 00:40:53.039 And I will enjoy His presence forever. 00:40:54.480 --> 00:40:56.320 Well, how can I have that? 00:40:56.320 --> 00:40:56.720 Oh. 00:40:58.360 --> 00:40:59.240 It's simple. 00:41:00.640 --> 00:41:01.440 It's simple. 00:41:02.760 --> 00:41:07.740 The Bible says that the truth of the matter is, is that we are all sinners equal. 00:41:09.019 --> 00:41:10.860 Boss and master. 00:41:11.740 --> 00:41:13.519 Slave and servant. 00:41:14.160 --> 00:41:20.140 We all stand justly condemned before a holy God who knows the darkness of our heart. 00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:25.559 And here's what He did. 00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:29.700 He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. 00:41:30.580 --> 00:41:31.920 He died for mine. 00:41:32.900 --> 00:41:34.120 He died for yours. 00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:36.340 And here's the truth. 00:41:36.440 --> 00:41:41.980 When we come with a broken heart and say, Jesus, I am a sinner who justly deserves the judgment of God. 00:41:42.760 --> 00:41:44.539 But I believe you've already paid it. 00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:51.340 And I want you to be my Savior and my master and my Lord. 00:41:51.340 --> 00:41:54.860 And I want the rest of my days to be about you and not about me. 00:41:55.719 --> 00:41:57.219 When the Spirit of God is at work. 00:41:57.320 --> 00:41:57.880 Do you know what happens? 00:41:58.800 --> 00:41:59.820 Here's the amazing thing. 00:42:00.380 --> 00:42:00.900 Are you listening? 00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:01.400 Listen. 00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:07.579 If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation. 00:42:07.900 --> 00:42:09.200 Old things have passed away. 00:42:09.619 --> 00:42:11.740 Behold, all things have become new. 00:42:11.739 --> 00:42:20.019 So, to you who are Christians, I'm looking to hear reports of the fact that you are good workers. 00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:20.299 Amen? 00:42:20.299 --> 00:42:20.459 Amen? 00:42:21.839 --> 00:42:26.899 And to you who are Christians, I'm looking for more people to be sitting in these pews who are saying, 00:42:26.900 --> 00:42:32.260 I don't know what God is doing, but there's something going on in your lives, and I want some of it. 00:42:32.519 --> 00:42:34.559 And so, I want to be where this is happening. 00:42:37.340 --> 00:42:41.139 And you who are here that do not know Christ, today is the day of salvation. 00:42:41.619 --> 00:42:42.780 This is the time. 00:42:44.160 --> 00:42:45.139 Let's close in prayer. 00:42:48.340 --> 00:42:55.160 Holy Father, this morning, we who have been blessed with salvation recognize that our lives are not our own. 00:42:55.159 --> 00:43:00.179 We are slaves to the Lord Jesus, and our business is about making him look good. 00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:06.759 Thank you that that's not something we just do because we arbitrarily or our own ability think it up, 00:43:06.879 --> 00:43:10.699 but we can rely upon the Spirit of God that you put in every believer. 00:43:12.039 --> 00:43:17.219 Let us not be slack in this business of our work ethic, 00:43:18.279 --> 00:43:22.819 and thereby compromise the glory of the cross and the testimony of Christ. 00:43:22.820 --> 00:43:29.039 Let us be workers that cause unbelievers to ask a reason for the hope that is within us. 00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:38.340 And let our lives so reflect the glory and the power of Christ that others are drawn and come to know him. 00:43:39.300 --> 00:43:46.600 Now, work in our fellowship this morning to convict where there is careless indifference to the glory of Christ 00:43:46.599 --> 00:43:48.440 in the life of Christ in the life of believers 00:43:48.440 --> 00:43:53.519 and work to convict where there is a need for salvation. 00:43:53.699 --> 00:43:55.360 We ask this in your precious name. Amen. 00:43:55.980 --> 00:43:57.980 Let's stand together and sing as John leads us. 00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:58.380 Amen. 00:43:58.380 --> 00:43:58.980 Amen. 00:43:58.980 --> 00:43:59.380 Amen. 00:43:59.380 --> 00:43:59.380 00:43:59.380 --> 00:43:59.380 00:43:59.380 --> 00:43:59.380 00:43:59.380 --> 00:43:59.380 00:43:59.380 --> 00:43:59.380 00:43:59.380 --> 00:43:59.380