WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.640 Good morning, Watermark. The scripture reading today comes from 1 Corinthians 12, verses 12-31. 00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:12.140 Please follow along on the screen on your bulletin or in your own Bible. 00:00:12.839 --> 00:00:14.839 Starting in verse 12, we read, 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:26.320 For just as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:37.200 For in one spirit we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and all were made to drink of one spirit. 00:00:38.620 --> 00:00:42.480 For the body does not consist of one member, but of many. 00:00:43.019 --> 00:00:51.700 If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 00:00:51.700 --> 00:01:01.500 If the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 00:01:02.120 --> 00:01:06.060 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:10.480 If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 00:01:11.240 --> 00:01:17.460 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 00:01:17.459 --> 00:01:22.179 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 00:01:22.739 --> 00:01:26.579 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 00:01:27.679 --> 00:01:31.039 The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:35.079 Nor again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 00:01:35.619 --> 00:01:40.419 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. 00:01:40.420 --> 00:01:46.700 And on those parts of the body that we think less honorable, we bestow the greater honor. 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:55.040 And our unrepresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. 00:01:55.939 --> 00:02:01.020 But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it. 00:02:01.320 --> 00:02:07.480 And there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:11.939 If one member suffers, all suffer together. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:16.200 If one member is honored, all rejoice together. 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:21.140 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:34.520 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:36.280 Are all apostles? 00:02:36.760 --> 00:02:38.200 Are all prophets? 00:02:38.640 --> 00:02:39.600 Are all teachers? 00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:41.719 Do all work miracles? 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:44.820 Do all possess gifts of healing? 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:46.780 Do all speak with tongues? 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:51.980 Do all interpret, but earnestly desire the higher gifts? 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:55.600 And I will show you a still more excellent way. 00:02:56.020 --> 00:02:57.180 This is the word of God. 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:02.140 Great. Thank you, Iris. 00:03:03.040 --> 00:03:04.420 Let's keep that passage open. 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:06.340 On your bulletin or in your Bible. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:08.439 Because we'll be looking at it. 00:03:08.600 --> 00:03:13.240 And so this is our second week in this series about spiritual gifts. 00:03:13.860 --> 00:03:16.140 Though actually it's not really about spiritual gifts. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:19.439 As you've heard it, it's actually about the church. 00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:23.680 As we heard earlier, it is the loveliest place on earth, right? 00:03:23.740 --> 00:03:27.160 This welcoming, inclusive, loving community. 00:03:27.160 --> 00:03:27.920 That's the church. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:30.680 Except was that the case in Corinth? 00:03:31.640 --> 00:03:32.520 It wasn't. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:38.300 Maybe it wasn't the problem with spiritual gifts that they didn't know how to use them or didn't have them. 00:03:38.860 --> 00:03:39.659 What was the problem? 00:03:39.780 --> 00:03:41.260 Well, we heard it in the reading, right? 00:03:41.740 --> 00:03:46.060 There were some people who said, well, I don't belong to the body. 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:47.879 I don't belong here. 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:50.640 And there were other people who said, well, that's right. 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:51.840 We don't need you. 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:53.659 I have no need of you. 00:03:53.740 --> 00:03:54.360 Verse 20. 00:03:55.219 --> 00:03:56.280 What was the problem? 00:03:56.840 --> 00:03:59.719 Well, there were some gifts that they really liked. 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:04.840 As you heard last week, speaking in tongues, speaking in this kind of strange language. 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:09.620 That was like the cool, fleshy gift that made you like a really great Christian. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.120 You know, there were people who could do that. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:14.219 And yeah, we are great. 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:17.540 And the guys who couldn't do it, well, we don't need you, right? 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.519 That was basically what was going on. 00:04:21.840 --> 00:04:23.340 So it's not much about gifts. 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:26.840 It's addressing a sinful attitude in the church, right? 00:04:27.340 --> 00:04:30.319 Here are people who don't really understand the church. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.959 They don't understand our hearts and how they go wrong. 00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:37.599 And that is actually what Paul will be speaking about, what I'll be speaking about, 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:40.120 which makes it really relevant, right? 00:04:40.599 --> 00:04:45.680 Because as a church, we are not really in danger of idolizing tongues like the Corinthians are. 00:04:46.539 --> 00:04:47.519 That's a good thing. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:50.459 But, I mean, we all have sinful hearts, right? 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:53.019 There are other things that we put our value in, 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:58.899 that we hang all our identity on the kind of who we are and our gifts. 00:04:58.899 --> 00:05:00.519 In other ways. 00:05:00.939 --> 00:05:03.299 And actually, it will be really great to listen to this passage. 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:05.099 And not just for us as a church. 00:05:05.659 --> 00:05:10.419 Actually, the picture of the church here, I hope you see it's very different from the world. 00:05:10.859 --> 00:05:13.620 Maybe you're here, you're not a Christian, you're looking into Christianity. 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:18.719 I don't know, maybe you're working and you have your team at work. 00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:19.719 What is that like? 00:05:20.039 --> 00:05:23.579 And how is that different from the church as we see it here? 00:05:23.699 --> 00:05:27.239 I think you're going to see that it's hopefully very different, ideally. 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.160 And that is something attractive. 00:05:29.300 --> 00:05:30.220 It's something beautiful. 00:05:30.400 --> 00:05:33.240 The picture we see here of the church as a body. 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:34.600 That's the word you've heard, right? 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:35.920 The body, the body, the body. 00:05:36.780 --> 00:05:37.980 It's a beautiful picture. 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:43.360 And it's so helpful for us to understand who we are and how we are to relate and what we are to do. 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:45.579 So that's what we're going to look at. 00:05:46.280 --> 00:05:49.680 It's not a very long passage, but it's longer than last week. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:54.100 In the first verses, he introduces this idea that we're one body. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:57.959 And then he just riffs off this metaphor for like most of the passage. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.319 And then at the end, okay, so this is you. 00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:02.019 This is the church, the body. 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:03.879 So that's what we're going to do. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:10.740 And so, well, the big point that we all want to, we need to know, right? 00:06:10.980 --> 00:06:13.040 God made the church one body. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:21.300 If you're a church, all the Christians who believe in Jesus, who have the Holy Spirit, we are one body. 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:24.879 You heard the word one all the time, right? 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.020 Verse 12 and 13 again. 00:06:27.780 --> 00:06:34.920 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body. 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:36.520 So it is with Christ. 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:40.320 For in one spirit, we were all baptized into one body. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:45.159 Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and all were made to drink of one spirit. 00:06:45.779 --> 00:06:45.899 Right? 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:46.920 One, one, one. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:48.459 A body is one. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:49.980 It has lots of different parts. 00:06:50.659 --> 00:06:53.019 The hands and the feet and the eyes and the ears. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:54.399 But it is one. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:56.420 And it's the same with the church. 00:06:56.600 --> 00:07:00.039 You know, Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, young and old, men and women. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:01.639 But we are one. 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:03.879 How did we become one? 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:05.159 Well, it mentions here baptism. 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:07.420 Last week, we had a baptism, right? 00:07:07.420 --> 00:07:13.259 And we celebrated that she was dead to the world, and now she was part of our family. 00:07:13.520 --> 00:07:14.840 She became one of us. 00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:17.020 She's one with us, right? 00:07:17.080 --> 00:07:22.060 Of course, it's just a ritual, but that's the spiritual reality that we were celebrating. 00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:27.800 But actually, the underlying thing is that how does a body work? 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:30.160 What holds a body together? 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.380 However, it is your spirit, right? 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:37.800 It's like, this is my body, but what is the thing that animates it? 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.800 What is the thing that makes it work together? 00:07:40.900 --> 00:07:42.000 It's my spirit, right? 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:44.500 The spirit in my body is making it move. 00:07:44.640 --> 00:07:46.100 It's kind of, it's everywhere. 00:07:46.260 --> 00:07:48.520 So where my spirit is, that's where my body is. 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:50.940 That is what guides it and controls it. 00:07:52.080 --> 00:07:54.900 And in a way, well, that is then what the church is, right? 00:07:54.899 --> 00:08:00.139 So in the church, lots of different Christians, but they all have the same spirit. 00:08:00.239 --> 00:08:04.439 The one Holy Spirit of Jesus is everywhere, and so we are like a body. 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:12.060 We are all these different parts that are held together by the spirit of Jesus to become the body of Jesus. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:14.239 How is Jesus working in the world? 00:08:14.419 --> 00:08:15.879 Well, through the church. 00:08:16.019 --> 00:08:17.539 We are in his body here in the world. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:19.939 And that's the whole idea. 00:08:20.039 --> 00:08:23.500 Even though we're all different, we're all united by the spirit. 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:30.220 So this is a slightly different metaphor from other books where you have Christ the head and we are the body. 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:32.679 That talks more about his loving rule over us. 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:36.559 No, this is about us as, you know, different parts of one body. 00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:39.919 And so let's think about the body. 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:41.519 Let's think about the metaphor here. 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:43.960 What is the thing about the body? 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:46.500 Well, it has different parts, right? 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:49.460 A body needs lots of different things. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:52.220 Verse 15 to 17. 00:08:52.220 --> 00:08:58.639 If the foot should say, because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body, that wouldn't make it any less a part of the body. 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:05.200 If the ear should say, because I'm not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that wouldn't make it any less a part of the body. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.300 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:13.759 If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:14.719 What? 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:18.899 Here's the feet and the feet think, okay, the hands. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.459 The hands are so important, right? 00:09:20.479 --> 00:09:22.000 The hands can do so many things. 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:26.979 And your feet, they're just stuck in sandals on the mucky streets and getting dirty. 00:09:27.439 --> 00:09:28.799 You know, the hands are really important. 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:29.199 No. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:31.800 A body needs hands and feet, right? 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:32.520 That's what he says. 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:34.200 And not just hands. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:37.980 You know what's like behind it, right? 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.820 It's a church where, you know, people just speak in tongues and nothing else. 00:09:42.180 --> 00:09:44.140 But that's not how bodies work, right? 00:09:44.780 --> 00:09:45.660 Verse 19. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:48.700 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:51.080 Picture just one giant hand. 00:09:51.640 --> 00:09:52.660 That's your body, right? 00:09:52.680 --> 00:09:53.580 One giant hand. 00:09:54.040 --> 00:09:55.900 It's not very useful, right? 00:09:55.920 --> 00:09:59.400 It can pick up things really well, but it can't actually go anywhere. 00:09:59.800 --> 00:10:02.120 It can't see what it needs to pick up, right? 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:03.300 It doesn't work. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:05.800 A body needs not just a hand. 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:07.180 It needs all these different parts. 00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:09.540 And so what's the equivalent? 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:10.560 Think of a church. 00:10:10.660 --> 00:10:13.900 And the only thing they do is speak in this strange language, right? 00:10:13.900 --> 00:10:19.640 There's no preacher, no music, no sound team, no greeting, no welcoming, nothing. 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:21.900 Just a bunch of people speaking in a strange language. 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:24.199 That's not a church, right? 00:10:24.459 --> 00:10:26.000 So that's what Paul says. 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:28.879 Look, a body has all these different parts. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.519 And that is not an accident. 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:33.019 It's God's design. 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:34.519 Verse 18. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:40.500 As it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he chose. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:48.039 God gave you two feet and two hands and two ears and two eyes, one nose, two nostrils, all those things. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.559 God designed you. 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:51.859 He made you exactly with what you needed. 00:10:52.839 --> 00:10:54.779 And that is the church. 00:10:54.919 --> 00:11:02.899 He made you exactly, he made watermark exactly as he needs watermark to be with the different gifts, different people. 00:11:03.839 --> 00:11:05.839 Why do we need so many different people? 00:11:06.459 --> 00:11:08.819 Well, because we're interdependent, right? 00:11:08.859 --> 00:11:10.239 We're interdependent parts. 00:11:10.479 --> 00:11:12.279 There's people, verse 21. 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:15.559 One, the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you. 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:17.500 Nor again the head to the feet. 00:11:17.579 --> 00:11:18.860 I have no need of you. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:19.720 Right? 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:21.879 You need all the different parts of your body. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:23.159 Right? 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:26.480 It can't, we can't do without each other. 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:31.539 Even the things that we might think we, that are, that don't look very good. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:32.459 Verse 22. 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:36.840 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. 00:11:37.660 --> 00:11:41.639 And on those parts of the body that we think less honorable, we bestow the greater honor. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:44.960 And we have some very presentable and good looking parts. 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:50.000 We have other parts that no matter how hot it gets in Hong Kong, we always keep covered. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.480 Because they don't look very good. 00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:53.500 But they're very essential, right? 00:11:53.560 --> 00:11:55.259 Your body can't work without them. 00:11:56.059 --> 00:11:58.519 Or even worse, you know, my intestines. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:00.980 You know, no one wants to see my intestines. 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:02.299 I don't want to see my intestines. 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:04.399 They are really important, right? 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:05.759 I couldn't live without them. 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:07.340 But that's the idea. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:09.939 You know, in the church, we're all needed. 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:13.139 And there might be some people who are not very presentable, right? 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:16.779 If you put them here on stage, they're not a public speaker. 00:12:16.939 --> 00:12:17.879 It would be embarrassing. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:23.299 And maybe they have like this really important role behind the scenes, right? 00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:24.919 They're really indispensable in the church. 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:26.699 Even though it's not up here. 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.019 That's what the body is like. 00:12:29.099 --> 00:12:30.039 We're indispensable. 00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:33.079 Everyone needs each other, right? 00:12:33.339 --> 00:12:34.699 How can my body survive? 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:37.719 You know, I need my feet to walk to the fridge. 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:39.819 And I need my hands to open the fridge. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:42.039 And I need my eyes to see where the food is. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:43.259 And I need to take it. 00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:44.539 And I need my mouth to open. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:47.759 And, you know, it needs to go to my stomach to digest it. 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.899 And then my blood vessels. 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:51.039 That's how a body works. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:55.019 It only works if every part does its job, right? 00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:58.519 So how can we do our job as a human being? 00:12:58.839 --> 00:13:00.639 Well, if our whole body works together. 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:02.980 Right now, my hands are gesturing. 00:13:03.219 --> 00:13:04.819 My feet are walking to my Bible. 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:06.319 My mouth is talking. 00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:08.500 My brain is trying to remember what I wanted to say. 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:10.919 You know, that's how bodies work. 00:13:11.459 --> 00:13:12.679 That's how the church works. 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:14.199 That's God's design. 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:16.900 If we all work together. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.700 And so, well, if that is who we really are. 00:13:20.780 --> 00:13:23.040 If that is what your body is like. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.980 You need caring parts. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.640 Verse 25. 00:13:27.420 --> 00:13:28.420 What does God want? 00:13:28.540 --> 00:13:30.420 That there may be no division in the body. 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:33.800 But that the members may have the same care for one another. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:36.759 If one member suffers, all suffer together. 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:39.759 If one member is honored, all rejoice together. 00:13:40.900 --> 00:13:41.140 Right? 00:13:41.300 --> 00:13:42.840 You know, your body is one thing. 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:45.899 If my feet get hurt and I need to go to hospital. 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:48.139 It's not just my feet that end up in hospital. 00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:50.000 And the rest of my body can still go to work. 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:50.519 Right? 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:52.000 My whole body ends up in hospital. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.060 Because we're one. 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.100 We work together. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:57.000 If my feet decide to take a day off. 00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.860 My body doesn't work. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.879 And we all need to do our part. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:02.820 And so we need to care for each other. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:06.120 And my eyes look out that I don't stomp my toes. 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:07.320 And if I do stomp my toes. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:09.080 My hands will try and rub it. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:09.320 Right? 00:14:09.900 --> 00:14:12.519 You know, it's a very simple metaphor that Paul uses. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:14.379 But I hope you can see the power. 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:16.500 We are one body. 00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:19.639 And bodies have all these different parts that need each other. 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.340 And that therefore care for each other. 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:26.519 And work together to do what it's supposed to do. 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:28.419 To fulfill its mission. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:33.179 And so Paul comes back to the church. 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:34.579 That is you. 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:35.759 Verse 27. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.000 Now you are the body of Christ. 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:40.259 And individually members of it. 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:43.139 And God has appointed in the church. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:43.919 First apostles. 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:44.899 Second prophets. 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:45.720 Third teachers. 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.539 Then miracles. 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:47.679 Then gifts of healing. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:48.600 Helping. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:49.919 Administrating. 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:51.179 Various kind of tongues. 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:53.139 We are all different. 00:14:53.319 --> 00:14:55.360 We have all these different roles and gifts. 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:56.779 And that's great. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.819 That is God's design. 00:14:57.820 --> 00:15:00.640 Now you may wonder why it says. 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:01.460 You know. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:03.040 First apostles. 00:15:03.260 --> 00:15:04.220 And second prophets. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.460 Doesn't he just say that. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.860 We need everything. 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:10.040 I think that's because the apostles and prophets. 00:15:10.280 --> 00:15:10.820 They are the. 00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:13.540 They're the foundation of the church. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:15.460 He says that in some other places. 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.680 Like here in Ephesians. 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.760 And he talks about the gospel. 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.939 The mystery of Christ. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:24.740 Which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations. 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:29.659 And it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit. 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:32.019 When Jesus came. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:34.059 The truth about the gospel. 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:34.259 Yeah. 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.899 He revealed it to his apostles. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.519 And some other people. 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.279 By the spirit. 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:40.460 They're the guys who wrote the New Testament. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:42.360 They're like the foundation. 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:44.980 That's why they are mentioned like first and second. 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:46.379 Or later. 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:46.919 The church. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.019 The household of God. 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:50.919 But built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. 00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:52.259 Christ himself. 00:15:52.579 --> 00:15:53.819 Being the cornerstone. 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:55.379 And that's why. 00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:56.600 They're more foundational. 00:15:56.819 --> 00:15:58.480 It's not like they're superior Christians. 00:15:59.079 --> 00:15:59.539 They're just. 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:01.179 They have this foundational role. 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:02.179 But. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:03.159 It's all different. 00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:03.500 And. 00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:04.120 You know. 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:05.259 Not everyone is the same. 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:06.679 Verse 29. 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.720 Are all apostles? 00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:08.699 Well no. 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.819 Are all the prophets? 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:10.220 No. 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.019 Are all teachers? 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:11.779 No. 00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:13.000 Do all work miracles? 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:13.480 No. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.439 Do all possess gifts of healing? 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:15.860 No. 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:16.980 Do all speak with tongues? 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:17.639 No. 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.000 No. 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.259 Not everyone. 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.539 Has the same gift. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.659 We all are different. 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:25.199 There's not a kind of gift that everyone needs to have. 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:26.960 That is the church. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.620 And that's God's perfect design. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.659 So just be yourself. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:31.799 Just care for each other. 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.779 As you are. 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:34.120 With the gifts God has given you. 00:16:34.199 --> 00:16:34.500 That's. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.399 What he's saying. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.439 Work together as you are. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.939 We're all different. 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:39.860 We're not all the same. 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:43.720 Now before I apply that. 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.259 When I say that. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.200 Spiritual gifts. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.720 Sometimes this kind of idea that well. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.259 You know. 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.919 Not everyone does this. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.060 Gets confused with some other things. 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:55.279 So I just want to address two little misunderstandings. 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:56.820 Because yeah. 00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:59.259 We think of gifts as a kind of special ability. 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:01.139 And if I have that ability. 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.300 I need to use it. 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.979 But if I don't have it. 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:04.299 I. 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.879 Well I shouldn't use it. 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:06.440 Right. 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.460 I can't use it. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:07.960 Like. 00:17:08.399 --> 00:17:08.839 Again. 00:17:08.919 --> 00:17:09.659 Speaking in tongues. 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.759 If you can speak in tongues. 00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:11.059 Great. 00:17:11.159 --> 00:17:12.180 If you can't speak in tongues. 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:13.539 It's not expected of you. 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:16.779 But that is not the same as. 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:18.339 Christian activity. 00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:19.599 Right. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.740 Even though some people are gifted. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.220 There are some things we all should do. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.019 Right. 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:25.980 Hospitality. 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:28.039 There is a gift of hospitality. 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.579 Some people are great at hospitality. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.839 But the Bible says. 00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.980 All Christians should be hospitable. 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:33.519 Right. 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.639 You can't really say. 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:35.619 Well I'm an introvert. 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:37.240 Therefore I don't need to welcome people. 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:39.220 Or evangelism. 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:41.119 Some people are a great evangelist. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:44.879 Just because you maybe are not a great evangelist. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.720 Doesn't mean that the Bible doesn't say. 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:48.680 All Christians should share the gospel. 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:49.839 Right. 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:50.399 So. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.319 Don't say. 00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.279 Well it's not my gift. 00:17:52.419 --> 00:17:52.799 Therefore. 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.579 I don't need to do this. 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:56.299 I don't need to try and share the gospel. 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:56.819 Just. 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:59.259 Do it as you are though. 00:17:59.559 --> 00:17:59.700 Right. 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.799 Some people are great at talking to strangers. 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.460 Maybe you're not. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.859 But you can talk to people you know. 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.079 Maybe. 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:05.700 You know. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:07.700 Some people are great at answering questions. 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.119 Maybe you can't do that. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.519 You can still bring people to church. 00:18:10.639 --> 00:18:10.799 Right. 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:11.559 You know. 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.859 But Christian activity is still. 00:18:14.419 --> 00:18:15.220 It's for all. 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.599 And also. 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:17.599 Just to say. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.699 The fruit of the spirit. 00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:20.699 Is for all. 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:22.559 This is about the gifts of the spirit. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.859 But there's also the fruit of the spirit. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.719 And that's for all. 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:25.919 Right. 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:27.819 All Christians are supposed to grow. 00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:28.219 In. 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:28.719 You know. 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:29.319 Faith. 00:18:29.719 --> 00:18:30.299 And love. 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.219 And holiness. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.099 And that's not a gift. 00:18:33.219 --> 00:18:33.699 It's not kind of. 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:33.919 Well yeah. 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.879 That person is holy. 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.719 But I'm not holy. 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:36.740 No. 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:39.120 So you see a great music leader. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:39.599 Okay. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.640 I will never be a music leader. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.319 And that's fine. 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.359 But you see a mature Christian. 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:45.779 Who really trusts God. 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.500 And who really. 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.759 Walks with Christ. 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.660 You know. 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:50.559 You should aspire to be like that person. 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.039 That's a good thing. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:52.359 And. 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.680 And you get that by. 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:53.980 You know. 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.779 Reading the words. 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.900 And walking with Christ. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:57.440 And going through suffering. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:59.640 That's the fruit of the spirit. 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.900 Which is not the gifts of the spirit. 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.620 But. 00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:04.840 Coming back to gifts. 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.059 Coming back to what we've said. 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:06.320 Yeah. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.080 This is the body. 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.360 And so. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.820 What are we supposed to do? 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.080 Well. 00:19:10.580 --> 00:19:11.460 A few applications. 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:11.900 I guess. 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.039 The ones in the passage. 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.660 Don't. 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.059 First. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.580 Don't feel inferior. 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:19.080 Don't feel inferior. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:19.500 That's. 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:19.759 Oh. 00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:21.400 I don't have those gifts. 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:22.920 I'm nothing. 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:24.320 I don't really belong here. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:26.160 I've got nothing to do here. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:28.960 I'm not a very good Christian. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:30.200 Because I'm not like this. 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.500 I'm an introvert. 00:19:31.560 --> 00:19:32.540 I can't talk to people. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.840 I'm not good at music. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:34.940 No. 00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:35.540 Right. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.460 We're all different. 00:19:36.560 --> 00:19:37.180 We're all needed. 00:19:37.820 --> 00:19:39.220 God made each one of you. 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:41.259 Exactly as he wanted to make you. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.320 Your personality. 00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:45.380 He gave you the gifts. 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.279 Exactly the gifts. 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:48.420 That he thought Watermark needed. 00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:50.259 And he brought you here to Watermark. 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.620 To play your part. 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.360 You're not inferior. 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.720 To anyone. 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.620 You. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.620 The church needs you. 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.980 You may not think so. 00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.920 But the church needs you. 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.799 Something that you have to contribute. 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.380 And this idea that. 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:03.960 Actually. 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.700 You're just an appendix. 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:07.259 It's. 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.460 It's a lie. 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.039 It's not true. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:11.559 And that there are some churches like that. 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.579 Sometimes. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.559 Especially with some of these miraculous gifts. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.100 That you know. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.279 If you don't speak in tongues. 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:17.720 Then well. 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:19.180 You're your second class Christians. 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.059 Or something like that. 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:22.100 If you don't have miraculous things. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:22.960 Again. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.460 That's wrong. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:23.660 Right. 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.880 The passage here clearly says. 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:26.240 Does everyone speak in tongues? 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:26.740 No. 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.279 It's not. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.000 I mean. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.400 Some churches. 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:30.019 It's even worse. 00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:31.500 That you're not even a Christian. 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.660 If you don't speak in tongues. 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:33.819 I don't know. 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:35.400 Maybe you go to another church. 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:35.980 You hear that. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.019 That's not a. 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.500 You know. 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.059 That's wrong. 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:38.319 Right. 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.779 That Christians. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.539 That all Christians. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.500 Have to speak in tongues. 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:43.619 We all have the spirit. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.680 When we believe. 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:46.539 Ephesians 1.13. 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.799 In him you also. 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:49.240 When you heard the word of truth. 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.980 The gospel of your salvation. 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.079 And believed in him. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:54.059 Were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:54.819 Or. 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.880 If you believe in Jesus. 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:56.980 You have the Holy Spirit. 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.279 Whether you speak in tongues or not. 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.299 Very clear. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:00.539 But. 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:02.039 Yeah. 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.559 Don't feel inferior. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.359 Don't feel. 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.740 You don't belong. 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:07.460 You have something to contribute. 00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:09.259 Otherwise. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:09.680 Yeah. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:11.340 Can do a lot of damage. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.820 It kind of stops you doing things. 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.560 The flip side of course. 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:16.200 Don't feel superior. 00:21:16.560 --> 00:21:16.720 Right. 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.299 Don't feel that. 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:18.640 Okay. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.680 Well I can do this. 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:21.160 And I'm so great. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.340 And Watermark is so. 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.759 Blessed to have me. 00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:24.539 Right. 00:21:24.560 --> 00:21:25.420 I don't know what it is. 00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:26.720 For you. 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.340 That's a good question. 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:29.519 Right. 00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:30.759 What is it here at Watermark? 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.460 What is the. 00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.880 What are the gifts we look up to? 00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:35.100 It's not speaking in tongues. 00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:35.620 I don't know. 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.560 Is it music? 00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:37.240 Yeah. 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.720 Because we have such a great music team. 00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.259 Is it. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.840 CG leaders? 00:21:41.320 --> 00:21:42.799 Is it people who teach the Bible? 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.160 Is it. 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:45.240 Who do you really aspire to be? 00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:45.580 And not. 00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.320 Not because they were. 00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.440 Mature Christian. 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.700 But because of their gifts. 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.259 It's a good question. 00:21:50.340 --> 00:21:50.480 Right. 00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:51.720 But. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.440 Yeah. 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.120 You don't need to. 00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:54.140 You're not superior. 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.140 Right. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:57.060 You're no more important than anyone else. 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:58.500 Maybe you have a more public role. 00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.880 Maybe you have a more. 00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:00.920 Visible. 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:01.720 Role. 00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:04.820 I love these kind of movies. 00:22:04.820 --> 00:22:05.200 And yeah. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.660 There's. 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.539 Yesterday. 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.680 We watched a Marvel movie. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:08.460 And of course. 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:10.159 There's the kind of the big names at the start. 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:10.399 Right. 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:11.259 Like Chris Evans. 00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:12.240 And Scarlett Johansson. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.200 But then you have this. 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:15.159 Long list of all the. 00:22:15.639 --> 00:22:17.480 Thousands of people who worked on this movie. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.420 And without them. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.619 The movie wouldn't have happened. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.599 They're all important. 00:22:21.399 --> 00:22:22.519 Even though some are more public. 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:22.759 Right. 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:24.019 Don't feel superior. 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.619 After all. 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.220 One thing to remember. 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.119 They are gifts. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.240 What is the thing about a gift? 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.819 Is that. 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.720 You didn't do it yourself. 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:35.019 It was given to you. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:37.039 And we often get that wrong. 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.500 We say. 00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.000 Oh. 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.599 This person is really gifted. 00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:40.980 And we think. 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:41.339 Oh. 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.620 That person is really amazing. 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.819 But they are gifts. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.079 It's not something with them. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:46.859 Maybe. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.460 We think. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:47.640 Oh. 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.680 Kevin is so gifted. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:49.720 And you think. 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.279 Kevin is amazing. 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:50.839 He's not. 00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.319 It means. 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:56.000 God was extremely generous to Kevin. 00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:56.400 Right. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.559 That is what we should think. 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:57.920 Kevin. 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.819 Gifted means. 00:22:58.819 --> 00:23:00.960 God has been so generous to this person. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:01.679 Right. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.740 We get that wrong. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.919 Gifted is their gift. 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.799 So you can't be proud of them. 00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:07.879 You can't feel superior. 00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:09.980 Just because you have a certain gift. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:11.419 Because it's a gift. 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:11.899 Right. 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.799 Does it make sense? 00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:14.819 Kevin is great. 00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:15.599 But you know what. 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:19.240 That's the thing. 00:23:20.159 --> 00:23:20.799 Their gifts. 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:22.539 Don't feel superior. 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:23.700 And. 00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:26.220 Those two come together in. 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.019 Don't compete. 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.579 Because. 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:30.279 In Corinth. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.799 I think that's what people were doing. 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.359 They. 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:33.980 You know. 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.439 Because tongues is the big thing. 00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:37.819 That's almost what people cared about. 00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:38.039 Right. 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:39.179 If I don't speak in tongues. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.639 The only thing I care about. 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.480 Is the next course. 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.480 On how to speak in tongues. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.019 And the people. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.119 Who do speak in tongues. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.279 Well. 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.139 How can I do it better. 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:46.939 So that I stay. 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.319 Kind of number one in the church. 00:23:48.439 --> 00:23:49.579 And those kind of things. 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:49.799 Right. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:53.019 I think that's from verse 31. 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.480 Verse 41. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.559 Is a little bit weird. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:56.139 I don't know if. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.159 What you follow this verse. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.240 Verse 31. 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:58.879 Yeah. 00:23:58.899 --> 00:23:59.639 After all this. 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:01.180 Does everyone have this gift? 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:01.539 No. 00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.500 Does everyone have this gift? 00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:02.940 No. 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:06.140 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.320 And it seems a bit contradictory. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:08.720 Right. 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.759 If he just said that. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.279 You know. 00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:10.500 Hey. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.299 We all have gifts. 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.160 And we're all different. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.700 And that is exactly God's design. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.039 But. 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.640 Now. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.420 We need to. 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:18.039 Desire the higher gifts. 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.720 Especially because. 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:21.100 As we will see next week. 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:22.759 He hasn't finished rebuking them yet. 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:23.940 Well. 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:25.380 The thing about verse 31. 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:25.759 Is that. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.400 It can be. 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.360 It's a bit technical. 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.600 But it can be translated. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.620 In two different ways. 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.620 And we can't really see. 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:32.440 What's when it is. 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:34.080 It can be a command. 00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:34.799 Right. 00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:37.039 Desire the higher gifts. 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.680 It can also just be a statement. 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:39.799 So. 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.460 Here is the. 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.019 The. 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:41.860 The LSB. 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:45.559 But you earnestly desire the greater gifts. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.080 Yeah. 00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.940 Not everyone has these gifts. 00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:49.759 But you desire the greater gifts. 00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:50.440 Yeah. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.920 Or God. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:52.100 Another translation. 00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:53.900 You only want the better gifts. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.059 Or the message. 00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:58.420 Yet some of you keep competing for so-called important parts. 00:24:59.320 --> 00:25:00.940 And I think that's more. 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.019 Or. 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.900 I think that's the correct one. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.140 Right. 00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:03.920 But he's telling them. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.279 Look. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:07.000 Why are you competing for the higher gifts? 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:09.000 Why is your focus on just. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.480 These gifts. 00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:10.799 Just. 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.559 It's not. 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.779 Gifts are not important. 00:25:14.080 --> 00:25:14.120 The. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.600 Eh. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:15.960 No. 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:17.420 Later he'll talk about. 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:17.700 Okay. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:19.340 Let's talk about prophecy and tongues. 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.039 But for now. 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:20.819 You know. 00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:23.220 Don't fight over gifts. 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:23.660 Rather. 00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:24.940 Well the opposite. 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:25.240 Right. 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:27.039 Serve with the gifts you have. 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.840 Serve the body. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.279 With the gifts you have. 00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:30.620 God gave you certain gifts. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.519 He brought you here. 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.539 He wants you to use them. 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.480 He wants you to. 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:35.880 If you're a foot. 00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:36.819 Be a foot. 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.579 If you're a hand. 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.120 Be a hand. 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:38.940 Right. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.759 That's the idea. 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:42.039 And not for yourselves. 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.160 For the body. 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.900 Because we need each other. 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:45.480 Right. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.440 For us. 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.319 For watermark. 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.680 For each other. 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.220 If we each do our part. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:50.900 For each other. 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.119 For watermark. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.839 For the church. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.640 For Christ. 00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.379 That's what we are doing. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:55.940 What we're doing. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:56.960 So. 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.640 Ask yourself. 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:58.960 You know. 00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.819 Who am I? 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.980 What can I do? 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.599 What gifts do I have? 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.319 Who has God made me? 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.339 And how can I use that. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:09.039 To benefit the church? 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.720 Maybe it's certain skills. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.980 Maybe it's just your personality. 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:16.779 Maybe it is your experience. 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.680 That you can share. 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:20.119 There's all kinds of things about you. 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:22.359 That God wants you to use here. 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.619 For each other. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.879 That we. 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:26.640 You know. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.579 Not just on Sundays. 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:30.220 Usually we think of teams. 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.779 But just the community. 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.059 Right. 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.720 The relationships. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:33.940 The. 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.819 What's it? 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.240 The. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.740 Your CG. 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:39.440 Right. 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.920 Or just one to one. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:41.500 With people. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.339 There's so many ways. 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.420 That we can serve each other. 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.759 And it's not just on Sundays. 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.000 But. 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:46.980 That's basically. 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.240 I think. 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.279 What Paul wants. 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:49.599 Don't worry about other gifts. 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.480 You know. 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.539 God made you. 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.220 This person. 00:26:52.619 --> 00:26:53.900 How can you be a blessing. 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.259 To the church. 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.700 And if we all think like that. 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.299 What an amazing church. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:58.740 Would we be. 00:26:58.819 --> 00:26:58.980 Right. 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.299 If we're not consumers. 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.220 But we come here. 00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.400 With this mindset. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:02.839 That hey. 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.240 God. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:05.140 Has made me a certain person. 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.460 To be a blessing. 00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:07.500 And so. 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.379 That's what I'm going to do. 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:12.740 And as we finish. 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.260 Don't you think. 00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:15.980 That's a really beautiful vision. 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.560 Wouldn't that really be. 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:19.020 The loveliest place on earth. 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:19.440 Right. 00:27:19.760 --> 00:27:20.660 It's a community. 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.600 Where we all. 00:27:22.320 --> 00:27:22.760 Belong. 00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.880 Where there's no jealousy. 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.640 And no inferiority. 00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:26.320 Right. 00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:26.820 No. 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:27.960 No pride. 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:28.920 Just marked by. 00:27:29.020 --> 00:27:29.520 By love. 00:27:30.060 --> 00:27:30.300 I mean. 00:27:30.300 --> 00:27:31.080 Isn't that so different. 00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:31.880 From your workplace. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.420 I mean. 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.420 The thing about your workplace. 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.759 Is that it's not about grace. 00:27:36.840 --> 00:27:37.019 Right. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.200 You were hired. 00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:39.320 Because of your skills. 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.840 And you should use those skills. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.360 And otherwise. 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.860 They don't need you anymore. 00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.500 That's true. 00:27:44.560 --> 00:27:44.740 Right. 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.940 And you need to perform. 00:27:46.060 --> 00:27:47.060 And the team needs to do well. 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:47.560 Otherwise. 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.279 They'll get rid of you. 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:49.680 Right. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.240 I was a management consultant. 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:51.740 And yeah. 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.080 It was. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.660 Up or out. 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.640 That was basically it. 00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:54.860 Right. 00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:57.259 But the church is different. 00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:58.380 I mean. 00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:58.779 Ultimately. 00:27:58.779 --> 00:28:00.000 This is grace. 00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:00.299 Right. 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:02.240 You are not in church. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.000 Because of your gifts. 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.160 You are in church. 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:06.420 Because Jesus loved you. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.539 And died for you. 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.799 And gave you his spirit. 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.359 To bring you here. 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.000 Right. 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.839 You're not loved. 00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:12.779 Because of your gifts. 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:13.799 You have gifts. 00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.680 Because you are loved. 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.720 That is. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.480 The whole wrong way around. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.099 The whole. 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.899 The other way around. 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.420 Right. 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.359 Than the world. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:22.460 There's no up or out. 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:24.339 We are here by grace. 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.359 We came in by grace. 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.559 We stay in by grace. 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:28.579 And we don't need to worry. 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:30.059 We can just serve. 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.859 It makes you free. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.319 Isn't it? 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.440 If I need to perform. 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:37.139 If I need to have certain gifts. 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.599 And use those gifts. 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:40.379 To be useful here. 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.259 Otherwise I'm out. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.079 I'm not free. 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.700 I'm not free to be who I am. 00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:46.619 I'm not free to serve with what I have. 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:46.960 I. 00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:48.059 Oh. 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:51.480 I have to measure up to these expectations. 00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.779 That's the world. 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:54.339 And here. 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:54.759 No. 00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:55.899 We are free. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.139 The gospel sets us free. 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.480 We are free to use the gifts. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:29:00.579 We have free to be the people. 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:02.900 We are who God made us to be. 00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:05.680 And just to play our part here in the church. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:08.440 Isn't that a beautiful vision? 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:08.680 Right. 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:10.480 It's not that we always get it right. 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.559 We are still sinners. 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.680 Sadly. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.400 We often get it wrong. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.579 In Corinth they got it wrong. 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.599 I'm sure we get it wrong. 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:18.599 You've been in churches where they got it wrong. 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:20.599 But the ideal. 00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:21.759 The picture here. 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.299 It's beautiful. 00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.439 Maybe especially you're here. 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.199 You're not a Christian. 00:29:27.219 --> 00:29:28.219 You feel that. 00:29:28.439 --> 00:29:28.599 Right. 00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:30.839 You know about your life in the world. 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.639 That is how you live. 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:34.000 You need to perform. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.859 You need to. 00:29:35.699 --> 00:29:36.980 If you don't measure up. 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:37.659 You are out. 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.799 And it's tiring you out. 00:29:39.939 --> 00:29:40.199 Because. 00:29:41.199 --> 00:29:42.419 We can't live like that. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:42.619 Right. 00:29:42.739 --> 00:29:44.039 We fail. 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.119 We struggle. 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.859 It's a broken world. 00:29:46.939 --> 00:29:48.039 That messes everything up. 00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:50.259 Isn't it then so wonderful. 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.619 This picture here. 00:29:51.719 --> 00:29:53.119 Of a community of grace. 00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:55.859 Where God just made you the person you are. 00:29:56.199 --> 00:29:57.599 And that's who he wants you to be. 00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:59.639 Rather than what the world expects of you. 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:01.079 Can I encourage you. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.959 To explore the Christian faith. 00:30:02.959 --> 00:30:04.719 If that sounds attractive to you. 00:30:05.159 --> 00:30:06.619 To look at Jesus and his love. 00:30:06.719 --> 00:30:08.359 And how that changes everything. 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.759 As we heard before. 00:30:10.739 --> 00:30:11.879 But for us Christians. 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:12.239 Yeah. 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:14.239 Those of us who are Christians. 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.959 Let's rejoice in the gospel. 00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:17.279 Let's rejoice in this grace. 00:30:17.639 --> 00:30:19.339 Just rejoice in who God made you. 00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:20.319 And how he's gifted you. 00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:22.419 And as we all play our part. 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:24.339 As we go into Hong Kong this week. 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:27.419 As we meet here in Ebenezer every week. 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:30.319 If we are the body of Christ. 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.439 And do this. 00:30:31.699 --> 00:30:34.059 What a wonderful thing that would be. 00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:36.059 For the glory of God. 00:30:36.739 --> 00:30:38.919 So why don't we pray together. 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.320 Father. 00:30:39.320 --> 00:30:39.360 Father. 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:39.400 Father. 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:53.140 Thank you so much. 00:30:53.820 --> 00:30:55.019 For the grace of Jesus. 00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:55.960 Thank you. 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.460 That we are one body. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:59.100 Not because of anything we've done. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.320 But just out of love. 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:03.460 Help us to know that. 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.599 To feel free. 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.339 To be free. 00:31:05.439 --> 00:31:06.279 To just serve. 00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:08.579 To love with Jesus' love. 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:10.839 To be who we are. 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:12.720 Think about our personalities. 00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:13.419 Our gifts. 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:15.060 What we have. 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:15.860 What we can do. 00:31:16.300 --> 00:31:17.200 And to just serve. 00:31:17.320 --> 00:31:18.220 To play our parts. 00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:20.640 In the body that you've created. 00:31:21.060 --> 00:31:22.640 In your wisdom. 00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:24.039 In your grace. 00:31:24.820 --> 00:31:25.060 Father. 00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:26.019 We often get this wrong. 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:26.920 We know. 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.759 Our hearts are still sinful. 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:30.480 We still try to find our value. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.700 Our identity. 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.660 And the things we do. 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.820 Even here in church. 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:36.360 Show us Jesus. 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.120 Help us to. 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.779 Keep hold of him. 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:40.120 So that we can just. 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:40.960 Serve. 00:31:41.580 --> 00:31:41.740 Yeah. 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.859 As the people we are. 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:45.079 As the people you've made us. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:46.799 And who you are continuing to make us. 00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:47.660 As you grow us. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.559 As you work in us by your spirit. 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.539 As you grow us through your words. 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.920 As we walk with you. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.960 As we abide in Christ. 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:55.519 In Jesus name. 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.339 Amen.