WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.040 Last week we did 3-8, and today we're looking at 9-13. 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:19.600 But just by way of review, just understand that like in the previous chapters, Paul has been working out our salvation, 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:25.719 talking about what it is that God has done for us, that He's saved us from our plight and our sin. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:33.219 He has elected us. He has justified us, made us right in His sight, regenerated us. 00:00:33.879 --> 00:00:41.799 And then now, in these latter chapters, as in all His letters, He starts to work out the practical implications of what that looks like in daily life. 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:45.140 Like, how do we respond to such a great salvation? 00:00:45.140 --> 00:00:59.299 And it means that though truth, knowledge, and doctrine are vital, like we must have really strong, robust theology, we must have strong, sound doctrine. 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:01.460 It is so important. 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:08.859 But it's also insufficient without the Holy Spirit's empowerment and application to the inward man. 00:01:08.859 --> 00:01:12.799 Our learning must translate into living. 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:20.400 And that's what Paul is focusing on in chapter 12, 13, 14, 15, throughout the rest of the book. 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:26.180 And so, working out the practical implications in everyday life about what the gospel looks like. 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:29.960 And so, we will begin over as a recap. 00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:35.079 We'll just start in verse 1. We'll read down to verse 13. 00:01:35.079 --> 00:02:05.060 He says, 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:35.079 00:02:35.080 --> 00:03:05.060 Let us use them. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:07.060 Let us pray together. 00:03:07.060 --> 00:03:32.319 Let us pray together. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:34.900 Lord, we offer up this time to you. 00:03:35.060 --> 00:03:48.799 I pray you would have your way with us, that your word would fall where it's supposed to, that your spirit would apply it to our hearts, that we would walk away changed by what you have to say today. 00:03:49.380 --> 00:03:58.480 Let us help me be faithful to the text and to lift up the name of Jesus and seek to build up today in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:09.560 All right. So today, if you were here last week, you need to, if you weren't, you should go back and listen to the message. 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:13.899 Because if you remember, for sake of time, I kind of dropped off a little bit. 00:04:14.459 --> 00:04:18.139 That might not happen today because that means that I have more to do this Sunday. 00:04:18.539 --> 00:04:22.980 And I'm not trying to stretch things out for no reason. 00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:33.640 But we were looking at the gifts that are mentioned in the verses that are before, starting in verse six through eight. 00:04:34.200 --> 00:04:38.819 And we went through a list of them last week, but I'm just going to finish them this week. 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:41.319 And then we're going to dive into our text today. 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:44.060 But if you missed it last week, really quickly. 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:54.240 A spiritual gift is an ability given and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be used in any ministry of the church. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:59.220 For its equipping and strengthening until Christ returns. 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:06.399 And there are several places in the New Testament, at least four places where these gifts are mentioned and renamed. 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:13.439 But gifts are given to bring glory to God through his church to equip and build up the church. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:20.199 To strengthen unity and to include all believers in the work of the Lord. 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:23.100 So that's some of the reasons. 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:27.000 But we left off at leadership last week. 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:30.199 So we'll just pick up with the, he mentions leadership. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:36.639 And the gift of leadership is those who have the ability to lead the body, 00:05:36.779 --> 00:05:41.279 to direct members, to accomplish goals and purposes of the church, 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:48.759 to motivate people to work together towards God's goals, God's intended purposes. 00:05:49.459 --> 00:05:52.839 You see a biblical example of someone like that in Nehemiah. 00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:55.239 He's a great example of that. 00:05:56.439 --> 00:06:01.159 Characteristics of that is they tend to focus on long-term goals and purposes of the church 00:06:01.159 --> 00:06:04.139 and accordance with God's will. 00:06:04.139 --> 00:06:07.060 So it's different than just like earthly leadership. 00:06:07.219 --> 00:06:10.740 I've known really great leaders in the world who are terrible leaders in the church. 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:12.899 So don't equivalent like the two. 00:06:13.979 --> 00:06:20.579 And they break down things into small, achievable tasks and coordinate people to carry out things. 00:06:21.339 --> 00:06:24.399 They usually plan ahead when there is no plan ahead. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:31.799 And some of the misuses of that gift is sometimes they get discouraged when people don't follow. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:38.259 They can get impatient and frustrated when people aren't carrying out the tasks that they've been given. 00:06:39.099 --> 00:06:46.039 And at worst, sometimes they can develop a self-agenda and use others to accomplish that agenda for themselves. 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:48.199 So a few things there. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:53.239 And sometimes if we're not careful, we can put them so high to where they're not accountable to anybody. 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:55.560 I've seen that in churches as well. 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:57.139 Just something to be aware of. 00:06:57.560 --> 00:06:59.879 So we all need to be knocked down at times. 00:06:59.960 --> 00:07:01.300 We all need to be humbled. 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:09.939 And then next you see this idea of the gift of mercy, which is also referred to as helping. 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:17.360 And it's the special ability to have compassion for and to give aid to hurting people. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:22.980 Like cheerful acts of compassion characterize people who have this gift. 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:25.340 They have a, you know who they are. 00:07:25.400 --> 00:07:33.220 They have just a gift to empathize, to listen and bear your burdens and cry with you, pray with you. 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:36.620 Even if they don't know what to say, they're just there for you. 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:42.060 And they're just sensitively aware of the needs of others in the church. 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:47.639 They usually are very warm, approachable, and easy to talk to type people. 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:52.259 And they empathize with those who are hurting and suffering. 00:07:52.259 --> 00:07:58.599 Some of the misuses of the gift is those people can sometimes easily be taken advantage of. 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:07.459 And sometimes, because of their feelings, try to make things too easy for people that actually may need tough love at times. 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:10.639 Be more led by their emotions than wisdom. 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:14.120 And then prophecy. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:15.240 Da, da, da, da, da. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:19.060 So, can't skip it. 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:19.519 It's there. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:21.500 It'd be nice to take that out, right? 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:23.199 I'd say no. 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:29.779 So, as we mentioned last week, there are two primary camps of people. 00:08:29.919 --> 00:08:37.240 Faithful believers on both sides in the church who have different views on what might be called the miraculous gifts. 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:41.379 Things like prophecy, tongues, those sort of things. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:53.560 One would be the cessationist view, which just means that they believe that after the time of the apostles, after the canon of Scripture came, 00:08:54.139 --> 00:08:56.419 like, those miraculous gifts cease. 00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:58.799 They're not needed anymore, and they've stopped. 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:02.980 And no need for anything else. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:10.539 And some faithful men that I respect, John MacArthur, R.C. Spurl, or just a couple cessationists. 00:09:11.779 --> 00:09:16.720 And then the other side, I would just, you know, be careful of labels, okay? 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:25.200 So, but the other side might be referred to you as continuationists, this idea that those gifts have not ceased. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:34.580 They actually are in practice today in the church, just as they were in the early New Testament, and will continue until Christ returns. 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:43.340 And as I said last week, I think our congregation is somewhere in the 50-50 or 40-60 range. 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:49.540 We haven't found it to be an issue to divide over, and we actually kind of refuse to let that happen. 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:52.759 So, we're not going to become tribal about it. 00:09:53.379 --> 00:10:01.600 Like, these gifts are actually meant to strengthen the unity of the body, and it would be a shame to allow something that's actually meant to strengthen to divide. 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:03.379 So, we're just not going to allow that to happen. 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:08.679 But, it's the gifts that make us uncomfortable, right? 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:19.720 So, looking at prophecy, in short, that word just means speaking forth, proclaiming publicly God's Word boldly, 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:29.580 and it manifests itself in things like preaching, teaching, admonishing, at least scripturally can sometimes, this idea of foretelling future events. 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:34.960 But, primarily, boldly speaking the truth from God and what He has said to other people. 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:48.800 So, cessationists would say that prophecy is limited to proclaiming and teaching what is already in the written and enclosed canon of Scripture. 00:10:50.020 --> 00:10:51.920 All right? Fair enough. 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:57.480 Continuationists would say, yes, it is teaching the Scripture. 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:00.560 It is teaching the closed canon of Scripture. 00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:11.960 But, it also can be speaking forth in human words something that the Holy Spirit has sovereignly and spontaneously revealed or brought to the mind of the believer. 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:13.180 All right? 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:17.080 So, remember, this isn't a sermon about prophecy, so I'm not going to get into all this right now. 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:20.039 It's a class or whatever. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:31.459 But, what I have found is that with that, Scripture is the standard to test all things and discern all things, whether they are true or false. 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:35.219 Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5, 19-21, 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:38.980 Do not quench or suppress or subdue the Spirit. 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:45.120 Do not spurn or depreciate the gifts and the utterances of the prophets. 00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:52.019 But test and prove all things, what is good, and hold fast to what is good. 00:11:52.019 --> 00:12:02.379 So, in the context, right, teaching on these gifts, Paul says twice in 1 Corinthians 12, 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:07.120 To earnestly desire them, and especially that you may prophesy. 00:12:07.819 --> 00:12:09.559 So, this is just my opinion. 00:12:10.699 --> 00:12:13.199 I'm more in the continuationist camp. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.399 I've seen the gift exercised in good ways, and I've seen things abused. 00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:23.879 So, in my opinion, Paul doesn't leave any room for us to wiggle out of pursuing uncomfortable gifts. 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:25.120 He doesn't say we can. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:31.459 And I know some wonderful, sincere Christians, like many of you and others I respect, 00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:35.120 that would disagree with that and say that it's closed. 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:40.259 These gifts stopped at the closing of many of them, the New Testament canon. 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:43.379 But I would just humbly disagree. 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:48.080 And I'm not making a big case for that today, though, because that's not what the text is about. 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:59.120 But I assume that New Testament authors, they said that these gifts would continue in their function until Christ returns. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:03.159 That's 1 Corinthians 13, 9-12. 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:09.439 So, when God's Word is like boldly proclaimed and taught faithfully, 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:12.379 God uses His Word to pierce our hearts. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.179 It leads to building up of the body, conviction of sin, repentance. 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:28.559 And Paul instructs prophets not to speak only when they have the faith and confidence that the Spirit has revealed something to them. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:32.199 And then it is to be tested and discerned in the church. 00:13:33.219 --> 00:13:39.459 So, a couple is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, 6, Ephesians 4, 11. 00:13:40.079 --> 00:13:43.279 And I guess an Old Testament example would be Jeremiah. 00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:49.739 A New Testament example could be Agabus, which is Acts 11, 27 through 30. 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:55.680 But some characteristics of people who have this gift, if you think that. 00:13:56.560 --> 00:14:00.440 They have a keen awareness and a weightiness to what they think God says. 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:04.659 Like, God's Word burns in them where they can't be quiet. 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:07.759 And they would rather please God than please man. 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:11.320 And they call people back to repentance and away from sin. 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:22.480 They only consider themselves a messenger and can stand boldly in opposition against what people may be saying against God's Word. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:26.900 So, but in closing, just to wrap some of this up. 00:14:27.400 --> 00:14:30.640 Again, this wasn't a message that's intended just to do that. 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:36.640 You need to be aware of the gifts that God has given you or may not have given you. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.540 And He may have given you more than one gift. 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:41.980 So, quick question. 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:45.659 Do you humbly recognize that you have been given all gifts? 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:49.439 And that you have a limited ability in certain areas? 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:52.699 And that proves that you need the rest of the body. 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:54.899 Because we just don't have it all. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:55.839 We need each other. 00:14:56.899 --> 00:15:01.980 And furthermore, do you understand that your gifts are needed for the body of Christ? 00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:05.819 To work effectively as each member is needed. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:09.319 So, in closing, just this part of it, three things. 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:12.159 Don't over-evaluate yourself in the church. 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:15.379 Which is what Paul said here in that passage. 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:16.759 You are special. 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.639 You are unique. 00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:19.339 You have been given gifts. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.240 But you're not indispensable. 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.879 God gave you all good things. 00:15:24.319 --> 00:15:25.159 Even your gifts. 00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:29.199 So you shouldn't boast about what has actually been given to you. 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:32.099 Seek to honor God and not yourself. 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:35.740 Secondly, don't neglect your gifts. 00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:41.080 Paul told Timothy, do not neglect the gift you have which is given you. 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:43.259 1 Timothy 4.14 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:52.420 If you fail to employ your gifts in the church, number one, you're robbing the body of those gifts and the use of them. 00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:59.000 You're also forcing other members to carry your load caused by your fear or your selfishness. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:03.259 And then thirdly, you're out of touch with the Spirit of God. 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:08.980 Then fourthly, you are dead weight and you're acting in a dysfunctional way to the body. 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.620 So, apply. 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:11.559 Don't neglect. 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:13.919 Embrace those gifts. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:17.759 As Paul said, don't neglect the gift you have been given. 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:27.759 And then he says, this way I want to remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is given to you through the laying on of hands. 00:16:28.339 --> 00:16:34.979 So, meaning that it was possible for Timothy to allow his gift to weaken by infrequent use. 00:16:35.599 --> 00:16:37.299 Not really using it that often. 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:37.980 It got weak. 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:49.039 So, he says, fan into flame, stir up, rekindle, keep burning, use that gift and therefore strengthening that gift. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:56.279 So, that closes that part of our message from last week. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:00.700 And now we're going to dive back into 9 through 13. 00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:04.960 Alright. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:09.340 So, I'm going to bust this up into two different points. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:14.779 But again, we're talking about practical, everyday Christian living. 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:22.059 How do we live in response to this great salvation that Paul's been talking about all the way up to this point? 00:17:22.840 --> 00:17:26.539 So, first, he kind of focuses on personal responsibilities. 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:33.000 And then, after that, he focuses on responsibilities to the body of Christ. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.920 So, number one, personal responsibilities. 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:37.079 Something in verse 3. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.240 He says, let love be genuine. 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.480 A poor what is evil. 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:45.079 Hold fast to what is good. 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:48.319 So, this idea of genuine love. 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:52.319 So, that means for love to be sincere. 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:53.839 Authentic. 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:55.299 The real thing. 00:17:55.299 --> 00:18:00.419 So, true, genuine, Christ-like love is better than any spiritual gift. 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:06.639 And like if you remember, in 1 Corinthians, he had to remind them of this. 00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:10.639 So, as he was talking about spiritual gifts, he eventually comes full circle. 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.399 And he says, 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:40.380 So, as in 1 Corinthians, he does it right here in Romans, he moves from speaking about spiritual gifts again to the more excellent way of love. 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:43.260 Love here is agape. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.800 Many of you know what that is. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:49.300 But it's not really a type of human love. 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:51.680 It doesn't originate in humanity. 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:58.300 It is only an unconditional love that has God as its source. 00:18:58.299 --> 00:19:03.319 And it comes out of 1 John 4, 16. 00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:09.099 So, we have come to know and believe that the love of God has for us. 00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:11.079 God is love. 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:14.919 And whoever abides in love abides in God. 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:17.059 And God abides in him. 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.059 God is love. 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:26.440 So, love in the New Testament, the Spirit-given virtue, focuses on wholly the needs and welfare of others. 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:27.679 Okay? 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:31.519 So, it's not thinking about self-centeredness. 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:33.700 It's not thinking about what they can get out of things. 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:35.639 It's thinking about others. 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:42.940 And that's why you do things sacrificially to meet those needs, whatever they are. 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:48.980 Because it is a love that God has shown us and empowered us to show other people. 00:19:49.780 --> 00:19:51.400 1 Peter 1, 22. 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:52.600 He wrote, 00:19:52.599 --> 00:20:09.679 So, another way of looking at verse 9 would be, some of your translations may say, 00:20:09.939 --> 00:20:11.879 Let love be without hypocrisy. 00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:13.759 That would be true too. 00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:17.819 Love that is without hypocrisy or self-centeredness. 00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:20.399 But why would that be the case? 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:24.120 Because a hypocrite is totally concerned about himself. 00:20:24.280 --> 00:20:25.420 How will I appear? 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:29.000 How can I create a good impression on other people? 00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:33.460 As love is sort of my outward front to those things. 00:20:34.540 --> 00:20:37.160 Hypocrisy tends to show itself in two ways. 00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:41.540 It tries to make the outside look better than the inside. 00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:47.480 And then it also seeks to draw attention to the flaws of others. 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:48.740 Right? 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:52.120 In an effort to hide their own flaws. 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:57.519 Hide their own internal sin by wrapping it up in a moral, outward appearance. 00:20:58.460 --> 00:21:07.380 So hypocrisy, not being genuine love, is falsehood, concealment, deceit, cloaking, and misleading. 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.400 Hiding. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:13.140 So it's the opposite of what we're talking about here. 00:21:13.780 --> 00:21:17.320 So therefore, Paul says, let love be without hypocrisy. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.620 Let it be genuine. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:28.320 Christ-like love is shown in like honest, ardent, pure motive that only comes from God. 00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:32.580 And it can't be just manufactured by human willpower. 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:38.299 And so you could argue that true love can actually be shown by someone who doesn't know God. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:41.079 It's something that God gives us. 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:50.919 And it goes to meeting the needs of other people, no matter what it takes, to love them, and then thus glorifying God in the process. 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:56.060 So it's produced through the gospel that's been poured out into our hearts. 00:21:56.059 --> 00:22:03.220 As it said in chapter 5, verse 5, true love, genuine love, hates evil. 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:05.879 As we're seeing right here in our passage, it hates evil. 00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.799 It pursues good. 00:22:08.679 --> 00:22:14.119 It's love that spawns affection in the church and seeks to build up the church. 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:19.799 Love is zealous, fervent, and selfless for the Lord's sake. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:30.019 And in the most trying of circumstances, love is what overcomes everything through hope, steadfastness, and suffering, and prayer. 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:31.200 That's what verse 12 says. 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:33.000 So it's all kind of connected. 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:40.359 You could argue that love, genuine Christ-like love, is what is the heading of the rest of this chapter. 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:43.180 And maybe arguably the rest of the book. 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:47.139 It's like saying, hey, this is what God's love looks like. 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:49.320 And so it goes on. 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:56.280 And so a spinoff of that, it says, abhor what is evil. 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:57.540 All right? 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:01.560 So that doesn't just mean kind or dislike it. 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:06.100 It means hate with intense hatred what is evil. 00:23:06.540 --> 00:23:08.820 Loathe all ungodliness. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:11.460 Turn in horror from all wickedness. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.800 So hatred of evil is the other side of love. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:20.099 Because love, by its nature, cannot approve of what is evil. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.159 Right? 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:29.480 That's why I argue with people, you know, like in evangelism, if they have a problem, they'll say, God is love. 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:30.919 I'm like, do you know where that's written? 00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:32.339 And you usually don't know where it came from. 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:38.440 But then you say, like, yeah, but don't you know that, like, God's love is hatred of evil? 00:23:39.159 --> 00:23:41.859 Like, God's love demands that evil must be destroyed? 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:44.679 And they kind of see it at that point. 00:23:45.219 --> 00:23:47.699 But love cannot approve what is evil. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:53.899 To hate evil comes from a fear and love for God. 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:56.539 Evil is the enemy of God. 00:23:56.719 --> 00:23:58.399 It is the enemy of love. 00:23:59.219 --> 00:23:59.539 Right? 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:04.139 And so if we are His children, we likewise will hate evil. 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:11.180 As the wisdom writer said, the reverent fear of the Lord is hatred of all evil. 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.480 Proverbs 8.13 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:17.960 And if God is love and He hates evil, then we will as well. 00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:22.140 And that's why the psalmist said, O you who love the Lord, hate evil. 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.220 Psalm 97.10 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:32.240 So as you continue to grow in your walk with Christ, you have a growing love for what is good and a growing hatred for what is evil. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.579 Okay, I'll read this too. 00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:39.799 Psalm 101.2 and 4. 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.079 The psalmist wrote, 00:24:41.079 --> 00:25:10.699 And so, if we hate evil, 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:13.399 then we need to like look at our lives. 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:15.699 If we love the Lord and hate evil. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:23.179 If you hate evil, then how can we fill our minds and our life with so much evil at times? 00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:25.460 Evil things on social media. 00:25:25.659 --> 00:25:27.179 Evil things in movies. 00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.899 Evil things in video games. 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:34.559 We can't fill our minds constantly all day with these things and just expect to be unchanged by it. 00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:36.099 It affects us. 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:40.619 And so, instead of evil, hate it. 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:44.579 And then on the flip of that, hold on to what is good. 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:49.279 The next part of this, he says, is connecting the idea of evil. 00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:55.639 Hold fast, which means to glue, to cling, or to bond together to what is good. 00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:58.839 Evil has a strong pull on our flesh. 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.639 Evil has a... 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:01.660 Sin has a strong pull on our flesh. 00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:07.640 So that's why he's saying, instead of just being pulled away by it, cling to what is good. 00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:09.420 What God says is what is good. 00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:13.360 Bind ourselves to Christ and what is right and worthy. 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.500 Alright? 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.840 And we know what is good. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:18.880 If you're asking, okay, well, how do I know the difference? 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:21.060 How do I know what is good? 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:25.039 In verse 2 of this chapter. 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:27.480 Don't be conformed to this world. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:34.019 Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:37.599 What is good and acceptable and perfect. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:49.959 So, as we, by grace, continue to separate ourselves from the world, instead, we'll saturate ourselves with God's Word, God's truth, and we will know what is good. 00:26:50.459 --> 00:26:53.219 And we will replace those things that are evil. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:59.679 So don't drift just by your flesh to what is evil, but hold fast to what is good. 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:00.859 Alright? 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:00.899 Alright? 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:08.859 Then secondly, we get to number two, responsibility to the body of Christ. 00:27:09.459 --> 00:27:10.000 Alright? 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:12.019 This is verses 10-13. 00:27:12.919 --> 00:27:13.599 But he says, 00:27:13.679 --> 00:27:15.500 Love one another with brotherly affection. 00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:17.399 Outdo one another in showing honor. 00:27:17.979 --> 00:27:19.699 Do not be slothful in zeal. 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:21.019 Be fervent in spirit. 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.579 Serve the Lord. 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:24.240 Rejoice in hope. 00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.939 Be patient in tribulation. 00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:27.759 Be constant in prayer. 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:30.240 Contribute to the needs of the saints. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:32.039 And seek to show hospitality. 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:36.640 So, verse 10 connects to what we just talked about. 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.559 Let love be genuine. 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.299 So he's working that out. 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:39.859 But he says, 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:42.220 Love one another with a brotherly affection. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.019 Verse 10. 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:51.079 That means to have tender, tender affection for one's brother that's inside one's family. 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.339 Right? 00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:57.120 Again, this is a love that you can't just learn through human means. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:01.059 This is a love that is taught to us by God. 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:03.679 1 Thessalonians 4.9. 00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:04.899 He says, 00:28:04.979 --> 00:28:06.659 Concerning brotherly love. 00:28:06.719 --> 00:28:07.439 Same word. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.199 Same phrase. 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:11.299 You have no need for anyone to write to you. 00:28:11.479 --> 00:28:17.339 For you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:24.740 So we are devoted to our brothers and sisters in this same type of family type love. 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:27.459 And here's the point. 00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:38.039 Like in your family, you don't love them because they're cool, attractive, unattractive, annoying, frustrating. 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:40.139 You love them because they are your family. 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:43.599 Some of us have family members that are very hard to love. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:45.980 But we don't cast them out. 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:47.879 We persevere with them. 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.720 We stick up for them. 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:52.139 That's what Paul is trying to say. 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.339 Like, look, you're a family. 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.799 It doesn't matter. 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:57.700 All these are external preferences and things. 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.119 Like you are a family. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.460 You'll be a family for eternity. 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:04.480 So stick up for one another. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.840 Be there for one another. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:09.600 Serve one another with brotherly and tender affection. 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:13.340 You can show itself in all kinds of ways. 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:17.600 But being in the hospital recently, the Lord reminded me of this example. 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:20.960 A long time ago when I was at UAB Hospital. 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.799 Very, very sick. 00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:24.700 Not doing well. 00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:28.840 Like, almost died a few weeks prior. 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:35.819 And I was just in a very frail, you know, mindset and body. 00:29:36.699 --> 00:29:42.919 And if you've been in the hospital for any long period of time, you can tell how the day is going to go when your nurse comes in in the morning. 00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:45.299 If they're like, hey, how are you doing? 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:47.099 You know, it might be, okay, this is going to be a good day. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.980 If they come in like, hi. 00:29:49.419 --> 00:29:50.399 You're like, oh, no. 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:54.379 They're going to make life rough for me today. 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:57.959 And I had a nurse come in I'd never seen before. 00:29:57.960 --> 00:30:00.319 And she was not happy to be there. 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:03.600 She was like, I asked her how she was doing. 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:05.460 She goes, I don't want to talk about it. 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:07.240 And she just kind of kept on like, oh, no. 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.720 This is going to get rough. 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:12.420 And so she was pretty rough most of the day. 00:30:12.840 --> 00:30:16.500 And then at some point, my IV went bad. 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:20.380 Like, you know, started leaking out medicine. 00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:22.820 And I like clamped it. 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:25.100 And I was like, oh, no. 00:30:25.820 --> 00:30:29.520 This lady is going to have to give me another IV, which is what you don't want a mean nurse to do ever. 00:30:30.280 --> 00:30:33.580 And so I just went beep, you know, pushed the button. 00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:35.220 I could see the nursing station. 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:40.520 And one of the people, you know, told her, hey. 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.020 You know, she was like. 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:45.759 And I'm like, oh, no. 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:49.700 And so she starts walking towards the door. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:56.139 And Kara, one of the nurses that I knew on the floor, like jumped in front of her. 00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:58.579 And she said, don't worry about it. 00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.879 You go. 00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:00.879 I'll take care of it. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:04.380 And Kara was a believer. 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:08.560 Went to a really solid church in the Birmingham area. 00:31:09.800 --> 00:31:17.060 And she came in and changed my IV. 00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:19.280 And I was just apologizing. 00:31:19.340 --> 00:31:20.080 Like, I'm sorry. 00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:22.140 I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.720 I'm not your patient today. 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:25.640 Like, you've got so much going on. 00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:27.880 And she just said, she just stopped. 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:31.580 And she was like, Clay, you're my brother. 00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:34.600 And it's my pleasure to serve you today. 00:31:34.760 --> 00:31:36.120 It's my honor to serve you today. 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.140 And she just put my IV in. 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:40.620 And I was just like, wow. 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:49.720 But when we have Christ, we have love for one another as a family. 00:31:51.060 --> 00:31:53.840 And so on a spin of this. 00:31:54.840 --> 00:31:55.980 What page is out of order? 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.320 Sorry. 00:31:56.319 --> 00:32:03.359 Have you experienced that genuine brotherly love for your brothers and sisters here at CFC? 00:32:04.159 --> 00:32:05.939 Show honor to one another. 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:17.519 A strong exhortation to show true admiration, genuine appreciation for your fellow believers by putting them before yourself. 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:20.879 It says outdo one another in showing honor. 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:24.240 I like to call this like a holy competition. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:31.319 I like to exceed and surpass one another in serving one another, helping your fellow believers. 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:39.460 Paul said in Philippians 2.4, let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:48.740 So we're to give preference and put others before ourselves, which is the total opposite of our fallen nature, which is only to put you first. 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:50.819 Your preference is what you want. 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:54.359 And try to manipulate everybody else to give you what you want. 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:56.079 So total opposite. 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:58.279 It's only what the Spirit of God can do. 00:32:58.279 --> 00:33:03.480 Paul wrote in Corinthians, let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:06.220 Seek the welfare of his neighbor. 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:13.259 So are you quick to show respect for your brothers and sisters in Christ? 00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:19.279 Are you fast to acknowledge the success and accomplishments of your brothers and sisters? 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:24.420 Are you quick to show genuine love by not being jealous or envious of them? 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:34.060 And does the Spirit within you drive you to take initiative to find practical ways to manifest that respect and love for the saints? 00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:39.440 So on a spinoff of this, again, this is also reconnected. 00:33:40.300 --> 00:33:43.460 He says, don't be slothful in zeal. 00:33:44.060 --> 00:33:45.700 Don't lag in your zeal. 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.460 Verse 11. 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:54.259 So sinful, sloth, and apathy, indifference are enemies of doing good. 00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:56.980 They allow evil to thrive. 00:33:57.539 --> 00:34:00.240 So we're not to lag behind in our diligence. 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:02.920 Not to be lazy in zeal. 00:34:03.860 --> 00:34:06.620 Solomon wrote, well, probably Solomon. 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:07.440 We think so. 00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:12.360 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. 00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:15.099 Ecclesiastes 9.10. 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:24.299 So the right motive for seeking excellence in our labor in the church is to glorify God, which is the chief purpose for why we were created. 00:34:24.839 --> 00:34:25.339 Right? 00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:42.039 But what does not honor Christ, what does not bear witness to His glory, is our slothfulness, our mediocrity, and our smug satisfaction in Christ that cannot be achieved by slothfulness of zeal. 00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:48.480 So one reason we fail to achieve excellence in our endeavors is we don't give it all we have. 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:50.119 We don't work that hard. 00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:56.480 So slothfulness and mediocrity tell the world about something that we're living for. 00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:57.679 All right? 00:34:57.679 --> 00:35:07.440 If we serve the Lord with slothfulness and laziness and mediocrity, then that says that our Lord is not that great. 00:35:07.879 --> 00:35:08.440 You see that? 00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:14.000 Like, some of you are blessed to have jobs and things that you enjoy. 00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:18.820 And you passionately wake up every day. 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.860 You're driven to do it. 00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.619 Like, you love it. 00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:21.599 You love what you do. 00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:26.360 And that's why you get out of bed in the morning sometimes, to go and do those things. 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:28.760 And you're passionate about it. 00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:36.120 And so there is no higher calling, though, than to honor and serve the Lord. 00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:38.500 And He is worthy. 00:35:39.160 --> 00:35:44.060 He is greatly honored when we pursue Him with the utmost zeal. 00:35:44.740 --> 00:35:48.240 And others see that and go, wow, like, your God is something else. 00:35:48.740 --> 00:35:53.980 Like, wow, the zeal, the hard work, the diligence that your church shows. 00:35:53.980 --> 00:36:03.440 Because Matthew 5, 16, Jesus said, in the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 00:36:04.340 --> 00:36:17.880 So, therefore, seek to excel, not lagging in zeal, pushing ourselves to the highest limits of endurance to achieve a level of excellence and bring glory to God as a church. 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.039 Okay? 00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:20.179 So, here's the spinoff. 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:23.599 Don't lag in zeal, but be fervent in spirit. 00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.779 This is the next part of this. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.599 I love the word. 00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:31.679 A lot of the Irish friends of mine use the word fervor all the time. 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.719 Fervor in spirit. 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:38.319 It means to boil or to burn in the spirit. 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:48.739 And it means having sufficient heat to adequately produce energy, but not so much heat that one goes out of control. 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:49.920 You get it? 00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:51.440 Too much fire, bad. 00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:54.039 In other words, enough fire, perfect. 00:36:55.059 --> 00:37:00.240 And it's said of Apollos in Acts that he was fervent in spirit. 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:02.260 Acts 18, 24. 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:12.179 It communicates something to the world again when we serve him with great fervor and not slothfulness of zeal. 00:37:12.179 --> 00:37:16.359 So, that's kind of tying it all together, those two verses. 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:21.179 So, I've gotten the question a lot. 00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:23.199 Is it right to pray to the Holy Spirit? 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:37.239 And I usually say, yeah, be careful how you answer this, but it is right to ask the Holy Spirit to help you in things that apply to his role. 00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:37.799 Okay? 00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:39.899 Things that the Holy Spirit does. 00:37:40.399 --> 00:37:42.879 Things that the Scripture says, this is what the Spirit of God does. 00:37:42.919 --> 00:37:43.699 This is his role. 00:37:44.379 --> 00:37:46.619 It's okay to ask him to help you for that. 00:37:46.619 --> 00:37:49.940 So, this is a verse about the Spirit. 00:37:50.799 --> 00:37:55.039 So, have you asked the Spirit to give you zeal? 00:37:55.259 --> 00:37:59.719 To give you a fervent spirit and fire to serve in the body? 00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:01.559 To serve one another. 00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:02.859 Alright? 00:38:03.839 --> 00:38:05.259 Last part of verse 11. 00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:08.819 Serve the Lord. 00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:09.519 Oh, man. 00:38:09.859 --> 00:38:11.940 This one would be a sermon by itself. 00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:12.300 Okay. 00:38:13.059 --> 00:38:14.980 So, serve here is douleo. 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:19.200 To serve as a slave in a good sense. 00:38:19.320 --> 00:38:20.480 To yield obedience. 00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:23.780 So, it connects to Romans 1. 00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:32.720 Verse 1, where Paul writes, he called himself a bondservant, a doulos of Christ Jesus. 00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:34.039 Called to be an apostle. 00:38:34.240 --> 00:38:36.860 Set apart for the gospel of God. 00:38:37.820 --> 00:38:39.139 So, doulo. 00:38:39.840 --> 00:38:40.420 Doulos. 00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:48.599 So, in the Mosaic Law, there is something provided for an indentured servant. 00:38:49.260 --> 00:38:49.519 Alright? 00:38:49.619 --> 00:38:51.440 Someone who could work off their debt. 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.360 Right? 00:38:53.480 --> 00:39:05.720 It provided a way for them to voluntarily become a permanent bond slave of a master in his family that they respected and loved dearly. 00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:08.659 That's Exodus 21, 5 and 6. 00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:13.319 So, basically, like, I love serving this family. 00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:14.819 I love my master. 00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:16.799 I love his family. 00:39:16.879 --> 00:39:18.379 I don't want to leave his house. 00:39:18.779 --> 00:39:21.359 So, I want to bind myself to him. 00:39:21.799 --> 00:39:24.339 And I want to be his slave. 00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:28.920 Now, to our mind, that just sounds crazy. 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.500 Like, what? 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:31.739 Inconceivable. 00:39:31.739 --> 00:39:31.739 00:39:31.960 --> 00:39:32.320 Offensive. 00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:35.539 Because human masters can hurt you. 00:39:35.619 --> 00:39:37.300 Human masters could abuse you. 00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:40.079 But not when your master is the Lord. 00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:44.960 Like, the freest person is the slave of the perfect master. 00:39:45.219 --> 00:39:45.440 Right? 00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:56.659 And if it sounds awful to you, would you freely and willingly give yourself wholeheartedly in love to be a slave of the Savior? 00:39:56.659 --> 00:40:00.940 Who saved you from death, sin, and hell. 00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:06.119 And make it the purpose of your life to honor your master every hour of every day. 00:40:06.599 --> 00:40:09.000 To let your schedule revolve around his schedule. 00:40:09.119 --> 00:40:12.219 To let your drive be his drive. 00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:14.579 You think about what a slave would do. 00:40:14.819 --> 00:40:15.039 Right? 00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:17.039 They served their master. 00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:19.099 It wasn't just go and do what you want. 00:40:19.679 --> 00:40:23.019 But in this case, the perfect master is Jesus Christ. 00:40:23.719 --> 00:40:27.159 And as Paul says in Romans, we are slaves of Christ. 00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.279 Right? 00:40:29.059 --> 00:40:30.779 So, verse 12. 00:40:30.980 --> 00:40:32.039 Rejoice in hope. 00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:37.139 Following Jesus inevitably brings hardship. 00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:38.099 And we know that. 00:40:38.900 --> 00:40:41.059 Some of us have served the Lord for many years. 00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:43.559 And we haven't really seen a lot of fruit for our labor. 00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:45.500 It can feel that way at times. 00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:47.159 Like, man, this is just... 00:40:47.159 --> 00:40:48.559 You get weary and you get tired. 00:40:49.739 --> 00:40:51.639 Is the Lord ever going to come back? 00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:53.679 Or is this ever going to change? 00:40:54.279 --> 00:40:56.699 But without hope, we cannot survive. 00:40:56.980 --> 00:40:57.960 We cannot make it. 00:40:58.820 --> 00:41:01.519 And so, why do we rejoice in hope then? 00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:04.380 Because God has promised to return. 00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:06.059 Our ultimate redemption. 00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:08.900 The fulfillment of all things. 00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:10.960 And so, we're encouraged. 00:41:10.960 --> 00:41:14.280 And as in 1 Corinthians 15, 58. 00:41:14.539 --> 00:41:16.519 I've seen this verse so abused. 00:41:17.139 --> 00:41:23.220 People just put it on their t-shirts and apply it to athletics or whatever they want to be hardcore about. 00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:25.179 But he's not. 00:41:25.740 --> 00:41:30.820 Paul's talking about standing firm for Christ and waiting for His return. 00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:33.240 1 Corinthians 15, 58. 00:41:33.400 --> 00:41:44.500 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 00:41:45.260 --> 00:41:46.940 So, therefore, we have hope. 00:41:47.780 --> 00:41:52.320 And if we have hope, we can, next part, persevere in tribulation. 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:54.220 Next part of verse 12. 00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:58.579 As fellow believers, we're to face trials and hardships together. 00:41:59.599 --> 00:41:59.879 Alright? 00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:01.379 So, remember, we're a body. 00:42:01.539 --> 00:42:04.359 So, if we face trials, we go through it together. 00:42:04.519 --> 00:42:08.459 It's not just me and my trial and my problem and the bodies over here. 00:42:08.539 --> 00:42:10.500 Like, we go through it together. 00:42:10.500 --> 00:42:25.199 And we're not to panic and be anxious and alarmed, but rather patient in tribulation, persevering, pushing forward together as a body, despite hardships and difficulties. 00:42:26.599 --> 00:42:31.019 But why can we be patient in our tribulations and face it together? 00:42:31.840 --> 00:42:33.440 One of my favorite verses, right? 00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:35.360 John, if that's right to say, right? 00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:42.160 John 16, 33, Jesus says, I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. 00:42:42.700 --> 00:42:46.180 In this world you will have tribulation. 00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:50.800 But take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:42:52.079 --> 00:43:00.960 Christ assures us that despite all trials and all oppositions, we can have true, perfect peace and confidence in Him. 00:43:01.820 --> 00:43:02.280 Why? 00:43:02.280 --> 00:43:03.740 Because He's overcome. 00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:06.059 He has triumphed over the world. 00:43:06.179 --> 00:43:08.819 He's deprived it of its power over us. 00:43:09.439 --> 00:43:11.439 He's conquered it on our behalf. 00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:20.739 And because we are united to Him in His life, His death, and His resurrection, we also will conquer because of that. 00:43:21.339 --> 00:43:29.039 So, the more trials we endure and afflictions we have, the more destitute we are of our own resources and we go to Him. 00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:38.559 So, we can remain undaunted and take heart, good cheer, and be courageous, be patient in tribulation as a church. 00:43:40.239 --> 00:43:41.980 Last part of this, verse 12. 00:43:42.840 --> 00:43:44.219 Be devoted to prayer. 00:43:44.219 --> 00:43:45.719 All right? 00:43:45.719 --> 00:43:49.139 It literally means to be strong towards something. 00:43:49.299 --> 00:43:52.659 It carries this idea of steadfast and unwavering. 00:43:53.239 --> 00:43:56.000 Like, you are devoted to eating food. 00:43:56.739 --> 00:43:57.559 Everybody in here. 00:43:58.179 --> 00:43:59.799 You're devoted to getting sleep. 00:44:00.539 --> 00:44:01.980 It's that same weightiness. 00:44:02.139 --> 00:44:04.519 Be devoted to prayer. 00:44:05.519 --> 00:44:06.799 Be devoted to it. 00:44:06.800 --> 00:44:10.200 Connecting to that idea of being patient in tribulation. 00:44:11.100 --> 00:44:15.260 So, the more trials we endure, again, that drives us to God. 00:44:15.620 --> 00:44:20.180 And that makes us go down on our knees and ask for His help. 00:44:21.039 --> 00:44:21.240 Right? 00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:23.780 It says in Colossians 4.2, 00:44:23.880 --> 00:44:28.480 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 00:44:29.300 --> 00:44:30.800 So, at the church, we are to be unwearied. 00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:33.340 We're not to grow weary in our prayer. 00:44:33.340 --> 00:44:37.140 Or, we do need to do more as a body to pray together. 00:44:37.660 --> 00:44:39.079 I know we do in our community groups. 00:44:39.160 --> 00:44:40.559 I know we do in our core groups. 00:44:41.300 --> 00:44:43.220 But we should be doing more. 00:44:43.820 --> 00:44:45.300 Coming together and praying. 00:44:46.420 --> 00:44:47.900 It should be like, hey, I'm bored. 00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:48.519 What do you want to do? 00:44:48.600 --> 00:44:49.079 I don't know. 00:44:49.220 --> 00:44:50.920 Let's go find some other believers and pray together. 00:44:51.000 --> 00:44:52.900 Like that kind of devotion. 00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:56.059 Something that's not self-effort. 00:44:56.400 --> 00:44:58.660 Only God's power can give us these things. 00:44:59.220 --> 00:45:03.220 It was once said, the thermometer of a church is its prayer meeting. 00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:07.320 The spiritual pulse of a local church. 00:45:08.600 --> 00:45:10.340 J.B. Johnson wrote, 00:45:11.300 --> 00:45:20.980 The prayer meeting is the rallying point where the power of faith in the church concentrates and takes hold of the arm that moves the world. 00:45:20.980 --> 00:45:33.240 The spirit of prayer and the love and practice of the prayer meeting will give such an organic strength to the church and make her terrible as an army with banners. 00:45:34.340 --> 00:45:34.740 All right? 00:45:34.739 --> 00:45:37.279 So have we devoted ourselves to prayer? 00:45:37.500 --> 00:45:42.119 And I think he's mainly talking about corporate prayer as believers in this context. 00:45:42.659 --> 00:45:43.979 What can we do to do more? 00:45:45.319 --> 00:45:46.500 Then verse 13. 00:45:47.179 --> 00:45:49.399 To meet the needs of the saints. 00:45:49.959 --> 00:45:51.579 It's connected to the word koinonia. 00:45:51.959 --> 00:45:52.159 Right? 00:45:52.159 --> 00:45:55.339 That genuine, true fellowship of believers. 00:45:55.339 --> 00:45:58.119 It expresses commonality and partnership. 00:45:59.000 --> 00:46:00.420 Mutual sharing. 00:46:01.259 --> 00:46:02.619 Acts 2.44. 00:46:03.460 --> 00:46:04.839 Acts 4.32. 00:46:05.960 --> 00:46:10.500 It says that all the believers came together and they were of one heart and soul. 00:46:11.960 --> 00:46:15.819 And no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own. 00:46:16.339 --> 00:46:18.319 But they had everything in common. 00:46:18.320 --> 00:46:21.320 And so, this isn't socialism. 00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:28.019 It really is just saying, because of the love of Christ, hey, look, what I have is yours. 00:46:28.180 --> 00:46:32.300 Like, if you need something, I want to be there to give it to you. 00:46:33.100 --> 00:46:37.120 I gladly, because of Christ, share with you what I have. 00:46:37.620 --> 00:46:39.519 It's the opposite of stinginess. 00:46:39.660 --> 00:46:40.580 It's my stuff. 00:46:40.740 --> 00:46:42.780 And, you know, that kind of mentality. 00:46:42.780 --> 00:46:54.180 And so, we, in this church, my wife and I, we've been blessed by many people meeting our needs in countless ways. 00:46:54.500 --> 00:46:57.860 Helping us pack and move five times. 00:46:58.120 --> 00:46:58.860 Oh, my goodness. 00:46:59.480 --> 00:47:00.180 Over the years. 00:47:00.540 --> 00:47:02.620 Sometimes it's helping me do yard work. 00:47:03.080 --> 00:47:06.160 Physically demanding probably why I got sick in the first place. 00:47:06.660 --> 00:47:10.060 Helping us watch our girls when emergency situations came up. 00:47:10.059 --> 00:47:14.639 So many ways that y'all have met our needs in this body. 00:47:15.940 --> 00:47:19.360 And lastly, he mentions practicing hospitality. 00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:24.299 One of the chief ways that we can meet the needs of the saints is to practice hospitality. 00:47:25.259 --> 00:47:27.980 This isn't just having some people over and having a potluck. 00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:29.659 It can include that. 00:47:29.940 --> 00:47:31.480 But it's more than that, really. 00:47:32.239 --> 00:47:34.880 In ancient times, traveling could be dangerous. 00:47:34.880 --> 00:47:42.460 And ends to stay in were scarce, expensive, and sometimes places of sin that believers didn't really want to go to. 00:47:42.880 --> 00:47:45.079 Drinking, prostitution, brawling. 00:47:45.780 --> 00:47:50.599 And so, early Christians often opened up their homes to other believers. 00:47:50.900 --> 00:47:52.039 Vulnerable travelers. 00:47:52.680 --> 00:47:53.700 Especially believers. 00:47:54.380 --> 00:48:00.840 But it does mean, the word, to show or to pursue familial love to strangers or outsiders. 00:48:00.840 --> 00:48:04.340 So, again, it goes back to the idea of brotherly love. 00:48:05.120 --> 00:48:08.340 Instructing the church to show hospitality towards one another. 00:48:08.880 --> 00:48:17.880 And it's important because hospitality pictures aspects of God's grace in the gospel. 00:48:18.320 --> 00:48:18.559 All right? 00:48:19.079 --> 00:48:20.720 He brought us into his family. 00:48:20.820 --> 00:48:21.620 We were outsiders. 00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:22.440 We were estranged. 00:48:22.539 --> 00:48:23.280 He brought us in. 00:48:23.340 --> 00:48:25.360 He made us a part of his family. 00:48:25.440 --> 00:48:27.820 He provided for us and protects us. 00:48:27.820 --> 00:48:31.840 And so, this is how we express that to other people. 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:33.600 To be a lover of strangers. 00:48:33.780 --> 00:48:34.920 Those who are on the outside. 00:48:36.559 --> 00:48:39.000 So, don't do it begrudgingly. 00:48:39.640 --> 00:48:43.539 And do it without complaining and representing Christ in your hospitality. 00:48:44.280 --> 00:48:44.740 Peter wrote, 00:48:44.820 --> 00:48:49.120 Do not neglect to show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 00:48:49.360 --> 00:48:50.600 Man, that can be a hard one. 00:48:50.599 --> 00:48:54.179 Are you afraid of showing hospitality? 00:48:54.519 --> 00:48:58.679 Or do you get frustrated when people come over to your house and make messes? 00:48:59.119 --> 00:49:02.339 Is it stressful for people to stay with you? 00:49:03.579 --> 00:49:06.599 Like, if you show hospitality to people, are they, like, nervous to be at your house? 00:49:06.639 --> 00:49:08.299 Because you're going to, like, jump on them about something? 00:49:08.679 --> 00:49:10.779 Or do they feel at home? 00:49:12.159 --> 00:49:19.139 Are you more concerned with, like, looking nice and tidy than you are actually caring about the people who are coming over? 00:49:19.139 --> 00:49:20.119 That's me. 00:49:20.739 --> 00:49:20.920 Okay? 00:49:21.239 --> 00:49:23.599 So, like, but we've got to be careful. 00:49:23.699 --> 00:49:25.639 We've got to depend on God's grace more. 00:49:26.679 --> 00:49:31.359 And it's a blessing to use our homes and our resources to show hospitality. 00:49:31.900 --> 00:49:34.139 But we get stressed out and worked up. 00:49:35.500 --> 00:49:40.139 And all the wrong ways, we're concerned about looking good on the outside. 00:49:40.799 --> 00:49:43.679 Than doing good to the people who are coming over. 00:49:43.679 --> 00:49:53.000 Instead of encouraging those that we host, we feel compelled to, you know, talk about, well, I'm sorry, this isn't perfect. 00:49:53.159 --> 00:49:55.659 And then have them say, it's okay, it's all right. 00:49:55.719 --> 00:49:58.019 Like, to help us in our insecurities. 00:49:58.980 --> 00:50:00.079 But not to do that. 00:50:00.139 --> 00:50:01.159 Don't do it with grumbling. 00:50:01.339 --> 00:50:02.079 Do it joyfully. 00:50:02.259 --> 00:50:04.139 Share with others what you have. 00:50:04.579 --> 00:50:06.519 And welcome them in as family. 00:50:06.519 --> 00:50:12.639 So, these begin the practical implications of the book of Romans. 00:50:12.759 --> 00:50:15.079 He continues going on from there. 00:50:15.940 --> 00:50:18.139 And so let's close in prayer. 00:50:18.139 --> 00:50:18.360 Amen. 00:50:18.360 --> 00:50:18.360 00:50:18.360 --> 00:50:18.360 00:50:18.360 --> 00:50:18.360 00:50:18.360 --> 00:50:18.360 00:50:18.360 --> 00:50:18.360 00:50:18.360 --> 00:50:18.360