WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.000 Good morning, Watermark. Happy anniversary. Come on. That's right. I know, that was my fault. 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:18.019 Happy anniversary. That's right. Which anniversary are we at? That's right. Six years, and it's 00:00:18.019 --> 00:00:23.920 amazing. I haven't, my name is Jeremy, if you don't know me. I oversee a bunch of things. I'm part of 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.620 the, I guess you can say, the pastoral staff here. I oversee the music as well. So it's amazing for 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:36.740 me, even though I haven't been around quite as long as Melissa and Mervyn, to just see God raise 00:00:36.740 --> 00:00:42.600 up leaders and see people use their gifts and go from a place where they don't even believe in 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:49.060 themselves or they don't believe they have a talent or gift and see God encourage them and multiply 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:55.400 them. And I love what Mervyn said. I'm glad it's sinking in that the team, the musicians, they're 00:00:55.399 --> 00:01:01.320 not here to perform to us. They're here to facilitate our worship of God. And as I was 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:07.859 standing in the back there, I was listening to you guys sing, and it sounded great. And 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:13.319 the beauty of singing together is actually very simple from a musical point of view. Even if 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:20.239 someone's out of tune, it kind of like blends in with everybody. And beyond that, it's also 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:26.159 great because I think God designed us to worship together. And not to come in here and listen to 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:32.079 one or two people sing, but to actually hear each other, hear a voice in unison that says, 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:39.719 worthy is the Lamb, the Lamb Jesus Christ who was slain. Amen? So when you guys sing together, 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:44.379 when you guys listen to each other, remind yourselves of that, that it's not about 00:01:44.379 --> 00:01:52.239 listening to people, but being in one voice, united for God. And in the same way today, 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:58.159 even as I'm preaching a sermon, I'm reminded that I am not, you are listening to me, yes, 00:01:58.219 --> 00:02:05.099 obviously, in a technical sense. But we are all listening to the Word of God, and I am a facilitator 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:13.419 of worship. I am not here to bring you to Jesus. Jesus is doing that. I'm not here to facilitate and be 00:02:13.419 --> 00:02:19.519 a mediator between you and God. Jesus has done that. So if you take nothing from the sermon today, 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:25.339 I pray that you would just glance over to that banner multiple times throughout the sermon. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:33.060 Just remember, Jesus is the one who brings you to a holy and perfect God. Jesus' death on the cross 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:41.299 is the one, is the thing that saves you. Let me just pray for us, pray for me as we begin. 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:45.500 Father, we want to cast our eyes. You want to gaze at the beauty of the cross, 00:02:46.200 --> 00:02:51.300 where you died that horrific death, but showed us how much you love us. So I pray right now, 00:02:51.700 --> 00:02:58.120 as we conclude this series on the book of Titus, that we would be transformed, that the truth of 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:06.160 the gospel would actually sink into the depths of our hearts, to our very gut, Lord, and actually 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:17.379 move us, actually make a difference in how we think, and how we behave, and how we interact with this 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:24.699 church and this world. I pray that anything that you would want to speak specifically to us right now, 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:29.819 I pray that you would just impress that on our hearts individually, whatever it is in this message, 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:39.519 whatever it is in this passage, and we pray these things in the precious Son's name, Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. 00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:47.579 So as I was saying, we are at the very end of this series on Titus, this letter that the Apostle Paul 00:03:47.579 --> 00:03:56.139 wrote to Titus, who was overseeing this church in Crete, and we've been on this journey of exploring 00:03:56.139 --> 00:04:01.739 how the truth of the gospel, it's not just a truth that you think about and you hear about, but it 00:04:01.739 --> 00:04:10.099 actually, if properly understood and received, it actually transforms our lives. And we've heard that 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:17.180 this transformation doesn't just happen on an individual level, but also at a corporate level, 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:24.579 that our calling as Christians is to actually train one another in this church, 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:31.259 so that we actually become a community, a community that is transformed by God's truth. 00:04:32.419 --> 00:04:41.620 We've learned how God raises up godly leaders, elders and other leaders, to oversee the church family, 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:48.740 and also to protect us from false teaching, teaching like the performance-based religion we've 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:54.459 heard about so much, the PBR virus that Chris has mentioned before. 00:04:54.579 --> 00:05:02.259 This teaching says that we need to earn God's love. We need to earn God's acceptance, and that is false 00:05:02.259 --> 00:05:09.279 teaching because we cannot do that. Mervyn and Melissa made such a great sort of just reference 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:16.099 to that. How about it's grace? It's grace. It's grace, and we never want to forget that truth. 00:05:16.100 --> 00:05:24.340 We've also learned that everyone in the church, every single person is called, called by God, if you are a 00:05:24.340 --> 00:05:31.820 Christian, to help train up someone else, someone who's younger in the faith. And a big part of this 00:05:31.820 --> 00:05:40.660 training is encouraging each other in good works, good works that are a natural, inevitable results of 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:47.860 true faith in Christ. And if you remember last week, we heard about this amazing subversive power 00:05:47.860 --> 00:05:56.460 of good works because it's totally countercultural. It's filled and fueled and motivated by grace and 00:05:56.460 --> 00:06:05.860 love, and the world has not seen that kind of subversive good works. So as we look at this closing passage 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:15.020 of Titus today, you can see all these things summarized in the passage. In verse 8 that we just heard, 00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:23.019 the Apostle Paul writes this, the saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, 00:06:23.359 --> 00:06:30.479 so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. 00:06:31.359 --> 00:06:38.419 Now what's he referring to? What is this that is so important that we must insist upon it? 00:06:39.099 --> 00:06:45.000 It's the gospel. It's the gospel that he's been talking about through the letter and also in 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:51.100 throughout chapter 3. And when you have a moment tonight, I encourage you, go home, read the entire 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:56.660 letter of Titus. You know, it's not very long, but at least read through chapter 3 from beginning to end, 00:06:56.740 --> 00:07:03.279 and you'll be able to see a clear picture of how Paul just lays out the gospel point by point. 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:12.319 The theologian John Stott, he calls this the six ingredients of salvation. And just to help us have 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:17.259 like a background, let's just review them briefly. You can see them on the screen right there. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:25.839 The first ingredient of salvation is that we have a need for salvation. You don't realize you need to 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:31.279 be saved until you realize that you need to be saved. And there's something wrong, there's something 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:37.879 broken, there's something grossly imperfect about our lives. And that's the first thing. We realize that 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:44.620 we have a need for salvation. And secondly, you'll see when you read chapter 3 tonight, there's a source 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:50.920 of salvation, and that's God's gracious, loving kindness. He's the one who actually looks at us 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:57.980 and says, there's no way that Jeremy and any of us can reach God. He is the initiator. He is the one 00:07:57.980 --> 00:08:06.759 that steps into our lives. He's the one who is full of grace and loving kindness. Thirdly, the ground for 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:14.860 salvation, the basis, the foundation for our salvation is not our works. It's not what we can do, but it's 00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:21.740 on the cross. It's the mercy that God shows us so that we can never boast and say, oh, I did this. I'm so 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:29.199 good. God, you have to accept me. We always say Jesus was the only one who lived perfectly. And fourthly, 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:35.439 the means of salvation. How do we actually attain this salvation? It's through the Holy Spirit. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:44.920 As the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and grows us and brings us to this point of confession that 00:08:44.920 --> 00:08:52.580 Jesus is Lord. It's through the Holy Spirit also working in our lives. And fifthly, the goal of 00:08:52.580 --> 00:09:02.100 salvation. You'll see that Paul talks about eternal life, our eternal destination in relationship with God, 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:09.060 in his presence, in his presence, so that everything we do today is done in light of that eternal reality. 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:17.040 And you will live very differently when you know you have an eternal assurance because you aren't just 00:09:17.040 --> 00:09:24.200 living for this lifetime. You are living for so much more so that when you understand points one to five, 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:35.800 the inevitable evidence of salvation. As Paul wraps up here in verse eight, is our devotion to good works. 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:45.580 Paul tells us to insist on these things because we learn and we experience these elements of gospel, 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:52.700 of this gospel, and the inevitable outcome. If we really understand our need and God's amazing 00:09:52.700 --> 00:09:57.020 salvation to us, the outcome should be good works. 00:09:59.140 --> 00:10:05.940 So that's the discussion that Paul has in verse eight, referring to how he's presented the gospel. 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:12.360 But then you kind of switch over to verses nine to 11, and the other side of the picture comes in. 00:10:12.520 --> 00:10:17.280 And here's where Paul revisits this issue of false leaders that he's talked about in the letter. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:22.620 These are people who just want to stir up controversy and division. 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:28.559 These are people who promote superstitions and that performance-based religion. 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:33.720 These things are essentially the opposite of good works. 00:10:34.699 --> 00:10:38.519 And Paul says the people of God need to stay away from that. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:46.639 These things show that the false teachers have not actually understood and experienced the gospel, 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:50.919 which is why Paul says they are actually self-condemned. 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:56.159 And that discipline process that Paul talks about in verses nine to 11, 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:00.879 the heart behind that is not just to protect the family from false teaching, 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:07.340 but it's actually to discipline those false teachers so that they would actually come to know 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:10.840 the true gospel and not this false teaching. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:19.759 And then when we turn to the last verses, verses 12 to 15 of this letter, 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:24.340 Paul's conclusion includes some final instructions and greetings, 00:11:24.620 --> 00:11:28.180 things that you would typically see in a lot of his letters. 00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:31.259 You know, there's a reference to Zenos the lawyer, or Zenest the lawyer, 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:36.080 and that made me happy when I first read that because as a former lawyer myself, 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:41.319 you know, I definitely wrestled with this fact that we sometimes lawyers have a bad rap. 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:45.319 You know, they don't have the best reputation all the time. 00:11:45.439 --> 00:11:48.340 So seeing that, you know, preserved in Scripture, 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:51.960 that there is a lawyer that can actually be good, you know, 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:54.819 that is assuring to us, isn't it? 00:11:54.820 --> 00:11:59.660 So think about that and really kind of, you know, just embrace that if you need that today, 00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:02.620 if there's any lawyers in here who need that. 00:12:04.640 --> 00:12:10.820 The point, though, the point that I want to really draw us to is in verse 14. 00:12:11.820 --> 00:12:18.920 And I think this really encapsulates everything that this final section is about. 00:12:18.920 --> 00:12:19.960 Paul writes this, 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:36.759 You notice something about that? 00:12:37.540 --> 00:12:41.560 That parallel to verse 8 is unmistakable. 00:12:42.780 --> 00:12:46.100 Devote themselves to good works. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:50.860 And there's something so fundamentally important about these good works 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:55.259 that Paul emphasizes it not once but twice at the end of his letter. 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:59.060 And I think we can see why he did that. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:03.340 You know, as we remember those six elements of salvation, 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:09.899 good works is the evidence of salvation. 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.399 It's what shows us. 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:16.319 It's what shows the world that God is transforming our lives. 00:13:17.199 --> 00:13:20.860 It's what Jesus said in Matthew 5, verse 16. 00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:27.399 Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:30.399 and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.679 We sang that just now. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:37.620 Shine your light and let the whole world see we're singing for the glory of the risen King. 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:45.700 And Paul says in verse 8 that good works are excellent and profitable. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:54.560 Here in verse 14, he states that devoting ourselves to good works means that we will not be unfruitful. 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:58.620 Some other translations say unproductive. 00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:01.779 So here's what it boils down to. 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:04.779 Scripture says that good works are excellent. 00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:06.839 They are profitable. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:08.600 They are productive. 00:14:09.199 --> 00:14:10.000 And they are fruitful. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.039 And that's great, right? 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:21.919 Who in here does not want to do works that are excellent and profitable and productive and fruitful, right? 00:14:23.079 --> 00:14:26.199 If you don't, we can talk later and we can see why that is. 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:36.860 But I would really think that we would all see those four words and say, yeah, I want my work, my life to be marked by those words. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:43.600 So as we turn our attention to the idea of fruitfulness and the gospel today, 00:14:43.660 --> 00:14:53.840 let me share a story about a small church that I was involved in when I was younger, quite some years ago. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.820 I'm older than I look. 00:14:56.780 --> 00:15:00.840 Leaders of this church, of this small church, they were wonderful people. 00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:02.560 They were loving people. 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:06.200 They were imperfect people, people like me and you. 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:11.060 And they were faithful in preaching the gospel. 00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:12.940 They were faithful in loving each other. 00:15:13.040 --> 00:15:16.000 They were faithful in gathering week after week. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:22.100 And after starting out meeting in people's homes, kind of like house church style, they kind of grew out of that. 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:23.320 They outgrew of that in size. 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:25.659 And they started meeting in a local church building. 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:36.460 And in terms of size, though, they never really grew past around 40 or so people gathering week to week. 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:38.720 And they were thoughtful. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:39.679 They were diligent. 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:40.659 I was involved. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.899 I observed them. 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:43.240 I volunteered as well. 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:43.960 They were thoughtful. 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:48.620 They were diligent in developing, you know, ideas, trying different things. 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:53.480 But the numbers pretty much plateaued, like around 40. 00:15:54.840 --> 00:16:00.639 And some people eventually left over the years, natural ebbs and flows of the church life. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:06.000 And there were definitely seasons where it felt like the church was shrinking even. 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:09.379 But this church still meets today. 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:13.059 And there's still a solid core right there. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:26.840 And when you hear just that little anecdote about my experience about this church, do the words excellence, profitable, productive, and fruitful jump into your mind? 00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:31.600 Are those the things that immediately kind of resonate with you? 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:37.340 What if I told you a similar story but just kind of changed up the elements? 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.740 You know, we're talking about a business. 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:41.340 We're talking about a board of directors. 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:44.920 We're talking about revenue and losses and all those things. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:51.980 Would those words excellent, profitable, productive, and fruitful come to your mind? 00:16:51.980 --> 00:17:02.080 When we look at the passage today, we realize that in order to properly understand the message of Titus, 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:11.579 we need to have a biblical understanding of this connection between good works and fruitfulness. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:15.799 So our outline today is very simple. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:21.039 We're going to look at the results-based perspective of fruitfulness. 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:26.240 And then we're going to look at the biblical perspective on fruitfulness. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:31.659 And finally, hopefully, we can apply that in some way to our lives. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.420 Very simple. 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:37.379 Results-based, the Bible and God's Word and application. 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:45.440 So when we consider profitability, when we consider fruitfulness from a worldly perspective, 00:17:45.560 --> 00:17:48.340 you know, it's typically based on results. 00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:52.040 And more specifically, quantifiable results. 00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:55.680 Things you can count, that you can tally, that you can put on a spreadsheet. 00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:59.560 Everyone loves a good spreadsheet that tells them good numbers, right? 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:01.639 Positives, negatives. 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:09.559 You can clearly measure things like the number of attendees, the income, the expenditure, the hours you have worked, 00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:11.639 the widgets you have manufactured. 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:17.559 You know, you can clearly look at the grades on your transcript, right? 00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:17.919 Students. 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:22.519 And you can look at the university name that's printed on your transcript. 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:28.240 And then you can go online and look at the ranking of that school, right? 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:31.819 If you're working, you can look at your salary slip. 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:35.099 You can look at the title on your business card. 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:39.500 You can look at the organization chart and see where you stand on that chart. 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:42.559 You can look at the valuation of your company. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:54.179 And even in nonprofit, even in charities, you know, metrics are key to how we assess the benefit, the impact of our work. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.639 And churches are no different. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.980 You know, we do look at Sunday attendance. 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:00.839 We do measure all kinds of attendance. 00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:03.019 We do look at financial giving. 00:19:03.419 --> 00:19:04.460 We do look at the budget. 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:07.679 We look at the number of people baptized, even. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:15.600 And so there are endless, endless things that we can quantify and count in order to measure our results. 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:20.779 And let me be clear, I'm not saying that any of that is inherently bad. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:26.240 There's a lot of benefit we can get from counting and measuring, 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:32.400 from having performance indicators that measure the results that we're achieving, including the church. 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:37.200 So by no means I'm not anti-numbers, anti-metrics. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:39.400 But here's the problem. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:46.500 There are several fundamental problems with Christians and people, I would say, in general. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:54.100 Problems with relying on results as the primary way of measuring the fruitfulness of our good works. 00:19:55.620 --> 00:20:05.980 Now, firstly, even in secular perspectives, there are plenty of skeptics and people expressing caution about using performance metrics. 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:13.039 A recent piece in Harvard Business Review talks about the various traps of performance measurement. 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.360 It said this. 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:18.559 There's this trap, this danger of putting your faith in numbers. 00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:21.360 Here's a Harvard Business Review talking about faith. 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:25.160 Putting your faith in numbers rather than something else. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:28.440 It means putting your weight, your reliance on numbers. 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:28.940 Why? 00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:33.700 Because it increases the temptation of manipulating those numbers. 00:20:35.320 --> 00:20:37.440 And I'm sure you can think about many examples. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:41.360 And I don't know, Wells Fargo comes to mind recently. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:57.179 There's also this trap, this temptation, that when your metrics might not actually reflect what is true growth and actual prosperity and advancement. 00:20:57.180 --> 00:21:03.940 And as your company, as your organization evolves, those metrics actually might become outdated very quickly. 00:21:04.060 --> 00:21:11.640 So here's a Harvard Business Review saying that numbers, you have to be careful because they might not reflect true fruitfulness. 00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:18.120 There's also this trap, this tendency that you only measure against yourself. 00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:26.659 You become inward looking and you only measure against what you've done in the past, last year's numbers, the previous decade's numbers. 00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:33.879 And what happens is, I think what we see here is, here is the key problem with relying on results. 00:21:34.639 --> 00:21:39.939 You can only consider your success in relation to something else. 00:21:40.459 --> 00:21:46.679 You can only compare with how you did before or how someone else is doing. 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:49.920 And therefore, all of your results is relative. 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:56.320 You can only do it and feel like you've grown and achieved in comparison to something else. 00:21:57.740 --> 00:22:00.660 And this doesn't just apply to business. 00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:06.980 You know, imagine in your life right now trying to use metrics for the Christian life. 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:10.740 Did you give more money this year? 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:13.580 Did you attend Sunday service more? 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:16.879 Did you spend more time reading the Bible? 00:22:17.159 --> 00:22:18.579 If so, how many more verses? 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:20.859 How many more passages did you memorize? 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:24.139 How many more minutes did you spend doing quiet time? 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:28.240 Did you spend more time serving the poor? 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:30.740 Did you spend less time watching porn? 00:22:32.919 --> 00:22:36.519 Did you get angry or impatient fewer times this year? 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:40.940 And you can go on and on and on. 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:46.059 And I don't know if all of you have a spreadsheet that quantifies your Christian life. 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:54.200 But I think that all of us are at least subconsciously aware of our performance as Christians. 00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:54.539 Why? 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:57.059 Because society demands it. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.700 Your workplace demands it. 00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.299 Your schools demand it. 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:07.119 That culture has shaped us and told us that we need to measure our worth by performance. 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:13.519 And the more measurable, the more concrete, the more tangible those measurements are, the better. 00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:17.980 Again, I am not saying the numbers are bad. 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:22.980 Don't leave this service thing like, forget the numbers. 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:26.400 I'm deleting all my Excel spreadsheets. 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:28.360 It's not bad. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:31.559 And I think, can measuring results be useful and helpful? 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.519 Absolutely. 00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:35.779 But here's the thing. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:43.720 The clearest indicator that results are not the main thing for the people of God is this. 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:54.220 Scripture, our passage today, describes a fundamentally different way of connecting good works and fruitfulness. 00:23:55.299 --> 00:24:00.259 And that connection is captured in the word devotion. 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:12.140 Verse 8, those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:20.920 And again, in verse 14, let our people learn to devote themselves to good works. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:25.320 And this is our second point today. 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:37.160 Biblical faithfulness is ultimately measured by one's devotion to good works, not the result of good works. 00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:52.620 Now, firstly, I want to make sure we understand and just make sure this is clear. 00:24:52.800 --> 00:24:59.220 When I talk about devotion, I'm not talking about some kind of passive mediocrity. 00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:05.440 I'm not using the word devotion to mean that God just wants us, you know, to have a good heart in a negative sense. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:09.779 You know, I've thought that about myself sometimes to justify. 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:11.539 It's like, God, I have a good heart. 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:14.440 I'm trying to do, you know, to live for you. 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:16.440 But there was like zero effort. 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.180 There was no perseverance. 00:25:19.320 --> 00:25:25.259 It's not about just us singing Kumbaya and feeling good about each other, you know, week after week. 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:29.039 We're not, it's not about just relying on good intentions. 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:40.160 Instead of growing in competence and having this genuine, gritty zealousness, this passion to do our best for God. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:50.700 So it's not about that passive kind of mediocrity that we can so often use to justify our lack of effort. 00:25:50.700 --> 00:26:00.860 The Greek word translated as devotion in verses 8 and 14 is this word called proistimi. 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.740 Proistimi. 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.140 Say it with me. 00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.660 Proistimi. 00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:07.100 One more time. 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.259 Proistimi. 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.500 Something like that. 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:10.880 It's okay. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:14.800 And it's translated devotion. 00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:23.120 But as I looked into this word, as I kind of dug into how it was used, man, it is multifaceted. 00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:26.700 It is a rich, it is a deep word. 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:35.140 And I was amazed at all the various definitions, how it's been translated into different words throughout Paul's letters. 00:26:37.280 --> 00:26:40.360 It's the same word translated manage. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:46.360 Like how Christians are called to manage their households and take care of their children. 00:26:47.580 --> 00:26:53.780 It's translated rule over, like how elders and leaders are supposed to rule well in the church. 00:26:53.780 --> 00:26:56.900 And they're supposed to watch over the flock. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:03.480 It can also be defined as lead or guide or direct. 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:08.080 You know, where we have this authoritative role in doing these good works. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:14.139 It can be defined as being active in helping or aiding others. 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:22.780 So that describes this supportive role that you have in encouraging others, in exhorting others to do good works. 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:34.720 It can be defined as strive, which I think beautifully captures the perseverance, that grit that you need when it comes to devoting yourself to good works. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:43.920 Proisteme also carries this sense of being busy or making something your business. 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:49.240 And can you imagine your life if you made good works your business? 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:53.339 Not in the sense of profiting, you know, financially from good works, 00:27:53.339 --> 00:28:00.299 but in the sense that you take this enterprise as seriously as you would take any business endeavor. 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:08.039 And finally, this word devotion carries this sense of being preeminent. 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:13.299 Like being ahead of others or being the first in something, preeminence. 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:19.259 And here's where I think it's actually quite appropriate to compare and say that Christians, 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:27.220 we should be the most preeminent in doing good, in doing good for our society. 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:35.220 Why? Because the Christian understands that the evidence of our salvation is devotion to good works, 00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:37.660 not the results of those good works. 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:43.839 And because of that, Christians should be some of the most inventive, the most entrepreneurial, 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:47.079 some of the most risk-taking leaders in the world. 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:52.140 Because we're devoted to good works without fear of failure, 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:57.759 without fear of obtaining the results that we or the world expect. 00:29:00.300 --> 00:29:04.900 The Christians know that God measures them by proisteme, 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:07.000 not by their results. 00:29:08.780 --> 00:29:14.680 And the Bible is full of stories of people whose lives were marked by proisteme. 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:21.340 And yet, their lives were very different and had very different outcomes. 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:26.640 And I think this just beautifully illustrates when we look at these narratives. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:36.220 Try comparing the lives of Joseph of the Old Testament, you know, the technicolor coat guy, son of Jacob. 00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:40.140 Compare his life with John the Baptist in the New Testament. 00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:44.560 You know, both gained the reputation of being righteous men. 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:48.680 Genesis 39 explains how the Lord was with Joseph. 00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:53.720 He was bought by Potiphar when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. 00:29:54.320 --> 00:30:00.240 And he was so competent, so upstanding, that Potiphar put him in charge of his whole house. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:10.759 Mark 6.20 says that King Herod feared John, knowing that he was righteous and holy, and he kept him safe. 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:17.460 Their devotion meant that both men resisted sexual evil throughout their lives. 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:20.640 They stood up against it, both in their public and personal lives. 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:24.759 Joseph went through years of suffering. 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:31.099 He was thrown into jail, languishing in jail, being forgotten in jail. 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:40.579 And he stayed devoted until he actually was brought out of there, and he was raised up to become the second in command of all of Egypt. 00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:50.099 John the Baptist spent 29 years, the first 29 years of his life, preparing for his ministry. 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:59.939 And then he spent the next year gloriously proclaiming the coming of the Messiah, preparing the way for the Lord. 00:31:00.919 --> 00:31:04.359 And then something amazing, something striking happened. 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:16.219 King Herod was so pleased by the dancing of this foxy lady in his court that he foolishly promises her to give her anything, up to half of his kingdom. 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:46.200 King Herod is so pleased by the way for the Lord. 00:31:46.200 --> 00:32:16.180 King Herod was so pleased by the way for the Lord. 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:18.180 King Herod was so pleased by the way for the Lord. 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:22.720 Hebrews 11, that famous chapter on faith. 00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:28.900 Verse 34 tells us that through faith, some escaped the sword. 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:36.420 But verse 37 says, through faith, some were killed with the sword. 00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:42.740 Same input, same faith, radically different outcomes. 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:44.660 completely opposite. 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:49.480 And that tells us that it was their faith that counted. 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:51.740 And I would say likewise, when we look at this, 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:54.400 it is our devotion to good works 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:56.839 that counts as faithfulness. 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:00.740 I love the story of King Josiah. 00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:04.500 You can read it in 2 Kings 22-23. 00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:06.299 Go home and read it this week. 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:10.039 God's people have fallen into complete idolatry. 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:14.180 Ups and downs, and they have fallen so far 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:16.539 that even the law of God has been lost. 00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:19.159 It's like the Bible being completely forgotten 00:33:19.159 --> 00:33:20.200 in this church today. 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.899 No one even has a copy. 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:24.259 And King Josiah, he ascends to this throne, 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:28.779 and he finds the word of God, their scriptures, 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:31.659 and he realizes how far they have fallen 00:33:31.659 --> 00:33:33.659 from what God has called them to be 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:34.799 and who they are today, 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:37.519 and he mourns that they have fallen away. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:40.740 He seeks God, and the prophetess tells him, 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.700 it's too late. 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:44.180 The word of God, thus says the Lord, 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.680 it's too late for you guys. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:47.920 You've passed the point of no return. 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:49.720 Your kingdom will be decimated. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.319 Your people will be exiled. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:54.099 But because you, Josiah, have been faithful, 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:56.240 you have repented, you have mourned, 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:59.579 I will spare you from seeing the devastation. 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:01.500 It'll be past your time. 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:05.420 Now, if I was Josiah at this point, 00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:07.200 I don't know about you, but if I was Josiah, 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.960 I would have been seriously tempted 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:11.079 to just cruise for the rest of my life. 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:14.179 You know, enjoy the life of a king, right? 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:17.719 And be resigned to the fact that God has already declared, 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:20.460 he's decreed that there's nothing we can do. 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:23.239 The kingdom is gonna be destroyed. 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:29.679 But devotion, proistemi, and Josiah, 00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.479 and he doesn't do that. 00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:33.699 He calls all the people together 00:34:33.699 --> 00:34:35.599 to pledge themselves to God. 00:34:35.899 --> 00:34:37.259 Again, they respond to him, 00:34:37.379 --> 00:34:40.239 and from there you read how he had these sweeping reforms 00:34:40.779 --> 00:34:42.119 throughout all of his kingdom, 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:47.059 all with the knowledge that destruction was inevitable. 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:50.920 And indeed, as you continue reading, 00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:54.119 they're wiped out and exiled. 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:59.179 The world looks at Josiah and says, 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.920 what a waste. 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:02.980 Why did he even bother? 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.840 Why didn't he just enjoy himself? 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:08.519 But I think Josiah understood 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:12.619 that fruitfulness is measured by your daily devotion to God. 00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:17.139 And this, guys, church, this is good news for us. 00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:21.400 For those of us who are here today 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:25.339 laboring under the expectations of the world, 00:35:25.839 --> 00:35:28.480 wondering if we'll succeed in our careers, 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:31.719 wondering how our kids will turn out, 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:34.519 wondering if they'll meet our expectations 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:36.299 or the world's expectations, 00:35:37.219 --> 00:35:41.119 wondering if we'll ever even get married and have kids, 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:43.779 or simply wondering if our lives 00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:45.219 will actually make a difference. 00:35:45.819 --> 00:35:48.480 Will our community group members actually grow? 00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:50.859 Will people come to know the Lord? 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:54.019 Will that loved one finally repent 00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:55.259 and turn back to Jesus? 00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:58.960 Will this church actually grow and make a difference? 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:01.239 Well, God is telling us today, 00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:03.859 focus your eyes, focus your attention 00:36:03.859 --> 00:36:05.679 on your devotion. 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:10.440 Devotion in that full biblical sense 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:11.300 to keep learning, 00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:12.260 to keep trying, 00:36:12.260 --> 00:36:13.980 to keep persevering, 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:17.500 and surrendering your results to God. 00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:22.780 Scripture says a thousand years is like a day to God, 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:26.380 so we can patiently trust and wait on him. 00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:29.240 For those of you in here, 00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:32.179 for those of us in here who have great results, 00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:35.179 this is a reminder for us 00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:38.099 not to feel guilty about your success, 00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:40.559 unless you have a real good reason 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:41.779 to feel guilty about your success. 00:36:41.899 --> 00:36:42.699 That's a separate thing. 00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.579 But don't feel guilty, 00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:49.199 but also do not look at your results 00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:50.539 and your success and say, 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:52.500 that's evidence of godliness, 00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:53.500 because it's not. 00:36:54.799 --> 00:36:57.399 Your devotion was the evidence. 00:36:57.400 --> 00:37:01.599 Proistemi is a reminder for Watermark, 00:37:01.720 --> 00:37:02.860 for our church family, 00:37:03.860 --> 00:37:05.420 to point each other, 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:08.400 to point the world to the greatest example of devotion, 00:37:09.740 --> 00:37:11.160 Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:37:12.260 --> 00:37:15.039 Died and rose again to save helpless sinners 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:15.980 like you and me. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:20.000 Yeah, the cross seemed like utter foolishness 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:20.760 when it happened. 00:37:21.880 --> 00:37:25.519 Son of God dying in agony on the cross, 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:27.280 separated from the Father 00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:29.380 until we realized 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:32.280 that when he resurrected, 00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:34.500 he conquered sin and death. 00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:37.619 And now we can have eternal life 00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:39.960 as God's beloved children. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:42.579 And now none of us 00:37:42.579 --> 00:37:46.360 need to be defined by results anymore 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:48.000 because God achieved 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:50.400 the one and greatest result 00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:51.920 that all of us need. 00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:55.200 And guys, 00:37:55.539 --> 00:37:57.960 this is true liberation. 00:37:58.220 --> 00:37:59.180 This is the freedom 00:37:59.180 --> 00:38:02.079 to look beyond our desire for results, 00:38:02.200 --> 00:38:04.039 beyond that empty desire 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:06.059 for self-worth and validation. 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:08.420 You know, it says in verse 14, 00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:12.579 devote ourselves to help cases of urgent need. 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:15.200 You know, we can actually look at a place 00:38:15.200 --> 00:38:16.519 like Ebenezer School, 00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:19.280 this place that we're meeting right now, 00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:21.080 and see that there are blind kids 00:38:21.080 --> 00:38:22.040 that need our help. 00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:25.280 You know, I think the Spirit's been prompting me 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:26.340 in these last months. 00:38:27.200 --> 00:38:29.140 Think about how I can serve these kids. 00:38:29.220 --> 00:38:31.060 I've been noticing blind people 00:38:31.060 --> 00:38:33.620 navigating the MTR, 00:38:34.060 --> 00:38:36.080 marveling at their fearlessness, 00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:38.620 their skill in rush hour. 00:38:39.100 --> 00:38:39.740 It's amazing. 00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:42.240 Open your eyes and see that next time. 00:38:42.240 --> 00:38:44.120 And I pray that we can explore that 00:38:44.120 --> 00:38:45.800 together as a church. 00:38:45.800 --> 00:38:48.539 And if for whatever reason 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:50.519 we're unsuccessful in serving these kids, 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:51.560 that's okay. 00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:52.900 We can regroup. 00:38:53.160 --> 00:38:54.400 We can prepare differently. 00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:56.800 We can try different things. 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:59.460 And we can really devote ourselves 00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:01.460 to this good work 00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:02.720 and whatever good work 00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:04.160 that God puts before us. 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.700 You know, for Christians 00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:07.780 and non-Christians alike, 00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.740 the gospel says that 00:39:08.740 --> 00:39:10.460 when you put your faith in Christ, 00:39:10.680 --> 00:39:12.140 you have eternal life 00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:13.920 and as a new creation. 00:39:15.379 --> 00:39:16.980 That in this lifetime, 00:39:17.159 --> 00:39:19.859 God will provide everything you need. 00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:22.359 But he's showing you day by day 00:39:22.359 --> 00:39:24.219 that what you really need 00:39:24.219 --> 00:39:26.460 is a loving relationship with him. 00:39:27.299 --> 00:39:29.819 One that overflows into devotion. 00:39:30.819 --> 00:39:32.019 It's the truth 00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:35.339 that actually transforms lives. 00:39:35.340 --> 00:39:39.140 I'm going to invite the band 00:39:39.140 --> 00:39:40.420 to come back 00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:41.200 and lead us 00:39:41.200 --> 00:39:43.000 in a couple songs. 00:39:43.140 --> 00:39:44.180 So feel free to just come on up. 00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:48.079 If the truth 00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:50.800 actually transforms us, 00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:53.340 the final question 00:39:53.340 --> 00:39:54.700 that remains 00:39:54.700 --> 00:39:55.960 is this. 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:00.780 Is devotion, 00:40:01.780 --> 00:40:03.079 is proisteme 00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:04.340 enough for you? 00:40:04.340 --> 00:40:06.100 Is it enough 00:40:06.100 --> 00:40:07.100 that your life 00:40:07.100 --> 00:40:08.700 is defined 00:40:08.700 --> 00:40:10.320 by proisteme? 00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:12.300 Even if the results, 00:40:13.320 --> 00:40:15.260 the outcomes 00:40:15.260 --> 00:40:17.440 come out 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:18.579 and the world considers 00:40:18.579 --> 00:40:19.360 that as failure. 00:40:20.500 --> 00:40:20.800 You know, 00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.640 I struggle with this 00:40:21.640 --> 00:40:22.200 but I know 00:40:22.200 --> 00:40:23.559 the answer is yes. 00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:25.640 Joseph, 00:40:26.240 --> 00:40:26.720 John, 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:27.559 Josiah, 00:40:28.260 --> 00:40:29.240 Jesus would say 00:40:29.240 --> 00:40:30.000 a resounding 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:31.280 yes. 00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:33.500 And I can see 00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:35.159 that small church plant 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:36.579 that I was involved with. 00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:38.380 I can see them 00:40:38.380 --> 00:40:39.539 faithfully gathering 00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:40.639 and I can believe 00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.400 in my heart 00:40:41.400 --> 00:40:43.159 that I saw devotion. 00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:46.260 I saw devotion. 00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:48.840 And though they are small, 00:40:49.400 --> 00:40:50.260 though they may not 00:40:50.260 --> 00:40:51.159 have achieved much 00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:52.340 from the world's perspective, 00:40:53.039 --> 00:40:56.039 they were fruitful 00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:57.219 and they are fruitful. 00:40:57.219 --> 00:41:00.599 let's respond to God 00:41:00.599 --> 00:41:00.980 in worship. 00:41:00.980 --> 00:41:01.259 Let's respond to God 00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:02.099 and worship.