WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.240 Amen. Okay, kiddos, you are dismissed to your King's Kids class, and if you'd open up your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 5, we're going to be looking at verses 12-22. 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:18.839 It's on page 1174 of your pew Bible. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:22.199 Hear the word of the Lord. 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:36.500 Lord, we ask you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:38.399 Be at peace among yourselves. 00:00:39.179 --> 00:00:44.280 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:51.000 See that no one repays anyone for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:52.759 Rejoice always. 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:54.359 Pray without ceasing. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:01:00.100 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 00:01:00.740 --> 00:01:01.960 Do not quench the Spirit. 00:01:02.380 --> 00:01:04.859 Do not despise prophecies, but test everything. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:06.819 Hold fast what is good. 00:01:07.379 --> 00:01:10.480 Abstain from every form of evil. 00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:12.560 May God bless the hearing of his word. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:18.260 How do you handle waiting? 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:22.420 Let's say Saturday rolls around. 00:01:22.660 --> 00:01:26.439 You have people coming over for pizza in a rousing game of Dutch Blitz. 00:01:26.520 --> 00:01:27.320 Who knows Dutch Blitz? 00:01:28.320 --> 00:01:31.320 Everybody else, you're invited over to my house this coming Saturday. 00:01:33.080 --> 00:01:34.240 Dutch Blitz is awesome. 00:01:35.660 --> 00:01:37.500 Well, they're arriving at 530. 00:01:38.100 --> 00:01:41.400 So what are you doing leading up to their arrival? 00:01:42.020 --> 00:01:44.580 What are you doing leading up to go time? 00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:53.280 Here's what I'm doing, and I realize that you'll probably psychoanalyze me while I share these very vulnerable and transparent things. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:59.760 I'm typically cleaning and watching. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:02.579 I'm cleaning outside. 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:07.140 I'm cleaning inside, and I'm looking at my watch saying, how much longer until they get here? 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:11.300 And as 530 approaches, I am looking out the window. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:12.620 I'm looking down the road. 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:18.500 I'm looking for the cars of the coming ones, of these dear ones. 00:02:18.500 --> 00:02:19.500 I'm looking for the cars of the car. 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:20.500 I'm looking for the cars of the car. 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:21.500 I'm looking for the car. 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:22.500 I'm looking for the car. 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:23.500 I'm looking for the car. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:29.879 Another way to describe it is like, I'm like a golden retriever waiting for his master to come home after work. 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:31.680 That's how I get. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:42.500 1 Thessalonians repeatedly brings up a prophecy of Jesus Christ that he is coming back. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:44.580 We're one day closer. 00:02:44.580 --> 00:02:50.180 Sure, the thing is, we don't know the time nor the hour, but we're not to fear that. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:51.220 We're to be ready for that. 00:02:52.480 --> 00:03:00.740 But the question is, how do we as a church together wait for God's Son to come from heaven? 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:02.000 What are we supposed to be doing? 00:03:02.380 --> 00:03:07.740 Wouldn't it be great to have a list of things we should be doing while we're waiting for the Son? 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:14.180 Well, look, 1 Thessalonians 5, 12 through 22 gives us a list of 17 commands. 00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:17.140 I'm only going to take 10 minutes on each one. 00:03:21.140 --> 00:03:22.020 Just kidding. 00:03:24.100 --> 00:03:29.260 What we have here is 17 commands in rapid fire succession. 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:35.819 And these commands are urging us to walk in a certain way together as we wait on the Son. 00:03:35.899 --> 00:03:38.840 And so here's what I want to convince you of from this passage. 00:03:39.679 --> 00:03:45.459 That together, we walk by the Spirit as we wait on the Son. 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:47.919 Together, we're going to wait. 00:03:48.259 --> 00:03:52.519 We're going to walk by the Spirit as we wait on the Son. 00:03:52.520 --> 00:04:00.040 And so these 17 commands are not organized in some kind of random, haphazard fashion. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:04.500 They're actually grouped into four groups. 00:04:05.100 --> 00:04:07.000 And that's going to walk you through this morning. 00:04:07.660 --> 00:04:09.580 And the four groups are these. 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:14.000 Together, we're to respect our leaders, 12 and 13. 00:04:14.480 --> 00:04:17.800 Together, we're going to care for those who are needy in our midst. 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:19.639 That's in 14 and 15. 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:22.800 Together, we're to turn to God always. 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:24.860 That's 16 through 18. 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:28.599 And together, we are to stoke the fire of the Spirit. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:30.719 That's in verses 19 through 22. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:36.539 So how are we to wait together for the coming of the Son? 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:39.979 Together, we walk by the Spirit as we wait on the Son. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:46.500 Now, you may be a little surprised to hear me reference the Holy Spirit 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:49.860 as a part of the main thrust of this passage. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.639 But what I want to help you see as we go through this, 00:04:53.839 --> 00:05:00.480 that there are some very obvious clues as we go through that this passage is about walking by the Spirit. 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:06.079 So group number one, together, we are to respect our leaders in verses 12 and 13. 00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:08.339 Paul starts this section with an appeal. 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:38.319 He says, 00:05:38.339 --> 00:05:41.419 There was a leadership vacuum. 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:47.419 But God had raised up local leaders of the first Christian church of Thessalonica. 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:52.720 And what we have in this grouping are three commands. 00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:58.240 The first two are signaled by the word respect and esteem. 00:05:58.660 --> 00:06:01.280 So we ask you, brothers, to respect. 00:06:01.700 --> 00:06:04.620 And in verse 13, and to esteem. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:08.720 The word respect in the original language is a little more nuanced than what we have here. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.080 It means to actually acknowledge someone. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:14.120 To recognize them as a leader. 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:19.380 To say, yes, you are in fact a leader in this church. 00:06:19.760 --> 00:06:21.980 And it's not just to recognize someone. 00:06:22.080 --> 00:06:24.800 But verse 13, we are to esteem them. 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:29.320 We're to be able to appreciate them. 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:38.040 So what we're being told here to do as a way of walking by the Spirit is to acknowledge and appreciate the leaders in our midst. 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:46.519 This past Thursday was Veterans Day when we as a nation take time to acknowledge and appreciate the veterans in our midst 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:49.959 for the work that they have done for the good of our country. 00:06:50.219 --> 00:06:51.479 We're grateful for our veterans. 00:06:52.259 --> 00:06:57.579 And what we're being called here to do is to express acknowledgement and appreciation for our leaders. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:04.180 Did you notice how we are to appreciate, honor our leaders? 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:07.779 We are to esteem them very highly. 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:13.060 And we are to do that in love. 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:18.459 And the reason why we're to do that, to esteem leaders highly and in love, 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:21.740 is because of the nature of the work God has called them to. 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:24.579 We see that in verse 12. 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:27.079 Just kind of an elaboration of the work. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:30.959 Those who labor among you are over you in the Lord. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:36.060 The Lord has entrusted to them the responsibility of some kind of oversight and responsibility. 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:44.879 Who admonish you in the Lord that they will say hard things in love to you to build you up into Christ. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:49.780 Leadership in the church is not easy. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:50.620 It's difficult. 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:55.340 You regularly find yourself in tense and complicated situations. 00:07:55.339 --> 00:08:03.419 And so what the church is being called to do here is to esteem, to acknowledge that, 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:08.759 and to appreciate the leaders in our midst, elders and deacons, life group leaders, 00:08:08.979 --> 00:08:13.839 who are having to exercise some kind of leadership for the glory of Jesus. 00:08:15.059 --> 00:08:16.479 It's to be tenderhearted. 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:19.459 Tenderhearted appreciation. 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:23.259 That's getting at this to do so in love. 00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:25.879 But it raises the question, 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:30.860 what if you don't appreciate your leaders? 00:08:32.439 --> 00:08:35.340 What if it's not a tenderness of heart? 00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:40.379 What if you're not affectionate towards the leaders of your church? 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:43.360 What if you've been offended by them? 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:45.659 If you've been regularly disappointed by them? 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:48.899 If you're harboring resentment, you're avoiding them, 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:50.819 you're being sinfully critical of them, 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:56.620 you're regularly tempted to say ill things about them with other people? 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:00.700 Well, what you need to recognize there, that's a check engine light on your soul. 00:09:01.760 --> 00:09:03.820 That's saying you're not at peace with somebody. 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:06.379 You're not at peace with one of the leaders of the church. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:09.360 And so when you see in verse 13 where it says, 00:09:09.900 --> 00:09:12.500 and to esteem them very highly and love because of the work, 00:09:12.920 --> 00:09:14.440 be at peace among yourselves, 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:16.660 that is in the context of leadership. 00:09:18.260 --> 00:09:21.880 Seeking to be at peace with the leaders of your church. 00:09:23.300 --> 00:09:26.980 One of the things that Jasmine Aldrich has seared into my mind 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:30.640 when it comes to peacemaking is this little phrase. 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:33.000 I think I got it right, Jasmine. 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:36.240 Don't be a peacebreaker 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:39.100 or a peacefaker. 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:41.639 Be a peacemaker. 00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:46.000 And so far as it depends on you, Romans 12, 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:48.940 be at peace with everything, with everyone. 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:50.899 And so if you're wondering, well, what I do 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:53.399 if I'm holding something against a leader in my church, 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:56.379 Matthew 18, 15 through 20, you go to them. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.879 You tell them, show them their fault. 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:02.919 And if, like an elder, 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:05.299 has been approached by two or three people 00:10:05.299 --> 00:10:09.200 and they still are unrepentant for sin, 00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:12.419 then the church is to bring that elder 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:14.460 in front of the church and rebuke him publicly. 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:18.700 That's 1 Timothy 5, verses 19 through 20. 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:21.799 What I want to help you to see is 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:26.360 the love with which you are to appreciate your leaders 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:29.620 and then the peace that you are to strive for with them 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:32.060 these are fruit of the Spirit. 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:37.860 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:42.940 And so these things that we're being called to do 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:47.360 are walkings together by the Spirit of God 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:49.840 as we pursue unity together. 00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:55.360 So this first grouping focuses on leaders 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:58.680 but to walk by the Spirit in a particular way 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:01.120 as we wait on the Son. 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:05.099 The second group has to do with caring 00:11:05.099 --> 00:11:07.739 for brothers and sisters in need in our midst. 00:11:07.819 --> 00:11:10.500 And we can see this in verses 14 and 15. 00:11:10.859 --> 00:11:12.779 Now imagine you go to the doctor 00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:14.899 with flu-like symptoms 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:16.839 and you get diagnosed very quickly 00:11:16.839 --> 00:11:20.899 and the doctor prescribes you a medication 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:22.479 to reduce your symptoms 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:25.259 to just kind of like diminish in two days. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:26.379 Well, a week later, 00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:29.399 your symptoms haven't diminished. 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:30.759 They've actually gotten worse. 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:32.019 So you go back to the doctor 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:33.600 and you say to her, 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.700 what's going on? 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:37.019 So she orders a battery of blood tests. 00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:39.200 She asks you a bunch of more questions. 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:40.639 And what becomes evident 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.019 is that your doctor had misdiagnosed you. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.480 You don't have the flu. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.060 You have Lyme disease. 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:50.980 And so the treatment for Lyme disease 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:53.759 is very different than the treatment for the flu. 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.379 And so what we see in this section, 00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.860 in verses 14 through 15, 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:03.600 what we have is a series of spiritual diagnoses 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:08.100 followed by accurate prescriptions 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:13.100 to ensure the health of these people in need. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:14.980 So let me walk you through it. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:17.600 Verse 14 starts with another appeal. 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:20.120 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, 00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:23.600 and then comes the first command. 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:27.860 We're told to admonish the idol. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.800 The diagnosis is idleness. 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:33.620 And so if you're wondering what idleness is, 00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:34.399 you might think, 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:36.279 well, if you're idle, you're lazy. 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.440 And to a certain degree, that's true. 00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:41.340 But this idleness being talked about here 00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:45.960 is in unruly, undisciplined idleness. 00:12:46.540 --> 00:12:48.600 This is someone who is unwilling 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:50.960 to apply themselves 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:56.540 to normal, adult, responsible conduct and behavior. 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:00.379 And so when someone who is idle, 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:03.000 the prescription is to admonish them, 00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:04.820 which is a loving kick in the pants. 00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:11.120 It's not comforting them in their idleness. 00:13:12.900 --> 00:13:14.220 It's admonishing them. 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:16.860 In fact, in 2 Thessalonians 3.10, 00:13:17.540 --> 00:13:21.020 the next letter that Paul writes to the Thessalonians, 00:13:21.520 --> 00:13:23.360 this issue of idleness had become 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:25.640 even a greater problem in the church. 00:13:26.300 --> 00:13:28.060 And so Paul tells them, 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.580 anyone not willing to work, 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.340 let him not eat. 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:35.259 And so who he's talking about 00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:37.200 is people who are able-bodied, 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.420 able-minded, 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:41.940 but are unwilling to apply themselves. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.780 And so what Paul's trying to do 00:13:44.780 --> 00:13:45.820 is to prevent people 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:47.519 from becoming unnecessary burdens 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.180 to the church. 00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:52.580 So he's calling them to a responsibility. 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:54.440 Admonish the idle. 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:57.440 The next diagnosis is faintheartedness. 00:13:58.040 --> 00:13:59.300 Encourage the fainthearted. 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:02.779 Diagnosis, faintheartedness. 00:14:02.979 --> 00:14:04.699 That's when someone is despairing. 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:07.899 That when someone wants to throw in the towel, 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:08.319 they're like, 00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:11.839 I am done with this following Jesus business. 00:14:13.459 --> 00:14:14.740 Remember, this church 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:17.779 had been suffering intense persecution. 00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:19.899 And when you are suffering like that, 00:14:20.059 --> 00:14:21.719 you're gonna be tempted to throw in the towel. 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:24.439 They've seen friends die in their church. 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:25.899 It would have been tempting 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:26.719 just to say like, 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:27.379 I'm done. 00:14:29.800 --> 00:14:30.800 But the cure, 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:32.820 the prescription for faintheartedness 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:35.160 is to encourage, 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:36.960 to comfort. 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:40.220 It's saddling up next to a fellow brother and sister 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:41.300 and saying things like, 00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:43.240 Jesus is worth it. 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:45.500 We're one day closer. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.200 Don't grow weary in doing good. 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.460 Your labor's not in vain. 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:53.160 You won't regret this 00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:54.900 when you stand before him someday. 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:57.780 And so the way that we 00:14:57.780 --> 00:15:00.720 kind of deal with faintheartedness 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.620 is by encouragement. 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.780 And then we read, 00:15:03.900 --> 00:15:05.820 the next is help the weak. 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:08.040 Diagnosis is weakness. 00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:09.580 Some kind of inability 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:12.259 to function normally. 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:14.159 And that might be a physical weakness. 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:16.059 That might be a mental weakness. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.879 Some kind of mental health issue. 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:18.879 Joblessness. 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.059 Food shortage. 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.819 Shelter, clothing, transportation. 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.159 It might be temporary. 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.379 It might be ongoing. 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.679 But what we do know, 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:27.600 it's not a result of idleness. 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:31.340 It's not the result of someone 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.379 being unwilling to do 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:34.019 what they need to do. 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:38.319 But this is because of something 00:15:38.319 --> 00:15:38.740 that they, 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.120 and relatively speaking, 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:40.939 can't control. 00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:42.760 And what we're to do 00:15:42.760 --> 00:15:44.360 is to help them. 00:15:45.900 --> 00:15:47.380 To help the weak. 00:15:48.760 --> 00:15:50.220 To come alongside them 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:51.420 and roll up our sleeves 00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:51.860 and say, 00:15:52.280 --> 00:15:53.040 I am here to help 00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:54.100 and I'm here to bear with. 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.760 The only qualification 00:15:57.760 --> 00:15:58.540 I'd add here 00:15:58.540 --> 00:16:00.100 is that when we help people, 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:01.780 and our deacons are dialed into this, 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:03.740 we're going to help them 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:05.520 in a way that doesn't make 00:16:05.520 --> 00:16:07.760 them dependent upon us. 00:16:09.040 --> 00:16:10.280 We're going to help them 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:11.740 take responsibility for life. 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:12.620 We're going to help them 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.639 get skin in the game. 00:16:13.959 --> 00:16:14.980 We're going to help them 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:16.399 to be able to be part 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.120 of the solution 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.699 to their situation. 00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:21.299 That dignifies people. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.600 That treats them 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.480 as image bearers. 00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:27.339 And so we're going to help 00:16:27.339 --> 00:16:28.199 the weak. 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:31.919 The next diagnosis 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.620 and prescription 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.259 is just a prescription. 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:34.360 Be patient. 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:37.299 Be patient with them all. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.019 And what that is getting at 00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:42.919 is a diagnosis 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:45.220 that can affect people 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:46.419 who are trying to help people 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:46.819 in need. 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.399 And that is, 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.539 you become impatient. 00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:52.100 That is, 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:53.200 you become harsh. 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.960 What's your problem? 00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:58.220 Get your act together. 00:16:58.220 --> 00:17:02.300 You should have been out of debt 00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:04.079 seven months ago. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.839 We treat people 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:09.460 impatiently, 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.400 unlovingly. 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:13.380 This patience 00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:14.900 is another fruit of the Spirit. 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.240 Love, 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:16.880 joy, 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:17.559 peace, 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:18.819 patience. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.460 And when we are exercising 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.039 patience 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:23.120 with people 00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:24.360 who are in need, 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.500 what that gives us 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.539 the benefit of 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:28.000 is being able 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.039 to rightly 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.279 diagnose 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.079 an issue 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:33.460 which leads 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.500 to a healthy 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.140 prescription 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:38.339 which means 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:39.359 long-term 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.440 health. 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:43.579 This patience 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.960 is a spirit 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.000 strengthening 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.240 to help us 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.619 long-suffer 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.299 with others, 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.559 to bear 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.619 with others. 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.460 We need 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.420 to be patient 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.140 and 00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:58.180 could you 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.539 imagine 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.180 what would happen 00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.620 if you're being 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:00.120 impatient 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:00.740 and you start 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.440 helping someone 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.019 who's idle 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:04.320 or comforting 00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:05.240 someone who's idle 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.779 or you start 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.700 to admonish 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.640 a fainthearted 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.160 person, 00:18:10.580 --> 00:18:11.060 admonish 00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:11.779 someone who's 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.120 weak? 00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:14.320 You're going 00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:14.860 to end up 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.700 with a problem 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:17.140 much greater 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:17.660 than where you 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.039 started. 00:18:19.320 --> 00:18:20.360 We need 00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:21.000 patience 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.860 and wisdom 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:22.980 in coming 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.980 alongside of people 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:24.880 and caring 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.400 for them. 00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.200 In verse 15 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.799 we have 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.740 a don't do 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.140 this 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:30.160 and a do 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.620 this. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.120 The diagnosis 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:33.079 in verse 15 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.039 is vengeance. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.400 It's retaliation. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:38.599 See that 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.039 no one 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.700 repays anyone 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.460 evil for evil. 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.319 Our tendency 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.039 is when we're 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.519 wronged 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.099 we want 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:43.480 to in our 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:43.759 flesh 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.740 wrong back. 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:47.480 and we're 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.059 being told 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:48.680 no. 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.259 See to it 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.960 that no one 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:51.839 repays evil 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.579 for the evil 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.400 and then 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.079 positively 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.960 it says 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:59.339 but always 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.200 seek to do 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:00.779 good to one 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.099 another 00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:01.799 and to 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.279 everyone. 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.519 One another 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.480 those within 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.019 the church 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.799 other Christians 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.799 to anyone 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:08.220 non-Christians 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.759 we're to do 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:10.059 good to them 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.500 all. 00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:11.299 We're not 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:13.200 to respond 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.299 repay evil 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.019 with evil 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.519 we're to 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.659 repay evil 00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.440 with good 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.599 goodness 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.460 through the 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:20.759 Spirit. 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.059 Love, joy, 00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:23.359 peace, 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:23.879 patience, 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.940 goodness. 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.720 And so 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.319 the Spirit 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.480 helps us 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.339 in those 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:32.919 moments 00:19:32.919 --> 00:19:33.379 where we 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.000 wrong each 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.299 other 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.599 or we're 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.399 wronged by 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:36.960 someone else. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.440 this would 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:37.980 apply to 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.579 this church 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.259 who's being 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:39.880 persecuted 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.840 by people 00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:41.480 outside of 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:41.860 the church. 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:42.640 You are not 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.259 to respond 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.779 in evil 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:44.240 to them 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.920 but you're 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.299 to do 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:45.960 them good. 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.319 This is 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:46.640 following 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.039 Jesus 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:47.980 what Jesus 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.440 taught about 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:48.940 turning your 00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.340 cheek 00:19:49.340 --> 00:19:49.940 about 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.539 responding 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.140 to curse 00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:51.840 with blessing 00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:52.559 and when 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.019 we deal 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.400 with that 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.500 with non-Christians 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.180 they'll be 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:55.460 like 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:57.240 what? 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.900 This marks 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.720 a follower 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.539 of Jesus 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.100 Christ. 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:04.860 This 00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:05.720 section 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.900 this grouping 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:07.600 of 00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.320 diagnoses 00:20:08.320 --> 00:20:08.580 and 00:20:08.580 --> 00:20:09.200 prescriptions 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.759 it's 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.660 together 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.240 how we 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.759 walk 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.259 by the 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:12.860 Spirit 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:14.019 as we're 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.500 caring for 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.160 people in 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:15.620 need 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:17.400 patience 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:17.920 and 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.640 goodness. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:20.820 This is 00:20:20.820 --> 00:20:21.560 the second 00:20:21.560 --> 00:20:22.500 grouping 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:25.500 of what 00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.160 we do 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.620 as we 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:26.960 wait on 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:27.360 the sun. 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:28.820 The third 00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:29.200 grouping 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.960 is found 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.300 in verses 00:20:32.300 --> 00:20:32.920 16 and 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:33.200 18 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.160 and it's 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.560 together 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.339 we are 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.980 always 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.819 turning to 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.159 God. 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:41.319 It's 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.740 what's 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:42.899 being 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:43.419 described 00:20:43.419 --> 00:20:43.859 here 00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:46.579 is a 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:46.859 really 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.759 compelling 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.519 Christian 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.059 community. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.240 What we 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:51.940 see here 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:53.200 is a 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.480 Christian 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.179 culture 00:20:54.179 --> 00:20:55.700 that's 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.139 ablaze 00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:56.500 by the 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:56.799 Spirit. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:59.879 here are 00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:00.359 the three 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.879 commands. 00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:03.579 16 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:04.419 rejoice 00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:04.799 always 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.819 17 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:06.359 pray 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:06.599 without 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:07.019 ceasing 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.819 18 00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.379 giving 00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:08.720 thanks 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.099 in all 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:09.740 circumstances. 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:10.940 To rejoice 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.700 always means 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:11.980 to be 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.359 joyful 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:13.019 and the 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.480 source of 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:13.759 the joy 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.319 being spoken 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:14.799 of here 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.460 is not 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:15.639 your 00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.180 circumstances 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.680 but God 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.000 himself. 00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:18.579 You are 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.139 delighting 00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:19.440 in your 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:19.779 God. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.799 You are 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.700 in wonder 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.279 of him. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:24.980 You 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.600 think 00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:26.200 that he 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.559 is 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.259 amazing. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:28.480 You 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:28.860 can't 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:29.279 help 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.100 but lift 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:30.360 your 00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:30.759 voice 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.559 in praise 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.059 to him 00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.900 because of 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:33.380 who he 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.240 is and 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.600 you have 00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:35.319 this abiding 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:35.860 confidence 00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:36.759 that no 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.500 matter what 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.140 you encounter 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.860 because God 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.200 is both 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.580 good, 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.140 loving, 00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:40.580 holy, 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.299 and sovereign 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.019 whatever 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.640 you encounter 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.880 he's always 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:45.900 working for 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.779 your good. 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.100 Romans 8 00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:48.400 28 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:48.779 right? 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.500 James 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:50.840 1 00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:51.299 3 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.759 considerate 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.819 joy 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.940 whenever you 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.460 encounter 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:56.559 trials of 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:58.019 various kinds 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.639 because God's 00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:00.240 always working 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.839 in that to 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.159 make you 00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:01.480 mature. 00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:03.680 So we 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.079 have this 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.819 first command 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.759 to be 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.240 joyful. 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:06.700 Our 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.259 tendency 00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:09.500 is to 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:09.839 question 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.259 God, 00:22:11.659 --> 00:22:13.159 is to 00:22:13.159 --> 00:22:13.539 ignore 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:13.879 him. 00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:16.419 The 00:22:16.419 --> 00:22:16.980 second way 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.359 we are to 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:17.700 turn to 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.019 God 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.639 is to 00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:19.980 pray. 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:20.659 Pray 00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:20.940 without 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.380 seeking. 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:22.340 It's 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:22.800 asking 00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:23.220 God 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.440 to 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.820 work 00:22:23.820 --> 00:22:24.100 in a 00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:24.460 particular 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.000 way. 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.000 We are 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:27.300 to 00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:28.640 ask, 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:29.660 seek, 00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:30.740 knock. 00:22:31.040 --> 00:22:31.360 This is 00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:31.940 Luke 11 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.640 and when 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.259 we ask, 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:33.720 seek, 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.740 knock, 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.720 we remember 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.220 the heart 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.120 of our 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.779 Father who 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.500 loves us 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:38.860 and wants 00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:39.300 good for 00:22:39.300 --> 00:22:39.500 us. 00:22:39.820 --> 00:22:40.259 He's not 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:40.500 going to 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:40.759 give us 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.240 a stone. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:41.920 He's not 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.180 going to 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:42.500 give us 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.240 a scorpion. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:43.940 He's going 00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.160 to give 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.500 the Holy 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.019 Spirit to 00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.380 all who 00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:45.900 ask him. 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.460 And so 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.160 when 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.000 you come 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.480 across a 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:49.920 passage in 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.660 Ephesians 6 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.460 or in 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.420 Jude that 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.000 says pray 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.340 in the 00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:53.660 Spirit, 00:22:55.300 --> 00:22:55.820 we are 00:22:55.820 --> 00:22:56.600 to pray 00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:57.740 along 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.759 the 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.920 Spirit's 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:01.400 will, 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.060 what the 00:23:02.060 --> 00:23:03.000 Spirit wants 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.540 to do in 00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:04.000 our midst, 00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.440 along the 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.400 grain of 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.960 the Spirit. 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.519 You know 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.160 how a grain 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.580 and wood 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.000 moves a 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.500 certain way? 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.120 We are 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:10.720 to pray 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.259 along the 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.920 grain of 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.680 the Spirit's 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:14.259 intent and 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.880 we know the 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:15.300 Spirit is 00:23:15.300 --> 00:23:15.980 always looking 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.440 to build up 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:16.759 the body 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.220 of Christ. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:20.180 we are 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.700 to pray. 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.100 The application 00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:23.820 of this 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.680 is simple. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.279 You know 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.400 how when we 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.300 gather together 00:23:28.300 --> 00:23:28.720 as a church 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.080 and before 00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:29.360 and after 00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:29.840 the service 00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.640 or maybe 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.060 at a life 00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:31.580 group or 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:31.980 some other 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.380 gathering, 00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:33.220 you're having 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.940 conversations 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.360 with another 00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:34.800 brother or 00:23:34.800 --> 00:23:35.220 sister in 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:35.840 Christ and 00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:36.759 they're real 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.320 conversations, 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:37.900 they're good 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.620 conversations, 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:40.440 they're horizontal 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:42.220 and you can 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.900 walk away from 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.500 like a coffee 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.960 shop and say 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.279 that was 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:44.860 really good. 00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:47.180 What I want 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.519 to encourage 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:47.860 you to do 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.219 is go 00:23:48.219 --> 00:23:48.619 vertical. 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:50.799 Go 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:51.419 vertical in 00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:51.579 those 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.099 conversations. 00:23:52.439 --> 00:23:53.439 That conversation 00:23:53.439 --> 00:23:54.519 is not done 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:56.199 yet until you 00:23:56.199 --> 00:23:57.059 go vertical to 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.559 God with that 00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.079 conversation. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.179 Bring your 00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:00.779 brother or 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.899 sister to 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:03.079 the throne 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.599 of grace. 00:24:05.979 --> 00:24:06.419 Simple. 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:06.779 You just 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:06.939 say, 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.119 hey, 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.119 I'm really 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:08.539 glad to know 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:08.679 that. 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.099 Can we pray 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.639 about this? 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.639 Can we turn 00:24:11.639 --> 00:24:11.959 to the Lord 00:24:11.959 --> 00:24:12.559 right now and 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.219 ask God to 00:24:13.219 --> 00:24:13.539 act? 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:16.639 you don't 00:24:16.639 --> 00:24:17.319 need permission 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.799 to do that. 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.440 God is 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.099 telling you to 00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:19.500 do that. 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.259 It's his 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.579 will. 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:25.740 What we 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.279 tend to do is 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:26.799 lean on our 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.440 own understanding. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.940 We spend a lot 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.659 of time 00:24:30.659 --> 00:24:32.240 anxious, 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.099 fearful, 00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.259 trying to think 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.079 through all the 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.379 different scenarios 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.980 and solve them 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:40.159 where we can turn 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.600 to the Lord 00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:41.180 right then and 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:41.380 there. 00:24:44.540 --> 00:24:45.259 We're told to 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.140 give thanks 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:47.000 in all 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.700 circumstances. 00:24:49.840 --> 00:24:50.820 If joy 00:24:50.820 --> 00:24:51.820 is the 00:24:51.820 --> 00:24:52.200 abiding 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.820 confidence 00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:53.860 that God 00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:54.400 is at work 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:54.880 even though I 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.519 may not see it, 00:24:56.300 --> 00:24:57.240 giving thanks 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.160 is giving God 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.440 credit for 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.100 when he does 00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:00.440 work, 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.440 when he does 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:02.900 move. 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:04.880 And what we're 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.960 being told here 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.740 is we are to 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.340 give thanks 00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:08.960 in all circumstances, 00:25:09.080 --> 00:25:09.500 which means 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.099 Christian, 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:12.160 you always have 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:12.619 a reason to 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.119 give thanks. 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.440 No matter what 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:15.039 is going on 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.619 in your life, 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.039 you can always 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.740 thank God 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.839 for his 00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.680 gracious, 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.819 merciful, 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.539 powerful work 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.480 of delivering 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.140 you from the 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.720 domain of 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.420 darkness and 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.319 transferring you 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:26.799 into the 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.640 kingdom of 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.140 his beloved 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.640 son, 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.119 of justifying 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:30.359 you, 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.240 of adopting 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.660 you, 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.140 of sanctifying 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:33.940 you and one 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.940 day glorifying 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.119 you. 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.099 You always have 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:36.700 something to be 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.359 thankful for. 00:25:37.900 --> 00:25:38.759 Thank you 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.619 for saving 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:39.960 me. 00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:40.920 You can say 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.599 that in any 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:43.879 context as a 00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.680 way of expressing 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:47.180 thanksgiving to 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:47.460 God. 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:49.259 The temptation 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:51.559 is to grumble 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.500 and to complain 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:55.660 and forget what 00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.519 God has done. 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:57.660 And then when you 00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:59.039 are praying and 00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.980 God answers your 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.819 prayer in specific 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:02.319 ways, you're not 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.200 done until you give 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:03.700 God the credit 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.119 for that. 00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:06.219 thank you God 00:26:06.219 --> 00:26:06.819 for answering 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.339 that prayer. 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.319 Thank you God 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.019 for raising up 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.619 that musician. 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:11.139 Thank you God 00:26:11.139 --> 00:26:12.179 for caring for 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:13.059 that person 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:14.399 in that way. 00:26:19.979 --> 00:26:20.759 Ephesians chapter 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.779 5 talks about 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:24.039 commands us to be 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.479 filled with the 00:26:24.479 --> 00:26:25.599 Spirit continually. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:28.139 and then verse 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:30.279 20, that command 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:30.699 to be filled 00:26:30.699 --> 00:26:31.639 by the Spirit 00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:34.159 shows up in 00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:34.959 giving thanks 00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:36.039 always together. 00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.679 Thankfulness as 00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:40.319 a church is a 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.019 working of the 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.679 Spirit in a 00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.000 church. 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.399 Did you notice 00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:44.839 the always? 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.619 Did you notice 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.500 the without 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:46.939 ceasing? 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.699 Did you notice 00:26:47.699 --> 00:26:48.480 the in all 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.240 circumstances? 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:50.659 All of us, 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.719 all the time, 00:26:51.959 --> 00:26:53.059 in all situations, 00:26:53.459 --> 00:26:54.279 are to be turning 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.759 together to our 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.220 God and as we 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:58.339 do, what He 00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:58.920 will do will 00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.680 form in us is 00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:02.220 a Christocentric 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:04.819 culture ablaze 00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:05.319 with the Holy 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:05.700 Spirit. 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:09.220 Walking by the 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:09.579 Spirit. 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:14.379 Joy in God, 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.559 prayer to God, 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.559 thanksgiving to 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:16.920 God. 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:20.059 Verse 18, 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.940 we're told this 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.680 is God's will 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.319 for us in 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.019 Christ Jesus. 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:25.599 it's what we 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:26.119 know the Holy 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:26.779 Spirit is seeking 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:28.000 to do in us. 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.519 This is the 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.259 grain of the 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.220 Spirit revealed 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.139 in God's Word. 00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.420 You don't need 00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:34.839 permission. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.619 God is telling 00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.339 you to do this. 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.039 He says, 00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:42.299 well, this 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:44.879 culture of 00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.619 always turning to 00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:48.019 God is what it 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.539 means to walk 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.299 by the Spirit. 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.500 Together we walk 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.220 by the Spirit, 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.379 always turning to 00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:53.700 God as we 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.740 wait on the 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.040 Son. 00:27:55.280 --> 00:27:56.400 What do we do 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.680 as we wait for 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.080 the Son? 00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:59.140 We rejoice, 00:27:59.420 --> 00:27:59.820 we pray, 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.680 we give thanks. 00:28:03.020 --> 00:28:04.320 Finally, the 00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:05.020 fourth grouping 00:28:05.020 --> 00:28:07.780 is together 00:28:07.780 --> 00:28:09.500 stoking the 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.380 Spirit's fire. 00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:11.760 This is 00:28:11.760 --> 00:28:12.380 verses 19 00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:13.000 through 22. 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.200 And this 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.560 grouping of 00:28:16.560 --> 00:28:17.560 five commands 00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:18.520 starts off with a 00:28:18.520 --> 00:28:19.140 negative command. 00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:20.560 God, do not 00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.320 quench the 00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:23.140 Spirit, as in 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:23.820 the Holy Spirit. 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.800 The Holy Spirit 00:28:26.800 --> 00:28:27.920 who has sealed us 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.540 for the day of 00:28:28.540 --> 00:28:29.940 redemption, the 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.940 Holy Spirit who 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.600 has applied the 00:28:31.600 --> 00:28:32.400 finished work of 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.180 Christ to our 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:34.480 lives, the Holy 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:36.380 Spirit who Jesus 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:37.360 says, when he 00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:38.580 would come, he 00:28:38.580 --> 00:28:40.200 will glorify me. 00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:41.960 We know that the 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.880 Spirit is seeking to 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.960 spotlight the 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.340 Son. 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.620 And he's being 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:47.299 compared to a 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.559 fire. 00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:49.979 Don't quench the 00:28:49.979 --> 00:28:50.279 Spirit. 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.679 Who doesn't love 00:28:51.679 --> 00:28:52.239 a campfire? 00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:54.179 Who doesn't love 00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:55.819 a backyard fire 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.099 pit? 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.339 Let's say that 00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:58.759 you're sitting 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.599 warming yourself 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.779 at a campfire and 00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.619 someone walks up 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.439 with a bucket of 00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:04.219 water and they 00:29:04.219 --> 00:29:05.159 just pour that 00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:06.199 water on top of 00:29:06.199 --> 00:29:06.779 your fire. 00:29:08.979 --> 00:29:09.459 Squenching, 00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:10.339 quenching the 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.819 fire, stifling it. 00:29:12.739 --> 00:29:13.699 That's the picture. 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.319 Quenching the 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.059 Spirit's work in 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.519 our midst. 00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:19.059 Stifling it. 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.419 What I've been 00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:23.059 wanting to show 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:24.940 you is the 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.759 Spirit's work 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.980 doesn't begin in 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:28.159 this passage in 00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:28.839 verse 19. 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.259 It began in 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.679 verse 12. 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.819 We who, we are 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:35.299 to love and be 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:36.019 at peace with our 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:36.379 leaders. 00:29:37.399 --> 00:29:37.720 That's what it 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.399 means to walk by 00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:39.279 the Spirit and to 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:41.220 resist that is to 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:42.039 quench the Spirit. 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:45.019 We are to be 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:46.599 patiently caring for 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:46.920 the needy. 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.379 We are to be 00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.619 responding to evil, 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.400 not with evil but 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.519 with good and that 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.599 patience and that 00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.940 goodness that's fruit 00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.500 of the Spirit. 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.619 And if you are 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.839 resisting that, you 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:58.180 are stifling the 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.440 Spirit. 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:01.660 We are to be 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:03.220 joyful, prayerful, 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.980 thankful in every 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.639 situation. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.180 But if we're 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.039 questioning God, 00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.059 leaning on our own 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.259 understanding, grumbling, 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.259 complaining, that's a 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.259 stifling of the 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.539 Spirit. 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:11.659 Spirit. 00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:14.059 It's up to this 00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.279 point. 00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:14.940 What I've wanted to 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:16.139 show you is the 00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:17.099 Spirit's been behind 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.960 this passage all 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:18.460 along. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:19.839 And when you get in 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:21.980 verse 19, it's kind 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.159 of a summary statement. 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:24.139 Don't quench the 00:30:24.139 --> 00:30:24.440 Spirit. 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:26.240 Don't pour water on 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.099 what the Spirit wants 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.579 to do. 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.119 But it's also a pivot 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:32.099 into verse 20 where 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:32.920 there's another negative 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.359 command. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:35.139 Do not despise 00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:35.779 prophecy. 00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:37.879 And what Paul is 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:39.720 referring to here is a 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:42.000 specific Spirit-given 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.920 gift to build up the 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:45.039 church when the 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.019 church would gather. 00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:48.460 You can see that 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.759 spelled out more in 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.819 1 Corinthians 12, 00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:52.360 1 Corinthians 14, 00:30:52.860 --> 00:30:54.140 Romans 12, and here 00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:55.680 in 1 Thessalonians 5. 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.579 Now here's the 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.900 question, and this is 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.279 where I'm going to get 00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:58.880 a little technical. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:04.319 Is the gift of the 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:06.240 Spirit prophecy 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.319 functioning today? 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:12.019 When our church 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:15.179 gathers, should we be 00:31:15.179 --> 00:31:16.799 seeking the gift of 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.419 prophecy? 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.179 There are two groups 00:31:21.179 --> 00:31:21.879 of Bible-believing 00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:23.559 Christians who answer 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.419 this question very 00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:24.740 differently. 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:29.200 There is Bible-believing 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:29.980 Christians who say, 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:31.500 yes, the gift of 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.599 prophecy continues. 00:31:33.439 --> 00:31:35.099 Wayne Grudem, who is a 00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:36.059 seminary professor of 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:37.659 mind, defines prophecy 00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:39.940 as this, telling what 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:41.339 God spontaneously brings 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:41.799 to mind. 00:31:42.659 --> 00:31:43.480 And so when the church 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:45.059 gathers, they're to make 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:46.879 space for God 00:31:46.879 --> 00:31:47.899 spontaneously bringing 00:31:47.899 --> 00:31:48.759 things to people's 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.159 minds. 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:51.500 And what Grudem does is 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.539 he wants to apply 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.879 prophecy to everyone in 00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:54.940 a church, but 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:55.679 unfortunately what he 00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:57.159 doesn't do is he 00:31:57.159 --> 00:31:58.679 fails to recognize, 00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:00.559 this is with great 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:03.179 humility, that there's a 00:32:03.179 --> 00:32:04.240 different definition of 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.379 prophecy happening at 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:06.700 that point than the 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:08.020 Old Testament definition 00:32:08.020 --> 00:32:08.620 of prophecy. 00:32:10.140 --> 00:32:11.200 And the Old Testament 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:14.120 definition would be 00:32:14.120 --> 00:32:17.300 prophecy is a thus says 00:32:17.300 --> 00:32:20.260 the Lord, infallible, 00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:24.540 divinely authoritative. 00:32:27.040 --> 00:32:28.300 There's another camp, 00:32:29.300 --> 00:32:30.540 Christians who say, no, 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:32.839 the gift of prophecy has 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.940 largely ceased. 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:37.059 Tom Schreiner would be a 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.039 representative of this, 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:39.779 and he wrote a book 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:42.220 called Spiritual Gifts, 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:43.059 and he makes a pretty 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:43.799 compelling case. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:47.079 That there is no clear and 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:48.440 compelling reason to think 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.920 that the New Testament 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:51.420 prophecy that we see 00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:53.720 practiced in 1 Corinthians 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:56.339 12 and 14 and Romans 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:57.879 chapter 12 being referred to, 00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:58.819 there's no clear and 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.899 compelling reason to think 00:32:59.899 --> 00:33:01.099 that that prophecy is 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:01.819 different than Old 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.599 Testament prophecy. 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.859 And if that's the case, 00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:06.539 that would mean that New 00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:08.079 Testament prophecy, when 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:09.519 the church gathers, would 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.879 have been functioning and 00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:12.460 being spoken with tremendous 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:15.480 weight, infallible, 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.419 carrying divine authority. 00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:24.980 Now, these two understandings of 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:26.220 prophecy remind me of a 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.100 Miller Lite commercial. 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.259 Do you remember that commercial 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.980 back in the 80s? 00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:31.400 If you're not alive, no 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:31.740 worries. 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:34.360 There'd be like a bar scene, 00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.759 people at the bar, and 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.980 there's like half the group 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:40.300 would say, tastes great, 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.759 Miller Lite tastes great. 00:33:42.560 --> 00:33:43.920 And then the other group would 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:46.259 say, less filling! 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.640 It's a brilliant campaign, 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:49.880 because everybody's drinking 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:50.420 Miller Lite. 00:33:51.580 --> 00:33:53.000 You're just emphasizing a couple 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:54.039 different aspects to it. 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:58.220 Whether you are in the camp that 00:33:58.220 --> 00:34:00.400 prophecy continues today, or 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.920 you're in the camp that prophecy 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:04.039 has ceased, you've got to 00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:06.300 understand that everybody believes 00:34:06.300 --> 00:34:08.079 in the active presence of the 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:10.639 Holy Spirit, especially when the 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.239 church gathers. 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:14.639 And everyone believes that God's 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.519 revealed written word is the 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:18.019 final authority for life and 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.460 practice. 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:24.839 The risk for all of us is that 00:34:24.839 --> 00:34:27.359 we define prophecy by our 00:34:27.359 --> 00:34:30.619 experience, whether good or bad. 00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:33.980 Or we define prophecy by the 00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.119 tradition of a church. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:38.719 Or we define prophecy by some 00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:40.739 other kind of means, other than 00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.939 according to our Bibles. 00:34:43.919 --> 00:34:45.759 So if your background with 00:34:45.759 --> 00:34:47.539 prophecy is more Wayne Grudem than 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.779 Tom Schreiner, I want to give you 00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:49.500 some food for thought. 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:55.119 The role of prophecy in the New 00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:57.039 Testament, when the church 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:58.359 gathered, is indisputable. 00:34:59.419 --> 00:35:01.019 There was a gift that was 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:03.439 functioning, and it was designed to 00:35:03.439 --> 00:35:05.099 build up the church. 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:09.440 But I just want to remind you of a 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:12.559 couple passages that may help you 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:14.299 have a more rounded view of 00:35:14.299 --> 00:35:14.739 prophecy. 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:18.019 If you would open up your Bibles to 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:19.179 Ephesians chapter 2. 00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:26.099 In 19 and 20, we read this. 00:35:26.819 --> 00:35:28.400 So then you are no longer strangers 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.819 and aliens, but you are fellow 00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:31.440 citizens with the saints and members 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.619 of the household of God. 00:35:32.619 --> 00:35:35.359 I'll wait till you get there. 00:35:36.859 --> 00:35:37.339 220. 00:35:40.279 --> 00:35:42.420 Built on the foundation of the 00:35:42.420 --> 00:35:44.559 apostles and prophets, Christ 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:46.119 Jesus himself being the 00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:46.659 cornerstone. 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:50.679 What seems to be happening here is 00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:52.460 that at the beginning of the 00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:56.339 church, apostles and prophets had a 00:35:56.339 --> 00:35:59.000 foundational role of laying 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:01.679 doctrine about Jesus. 00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.619 foundational. 00:36:05.859 --> 00:36:08.219 The cornerstone being Jesus 00:36:08.219 --> 00:36:08.900 himself. 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:12.219 And so I believe what this means is 00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:14.480 revelations given, words of 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:16.179 knowledge that were given, in large 00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:17.440 part had to do with Jesus. 00:36:18.299 --> 00:36:20.799 In order to establish a church 00:36:20.799 --> 00:36:23.339 foundationally, doctrinally, on the 00:36:23.339 --> 00:36:24.299 person of Jesus. 00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:29.280 We didn't have a complete canon at that 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:29.539 point. 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:33.660 Revelation chapter 19, verse 10 00:36:33.660 --> 00:36:36.740 says, the testimony of Jesus is the 00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:38.060 spirit of prophecy. 00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:42.420 At the heart of prophecy, the 00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:45.400 revelation, God making known, is what 00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:48.300 the whole Bible declares that salvation 00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:50.840 is found in Jesus Christ alone. 00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:54.760 So I've been persuaded that the 00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:57.960 primary, primary function of prophecy 00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:59.840 in the New Testament church when they 00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:04.980 gathered was to build up the body into 00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:06.680 the head of Jesus Christ. 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:06.739 Christ. 00:37:08.739 --> 00:37:12.219 Now, my theology of the Holy Spirit also 00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:15.179 helps because in John 16, 14, we're told 00:37:15.179 --> 00:37:17.559 Jesus himself says of the spirit, he will 00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:18.379 glorify me. 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:21.919 He will bring to your remembrance things 00:37:21.919 --> 00:37:23.299 that Jesus had said. 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:28.480 So I believe that the Holy Spirit 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:30.539 functioning in a church is seeking to 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:33.200 spotlight Jesus in a variety of different 00:37:33.200 --> 00:37:33.640 ways. 00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:37.960 And what I'm persuaded of is that New 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:41.180 Testament prophecy, when the church 00:37:41.180 --> 00:37:45.060 gathered, had a very weighty, doctrinal, 00:37:45.460 --> 00:37:48.720 revelatory weight and function to it. 00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:52.399 on the par with infallibility, on par with 00:37:52.399 --> 00:37:54.059 full divine authority. 00:37:55.899 --> 00:38:00.379 My goal this morning is to get you 00:38:00.379 --> 00:38:00.699 thinking. 00:38:02.319 --> 00:38:05.579 What does your Bible say about New 00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:08.439 Testament prophecy functioning when the 00:38:08.439 --> 00:38:09.480 church gathers? 00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:12.739 May raise another question. 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:16.459 Are we despising the gift of prophecy by 00:38:16.459 --> 00:38:18.279 not making space for prophecy when we 00:38:18.279 --> 00:38:18.519 gather? 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:20.939 I'm going to argue no. 00:38:22.379 --> 00:38:23.859 Are we quenching the spirit? 00:38:24.919 --> 00:38:25.899 I'm going to say no. 00:38:27.239 --> 00:38:27.759 Why? 00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:32.099 Because I believe the Old Testament and 00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:35.500 the New Testament, the completed canon 00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:37.980 supplies everything we need for life in 00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.419 godliness. 00:38:38.839 --> 00:38:41.439 It is sufficient and it is complete. 00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:44.899 So I believe the completed New Testament 00:38:44.899 --> 00:38:48.699 canon supersedes New Testament. 00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:49.839 It is complete and infinite prophecy. 00:38:49.839 --> 00:38:53.539 It is what Jude talks about when the faith has 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:55.539 been handed down once and for all. 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:58.839 So all the revelations, all of the words of 00:38:58.839 --> 00:39:02.239 knowledge about Jesus that we need have been 00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:04.199 preserved for us in the New Testament. 00:39:05.439 --> 00:39:07.480 Complete and sufficient. 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:13.699 We have no more need for new revelations about Jesus. 00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:17.059 And so I have three implications. 00:39:17.740 --> 00:39:19.980 I know I'm short on time. 00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:23.860 But let me just whiz through these. 00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:32.300 When we gather together as a church, we prize the faithful 00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:34.539 preaching of this book. 00:39:34.539 --> 00:39:39.099 This objective and true revelation of God. 00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:40.259 Not subjective. 00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:44.420 Not given to error. 00:39:45.759 --> 00:39:47.159 It's God speaking to us. 00:39:47.259 --> 00:39:51.679 The same spirit who gave the gift of prophecy in the first century 00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:55.820 is the same spirit who's inspired every word of this book. 00:39:55.820 --> 00:40:00.440 And so I believe when this word is faithfully proclaimed, 00:40:00.860 --> 00:40:07.320 it will stoke the fire of the spirit in brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:10.600 It's the spirit accompanying his word and power. 00:40:10.720 --> 00:40:12.080 You want a spirit revival? 00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:13.860 You preach the Bible. 00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:21.220 Remember in Luke 24, Jesus is on the way to Emmaus. 00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:26.220 And he's just been raised from the dead. 00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:29.380 And he says to them, two of his disciples, 00:40:29.500 --> 00:40:30.840 O foolish ones and slow of heart, 00:40:31.260 --> 00:40:33.420 to believe all that the prophets have spoken. 00:40:33.880 --> 00:40:36.860 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things 00:40:36.860 --> 00:40:38.099 and enter into his glory? 00:40:38.240 --> 00:40:39.980 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, 00:40:40.160 --> 00:40:42.440 he interpreted them in all the scriptures, 00:40:42.440 --> 00:40:44.240 the things concerning himself. 00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:47.559 Jesus then has a meal with them. 00:40:49.300 --> 00:40:50.240 Verse 32. 00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:53.420 After vanishing from their sight, 00:40:53.579 --> 00:40:54.820 these two disciples say, 00:40:55.539 --> 00:40:57.300 Did not our hearts burn within us 00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:59.340 while he talked to us on the road, 00:40:59.619 --> 00:41:01.400 while he opened to us the scriptures? 00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:04.079 Did our hearts not burn? 00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:07.159 That's spirit ablaze. 00:41:07.740 --> 00:41:11.679 That's a spirit blaze around all of the scriptures 00:41:11.679 --> 00:41:14.919 making a revelation of who Jesus Christ is 00:41:14.919 --> 00:41:15.659 and why he came. 00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:20.559 When we gather, 00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:25.279 we want to prize the faithful preaching of this book. 00:41:26.960 --> 00:41:28.599 The second implication was 00:41:28.599 --> 00:41:31.619 taking the last three commands of this passage seriously. 00:41:31.619 --> 00:41:33.199 I'll let you look at that. 00:41:33.420 --> 00:41:34.819 Applying it to preaching today. 00:41:35.359 --> 00:41:38.420 I don't believe preaching and prophecy are the same thing, 00:41:38.500 --> 00:41:39.980 but I do think that they're analogous. 00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:42.639 The third implication is this. 00:41:44.259 --> 00:41:45.659 It's the language we use. 00:41:45.659 --> 00:41:51.599 I believe the Spirit of God is active in our midst. 00:41:52.719 --> 00:41:55.039 I believe he impresses things on our hearts, 00:41:56.599 --> 00:41:57.480 burdens us, 00:41:57.679 --> 00:41:58.899 brings scripture to mind, 00:41:59.339 --> 00:41:59.940 prompts us, 00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:01.679 nudge us to act in faith. 00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:04.559 So in light of that, 00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:09.359 in wanting to avoid language that can be confusing, 00:42:10.359 --> 00:42:11.440 language like, 00:42:11.779 --> 00:42:12.359 God told me, 00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:15.339 God is saying, 00:42:17.159 --> 00:42:19.179 God wants me to tell you this, 00:42:19.299 --> 00:42:21.099 but it's not from the pages of this. 00:42:21.159 --> 00:42:22.299 This is an impression you had. 00:42:24.579 --> 00:42:26.299 When we speak that way, 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:28.819 that can be very confusing to those people who are hearing. 00:42:28.820 --> 00:42:32.640 And it can puff up the person speaking it. 00:42:34.100 --> 00:42:35.460 So a better way 00:42:35.460 --> 00:42:39.380 is to humbly qualify these kinds of things. 00:42:40.760 --> 00:42:41.000 Hey, 00:42:41.440 --> 00:42:43.480 I was reading the scriptures this morning, 00:42:43.580 --> 00:42:45.820 and I believe God put a passage on my heart, 00:42:46.539 --> 00:42:48.320 and I think, 00:42:48.820 --> 00:42:51.900 I think you can benefit from it. 00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:55.059 And then you share it with that person. 00:42:56.740 --> 00:42:58.780 You're not claiming to be infallible. 00:42:59.140 --> 00:42:59.760 You're not being, 00:43:00.280 --> 00:43:02.920 claiming to be the source of a divine word. 00:43:05.320 --> 00:43:07.420 I think God is prompting me to, 00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:09.180 to share this with you. 00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:10.059 I don't know where it came. 00:43:10.160 --> 00:43:10.380 I was, 00:43:10.680 --> 00:43:11.880 I woke up thinking about you. 00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:14.519 Would you take it with a grain of salt? 00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:18.940 That's how we humbly qualify these things. 00:43:19.300 --> 00:43:20.760 God is active in our midst. 00:43:20.760 --> 00:43:24.740 What we want to be careful of 00:43:24.740 --> 00:43:25.720 is not claiming a, 00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:28.580 an authority and an infallibility 00:43:28.580 --> 00:43:29.680 that's not ours to claim. 00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:33.759 So I don't believe we're quenching the spirit. 00:43:36.759 --> 00:43:38.139 I want to be part of a church 00:43:38.139 --> 00:43:40.440 that stokes the fires of the spirit, 00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:43.579 asking God to cause his spirit 00:43:43.579 --> 00:43:46.859 to fall afresh upon us. 00:43:46.860 --> 00:43:48.680 So what do we do? 00:43:49.519 --> 00:43:50.840 As we wait on the sun, 00:43:52.180 --> 00:43:54.980 we appreciate our leaders 00:43:54.980 --> 00:43:57.480 in love and pursue peace. 00:43:58.320 --> 00:43:59.380 Walk by the spirit. 00:43:59.620 --> 00:44:01.200 We care for those in need, 00:44:01.320 --> 00:44:01.760 wisely, 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:02.500 patiently, 00:44:03.039 --> 00:44:05.280 doing good to those who do evil to us. 00:44:05.539 --> 00:44:06.640 It's walking by the spirit. 00:44:06.639 --> 00:44:10.519 We seek to be part of what God is doing 00:44:10.519 --> 00:44:11.819 in creating a culture 00:44:11.819 --> 00:44:13.679 of God-centeredness, 00:44:13.779 --> 00:44:16.079 of joy and prayerfulness and thankfulness, 00:44:16.440 --> 00:44:17.579 walking by the spirit. 00:44:17.879 --> 00:44:20.259 And we stoke the spirit's fire 00:44:20.259 --> 00:44:23.199 by not despising 00:44:23.199 --> 00:44:25.779 impressions, 00:44:27.079 --> 00:44:27.699 burdens, 00:44:28.179 --> 00:44:31.259 but we are elevating 00:44:31.259 --> 00:44:32.460 the finished, 00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:33.659 complete, 00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:34.420 sufficient 00:44:34.420 --> 00:44:36.099 word of God. 00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:37.779 the scriptures. 00:44:39.719 --> 00:44:41.339 Would you pray with me? 00:44:43.199 --> 00:44:44.639 Spirit of the living God, 00:44:46.420 --> 00:44:49.319 fall afresh upon us. 00:44:50.940 --> 00:44:52.779 Would you 00:44:52.779 --> 00:44:55.639 break us? 00:44:57.259 --> 00:44:59.299 Would you mold us? 00:45:00.699 --> 00:45:02.940 Would you fill us? 00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:06.579 Would you use us? 00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:08.639 Father, 00:45:08.739 --> 00:45:11.279 would you pour out your spirit upon us 00:45:11.279 --> 00:45:12.920 in greater and greater measure? 00:45:14.619 --> 00:45:16.739 That you would knit our hearts together. 00:45:17.920 --> 00:45:19.460 That you would cause 00:45:19.460 --> 00:45:21.420 the word of Christ 00:45:21.420 --> 00:45:23.639 to dwell richly among us. 00:45:23.639 --> 00:45:29.019 that we would regularly speak to each other 00:45:29.019 --> 00:45:32.420 truths from this book 00:45:32.420 --> 00:45:35.319 to the glory of Jesus Christ 00:45:35.319 --> 00:45:37.420 to build one another up. 00:45:39.319 --> 00:45:41.980 God, would you lead on? 00:45:42.639 --> 00:45:44.779 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:45:44.780 --> 00:45:45.280 Amen. 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:45.280 00:45:45.280 --> 00:46:15.260 Thank you.