WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.679 Great. That's the kind of things we ought to pray about all the time. Do you realize that? Listen to me carefully. 00:00:06.679 --> 00:00:20.800 ! I think about the Psalm 73, where the Psalmist Asaph, he says this, who do I have in heaven but you? 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:26.160 And there is none that I desire beside you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:44.939 I think about 1 Peter, where it says, I love this verse, whom having not seen you love, though now you see him not. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:50.079 That's a mouthful. I don't see him yet, but I love him. 00:00:53.019 --> 00:00:59.900 And then it goes on and says, yet believing filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:10.599 I am convinced, and this is not the Ephesians passage, but it's applicable. 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:21.359 I am convinced that loving Christ is the bedrock. 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:24.179 It is the genesis. 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:37.380 It is the energy that we need for the growth and journey of life. 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:38.160 Would you agree with me? 00:01:39.380 --> 00:01:40.820 And here's the truth. 00:01:40.940 --> 00:01:43.460 We're not natural at that. 00:01:43.459 --> 00:01:50.759 And so, like Stephanie, we need to not only sing the song, but we need to pray the song. 00:01:51.379 --> 00:01:53.559 Lord, draw me nearer. 00:01:56.039 --> 00:01:59.319 Well, I do want you to turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5. 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:05.879 I said 5, and I meant 4. 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.919 Let's hope that that is the only error that I make this morning. 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:20.359 Last week, I tried to add two extra books to the Bible, and I was gently rebuffed by one of our dear sisters, 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:22.900 and I am very thankful for that, and I want you to know that. 00:02:22.900 --> 00:02:29.200 I said that there are 29 books in the New Testament, and there really aren't. 00:02:31.219 --> 00:02:32.099 And so, I'm here. 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:37.040 One of the things about newspapers is that they print their retractions like where? 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:41.480 Page 9, column 4, somewhere in the middle of the page. 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:50.379 Unfortunately, when pastors make errors, it is suitable that they do that at the beginning where they let you know they were wrong. 00:02:50.459 --> 00:02:51.139 Do you understand that? 00:02:51.839 --> 00:02:53.079 And here's the reason why. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:58.359 Because I have the responsibility of always speaking the truth. 00:02:59.579 --> 00:03:07.560 And when I make a mistake, God forbid, but when I make a mistake, I owe it to the authority and the supremacy of the Word of God 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:08.879 that I let you know that up front. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:19.400 Now, saying 29, 27 is not a big thing, but we want to always be submissive to the authority and the accuracy of the Word. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:19.919 Isn't that right? 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:26.960 And so, if I teach it, then I have to model it, and that's why we begin this way. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:33.099 Let's read the passage of Scripture, and then we're going to pray together and ask that the Spirit of God 00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:38.539 would equip us to hear and apply His sweet truth. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:44.439 Ephesians chapter 4, verse 12 and 13. 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:47.039 Actually, I'll pick up in verse 11. 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:48.340 That's where the thought begins. 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:54.979 He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:56.840 for building up the body of Christ, 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:01.759 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:06.780 to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:09.000 Join me in prayer. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:15.500 Precious Father, for us, prayer is not something that we do out of habit, 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:19.180 or because it's something that's kind of written into the order of our service. 00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:23.939 It is something that we do because we are both desperately dependent upon You, 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:33.040 and we are supremely confident in Your work and Your power in us through Your Spirit and through our humble dependence. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:38.139 And so, like the psalmist, we would pray this morning, 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:42.680 open our eyes that we might behold wondrous truths in Your law. 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:47.639 And like Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, 00:04:48.100 --> 00:04:54.160 we are dependent upon Your Spirit, both me in the declaration of the truth, 00:04:54.360 --> 00:05:00.079 and then in the lives of Your people in applying it and understanding it and enjoying it 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:03.300 and living in the light of the truth that You've given to us. 00:05:04.620 --> 00:05:06.899 We pray that this morning as we study Your Scriptures, 00:05:06.899 --> 00:05:10.860 that our hearts would be lifted up to say with awe and reverence 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:15.500 how great You are, how wise You are, how good You are, 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.900 and how blessed we are to be Your children 00:05:17.900 --> 00:05:22.340 and be drawn together and put together into a body of believers 00:05:22.340 --> 00:05:26.740 for the glory and for the sufficiency of the testimony of Christ. 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:31.180 We ask, Lord, that as a result of our hearing the Word, 00:05:31.280 --> 00:05:33.020 that we would be different, 00:05:34.580 --> 00:05:38.680 that the undeniable effect of the Word of God would be seen 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:43.000 in lives that are changed and lives that are growing in grace. 00:05:44.340 --> 00:05:46.400 And we ask this in Your precious name. 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:47.500 Amen. 00:05:49.139 --> 00:05:51.500 I remember last week at one point in the sermon, 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:56.139 I referenced the fact that Mark Dever summarized pastoral ministry 00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:58.560 by four little statements. 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:01.000 He said that pastoral ministry really comes down 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:04.379 to preach and pray, love and stay. 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:08.420 As I was thinking about this passage in particular 00:06:08.420 --> 00:06:12.000 and studying on it earlier, actually last week, 00:06:12.219 --> 00:06:15.480 I remember thinking about my ordination service. 00:06:16.500 --> 00:06:19.120 And I don't remember exactly, I didn't look at the date, 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:22.079 but I remember that after my ordination service, 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:25.540 I was given the privilege of inviting two different men to preach, 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:29.420 one who preached to me and the other who preached to the church. 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:33.160 And I asked my father to preach to me, 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:35.379 and I asked Dr. Bill Brock, 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:37.879 some of you are here who still remember his ministry, 00:06:38.300 --> 00:06:40.759 I asked Dr. Bill Brock if he would preach to the church. 00:06:41.700 --> 00:06:44.720 My dad preached from a passage in Deuteronomy 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:48.600 where Moses, as he was given that responsibility and burden 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.439 of taking the nation of Israel into the promised land, 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:54.420 across the wilderness, etc., 00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:57.400 he said, listen, I'm not going unless you show me your glory. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:58.259 You go with me. 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:00.399 And he said, show me your glory. 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:01.659 And I remember that sermon. 00:07:03.599 --> 00:07:05.300 I also remember Pastor Brock preaching. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:13.060 And he dealt with the responsibilities that I had as a pastor 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:17.740 and the responsibilities that the church had to me as their pastor. 00:07:18.659 --> 00:07:20.259 And I don't remember the particulars. 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:23.019 I will tell you that I took notes, 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:25.420 and I could pull those up and probably check those, 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:28.939 but I would venture to say that knowing Pastor Brock 00:07:28.939 --> 00:07:32.100 and enjoying his ministry for the time that Judith and I were here 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:34.020 before he took us up there to north, 00:07:34.140 --> 00:07:36.500 before God took us up there to northeastern Ohio, 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:43.240 I have no doubt that he probably relied on a passage such as Acts 4, verse 42, 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:46.879 where it says that this is what ministry consists of, 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:49.319 in Acts 6, where the apostles said, 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:52.500 but we will give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word, 00:07:52.579 --> 00:07:56.040 and perhaps also on this passage that we're going to be looking at. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:01.420 We're here, there, we're in this passage in Ephesians 4, verse 12 and 13, 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:08.839 where the Spirit of God, after having explained how wonderful the work of Christ is in the church, 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:12.659 he then brings it together in chapter 4, 5, and 6, 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:16.780 and says, all right, since Christ has done this in your life, 00:08:17.020 --> 00:08:18.920 here's how you are to live. 00:08:19.840 --> 00:08:23.980 And we are in the first part of those instructions 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:29.020 for how the believers are to live together as a community. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:35.600 I remind you again that the tone or the individual 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.680 that this passage is actually written to 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:42.139 is not private individuals, but it's the body of Christ together. 00:08:42.819 --> 00:08:45.719 And the starting place that the apostle has 00:08:45.719 --> 00:08:49.759 in these lessons for how believers are supposed to live 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.939 is the matter of unity. 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:54.799 Not just kind of acquiescing to one another 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:57.919 and kind of getting along in a kind of Rodney King type of mindset, 00:08:58.359 --> 00:09:01.279 but really that genuine unity that comes about 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:04.740 from all of us being under the same headship, 00:09:04.859 --> 00:09:05.979 namely under Christ. 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:08.840 And in our lesson so far, 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.519 we've understood that he gives to us spiritual gifts. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.180 We understood last week that he gives to you spiritual servants. 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:18.659 He gives to you gifted servants who are there 00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:22.100 for the sake of the body and for its effectiveness 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:23.539 as Christ's instrument. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:29.379 Now, what we are looking at today in verse 12 and 13 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:36.419 is really a clear statement of what a pastor's job is to be. 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:39.320 And so let's open the text and follow along 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:41.059 as we understand that, first of all, 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:44.539 pastors are called to equip the saints. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.539 The text announced that a pastor teacher 00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:50.279 is responsible for an equipping business. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:55.059 And given the importance of having a clear understanding of the word, 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:57.480 this morning what I'm going to do here at the outset 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:59.680 is I'm going to explain two particular words 00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:01.600 so that you are well informed. 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:04.560 And I want you to know that one of the benchmarks 00:10:04.560 --> 00:10:08.259 or the standards against which my ministry is to be judged 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:09.980 is whether, first of all, 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:12.720 I speak the word of God with accuracy 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:14.980 depending on what God has revealed 00:10:14.980 --> 00:10:17.879 rather than my own personal ideas and interests. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:21.960 And secondly, that I speak it with clarity 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:26.100 and help you understand exactly what it is that God says. 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:30.040 I'm reminded of the fact that God intends 00:10:30.040 --> 00:10:33.660 for His people to understand the word. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.660 I think that's a very, very important thing to have in mind. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:40.860 God intends for you to understand the word. 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:42.040 It's vital to you. 00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:45.720 I think about the passage over in Deuteronomy chapter 30, 00:10:45.800 --> 00:10:47.160 verse 11 through 14, 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:50.519 and just kind of fix that in your mind just for a moment 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:53.539 where Moses, towards the end of his ministry, 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:55.019 he says this about the word. 00:10:55.339 --> 00:10:57.959 He says, the word is not far from you. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.059 Do you know what he means by that? 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:01.500 He said, hey, you can get your hands around it. 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:03.179 It's there for you. 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:06.100 How many of you have had to deal with information 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:07.919 that was really pretty fuzzy for you? 00:11:08.839 --> 00:11:10.259 It's like, I don't get this. 00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:11.779 I don't understand this. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:14.459 You have to work real, real hard 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:16.519 and it still kind of confuses you. 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:19.340 When it comes to electrical schematics, 00:11:20.820 --> 00:11:22.379 Pastor Saul was a physicist 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:24.740 and he worked in physics and blah, blah, blah. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:27.420 And when we have electrical issues here at the church, 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:29.320 we say, well, here, Pastor Saul, do this. 00:11:29.660 --> 00:11:30.540 And he's good with that. 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:32.360 If it comes down to plumbing or carpentry, 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:34.620 we call me out of the reserves. 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:35.360 You know, okay, go. 00:11:36.139 --> 00:11:37.700 Water just runs downhill. 00:11:37.780 --> 00:11:38.420 Do you follow that? 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:40.759 And it's not so complicated. 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:45.480 But sometimes we deal with things we don't understand 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:48.500 and that's not the way the Word of God is to be viewed. 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.899 He wants us to understand it 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:53.200 and my job, among other things, 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.759 is to make it understandable. 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:59.399 God intends for his people to read the Bible 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.059 and understand what it is saying. 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:03.840 I want you to have that fixed in your mind. 00:12:04.319 --> 00:12:07.559 He intends for you to be a people who know the Word. 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:11.759 And part of my job is to encourage, encourage, encourage, encourage, 00:12:11.959 --> 00:12:14.339 keep on bumping you to make the Word significant 00:12:14.339 --> 00:12:16.179 and supreme and valuable, 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:19.739 not just because it's the Word, 00:12:20.859 --> 00:12:24.799 but because it reveals to you the glory of Christ 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:27.239 and the person of Christ 00:12:27.239 --> 00:12:30.759 and the reality and nature of God. 00:12:30.859 --> 00:12:31.539 Do you follow me? 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:35.259 How is it that we grow in loving Christ? 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:38.899 It will not happen if you sit in a dark corner and go, 00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:41.080 mmm, it's not going to happen. 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:44.019 You are going to grow to love Christ 00:12:44.019 --> 00:12:48.299 by learning what the Scriptures tell you about Christ. 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.799 It's the reason I would encourage you, 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:53.379 if you're, boy, I don't love him like I should, 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.720 I would encourage you to begin reading 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.580 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:00.080 Matthew, Mark, why would I do that? 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:03.860 You can't love somebody you don't know. 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.600 Do you follow that? 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.899 Read the Gospels. 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:08.179 Read the Gospels. 00:13:08.319 --> 00:13:09.319 Read the Gospels. 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:11.360 Go to the book of Hebrews. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:12.299 Read Hebrews. 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:13.659 Read the book of Revelation. 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:15.519 Are they easy books? 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:17.220 The answer is no. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:21.639 But they will be books that will enrich your affection 00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:23.100 for the Lord Jesus Christ 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:25.539 and give you legs on which to stand 00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:27.519 when you work at loving him. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:31.559 I want you to recognize that understanding 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:35.259 and applying the Bible is really one of the principal means 00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:37.000 whereby we gain blessing from God. 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:38.519 And so as we are studying this morning, 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:41.960 we are going to see things that God intends for his body 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:46.000 to understand about the role and the responsibility of a pastor. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:49.679 And understanding that is really part of where the blessing comes 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:53.759 from that man that God assigns to you to serve in that capacity. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:58.139 I want to say something here in relationship to this matter of understanding. 00:13:58.139 --> 00:14:03.840 An uninformed believer is at a greater disadvantage than an illiterate citizen. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:10.240 An uninformed believer is at a greater disadvantage than an illiterate citizen. 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:12.360 Now why would I say that? 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:15.620 We value literacy. 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.720 And that's a good thing. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:21.399 And having a literate congregation or having a literate nation 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:23.779 or a literate community is important 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:28.519 because being able to read and comprehend what is in print 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:32.779 is a very, very valuable resource in the lives of individuals. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:33.680 But let me say it again. 00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:40.060 An ill-informed believer is at a greater disadvantage 00:14:40.059 --> 00:14:42.339 than an illiterate citizen. 00:14:42.479 --> 00:14:48.019 And the reason is, is because economic and intellectual hardship is one thing. 00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:53.619 Spiritual darkness and hardship is of a whole more significant nature. 00:14:54.899 --> 00:15:00.119 Now we're looking here at the issue of the responsibility of a pastor teacher 00:15:00.119 --> 00:15:02.659 and you mark there in verse 12, it says, 00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:04.819 to equip the saints. 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:11.700 The Greek word that Paul chose carries the idea of preparing someone 00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:18.460 and putting things in order so that the person is fully prepared to do their work. 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:25.560 It's not enough for a pastor just to kind of back the dump truck of truth up 00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:28.520 on the platform and pull the lever and let it all go. 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:36.779 I have had two of my sons go into the military 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:39.600 and neither I did not do it, 00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:42.620 but I will tell you that they both explained to me the experience 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:47.639 of arriving at basic and having the process take place 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:50.460 of turning them in from being just a yahoo 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:52.340 to being actually part of the armed services. 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:55.559 And it begins with little things like getting down to your skivvies, 00:15:55.559 --> 00:16:00.059 getting your head shaved, and then having people dump a whole bunch of stuff 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:02.319 on your arms and out you walk. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:06.299 And you have everything you need in that pile. 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:14.019 Now what follows is they teach you all about all the things you have in your hands. 00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:19.839 And so equipping is not just shoving all that equipment out in a pile 00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:21.699 and saying, well, there it is, do what you want. 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:27.700 It is, this is your business and you are going to learn how to use all this stuff. 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:36.040 I want you to understand that thankfully a pastor is not called to invent equipment 00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:37.980 or the training process. 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:41.920 The things that equip the saints are the Word of God. 00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:43.060 I want you to turn back. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.840 You're in Ephesians there. 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:46.480 Actually turn forward just a little bit, 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:50.600 but go to 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 and 17. 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:54.759 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 and 17. 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:59.019 In relationship to what equips the believer, 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:03.240 here's what it says in verse 16 and 17. 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:05.640 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:09.440 for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.420 Hey, listen. 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:13.180 The Bible is your source book. 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:14.319 It's your resource book. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.439 It's what you need. 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:20.919 It's the absolutely go-to document to help you with every aspect of life. 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:25.519 And verse 17, that the man of God, you can put woman in there as well, 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:29.399 may be competent, equipped for every good work. 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.220 Listen to me. 00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:32.740 The Bible's got the answers. 00:17:33.919 --> 00:17:36.359 And my job is to help you understand that, 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:38.519 to remind you of it, to encourage you, 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:44.740 to do everything within my power to encourage you to be a people 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:46.660 whose first thought is, 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.559 what does the Bible think? 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.359 Now, stop and realize that in our contemporary culture, 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.619 when we have a question, 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:57.879 what is the simplest place to go to get information on it? 00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.559 Say it loud. 00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:00.319 Google. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:00.720 Google. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:05.399 I mean, hey, how many of you have said to somebody, 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.059 Google it? 00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:09.220 How many of you have done that? 00:18:09.659 --> 00:18:10.299 Google it. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.259 You know what? 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:16.859 Google cannot answer spiritual questions. 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:24.119 And here's what it says in that passage in 2 Timothy 3, verse 17. 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:27.399 It says that the man of God, you who know Christ, 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:31.779 may be completely equipped that you have everything you need 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:33.199 for handling the challenges of life. 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.919 It's in the Bible. 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:38.740 The pastor is called to do more than just lecture, however. 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:41.279 He is called to love the Word. 00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:43.779 He is called to know the Word. 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.859 And he's called to model the Word. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:50.439 And I rely upon that sequence of loving the Word 00:18:50.439 --> 00:18:52.879 and knowing the Word on the basis of what it says 00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:55.359 in Deuteronomy 6 when it encourages fathers 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:57.779 in their responsibility of being the minister 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.919 and shepherd of their home. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.599 You know what it says? 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.579 Love the Lord. 00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:01.419 Love the Lord. 00:19:01.479 --> 00:19:02.419 That's the starting point. 00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:05.799 And let these words that I say to you be in your heart 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.919 and then teach them. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:11.339 I want you to recognize that a pastor is called 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.199 to love the Word. 00:19:12.199 --> 00:19:13.740 He is called to model the Word. 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:17.720 And those things go together and make for a difference in ministry. 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:21.720 Listen to what Paul had to say to his son in the faith, Timothy, 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:26.539 who was serving as a pastor in a congregation there at Ephesus. 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:28.059 You're in 2 Timothy. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:31.120 Just go back a little bit to 1 Timothy 4, verse 12. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:35.459 Let no one despise you for your youth, 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:40.099 but set the believers an example in speech, 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:48.039 in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:50.220 You know what Paul's saying? 00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:53.259 He's saying, Timothy, I want you to understand 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:57.480 that one of the essential elements in your ministry 00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:01.680 is that you are an example of what you preach. 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.759 And that's true. 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:08.099 Pastoral ministry is different in some senses 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:11.299 from many other different kinds of professions. 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:15.319 You may be an excellent surgeon 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:18.899 and an absolute wretch in your moral life. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.700 Do you understand that? 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:23.940 You may be a great carpenter, 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:26.279 and you may be an absolute failure 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:28.279 in your spiritual walk. 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:30.279 You may be the most wonderful mathematician 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:34.579 or scientist or lawyer, 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:36.180 and you win every case, 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.480 but the truth of the matter is 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:41.079 is your profession and your practice 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:43.759 may not necessarily be linked together 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:46.380 and require that what you say 00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:48.220 and what you do match. 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:52.460 That is not the case in pastoral ministry. 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:55.500 I'll never forget early on in ministry 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:57.180 when Dr. David Moore said to me, 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.819 Tim, he said, 00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:00.860 character is the only coin you have. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.079 Very interesting statement, 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.440 and I thought about that a long time 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:07.019 because at that moment in my life, 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:08.519 I wasn't thinking about coins. 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:12.639 So I had to kind of squeeze the poetry out of it, 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.700 and what he was saying is this, 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.960 is that your character is at the heart of what you do. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:19.680 And here is Paul making this statement. 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:19.980 He says, 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.960 let no man despise your youth, 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:24.339 but set the believers an example. 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:24.839 In other words, 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:27.940 you are a living illustration of what you preach. 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:31.960 1 Timothy 4, verse 16, 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.819 there follows on that same frame. 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.220 He says, 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:37.939 but if you're going to take care of your exampleship, 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:40.919 keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:43.299 Persist in this, 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.919 for in doing so, 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.980 you will save both yourself and your hearers. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.700 What's he saying? 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.399 Hey, listen. 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.759 At the heart of pastoral ministry is, 00:21:50.919 --> 00:21:51.319 first of all, 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:53.679 you take care of your own walk before the Lord. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.500 You take care of your own walk before the Lord. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.579 Many, many years ago, 00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.579 and I don't know exactly why, 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:03.059 but I made a commitment that I would not have devotions 00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:06.619 in the same passage that I was going to study 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:08.139 in that week or the week to follow 00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:09.480 or the week after that. 00:22:10.399 --> 00:22:14.519 I have always had devotions in a portion of the Scripture 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:16.480 that has not been directly related 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.779 to what I plan to preach at the moment. 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.859 Now, having said that, 00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:23.079 one of the things that I, 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.559 a number of years ago, 00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:26.960 began doing is in preparation for a book 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.200 that I had settled in my heart 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.500 that I was going to read 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.579 or I was going to preach. 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:32.840 I would begin reading that book, 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:34.360 sometimes daily, 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.340 the book of Ephesians. 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:37.519 I read pretty much every day 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:39.319 for about five, six months. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.480 But as I was reading it, 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:43.579 I was reading it to understand Ephesians 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.980 and its application to me. 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:47.319 I was not reading it for the sake of preaching, 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.539 and I did not make notes 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.700 for the sake of preaching. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.759 Right now, I'm in the process. 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.200 I'm in my seventh month. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.880 I'm almost finished with my seventh month 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.360 of reading through the book of John. 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.019 Does that tell you 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.000 where we're going eventually? 00:22:59.159 --> 00:23:01.059 We're going to the book of John, okay? 00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:02.399 And I got to tell you, 00:23:02.459 --> 00:23:03.819 there are times when I am reading 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.539 the book of John, 00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.859 and I think I can't wait. 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.699 But I do it like Ephesians. 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.039 Here's the deal. 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.919 If the Word of God 00:23:16.919 --> 00:23:18.699 is not making a difference in my life, 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:20.379 it won't make much difference in yours. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.379 And I have to preach 00:23:22.379 --> 00:23:23.599 with an affection and a passion. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:25.759 That comes from having time in the Word 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.159 and understanding its value. 00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:31.740 So to understand what the word equip means, 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:34.119 let's put it this way. 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:36.359 The pastor teacher is called 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:37.439 to use the Word of God 00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:39.179 to first shape his own life 00:23:39.179 --> 00:23:42.439 and then teach it to fellow believers 00:23:42.439 --> 00:23:44.419 so they can do their divine work. 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:50.939 Appropriate ministry with the Word 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.960 is first of all, 00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:53.320 letting it affect you 00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:54.620 and then secondly, 00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:56.100 having it affect other people. 00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.660 And that's important. 00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.860 Now let's talk secondly 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.640 about another word 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.660 that appears in the passage. 00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:04.440 And so go back, 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:04.860 if you would, 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.960 to the book of Ephesians. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:09.360 We were there in the Timothy. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.100 So let's go back 00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:11.140 to Ephesians chapter 4 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.700 and look there. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:12.660 If you would, 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.500 at verse 11, 00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:13.920 it says, 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:14.519 or 12, 00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:14.840 it says, 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.879 to equip who? 00:24:17.159 --> 00:24:18.179 Who are we equipping? 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:19.779 Saints. 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:20.899 Okay. 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:23.279 Well, let's explain 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.899 how the Bible uses this word. 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:27.639 And so as I think about this, 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.919 let me introduce several saints to you. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.959 I don't know that you actually realize 00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:32.980 that they're here this morning, 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:36.839 but I'm absolutely certain 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.039 that we have saints 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.399 in our midst this morning, okay? 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:44.240 Isaac Malumba, 00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:44.800 would you stand 00:24:44.800 --> 00:24:45.640 just for a moment, please? 00:24:46.800 --> 00:24:47.800 This young man 00:24:47.800 --> 00:24:49.600 is Saint Isaac Malumba. 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.180 Sit down, please. 00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:55.960 Mrs. Cassandra Bach, 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:57.180 would you stand, please? 00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.960 I'm sorry to embarrass you, sister. 00:24:59.540 --> 00:25:01.000 This is a saint 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.340 in our fellowship. 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:02.840 Have a seat. 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:05.200 I'm not going to ask 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.180 the next one to stand 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:07.780 because once you reach 90, 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.240 you're okay. 00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:09.220 You don't have to stand. 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.700 Okay. 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.799 But my mother is 91. 00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:12.779 She is a saint. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.819 This is Saint Marlia. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.500 We have Saint Isaac. 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.819 We have Saint Cassandra. 00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:18.559 Isaac and Cassandra 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.600 came to know the Lord 00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:20.600 this last year, right? 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.400 In this year. 00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:23.759 And they are saints. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:25.799 You know, 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:27.059 when we think about saints, 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:27.860 we have a tendency 00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:29.019 to think about people that, 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:29.920 I mean, you know, 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.940 they do the heavy lifting 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:32.360 for us all spiritually, right? 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.799 The truth of the matter is, 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.720 let me explain this, 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:38.120 and I don't mean to embarrass 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:39.519 Isaac or Cassandra, 00:25:39.739 --> 00:25:40.139 my mother, 00:25:40.239 --> 00:25:40.939 if she'll tell me later, 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.439 don't do that to me again. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.979 But here's the deal. 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.859 Let's explain what the word means. 00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:49.939 The Bible uses the word saint 00:25:49.939 --> 00:25:50.779 really to mean 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.859 one who's set apart, 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:54.079 one who is holy 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.759 by virtue of what Christ 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.679 has done for him. 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:58.179 And it points to the fact 00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:59.319 that someone who has come 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.519 to faith in Christ 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.799 is a person who's been 00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:03.099 set apart by grace. 00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:05.059 It would seem 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:06.779 that one of the reasons 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:08.279 Paul and other writers 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.959 in the New Testament 00:26:08.959 --> 00:26:10.339 chose to use the word saint 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:11.859 when they were talking 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:12.399 about believers 00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.240 was to remind 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:15.079 those who were 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:15.959 believers, 00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:16.519 Christians, 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:18.259 that they had this 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:20.099 wonderful relationship 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:21.299 by virtue of what Christ 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.199 had done for them. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.359 And the truth of the matter 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:23.679 is, 00:26:23.699 --> 00:26:25.259 is that we are all equally, 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.799 once we've come to know Christ, 00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:29.099 we are all equally saints 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:30.480 before the Lord Jesus. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.680 Jesus, 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:34.160 if we limit ourselves 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.640 to the logic of the Bible. 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.420 Now, 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.099 why would I say 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:38.400 if we limit ourselves 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.660 to the logic of the Bible? 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.500 What is the safety 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.299 of limiting yourself 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.500 to the logic of the Bible? 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.200 Does anybody have, 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.299 don't have to raise your hand 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.539 and say, 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:45.980 I know, 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.440 I know, 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:48.579 but what is the safety 00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.759 of limiting ourselves 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:51.019 to the logic of the Bible? 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.140 That's the question. 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.440 Here's the answer. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.200 The logic of the Bible 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.700 is absolutely reliable. 00:26:58.700 --> 00:27:01.620 The logic of Tim Kenoyer, 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.200 or for that matter, 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.340 any one of our deacons, 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.319 or Pastor Saul, 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.759 is marked 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.940 and is affected 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:10.180 by the noetic effect 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.480 of the fall. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.440 What's that noetic word mean? 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.460 It just means 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.640 that our knowledge 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:17.319 got messed up in the fall. 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:18.299 How many of you realize that? 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.319 How many of you, 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.819 while you were debating 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.960 doing a sin, 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.660 thought it was 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.660 a pretty smart idea? 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.220 Raise your hand. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:26.759 Come on. 00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.380 Every one of you. 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:28.480 Every one of you 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.080 have at one point or another 00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:31.460 thought that the sin 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.600 you were thinking about committing, 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:34.260 whether it was getting snarky 00:27:34.260 --> 00:27:34.680 with someone 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.900 who had been unkind to you, 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:36.360 right? 00:27:36.760 --> 00:27:37.500 They had it coming. 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:39.240 Or honking your horn 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.620 at somebody 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.980 that wasn't moving fast enough. 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:43.260 They need to be divinely prodded. 00:27:43.520 --> 00:27:43.660 You know, 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.780 there are all kinds of excuses 00:27:44.780 --> 00:27:45.400 that we have. 00:27:45.760 --> 00:27:47.120 When we're thinking about the sin, 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.520 we think it's pretty smart. 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:51.839 And then the Spirit of God 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.359 comes along 00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:53.420 and taps us on the shoulder 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:55.059 and uses a little Bible verse 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:56.019 and says something such 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.579 as the fact that, 00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.079 you know, 00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:57.759 the wrath of man 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.700 does not work the right... 00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.240 Oh, yeah. 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.180 Sorry. 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.759 My mind, 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:03.039 on its own, 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:05.019 does not do well 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:06.059 with reality 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:07.180 scripturally. 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.619 The Spirit of God 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:11.019 uses the Word of God 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:13.759 and keeps me in companionship 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.559 with godly people 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.119 and helps me 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.200 do a better job of it. 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.600 Now, 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.240 here we are. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.440 We want to be a people 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:22.019 who are informed 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.460 by the Scriptures. 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:25.980 And so, 00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:27.140 when we look at the Bible, 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.500 we see that the term saint 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.620 refers to everyone 00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:31.519 who has come to genuine faith 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.039 in Christ. 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:32.860 And so, 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.840 what you are thinking 00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.460 right now 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.240 where you're sitting 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.799 is this. 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.700 Here it is. 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.559 You don't need to say it out loud, 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.420 but I hope you're thinking 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.319 this thought. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.340 Prove it to me. 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:42.039 Is that what you're thinking? 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.100 Pastor, 00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.000 can you prove that? 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.480 Well, 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.640 yes, 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.100 I can. 00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.279 Here we go. 00:28:47.360 --> 00:28:47.740 We're going to look 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.660 at a couple different places 00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.440 where in the Bible 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.819 it refers to people as saints. 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.819 And it's not talking about 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.920 people who have 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:54.279 kind of arrived, 00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:55.240 but it's talking about 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.980 usans, 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:56.880 you and me. 00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.759 Go to your Bible. 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:00.840 Turn to 1 Corinthians 1, 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.539 verse 2. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.819 We're dealing with the reality 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:05.059 that in the Scriptures 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:06.360 every believer 00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:07.420 who has come to faith 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.779 is addressed 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:10.480 by the title saint. 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:13.440 1 Corinthians 1, 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.200 verse 2. 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:15.180 To the church of God 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:16.019 that is in Corinth 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.380 to all those 00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.640 sanctified in Christ, 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:20.160 Jesus called to be saints 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:21.600 together with all those 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.340 who in every place 00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:23.120 call upon the name 00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:24.180 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.580 both their Lord 00:29:25.580 --> 00:29:26.080 and ours. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.240 Let's go to 1 Corinthians 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.640 or 2 Corinthians 1, 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:30.160 verse 1. 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.000 And by the way, 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.700 what kind of church 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.240 was Corinth? 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:37.080 Of all the churches 00:29:37.080 --> 00:29:37.960 in the New Testament, 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:38.740 it was the one 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.480 that was filled 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.819 with the nicest people, 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.180 the people who had 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.140 the least problem 00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.700 with sin. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.079 No, no, no, no, no. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:46.819 That's not true. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:47.319 Okay. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.500 First, 2 Corinthians 1, 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:49.940 verse 2. 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.860 To the church of God 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.539 that is at Corinth 00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.799 with all the saints 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:53.700 who are in the whole 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.200 of Achaia. 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.640 Now, I could just 00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.420 rattle on, 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.000 have you go to 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.920 Ephesians 1, 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.599 to Philippians 1, 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.980 to Colossians 1, 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.360 and what you will 00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.380 recognize is that 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:06.599 the church commonly 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.559 was referred to 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.740 by the title saint. 00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:09.940 The saints. 00:30:10.120 --> 00:30:10.539 The saints. 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:12.860 So, here we are 00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:14.240 with the saints 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:16.360 in Maranatha Baptist Church 00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:18.539 and you're thinking 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.220 to yourself, 00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:19.759 well, there are 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.480 some people here 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.920 who are not very saintly 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:23.880 and I'm sure 00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:25.259 you're referencing yourself, 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:26.079 not other people. 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.860 I do want you 00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:29.480 to understand 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:31.920 that when the Bible 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:33.880 refers to us 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.500 as saints, 00:30:34.560 --> 00:30:35.480 it is not talking 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.120 about us 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:37.340 as having reached 00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:39.140 a certain plateau 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:40.080 of spirituality 00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:41.200 and having extra 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.900 lifting power 00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:43.180 so we could be of help 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.779 to other people. 00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:44.360 It's just talking 00:30:44.360 --> 00:30:44.940 about the fact 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:46.100 that we are those 00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:47.120 who've come to Christ. 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.960 Now, are there saints 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.340 in heaven? 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.320 The answer is yes, 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:51.080 but they're in heaven 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:52.440 by virtue of having 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:53.019 been saved 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.019 through the grace of God 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.960 and then death 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.580 taking them 00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:56.500 to that place. 00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:59.120 Saints are not people 00:30:59.120 --> 00:31:00.539 who have a special section 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.660 in the church. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:05.340 or have extra ability 00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:05.980 to pray. 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.920 People come and say, 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.660 Pastor, would you pray 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:07.920 for me? 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:08.500 I want you to know 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.640 I'm happy to pray for you, 00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.400 but I do want you 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:10.820 to know this. 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:12.060 My prayer doesn't count 00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:13.060 any more in God's eyes 00:31:13.060 --> 00:31:14.000 than your prayer does. 00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:15.039 Why is that? 00:31:15.800 --> 00:31:17.360 We are equally saved 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:18.480 by the grace of God 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.880 and we have the same 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:20.940 privilege of access 00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:22.220 into His presence. 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.259 So I want you 00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:25.980 to understand 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:28.039 that a saint 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.840 just refers to 00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:29.380 an individual 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.040 who's a believer. 00:31:30.780 --> 00:31:31.900 Probably one other argument 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:32.820 that we would undeniably 00:31:32.820 --> 00:31:33.500 have to admit 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:35.140 helps us understand 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:35.940 that saints are just 00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:37.200 people like us 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:39.020 is that Paul writes here 00:31:39.020 --> 00:31:40.440 in chapter 4, verse 12 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.860 to equip the saints. 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:43.460 If saints have arrived 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:44.160 spiritually, 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.460 do you need to do 00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.780 any further education 00:31:46.780 --> 00:31:47.740 and equipping? 00:31:47.820 --> 00:31:48.440 What's the answer? 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.620 You wouldn't have to 00:31:50.620 --> 00:31:51.780 if they'd already been there 00:31:51.780 --> 00:31:52.340 and done that. 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:54.519 Secondly, 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.379 I want you to understand 00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.220 that saints are called 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:57.000 to do the work 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.859 of ministry 00:31:57.859 --> 00:32:00.159 to mature 00:32:00.159 --> 00:32:02.379 and manifest Christ. 00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:05.220 The Bible makes it clear 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.559 that the primary duty 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.720 of the pastor teacher 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:09.319 is to equip 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.379 the saints. 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.500 But why? 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.779 Here's the key. 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.859 Because the saints 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:16.740 are to be equipped 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:18.099 so they are effective 00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:19.139 in doing the work 00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:19.799 of ministry. 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:19.879 ministry. 00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:21.879 Those who have known me 00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:23.359 for a long time 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.159 have heard me say 00:32:24.159 --> 00:32:25.059 on many occasions 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.220 that my job 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:26.740 is to help you 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.460 do your job. 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.619 That's it. 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.079 My job is to help 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:31.940 you do your job. 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.319 To encourage you 00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:34.039 to do your job. 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.099 To explain how 00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:35.659 that your job 00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.139 should be done, 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:36.480 etc. 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:38.200 And at the heart 00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:40.139 of what the expectation 00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:41.220 of Scripture is 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.319 is that those 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:42.940 who are called 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.980 to be pastor teachers 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:45.339 are actively engaged 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:47.039 in preparing, 00:32:47.379 --> 00:32:47.980 encouraging, 00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:49.240 education, 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.279 educating, 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:52.099 and leading people 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:53.160 towards doing the things 00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.819 that they've been called 00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.620 by God to do. 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:56.900 There is no indication 00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.579 in Scripture 00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:59.559 that God ever intended 00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.380 for ministry 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.620 or more specifically 00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:03.039 the responsibility 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:03.880 of ministry 00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:04.339 to be done 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:05.519 by a select few. 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.500 The work of ministry 00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:10.160 is to be done 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:11.940 by all the members 00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:13.660 of the body of Christ. 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.900 And to this end, 00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:17.980 each member 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.660 has been given 00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.759 spiritual gifts 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.700 and it is towards 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:22.280 this end 00:33:22.280 --> 00:33:23.460 that the pastor teacher 00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:25.060 is actively engaged 00:33:25.060 --> 00:33:25.759 in equipping, 00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:26.580 encouraging, 00:33:26.860 --> 00:33:27.580 strengthening them 00:33:27.580 --> 00:33:29.000 so they'll be active 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.840 in doing the things 00:33:29.840 --> 00:33:30.560 that they've been called 00:33:30.560 --> 00:33:31.000 to do. 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:33.640 The members of his body 00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:35.240 are to be at work 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.840 and we're looking 00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:36.460 at the passage 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.580 in Ephesians 4, 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.320 verse 12. 00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.580 It says here, 00:33:40.300 --> 00:33:41.540 Ephesians 4, 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.920 to equip the saints 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:44.099 for the work of ministry 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:45.200 for building up 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:47.279 the body of Christ. 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.659 Now verse 13 then 00:33:49.659 --> 00:33:50.599 gives a little more 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:52.059 explanation of what 00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:53.700 it means to build up 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.119 the body 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:54.799 and I'm going to press 00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.619 that together for you 00:33:55.619 --> 00:33:56.359 and have you recognize. 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.659 Number one, 00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:58.619 building up the body 00:33:58.619 --> 00:33:59.240 means coming 00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.940 to the unity of faith. 00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:02.659 Coming to the unity 00:34:02.659 --> 00:34:03.259 of faith. 00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:05.099 Shepherding aims 00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:06.180 at unity that comes 00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:06.980 from understanding 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:08.199 and holding common 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:09.119 truths of the Scripture. 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:11.239 The divisions of the church 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:11.899 at Corinth 00:34:11.899 --> 00:34:12.679 were the result 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.139 of people 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:14.399 that did not hold 00:34:14.399 --> 00:34:15.419 to the same truths. 00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:17.259 When you find people 00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:18.099 that are of radically 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.299 different perspectives 00:34:19.299 --> 00:34:20.299 on truth, 00:34:20.419 --> 00:34:21.159 guess what happens? 00:34:21.319 --> 00:34:21.839 Invariably, 00:34:22.879 --> 00:34:24.159 some of you sitting out here 00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:25.879 might be conservative 00:34:25.879 --> 00:34:28.500 in your political theology 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:30.819 and you work with people 00:34:30.819 --> 00:34:32.139 who are right next to you 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:33.539 who are liberal 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:35.319 in their perspective 00:34:35.319 --> 00:34:36.619 and what happens 00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.459 when you try 00:34:37.459 --> 00:34:38.359 to have conversations? 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:40.139 Goes pretty well, 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:40.519 doesn't it? 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:42.479 You talk to them 00:34:42.479 --> 00:34:44.379 about your fiscal frugality 00:34:44.379 --> 00:34:45.559 and how you think 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.759 that, you know, 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:48.500 blah, blah, blah 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.759 and what happens? 00:34:49.879 --> 00:34:50.639 It devolves 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.639 into a spitting match 00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.259 at best. 00:34:52.819 --> 00:34:53.539 Why is that? 00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:54.979 Because there is 00:34:54.979 --> 00:34:56.059 no unity of faith. 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:58.059 There's no core 00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:59.039 that the two of you 00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:00.099 hold to together. 00:35:01.339 --> 00:35:02.519 And so Paul explains, 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:02.899 he says, 00:35:02.979 --> 00:35:03.139 listen, 00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:03.879 the responsibility 00:35:03.879 --> 00:35:04.959 of the pastor-teacher 00:35:04.959 --> 00:35:07.199 is to build up the body 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:09.239 and the way that happens 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:10.480 is bringing about unity 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.000 of faith 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:12.159 and when it says faith, 00:35:12.219 --> 00:35:13.000 it's just not talking about, 00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:13.179 well, 00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:14.319 having some kind of abstract, 00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:15.579 I got faith. 00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:17.179 It's talking about the faith, 00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:17.719 the truth, 00:35:18.359 --> 00:35:18.879 the truth. 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:21.940 And so it's no accident 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:23.079 that on Sunday evenings 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:25.579 we are committed 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.700 to doctrinal teaching 00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:28.160 of some of the essential truths 00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:28.640 of the Scripture 00:35:28.640 --> 00:35:29.800 and the reason we're doing that 00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:31.760 is we want unity 00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:32.880 in our fellowship 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.920 and strength 00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:34.599 that comes about 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:36.019 from having that cohesive relationship 00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:37.280 one with another 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:38.660 around common truth. 00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:40.599 Secondly, 00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.819 we find there in the passage 00:35:41.819 --> 00:35:42.679 it says also 00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:43.940 coming to the knowledge 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:45.059 of the Son of God. 00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:47.179 The word for knowledge 00:35:47.179 --> 00:35:48.559 that Paul uses here 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.539 is a word that refers 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:51.399 to a deep and accurate 00:35:51.399 --> 00:35:52.699 understanding of something 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.339 and in essence 00:35:53.339 --> 00:35:54.000 it means this, 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:56.239 having an intimate relationship 00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:56.799 with Christ. 00:35:56.899 --> 00:35:57.480 It's not enough 00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.960 just to know the facts 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.719 about Jesus. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.960 Now I'll say that carefully. 00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:03.279 It is not enough 00:36:03.279 --> 00:36:05.079 to just know the facts 00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:05.819 about Jesus. 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:06.879 Why is that? 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:07.320 Well, 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.900 you want a Bible answer 00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:10.320 don't you? 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.720 Say yes. 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.200 Yes. 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.760 You always want a Bible answer. 00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:16.960 What does it say 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.820 in the book of James? 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:18.660 It says you believe 00:36:18.660 --> 00:36:19.480 there is one God 00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.079 you do well 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:20.860 the demons what? 00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:23.200 The demons believe. 00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:25.119 Has that done them any good 00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.820 and what's the answer? 00:36:27.160 --> 00:36:28.599 Knowing the facts 00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:30.840 is not what this is talking about. 00:36:31.160 --> 00:36:32.280 It is talking about 00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:33.640 knowing the truth 00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:35.039 but then having that truth 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:36.559 boil out into a personal 00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:37.840 genuine relationship 00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:39.779 that's marked by affection 00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:41.840 and by an attachment. 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:46.920 Shepherds aim at heart 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:48.059 affection for Christ 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:49.840 and a desire to please Him. 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:51.219 Let me say that again slowly. 00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:53.539 Shepherds aim at heart 00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:55.000 affection for Christ 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:57.360 and a desire to please Him. 00:36:58.940 --> 00:37:00.239 Oh, my prayer is that 00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:01.539 God would deliver people 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.739 from the hollowness 00:37:02.739 --> 00:37:05.219 of an intellectual comprehension 00:37:05.219 --> 00:37:06.000 of Christ 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:07.279 that is absolutely 00:37:07.279 --> 00:37:09.019 devoid of affection. 00:37:12.699 --> 00:37:13.599 That's important. 00:37:16.379 --> 00:37:17.739 Now, are there days 00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:18.899 where our affections 00:37:18.899 --> 00:37:20.219 are a little dampened 00:37:20.219 --> 00:37:21.859 by circumstances? 00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:23.079 Yes. 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:24.699 But, beloved, 00:37:24.839 --> 00:37:25.799 listen to me carefully 00:37:25.799 --> 00:37:26.559 and I want you to think 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.359 with me about this. 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:29.460 If there is in your life 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:30.460 a persistent 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:33.079 lack 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:34.280 of affection 00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:35.460 for Christ, 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:36.900 there's something 00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:38.200 wrong. 00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:42.680 Why would I say that? 00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:45.940 John chapter 21. 00:37:46.260 --> 00:37:46.780 Don't go there 00:37:46.780 --> 00:37:47.940 but remember Jesus, 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:49.300 one of the last things 00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:49.800 that He said, 00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:51.400 He pulled Peter aside. 00:37:51.500 --> 00:37:52.400 Remember Peter was the guy 00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:53.240 who really messed up 00:37:53.240 --> 00:37:54.440 and denied him three times, right? 00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:56.380 And so, Jesus pulls him aside 00:37:56.380 --> 00:37:56.700 and He says, 00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:57.300 Hey, Peter, 00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:58.260 do you what? 00:37:59.300 --> 00:38:00.019 Do you love me? 00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:00.800 Yeah. 00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:02.800 You know that I love you. 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.920 Well, then feed my sheep. 00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:05.360 Do you love me? 00:38:06.340 --> 00:38:07.519 You know all things. 00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:08.619 Feed my sheep. 00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:11.119 See, very interesting, 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:12.059 at the heart, 00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:13.920 at the foundation, 00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:15.480 at the base 00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:16.460 of what Paul 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:18.740 was calling Peter to do 00:38:18.740 --> 00:38:21.539 was his heart's affection 00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:22.480 for Christ. 00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:28.099 over in Revelation, 00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:30.619 as the Lord Jesus 00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:31.860 wrote to one of the churches, 00:38:32.019 --> 00:38:32.700 He says this, 00:38:32.780 --> 00:38:34.420 I have something against you 00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:36.079 because you have lost 00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:37.360 your first love. 00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:40.820 And so, 00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:42.079 shepherding aims 00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:44.280 at heart affection 00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:45.079 for Christ 00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:45.659 and a desire 00:38:45.659 --> 00:38:46.360 to please Him. 00:38:47.700 --> 00:38:48.159 Finally, 00:38:48.380 --> 00:38:49.340 shepherding aims 00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:52.240 at growing mature 00:38:52.240 --> 00:38:53.500 and Christ-like believers. 00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:54.099 You look there 00:38:54.099 --> 00:38:54.920 in verse 13, 00:38:55.519 --> 00:38:56.039 it says, 00:38:57.239 --> 00:38:57.619 the knowledge 00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.519 of the Son of God 00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:59.820 to mature manhood 00:38:59.820 --> 00:39:00.980 to the measure 00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:01.679 of the stature 00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:02.239 of the fullness 00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:02.960 of Christ. 00:39:03.699 --> 00:39:04.820 Behind the work 00:39:04.820 --> 00:39:06.000 of any pastor 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:06.900 who is faithful 00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:08.679 is an unrelenting 00:39:08.679 --> 00:39:09.280 dependence 00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:10.659 upon three agents 00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:11.639 to do their work 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.559 in the life 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.239 of a believer. 00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:13.760 And let me just 00:39:13.760 --> 00:39:14.739 rattle these off. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:16.639 One is the power 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.719 of the Word of God. 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:18.739 Pastor Saul 00:39:18.739 --> 00:39:19.900 referenced it this morning 00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:20.559 when he referred 00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:21.559 to the passage 00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:23.019 in 2 Corinthians 3, 00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:23.799 verse 18, 00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:25.019 where it said this, 00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:26.059 we, beholding 00:39:26.059 --> 00:39:26.619 His glory, 00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:27.860 are transformed 00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:29.340 from glory to glory. 00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:29.599 Do you know 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:30.119 what it's saying? 00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:31.019 It's saying that 00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:31.739 the more we know 00:39:31.739 --> 00:39:32.500 about Jesus, 00:39:32.779 --> 00:39:33.880 the more we become 00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:34.579 like Him. 00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:38.440 And that's at the heart 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.299 of pastoral ministry. 00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:40.320 I want you to know 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:41.119 more about Jesus. 00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:42.440 I want you to love Him more. 00:39:42.699 --> 00:39:43.980 I can't make that happen, 00:39:44.219 --> 00:39:45.360 but I can encourage you. 00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:46.360 I can model it. 00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:47.440 I can draw you 00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.240 to the Word of God 00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:48.900 and say, listen, 00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:51.480 He who has saved you 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:52.380 is worthy 00:39:52.380 --> 00:39:53.760 of your infinite affection, 00:39:54.120 --> 00:39:54.880 and someday 00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:56.099 when you're in heaven, 00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:57.420 you are just going 00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:58.700 to be beyond yourself 00:39:58.700 --> 00:39:59.700 with delight 00:39:59.700 --> 00:40:00.840 and satisfaction 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:02.300 seeing Him. 00:40:03.720 --> 00:40:06.099 And here in this life, 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.900 you should be growing 00:40:07.900 --> 00:40:09.440 in your interest 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:11.860 in the person of Christ. 00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:14.160 Secondly, 00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:15.900 the power of the Spirit of God. 00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:16.519 Three agents 00:40:16.519 --> 00:40:17.200 that help you 00:40:17.200 --> 00:40:18.579 in this growth process. 00:40:18.740 --> 00:40:19.320 One's the power 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:20.099 of the Word of God. 00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:21.240 Second is the power 00:40:21.240 --> 00:40:22.139 of the Spirit of God. 00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:23.760 2 Corinthians 3, 00:40:23.860 --> 00:40:24.400 verse 18, 00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:24.700 again, 00:40:24.780 --> 00:40:25.519 the very last part 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:25.860 of the verse, 00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:26.139 says, 00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:27.579 talking about the fact 00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:28.240 that it's the Lord, 00:40:28.340 --> 00:40:29.019 the Spirit of God 00:40:29.019 --> 00:40:30.220 that does this work in you. 00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:31.240 And one of the ways 00:40:31.240 --> 00:40:32.240 that you engage 00:40:32.240 --> 00:40:34.380 and involve 00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:35.180 the Spirit of God 00:40:35.180 --> 00:40:36.260 is by pleading with Him 00:40:36.260 --> 00:40:36.760 to do it. 00:40:37.019 --> 00:40:37.760 And so if you're sitting 00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:38.440 here this morning 00:40:38.440 --> 00:40:39.180 and the truth of the matter 00:40:39.180 --> 00:40:40.380 is your heart 00:40:40.380 --> 00:40:41.680 is cold towards Christ, 00:40:41.900 --> 00:40:42.860 what I would ask you 00:40:42.860 --> 00:40:44.400 to do is suck it up 00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:44.800 and say, 00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:45.400 hey, listen, 00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:46.280 I'm a mess, 00:40:46.360 --> 00:40:46.940 do something. 00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.380 I think sometimes 00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:56.300 we're afraid to do that. 00:40:58.300 --> 00:40:59.200 I've been debating 00:40:59.200 --> 00:41:00.099 why that is. 00:41:01.960 --> 00:41:03.480 And I'm not fully convinced 00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:04.019 that the reason 00:41:04.019 --> 00:41:05.039 we're afraid to do it 00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:05.940 is because we're afraid 00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:06.720 of what He will do. 00:41:08.139 --> 00:41:08.940 That's not it. 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:11.800 I think we're afraid 00:41:11.800 --> 00:41:14.539 that we'll come off 00:41:14.539 --> 00:41:15.179 the little throne 00:41:15.179 --> 00:41:15.960 we have established 00:41:15.960 --> 00:41:16.700 for ourselves. 00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:19.200 At the heart 00:41:19.200 --> 00:41:20.780 of our hesitancy 00:41:20.780 --> 00:41:22.440 is self-idolatry. 00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:25.139 Lord, 00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:27.679 I don't want to pray 00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:28.220 and ask you 00:41:28.220 --> 00:41:29.220 to do whatever it takes. 00:41:29.300 --> 00:41:29.679 By the way, 00:41:29.740 --> 00:41:30.820 would He ever do anything 00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:31.639 nasty and wicked 00:41:31.639 --> 00:41:32.659 and harsh to you? 00:41:32.820 --> 00:41:33.820 And what's the answer? 00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:34.760 He can't do it 00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:35.599 because He's God. 00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:37.860 Every stroke 00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:38.780 from His hand 00:41:38.780 --> 00:41:39.360 is marked 00:41:39.360 --> 00:41:40.159 by His love. 00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:44.380 And I would ask you, 00:41:44.460 --> 00:41:45.019 plead with Him, 00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:45.260 man, 00:41:45.260 --> 00:41:47.100 I want to know 00:41:47.100 --> 00:41:48.060 who Jesus is. 00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:49.620 I want to be changed 00:41:49.620 --> 00:41:50.780 by that knowledge. 00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:55.940 The third agent 00:41:55.940 --> 00:41:56.860 that God uses 00:41:56.860 --> 00:41:58.840 is the people of God. 00:41:59.860 --> 00:42:01.200 The people of God. 00:42:11.120 --> 00:42:12.320 Acts chapter 4, 00:42:12.860 --> 00:42:13.640 verse 32. 00:42:15.260 --> 00:42:16.660 The people of God. 00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:18.140 Hey, 00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:20.440 you want to be a floater? 00:42:21.240 --> 00:42:21.720 Do you know what I mean 00:42:21.720 --> 00:42:22.220 by a floater? 00:42:26.840 --> 00:42:27.520 This morning, 00:42:27.580 --> 00:42:28.460 after the morning service, 00:42:28.540 --> 00:42:29.100 I'm going to talk 00:42:29.100 --> 00:42:30.160 to Tim and Julia. 00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:31.500 I am embarrassing you, 00:42:31.560 --> 00:42:31.660 Tim, 00:42:31.700 --> 00:42:32.160 ahead of time, 00:42:32.220 --> 00:42:32.860 so where are you? 00:42:33.020 --> 00:42:33.480 Raise your hand. 00:42:33.680 --> 00:42:34.040 Wave at me. 00:42:34.940 --> 00:42:35.580 Tim and Julia 00:42:35.580 --> 00:42:36.620 are going to get married 00:42:36.620 --> 00:42:38.200 sometime in the distant future. 00:42:39.320 --> 00:42:40.420 It's actually around February, 00:42:40.480 --> 00:42:40.900 am I right? 00:42:41.740 --> 00:42:42.380 And one of the things 00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:42.860 I'm going to say 00:42:42.860 --> 00:42:44.860 to this lovely young couple 00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:47.140 and Tim is on my bad side 00:42:47.140 --> 00:42:48.260 because he moved away 00:42:48.260 --> 00:42:48.940 to get a job. 00:42:49.039 --> 00:42:49.920 I don't understand this 00:42:49.920 --> 00:42:50.440 but I'm glad. 00:42:51.039 --> 00:42:51.740 I love you anyway. 00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:52.860 But one of the things 00:42:52.860 --> 00:42:53.380 I'm going to say 00:42:53.380 --> 00:42:54.140 to Tim and Julia 00:42:54.140 --> 00:42:55.180 is that next to 00:42:55.180 --> 00:42:55.920 the relationship 00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:57.059 with the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:42:57.480 --> 00:42:58.079 marriage can be 00:42:58.079 --> 00:42:59.700 the most wonderful experience 00:42:59.700 --> 00:43:00.579 this side of glory. 00:43:00.579 --> 00:43:04.360 but it takes work. 00:43:04.360 --> 00:43:04.960 It takes work. 00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:07.059 It takes work. 00:43:08.639 --> 00:43:09.860 You have to pursue 00:43:09.860 --> 00:43:11.440 relationship 00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:12.279 with the other person. 00:43:13.519 --> 00:43:14.619 You have to be willing 00:43:14.619 --> 00:43:15.380 to humble yourself. 00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:16.159 You have to be willing 00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:17.539 to invest in that process 00:43:17.539 --> 00:43:18.539 over and over 00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:19.519 and over again. 00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:22.900 And so my plea 00:43:22.900 --> 00:43:23.639 with you this morning 00:43:23.639 --> 00:43:24.400 would be this, 00:43:25.719 --> 00:43:27.799 that as you think about 00:43:27.800 --> 00:43:29.180 what a pastor is to do, 00:43:30.080 --> 00:43:31.539 you understand 00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:33.460 that my divine appointment, 00:43:33.580 --> 00:43:34.760 it is not something 00:43:34.760 --> 00:43:36.800 that I arbitrarily chose. 00:43:37.140 --> 00:43:39.120 It is not a career path. 00:43:40.500 --> 00:43:41.200 Tim Knoyer 00:43:41.200 --> 00:43:42.180 and anybody 00:43:42.180 --> 00:43:43.460 that ever occupies 00:43:43.460 --> 00:43:44.080 this pulpit 00:43:44.080 --> 00:43:45.280 better be able to say 00:43:45.280 --> 00:43:46.160 I was called 00:43:46.160 --> 00:43:47.220 by God 00:43:47.220 --> 00:43:48.300 to serve 00:43:48.300 --> 00:43:49.240 as a shepherd. 00:43:51.280 --> 00:43:52.740 And my calling 00:43:52.740 --> 00:43:54.920 is to equip you 00:43:54.920 --> 00:43:57.340 to do the work 00:43:57.340 --> 00:43:59.240 that Christ 00:43:59.240 --> 00:44:00.119 has called you to. 00:44:01.940 --> 00:44:03.039 Let's close in prayer. 00:44:07.760 --> 00:44:08.559 Precious Father, 00:44:08.680 --> 00:44:09.400 we are thankful 00:44:09.400 --> 00:44:10.059 that you 00:44:10.059 --> 00:44:12.079 in your glorious wisdom 00:44:12.079 --> 00:44:13.940 have given to us 00:44:13.940 --> 00:44:15.200 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:44:16.420 --> 00:44:17.619 And in your wisdom 00:44:17.619 --> 00:44:19.639 you have drawn us together 00:44:19.639 --> 00:44:21.539 and you have fit us 00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:22.820 in to being 00:44:22.820 --> 00:44:24.480 the body of Christ. 00:44:24.920 --> 00:44:26.260 And you intend 00:44:26.260 --> 00:44:27.019 for the body 00:44:27.019 --> 00:44:28.039 to work 00:44:28.039 --> 00:44:29.119 for the glory 00:44:29.119 --> 00:44:30.019 of Christ. 00:44:31.880 --> 00:44:32.980 There are some of us 00:44:32.980 --> 00:44:33.740 here this morning, 00:44:33.860 --> 00:44:34.079 Lord, 00:44:34.180 --> 00:44:34.860 who have allowed 00:44:34.860 --> 00:44:35.519 the enemy 00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:36.900 of our souls 00:44:36.900 --> 00:44:38.220 to rob us 00:44:38.220 --> 00:44:39.320 of the joy 00:44:39.320 --> 00:44:40.280 and the significance 00:44:40.280 --> 00:44:41.180 that comes 00:44:41.180 --> 00:44:43.340 from being engaged 00:44:43.340 --> 00:44:44.300 in that work. 00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:47.280 And for those, 00:44:47.380 --> 00:44:48.559 I would plead this morning 00:44:48.559 --> 00:44:49.860 that you would bring them 00:44:49.860 --> 00:44:50.659 to repentance, 00:44:50.659 --> 00:44:50.879 repentance, 00:44:51.779 --> 00:44:54.619 to restitution 00:44:54.619 --> 00:44:55.519 and reconciliation 00:44:55.519 --> 00:44:56.799 that they would know 00:44:56.799 --> 00:44:58.460 the full sweetness 00:44:58.460 --> 00:44:59.199 that comes 00:44:59.199 --> 00:44:59.920 with actively 00:44:59.920 --> 00:45:01.039 and being involved 00:45:01.039 --> 00:45:02.119 in the bride 00:45:02.119 --> 00:45:02.859 of Christ. 00:45:05.779 --> 00:45:06.899 And I have no doubt 00:45:06.899 --> 00:45:07.599 that there are some 00:45:07.599 --> 00:45:08.139 here today, 00:45:08.259 --> 00:45:08.559 Christ, 00:45:08.659 --> 00:45:09.539 that do not know you 00:45:09.539 --> 00:45:10.239 as their Savior. 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:13.339 And it would be my plea 00:45:13.339 --> 00:45:14.099 that this morning, 00:45:14.199 --> 00:45:14.980 even with the preaching 00:45:14.980 --> 00:45:15.879 of the Word of God, 00:45:16.259 --> 00:45:17.079 that their heart 00:45:17.079 --> 00:45:17.659 would be burdened 00:45:17.659 --> 00:45:19.480 and miserable 00:45:19.480 --> 00:45:20.599 with the sin 00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:21.319 of their soul 00:45:21.319 --> 00:45:22.559 and they would understand 00:45:22.559 --> 00:45:23.699 that there is nothing 00:45:23.699 --> 00:45:24.799 they can do 00:45:24.799 --> 00:45:26.699 to remedy that burden 00:45:26.699 --> 00:45:29.420 except to cry out 00:45:29.420 --> 00:45:30.599 in broken humility 00:45:30.599 --> 00:45:31.159 and say, 00:45:31.779 --> 00:45:33.559 I stand morally bankrupt 00:45:33.559 --> 00:45:35.119 before a holy God 00:45:35.119 --> 00:45:36.679 and I have no hope 00:45:36.679 --> 00:45:39.000 of an eternal destiny 00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:39.599 in heaven 00:45:39.599 --> 00:45:41.639 apart from what Christ did 00:45:41.639 --> 00:45:42.839 when He died on the cross 00:45:42.839 --> 00:45:44.359 and I plead with you 00:45:44.359 --> 00:45:45.219 to save me. 00:45:45.219 --> 00:45:47.239 And we pray this 00:45:47.239 --> 00:45:48.239 in Jesus' name. 00:45:48.659 --> 00:45:48.939 Amen.