WEBVTT

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 Let's begin with a word of prayer.

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 Heavenly Father, this morning for us, prayer is not a habit, but is a recognition of our need.

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 It is a recognition of your sufficiency.

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 It is a recognition of the fact that you who abide in heaven have your ear bent to hear the frail call of your children,

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 that you delight in us because of the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 and that as it says in Ephesians, you have blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Jesus Christ.

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 And this morning it is our prayer that you would work to take the word that you have blessed us with

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 and strengthen our hearts that we would be a people that walk in humility and obedience and joy,

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 trusting in your wisdom and your plan,

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 and understanding that often the pleasure and satisfaction of obedience comes after we have acted by faith and obeyed.

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 And I ask for your Holy Spirit's help in my life and in those who hear the word this morning,

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 that Christ, our Savior, would be magnified among us.

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 Amen.

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 Last week we looked at the passages of Scripture in particular that relate to the men who God calls in our fellowship to serve as deacons,

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 and we recognize that God in His plan over time works to prepare men to be servants in the bride of Christ.

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 And one of the things that I want us to do this week, having looked last week at some of the qualifications,

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 is I want to switch around, and this week I want us to think about the part that God's people play together

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 in enabling and encouraging and strengthening those who serve the body of Christ as leadership.

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 I stop and recognize, as I think back over my own life,

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 that so much of what I have received has come through, first of all,

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 the Word of God and the Spirit of God in blessing me with salvation,

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 but also the same is true for you who are here.

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 Most of you know Christ as your personal Savior,

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 and much of the blessing that you have received has come because of that.

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 At the same time, you have to recognize that much also that we enjoy comes through relationships

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 with other people that are godly instruments and end up being encouragers and nurturers of godliness in our life,

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 and we have been blessed richly by those that God has put into our lives for the sake of the gospel

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 and for our progressive sanctification.

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 And so last week, thinking about the matter of the work of God in raising up godly leadership

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 and the importance that we have in praying and thinking carefully about the role those men would serve in,

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 I want us to think this morning in particular, how do we go about, as God's people,

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 in helping and encouraging those that He raises up to be,

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 servants of the bride of Christ and leaders in this fellowship.

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 And if I were to summarize the sermon in three words,

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 and so you can write this down on your paper,

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 and don't check out because there's some things to be said at this point,

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 but in essence, I'm interested in encouraging you to help your deacon.

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 Deacon. Help your deacon. Help your deacon.

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 Help those that God puts in leadership.

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 And so as we talk about the matter of how we go about doing that,

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 I want you to recognize that you help by participation.

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 You help by participating in the work that God calls deacons and pastors

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 to be engaged in directing the bride of Christ to act on.

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 I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, at this point,

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 to Acts chapter 6, verse 1.

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 Acts chapter 6, verse 1.

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 We're going to look eventually at verse 3, but mark what it says.

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 Now in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number,

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 a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews

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 because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

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 And the 12 summoned the full members of the disciples and said,

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 It is not right that we should give up preaching and the Word of God to serve tables.

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 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute,

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 full of the Spirit and of wisdom, who we may appoint to this duty.

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 As you look at the passage, one of the things that you understand

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 is that what the apostles recognized is that the need of the church had to be met

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 and there was a way to do it.

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 The statement that we find there in the text that we may appoint

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 or we may put in charge of this task indicates

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 that the men who were chosen to engage in this responsibility

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 were not appointed exclusively to be the only ones

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 who did the work that was needed in the ministry.

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 Now recognize, if you will, stop and kind of get your hands around this for a second,

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 that by this point the early church probably numbered in excess of 4,000.

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 And when you do a little bit of extrapolation from that,

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 you can imagine that there were a number of widows in that fellowship

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 that actually needed attention and care,

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 and as a result there was a significant concern

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 that the church had for that responsibility and it wasn't being met.

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 And we find that the apostles said,

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 hey listen, it's appropriate for us to stay focused on that

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 which God has called us to be engaged in,

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 namely in prayer and the teaching of the Word of God,

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 and we need individuals to meet this need as well.

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 And they gave the responsibility of doing this work

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 to seven individuals who met the biblical standards

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 that we find here in the passage.

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 I want you to recognize as you think with me through this passage

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 that the fact that the text speaks about these seven men

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 being charged with the responsibility or the task of overseeing it

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 indicates that they were expected to involve other people to do the job.

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 And so when we pay attention to this this morning,

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 I want us to understand that the underlying assumption

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 was that deacons in the early church relied on others

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 to help them do the work.

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 They didn't do it all by themselves.

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 They involved other people in doing it.

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 And an underlying supposition behind that

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 is that people were willing to do the things

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 that those who had been appointed

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 to have oversight of those responsibilities

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 saw that needed to be done.

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 Did the seven deacons that were appointed

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 end up being the only ones who visited the widows

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 or took food to them or cared for their needs?

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 Not by any stretch of the imagination,

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 but they were the ones who had the responsibility

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 of overseeing that that task was cared for.

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 And that's the way it is today.

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 I want you to understand that when you stop and think about

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 what a body of believers do,

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 I want you to pay attention to the fact

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 that God has appointed godly leadership

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 in this congregation and over the years.

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 That godly leadership has been, first of all,

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 a testimony of the character and heart of Christ

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 in their ministry and attitudes,

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 and you have the opportunity of watching them.

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 I know yesterday was a moving day

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 for a number of families.

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 We had actually two families move yesterday.

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 And I don't know, how many of you were there

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 to help with a move?

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 Raise your hands.

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 Look around.

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 Look around.

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 Mark the fact that a number of you

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 were involved in those moves.

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 And I can venture to say that you had deacons on site,

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 you had some pastors on site,

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 you had individuals who were willing to serve

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 and invest their energy in the sake of the body.

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 And as you think about that,

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 you recognize that the deacons

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 didn't do the only heavy lifting.

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 They were involved in organizing

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 and seeing that it got done

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 and encouraging the bride of Christ

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 in caring for that.

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 The greater part of work that is done

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 in any healthy body

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 is actually done by people

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 who serve willingly and freely

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 without coercion and pressure.

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 There never has been,

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 nor will there ever be,

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 any manipulative fashion

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 in which people are called to the task.

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 By the way, since you're a member,

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 you are responsible to show up

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 for four moves

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 and to provide seven meals this next year.

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 I'm getting hot.

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 I don't know what that means,

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 but anyway.

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 Membership,

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 membership doesn't work that way.

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 We look for people

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 that are willing to serve

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 and we put the announcement out there

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 and people rise to the occasion

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 and get involved there.

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 So let's think a little bit

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 about the different ways

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 in which actually

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 you help your deacon

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 by participating.

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 For one,

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 many of the body of Christ

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 help with the spiritual needs

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 and attitudes

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 that often you are aware of first

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 before,

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 people sometimes think

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 pastors know everything.

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 They really don't.

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 How many of you as parents

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 remember that you were usually

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 the last one to know

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 what was happening

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 in the basement?

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 The same thing is true for pastors.

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 We often don't find out

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 and deacons also don't find out.

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 But eventually,

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 it works up the food chain, correct?

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 Early on, however,

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 most of the things

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 that are happening

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 in the body of Christ

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 are cared for

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 by people who minister

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 to one another

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 in the flow of life.

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 I've said over and over again

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 that a healthy body

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 has a tendency

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 of healing itself.

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 Can I say that slowly

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 so you understand my point?

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 A healthy body

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 has a tendency

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 of healing itself.

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 Being a man now

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 who is many years

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 into ministry

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 and having gray hair,

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 I have a number of pastors

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 who call me periodically

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 and ask me for advice.

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 And I cannot tell you

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 how many times

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 I've answered a call

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 where a pastor,

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 a younger pastor,

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 has been particularly alarmed

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 by one problem or another

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 and I've said to him,

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 hey, listen,

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 as a rule,

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 a healthy body

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 will do a lot of the work

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 of taking care

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 of some of the issues within.

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 You know,

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 when one person

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 says something

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 that is inappropriate

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 or off color,

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 you don't send

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 a note to the pastor

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 and say,

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 by the way,

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 I heard this said

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 in the lobby

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 and I think

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 you ought to take care of it.

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 How is that cared for?

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 What you do

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 is you wait

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 for a private moment

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 and you say to your brother,

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 you know,

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 I heard what you said

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 and I just wanted

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 to be sure I understood.

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 What was the frame?

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 By the way,

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 how many of you

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 would know a passage

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 of scripture

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 that would kind of

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 reference that plan

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 of attack?

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 How many of you know

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 Matthew chapter 18

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 which says,

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 when you have a problem,

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 what do you do?

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 Do you call somebody else

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 to the task?

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 No.

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 If God providentially

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 intended for you

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 to hear it,

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 he intends for you

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 to solve it.

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 And I want you

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 to understand,

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 as a general rule,

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 a healthy body

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 helps one another

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 and brings a lot

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 of healing

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 to the family of God.

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 I think,

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 back for a moment

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 in reference

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 and illustration

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 to something

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 that happened,

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 it's over 10 years ago.

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 Our fellowship

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 used to have

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 a Christian school here

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 and when it came time,

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 the school board

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 and the church board

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 voted unanimously

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 to close the school.

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 I remember

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 that there was

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 understandable turmoil

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 and difficulty

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 in the congregation

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 over that fact.

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 Very interestingly enough,

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 there was a small group

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 of individuals

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 who decided

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 that what they would do

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 is try to foment

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 a rejection

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 of that idea

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 and cause

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 some turmoil

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 over it.

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 And I think

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 there were about

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 three or four

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 different families

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 in our fellowship

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 who immediately

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 after getting a call

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 from this group

00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:32.740
 of people,

00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:33.799
 they immediately

00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:34.799
 called their deacon.

00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:38.000
 I like that.

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.000
 They trusted

00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:40.659
 their deacon

00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:41.600
 to be one

00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.500
 helping them

00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.879
 work through problems.

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:44.960
 And I remember

00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:46.259
 I had calls

00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:47.519
 from three or four deacons

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.580
 who had had these calls

00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:49.580
 from other families

00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:50.580
 and I said,

00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:51.059
 hey listen,

00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:52.600
 I appreciate the fact

00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:53.539
 that our people

00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:54.919
 called their deacon first.

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.340
 And our deacons,

00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:58.960
 wonderful,

00:12:59.159 --> 00:12:59.820
 godly men,

00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:01.360
 ended up helping

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:01.899
 work through

00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:02.720
 that situation

00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:03.620
 and never became

00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:04.000
 an issue

00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:04.639
 in our fellowship.

00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.879
 Did it prove

00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.559
 to be a time

00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:08.080
 of testing

00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.580
 and hardship?

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.039
 Yes,

00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:10.139
 but it was something

00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:10.860
 that the body

00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:12.240
 helped work out.

00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:13.860
 And that's how

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.740
 the body helps

00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:15.860
 those who are leaders.

00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:18.019
 We help each other move.

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.279
 I saw that on Saturday

00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:20.120
 and I've seen that

00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:21.299
 over and over again

00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:22.120
 over the years.

00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:23.720
 Men,

00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:24.399
 women,

00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.139
 families,

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:25.819
 I was talking

00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:26.899
 with a neighbor of mine

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:28.500
 who actually was asking,

00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:29.580
 so what is going on?

00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:29.919
 And I said,

00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:30.080
 well,

00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:31.200
 we've got two different moves

00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:31.720
 in our church.

00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.039
 Really?

00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:34.379
 We tend to not call

00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:35.299
 two men in a truck.

00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:37.500
 What we do is we

00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:39.480
 invite each other

00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:40.439
 to moving parties,

00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:40.779
 okay,

00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.379
 and we end up

00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:42.399
 helping with those things.

00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:43.639
 And one of the things

00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:44.779
 that usually happens

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:47.360
 is that we have

00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:48.159
 enough people there

00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:48.840
 to help with it

00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:49.480
 that we end up

00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.139
 standing around

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.919
 waiting at the truck

00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:51.299
 for somebody

00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:52.279
 to hand something off

00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:53.240
 and we have

00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.419
 the neighborhood crowd

00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:55.460
 kind of watching this

00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:56.200
 from a distance

00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:58.019
 and we get one comment

00:13:58.019 --> 00:13:58.759
 after another,

00:13:59.240 --> 00:13:59.580
 wow,

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:01.620
 are these all family members?

00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:02.059
 No,

00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:02.899
 no,

00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:04.179
 but they are.

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.980
 And we work together

00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:07.039
 for the glory of Christ.

00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:07.799
 Furthermore,

00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:08.600
 we help each other

00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.120
 with meals.

00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:10.799
 When someone has a surgery,

00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:12.059
 when there's some hardship

00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.639
 that really challenges

00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.639
 a family construct,

00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:15.220
 one of the things

00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.500
 that you'll have happen

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.700
 is that a deacon,

00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.879
 one of our small group leaders,

00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:19.519
 will step in

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.500
 and provide for that.

00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.000
 And I look out

00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:22.779
 over this congregation

00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:24.279
 and I cannot think

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.120
 of an individual

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.799
 that has not been involved

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:28.460
 either in having meals

00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:30.059
 or in bringing meals

00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:30.740
 to someone else

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.419
 when those hardship

00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:32.519
 and difficulties happen.

00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:35.039
 Most of the counseling

00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:36.539
 and comfort,

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.539
 correction,

00:14:37.939 --> 00:14:38.480
 and care

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.059
 actually comes

00:14:40.059 --> 00:14:40.620
 through the body

00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.220
 of Christ

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:43.519
 and is encouraged

00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.220
 and nurtured

00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:45.279
 by our deacons

00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.059
 and their ministry

00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:46.480
 to you.

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.279
 So when you think about

00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:48.740
 how do you help a deacon,

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:50.079
 you help with participation.

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:50.939
 Be involved

00:14:50.939 --> 00:14:51.980
 in what the body

00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.539
 is doing

00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:54.500
 because your deacons

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.179
 are dependent

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:56.419
 upon your participation.

00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:58.459
 Secondly,

00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.279
 be involved,

00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.959
 help with affection

00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:02.399
 and protection.

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:03.120
 I want you to look

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:03.799
 in your Bibles

00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:05.419
 at a passage

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:07.079
 in 1 Thessalonians 5.

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:11.299
 1 Thessalonians 5,

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.879
 verse 12 and 13.

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:20.840
 We ask you,

00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:21.139
 brothers,

00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.080
 to respect those

00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:23.299
 who labor among you

00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:24.559
 and are over you

00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.139
 and the Lord

00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:26.259
 and admonish you.

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.039
 Hey, by the way,

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:28.559
 how many of you

00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:29.200
 really do well

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.100
 at receiving correction?

00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.139
 Wave at me

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.919
 so I know who you are.

00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.600
 I don't see anybody.

00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:35.179
 Okay.

00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.379
 The reason I ask this

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:37.779
 is that

00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:40.559
 my bride is in here

00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:41.000
 this morning

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.159
 so I can tell on myself

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.299
 and you don't have

00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:44.220
 to tell her what I said.

00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:47.620
 When Judith

00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:49.019
 is hired by God

00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:50.019
 to provide

00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:51.159
 occasional admonition

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.740
 and it's needed

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.620
 regularly,

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.320
 my first reaction

00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:57.240
 generally is,

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.039
 how many,

00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:58.840
 can you identify

00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.720
 with where I'm going now?

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.480
 It's like tone of voice.

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.820
 How many of you

00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.879
 play the tone of voice card?

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.059
 Ah, I'm glad.

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:08.159
 Tim, I feel your pain, right?

00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:12.600
 I have learned this,

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.500
 that when my attitude

00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.019
 is wrong,

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:14.959
 Judith never has

00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:15.939
 the right tone of voice.

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:24.039
 One of the advantages

00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.139
 of having the Holy Spirit

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:25.740
 in my life

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.659
 is that I can't get away

00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.039
 with it.

00:16:27.219 --> 00:16:27.399
 Amen?

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:30.079
 I like when men

00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:31.019
 say that's right

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.419
 because God's working

00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.720
 and he often

00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:35.100
 uses the bride

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:35.939
 that he hired

00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.640
 for a lifetime

00:16:36.640 --> 00:16:37.540
 to help us

00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:38.180
 with those things.

00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:41.200
 Well, in 1 Thessalonians,

00:16:41.280 --> 00:16:42.100
 we're looking at

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:42.700
 this issue

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.200
 and it says,

00:16:43.520 --> 00:16:44.320
 we ask you brothers

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.760
 to respect those

00:16:45.760 --> 00:16:47.300
 who labor among you

00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:48.620
 and are over you

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.280
 in the Lord

00:16:49.280 --> 00:16:50.800
 and admonish you.

00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.980
 Do people need

00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.640
 to be admonished?

00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:59.960
 Do they need

00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.660
 to be encouraged?

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.140
 Do they need

00:17:02.140 --> 00:17:02.800
 to be corrected?

00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.200
 You know,

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:07.099
 when that happens,

00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:09.359
 I think it's important

00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:10.399
 for us to have

00:17:10.399 --> 00:17:11.139
 a respect

00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:12.119
 for the individual

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.079
 that God has placed

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:14.099
 in office over you.

00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:15.619
 It's not an accident.

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.379
 He put them there.

00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.579
 And by the way,

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.879
 so that you understand,

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:21.079
 when you say no

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:22.919
 to the hired instruments

00:17:22.919 --> 00:17:24.240
 that God has appointed,

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.559
 guess what he will do?

00:17:26.899 --> 00:17:28.399
 He'll go get another one.

00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:30.019
 And someone

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.259
 who is a little rougher

00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.319
 around the edges

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.299
 than the first one

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.240
 you objected to.

00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.180
 How many of you

00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.019
 can bear testimony

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.039
 that that happens?

00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:39.819
 And as we grow in grace,

00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.960
 we begin to say,

00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:42.240
 Lord, I don't want

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.140
 to tempt you

00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:45.180
 to reach for a bigger stick.

00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:45.839
 I'll settle

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.420
 for the one

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:47.319
 you're using now.

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.980
 Look at verse 13.

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.879
 And esteem them

00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:52.680
 very highly in love

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:55.119
 because of their work.

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:58.940
 Value them in love.

00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:01.720
 So those who serve you

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.740
 are to be appreciated.

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.420
 They're to be valued,

00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:06.600
 respected.

00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:09.420
 And so when you hear

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.680
 someone saying something

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:12.059
 that's kind of sarcastic

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.779
 and surly,

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.920
 something that is unkind

00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.820
 and disrespectful

00:18:15.820 --> 00:18:17.380
 to those who have been

00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.539
 put into office

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:21.120
 and appointed by the Holy Spirit

00:18:21.120 --> 00:18:22.740
 to serve the bride of Christ,

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.600
 you ought not be one

00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:25.820
 who becomes partner

00:18:25.820 --> 00:18:26.799
 with that attitude.

00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.380
 Am I right?

00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:29.620
 If you do,

00:18:29.820 --> 00:18:31.140
 you're being disobedient

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.340
 to the Lord Jesus

00:18:32.340 --> 00:18:33.680
 who gave explicit command

00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.720
 that we're looking at here.

00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:36.360
 Furthermore,

00:18:36.580 --> 00:18:37.380
 it says that those

00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.020
 who serve you

00:18:38.020 --> 00:18:39.600
 are to be deliberately loved.

00:18:40.620 --> 00:18:41.400
 Look at the passage.

00:18:41.580 --> 00:18:42.160
 And esteem them

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:44.320
 very highly in love.

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:47.100
 What does love do

00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:48.160
 in relationship

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.060
 to when there are

00:18:49.060 --> 00:18:50.040
 misunderstandings?

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.420
 What does love do?

00:18:52.260 --> 00:18:52.920
 Everybody smile,

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.360
 look at me.

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.480
 I want to wave at you

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:54.880
 so you know

00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.600
 I'm talking to you.

00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:58.279
 Love thinks the best

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.339
 and hopes the best

00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.539
 and believes the best

00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:02.099
 and endures all things

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:03.779
 and works through problems.

00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:04.419
 Right?

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.159
 Beloved,

00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:11.399
 I want you to think about it with this.

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.439
 This is God's word

00:19:14.439 --> 00:19:15.059
 spoken explicitly

00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:17.059
 to the family of God

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.959
 and says,

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:21.339
 follow these instructions.

00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:26.000
 I want you to go

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.819
 to another passage.

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.459
 We're in 1 Thessalonians

00:19:29.459 --> 00:19:30.319
 so just go over

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:32.259
 to 1 Timothy 5,

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.119
 verse 19.

00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:36.359
 1 Timothy 5,

00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.139
 verse 19.

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.419
 Do not admit

00:19:38.419 --> 00:19:39.299
 a charge

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.559
 against an elder

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:42.419
 except on the evidence

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:43.639
 of two or three witnesses.

00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:46.759
 As we read this text,

00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:47.599
 it's important for us

00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:48.579
 to stop and realize

00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.339
 that it was written

00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.079
 to be applied

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:50.959
 in the church.

00:19:52.659 --> 00:19:53.480
 And while the church

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.699
 is an incredible group

00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:55.220
 of people

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.939
 that have been saved

00:19:55.939 --> 00:19:56.899
 by the grace of God,

00:19:56.959 --> 00:19:58.559
 it's always also

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.319
 an environment

00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.119
 in which people

00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:01.199
 are still in the process

00:20:01.199 --> 00:20:02.299
 of growing in grace

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.359
 and they end up

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.399
 having bumps and warts.

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.779
 I had an interesting

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:09.079
 conversation last week

00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:10.299
 with a man

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.439
 talking about his marriage

00:20:11.439 --> 00:20:12.559
 and he said,

00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:13.720
 well,

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.039
 I suppose the problems

00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:15.839
 in our marriage

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.480
 are because

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.000
 of our backgrounds.

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.180
 And I said,

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.380
 well,

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.180
 there is a sense

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:21.880
 in which that is

00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:22.839
 entirely true

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:24.019
 and there is a sense

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.819
 in which it is not

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.500
 true at all.

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.299
 And he was talking

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.839
 about the fact

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.559
 that he'd grown up

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.400
 in this one kind of home

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.059
 and she'd grown up

00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:31.779
 in this kind of home

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.839
 and as a result,

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.500
 they were at the point

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:36.000
 of coming apart.

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:37.900
 And I said,

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.620
 the truth of the matter

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.660
 is that marriage

00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:41.200
 at its best

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.160
 is two sinners

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:42.960
 in a canoe.

00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:44.799
 And it takes

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:46.200
 the work of the Holy Spirit

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.259
 to help them learn

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.940
 what it is

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:49.039
 to have a happy marriage

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.460
 so that you don't

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.700
 go sideways on this.

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.759
 I want you to look

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.340
 in your Bible

00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:54.080
 just for a moment

00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:54.660
 to Malachi.

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.160
 Malachi.

00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.240
 We're talking about

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.539
 marriage just for a moment

00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:03.319
 and I want you

00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.019
 to step over

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.680
 to Malachi chapter 2.

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.120
 I'm sorry,

00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:13.720
 is chapter 2,

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.720
 verse 15.

00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.460
 Hey,

00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:21.559
 is marriage easy?

00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:24.220
 And the answer is

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.700
 not on your life

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.880
 because it takes

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.500
 two sinners

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.319
 and brings them

00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.680
 into inseparable

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.660
 proximity

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.660
 with one another.

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.080
 How many of you

00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:35.660
 on occasion

00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.480
 have wanted to have

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.140
 a little distance

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.720
 between you

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.340
 and other sinners?

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:40.559
 How many of you

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.159
 have had people

00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:41.839
 who've wanted to have

00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:42.419
 a little distance

00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:43.079
 between you

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.220
 and them?

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.419
 Marriage at its best

00:21:46.419 --> 00:21:47.179
 is a challenge

00:21:47.179 --> 00:21:49.699
 and in the scripture

00:21:49.699 --> 00:21:50.859
 we understand

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.839
 that marriage

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.199
 is supremely

00:21:53.199 --> 00:21:54.159
 important to God.

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.179
 He cares a great deal

00:21:55.179 --> 00:21:55.679
 about it

00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:56.919
 and in order

00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:58.459
 to help people

00:21:58.459 --> 00:22:00.119
 in their marriages

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:01.359
 surprise,

00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.319
 in the Old Testament

00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.139
 he gave

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.039
 to the Old Testament

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.379
 saints

00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.379
 a portion

00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:07.319
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.480
 Now I want you

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:08.919
 to think with me

00:22:08.919 --> 00:22:09.500
 just for a moment.

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:12.480
 How did Samson

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.879
 do all the miraculous

00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:14.839
 powerful things

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.359
 that he did?

00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:15.980
 How did he do it?

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.559
 Does anybody know?

00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.919
 Through the Holy Spirit.

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:21.339
 How did the

00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:22.519
 individuals

00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.299
 who were involved

00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.639
 in the exceptional work

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.079
 in building

00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.859
 the tabernacle

00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:26.319
 etc.,

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.159
 how did they do it?

00:22:27.919 --> 00:22:29.000
 Through the Holy Spirit.

00:22:30.439 --> 00:22:31.539
 And we understand

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:33.419
 that the Lord Jesus

00:22:33.419 --> 00:22:34.939
 particularly in his ministry

00:22:34.939 --> 00:22:35.619
 the thing that

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:37.199
 that set him apart

00:22:37.199 --> 00:22:38.119
 above all others

00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:39.319
 was the fullness

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.239
 of the Holy Spirit

00:22:40.239 --> 00:22:41.019
 and the fact

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.059
 that it stayed on him.

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.519
 We understand

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.339
 how important

00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:46.259
 marriage is

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.379
 to God

00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:48.659
 because in the Old Testament

00:22:48.659 --> 00:22:49.239
 it says there

00:22:49.239 --> 00:22:49.739
 read it

00:22:49.739 --> 00:22:51.699
 did he not make them

00:22:51.699 --> 00:22:52.179
 one

00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:54.259
 with a portion

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.479
 of the Spirit

00:22:55.479 --> 00:22:57.179
 in their union?

00:22:58.779 --> 00:23:00.079
 God cared enough

00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.919
 in the Old Testament

00:23:00.919 --> 00:23:01.579
 for marriage

00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:02.919
 that he gave

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.640
 a portion

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.440
 of the Spirit

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.220
 for people

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.140
 in relationship

00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:07.460
 to him.

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.180
 And by the way

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.100
 in the New Testament

00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:11.300
 does every believer

00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:12.160
 have the Holy Spirit

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.940
 abiding in him

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.480
 to help us

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.320
 with this business

00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:16.480
 of growing in grace

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.700
 and in our marriage

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.000
 right?

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.680
 So coming back

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.660
 around to the subject

00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.720
 of 1 Timothy

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.640
 here it is saying

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.060
 listen

00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:25.400
 you're together

00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:27.680
 and the church

00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:29.200
 is a environment

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:29.880
 in which

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:31.120
 people who are

00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:32.219
 still in the process

00:23:32.219 --> 00:23:33.439
 of working

00:23:33.439 --> 00:23:34.259
 through challenges

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.739
 are in close proximity

00:23:35.739 --> 00:23:36.559
 with one another

00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:38.299
 and we are dependent

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.479
 upon the Word of God

00:23:39.479 --> 00:23:40.779
 and the Spirit of God

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.279
 to help us

00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.959
 as we live

00:23:41.959 --> 00:23:42.379
 and grow

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.179
 and work

00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:44.079
 through the issues

00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:45.500
 and he gives us

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:47.199
 explicit instructions

00:23:47.199 --> 00:23:48.399
 how to solve

00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:49.039
 problems.

00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:51.039
 When you have

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.859
 a problem

00:23:51.859 --> 00:23:53.259
 what it says

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.339
 there in 1 Timothy

00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:55.159
 chapter 5

00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:55.859
 verse 19

00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:57.139
 is that you

00:23:57.139 --> 00:23:58.079
 don't bring

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.019
 a charge

00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.099
 in a formal way

00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:01.459
 what is being said

00:24:01.459 --> 00:24:02.059
 is to the church

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:02.519
 leadership

00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.039
 hey

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.279
 don't entertain

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.119
 or accept

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:06.319
 one of these

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.659
 little

00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:08.000
 scurrilous comments

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.480
 that's made

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.019
 in the lobby

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.859
 about one of the

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.219
 leadership

00:24:10.219 --> 00:24:10.959
 of the fellowship

00:24:10.959 --> 00:24:12.939
 without substantial

00:24:12.939 --> 00:24:13.699
 evidence

00:24:13.699 --> 00:24:14.419
 and people

00:24:14.419 --> 00:24:14.859
 are willing

00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:15.619
 to bear testimony.

00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:19.379
 We see here

00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:21.740
 that God

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.719
 instructs the body

00:24:22.719 --> 00:24:23.159
 that they are

00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:23.639
 to protect

00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.240
 their leadership

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.159
 by following

00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.879
 God's

00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:27.000
 problem solving

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.619
 plan.

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:29.739
 I want you

00:24:29.739 --> 00:24:29.979
 to think

00:24:29.979 --> 00:24:30.639
 just for a moment

00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.899
 what was happening

00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:32.559
 in this case

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.159
 evidently

00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:34.479
 is that the church

00:24:34.479 --> 00:24:35.019
 that Timothy

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.799
 was responsible

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.219
 for

00:24:36.219 --> 00:24:37.079
 would have

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.619
 periodic

00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.299
 incidences

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:38.819
 in which

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.839
 people in the

00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.279
 congregation

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.239
 would carry on

00:24:41.239 --> 00:24:41.559
 a little bit

00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.099
 of a whispering

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.759
 campaign

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.799
 about someone

00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.359
 who was in

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:44.859
 leadership

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:47.159
 not happy

00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:47.739
 with someone

00:24:47.739 --> 00:24:48.779
 who was involved

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.659
 in Sunday school

00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:50.719
 or not happy

00:24:50.719 --> 00:24:51.219
 with something

00:24:51.219 --> 00:24:51.819
 that had happened

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.500
 in youth group

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.459
 or not happy

00:24:53.459 --> 00:24:54.419
 with one of the

00:24:54.419 --> 00:24:54.899
 decisions

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:56.340
 that the pastor

00:24:56.340 --> 00:24:57.000
 and deacons

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.920
 had made together

00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:58.620
 instead of

00:24:58.620 --> 00:24:59.600
 coming and

00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.560
 handling the thing

00:25:00.560 --> 00:25:01.340
 in a proper

00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:02.040
 fashion

00:25:02.040 --> 00:25:03.640
 little whispers

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.420
 would go along

00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:04.860
 and people

00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:05.300
 would kind of

00:25:05.300 --> 00:25:05.580
 get involved

00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:06.200
 I can't believe

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:06.480
 that.

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.759
 So let's figure

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.660
 out what God's

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.380
 plan is for

00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:12.220
 solving problems

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.080
 in the congregation.

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.300
 Turn in your

00:25:14.300 --> 00:25:15.060
 Bible to Matthew

00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:15.880
 chapter 18.

00:25:16.300 --> 00:25:16.759
 Would you like

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.460
 to reduce

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:19.019
 seriously

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.200
 would you like

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.720
 to reduce

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.360
 the workload

00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:22.200
 of your pastors

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:22.960
 and deacons

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:26.779
 be unrelenting

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.420
 in your

00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:28.200
 application

00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.819
 of Matthew

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.720
 chapter 18

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.579
 verse 15

00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.259
 through 18.

00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.360
 You will make

00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.059
 all of our

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.720
 jobs

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.559
 profoundly

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.819
 simpler.

00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:41.640
 How do you

00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.460
 handle problems

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.000
 when there are

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.440
 differences?

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.620
 Can anybody

00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:45.980
 tell me?

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.380
 How many of you

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:46.519
 know?

00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:47.100
 Raise your hand.

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.279
 You got this

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.940
 down cold.

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:51.220
 When there is

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.019
 a problem

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:53.019
 and there is

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.920
 a misunderstanding

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.539
 that is causing

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.539
 tension between

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.400
 you and another

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:57.900
 person,

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.359
 you are to go

00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.420
 to that person

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.319
 explicitly

00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.559
 alone.

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.639
 Now you're

00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.420
 not to gather

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.720
 a little group

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.299
 of people

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.359
 who support you

00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:08.839
 and yeah,

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.920
 I've had the

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.460
 same problem.

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.299
 They're the most

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.139
 unreasonable person

00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:13.799
 I've ever met

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.700
 so I hope

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.759
 I'm going to

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.579
 support you

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.019
 when you go

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.920
 to bell the cat.

00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.779
 That was a bad

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:19.900
 one.

00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.340
 I'm going to

00:26:21.340 --> 00:26:21.820
 support you

00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.280
 when you go

00:26:22.280 --> 00:26:23.720
 to let them

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.700
 know that

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.100
 they're a bad

00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:25.380
 person.

00:26:25.780 --> 00:26:27.060
 Off you go.

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.480
 What you do

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:28.860
 is you go

00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.320
 privately.

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.640
 Look at what

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.120
 it says.

00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.620
 It says that

00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:33.140
 you're to go

00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.720
 alone.

00:26:35.080 --> 00:26:35.800
 If that

00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.820
 doesn't work,

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:39.220
 then you bring

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.000
 somebody else

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.700
 with you that

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.500
 they may be a

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.620
 partner in the

00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.019
 process.

00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:43.860
 What is the

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:45.700
 end goal of

00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:47.180
 every confrontation

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:48.240
 that believers

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.320
 have in the

00:26:49.320 --> 00:26:50.100
 body of Christ?

00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.480
 Does anybody

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.019
 know what it

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.400
 is?

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.420
 It is

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.220
 reconciliation

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:55.380
 and restoration.

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:59.600
 I have

00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:01.160
 occasional

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:02.600
 incidences where

00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:03.500
 something happens

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.539
 to a finger or a

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:05.100
 foot or something

00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:06.240
 like that and

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.100
 it gets hurt.

00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.160
 Bob,

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.000
 sheet metal

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:11.279
 cut,

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.240
 there they are.

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.360
 And you know

00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:13.660
 what?

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:16.000
 Bob Consul

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.620
 works on heating

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:16.880
 and air

00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.420
 conditioning and

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.060
 so he understands

00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:18.759
 sheet metal cuts.

00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:19.300
 It happens all

00:27:19.300 --> 00:27:19.620
 the time.

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.600
 And so when you

00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.180
 get those little

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.500
 cuts, the body

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.220
 puts all its

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.880
 energy into

00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:25.840
 healing that

00:27:25.840 --> 00:27:26.500
 part, right?

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.980
 And the rest

00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.620
 of my body

00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.240
 doesn't say,

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:31.400
 well that stupid

00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:33.259
 hand, that's the

00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:33.980
 last time I'm

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:34.700
 sending blood to

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.100
 that one.

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.580
 You know, I

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.180
 have been at

00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:38.900
 this forever.

00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:40.880
 Same, same.

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:41.800
 Cut, cut,

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.220
 cut.

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.080
 Yeah.

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.600
 I'm done.

00:27:46.080 --> 00:27:46.840
 So the next

00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.420
 thing that happens

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.000
 is I'm walking

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.759
 around without a

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.259
 hand and it's

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.540
 like, hello,

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:51.940
 you're one-handed

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.620
 Tim, I hope

00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:52.880
 not.

00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.420
 You know, the

00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.279
 attitude that we

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.080
 have towards one

00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:56.840
 another is we're

00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.240
 aiming for

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.900
 reconciliation.

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.320
 You know

00:28:00.320 --> 00:28:00.560
 what?

00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.100
 One of the

00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:03.700
 things that goes

00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.220
 with being a

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.800
 shepherd for as

00:28:04.800 --> 00:28:05.580
 many years as I

00:28:05.580 --> 00:28:06.240
 have been here

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.360
 is I know that

00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:09.160
 in the family of

00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:09.720
 God there are

00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.540
 times where you

00:28:10.540 --> 00:28:11.180
 end up with

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.860
 little attitudes

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.580
 and disputes

00:28:12.580 --> 00:28:13.120
 among one

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:14.339
 another and my

00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:15.719
 plea before God

00:28:15.719 --> 00:28:16.539
 is that the

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.139
 Holy Spirit

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:18.099
 would drive you

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:18.839
 to obedience

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.439
 in Matthew

00:28:19.439 --> 00:28:20.239
 chapter 18.

00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:24.119
 I assure you

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.459
 if God's

00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:26.059
 people would be

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.659
 faithful in

00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.439
 Matthew 18

00:28:27.439 --> 00:28:30.539
 it would be so

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.500
 seldom that you

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.199
 end up having

00:28:32.199 --> 00:28:33.279
 problems that get

00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.339
 larger than that

00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:36.099
 and the body of

00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.679
 Christ would be

00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:37.379
 effective and

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.199
 efficient in its

00:28:38.199 --> 00:28:38.579
 ministry.

00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:38.639
 ministry.

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.099
 I for the most

00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:43.099
 part want to

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.980
 challenge you to

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.980
 take that passage

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.519
 and say hey

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.639
 listen we're not

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.220
 going to bring

00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:48.799
 charges without the

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.480
 premise and the

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.539
 effort that goes

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.299
 into doing this

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.319
 and all God's

00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:52.879
 people said

00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:53.759
 consciously and

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:55.399
 deliberately say

00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:56.279
 it with me amen.

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.319
 That's what God

00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:58.619
 wants.

00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.460
 Finally let's talk

00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:00.000
 about one other

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:01.119
 thing you may help

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.539
 in prayer.

00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:03.079
 You may help in

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.220
 prayer.

00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.720
 Turn in your

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.980
 Bible to Hebrews

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:06.099
 chapter 13 verse

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.639
 18.

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.740
 Hebrews chapter

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.899
 13 verse 18.

00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:13.039
 Obey pray for

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.919
 us I'm sorry

00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:15.599
 pray for us for

00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:16.480
 we are sure that

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.480
 we have a clear

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.539
 conscience desiring

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.619
 to act honorably

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.799
 in all things.

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:24.359
 We are about a

00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:26.699
 month away from

00:29:26.699 --> 00:29:28.039
 our annual election

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:30.679
 and by extension

00:29:30.679 --> 00:29:32.139
 we are about two

00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:33.619
 months away from

00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.500
 the first deacons

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:34.839
 meeting.

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:37.480
 and following

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.339
 the first deacons

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.079
 meeting one of the

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.619
 things that will

00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:41.299
 happen is that our

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:42.619
 secretary will put

00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.659
 together a prayer

00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:45.199
 bulletin that is

00:29:45.199 --> 00:29:46.439
 reflective of the

00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:47.859
 requests the personal

00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:49.500
 requests that all of

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.480
 your deacons are going

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:50.959
 to make.

00:29:51.699 --> 00:29:52.740
 Can I tell you ahead

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.379
 of time some of the

00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:54.159
 things that our deacons

00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:54.759
 are going to ask you

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.220
 to pray for?

00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:58.859
 They're going to ask

00:29:58.859 --> 00:30:00.139
 you to pray that God

00:30:00.139 --> 00:30:00.779
 would help them in

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.459
 their own personal

00:30:01.459 --> 00:30:02.199
 lives and personal

00:30:02.199 --> 00:30:02.559
 walk.

00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:04.839
 They're going to

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.500
 plead with you that

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.339
 you would remember to

00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:06.919
 pray for them.

00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.839
 There is not a man that

00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:10.879
 does not come into that

00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:12.259
 board with a humility

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:14.039
 and a certain amount of

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.279
 fearfulness knowing the

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:17.819
 responsibility of being a

00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.859
 helper of the bride of

00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:20.259
 Christ and they will come

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:21.159
 with humility saying

00:30:21.159 --> 00:30:22.799
 Lord help me in my own

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:24.299
 devotional walk that I

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.480
 may be able to minister to

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.019
 other people.

00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:28.079
 Second thing that those men

00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.940
 are going to say and I

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.519
 know that they're going to

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.240
 say it ahead of time.

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:32.000
 Now watch the deacons.

00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:32.960
 We have a group that's

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.620
 going to say well if

00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:34.500
 pastor said it I'm not

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.039
 going to do it so I'm

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.579
 going to throw them off

00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.240
 but here's the deal.

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.220
 They're going to say it

00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:37.460
 anyway.

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.519
 They're going to say and

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.740
 help me in my ministry to

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.259
 my family.

00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.339
 Help me in my ministry to

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:42.819
 my family.

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.740
 Help me be wise in my

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:47.140
 care for my wife and help

00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:47.920
 me to be a genuine

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:49.240
 encourager of righteousness

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:50.579
 in my children.

00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.759
 They're going to ask that

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.059
 they would also have the

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.120
 enabling of the spirit of

00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:57.200
 God because they have to

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.620
 multitask and spend one

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.779
 more plate than you do.

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.940
 They have their personal

00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.400
 walk.

00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:03.559
 They have their family

00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.059
 needs.

00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.120
 They have their

00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:07.000
 responsibilities by which

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.620
 they pay their bills and

00:31:08.620 --> 00:31:09.579
 then they have what?

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.180
 They have you.

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.259
 Do they take that

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.599
 willingly?

00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:14.420
 Yes they do.

00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.200
 But how many of you

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:17.180
 understand what I mean by

00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:17.839
 spending plates?

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.240
 Our deacons have to

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.819
 spend plates.

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.359
 They have to keep things

00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:23.460
 in balance.

00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:24.579
 And so they will

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.700
 desperately ask that you

00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:27.420
 join them praying that

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.519
 they would have the

00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:30.900
 ability to minister

00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:32.100
 effectively with the

00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:32.759
 things that are going

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.180
 on.

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.340
 So think with me as we

00:31:35.340 --> 00:31:36.100
 look at this passage.

00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.039
 First of all pray that

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:38.060
 their lives will be marked

00:31:38.060 --> 00:31:39.240
 by a clear conscience.

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:42.380
 By a growing desire to

00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.900
 walk uprightly before the

00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:45.080
 Lord in an unbelieving

00:31:45.080 --> 00:31:45.600
 world.

00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:48.180
 Pray for them because they

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.240
 carry the burden and

00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.000
 heartache of other

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.340
 people.

00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:52.420
 There is no doubt that

00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.140
 one of the things that

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.019
 characterizes our

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.160
 fellowship is that often

00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:57.220
 you will talk in a more

00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.900
 personal way with your

00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.960
 deacons, with your small

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.980
 group leaders than you

00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.920
 will with your pastors.

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.400
 And that's not because

00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.839
 we're alienated and

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.980
 isolated from you but

00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:08.019
 your deacons and small

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:09.099
 group leaders are closer

00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:10.099
 to you in your watch

00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:11.379
 care groups and in your

00:32:11.379 --> 00:32:12.379
 small groups and as a

00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:13.539
 result they're going to

00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.680
 hear those things and

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:16.180
 they can't hear them and

00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:16.940
 not be affected.

00:32:20.139 --> 00:32:21.259
 Pray for them because

00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:22.279
 people tend to judge

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.299
 motives and actions

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.879
 without adequate prayer

00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.539
 and information.

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.839
 How many of you have

00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.779
 been pretty persuaded you

00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.879
 know exactly what's going

00:32:29.879 --> 00:32:30.680
 on when you don't know

00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:30.980
 anything?

00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:35.940
 You pray for your

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.359
 deacons.

00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:40.359
 I think of the number of

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.259
 different times as a

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.480
 pastor I have had people

00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:44.500
 say some rather surprising

00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:46.579
 things about the decisions

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:48.419
 that your leadership have

00:32:48.419 --> 00:32:48.819
 made.

00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:50.839
 And one of the things

00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:52.799
 that I always chuckle at

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:54.079
 is when people say well

00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:55.000
 pastor always gets his

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.139
 way.

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:56.299
 I told you last week that's

00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:56.960
 the furthest from the

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.180
 truth.

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.379
 But the other thing I have

00:32:59.379 --> 00:33:00.599
 heard people say is that

00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:01.919
 you guys made a rather

00:33:01.919 --> 00:33:02.720
 hasty decision.

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:04.460
 If you have ever served as

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.659
 a deacon at Maranatha you

00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:08.379
 know hasty decisions are not

00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:09.940
 on the menu.

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:13.859
 I had one deacon's wife say

00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:17.619
 you guys are so deliberate

00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:19.399
 that you are like watching

00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:20.199
 paint dry.

00:33:20.199 --> 00:33:20.639
 You know.

00:33:23.379 --> 00:33:23.859
 So.

00:33:25.679 --> 00:33:26.519
 Be careful.

00:33:27.179 --> 00:33:27.839
 And pray for them.

00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:29.879
 Finally pray for them because

00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:31.279
 they desperately need his

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:34.359
 power to serve and bless and

00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:35.579
 be a testimony of Christ.

00:33:36.439 --> 00:33:37.559
 So let me bring this all

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.519
 together and have you think

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.779
 about it in practical terms.

00:33:39.979 --> 00:33:41.319
 What we have looked at this

00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:43.879
 morning is kind of the other

00:33:43.879 --> 00:33:45.759
 side of the responsibility that

00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.660
 scripture lays out.

00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:48.500
 For one it told us we saw

00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:50.339
 last week that deacons are

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:52.680
 to be men who are qualified

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:55.379
 tested men who are full of

00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.980
 the Holy Spirit and are ready

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.480
 to serve.

00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.480
 We saw that last week.

00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.279
 So what's our part.

00:33:59.379 --> 00:33:59.920
 What's your part.

00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:03.640
 God calls you to support

00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:04.799
 them by being involved in

00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.220
 the work.

00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:07.119
 So when your deacon or your

00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:08.320
 small group leader calls you

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.360
 and said hey will you provide

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:11.139
 a meal and you have happened

00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:12.199
 to have had three or four

00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:13.179
 times that different people

00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:14.019
 have stepped in and helped

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.179
 you.

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:15.899
 Don't say not on your life.

00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:17.839
 I'm in.

00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:18.859
 I'll help.

00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.799
 And when someone calls and

00:34:21.799 --> 00:34:23.440
 says hey my the way so and so

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.980
 is going to be moving and

00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:26.179
 they would appreciate if you

00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:26.960
 I'll be there.

00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.179
 I'll help.

00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:31.359
 When you hear someone is

00:34:31.359 --> 00:34:32.619
 struggling with a problem and

00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:34.759
 a burden you join in helping

00:34:34.759 --> 00:34:36.179
 with that and you be a helper

00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:37.639
 to your deacon those that God

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:39.199
 has put in a position of

00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:40.559
 responsibility and leadership.

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:42.619
 So what's the outcome.

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:46.719
 What's the outcome when a body

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:48.619
 of believers works effectively

00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:50.099
 for the testimony of Christ

00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:52.920
 inside the family and really

00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:54.380
 works at loving each other.

00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.239
 What happens.

00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:56.320
 Here.

00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:56.980
 Follow me.

00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:59.099
 Here's what Jesus said.

00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:02.119
 By this shall all those other

00:35:02.119 --> 00:35:03.860
 people that don't know Jesus

00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:05.519
 pay attention and kind of wonder

00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:06.940
 what's the real deal.

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:08.639
 because you will what.

00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:10.460
 You'll love each other.

00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:13.659
 Is love natural to us.

00:35:13.720 --> 00:35:14.320
 What's the answer.

00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:15.260
 No.

00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:17.039
 It's the work of the Holy

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.420
 Spirit.

00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:20.019
 It's the work of people who are

00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:21.780
 dependent upon the word of God.

00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:24.159
 It's the work of people that are

00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:27.260
 willing to engage in what God

00:35:27.260 --> 00:35:29.159
 does in drawing us together.

00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:31.579
 And so I would plead with you

00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.179
 this morning.

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:35.420
 Beloved there is an unbelieving

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:37.599
 world out there that is desperate

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:39.900
 for the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:44.860
 And the way in which we care

00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:46.960
 and bless and love one another

00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:50.480
 is a principal testimony

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.720
 of the power of grace

00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:54.000
 in our fellowship

00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.380
 and in our neighborhoods.

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.559
 And God's people

00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:59.599
 hearing the word of God

00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:01.840
 convicted by the spirit of God

00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:03.420
 say in their hearts privately

00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:05.579
 privately I hear what God wants

00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:07.440
 and I am saying yes

00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.480
 to the Holy Spirit.

00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.860
 Let's close in prayer.

00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:11.159
 Amen.

00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:11.159


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