WEBVTT

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 What is your normal way of stating your beliefs or opinions about most things?

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 Would you say that the way you express yourself is,

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 I feel such and such a way, or I think such and such a way?

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 In today's postmodern culture, we are encouraged not to think seriously.

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 Instead, we are encouraged to just feel deeply.

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 Now, the problem is not that it's wrong to have strong feelings.

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 Nothing wrong with feeling deeply about people and things in your life.

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 What gets us into trouble, though, is when we fail to think seriously about truth,

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 about facts, about reality.

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 When we allow fuzzy, momentary feelings to have priority over clear, big-picture thinking,

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 we're setting ourselves up for disaster in many areas of life.

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 Let's take finances, for example.

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 All across this country, all the research shows that many, many people are struggling to survive financially

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 because they are in over their head in debt.

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 And many people got that way because they did not think factually.

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 They didn't think realistically about their financial situation before they bought the house or car or gadgets or other stuff.

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 That once it was done, they realized, I couldn't afford that.

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 What got them into trouble was their failure to think about the reality of what my income is,

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 what my necessary expenses are,

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 what I have in savings,

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 what I'm obligated for.

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 What they did, instead of doing that, they made an emotional decision to buy what they wanted

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 because at the time, it just felt so right.

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 The Apostle Paul understood the importance of thinking rightly.

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 And he stressed it as he began Romans chapter 12

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 as something required of every Christian

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 who's serious about having a right relationship with God

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 and living in a right relationship with other people.

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 Turn with me, if you would, to Romans chapter 12, verses 3 through 5 today.

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 3 through 8 is the block.

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 We're just going to have time, though, to go through 3 through 5.

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 6 through 8, we'll come to another time.

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 Let's read it.

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 Last week, we were in verse 2 of chapter 12.

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 And just note for a moment.

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 He said,

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 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

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 It matters what we think.

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 Now, he goes into...

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 He strongly emphasizes how we think in the next verse.

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 Let's go ahead and start.

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 Verse 3 for today.

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 For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you,

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 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

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 but to think with sober judgment,

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 each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

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 For as in one body we have many members,

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 and the members do not all have the same function,

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 so we, though many, are one body in Christ,

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 and individually members of one another.

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 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,

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 let us use them,

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 if prophecy in proportion to our faith,

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 if service in our serving,

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 the one who teaches in his teaching,

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 the one who exhorts in his exhortation,

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 maybe talking about encouraging,

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 the one who contributes in generosity,

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 the one who leads with zeal,

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 the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness.

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 Before we look at the specifics of this passage,

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 I want you to note how Paul strongly emphasizes

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 the importance of us thinking rightly.

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 Look at the phrase in verse 3,

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 just the part that says,

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 I say to everyone among you,

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 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

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 but to think with sober judgment.

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 Now you just look at that,

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 and the word think is emphasized three times.

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 It's obvious that he is really focusing on that.

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 It was even more in the original Greek that he wrote,

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 according to commentator Colin Cruz.

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 He points out how Paul is just going all out

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 to stress the word think.

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 Look at what he says.

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 Paul engages in a play on words here

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 by employing the verb to think in its varied forms.

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 Translated literally, it reads,

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 do not think more highly than what is necessary to think,

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 but think in order to think soberly.

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 Can he be any clearer?

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 Thinking correctly is essential for living in every area of life.

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 If we're going to be the people that God's created and called us and worked in us to be,

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 at work, at home, at school, in sports, whatever you do,

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 we've got to be people who think.

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 We've got to be people who think consistently,

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 seriously, realistically.

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 That's what he's telling us.

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 Now, I want us to look at the specifics

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 of how we can live like a Christian

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 by thinking rightly about ourselves.

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 First of all,

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 think objectively about yourself.

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 That's really what he's saying here

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 in verse three.

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 Think objectively

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 or realistically.

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 He's saying do it about two things.

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 First,

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 don't think too highly of yourself.

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 Look at the phrase,

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 for by the grace given to me,

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 I say to everyone among you,

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 I want you to note the change in the tone

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 as Paul addresses the matter of how we think about ourselves.

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 Two weeks ago,

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 we saw in verse one,

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 he made sort of what you'd call

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 a brotherly request

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 of these Christians in Rome.

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 Look at it in verse one.

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 He said,

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 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,

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 by the mercies of God.

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 In that,

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 as he began chapter 12,

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 Paul,

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 as a brother in Christ

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 to his brothers and sisters,

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 he makes an appeal.

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 He makes,

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 he is trying to sort of,

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 what you might say,

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 gently persuade them

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 based on positive motivation,

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 how God has just shown his mercy

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 in various forms to us.

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 That's why I'm asking you

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 to make the commitment of your life to him.

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 Well, here in verse three,

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 that changes.

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 Paul

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 is using a more authoritative tone here.

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 Look at it again.

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 For by the grace given to me,

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 I say to everyone among you.

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 By the grace given to me,

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 that's how Paul in other places

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 refers to his calling as an apostle.

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 And his calling as an apostle

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 is what gave him the authority

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 to write these letters,

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 to start churches,

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 to put people in office,

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 to demand that the church

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 exercise discipline at times.

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 And so what Paul is doing here,

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 he is issuing a command

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 or a warning

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 to everyone among you.

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 What he's saying here,

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 he wants everybody to understand.

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 This is not a kind appeal.

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 I am warning you seriously.

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 I am commanding you about this.

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 And what he's saying here,

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 obviously,

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 everyone among you,

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 this applies to all Christians

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 of all times.

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 There are no exceptions.

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 Here's what he's talking about.

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 The problem he's warning us about

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 is pride.

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 Pride.

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 Look at what he says.

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 I say to everyone among you

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 not to think of himself

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 more highly than he ought to think.

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 Evidently,

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 there were some members

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 of that church

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 who had an inflated opinion

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 of themselves.

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 Now, can you imagine that?

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 People in church

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 thinking too highly

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 of themselves.

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 There's times when we all do,

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 don't we?

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 There's times that we all

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 battle pride.

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 Well, it's a serious thing

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 and Paul is very serious about it.

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 One reason,

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 pride will destroy our fellowship

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 with God quicker than anything.

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 That's why both James and Peter,

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 in their letters,

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 they make this same statement.

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 Look at it.

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 God opposes the proud

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 but gives grace to the humble.

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 You know,

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 there's some people in life

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 that they're against you,

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 they're opposed to you,

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 but you don't care.

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 There's some people

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 that are opposed to you

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 because,

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 and you don't care

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 because they have no power over you.

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 They have no authority.

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 You just don't care

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 what they might say

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 or think or do

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 because they can do nothing to you.

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 They have no influence over you

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 or anything about your life.

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 But for God to oppose us,

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 that ought to make us

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 sit up and take notice.

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 God resists

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 or God opposes

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 the proud.

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 That means you and me

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 if we're arrogant.

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 We're not in fellowship with God.

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 We're not close to Him

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 if we think too highly of ourselves.

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 Let's think about with people.

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 Isn't it hard to have

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 real, meaningful fellowship

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 with someone

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 who is just full of themselves,

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 just very prideful?

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 It's almost impossible

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 because they're just

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 focused on themselves.

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 You can't have

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 close,

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 sharing life together

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 kind of

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 of a relationship

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 with someone

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 if all they're concerned about

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 is themselves.

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 They cannot invest in you

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 because they're fully invested

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 in themselves.

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 They don't really care

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 what's going on

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 in your life.

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 They don't want to listen

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 to what's going on

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 in your life.

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 because

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 they're only concerned

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 about themselves

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 and they won't let you know that.

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 They won't let you know

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 who they are,

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 what they have,

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 what they've done.

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 Everything's all about them.

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 They can't have

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 real relationships.

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 They certainly can't have

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 good, healthy relationships

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 because that requires

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 give and take.

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 And they just want to take it.

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 They just want it all

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 for themselves

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 because life's about me.

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 Now in this passage,

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 Paul is probably addressing

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 a specific form of pride,

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 thinking too highly

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 of ourselves

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 because of our position

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 in the church

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 or because of our

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 particular gift

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 or talent.

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 So he's talking to,

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 he's emphasizing

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 the church here.

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 He's emphasizing

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 we've got gifts.

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 We're to work together

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 as we'll look at

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 in a moment.

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 Now,

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 we need to understand

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 that no one

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 should ever think

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 of themselves

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 as being indispensable

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 to the well-being

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 of their church.

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 No matter who you are,

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 no matter what you do,

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 you,

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 me,

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 we can be replaced.

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 The fact is,

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 if any one of us

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 dies this week,

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 Pickens First Baptist Church

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:56.360
 will meet next Sunday.

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 No service

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.120
 will be canceled.

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 It won't even

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 be abbreviated.

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 And I think to myself,

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 if I'm the one

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 that drops dead this week,

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 there'll be probably

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 somebody that does

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 a much better job

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 preaching

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 and in a couple of weeks

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 people will be saying,

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 Fred who?

00:13:16.920 --> 00:13:18.180
 That's the way it works.

00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.379
 That's the way it is

00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.160
 at your job.

00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:24.780
 That company's not

00:13:24.780 --> 00:13:25.440
 going to close down

00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.519
 if you don't show up tomorrow.

00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:28.700
 That's the way it is

00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:29.519
 on your team.

00:13:30.300 --> 00:13:31.040
 Next man up.

00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:31.920
 You get hurt,

00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:32.440
 you quit,

00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:33.259
 next man up.

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:33.900
 Next man up.

00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:37.139
 Paul wants us

00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:37.860
 to understand,

00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:39.980
 do not,

00:13:40.060 --> 00:13:42.300
 do not think

00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:42.860
 more highly

00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.540
 of yourself

00:13:43.540 --> 00:13:44.280
 because you've got

00:13:44.280 --> 00:13:45.040
 a certain position,

00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:46.040
 you've got a certain talent,

00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.060
 you've got a certain gift,

00:13:47.300 --> 00:13:47.900
 you do this

00:13:47.900 --> 00:13:48.700
 or you do that.

00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:51.320
 That's just pride.

00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.400
 There's no place

00:13:53.400 --> 00:13:54.000
 for that

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.480
 in our church family

00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:56.060
 he's saying.

00:13:57.280 --> 00:13:57.780
 Now,

00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:58.879
 if we'll think

00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.440
 objectively

00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.379
 about ourselves,

00:14:01.140 --> 00:14:03.580
 we will not have

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.140
 a problem

00:14:04.140 --> 00:14:04.720
 of thinking

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.940
 too highly.

00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:09.620
 But at the same time now,

00:14:09.900 --> 00:14:10.720
 if we think

00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:11.440
 objectively

00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:12.420
 about ourselves,

00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:14.420
 we shouldn't think

00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:15.900
 we're nothing.

00:14:16.900 --> 00:14:17.660
 We shouldn't think

00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:18.419
 we have nothing

00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:19.600
 to bring to the table.

00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:20.699
 Let's look at

00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:21.319
 the second thing.

00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:23.039
 Think realistically

00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:23.819
 about yourself.

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.100
 Think objectively

00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:25.679
 about yourself

00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:26.500
 but also think

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:27.259
 realistically.

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.240
 Look at the phrase.

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:30.600
 Think with sober judgment.

00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:32.939
 That means think sensibly.

00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:34.199
 Think accurately.

00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:35.559
 Think realistically

00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:36.459
 about yourself.

00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.319
 And there's

00:14:39.319 --> 00:14:40.100
 some value there.

00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.159
 You're created

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.019
 in the image of God.

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:45.579
 If you're a Christian,

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.179
 you think

00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:48.759
 Jesus Christ

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:50.379
 gave His life

00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.120
 so that I could be

00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.740
 forgiven and made

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.500
 a child of God.

00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.919
 If you're a child of God,

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.860
 He's put His Spirit

00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.399
 in you.

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.340
 If you're a Christian,

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:58.579
 you have gifts

00:14:58.579 --> 00:15:00.139
 that God has given you

00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:01.480
 for the purpose

00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:02.500
 of serving Him

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.379
 and other people

00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:05.019
 in this church.

00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:08.639
 R.C. Sproul points out

00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.319
 the importance

00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:10.460
 of this kind of thinking.

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:11.639
 Look at what he says.

00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:13.240
 Paul is saying

00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.300
 that just as we are

00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:14.920
 not to think

00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:16.080
 too highly of ourselves,

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.320
 neither are we

00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.600
 to despise

00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:21.040
 our God-given value.

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.900
 The opposite

00:15:22.900 --> 00:15:24.060
 of not being arrogant

00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:25.019
 about your abilities

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.460
 is not

00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:28.160
 that you deny

00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:29.700
 that you have

00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.240
 any talents

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:30.740
 or gifts

00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.400
 or abilities.

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.420
 God wants us

00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:34.000
 to acknowledge

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.240
 what He's given us.

00:15:36.560 --> 00:15:37.180
 If you're a Christian,

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:37.600
 you've been given

00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:38.560
 certain spiritual gifts.

00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.519
 You have certain

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.379
 natural talents.

00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.740
 You have certain abilities.

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:42.620
 You've been given

00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:44.240
 special opportunities.

00:15:44.400 --> 00:15:45.519
 Everybody hasn't been given,

00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:47.240
 each of us individually.

00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:50.480
 So we need

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:51.620
 to acknowledge that,

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.800
 not be shy

00:15:53.800 --> 00:15:55.259
 about using that.

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.139
 New Testament scholar

00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:58.100
 Leon Morris

00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.340
 points this out,

00:15:59.400 --> 00:15:59.879
 the importance.

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.400
 Look at it.

00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.860
 Being sober-minded

00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:02.900
 means recognizing

00:16:02.900 --> 00:16:04.300
 that God has given us

00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:06.919
 and being zealous

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:07.959
 in its use

00:16:07.959 --> 00:16:08.740
 as well as humble.

00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:09.979
 Recognizing what God

00:16:09.979 --> 00:16:10.639
 has given us

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:12.219
 and being zealous

00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:13.240
 in its use

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:15.500
 as well as humble.

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:17.120
 it is very important

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.559
 for you to do a self-evaluation.

00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:21.279
 To recognize

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:22.399
 what God has

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.779
 done for you.

00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:25.279
 How He's gifted you.

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.019
 How He has equipped you

00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.259
 to serve Him

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:31.240
 in this body.

00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.019
 Pickens First Baptist.

00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:34.139
 And then

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.779
 use what He's given you

00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:36.500
 for His glory

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.279
 and people's good.

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.379
 It's important

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.100
 also that you

00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:39.720
 recognize

00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.920
 in the broader

00:16:40.920 --> 00:16:41.460
 scale,

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:42.660
 broader scheme

00:16:42.660 --> 00:16:43.200
 of things.

00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:45.420
 You need to use

00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:46.399
 all the talents

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:47.399
 and abilities

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.820
 that God has given you

00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:50.560
 in every area

00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:51.279
 of your life.

00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:53.279
 You know,

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:53.879
 you need to

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:55.300
 think in terms

00:16:55.300 --> 00:16:55.820
 of how God

00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:57.220
 has made me,

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.540
 equipped me,

00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:00.000
 put me in certain situations,

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.620
 given me opportunities,

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.980
 and then you need

00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:03.700
 to make the best

00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.420
 of those opportunities.

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.559
 You need to excel

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:09.360
 in who you are

00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:10.699
 and what you do.

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.000
 That is not

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:13.679
 arrogance.

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.740
 That's being

00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:16.019
 a good steward.

00:17:17.459 --> 00:17:18.319
 Just make sure

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.479
 that you never forget

00:17:19.479 --> 00:17:20.979
 that who you are

00:17:20.979 --> 00:17:21.899
 and what you have

00:17:21.899 --> 00:17:23.139
 and even your opportunities,

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.979
 those are all things

00:17:24.979 --> 00:17:26.379
 that God has given you.

00:17:27.459 --> 00:17:27.879
 I want you to look

00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:29.740
 at 1 Corinthians

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.459
 chapter 4,

00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.139
 verse 7.

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.579
 Paul makes a statement.

00:17:32.919 --> 00:17:33.419
 He's asking,

00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.399
 he's making the statement

00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:35.000
 in the form of

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.159
 rhetorical questions

00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:37.579
 that should just

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.519
 remind us

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:40.240
 everything that we have

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.339
 comes from God

00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:42.119
 so there's no place

00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:43.119
 for pride in our lives.

00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:43.579
 Look at it.

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:45.000
 For who makes you

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.480
 different from anybody else?

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.319
 What do you have

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.440
 that you did not receive?

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:51.259
 And if you did receive it,

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.019
 why do you boast

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.480
 as though you did not?

00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:59.079
 use what God has given you?

00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:00.860
 But always give Him

00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.579
 the glory.

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.960
 Always acknowledge

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.079
 and thank Him.

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.200
 Use what He's given you

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.440
 humbly

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:12.120
 to serve Him

00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:13.059
 and serve other people.

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:15.120
 Paul says something else

00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:16.079
 about thinking soberly

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.860
 at the end of verse 3.

00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:18.400
 Look at it.

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.240
 He says,

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.519
 we are to think

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.700
 with sober judgment

00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.460
 each according

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.319
 to the measure

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:24.319
 of faith

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.839
 that God has assigned.

00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.259
 In the context

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.380
 of what's being said here,

00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:29.900
 especially about

00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:30.819
 the spiritual gifts

00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:32.039
 in verses 6 through 8,

00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.140
 Paul's using this word

00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:35.240
 faith to describe

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.779
 our ability

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.240
 to understand

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.539
 and use

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.140
 the gifts

00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:40.259
 that He's given us.

00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.559
 He's not talking

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:43.819
 about saving faith here.

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.900
 He's talking about

00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.779
 our ability

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.339
 to understand

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.339
 and use the gifts

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:48.919
 that God gives us.

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.419
 And such faith

00:18:50.419 --> 00:18:51.240
 would also involve

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:52.639
 trusting God

00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:54.699
 to use us

00:18:54.699 --> 00:18:56.139
 to be a blessing

00:18:56.139 --> 00:18:56.799
 to other people,

00:18:56.959 --> 00:18:58.279
 to help other people.

00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:00.879
 Let's think about

00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:01.859
 the big picture here.

00:19:02.959 --> 00:19:03.740
 No one should ever

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.500
 think of themselves

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.779
 as the

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:07.359
 most important member

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.039
 of this church.

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.039
 That would be thinking

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.079
 way too highly

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.679
 of yourself.

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:12.980
 But at the same time,

00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:13.819
 no one should ever

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.539
 think of themselves

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:16.099
 as the least

00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:17.480
 important member

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.359
 of this church.

00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:20.119
 Each of us

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.699
 needs to think

00:19:20.699 --> 00:19:21.539
 of ourselves

00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:24.719
 as vital members

00:19:24.719 --> 00:19:26.619
 of this church family

00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:27.439
 if we're members here

00:19:27.439 --> 00:19:29.559
 with God-given gifts

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.519
 and talents

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:32.359
 that God has put us

00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:33.000
 in the church

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.859
 so that we could

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:36.059
 use those

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:38.639
 in a way that would

00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:40.480
 help Pickens First Baptist

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:43.839
 be the well church

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:45.059
 that we've identified

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.859
 as our purpose.

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.679
 The worshiping,

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.480
 evangelizing,

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.599
 learning and loving

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.599
 family of faith

00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:51.459
 that God's called

00:19:51.459 --> 00:19:52.059
 us to be.

00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:53.859
 And so what we need

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.299
 to think here

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:55.139
 for a moment now is

00:19:55.139 --> 00:19:57.220
 are you using

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.899
 your gifts?

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.619
 We can't look

00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.419
 at any one person

00:20:02.419 --> 00:20:02.980
 and say you're the

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.599
 most important member

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.099
 of the church.

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.079
 But at the same time

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.679
 we can't look at

00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:06.639
 any one and say

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:08.539
 you don't matter.

00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.659
 We all matter.

00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:12.820
 And we've been

00:20:12.820 --> 00:20:13.460
 put together

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.200
 if we're Christians,

00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:15.060
 members of this church,

00:20:15.300 --> 00:20:16.160
 we've been put together

00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:18.540
 by God sovereignly

00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:19.600
 with the gifts

00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:20.259
 and talents

00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.840
 and abilities

00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:21.680
 that we have

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.920
 to do what He

00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:24.019
 wants us to do.

00:20:25.320 --> 00:20:26.779
 That requires us all

00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.540
 to take that

00:20:27.540 --> 00:20:28.740
 responsibility seriously

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.160
 and be involved

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.940
 in some kind

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.560
 of ministry,

00:20:31.800 --> 00:20:32.259
 some kind

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.980
 of service.

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.860
 Are you?

00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:39.379
 You are helping

00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:41.019
 determine

00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.619
 how strong

00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.500
 our church is

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:44.779
 by the way

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.659
 you use your gifts

00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:46.019
 and talents

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.459
 and abilities

00:20:46.459 --> 00:20:46.859
 in the life

00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.359
 of our church.

00:20:48.439 --> 00:20:49.859
 By your involvement

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.959
 doing what God's

00:20:51.959 --> 00:20:52.779
 equipped you

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.299
 to do,

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.439
 whatever it is,

00:20:55.479 --> 00:20:56.079
 you're contributing

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.619
 to the health

00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.240
 of the church.

00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:58.979
 By your not being

00:20:58.979 --> 00:20:59.539
 involved,

00:20:59.679 --> 00:21:00.259
 you're contributing

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:02.019
 to the sickness

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:04.079
 or ineffectiveness

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.519
 of the church.

00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:06.740
 That's a fact.

00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.240
 That's what the passage

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.979
 is talking about.

00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:11.079
 Think about this.

00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:13.119
 Act on this.

00:21:14.199 --> 00:21:14.719
 This is leading

00:21:14.719 --> 00:21:15.439
 to the next point.

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.359
 We need to think

00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.359
 biblically about

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.799
 your place

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.779
 in the body of Christ.

00:21:20.439 --> 00:21:20.879
 We need to think

00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:22.500
 biblically about

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.259
 our place

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.959
 in the body of Christ.

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.719
 Look at verses 4

00:21:24.719 --> 00:21:25.839
 and 5.

00:21:26.679 --> 00:21:27.819
 Paul explains

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.379
 that the church

00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:29.779
 is one spiritual body,

00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:32.579
 the body of Christ.

00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:34.279
 Notice how he describes

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.359
 it in verse 4.

00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:35.919
 I will look at

00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:36.699
 one phrase.

00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:38.740
 As in one body,

00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:40.659
 we have many members.

00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:42.819
 We have many body parts.

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.339
 One body.

00:21:46.179 --> 00:21:47.699
 Many body parts.

00:21:47.699 --> 00:21:49.859
 So we,

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.759
 though many,

00:21:51.679 --> 00:21:53.039
 are one body

00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.740
 in Christ.

00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:55.279
 His point is that

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.059
 all of us

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:57.119
 together,

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.299
 we form one

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.159
 spiritual body,

00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:00.959
 the body of Christ.

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.699
 All of us together,

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.980
 we form one

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.700
 spiritual family,

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.539
 the family of God.

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:07.920
 This is an emphasis

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.559
 on the unity

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.080
 of the church.

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.700
 It is our responsibility

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:13.759
 to look at us.

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.259
 On one hand,

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.720
 we're one body.

00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:20.500
 We're one family.

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.460
 And we matter

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.539
 as a family.

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:25.420
 We need to do

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.119
 all that we can

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.000
 to promote

00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:28.220
 family,

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:28.960
 harmony,

00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.839
 and unity

00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:31.259
 and do whatever

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:31.799
 it takes

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.920
 to prevent

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.700
 division.

00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:37.579
 Divisiveness

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.159
 is something

00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:39.200
 that God condemns

00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.119
 very strongly

00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:41.740
 in the New Testament.

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.379
 I want you to look

00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.000
 at some examples.

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.339
 Later on in Romans

00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:45.200
 chapter 16,

00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.460
 look at what he writes.

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:48.079
 I appeal to you,

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.480
 brothers,

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.860
 to watch out

00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.319
 for those

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.579
 who cause divisions

00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:53.259
 and create obstacles

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.759
 contrary to the doctrine

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.700
 that you've been taught.

00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:57.000
 Avoid them,

00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:58.059
 for such persons

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.460
 do not serve

00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.799
 our Lord Christ.

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.180
 Another statement

00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:02.840
 Paul writes

00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:03.960
 to Titus

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.400
 and says,

00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.600
 as for a person

00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:06.980
 who stirs up dissension,

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.579
 after warning him

00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:10.039
 once and then twice,

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.279
 have nothing more

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.140
 to do with him.

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.579
 You know

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.400
 that one of the last

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.360
 things that Jesus

00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.200
 prayed

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:18.620
 for all his

00:23:18.620 --> 00:23:19.840
 disciples

00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.940
 and future disciples

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.920
 that actually says

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.819
 in John chapter 17,

00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.200
 one of the last things

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.100
 Jesus prayed for

00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:27.620
 is that we would be united.

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:30.799
 That God's children

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:32.180
 would be united.

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:32.920
 Look at what he says.

00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.059
 Jesus prayed

00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:34.799
 that they may

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:36.019
 all be one

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.920
 just as you,

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:37.259
 Father,

00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.259
 are in me

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.380
 and I in you,

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:41.500
 that they also

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.840
 may be in us

00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:43.940
 so that the world

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.600
 may believe

00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.519
 that you have sent me.

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.660
 Unity in the church

00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.539
 is a sign

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.759
 that we really

00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.559
 are God's people,

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.379
 that Christ really

00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:51.259
 is our Lord.

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.139
 So it's vitally important

00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:53.759
 that we

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.559
 work to

00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.900
 build unity,

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.500
 maintain unity,

00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:00.019
 and do whatever

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.359
 it takes

00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:00.960
 to avoid

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.879
 division.

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.039
 Now Paul also

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.879
 explains that

00:24:03.879 --> 00:24:04.240
 the church

00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:04.759
 is made up

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.139
 of different

00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:07.359
 body parts

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:09.200
 and our different

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.900
 body parts

00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.859
 are to function

00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:12.099
 differently.

00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:13.500
 Note how he

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.180
 makes this point.

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.200
 Also in verse 4,

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.579
 the members,

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.119
 the body parts,

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.319
 do not all

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.059
 have the same

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.539
 function.

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.799
 Verse 6,

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.019
 having gifts

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.759
 that differ

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.579
 according to the

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.779
 grace given

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.579
 to us,

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.619
 let us use them.

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.339
 Now Paul illustrates

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:32.160
 this in great detail

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:33.359
 in 1 Corinthians 12

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.799
 by comparing

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.480
 the church

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.559
 to a human body

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.200
 and each member

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:38.759
 of the church

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.140
 is like a part

00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:41.060
 of the human body.

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.920
 The point is

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:45.640
 each member

00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:46.759
 of the church

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:49.120
 is important

00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.780
 to the body,

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.160
 the church body.

00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.160
 Just like

00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:54.540
 your hands,

00:24:55.080 --> 00:24:55.720
 your feet,

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.940
 your eyes,

00:24:57.060 --> 00:24:57.640
 your ears,

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.660
 they're all

00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.980
 an important part

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.120
 of your

00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:02.720
 human body.

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.560
 We need to

00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:06.500
 recognize the value

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.200
 of one another.

00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:09.799
 And we're

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.539
 very different.

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.900
 Different is good

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:14.420
 in this way.

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.380
 He's talking about

00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.660
 diversity in the church,

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.420
 diversity in the midst

00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.000
 of unity.

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.019
 We need to recognize

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.840
 people who

00:25:20.840 --> 00:25:22.100
 are just different,

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.519
 maybe they have

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.160
 a different background.

00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:24.640
 They have a different

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.400
 way of looking

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.000
 at things.

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.080
 But the real focus

00:25:27.080 --> 00:25:28.220
 is on they have

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.860
 different talents

00:25:28.860 --> 00:25:29.360
 and gifts

00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:29.980
 and abilities

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.980
 that they bring

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.620
 to the table.

00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:33.519
 Now,

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:36.459
 sometimes there

00:25:36.459 --> 00:25:37.299
 could be a tendency

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.939
 to be jealous

00:25:38.939 --> 00:25:40.679
 of someone

00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:41.579
 who gets up

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.139
 and teaches

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.779
 or someone

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.399
 who gets up

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:43.719
 in front of

00:25:43.719 --> 00:25:44.079
 everybody

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.199
 and sings

00:25:45.199 --> 00:25:47.119
 or is serving

00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:47.619
 in some kind

00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:48.359
 of real visible

00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:48.879
 way.

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.500
 We've got to

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.179
 guard against

00:25:51.179 --> 00:25:51.519
 that.

00:25:52.699 --> 00:25:53.899
 We need to

00:25:53.899 --> 00:25:54.899
 think in terms

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.979
 of that's

00:25:55.979 --> 00:25:56.500
 their gift,

00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.219
 that's their talent,

00:25:57.439 --> 00:25:58.199
 that's how God's

00:25:58.199 --> 00:25:58.839
 using them

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.639
 and be all

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.399
 for them.

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:02.820
 thankful for them.

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.380
 Take advantage

00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:05.500
 of their gift

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.759
 for our own

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.200
 benefit.

00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:08.700
 Likewise,

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.440
 no one should

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.080
 ever think

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:11.060
 of their gift

00:26:11.060 --> 00:26:12.300
 of serving

00:26:12.300 --> 00:26:13.580
 quietly behind

00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:14.660
 the scenes

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:16.180
 as being of

00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.220
 lesser importance

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.700
 than those

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.300
 whose ministry

00:26:18.300 --> 00:26:18.820
 is public.

00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:20.040
 There's a lot

00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:20.420
 of people

00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.900
 on Sunday

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.440
 and throughout

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.019
 the week

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.980
 who serve

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:26.780
 for the well-being

00:26:26.780 --> 00:26:27.660
 of our church

00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.580
 in ways

00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.720
 that very few

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.819
 people know

00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.200
 about

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.960
 and even

00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.380
 fewer

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.380
 notice.

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.680
 But if they

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.160
 didn't do

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:36.660
 what they did

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.500
 we would all

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.279
 notice.

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.839
 It all

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.660
 matters.

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.500
 Think about it

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.900
 this way.

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.539
 My heart

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:47.400
 is working

00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.079
 right now

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.240
 but you don't

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.620
 see it.

00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.360
 You see my

00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:51.819
 hands,

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.319
 you see my

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.819
 body,

00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:54.860
 you hear

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.279
 what's coming

00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.660
 out of my

00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.100
 mouth.

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:56.219
 life.

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.399
 Well if my

00:26:58.399 --> 00:26:59.119
 heart wasn't

00:26:59.119 --> 00:26:59.659
 working behind

00:26:59.659 --> 00:27:00.399
 the scenes

00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:02.059
 nothing else

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:02.459
 would happen

00:27:02.459 --> 00:27:02.799
 with it.

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.119
 It's all

00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:05.579
 important.

00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:05.980
 What you

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.319
 see,

00:27:06.419 --> 00:27:06.799
 the ones

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.379
 you see

00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.439
 and the

00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:08.819
 ones you

00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.459
 don't see.

00:27:10.959 --> 00:27:11.859
 What is

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.639
 important is

00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.000
 that we

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.679
 understand how

00:27:13.679 --> 00:27:14.319
 God's made

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:14.599
 us,

00:27:14.959 --> 00:27:15.459
 how God's

00:27:15.459 --> 00:27:16.219
 equipped us

00:27:16.219 --> 00:27:17.139
 and we be

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:18.000
 who we are

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.939
 and be

00:27:19.939 --> 00:27:21.159
 faithful in

00:27:21.159 --> 00:27:21.980
 our responsibilities.

00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:23.339
 One other

00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:23.759
 thing needs to

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.199
 be stressed

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:24.480
 here.

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.500
 That is

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.460
 don't expect

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.680
 everyone to

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.500
 do the same

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:28.940
 thing that

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.380
 you do.

00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.380
 Sometimes that

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:31.880
 happens.

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:32.920
 Sometimes people

00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.299
 think,

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.480
 well this is

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:34.880
 where I'm

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.120
 just,

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.539
 I'm involved,

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.299
 I'm passionate,

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.100
 I love it,

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.819
 why doesn't

00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.779
 everybody else?

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.360
 One reason is

00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:43.059
 they don't have

00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.920
 the heart that

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.480
 you have for

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.620
 it.

00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:45.420
 They don't

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.299
 have the gift

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.080
 or the talent.

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.259
 They don't

00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:48.980
 just see it

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.519
 the way that

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.660
 you see it.

00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.220
 So don't

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.960
 expect people

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:54.100
 who don't

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:54.460
 have your

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:54.880
 gift,

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.799
 who do not

00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.380
 have your

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:59.059
 maybe heart

00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:00.720
 passion for

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:00.920
 it,

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.299
 to be excited

00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:02.960
 in joining

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:05.200
 you as you

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.740
 do what

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:07.140
 you do.

00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:09.519
 You know,

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.319
 we don't

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:12.220
 really expect

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.940
 everyone to

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:14.539
 sing or

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.200
 teach.

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.220
 Why should

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.740
 we expect

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:19.539
 everyone to

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.200
 do any other

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.960
 spiritual gift?

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:22.720
 any other

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.860
 or use

00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:24.720
 any other

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.160
 talent

00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:26.460
 like everybody

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:26.900
 else?

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.579
 Thinking about

00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.100
 our spiritual

00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:30.700
 gifts

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:32.720
 is what Paul

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.299
 is going to

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.140
 address next

00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:34.880
 in the last

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.400
 three verses.

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:35.779
 We're not

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.059
 going to look

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.600
 at that today

00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.140
 but as a

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.579
 part of the

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:37.900
 unity,

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.620
 here's the

00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:38.900
 point.

00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:39.779
 We need to

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.900
 think responsibly

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:41.860
 about our

00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:42.720
 spiritual gifts.

00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.360
 Verses 6

00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:43.700
 through 8.

00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:44.299
 We'll look at

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:44.640
 that at

00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:45.299
 another time.

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.700
 What I want

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.079
 us to see is

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.480
 we'll wrap

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.019
 this up this

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.259
 morning.

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.700
 God has

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.140
 given us

00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:51.839
 this passage

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.519
 to emphasize

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:54.940
 we need

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.400
 to think.

00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.119
 Christians

00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:57.559
 need to be

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.099
 thinking

00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:59.099
 people.

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:00.599
 Specifically,

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.400
 he calls us

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:01.879
 to think

00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:02.460
 rightly

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.839
 about ourselves,

00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.379
 who we

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:06.140
 are in

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:06.879
 this church,

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.619
 who we

00:29:07.619 --> 00:29:08.140
 are before

00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:08.680
 God,

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.559
 how God's

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:10.879
 made us.

00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.180
 We need to

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.519
 think about

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:13.240
 ourselves and

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.519
 we need to

00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:13.960
 think rightly

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.359
 about our

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:14.920
 church.

00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.000
 church.

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.200
 Now,

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.000
 as God

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.640
 has spoken

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.060
 through his

00:29:20.060 --> 00:29:20.480
 word and

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:20.779
 through his

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.200
 spirit,

00:29:23.300 --> 00:29:24.019
 I do

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.960
 believe that

00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:26.100
 he makes

00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:26.779
 known to

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:28.400
 us how we

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.300
 should respond

00:29:29.300 --> 00:29:30.120
 to his

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:31.160
 teaching.

00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.840
 But here's

00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:34.120
 what I want

00:29:34.120 --> 00:29:34.259
 you to

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.620
 understand.

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.180
 God is not

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:36.940
 calling us

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.840
 to respond

00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.759
 to what he's

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.460
 saying based

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.300
 on how we

00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:41.160
 feel.

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:43.460
 He is

00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.019
 calling us

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.779
 to respond

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.700
 based on

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.640
 thinking

00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.420
 rightly

00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:48.980
 about

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.640
 ourselves,

00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:50.960
 about our

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.640
 church,

00:29:52.300 --> 00:29:52.920
 in light of

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.500
 the clear

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.779
 teaching of

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.640
 his word.

00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:58.480
 Now,

00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.759
 I want you

00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.720
 to listen

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:00.980
 to the

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.259
 Lord,

00:30:02.580 --> 00:30:03.320
 think

00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:04.480
 seriously

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.860
 about what

00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:06.519
 he's saying

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:08.360
 about you.

00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:11.759
 about your

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.380
 pride,

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.100
 about your

00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.740
 gifts,

00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.480
 about your

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.860
 involvement in

00:30:17.860 --> 00:30:18.540
 ministry in

00:30:18.540 --> 00:30:18.900
 the life of

00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.300
 this church.

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.640
 Think about

00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.700
 our church

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:24.500
 and how we

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.220
 exist to

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.000
 serve God

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.180
 through the

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.540
 worship,

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.200
 evangelism,

00:30:28.300 --> 00:30:28.480
 learning,

00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:28.940
 and loving

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.400
 of our

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:29.660
 purpose

00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.019
 statement,

00:30:30.800 --> 00:30:31.200
 which comes

00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:31.620
 from Acts

00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:31.900
 2,

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.900
 42-47.

00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.820
 How are you

00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:35.380
 involved in

00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:35.680
 that?

00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.340
 Listen to

00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:37.720
 the Lord,

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.360
 think,

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.400
 and then

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.000
 obey him

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.259
 in your

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.880
 response.

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.480
 Let's pray

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:44.820
 together.

00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:46.259
 Dear God,

00:30:47.340 --> 00:30:48.019
 help us

00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.920
 now to

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.500
 understand what

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.019
 we need to

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:52.759
 do in

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.040
 order to

00:30:53.040 --> 00:30:53.460
 leave here

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.320
 today thinking

00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:55.040
 rightly about

00:30:55.040 --> 00:30:55.580
 ourselves,

00:30:55.800 --> 00:30:56.400
 about your

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.060
 church,

00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.360
 our fellowship

00:30:58.360 --> 00:30:58.960
 here called

00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.480
 Pickens First

00:30:59.480 --> 00:30:59.820
 Baptist,

00:31:00.320 --> 00:31:01.500
 and our

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.140
 own spiritual

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.640
 gifts,

00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.960
 and how

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.460
 and where

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:05.960
 we should

00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.460
 use them.

00:31:08.060 --> 00:31:08.320
 Lord,

00:31:08.360 --> 00:31:08.560
 if there's

00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:08.900
 anyone in

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.259
 this room

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.440
 who is not

00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:10.880
 a Christian,

00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.240
 help them

00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.780
 to understand

00:31:11.780 --> 00:31:13.340
 that the

00:31:13.340 --> 00:31:15.420
 first need

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.180
 they have

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:18.840
 is to

00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:21.340
 confess and

00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:21.960
 turn from,

00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:22.520
 repent of

00:31:22.520 --> 00:31:23.120
 their sin,

00:31:24.780 --> 00:31:25.200
 put their

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.820
 trust,

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.260
 their confidence

00:31:27.260 --> 00:31:27.960
 in Jesus,

00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.540
 that when he

00:31:29.540 --> 00:31:29.980
 died on the

00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.440
 cross, he

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.580
 actually took

00:31:31.580 --> 00:31:32.240
 their punishment,

00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:34.480
 paid the

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.020
 penalty for

00:31:35.020 --> 00:31:35.840
 their sins.

00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:37.620
 Help them

00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:37.980
 right now,

00:31:38.020 --> 00:31:38.340
 dear God,

00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.120
 to trust Jesus

00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:39.519
 and call

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:39.899
 upon him

00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:41.079
 to save

00:31:41.079 --> 00:31:41.439
 them.

00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:45.779
 In an

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.199
 attitude of

00:31:46.199 --> 00:31:46.539
 prayer, you

00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:46.919
 listen to the

00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.179
 Lord, you

00:31:47.179 --> 00:31:47.679
 respond to

00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:47.879
 him.

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:48.879
 And I'll be

00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.159
 here at the

00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:49.519
 front and be

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.099
 happy to pray

00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:51.659
 with you if

00:31:51.659 --> 00:31:52.099
 you'd like to

00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.439
 during this

00:31:52.439 --> 00:31:52.619
 time.

00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.639
 for more.

00:31:53.699 --> 00:32:08.059
 because of

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:10.579
 providing

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.079
 forgiveness

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:15.079
 or

00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:15.679
 for