WEBVTT

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 First, let me thank the ladies for doing that little part that goes along.

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! How many of you like that? I just absolutely love it.

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! I mean, I get cold chills on a lot of different things.

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 That's one of them. It's just like, wow!

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 That's a blessing.

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 Open your Bibles this morning to Ephesians chapter 4, verse 11.

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 Let me read the passage, and then you join me in prayer.

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 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.

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 Father God, this morning as we take your word and we hold it in our hands and we put our eyes upon this text,

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 we're reminded of what it says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2,

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 that we need the enabling of the Spirit of God to understand these truths,

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 to revel in them,

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 to rejoice in your goodness,

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 in the wisdom and plan that you ordained,

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 not only in saving us, but in putting us together into a body

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 that we,

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 as a body under the headship of Christ,

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 should bring glory to the Son.

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 and we're thankful that not only did you put that plan in place,

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 but Lord, you also have chosen to reveal it to us in your word

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 that we, your children,

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 being well informed by the Scriptures and enabled by the Spirit,

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 may know the joy

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 that comes with being part of your body

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 and part of your plan,

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 actively engaged for your glory

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 and looking forward to every opportunity

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 where the name and testimony of Christ

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 might be lifted up.

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 Father, we ask that as we study the Scriptures this morning,

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 that you would be pleased with the attention of our heart

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 and then the outcome of we,

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 who are your children growing in grace,

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 and those who are here that do not know Christ,

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 we ask, Lord, that they would be drawn to the cross.

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 And that's our prayer together.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Let me begin by giving you a little bit of an overview this morning

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 of what our text is going to address.

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 We find that Ephesians chapter 4 is an extended passage.

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 Actually, Ephesians chapter 4, verse 1 through 16

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 is an extended passage in which the apostle wants us to understand

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 how important unity is in the body of Christ.

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 You'll remember that Ephesians chapter 1 through 3

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 explains what Christ has done in saving us

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 and then Ephesians chapter 4 through 6 explain what we are to do

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 as a result of our salvation.

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 He saves us.

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 He draws us together for His glory

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 and He then expects us to walk in such a fashion

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 that He is the one that is exalted and glorified in that.

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 And it's very interesting that at the very beginning when Paul then launches into this explanation of,

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 all right, since you've been saved, how are you to live?

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 The first thing that he comes up with is not,

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 well, here's what your haircut's supposed to be like

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 or here's how you're supposed to wear a tie.

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 He starts out by saying,

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 you who are part of the family of God are to be united.

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 And when we stop and really think about it,

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 that issue of unity has legs to it.

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 And what I mean by that is that it has a long history

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 because from the very beginning,

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 when sin entered the garden,

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 division and separation and distance from one another

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 was the first outcome of sin,

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 at least publicly.

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 And so we can understand why,

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 in keeping with that pattern that we find there in Genesis,

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 that the first interest of the Spirit of God

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 is that we who are His people understand

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 the priority and the significance of the matter of unity.

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 And so as we looked here at our lesson,

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 we find out earlier as we've studied

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 that He puts us together

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 and He puts us under His headship

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 and then He gifts us.

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 And we're going to take a couple minutes here

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 and talk about the overview of gifts

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 and then we're going to deal in greater detail

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 with verse 11 that touches on servant gifts.

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 My primary objective this morning

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 in talking about the issue of gifts

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 is not to go deeply into it

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 because that would take me into the 12s and the 4s.

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 How many of you remember what I said last week?

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 I'm sure you do.

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 That it's easy to track down where spiritual gifts are

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 because they're stuck with the 12s and 4s.

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 We find it in Romans chapter 12.

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 We find it in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

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 We find it in Ephesians chapter 4.

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 And we find it in 1 Peter chapter 4.

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 And so as you look at the broad picture of spiritual gifts,

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 we're not going to take the details together,

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 but we do want to pay attention to the broader look.

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 And we find that there are actually three different categories

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 of spiritual gifts in the New Testament.

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 There are temporary sign gifts,

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 such as miracles, prophetic utterances, and tongues.

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 And I'm fully persuaded that the purpose of those sign gifts

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 was undeniably so that the ministry of the Word

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 or the message could undeniably articulate it

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 and clearly understood by people.

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 I'm in the process of reading through the book of John

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 over and over again by way of preparation

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 for eventually, Lord willing, teaching it here.

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 And one of the things that I've been struck by

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 is how many times after Jesus performed a miracle,

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 He said, hey, this miracle is there as a testimony of who I am.

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 And in the Scriptures, as you look at the subject

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 of temporary sign gifts, you recognize that they came along

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 at particular times when the message was something

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 that needed to be articulated in a very clear and persuasive way

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 in a particular setting, and it happened.

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 During the time of Moses, during the time of two of the main prophets,

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 and then during the New Testament time,

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 during the time of Jesus and the apostles.

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 We understand, secondly, that there are permanent service gifts,

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 and those are the ones that we note in Romans chapter 12

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 and 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

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 There are gifts that are given to individuals in the body,

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 and I recognize the Scriptures make it clear

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 that when a person comes to Christ,

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 they are given specific gifts for service.

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 They're things that are given to you so that you can be,

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 you have a place, you have a part,

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 you have a role in the body of Christ,

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 and there's no such thing, theologically speaking anyway.

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 Now, what do I mean by theologically speaking?

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 In other words, the Scripture doesn't see

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 disconnected floaters in church.

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 It's like, hey, you are given this gift,

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 and His intention is that you actively employ that gift

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 in doing something in the body of Christ.

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 There's no intention in Christ's heart for unemployed saints.

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 You're gifted, and you're called to use that in the body.

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 Permanent service gifts are part of what help us together

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 do the work of Christ so that Christ is glorified.

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 And we do better together than we do alone.

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 Do you understand that?

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 Perfect illustration would be when I,

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 this morning I'm sitting over here on the front

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 and just listening to that little part

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 where the men sing their part and then the women.

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 And I'm just thinking, so what if the women decided,

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 well, I'm not doing that today?

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 What would happen in the mind of the average guy

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 when he's kind of waiting for that lovely, light little,

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 and I've got an attitude today,

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 and I'm not going to serve Christ by singing my part.

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 And I was like, what is your problem?

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 Would you agree with me, guys?

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 You'd nudge your wife and say, get with it, do your thing.

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 That's part of the role of a pastor is, you know,

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 saying to dear saints, get with it, do your thing, right?

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 So permanent service gifts are there to minister

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 to the glory of Christ in one another.

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 Well, then there's a third little category of servant gifts,

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 and that is actually service gifts.

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 There's a third category of gifts.

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 It is the servant gift, and that is what we are looking at

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 in Ephesians 4, verse 11.

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 Paul, as he's writing to the body,

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 talking about the fact that they are to be united

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 into the body of Christ,

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 and they are to use their gifts for God's glory,

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 he also reminds them,

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 I have given you individuals to help you with that.

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 And that's what we're going to focus on here.

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 As we get into the lesson,

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 one of the things that I want you to mark

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 at the very beginning in verse 11,

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 it says,

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 he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,

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 the shepherds and teachers.

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 And so what we understand is that verse 11 is about servants

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 given to the church by his direct will

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 and for his purposes.

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 Just as the service gifts discussed in Romans 12

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 and 1 Corinthians 12

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 are given according to divine choice

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 and grace for the body's sake,

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 so those that he appoints to be servants in the body

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 are gifts that are given directly by him.

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 His servants, and I think it's important to remember

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 and understand,

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 are really tokens of his love

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 and evidences of his care.

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 In the larger context,

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 when you think about the things

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 that Christ has given to us,

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 we recognize that those gifts

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 are things that indicate his grace

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 and indicate his love.

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 I'll never forget,

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 one of the books that I read as a young pastor

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 was a book called

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 The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges

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 written by a Puritan.

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 And in the flow of that book,

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 he made the comment

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 that a pastor is to be a living illustration

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 of the love of Christ.

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 And when individuals ask themselves

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 that practical question,

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 how do I know that Jesus loves me?

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 One of the thoughts that they should think

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 if a pastor is doing his work

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 is they should think,

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 I know Jesus loves me

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 because my pastor is an illustration of it.

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 I want you to look over in your Bibles

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 just for a moment to 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

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 1 Corinthians chapter 13 identifies

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 that we can be pretty brilliant,

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 we can be pretty successful,

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 we can be pretty significant,

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 but without love,

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 we are really not meeting the standard

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 that God has set.

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 1 Corinthians chapter 13,

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 If I speak with the tongues of men

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 and of angels but do not have love,

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 I'm a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

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 How many of you do not like it

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 when your car alarm goes off?

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 Or try it this way,

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 when somebody else in the neighborhood's

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 car alarm goes off,

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 bam, bam, bam,

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 and you're thinking what?

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 Get out there and fix it.

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 Well, here's what it says.

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 If I speak with the tongues of men

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 and of angels and I do not have love,

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 I am an irritating car alarm.

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 If I have prophetic powers

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 and understand all mysteries

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 and all knowledge

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 and I have all faith

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 so as to remove mountains

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 but do not have love,

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 I'm nothing.

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 I'm irrelevant.

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 And I think it's important for us

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 to recognize that

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 you may be excellent at this or that

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 or the other thing,

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 but here's the thing

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 that is the gold standard of ministry.

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 It is a genuine love

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 for those who God has called you to care for.

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 Is that something that happens naturally

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 in any person's heart?

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 What's the answer?

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 Not at all.

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 It is the work of grace

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 and the power of His Spirit

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 working to mold and shape a person's heart

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 that He cares and genuinely has an affection

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 for those who God's called Him

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 to be a shepherd to.

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 Allow me to make one more comment

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 about those that are called

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 to be gifted servants of the bride.

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 Each of the offices

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 that we are going to look at here

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 and go back to Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11,

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 each of these offices

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 have one particular thing in common

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 and I want you to pay attention

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 to that particular thing.

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 The apostle, the prophet,

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 the evangelist, shepherds and teachers

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 all are directly connected to the Word.

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 Each office is directly connected

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 to the proclamation

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 and to the teaching of the Word.

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 Each office calls for a dependence upon the Word

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 and a submission to the Word.

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 At the heart of what God calls

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 each individual to do

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 in the pastoral ministry

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 and in any of the offices

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 that are spoken of here,

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 it is to depend upon His Word

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 and to speak it with clarity

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 and with persuasion.

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 I am reminded of several different passages

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 that make the matter of the significance

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 of the Word a priority

00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:19.100
 both in the Old Testament

00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:20.379
 and in the New Testament.

00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.419
 I want you to think with me

00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:22.120
 just for a moment

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.600
 of one of the illustrations

00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:26.379
 that we find over in Deuteronomy chapter 17

00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:27.539
 verse 18.

00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:30.199
 Deuteronomy chapter 17 verse 18.

00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:31.539
 You don't need to turn to it,

00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:33.419
 make a reference and go to it later.

00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:35.939
 But in Deuteronomy chapter 17, 18,

00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:38.659
 Moses is speaking to the nation of Israel.

00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:40.939
 He says, listen, when the day comes

00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:42.139
 that you have a king,

00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:45.860
 one of the things that I want the king to do

00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:49.240
 is I want him to make a handwritten copy

00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:50.600
 of the law

00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.600
 and he is to keep it by him

00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:54.399
 and he is to rely upon the law

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.059
 so that he follows the law.

00:13:57.459 --> 00:13:59.379
 It is the law ultimately

00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:02.279
 that reigns in a person's life

00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:04.039
 and reigns in a nation

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:06.459
 otherwise we are drifting into the abyss.

00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:10.720
 The other passage that I often recite to myself

00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:13.200
 is over in Malachi chapter 2 verse 7

00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:14.900
 and I want you to turn there just for a moment

00:14:14.900 --> 00:14:16.580
 when you stop and think about

00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:18.240
 what you ought to hear from any man

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.800
 who ever stands behind this pulpit.

00:14:20.040 --> 00:14:21.320
 It is the word of God.

00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:24.240
 Look at Malachi chapter 2 verse 7.

00:14:25.300 --> 00:14:26.460
 You may want to underline it.

00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.019
 How many of you have this underlined in your Bible?

00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:30.559
 I hope you do.

00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:32.740
 I would encourage you to underline it.

00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:34.500
 I'll never forget.

00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:37.059
 Well, this is a story I tell on myself.

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:39.559
 I'll never forget being part of a church

00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:41.259
 that was going through the process

00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.980
 of calling a pastor

00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:46.799
 and one of the candidates came up to the pulpit

00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.539
 and brought with him

00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:51.199
 a stack of about seven different books.

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.779
 He had the Bible tucked in there somewhere

00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:57.240
 but he kept on making reference to this book,

00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:58.319
 that book, the other book

00:14:58.319 --> 00:15:00.279
 and so where's the word?

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.039
 Where's the word?

00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:01.799
 Where's the word?

00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:04.319
 You look here in Malachi chapter 2 verse 7

00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:05.879
 and it spells out

00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:08.279
 what you are to hear from a pastor's mouth.

00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:11.339
 For the lips of the priest should guard knowledge

00:15:11.339 --> 00:15:14.000
 and people should seek instruction from his mouth.

00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:14.740
 Now here's the part.

00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.500
 For he is the, what?

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.919
 Messenger of the Lord of hosts.

00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:24.620
 He is the one responsible for giving God's message.

00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:26.399
 How many of you know what God's message is?

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:29.340
 How many of you know what God's message is?

00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:32.320
 It happens to be between the covers of the Bible.

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.899
 If I came to you and said,

00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:36.879
 God said and I didn't give you a passage and a reference,

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.860
 you know what you ought to think?

00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:39.580
 Where's a rock?

00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:41.500
 Okay.

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:43.740
 Now you probably give me a break and say,

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.840
 Pastor, are you meaning to speak like that?

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:47.899
 Give me a little chance, but here's the deal.

00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:50.759
 Ultimately, those who are shepherds,

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.320
 those who are speaking for Christ,

00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:57.060
 you can identify what they have to say from the Bible itself.

00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:59.200
 In the New Testament,

00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:01.100
 we find the significance of the word

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:02.720
 in a number of different places,

00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:04.800
 and you're there in Ephesians chapter 2,

00:16:06.420 --> 00:16:09.920
 so I want you to look back to verse 20 and 27.

00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:13.120
 Ephesians chapter 2,

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.760
 he says this,

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:20.039
 you're built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:23.000
 Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.840
 And we find there that the thing that is the foundation

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:30.899
 of this teaching of the word

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:32.360
 is what Jesus said

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:34.139
 and what the apostles and prophets had to say.

00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:35.279
 Look at another passage

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.819
 where we see this kind of spelled out,

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:39.680
 and it's in Acts chapter 27,

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:42.540
 Acts chapter 20, verse 27.

00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:43.520
 Turn there if you will.

00:16:44.020 --> 00:16:45.820
 I think Ephesians is going to show up on the screen.

00:16:45.920 --> 00:16:46.640
 That's not what I want.

00:16:47.280 --> 00:16:49.440
 Acts chapter 20, verse 27.

00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:54.660
 This is Paul as he is giving his concluding speech

00:16:54.660 --> 00:16:57.640
 to actually the elders of Ephesus.

00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.700
 And there in verse 27,

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.040
 he speaks of his ministry,

00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:03.900
 and he says this,

00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:04.299
 listen,

00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:06.079
 he says,

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:11.879
 he says this,

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:14.039
 for I did not shrink from declaring to you

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:16.700
 the whole counsel of God.

00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:17.680
 In other words,

00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:19.599
 my ministry to you

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:22.460
 was one that actively declared

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.900
 what God had,

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:26.039
 you want to know what the pastor's ministry is?

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.519
 It's to tell you what God says.

00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:29.740
 And then over in verse 32,

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:30.799
 he says,

00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:32.379
 and now I commend you to God

00:17:32.379 --> 00:17:33.559
 and to the word of his grace,

00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.879
 which is able to build you up

00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:36.519
 and to give you the inheritance

00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:38.639
 among all those who are sanctified.

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.279
 I think also of 2 Peter,

00:17:42.419 --> 00:17:43.720
 if you'll go there just for a moment,

00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.519
 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 12.

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.619
 And what we're looking at

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:51.619
 is the fact that pastoral ministry

00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:53.559
 is always directly connected

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.940
 to the word of God

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:56.200
 and to making it clear.

00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:59.799
 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 12.

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:03.139
 It was revealed to them

00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.099
 that they were servants

00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:05.779
 not themselves but you.

00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:08.180
 They were serving not themselves but you

00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:08.839
 in the things

00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:10.839
 that have now been announced to you

00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:11.899
 through those who preached

00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:13.099
 the good news to you

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:15.200
 by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:17.279
 things unto which angels

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:19.240
 long to look.

00:18:19.899 --> 00:18:22.700
 They were speaking the word of God

00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.960
 to God's people,

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.539
 and that was their ministry.

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:27.819
 I think also of the passage

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:30.399
 over in 2 Timothy chapter 4, verse 2,

00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:31.879
 where the apostle is giving

00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:33.740
 his final statements to Timothy

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.980
 who had been serving

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:36.240
 as the pastor at Ephesus,

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:38.619
 and as he is summarizing his work,

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:40.119
 his pastoral work,

00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:40.399
 he says,

00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:40.759
 listen,

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.879
 I give you this charge

00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:44.740
 before Christ

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:46.639
 will judge the living and the dead.

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.339
 He said,

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:49.079
 preach the word.

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.319
 And that word preach

00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.220
 is an interesting word

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.319
 because what it's saying is

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:55.259
 announce with earnestness

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:57.519
 and persuasion and sincerity

00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:00.119
 exactly what God has to say.

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:02.539
 Well, let's look a little more carefully

00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:04.519
 at the individual offices.

00:19:04.679 --> 00:19:05.819
 So turn back in your Bible,

00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:06.199
 if you would,

00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.439
 to Ephesians chapter 4

00:19:07.439 --> 00:19:09.159
 and understand that there are

00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:10.939
 two different kinds of offices

00:19:10.939 --> 00:19:11.919
 that are spoken of.

00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.599
 Let's look at them

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.679
 a little more carefully.

00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:15.779
 For one, we understand

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:17.220
 that there are temporary roles

00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:19.640
 of the apostle and prophet.

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.759
 Christ gave the church,

00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:23.519
 apostles and prophets,

00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:24.360
 both offices,

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:26.860
 which were for a period of time

00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:29.360
 and were directly connected

00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:30.400
 to establishing

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.880
 the New Testament canon.

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.039
 How many of you understand

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.380
 what the word canon means?

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.500
 It doesn't mean boom.

00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:39.519
 It means the 29 books

00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:41.059
 that make up the New Testament.

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.600
 That is referred to

00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:44.440
 as the canon of the New Testament.

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:48.320
 And once the New Testament canon

00:19:48.320 --> 00:19:49.340
 had been established,

00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:51.320
 once those 29 books

00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:52.120
 had been given

00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:54.980
 through apostolic writing

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.539
 to the church,

00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:00.100
 the ministry of the apostle

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:01.440
 and the prophet

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.880
 then passed from the scene.

00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.600
 Now, I want you to understand

00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:06.340
 that what the word apostle means

00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.940
 is a sent one.

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:10.100
 And it was used

00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:11.720
 in the legal

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:14.480
 terms of the day.

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.720
 It was used of someone

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.980
 who actually had

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.920
 power of attorney.

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.880
 I remember when Judith

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.759
 and I were younger

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.240
 and we were going to be gone

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.519
 for a period of time

00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.700
 and we asked,

00:20:24.820 --> 00:20:25.140
 I think,

00:20:25.320 --> 00:20:26.039
 Jack McEverkin,

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.519
 for one,

00:20:26.580 --> 00:20:27.299
 to be power of attorney

00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:27.900
 for our children.

00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:29.400
 If we both had died

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:30.120
 in a plane wreck,

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.660
 Jack was going to take over.

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.000
 He was going to take care

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.519
 of our children.

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:35.039
 And we had to sign

00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:35.900
 a legal document

00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:36.380
 that said,

00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:38.160
 in our demise,

00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.840
 he has authority

00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:40.960
 to act in our behalf.

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:44.560
 A person who was an apostle

00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:46.800
 was one who acted

00:20:46.800 --> 00:20:48.340
 in Christ's behalf.

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.420
 And more particularly,

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.860
 the word was used

00:20:51.860 --> 00:20:52.980
 to refer to a person

00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:54.680
 who was directly commissioned

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:56.500
 by Christ himself

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.360
 as his representative

00:20:58.360 --> 00:20:59.800
 during the formation

00:20:59.800 --> 00:21:00.480
 of the faith.

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.440
 One of the things

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.920
 that we bump into now

00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:05.000
 is the idea

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:06.039
 that there are modern-day

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.579
 apostles floating around today

00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.960
 that have apostolic power

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.559
 and are actually apostles

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.460
 of Jesus Christ.

00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.500
 And that is not true.

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.539
 There are only 12 men

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:17.440
 who were appointed

00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.339
 by Christ

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.700
 to be his apostles.

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.819
 Now, I would be one

00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:24.000
 who would say

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.900
 that of those 12,

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.440
 Paul is the one

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.420
 who gets the nod,

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.779
 not Matthias.

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:31.480
 Now, you can have it

00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:31.980
 either way.

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.640
 We'll find out

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:33.420
 when we get to heaven.

00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.580
 But I do want you

00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:35.380
 to look in your Bible

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:37.440
 to Revelation chapter 21,

00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:38.440
 verse 14.

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:41.259
 How do I know

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.900
 that there are only

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.720
 12 apostles

00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:44.080
 of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:46.279
 formally commissioned

00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.660
 to do his work

00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.420
 as an apostle?

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.880
 Revelation chapter 21,

00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.820
 verse 14.

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.200
 And the wall of the city

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.840
 had 12 foundations,

00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:58.560
 and on them were the,

00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.680
 what's the next word?

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:01.539
 12 names

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:03.440
 of the 12 apostles

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.440
 of the Lamb.

00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:05.560
 How many?

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.460
 12.

00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:07.380
 No more.

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.700
 The eternal city

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.700
 will only have

00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:12.340
 the names of 12 men

00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:13.420
 who were appointed

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.740
 to be the apostles

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:16.080
 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:18.860
 And you can recognize

00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:20.759
 that those 12 men

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:22.600
 are in an exclusive category.

00:22:22.840 --> 00:22:23.860
 There's another indication

00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:25.380
 that the Bible

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.920
 has no space

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.680
 for the idea

00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:29.840
 of apostolic succession.

00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:31.740
 You know what I mean

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:33.160
 by apostolic succession?

00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:34.820
 The idea that,

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:35.840
 well,

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.460
 the apostles

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.340
 handed off

00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.340
 the responsibility

00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:39.740
 to somebody else.

00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:41.920
 Let me have you again.

00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.779
 And by the way,

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:44.779
 you are not here

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.640
 to hear my opinion.

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.480
 Do you understand that?

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.000
 Nod your head.

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.440
 We're not interested

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.039
 in your opinion.

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.759
 We're interested

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.880
 in what the Bible teaches.

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.340
 And so,

00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.360
 I want you to turn

00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.020
 in your Bible,

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.080
 if you would,

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.560
 to a passage

00:22:57.560 --> 00:22:58.640
 that deals with this subject

00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.080
 and look,

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.500
 if you would,

00:22:59.540 --> 00:23:00.420
 at Acts 12,

00:23:00.560 --> 00:23:01.060
 verse 2.

00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:02.680
 We're recognizing

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.400
 that there's only

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.140
 12 apostles

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:05.040
 of the Lord Jesus

00:23:05.040 --> 00:23:06.080
 and there was

00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:07.760
 no apostolic succession.

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:09.720
 Acts,

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:11.200
 chapter 12.

00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:12.800
 By the way,

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:14.060
 who was John's brother,

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.980
 also an apostle?

00:23:17.040 --> 00:23:17.980
 They were called

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.980
 the sons of thunder?

00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:20.380
 James.

00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.780
 What happened

00:23:21.780 --> 00:23:22.420
 to James

00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:24.940
 in chapter 12

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:26.280
 is that he was

00:23:26.280 --> 00:23:26.660
 what?

00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:28.820
 Executed.

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.620
 About that time,

00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.280
 Herod the king

00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:32.260
 laid violent hands

00:23:32.260 --> 00:23:33.300
 on some who belonged

00:23:33.300 --> 00:23:33.820
 to the church.

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.080
 He killed James,

00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:36.100
 the brother of John,

00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:36.920
 with the sword.

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:39.380
 Do we have any indication

00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:40.240
 that the church,

00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:42.060
 after the murder

00:23:42.060 --> 00:23:42.780
 of James,

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.300
 decided,

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:43.980
 oh, oh, oh, oh,

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:46.100
 we need some apostle

00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:47.540
 to replace James?

00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:48.280
 What did they do?

00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:50.040
 They were down one.

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:53.080
 And as the apostles

00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.920
 died off,

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:56.240
 the apostolic office

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.540
 came to a conclusion.

00:23:58.520 --> 00:23:59.720
 I want you to recognize

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:01.100
 also that we find

00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:02.560
 that in the New Testament,

00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.680
 going back to that passage

00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:05.000
 in Ephesians chapter 4,

00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.160
 it says there

00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:07.280
 he gave the apostles,

00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:08.880
 he gave the prophets.

00:24:09.760 --> 00:24:10.940
 And in the Old Testament,

00:24:11.060 --> 00:24:12.140
 the prophets were those

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:13.220
 who foretold

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.540
 and forthtold.

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.920
 And one of the things

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.620
 that the prophets

00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:17.560
 would often say,

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.500
 in fact,

00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.680
 invariably they would say,

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.519
 to identify

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.580
 their common speech

00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:22.420
 from that which was

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.700
 divinely appointed,

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.620
 they would say

00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:25.519
 something like this,

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:27.320
 thus saith the Lord.

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:29.480
 And when they said that,

00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:31.060
 they were making it clear

00:24:31.060 --> 00:24:32.680
 that they were speaking

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.160
 directly according

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:36.799
 to the direction of God.

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.759
 They weren't just kind of

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.779
 freewheeling it

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.720
 and ad-libbing it.

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.980
 This is what God

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.220
 wanted His people to hear.

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:44.559
 And these individuals

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:46.960
 were divinely enabled

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.420
 to declare God's Word.

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.160
 In the New Testament,

00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.880
 prophets were individuals

00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.180
 who were given to the church

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.480
 during the time

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.900
 prior to the completion

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.860
 of the 29 books

00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:56.579
 of the New Testament.

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.000
 And these individuals

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.700
 were empowered

00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:00.100
 in much the same way,

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.819
 more so to teach

00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.860
 and proclaim the Word

00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.960
 rather than to give

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.940
 prophetic utterance.

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.980
 Now, both the apostles

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.759
 and the prophets,

00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:09.640
 divinely appointed by Christ,

00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:11.580
 had the right and authority

00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:12.400
 to say,

00:25:12.540 --> 00:25:13.380
 thus saith the Lord,

00:25:13.520 --> 00:25:14.720
 and be heard that way.

00:25:15.520 --> 00:25:16.120
 By the way,

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.280
 those who profess today

00:25:17.280 --> 00:25:17.800
 that they have

00:25:17.800 --> 00:25:19.220
 the same divine power

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.780
 ought to think very carefully

00:25:20.780 --> 00:25:22.680
 about several different passages

00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.520
 in relationship

00:25:23.520 --> 00:25:24.440
 to saying,

00:25:24.540 --> 00:25:25.500
 God told me,

00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.680
 or I'm telling you

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.920
 this is what God wants.

00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:29.920
 How many of you

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.640
 bumped into people

00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:32.180
 that claim to have

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.340
 prophetic authority

00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:34.540
 and power today?

00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.280
 Well, let's look at

00:25:36.280 --> 00:25:37.100
 two different passages

00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:38.220
 in relationship to that.

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.280
 Turn back in your Bible

00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:41.180
 to Deuteronomy chapter 18.

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:43.099
 We're looking not

00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:44.279
 at the only illustration

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.200
 of this statement,

00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.500
 but one that is,

00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.700
 I think, undeniably clear.

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.119
 Deuteronomy chapter 18,

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.839
 verse 20 and 22.

00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.420
 But the prophet

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.579
 who presumes to speak

00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.759
 a word in my name

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.839
 that I have not commanded

00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.579
 him to speak,

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:58.099
 or who speaks in the name

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:58.879
 of other gods,

00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.740
 that same prophet shall die.

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.899
 And if you say in your heart,

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.899
 how we may know

00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.619
 that the word

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:06.660
 that the Lord

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.480
 has not spoken,

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.299
 how can you tell

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:09.359
 this person's not

00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.099
 a prophet of God?

00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:11.059
 Look at verse 22.

00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:13.019
 When a prophet speaks

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.899
 in the name of the Lord,

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.240
 if the word does not

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.039
 come to pass

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:17.159
 or come true,

00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.599
 that is a word

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.159
 that the Lord

00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:20.039
 has not spoken.

00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:22.200
 So how many times

00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.200
 does a person

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:24.079
 who professes

00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.599
 to be a prophet of God

00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:26.940
 get to get it wrong?

00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.019
 How many?

00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:31.720
 One.

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.819
 Because the outcome

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.859
 of saying,

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.000
 thus saith the Lord,

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.200
 everybody says,

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.799
 all right,

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.759
 the clock is ticking,

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.940
 I'm picking up stones,

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.160
 and if it doesn't happen,

00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.000
 you're toast.

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:43.759
 Hmm?

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.059
 How many of you

00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.660
 have picked up

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:48.720
 the little controller

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.660
 and channel surfed

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.740
 and had different individuals

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.420
 on the TV

00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.039
 that have said

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.079
 they're prophets of God?

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:54.859
 If the church

00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:56.019
 actually exercised

00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:57.180
 the understanding

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.640
 of Scriptures,

00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.680
 we'd have fewer people

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.380
 doing that.

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.359
 Turn back in your Bible

00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:03.220
 also to Revelation

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.079
 chapter 22,

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.940
 verse 19.

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:08.620
 Revelation chapter 22,

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.500
 verse 19.

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.200
 If anyone takes away

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.840
 from the words

00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:14.360
 of the book

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:15.100
 of this prophecy,

00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:16.140
 God will take away

00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.580
 his share

00:27:16.580 --> 00:27:17.360
 in the tree of life

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.600
 and the holy city

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:19.660
 which are described

00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.680
 in this book.

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.460
 Okay?

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.400
 So we understand

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:26.380
 you're not to add,

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.019
 you're not to take away,

00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:29.400
 you're not to mess

00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:30.180
 with the revelation

00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:30.740
 of God.

00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:31.820
 God has given it

00:27:31.820 --> 00:27:33.000
 and it was his place

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:34.720
 to give that understanding

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.619
 and instruction

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.940
 to his apostles

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:38.460
 and to his prophets.

00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.000
 Now let's go

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.500
 to Ephesians chapter 4

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.059
 and understand

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.119
 the permanent roles

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.559
 of the evangelist

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.339
 and the pastor

00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:45.940
 and teacher.

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.359
 Ephesians chapter 4,

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.940
 we're looking there

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:52.359
 at verse 11,

00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.259
 it says that

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.140
 he gave

00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:55.779
 the evangelists.

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:56.980
 Now I do want you

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.339
 to notice

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:57.839
 that it's

00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.799
 the apostles,

00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:00.579
 it is the prophets,

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:02.460
 it is the evangelists

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:02.899
 and I want you

00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:03.460
 to understand

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.759
 that an evangelist

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:06.179
 is one who travels

00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:07.199
 from place to place

00:28:07.199 --> 00:28:08.099
 sharing the gospel.

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.019
 While every believer,

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.079
 every one of us

00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.779
 here this morning

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.559
 are called

00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:13.199
 to be witnesses

00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:14.079
 of his grace

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.519
 and we are to gladly

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.699
 talk about his power

00:28:16.699 --> 00:28:17.559
 to save us

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.699
 and draw us

00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:19.839
 out of the darkness

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.720
 of our condition,

00:28:21.179 --> 00:28:21.539
 nevertheless,

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.819
 there are those

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.960
 who he has

00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.779
 gifted

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.159
 to be evangelists.

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.859
 There are individuals

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:28.480
 who bring the gospel

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.360
 and make it clear

00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:30.440
 and people come

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.980
 to Christ.

00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:32.900
 Christ has used

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.920
 and will continue

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.420
 to use

00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.360
 until he comes back

00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:36.940
 appointed evangelists

00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:37.759
 to win people

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.500
 to the gospel,

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.000
 to start churches,

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.460
 to cross oceans

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:42.120
 and share

00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:43.380
 the good news.

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.480
 I think one of the

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.180
 best examples

00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:45.620
 of that

00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.920
 in our modern day

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:48.000
 is Billy Graham.

00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.500
 I was doing

00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:48.839
 a little bit

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.400
 of research

00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:51.240
 in terms of his ministry

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.920
 and this man

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.740
 has ministered

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.539
 the gospel

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:55.099
 in a formal setting

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.759
 for over 66 years.

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:58.660
 in that time

00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.500
 whether he's been

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:01.519
 preaching in auditoriums

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.440
 or stadiums

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:03.339
 or wherever

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:04.400
 different kind of places

00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:05.859
 he has had

00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:06.779
 an opportunity

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.599
 of having over

00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.480
 2 billion people

00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.160
 hear him present

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.640
 the gospel.

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.859
 I do want to remind you

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:13.220
 that we are in prayer

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.559
 and we're looking forward

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.859
 to what will perhaps

00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:17.379
 be Billy Graham's

00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:19.379
 last evangelistic outreach

00:29:19.379 --> 00:29:20.279
 and it's going to be

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.140
 different than most

00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:21.759
 of the others.

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.220
 In the past

00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:24.240
 he would come to a city

00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.339
 and he would go

00:29:25.339 --> 00:29:26.799
 to a place

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.460
 like a stadium

00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:27.960
 and he would rent

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.500
 that place

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.259
 and you'd have

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.140
 a gathering of people

00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:30.859
 to that place.

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.539
 This time

00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.579
 he is going to

00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.420
 preach the gospel

00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:34.319
 and he's going to

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.339
 present his message

00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:36.519
 probably in a studio

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.140
 somewhere.

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:37.920
 It's going to be

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.359
 recorded

00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:39.880
 but then sometime

00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.880
 during November

00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.799
 during a series

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.940
 of days

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.620
 he is going to

00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.460
 present the gospel

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.980
 and the encouragement

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:48.259
 that I want you

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.120
 to pray about

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.319
 and then think about

00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:50.980
 how you can make

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.400
 it work

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.800
 is I want you

00:29:52.800 --> 00:29:53.860
 to invite people

00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.640
 who are your friends

00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.200
 and neighbors

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.600
 you don't go to

00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:57.720
 Cooper Stadium

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.620
 to hear Billy Graham

00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.980
 you go to your house

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:02.000
 and they're on TV

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.320
 you can have

00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:04.120
 Billy Graham

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:05.280
 present a simple

00:30:05.280 --> 00:30:06.120
 gospel message

00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:07.519
 and then when it's over

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.720
 you get to step on

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.460
 and say hey listen

00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:10.560
 let me tell you

00:30:10.560 --> 00:30:11.759
 what Jesus did for me

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.540
 and you get to talk

00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:14.280
 as well

00:30:14.280 --> 00:30:15.080
 and just share

00:30:15.080 --> 00:30:16.000
 the simple truth

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.140
 of how Christ

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:18.240
 brought you out

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.180
 of the hopelessness

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.200
 of your estate

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.059
 and gave you

00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:22.059
 the joy of salvation

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:24.080
 we think about evangelists

00:30:24.080 --> 00:30:24.940
 we think about the fact

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.819
 that God has appointed

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.920
 some to travel

00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.640
 around the place

00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:29.039
 and share the gospel

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.700
 that brings us then

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:32.240
 in Ephesians chapter 4

00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:32.860
 verse 11

00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:34.039
 to the last little part

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.799
 it says

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.819
 the shepherds

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.680
 and teachers

00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:38.900
 now there have been

00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:40.620
 some arguments

00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:41.680
 or disputes

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.580
 I wouldn't call them

00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:42.940
 arguments

00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.940
 no stone throwing here

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:45.440
 but there are those

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.680
 who have the idea

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:48.039
 that shepherds

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.759
 and teachers

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.980
 are two separate

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:51.019
 individuals

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:52.480
 I don't think

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.200
 that is supported

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.059
 by the text

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.059
 and I'll tell you why

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.860
 because we look

00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:57.880
 at the little word

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.220
 the

00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.839
 which is named

00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:00.519
 how many times

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.480
 how many the's

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:01.940
 do you find

00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.539
 in this passage

00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.680
 I'm holding up

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.160
 your fingers

00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:04.720
 my fingers

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.380
 so you can see

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:07.420
 there are four the's

00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:08.380
 definite articles

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:10.000
 they're identifying offices

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.360
 the apostle

00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:12.920
 the prophet

00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:14.700
 the evangelist

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:16.220
 the pastor

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.079
 teacher

00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:18.740
 and so if you're

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.279
 to describe

00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:20.519
 what this office

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.419
 is that is being

00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:22.059
 spoken of

00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.099
 it is identifying

00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:23.740
 the fact

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.559
 that there is

00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.339
 one individual

00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:26.179
 who serves

00:31:26.179 --> 00:31:28.119
 in both capacities

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.720
 he is a shepherd

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:31.839
 and he is a teacher

00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:33.240
 one of the things

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.079
 that I periodically

00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:34.980
 have individuals

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.759
 say to me

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.599
 is okay

00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:36.919
 okay

00:31:36.919 --> 00:31:38.359
 how do you want

00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:39.639
 to be titled

00:31:39.639 --> 00:31:42.480
 I have friends

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.000
 that eventually

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:44.119
 occasionally call me

00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:44.539
 bishop

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:46.659
 I don't like bishop

00:31:46.659 --> 00:31:48.000
 now there's nothing

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.639
 wrong with calling

00:31:48.639 --> 00:31:49.220
 me a bishop

00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:50.420
 because the word

00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:51.039
 prosbuteros

00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:52.019
 is there in the

00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.240
 Greek

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.799
 and I have to

00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.359
 live with it

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:54.240
 but it just

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.379
 I like shepherd

00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:58.039
 my son-in-law

00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.960
 calls me bishop

00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.639
 every now and then

00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.279
 he can get away

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:00.599
 with it

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:01.799
 it's alright

00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:03.960
 but the truth

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.220
 of the matter

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:05.099
 is if you ask me

00:32:05.099 --> 00:32:06.059
 what would I

00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:06.899
 prefer to be called

00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.799
 I would prefer

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.259
 to be called

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.940
 pastor

00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:10.539
 and the reason

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.059
 is because

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.659
 God made me

00:32:11.659 --> 00:32:12.079
 a shepherd

00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:14.220
 I do my

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.899
 shepherd thing

00:32:14.899 --> 00:32:16.559
 and I want you

00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.079
 to understand

00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:17.659
 that when he

00:32:17.659 --> 00:32:18.099
 is speaking

00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:18.839
 of this servant

00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:19.639
 as a shepherd

00:32:19.639 --> 00:32:20.779
 the Holy Spirit

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.319
 is pointing

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.339
 to the responsibility

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:24.000
 that a pastor

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.779
 has of staying

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.179
 with those

00:32:25.179 --> 00:32:25.980
 Christ has appointed

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.759
 him to care for

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.720
 and leading

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.639
 protecting

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.579
 correcting

00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.519
 and feeding

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:32.179
 the shepherd

00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:33.099
 is never the owner

00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:33.859
 of the flock

00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:35.559
 the shepherd

00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:36.079
 is one

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:36.759
 who is a servant

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.199
 of the Lord

00:32:37.199 --> 00:32:38.000
 Jesus Christ

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.919
 and serves

00:32:38.919 --> 00:32:39.639
 in his stead

00:32:39.639 --> 00:32:40.659
 and for his good

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:42.500
 a faithful shepherd

00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.380
 cares for the

00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.320
 beloved of Christ

00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:45.820
 and models his love

00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:46.320
 to the people

00:32:46.320 --> 00:32:47.380
 that Christ loves

00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:49.060
 I want you to

00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:49.920
 recognize that a

00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.560
 faithful shepherd

00:32:50.560 --> 00:32:51.680
 is a divine gift

00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.400
 from the body

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.540
 and is under

00:32:53.540 --> 00:32:54.640
 assignment from

00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:55.400
 the chief shepherd

00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:55.820
 if you want to

00:32:55.820 --> 00:32:56.600
 know why I'm here

00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:57.400
 I am here

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:58.080
 because Christ

00:32:58.080 --> 00:32:58.840
 sent me here

00:32:58.840 --> 00:33:01.580
 we are praying

00:33:01.580 --> 00:33:03.080
 asking God

00:33:03.080 --> 00:33:03.779
 to bring us

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:05.560
 a family youth

00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:05.960
 pastor

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.560
 and one of the

00:33:06.560 --> 00:33:07.080
 things that I

00:33:07.080 --> 00:33:07.560
 pray for

00:33:07.560 --> 00:33:08.340
 is Lord

00:33:08.340 --> 00:33:09.680
 you send us

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.440
 your man

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:13.000
 I was talking

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.400
 with a dear

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:13.720
 pastor

00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.340
 I'm getting hot

00:33:14.340 --> 00:33:14.920
 so bear with me

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:15.740
 I was talking

00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.120
 with a dear

00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:16.480
 pastor

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:18.080
 that they

00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:18.400
 have been

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.160
 looking for

00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:20.580
 a family

00:33:20.580 --> 00:33:21.180
 youth pastor

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:21.860
 much the same

00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:22.220
 way as we

00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:22.440
 have

00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:23.380
 for 18

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:23.880
 months

00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:25.180
 18 months

00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:27.740
 and the

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.140
 congregation

00:33:28.140 --> 00:33:28.779
 there

00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:30.140
 has begun

00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:30.700
 to become

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.700
 a little bit

00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:33.360
 impatient

00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:35.680
 and that

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.380
 dear pastor

00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:36.980
 has said

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.360
 to them

00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:37.720
 on more

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.059
 than one

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.440
 occasion

00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.240
 listen

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.820
 we can

00:33:39.820 --> 00:33:40.320
 fill this

00:33:40.320 --> 00:33:40.700
 position

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.360
 very quickly

00:33:41.360 --> 00:33:43.500
 but if

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:43.900
 we are

00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:44.700
 precipitous

00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.160
 and we do

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.580
 not wait

00:33:45.580 --> 00:33:45.840
 on the

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:46.080
 Lord

00:33:46.080 --> 00:33:46.700
 we will

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.160
 not have

00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:47.559
 God's

00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:47.820
 man

00:33:47.820 --> 00:33:48.640
 and we

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:49.200
 will

00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:49.640
 be

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.240
 sorry

00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:52.100
 I want

00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:52.400
 to tell

00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:52.539
 you

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.080
 thank you

00:33:53.080 --> 00:33:53.559
 thank you

00:33:53.559 --> 00:33:54.059
 thank you

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.500
 thank you

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:55.000
 thank you

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.500
 thank you

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:57.080
 that you

00:33:57.080 --> 00:33:57.480
 have not

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:57.660
 been

00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.100
 impatient

00:33:58.100 --> 00:33:59.620
 we are

00:33:59.620 --> 00:34:00.059
 looking

00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.559
 for a

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:00.840
 man

00:34:00.840 --> 00:34:01.220
 who is

00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:01.480
 sent

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:01.720
 from

00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.080
 God

00:34:02.080 --> 00:34:02.279
 we

00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:02.480
 don't

00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:02.620
 know

00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:02.779
 who

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:02.940
 he

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.160
 is

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.480
 yet

00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:05.039
 but

00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:05.259
 every

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:05.480
 now

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:05.720
 and then

00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:05.900
 when

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.220
 Tim

00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:06.599
 Kenoyer

00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:06.940
 gets a

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.059
 little

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.559
 frustrated

00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:07.920
 and I

00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.539
 so

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.079
 appreciate

00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:10.420
 the parents

00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:10.780
 and our

00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:11.039
 youth

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.320
 leaders

00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:11.519
 they're

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:11.820
 doing a

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.119
 great

00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:12.579
 job

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:14.360
 I

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:14.639
 remind

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.019
 myself

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:15.219
 that

00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:15.460
 Jesus

00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:15.880
 loves

00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.119
 this

00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.460
 body

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:16.760
 more

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:16.920
 than

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.139
 I

00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:17.400
 do

00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.500
 and

00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:18.679
 he

00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.000
 has

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:19.340
 somebody

00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:19.639
 out

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:19.920
 there

00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.719
 and

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:20.860
 he

00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.039
 will

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.420
 provide

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:21.539
 in

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:21.679
 his

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.059
 time

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:25.179
 I

00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:26.460
 think

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:26.679
 about

00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:26.860
 what

00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:27.000
 it

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.240
 says

00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:27.420
 in

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:27.599
 1

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:27.860
 Peter

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.199
 chapter

00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:28.699
 5

00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.039
 where

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:30.320
 the

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.740
 apostle

00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:31.159
 Peter

00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:31.639
 writes

00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:31.960
 to

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.380
 those

00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:32.559
 who

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:32.760
 would

00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:32.940
 be

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.400
 shepherds

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:33.460
!

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:33.619
 He

00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:33.800
 says

00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:34.079
 feed

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.240
 the

00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:34.519
 flock

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:34.719
 of

00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:35.059
 God

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:37.420
 and

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:37.619
 I'm

00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:37.980
 reminded

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.219
 that

00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:38.400
 my

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.059
 responsibility

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.539
 is to

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:39.780
 care

00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:39.960
 for

00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.099
 you

00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:40.280
 by

00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:40.699
 that

00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:42.099
 I

00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.500
 actually

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.900
 heard

00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:44.280
 Boy

00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.420
 I'm

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:44.559
 trying

00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:44.679
 to

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:44.860
 think

00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:44.980
 of

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.119
 who

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:45.260
 it

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:45.559
 is

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.740
 Capitol

00:34:46.740 --> 00:34:46.960
 Hill

00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:47.360
 Baptist

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:47.860
 Church

00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.199
 in

00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:48.880
 Washington

00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:49.360
 D.C.

00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:49.679
 Sam

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:49.960
 tell me

00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.179
 who the

00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.440
 pastor

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:50.760
 is

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:52.139
 Mark

00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:52.400
 Dever

00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.619
 Mark

00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:53.860
 Dever

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.420
 that's

00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:54.559
 it

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.519
 here's

00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:55.699
 how

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.039
 Mark

00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:56.340
 Dever

00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:57.079
 summarizes

00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:57.579
 pastoral

00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:57.960
 ministry

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.480
 he says

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.199
 love

00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:00.440
 he says

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:00.900
 teach

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.559
 and pray

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.099
 you got

00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.380
 that

00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:03.720
 teach and pray

00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.539
 love

00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.340
 and stay

00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:08.599
 teach and pray

00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:09.559
 love

00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.380
 and stay

00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:11.380
 I like that

00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:11.880
 description

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:14.920
 one of the things that has been stunning

00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:17.240
 and sobering

00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:20.660
 as your search committee has been pursuing

00:35:20.660 --> 00:35:23.700
 men to serve as pastors here

00:35:23.700 --> 00:35:24.420
 or a pastor here

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:27.840
 we have been discouraged by the

00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.780
 transients

00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:30.539
 pastors who are staying two years

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.360
 two and a half years

00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:33.400
 and thinking that they've kind of fulfilled their duty

00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:35.180
 I didn't even get to know you in two years

00:35:35.180 --> 00:35:35.920
 do you understand that

00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:38.900
 how many of you would trust a person to walk in two years

00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.120
 no

00:35:39.120 --> 00:35:41.180
 it takes time to get there

00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:43.740
 teach and pray

00:35:43.740 --> 00:35:44.539
 love

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.519
 and stay

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:48.220
 in speaking of this servant

00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:50.920
 we recognize that he's a shepherd

00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:52.059
 but he's also a teacher

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:55.240
 and what the Holy Spirit is reminding the church of

00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:56.799
 is that the man that God gives them

00:35:56.799 --> 00:36:00.399
 is primarily tasked with the responsibility of being a teacher of the word

00:36:00.399 --> 00:36:04.459
 at the heart of what this man's call is

00:36:04.459 --> 00:36:06.399
 the holy duty

00:36:06.399 --> 00:36:07.799
 of first modeling

00:36:07.799 --> 00:36:09.779
 and then opening the word

00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:11.139
 and calling people to hear it

00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:12.079
 and follow the wisdom

00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:13.539
 and the counsel of God

00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:15.379
 a man who is a shepherd

00:36:15.379 --> 00:36:16.099
 teacher

00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:18.799
 is one who has to live the word

00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:20.239
 and apply the word

00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:21.579
 and then open it up

00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:23.119
 and instruct people from the word

00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:25.539
 and so when I stand before you

00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:26.900
 I stand before you

00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:29.159
 with a sensitivity to the fact

00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:32.239
 that I am responsible for my walk

00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:36.119
 in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 7

00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:40.779
 the author of the book of Hebrews says

00:36:40.779 --> 00:36:42.679
 you are to remember those

00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:44.940
 who taught the word among you

00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:46.319
 and in saying remember

00:36:46.319 --> 00:36:46.940
 he's saying hey

00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:48.839
 pay attention to their life

00:36:48.839 --> 00:36:49.880
 to their walk

00:36:49.880 --> 00:36:52.059
 to their behavior

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:53.320
 because really

00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:55.019
 how a man lives

00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:55.679
 ultimately

00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.679
 is an indication

00:36:56.679 --> 00:36:57.960
 of what he believes

00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:58.539
 isn't that right

00:36:58.539 --> 00:37:01.099
 you can stand up here in the pulpit

00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.940
 and say a lot

00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:03.299
 but at the end of the day

00:37:03.299 --> 00:37:04.259
 what you are

00:37:04.259 --> 00:37:06.019
 comes out in how you act

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:09.539
 and so I want you to understand

00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:10.679
 that a pastor's life

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.539
 like that

00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.559
 of a godly father

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.920
 in Deuteronomy chapter 6

00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.159
 is first of all

00:37:15.159 --> 00:37:15.719
 to be marked

00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.900
 by a love for the word

00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.719
 and a willingness

00:37:17.719 --> 00:37:18.420
 to obey it

00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.519
 and then subsequently

00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:21.460
 a willingness to teach it

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:24.820
 let me close by reminding you

00:37:24.820 --> 00:37:26.739
 that the servant gifts

00:37:26.739 --> 00:37:29.519
 are in one sense

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.280
 no different

00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:32.039
 than the serving gifts

00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:33.739
 now what do I mean by that

00:37:33.739 --> 00:37:34.780
 serving gifts

00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:35.579
 are things like

00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:36.440
 showing mercy

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:38.259
 ability to

00:37:38.259 --> 00:37:39.360
 to minister

00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:39.920
 to

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:41.340
 to administrate

00:37:41.340 --> 00:37:42.780
 different kinds

00:37:42.780 --> 00:37:43.820
 of serving gifts

00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:44.880
 and those are the ones

00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:45.679
 that we find in

00:37:45.679 --> 00:37:46.579
 Romans 12

00:37:46.579 --> 00:37:48.000
 and 1 Corinthians 12

00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:48.980
 and I said that

00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.799
 there is fundamentally

00:37:49.799 --> 00:37:50.659
 no difference

00:37:50.659 --> 00:37:52.139
 between the servant gifts

00:37:52.139 --> 00:37:53.759
 which are individuals

00:37:53.759 --> 00:37:55.440
 and serving gifts

00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:56.559
 that we've all been given

00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:57.460
 in that

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:59.940
 they are designed

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:01.119
 for the good

00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:02.000
 of the body

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:03.400
 and their blessing

00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:04.279
 and benefit

00:38:04.279 --> 00:38:05.679
 is only seen

00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:06.860
 when they are

00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:08.159
 actively engaged

00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:08.779
 in doing

00:38:08.779 --> 00:38:10.199
 what they've been called

00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:11.279
 and equipped to do

00:38:11.279 --> 00:38:12.059
 does that make sense

00:38:12.059 --> 00:38:14.279
 if I walked in here

00:38:14.279 --> 00:38:14.699
 tomorrow

00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:15.079
 and said

00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:16.679
 I'm done being a servant

00:38:16.679 --> 00:38:19.219
 I don't like being a pastor

00:38:19.219 --> 00:38:20.380
 well I do like being a pastor

00:38:20.380 --> 00:38:21.360
 but just if I said that

00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:23.860
 that would be sinful

00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:25.179
 would you agree with me

00:38:25.179 --> 00:38:27.099
 that would be wrong

00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:28.619
 yeah I have been

00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:29.719
 I have been the

00:38:29.719 --> 00:38:30.440
 I have

00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:31.719
 I have first of all

00:38:31.719 --> 00:38:33.320
 been saved by the grace of God

00:38:33.320 --> 00:38:34.380
 and gifted

00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:35.940
 for your sake

00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:39.099
 and you

00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:40.960
 have been gifted

00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:43.039
 for one another's sake

00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:46.240
 I have no more right

00:38:46.240 --> 00:38:46.900
 to step away

00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:47.980
 from my responsibility

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:49.200
 of serving Christ

00:38:49.200 --> 00:38:50.360
 in this place

00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:51.400
 than you do

00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:53.820
 and all God's people said

00:38:53.820 --> 00:38:56.119
 that is theologically accurate

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:56.800
 and correct

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:57.860
 and it deserves

00:38:57.860 --> 00:38:59.619
 a loud amen

00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:02.800
 okay

00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:04.760
 took you a while

00:39:04.760 --> 00:39:05.840
 but you got on a roll

00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:09.860
 it's the truth

00:39:09.860 --> 00:39:12.620
 so

00:39:12.620 --> 00:39:14.120
 Pastor Saul

00:39:14.120 --> 00:39:16.200
 is going to be overwhelmed

00:39:16.200 --> 00:39:16.940
 with people

00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:17.900
 who want to put

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:19.019
 their spiritual gifts

00:39:19.019 --> 00:39:19.600
 to use

00:39:19.600 --> 00:39:20.579
 in the nursery

00:39:20.579 --> 00:39:21.500
 you had them

00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:22.579
 take care of them

00:39:22.579 --> 00:39:27.600
 amen

00:39:27.600 --> 00:39:29.960
 it's an amen

00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:31.440
 for people that are over 70

00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:32.059
 that's the right

00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:32.539
 amen

00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:33.160
 okay

00:39:33.160 --> 00:39:33.800
 but anyway

00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:34.019
 hey

00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.740
 get to work

00:39:34.739 --> 00:39:37.079
 all of you

00:39:37.079 --> 00:39:44.899
 so let me ask you

00:39:44.899 --> 00:39:45.859
 a practical question

00:39:45.859 --> 00:39:49.299
 are you a believer

00:39:49.299 --> 00:39:51.459
 if you're here today

00:39:51.459 --> 00:39:53.279
 and you do not know Christ

00:39:53.279 --> 00:39:54.259
 talking to you

00:39:54.259 --> 00:39:55.579
 about being actively involved

00:39:55.579 --> 00:39:56.439
 in the body of Christ

00:39:56.439 --> 00:39:57.779
 just doesn't make any sense

00:39:57.780 --> 00:40:00.640
 because the first thing

00:40:00.640 --> 00:40:01.200
 you need to do

00:40:01.200 --> 00:40:02.019
 is come to the cross

00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:02.620
 and recognize

00:40:02.620 --> 00:40:03.180
 that you are

00:40:03.180 --> 00:40:04.280
 a morally bankrupt

00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:06.500
 on the way to hell

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:06.880
 sinner

00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:08.660
 and you have no hope

00:40:08.660 --> 00:40:10.120
 apart from Jesus Christ

00:40:10.120 --> 00:40:12.380
 you can't stand up

00:40:12.380 --> 00:40:13.400
 in eternity

00:40:13.400 --> 00:40:15.160
 and wave the little stack

00:40:15.160 --> 00:40:15.700
 of chits

00:40:15.700 --> 00:40:16.540
 of the nice things

00:40:16.540 --> 00:40:17.000
 you've done

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.300
 and say

00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:17.700
 Jesus

00:40:17.700 --> 00:40:19.100
 can I come in

00:40:19.100 --> 00:40:19.780
 I was

00:40:19.780 --> 00:40:20.519
 blah blah blah blah

00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:21.060
 no

00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:23.059
 no

00:40:23.059 --> 00:40:24.719
 and if you're here

00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.219
 this morning

00:40:25.219 --> 00:40:26.059
 and you do not know

00:40:26.059 --> 00:40:26.400
 Christ

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:27.259
 the first thing

00:40:27.259 --> 00:40:28.480
 that you desperately need

00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:29.920
 is to come to the point

00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:31.639
 of confessing your sin

00:40:31.639 --> 00:40:33.440
 and believing in Jesus Christ

00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:34.340
 in whom alone

00:40:34.340 --> 00:40:35.279
 is salvation

00:40:35.279 --> 00:40:39.480
 and if you are a believer

00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:43.219
 Ephesians chapter 4

00:40:43.219 --> 00:40:45.320
 says

00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:46.680
 with the power

00:40:46.680 --> 00:40:47.500
 of the spirit

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:48.140
 of God

00:40:48.140 --> 00:40:48.960
 behind it

00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:50.019
 connect

00:40:50.019 --> 00:40:53.160
 and use your

00:40:53.160 --> 00:40:54.200
 gifts

00:40:54.200 --> 00:40:55.700
 for the sake

00:40:55.700 --> 00:40:57.039
 and the glory

00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:58.380
 of Christ

00:40:58.380 --> 00:41:02.539
 only one life

00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:03.780
 will soon be passed

00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:05.559
 only what's done

00:41:05.559 --> 00:41:06.519
 for Christ

00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:07.080
 what

00:41:07.080 --> 00:41:08.820
 will last

00:41:08.820 --> 00:41:10.880
 let's close in prayer

00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:14.740
 Father God

00:41:14.739 --> 00:41:19.000
 not by power

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:21.539
 nor by might

00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:23.879
 but by my spirit

00:41:23.879 --> 00:41:24.679
 saith the Lord

00:41:24.679 --> 00:41:26.859
 use your word

00:41:26.859 --> 00:41:28.500
 plant it deep

00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:29.319
 within our hearts

00:41:29.319 --> 00:41:31.559
 let it bear fruit

00:41:31.559 --> 00:41:32.479
 to the glory

00:41:32.479 --> 00:41:33.759
 and testimony

00:41:33.759 --> 00:41:34.559
 of Christ

00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:36.779
 give us humble

00:41:36.779 --> 00:41:38.359
 and contrite

00:41:38.359 --> 00:41:38.959
 spirits

00:41:38.959 --> 00:41:40.179
 as we desire

00:41:40.179 --> 00:41:41.519
 Christ's glory

00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:42.539
 and no one

00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:43.379
 else's

00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:44.960
 and we ask this

00:41:44.960 --> 00:41:45.960
 in your precious name

00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:46.640
 amen

00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:47.079
 and we ask this

00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:47.219
 of God

00:41:47.219 --> 00:41:47.079
 and we ask this

00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:47.219
 of God

00:41:47.219 --> 00:41:47.639
 if any of those

00:41:47.639 --> 00:41:48.480
 any of those

00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:48.759
 any of those

00:41:48.759 --> 00:41:48.759


00:41:48.759 --> 00:41:48.759


00:41:48.759 --> 00:41:48.759


00:41:48.759 --> 00:41:49.879
 any of those

00:41:49.879 --> 00:41:51.559
 any of those

00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:51.559


00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:51.559


00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:52.299
 any of those

00:41:52.299 --> 00:41:53.259
 any of those

00:41:53.259 --> 00:41:53.259


00:41:53.259 --> 00:41:54.659
 any of those

00:41:54.659 --> 00:41:55.739
 any of those

00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739


00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:55.739