WEBVTT

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 Take your Bibles and turn in them to Ephesians chapter 4. We're going to be looking at verses 7-10.

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! And I know for many of you it's repetitious, but I think sometimes

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 repetition is appropriate, particularly given the importance of that which is to be repeated.

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 And I would appeal to you this morning that while I preach, which is my responsibility and

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 the preparation of my heart, that you who are God's people would pray for me.

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 Let me read the passage.

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 Ephesians chapter 4, verse 7.

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 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

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 Therefore, it says, when He ascended on high, He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.

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 In saying He ascended, what does it mean but that He also descended into the lower regions of the earth?

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 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father, we are thankful for the fact that you have drawn us to this place by your kindness and your grace,

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 that were it not for your work in prompting us to see the misery and the hopelessness of our sin,

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 and in your mercy, burdening us and convicting us so that we cried out and asked for salvation.

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 You who have saved us have drawn us together this morning that we might worship you,

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 and that we might attend to your word first, that we might grow to know you better,

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 and by that knowledge that we would grow in being more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And also that we would understand the way in which you want us,

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 we who are your children, to walk and live in this world that is so desperate.

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 And Father, we pray that your Spirit would give to us humble, contrite, hungry souls,

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 that we might feast upon the word through the power of the Spirit.

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 And Christ might be the one that is exalted.

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 And we pray this in His name.

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 Amen.

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 Well, last week as we began, I started out by reminding you of the truth that when sin entered the world in the garden,

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 the first visible evidence of the fact that sin had come was the fact that man and woman distanced themselves from one another.

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 They were ashamed, it says, and they made clothing out of fig leaves and tried to cover themselves,

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 and subsequent to that, they hid from God in the garden.

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 And ever since sin entered the garden, sin has led to separation and a breakdown of relationships,

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 and it is one of the things that manifests itself in every case where you see sin having its place.

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 You see a broken and a separated, a disjointed, a disconnected group of people.

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 And so you can understand why, after having taken three chapters, and that's what Paul did in the first three chapters of Ephesians,

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 he laid out for us the glory of what Christ has done in salvation.

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 Do you realize that salvation is something that is incredible beyond imagination?

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 No man, no woman would have ever, in their wildest dreams, ever figured out how salvation should actually come about

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 through God sending His Son to die in my place.

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 You know, the truth of the matter is, the logic of the world would say,

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 hey, here's how you save yourself.

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 There are things you need to do.

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 You need to do this, you need to do that.

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 I bump into people all the time, and I ask them, so why should you get into heaven?

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 And we say, well, my good outweighs my bad.

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 You know, try that with one fly and a gallon of milk.

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 Does the good outweigh the bad?

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 What's the answer?

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 Not on your life.

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 You know, my good and my bad, here's the issue.

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 God has judged every one of us, and we have fallen short of the glory of God, and we stand condemned.

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 And God, in His kindness, brought salvation to us through the finished work of Christ.

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 And three chapters lay out the glory of God in salvation.

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 The next three chapters really deal with the way in which those who are saved are to live.

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 And what we found in the last several weeks in particular, beginning there in Ephesians chapter 4,

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 is that Paul's lessons to the church at Ephesus begin with the subject of unity.

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 Well, what does that have to do with it?

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 I mean, let's get to the good stuff about how a husband is to behave towards his wife,

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 and how a wife is to behave towards her husband, and how we are to be good children,

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 or how we are to be good employers and employees.

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 That's the heavy lifting stuff that we...

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 No, no, no.

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 The book of Ephesians is written principally to the body of Christ,

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 and it begins, first of all, by reminding us of the corporate relationship we have.

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 And all of the counsel of Ephesians flows and sits under this umbrella of the relationship we have together in the bride of Christ.

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 And so, we see the opening discussion that Paul has of the practical life of the believer

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 focuses in on this subject of unity.

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 He actually is going to take the first 16 verses in Ephesians chapter 4

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 to lay out the doctrine of the unity of the body of Christ.

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 And as we find, we remind ourselves of the fact that in the very first going couple verses there,

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 we are told that unity is really something that comes from the Spirit of God.

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 He's the one who made it.

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 By the way, I would not be united with you, nor you with me,

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 apart from the fact that we, by God's grace, have been put into lasting relationship.

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 Were it not for conversion, you would not be my brother or my sister.

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 And my relationship to you would be kind of circumstantial

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 or dependent upon what you were to get out of it or I were to get out of it.

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 Very kind of a manipulative kind of thing.

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 And that issue of the sweetness of communion would be absent.

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 And Paul says, hey, listen, you're united by the Spirit of God.

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 And then he goes on, and there in the verses that we've looked at,

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 he says, beginning there in verse 4, it says,

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 One body, one spirit.

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 We recognize that this issue of the unity of the body of Christ

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 is something that really is hammered out theologically.

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 We are one because of our faith in Christ.

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 Do we have different perspectives on some nuanced things scripturally?

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 And the answer is yes.

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 But the truth of the matter is, here's the fact.

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 All of us come to Christ by faith,

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 having seen the broken, despicable condition of our soul,

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 and we cry out and ask him to save us.

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 We believe together in the virgin birth.

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 We believe together in the sufficiency of Scripture.

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 They're cardinal doctrines that we hold together.

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 And that brings us now there to verse 7, actually through 10,

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 where Paul is explaining this matter of unity a little further,

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 and he brings into our understanding a very, very important doctrine,

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 namely the matter of the doctrine of the gifts that God gives to us

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 for the sake of unity.

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 And so what we're going to find here in the text this morning

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 is, first of all, that we are gifted by his grace.

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 Look at the passage in verse 7.

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 It says,

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 But grace was given to each one of us

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 according to the measure of God's gift.

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 Paul opens his lesson here by talking about the fact

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 that each believer at conversion, at salvation,

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 is given something.

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 The verses actually touch very, very briefly on the Bible truth

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 that each believer is given a spiritual gift or gifts

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 for the good of the body.

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 It is evident by the short nature of Paul's comment here

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 in Ephesians chapter 4

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 that the believers in that local congregation

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 had some kind of understanding of the doctrine

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 because he just alludes to it or comments on it and moves on.

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 It is not the primary nature or substance

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 of what he's going to teach in this case.

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 And so we make the assumption that Paul evidently

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 had taught it earlier or that Timothy had taught it

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 so it wasn't necessary for him to launch into the full subject.

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 Actually, the doctrine of the spiritual gifts

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 appear in four major passages.

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 And if you're into little devices to help you remember,

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 remember 12s and 4s.

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 If you want to remember where the passages are

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 on spiritual gifts,

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 and it is an important doctrine

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 for your relationship to the body of Christ,

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 think about it in terms of 12s and 4s.

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 It is, first of all, in Romans chapter 12

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 in verses 3 through 8,

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 and it is in, guess what,

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 can anybody tell me the other 12?

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 1 Corinthians 12.

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 If you got the 12s, you're good.

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 Those are the predominant passages,

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 and we're not going to look at them in detail this morning.

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 But Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12,

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 Ephesians chapter 4,

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 what we're looking at today,

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 and then 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 11 and 12.

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 I am not going to take the time this morning

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 to go at this subject at length

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 because in the past,

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 we have at various times

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 studied the matter of spiritual gifts.

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 But I do want you to understand

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 in a broad perspective.

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 For one, each believer,

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 as we see in the Scriptures,

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 both in particular in Romans 12

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 and in 1 Corinthians 12,

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 each believer, every person,

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 is equally valuable and important.

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 I do want you to turn,

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 so you can kind of put your eyes on this,

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 turn back in your Bible a little bit

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 to 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

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 Evident that the church in Corinth

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 was struggling in their relationships

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 with one another.

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 We know that from the recurring cautions

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 that Paul gives to the body of believers

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 and the reminders over and over again

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 of the factionalism

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 or the kind of divisive spirits

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 that seemed to have its place

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 in that congregation,

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 Paul would say,

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 hey, this ought not to be.

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 Now there in chapter 12, verse 1,

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 he says,

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 now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers,

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 I do not want you to be uninformed.

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 I want you to know the facts.

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 Very interestingly then,

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 when he begins with the subject,

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 he says,

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 you know that when you were pagans,

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 you were led astray to mute idols

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 however you were led.

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 Therefore, I want you to understand

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 that no one speaking in the Spirit of God

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 ever says Jesus is accursed

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 and no one can say Jesus is Lord

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 except in the Holy Spirit.

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 And so, kind of in a summary statement

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 at the very beginning,

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 and I think you understand this

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 about many forms of writing,

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 an author will usually tell you

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 what's being said at the beginning

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 and kind of an overview,

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 and that's what we're looking at here.

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 He then launches in

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 to explain this larger issue

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 of the gifting of the Spirit.

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 He says, listen, verse 4,

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 there are varieties of gifts

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 that has the same Spirit,

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 there are varieties of service

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 but the same Lord,

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 and there are varieties of activities

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 but it's the same God who empowers.

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 So we understand that every believer

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 is equally valuable and important.

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 Every believer is equally valuable

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 and important.

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 Secondly, I think it's fair to say

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 that there really are no duplicates

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 or unnecessary pieces.

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 I want you to think about that

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 just for a moment.

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 You're the only you

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 that God has ever or ever will make,

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 and He has a part for you to play

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 in His body,

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 and He intends for you to get to it.

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 I think that's important

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 for us to understand.

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 The fact that this matter

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 of spiritual gifts

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 is discussed four different times

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 in the Scriptures

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 indicates that it is of some importance

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 to the kingdom of God

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 and to the ministry

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 that He has called all of us

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 to be part of.

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 The fact of the matter is

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 is that in creating you

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 the way He has made you,

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 He has ordained for you

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 to take the characteristics

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 that you have

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 and the spiritual gifts

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 that you have

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 and put them into valuable utility

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 to the body of Christ.

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 I love the fact

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 that we really go after

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 a vacation Bible school

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 in a big way.

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 It's a blast to watch

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 as it kind of begins

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 to gain steam

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 somewhere back in,

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 when is it, Pastor Saul?

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 February, March,

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 we begin talking about it,

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 and people begin

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 getting geared up for it

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 and then we have

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 the artists go to work

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 and you know,

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 I am brain dead in that area.

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 A straight line

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 is pushing it for me

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 and they get over in the gym

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 and they take a whole week

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 putting the set together

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 and I read a little article

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 on the internet

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 about the fact

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 that those who are creative

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 like dark,

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 kind of muted lights,

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 I'm a bright light guy.

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 You know,

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 when we go to the restaurant,

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 I want to dial it up

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 so I can see the food

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 on the table.

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 Judith wants it very dark.

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 I'm suspicious about why

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 you know,

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 but God puts all kinds together

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 and when VBS is doing its thing,

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 all the parts matter.

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 I mean,

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 the artistic people

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 are doing their thing

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 and the musical people

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 are doing their thing

00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.360
 and the ones

00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:25.440
 who can really get fired

00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:26.940
 into teaching those Bible lessons

00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:27.860
 are doing their thing

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:29.779
 and the organizational people,

00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:30.420
 I mean,

00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:30.759
 hey,

00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.360
 do you know for a fact

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:34.620
 that every time

00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.860
 we have VBS now,

00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:36.940
 we pay attention

00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:38.200
 to who has allergies.

00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:40.520
 I don't have allergies,

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.300
 never thought about

00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:41.980
 having allergies,

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.340
 wouldn't imagine

00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:44.160
 that there are people

00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:45.260
 that are allergic

00:15:45.260 --> 00:15:47.400
 to dairy products,

00:15:47.560 --> 00:15:49.400
 allergic to this thing

00:15:49.400 --> 00:15:50.200
 and that thing

00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.500
 and there was a lady

00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:52.480
 who was coordinating

00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.120
 all of that,

00:15:53.180 --> 00:15:53.800
 aren't you glad?

00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:53.859
 God,

00:15:54.219 --> 00:15:55.979
 it's a good thing.

00:15:57.719 --> 00:15:58.299
 You know,

00:15:58.459 --> 00:15:59.659
 that's the body

00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.699
 doing its thing,

00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:01.659
 right?

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.439
 And by the way,

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.099
 when you say,

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:04.519
 well,

00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.359
 I'm not going to do,

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.479
 I'm not going to be part of that,

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.139
 you know what,

00:16:08.199 --> 00:16:09.459
 God will find somebody else.

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.159
 He does.

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.079
 Is it a good thing

00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:15.819
 to mess with God

00:16:15.819 --> 00:16:16.099
 and say,

00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:17.120
 I'm not going to do my part?

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:17.560
 No.

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:19.980
 No.

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.620
 No,

00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.320
 don't do that.

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.740
 Don't do that.

00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:25.620
 Because you have

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.399
 that kind of attitude

00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:26.960
 and he'll say,

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.120
 hey,

00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.120
 go ahead,

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.100
 sit on the back bench.

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:30.379
 I'll find someone else.

00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.799
 Not a good idea for you.

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:33.919
 And,

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.279
 you know,

00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.279
 we think about this business,

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.039
 no duplicates,

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.200
 no unnecessary parts.

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.320
 God has a part

00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:38.980
 for you to play

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:39.519
 and he wants you

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.419
 to get involved in it.

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.560
 And I got to tell you,

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:43.200
 being part of his team

00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.700
 is far more important

00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:45.220
 than fishing

00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:46.220
 or playing ball.

00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:49.680
 I think it's important

00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:50.500
 for us to recognize.

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.379
 We live in a day and age

00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:53.860
 where there are a lot of things

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.860
 that take the place

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:56.560
 and are a substitute

00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:58.220
 for the bride of Christ.

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.440
 Now,

00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.680
 I've been there with you.

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:05.660
 There are times

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.860
 when the appointment

00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:07.660
 and divine call

00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:09.019
 that God has given to me

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:10.799
 has been a little troublesome.

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.200
 You know,

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:12.980
 you may think

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.600
 being a pastor

00:17:13.600 --> 00:17:14.860
 is all sweetness and light.

00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:16.979
 And it is.

00:17:17.439 --> 00:17:18.279
 I have said,

00:17:18.479 --> 00:17:19.879
 you have heard me say this

00:17:19.879 --> 00:17:20.899
 over and over again,

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.599
 I have the best job

00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.459
 in the world.

00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:25.939
 I will tell you,

00:17:25.979 --> 00:17:26.659
 when I was called

00:17:26.659 --> 00:17:27.359
 as a little boy

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.439
 about 12 years old,

00:17:29.219 --> 00:17:30.959
 I didn't want to do it.

00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.839
 And being the stubborn,

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.639
 perverse spirit

00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:35.219
 that I am,

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.899
 I didn't only say

00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:37.679
 I didn't want to do it,

00:17:37.699 --> 00:17:38.399
 but I acted like

00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:39.119
 I didn't want to do it.

00:17:39.139 --> 00:17:39.879
 And guess what he did?

00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.799
 He began

00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.359
 kind of choreographing

00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.639
 a lot of different details

00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.279
 in my life

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:45.859
 that kept on

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.319
 just kind of

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.359
 putting the pressure on me

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.200
 until I finally said,

00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:49.480
 yes, Lord.

00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.859
 And a couple different times

00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:54.319
 in the flow of ministering,

00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:54.919
 we're talking about

00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:55.619
 spiritual gifts

00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.799
 because God gifted me

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.419
 to be a pastor.

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.539
 It wasn't a career decision,

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.919
 it was a calling.

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:03.019
 There have been some times

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:04.279
 where I have,

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.579
 I've thought to myself,

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.740
 I'm tired of doing this,

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.379
 I want to quit

00:18:07.379 --> 00:18:08.579
 and go sell used cars

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.480
 or something like that.

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:09.759
 You know,

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.240
 do something reasonable.

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.579
 And that's when

00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:18.200
 the Spirit of God

00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:18.960
 kind of taps me

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.500
 on the shoulder

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:19.860
 and says,

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.180
 Tim,

00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:21.960
 you're blood bought.

00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.660
 You're a friar tried.

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.880
 You've been whacked

00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.680
 all over the place

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.660
 by His grace.

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.480
 He's put up with you

00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.259
 all these years.

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:32.819
 What do you think

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.360
 you're doing

00:18:33.360 --> 00:18:34.319
 thinking about quitting?

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:41.440
 It's one thing

00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.360
 to sing that song

00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:43.000
 and by the way,

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.880
 I love it.

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.900
 His love never quits,

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:47.140
 never gives up,

00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:48.720
 never runs out on me.

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.460
 Do you like that one?

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.220
 I love that one,

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.839
 but it doesn't have

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.700
 any heavy drum parts.

00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.000
 It's just,

00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:55.720
 I like the heavy drum parts,

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.460
 I gotta admit it.

00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:59.200
 But you know what?

00:18:59.259 --> 00:18:59.759
 Listen to me.

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.519
 It's one thing

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.420
 to sing the song.

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:06.740
 It's another thing

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.500
 to show that you

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.600
 understand that song

00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:09.420
 by hanging in there

00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.180
 when it's tough,

00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:13.060
 by staying the course

00:19:13.060 --> 00:19:14.700
 when ministry is hard,

00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:16.740
 when people have

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.620
 broken your heart,

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:22.000
 and when you see

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.039
 the parts not

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.440
 always fitting together

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.740
 and you're frustrated

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.480
 by that.

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.620
 Lord, Lord, Lord,

00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.120
 help it not overwhelm me.

00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:31.279
 Well, look,

00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:33.019
 we're looking at that passage

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.839
 in Ephesians,

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.139
 and I want you

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.799
 to recognize,

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.039
 going back to the text

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:40.139
 in Ephesians chapter 4,

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:42.400
 that Paul is making

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.099
 this statement

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:45.099
 in the larger context

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:46.160
 of, hey,

00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.400
 this is the body of Christ.

00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:51.980
 And so we need

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.500
 to understand

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.599
 that every believer

00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:54.879
 is given spiritual gifts

00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:55.619
 for his glory

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.839
 and the bride's good.

00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.660
 Being gifted,

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.480
 and every believer is,

00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:03.779
 every believer is,

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.620
 being gifted is all

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.380
 about his glory

00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:07.259
 and the good of others,

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.819
 and I'll throw this in,

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.539
 and your own connectedness.

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.299
 I believe the matter

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.920
 of his glory

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.640
 and the good of others

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:15.960
 is relatively easy to see.

00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:17.059
 You can understand that.

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:20.099
 So let me just take

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:21.059
 a little moment

00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.420
 to step over on the side

00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.380
 and touch on

00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:24.400
 one of the things

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.140
 that I,

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.420
 over the years of ministry,

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.539
 and I've got 30 plus

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.279
 of doing this now,

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:30.079
 so I'm not a newbie to it,

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.180
 but I've heard people

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:32.079
 on various times say,

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.019
 well, I'm not connecting,

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:35.420
 or I have no friends,

00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:35.920
 or, you know,

00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.639
 things like that,

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.579
 and one of the things

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.920
 that comes to my mind

00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.680
 is this.

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:42.119
 One is from the Proverbs.

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:42.920
 Here's what it says,

00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.619
 and we all know it,

00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.559
 and you can say it

00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.299
 with your eyes closed.

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.279
 If a man wants friends,

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:47.980
 he must be friendly.

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.279
 Well, I tried once.

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.579
 Really?

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:54.579
 You know?

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.879
 There are a lot of you

00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:57.480
 who are married

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:59.399
 sitting out here this morning,

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.259
 and I tell you one thing

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.740
 about marriage

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:02.980
 is that I guarantee you

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.720
 the first person

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.579
 who said no to you

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.519
 probably didn't end up

00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.299
 being your wife

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.480
 or your husband.

00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:08.819
 You kept on pursuing.

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:11.599
 If you want it bad enough,

00:21:11.699 --> 00:21:12.599
 guess what you're going to do?

00:21:12.659 --> 00:21:13.639
 You're going to make it happen.

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.039
 Everybody said amen, right?

00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.399
 Say it loud.

00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.359
 I mean,

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.699
 be ugly Baptists

00:21:18.699 --> 00:21:19.480
 about this thing.

00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.039
 Amen!

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.359
 Amen!

00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.599
 Okay, I'm sorry.

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.500
 Amen!

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.399
 No, thank you.

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.940
 It's all right.

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.799
 Some of you are in

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.460
 for culture shock

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.059
 when we get to heaven,

00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:30.019
 so if you want to have friends,

00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:30.519
 be a friend.

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.240
 Okay, now listen

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.019
 to the second point.

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.500
 If you take the gifts

00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.139
 you've received

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:38.659
 and invest them in the body,

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.139
 connections happen.

00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.480
 If you take the gifts

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.279
 you've received

00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:46.000
 and use them in the body,

00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:47.639
 connections happen.

00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:47.839
 Amen!

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.659
 Listen to me.

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.180
 If I walked home

00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:53.819
 this afternoon

00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.220
 and said,

00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:54.460
 listen,

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.220
 I am done

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.579
 being pastor.

00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.899
 I quit.

00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.720
 Your relationship

00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.500
 with me

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.839
 would change.

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.440
 For one,

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.859
 because it would be,

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.700
 everybody look up

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:11.299
 and smile right at me,

00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:12.819
 look me in the eyes.

00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:14.939
 For one,

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.359
 it would be

00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.579
 because that would be

00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.359
 tacit,

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:18.919
 open,

00:22:19.399 --> 00:22:20.019
 rebellion

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:21.419
 against the gifting

00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:22.599
 of God

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:24.539
 in Tim Kenoyer's life.

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.539
 Do you understand that?

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.079
 Oh,

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.220
 is Tim Kenoyer

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.139
 a different kind

00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:30.079
 of saint than you?

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.059
 And the answer is,

00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:32.759
 not on your life.

00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:35.500
 So if I was gifted

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.740
 for your sake,

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.839
 you were gifted

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.139
 for our sake.

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:41.060
 And you need to get

00:22:41.060 --> 00:22:42.020
 that in your mind.

00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:44.280
 Well,

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.220
 I don't like

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.880
 some of the people

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.940
 that God has here.

00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:50.140
 You're one of them.

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.640
 Well,

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.520
 and I have trouble getting,

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.320
 you know,

00:22:58.540 --> 00:22:59.360
 here's one of the things

00:22:59.360 --> 00:23:00.280
 I've come to realize.

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:00.960
 The biggest problem

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.680
 I have in life

00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.120
 is me.

00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:06.159
 And as I submit

00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:07.979
 and let God work at me,

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.319
 I,

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.079
 strangely enough,

00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:11.179
 get along better with you.

00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:13.779
 Well,

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:16.500
 we are who we are

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.399
 and have what we have

00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.639
 because of His sovereign grace

00:23:18.639 --> 00:23:19.199
 and purpose.

00:23:19.379 --> 00:23:19.579
 And we,

00:23:19.739 --> 00:23:21.139
 we're each individuals

00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:23.219
 uniquely created

00:23:23.219 --> 00:23:24.619
 and gifted by His grace

00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:25.259
 for His glory

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.819
 and His good

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:27.139
 and for the good of the body.

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.519
 And so,

00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:28.500
 here's the point

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.179
 of this truth.

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.219
 Get with it

00:23:30.219 --> 00:23:31.979
 and do what you're gifted to do.

00:23:32.939 --> 00:23:33.439
 And so,

00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:34.159
 there's some of you

00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:34.879
 sitting out here saying,

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.259
 well,

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.719
 I don't know

00:23:35.719 --> 00:23:36.819
 what my gift is.

00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:38.799
 Here's,

00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.699
 here's what will be

00:23:39.699 --> 00:23:40.259
 the giveaway

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.419
 of helping you find out

00:23:41.419 --> 00:23:42.139
 what your gift is.

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.459
 Just show up and say,

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.519
 what can I do?

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.599
 I'll do anything.

00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.919
 What can I do?

00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.739
 I'll do anything.

00:23:51.239 --> 00:23:52.979
 And over a period of time,

00:23:53.239 --> 00:23:54.279
 God will use

00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.439
 your willingness

00:23:55.439 --> 00:23:56.419
 to be used

00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:58.119
 by the Spirit of God

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.339
 to put you into

00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:00.199
 the slot

00:24:00.199 --> 00:24:01.179
 and place

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.400
 He has for you.

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.779
 You find people

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.220
 who are always

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.700
 walking around

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:05.840
 and say,

00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:06.000
 well,

00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:07.500
 I have the gift

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.160
 of administration

00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:09.400
 but nobody

00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:10.279
 lets me practice it.

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:10.980
 There might be a reason

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.480
 why they don't

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.360
 let you practice it.

00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:17.220
 You're so full of yourself

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.779
 that you want to run

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.180
 the show

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.720
 kind of like

00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:19.980
 the,

00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:21.000
 you know,

00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:22.380
 chief potentate

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:23.299
 and God's interested

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.380
 in those who are servants

00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.240
 not those who are,

00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:25.860
 you know,

00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.779
 slave masters.

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:29.720
 You know,

00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.700
 you want to find out

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.599
 what your gift is?

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:33.079
 Get involved.

00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:35.259
 Get involved.

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.339
 Well,

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.460
 let's come to another part.

00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:39.319
 I don't know how much time

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.180
 I have but I got plenty.

00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.059
 Here we go.

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:44.559
 This is a very interesting

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.419
 thing that happens.

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:45.700
 You know,

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:47.099
 verse 7,

00:24:48.179 --> 00:24:48.940
 Paul just kind of

00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.980
 hits the button

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.599
 of spiritual gifts.

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.440
 That's what he does.

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.480
 And then he comes

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.700
 towards the end

00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:57.059
 in verse 7.

00:24:57.159 --> 00:24:57.399
 Come on,

00:24:57.399 --> 00:24:58.500
 follow along with this issue.

00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.259
 He says,

00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.159
 but grace was given

00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:00.960
 to each of us

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.940
 according to the measure

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:03.919
 of Christ's gift.

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.259
 And when Paul

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:07.400
 is appointed

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.560
 by the Spirit of God

00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:09.420
 to use that

00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.380
 C word,

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:10.940
 which is what?

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.440
 Christ?

00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:13.360
 Every time he thinks

00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.019
 about Jesus,

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.680
 he launches.

00:25:15.800 --> 00:25:16.200
 Do you follow

00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:17.039
 what I mean by launches?

00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:19.160
 It's like,

00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:19.519
 ah,

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:21.340
 this is about Jesus.

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:21.840
 Well,

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.420
 let me tell you

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:22.840
 what I'm thinking

00:25:22.840 --> 00:25:23.539
 about right now.

00:25:24.360 --> 00:25:25.539
 And he steps off

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:25.900
 in there.

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:26.300
 Now,

00:25:26.340 --> 00:25:26.600
 by the way,

00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.220
 the Spirit of God

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:28.000
 is leading him here

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.259
 but it is interesting.

00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.460
 It's a little bit like

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.660
 thinking about Jesus

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.279
 just kind of

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.160
 fires

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.720
 Paul up.

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.360
 Therefore,

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:36.840
 it says,

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.540
 when he ascended

00:25:37.540 --> 00:25:38.060
 on high,

00:25:38.300 --> 00:25:39.860
 he led a host

00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:40.759
 of captives

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:42.120
 and he gave gifts

00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:43.040
 to men.

00:25:45.300 --> 00:25:46.480
 A little sidebar

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:46.840
 on this

00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.320
 that I want

00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:47.980
 to be characteristic

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.779
 of this fellowship

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.680
 in the days to come.

00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:52.120
 I pray,

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.180
 I do,

00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:55.400
 and I'm probably

00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:56.040
 overbearing

00:25:56.040 --> 00:25:56.680
 on the subject

00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:57.300
 a little bit

00:25:57.300 --> 00:25:58.200
 but when we think

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.740
 about things,

00:25:58.840 --> 00:25:59.660
 I want us to think

00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:01.220
 about things textually.

00:26:01.820 --> 00:26:02.380
 Do you follow that?

00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:03.280
 That's what Paul

00:26:03.280 --> 00:26:03.760
 does here.

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:06.260
 He stops

00:26:06.260 --> 00:26:06.720
 and he gets

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.040
 bumped with this

00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:09.720
 idea of Christ

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:11.120
 and then he

00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:12.120
 connects it

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:13.060
 to a passage

00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:14.040
 in the Old Testament.

00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:15.420
 So,

00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:16.960
 kind of for the sake

00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.540
 of practice,

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.740
 when we're singing,

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.680
 what do I want you

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:19.940
 to do?

00:26:20.020 --> 00:26:20.840
 What does God

00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:21.360
 want you to do?

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:21.860
 He wants you

00:26:21.860 --> 00:26:22.760
 to cross-reference

00:26:22.760 --> 00:26:24.380
 songs with what?

00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.600
 With Scripture.

00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:28.919
 He wants you

00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:30.139
 to cross-reference

00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:32.879
 everything you do

00:26:32.879 --> 00:26:34.379
 and every thought

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:35.240
 you have

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.879
 against the text

00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:37.579
 of Scripture.

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.000
 Amen?

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.099
 And one of the things

00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:40.639
 I've said

00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.959
 is the characteristic

00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:43.639
 of a growing believer

00:26:43.639 --> 00:26:45.139
 is that the gap

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:46.459
 between when he thinks

00:26:46.459 --> 00:26:46.959
 the thought

00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:48.099
 and when the Scripture

00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:49.159
 comes to his aid,

00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:50.439
 the narrowing

00:26:50.439 --> 00:26:51.079
 of that gap

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:52.039
 is an indication

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:54.059
 of his progressive

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.719
 sanctification.

00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.159
 Would you agree

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.519
 with that?

00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:58.980
 And so,

00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.840
 you can sit there

00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.180
 and say,

00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:01.540
 how am I doing

00:27:01.540 --> 00:27:01.920
 to growing?

00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.040
 Well,

00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:04.519
 I sit there

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.519
 and talk to myself.

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:05.880
 Tim,

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.660
 that's a dumb idea.

00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:07.640
 That's not good.

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.259
 The Holy Spirit

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.259
 is not obligated

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.500
 to use my self-talk.

00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.340
 Do you understand that?

00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:13.660
 The Holy Spirit

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.259
 is obligated

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.259
 to use the Spirit of God

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.120
 and the Word of God

00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.860
 to do the job.

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:17.700
 So,

00:27:17.800 --> 00:27:19.300
 when I say to myself,

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.700
 here's what the text

00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:22.380
 says about Tim,

00:27:22.800 --> 00:27:24.320
 this is what the Bible says.

00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:24.580
 It's like,

00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:24.800
 oh,

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.519
 I got that.

00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:27.259
 That's how you get there.

00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:28.579
 So,

00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:29.359
 we have Paul

00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:31.619
 thinks about Jesus

00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:32.960
 and then launches in

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:35.519
 and he has this thought

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:37.139
 that makes it very clear

00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:38.799
 that we are gifted

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:40.339
 because of his victory.

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.419
 Why is it

00:27:41.419 --> 00:27:42.839
 that Jesus has the right

00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:44.099
 to give us gifts?

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.639
 We find there

00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:46.980
 in verses 8,

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:47.599
 9,

00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.139
 and 10

00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:50.220
 a very clear exposition

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:50.779
 of the fact

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.379
 that the reason

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.180
 we have the gifts

00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:52.720
 that we have

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.980
 is because Christ

00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.480
 is the one

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.059
 who has won

00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:56.700
 the victory for us.

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:58.740
 Now,

00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.759
 Paul could have spoken

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.440
 in this case

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.000
 about gifts

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.039
 without getting

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.039
 into the Old Testament,

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:05.079
 but it's an illustration

00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:06.940
 that when we think

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:07.480
 about things,

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.680
 we think scripturally,

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.420
 we think about

00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:11.160
 something in the Scriptures

00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:11.860
 that affirm

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.940
 and confirm a matter.

00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:14.200
 And so,

00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.240
 what Paul is doing

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.940
 in this case

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.779
 is he is relying

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:19.059
 upon a victory psalm

00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:21.000
 that David wrote

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.379
 over in Psalm 68.

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:22.759
 We're not going

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.159
 to look at it

00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.839
 in detail

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:25.839
 because I don't think

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:27.119
 it has primary bearing

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.679
 on where we are

00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:28.139
 this morning,

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.919
 but I want you

00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:29.419
 to understand

00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:31.079
 that he takes

00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:32.220
 that passage

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.819
 from Psalm 68

00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.980
 and particularly

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.899
 verse 18,

00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.559
 which Paul uses here,

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:39.000
 and he uses it

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.559
 to reference

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:41.079
 what was an ancient practice.

00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.500
 When a king

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.500
 had been victorious

00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.259
 in battle,

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:46.000
 he walked into

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.039
 his city

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:49.980
 with his soldiers

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:51.880
 in the victory march,

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.579
 but he also walked in

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:55.440
 with the pile of loot

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.480
 and booty.

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.039
 How many of you

00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.259
 understand?

00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.640
 In the old days,

00:28:58.859 --> 00:28:59.759
 you didn't carry

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.839
 a MasterCard.

00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.559
 Whatever you owned

00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.519
 when you were going away

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.519
 on a long trip,

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:08.259
 what you didn't need

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.019
 to leave behind

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.279
 for your wife and fam,

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.359
 you took with you.

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.220
 And so,

00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:14.359
 when there was a battle

00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:15.400
 and there was a victory,

00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:16.380
 the one who,

00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.200
 have you ever heard

00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:17.660
 the statement,

00:29:17.820 --> 00:29:19.580
 to the victor go the spoils?

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:21.540
 You guys are well-versed.

00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:23.540
 History is something

00:29:23.540 --> 00:29:24.340
 you understand.

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:26.860
 To the victor go the spoils.

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.259
 And so,

00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:28.440
 into the city

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:29.500
 would come striding

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.800
 the victorious king,

00:29:31.060 --> 00:29:31.800
 and behind him

00:29:31.800 --> 00:29:32.720
 would come his soldiers

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.740
 marching along,

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:35.120
 you know,

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.440
 and they're showing

00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.560
 their battle wounds,

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.440
 and hey,

00:29:38.560 --> 00:29:38.980
 we won.

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.120
 And right behind

00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:41.200
 would come ox cart

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.620
 after ox cart loaded

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.400
 with, you know,

00:29:43.580 --> 00:29:44.660
 gold cups

00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:46.460
 and bags of coins,

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.740
 and the king

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.720
 in his generosity

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:50.140
 would walk into town

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:51.220
 and he would throw

00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.019
 those things

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:53.300
 at his subjects.

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.660
 It was his right.

00:29:58.560 --> 00:29:59.380
 And Paul says,

00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:00.340
 let me tell you something.

00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:03.220
 When he ascended

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.300
 on high,

00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:05.800
 he led a host

00:30:05.800 --> 00:30:07.000
 of captives,

00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:08.779
 and he gave gifts

00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.240
 to men.

00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.059
 Now,

00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:16.240
 we look at this passage

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:18.119
 in verse 9.

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.519
 It says,

00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:20.379
 in saying he ascended,

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.440
 what does it mean

00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.799
 but that he had also

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.660
 descended

00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:25.680
 to the lower regions?

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.899
 It's interesting

00:30:30.899 --> 00:30:31.740
 to read

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:33.220
 the diversity

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.779
 of speculations

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.519
 on this passage.

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.299
 And I do call

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.259
 them speculations

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.779
 because there is

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:41.259
 no clear indication

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.859
 in the scripture

00:30:41.859 --> 00:30:42.859
 of what is meant.

00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.420
 Some have

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:48.259
 fancied

00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.279
 that this refers

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.759
 to Christ's descent

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.859
 into the grave

00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.980
 and his rising

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.759
 in the resurrection.

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.240
 Others have

00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.319
 understood

00:30:57.319 --> 00:30:58.339
 this to mean

00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.359
 that Christ

00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.740
 descended into hell

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.980
 during his three days

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.579
 in the grave,

00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:04.039
 and there are

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:05.199
 some very animated

00:31:05.199 --> 00:31:05.699
 disputes

00:31:05.699 --> 00:31:06.859
 over what

00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.579
 this passage

00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:08.460
 actually means.

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:09.579
 And animated

00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.599
 disputes generally

00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:12.059
 are over passages

00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:13.299
 where there isn't

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:13.939
 a clear and

00:31:13.939 --> 00:31:14.339
 definitive

00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:15.500
 understanding.

00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:18.179
 I would

00:31:18.179 --> 00:31:19.319
 believe

00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:21.159
 that this is

00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:21.980
 talking simply

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.720
 about the words

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.199
 themselves

00:31:23.199 --> 00:31:24.399
 and are

00:31:24.399 --> 00:31:25.720
 relatively clear.

00:31:25.899 --> 00:31:26.579
 It says there

00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.519
 that he descended

00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.259
 and he ascended.

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.079
 And I think

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:30.220
 that refers to

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.599
 our Lord Jesus

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.519
 coming here to earth

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.420
 and going up again.

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.759
 In broad terms,

00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.400
 I do want to take

00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:37.460
 advantage of this

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.059
 kind of

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:40.259
 difficult passage

00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.059
 to lay out

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:42.019
 a couple principles

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.839
 of scriptural

00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:43.339
 interpretation

00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:44.339
 so you can do

00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.519
 that on your own.

00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.539
 And that's my purpose.

00:31:47.139 --> 00:31:47.519
 Listen,

00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:48.639
 let me make this point.

00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.940
 We understand

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:52.259
 that scripture

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.279
 is understandable.

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:53.879
 Would you agree

00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:54.259
 with that?

00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:56.160
 God gave us

00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.720
 his word

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.799
 for the average

00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.539
 person

00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.779
 to understand it.

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:01.859
 Agreed?

00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:03.980
 You don't

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.839
 have to be

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:06.559
 ordained,

00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:07.759
 stamped on the

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.099
 head,

00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:09.359
 to have a little

00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:10.299
 extra spiritual

00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.339
 insight so I can

00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:11.759
 automatically,

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.559
 I don't know

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.200
 what this means

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.940
 but let me ask

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.599
 the pastor.

00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.539
 No, no, no.

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.639
 Get it yourself.

00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:19.099
 God means for you

00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:19.799
 to get it yourself.

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.180
 That's the reason

00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:24.440
 that evangelicals

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.139
 have been such

00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:26.339
 advocates for

00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:28.539
 reading

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:31.159
 and for

00:32:31.159 --> 00:32:32.000
 having your own

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.359
 Bible

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:34.359
 and translation.

00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.460
 God intends

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:36.899
 for us to

00:32:36.899 --> 00:32:37.399
 understand it.

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:37.779
 So here are a

00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.359
 couple principles

00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:38.980
 for Bible

00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.579
 interpretation.

00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:41.359
 Number one,

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.759
 rely on scripture

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.399
 to interpret

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:44.220
 scripture using

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.720
 the actual

00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.440
 vocabulary and

00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:45.980
 grammar of the

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.200
 text.

00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:46.940
 You want to

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.579
 understand what's

00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.220
 being said?

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.039
 Look in the

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.259
 Bible.

00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.920
 Don't ever say,

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.579
 well I was having

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.379
 difficulty with this

00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:56.159
 pastor and I went

00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:56.899
 to pastor and he

00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.819
 explained it to me

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.259
 and I don't know

00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:58.859
 how he got there

00:32:58.859 --> 00:33:00.059
 but he explained it.

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.200
 And so the pastor

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:03.220
 said it's not a good

00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.220
 answer to what you

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:04.919
 believe about the

00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:05.139
 Bible.

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.019
 Everybody said what?

00:33:06.419 --> 00:33:06.759
 Amen.

00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:07.839
 Okay.

00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:08.659
 Number two,

00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.759
 here's a little

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.039
 ditty.

00:33:11.659 --> 00:33:12.720
 If the plain sense

00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:13.759
 makes good sense,

00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.759
 seek no other sense.

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.899
 I'll say that slowly.

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.960
 If the plain sense

00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:19.259
 makes good sense,

00:33:19.419 --> 00:33:20.500
 seek no other sense.

00:33:20.919 --> 00:33:21.460
 In other words,

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.139
 if it's obvious,

00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:22.980
 stick with what's

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:23.319
 obvious.

00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:25.960
 I'm not into

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.599
 kind of getting

00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:27.379
 things all wigged

00:33:27.379 --> 00:33:27.799
 out here on

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.220
 the side.

00:33:28.399 --> 00:33:29.240
 And by the way,

00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:29.799
 I was a literature

00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:30.180
 major.

00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.319
 I can do that

00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.480
 left-handed.

00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:35.440
 But the Bible

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.700
 is designed

00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.379
 for clarity.

00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:39.220
 Okay?

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.440
 And so Paul,

00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:42.539
 in this passage,

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.159
 I think in simple

00:33:44.159 --> 00:33:44.500
 terms,

00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:45.279
 is lifting up

00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:46.279
 the glory of

00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.279
 Christ by

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.859
 pointing out

00:33:47.859 --> 00:33:48.700
 his humiliation

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.339
 and then pointing

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:49.899
 out his

00:33:49.899 --> 00:33:50.680
 ascension.

00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:52.539
 And the Savior

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.200
 who gives us

00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:53.759
 salvation

00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:55.000
 salvation and

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.579
 our gifts

00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:56.980
 is the same

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:58.299
 one who

00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:59.299
 was willing

00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.319
 to be humiliated

00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:01.119
 and die for us

00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.759
 and rise again.

00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:02.819
 And it follows

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:03.599
 then that the

00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:04.119
 same Jesus

00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:04.680
 who was willing

00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.559
 to humble himself

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.900
 even to death

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.460
 on the cross

00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:07.920
 and be our

00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:09.480
 sin bearer,

00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.320
 understandably,

00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.179
 should be exalted.

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:12.300
 Now,

00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:13.019
 I want you to turn

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.739
 with me just over

00:34:13.739 --> 00:34:14.619
 to another passage

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.400
 just for a second.

00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:16.960
 Colossians chapter 2

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:19.940
 verse 13 through 15.

00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:21.260
 Colossians chapter 2

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:25.079
 verse 13 through 15.

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.079
 As you think about

00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:32.320
 what is being said

00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:33.260
 here at the end

00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:34.800
 of Ephesians

00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:36.160
 chapter 4

00:34:36.160 --> 00:34:36.820
 verse 10

00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:37.660
 where it talks about

00:34:37.660 --> 00:34:38.700
 that he would fill

00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:39.360
 all in all.

00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:40.440
 Listen to what it says

00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.119
 there in Colossians

00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.820
 chapter 2.

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.260
 And you who were

00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:44.380
 dead in your trespasses

00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:45.340
 and the uncircumcision

00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.019
 of your flesh

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:47.320
 God made alive

00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.300
 together with him

00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.640
 having forgiven us

00:34:49.640 --> 00:34:52.539
 all of our trespasses.

00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:53.519
 Hey,

00:34:53.700 --> 00:34:54.840
 how much of your sin

00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:56.140
 does God remember still?

00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:57.900
 None.

00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:01.320
 There is now therefore

00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:01.880
 what?

00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:03.760
 No condemnation.

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:05.519
 And listen to me carefully.

00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.660
 I will sin tomorrow.

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:13.039
 But Christ has already

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.440
 satisfied my debt

00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.599
 and the reality

00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.380
 of my sin

00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:17.179
 has been covered

00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:18.240
 by his blood

00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:20.159
 and I am forever

00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:21.740
 cleansed

00:35:21.740 --> 00:35:22.539
 and righteous

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:24.720
 in his eyes.

00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:28.039
 You want to know

00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:29.139
 why I love Jesus?

00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:33.420
 It's because

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.440
 he did it all.

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:37.900
 He did it all.

00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:42.980
 verse 13.

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.680
 And you who were

00:35:43.680 --> 00:35:44.200
 dead in your

00:35:44.200 --> 00:35:44.840
 trespasses

00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.800
 and the uncircumcision

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.380
 of your flesh

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.599
 God made alive

00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:48.320
 together with him

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:49.180
 having forgiven us

00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.119
 all our trespasses

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:51.660
 by canceling

00:35:51.660 --> 00:35:52.599
 the record

00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.519
 of the debt

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.639
 that stood against us

00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.720
 with its legal demands

00:35:55.720 --> 00:35:57.680
 and this he set aside

00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:58.559
 nailing it

00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.400
 on the cross.

00:35:59.619 --> 00:35:59.720
 Now,

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.480
 that's an image

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:01.019
 I like.

00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.860
 How many of you

00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:03.559
 have ever paid off

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.000
 a car?

00:36:05.260 --> 00:36:05.960
 Raise your hands.

00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:09.119
 What comes in the mail

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:09.720
 when you get your

00:36:09.720 --> 00:36:10.440
 car paid off?

00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.599
 A title.

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.740
 That's a big thing

00:36:14.740 --> 00:36:15.400
 even if the thing

00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:16.980
 has 190,000 miles

00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:17.320
 on it.

00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.260
 It's yours.

00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:20.059
 It's not yours

00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.760
 in the bank.

00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:21.420
 Right?

00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:25.460
 That's a good feeling.

00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:27.760
 Better than the title

00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.720
 that comes in the mail

00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:29.599
 is what this verse

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.300
 is describing.

00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:33.300
 In the ancient culture

00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:33.780
 a debtor

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.280
 was someone

00:36:34.280 --> 00:36:34.860
 who could be

00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:35.599
 thrown in prison

00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.619
 who could be mistreated

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:38.539
 and abused

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.480
 for his debt.

00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:42.400
 And when a debt

00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:43.279
 was canceled

00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:46.299
 the record

00:36:46.299 --> 00:36:48.039
 of that canceled debt

00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:50.139
 was taken

00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:50.679
 and nailed

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:51.880
 in a public place

00:36:51.880 --> 00:36:54.119
 so everybody knew

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.819
 he's not a debtor

00:36:55.819 --> 00:36:56.219
 anymore.

00:36:57.339 --> 00:36:58.539
 And what this says

00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.219
 is that Jesus

00:36:59.219 --> 00:37:00.619
 took the record

00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.639
 of your sins

00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.860
 and he put it

00:37:02.860 --> 00:37:03.659
 on the cross

00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:05.279
 and he nailed it there.

00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:06.980
 He said paid,

00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:07.819
 paid, paid, paid,

00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:08.480
 paid in full.

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.900
 And so I want you

00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:12.440
 to recognize

00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:13.319
 that when he came

00:37:13.319 --> 00:37:14.019
 down to this earth

00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.900
 and he bowed down

00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:15.599
 upon the cross

00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:16.360
 and he took the burden

00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:17.099
 of our sins

00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:18.279
 and he died

00:37:18.279 --> 00:37:19.199
 and suffered

00:37:19.199 --> 00:37:20.139
 in our place

00:37:20.139 --> 00:37:21.759
 and rose again

00:37:21.759 --> 00:37:22.440
 in triumph

00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:22.980
 and purchased

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.699
 our redemption

00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:26.539
 and he has the right

00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:27.159
 to call us

00:37:27.159 --> 00:37:27.879
 to be his servants.

00:37:27.879 --> 00:37:28.359
 Doesn't he?

00:37:29.399 --> 00:37:29.819
 Doesn't he?

00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:32.359
 He does.

00:37:34.279 --> 00:37:36.159
 And you have no business

00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:37.359
 Now let me say that again

00:37:37.359 --> 00:37:37.799
 this way.

00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:40.139
 I have no business

00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.819
 being gifted

00:37:40.819 --> 00:37:42.019
 by the Spirit of God

00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:44.119
 and being worked on

00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:45.339
 all these years

00:37:45.339 --> 00:37:46.379
 I have no right

00:37:46.379 --> 00:37:46.859
 to say

00:37:46.859 --> 00:37:48.000
 well I don't like

00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:48.779
 working here anymore.

00:37:48.780 --> 00:37:52.200
 That would be

00:37:52.200 --> 00:37:54.120
 profoundly selfish

00:37:54.120 --> 00:37:56.060
 and actually

00:37:56.060 --> 00:37:56.540
 it would be

00:37:56.540 --> 00:37:58.180
 retrograde spirituality.

00:37:58.580 --> 00:37:59.080
 What do I mean

00:37:59.080 --> 00:38:01.160
 by retrograde spirituality?

00:38:03.160 --> 00:38:03.680
 Backsliding.

00:38:04.100 --> 00:38:05.000
 Do you understand that?

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:09.960
 If I can't pull that off

00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:11.260
 with righteousness

00:38:11.260 --> 00:38:12.719
 can anybody

00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.760
 who's part of the body

00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:14.260
 of Christ

00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:15.179
 and the bride of Christ

00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:15.719
 do that?

00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:16.880
 And what's the answer?

00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:17.980
 No!

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.619
 And Paul argues

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:24.619
 Paul argues

00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:27.199
 for believers

00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:28.840
 being invested

00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:32.360
 in the bride

00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:33.820
 of Christ.

00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:39.079
 So here's my

00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:40.320
 practical questions

00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:41.360
 as I close.

00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.639
 What you doing?

00:38:47.739 --> 00:38:48.460
 You're gifted.

00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:50.199
 What you doing?

00:38:53.300 --> 00:38:54.340
 Here's another question.

00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:55.780
 Do you know him?

00:38:56.820 --> 00:38:57.800
 You can't go to work

00:38:57.800 --> 00:38:58.480
 if you don't know him.

00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:00.260
 If you're not part

00:39:00.260 --> 00:39:00.840
 of his family

00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:01.840
 if you're not part

00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.460
 of the team

00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:04.039
 you don't ride the bus.

00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:06.739
 Years ago

00:39:06.739 --> 00:39:08.059
 I coached soccer

00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:10.639
 and providentially

00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.400
 I learned something

00:39:11.400 --> 00:39:12.579
 if you have the horses

00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:13.500
 you can win the races.

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.079
 Now that's a little

00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:14.659
 tricky statement

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.179
 for the fact

00:39:15.179 --> 00:39:16.159
 that we did fairly well.

00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:18.840
 We did real well.

00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:20.980
 I can't take a lot

00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:21.559
 of credit for it

00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:22.440
 because we had the horses.

00:39:24.219 --> 00:39:25.360
 And you know what?

00:39:25.639 --> 00:39:27.000
 Riding on the team bus

00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:27.880
 was a real...

00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:30.500
 We went 18-1-1

00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:31.059
 one year.

00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:33.019
 We were a little school

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.779
 of about 300.

00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.500
 We actually went

00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:35.420
 to the state playoffs

00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:36.619
 in North Carolina.

00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:39.380
 And riding on that bus

00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:40.239
 was kind of like

00:39:40.239 --> 00:39:41.079
 being in the kingdom.

00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:42.059
 I mean it was really...

00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:46.000
 We got fired up going.

00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:47.420
 We got fired up coming.

00:39:47.799 --> 00:39:48.480
 And every time

00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:49.159
 we came back

00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:49.599
 to the school

00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:50.159
 to let out

00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:51.460
 there was a crowd

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:52.380
 there to greet us.

00:39:53.259 --> 00:39:54.400
 And when we were

00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:55.400
 making the last turn

00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.239
 coming in towards

00:39:56.239 --> 00:39:57.139
 where the crowd

00:39:57.139 --> 00:39:58.039
 was waiting for us

00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:59.539
 that bus was rocking.

00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:00.320
 Here's what we were singing.

00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:01.820
 Na-na-na-na.

00:40:02.160 --> 00:40:02.920
 We were doing that.

00:40:03.100 --> 00:40:03.720
 And the bus

00:40:03.720 --> 00:40:04.820
 was just like booming.

00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:06.039
 It was really weird.

00:40:06.760 --> 00:40:07.980
 Nobody rode that bus

00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.800
 but the team.

00:40:08.940 --> 00:40:09.480
 Do you follow me?

00:40:14.160 --> 00:40:14.820
 I'll tell you

00:40:14.820 --> 00:40:15.740
 if I had looked around

00:40:15.740 --> 00:40:16.400
 I was a coach.

00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.180
 If I'd looked around

00:40:17.180 --> 00:40:17.740
 on that team

00:40:17.740 --> 00:40:18.380
 and I'd seen some

00:40:18.380 --> 00:40:19.200
 of the grumpy faces

00:40:19.200 --> 00:40:19.900
 sitting out there

00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:22.940
 I don't happen

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:23.880
 to like Steve Smith

00:40:23.880 --> 00:40:24.320
 even though

00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:25.360
 he's our only goalie.

00:40:26.700 --> 00:40:27.320
 It's just that

00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:29.800
 he's got a bad heart.

00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:31.539
 And I don't happen

00:40:31.539 --> 00:40:32.920
 to like Gary Hall

00:40:32.920 --> 00:40:34.480
 because I just

00:40:34.480 --> 00:40:35.340
 don't like him.

00:40:36.760 --> 00:40:37.200
 Whack!

00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:38.340
 What's your problem?

00:40:38.480 --> 00:40:39.160
 We're part of this

00:40:39.160 --> 00:40:40.280
 team together, right?

00:40:41.620 --> 00:40:42.019
 You got me?

00:40:42.019 --> 00:40:48.659
 I've often said

00:40:48.659 --> 00:40:49.340
 I want one thing

00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:50.239
 written on my grave

00:40:50.239 --> 00:40:51.280
 and that would be this

00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:52.679
 what sayeth the scriptures?

00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:53.559
 I'll add another one.

00:40:54.619 --> 00:40:56.219
 I loved the bride

00:40:56.219 --> 00:40:56.980
 of Christ.

00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:58.340
 I want that remembered.

00:40:59.739 --> 00:41:00.699
 This passage

00:41:00.699 --> 00:41:02.300
 is about the bride

00:41:02.300 --> 00:41:02.860
 of Christ.

00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:05.139
 Let's close

00:41:05.139 --> 00:41:06.819
 as John comes.

00:41:10.059 --> 00:41:11.139
 As John is coming

00:41:11.139 --> 00:41:12.759
 we're going to sing

00:41:12.759 --> 00:41:13.779
 together this morning.

00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:15.699
 I don't know

00:41:15.699 --> 00:41:16.420
 let's stand together

00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:17.000
 would you please?

00:41:20.379 --> 00:41:21.359
 And I got to tell you

00:41:21.359 --> 00:41:21.879
 that the purpose

00:41:21.879 --> 00:41:22.339
 of preaching

00:41:22.339 --> 00:41:23.400
 is not to entertain you

00:41:23.400 --> 00:41:24.019
 but it's to put you

00:41:24.019 --> 00:41:24.500
 on the spot

00:41:24.500 --> 00:41:25.339
 of saying yes or no

00:41:25.339 --> 00:41:25.699
 to God.

00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:26.659
 And there may be

00:41:26.659 --> 00:41:27.239
 some of you here

00:41:27.239 --> 00:41:27.980
 that need Christ

00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:28.980
 as your personal savior.

00:41:29.299 --> 00:41:30.940
 I don't know your soul.

00:41:31.119 --> 00:41:32.259
 That's not my business.

00:41:32.260 --> 00:41:33.880
 But today

00:41:33.880 --> 00:41:34.420
 we've been talking

00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:35.460
 about the family of God

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:35.980
 we've been talking

00:41:35.980 --> 00:41:36.760
 about the church

00:41:36.760 --> 00:41:37.740
 and it may be

00:41:37.740 --> 00:41:38.400
 that you're sitting here

00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:38.800
 saying man

00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:39.580
 I don't know him.

00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:42.240
 I don't want you

00:41:42.240 --> 00:41:42.760
 to leave here

00:41:42.760 --> 00:41:44.060
 without coming to Christ.

00:41:46.020 --> 00:41:46.740
 And that is

00:41:46.740 --> 00:41:48.360
 a profoundly humbling thing

00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:51.120
 because the gospel

00:41:51.120 --> 00:41:52.300
 first of all

00:41:52.300 --> 00:41:53.000
 makes it clear

00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:53.920
 that we are sinners

00:41:53.920 --> 00:41:54.700
 condemned before

00:41:54.700 --> 00:41:55.460
 a holy God.

00:41:57.180 --> 00:41:58.080
 And the gospel

00:41:58.080 --> 00:41:58.640
 tells us

00:41:58.640 --> 00:41:59.520
 that Christ came

00:41:59.520 --> 00:42:00.820
 to die for our sins.

00:42:00.820 --> 00:42:02.840
 and the gospel

00:42:02.840 --> 00:42:03.559
 tells us

00:42:03.559 --> 00:42:04.640
 that whosoever

00:42:04.640 --> 00:42:05.860
 calls upon the name

00:42:05.860 --> 00:42:06.460
 of the Lord

00:42:06.460 --> 00:42:08.300
 shall be saved.

00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:09.680
 That's humbling.

00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:11.680
 There may be

00:42:11.680 --> 00:42:12.480
 some of you here

00:42:12.480 --> 00:42:13.680
 that truth of the matter

00:42:13.680 --> 00:42:15.320
 is there is a lot

00:42:15.320 --> 00:42:16.559
 of spiritual turmoil

00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:17.480
 there's some bitterness

00:42:17.480 --> 00:42:18.940
 there's some dissatisfaction

00:42:18.940 --> 00:42:20.300
 you found yourself

00:42:20.300 --> 00:42:21.340
 being drawn away

00:42:21.340 --> 00:42:22.300
 from being part

00:42:22.300 --> 00:42:23.380
 of what God is doing

00:42:23.380 --> 00:42:24.720
 you've given in.

00:42:25.980 --> 00:42:27.380
 God says stop it.

00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:29.420
 You can take care

00:42:29.420 --> 00:42:30.200
 of that where you sit.

00:42:31.580 --> 00:42:32.760
 Or you can humble yourself

00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:33.180
 and say

00:42:33.180 --> 00:42:34.519
 God's dealing with me

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:36.180
 I want God's people

00:42:36.180 --> 00:42:37.519
 who are part of the family

00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:38.280
 to know

00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:39.660
 I rededicate myself

00:42:39.660 --> 00:42:41.320
 to the bride of Christ

00:42:41.320 --> 00:42:42.539
 until he comes

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:43.640
 and takes me home.

00:42:44.740 --> 00:42:45.680
 I'm with it.

00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:47.380
 There may be

00:42:47.380 --> 00:42:47.780
 somebody here

00:42:47.780 --> 00:42:48.620
 that need Christ

00:42:48.620 --> 00:42:50.220
 you come forward

00:42:50.220 --> 00:42:51.100
 you may be here

00:42:51.100 --> 00:42:51.860
 and you need someone

00:42:51.860 --> 00:42:52.480
 to pray with you

00:42:52.480 --> 00:42:54.140
 you come as John leads us

00:42:54.140 --> 00:42:54.640
 as we sing.

00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:56.480
 You're ending us

00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:56.480


00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:56.480


00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:57.099
 ending us

00:42:57.099 --> 00:42:57.099


00:42:57.099 --> 00:42:57.879
 ending us

00:42:57.879 --> 00:42:58.940
 ending us

00:42:58.940 --> 00:42:59.559
 ending us

00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:00.299
 ending us

00:43:00.299 --> 00:43:00.299


00:43:00.299 --> 00:43:01.259
 ending us

00:43:01.259 --> 00:43:01.259


00:43:01.259 --> 00:43:02.099
 ending us

00:43:02.099 --> 00:43:02.659
 ending us

00:43:02.659 --> 00:43:03.739
 ending us

00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


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00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


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00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739


00:43:03.739 --> 00:43:03.739