WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:10.000 Our precious Father in God, this morning as we open this book, we do so with a reverence because it is your word. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:15.000 ! It's true. It's settled in the heavens. 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:34.379 It is the means whereby we, in our hopeless and despairing estate, as rebels and sinners, have come to realize that we stand morally bankrupt and broken in the presence of a holy God. 00:00:34.380 --> 00:00:45.600 And you, in your kindness, sent the Lord Jesus Christ to be the substitute to die in our place and pay the penalty for our sins. 00:00:47.620 --> 00:00:52.300 And your word promises that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:58.800 And there are many of us here today that enjoy the incredible blessing of salvation. 00:00:58.800 --> 00:01:03.340 We rest this morning in the confidence of our eternity. 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:11.479 And though this outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 00:01:11.699 --> 00:01:18.819 And we see you continuing to work in us and through us that Christ might be glorified. 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:30.619 And we, together, would ask this morning that your spirit would quicken our hearts, mine, to declare the glory of your word and your people, 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:36.579 that they might receive it and delight in it and obey it. 00:01:37.699 --> 00:01:40.560 And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:40.700 Amen. 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:50.359 One of the difficulties that goes with expositional preaching is that it's a challenge to keep all of it together. 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:56.500 And what I mean by that is that I cannot help but launch into Ephesians chapter 4, verse 2 and 3. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:02:04.280 And that's where we're going to be this morning without thinking also of Ephesians chapter 1 because the two pieces are connected. 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:16.659 What we're going to be looking at in Ephesians chapter 4 on through the end of the book is the practical instructions that God gives to His people in saying, 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:21.020 hey, since you're my child, this is what I want you to do. 00:02:21.020 --> 00:02:28.480 And as we get kind of caught up in the to-dos, sometimes we forget what has been done. 00:02:29.600 --> 00:02:40.140 And so this morning I want you to take a minute, if you will, and turn back in Ephesians as we're going to just take a second and look at the early statements that are made in this book 00:02:40.140 --> 00:02:48.240 that are the ground, the foundation, the base upon which all of the remainder of the book rests. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:53.420 And it's important, I should say, to keep these two pieces together. 00:02:55.480 --> 00:02:58.000 Ephesians chapter 1, verse 3, it says, 00:02:58.100 --> 00:03:08.520 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 00:03:10.200 --> 00:03:10.980 That's it. 00:03:11.820 --> 00:03:12.780 That is a... 00:03:12.780 --> 00:03:18.620 By the way, if you want to memorize one verse from Ephesians, that would be the starting one. 00:03:18.699 --> 00:03:20.699 Are there other verses that are worth memorizing? 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:21.139 Yes. 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:29.039 I cannot help but think this morning of Ephesians chapter 3, verse 14 through 19, another foundational passage. 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:31.020 But here as Paul starts, he says, 00:03:31.420 --> 00:03:35.780 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all... 00:03:35.780 --> 00:03:38.740 You have it all in Christ. 00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:39.180 Amen. 00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:47.800 Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:55.379 He predestined us for the adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according the purpose of his will, 00:03:56.139 --> 00:04:00.699 to the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the beloved. 00:04:00.699 --> 00:04:09.759 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:18.279 Now, I bring this up to you because what we are going to see in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 2 and 3, 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:25.279 and actually through the remainder of the book, are some explicit instructions on how we are to behave as believers. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:31.519 And I think it is important for us to remember that in the Scriptures, 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:36.159 before God gives us commands and expectations, 00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:40.979 he always explains who he is and what he has done for us, 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:48.899 and it is the basis of his glory and his goodness that we who are his children are called to act like him. 00:04:48.899 --> 00:04:58.560 I mean, when he says do this, it is not because he wants to harm us or rob us of pleasure and satisfaction. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:05.839 He wants to amplify the blessing and the glory and the privilege of knowing him and being his child. 00:05:07.159 --> 00:05:14.500 And so as we look this morning at this starting place of what the Christian's walk is to look like, 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:20.879 trusting that you haven't thought carefully about this passage yet, 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:23.740 I would like to ask kind of an opening question. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:31.420 So if you were to give someone else who's not a believer a short list of things that would be markers and identifiers 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:37.040 for this person being a Christian, or here's how you can spot Christians in a crowd, 00:05:38.339 --> 00:05:40.660 what would you put first on the list? 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:41.720 Do you follow my question? 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:42.980 All right. 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:47.840 How can you pick out a Christian in a crowd? 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:49.819 One question or another one is, 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:51.879 so if you were going to give a list, 00:05:52.200 --> 00:05:57.060 if you were going to give a friend a short list of questions that should be, 00:05:57.280 --> 00:05:59.400 this is what you need to do to be a Christian, 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:01.180 what would you put on the list? 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:03.060 Are you thinking with me? 00:06:03.819 --> 00:06:07.740 In a previous generation, the list may have looked like this, okay? 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:12.700 I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't go out with people who do, okay? 00:06:13.099 --> 00:06:15.279 I don't dance, I don't whatever else, you know? 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:19.479 And also, I don't sway to the music, I don't go whoop, whoop, whoop, you know? 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:22.579 I am right locked on down. 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:28.079 That was the list growing up. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:32.279 Now, unless you get kind of caught up in thinking, 00:06:32.419 --> 00:06:36.680 well, I'm one of those liberated people, I'm not in the 60s crowd, 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:41.000 I've got to tell you, one of the things I know about human nature is that we all make our lists 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:44.479 contrary to the grace and the sufficiency of Christ. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:53.660 And none of you, by your own nature, would have put on the list first what Paul puts there. 00:06:53.660 --> 00:07:03.520 And so I want us to step into the text and think carefully about what Paul thinks is an absolute priority 00:07:03.520 --> 00:07:05.100 in the believer's walk. 00:07:05.200 --> 00:07:06.840 So what's a Christian look like? 00:07:08.140 --> 00:07:08.960 Where does he start? 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.839 Look at the passage. 00:07:12.359 --> 00:07:17.339 I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling 00:07:17.339 --> 00:07:21.979 to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:27.199 with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:28.599 in the bond of peace. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:32.199 Would you have put unity first? 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:40.339 Would you have said that's the important thing that the believer has to get down at the start 00:07:40.339 --> 00:07:42.719 of his Christian walk? 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:51.860 Ephesians chapter 4, 5 and 6 talk about the things that are to characterize the believer. 00:07:52.219 --> 00:07:53.060 This is what we're to be. 00:07:53.060 --> 00:08:04.579 And the first thing that he mentions that he actually takes 16 verses to then articulate 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:07.439 or to clarify is this matter of unity. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:13.879 As you look at the passage, and I want you to mark now the characteristics of a worthy walk, 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:15.720 you pick up there in verse 2, it says, 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:17.319 with all humility and gentleness. 00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:22.279 Let me break down the text a little bit for you and explain that there is a logic to which 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:26.039 Paul is going to work in these two verses that we're going to study together this morning. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:31.199 He speaks first of all about inner attitudes, those things that are inside of us. 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:33.579 And look at the verse, the verse 2, it says, 00:08:33.939 --> 00:08:35.799 with all humility and gentleness. 00:08:36.839 --> 00:08:39.539 Subsequent to that, he talks about behaviors that can be observed. 00:08:40.079 --> 00:08:44.120 He says there that we are to be patient, bearing with one another. 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:48.000 And then he uses one capstone over top of all of it, and he says, with love. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:55.820 So I want us to recognize that at the very beginning of this call that we as believers are responsible 00:08:55.820 --> 00:09:02.620 to heed, and Paul spells out, all right, here are the giveaways, the characteristics of the 00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:06.740 godly person who's walking in the power of the Spirit and pleasing Christ. 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:14.299 He says, let's start by recognizing that a worthy walk is all about unity of spirit and the attitudes. 00:09:14.299 --> 00:09:21.519 A worthy walk starts with the attitudes of humility and gentleness. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:27.039 Now, in simple terms, humility refers to a low view of self. 00:09:27.699 --> 00:09:33.599 Let me say that again slowly, and I got to tell you that that statement is one that if you are, 00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:40.359 if you're kind of caught up in the world's thinking, it has to kind of scratch on the surface of the chalkboard. 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:42.399 How many of you remember when the teacher would do that? 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:47.500 Now we use overheads and PowerPoint and all that, but I remember growing up where every 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:49.580 now and then, you know, it was like nails. 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:52.800 Can't be. 00:09:54.659 --> 00:10:03.620 And here we have a word that in contemporary culture sounds off base. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:06.100 Let me say it again. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.580 Humility refers to a low view of self. 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:14.240 And it is seen in the Bible as an opposite thing from pride. 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:20.060 Humility takes its view of self from a right view of Christ. 00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:29.860 I remember talking earlier, well, late last week with an individual who at the, in the course of our conversation, 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:34.440 this individual said to me, you need to pray for me that I trust God more. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:42.940 Well, one of the privileges of having lasting relationship with individuals is that when they make a statement like that, 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:46.440 you probably have a larger understanding of what all is going on in their life. 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:51.080 And I said to this individual in the premise of that prayer request, I said, 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:59.660 actually, your problem in trusting God more is not that you just need to grow in trusting God more. 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.300 You need to know who He is. 00:11:01.900 --> 00:11:06.259 Because if you don't know who He is, it's pretty hard to trust Him, isn't it? 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:13.420 And this individual was struggling a great, great deal, not what the matter of trusting God more, 00:11:13.420 --> 00:11:16.960 but actually of recognizing God to be who God is. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:22.519 And so when we think about the issue of humility and you're sitting there thinking to yourself, 00:11:22.660 --> 00:11:23.960 well, how do I get humbled? 00:11:24.040 --> 00:11:30.300 Do I just kind of walk around with this dour look on my face and kind of mealy-mouthed and I could go on and on? 00:11:30.420 --> 00:11:31.240 No, no, no, no. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:34.980 Humility rises out of a right view of Christ. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:39.420 I want to recite two different passages that come to mind. 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:45.300 One is over in 1 Corinthians 15, verse 10, and you don't need to look at this one, but here's what Paul says. 00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:48.719 It says, by the grace of God, I am who I am. 00:11:49.579 --> 00:11:51.559 How many of you have ever gotten frustrated with who you are? 00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:55.899 I've made the statement on many cases, it's very hard being me. 00:11:56.899 --> 00:12:01.240 One of the things that I kind of laugh at myself on occasion, and it's kind of not always funny, 00:12:01.359 --> 00:12:03.740 but it always takes me two trips wherever I'm going. 00:12:03.859 --> 00:12:07.179 What I mean by that is that I'll walk out of the office, I'm going somewhere, 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:11.339 and sure enough, whoever's the secretary, it's Connie now, she might as well wait, 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:13.399 because I'm coming in, I forgot something. 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:15.620 It's just, ah, here we go. 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:19.079 And in fact, sometimes I'll sit there at the desk and I think, all right, I'm leaving, 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:20.199 what should I take with me? 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:27.120 And I scamper out to the car and still, guess what, ding, oh, my cell phone, I need that, desperately. 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.600 You know, so back I go. 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:32.779 You know, we look at ourselves and here's what Paul says. 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:35.159 He says, listen, I am who I am by the grace of God. 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:37.699 There's only one of me, there's only one of you, 00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:40.360 and God made you the way you are and made me the way I am. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:43.680 And understanding that is important. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:48.980 But understanding that in the context of the sufficiency and significance of Christ, 00:12:49.180 --> 00:12:51.020 that's where the real importance is. 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:53.540 Turn over in your Bible, if you will, you're in Ephesians, 00:12:53.620 --> 00:12:56.379 but go back for a moment to John chapter 3, verse 30. 00:12:56.379 --> 00:13:07.559 John chapter 3, verse 30 is one of those passages that is etched into my ongoing pursuit of knowing Christ. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:15.759 In John chapter 3, verse 30, we have the instance where John the Baptist's disciples come to him and say, 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:17.059 hey, listen, we've got a problem. 00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:20.460 We're having a little bit of downturn in our crowd. 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:24.700 And the problem really comes back to that guy you baptized. 00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:31.340 You know, you probably just not have done that because he is really kind of growing in his public ministry, 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.200 and a lot of people are coming to him. 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.140 Who was that, by the way? 00:13:34.900 --> 00:13:35.400 It was Jesus. 00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:45.420 And here are the disciples kind of concerned for what was happening to their ministry and to their hero. 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:48.379 Listen to what John has to say. 00:13:49.020 --> 00:13:50.240 There in verse 27, he says, 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:53.860 a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:56.740 So, how did you get to be who you are? 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.820 Providentially, by the power of God. 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:03.759 And you are the way you are because God chose to make you that way, and he has a purpose in it. 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.500 Then it says here, 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:29.000 Now, I want you to mark something here because it's important. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:33.820 The word must speaks of an imperative. 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.200 What does an imperative mean? 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:37.039 It has to happen. 00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:39.639 There's no way around it. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.059 It is a theological truth. 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.700 He must increase. 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:54.580 And, beloved, when we have a right view of Christ, humility is not something that is forced. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:15:00.259 It flows out of our growing relationship and infection for him, 00:15:00.520 --> 00:15:04.900 and it is something that happens by virtue of that divine reality. 00:15:05.400 --> 00:15:08.180 He must increase. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:14.279 I want you to recognize, as we think about the subject of humility this morning, 00:15:14.359 --> 00:15:16.219 that humility is a right place to start. 00:15:17.959 --> 00:15:24.979 When we talk about practical Christian living, humility is a right place to start. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.959 Turn back in your Bible. 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:29.299 You are in Ephesians. 00:15:29.959 --> 00:15:31.879 You're probably in John or in… 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.519 Yeah, you're in John. 00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:34.159 But let's go to the book of Romans. 00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:35.919 I want you to look at this passage as well. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:42.799 So, Romans is another very similar book in terms of its structure. 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:44.779 Remember what I said? 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:51.299 One of the characteristics of the Scripture, it tells us what God has done and who God is 00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:55.599 before it ever lays the responsibilities and obligations of Christian living on us. 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:57.039 And Romans is similar. 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:02.299 Actually, it takes more chapters to kind of lay out the beauty of salvation. 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:06.659 Romans 1-11 talks about the doctrine of salvation. 00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:09.859 And then in chapter 12, verse 1, we read this. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:15.279 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice. 00:16:15.839 --> 00:16:16.719 This is reasonable. 00:16:16.859 --> 00:16:17.699 This is acceptable. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:22.859 This is why you were saved, to live for Christ and live your life to his glory. 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:25.779 Now, mark what we find then in verse 3. 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:37.279 For by the grace given to me, I say to every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:42.500 but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God is assigned. 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:47.840 So the starting place, not only in the book of Ephesians, but also in the book of Romans, 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:54.320 is having a right view of ourself and not being overly inflated with who we are and what we have been given. 00:16:56.659 --> 00:17:00.779 Third, I want you to, or next, I want you to understand that humility is a safe place to start. 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.879 Humility is a safe place to start. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.400 Let me say this, and I don't want you to miss it. 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.900 Only one person gets to be God. 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.640 Do you understand that? 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:11.600 Only one person gets to be God. 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:14.320 And we all struggle with that reality. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.880 We're just like Adam and Eve in the garden. 00:17:16.020 --> 00:17:17.400 We'd like to do it our way. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.120 We'd like to run. 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:23.740 I appreciate Pastor Saul talking about the fact that I appreciate his transparency, 00:17:24.020 --> 00:17:25.540 because I struggle with some of the same things. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:31.259 I'm studying or whatever else, and I am just really booking it because Sunday's coming, 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:33.520 and in fact, I like doing what I do. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:38.740 And out of the clear blue, someone wants to call me and ask some question. 00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:42.039 Or they're upset with something. 00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:47.139 It's like, you know, Pastor, can you believe that someone had the gall, blah, blah, blah, 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:50.519 and off they go, and I'm sitting there in my flesh. 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.680 Do you know what my flesh is? 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:54.859 It's in that little old nasty little Tim Kenoyer heart. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.900 You know, I'm thinking, don't they know I'm involved in doing God's work, 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:02.599 preparing for, you know, here's the deal. 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:07.619 Oh, only God gets to be God. 00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:14.199 And so when he changes my agenda, and that's who actually stimulated the call. 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:14.980 Do you understand that? 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:19.019 Whoever's on the other end of the phone was not thinking to themselves, 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:21.859 let's see if I can really test Tim Kenoyer today. 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:24.099 They probably weren't thinking about me. 00:18:24.179 --> 00:18:26.959 They were just thinking, huh, who parked in my place? 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.500 You know, it's something really important, you know. 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:31.240 So they call me. 00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:37.579 Pastor Saul talked about something that I do struggle with, and that's when, you know, 00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:42.180 you stop at the red light, and you wait with all your righteousness for their light to turn green. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:46.839 And then the person in front of you is on their cell phone. 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:52.459 Or worse yet, they're texting, and they're righteous. 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:55.099 They want to finish the text before they drive. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.220 Good person. 00:18:57.220 --> 00:19:00.839 And I am just getting ready to, you know, what are you thinking? 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.359 How many of you know what I'm thinking? 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:07.179 Yeah, I have thought about bumping them with my car. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.019 You know, boom. 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:14.639 Something under the five-mile-an-hour limit, because then the airbag pops, you know. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.740 But I'm thinking, oh, Lord. 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:20.000 So are you in control or not? 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.680 Yes. 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.119 Okay, here's the deal. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:26.819 Humility is a safe place to start this business of living like a Christian. 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:35.639 I'm reminded what it says over in 1 Peter 5, verse 5, the second part of it. 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:39.020 It says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:43.040 God is opposing all the time. 00:19:43.320 --> 00:19:47.560 I have found myself on occasion looking at certain people's behaviors and thinking, 00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:49.740 how will they get away with that? 00:19:49.800 --> 00:19:50.640 And here's what I know. 00:19:51.820 --> 00:19:58.100 If they are displaying a spirit of pride, what I know is that it won't happen forever. 00:19:58.580 --> 00:19:59.580 God will take care of it. 00:20:01.540 --> 00:20:04.560 So when we think about what it means to walk as a believer, 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:08.679 and Paul says, hey, listen, the starting place that I have for you, 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:14.279 when you think about the matter of how to live as a believer, it starts with humility. 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:19.419 Now, the second word that Paul uses is kind of in that same attitudinal frame. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:22.539 It says, and also with gentleness. 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:28.779 Gentleness is a word that could also be translated with the term meekness. 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:35.819 And the Greek word refers to the attitude that we show when we are mistreated or disappointed with others. 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:39.660 I really like what the Bible scholar John Eady had to say about it. 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:45.039 He said, meekness is never insubordinate to God and never resentful towards men. 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:49.859 Never insubordinate to God and never resentful towards men. 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:54.479 And so when you think about whether or not you are displaying a meek spirit, 00:20:54.899 --> 00:21:00.439 ask yourself the question, so when things don't go your way, how do you respond? 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:06.599 When people disappoint you or you are discouraged with certain outcomes, 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:09.419 and I've got to tell you, I speak about this in advance. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:13.959 We are going to spend five days working in vacation Bible school, 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:21.240 and I have had the joy of watching many, many people put countless hours into preparing for this. 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:27.960 I can tell you one of the things that's going to happen is that things won't go exactly as planned. 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:38.880 God in His wisdom will give you a couple little boys and girls that will test your humility and test your meekness. 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:43.920 And if you are not engaged in ministry and the power of the Spirit of God, 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:47.120 you may not have a public meltdown in the classroom, 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:53.320 but, oh, you will fume and fuss, and Christ will not be honored by that Spirit. 00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:00.160 I want you to look at something else as we look at the passage there. 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.900 In Ephesians 4, verse 2, it says, 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:17.540 Patience is that behavior that doesn't give in to the natural temptation to quit or blow up under pressure. 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.060 Patience. 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:19.780 Staying. 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:22.880 It just means to kind of stay with it, stay with it, stay with it. 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:25.780 And, you know, we need patience in life, do we not? 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:31.180 One of the reasons we need patience is because we who have received mercy are to display it. 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:34.519 We're to treat other people like we have been treated by Christ. 00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:36.900 Has He been patient with you? 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.640 What's the answer? 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:43.840 Have you gone to Him again and again with some of the same afflictions and difficulties in your spirit, 00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:47.799 and yet with patience and kindness He has continued to love you, 00:22:47.820 --> 00:22:50.680 and He's never, ever changed His attitude towards you? 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.539 Patience. 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:56.279 There's another little word that is used there in the passage. 00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:59.420 It says with forbearance or bearing with one another in love. 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:07.820 And forbearance is that behavior that smiles and keeps at it in the face of the differences and messinesses in people's lives. 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:15.519 One of the things that I was struck by as I was meditating and kind of studying through this passage was how interesting it was to me 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:24.160 that unity was first in the list of things that characterized the worthy walk or the godly walk. 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:28.720 And one of the reminders to me, as I actually was studying and reading ahead, 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:35.680 is that unity is so critical for the fact that God sees us, or the Scriptures see us, 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:39.740 in organic relationship with one another in the body of Christ. 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:46.660 The first thing that the Spirit wants us to understand is that we are part of His body, 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:51.859 and as a reflection of being part of His body, we have to have unity. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.880 We have to get along. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:24:02.599 And the difficulty with getting along is that salvation puts a lot of jerks in the same canoe. 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.400 Do you follow that? 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:05.099 That's maybe a strong way to say it. 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:09.119 But over the years in premarital counseling, one of the things that I've told young people, 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:13.539 boy and girl, young man, young woman, I've said, listen, marriage is a wonderful, 00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:15.619 it's an incredible blessing to you. 00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:17.179 But I've got to tell you something about marriage. 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:21.019 It puts two sinners in the same canoe. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:26.879 And in the first two or three years, those two sinners in that same canoe 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:31.539 are discovering all kinds of things that courtship never clued them in on. 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:38.200 And as a result of that, there is just ongoing struggle of, 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:41.519 I can't believe he grew up in a home like that. 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:45.200 What did his parents teach him about laundry skills? 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:50.720 I mean, you know, I wasn't hired to pick his socks up off the floor. 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:57.720 And he likewise is thinking of, I can't believe she can't cook like my mom. 00:24:57.720 --> 00:25:02.920 And he thinks if he says it two or three times, it'll solve the problem. 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:04.120 And guess what it does? 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:10.799 She looks at him sweetly across the table and says, why don't you go there and eat? 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:12.279 Not a good idea. 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:16.299 But, you know, the point is, is that here's the deal. 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:21.440 God saves us and he puts us together into the family of God. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:27.740 And in order to be interconnected, we have to have humility and meekness, 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:31.220 and we have to have patience, and we have to be willing to forbear. 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:34.200 Now, here's a little side note. 00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:44.900 One of the things that has become sadly characteristic of evangelical Christians today 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:46.700 is they are floaters. 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:50.680 They're not connected. 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:58.259 And so, having humility and meekness, patience, and forbearance is really not necessary 00:25:58.259 --> 00:26:00.640 because if they don't like the people in this canoe, 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:03.640 there's about 3,000 other canoes in the community, 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:06.500 and we'll just kind of hop around from place to place to place. 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.960 You really don't solve anything by doing that, 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:14.539 and you really don't engage in being part of what the bride of Christ is in a local place. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:18.460 And Paul says this. 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:21.920 He says, listen, you have to have humility, 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:24.039 you have to have gentleness, 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.340 you have to have patience, 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:27.319 and you have to have forbearance. 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:30.360 Now, mark what the capstone of all of this is. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:31.600 He says there in verse 2, 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.799 he says, 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:35.440 Bearing with one another in love. 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:39.980 Have you ever been around people that are suffering for Jesus and letting you know it? 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.660 Huh? 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:41.940 Huh? 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:45.060 Or they're letting you know that they're working on their patience, 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:48.240 but it's kind of with this gritting teeth type of attitude, 00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:53.640 and at the same time that they're talking about how they're being forbearing and they're being patient, 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:58.259 they're really letting you know very, very subtly that they're not at all happy. 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:05.220 How does love treat problems in a relationship? 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:13.420 Love treats a problem in a relationship with the objective of seeing that the individual who is struggling 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:17.099 is strengthened and encouraged and built up in the faith. 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:21.759 When a parent has a problem with a child, 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:27.279 that problem is really an opportunity to minister and help that child grow. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.039 Wouldn't you agree? 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:32.980 And the capstone of your ministry can't be just, 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:35.279 Well, I am patient with my child, 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:37.000 and I am enduring, 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:42.059 and I am letting that kid know that it's only the grace of God that I'm not killing him. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:43.680 Okay. 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.619 No. 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:48.319 I like this. 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:54.899 Paul says the thing that should be the overarching characteristic of our relationship 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:58.680 in this characteristic bond that we have in the body of Christ 00:27:58.680 --> 00:28:03.160 is that we have a genuine affection one for another. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:10.500 And so this morning, as you think about where you are, 00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:18.740 I want you to understand that ministry without love is dishonorable to the one who loved us, 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:26.000 and walking in genuine love is the principal evidence of his power at work in us. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:30.319 Listen to what Jesus said over in John chapter 13, verse 35. 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.059 He was talking about, 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.779 Okay, so what is the giveaway? 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:36.259 How can unbelievers tell that we're believers? 00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.440 Do you know what he said? 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:37.460 He said, 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:39.519 He said, 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:41.579 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.400 that you have what? 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:45.039 That you really have love for one another. 00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:47.720 I think about that. 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:51.460 Love is something that is quantifiable. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:54.039 You can see it in work. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.799 I got to tell you, 00:28:55.860 --> 00:29:01.180 yesterday I was so richly blessed when I showed up at John Massaro's house 00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:03.960 to help him move to another place. 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:07.200 Yes, and within minutes of my arriving, 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:10.180 there were all kinds of other people who showed up there. 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:13.360 And I think at one point when I was counting noses, 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.759 there were 16 or 17. 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:18.160 I got to give a shout out to the parents of you, 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:19.120 all you parents, 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:21.140 who brought your children with you. 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:23.440 I am so blessed 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:28.440 when I see parents bring their children along 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:30.059 when we're moving furniture. 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:30.779 Okay? 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:34.299 It just fires me up inside. 00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:38.220 And when I see 16 and 17 people, 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.319 men, women, 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.259 it was just... 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:44.599 And we got that truck packed in less than an hour. 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:48.039 An entire home packed into a truck. 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.460 I mean... 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:51.220 Now, it does help to have things packed ahead. 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:51.599 Okay? 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.619 And having them all... 00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:55.039 If you know John Massaro... 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.139 Is John around here somewhere? 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:58.599 I can talk about him freely then. 00:29:58.599 --> 00:30:03.139 You know, John Massaro would have all the boxes labeled, 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:05.000 and all the boxes, you know, 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:06.279 they're pretty much all the same. 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:08.480 We're not talking about two banana boxes 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.659 and egg cretins and, you know, 00:30:09.679 --> 00:30:10.299 all those other things, 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:12.359 where every box is kind of symmetrical organized, 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.279 and it all... 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.779 It was like we're at UPS working together. 00:30:18.219 --> 00:30:18.939 Or FedEx. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.659 Some of you go there too. 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:21.419 But anyway, you know, 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:24.039 I was so blessed to watch the body work. 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:27.359 And there is kindness and love one for another. 00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:30.220 Why did everybody show up on Saturday to help John? 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.659 Because we love him. 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:37.019 And we love him because Jesus loved us. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:40.159 I like what it says in John chapter 13, 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.139 where it says Jesus... 00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:41.420 He says, 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:43.639 Hey, this is how people know that you're my disciple. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.619 You love each other. 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:48.299 Do you think the world loves each other? 00:30:48.379 --> 00:30:49.139 And what's the answer? 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:52.440 People in your cubicle next to you, 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:53.539 do they really love you? 00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:55.619 You know what? 00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:57.299 They're there probably because they have to be, 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.899 because that's how they pay their bills. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.119 And they frankly, 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.420 when it really comes down to it, 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.839 they're not all that caught up with you. 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.079 And in the body of Christ, 00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:05.139 we love each other. 00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:11.940 Now I want you to pick up on what we find in verse 3. 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:16.039 The energy of a worthy walk. 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:16.639 It says here, 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:18.899 Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit 00:31:18.899 --> 00:31:20.019 and the bond of peace. 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:23.379 Paul has talked about the importance of humility 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:24.720 and forbearing with one another. 00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:26.760 Now he talks about the energy that is required. 00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:29.920 And a worthy walk calls us to be diligent 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.880 in guarding the unity of the Spirit. 00:31:33.040 --> 00:31:34.100 To be diligent, 00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:37.660 that means that we have this earnestness 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:41.820 that we do keep the unity of the Spirit. 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:48.559 Do you know what the first consequence of the fall was? 00:31:49.679 --> 00:31:50.240 Visibly? 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.839 Think with me. 00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:56.579 The first visible evidence of the fall 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:59.039 was a breach in relationship. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:31:59.720 Isn't that right? 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:03.180 And ever after the fall, 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:05.339 the natural inclination we have 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:07.299 is to draw away from one another. 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:12.500 It is the Spirit of God 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:15.000 that brings us back together again, 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:15.759 first of all, 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:18.440 because we have been reconciled to Christ 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:21.120 and we end up in relationship with one another. 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:25.399 And when I see individuals beginning to move away 00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:27.479 from that organic relationship 00:32:27.479 --> 00:32:29.299 that we have in the bride of Christ, 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:32.979 I wonder what's happening in their life spiritually. 00:32:39.479 --> 00:32:40.199 Beloved, 00:32:40.719 --> 00:32:42.759 I do want you to understand 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:44.279 that the unity of the Spirit 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:47.619 takes persistent and ongoing effort. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.239 Don't forget that. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:52.440 That's what's being said here. 00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:55.460 Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.359 and the bond of peace. 00:32:58.099 --> 00:33:01.859 I cannot tell you how richly blessed I am 00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:04.359 in fellowship here 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:06.420 with the pastors and deacons of our body. 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:09.980 One of the things that has characterized 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:14.339 our 26 plus years of ministry together 00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:16.039 is that God has helped us 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:17.299 as a group of leaders 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:19.960 consciously and carefully 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:21.660 preserve the unity of the Spirit 00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:22.660 and the bond of peace. 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:28.720 It has been our blessing together. 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:32.440 And it is something that I can tell you 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.539 does take work 00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:35.120 because the individuals 00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:37.579 who God providentially pulls into that room 00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:39.680 to engage in leading this body 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:41.519 don't all think alike. 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:48.180 And God helps us 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:50.680 to guard the unity. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:54.319 The Word calls us to that guarding. 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:57.079 It's talking about actually working 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:59.200 to keep an eye out for it. 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:04.059 Now I want you to mark at the close 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:05.340 the center of our unity 00:34:05.340 --> 00:34:06.720 because here's what it says. 00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:11.079 The unity of the Spirit. 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:15.400 The unity of the Spirit. 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:19.559 I remember when I was sitting 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.940 way back where Kristen is. 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:22.160 Kristen, will you wave at me please? 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:22.780 Thank you. 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.619 Judith and I, 00:34:24.860 --> 00:34:26.720 this was back in 1980, 1981. 00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:28.700 This was before, 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.780 you know why the cutout is over here 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:32.039 so that you can see 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:33.500 if your baby needs your attention 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.240 that right over here 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:35.059 by the exit sign. 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.599 In the good old days, 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:39.840 people who had children in the nursery 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:41.500 sat way back there 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:43.119 so that the nursery workers 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:44.400 could just kind of open the door 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.279 and reach in and say, 00:34:45.819 --> 00:34:46.299 psst, psst, psst, 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:48.199 your baby is crying, you know. 00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:50.739 And Judith and I were sitting back there 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:53.460 when after Pastor Brock resigned, 00:34:54.339 --> 00:34:57.579 we went through the process of a search 00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:59.279 and I remember hearing Max McCullough 00:34:59.279 --> 00:35:02.319 who was the assistant pastor at that time. 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:05.819 Prior to our having a candidate come, 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:08.759 he spoke on the unity of the Spirit 00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:09.639 and he made this statement 00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:10.659 that stuck with me 00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:12.279 and has been a governing factor 00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:15.220 in my understanding of body life. 00:35:16.120 --> 00:35:16.680 He said, 00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:17.620 unity of the Spirit 00:35:17.620 --> 00:35:19.620 is something that is produced by the Spirit. 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:22.100 Brilliant, right? 00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.000 He said, 00:35:24.200 --> 00:35:25.740 where there is a lack of unity, 00:35:27.060 --> 00:35:29.220 often there's a lack of information. 00:35:29.580 --> 00:35:31.760 You can't expect people to be united 00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:33.600 on something they don't understand. 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:36.160 And as a result of that, 00:35:36.240 --> 00:35:37.460 when this body goes through 00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:38.500 the decision process, 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:40.699 I have never had anybody say 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:42.579 you didn't give us adequate information. 00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:44.099 Now, they may have not been there 00:35:44.099 --> 00:35:45.840 at three of the public meetings 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:47.900 or they've not read any of the paperwork, 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:50.460 but there it is. 00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:53.179 Unity of Spirit comes about 00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:54.519 through the work of the Spirit. 00:35:54.659 --> 00:35:55.619 Where there's a lack of unity, 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:57.039 there may be a lack of information. 00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:58.559 There also may be a lack of prayer. 00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.960 And that's one of the reasons why we all, 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:01.940 hey, pray, pray, pray. 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:03.440 Pray about this. 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:07.400 Third is don't hesitate to ask questions about it 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.500 to understand it. 00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:10.579 I mean, I got to tell you, 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:13.280 one of the very interesting rumors 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:14.220 that we've heard is that 00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:16.400 pastor always gets his way in a deacon's meeting. 00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:20.280 That is probably one of the more humorous statements 00:36:20.280 --> 00:36:20.840 that I've heard. 00:36:23.260 --> 00:36:23.700 Really? 00:36:25.700 --> 00:36:27.960 I have a hard time getting my way anywhere. 00:36:29.200 --> 00:36:30.780 And I got to tell you the truth, 00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.860 there's a good reason for that 00:36:31.860 --> 00:36:33.680 because most of my ideas are pretty bad. 00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:38.880 And godly men will take me to task and say, 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:39.720 what were you thinking? 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:42.360 Did you stop and realize, 00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:44.920 you know, no, I didn't think about that. 00:36:45.680 --> 00:36:48.740 And unity of spirit comes when godly men 00:36:48.740 --> 00:36:50.620 rely upon the Word of God, 00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:51.599 the Spirit of God, 00:36:51.680 --> 00:36:53.140 and they make decisions together. 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:55.780 Paul says this. 00:36:55.780 --> 00:36:56.660 He says, listen, 00:36:56.659 --> 00:37:00.759 in your starting process 00:37:00.759 --> 00:37:02.940 of being an illustration 00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:04.940 of the glory of Christ 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:06.819 in body life. 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.719 He says, listen, 00:37:10.799 --> 00:37:13.500 with all humility and gentleness, 00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.940 patient with one another, 00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:17.719 forbearing with one another in love, 00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:18.480 he said, 00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:19.119 endeavor, 00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.819 strive diligently 00:37:20.819 --> 00:37:23.940 to maintain the unity of the Spirit 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:26.360 in the bond of peace. 00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:30.720 So here's my question. 00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:34.880 Does that characterize you as a believer? 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.240 Number one, 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:38.360 actively engaged. 00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:39.059 You know what? 00:37:39.159 --> 00:37:40.820 You don't need unity 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:43.500 when you're in the car by yourself. 00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:48.039 My presets are my presets, 00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:49.360 and the music I listen to, 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.579 nobody else fusses with 00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:51.599 when I'm by myself. 00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:54.019 And there are some of you 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:55.860 that you've never really been strained 00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:56.659 in the era of unity 00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:57.840 because you are in kind of 00:37:57.840 --> 00:37:58.840 a permanent disconnect 00:37:58.840 --> 00:38:00.480 from active engagement 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:01.539 in the body of Christ. 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:05.760 It takes unity to stay together. 00:38:07.019 --> 00:38:08.760 It takes unity to be actually engaged 00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:09.940 in doing what the body 00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.780 has been called to do. 00:38:11.239 --> 00:38:12.360 And so ask yourself the question, 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:15.240 do I have the unity of the Spirit? 00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:19.599 Do I display humility 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:21.880 and gentleness, 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.579 patience, 00:38:24.220 --> 00:38:25.180 and forbearance 00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:26.440 in the bond of love? 00:38:28.780 --> 00:38:30.940 And if that is not the case, 00:38:32.579 --> 00:38:33.640 I want to two questions. 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:36.519 The first is most important. 00:38:36.640 --> 00:38:37.420 Do I know Christ 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:38.579 as my personal Savior? 00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:40.860 Your discord, 00:38:41.420 --> 00:38:44.199 your incessant turmoil 00:38:44.199 --> 00:38:45.860 may well be a reflection 00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:47.299 of the fact you don't know Christ. 00:38:50.199 --> 00:38:50.799 Second, 00:38:51.799 --> 00:38:54.239 it may be that despite the fact 00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:55.539 that you are a believer, 00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:57.519 that at the very heart 00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:59.000 of your ongoing battle 00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:00.860 is a spirit of arrogance 00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:01.799 and pride 00:39:01.799 --> 00:39:02.579 that makes it hard 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:04.900 to get along. 00:39:04.900 --> 00:39:07.800 And I would plead with you, 00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:08.460 humble yourself 00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.519 before the Lord Jesus 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:12.980 that you can be effective 00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:15.160 in the body 00:39:15.160 --> 00:39:16.639 for His glory. 00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:18.800 Let's close in prayer. 00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:22.519 Gracious Father, 00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:26.680 our hearts just lift up 00:39:26.680 --> 00:39:27.660 inside of us 00:39:27.660 --> 00:39:28.079 and say, 00:39:28.680 --> 00:39:30.059 blessed be the God 00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:30.720 and Father 00:39:30.720 --> 00:39:32.280 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:39:32.280 --> 00:39:33.800 who has blessed us 00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:35.160 with all spiritual blessings 00:39:35.160 --> 00:39:36.019 in the heavenlies. 00:39:37.560 --> 00:39:38.680 And on that foundation, 00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:39.000 Lord, 00:39:39.080 --> 00:39:40.460 we want to be a people 00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:41.240 who are marked 00:39:41.240 --> 00:39:42.420 by humility 00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:43.420 and gentleness 00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:45.120 that the unbelieving world 00:39:45.120 --> 00:39:46.040 looking at the way 00:39:46.040 --> 00:39:47.600 we do love each other 00:39:47.600 --> 00:39:48.320 would say, 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:48.640 wow, 00:39:48.760 --> 00:39:50.100 I want some of that. 00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:53.420 Thank you for the sweetness 00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:54.220 of the gospel 00:39:54.220 --> 00:39:57.019 that reminds each 00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:58.019 and every one of us 00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:59.380 that apart from Christ 00:39:59.380 --> 00:40:01.060 we stand justly condemned 00:40:01.059 --> 00:40:02.360 for our sin 00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:03.199 and our rebellion. 00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:06.199 And yet Christ came 00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:06.719 into the world 00:40:06.719 --> 00:40:07.539 to save sinners. 00:40:08.619 --> 00:40:09.820 And He died on the cross 00:40:09.820 --> 00:40:11.039 that whosoever believes 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:11.420 in Him 00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:12.860 might not perish 00:40:12.860 --> 00:40:14.320 but have everlasting life. 00:40:15.779 --> 00:40:17.079 And we pray this morning 00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:18.320 that believers' hearts 00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:19.219 would be stirred 00:40:19.219 --> 00:40:21.920 by an affectionate desire 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:23.799 to be active 00:40:23.799 --> 00:40:25.059 and productive 00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:26.299 in the body 00:40:26.299 --> 00:40:28.119 and sinners 00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:28.639 would be drawn 00:40:28.639 --> 00:40:29.420 to the cross. 00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:30.880 We ask this 00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:31.800 in your precious name. 00:40:31.900 --> 00:40:32.119 Amen.