Hello, friends, and welcome
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to another
Wednesday night Bible study
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here in Thompsonville
at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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We thank you for
tuning in to A Sharper Focus.
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And as you know if
you've tuned in before,
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our theme or let me
just check with our audience.
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Our theme is how to
live a spiritual life in a...
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Natural body.
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In a natural body.
That's our challenge.
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That is the commission
that the Lord has given to us
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until He changes
these vile bodies
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to be fashioned like
into His glorious body.
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This is where our Christian life
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is to be lived.
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And so get your
Bibles, get your friends,
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invite your family members
to sit down for the next hour,
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and we're going to
walk through the topic
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of the servant's life.
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Now we began this a
number of weeks ago,
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but we were in India.
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We're now back
and we thank the Lord
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that He kept us safe.
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So invite all of
those who are with you
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if you are church,
thank you for joining us.
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If you want to record this
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and share with
your family and friends,
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we encourage you to do so.
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And right after prayer
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we'll tell you
how to get a copy.
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Matter of fact, let
me just tell you now,
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if you'd like a
copy of the lesson,
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go to our
website, don't put www,
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put ASF.3abn.org,
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and download lesson number 15.
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Now, you may
have done that before.
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But this is in
addition to the lesson
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that you may have
already downloaded.
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There are an
additional 12 or so questions.
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If you have less than 15,
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you may have
only nine questions.
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But we now have up to 21.
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So go download that again
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and follow
along with your Bibles
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as well as your syllabus.
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Before we sing our song tonight,
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let's bow our heads and
ask for the Lord's presence
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to be with us.
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Our Heavenly
Father, we thank You
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that we can open our
hearts to study Your Word
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that we could not
only open our hearts,
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but we pray as we
open Your Word tonight
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that You will speak to us
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in a very clear and distinct way
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that our
understanding will be broadened,
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but also that our
willingness to follow You
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and to be that servant
that will bring glory to You.
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We pray that You will
give us that desire may it burn
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in our hearts, in
loving service for You,
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we pray in Jesus' name, amen.
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Now, we're going
to sing the song here,
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"Victory in
Jesus," it's on our screen.
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You won't be seeing it.
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But I know you've
heard us sing it before.
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And if you'd like to
join us, I appreciate that.
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Let's sing the
song, "Victory in Jesus."
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I heard an old, old story
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How the Savior came from glory
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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To save a wretch like me
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I heard about His groaning
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Of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sins
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And won the victory
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Together
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Oh, victory in Jesus
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My Savior forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me 'ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet day
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I'll sing up there
the song of victory
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Key change.
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Oh, victory in Jesus
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My Savior forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me 'ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Amen?
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That cleansing flood is baptism.
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Bible talks about
the Old Testament baptism
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all passed through the fire,
all passed through the water.
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In New Testament baptism,
which prepares us for service
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in the kingdom of the Lord
here and in the kingdom to come.
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Now when we visited
this lesson last time,
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we ended on
question number nine.
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And so if you have
your syllabus with you,
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don't start on question one.
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We're going to
catapult the lesson tonight in
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by going to
question number nine.
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Now let me lay a
little bit of foundation
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because one of
the challenges we have
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when we become Christians
is what to do with our hearts.
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We know our hearts,
that's the seat of affection,
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the place where we
have our convictions.
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You know, when we
say if we see a sign,
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it's very common nowadays,
if somebody loves someone,
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they'll say, I heart you.
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Or you see this big red
heart on Valentine's Day,
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a symbol of somebody's
endearing, passionate love.
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But there's an
issue in the human heart,
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because the Bible
says, according to Jeremiah,
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that the heart is deceitful
above all things, and what?
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Desperately wicked.
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And then Jeremiah
says, "Who can know it."
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And so that same heart as
the Lord is rebuilding us,
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as the Lord is
remaking us after His image,
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as the Lord is taking
out all the old heart issues
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and putting in the
issues of the heart
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that will prepare
us for eternal life.
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The filtering process
leaves some division there
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between what we ought to
do and what we ought not do.
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And so when we begin tonight,
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as we go to
question number nine,
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we're going to see
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that one of the
issues of service
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was the condition of the
heart of the Apostle Paul,
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he talked about the
battle that took place
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on a day by day basis.
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So tonight, let's go
to question number nine.
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And the title of our topic is
how to live the servant's life.
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But go with me to
question number nine
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tonight as we begin.
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And this question is,
how does Paul the Apostle
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describe the battle of
service, the battle of service?
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As you go to Romans 7:25,
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keep that in mind
the battle of service.
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And the reason why we
call it the battle of service
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is because the
majority of churches,
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the people are not serving God,
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in active service,
they're coming to church.
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But there is a
battle that's very real
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because the
majority of Christians
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are not actively involved
in service of some kind.
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Most Christians are
not actively involved
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in evangelism of some kind
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in day by day
sharing their faith.
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So Paul is saying that
there is a problem there
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and he's talking
about what that problem is.
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So let's see where
the question leads us
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and what our answer is.
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How does Paul the Apostle
describe the battle of service?
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Notice what he
says in Romans 7:25.
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Matter of fact, since
this is our first text,
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let's read this together.
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He begins by saying, I do what?
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"I thank God through
Jesus Christ our Lord!
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So then, with the mind,
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I myself serve the law of God,
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but with the flesh the," what?
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"Law of sin."
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He sees two laws at
odds with each other.
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And when he
refers to the law of sin,
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I want to make this clear.
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He's not talking
about the Law of Moses.
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This law of sin is the
nature that each of us has,
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the nature that
we were born with.
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You know, the Bible
says in 1 Corinthians 15:22,
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"As in Adam all die,
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even so in Christ
all shall be made alive."
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So as the old Adam
is being cleared out
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and the new Adam
is being installed,
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there are residual
battles that are going on
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in the very same
way we clean our house.
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You know, not too long
ago we put down wooden floors
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in our house in
one of our rooms,
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and I wanted to
tell you the dust,
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we're still
getting rid of the dust.
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Anytime you cut wood in a house,
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the dust
particles go in directions
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that you really don't consider
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that they will go
until like weeks later,
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you find residuals
on the top of the shelf,
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on some something in the house.
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There's dust and you say,
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"Well, that's so far
away from the initial room.
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How did it get there?"
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In the very same way,
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when God is
cleaning at our lives
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and putting down wood,
new floors, new ways of life,
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the dust of
that old clearing out
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gets to be passed around
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in various avenues of our lives,
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and it often
affects our service.
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So here's the
answer you want to put.
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How does Paul the Apostle
describe the battle of service?
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He says, "The mind and
the flesh are at odds."
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You want to put that down,
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the mind and the
flesh are at odds.
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That's what he in essence says.
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So let's define that.
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He's in essence saying
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when we give
our lives to Christ,
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we want to do something
for the kingdom of God,
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isn't that, right?
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We all want to do something.
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But when you get up in
the morning and you think,
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"Oh, somebody may reject me
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or the doors may
be slammed in my face,
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or somebody may take
the track that I give out
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and throw it on the ground,
or people may not want to hear
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what I have to tell them,
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or my friends may
think I'm strange,
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people may look at me
as odd and in a square.
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We look at all the rejections
that come into our mind
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to sometimes hinder
us from being effective
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in the service of God.
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So the mind becomes the seat
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that causes the
flesh not to move forward.
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With my mind, I
want to serve God.
00:10:37.40\00:10:39.80
But man, to get my body to do it
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is something
altogether different.
00:10:42.20\00:10:43.97
And so one of the
things we have to keep in mind
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is now we
understand what the Lord means
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when he says...
00:10:48.78\00:10:50.58
Let me see if
you could follow me.
00:10:50.61\00:10:52.71
You shall love the Lord your God
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with all your heart,
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with all your mind,
and with all your soul.
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How much? All.
00:11:00.86\00:11:02.62
So when all,
you know, that song,
00:11:02.66\00:11:04.36
all to Jesus I surrender.
00:11:04.39\00:11:06.33
When all is surrendered,
if our minds, and our souls,
00:11:06.36\00:11:10.20
our affections, our feelings,
00:11:10.23\00:11:11.77
and our hearts are
surrendered to Christ,
00:11:11.80\00:11:14.37
it's easy to serve somebody
00:11:14.40\00:11:15.74
that you are
completely in love with.
00:11:15.77\00:11:17.97
I mean, it's easy to
do something for someone
00:11:18.01\00:11:20.98
that you have an abiding
growing relationship with.
00:11:21.01\00:11:23.71
And so right away Paul is saying
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.21
one of the challenges of service
00:11:25.25\00:11:27.22
is what I refer to
as the divided life.
00:11:27.25\00:11:30.59
My mind wants to do it, but man,
00:11:30.62\00:11:32.72
my body just
doesn't really want to.
00:11:32.75\00:11:34.69
And that's why sometimes
when we have training seminars
00:11:34.72\00:11:37.66
and we say, "Okay, well,
carry Bible tracks in your car
00:11:37.69\00:11:42.56
or carry something in your car
00:11:42.60\00:11:43.93
that you can
give to your friends.
00:11:43.97\00:11:45.57
And there are people
that are on the streets
00:11:45.60\00:11:48.44
that are beating
us by the thousands."
00:11:48.47\00:11:50.64
Sometimes I go to
cities like New York City,
00:11:50.67\00:11:53.58
or I remember being in Las Vegas
00:11:53.61\00:11:54.94
once we went there with 3ABN,
00:11:54.98\00:11:57.05
and we went there
to do a rally weekend.
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And as you're
walking down the streets,
00:11:59.98\00:12:01.32
there are people with backpacks.
00:12:01.35\00:12:03.32
And in that they have thousands
of little pieces of paper.
00:12:03.35\00:12:06.25
And they're passing out
left and right as you go by me,
00:12:06.29\00:12:09.06
there's not missing anybody.
00:12:09.09\00:12:10.43
But the people of
God are sometimes absent
00:12:13.53\00:12:15.30
because we fear that
somebody may not take
00:12:15.33\00:12:18.17
what we have to offer,
00:12:18.20\00:12:19.97
so we have to
settle the issue of
00:12:20.00\00:12:21.70
if our mind is with the Lord,
00:12:21.74\00:12:23.07
we care less about those
who are going to not take,
00:12:23.10\00:12:25.81
but our concern is
about those who will accept
00:12:25.84\00:12:28.68
what we have to give.
00:12:28.71\00:12:30.05
And those who
accept what we have to give
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are more to be concerned
about than those who reject
00:12:32.41\00:12:35.48
what we have to offer.
00:12:35.52\00:12:36.85
Let's look at the other one.
00:12:36.89\00:12:38.22
Question number 10.
00:12:38.25\00:12:39.72
Go to question number 10.
00:12:39.75\00:12:42.52
Here it is.
00:12:42.56\00:12:44.76
What else does the Bible list
00:12:44.79\00:12:47.46
as a hindrance to
the servant's life?
00:12:47.50\00:12:50.57
What else does the Bible list
00:12:50.60\00:12:52.07
as a hindrance to
the servant's life?
00:12:52.10\00:12:54.87
This one is huge.
00:12:54.90\00:12:58.17
We were in the country of India
00:12:58.21\00:13:01.21
and we saw there a
two kinds of society.
00:13:01.24\00:13:05.78
On one hand, the very wealthy,
00:13:05.81\00:13:07.98
on the other
hand, the very poor.
00:13:08.02\00:13:10.22
And we noticed that
were wealth was highest,
00:13:10.25\00:13:13.15
God was absent most.
00:13:13.19\00:13:16.83
And this is not
something that's new.
00:13:16.86\00:13:18.56
This text recognizes that.
00:13:18.59\00:13:20.80
What else does the
Bible list as a hindrance
00:13:20.83\00:13:23.33
to the servant's life?
00:13:23.37\00:13:24.73
Matthew 6:24, go there with me.
00:13:24.77\00:13:28.87
Matthew 6:24.
00:13:28.90\00:13:30.41
I think you're already there,
I don't hear the pages turning,
00:13:30.44\00:13:32.37
but you know, it's
going to be on the screen.
00:13:32.41\00:13:33.74
Okay.
00:13:33.78\00:13:35.11
Now, what are
the first two words
00:13:35.14\00:13:36.48
on the screen?
00:13:36.51\00:13:37.85
No one.
00:13:37.88\00:13:39.21
Say one more time? No one.
00:13:39.25\00:13:40.58
So are there any exceptions? No.
00:13:40.62\00:13:41.95
"No one can
serve," how many masters?
00:13:41.98\00:13:44.65
"Two masters, for
either he will hate the one
00:13:44.69\00:13:48.46
and love the other,
or else he will be loyal
00:13:48.49\00:13:52.69
to the one and," what else?
00:13:52.73\00:13:54.06
"Despise the other.
00:13:54.10\00:13:55.73
You cannot
serve God and mammon."
00:13:55.76\00:13:58.77
Does anybody
know what mammon is?
00:13:58.80\00:14:01.14
Money, riches,
wealth, you'll discover that
00:14:01.17\00:14:04.51
when the Lord gave
the parable of the sower.
00:14:04.54\00:14:09.41
In one of the instances
00:14:09.44\00:14:10.78
where the Word
of God was choked,
00:14:10.81\00:14:12.41
he said, one of the reasons
why the Word of God was choked,
00:14:12.45\00:14:15.08
he says, "The
deceitfulness of riches."
00:14:15.12\00:14:18.42
And so there are those who
00:14:18.45\00:14:20.16
and we see this in
the Christian world
00:14:20.19\00:14:21.52
nowadays.
00:14:21.56\00:14:22.89
I mean, unfortunately,
many, many people are involved
00:14:22.92\00:14:26.90
in Christian
ministries for the wealth,
00:14:26.93\00:14:30.17
for the opulent life,
for the lavish lifestyle.
00:14:30.20\00:14:33.50
And the Bible says,
Paul the Apostle says,
00:14:33.54\00:14:35.37
they don't serve God,
they serve their own bellies.
00:14:35.40\00:14:38.87
And so we have to keep in mind
00:14:38.91\00:14:40.51
that we cannot let success
hinder our desire to serve God
00:14:40.54\00:14:45.61
because one is going to be,
00:14:45.65\00:14:47.55
one is eternal, the
other one is temporary.
00:14:47.58\00:14:51.02
Which one is
temporary, somebody tell me?
00:14:51.05\00:14:52.99
Which one is temporary? Mammon.
00:14:53.02\00:14:55.72
Mammon, the name for money,
the god of riches, temporary.
00:14:55.76\00:14:59.79
Money is going
to lose its value.
00:14:59.83\00:15:02.10
You know, when you go
from one country to the other,
00:15:02.13\00:15:03.80
and you see the money exchange,
00:15:03.83\00:15:05.63
we always want the
most for our money.
00:15:05.67\00:15:07.20
Don't we, right?
00:15:07.24\00:15:08.80
But money fluctuates every day.
00:15:08.84\00:15:11.37
Yet the God we serve is the same
00:15:11.41\00:15:14.38
yesterday, today, and forever.
00:15:14.41\00:15:17.75
So if you want to put down
what else does the Bible list
00:15:17.78\00:15:20.18
as a hindrance to
the servant's life?
00:15:20.22\00:15:22.82
What can we put down?
00:15:22.85\00:15:24.19
What can we put down?
00:15:27.22\00:15:29.72
The love of money.
00:15:29.76\00:15:32.39
Okay.
00:15:32.43\00:15:33.76
Not money, but
the love of money.
00:15:33.80\00:15:37.97
Somebody once says, if
you think money is evil,
00:15:38.00\00:15:40.17
I'll pass the offering plate.
00:15:40.20\00:15:43.04
Money is not evil.
00:15:43.07\00:15:44.41
It's the love of money
is the root of all evil
00:15:44.44\00:15:48.21
as the New King James says.
00:15:48.24\00:15:49.58
The love of money is
root of all kinds of evil.
00:15:49.61\00:15:52.21
And then the Bible talks about
those who desire to be rich.
00:15:52.25\00:15:55.82
They fall into
many, many temptations.
00:15:55.85\00:15:58.62
So they get their
bearings and all of a sudden
00:15:58.65\00:16:01.09
they get involved in
ministry and they say,
00:16:01.12\00:16:02.62
"Well, how can I make
money in this ministry?"
00:16:02.66\00:16:06.80
Well, my wife read
something to me yesterday,
00:16:06.83\00:16:09.20
I want to see if I remember it.
00:16:09.23\00:16:13.00
Yeah. Okay.
00:16:13.03\00:16:14.97
On earth,
00:16:15.00\00:16:17.61
people love gold
and walk on people.
00:16:17.64\00:16:21.31
In heaven, they love
people and walk on gold.
00:16:21.34\00:16:26.38
Isn't that amazing?
00:16:26.41\00:16:28.12
Which one would
have more wealth?
00:16:28.15\00:16:30.19
Heaven.
00:16:30.22\00:16:31.55
And the Bible
says, "By loving service,
00:16:31.59\00:16:34.06
by giving to God
what belongs to Him,
00:16:34.09\00:16:35.92
we are laying up for
yourselves treasures where?
00:16:35.96\00:16:38.33
In heaven, where moth
and rust does not corrupt
00:16:38.36\00:16:42.36
and where thieves
cannot break in to steal.
00:16:42.40\00:16:45.13
So when we allow money
to distort our service,
00:16:45.17\00:16:48.40
we're serving God
for the wrong reason,
00:16:48.44\00:16:50.17
never allows service
to be for financial gain,
00:16:50.21\00:16:53.68
because that's where
it gets all distorted.
00:16:53.71\00:16:55.54
That's where many
people and we know that
00:16:55.58\00:16:57.58
I don't want to mention names,
00:16:57.61\00:16:58.95
but in America there
are some televangelists
00:16:58.98\00:17:02.02
that have gone
down the wrong road.
00:17:02.05\00:17:03.39
They began with
the right intentions,
00:17:03.42\00:17:04.75
but all of a
sudden money took over.
00:17:04.79\00:17:06.92
And it bore them down a
road that brought them pain,
00:17:06.96\00:17:10.23
and jail time, and heartache,
00:17:10.26\00:17:12.73
and all the things
that they never intended.
00:17:12.76\00:17:15.86
But God is saying,
00:17:15.90\00:17:17.23
one of the hindrances of service
00:17:17.27\00:17:18.93
is the love of
money, not money itself,
00:17:18.97\00:17:22.07
but the love of money.
00:17:22.10\00:17:23.54
Okay, so which one
is first, money or God?
00:17:23.57\00:17:25.74
God. Okay, remember that.
00:17:25.77\00:17:29.74
Number 11.
00:17:29.78\00:17:31.11
Number 11.
00:17:31.15\00:17:32.51
How should the servant's
life parallel that of Jesus?
00:17:32.55\00:17:37.95
How should the servant's
life parallel that of Jesus?
00:17:37.99\00:17:42.62
Jesus left many
examples, you know,
00:17:42.66\00:17:44.19
if we follow the
examples of Jesus,
00:17:44.23\00:17:45.73
we will discover
that you'll never be lost
00:17:45.76\00:17:49.03
if you do what Jesus did.
00:17:49.06\00:17:52.23
You know, there's an
acronym, a WWDJ, what,
00:17:52.27\00:17:57.67
am I saying it correctly.
00:17:57.71\00:18:00.61
What WW, what would Jesus do.
00:18:00.64\00:18:03.51
Yeah, WWJD.
00:18:03.55\00:18:05.01
What would Jesus do?
00:18:05.05\00:18:06.98
I like to put WDJD.
00:18:07.02\00:18:09.28
What did Jesus do?
00:18:09.32\00:18:11.59
Because oftentimes,
00:18:11.62\00:18:13.12
if you look at
the life of Christ,
00:18:13.15\00:18:14.79
you get all the
evidences of the life He lived.
00:18:14.82\00:18:17.69
And this text in
Matthew 28:20 shows us
00:18:17.73\00:18:23.16
the kind of life that
takes us from pew sitters
00:18:23.20\00:18:28.87
to working in the
vineyard of the Lord,
00:18:28.90\00:18:32.84
from those who
are sitting on pews
00:18:32.87\00:18:34.94
to working in the
vineyard of the Lord.
00:18:34.98\00:18:36.68
Notice what this text says.
00:18:36.71\00:18:38.35
Matthew 20:28 reads as follows,
00:18:38.38\00:18:43.25
"Just as the Son of Man
00:18:43.28\00:18:45.02
did not come to be
served, but to serve,
00:18:45.05\00:18:49.42
and to give His
life a ransom for many."
00:18:49.46\00:18:52.79
Now we may just
think of the part of
00:18:52.83\00:18:55.06
didn't come to
serve and be served.
00:18:55.10\00:18:56.43
But you know that
00:18:56.46\00:18:57.80
when you are
involved in service,
00:18:57.83\00:18:59.17
your life is
somewhat of a ransom for many.
00:18:59.20\00:19:01.24
You know, what the ransom means?
00:19:01.27\00:19:02.60
What's a ransom?
00:19:02.64\00:19:03.97
If somebody gets a
ransom, what do they want?
00:19:04.01\00:19:06.37
They want money.
00:19:06.41\00:19:07.74
Okay, so when you say,
00:19:07.78\00:19:09.11
I'm laying all on
the altar of sacrifice,
00:19:09.14\00:19:11.91
the best investment you can make
00:19:15.48\00:19:18.09
is a life of
service for someone else.
00:19:18.12\00:19:20.96
The best investment
is using your energies,
00:19:20.99\00:19:24.03
your gifts, your skills,
00:19:24.06\00:19:27.20
all that God has given to
you in the life of service,
00:19:27.23\00:19:30.93
because that's the investment.
00:19:30.97\00:19:32.40
People can easily give money.
00:19:32.43\00:19:33.80
There are many
people that when you say,
00:19:33.84\00:19:35.30
"Okay, we have
missions offering,"
00:19:35.34\00:19:36.97
people will rather...
00:19:37.01\00:19:38.34
Let me just use an example.
00:19:38.37\00:19:39.71
Something that's
kind of been overlooked
00:19:39.74\00:19:42.91
in the evolution of
the Adventist church
00:19:42.94\00:19:46.41
is in gathering.
00:19:46.45\00:19:49.15
How many remember ingathering?
00:19:49.18\00:19:51.32
Now the purpose of ingathering
was not to raise goals,
00:19:51.35\00:19:55.16
but to reach souls.
00:19:55.19\00:19:58.39
And so a lot of
times people say,
00:19:58.43\00:19:59.83
"Well, what's
your ingathering goal?"
00:19:59.86\00:20:01.33
And somebody may say,
"My ingathering goal is $50."
00:20:01.36\00:20:04.43
So instead of going out
00:20:04.47\00:20:05.80
and passing out
tracks to reach souls,
00:20:05.83\00:20:09.24
they rather write a
check and reach their goal.
00:20:09.27\00:20:12.67
Notice what's happening there,
00:20:12.71\00:20:14.18
a division between
the mind and the life.
00:20:14.21\00:20:18.38
Why knock on doors?
00:20:18.41\00:20:20.08
Why have people slam
the doors on my face?
00:20:20.12\00:20:22.02
Oh, I tell you,
growing up ingathering was fun
00:20:22.05\00:20:25.89
in the city of New York.
00:20:25.92\00:20:27.26
I mean, if you can ingather
in the city of New York,
00:20:31.33\00:20:34.30
then living in
these out of towns
00:20:34.33\00:20:36.33
where the
challenges are not as great
00:20:36.36\00:20:38.60
and where
sometimes the challenges
00:20:38.63\00:20:40.57
are not as
threatening as it could be
00:20:40.60\00:20:42.50
in any major city, New
York, Chicago, Los Angeles,
00:20:42.54\00:20:44.74
wherever that may be,
00:20:44.77\00:20:46.11
I don't want to single
out New York, that's my city.
00:20:46.14\00:20:48.44
But if you can live
a life to reach souls,
00:20:48.48\00:20:51.95
then the Lord will also
allow you to reach your goals.
00:20:51.98\00:20:55.92
But if souls is the first focus,
00:20:55.95\00:20:58.15
then goals will
come in accordingly.
00:20:58.19\00:21:00.42
The Lord says, and if we put
the answer there in verse 11,
00:21:00.46\00:21:03.83
how should the servant's
life parallel that of Jesus?
00:21:03.86\00:21:07.06
We should desire to serve
and not just to be served.
00:21:07.10\00:21:11.20
In every two years
00:21:11.23\00:21:12.57
we enter into a
process here at our church
00:21:12.60\00:21:16.17
of selecting offices
and positions for people
00:21:16.20\00:21:18.67
to be involved in
Christian service.
00:21:18.71\00:21:20.68
And one of the
things that I often
00:21:20.71\00:21:24.41
don't want to hear people say,
00:21:24.45\00:21:27.68
I served for the last two years,
00:21:27.72\00:21:29.05
can I rest this year?
00:21:29.08\00:21:31.55
And I'm thinking,
"Don't ask me, ask Him."
00:21:31.59\00:21:35.32
Right?
00:21:35.36\00:21:37.19
Because I'm not the one
that's hiring anyone, the Lord.
00:21:37.23\00:21:41.53
Matter of fact, go
with me to Ephesians.
00:21:41.56\00:21:47.20
Like somebody once said to me,
00:21:47.24\00:21:49.24
when I was
working in New York City,
00:21:49.27\00:21:50.91
and I was challenged
to work on the Sabbath.
00:21:50.94\00:21:54.21
And the company supervisor said,
00:21:54.24\00:21:58.51
"I mean, can't you ask God
for a like make an exception
00:21:58.55\00:22:01.52
this weekend?"
00:22:01.55\00:22:04.49
And I'm thinking,
00:22:04.52\00:22:06.05
I'm going to ask God
to make an exception.
00:22:06.09\00:22:08.06
No, I'm asking you
to make an exception
00:22:08.09\00:22:10.89
because with God,
He's the same all the time.
00:22:10.93\00:22:13.26
Some people say,
"Well, can't your God make
00:22:13.29\00:22:15.83
an exception for
you this weekend?
00:22:15.86\00:22:17.63
No, He already made an
exception, He died for me.
00:22:17.67\00:22:21.84
See, so when it comes
to that, I say Ephesians 2,
00:22:21.87\00:22:25.51
when it comes to exceptions,
00:22:25.54\00:22:26.88
it should be man
that's willing to compromise,
00:22:26.91\00:22:29.58
where man is willing
to align him or his life
00:22:29.61\00:22:32.78
with God's requirements
00:22:32.81\00:22:34.38
than God aligning His
life with man's requirements.
00:22:34.42\00:22:37.55
Ephesians 2:10.
00:22:37.59\00:22:41.02
And this is the text.
00:22:41.06\00:22:43.69
We always like
verse 8 and 9, you know,
00:22:43.73\00:22:45.59
for by grace you have
been saved through faith
00:22:45.63\00:22:48.23
and that not of yourselves,
00:22:48.26\00:22:49.83
it is the gift
of God not of works,
00:22:49.86\00:22:51.33
lest any man should boast
and we often stop right there.
00:22:51.37\00:22:53.87
But verse 10 tells you that
God has not called us to occupy,
00:22:53.90\00:22:59.07
but to be involved.
00:22:59.11\00:23:00.84
Notice verse 10,
"For we are His," what?
00:23:00.88\00:23:04.41
"Workmanship."
00:23:04.45\00:23:05.78
In other words,
He's designed us.
00:23:05.81\00:23:07.38
He's put us
together for what purpose
00:23:07.42\00:23:09.98
created in
Christ Jesus for what?
00:23:10.02\00:23:13.25
For good works.
00:23:13.29\00:23:14.62
And here's the catch,
00:23:14.66\00:23:15.99
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them.
00:23:16.02\00:23:21.56
I like to think of this
as going to a shoe store.
00:23:21.60\00:23:24.23
Do they make the
shoes when you walk in?
00:23:24.27\00:23:26.87
No, they prepare them beforehand
00:23:26.90\00:23:28.30
that you should walk, get it.
00:23:28.34\00:23:31.31
They prepare them beforehand,
that you should walk in them.
00:23:31.34\00:23:35.14
So in the same way
before God calls us,
00:23:35.18\00:23:37.78
He's got a whole
shoe store of service
00:23:37.81\00:23:40.55
and He wants us to put on...
00:23:40.58\00:23:41.92
Okay, the shoe of witnessing,
00:23:41.95\00:23:44.55
the shoe of
whatever the ministry may be.
00:23:44.59\00:23:47.16
Whether it's prison ministry,
whether it's local ministry,
00:23:47.19\00:23:49.86
whether it's evangelism,
00:23:49.89\00:23:51.26
whether it is passing out
tracks, whatever it may be,
00:23:51.29\00:23:53.86
God has called every
one of us to be involved
00:23:53.90\00:23:56.60
in certain facets,
00:23:56.63\00:23:58.10
something that we can do
to advance the cause of God,
00:23:58.13\00:24:00.54
isn't that right?
00:24:00.57\00:24:02.07
Whether you're young or
old, it doesn't really matter.
00:24:02.10\00:24:04.34
The age doesn't matter.
00:24:04.37\00:24:06.47
Everybody is involved.
00:24:06.51\00:24:08.18
Everybody is called
to be on the front lines
00:24:08.21\00:24:10.21
for the Lord.
00:24:10.25\00:24:11.58
So the answer is to number 11.
00:24:11.61\00:24:15.45
How should the servant's
life parallel that of Jesus?
00:24:15.48\00:24:18.35
We should be
motivated to do what?
00:24:18.39\00:24:20.96
Serve.
00:24:20.99\00:24:23.12
Okay, let's go to number 12.
00:24:23.16\00:24:25.13
Number 12.
00:24:25.16\00:24:26.86
All right.
00:24:26.90\00:24:28.60
In what way does Jesus describe
00:24:28.63\00:24:32.93
the blessing of service?
00:24:32.97\00:24:34.97
You know, people
often ask the question,
00:24:35.00\00:24:36.87
what's in it for me?
00:24:36.91\00:24:38.41
What's in for me?
00:24:38.44\00:24:39.77
What am I going
to get out of that?
00:24:39.81\00:24:41.14
And oftentimes, people do things
00:24:41.18\00:24:42.51
because they want
to get the benefit.
00:24:42.54\00:24:44.95
They want to find out
00:24:44.98\00:24:46.31
how it's going to
enhance their lives.
00:24:46.35\00:24:47.98
What difference is it
going to make in their lives?
00:24:48.02\00:24:50.55
Well, look at this.
00:24:50.59\00:24:51.92
This is very wonderful text,
and we are going to John 12:26.
00:24:51.95\00:24:57.06
And you guys are so
much ahead of me now,
00:24:57.09\00:24:58.53
you already turn there.
00:24:58.56\00:24:59.89
If you have your
Bibles go there with us.
00:24:59.93\00:25:01.33
John 12:26. And
it reads as follows.
00:25:01.36\00:25:05.07
This is beautiful text.
00:25:05.10\00:25:07.10
Jesus says, "If
anyone does," what?
00:25:07.14\00:25:09.67
"Serves Me, let
him," do what? "Follow Me."
00:25:09.70\00:25:12.24
In other words,
let me be His example.
00:25:12.27\00:25:15.44
"And where I am," what?
00:25:15.48\00:25:18.28
"There My servant will be also."
00:25:18.31\00:25:21.68
And here's the
beautiful blessing.
00:25:21.72\00:25:23.62
"If anyone serves Me," what?
00:25:23.65\00:25:26.29
"Him My Father will honor."
00:25:26.32\00:25:30.29
Now, how many of you
want to be honored by God?
00:25:30.33\00:25:32.99
You ever heard
of an honor service?
00:25:33.03\00:25:34.36
When people I
think my brother-in-law,
00:25:34.40\00:25:36.33
I don't think, I
remember my brother-in-law,
00:25:36.36\00:25:38.20
my wife's brother,
00:25:38.23\00:25:39.83
they went down
to Miami, Florida,
00:25:39.87\00:25:41.20
he was being honored
for community service,
00:25:41.24\00:25:43.47
outstanding
service in the community.
00:25:43.51\00:25:46.01
NSS service where they
select people each year.
00:25:46.04\00:25:48.48
And they say,
"Well, we're going to honor
00:25:48.51\00:25:49.84
this person in the community
for outstanding citizenship,
00:25:49.88\00:25:53.18
for outstanding
neighborhood watch,
00:25:53.21\00:25:55.95
or outstanding
service to the community
00:25:55.98\00:25:58.25
in one capacity or the other."
00:25:58.29\00:25:59.92
And it's an honorable service.
00:25:59.95\00:26:01.89
And people
there, you get a plaque,
00:26:01.92\00:26:04.53
you get some kind of
gift, you get a certificate.
00:26:04.56\00:26:09.03
And when you come up and
they mentioned the things
00:26:09.06\00:26:11.23
that you've done,
00:26:11.27\00:26:13.44
you feel a sense of fulfillment,
00:26:13.47\00:26:15.67
a sense of belonging,
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.04
a sense of I do
make a difference.
00:26:17.07\00:26:19.14
And the Lord is in
essence saying here,
00:26:19.17\00:26:20.64
when we give our
lives to make a difference,
00:26:20.68\00:26:22.71
who will be the one
that's going to honor us?
00:26:22.74\00:26:25.65
And how's he's
going to honor us?
00:26:25.68\00:26:27.98
He's going to
honor us with long life.
00:26:28.02\00:26:30.92
Matter of fact, Revelation 20...
00:26:30.95\00:26:32.35
What you said?
00:26:32.39\00:26:34.02
He's going to honor
us with everlasting life.
00:26:34.06\00:26:37.23
Revelation 22:12 says,
"Behold, I come quickly,
00:26:37.26\00:26:40.10
and my reward is with
me, to give to everyone
00:26:40.13\00:26:42.70
according as his work shall be."
00:26:42.73\00:26:46.10
So if we want to be
honored by the Lord,
00:26:46.13\00:26:49.30
we need to be
servants of the Lord.
00:26:49.34\00:26:52.14
And I like the
way that this is put
00:26:52.17\00:26:54.94
because Jesus makes it clear...
00:26:54.98\00:26:56.88
And let's read the first verse
again, "If anyone serves," who?
00:26:56.91\00:27:01.18
You got to remember that.
00:27:01.22\00:27:02.98
Remember Jesus said,
"As much as you've done it
00:27:03.02\00:27:05.49
to the least of
these, you've done it," what?
00:27:05.52\00:27:07.92
"To Me?
00:27:07.96\00:27:09.32
So in serving others,
we're actually serving Christ.
00:27:09.36\00:27:14.30
In reaching out to save others,
00:27:14.33\00:27:16.06
we're actually
reaching out in the same way
00:27:16.10\00:27:19.07
as if we're seeking to
affect the life of Christ.
00:27:19.10\00:27:23.51
So as we seek to do those things
00:27:23.54\00:27:25.37
that will
change a person's life.
00:27:25.41\00:27:27.44
It's in the same way
we're ministering to Christ.
00:27:27.48\00:27:29.91
Go with me to the Book of Acts.
00:27:29.94\00:27:31.58
Acts Chapter 1.
00:27:31.61\00:27:33.78
And the answer I
would put here...
00:27:33.82\00:27:37.39
That was question number 12.
00:27:37.42\00:27:39.99
In what way does Jesus describe
the blessing of service?
00:27:40.02\00:27:43.26
It's an honor.
00:27:43.29\00:27:44.99
It is an honor.
00:27:45.03\00:27:46.39
I don't want us
to look at the fact
00:27:46.43\00:27:47.76
that the Father
will honor us alone,
00:27:47.80\00:27:49.73
but serving God is an honor.
00:27:49.76\00:27:52.63
Who can be
greater to be honored by
00:27:52.67\00:27:55.50
than the Lord Jesus Christ?
00:27:55.54\00:27:57.17
An honor.
00:27:57.21\00:27:58.54
I mean, can you
imagine in eternity
00:27:58.57\00:27:59.91
your name is mentioned.
00:27:59.94\00:28:01.28
And when your name is mentioned,
00:28:01.31\00:28:02.64
did you come forth
to receive your crown
00:28:02.68\00:28:04.58
as we know
there's not going to be
00:28:04.61\00:28:05.95
any crowns in
heaven without a star.
00:28:05.98\00:28:07.92
And what does
that star represent?
00:28:07.95\00:28:10.55
Each soul brought to
Christ by your service.
00:28:10.59\00:28:14.36
I've seen some people
00:28:14.39\00:28:15.72
that have been so
busy serving the Lord,
00:28:15.76\00:28:17.09
I'm thinking, "Man,
00:28:17.13\00:28:18.46
they're going to
need a shopping cart
00:28:18.49\00:28:19.83
to carry their crown."
00:28:19.86\00:28:21.20
If what I see is it actually
00:28:21.23\00:28:22.56
what's happening in their lives.
00:28:22.60\00:28:24.17
But the honor really
is in serving the Lord.
00:28:24.20\00:28:27.10
Acts Chapter 1
is that what I said?
00:28:27.14\00:28:29.57
Look at what Acts
Chapter 1 points out.
00:28:29.60\00:28:33.17
Because a lot of times
we think of this as people,
00:28:33.21\00:28:35.28
we've got to see
Jesus in the picture here.
00:28:35.31\00:28:38.15
Acts Chapter 1
and look at verse 8.
00:28:38.18\00:28:42.12
Acts 1:8.
00:28:42.15\00:28:43.69
"But you shall receive power
00:28:50.73\00:28:55.80
when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you,
00:28:55.83\00:28:58.13
and you shall be
witnesses," what?
00:28:58.17\00:29:01.17
"To me."
00:29:01.20\00:29:02.84
Notice, "We are
serving," who are we serving?
00:29:02.87\00:29:06.68
"We're witnesses to the
Lord not just for the Lord,
00:29:06.71\00:29:10.51
we are witnesses to Him.
00:29:10.55\00:29:11.91
In other words,
who's examining our lives?
00:29:11.95\00:29:14.88
Who's examining
our lives? The Lord is.
00:29:14.92\00:29:17.19
He's looking at
the service that we do.
00:29:17.22\00:29:19.45
He's looking at the service
that we render to His kingdom.
00:29:19.49\00:29:21.96
When He says, "You
shall be witnesses to me."
00:29:21.99\00:29:24.26
That willing services in
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria,
00:29:24.29\00:29:27.80
and the uttermost
parts of the earth.
00:29:27.83\00:29:29.33
But the power is coming from Him
00:29:29.36\00:29:30.97
and the services to Him.
00:29:31.00\00:29:33.44
You'll find in the
Book of Colossians.
00:29:33.47\00:29:35.74
And let me see if I included
it here, I may go back to that.
00:29:35.77\00:29:38.17
Yes, go with me to
Colossians Chapter 3.
00:29:38.21\00:29:40.48
Colossians Chapter 3.
00:29:40.51\00:29:41.84
This was in one of
our earlier questions.
00:29:41.88\00:29:44.88
Colossians Chapter 3.
00:29:44.91\00:29:46.25
And look at verse 23 and 24.
00:29:51.55\00:29:56.32
All right.
00:29:56.36\00:30:00.23
Evidence of the fact
that we are serving the Lord.
00:30:00.26\00:30:04.73
Okay?
00:30:04.77\00:30:06.97
When people do
things heartily, I mean,
00:30:07.00\00:30:08.37
they just do
with all their might.
00:30:08.40\00:30:09.74
I just...
00:30:09.77\00:30:11.11
It always troubles me
when I see lethargy involved
00:30:11.14\00:30:13.24
in Christianity
because it just doesn't match,
00:30:13.27\00:30:15.78
it doesn't match.
00:30:15.81\00:30:17.15
I think when lethargy
and Christianity meet,
00:30:17.18\00:30:20.25
it means that the
person doesn't understand
00:30:20.28\00:30:22.88
the great call
on his or her life,
00:30:22.92\00:30:24.79
or the great blessing,
00:30:24.82\00:30:26.15
or the great honor
connected to serving God.
00:30:26.19\00:30:28.56
I mean, there is
no greater honor.
00:30:28.59\00:30:29.99
If we got call
00:30:30.03\00:30:31.36
from the President
of the United States
00:30:31.39\00:30:32.73
to serve, we'll
say, "Do you realize
00:30:32.76\00:30:34.80
who I got a call from this week?
00:30:34.83\00:30:36.46
I've been invited
to Washington, D.C.
00:30:36.50\00:30:39.03
to serve in a specific capacity
00:30:39.07\00:30:42.10
for the President
of the United States."
00:30:42.14\00:30:44.31
And we'll say,
00:30:44.34\00:30:45.67
"For the President
of the United States?"
00:30:45.71\00:30:48.34
Man, that be everybody...
00:30:48.38\00:30:49.78
"How did they pick you?
00:30:49.81\00:30:51.91
What does you do it
makes you so different?"
00:30:51.95\00:30:53.98
Well, forget about
00:30:54.02\00:30:55.35
the President of
the United States.
00:30:55.38\00:30:56.72
I say that not in
the lack of respect.
00:30:56.75\00:30:58.55
But how much
greater to be chosen by God
00:30:58.59\00:31:01.52
to serve Him?
00:31:01.56\00:31:03.19
Amen?
00:31:03.22\00:31:04.66
But the reason why
we don't see that...
00:31:04.69\00:31:06.83
The reason why it
doesn't catch us that way
00:31:06.86\00:31:08.96
is because we're
looking for the present honor
00:31:09.00\00:31:13.64
rather than the honor
that will be bestowed upon us.
00:31:13.67\00:31:17.21
We've got to see the
honor ceremony in the future.
00:31:17.24\00:31:21.01
We can't just see the
honor ceremony right now.
00:31:21.04\00:31:23.28
Because those who are honored
right now, like the Olympians,
00:31:23.31\00:31:26.72
they put that gold
medal around their necks
00:31:26.75\00:31:28.22
and everybody
says, "Oh, an Olympian.
00:31:28.25\00:31:30.69
Oh, the servicemen."
00:31:30.72\00:31:32.29
When we see people on
the airplane, you know,
00:31:32.32\00:31:34.16
when you go on the airplane
they say, "First class,"
00:31:34.19\00:31:36.22
and then all servicemen.
00:31:36.26\00:31:37.59
And when they
go on in, you know,
00:31:37.63\00:31:38.96
sometimes you see people say,
"Thank you for your service."
00:31:38.99\00:31:41.33
And sometimes
people go like that
00:31:41.36\00:31:42.70
or other veterans will go
like that and salute them.
00:31:42.73\00:31:44.87
And we know that
these are the people,
00:31:44.90\00:31:46.23
the men and women
that are on the front lines
00:31:46.27\00:31:47.60
serving their
country, giving their lives.
00:31:47.64\00:31:50.27
But what greater
service to be involved in
00:31:50.31\00:31:53.21
than service for the King?
00:31:53.24\00:31:55.71
That's why this
text is the way it is.
00:31:55.74\00:31:57.88
Look at verse 23 of
Colossians Chapter 3.
00:31:57.91\00:32:02.98
"And whatever you
do, do it" lethargically.
00:32:03.02\00:32:08.92
How do it, what?
00:32:08.96\00:32:11.09
Say that word?
"Heartily, heartily."
00:32:11.13\00:32:12.49
Say what?
00:32:12.53\00:32:14.50
Let me hear the
word heartily, heartily.
00:32:14.53\00:32:16.46
Heartily! That's right.
00:32:16.50\00:32:18.53
"Do it heartily, as to
the Lord, and not to men.
00:32:18.57\00:32:23.67
Knowing that from the
Lord you will receive," what?
00:32:23.71\00:32:29.14
"The reward of the
inheritance for you serve," who?
00:32:29.18\00:32:33.25
"The Lord Christ."
00:32:33.28\00:32:36.08
Witnesses to me.
Who are we serving?
00:32:36.12\00:32:37.99
We're serving Jesus.
00:32:38.02\00:32:39.92
We're not in
service just for Him
00:32:39.95\00:32:42.82
but we're actually serving Him.
00:32:42.86\00:32:44.69
Whatever you do,
do as unto the Lord
00:32:44.73\00:32:46.96
because in fact,
that's who we are serving.
00:32:47.00\00:32:51.73
Let's go to question number...
00:32:51.77\00:32:54.14
What number are we up to now?
00:32:54.17\00:32:55.84
Number 13. Moving right along.
00:32:55.87\00:32:58.37
Moving right along.
00:32:58.41\00:33:01.14
What does Paul
the Apostle tell us
00:33:01.18\00:33:04.91
is a part of serving God?
00:33:04.95\00:33:08.42
What does the
Apostle Paul tell us
00:33:08.45\00:33:10.35
is a part of serving God?
00:33:10.39\00:33:13.39
We're going to go to Acts 20:19.
00:33:13.42\00:33:16.59
Acts 20:19. Okay.
00:33:16.62\00:33:20.60
This is kind of the
thing we all want to avoid.
00:33:20.63\00:33:23.63
We wonder, now when is
He going to bring this up?
00:33:23.67\00:33:27.30
Because truly,
00:33:27.34\00:33:28.67
it is a great
honor to serve God,
00:33:28.70\00:33:30.31
but don't think that
00:33:30.34\00:33:31.67
you're going to serve God easily
00:33:31.71\00:33:33.81
while we live in
enemy's territory, right?
00:33:33.84\00:33:37.21
If you go to
overseas to the battlefield,
00:33:37.25\00:33:40.98
and you complain
that you're being shot at,
00:33:41.02\00:33:42.85
then you not live in a reality.
00:33:42.88\00:33:47.36
We are living in
enemy's territory,
00:33:47.39\00:33:50.19
serving the Lord will
bring with it some challenges.
00:33:50.23\00:33:53.43
So what's the Apostle Paul say?
00:33:53.46\00:33:55.46
Look at Acts 20:19, he says,
"Serving the Lord with," what?
00:33:55.50\00:34:00.57
"All humility,"
that be the humble,
00:34:00.60\00:34:04.04
don't boast about
it, "with many," what?
00:34:04.07\00:34:06.47
"Tears and," what else?
00:34:06.51\00:34:08.08
"Trials which happened to me
by the plotting of the Jews."
00:34:08.11\00:34:13.45
It's amazing that that statement
00:34:13.48\00:34:14.82
is even connected there
00:34:14.85\00:34:16.18
because God had entrusted
the gospel to the Jews.
00:34:16.22\00:34:19.22
And by rejecting the Lord,
by rejecting the messenger,
00:34:19.25\00:34:23.02
by rejecting the gospel,
they then began to persecute
00:34:23.06\00:34:27.00
those who carried the torch
that they decided not to carry.
00:34:27.03\00:34:31.13
And what did he say?
00:34:31.17\00:34:32.50
He served the Lord humbly,
but he had a lot of what?
00:34:32.53\00:34:35.17
Tears, and a lot of what?
00:34:35.20\00:34:36.81
Trials, that comes.
00:34:36.84\00:34:38.91
And Jesus said, "If
they persecuted Him,
00:34:38.94\00:34:42.51
if they do to Him,
who's the green tree?"
00:34:42.54\00:34:47.02
What would they
do to those of us
00:34:47.05\00:34:48.38
who bear no fruit, right?
00:34:48.42\00:34:51.02
Is the servant
greater than his Lord?
00:34:51.05\00:34:52.82
Yes or no? Absolutely not.
00:34:52.85\00:34:55.69
And those who are sent
are not greater than the one
00:34:55.72\00:34:57.83
who does send.
00:34:57.86\00:34:59.19
Look at 2 Corinthians 6.
00:34:59.23\00:35:00.56
So you're going
to put the answer
00:35:00.60\00:35:01.93
down here for number 13.
00:35:01.96\00:35:03.30
What does Paul the Apostle
tell us is a part of service?
00:35:03.33\00:35:05.77
Tears and trials.
00:35:05.80\00:35:08.80
We must serve God humbly.
00:35:08.84\00:35:10.84
But what's a part of
it? Tears and trials.
00:35:10.87\00:35:14.01
And I know that for a fact,
00:35:14.04\00:35:15.38
because there's so
many people that say,
00:35:15.41\00:35:17.38
"I've been praying
for years for my family,
00:35:17.41\00:35:20.68
and I just can't get
any reaction from them.
00:35:20.72\00:35:23.72
I've been praying for my
family to accept the gospel.
00:35:23.75\00:35:26.72
I've been leaving tracks.
00:35:26.76\00:35:28.39
I've been sending
them Bible studies."
00:35:28.42\00:35:31.16
I know what that's like,
and some nights you'd say,
00:35:31.19\00:35:34.60
"Lord, give so
and so more time."
00:35:34.63\00:35:38.20
Please Lord, just
please give them more time
00:35:38.23\00:35:40.74
and through tears and trials,
00:35:40.77\00:35:43.07
we pray that they
will come to understand.
00:35:43.10\00:35:45.97
And so sometimes
things don't happen
00:35:46.01\00:35:48.01
in that person's life
00:35:48.04\00:35:49.44
if they're not
happening in our lives.
00:35:49.48\00:35:51.11
So we have to live the
life of a constant testimony
00:35:51.15\00:35:53.45
so that by our lives,
hopefully they'll be convinced
00:35:53.48\00:35:56.18
that it is worth
serving the Lord.
00:35:56.22\00:35:58.72
2 Corinthians...
00:35:58.75\00:36:00.09
Did I tell you
what chapter? Chapter 6.
00:36:00.12\00:36:03.96
I want you to
see something here.
00:36:03.99\00:36:06.26
Paul talks about this.
00:36:06.29\00:36:07.93
2 Corinthians 6.
00:36:07.96\00:36:11.93
And I'm going to kind
of go through this list
00:36:11.97\00:36:14.54
because this really
outlines the kind of life
00:36:14.57\00:36:17.17
that Paul had when
it came to service.
00:36:17.21\00:36:20.34
He made it very clear.
00:36:20.38\00:36:21.84
Don't think that you
gonna put on a uniform
00:36:21.88\00:36:24.11
and you're in the army of God
00:36:24.15\00:36:25.48
and there's not going to
be some kind of challenges.
00:36:25.51\00:36:27.32
He starts in verse 3,
00:36:27.35\00:36:28.95
"We give no offense in anything,
00:36:28.98\00:36:31.39
that our ministry
may not be blamed.
00:36:31.42\00:36:34.86
But in all things
we commend ourselves
00:36:34.89\00:36:38.03
as ministers of God..."
00:36:38.06\00:36:40.06
Now notice
these, "In much," what?
00:36:40.10\00:36:42.76
"Patience in," what else?
00:36:42.80\00:36:44.30
"Tribulations, in needs,
in distresses, in stripes,
00:36:44.33\00:36:49.94
and in imprisonment,
in tumults, in labor's,
00:36:49.97\00:36:53.74
in sleeplessness, in fasting,
00:36:53.78\00:36:56.61
by purity, by
knowledge," by what else?
00:36:56.64\00:36:59.85
"Long suffering, by
kindness, by the Holy Spirit,
00:36:59.88\00:37:04.29
by sincere love,
by the word of truth,
00:37:04.32\00:37:06.99
by the power of God,
00:37:07.02\00:37:09.86
by the armor of
righteousness on the right hand,
00:37:09.89\00:37:13.66
and on the left, by
honor and," what else?
00:37:13.70\00:37:17.03
"Dishonor, by evil
report and," what else?
00:37:17.07\00:37:20.84
"Good report, as deceivers,
and yet true, as unknown,
00:37:20.87\00:37:25.44
and yet well known, as
dying, and behold we live,
00:37:25.47\00:37:30.55
as chastened,
and yet not killed,
00:37:30.58\00:37:33.75
as sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing,
00:37:33.78\00:37:36.45
as poor, yet making many rich,
00:37:36.48\00:37:39.59
and is having nothing, and
yet possessing all things."
00:37:39.62\00:37:42.92
What a list?
00:37:42.96\00:37:44.96
I mean, that's
the kind of service
00:37:44.99\00:37:46.33
that we must expect.
00:37:46.36\00:37:47.96
You're not going to
get one without the other.
00:37:48.00\00:37:50.87
Sometimes people say
evil things about you.
00:37:50.90\00:37:55.50
Well, Paul said,
that's going to happen,
00:37:55.54\00:37:57.11
but on the other side of
that terrible report is a what?
00:37:57.14\00:37:59.74
Good report.
00:37:59.77\00:38:01.38
On the side of the chastening,
many people are becoming,
00:38:01.41\00:38:05.11
he said, "I became poor
00:38:05.15\00:38:06.75
that others
might become wealthy."
00:38:06.78\00:38:09.35
It's a life of service,
it's a life of challenge,
00:38:09.38\00:38:12.22
it's not a life where
it's going to be easy.
00:38:12.25\00:38:14.29
But we must accept the fact
00:38:14.32\00:38:17.43
that Jesus said in this
world you will have what?
00:38:17.46\00:38:20.30
Tribulation, but be of good
cheer I've overcome the world.
00:38:20.33\00:38:24.23
And so for those who
want to serve God and think,
00:38:24.27\00:38:26.80
I'll have no
opposition, it's not realistic.
00:38:26.84\00:38:30.14
That's the reality. Huh?
00:38:30.17\00:38:32.97
So send I you to
labor unrewarded,
00:38:33.01\00:38:34.98
the song we often sang,
to serve unpaid, unloved,
00:38:35.01\00:38:37.65
unsought, unknown, to
bear rebuke to suffer,
00:38:37.68\00:38:41.38
scorn and scoffing.
00:38:41.42\00:38:43.18
So send I you to
toil for me alone.
00:38:43.22\00:38:46.62
You find in the
lives of all the apostles.
00:38:46.65\00:38:49.32
They went through persecution.
00:38:49.36\00:38:50.69
And John, the
faithful revelator,
00:38:50.73\00:38:52.99
they tried to boil him,
00:38:53.03\00:38:54.36
but he was so on fire
that the oil was not enough.
00:38:54.40\00:38:58.70
You'll get that tomorrow.
00:38:58.73\00:39:00.37
He was on fire by the Lord.
00:39:00.40\00:39:02.24
The oil was of no value.
00:39:02.27\00:39:03.61
God will make us invincible
until His work is done in us.
00:39:03.64\00:39:07.21
Amen?
00:39:07.24\00:39:08.78
Now, let's go
on to the next one.
00:39:08.81\00:39:10.95
Number 14.
00:39:10.98\00:39:12.78
Moving right along.
00:39:12.81\00:39:14.15
Question number 14.
00:39:14.18\00:39:16.05
Trials, and tears,
00:39:16.08\00:39:17.42
and tribulations
are a part of it.
00:39:17.45\00:39:19.12
But here it is.
00:39:19.15\00:39:21.19
What does Paul
list as distractions
00:39:21.22\00:39:26.36
to serving the Lord?
00:39:26.39\00:39:28.36
What does he
list as distractions?
00:39:28.40\00:39:31.10
This is pretty interesting.
00:39:31.13\00:39:33.44
I want to bring this one out.
00:39:33.47\00:39:34.80
As I was studying
for this, I thought,
00:39:34.84\00:39:36.74
I never thought
about it that way.
00:39:36.77\00:39:38.21
You know, the Pharisees
made Christianity a burden.
00:39:38.24\00:39:44.01
Matter of fact, some of what
they did is still cited today
00:39:44.05\00:39:47.12
as reasons why people
00:39:47.15\00:39:48.48
don't want to honor the Sabbath.
00:39:48.52\00:39:49.85
This is what the Pharisees
did, what the Pharisees did.
00:39:49.88\00:39:52.65
Well, they did many
things to bring dishonor
00:39:52.69\00:39:54.46
to the truth of God's word,
00:39:54.49\00:39:55.86
but this is a
pretty interesting one.
00:39:55.89\00:39:58.59
Go with me to the Book
of Romans 14:17 and 18.
00:39:58.63\00:40:03.90
What does Paul
list as distractions
00:40:03.93\00:40:06.27
to serving the Lord?
00:40:06.30\00:40:07.97
All right.
00:40:08.00\00:40:10.27
Pretty interesting here.
00:40:10.31\00:40:13.51
Okay.
00:40:13.54\00:40:15.21
And I'm turning to Romans.
00:40:15.24\00:40:16.64
I already have the
text in front of me,
00:40:16.68\00:40:18.01
but I want to turn there
00:40:18.05\00:40:19.38
because I may want to
expound or expand on it.
00:40:19.41\00:40:22.68
Okay, here we
are, Romans Chapter 14.
00:40:22.72\00:40:26.52
And the Bible says,
00:40:26.55\00:40:27.89
"It's follows for
the kingdom of God
00:40:27.92\00:40:32.76
is not," what?
00:40:32.79\00:40:34.30
"Eating and," what?
00:40:34.33\00:40:36.10
"Drinking, but righteousness,
00:40:36.13\00:40:39.13
and peace, and joy
in the Holy Spirit.
00:40:39.17\00:40:43.37
For he who serves
Christ in these things
00:40:43.41\00:40:46.98
is acceptable to God
and approved by men."
00:40:47.01\00:40:52.41
Now the reason I
brought this one up
00:40:52.45\00:40:54.38
is because the
Pharisees had connected burdens
00:40:54.42\00:41:00.22
to the service of God
00:41:00.26\00:41:01.82
that were never
intended to be burdens.
00:41:01.86\00:41:04.99
Matter of fact, go with
me to the Book of Matthew.
00:41:05.03\00:41:07.80
Look at the Book of
Matthew, this is an example.
00:41:07.83\00:41:10.53
Matthew Chapter 23.
00:41:10.57\00:41:13.44
And you have to be very careful
when people make certain tests,
00:41:13.47\00:41:17.74
tests that God never
intended to be a test.
00:41:17.77\00:41:22.21
Did you hear what I said?
00:41:22.24\00:41:24.31
Oh, yeah.
00:41:24.35\00:41:25.75
When there is a lack of balance,
00:41:25.78\00:41:27.88
you'll find people
that make certain tests
00:41:27.92\00:41:29.95
tests that God
never made a test.
00:41:29.98\00:41:32.95
And this is how he illustrated
that in the Book of Matthew.
00:41:32.99\00:41:36.52
Matthew Chapter 23.
00:41:36.56\00:41:38.59
Is that where you all are?
00:41:38.63\00:41:40.33
I'm there now. Here we are.
00:41:40.36\00:41:42.73
Matthew 23.
00:41:42.76\00:41:44.67
Jesus characterized
the Pharisees, all right?
00:41:44.70\00:41:48.37
I'm going to
read from verse 1-4.
00:41:48.40\00:41:50.47
Not to take the whole thing,
00:41:50.51\00:41:51.84
but it's a lot
more he covers in here.
00:41:51.87\00:41:53.84
But it says, "Then
Jesus spoke to the multitude,
00:41:53.88\00:41:57.35
and to his disciples, saying,
00:41:57.38\00:42:00.55
the scribes and the
Pharisees sit in," what?
00:42:00.58\00:42:04.65
"Moses seat.
00:42:04.69\00:42:06.96
Therefore,
whatever they tell you
00:42:06.99\00:42:09.99
to observe, that
observe and do..."
00:42:10.03\00:42:13.03
But listen to what he says.
00:42:13.06\00:42:15.50
"But do not do
according to their works,
00:42:15.53\00:42:18.87
for they say, and," what?
00:42:18.90\00:42:21.10
"Do not do, for
they bind heavy burdens,
00:42:21.14\00:42:25.61
hard to bear, and lay
them on men's shoulders,
00:42:25.64\00:42:29.98
but they
themselves will not move them
00:42:30.01\00:42:33.31
with one of their fingers.
00:42:33.35\00:42:35.72
By all their works
they do to be seen by men.
00:42:35.75\00:42:40.16
They make their
phylacteries broad
00:42:40.19\00:42:43.66
and enlarge the
borders of their garments.
00:42:43.69\00:42:46.19
They love the
best places at feasts,
00:42:46.23\00:42:50.10
the best seats in the synagogue,
00:42:50.13\00:42:52.23
greetings in the marketplace
and to be called by men,
00:42:52.27\00:42:55.64
'Rabbi, rabbi.'
00:42:55.67\00:42:57.97
But you do not be called
Rabbi for one is your teacher,
00:42:58.01\00:43:03.24
the Christ, and
you are all brethren."
00:43:03.28\00:43:06.65
And as I go on
further there's a lot more,
00:43:06.68\00:43:08.88
but what I want to point
out is particularly verse 4,
00:43:08.92\00:43:11.62
"For they bind heavy
burdens hard to bear,
00:43:11.65\00:43:14.19
and lay them on
men's shoulders."
00:43:14.22\00:43:16.02
And you find in the Church
of Rome, Paul the Apostle,
00:43:16.06\00:43:19.43
and this is
sometimes often misconstrued,
00:43:19.46\00:43:21.46
and I want to make
this very, very clear.
00:43:21.50\00:43:24.33
We are a church that
believe in health reform.
00:43:24.37\00:43:27.77
What phrase did I just use?
00:43:27.80\00:43:29.57
Health reform.
00:43:29.60\00:43:31.87
But if you put health
00:43:31.91\00:43:35.18
in the place of the gospel,
00:43:35.21\00:43:38.48
then you're causing a hindrance
00:43:38.51\00:43:41.32
where God never intended
for there to be a hindrance.
00:43:41.35\00:43:44.22
One of the examples I
want to share with you
00:43:44.25\00:43:45.89
something that I
read and this came to me
00:43:45.92\00:43:47.99
because when I was
growing up in New York City,
00:43:48.02\00:43:50.63
I ran into a
pretty adverse group,
00:43:50.66\00:43:53.50
and when I say adverse,
00:43:53.53\00:43:55.30
I mean a group
that was an offshoot,
00:43:55.33\00:44:00.44
claiming the name,
00:44:00.47\00:44:01.80
but disconnected from the church
00:44:01.84\00:44:03.57
and binding burdens on members
00:44:03.61\00:44:05.61
that had nothing
to do with salvation.
00:44:05.64\00:44:07.58
And they came up
with certain tests.
00:44:07.61\00:44:09.64
And they misused the
writings of Ellen White
00:44:09.68\00:44:11.98
to substantiate
their views and said,
00:44:12.01\00:44:14.72
"Well, if you do
this, and you do that,
00:44:14.75\00:44:16.12
and you do
this, and you do that,
00:44:16.15\00:44:17.85
then you are saved.
00:44:17.89\00:44:19.45
But if you don't do
this, do that, and do this,
00:44:19.49\00:44:21.29
and do that, then you are lost."
00:44:21.32\00:44:23.83
And they made certain tests
00:44:23.86\00:44:26.33
that were not tests, tests.
00:44:26.36\00:44:30.10
Can I read a quotation to you?
00:44:30.13\00:44:32.70
This is one
that's very interesting.
00:44:32.73\00:44:35.50
And I want to go ahead
and read it to you here.
00:44:35.54\00:44:36.87
Let me just go back
to my reference here.
00:44:36.91\00:44:38.37
Okay. Okay.
00:44:38.41\00:44:43.41
And this was in
reference to tobacco,
00:44:43.45\00:44:48.45
tea, coffee, and
alcohol as compared to butter,
00:44:48.48\00:44:53.15
milk, cheese, and eggs.
00:44:53.19\00:44:56.66
Now get the categories,
tea, coffee, tobacco,
00:44:56.69\00:45:01.26
and alcohol and
then the other category,
00:45:01.30\00:45:04.10
butter, milk, cheese, and eggs.
00:45:04.13\00:45:08.17
And what happened was,
00:45:08.20\00:45:11.07
as I read the
quotation you'll find...
00:45:11.11\00:45:13.34
Well, let me go
ahead and read it.
00:45:13.38\00:45:14.71
Could I just read it?
00:45:14.74\00:45:16.08
Okay. All right.
00:45:16.11\00:45:17.45
The question
whether we shall eat
00:45:17.48\00:45:20.25
butter, meat, or cheese
00:45:20.28\00:45:22.82
is not to be
presented to anyone as a test.
00:45:22.85\00:45:27.56
But we are to educate
00:45:27.59\00:45:28.92
and to show the
evils of these things
00:45:28.96\00:45:31.23
that are objectionable.
00:45:31.26\00:45:34.00
Those who gather up these things
00:45:34.03\00:45:36.36
and drive them upon others,
00:45:36.40\00:45:39.07
do not know what
work they are doing.
00:45:39.10\00:45:42.44
The Word of God has
given tests to this people.
00:45:42.47\00:45:47.28
And here are the test,
the keeping of God's holy law.
00:45:47.31\00:45:50.58
The Sabbath is a test,
00:45:50.61\00:45:52.25
a sign between
God and His people
00:45:52.28\00:45:54.22
throughout their
generations forever.
00:45:54.25\00:45:56.38
Forever, this is the burden
of the third angel's message,
00:45:56.42\00:46:01.22
the commandments of God,
00:46:01.26\00:46:02.59
and the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:46:02.62\00:46:04.69
And we finish it.
00:46:04.73\00:46:06.09
Tea, coffee,
tobacco and alcohol,
00:46:06.13\00:46:09.73
we must present as
sinful indulgences, right?
00:46:09.76\00:46:14.80
And that is
caffeinated, specifically.
00:46:14.84\00:46:16.94
We cannot place
on the same ground
00:46:16.97\00:46:19.71
meat, eggs, butter, and cheese
00:46:19.74\00:46:22.51
as such articles
placed upon the table.
00:46:22.54\00:46:25.58
These are not to
be borne in front
00:46:25.61\00:46:28.98
as the burden of our work.
00:46:29.02\00:46:31.72
The former tea,
coffee, tobacco, beer, wine,
00:46:31.75\00:46:34.86
and all spurious liquors
are not to be taken moderately,
00:46:34.89\00:46:38.19
but discarded altogether.
00:46:38.23\00:46:40.50
The poisonous narcotics
00:46:40.53\00:46:41.86
are not to be
treated in the same way
00:46:41.90\00:46:44.07
as the subject of
eggs, butter, and cheese.
00:46:44.10\00:46:48.70
When I was a
young man in the church,
00:46:48.74\00:46:51.41
I had compiled all
these lists together.
00:46:51.44\00:46:55.38
One of the reasons
I've presented the message
00:46:55.41\00:46:56.85
how to live a
spiritual life in a natural body
00:46:56.88\00:46:58.81
is because it is
to avoid extremes
00:46:58.85\00:47:00.72
on one side or the other.
00:47:00.75\00:47:02.42
Now, the issues of health
00:47:02.45\00:47:05.22
are the issues of health,
00:47:05.25\00:47:08.79
the issues of salvation,
are the issues of salvation.
00:47:08.82\00:47:11.99
When you mesh
00:47:12.03\00:47:15.53
egg, butter, and
cheese as salvation,
00:47:15.56\00:47:17.93
that is not the message.
00:47:17.97\00:47:20.37
That is not the
message to be borne.
00:47:20.40\00:47:22.24
And that was in fact,
00:47:22.27\00:47:23.61
what had
happened during that time.
00:47:23.64\00:47:25.04
And when you find,
00:47:25.07\00:47:26.41
there are many,
many references here.
00:47:26.44\00:47:28.08
As a matter of fact,
00:47:28.11\00:47:29.44
what is the proper
setting of that is as we learn
00:47:29.48\00:47:32.91
and this is the proper setting,
00:47:32.95\00:47:34.38
as we are educated to the evils
of what it does to our bodies,
00:47:34.42\00:47:39.42
we are to abstain
from those things,
00:47:39.45\00:47:41.16
but not to present them
as an issue of salvation
00:47:41.19\00:47:44.29
and a test to fellowship.
00:47:44.33\00:47:45.66
Dan?
00:47:45.69\00:47:47.03
I bet you didn't
mention ice cream.
00:47:47.06\00:47:50.77
Well, she talks about milk also.
00:47:50.80\00:47:52.30
But in fact, I
understand what you're saying.
00:47:52.33\00:47:54.94
But these are issues of health
00:47:54.97\00:47:57.44
and here's the
key where you benefit.
00:47:57.47\00:47:58.91
When you are healthy your
mind is able to be communicated
00:47:58.94\00:48:01.74
too much easily than
when you're unhealthy.
00:48:01.78\00:48:04.38
I've seen people that
have gone overboard and say,
00:48:04.41\00:48:05.95
"Okay, well,
since it's not a test,
00:48:05.98\00:48:07.38
well, let me eat as
much of that as I can.
00:48:07.42\00:48:09.18
No, you hinder yourself,
00:48:09.22\00:48:10.55
you injure yourself
in the very same way.
00:48:10.59\00:48:12.12
So we must
understand the difference
00:48:12.15\00:48:13.49
between health
reform and salvation.
00:48:13.52\00:48:16.83
And that was one
of the issues here.
00:48:16.86\00:48:18.33
And I was putting
that in the context here.
00:48:18.36\00:48:20.33
So when you think about it,
00:48:20.36\00:48:22.06
be careful of those things
00:48:22.10\00:48:24.20
that are not
issues of salvation,
00:48:24.23\00:48:26.03
that hinder the
service of those that God calls
00:48:26.07\00:48:30.31
to be servants in His work.
00:48:30.34\00:48:32.34
So here's the
answer to number 14.
00:48:32.37\00:48:34.58
What does Paul
list as distractions
00:48:34.61\00:48:38.08
to serving the Lord?
00:48:38.11\00:48:39.71
Here's what you want
to put down, extremes.
00:48:39.75\00:48:43.12
You want to put down extremes,
00:48:43.15\00:48:45.75
and that is the biggest emphasis
00:48:45.79\00:48:47.29
of what's being
talked about here.
00:48:47.32\00:48:48.69
Extremes.
00:48:48.72\00:48:50.39
That's the issue
that the Lord brought out.
00:48:50.43\00:48:52.39
And earlier, he also says,
00:48:52.43\00:48:53.76
beware of the leaven of
the Scribes and Pharisees.
00:48:53.80\00:48:57.03
And except your righteousness
00:48:57.07\00:48:58.83
exceeds that of the
Scribes and the Pharisees,
00:48:58.87\00:49:01.00
you cannot enter
the kingdom of heaven.
00:49:01.04\00:49:03.57
All right? That's number 14.
00:49:03.61\00:49:06.17
So you want to
put the word extremes.
00:49:06.21\00:49:09.04
Don't think we'll
get to 21 tonight.
00:49:09.08\00:49:10.45
But let's go to 15.
00:49:10.48\00:49:12.21
Okay, let's move in right along.
00:49:12.25\00:49:13.82
Okay?
00:49:13.85\00:49:15.18
What should our aim become
00:49:15.22\00:49:18.42
when we give our
lives in service?
00:49:18.45\00:49:21.69
What should our aim become
00:49:21.72\00:49:23.89
when we give our
lives in service?
00:49:23.93\00:49:27.96
And we're turning
00:49:28.00\00:49:29.66
to 1 Corinthians 7:35.
00:49:29.70\00:49:35.60
1 Corinthians 7:35.
00:49:35.64\00:49:39.84
What should our aim become
00:49:39.87\00:49:41.21
when we give our
lives in service?
00:49:41.24\00:49:43.71
Here it is.
00:49:43.75\00:49:45.75
And in the interest of time...
00:49:45.78\00:49:47.78
Oh, we have enough time.
We're moving right along.
00:49:47.82\00:49:49.78
I thought we had
less time than that.
00:49:49.82\00:49:51.62
Praise the Lord
for the eight minutes
00:49:51.65\00:49:52.99
we still have.
00:49:53.02\00:49:54.36
Amen for that.
00:49:54.39\00:49:55.72
I didn't want
to end too quickly.
00:49:55.76\00:49:57.09
But here it is.
00:49:57.13\00:49:58.46
1 Corinthians
7:35 reads as follows.
00:49:58.49\00:50:01.06
"And this I say
for your own profit,
00:50:01.10\00:50:05.00
not that I may
put a leash on you,
00:50:05.03\00:50:09.40
but for what is proper,
00:50:09.44\00:50:11.11
and that you may serve the Lord
without," what's the last word?
00:50:11.14\00:50:15.28
"Distractions."
00:50:15.31\00:50:16.64
Now that word distractions,
00:50:16.68\00:50:18.31
I'm segueing from
the last one to this one,
00:50:18.35\00:50:20.92
distractions come in far
00:50:20.95\00:50:23.18
broader range than just food.
00:50:23.22\00:50:27.72
Anything that hinders you
00:50:27.76\00:50:29.36
from serving the
Lord is a distraction.
00:50:29.39\00:50:33.83
And I don't want
to say it this way,
00:50:33.86\00:50:35.33
but sometimes even family
00:50:35.36\00:50:37.93
could be a distraction
from serving the Lord.
00:50:37.97\00:50:40.77
Sometimes friends
could be a distraction
00:50:40.80\00:50:44.74
from serving the Lord.
00:50:44.77\00:50:46.11
So that word
distraction is broad.
00:50:46.14\00:50:49.14
Sometimes the views
that you have that conflict
00:50:49.18\00:50:51.55
with each other
00:50:51.58\00:50:52.91
can be a
distraction in serving the Lord.
00:50:52.95\00:50:55.45
So when we try to put
the principle together here,
00:50:55.48\00:50:58.22
here's what I
want you to put down.
00:50:58.25\00:50:59.59
What should our aim become
00:50:59.62\00:51:00.96
when we give our
lives in service?
00:51:00.99\00:51:03.12
Avoid distractions.
00:51:03.16\00:51:05.19
Avoid distractions.
00:51:05.23\00:51:07.00
I give an example.
00:51:07.03\00:51:08.90
I used to ride this
hobby horse quite often.
00:51:08.93\00:51:11.87
I remember in times gone by...
00:51:11.90\00:51:14.80
When I say times gone by,
00:51:14.84\00:51:16.17
it sounds like
centuries ago, doesn't it?
00:51:16.20\00:51:18.41
I'm talking about my lifetime.
00:51:18.44\00:51:19.77
I used to battle
as a young pastor
00:51:19.81\00:51:21.31
to get people to come
00:51:21.34\00:51:22.68
to Wednesday
night prayer meeting.
00:51:22.71\00:51:24.05
And one person said, "Pastor,
didn't you know that tonight
00:51:24.08\00:51:26.11
was the final
episode of Dallas?"
00:51:26.15\00:51:29.78
And I'm thinking,
"Dallas that was way back,
00:51:29.82\00:51:32.75
you know, who shot JR,"
remember that all stupidness.
00:51:32.79\00:51:35.42
I said, "Dallas?"
00:51:35.46\00:51:37.69
You want to find out
who shot JR instead of...
00:51:37.73\00:51:41.16
With the Word of
God, the truth of God.
00:51:41.20\00:51:42.80
Didn't you know
tonight is a final episode?
00:51:42.83\00:51:44.17
I wonder where is everybody?
00:51:44.20\00:51:45.90
Tonight was a final episode.
00:51:45.93\00:51:48.27
What do we call
that, come on together?
00:51:48.30\00:51:50.01
Distractions.
00:51:50.04\00:51:51.87
Anytime you put amusement,
00:51:51.91\00:51:54.28
and worldly
pleasures, and convenience.
00:51:54.31\00:51:57.98
Oh, you know, I'm so tired.
00:51:58.01\00:52:01.58
I worked so hard all week.
00:52:01.62\00:52:02.95
I'm just going to take
this one hour out of 168.
00:52:02.98\00:52:08.09
I'm going to make sure
that the hour I choose to rest
00:52:08.12\00:52:09.99
is one hour prayer meeting,
00:52:10.03\00:52:11.99
not the hour
before or the hour after.
00:52:12.03\00:52:15.50
It's amazing with
the excuses we make.
00:52:15.53\00:52:17.90
And all those things
00:52:17.93\00:52:19.47
are summarized
in simply one word,
00:52:19.50\00:52:21.84
and that is distractions.
00:52:21.87\00:52:23.81
Avoid distractions,
00:52:23.84\00:52:25.41
do not allow, as the Bible says,
00:52:25.44\00:52:28.61
"All that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh,
00:52:28.64\00:52:30.85
the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
00:52:30.88\00:52:32.48
all these things will pass away,
00:52:32.51\00:52:34.32
but he who does the will
of God abides for," how long?
00:52:34.35\00:52:37.25
"Forever."
00:52:37.29\00:52:38.69
Avoid distractions,
that also is a hindrance
00:52:38.72\00:52:41.92
in the life of a
servant, whatever that may be.
00:52:41.96\00:52:45.43
Okay.
00:52:45.46\00:52:46.90
So let's go to number 16.
00:52:46.93\00:52:48.86
Number 16.
00:52:48.90\00:52:51.83
As we approach the work
of God, how should we pray?
00:52:51.87\00:52:57.37
How should we pray?
00:52:57.41\00:52:59.74
As we approach the work
of God, how should we pray?
00:52:59.77\00:53:04.18
Very interesting way
that I've framed this text
00:53:04.21\00:53:08.48
with the word pray
00:53:08.52\00:53:10.39
because the prayer that we
pray should also be in harmony,
00:53:10.42\00:53:13.52
in harmony with the
prayer that Christ prays.
00:53:13.56\00:53:16.89
Luke 10:2 is where
our answer is found.
00:53:16.93\00:53:20.03
Luke 10:2, and
it reads as follows.
00:53:20.06\00:53:24.33
Here it is.
00:53:24.37\00:53:26.30
"Then He said to them,
'The harvest truly is," what?
00:53:26.33\00:53:30.84
"Great, but the
laborers are," what?
00:53:30.87\00:53:33.17
"Few, therefore," next word,
00:53:33.21\00:53:35.84
"pray the Lord of
the harvest to do," what?
00:53:35.88\00:53:39.65
"Send out
laborers into His harvest."
00:53:39.68\00:53:43.59
So what should our
prayer be Lord, do what?
00:53:43.62\00:53:46.69
Send out laborers, or
should we just pray that prayer,
00:53:46.72\00:53:50.79
or should we be
saying like Isaiah?
00:53:50.83\00:53:52.59
What did Isaiah say? "Send me."
00:53:52.63\00:53:55.76
Don't just say,
00:53:55.80\00:53:57.13
"Lord, send someone out to
be a labor in Your harvest."
00:53:57.17\00:54:00.77
We should pray
what, Lord, do what?
00:54:00.80\00:54:02.64
"Send me"
00:54:02.67\00:54:04.64
Why let the other person
qualify for all the rewards
00:54:04.67\00:54:08.68
when we are going to be
blessed when the Lord comes
00:54:08.71\00:54:11.31
by saying, "Well done,
00:54:11.35\00:54:13.21
He's going to bless
us with the well done.
00:54:13.25\00:54:14.72
We want to hear that.
00:54:14.75\00:54:16.08
Not just saying, "Well
done brother, so and so.
00:54:16.12\00:54:17.69
Or well done, sister, so and so.
00:54:17.72\00:54:19.05
Well done, Ferro, well done."
00:54:19.09\00:54:21.92
We want to say,
"Well done me too."
00:54:21.96\00:54:25.09
So don't just pray
that, but we must pray
00:54:25.13\00:54:27.50
because there are harvest,
00:54:27.53\00:54:29.53
we just came back
from India where I tell you
00:54:29.56\00:54:32.30
there's so much tradition there,
00:54:32.33\00:54:34.40
so much of the
religions of that land
00:54:34.44\00:54:37.87
that in certain parts to
try to share Christianity
00:54:37.91\00:54:40.68
is almost forbidden.
00:54:40.71\00:54:42.88
And the prayer is,
00:54:42.91\00:54:44.25
"Lord, send out
laborers into the harvest?
00:54:44.28\00:54:47.52
Find a way to reach the people.
00:54:47.55\00:54:49.12
And I praise the Lord how
it's being done over there
00:54:49.15\00:54:52.25
through some of the ministries
like Asian Aid and Maranatha,
00:54:52.29\00:54:55.36
how they're finding other ways
00:54:55.39\00:54:57.86
to carry the
gospel into their field.
00:54:57.89\00:54:59.29
Because you can't just set up
a tent in the middle of a town
00:54:59.33\00:55:02.66
that were Hinduism is great
because it's just forbidden,
00:55:02.70\00:55:05.93
just can't do it.
00:55:05.97\00:55:07.30
But you can lay the seeds down
00:55:07.34\00:55:09.70
through the hearts
and lives of individuals
00:55:09.74\00:55:11.64
who can carry out the
proclamation of the gospel,
00:55:11.67\00:55:15.68
and they go out
into the harvest,
00:55:15.71\00:55:17.11
and they become the labors
at a very significant time.
00:55:17.15\00:55:20.35
So as we approach the
work, how shall we pray?
00:55:20.38\00:55:24.09
"Send out
laborers into the harvest."
00:55:24.12\00:55:26.39
Okay, look at number 17.
00:55:26.42\00:55:28.39
Number 17.
00:55:28.42\00:55:29.96
What kind of attitude
00:55:29.99\00:55:32.63
should we present
in our life of service?
00:55:32.66\00:55:37.33
What kind of attitude
00:55:37.37\00:55:39.17
should we present
in our life of service?
00:55:39.20\00:55:41.70
This is very
interesting because, you know,
00:55:41.74\00:55:43.24
the Lord says, by their
fruits, you will know them.
00:55:43.27\00:55:46.14
And a lot of fruits,
00:55:46.17\00:55:50.01
we've got fruits
and nuts in the church.
00:55:50.05\00:55:54.22
If they're not in
harmony with what they suggest,
00:55:54.25\00:55:57.09
they could be a fruit
00:55:57.12\00:55:58.69
not a Holy
Spirit fruit, and a nut.
00:55:58.72\00:56:02.66
But let's look what
Paul says here to Timothy.
00:56:02.69\00:56:07.46
Here it is.
00:56:07.50\00:56:09.33
He says,
00:56:09.36\00:56:11.03
"The servant of the
Lord must not," what?
00:56:11.07\00:56:14.97
"Strive" must
not be quarrelsome,
00:56:15.00\00:56:17.97
"but be," what?
00:56:18.01\00:56:19.51
"Gentle unto
all men, and," what?
00:56:19.54\00:56:22.98
"Apt to teach."
00:56:23.01\00:56:24.78
And what else? "Patient."
00:56:24.81\00:56:26.65
Mustn't strive, must be
gentle, must be patient.
00:56:26.68\00:56:30.65
You know, when you carry
the gospel, it's frustrating,
00:56:30.69\00:56:33.12
especially when you
don't see results right away.
00:56:33.15\00:56:35.76
And you almost want to
say to people sometimes
00:56:35.79\00:56:37.19
"What's wrong with you?"
00:56:37.23\00:56:38.79
But you can't do that.
00:56:38.83\00:56:40.30
Can't you see the Sabbath?
00:56:40.33\00:56:42.06
What's wrong with you?
00:56:42.10\00:56:43.43
You want to do that.
00:56:43.47\00:56:44.80
Do you know that people
don't die and go to heaven?
00:56:44.83\00:56:46.27
Can't you read the
Bible? Are you blind?
00:56:46.30\00:56:48.70
But you don't do that.
00:56:48.74\00:56:50.07
You got to be, what? Patient.
00:56:50.11\00:56:52.74
You cannot be quarrelsome,
even when people come at you.
00:56:52.77\00:56:56.01
I sat in the forum once
where there was a pastor
00:56:56.04\00:56:58.65
who was just coming at me
00:56:58.68\00:57:00.15
with all kinds of
objectionable terrible...
00:57:00.18\00:57:03.42
I said, "You know the Lord
00:57:03.45\00:57:04.82
wrote the
commandments with His finger."
00:57:04.85\00:57:06.19
He said, "Which finger?
00:57:06.22\00:57:07.56
The first, second,
or third? Which one?
00:57:07.59\00:57:08.92
Pinky? Which one was it?"
00:57:08.96\00:57:10.29
And he's a
minister and I'm thinking,
00:57:10.33\00:57:11.96
"What I want to do right now?
00:57:11.99\00:57:13.33
What I'm thinking I
should do is quite different.
00:57:13.36\00:57:15.66
And you know what?
00:57:15.70\00:57:17.40
When the program was done,
00:57:17.43\00:57:18.83
I was in a studio
that was not 3ABN,
00:57:18.87\00:57:20.57
that was a
different denomination.
00:57:20.60\00:57:22.90
And you know what
they said to me, they said,
00:57:22.94\00:57:24.57
the cameraman and the
people behind the scene
00:57:24.61\00:57:26.98
in the control room, he said,
00:57:27.01\00:57:28.41
"What impressed them
more than anything else
00:57:28.44\00:57:30.25
is the attitude
that you maintained
00:57:30.28\00:57:32.48
while you were under attack."
00:57:32.51\00:57:34.58
And so, my
brother and my sisters,
00:57:34.62\00:57:35.95
when you're involved
in the service of God,
00:57:35.98\00:57:37.79
although you get frustrated
at times where you feel like
00:57:37.82\00:57:40.32
you want to gnash your teeth,
and do something objectionable.
00:57:40.36\00:57:43.63
You've got to be patient.
00:57:43.66\00:57:44.99
You must not argue.
00:57:45.03\00:57:46.36
You must not strive.
00:57:46.39\00:57:47.73
You must be gentle.
00:57:47.76\00:57:49.10
You must be patient
because you know what?
00:57:49.13\00:57:50.70
It's not about you,
00:57:50.73\00:57:52.07
it's about the
Lord Jesus Christ.
00:57:52.10\00:57:53.67
And when you work for the Lord,
and you're in the field of God,
00:57:53.70\00:57:57.04
and there are things that
you just don't understand.
00:57:57.07\00:57:58.94
Keep on serving God.
00:57:58.97\00:58:00.31
And one day,
00:58:00.34\00:58:01.68
it'll all come
into a sharper focus.
00:58:01.71\00:58:03.81
God bless you.
00:58:03.85\00:58:05.18