The Bible tells us
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Hello, we want to welcome you
to another 3ABN Sabbath School
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Panel. We're so glad that
you have joined us as we open up
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God's word and study. My name
is Jill Morikone and we want to
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welcome you. We are studying, if
you're just joining us for the
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first time, we're studying the
Adult Sabbath School Quarterly
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this is put out by the Seventh
Day Adventist Church. This
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quarter is Feed My Sheep.
We're studying the epistles of
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1 and 2 Peter. We are in lesson
number 7 talking about Servant
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Leadership. I want to encourage
you before I introduce our panel
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I want to encourage you to
go to the website if you do not
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have a quarterly for yourself,
you can download the quarterly
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and you can follow along as we
discuss. Now of course we'll be
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sharing insights that maybe
aren't necessarily in there
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but we're using this quarterly
as a guide. Our website is
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absg.adventist.org
That website once again
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this is put out by the
General Conference of SDA
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absg that's Adult Bible
Study Guide. adventist.org
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I want to introduce our panel
that we have here. To my left
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is Pr. Tom Ferguson with the
Marion District and you pastor
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several churches here in
Southern Illinois. It's a joy
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to have you here. Brother
John Dinzey, General Manager of
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3ABN Latino Network and we
are privileged to have you here
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Great to be here by God's grace
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Amen. Sister Shelley Quinn
and you are Program Development
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Manager and we're so glad that
you are here. And Molly Steenson
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who happens to be our boss,
Vice President here at 3 ABN
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and General Manager and each
one of these men and women of
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God are students of the Word
and not only that they practice
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what they preach. They seek to
walk before God in humility of
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heart and walk out that servant
leadership that we are talking
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about here today. Before we go
any further we wanna go to the
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Lord in prayer. And Bro.
John would you open up in prayer
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for us? Sure, let's
go to the Lord in prayer.
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Our loving heavenly Father,
we thank you so much for the
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Scriptures that are able
to make us wise unto salvation
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And we pray Lord that as we
open the Scriptures, You will
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bless us with the Holy Spirit
to share that which You want
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Your children to hear. We pray
Lord that You will bless them
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also that are joining us through
out the world that they may gain
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fresh inspiration from the study
of Your Holy Word and we ask
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You Lord for this blessing
in Jesus' holy and blessed name
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Amen. Amen. Our memory text
is taken from 1 Peter 5, verse 7
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we're gonna recite it together
here from the New King James
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Version of the Bible. I want
to encourage you to open up your
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Bibles and study along with
us. Take notes as we share here
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today. So we're in 1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon Him
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for He cares for you.
Amen. We're talking today about
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Servant Leadership. And
leadership is a hot topic
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you could say today, in today's
culture there's many books
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many programs out there
on how to successfully lead
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whether it's an organization
or company, I'm thinking of
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the 7 habits of highly effective
leadership. Now, I'm not saying
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that's not a bad book,
that's not a good book. However,
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today we're looking at
Biblical concepts of leadership
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Servant Leadership. We're gonna
look at leadership in the early
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Christian church, what that
looked like. Leadership with
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deacons and elders. Leadership
as a shepherd, the overseer
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as 1 Peter calls it of the
flock of God. One who leads,
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who protects, who sacrifices.
We'll also look at the
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requirements of leadership,
Godly leadership, spirituality
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servant leadership, humility,
and how to deal with the devil
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as a roaring lion. So, I'm
excited about our discussion
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today. On Sunday's lesson
we look at elders in the early
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church. And let's turn to Acts
chapter 6. We're gonna start
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there instead of with 1
Peter Now this passage in Acts 6
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is actually discussing deacons
in the early church. So this is
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even before they established
elders. This is deacons in the
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early church. If you think about
the early church. Acts chapter 1
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remember there were the 12
apostles, really there were 11
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and then they cast lots and
found an apostle to take the
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place of Judas and then
they had 12. And there were 120
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in that upper room when
the Holy Spirit was poured out
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in Acts chapter 2, Peter
preached that magnificent sermon
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and the church grew dramatically
from 120 to 3000. If you look at
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Acts chapter 4, I think there's
5000 men now in the church
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and then you think women
and children. So the church is
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growing exponentially. But with
that growth came some challenges
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The need for more oversight or
leadership in the church and we
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see that in Acts 6:1.
Pr. Tom you wanna read that?
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Now in those days when
the number of disciples was
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multiplying there arose a
complaint against the Hebrews
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by the Hellenists because their
widows were neglected in the
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daily distribution. Now
the Hebrews were the Jewish
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Christians from Palestine.
They spoke Aramaic or Hebrew and
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or Hebrew. Now the Hellenists
were Jewish Christians from
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outside of Palestine
and they spoke Greek.
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And, it reminds me, part of
my growing up years took place
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we called it "An Adventist
Ghetto". Now, an Adventist
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Ghetto would be, we said the
salt was piled behind the rock
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wall. Now that's kind of like an
idiom but we're to be the salt
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and the light of the world
and we said we hid, as it were,
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behind a rock wall, meaning
that it was a concentration
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of believers who didn't get
out and evangelize much in the
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community, who kind of stayed
together instead of reaching
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out to the world. And to me,
I don't know I didn't live back
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in the time of Jerusalem but
I can imagine it was maybe an
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early Christian ghetto
you could say, like everyone's
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gathered together. So
these Hellenists, these Jewish
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Christians who came from outside
Jerusalem, probably felt like
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outsiders a little. Not like
they belonged there in Jerusalem
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and they had some discussions
saying our widows are neglected
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Now maybe they were neglected,
I don't know, but they needed
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some oversight so they
decided to appoint some deacons.
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We're gonna look at the
qualifications of the deacons
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who were appointed. And
John you wanna read, we'll read
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verses 2 through 4.
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Of which chapter? Chapter 6.
Then the 12 called the multitude
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of the disciples unto them and
said, it is not reason that we
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should leave the word of
God and serve tables. Wherefore
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brethren, look ye out among you
7 men of honest report, full of
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the Holy Ghost and wisdom who we
may appoint over this business
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but we will give ourselves
continually to prayer and to the
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ministry of the Word. So
the apostles said we're given to
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the ministry of the Word. We're
given to prayer. We need to
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keep evangelizing and preaching
we need to set some people
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who can lead, who can deal with
oversight, who can handle this
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issue and make sure that the
Greek widows are getting what
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they actually need. And
I see 3 qualities there.
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This is in verse 3. Seek
out among you 7 men of good
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reputation. The word in
Greek for reputation is to bear
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witness or testify. Now a
reputation really testifies
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to the kind of person you
are. You can say your reputation
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precedes you. You know you hear
Oh I heard about so and so and
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they're a godly person. So these
were people of good reputation
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Quality No. 2. Full of the Holy
Spirit. Meaning full, abounding
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and completely occupied
with the Holy Spirit. And to me
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if you're filled up with
the Holy Spirit there's no room
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for self. There's no room
for pride. There's no room for
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I want to do it my way.
Completely emptied. If you're
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filled with the Holy Spirit,
there's no room for anything
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else. And the 3rd quality,
and wisdom. They were men of
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reputation, good reputation,
full of the Holy Spirit
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and wisdom. They needed
wisdom to arbitrate here in the
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situation, wisdom to
lead, wisdom to see how to do it
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Now the interesting thing
is the 7 men who were chosen
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I don't know if there's
anything to make of this or not
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all their names are Greek names.
Now I don't know, it's just
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interesting to me because
it was the Greeks who felt like
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we're not getting our fair share
and the men who were chosen
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were all Greek names. But we'll
see, Shelley do you want to read
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verses 5 and 6. Verse 5,
Acts chapter 6. And the saying
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pleased the whole multitude and
they chose Stephen, a man full
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of faith and Holy Spirit
and Philip, Procorus, Nicanor
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Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a
proselyte from Antioch whom they
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set before the apostles and when
they had prayed they laid hands
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on them. The reason I gave
you that one because I don't
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wanna read all those
difficult names. Ha...
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You did a fabulous job.
So they laid hands on them
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and this follows a Biblical
teaching that was in the Old
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Testament. Moses laid hands
on Joshua commissioning him for
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office and giving him new
status and authority. And in the
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church today we do that when
we ordain deacons, lay hands
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on them establishing their
commissioning for their calling
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and the same with elders and
they were set apart. In verse 7
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the Word of God spread and the
number of disciples multiplied
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greatly in Jerusalem and a
great many of the priests were
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obedient to the faith. So
as a result of this leadership
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this new leadership with
the deacons, the Word of God
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spread. Now let's look at
elders This is Acts chapter 14
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Acts 14, we'll look at verses
21-23 and Molly we'll see if
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you get that you wanna
read that? Actually I'm so sorry
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before you read that, just
a little back story, verse 19
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the Jews from Antioch and
Iconium came and they were
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opposed to Paul, they stoned
him, put him out of the city
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they thought that he was dead
but he was not. And then the
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next day he departed with
Barnabas to Derbe. That way
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we know when we get to verse
21 who they is Paul and Barnabas
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Go ahead Molly. Acts 14:21-23
And when they had preached the
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gospel to that city and had
taught many they returned again
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to Lystra and to Iconium
and Antioch confirming the souls
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of the disciples and exhorting
them to continue in the faith
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and that we must through
much tribulation enter into the
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kingdom of God. And when they
had foreordained them elders
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in every church and had prayed
with fasting, they commended
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them to the Lord on whom they
believed. So Paul and Barnabas
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were going back to these
newly established churches to
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strengthen the believers. To
appoint elders in every church
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to carry out the oversight
in the church and they prayed
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with fasting and then
commended them to the Lord.
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In our remaining moments here
I just want to look at a little
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bit of the role of the elders
in the early church and pastor
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Tom is going to take the baton
and carry it. So let's look at
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just a couple verses one chapter
over this, Acts 15. We know
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Acts 15 there was this
disagreement of roles in the
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early Christian
church, discussion over whether
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circumcision is necessary
for salvation. And they came
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together to make the decision.
Acts 15:6, Now the apostles
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and elders came together to
consider this matter. So this
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shows us that elders are
supposed to come together to
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make decisions regarding
discussions, disagreements
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handling issues that arise
in the church. One more verse I
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wanna look at is
1 Timothy chapter 5
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and verse 17. Paul's
writing here to Timothy
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Let the elders who rule
well be counted worthy of double
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honor, especially those
who labor in word and doctrine
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So elders are supposed to rule
over church. They're called to
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labor in word and in doctrine
And then Pr. Tom I think
00:13:28.77\00:13:33.38
you take us back to 1 Peter
and we'll look at some more
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of the role of the elders.
00:13:36.44\00:13:38.01
Yes, as you mentioned one of
the things that we read several
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times is the word disciple.
And the first thing a leader,
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a spiritual leader must be
is a disciple of Jesus, Amen,
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and what that really
means in a holistic way.
00:13:51.29\00:13:54.13
Also, I'd like us to
turn to 1 Peter chapter 5
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It's interesting that God is
a God of order and it is in that
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order that He accomplishes
the work of the church
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This is the apple of His eye,
with all of our flaws, but He
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does establish leadership
in the church for a purpose.
00:14:15.68\00:14:18.49
And if you go to 1 Peter 5:2
it says 'Shepherd the flock of
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God which is among you, serving
as overseers not by compulsion
00:14:23.43\00:14:28.43
but willingly. Not for dishonest
gain but eagerly.' You know
00:14:28.46\00:14:34.60
after pastoring now for about
15 years, one thing I notice
00:14:34.67\00:14:39.24
how valuable an elder is.
A pastor really is an elder
00:14:39.27\00:14:43.81
as well as the local church
elders. So we do have a calling
00:14:43.85\00:14:49.98
that is a heavy responsibility.
And in shepherding what it says
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says here in the first portion
of the verse, it says Willing
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now really if you think about
it that's willing even though
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you are persecuted. One of the
things about leadership and any
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one who has been in a position
of leadership knows this,
00:15:08.20\00:15:10.77
is that it's
easy to be criticized.
00:15:10.81\00:15:15.31
Nobody can relate to this, can
they? It's easy to be criticized
00:15:16.08\00:15:20.45
and I remember you know
as I come into a new district
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and I've been there a year or
two and I would see some unrest
00:15:23.22\00:15:26.62
about an elder or maybe
the elders. The people are not
00:15:26.65\00:15:31.16
satisfied and they'd been there
15-20 years faithfully serving
00:15:31.19\00:15:36.10
as an elder and I always tell
them you know in the Adventist
00:15:36.13\00:15:39.40
Church occasionally a pastor
comes, eventually they'll leave
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but the elders are there after
each time a new pastor comes
00:15:44.14\00:15:48.51
and goes. So they don't have
that privilege of leaving. So
00:15:48.54\00:15:53.11
one of the things I
wanna mention is be sensitive
00:15:53.15\00:15:56.28
If God has called elders in
your church to lead the flock
00:15:56.32\00:16:00.59
and to be a shepherd to oversee
to prepare sermons, to deliver
00:16:00.62\00:16:04.16
those sermons, to teach the
word to maybe be involved with
00:16:04.19\00:16:08.00
anointing's, involved with
visitation, it's so easy for
00:16:08.03\00:16:13.54
the flesh to criticize.
Either I don't like that person
00:16:13.57\00:16:16.74
I don't like the way they do
things. I don't like what they
00:16:16.77\00:16:18.51
are saying but that person is
called of God and when they have
00:16:18.54\00:16:22.98
hands laid on them, usually
rarely have I ever seen where
00:16:23.01\00:16:27.65
someone is an elder where the
church isn't saying that person
00:16:27.72\00:16:29.88
needs to be an elder.
They really should be an elder
00:16:29.92\00:16:32.05
It's been going on for a while
That's because God is working
00:16:32.09\00:16:35.39
in and through them and
they see the qualities that that
00:16:35.42\00:16:38.06
person is an elder and
with someone who's chosen of God
00:16:38.13\00:16:40.76
needs our support. They need
to be able to serve willingly
00:16:41.93\00:16:46.53
and realize that they will
go through some persecution
00:16:46.57\00:16:50.44
in spite of their serving the
Lord. Another thing is, eagerly
00:16:50.47\00:16:56.08
when I see that overseeing
willingly, not for dishonest
00:16:57.58\00:17:01.85
gain but eagerly.
Eagerly serving others.
00:17:01.88\00:17:06.59
A desire to serve the needs of
the people that God has called
00:17:06.62\00:17:10.39
you to. Understanding that
as God's under shepherd you are
00:17:10.43\00:17:13.66
you have a responsibility to
meet the needs of people around
00:17:13.70\00:17:16.63
you and be willing to do
that eagerly and not reluctantly
00:17:16.67\00:17:21.30
The other thing you see in
that verse is being examples
00:17:21.34\00:17:24.57
You know in another lesson
it was brought out that if you
00:17:25.47\00:17:28.91
read the writings of
Peter, he sounds a lot like Paul
00:17:28.94\00:17:32.65
Well if you go through the New
Testament you realize that Paul
00:17:32.68\00:17:36.18
was a mentor. He was an
instructor. He corrected
00:17:36.22\00:17:40.26
Peter on a regular basis. And
Peter arrived, he needed that
00:17:40.29\00:17:45.73
mentoring so that there he
is replicating as Paul had even
00:17:45.76\00:17:49.90
said to copy him, right?
As he's showing you the way
00:17:49.93\00:17:54.40
the Lord is. So you need to be
an example. What you are as an
00:17:54.47\00:17:58.34
elder in a local church,
you need to be replicatable.
00:17:58.37\00:18:03.28
Oh, I like that.
00:18:03.31\00:18:05.78
We must realize that's what
we're called to do. We must be
00:18:05.81\00:18:10.49
servant leaders. We must be
disciples of Jesus and disciples
00:18:10.52\00:18:14.92
in discipling others for the
purpose of them making disciples
00:18:14.96\00:18:21.63
It is a, you know one
thing when you think of the word
00:18:22.66\00:18:25.90
leader. What is a leader?
In my mind there is a mission
00:18:25.93\00:18:31.44
and a vision for a church. Their
hearts and minds are aligned
00:18:31.47\00:18:36.08
with that mission and that
vision that God has put on the
00:18:36.11\00:18:38.68
hearts and minds of the
other flock. They go first.
00:18:38.71\00:18:42.92
They take that risk. They step
forward. You know as studies
00:18:42.95\00:18:47.82
are done they find that in some
of these studies that one in 10
00:18:47.89\00:18:52.53
pastors are leaders.
Really? Wow. Yeah. Incredible.
00:18:52.56\00:18:58.80
Often times we can get caught
up in serving the needs and not
00:19:00.54\00:19:05.27
and lose our
vision, where we're going.
00:19:05.34\00:19:08.81
So as a result, churches go by
5, 10, 15 years there's not much
00:19:08.84\00:19:13.38
change. And I have found
too that if you're not growing
00:19:13.42\00:19:17.45
you're going. So there is that
force working against the church
00:19:17.49\00:19:21.02
Could I just say something?
Sure In Alaska there's a saying
00:19:21.06\00:19:25.59
that the speed of the leader
is the speed of the pack and
00:19:25.63\00:19:28.43
they're referring to the dog
sled. The leaders however fast
00:19:28.50\00:19:34.24
the two dogs that are up front
are going is how fast the pack
00:19:34.27\00:19:38.11
will go. And that's
true for a church. Yeah.
00:19:38.14\00:19:44.35
So an elder is also a spiritual
parent. Now really what that
00:19:44.38\00:19:48.72
means is there are some
members that maybe aren't people
00:19:48.75\00:19:52.12
that are attending
that aren't born again.
00:19:52.19\00:19:53.62
They haven't experienced
that. There are others that are
00:19:54.66\00:19:56.19
children in the faith. There
are others that are young adults
00:19:56.22\00:19:58.89
in the faith and there
are others that are actually
00:19:58.93\00:20:02.53
mature enough to look at
the people and actually be moved
00:20:02.56\00:20:07.54
with compassion for the
needs that they have and have a
00:20:07.57\00:20:09.74
desire to fill it. I'm always,
it warms my heart when I see
00:20:09.77\00:20:15.28
an elder say, Hey you know
I started a Bible Study with
00:20:15.34\00:20:18.75
so and so, is that ok?
Yeah. Just moved by God to help
00:20:18.81\00:20:25.65
reach out to others. And it's
also looking at how to involve
00:20:25.69\00:20:32.96
the members, as many as possible
members. What happens is
00:20:32.99\00:20:38.53
often times it's 15% of the
church doing 85% of the work
00:20:38.60\00:20:42.84
and spiritual leadership needs
to realize God has called all
00:20:43.74\00:20:48.01
of us into the body of
Christ so everyone needs to be
00:20:48.04\00:20:50.95
um part of this process in
order for everyone to experience
00:20:50.98\00:20:54.88
this spiritual growth. So
we need to be, you know another
00:20:54.95\00:20:58.85
thing I think of is we need to
be training others to replace us
00:20:58.89\00:21:02.89
Train others to replace us. I
think that really is a big part
00:21:05.99\00:21:10.07
of being an elder, being a
spiritual leader. Encouraging
00:21:10.10\00:21:13.23
other things to grow. An
elder should be a soul winner.
00:21:13.27\00:21:18.54
I think that often times if we
are elders in a church we need
00:21:20.28\00:21:26.05
to ask ourselves how long has
it been since I have won a soul
00:21:26.08\00:21:28.75
or do I even know how
to lead someone to Christ?
00:21:28.78\00:21:32.25
And there are a lot of
our members that have never
00:21:33.49\00:21:35.96
experienced that for themselves.
And a good elder will actually
00:21:35.99\00:21:40.13
not only be doing that but also
be yoking up with others and
00:21:40.16\00:21:43.60
teaching them how to do
it. It is a big part of it.
00:21:43.63\00:21:47.04
A good elder must be growing
in knowledge and effectiveness
00:21:47.94\00:21:54.68
I've seen people that had
been deacons which I think is a
00:21:56.98\00:22:00.58
wonderful training ground
for elders, and I watched them
00:22:00.62\00:22:05.72
stumble through sermons, I
watched them try to come out
00:22:05.75\00:22:09.12
of that shell they're in
and then 10 years later they're
00:22:09.16\00:22:12.43
the head elder of the church.
And I watched the Lord do this
00:22:12.46\00:22:15.90
over and over again. Because
they're willing to grow in their
00:22:15.93\00:22:19.70
knowledge and in
their effectiveness
00:22:19.73\00:22:23.00
as a result. You know the church
is a place where there's a lot
00:22:23.04\00:22:28.78
of sheep and like sheep we go
astray. And an elder is someone
00:22:28.81\00:22:35.12
who, my mind just went to
the different types of soil
00:22:35.15\00:22:39.62
an elder should be someone who
is in that rich soil, that is
00:22:39.65\00:22:44.53
the one that goes through the
hard times, the refining times
00:22:44.56\00:22:47.56
and others are watching them
closely and they're seeing them
00:22:47.60\00:22:50.40
hang on in faith and that is
encouraging to everyone else.
00:22:50.43\00:22:53.64
Also, what does
the good Shepherd do?
00:22:54.60\00:22:59.34
They lead the sheep to
the rich food of His word.
00:22:59.37\00:23:03.18
And they lead the
sheep to fresh water.
00:23:04.98\00:23:08.42
A place where they can
get refreshed. In other words,
00:23:09.35\00:23:12.29
the presence of the Holy Spirit
when the church comes together
00:23:12.32\00:23:15.72
it's the leadership that
really needs to be filled to
00:23:15.76\00:23:18.86
overflowing with the presence
of God so that they can lead
00:23:18.93\00:23:21.90
worship. Nothing is worse
than coming together and going
00:23:21.96\00:23:26.67
through the rote things and
not experiencing worship. And I
00:23:26.70\00:23:30.94
think there are too many
churches that are dying because
00:23:30.97\00:23:35.58
that is really the crux of
the matter I think right there.
00:23:35.64\00:23:39.15
We also, they need to be
washed and cleansed by a fresh
00:23:40.65\00:23:45.35
anointing of the Spirit. A
good shepherd looks for the lost
00:23:45.39\00:23:48.76
sheep. I don't know how
long it's been since we looked
00:23:48.82\00:23:55.03
maybe at our church's list.
We have a certain number of
00:23:55.06\00:23:57.83
people that are on the
books but how many are actually
00:23:57.87\00:24:00.34
worshipping with us. How many
that have drifted away have been
00:24:00.37\00:24:04.14
reached out to, in the
last year, in the last 5 years?
00:24:04.17\00:24:08.24
A spiritual leader, a servant
leader, an elder is someone who
00:24:10.58\00:24:14.98
looks for the lost sheep
as under shepherds for Christ
00:24:15.02\00:24:18.75
Wonderful, that's precious.
00:24:18.79\00:24:20.39
A good elder is an
agent for binding the wounds.
00:24:20.42\00:24:24.93
You know there are a lot of
wounds that occur in a church
00:24:26.73\00:24:30.27
and a good elder is sensitive
to that, and works toward
00:24:30.30\00:24:34.30
the healing process.
Amen. What a wonderful list of
00:24:34.34\00:24:37.74
qualities. One of my favorites
that you mentioned was willing
00:24:37.77\00:24:41.01
to grow, and that's a beautiful
trait. Bro. John, you have
00:24:41.04\00:24:45.21
Servant Leadership. Yes.
Servant Leadership, when we
00:24:45.28\00:24:49.12
look at this, it almost sounds
like there is a contradiction
00:24:49.15\00:24:54.42
You're either a servant or you
are a leader some people think
00:24:54.46\00:24:56.86
But this is what a Christian
leader is to be, a servant
00:24:56.89\00:25:01.66
of the others. I remember
several years ago at 3ABN
00:25:01.70\00:25:05.80
when it was suggested
some restructuring, and because
00:25:05.83\00:25:11.74
of the nature of 3ABN as
a family they said these are
00:25:11.77\00:25:15.74
servant leaders that we have
identified among you. And it
00:25:15.81\00:25:19.61
was very, very interesting
to bring that concept before the
00:25:19.65\00:25:23.28
3ABN family. I'd like to ask
one of you to read 1 Peter 5:3
00:25:23.32\00:25:32.19
to get us moving in
the servant leadership.
00:25:32.26\00:25:36.53
Does someone have
that can read that?
00:25:36.56\00:25:38.27
Not as being lords over
these entrusted to you but being
00:25:40.30\00:25:44.77
examples to the flock.
Amen Now it's interesting that
00:25:44.81\00:25:50.11
as you look at Peter, he learned
many lessons from Jesus Christ
00:25:50.15\00:25:57.05
And now he's understanding that
he must be an example to the
00:25:57.09\00:26:03.56
flock. And I think of some
scenes in the life of Peter
00:26:03.59\00:26:09.53
and Jesus together and we'll
talk a little bit about that
00:26:09.56\00:26:13.03
in a moment. But here are some
crucial principles of leadership
00:26:13.07\00:26:17.51
in 1 Peter 5:3. And one of the
things I'd like to highlight at
00:26:17.54\00:26:22.64
this point, highlight at this
point is that in 1 Peter 5:3,
00:26:22.68\00:26:27.75
it says, Neither as being lords
over God's heritage. So the
00:26:27.78\00:26:31.72
leaders must remember that
the family, the Christian family
00:26:31.79\00:26:37.53
they are God's heritage.
And so they are not to lord over
00:26:37.56\00:26:43.60
them like a dictator. And so
here when it says lording over
00:26:43.63\00:26:48.00
where it says as a dictator,
don't be like a dictator among
00:26:48.04\00:26:51.17
God's people. Be an example
he says. Now I mentioned there
00:26:51.21\00:26:57.61
several scenes come to
mind as we look at 1 Peter 5:3
00:26:57.65\00:27:02.75
and that is after Peter had
denied Christ 3 times, and Jesus
00:27:02.78\00:27:07.79
after He was resurrected has
this nice wonderful conversation
00:27:07.82\00:27:12.83
with Peter. He says, Peter
do you love me? 3 times the same
00:27:12.86\00:27:19.53
question. But one of the things
that Jesus said to Peter was
00:27:19.57\00:27:23.34
Feed my sheep. It goes in line
with what Pr. Tom was mentioning
00:27:23.37\00:27:31.38
that we are to shepherd, feed
the flock of God and Jesus says
00:27:31.41\00:27:36.05
Feed my sheep. They are God's
heritage. They are the, we are
00:27:36.08\00:27:41.52
the sheep of the Lord and
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd
00:27:41.56\00:27:45.69
So here a leader is to follow
the example of Jesus, just as
00:27:45.73\00:27:51.53
Paul said, be imitators
of me as I am of Christ.
00:27:51.57\00:27:56.30
So a leader is to follow the
example of Christ. Christ was a
00:27:56.34\00:27:59.91
servant. I came not to be served
but to serve. And there are some
00:27:59.94\00:28:04.75
wonderful, wonderful lessons.
I'm not even looking at the
00:28:04.78\00:28:06.95
time at this point. Wonderful,
wonderful lessons here and one
00:28:06.98\00:28:10.45
of the other points I'd like
to bring out is that leaders
00:28:10.49\00:28:14.29
must be servants. We
must be examples to the flock.
00:28:14.32\00:28:19.33
And so I maybe going a little
bit into others', just to kinda
00:28:19.39\00:28:23.93
touch a little bit. In verse
4 it says, and when the Chief
00:28:23.97\00:28:28.14
Shepherd shall appear you shall
receive a crown of glory that
00:28:28.17\00:28:31.64
fadeth not away. This is
one of those things that Peter
00:28:31.67\00:28:35.24
mentions, not for us to focus
on, hey there's a crown of glory
00:28:35.31\00:28:38.98
this is wonderful, but just
to remember that Jesus is the
00:28:39.01\00:28:43.15
Chief Shepherd and a servant
leader we are to follow His
00:28:43.18\00:28:48.49
example and there are blessings
for God's children and a,
00:28:48.52\00:28:55.13
just as Pr. Tom said we are
to be preparing others to be
00:28:55.20\00:29:00.34
leaders as well. So this part
here about, neither as being
00:29:00.37\00:29:05.94
lords over God's heritage
is helping to put in check the
00:29:05.97\00:29:12.18
leaders, to understand that
this is not the role, you're not
00:29:12.21\00:29:15.08
to be a dictator but an
example and to feed the flock
00:29:15.12\00:29:18.75
as Jesus did. And now I
wanna go to another scene.
00:29:19.49\00:29:24.19
and it was very very interesting
what took place at the Lord's
00:29:24.23\00:29:29.30
Supper. We call it the Lord's
Supper. Here is Jesus with the
00:29:29.33\00:29:32.50
disciples and they're sitting
there and there are the elements
00:29:32.57\00:29:36.67
that are needed to wash the
feet, these were travelers they
00:29:36.71\00:29:39.97
came, their feet were dusty and
Jesus was waiting to see what's
00:29:40.01\00:29:44.61
going to happen. To see which
one of the disciples is going to
00:29:44.65\00:29:47.38
get up to wash the feet of the
other disciples. Unfortunately
00:29:47.42\00:29:51.75
they had been talking about when
I, I'm going to be doing this
00:29:51.79\00:29:54.89
they were looking at being in
a high place. And Jesus has to
00:29:54.92\00:29:59.66
teach them a
very valuable lesson.
00:29:59.69\00:30:05.93
Jesus begins to grab the things
and begins to wash the disciples
00:30:05.97\00:30:09.30
feet. And Peter that wrote First
and Second Peter, when Jesus
00:30:09.34\00:30:14.54
gets to Peter, Peter
understands he is humbled. He is
00:30:14.58\00:30:18.01
understanding that he should've
been doing this. He says, Lord
00:30:18.05\00:30:20.78
you're not washing my
feet But Jesus is giving him an
00:30:20.82\00:30:24.25
example and Peter does not
understand the meaning of this
00:30:24.29\00:30:28.76
precious moment of washing
his feet. And it had to do about
00:30:28.82\00:30:32.49
spiritual cleansing not
just about physical cleansing
00:30:32.53\00:30:34.93
spiritual cleansing that must
take place that we must have
00:30:34.96\00:30:38.43
periodically in our Christian
walk. And so here is Jesus
00:30:38.50\00:30:43.94
saying to them, giving them
an example. But then I'd like to
00:30:43.97\00:30:48.61
ask somebody to read, maybe
Pr. Tom if you can help me read
00:30:48.64\00:30:52.98
here in John chapter 13
00:30:53.01\00:31:00.12
and I have to get my
bearing on which verses
00:31:00.16\00:31:03.93
because Jesus says to them
00:31:03.96\00:31:09.16
He says, how about
verses 12 and 13, Pr. Tom
00:31:11.27\00:31:14.80
So when He had washed their
feet, taken His garments and
00:31:15.77\00:31:18.57
sat down again He said to them
Do you know what I have done
00:31:18.64\00:31:22.71
to you? You call me teacher
and Lord and you say well
00:31:22.74\00:31:26.38
for so I am. And so as Jesus
says this to them He's trying
00:31:26.41\00:31:32.72
to help them understand, I have
done that which a servant is
00:31:32.75\00:31:36.12
supposed to do but it
does not lessen who I am
00:31:36.16\00:31:41.43
I am Master and Lord. His
dignity has not been lessened
00:31:41.46\00:31:45.80
He is still Master and Lord
and even though He is serving
00:31:45.87\00:31:50.07
He's still the Master and
Lord. And even though a leader
00:31:50.11\00:31:53.14
is in some instances serving
he is still the leader and
00:31:53.17\00:31:58.68
should be respected as the
leader. And I'm remembering
00:31:58.75\00:32:02.58
the time of David. David
was being pursued by Saul, and
00:32:02.62\00:32:10.66
Saul was trying to kill him,
he would throw a javelin at him
00:32:10.69\00:32:14.73
a spear to kill David that
was ministering to him in music
00:32:14.76\00:32:18.97
and two times David had the
opportunity to just chop his
00:32:19.00\00:32:23.71
head off and that's what
some people would say, Hey David
00:32:23.74\00:32:26.51
this is your chance, chop his
head off. But David understood
00:32:26.54\00:32:31.25
something. How can I do
this? This is God's anointed.
00:32:31.28\00:32:35.72
So I believe here even though
there is the message for us
00:32:35.75\00:32:40.52
as the leader is not to be a
dictator, God's family should
00:32:40.56\00:32:45.26
understand that the leaders have
been chosen by God and there
00:32:45.33\00:32:48.70
should be a certain amount of
respect for them. They are God's
00:32:48.76\00:32:51.50
anointed. Because they are
God's anointed the leader must
00:32:51.53\00:32:56.40
remember I am God's anointed
I am to be an example as well
00:32:56.44\00:33:00.08
as a servant. And so these are
valuable lessons for us and I
00:33:00.11\00:33:04.81
see that time is escaping from
us. And there is another time
00:33:04.85\00:33:09.45
when two individuals, well this
goes into Matthew chapter 20
00:33:09.52\00:33:14.59
In Matthew chapter 20 we
have some very interesting words
00:33:15.16\00:33:20.46
beginning in verse 20. I'm
going to read Matthew 20:20-23
00:33:20.90\00:33:26.80
Then came to Him the mother of
Zebedee's children with her sons
00:33:26.84\00:33:31.11
worshipping Him and
desiring a certain thing of Him
00:33:31.14\00:33:35.44
And He said unto her, what
wilt thou? She said unto Him
00:33:35.48\00:33:38.25
grant that these two, my sons,
may sit the one on the right
00:33:38.28\00:33:43.99
hand and the other on
the left in Thy kingdom.
00:33:44.02\00:33:46.65
But Jesus answered and
said, Ye know not what ye ask
00:33:46.69\00:33:49.72
are you able to drink of the
cup I shall drink of and to be
00:33:49.76\00:33:54.20
baptized with the baptism
that I am to be baptized with?
00:33:54.23\00:33:57.33
They said unto Him, we are
able. And so here is a caution
00:33:57.37\00:34:03.34
that Jesus gives them.
Jesus tenderly instructed them
00:34:03.37\00:34:07.38
that we are to be servants.
There is in Philippians 2, a
00:34:07.41\00:34:14.65
wonderful passage that
perhaps we can just read it
00:34:14.68\00:34:17.22
In Philippians chapter 2, to
remember that Jesus our example
00:34:17.25\00:34:24.16
humbled Himself as much
as one can humble himself.
00:34:24.19\00:34:29.63
So in Philippians 2, I'll begin
reading in verse 4, look not
00:34:29.66\00:34:33.20
every man on his own things but
let every man also on the things
00:34:33.23\00:34:36.91
of others. Let this mind be
in you which was also in Christ
00:34:36.94\00:34:41.08
Jesus who being in the form
of God thought it not robbery
00:34:41.11\00:34:44.95
to be equal with God but
made Himself of no reputation
00:34:44.98\00:34:48.75
and took upon Himself the
form of a servant and was made
00:34:48.78\00:34:52.95
in the likeness of men and
being found in fashion as a man
00:34:53.02\00:34:57.23
He humbled Himself and became
obedient to death, even death
00:34:57.26\00:35:01.46
on the cross. How perfect
of a transition that is for me.
00:35:01.50\00:35:06.00
And so this is
our example, Jesus.
00:35:06.80\00:35:09.77
Amen. So Johnny you've just
led up to it, this is one of the
00:35:09.80\00:35:14.11
Scriptures we're gonna read here
in just a second, but I have
00:35:14.14\00:35:16.78
Wednesday's which is clothed
with humility. Because this is
00:35:16.81\00:35:21.38
another characteristic
that servant leader should have
00:35:21.42\00:35:24.79
and it is in recognizing
the Lord Jesus Christ as our
00:35:24.82\00:35:31.76
recognizing His lordship
essentially and respecting Him
00:35:32.89\00:35:36.56
So let's look at 1 Peter 5
and we're going to read, Molly
00:35:36.60\00:35:43.24
you wanna read verses
5-7. 5-7, 1 Peter chapter 5
00:35:43.27\00:35:49.18
Likewise you younger
submit yourselves to the elder
00:35:49.21\00:35:52.45
Yea, all of you be subject
one to another. And be clothed
00:35:52.48\00:35:56.79
with humility for God resisteth
the proud and giveth grace
00:35:56.82\00:36:00.92
to the humble. Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand
00:36:00.96\00:36:04.43
of God that you may be exalted
in due season. Casting all your
00:36:04.46\00:36:09.60
care upon Him for
He careth for you.
00:36:09.63\00:36:12.30
Amen. So what we see here is
that God expects His children
00:36:12.37\00:36:17.11
to have a mutual, humble
cooperation with each other.
00:36:17.14\00:36:22.61
I mean this is, and I'm gonna
read what you just read Johnny
00:36:22.68\00:36:26.58
that if we're going to be
clothed with humility we have to
00:36:26.61\00:36:31.85
let the mind of Christ be in
us. So let's look once again at
00:36:31.89\00:36:35.19
Philippians 2 verses 5-8. I'll
just read those very quickly
00:36:35.22\00:36:40.46
Revisiting
Philippians 2, verses 5-8.
00:36:41.43\00:36:44.80
This is really a command to us.
Let this mind be in you which
00:36:45.57\00:36:50.01
was also in Christ Jesus. Paul
tells us we've been given the
00:36:50.04\00:36:54.51
mind of Christ. Here it is.
Here it is. The mind of Christ
00:36:54.54\00:36:59.31
is revealed in the Bible. So he
says, who, now he's gonna tell
00:36:59.35\00:37:04.22
us what this mind is. Who,
speaking of Christ, being in the
00:37:04.25\00:37:07.79
form of God did not consider
it robbery to be equal with God
00:37:07.82\00:37:10.79
He knew that was His due
right, but He made Himself of no
00:37:10.83\00:37:14.93
reputation taking the form of
a bondservant and He came in the
00:37:14.96\00:37:19.83
likeness of men. So here
we have God the creator who is
00:37:19.87\00:37:24.54
condescending, not just to
the created order of an angel
00:37:24.57\00:37:30.11
he condescended beyond that
first order down to the order
00:37:30.15\00:37:35.78
of a man. That would be
like you Tom instead of becoming
00:37:35.82\00:37:42.46
a dog, becoming a cockroach
to save the cockroaches
00:37:42.52\00:37:45.56
I mean if you think about that
it's mind blowing that He did
00:37:45.59\00:37:49.86
this. Yeah. He said being
found in the appearance of a man
00:37:49.90\00:37:56.37
He humbled Himself and became
obedient even to the point
00:37:56.40\00:38:00.94
of death. It amazes me,
the humility of the Godhead
00:38:00.98\00:38:08.25
Here Christ is God, He comes
down here, He makes Himself
00:38:09.38\00:38:13.29
John 8:28 He says that He
only speaks the things that the
00:38:13.36\00:38:18.16
Father tells Him to speak.
He said He only does what the
00:38:18.19\00:38:21.60
Father tells Him to do. So He
comes down here and he humbles
00:38:21.63\00:38:25.20
Himself and He is totally
dependent upon God the Father
00:38:25.23\00:38:28.54
and the Holy Spirit
just as we have to be.
00:38:28.57\00:38:32.54
And then the Spirit, Jesus said,
when the Spirit comes He brings
00:38:32.57\00:38:38.41
glory to Christ. So Christ
is bringing glory to the Father
00:38:38.45\00:38:44.19
in the end? God is exalting
the Father, I mean the Son
00:38:44.22\00:38:49.99
It's just so amazing. So
when you think about pride
00:38:50.03\00:38:53.40
pride is the root of all
prejudice. Prejudice is thinking
00:38:53.43\00:38:58.80
I'm better than you are.
So pride is the root of all
00:38:58.83\00:39:02.64
prejudice. Pride is the
root of the spirit of offence.
00:39:02.70\00:39:06.04
You can't be offended unless
your pride is wounded. It's
00:39:06.07\00:39:09.71
pride that keeps older
people from trying to understand
00:39:09.74\00:39:13.08
younger people. It's pride
that keeps younger people from
00:39:13.11\00:39:16.69
appreciating what the
older people have to say.
00:39:16.75\00:39:19.82
But in 1 Timothy chapter 5
Paul told Timothy in verses
00:39:19.85\00:39:24.83
1 and 2, 1 Timothy 5. He said
don't sharply censure or rebuke
00:39:24.86\00:39:31.83
an older man. But entreat
and plead with him as you would
00:39:31.87\00:39:36.24
with a father. Treat younger
men like your brothers. Treat
00:39:36.27\00:39:40.34
older women like your mother
and younger women like your
00:39:40.38\00:39:43.55
sisters in all purity. So
humility accepts that we can
00:39:43.58\00:39:49.45
all learn from each other.
Pride causes us to, humility
00:39:49.52\00:39:54.69
makes us reach out to others
seeing them as equals. Pride
00:39:54.72\00:40:01.13
causes us to be concerned about
receiving recognition. Have you
00:40:01.16\00:40:05.13
ever done that? I mean, I
just I didn't think of myself
00:40:05.17\00:40:08.84
as prideful but I remember once
when I did something, a major
00:40:08.87\00:40:12.24
project and somebody got
all the recognition for it
00:40:12.27\00:40:15.78
and it was like, I did that,
I didn't even get recognized
00:40:15.84\00:40:19.81
That's pride. Pride causes
us to believe that the control
00:40:19.85\00:40:25.49
of our life is in our hands.
00:40:25.52\00:40:28.16
I mean we worry because we
don't fully trust God. Pride
00:40:28.92\00:40:34.10
causes us to believe that
our sins are too big for God to
00:40:34.10\00:40:37.07
forgive them and conversely
pride causes us to think that
00:40:37.10\00:40:42.77
our sins aren't so bad,
you know they're of lesser
00:40:42.80\00:40:46.14
consequence than others.
Pride causes us to be judgmental
00:40:46.17\00:40:50.88
and critical. In Luke 18, Jesus
tells the story of the 2 men
00:40:50.91\00:40:56.79
who go to pray. One's a
Pharisee one's a tax collector.
00:40:56.82\00:41:02.02
So the Pharisee goes and what
is he? Oh God I thank you that
00:41:02.06\00:41:07.00
I'm not like this man. I pay
my tithe, I do this, I do that
00:41:07.03\00:41:13.13
and you see his pride, whereas
when the tax collector is
00:41:13.20\00:41:21.04
standing before the Lord what
he does is, you know, he's not
00:41:21.08\00:41:25.98
saying I fast twice a
week, I pay my tithe regularly
00:41:26.01\00:41:29.85
what the tax collector is saying
is, Oh Lord I'm so unworthy
00:41:29.88\00:41:34.29
of you, I'm so unworthy,
beating his chest and he's
00:41:34.32\00:41:39.66
asking God to be merciful to
him. What does Jesus say at the
00:41:39.69\00:41:43.57
end? Who goes home justified?
Who goes home with their sins
00:41:43.60\00:41:48.70
forgiven? It's the one who
humbled himself before the Lord
00:41:48.74\00:41:53.71
So humility is more than just
the opposite of arrogance and
00:41:53.74\00:41:58.81
conceit. Humility is absolute
total dependence upon God. Amen
00:41:58.85\00:42:05.45
That's what humility is. We've
got to trust God with all of our
00:42:05.79\00:42:10.69
daily struggles, with all
of our concerns. We've got to
00:42:10.73\00:42:14.10
trust God with all of our
sin. And at the root of humility
00:42:14.10\00:42:20.70
root of humility, the essence
of God. It's the essence of His
00:42:20.74\00:42:27.34
self-sacrificing love. That's
what at the root of humility
00:42:27.38\00:42:31.81
So in 1 Peter chapter
5, going back to Peter
00:42:31.85\00:42:36.02
it's interesting what he says
in verse 6. In verse 6 he says
00:42:37.35\00:42:41.56
Therefore humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God
00:42:42.56\00:42:46.83
and it's the same mighty
hand that delivered the Hebrews
00:42:46.86\00:42:50.57
from the bondage of slavery
and gave them the promised land
00:42:50.60\00:42:53.80
He says humble yourselves that
He may exalt you, that He can
00:42:53.84\00:42:57.91
lift you up in due time.
He's looking to the culmination
00:42:57.94\00:43:02.34
of world history here.
Casting all your care upon Him
00:43:02.38\00:43:06.18
for He cares for you. One thing
that we have to continually
00:43:06.25\00:43:11.65
remember is that God is greatly
concerned with the lives of
00:43:11.69\00:43:16.46
His children, with the welfare
of His children. It makes me
00:43:16.49\00:43:20.96
think of 1 John chapter 3
and verse 1 where John says
00:43:20.96\00:43:26.23
Ah, his mind is blown and
he says, Behold what manner of
00:43:26.27\00:43:32.41
love the Father has shown
to us that we should be called
00:43:32.44\00:43:36.28
the children of God, that
we've been adopted. So humility
00:43:36.34\00:43:43.39
the end from the beginning
as you do. So Lord I need you
00:43:43.42\00:43:50.39
I want your direction in my
life. Now it's interesting in
00:43:50.43\00:43:54.60
our lesson, he mentioned
that, he was speaking, Peter was
00:43:54.63\00:43:58.67
speaking to a stratified society
in other words there were
00:43:58.70\00:44:02.30
people who were the higher
class, the rich, the elite
00:44:02.34\00:44:08.18
they were powerful. Like
a caste system? Caste system
00:44:08.21\00:44:11.28
They had lower ranked class,
lower ranked and then the slaves
00:44:11.31\00:44:15.45
were the lowest of the lowest.
So when you think about humility
00:44:15.48\00:44:21.72
their societal and cultural
understanding of humility
00:44:21.76\00:44:26.43
meant that you were weak
and that you were poor and that
00:44:26.49\00:44:28.83
you were powerless. So
what Peter is describing here is
00:44:28.86\00:44:31.70
something that, the word
humility was kind of associated
00:44:31.73\00:44:36.81
with people without
status. So he's telling us here
00:44:36.87\00:44:42.71
hey if you humble
yourself, God will exalt you.
00:44:42.74\00:44:46.28
Humility is something they
didn't expect to hear from him
00:44:46.31\00:44:50.72
but that is our proper attitude
toward our God and creator
00:44:50.75\00:44:55.09
and it should characterize
our relationship to Him and also
00:44:55.12\00:44:59.66
to each other because all
Christians are equal, we're all
00:44:59.69\00:45:03.20
sinners saved by God's grace.
When we come to the foot of
00:45:03.26\00:45:06.13
the cross, we're all on equal
footing. And it's relatively
00:45:06.20\00:45:10.17
easy to be humble to people who
are above us but we've got to
00:45:10.21\00:45:15.98
remember that humility is
that we will be humble to people
00:45:16.01\00:45:20.85
who are also of
lower status. Amen.
00:45:20.88\00:45:24.12
Good transition too and don't
you find I pick up with 1 Peter
00:45:24.15\00:45:31.86
5:8-10 and it's like a
roaring lion. Now I think it's
00:45:31.89\00:45:36.50
interesting that Peter
is talking about humility
00:45:36.53\00:45:39.87
humble yourself under
the mighty hand of God
00:45:39.90\00:45:42.10
then he goes straight to
a warning. Now we know that
00:45:42.14\00:45:47.78
First and Second Peter, Peter
was writing to a people that
00:45:47.81\00:45:51.68
were under a great persecution
The great controversy was
00:45:51.71\00:45:55.42
being played out in a
mighty manner right before their
00:45:55.45\00:45:59.59
very eyes. I think we're seeing
some of that today as a matter
00:45:59.62\00:46:02.72
of fact. But Peter goes straight
to the heart of the matter
00:46:02.76\00:46:07.40
which is the root of the great
controversy. And again that's in
00:46:07.40\00:46:11.50
1 Peter 5:8, but before we
read that I want us to look at
00:46:11.53\00:46:15.47
Revelation 12. I want to
read Revelation 12 verse 7 to 9
00:46:15.50\00:46:21.58
Before we look at 1 Peter
5:8-10 let me read this to you
00:46:24.41\00:46:29.38
And war broke out in heaven,
Michael and His angels fought
00:46:30.22\00:46:34.96
with the dragon and the dragon
and his angels fought but they
00:46:34.99\00:46:39.93
did not prevail, nor was a
place found for them in heaven
00:46:39.96\00:46:43.93
any longer. So the great dragon
was cast out that serpent of old
00:46:43.97\00:46:50.21
called Devil and Satan who
deceives the whole world and he
00:46:50.24\00:46:56.24
was cast to the earth and his
angels were cast out with him
00:46:56.28\00:47:00.32
So let me ask you a question,
Panel where is Satan and his
00:47:00.38\00:47:06.22
angels now? Right here.
They were cast out to the earth.
00:47:06.29\00:47:11.03
Now this is what Peter is
addressing. So let's go back
00:47:11.06\00:47:14.83
now to 1 Peter chapter 5, we're
going to look at verses 8-10
00:47:14.86\00:47:20.17
And Peter says, again just
talking about humility, now
00:47:21.80\00:47:27.08
he's gonna go to a warning.
Be sober. What does that word
00:47:27.11\00:47:31.98
sober mean? It doesn't
mean just not to be inebriated
00:47:32.01\00:47:36.28
with alcohol. It means to be
serious. Be serious about this
00:47:36.32\00:47:41.29
thing, be vigilant, be watchful.
Because why? Because your
00:47:41.32\00:47:46.63
adversary, what is an adversary?
An opponent? That's an opponent.
00:47:46.70\00:47:51.13
An enemy. Someone that wants
to do you harm. Your adversary
00:47:51.17\00:47:56.57
the who? The devil. Now
who got cast out from heaven?
00:47:56.60\00:48:02.28
The devil. Walks about like
a roaring lion seeking whom he
00:48:02.31\00:48:10.39
may devour. Now what is
the devil doing? Walking about
00:48:10.42\00:48:15.19
like a roaring lion seeking
whom he may do good for? No.
00:48:15.22\00:48:21.03
whom he may devour. Peter wants
us to understand that the devil
00:48:21.06\00:48:26.17
is sly and he's crafty and
he wants us to know what he's
00:48:26.20\00:48:31.77
up to. Satan means, the
definition of Satan, adversary
00:48:31.81\00:48:37.75
The definition of devil, one
who accuses and one who slanders
00:48:37.78\00:48:44.99
So your adversary will accuse
you. Have you ever heard of the
00:48:45.02\00:48:48.86
accuser of the brethren? He is
the adversary, he's a slanderer
00:48:48.89\00:48:53.86
The picture here's that Satan
acts like a lion. What does a
00:48:54.83\00:48:59.90
lion do? Circling the flock
at night, seeing if there's one
00:49:00.04\00:49:05.24
sheep that strays away from
the security and protection of
00:49:05.27\00:49:09.21
the shepherd and the flock
so that he can pick it off and
00:49:09.24\00:49:13.88
devour or destroy. Oh there's
a Scripture that says, forsake
00:49:13.92\00:49:18.19
not the assembling of yourselves
together. There is safety, just
00:49:18.22\00:49:22.86
stay in the fold. Stay vitally
connected to one another.
00:49:22.89\00:49:26.56
The enemy walks about. Walks
about, that sounds like he's
00:49:26.59\00:49:30.90
prowling about. He's always
looking for an opportunity
00:49:30.93\00:49:35.70
to discourage and catch
us unaware. Peter knows this
00:49:35.74\00:49:40.64
from experience. I'm going to
take you back to some examples
00:49:40.68\00:49:43.98
with Peter. Luke 22:31. Christ
has told Peter, Christ Himself
00:49:44.01\00:49:52.12
told Peter that Satan was
prowling around looking for an
00:49:52.15\00:49:56.19
opportunity to get Peter. That's
Luke 22:31. Here's what He says
00:49:56.22\00:50:01.13
And the Lord said, Simon
Simon, that's Simon Peter
00:50:01.16\00:50:05.83
indeed Satan has asked for you
that he may sift you as wheat
00:50:05.87\00:50:12.04
Now let's fast forward to Mark
14, we're gonna look at verses
00:50:12.84\00:50:19.08
39-41. So Jesus has warned Satan
has warned Peter that Satan's
00:50:19.11\00:50:26.86
gonna sift him. Now did
Peter stay alert? Let's look at
00:50:26.89\00:50:32.79
Mark 14:39-41. Then he came,
Jesus, this is in the garden of
00:50:32.83\00:50:38.87
Gethsemane and Jesus went
to pray right before He's going
00:50:38.90\00:50:44.64
to be betrayed, right before
His crucifixion. He's in the
00:50:44.67\00:50:47.81
Garden of Gethsemane. You know
the prayer He prays, Oh Father
00:50:47.84\00:50:51.01
if this cup can pass from
me, nevertheless not my will but
00:50:51.05\00:50:54.32
Thine be done. He took three
people with Him to the Garden
00:50:54.35\00:50:57.09
of Gethsemane, who were they?
Peter, James and John. Peter was
00:50:57.15\00:51:00.92
there. Ok now all three of
them Peter, James and John were
00:51:00.96\00:51:04.69
there but let's read this, Mark
14:39-41. Shelley if you've got
00:51:04.73\00:51:09.13
that would you read that please?
Again, he's speaking of Christ
00:51:09.16\00:51:12.37
went away and prayed and
spoke the same words and when He
00:51:12.40\00:51:15.10
returned He found them
asleep again for their eyes were
00:51:15.14\00:51:17.94
heavy and they did not
know what to answer Him. Then He
00:51:17.97\00:51:21.11
came the third time and said
to them, Are you still sleeping
00:51:21.14\00:51:25.45
and resting? It is enough, the
hour has come. Behold the Son
00:51:25.48\00:51:29.18
of Man is being betrayed
into the hands of sinners.
00:51:29.22\00:51:31.49
Yes, and in verse 39 He said,
could you not watch for one hour
00:51:31.52\00:51:37.83
And so how many times did
Jesus come back to, that's 37
00:51:37.86\00:51:45.90
that's verse 37. Ok. How
many times did Jesus come back
00:51:45.93\00:51:51.77
and find them sleeping? Three
times. Interesting. How many
00:51:51.81\00:51:56.01
times did Peter betray Jesus?
Three times. Peter woke up
00:51:56.04\00:52:02.18
remember when Peter woke
up and what was happening?
00:52:02.22\00:52:05.09
They were coming to take
Jesus and what did Peter do
00:52:05.12\00:52:08.62
immediately? He drew his sword
and cut off the ear. And then
00:52:08.66\00:52:14.73
after that is when he denied
Christ. So see Peter in giving
00:52:14.76\00:52:19.27
this warning about the roaring
lion he's not speaking in theory
00:52:19.30\00:52:24.71
Peter is speaking from
experience. He knew what he was
00:52:24.74\00:52:27.98
talking about. Have you
ever heard anyone teach that a
00:52:28.01\00:52:32.91
roaring lion is a harmless lion
I've heard that. I've heard it
00:52:32.95\00:52:37.55
Don't believe that for one
minute. He's prowling, he's
00:52:38.92\00:52:42.12
always active, he's dangerous,
talking about the Devil and
00:52:42.16\00:52:45.93
Satan that roaring lion.
That roar is supposed to scatter
00:52:45.96\00:52:52.07
the sheep. Scare them
and cause them to depart.
00:52:52.10\00:52:56.20
And the point being, he will
harm you. Satan doesn't just
00:52:56.24\00:53:02.31
want to scare us, just scatter
us Pastor he wants to destroy us
00:53:02.34\00:53:08.42
That would be John 10:10.
The thief cometh not but to kill
00:53:08.45\00:53:14.69
steal and destroy. Ah, but Jesus
says, I have come to give you
00:53:14.72\00:53:19.96
life and to give that more
abundantly. Steal, kill and
00:53:20.03\00:53:23.20
destroy. He steals the word,
he kills us spiritually then he
00:53:23.26\00:53:29.24
destroys us completely.
Steal, kill and destroy.
00:53:29.27\00:53:32.51
Ok, let's go on now. Peter
says in verse 9, Resist him
00:53:32.54\00:53:40.55
We're back in 1 Peter 5, looking
now at verse 9, Resist him
00:53:40.62\00:53:46.39
steadfast in the faith. Resist
the devil. What does James 4:7
00:53:46.42\00:53:52.69
unto God and He will draw
nigh unto you. Let's finish this
00:53:52.73\00:53:58.97
Resist him steadfast in the
faith, knowing that the same
00:53:59.00\00:54:02.50
sufferings are experienced
by your brotherhood in the world
00:54:02.54\00:54:05.61
but may the God of all grace
who called us to His eternal
00:54:05.64\00:54:10.38
glory by Christ Jesus
after you have suffered a while
00:54:10.45\00:54:14.05
perfect, that means mature you,
establish you and strengthen
00:54:14.12\00:54:19.12
and settle you. So
that's the power of Almighty God
00:54:19.15\00:54:22.49
Now I wanted to give you
some good news and I'll give you
00:54:22.52\00:54:25.09
some bad news. I think
I'll give you the bad news first
00:54:25.13\00:54:28.40
Do you know that we're
in a Great controversy?
00:54:28.43\00:54:30.83
There is an enemy out there.
The Great Controversy is between
00:54:30.87\00:54:35.27
Satan, the Devil, the one
that we were just talking about
00:54:35.30\00:54:38.44
this roaring lion and the Lord
Jesus Christ. That's the bad
00:54:38.47\00:54:42.18
news. Another bad news,
we're right in the middle of it.
00:54:42.21\00:54:45.71
Satan is after us. Now
let me give you the good news
00:54:45.75\00:54:49.25
On the side of light, on our
side is the Lord Jesus Christ
00:54:50.19\00:54:55.66
and what is the Lord
Jesus Christ, He's our Leader
00:54:55.69\00:54:59.33
what did He accomplish at
Calvary? He totally defeated
00:54:59.36\00:55:03.97
the enemy. We've read, as Danny
Shelton would say, the end of
00:55:04.00\00:55:08.24
the book. We know how
this thing plays out. We are
00:55:08.27\00:55:12.91
overcomers by the blood of
the Lamb and the Word of our
00:55:12.94\00:55:16.14
testimony. So he goes about as a
roaring lion, he is out to kill
00:55:16.18\00:55:21.52
steal and destroy but we
are victorious through the Word
00:55:21.55\00:55:25.69
of the Lord Jesus
Christ and through His blood.
00:55:25.72\00:55:29.09
So don't be
concerned, be victorious.
00:55:29.12\00:55:31.86
You know I just have to
add, greater is He that is in us
00:55:31.89\00:55:35.06
than He who is in the world.
So He's given us spiritual
00:55:35.10\00:55:38.83
armor, He's given us all
of the weapons that we need
00:55:38.87\00:55:42.74
But we do need to be sober
and vigilant. It was wonderful
00:55:42.77\00:55:47.11
The weapons of our warfare are
not carnal but mighty through
00:55:47.14\00:55:50.58
God for the pulling down of
strongholds. I am encouraged
00:55:50.61\00:55:53.88
Christ has won the victory,
He won the battle and He won it
00:55:53.95\00:55:57.52
in our behalf and in Jesus
we can stand and be victorious
00:55:57.55\00:56:02.29
We're talking this week
about Servant Leadership
00:56:02.32\00:56:06.23
And a final question for
the Panel. We only have a couple
00:56:06.26\00:56:09.53
moments so keep your answers
brief here. If I were to ask you
00:56:09.56\00:56:13.13
what would be one of the most
important qualities of a leader
00:56:13.17\00:56:18.17
What would you say?
Humility I would say humility
00:56:18.21\00:56:21.28
because that's total dependence
upon the Lord, so to me that's
00:56:21.31\00:56:27.05
the most important. Anyone
else? If you're not willing
00:56:27.08\00:56:30.25
to serve those God has given
you responsibility for, you're
00:56:30.32\00:56:33.69
certainly not fit to lead them.
Humility prepares you to be
00:56:33.72\00:56:40.13
a servant. yes, Amen. You
understand that Jesus humbled
00:56:40.16\00:56:44.00
Himself as we follow His example
and humble ourselves we are
00:56:44.07\00:56:47.87
prepared to be servants. Amen
00:56:47.90\00:56:49.24
Pr. Tom. This thought is
more of an application thought.
00:56:49.27\00:56:52.31
Look at what you've seen
displayed today, humility
00:56:53.68\00:56:56.75
is the kingdom of heaven. It's
the way God operates, it's the
00:56:56.78\00:57:00.18
way all of His kingdom operates.
And how do you compare, how
00:57:00.22\00:57:06.05
have you compared? And where
is it that the Lord wants to
00:57:06.09\00:57:09.56
work in you? Amen. To create
that transformation in you.
00:57:09.59\00:57:12.63
Thank you so much. We're so glad
that you have joined us today
00:57:12.66\00:57:16.23
Such a privilege to open
up God's Word, to study about
00:57:16.26\00:57:19.33
Servant Leadership and I know
many of you watching are leaders
00:57:19.37\00:57:23.14
in your local community, at
your job area, in your church
00:57:23.17\00:57:27.11
or maybe you're leadership
in training. Maybe you're young
00:57:27.18\00:57:30.75
but God is growing you right
now. So we want to encourage
00:57:30.78\00:57:33.92
you. Walk in humility. Seek the
Father's face. Be willing to be
00:57:33.95\00:57:39.29
mentored by other people
or if you're older mentor the
00:57:39.32\00:57:43.16
younger people. We want
to encourage you to check out
00:57:43.19\00:57:45.69
your local Seventh-Day
Adventist Church and visit
00:57:45.73\00:57:48.70
Become a part of a
church community. Next week our
00:57:48.73\00:57:52.80
lesson is Jesus in
the writings of Peter
00:57:52.83\00:57:55.84
And we're looking forward to
sharing with you again next week
00:57:55.87\00:57:59.47
Know that on behalf of
our panel, Molly Steenson
00:57:59.51\00:58:02.34
Shelley Quinn, John Dinzey
and Pr. Tom Ferguson we love you
00:58:02.38\00:58:05.95
and we pray for you.
God bless you and keep you.
00:58:05.98\00:58:10.79