1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,520 Hello, and welcome to the Middletown Baptist Church Podcast, 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,480 where we are proclaiming the truth to the world. 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,720 My name is Pastor Josh, and I want to thank you for listening to 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:10,480 this podcast. 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,680 I hope that this podcast can be a blessing to you and strengthen 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:16,080 you in the word of God. 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:17,560 Now, come along. 8 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,440 Let's look into the Bible and see what God has for us here today. 9 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,120 Well, I did say I'm going to share just a brief devotional with 10 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,160 you, but I just saw the rain started pouring, so now I have you 11 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:29,680 captive. 12 00:00:30,460 --> 00:00:33,380 But I will try to do my best to keep my word, to keep this as 13 00:00:33,380 --> 00:00:34,540 abbreviated as possible. 14 00:00:35,500 --> 00:00:37,980 But I wanted to speak from a passage of scripture that. 15 00:00:37,980 --> 00:00:42,020 That I feel highlights the truth of what a church should really 16 00:00:42,020 --> 00:00:42,620 look like. 17 00:00:42,940 --> 00:00:45,140 And there's a lot of passages of scripture that we could turn to. 18 00:00:45,140 --> 00:00:46,700 We could turn to Acts, chapter two. 19 00:00:47,340 --> 00:00:50,700 We could look at passages in the book of Romans, Romans, chapter 20 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:51,020 15. 21 00:00:51,820 --> 00:00:54,820 But I think one of the passages that has really helped me 22 00:00:54,820 --> 00:00:57,540 understand what a church should look like is Ephesians, chapter 23 00:00:57,540 --> 00:00:57,820 4. 24 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,000 And for the just the next few moments, I'd like to highlight some 25 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,880 thoughts from this chapter, because I think that this is going 26 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,000 to help us understand why we're doing what we're doing. 27 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:10,000 Really, what are we doing as a church? 28 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,680 The church is more than just a place that we come once a week. 29 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,200 The church is more than just a place that I come to hear preaching. 30 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,960 The church, as we're going to see here in this passage of scripture, 31 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:21,720 is a family. 32 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,320 Now, there's a lot of analogies that God uses in Scripture. 33 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,440 The Bible says that the church is a family. 34 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,600 The Bible says that the church is a building, but not a physical 35 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,160 building, but a spiritual building made up of living stones. 36 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,760 And we know that those stones are built upon one sure foundation, 37 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,480 the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ. 38 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:44,320 The Bible says that the church is a body, but we know that the body, 39 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:48,600 though having many parts, is attached to the head, which the Bible 40 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,320 says the head of the church is Jesus Christ. 41 00:01:51,190 --> 00:01:53,350 And so ultimately, the analogy is this. 42 00:01:53,510 --> 00:01:56,430 It's a bunch of different people from different places and 43 00:01:56,430 --> 00:02:01,270 different backgrounds coming together, unified under one Savior, 44 00:02:01,270 --> 00:02:01,830 Jesus Christ. 45 00:02:01,830 --> 00:02:03,990 And that's what we see here in Ephesians, chapter four. 46 00:02:04,790 --> 00:02:09,990 It says, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you. 47 00:02:10,230 --> 00:02:13,030 Now, now we know that this is Paul speaking through the inspiration 48 00:02:13,030 --> 00:02:14,070 of the Holy Spirit. 49 00:02:14,630 --> 00:02:16,790 And he says, I am a prisoner of God. 50 00:02:16,790 --> 00:02:20,490 He could have defined himself or described himself in a million 51 00:02:20,490 --> 00:02:23,130 different ways, but he says, I'm a prisoner of the Lord. 52 00:02:23,130 --> 00:02:24,450 I'm a Servant of the Lord. 53 00:02:24,690 --> 00:02:26,130 And he says, I beseech you. 54 00:02:26,130 --> 00:02:30,410 That's a fancy way to say that I beg you, I plead with you that 55 00:02:30,410 --> 00:02:35,290 you walk worthy of the vocation or the job wherewith you're 56 00:02:35,290 --> 00:02:35,570 called. 57 00:02:36,370 --> 00:02:40,210 So we as believers individually are called to a purpose. 58 00:02:40,530 --> 00:02:42,850 And corporately we are called to a purpose. 59 00:02:43,260 --> 00:02:45,220 Now, we could go back and look what that purpose is. 60 00:02:45,220 --> 00:02:46,620 But ultimately it's this. 61 00:02:47,340 --> 00:02:50,620 To glorify God, to please him and to praise Him. 62 00:02:50,860 --> 00:02:51,980 How do we please Him? 63 00:02:51,980 --> 00:02:52,860 By obeying Him. 64 00:02:52,860 --> 00:02:53,860 How do we obey Him? 65 00:02:53,860 --> 00:02:55,180 Follow what he's told us to do. 66 00:02:55,260 --> 00:02:56,540 What has he told us to do? 67 00:02:56,620 --> 00:03:00,620 To go into all the world and make disciples, to teach them how 68 00:03:00,620 --> 00:03:05,340 to observe his commandments, to love one another, to love him 69 00:03:05,340 --> 00:03:05,980 with everything. 70 00:03:06,380 --> 00:03:07,900 This is what he's called us to do. 71 00:03:08,060 --> 00:03:10,140 And he says, this is how you're supposed to do that. 72 00:03:10,140 --> 00:03:10,390 How? 73 00:03:10,460 --> 00:03:11,580 How are you supposed to do that? 74 00:03:11,580 --> 00:03:12,780 Job, verse 2. 75 00:03:12,780 --> 00:03:18,460 With lowliness and meekness, humility and gentleness. 76 00:03:19,260 --> 00:03:20,380 With longsuffering. 77 00:03:20,380 --> 00:03:23,900 That's patience, forbearing one another in love. 78 00:03:25,260 --> 00:03:26,420 So what does the Bible say here? 79 00:03:26,420 --> 00:03:28,020 The church must deal with one another. 80 00:03:28,020 --> 00:03:30,260 We, we, we've got to interact with each other. 81 00:03:30,260 --> 00:03:31,500 That's the point of church. 82 00:03:31,740 --> 00:03:34,500 If church is just a place that I come and go home and I don't talk 83 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:36,470 to anybody, I'm missing the point. 84 00:03:36,630 --> 00:03:40,870 The point is, is that we need to forbear each other in love, do 85 00:03:40,870 --> 00:03:41,670 things for each other. 86 00:03:41,670 --> 00:03:43,430 Verse 3 Endeavoring. 87 00:03:43,590 --> 00:03:48,830 That word, endeavoring means to be challenged, to seek after endeavoring 88 00:03:48,830 --> 00:03:52,470 to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. 89 00:03:53,350 --> 00:03:57,230 In John chapter 17, Jesus is giving his high priestly prayer. 90 00:03:57,230 --> 00:03:58,470 He's praying to the Father. 91 00:03:58,550 --> 00:04:02,360 And one of the things that Jesus prays for is unity amongst 92 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:03,200 the believers. 93 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,280 We see in Acts chapter two, there's unity. 94 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,880 They're in one accord when they are healthily walking in the 95 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:10,240 Spirit. 96 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,720 And what Does Ephesians chapter 4 say? 97 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,040 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 98 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,880 The church is supposed to be striving after unity and peace, not 99 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,440 just assuming that it's going to happen. 100 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,800 Not just allowing peace and unity to happen by default or by 101 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,600 accident or whatever. 102 00:04:27,890 --> 00:04:30,450 No, it says that we should be endeavoring to keep the unity of 103 00:04:30,450 --> 00:04:31,730 the Spirit in the bond of peace. 104 00:04:31,970 --> 00:04:32,370 Why? 105 00:04:33,250 --> 00:04:39,250 There's one body and one Spirit, even as you're called in 106 00:04:39,250 --> 00:04:40,610 one hope of your calling. 107 00:04:40,610 --> 00:04:45,450 Meaning the same spirit that indwells you is the same Spirit that's 108 00:04:45,450 --> 00:04:46,930 indwelling the other believer. 109 00:04:48,210 --> 00:04:50,730 And if we are indwelled by the same spirit. 110 00:04:50,730 --> 00:04:53,090 How can we be at odds with each other? 111 00:04:53,090 --> 00:04:54,050 That's what the Bible's saying. 112 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:55,960 The spirit doesn't fight against the Spirit. 113 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:00,960 So the reality is, is that if we are walking in the spirit, we 114 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:02,920 are walking in unity with others. 115 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,200 Now, now, that person might not be walking in the spirit. 116 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,160 And there's passages of scripture that talk about how to 117 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:07,720 deal with that. 118 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,760 But the idea here for us is that we are concerned with our side 119 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:11,160 of this. 120 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,240 There was one body, one spirit, even as you're called, in 121 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:15,400 one hope of your calling. 122 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,660 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one. 123 00:05:19,810 --> 00:05:23,170 One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and 124 00:05:23,170 --> 00:05:24,210 in you all. 125 00:05:24,770 --> 00:05:27,130 So he says, the reason why you have unity is not because everyone 126 00:05:27,130 --> 00:05:28,050 agrees with you. 127 00:05:28,130 --> 00:05:30,690 The reason you have unity is not because everything in the church 128 00:05:30,690 --> 00:05:32,370 goes the way that you expect it to go. 129 00:05:32,450 --> 00:05:36,370 It says here very clearly, the reason why we have unity is because 130 00:05:36,770 --> 00:05:40,730 there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 131 00:05:40,730 --> 00:05:42,370 one God, one Father above all. 132 00:05:43,170 --> 00:05:44,450 So the idea is this. 133 00:05:44,450 --> 00:05:46,050 We have something in common. 134 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:50,160 Have you ever been somewhere, maybe outside of the country or maybe 135 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,000 outside of the area that you live, and you run into somebody who 136 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,160 indicates that they know where you're from? 137 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:55,560 Maybe. 138 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,400 Maybe you're in a foreign country and you find an American. 139 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,520 You're like, I don't care what that American's like. 140 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:00,280 I don't know who they. 141 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:01,160 But, hey, an American. 142 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:02,760 Yeah, we have something in common. 143 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,480 I. I know that Alicia and I still. 144 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,680 You can hold this against us, but we follow sports from Tampa Bay. 145 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:11,280 Some of you like, I don't even follow sports anymore. 146 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:13,670 I understand that, but still, pray for me. 147 00:06:13,670 --> 00:06:15,190 I follow the Tampa Bay sports. 148 00:06:15,190 --> 00:06:18,030 Okay, so we were driving in our neighborhood, and someone was 149 00:06:18,030 --> 00:06:19,750 flying a flag of our sports team. 150 00:06:19,750 --> 00:06:22,270 We don't find anyone up here that does that, and we immediately 151 00:06:22,270 --> 00:06:24,230 have a friend because they're a friend with you. 152 00:06:24,230 --> 00:06:27,230 So you see, that idea is that we have something in common. 153 00:06:27,230 --> 00:06:28,350 So that brings us a bond. 154 00:06:28,670 --> 00:06:31,550 Well, as Christians, I don't care if that person looks like you 155 00:06:31,950 --> 00:06:34,830 or acts like you or comes from the same background or has the same 156 00:06:34,830 --> 00:06:37,230 socioeconomic status as you. 157 00:06:37,470 --> 00:06:40,570 If are believers, we have something in common right then and 158 00:06:40,570 --> 00:06:42,130 there, if we're truly believers. 159 00:06:42,130 --> 00:06:43,290 And so that's what he's saying here. 160 00:06:43,690 --> 00:06:45,570 So he says, Verse 7. 161 00:06:45,570 --> 00:06:48,490 But unto every one of us is given grace. 162 00:06:48,650 --> 00:06:52,730 So every Christian in the church is given grace according to 163 00:06:52,730 --> 00:06:55,610 the measure of the gift of Christ, Meaning everybody's gifted 164 00:06:55,610 --> 00:06:59,130 differently, everybody is graced differently. 165 00:06:59,130 --> 00:07:03,130 So that means there's diversity with unity. 166 00:07:04,020 --> 00:07:05,220 Not, not uniformity. 167 00:07:05,220 --> 00:07:10,100 Not everyone the same, but we are unified but diversified. 168 00:07:10,340 --> 00:07:12,740 Meaning that there are people gifted in different ways. 169 00:07:12,900 --> 00:07:16,700 I, I've got to give a shout out to Ms. Donna because, because 170 00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:19,420 she really challenged me this week because I said at the beginning 171 00:07:19,420 --> 00:07:22,420 of the week, guys, I know that it's going to be tiresome being around 172 00:07:22,420 --> 00:07:23,300 all these kids. 173 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:24,340 I, I get that. 174 00:07:24,420 --> 00:07:27,220 And, and she was like, pastor, I'm, I'm fired up when I'm around 175 00:07:27,220 --> 00:07:27,540 children. 176 00:07:27,540 --> 00:07:30,510 I said, well, you, you're gifted that way. 177 00:07:30,510 --> 00:07:31,950 Not everyone's gifted that way. 178 00:07:32,350 --> 00:07:34,670 Not, not, not everyone's able to do certain things. 179 00:07:34,670 --> 00:07:35,830 But the thing is, is this. 180 00:07:35,830 --> 00:07:37,390 I don't get jealous of that person. 181 00:07:38,030 --> 00:07:39,790 I, I, I don't doubt my calling. 182 00:07:39,790 --> 00:07:43,510 The Bible says everyone is called uniquely in the body of believers. 183 00:07:43,510 --> 00:07:45,150 Not everyone's supposed to be a hand. 184 00:07:45,390 --> 00:07:46,870 Not everyone's supposed to be the foot. 185 00:07:46,870 --> 00:07:49,750 If everyone was the foot, where would the hand be? 186 00:07:49,750 --> 00:07:51,710 That's what he says in, in first Corinthians. 187 00:07:52,110 --> 00:07:55,470 So, so he goes on to say later on, he says, and within the church, 188 00:07:55,470 --> 00:07:56,510 there's different roles. 189 00:07:56,990 --> 00:08:00,350 In this context, at this time, it says, and he gave some apostles 190 00:08:00,750 --> 00:08:03,670 and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and 191 00:08:03,670 --> 00:08:07,190 teachers, meaning there's different leadership levels within 192 00:08:07,190 --> 00:08:08,990 the church, within the family of God. 193 00:08:08,990 --> 00:08:12,110 And he says, the purpose of the pastor is not to run the church. 194 00:08:12,670 --> 00:08:16,590 The person, the purpose of the pastor and teacher is not to tell 195 00:08:16,590 --> 00:08:17,350 everyone what to do. 196 00:08:17,350 --> 00:08:18,270 What does it say there? 197 00:08:18,350 --> 00:08:22,550 For the perfecting or the maturing of the saints, for the work 198 00:08:22,550 --> 00:08:23,390 of the ministry. 199 00:08:24,650 --> 00:08:27,970 So the role of a leader within the church is not to lead with an 200 00:08:27,970 --> 00:08:29,930 iron fist and tell everyone what to do. 201 00:08:30,170 --> 00:08:35,210 The purpose of the pastor and teacher, as it says here, is to teach 202 00:08:35,210 --> 00:08:38,050 people how to mature in the face so that they can do the work 203 00:08:38,050 --> 00:08:38,690 of the ministry. 204 00:08:38,690 --> 00:08:41,970 We all have a job, and Middletown Baptist Church is wonderful 205 00:08:41,970 --> 00:08:42,410 with that. 206 00:08:43,050 --> 00:08:46,530 I remember there were times in VBS years ago where, you know, I 207 00:08:46,530 --> 00:08:47,970 was teaching and doing things. 208 00:08:47,970 --> 00:08:50,530 And this year was a very unique opportunity for me just to 209 00:08:50,530 --> 00:08:52,410 float around and look at everyone serve. 210 00:08:52,790 --> 00:08:54,870 And it was a blessing to see everybody serving. 211 00:08:55,190 --> 00:08:58,510 And the unique aspect of this is, is that there is this purpose 212 00:08:58,510 --> 00:09:00,790 of edifying of the body of Christ. 213 00:09:01,750 --> 00:09:04,830 If you remember a little while back, I said, really, every interaction 214 00:09:04,830 --> 00:09:08,990 that we have within our lives should be an evangelistic opportunity 215 00:09:08,990 --> 00:09:10,710 or an edification opportunity. 216 00:09:10,950 --> 00:09:14,550 I either need to lead someone to Christ or I need to build them 217 00:09:14,550 --> 00:09:15,270 up in Christ. 218 00:09:15,830 --> 00:09:18,470 So within the church, our relationship should be to build each 219 00:09:18,470 --> 00:09:19,270 other up in Christ. 220 00:09:19,270 --> 00:09:24,010 That's what he says here, to edify till we all come in the unity 221 00:09:24,010 --> 00:09:24,690 of faith. 222 00:09:25,010 --> 00:09:25,970 So we don't stop. 223 00:09:26,210 --> 00:09:27,170 Because what is he saying here? 224 00:09:27,170 --> 00:09:28,570 He says we keep doing this. 225 00:09:28,570 --> 00:09:31,570 We keep building each other up until we reach that perfect unity. 226 00:09:31,570 --> 00:09:33,810 Well, the reality is, is that we're never going to reach that perfect 227 00:09:33,810 --> 00:09:35,170 unity till we get to heaven. 228 00:09:35,250 --> 00:09:39,090 So we never stop till we all come into the unity of faith and 229 00:09:39,090 --> 00:09:42,290 of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the 230 00:09:42,290 --> 00:09:44,130 measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 231 00:09:44,370 --> 00:09:48,010 The goal, the golden standard, is to be like Christ. 232 00:09:48,010 --> 00:09:51,260 To be unified as he is unified with the Father. 233 00:09:51,340 --> 00:09:52,260 That's what he's saying here. 234 00:09:52,260 --> 00:09:54,260 He says we should all strive to be like Christ. 235 00:09:54,260 --> 00:09:56,660 None of us are going to make it there, here on this side of heaven, 236 00:09:56,660 --> 00:09:58,060 but the goal is to go there. 237 00:09:58,700 --> 00:09:59,100 Why? 238 00:09:59,340 --> 00:10:01,900 That we henceforth be no more children. 239 00:10:03,020 --> 00:10:06,700 He says, don't be spiritually immature, toss to and fro and carry 240 00:10:06,700 --> 00:10:08,460 it about with every wind of doctrine. 241 00:10:08,460 --> 00:10:09,900 You ever seen someone like that? 242 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:13,820 They turn on their phone, they get on the Internet and all of a 243 00:10:13,820 --> 00:10:16,420 sudden now they believe this and, and now there's a new video. 244 00:10:16,420 --> 00:10:20,180 And now they believe that the Bible says spiritually immature Christians 245 00:10:20,260 --> 00:10:23,380 will be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. 246 00:10:23,860 --> 00:10:25,420 So he says, we don't want to be like that. 247 00:10:25,420 --> 00:10:26,180 We want to be. 248 00:10:26,180 --> 00:10:29,700 We want to be, as it says here, solid, foundationally set in 249 00:10:29,700 --> 00:10:30,580 the truth of God. 250 00:10:30,580 --> 00:10:30,900 Why? 251 00:10:30,900 --> 00:10:33,980 Because every wind of doctrine will be as it says, by the slight 252 00:10:33,980 --> 00:10:34,380 of men. 253 00:10:34,380 --> 00:10:37,940 It's man focused, man centered and cunning craftiness whereby they 254 00:10:37,940 --> 00:10:39,380 lie in wait to deceive. 255 00:10:40,500 --> 00:10:42,260 So in the contrast of that is what? 256 00:10:42,550 --> 00:10:45,910 But speaking the truth in love, may we grow up into all things 257 00:10:45,910 --> 00:10:47,390 which is the head, even Christ. 258 00:10:47,390 --> 00:10:50,310 Meaning this, we speak the truth in love and be more like Christ. 259 00:10:51,190 --> 00:10:53,670 Folks, you want your example of how you're supposed to be? 260 00:10:53,910 --> 00:10:56,710 Read the gospels, be like Jesus. 261 00:10:57,350 --> 00:10:58,470 Say, well I can't be like Jesus. 262 00:10:58,470 --> 00:10:59,590 Well, none of us can be perfect. 263 00:10:59,590 --> 00:11:02,470 But the Bible doesn't say since I can't be perfect, I shouldn't 264 00:11:02,470 --> 00:11:04,430 be like Jesus in any way, shape or form. 265 00:11:04,430 --> 00:11:06,390 No, the goal is to be like Christ. 266 00:11:06,870 --> 00:11:09,030 The goal is to die to self and be more like him. 267 00:11:09,750 --> 00:11:10,270 And what? 268 00:11:10,270 --> 00:11:11,270 What did Paul say? 269 00:11:11,510 --> 00:11:14,230 Follow me as I follow Christ. 270 00:11:15,030 --> 00:11:17,750 So the mature Christian is the example to the immature Christian 271 00:11:17,750 --> 00:11:18,870 of how to look like Christ. 272 00:11:19,350 --> 00:11:21,910 Now doesn't Paul doesn't say follow me because I'm the man. 273 00:11:22,150 --> 00:11:24,230 Paul says, follow me because I'm following Christ. 274 00:11:24,230 --> 00:11:25,750 He always points people to Christ. 275 00:11:26,230 --> 00:11:29,310 And so ultimately, we're going to end this chapter or this passage 276 00:11:29,310 --> 00:11:29,910 here with this. 277 00:11:31,190 --> 00:11:34,670 Be like Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together 278 00:11:34,670 --> 00:11:38,400 and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to 279 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,640 the effectual working in the measure of every part. 280 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:42,920 That's some fancy way to basically say this. 281 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:44,440 We're all part of the family of God. 282 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,520 We need to work together so that we can effectively work for 283 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:49,760 what he has called us to do. 284 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:53,679 Walking worthy, making increase of the body unto the edifying 285 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:54,640 of itself and love. 286 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:55,760 And so the idea is this. 287 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,760 The church is built through fellowship. 288 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:00,560 The church is built through unity. 289 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,280 The church is built through the truth in the doctrines of Jesus 290 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:04,560 Christ. 291 00:12:04,990 --> 00:12:06,870 The church is built through evangelism. 292 00:12:06,870 --> 00:12:08,910 The church is built through edification. 293 00:12:08,910 --> 00:12:11,710 The church is built through exhortation, challenging one another. 294 00:12:13,310 --> 00:12:17,790 And so forgive me if I seem fervent about this, but the Bible 295 00:12:17,790 --> 00:12:21,150 says redeeming the time because the days are evil. 296 00:12:21,870 --> 00:12:26,710 We don't have enough time to play around anymore, okay? 297 00:12:26,710 --> 00:12:26,910 We. 298 00:12:26,910 --> 00:12:30,030 We have to be serious about what the call of God is in our life. 299 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:37,960 VBS is a tool to bring people to Jesus Christ, to bring young people 300 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:39,240 and parents to Jesus Christ. 301 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:41,240 Some of you know, we have a softball team. 302 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,560 Softball is to bring people to Jesus Christ. 303 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:45,960 Soccer is to bring people to Jesus Christ. 304 00:12:46,439 --> 00:12:48,520 Food is to bring people to Jesus Christ. 305 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:49,000 Music. 306 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:49,640 You understand? 307 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,600 God has given us all these wonderful things and wonderful gifts, 308 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,640 and the list goes on and on and on. 309 00:12:56,690 --> 00:12:57,410 But it's not. 310 00:12:57,570 --> 00:12:58,610 That's not the end. 311 00:12:59,090 --> 00:12:59,410 That. 312 00:12:59,410 --> 00:12:59,770 That's. 313 00:12:59,770 --> 00:13:01,250 That's the means to the end. 314 00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:05,410 And the end is always the gospel and is always the gospel. 315 00:13:06,210 --> 00:13:10,330 If we lose sight of the gospel and the edification of the saints 316 00:13:10,330 --> 00:13:12,690 for the work of the ministry, we've missed the point. 317 00:13:14,130 --> 00:13:17,730 We could go back to Ecclesiastes and say, vanity of vanities. 318 00:13:17,810 --> 00:13:19,890 Everything is empty without Christ. 319 00:13:20,050 --> 00:13:21,010 Everything is empty. 320 00:13:21,820 --> 00:13:24,020 But with Christ, we have substance and purpose. 321 00:13:24,020 --> 00:13:28,140 And so, as Middletown Baptist Church pushes forward unapologetically, 322 00:13:28,140 --> 00:13:32,940 we are the family of God, and the family of God must be striving. 323 00:13:33,260 --> 00:13:35,940 I want you to think about that verse in verse number three. 324 00:13:35,940 --> 00:13:37,980 Please, with me pray through this verse this week. 325 00:13:38,220 --> 00:13:41,820 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, 326 00:13:42,380 --> 00:13:44,620 endeavoring chasing after it. 327 00:13:45,340 --> 00:13:46,700 It's not going to happen naturally. 328 00:13:46,700 --> 00:13:48,740 Our flesh does not go to unity. 329 00:13:48,740 --> 00:13:50,380 Our flesh is the opposite of unity. 330 00:13:51,110 --> 00:13:54,830 But when we see the body now, all of you know what it's like for 331 00:13:54,830 --> 00:13:56,150 the body not to be working right? 332 00:13:56,550 --> 00:13:58,950 Some of you say, I Know a lot better than you'll ever know. 333 00:13:58,950 --> 00:14:01,190 Pastor, My body's not working right anymore. 334 00:14:01,350 --> 00:14:02,030 I get that. 335 00:14:02,030 --> 00:14:04,630 And we understand when the arm hurts, the whole body hurts. 336 00:14:05,270 --> 00:14:07,710 And I'm going to tell you that we might be sitting around church 337 00:14:07,710 --> 00:14:08,950 going, man, there's just something not. 338 00:14:09,350 --> 00:14:11,750 It could be that someone in our church is hurting. 339 00:14:12,550 --> 00:14:15,870 And instead of looking and going, well, that person's got some 340 00:14:15,870 --> 00:14:18,210 problems, hope they figure it out. 341 00:14:18,770 --> 00:14:20,610 Said, let's say, hey, the arm's hurting. 342 00:14:20,690 --> 00:14:23,210 The whole rest of the body come alongside that arm and lift 343 00:14:23,210 --> 00:14:23,650 it up. 344 00:14:24,850 --> 00:14:27,490 You know, there's times in our life where this is very difficult. 345 00:14:27,490 --> 00:14:31,650 Well, I don't want to step on any toes, but the truth is really 346 00:14:32,449 --> 00:14:35,330 that there's times in my life when I'm at the darkest struggles 347 00:14:35,330 --> 00:14:35,930 in my own life. 348 00:14:35,930 --> 00:14:37,810 I'm not looking necessarily for help. 349 00:14:38,850 --> 00:14:40,250 The truth is, is that sometimes we have. 350 00:14:40,250 --> 00:14:43,050 The Bible says walk circumspectly looking for opportunities 351 00:14:43,050 --> 00:14:43,810 to help people. 352 00:14:44,150 --> 00:14:44,790 And you don't know. 353 00:14:44,790 --> 00:14:45,230 You don't know. 354 00:14:45,230 --> 00:14:47,990 But the Bible says that all of our speech is seasoned with, with 355 00:14:47,990 --> 00:14:48,390 grace. 356 00:14:49,110 --> 00:14:51,990 So if every conversation that I have is edifying, it's building 357 00:14:51,990 --> 00:14:52,390 up. 358 00:14:52,470 --> 00:14:56,070 Hopefully, hopefully someone is going to be touched by that edification. 359 00:14:56,470 --> 00:14:58,510 And so I wanted to read through Ephesians chapter four. 360 00:14:58,510 --> 00:15:00,470 I encourage you to read through Ephesians chapter four on 361 00:15:00,470 --> 00:15:02,990 a regular basis because that tells us what it looks like to be 362 00:15:02,990 --> 00:15:03,670 the body of Christ. 363 00:15:05,670 --> 00:15:09,310 So many times we think that church is something more or something 364 00:15:09,310 --> 00:15:09,670 less. 365 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,280 Church is essentially the institution that God has created 366 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,360 to further his plan in this world. 367 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:18,840 His plan is salvation. 368 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,200 His plan is edification. 369 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,920 His plan is sanctification and ultimately glorification. 370 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:24,760 And so we are. 371 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,360 The Bible says the church is the pillar and ground of truth. 372 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,680 Who else is going to proclaim the truth to the world? 373 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,790 Who else is going to show the love of, of God to the world? 374 00:15:37,190 --> 00:15:39,950 Who else is going to show the love of God to a fellow brother and 375 00:15:39,950 --> 00:15:40,630 sister in Christ? 376 00:15:41,030 --> 00:15:41,990 We are the church. 377 00:15:41,990 --> 00:15:42,950 You are the church. 378 00:15:43,270 --> 00:15:45,630 And so I encourage you to think about what that means when 379 00:15:45,630 --> 00:15:49,190 we fellowship and, and, and I hope that ultimately you can find 380 00:15:49,190 --> 00:15:51,110 lasting relationships within the church. 381 00:15:51,830 --> 00:15:55,190 I, I hope that you can find a place where you can raise your children, 382 00:15:55,190 --> 00:15:58,110 where your grandchildren can find hope, and, and where you can 383 00:15:58,110 --> 00:15:58,630 find hope. 384 00:15:59,190 --> 00:16:03,350 But at the end of the day, the church is as strong as our reliance 385 00:16:03,350 --> 00:16:05,220 on the power of God. 386 00:16:06,420 --> 00:16:09,820 We are weak, but ultimately he is strong. 387 00:16:09,820 --> 00:16:13,340 And so when the church relies on him, we can have that beauty and 388 00:16:13,340 --> 00:16:15,300 grace that we are calling for in our life. 389 00:16:15,540 --> 00:16:18,820 Well, I wanted to challenge you with that here this evening. 390 00:16:20,020 --> 00:16:22,620 Thank you again for listening to the Middletown Baptist Church 391 00:16:22,620 --> 00:16:23,220 Podcast. 392 00:16:23,460 --> 00:16:25,780 I hope that this sermon has been a blessing for you. 393 00:16:26,580 --> 00:16:28,780 You would like to find out more information about our church 394 00:16:28,780 --> 00:16:32,270 or this sermon, you can can find us at middletownbaptistchurch.org 395 00:16:32,510 --> 00:16:35,070 or find us on Facebook or YouTube. 396 00:16:35,790 --> 00:16:40,310 You can also email me directly at Josh Massaroiddletownbaptistchurch 397 00:16:40,310 --> 00:16:42,910 dot com if you've enjoyed this podcast. 398 00:16:43,150 --> 00:16:47,550 Please subscribe and follow along for future podcasts and updates. 399 00:16:48,190 --> 00:16:49,150 Thank you so much. 400 00:16:49,390 --> 00:16:50,110 God Bless. 401 00:16:50,350 --> 00:16:51,630 Have a wonderful day.