1 00:00:00,049 --> 00:00:01,249 Marc Cogan: Well, good morning, gentlemen. 2 00:00:01,249 --> 00:00:05,779 I told Pastor Rod that you never know, maybe Julia will go into labor again. 3 00:00:05,809 --> 00:00:06,829 Maybe we had twins. 4 00:00:08,209 --> 00:00:08,779 You never know. 5 00:00:08,989 --> 00:00:09,529 You never know. 6 00:00:11,449 --> 00:00:15,829 Well, I want you to consider with me a racing team, a racing 7 00:00:15,829 --> 00:00:21,349 team, whatever it is, FF one, nascar, maybe something smaller. 8 00:00:22,189 --> 00:00:26,899 Any racing team is made up of a lot of different people to make a. 9 00:00:27,799 --> 00:00:29,419 Victory possible on the lap. 10 00:00:29,899 --> 00:00:32,569 There needs to be lots of people who make up that team. 11 00:00:32,959 --> 00:00:38,179 There is a privileged position on that team, that being the driver, the, the 12 00:00:38,179 --> 00:00:41,929 one guy who gets to get in the seat of the car, gets to actually turn the 13 00:00:41,929 --> 00:00:46,819 steering wheel, gets to get the car from the start line, back to the start line. 14 00:00:47,449 --> 00:00:52,610 Um, he's the guy who gets to go on the podium when the race is won. 15 00:00:53,029 --> 00:00:56,929 And he's also the guy who, uh, goes in the record books when, when the race is lost. 16 00:00:56,929 --> 00:01:01,999 In order to make that possible, there has to be a lot of people that support him. 17 00:01:02,059 --> 00:01:06,320 There's mechanics, there's engineers, there's designers, there's all sorts 18 00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:09,740 of people that make it possible for him to turn on that car and actually race. 19 00:01:10,369 --> 00:01:13,759 Uh, maybe even payroll people, maybe there's even payroll people on these 20 00:01:13,759 --> 00:01:16,309 big teams that get paid to everybody. 21 00:01:18,350 --> 00:01:19,520 Why are those people there? 22 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:21,020 They're not there. 23 00:01:21,020 --> 00:01:24,830 The payroll person isn't there because he expects to be racing. 24 00:01:25,235 --> 00:01:28,085 Sitting in the driver's seat, the next time the team goes out to the 25 00:01:28,085 --> 00:01:32,884 track, he's there because he cares about being part of something great. 26 00:01:34,054 --> 00:01:37,264 The mechanics, the pit crew, all those people who make up the 27 00:01:37,264 --> 00:01:41,434 team wanna be there because they wanna be part of that victory. 28 00:01:42,064 --> 00:01:47,554 They wanna be part of that victory would be ridiculous if you had the 29 00:01:47,554 --> 00:01:52,145 best pit crew in the world who was working to eliminate microseconds. 30 00:01:52,715 --> 00:01:58,414 Of time from a tire change to then go out and hire a driver who'd just gotten 31 00:01:58,414 --> 00:02:01,925 their driver's license last week and was learning how to use a blinker. 32 00:02:02,945 --> 00:02:04,235 It would be an absurdity to do that. 33 00:02:04,265 --> 00:02:07,295 It would waste all of those skills and all of that effort. 34 00:02:07,804 --> 00:02:13,175 And likewise, it would be absurd to go out and get the best driver there is 35 00:02:13,295 --> 00:02:18,394 who's passionate about what he does, who's got a great work ethic, who 36 00:02:18,605 --> 00:02:20,525 has a record to back up all of that. 37 00:02:21,349 --> 00:02:25,909 And then to go out and hire a pit crew who is kind of lazily putting on 38 00:02:25,909 --> 00:02:31,789 a tire, uh, that would squander all of what that driver is able to do. 39 00:02:32,599 --> 00:02:36,200 Um, doing either of those things, even as they're somewhat absurd, 40 00:02:36,349 --> 00:02:42,170 would result in losses assured losses, in fact, devastating losses. 41 00:02:43,070 --> 00:02:46,969 The church is at risk of doing a similar thing. 42 00:02:48,050 --> 00:02:51,950 I, I'm thankful that our church here at Compass Bible Church is not an 43 00:02:51,950 --> 00:02:59,959 immediate risk of, of these things, but the church is at risk of putting 44 00:02:59,959 --> 00:03:05,209 into leadership and putting into pastoral roles, men who are not mature, 45 00:03:05,779 --> 00:03:09,200 who don't care about what they're doing, who are not serious about it. 46 00:03:09,649 --> 00:03:13,760 And, um, that will, if we fail to do that rightly. 47 00:03:14,165 --> 00:03:18,755 We'll have consequences, we'll have devastating consequences. 48 00:03:19,175 --> 00:03:23,315 And the passage that we're turning to here in one Timothy three is Paul's 49 00:03:23,315 --> 00:03:28,445 warning to the church to make sure that the leaders of the church are 50 00:03:28,445 --> 00:03:31,595 mature, Christians are mature men. 51 00:03:31,865 --> 00:03:34,325 So will you turn with me to First Timothy three? 52 00:03:34,325 --> 00:03:36,635 First Timothy three is 53 00:03:38,795 --> 00:03:40,325 the series that we've been working through. 54 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,120 Related to the qualifications of an elder. 55 00:03:44,300 --> 00:03:48,680 I'm gonna read the whole passage starting in verse one, so that perhaps 56 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,820 the previous sermons on this will will be recalled in your mind, but also to 57 00:03:52,820 --> 00:03:56,960 give you the context of where we'll be landing today, which is in verse six. 58 00:03:57,590 --> 00:04:01,010 So read with me in first Timothy chapter three verse one. 59 00:04:01,730 --> 00:04:02,780 The saying is trustworthy. 60 00:04:03,110 --> 00:04:08,480 If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 61 00:04:08,539 --> 00:04:08,570 Okay. 62 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:14,899 Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober 63 00:04:14,899 --> 00:04:21,890 minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a 64 00:04:21,890 --> 00:04:27,320 drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 65 00:04:27,710 --> 00:04:31,130 He must manage his own household well with all dignity, keeping 66 00:04:31,130 --> 00:04:33,020 his children submissive. 67 00:04:33,710 --> 00:04:36,920 For someone does not know how to manage his own household, how 68 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:38,330 will he care for God's church? 69 00:04:39,260 --> 00:04:41,900 And we arrive at verse six, which is where we will be this morning. 70 00:04:42,169 --> 00:04:48,680 Verse six, ver verse six says, he must not be a recent convert, or he may be 71 00:04:49,430 --> 00:04:55,490 become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 72 00:04:57,710 --> 00:05:01,219 Paul, the apostle in this passage is giving Timothy the pastor. 73 00:05:02,735 --> 00:05:08,015 A caution, a safeguard, and he is warning Timothy that he needs to be 74 00:05:08,284 --> 00:05:14,675 dedicated to installing mature believers into leadership roles in his church. 75 00:05:15,245 --> 00:05:20,375 We want to be a church who has mature leaders in the pastorate, 76 00:05:20,855 --> 00:05:25,474 but we also want to be a church that has mature leaders throughout all 77 00:05:25,474 --> 00:05:26,615 the different roles that we have. 78 00:05:26,930 --> 00:05:30,080 Whether that's community group leaders, whether that's small group leaders in 79 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:34,969 true North or even in kids' ministry, we would love to have mature leaders. 80 00:05:35,450 --> 00:05:40,370 So this passage is Paul's exploitation to Timothy that he installed mature 81 00:05:40,370 --> 00:05:45,950 leaders, but we want to be a church that is inculcating future pastors. 82 00:05:45,950 --> 00:05:49,040 The reason that we've been preaching through this sermon series is we 83 00:05:49,550 --> 00:05:53,450 desire that our church is full of men who are qualified for pastory. 84 00:05:55,505 --> 00:05:57,965 That doesn't necessarily mean that everybody will be called, and in 85 00:05:57,965 --> 00:06:01,295 fact, if everybody were called, that would probably be an issue. 86 00:06:01,295 --> 00:06:05,855 But we would love to be a church full, a hundred percent full, even of men 87 00:06:05,855 --> 00:06:08,465 who are qualified for the pastorate. 88 00:06:09,935 --> 00:06:13,025 So what does Timothy need to know? 89 00:06:13,535 --> 00:06:17,525 Uh, the first point for this morning is that he needs to be, 90 00:06:17,615 --> 00:06:22,475 and we need to be champion, mature, championing, mature leadership. 91 00:06:23,180 --> 00:06:25,820 In our church, we need to champion mature leaders. 92 00:06:25,820 --> 00:06:29,210 That applies both to, uh, the desire that you should have 93 00:06:29,210 --> 00:06:31,460 to be led by mature pastors. 94 00:06:31,550 --> 00:06:34,370 And again, I think you can be very thankful that that is the case here. 95 00:06:34,969 --> 00:06:37,010 But we also need to be building a culture. 96 00:06:37,190 --> 00:06:41,719 We need to be building a church that is indeed, uh, able to 97 00:06:41,719 --> 00:06:43,880 raise up great godly leaders. 98 00:06:43,909 --> 00:06:44,900 Great mature leaders. 99 00:06:45,530 --> 00:06:47,330 Uh, men who love God. 100 00:06:47,540 --> 00:06:50,690 So what exactly is Paul's exhortation? 101 00:06:50,870 --> 00:06:52,490 Well, in some ways it's very simple, right? 102 00:06:52,550 --> 00:06:54,650 He must not be a recent convert. 103 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,370 That, in some ways is a very simple thing to understand. 104 00:06:59,090 --> 00:07:03,620 But why is that something that Paul is concerned about? 105 00:07:04,070 --> 00:07:07,010 Why is that something that Paul is calling out? 106 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,260 He's not necessarily calling out the recent convert, but he's 107 00:07:09,260 --> 00:07:13,460 calling out them specifically and saying that they are not qualified. 108 00:07:13,835 --> 00:07:14,945 For pastoral leadership. 109 00:07:15,245 --> 00:07:17,555 Will you turn with me to Matthew 13? 110 00:07:17,765 --> 00:07:18,785 Matthew 13. 111 00:07:19,835 --> 00:07:25,745 We're gonna be looking at the parable of the sower to better understand some 112 00:07:25,745 --> 00:07:28,865 of the risks that recent converts face. 113 00:07:28,895 --> 00:07:29,400 Matthew 13. 114 00:07:34,445 --> 00:07:35,705 I hope you're turning there. 115 00:07:36,005 --> 00:07:39,065 This is a little bit of a longer passage, so please be reading along with me. 116 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,640 Starting in verse one, it says The same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat 117 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:48,409 beside the sea and great crowds gathered about him so that he got into a boat and 118 00:07:48,409 --> 00:07:53,390 sat down and the whole crowd stood on the beach and he told them many things 119 00:07:53,390 --> 00:07:56,150 and parables saying a sower went out. 120 00:07:56,510 --> 00:08:01,010 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path and the birds came and devoured them. 121 00:08:01,940 --> 00:08:03,920 Other seeds fell on rocky ground. 122 00:08:04,355 --> 00:08:07,295 Where they did not have much soil and immediately they sprang up 123 00:08:07,475 --> 00:08:09,155 since they had no depth of soil. 124 00:08:10,055 --> 00:08:14,375 But the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had 125 00:08:14,375 --> 00:08:16,325 no root, they withered away. 126 00:08:17,495 --> 00:08:20,735 Other seeds fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them. 127 00:08:21,065 --> 00:08:24,275 Other seeds fell on good soil and grain. 128 00:08:24,455 --> 00:08:27,275 Some a hundred fold, some 60, some 30. 129 00:08:27,275 --> 00:08:29,435 He who has ears, let him hear. 130 00:08:30,575 --> 00:08:35,674 Jump down to me to verse 18 where Jesus explains this parable in verse 18. 131 00:08:35,975 --> 00:08:38,105 Jesus says here, then the parable of the sower. 132 00:08:38,975 --> 00:08:42,784 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, 133 00:08:43,414 --> 00:08:48,125 the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sewn in his heart. 134 00:08:48,515 --> 00:08:49,985 This is what was sewn along the path. 135 00:08:50,615 --> 00:08:54,485 So perhaps in, in our church, that's somebody who, who perhaps likes the 136 00:08:54,485 --> 00:08:56,765 community, likes the friendship, likes. 137 00:08:57,185 --> 00:09:01,055 Um, certain aspects of church life, but he does not understand the gospel. 138 00:09:01,055 --> 00:09:04,714 God has not worked in his heart to give him an understanding 139 00:09:04,774 --> 00:09:05,944 of the gospel in a right way. 140 00:09:05,944 --> 00:09:08,824 And so when the evil one comes, he's snatched away. 141 00:09:09,724 --> 00:09:13,624 Verse 20, it says, as for what was sewn on rocky ground, this 142 00:09:13,624 --> 00:09:17,045 is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 143 00:09:17,675 --> 00:09:21,874 Yet he has no root in himself, but he endures for a while, and when tribulations 144 00:09:22,024 --> 00:09:26,494 or persecution arises on the account of the word, he immediately falls away. 145 00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:31,610 What's fascinating about this is that this new convert is expressing joy. 146 00:09:32,270 --> 00:09:37,130 There's joy at under, at hearing the words of the gospel. 147 00:09:37,339 --> 00:09:42,829 There's joy, and we can look at somebody and say, yeah, they're expressing joy. 148 00:09:43,010 --> 00:09:46,640 Ultimately, this person though, is not expressing joy 149 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,584 that comes from a transformed heart, but nonetheless, joy is. 150 00:09:51,410 --> 00:09:57,139 Part of the convert's experience 22 says, as for what was sown among 151 00:09:57,139 --> 00:10:01,009 thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world 152 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,540 and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful. 153 00:10:05,869 --> 00:10:06,139 Again. 154 00:10:06,139 --> 00:10:09,410 You may have known somebody who expressed that they were saved, 155 00:10:09,410 --> 00:10:14,389 expressed that they were converted to Christianity, but then as time passed, 156 00:10:14,719 --> 00:10:19,609 they got trapped in their job, they got enthralled with, um, perhaps. 157 00:10:20,285 --> 00:10:25,355 Some lady, um, and the cares of this world choked out their faith, 158 00:10:25,745 --> 00:10:27,275 uh, proving that it was not real. 159 00:10:27,635 --> 00:10:31,475 Verse 23 says, as for those who, as for what was sown on good 160 00:10:31,475 --> 00:10:36,275 soil, this is the one who hears the word and and understands it. 161 00:10:36,695 --> 00:10:41,795 He indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred fold in another 60 162 00:10:41,885 --> 00:10:45,815 and in another 30, the one who sows. 163 00:10:46,759 --> 00:10:50,660 Sows the seeds and watches those seeds turn into seedlings. 164 00:10:51,829 --> 00:10:56,119 He's the farmer who can look out at his field and he says, well, maybe 165 00:10:56,119 --> 00:10:59,689 the seed that landed in the path is more likely to get eaten by a bird. 166 00:10:59,839 --> 00:11:04,099 Maybe the little seedlings that are growing next to the weeds at 167 00:11:04,099 --> 00:11:08,989 the edge of the field might be ones that get choked out, but the 168 00:11:08,989 --> 00:11:10,759 farmer doesn't know which seedlings. 169 00:11:11,375 --> 00:11:12,605 Are going to be destroyed. 170 00:11:12,694 --> 00:11:15,334 He doesn't know which seedlings are gonna be burned by the sun. 171 00:11:15,334 --> 00:11:20,194 He doesn't know which ones are going to be choked out by the weeds until 172 00:11:20,194 --> 00:11:23,045 they mature, until they produce fruit. 173 00:11:23,795 --> 00:11:25,775 God knows, God knows these things. 174 00:11:25,954 --> 00:11:27,875 He knows the new converts. 175 00:11:27,875 --> 00:11:31,324 Those who are truly saved, who will go on to produce fruit, 176 00:11:31,355 --> 00:11:35,015 who will go on to produce some a hundred, some 60, some 30 fold. 177 00:11:35,824 --> 00:11:37,685 But us, we don't have the sovereignty. 178 00:11:37,685 --> 00:11:39,155 We don't have the insight or wisdom. 179 00:11:39,680 --> 00:11:40,249 Of God. 180 00:11:40,489 --> 00:11:45,589 And so when we look at new converts, we don't know necessarily which 181 00:11:45,589 --> 00:11:50,719 ones are expressing joy, that comes from a transformed heart or joy 182 00:11:50,719 --> 00:11:55,339 that comes from just, um, the first initial experience of the gospel 183 00:11:55,670 --> 00:11:59,660 that will get destroyed, uh, with the trials and tribulations that come. 184 00:12:00,770 --> 00:12:03,469 Maturity is in part at time. 185 00:12:03,530 --> 00:12:05,869 There is an element of maturity that is time. 186 00:12:06,229 --> 00:12:08,300 The trials, as you can see in Matthew 13. 187 00:12:08,959 --> 00:12:12,050 Are what come about just because time has progressed. 188 00:12:12,409 --> 00:12:16,249 Those are trials that God has brought upon Christian lives and those trials 189 00:12:16,279 --> 00:12:22,009 clarify and help for the individual and for the church, uh, to, to see if the 190 00:12:22,009 --> 00:12:24,680 faith that the person expresses is true. 191 00:12:25,249 --> 00:12:29,180 Those trials are very important, but I also want us to recognize 192 00:12:29,180 --> 00:12:33,229 that, um, even as we look out at new converts and are not able to 193 00:12:33,229 --> 00:12:35,509 distinguish necessarily which ones. 194 00:12:35,885 --> 00:12:40,415 Will be, uh, producing fruit or not, um, that, that God does, and that he 195 00:12:40,415 --> 00:12:44,345 brings those trials and he brings those trials in his timing and in his way. 196 00:12:45,005 --> 00:12:48,935 Um, what do we see here though, is that Paul is saying that he 197 00:12:48,935 --> 00:12:50,255 must not be a recent convert. 198 00:12:50,855 --> 00:12:52,685 He doesn't specify that. 199 00:12:52,685 --> 00:12:56,615 The recent convert is somebody who has been a Christian for six months. 200 00:12:57,064 --> 00:12:59,345 He doesn't say that converts somebody who's been a Christian 201 00:12:59,345 --> 00:13:00,635 for a year or five years. 202 00:13:00,635 --> 00:13:01,775 He doesn't give a timeline. 203 00:13:02,285 --> 00:13:04,536 He leaves ambiguity in that. 204 00:13:05,555 --> 00:13:10,655 And that's because God brings about trials in his own way and his own timing. 205 00:13:11,135 --> 00:13:17,314 So we know it can't be about age maturity can't just be about the number of days 206 00:13:17,314 --> 00:13:19,234 who that have passed in someone's life. 207 00:13:19,984 --> 00:13:21,694 Um, it has to be something else. 208 00:13:22,204 --> 00:13:24,185 Um, Timothy. 209 00:13:25,055 --> 00:13:29,284 For example, in one Timothy four 12 is exhorted by Paul to not be ashamed 210 00:13:29,284 --> 00:13:33,604 of his age, to not be, uh, somebody who thinks that his age means that he 211 00:13:33,604 --> 00:13:35,464 is not qualified for the pastorate. 212 00:13:35,944 --> 00:13:38,314 So it can't just be the passing of days. 213 00:13:38,854 --> 00:13:43,354 Um, instead it is the maturity that God brings about through trials. 214 00:13:43,749 --> 00:13:48,604 Yet it is also, it is also about the Christian's willingness. 215 00:13:49,325 --> 00:13:50,645 To grow the will. 216 00:13:50,645 --> 00:13:54,485 The Christian's willingness to accept the sanctification that God has 217 00:13:54,485 --> 00:14:00,995 brought to the, the willingness to be somebody who grows in maturity. 218 00:14:01,444 --> 00:14:06,605 Maturity does not necessarily match the same progress of days that age does. 219 00:14:06,875 --> 00:14:12,365 If you have kids, you feed them and kids grow at generally the same rate. 220 00:14:13,205 --> 00:14:15,785 You can even go to the doctor and get those charts that show 221 00:14:16,025 --> 00:14:17,885 the projected growth of your kid. 222 00:14:18,605 --> 00:14:22,025 Um, and that partly is because of the number of days that have passed and 223 00:14:22,025 --> 00:14:23,195 because of the food that you fed them. 224 00:14:24,485 --> 00:14:28,175 Maturity in Christ does not work necessarily the same way. 225 00:14:28,205 --> 00:14:29,705 In fact, it does not work the same way. 226 00:14:30,215 --> 00:14:33,845 Um, and that is evidenced by the fact that Timothy, a young guy, has 227 00:14:33,845 --> 00:14:40,595 the maturity necessary by Paul's evaluation to be a pastor, but don't 228 00:14:40,595 --> 00:14:42,425 also forget that it is the trials. 229 00:14:42,425 --> 00:14:44,615 It is the trials and the tribulations that we go through 230 00:14:44,615 --> 00:14:45,935 that we can see in a passage like. 231 00:14:46,475 --> 00:14:52,834 Um, Matthew 13 that produce maturity, um, through the Christian's life. 232 00:14:53,824 --> 00:14:55,025 So a recent convert. 233 00:14:55,025 --> 00:14:57,545 How do we determine who is a recent convert? 234 00:14:57,965 --> 00:15:01,444 Well, the first thing is when it comes to the direct application of this 235 00:15:01,444 --> 00:15:05,405 passage, as Apostle Paul is telling Pastor Timothy who he should put in the 236 00:15:05,405 --> 00:15:09,605 pastorate, uh, we need pastors who are wise and mature making these decisions. 237 00:15:09,995 --> 00:15:12,245 Uh, we need pastors who are, who are. 238 00:15:12,755 --> 00:15:15,035 Faithful, diligent, paying attention. 239 00:15:15,214 --> 00:15:19,865 And when new pastors are installed, they need to be installed by mature pastors. 240 00:15:20,375 --> 00:15:24,064 I think there's something, I think there's something even ironic about 241 00:15:24,064 --> 00:15:26,405 the fact that I'm preaching the sermon. 242 00:15:26,584 --> 00:15:31,714 I, I'm not a recent convert, but I am the youngest of the pastors here at Compass 243 00:15:31,714 --> 00:15:37,055 Bible Church, and I'm newly installed, and by my count, I'm also the most recent 244 00:15:37,055 --> 00:15:39,185 in terms of days, uh, as a convert. 245 00:15:39,185 --> 00:15:40,865 There's something that's, there's something funny. 246 00:15:41,270 --> 00:15:45,500 About that, but you can trust that Pastor PJ and Pastor Rod were careful 247 00:15:45,500 --> 00:15:49,069 with that decision to install me as a pastor, they were slow to do that. 248 00:15:49,069 --> 00:15:49,910 They were thoughtful. 249 00:15:50,089 --> 00:15:55,850 They paid attention to my life and to all sorts of aspects, um, so 250 00:15:55,850 --> 00:16:01,010 that they could, they could say with confidence, for your sake, that I was 251 00:16:01,010 --> 00:16:05,060 qualified according to what we see here throughout one Timothy three. 252 00:16:05,450 --> 00:16:08,990 So a little bit funny, a little bit ironic, and perhaps even a little 253 00:16:08,990 --> 00:16:11,839 bit awkward for me to mention, but I think it's worth, I think it's worth 254 00:16:11,839 --> 00:16:16,430 mentioning, um, there's also an aspect of what's going on and we can see in 255 00:16:16,430 --> 00:16:20,839 scripture that this maturity and that the requirements for maturity are, 256 00:16:21,109 --> 00:16:23,120 are different depending on the church. 257 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:25,910 Take for example, a new convert. 258 00:16:26,420 --> 00:16:30,859 Somebody who saved just maybe a year ago, if you put them into 259 00:16:31,190 --> 00:16:33,140 eldership at Grace Community Church. 260 00:16:33,964 --> 00:16:36,845 John MacArthur's Church, if you're not familiar with that, if you put 261 00:16:36,845 --> 00:16:40,835 them into eldership at that church, um, they're joining a staff of pastors 262 00:16:41,014 --> 00:16:42,905 who have decades of experience. 263 00:16:43,054 --> 00:16:48,304 They have collectively probably hundreds of years of experience 264 00:16:48,724 --> 00:16:50,270 as elders in that context. 265 00:16:50,750 --> 00:16:54,200 To, um, maybe, you know, the Eubanks, they're headed out to Chad. 266 00:16:54,619 --> 00:16:58,069 Uh, their, their goal right now is not to support an existing church. 267 00:16:58,099 --> 00:17:03,380 Their intention is to go and make initial relationships and to make, uh, 268 00:17:03,380 --> 00:17:07,190 initial, uh, proclamations of the gospel to people who have never heard it. 269 00:17:07,848 --> 00:17:09,800 Um, their intention, their hope. 270 00:17:09,858 --> 00:17:12,200 And if the Lord blesses them, they'll be able to start a 271 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,420 church in a handful of years. 272 00:17:14,598 --> 00:17:19,880 Um, their team will be, um, the intention is that their team will pick pastors from. 273 00:17:20,270 --> 00:17:22,190 The nomads from the people who are there. 274 00:17:23,060 --> 00:17:25,010 They're certainly not gonna look for the worst candidate. 275 00:17:25,010 --> 00:17:28,190 They're not gonna look for the most immature candidate, but they are going 276 00:17:28,190 --> 00:17:33,110 to be looking for, uh, the most mature amongst that group of Lord willing, 277 00:17:33,470 --> 00:17:37,820 new converts, and would be appropriate in that setting for them to pick 278 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:43,700 somebody who perhaps was even, uh, just saved maybe a year or two prior. 279 00:17:44,450 --> 00:17:46,520 We could see that even in the scripture. 280 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,020 What we're looking at is Paul's. 281 00:17:49,415 --> 00:17:52,804 Uh, instructions to Timothy and Timothy is an Ephesus, a 282 00:17:52,804 --> 00:17:54,185 church that has some maturity. 283 00:17:54,395 --> 00:17:56,794 Uh, certainly this is early in the church's history, but 284 00:17:56,794 --> 00:17:58,115 it's a more established church. 285 00:17:58,115 --> 00:17:59,314 It's a more mature church. 286 00:17:59,405 --> 00:18:03,274 And so Timothy gets this specific instruction and this specific warning. 287 00:18:03,514 --> 00:18:05,044 If you look at first Titus. 288 00:18:05,705 --> 00:18:08,285 Titus does not get this instruction. 289 00:18:08,345 --> 00:18:12,125 Titus does not get this instruction, and from what we can tell is 290 00:18:12,125 --> 00:18:15,935 that Titus is working in more of a world of church plants. 291 00:18:15,935 --> 00:18:20,285 He is going about instituting elders, um, at younger churches. 292 00:18:20,465 --> 00:18:25,385 And so I think it is, uh, appropriate that Timothy gets this instruction. 293 00:18:25,715 --> 00:18:27,785 Um, and Titus does not. 294 00:18:28,205 --> 00:18:31,295 Again, Titus certainly is not looking for the least mature. 295 00:18:31,625 --> 00:18:34,025 Titus is looking for the very best candidates to lead. 296 00:18:34,625 --> 00:18:35,735 To lead that church. 297 00:18:36,815 --> 00:18:40,265 So we, we, we need to be a church that has, uh, pastors 298 00:18:40,535 --> 00:18:42,605 that are mature in Christ. 299 00:18:42,605 --> 00:18:47,915 We need to care about that as a church, but it's something that comes down to 300 00:18:47,915 --> 00:18:52,235 all of us that is not just something that you need to say, well, that's taking care 301 00:18:52,235 --> 00:18:56,285 of, because I trust Pastor pj, pastor Rod, and, and, and hopefully myself. 302 00:18:57,395 --> 00:19:00,965 You shouldn't just throw that out then because Paul is intentional 303 00:19:00,965 --> 00:19:04,594 to give this warning to Timothy, but to us, to all of us. 304 00:19:05,225 --> 00:19:09,725 So we need to be a church that has a culture of developing and bringing 305 00:19:09,725 --> 00:19:12,245 up people who are mature in Christ. 306 00:19:13,294 --> 00:19:19,354 The question I want to ask you is, are you somebody who has a physical 307 00:19:19,354 --> 00:19:22,415 age that matches your spiritual age? 308 00:19:23,344 --> 00:19:24,784 You need to know if you're a recent convert. 309 00:19:25,310 --> 00:19:26,389 And that's not a bad thing. 310 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:30,200 That's not a bad thing, but you need to know if you are a recent convert 311 00:19:30,260 --> 00:19:33,440 and you need to heed the warnings of scripture, like in the parable of the 312 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:37,220 sowers, you need to recognize that if you're a recent convert to Christianity, 313 00:19:37,490 --> 00:19:38,750 your faith is gonna be tested. 314 00:19:39,020 --> 00:19:43,550 Your faith is gonna be tested by trials and tribulations and temptations 315 00:19:43,550 --> 00:19:47,780 from the world, and needed to prepare yourself for those coming things. 316 00:19:48,050 --> 00:19:49,399 You need to be part of a community group. 317 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:53,210 You need to be invested in the lives of people in your church. 318 00:19:53,690 --> 00:19:56,450 You need to be coming and hearing Pastor PJ preach on Sunday. 319 00:19:56,900 --> 00:19:58,640 Taking notes and applying. 320 00:19:58,910 --> 00:20:02,660 Applying the word that he preached in your life throughout the week. 321 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:04,880 You need to be praying for your church. 322 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,710 You need to be serving in your church. 323 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:10,910 You need to set yourself on a trajectory so that you can be mature in Christ. 324 00:20:11,270 --> 00:20:12,020 It's not wrong. 325 00:20:12,020 --> 00:20:13,610 It's not bad to be a recent convert. 326 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,820 In fact, we all were at some point, but we need to be a church that. 327 00:20:17,345 --> 00:20:21,995 Has people who are recent converts who are dedicated and care about becoming mature. 328 00:20:22,625 --> 00:20:26,045 Perhaps you're older, perhaps you've been saved for many, many years. 329 00:20:26,525 --> 00:20:28,865 I think we have to be careful when we compare ourselves to 330 00:20:28,865 --> 00:20:30,095 other people in the church. 331 00:20:30,485 --> 00:20:34,835 But I do think if there's somebody in the church who inspires you, who in 332 00:20:35,225 --> 00:20:39,485 maybe you're similar age, and you look at them and you go, wow, they are mature. 333 00:20:39,935 --> 00:20:41,075 They know their Bibles well. 334 00:20:41,075 --> 00:20:42,095 They pray well. 335 00:20:42,395 --> 00:20:45,365 They're eager to serve, and I want to be like that. 336 00:20:45,935 --> 00:20:50,764 Perhaps your spiritual age doesn't match your physical age, but don't be 337 00:20:50,764 --> 00:20:55,085 alarmed because remember that maturity doesn't happen in the same steady 338 00:20:55,085 --> 00:20:56,825 progress that your age happens in. 339 00:20:57,185 --> 00:21:02,165 You can accelerate your maturity by the grace of God, and you can even 340 00:21:02,165 --> 00:21:06,754 decelerate your maturity by the grace, not by the grace of God, by your sin, 341 00:21:06,815 --> 00:21:10,925 right through your sin and through your resistance to to God's instruction and 342 00:21:10,925 --> 00:21:12,245 to the trials that he brings you through. 343 00:21:12,245 --> 00:21:12,784 You can. 344 00:21:12,845 --> 00:21:14,255 Uh, slow it down. 345 00:21:14,555 --> 00:21:15,545 You can slow it down. 346 00:21:15,755 --> 00:21:18,995 So if you look out somebody and you're like, ah, this guy is awesome. 347 00:21:19,085 --> 00:21:20,585 This guy is awesome. 348 00:21:20,675 --> 00:21:22,505 He's mature, he is wise. 349 00:21:22,895 --> 00:21:23,615 Go talk to them. 350 00:21:23,765 --> 00:21:25,535 Um, be inspired by them. 351 00:21:25,865 --> 00:21:29,675 Um, you can certainly fall to sin when we do comparisons. 352 00:21:29,975 --> 00:21:34,235 Um, but if we're guided by this sermon series and the qualifications of an 353 00:21:34,235 --> 00:21:38,975 elder, if you're looking at somebody and saying, wow, they have those abilities, 354 00:21:38,975 --> 00:21:42,575 they have the fruit of the spirit, they have those things that I want. 355 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:44,719 That ought to inspire us. 356 00:21:44,719 --> 00:21:49,310 That ought to drive us to, to, to increased faith. 357 00:21:49,610 --> 00:21:51,290 We, that ought to drive us to prayer. 358 00:21:51,469 --> 00:21:54,169 Asking God that he will, he will bring that about in our life. 359 00:21:54,709 --> 00:21:58,340 Um, if you're somebody who was saved later in life, also don't be despair. 360 00:21:58,340 --> 00:21:59,510 Don't, don't be in despair. 361 00:21:59,870 --> 00:22:00,800 Don't give up hope. 362 00:22:01,250 --> 00:22:02,030 Don't give up hope. 363 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:06,350 God saved you at the point in his timing that he chose. 364 00:22:06,739 --> 00:22:08,540 Um, and again, be encouraged by the fact. 365 00:22:08,945 --> 00:22:12,575 That maturity is not in Christ, is not just something that 366 00:22:12,575 --> 00:22:14,945 happens in a systematic way. 367 00:22:15,215 --> 00:22:19,145 It is something that happens in, uh, in the choosing of God and by 368 00:22:19,145 --> 00:22:21,905 your willingness to submit to him. 369 00:22:22,265 --> 00:22:23,255 Um, so do that. 370 00:22:23,375 --> 00:22:28,025 Do that of course, continue in the things that we, uh, know are true. 371 00:22:28,115 --> 00:22:30,365 Go to your community groups, listen to preaching. 372 00:22:30,755 --> 00:22:32,015 Um, serve in our church. 373 00:22:32,435 --> 00:22:37,355 But also don't be dis discouraged and ask that God will, will grow your maturity. 374 00:22:37,595 --> 00:22:38,615 That will grow your maturity. 375 00:22:40,565 --> 00:22:44,285 So what happens to the person who is a recent convert, who 376 00:22:44,285 --> 00:22:45,905 gets puffed up with this conceit? 377 00:22:46,205 --> 00:22:50,225 So we need to be careful that we're not being people, um, 378 00:22:50,255 --> 00:22:52,080 who are flippant about this. 379 00:22:52,385 --> 00:22:53,405 But what does happen? 380 00:22:53,495 --> 00:22:58,805 There's a, there's a serious warning that Paul gives Timothy here in this passage. 381 00:23:00,290 --> 00:23:02,899 Look back with me at first Timothy three. 382 00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:05,719 I'll just read it again to refresh our, our memory. 383 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:13,040 It says he must not be a recent convert or, or he may become puffed 384 00:23:13,129 --> 00:23:18,350 up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 385 00:23:19,399 --> 00:23:22,879 It's an interesting way that Paul chooses to explain this. 386 00:23:22,909 --> 00:23:26,360 It is a passive, there is a passive element in this. 387 00:23:26,899 --> 00:23:27,199 Um. 388 00:23:27,695 --> 00:23:31,324 It is ultimately the one who sins and conceit who faces 389 00:23:31,324 --> 00:23:32,435 the devil's condemnation. 390 00:23:32,854 --> 00:23:37,385 But we wanna be a church who is striving for the spiritual maturity and the safety 391 00:23:37,445 --> 00:23:41,824 of others in the church, specifically your leaders, in the context of what 392 00:23:41,824 --> 00:23:43,415 we're studying here in one Timothy. 393 00:23:43,415 --> 00:23:46,534 So our second point for this morning is don't flatter your leaders. 394 00:23:46,594 --> 00:23:47,885 Don't flatter your leaders. 395 00:23:49,024 --> 00:23:54,875 The most immediate application of this passage is that through 396 00:23:54,875 --> 00:23:56,945 the process of a new convert. 397 00:23:57,784 --> 00:24:01,294 Quickly moving up the ranks in a church, uh, that he may 398 00:24:01,294 --> 00:24:03,125 become puffed up with conceit. 399 00:24:03,425 --> 00:24:07,024 So maybe there's somebody with joy, maybe there's somebody with joy in our church, 400 00:24:07,024 --> 00:24:08,465 and you say, wow, look at that joy. 401 00:24:08,855 --> 00:24:10,054 Let's get them serving here. 402 00:24:10,084 --> 00:24:11,975 And then they do a great job there and you can say, oh, well, 403 00:24:11,975 --> 00:24:13,115 let's get them serving there. 404 00:24:13,564 --> 00:24:17,855 Um, and then suddenly they're up in the higher ranks of our church and 405 00:24:17,855 --> 00:24:21,875 maybe they're even being installed as a pastor, which of course is the warning 406 00:24:21,875 --> 00:24:23,284 here that we ought not to do that. 407 00:24:23,915 --> 00:24:27,725 But, uh, we need to recognize that that happens because of other 408 00:24:27,725 --> 00:24:31,835 people's, other people's mistakes and perhaps other people's sin. 409 00:24:32,255 --> 00:24:37,085 Certainly, certainly the judgment here in this passage is against 410 00:24:37,265 --> 00:24:38,765 the one who becomes conceited. 411 00:24:39,245 --> 00:24:43,505 But we want to be a church that cares about our leaders, 412 00:24:43,505 --> 00:24:45,035 that cares about our pastors. 413 00:24:47,675 --> 00:24:52,205 There's a number of ways that we ought to care for our leaders 414 00:24:52,205 --> 00:24:53,435 and care for our pastors. 415 00:24:53,885 --> 00:24:58,535 Um, they're all good things, but they can also go astray very quickly. 416 00:24:59,345 --> 00:25:00,515 So think about this. 417 00:25:00,575 --> 00:25:04,055 Um, you should be thanking the people who lead you verbally 418 00:25:04,115 --> 00:25:05,945 in whatever way is appropriate. 419 00:25:05,945 --> 00:25:08,225 You should be thanking the people who lead you. 420 00:25:08,645 --> 00:25:10,145 Um, you should be doing that regularly. 421 00:25:10,205 --> 00:25:14,375 You should just, uh, you should not assume that others have done that, um, and so 422 00:25:14,375 --> 00:25:16,085 that you have no need to do it yourself. 423 00:25:16,085 --> 00:25:20,045 You should be thanking them, but that can also go astray 424 00:25:20,105 --> 00:25:21,545 pretty quickly, pretty easily. 425 00:25:21,935 --> 00:25:26,105 Um, when you thank your leaders, don't, don't flatter them. 426 00:25:26,465 --> 00:25:28,235 Don't tell them falsehoods. 427 00:25:28,595 --> 00:25:34,505 Uh, don't do things that may cause them to become puffed up with conceit. 428 00:25:34,835 --> 00:25:38,465 And certainly if you lie to your pastor and your thanks to him, God 429 00:25:38,465 --> 00:25:41,165 will, will, will judge you for that. 430 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:45,590 Um, but we also want to be people who care about our leaders and are generous 431 00:25:45,590 --> 00:25:50,150 and our thanks, but also recognize that there are risks entailed, and to do those 432 00:25:50,150 --> 00:25:51,980 sort of things with a genuine heart. 433 00:25:52,550 --> 00:25:54,200 Uh, be generous with your leaders. 434 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:55,820 Be generous with your small group leaders. 435 00:25:56,060 --> 00:25:57,260 Get them a Christmas gift. 436 00:25:57,350 --> 00:26:00,350 Get them a Christmas gift, but don't go about it with a heart attitude 437 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,845 that wants to give a lavish Christmas gift to your small group leader. 438 00:26:04,340 --> 00:26:05,719 So that you can win their favor. 439 00:26:05,870 --> 00:26:09,050 You don't want to be, um, somebody who has a heart attitude that is, 440 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,860 is trying to do that, or, or with your pastors, uh, give them gifts. 441 00:26:12,860 --> 00:26:15,800 Be generous and I'm thankful to have experienced some of that. 442 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:20,840 But make sure that your heart is, is caring for your pastors and that you are 443 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:25,610 intentional about, um, being generous with them in a godly and good way. 444 00:26:26,389 --> 00:26:26,629 Um. 445 00:26:27,365 --> 00:26:32,375 When it comes to requesting your pastor's time, it is good that you have pastors. 446 00:26:32,465 --> 00:26:35,675 It is good that you have pastors so that when you're dealing with hurt, 447 00:26:36,275 --> 00:26:39,635 when you're dealing with pain in your life, uh, that you have somebody 448 00:26:39,695 --> 00:26:41,315 that God has given you to turn to. 449 00:26:41,885 --> 00:26:42,935 Uh, you should do that. 450 00:26:42,965 --> 00:26:43,745 You should do that. 451 00:26:44,254 --> 00:26:48,125 But be careful that you don't imply or outright say that only 452 00:26:48,125 --> 00:26:50,135 one guy can solve your problems. 453 00:26:50,135 --> 00:26:52,805 If you go to somebody and say, you're the only person who 454 00:26:52,805 --> 00:26:54,004 can solve any of my problems. 455 00:26:54,844 --> 00:26:59,344 Um, either again, through implication or through outright saying it, it may be the 456 00:26:59,465 --> 00:27:05,405 grounds by which that person, that leader, that pastor becomes puffed up with. 457 00:27:05,405 --> 00:27:11,435 Conceit again, are, are you guilty if you do that of the condemnation of the devil? 458 00:27:11,945 --> 00:27:12,185 No. 459 00:27:12,185 --> 00:27:12,844 It is the pastor. 460 00:27:12,844 --> 00:27:15,844 It is the leader who is conceded and it is his sin. 461 00:27:16,415 --> 00:27:21,634 Um, certainly we sin, um, in ways, uh, as we interact with people. 462 00:27:22,504 --> 00:27:24,065 And we're guilty for those sins ourselves. 463 00:27:24,065 --> 00:27:28,085 But you should be somebody who cares about that, cares about the spiritual health and 464 00:27:28,085 --> 00:27:31,595 maturity of leaders throughout our church. 465 00:27:32,195 --> 00:27:36,335 Um, again, it's worth saying, it's worth saying that this passage specifically 466 00:27:36,335 --> 00:27:40,205 talks about the conceited pastors who are recent converts who fall 467 00:27:40,205 --> 00:27:42,245 into the condemnation of the devil. 468 00:27:43,535 --> 00:27:46,055 What, what is that punishment? 469 00:27:46,535 --> 00:27:46,745 What? 470 00:27:46,774 --> 00:27:47,975 It can't be a good thing, right? 471 00:27:48,035 --> 00:27:49,385 The condemnation of the devil. 472 00:27:49,955 --> 00:27:51,155 It can't be a good thing. 473 00:27:51,455 --> 00:27:54,095 What exactly does that mean? 474 00:27:54,155 --> 00:27:55,385 Why is that the threat? 475 00:27:55,385 --> 00:27:58,565 And I think we can obviously think, wow, that doesn't sound good. 476 00:27:58,745 --> 00:28:02,105 But I think there's, it's actually a more serious implication than we 477 00:28:02,105 --> 00:28:04,565 probably are inclined to even think. 478 00:28:06,004 --> 00:28:08,735 The condemnation of the devil could be a number of things. 479 00:28:08,735 --> 00:28:13,865 For example, it could be punishment that the devil himself carries out 480 00:28:14,285 --> 00:28:15,520 on these people who are conceited. 481 00:28:16,250 --> 00:28:20,990 Um, I think that's hard to substantiate that Satan is, is glad he's happy 482 00:28:21,020 --> 00:28:26,150 when pastors or leaders or anybody falls to pride, and I don't think this 483 00:28:26,150 --> 00:28:28,700 passage substantiates that directly. 484 00:28:29,120 --> 00:28:34,280 Rather, this passage refers to a, a condemnation from God that is 485 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:40,820 like, or of the same type as the condemnation that Satan received. 486 00:28:42,260 --> 00:28:45,889 You may know that Satan was in heaven with God and that he 487 00:28:45,889 --> 00:28:47,690 fell, uh, because of his sin. 488 00:28:47,930 --> 00:28:48,889 He fell because of his sin. 489 00:28:49,070 --> 00:28:51,620 There's plenty of places in the Old Testament that have allusions 490 00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:54,320 to that or echoes of that telling. 491 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:58,310 People will go to Isaiah 14, for example, or Ezekiel 28. 492 00:28:58,580 --> 00:29:02,510 Um, and I think, I think there's certainly lessons there about pride and the fall 493 00:29:02,510 --> 00:29:06,710 that comes from pride, but I think it's a hard place to go directly to clearly say 494 00:29:06,710 --> 00:29:07,945 this is the condemnation of the devil. 495 00:29:09,139 --> 00:29:13,129 In the New Testament, there's places like Jude verse six, or places in two 496 00:29:13,310 --> 00:29:18,139 Peter, where there's descriptions of angels, plural, angels who have sinned 497 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:24,649 and who God has bound in chains and in darkness in this time, uh, I don't think 498 00:29:24,649 --> 00:29:29,510 that matches the description of Satan that we have who roams to and fro on 499 00:29:29,510 --> 00:29:32,750 the earth and is not at this time bound. 500 00:29:33,379 --> 00:29:37,700 So where do we go then to understand the condemnation of the devil when. 501 00:29:38,284 --> 00:29:42,034 Paul uses this phrase, how can we understand exactly what that 502 00:29:42,034 --> 00:29:43,324 means and the intensity of it? 503 00:29:43,594 --> 00:29:46,685 Well, I would like you to turn with me to Revelation chapter 20. 504 00:29:52,925 --> 00:29:58,264 Certainly, Satan's condemnation began when God evicted him from heaven 505 00:29:58,659 --> 00:30:00,544 before the fall of Adam and Eve. 506 00:30:01,084 --> 00:30:06,000 His condemnation certainly started there, but in Revelation chapter 20, we see. 507 00:30:06,830 --> 00:30:10,370 The conclusion of that judgment. 508 00:30:10,580 --> 00:30:16,129 Look at verse 11 with me and read along as I read out loud. 509 00:30:16,550 --> 00:30:20,659 Verse 11 says, then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it 510 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:26,149 from his presence, earth and sky fled away and no place was found for them. 511 00:30:26,570 --> 00:30:29,449 And I saw the dead, great and small standing before the throne 512 00:30:29,510 --> 00:30:30,830 and the books were opened. 513 00:30:31,550 --> 00:30:34,399 Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. 514 00:30:35,315 --> 00:30:37,235 And the dead were judged by what was written in the books 515 00:30:37,235 --> 00:30:38,285 according to what they had done. 516 00:30:39,155 --> 00:30:42,545 Keep phrase there according to what they had done, and the sea 517 00:30:42,545 --> 00:30:43,955 gave up the dead who were in it. 518 00:30:43,955 --> 00:30:48,995 Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each of 519 00:30:48,995 --> 00:30:51,185 them according to what they had done. 520 00:30:51,905 --> 00:30:56,915 Then Death and Hades, Satan, they were thrown into the lake of fire. 521 00:30:57,274 --> 00:30:59,705 This is the second death, the lake of fire. 522 00:31:00,695 --> 00:31:04,655 And if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of life, he 523 00:31:04,655 --> 00:31:07,205 was thrown into the lake of fire. 524 00:31:08,975 --> 00:31:13,475 Our third point for this morning is that we need to be thankful 525 00:31:13,774 --> 00:31:15,574 that God will judge pride. 526 00:31:15,695 --> 00:31:18,814 We need to be thankful that God will judge pride. 527 00:31:19,655 --> 00:31:24,215 Satan stepped out of his God-given role. 528 00:31:24,334 --> 00:31:27,514 Satan abandoned what God instructed him to do. 529 00:31:27,784 --> 00:31:28,264 Satan. 530 00:31:29,165 --> 00:31:31,625 Aspired to be greater than God. 531 00:31:31,985 --> 00:31:37,805 It was Satan's sin of pride that led to his condemn condemnation 532 00:31:38,014 --> 00:31:40,955 led to what we see in Matthew. 533 00:31:41,045 --> 00:31:42,245 Uh, sorry, revelation. 534 00:31:42,575 --> 00:31:44,045 Revelation 20. 535 00:31:46,115 --> 00:31:47,405 This is a serious warning. 536 00:31:47,410 --> 00:31:51,514 This is a heavy warning that we need to heed carefully. 537 00:31:51,995 --> 00:31:56,254 Uh, James chapter three says that those who teach rightly. 538 00:31:56,885 --> 00:31:58,775 Incur a stricter judgment. 539 00:31:59,945 --> 00:32:06,065 The reason why Paul is equating a pastor who has fallen to conceit and the 540 00:32:06,065 --> 00:32:11,015 punishment that he will face with the same type of punishment that Satan received 541 00:32:11,555 --> 00:32:14,105 is because of the importance of the role. 542 00:32:15,275 --> 00:32:17,465 When you're a pastor, people follow you. 543 00:32:17,495 --> 00:32:18,995 People hear your instruction. 544 00:32:19,295 --> 00:32:21,605 People do what you say. 545 00:32:21,605 --> 00:32:24,215 They imitate you if you're a boss. 546 00:32:24,845 --> 00:32:26,195 You know that to be true. 547 00:32:26,495 --> 00:32:28,925 If you're a father, you know that to be true. 548 00:32:29,435 --> 00:32:32,585 If you're a community group leader, hopefully that is true. 549 00:32:33,125 --> 00:32:35,915 Um, you have responsibility that's given to you by God. 550 00:32:35,915 --> 00:32:36,995 That's important. 551 00:32:37,235 --> 00:32:38,254 That's critical. 552 00:32:38,675 --> 00:32:44,284 That's serious, and it is right And it is good that God is a judge who 553 00:32:44,284 --> 00:32:50,044 judges fairly right each according to his deeds, and the pastor who is 554 00:32:50,044 --> 00:32:53,135 conceded and falls, hurts many people. 555 00:32:53,524 --> 00:32:56,105 He directly hurts the individuals he sinned against. 556 00:32:56,465 --> 00:33:01,205 He hurts their families, he crushes his church, and it is good that we have a 557 00:33:01,205 --> 00:33:03,125 God who will make those things right. 558 00:33:03,304 --> 00:33:08,284 It's good that we have a God who will judge pride and that he will judge 559 00:33:08,284 --> 00:33:15,664 it in accordance with the sin and the gravity of the sin that was carried out. 560 00:33:19,084 --> 00:33:19,294 You. 561 00:33:19,519 --> 00:33:24,979 We will likely not be behind the pulpit on a Sunday morning, but you are part of 562 00:33:24,979 --> 00:33:30,469 a church where we care deeply about men who are qualified, men who are godly, 563 00:33:30,499 --> 00:33:35,059 who have the fruit of the spirit, and you will have responsibilities, Lord willing, 564 00:33:35,269 --> 00:33:38,689 where you get to mentor and disciple people in your church, whether that's 565 00:33:38,689 --> 00:33:42,919 people in your community group or maybe through partners, um, and you don't know. 566 00:33:43,099 --> 00:33:45,259 You don't know what God has in store for them. 567 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:48,950 Perhaps even you will, will be discipling somebody who's a recent 568 00:33:48,950 --> 00:33:54,829 convert who goes on to be a pastor, who goes on to be a leader in his church. 569 00:33:55,099 --> 00:33:57,530 And that's an important role that we have. 570 00:33:57,919 --> 00:34:01,159 All of us have as people who disciple in the church. 571 00:34:01,610 --> 00:34:06,019 You should take that seriously because we do indeed want to be a church that 572 00:34:06,019 --> 00:34:10,205 matures leaders, who grows leaders, uh, take that seriously and be glad. 573 00:34:10,895 --> 00:34:16,264 That you are part of that, be glad that God cares about those leadership roles. 574 00:34:17,284 --> 00:34:20,855 Be diligent in, in that effort 575 00:34:23,614 --> 00:34:29,975 In the DFW area, in, in the recent, uh, 12 months, maybe even closer to 576 00:34:29,975 --> 00:34:34,205 now, a year and a half, there have been an extraordinary number of pastors 577 00:34:34,534 --> 00:34:36,635 who have, who have fallen, who have. 578 00:34:37,130 --> 00:34:42,199 Uh, in, in sometimes very extreme ways been removed from ministry, 579 00:34:42,350 --> 00:34:44,300 the police show up and arrest them. 580 00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:48,050 It's a, it's a terrible tragedy that's happened in this area. 581 00:34:48,230 --> 00:34:55,159 Um, and by my estimate, by my count, there are three of many pastors 582 00:34:55,610 --> 00:34:59,840 just in the DFW area, just in the last year and a half, who committed 583 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:02,150 sins early in their ministries. 584 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,990 And those sins were against individual people. 585 00:35:06,605 --> 00:35:09,215 Uh, they were against families. 586 00:35:09,845 --> 00:35:13,535 They hurt their church and I don't know the number, but thousands 587 00:35:13,835 --> 00:35:16,565 were hurt by what they did. 588 00:35:17,645 --> 00:35:21,215 Um, these three pastors committed sins early in their ministry, 589 00:35:21,605 --> 00:35:23,045 and I don't know all the details. 590 00:35:23,075 --> 00:35:25,745 I don't know exactly precisely what happened. 591 00:35:26,075 --> 00:35:28,475 I don't know who put them into their roles. 592 00:35:28,505 --> 00:35:33,545 I don't know how they necessarily, um, got those, got those jobs. 593 00:35:34,145 --> 00:35:40,115 But I do think that if the church and our church is careful to be glad 594 00:35:40,115 --> 00:35:43,565 and thankful that God is a righteous judge who makes all things right, 595 00:35:44,045 --> 00:35:45,365 um, we should be glad about that. 596 00:35:45,755 --> 00:35:50,375 But we need to be a church who heeds the warning from Paul to Timothy 597 00:35:50,945 --> 00:35:56,225 Heeds, the warning from Paul to Timothy that he, the pastor, the 598 00:35:56,225 --> 00:35:58,625 leader must not be a recent convert. 599 00:35:59,105 --> 00:36:01,100 Um, or he may become puffed up with conceit. 600 00:36:01,670 --> 00:36:03,920 And fall into the condemnation of the devil. 601 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:06,200 It's a serious thing. 602 00:36:06,620 --> 00:36:12,080 Um, I know I I don't want us to, uh, leave this without feeling a sense of the 603 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:15,440 warning and the care that God has for us. 604 00:36:16,010 --> 00:36:17,420 Let me pray for us now. 605 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:21,680 Lord, thank you that you are God who cares about your church. 606 00:36:21,860 --> 00:36:25,700 We're thankful that you're a God who, who loves this church, who, um, 607 00:36:25,700 --> 00:36:31,160 has given us, given us instruction on how to be mature men in Christ. 608 00:36:31,505 --> 00:36:35,765 I pray that we will, we will be thankful that you're a God who, who saves that 609 00:36:35,765 --> 00:36:43,355 you are a God, who is, um, is in control, who loves us, but I also want us to be a 610 00:36:43,355 --> 00:36:46,985 church that, um, is serious about these things, serious about our spiritual 611 00:36:46,985 --> 00:36:51,425 growth, serious about our maturity for your glory, for your namesake. 612 00:36:51,725 --> 00:36:56,105 Um, we pray that you will work, your spirit will work here amongst these 613 00:36:56,105 --> 00:36:59,915 men, and that you will, you will make us a church that loves you. 614 00:37:00,485 --> 00:37:06,605 That is mature in Christ and that, um, you will protect us from those who fall 615 00:37:06,605 --> 00:37:08,705 to the pride of, to the sin of conceit. 616 00:37:09,095 --> 00:37:10,205 Um, in Jesus name I pray. 617 00:37:10,385 --> 00:37:10,775 Amen.