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 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,090 Well, we have been going through first, second, and Third 10 00:00:27,090 --> 00:00:33,930 John, and this evening we come to Third John, the third epistle 11 00:00:33,930 --> 00:00:38,250 of John here, and we're in verse number five, but it's been 12 00:00:38,250 --> 00:00:41,570 a few weeks, so I want to remind you where we are and where 13 00:00:41,570 --> 00:00:42,450 we've come from. 14 00:00:42,850 --> 00:00:47,450 So in First John, the theme was fellowship with God, fellowship 15 00:00:47,450 --> 00:00:48,090 through faith. 16 00:00:48,090 --> 00:00:52,290 And so with faith in God comes fellowship with God. 17 00:00:52,690 --> 00:00:55,850 And how we walk with God is really in accordance to how much 18 00:00:55,850 --> 00:00:56,770 we trust in Him. 19 00:00:56,930 --> 00:00:59,050 And if we trust in him, we obey him. 20 00:00:59,050 --> 00:01:00,690 And if we obey him, we love him. 21 00:01:00,690 --> 00:01:03,570 And if we love him, what does it say in First John that we'll love 22 00:01:03,570 --> 00:01:03,890 others. 23 00:01:04,290 --> 00:01:08,489 And so our fellowship with God is connected to our fellowship with 24 00:01:08,489 --> 00:01:08,770 others. 25 00:01:08,770 --> 00:01:13,410 And so for a believer to say, I have fellowship with God, but I 26 00:01:13,410 --> 00:01:15,890 don't have fellowship with my fellow brother or sister in Christ 27 00:01:16,610 --> 00:01:18,330 means to contradict the word of God. 28 00:01:18,330 --> 00:01:23,320 We can't walk in in that way to say, I'm living for God, but I'm 29 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:25,000 not living for loving my brother. 30 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,720 But then we get to Second John, and Second John was all about 31 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,120 speaking the truth in love, living out the truth in love. 32 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:33,640 And so, yes, we are to love people. 33 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:34,760 But in the. 34 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,680 In the midst of our love for people, we don't sacrifice the truth. 35 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,640 But at the same time, when we're preaching truth to people, 36 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,280 we don't preach it with anger, we don't preach it with bitterness, 37 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,000 or we preach it with the heart of love, the heart to lead someone 38 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:48,800 to Christ. 39 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:49,920 Every. 40 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,920 Every reaction that we have, any interaction that we have should 41 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,960 be thought about from a few different angles. 42 00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,160 So if I'm talking to an unsaved person, there's conflict 43 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,480 or there's confusion, or maybe there's even questions. 44 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,120 The goal for that interaction should be to lead that person to 45 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:08,400 Christ. 46 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:09,680 So think of it this way. 47 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:10,400 Evangelism. 48 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:15,050 Evangelism is preaching the gospel to someone with the hope and 49 00:02:15,050 --> 00:02:17,210 the prayer that they come to Christ in faith. 50 00:02:18,090 --> 00:02:21,210 But then if I'm talking to a saved person, if I'm talking to a 51 00:02:21,210 --> 00:02:25,130 brother or sister, and there's that same interaction, we're not 52 00:02:25,130 --> 00:02:27,890 leading them to Christ in the concept of salvation, but what we 53 00:02:27,890 --> 00:02:30,930 do want to do is lead them to a place of edification, right? 54 00:02:30,930 --> 00:02:33,610 We want to disciple them, we want to build them up, we want to 55 00:02:33,610 --> 00:02:35,370 encourage them, we want to exhort them. 56 00:02:35,610 --> 00:02:37,570 So every relationship has that focus. 57 00:02:37,570 --> 00:02:43,210 And so Second John's all about how we can live speaking and teaching 58 00:02:43,210 --> 00:02:44,970 the truth in love at the same time. 59 00:02:45,530 --> 00:02:50,050 And remember, Second John was the Apostle John writing to a lady 60 00:02:50,050 --> 00:02:51,690 within the church there. 61 00:02:52,010 --> 00:02:53,850 And that was an interesting study. 62 00:02:53,850 --> 00:02:57,210 Then we're here in Third John, and we just went through the first 63 00:02:57,210 --> 00:02:59,610 four verses last two weeks ago. 64 00:03:00,010 --> 00:03:04,730 And remember, it's the Apostle John writing to a guy named Gaius. 65 00:03:05,290 --> 00:03:06,810 And essentially, what does he say here? 66 00:03:06,810 --> 00:03:10,010 He says, I love you, and I love you in the truth. 67 00:03:10,010 --> 00:03:10,890 That's verse number one. 68 00:03:10,890 --> 00:03:13,810 So he says, the reason I love you is not because of what you've 69 00:03:13,810 --> 00:03:14,490 done for me. 70 00:03:14,730 --> 00:03:18,090 The reason why I love you is not because of your support. 71 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:22,210 Even though he's thankful for the support, he loves this individual 72 00:03:22,210 --> 00:03:24,330 because of their common bond in Christ. 73 00:03:24,970 --> 00:03:26,330 And that's a beautiful thing. 74 00:03:27,050 --> 00:03:29,770 What a wonderful thing it is when Christians can come together, 75 00:03:30,090 --> 00:03:33,060 maybe from different backgrounds, maybe from different 76 00:03:33,620 --> 00:03:36,700 social classes, maybe even from different countries, and we 77 00:03:36,700 --> 00:03:38,460 can come together and we can love one another. 78 00:03:38,460 --> 00:03:38,740 Why? 79 00:03:38,740 --> 00:03:40,660 Because we have that common bond of truth. 80 00:03:40,820 --> 00:03:43,460 And that truth being that Jesus is the way, the truth, and 81 00:03:43,460 --> 00:03:43,780 the life. 82 00:03:43,780 --> 00:03:47,380 And when I trust in him, we are then indwelled by that same spirit. 83 00:03:47,860 --> 00:03:50,780 But then he says, Verse 2, I wish above all things that thou mayest 84 00:03:50,780 --> 00:03:53,380 prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth. 85 00:03:53,380 --> 00:03:55,940 And so remember, he says, I'm praying for your physical health, 86 00:03:56,340 --> 00:03:58,020 and I'm praying for your spiritual health. 87 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,480 And the assumption would be that if he's walking with Christ, 88 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:02,240 his soul is already prospering. 89 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:03,120 So. 90 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:07,000 So if there's a Christian who has the security of salvation in 91 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,680 Jesus Christ, we already know what their outcome is going to be, 92 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:10,720 spiritually speaking. 93 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,600 But at the same time, we pray for different physical things that 94 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:15,480 they might be dealing with. 95 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,280 And then he says in verse three, for I rejoice greatly when 96 00:04:18,280 --> 00:04:20,760 the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in 97 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,040 thee even as thou walkest in the truth. 98 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:23,920 And so he says this. 99 00:04:24,330 --> 00:04:28,770 I'm so excited to hear your testimony about your faithfulness 100 00:04:28,770 --> 00:04:30,170 in walking in the truth. 101 00:04:30,410 --> 00:04:33,210 And that's really the theme here in 3 John is walking in the 102 00:04:33,210 --> 00:04:33,490 truth. 103 00:04:33,490 --> 00:04:36,970 And we're going to see a good example of walking in the truth. 104 00:04:36,970 --> 00:04:39,570 And we're going to see an example of someone who is not walking 105 00:04:39,570 --> 00:04:40,089 in the truth. 106 00:04:40,089 --> 00:04:44,330 And so really, Third John is about a good example and a bad example 107 00:04:44,650 --> 00:04:47,730 and the fact that we should follow the good examples in accordance 108 00:04:47,730 --> 00:04:50,140 to Scripture and reject and turn. 109 00:04:50,210 --> 00:04:52,530 Turn away from the bad example and not follow that. 110 00:04:52,530 --> 00:04:53,730 And then we saw verse four. 111 00:04:53,730 --> 00:04:54,450 He says this. 112 00:04:54,530 --> 00:04:58,210 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 113 00:04:59,330 --> 00:04:59,650 And. 114 00:04:59,650 --> 00:05:02,570 And again, we use that verse sometimes with our children that 115 00:05:02,570 --> 00:05:03,330 are within our homes. 116 00:05:03,330 --> 00:05:04,130 And that is a truth. 117 00:05:04,130 --> 00:05:07,050 Like, I am excited if my children follow God. 118 00:05:07,050 --> 00:05:07,650 And that's an. 119 00:05:07,650 --> 00:05:08,610 That's a blessing. 120 00:05:08,690 --> 00:05:11,610 But at the same time, I think that this has a greater teaching 121 00:05:11,610 --> 00:05:14,890 in the concept of who we disciple, who we lead to Christ and 122 00:05:14,890 --> 00:05:19,390 who we teach in the truth, and who we shepherd and who we come alongside 123 00:05:19,390 --> 00:05:20,110 of that. 124 00:05:20,190 --> 00:05:22,470 The greatest joy is when that person walks in truth. 125 00:05:22,470 --> 00:05:23,870 And that's a picture of discipleship. 126 00:05:25,230 --> 00:05:29,350 I want you at Middletown Baptist Church to maybe not get tired 127 00:05:29,350 --> 00:05:32,350 of it, but you should hear the word discipleship so much. 128 00:05:32,350 --> 00:05:32,670 Why? 129 00:05:32,990 --> 00:05:35,350 Because that should be our ultimate goal. 130 00:05:35,350 --> 00:05:38,990 Because discipleship is leading someone to Christ in salvation 131 00:05:39,150 --> 00:05:42,630 and leading people in Christ in sanctification or their spiritual 132 00:05:42,630 --> 00:05:42,910 growth. 133 00:05:43,690 --> 00:05:46,330 Everything that we do should be discipleship within the church. 134 00:05:47,370 --> 00:05:48,690 Really, we could think about it this way. 135 00:05:48,690 --> 00:05:51,690 The word disciple really means follower or learner. 136 00:05:52,250 --> 00:05:56,490 And so discipleship is teaching others how to follow Christ. 137 00:05:57,050 --> 00:05:58,650 And that's really what the Great Commission is. 138 00:05:58,650 --> 00:06:02,250 If you go to Matthew, chapter 28, it's about making disciples, 139 00:06:02,250 --> 00:06:04,330 teaching them how to follow Jesus. 140 00:06:05,210 --> 00:06:06,490 Going alongside of them. 141 00:06:06,570 --> 00:06:08,730 And alongside of them means to exhort them. 142 00:06:08,730 --> 00:06:10,340 It doesn't mean to judge them. 143 00:06:10,340 --> 00:06:11,780 It doesn't mean to condemn them. 144 00:06:11,780 --> 00:06:13,460 It doesn't mean to forget about them. 145 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:16,740 It doesn't mean to turn a blind eye to their sin. 146 00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:20,900 It's a very nuanced process in discipleship because there's going 147 00:06:20,900 --> 00:06:23,300 to be some times where we need to lift a brother or sister up. 148 00:06:23,300 --> 00:06:25,540 There's going to be other times where we need to challenge 149 00:06:25,699 --> 00:06:28,020 and confront a brother and sister in their sin. 150 00:06:28,100 --> 00:06:31,380 But we do that again with truth and love. 151 00:06:31,700 --> 00:06:34,340 And so he says, I have no greater joy than to hear that my 152 00:06:34,340 --> 00:06:35,260 children walk in truth. 153 00:06:35,260 --> 00:06:39,600 I'm going to tell you, there is no greater joy for a believer, 154 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,920 or at least this should be the case, to lead someone to Christ. 155 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:44,280 That's an amazing. 156 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:45,480 An amazing experience. 157 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:46,680 Now, it's not us. 158 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:48,280 We don't take the credit for it. 159 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,160 We don't say, like, wow, look at me, look how many people I saved. 160 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,080 No, that's not what we're talking about here. 161 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:58,840 But it's such a joy, really, almost to the point where it's overwhelming 162 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:02,920 joy to have the opportunity to be a part of that process of telling 163 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,000 someone the truth of Jesus Christ and then for them to believe 164 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,360 and then as it says here, for them to walk in truth. 165 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,720 Because so many times for, for so long, what's happened is, is that 166 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,480 we've had these big services and we've had people come forward 167 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,200 and maybe even repeat a prayer. 168 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:20,560 And that's a wonderful thing. 169 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,080 But where is that process of the follow up? 170 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,120 Where's that process of shepherding? 171 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:26,800 Where's that process of teaching? 172 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,000 We've got so many people that are babies in Christ, meaning this. 173 00:07:30,170 --> 00:07:34,090 The Bible actually says that when we're saved, we are, as John 174 00:07:34,090 --> 00:07:38,730 3 says, we are newly born, freshly born, like a newborn baby. 175 00:07:39,530 --> 00:07:42,330 We would never, never, hopefully, if you're in your right 176 00:07:42,330 --> 00:07:45,330 mind and you're a sane person and you're a loving person, you would 177 00:07:45,330 --> 00:07:47,450 never leave a newborn baby out on their own. 178 00:07:47,690 --> 00:07:48,810 Just figure this out. 179 00:07:49,210 --> 00:07:52,170 No, what we would do is we would nurture that child. 180 00:07:52,650 --> 00:07:55,850 We would take care of them to the point where they are strong enough, 181 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,160 they are secure enough to be able to do that themselves. 182 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,200 That's the same process of discipleship within the church. 183 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,480 We lead someone to Christ, praise God, there's a new life there. 184 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,120 John 3, if you have time, if you haven't read it, I'm sure most 185 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,960 of you have read that discourse between Jesus and Nicodemus. 186 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:14,440 It's a beautiful, beautiful story. 187 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,600 But at the end of the day, we don't leave that person there, newly 188 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,200 born, newly saved, and say, well, figure it out on your own. 189 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:22,280 No, we come alongside. 190 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:24,900 And so that's the joy to see people growing. 191 00:08:26,100 --> 00:08:29,180 I'll be honest with you, as a pastor, I'm, I'm overwhelmed. 192 00:08:29,180 --> 00:08:32,060 This, this past Sunday, you know, pastor appreciation and, and 193 00:08:32,060 --> 00:08:33,420 people saying good things about you. 194 00:08:33,420 --> 00:08:35,260 That gets almost to the point of being embarrassed. 195 00:08:35,260 --> 00:08:38,459 You know, I don't, it's like, wow, don't, don't say those things. 196 00:08:38,459 --> 00:08:40,140 You know, I want Jesus to be praised. 197 00:08:40,140 --> 00:08:41,260 I want God to be praised. 198 00:08:41,260 --> 00:08:44,220 But at the same time, you know what, what a pastor appreciates the 199 00:08:44,220 --> 00:08:44,500 most? 200 00:08:45,060 --> 00:08:49,330 To see people walking in the truth, to see people that are, that 201 00:08:49,330 --> 00:08:52,130 are starting Sunday school classes, that are starting Bible 202 00:08:52,130 --> 00:08:54,890 studies, that are shepherding other people, that are inviting people 203 00:08:54,890 --> 00:08:55,410 to church. 204 00:08:55,410 --> 00:08:57,570 That's the greatest joy we could ever have because that's the 205 00:08:57,570 --> 00:08:58,730 multiplication process. 206 00:08:59,290 --> 00:09:02,970 God asks us to be, you know, in Genesis, be fruitful and multiply. 207 00:09:03,130 --> 00:09:06,370 Well, we know that's speaking of biologically, but I think in the 208 00:09:06,370 --> 00:09:09,530 concept of the new Testament, we are to be fruitful and multiply 209 00:09:09,530 --> 00:09:11,050 when it comes to leading people to Christ. 210 00:09:11,530 --> 00:09:13,450 We're to see that happening within the church. 211 00:09:14,250 --> 00:09:18,930 And for many years, what the problem has been with many churches 212 00:09:18,930 --> 00:09:21,330 is that we just say, okay, this church is growing just because 213 00:09:21,330 --> 00:09:24,250 this church over here is closed and we just absorb these Christians. 214 00:09:24,250 --> 00:09:25,810 And that's going to happen. 215 00:09:25,810 --> 00:09:28,690 At some point in time, people leave churches, and there's good 216 00:09:28,690 --> 00:09:30,010 reasons for that sometimes. 217 00:09:30,410 --> 00:09:33,730 But what, what an amazing thing it would be if the church would 218 00:09:33,730 --> 00:09:37,570 grow that way, but also grow with new converts, people coming 219 00:09:37,570 --> 00:09:38,890 from different backgrounds. 220 00:09:39,050 --> 00:09:42,500 Maybe an atheist coming to Christ, maybe someone who is religious 221 00:09:42,500 --> 00:09:44,500 but not trusting in Jesus Christ as savior. 222 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:46,340 Coming to Christ, that's the exciting thing. 223 00:09:46,340 --> 00:09:47,500 And that's what that song was all about. 224 00:09:47,500 --> 00:09:48,700 I love to tell the story. 225 00:09:49,180 --> 00:09:52,980 You don't have to have a PhD or a master's of divinity to tell 226 00:09:52,980 --> 00:09:54,140 people about Jesus Christ. 227 00:09:54,860 --> 00:09:56,540 A child can tell someone about Jesus Christ. 228 00:09:56,540 --> 00:09:59,220 Sometimes children are the best gospel witnesses because they 229 00:09:59,220 --> 00:10:00,220 simplify the process. 230 00:10:00,460 --> 00:10:01,380 They don't overthink it. 231 00:10:01,380 --> 00:10:02,180 They don't have the fear. 232 00:10:02,180 --> 00:10:03,060 They just say, hey, you know what? 233 00:10:03,060 --> 00:10:04,140 This is what I believe in. 234 00:10:04,540 --> 00:10:05,340 And I love that. 235 00:10:05,340 --> 00:10:06,540 And that's exciting to see. 236 00:10:06,620 --> 00:10:07,580 So we're going to move forward. 237 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:11,360 We're going to look at a good example, an example of somebody who 238 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:13,360 we should follow within the church. 239 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:13,600 And. 240 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,960 And it is the example of Gaius here in verse five, he says, beloved, 241 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,560 thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren 242 00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:21,600 and to strangers. 243 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,840 So he says, here we can learn from the example of Gaius. 244 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,080 He's a good example. 245 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,120 He's a good example of how a Christian should live. 246 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:33,760 And John praises him for his, specifically in this case, his hospitality 247 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,060 to the brethren and to strangers. 248 00:10:36,700 --> 00:10:38,740 And so John says, hey, you're doing a good job. 249 00:10:38,740 --> 00:10:39,220 You're. 250 00:10:39,220 --> 00:10:42,380 You're showing the love of Christ in a proper manner. 251 00:10:42,860 --> 00:10:44,780 And we might think, well, what is he doing? 252 00:10:44,780 --> 00:10:46,140 He's showing hospitality. 253 00:10:46,140 --> 00:10:46,820 That's not that great. 254 00:10:46,820 --> 00:10:49,220 Well, the Bible actually says that that's a spiritual gift. 255 00:10:49,220 --> 00:10:51,820 The Bible says that that's how we're supposed to treat everybody. 256 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:56,940 And so this is important, and this is an important practical outworking 257 00:10:57,340 --> 00:10:59,980 of the love of God to the love of others. 258 00:10:59,980 --> 00:11:03,580 This is really what God is saying in the New Testament, is this. 259 00:11:03,740 --> 00:11:07,940 If you understand my love, if you understand my forgiveness, if 260 00:11:07,940 --> 00:11:11,500 you understand my grace, then you're going to be able to show that 261 00:11:11,580 --> 00:11:12,380 to other people. 262 00:11:12,860 --> 00:11:16,260 And so when we give Christian hospitality to other people, when 263 00:11:16,260 --> 00:11:19,540 we care for other people, when we give to other people, when we 264 00:11:19,540 --> 00:11:20,620 provide for other people. 265 00:11:20,860 --> 00:11:24,380 When we take care of other people with spiritual matters and 266 00:11:24,380 --> 00:11:27,580 physical matters and emotional needs, hey, at the end of the day, 267 00:11:27,580 --> 00:11:29,820 that's not because we're trying to do that to make people's 268 00:11:29,820 --> 00:11:32,440 lives better, even though that is a product of that. 269 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,920 All we're doing is we're doing what God told us to reciprocate that 270 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:37,560 love that he has given us to other people. 271 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,440 We want to treat people as God has treated us. 272 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,400 We want to treat people as we would want to be treated. 273 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,800 And so he says, beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou 274 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:47,240 doest. 275 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:52,360 So often we under emphasize the importance of faithfulness. 276 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,440 We like to see sometimes big drastic changes. 277 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:58,800 Revolutionary thinkers, visionaries. 278 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,080 But at the end of the day, what does God praise? 279 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,160 God praises the servant who is faithful. 280 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,560 Think about what Matthew says. 281 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,320 He says at one point, when someone gets to heaven and God is 282 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:12,839 looking at their life, what does he say? 283 00:12:12,839 --> 00:12:14,960 Well done, thou good and successful servant. 284 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,520 No, it's faithful, well done, thou good and faithful. 285 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:19,320 First Corinthians, chapter 4. 286 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:20,960 What is a steward supposed to be? 287 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,800 Well, that he is found faithful. 288 00:12:23,930 --> 00:12:27,250 Faithfulness is not always the most attractive thing because faithfulness 289 00:12:27,250 --> 00:12:31,570 is taking little decisions in our life and making those decisions 290 00:12:31,570 --> 00:12:35,130 on the day to day basis and eventually building that as a testimony 291 00:12:35,210 --> 00:12:36,890 to help other Christians around us. 292 00:12:38,090 --> 00:12:42,050 You know, if, if sometimes we see someone come in and, and, and 293 00:12:42,050 --> 00:12:45,370 they're on fire for the Lord and they're excited for what God 294 00:12:45,370 --> 00:12:50,250 is doing, but when excitement and service for the Lord is a trend 295 00:12:51,790 --> 00:12:54,430 and then eventually that trend is going to go down, that's not true 296 00:12:54,430 --> 00:12:54,750 service. 297 00:12:54,750 --> 00:12:56,030 That's not true faithfulness. 298 00:12:56,270 --> 00:13:01,190 Faithfulness is trying to stay as level headed and as focused as 299 00:13:01,190 --> 00:13:02,750 we can on the mission ahead. 300 00:13:03,230 --> 00:13:06,990 If I'm serving God for the today, I'm missing the bigger picture. 301 00:13:07,470 --> 00:13:08,590 What am I serving God for? 302 00:13:08,590 --> 00:13:10,030 I'm serving God for eternity. 303 00:13:10,910 --> 00:13:14,150 When I became pastor of Middletown Baptist Church, there's 304 00:13:14,150 --> 00:13:15,710 always questions about what are you going to change? 305 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:18,040 Are you going to take away this? 306 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:18,920 Are you going to add this? 307 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:19,880 Are you going to make this? 308 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,520 The truth of the matter is, is at that time my whole mindset was 309 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,240 I'm playing the, I'm in the long game. 310 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:28,600 I want this to be a generational ministry. 311 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,040 And so if I make a decision today, that might affect today, but 312 00:13:32,119 --> 00:13:36,200 the process of discipleship, the process of hospitality, the process 313 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:41,800 of loving others and giving, should be thinking long term, focusing 314 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:42,760 on eternity. 315 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:44,960 But he gives him a compliment. 316 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,120 He says whatever you do, that's what he's saying. 317 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,360 In verse five, he says, whatever you do, you are faithful. 318 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,800 Thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest. 319 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,040 That's probably the greatest compliment that anyone could give 320 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:56,280 someone. 321 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:58,520 It's like, whatever you do, you're faithful. 322 00:13:58,759 --> 00:14:01,080 I don't care if it's working outside. 323 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,880 I don't care if it's, you know, picking up trash in the church 324 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:09,760 parking lot or teaching a class or serving in a setup meeting 325 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,290 or a committee or whatever it is, whatever is done at the church, 326 00:14:13,290 --> 00:14:14,890 you do it to the best of your ability. 327 00:14:15,370 --> 00:14:18,050 I think about that verse that says, whatsoever that hand findeth 328 00:14:18,050 --> 00:14:19,690 to do, do it with thy might. 329 00:14:20,330 --> 00:14:24,050 Sometimes we think about the big picture ministry things and, 330 00:14:24,050 --> 00:14:26,370 well, that's an upfront ministry or that's a ministry that 331 00:14:26,370 --> 00:14:27,210 gets a lot of praise. 332 00:14:27,210 --> 00:14:27,850 You know what? 333 00:14:27,850 --> 00:14:33,010 Every ministry, every act of service, every example of hospitality, 334 00:14:33,010 --> 00:14:36,010 whether people know it or not, matter in the big picture of the 335 00:14:36,010 --> 00:14:36,810 kingdom of God. 336 00:14:37,050 --> 00:14:39,330 So he says, whatever you do, you're doing it faithfully. 337 00:14:39,330 --> 00:14:43,240 Not just when people are looking, not just when I'm there, 338 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:48,160 not just when someone else is there, but when God is looking and 339 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:49,480 maybe no one else is looking. 340 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,640 He says, do it to the brethren and to strangers. 341 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,240 So he says, you're not just doing it for people that you know, 342 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,800 but you're doing it for people that maybe you don't even know. 343 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:03,360 And that's an important thing to notice because sometimes we can 344 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,850 be on a certain demeanor if we're around certain people. 345 00:15:07,850 --> 00:15:09,970 Like we know we're supposed to impress these people. 346 00:15:11,170 --> 00:15:13,170 So I, sometimes I'm just gonna be honest. 347 00:15:13,170 --> 00:15:16,610 Sometimes this happens with me as when people find out I'm a pastor, 348 00:15:17,250 --> 00:15:18,050 they're like, oh. 349 00:15:18,290 --> 00:15:21,250 And you get a few reactions when, when people find out that you're 350 00:15:21,250 --> 00:15:25,530 a pastor, they either try to over spiritualize everything that 351 00:15:25,530 --> 00:15:28,690 they say or they get quiet and afraid and think you're going to 352 00:15:28,690 --> 00:15:30,290 judge them and they just don't talk anymore. 353 00:15:30,930 --> 00:15:35,330 The truth is, is that we are supposed to treat everybody the same, 354 00:15:35,490 --> 00:15:36,370 whoever they are. 355 00:15:36,370 --> 00:15:37,810 The book of James talks about that. 356 00:15:37,970 --> 00:15:41,010 The book of James talks about, well, someone comes in and torn up 357 00:15:41,010 --> 00:15:44,210 clothing and, and they don't look very wealthy and they actually 358 00:15:44,210 --> 00:15:46,650 look like they, they might be like stinky. 359 00:15:46,650 --> 00:15:48,730 Well, we want to put them way away from us. 360 00:15:48,730 --> 00:15:50,970 We don't want them to sit anywhere near the front because back 361 00:15:50,970 --> 00:15:53,250 then the important people sat in the front. 362 00:15:53,250 --> 00:15:55,450 Which makes me question whether or not that was a Baptist 363 00:15:55,450 --> 00:15:58,690 church or not, because no one says up front, well, our church is 364 00:15:58,690 --> 00:15:59,210 pretty good with that. 365 00:15:59,210 --> 00:16:01,500 But you know, Baptist churches usually Fill from the back and move 366 00:16:01,500 --> 00:16:01,820 forward. 367 00:16:02,460 --> 00:16:03,740 But the idea would be this. 368 00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:06,860 Then the book of James says, there's this guy that comes in and 369 00:16:06,860 --> 00:16:08,580 he's wearing gold and he's wearing these nice clothes. 370 00:16:08,580 --> 00:16:10,140 And they say, hey, come on up here. 371 00:16:10,140 --> 00:16:11,460 You sit in the great seat. 372 00:16:11,460 --> 00:16:13,260 You sit in the seat of honor. 373 00:16:13,260 --> 00:16:14,020 We're going to honor you. 374 00:16:14,020 --> 00:16:16,900 See, that's, that's a, that's a miscommunication of God's love. 375 00:16:16,900 --> 00:16:19,980 Because God love, He's not a respecter of person, which means 376 00:16:19,980 --> 00:16:20,260 this. 377 00:16:20,260 --> 00:16:22,580 He doesn't look at someone and go, well, you're valuable to me. 378 00:16:22,580 --> 00:16:23,420 I'm going to love you more. 379 00:16:23,740 --> 00:16:25,360 You're going to bring more to me, so I'm going to, I'm going to 380 00:16:25,510 --> 00:16:26,550 going to give you more blessing. 381 00:16:26,550 --> 00:16:28,670 No, the truth is, is that God loves all. 382 00:16:28,670 --> 00:16:32,670 And when he extends that gift of grace to all, he's not a chooser 383 00:16:32,670 --> 00:16:36,150 of that person bringing this talent to me or this person bringing 384 00:16:36,150 --> 00:16:36,750 this talent to me. 385 00:16:36,750 --> 00:16:39,510 Because by the way, all the talents that we have in our life, 386 00:16:39,510 --> 00:16:42,470 all the gifts that we have in our life are given to us by God. 387 00:16:42,470 --> 00:16:43,830 And therefore he could take those away. 388 00:16:44,710 --> 00:16:46,870 It's a gift of God that we're able to do anything. 389 00:16:46,870 --> 00:16:48,110 Every good gift comes from God. 390 00:16:48,110 --> 00:16:49,190 That's James, chapter one. 391 00:16:49,750 --> 00:16:50,630 So he says this. 392 00:16:50,630 --> 00:16:54,820 Furthermore, verse six, which have borne witness of thy charity 393 00:16:54,820 --> 00:16:55,620 before the church. 394 00:16:55,620 --> 00:16:56,300 He says this. 395 00:16:56,300 --> 00:16:59,420 Basically, he says, hey, it's obvious that you have been loving 396 00:16:59,900 --> 00:17:01,100 those within the church. 397 00:17:02,060 --> 00:17:03,580 Your love is evident. 398 00:17:03,660 --> 00:17:08,540 Your, your love is clear for those who have traveled there and 399 00:17:08,780 --> 00:17:11,780 witnessed you, he says, which have borne witness of thy charity 400 00:17:11,780 --> 00:17:15,980 before the church, whom if thou bring forward on their journey 401 00:17:15,980 --> 00:17:18,380 after a godly sword, thou shalt do well. 402 00:17:18,380 --> 00:17:19,020 Which means this. 403 00:17:19,330 --> 00:17:21,850 At this time frame, there were people that were traveling and ministering 404 00:17:21,850 --> 00:17:25,250 in different places, and it was common practice to give them 405 00:17:25,250 --> 00:17:27,890 hospitality as they would come into that city. 406 00:17:27,970 --> 00:17:29,450 And that's essentially what he's saying here. 407 00:17:29,450 --> 00:17:32,570 He says, you are showing that type of love, you're showing that 408 00:17:32,570 --> 00:17:34,130 type of hospitality to people. 409 00:17:34,370 --> 00:17:37,170 And so he says, whatever God gives you, you're faithful. 410 00:17:37,730 --> 00:17:41,610 And ultimately you are projecting the love of Christ to 411 00:17:41,610 --> 00:17:42,530 those in need. 412 00:17:43,170 --> 00:17:45,650 And so he says, hey, you're doing a good job. 413 00:17:45,650 --> 00:17:47,250 You're showing hospitality. 414 00:17:47,570 --> 00:17:50,250 You're giving things to people, even if you don't think that 415 00:17:50,250 --> 00:17:51,410 they're going to give anything back. 416 00:17:52,370 --> 00:17:56,210 Then he says, because that for his name's sake, they went forth. 417 00:17:56,210 --> 00:18:00,290 He says, the reason why you took care of them was not necessarily 418 00:18:00,290 --> 00:18:03,090 because of the fact that they were going to do something for you. 419 00:18:03,170 --> 00:18:06,770 What it says that they were doing it for the sake of the Lord, 420 00:18:06,770 --> 00:18:08,010 for his name's sake. 421 00:18:08,010 --> 00:18:10,610 They went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles. 422 00:18:10,610 --> 00:18:14,170 Because back then, what it really was is that the early church 423 00:18:14,170 --> 00:18:16,210 was filled with missionaries and. 424 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,080 And filled with preachers and. 425 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,360 And ultimately what would happen is that John is telling him 426 00:18:21,360 --> 00:18:24,000 here, he says, hey, they're not taking anything from the Gentiles. 427 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,240 They're not accepting anything from the unsaved people. 428 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,840 They're not accepting anything from these people that are in rejection 429 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:30,200 to him. 430 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,679 Instead, they're getting the support from the. 431 00:18:32,679 --> 00:18:33,440 The church there. 432 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:35,280 And so he's. 433 00:18:35,360 --> 00:18:37,720 He's doing it in a manner that's worthy to the Lord. 434 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:39,040 And so verse eight, he says, we ought. 435 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,000 We therefore ought to receive such that we might pre. 436 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:42,480 My. 437 00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:44,780 That we might be fellow helpers to the truth. 438 00:18:44,780 --> 00:18:45,420 Meaning this. 439 00:18:46,540 --> 00:18:49,780 Sometimes when we think that indirectly we're helping someone, 440 00:18:49,780 --> 00:18:50,780 that it's not an impact. 441 00:18:50,780 --> 00:18:51,500 He says this. 442 00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:55,300 He says that though you might not be initially the one up front, 443 00:18:55,300 --> 00:18:58,100 you are the one that's helping these other people preach the truth. 444 00:18:58,100 --> 00:18:59,340 Therefore, you're part of the process. 445 00:19:00,140 --> 00:19:02,660 So there's always these people that are part of the process that 446 00:19:02,660 --> 00:19:05,740 can support and that ultimately we can see that everyone's 447 00:19:05,740 --> 00:19:06,100 part of this. 448 00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:08,220 Like, so, like, I would say it this way. 449 00:19:09,190 --> 00:19:12,470 Next year, Lord willing, we're going to send a team to Rwanda. 450 00:19:12,870 --> 00:19:14,950 And I know the reality is that. 451 00:19:14,950 --> 00:19:17,950 That the vast majority of people in our church aren't going 452 00:19:17,950 --> 00:19:18,390 to be able. 453 00:19:18,550 --> 00:19:19,230 We know that. 454 00:19:19,230 --> 00:19:20,150 We understand that. 455 00:19:20,150 --> 00:19:20,430 That's. 456 00:19:20,430 --> 00:19:20,870 That's. 457 00:19:21,190 --> 00:19:22,310 That's reality. 458 00:19:23,030 --> 00:19:25,030 But what we don't want to have happen is this. 459 00:19:25,030 --> 00:19:27,950 Okay, we have like eight people going to Rwanda, so that's 460 00:19:27,950 --> 00:19:28,950 their mission strip. 461 00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:31,590 And then everyone at the church is like, okay, well, you know, 462 00:19:31,990 --> 00:19:33,270 what's our thing we're doing? 463 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:37,360 The reality is, is that even though there's only maybe, let's 464 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:40,520 say eight people going on the trip, everybody at Middletown Baptist 465 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:42,560 can be a part of that ministry project. 466 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:43,280 Why? 467 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:48,040 Because I can give, I can pray, I can provide, and I. I can 468 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:48,640 communicate. 469 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:49,120 I can. 470 00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:52,240 I can send whatever I can do there and help them there. 471 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,000 And there's other ways to be a part of that. 472 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,800 And so I think a lot of times people think, well, I have to do 473 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:58,640 an upfront ministry or I have to. 474 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,850 I have to give a certain amount of money or I have to be able 475 00:20:01,850 --> 00:20:03,650 to be talented in this area to serve. 476 00:20:03,650 --> 00:20:03,970 No. 477 00:20:04,050 --> 00:20:08,410 God has gifted us with various talents so we can find opportunities 478 00:20:08,410 --> 00:20:09,890 to serve where God has us. 479 00:20:10,370 --> 00:20:13,410 And so for this individual, it says, we therefore ought to receive 480 00:20:13,410 --> 00:20:15,930 such that we might be fellow helpers to the truth. 481 00:20:15,930 --> 00:20:17,050 And so the idea would be this. 482 00:20:17,050 --> 00:20:19,570 We all can be fellow helpers to the truth of God. 483 00:20:19,570 --> 00:20:22,130 We're all part of the Gospel message. 484 00:20:23,170 --> 00:20:28,540 I'm going to tell you that it would be confusing if 200 people 485 00:20:28,540 --> 00:20:31,100 on Sunday morning got up and tried to preach from the pulpit. 486 00:20:31,340 --> 00:20:31,780 Okay? 487 00:20:31,780 --> 00:20:32,940 That would be mass chaos. 488 00:20:33,020 --> 00:20:33,580 Okay. 489 00:20:33,660 --> 00:20:36,620 The reality is, is that that wouldn't, that God is not the author 490 00:20:36,620 --> 00:20:37,340 of confusion. 491 00:20:37,340 --> 00:20:38,940 And that would be confusing to have that. 492 00:20:38,940 --> 00:20:41,180 It would be confusing to have four or five people up there preaching 493 00:20:41,180 --> 00:20:41,740 at the same time. 494 00:20:41,740 --> 00:20:42,060 Right. 495 00:20:42,859 --> 00:20:45,540 But at the same time I'm going to tell you, like, okay, I, I'm, 496 00:20:45,540 --> 00:20:48,060 I might be the one behind the pulpit or someone else might be behind 497 00:20:48,060 --> 00:20:49,820 the pulpit, Pastor Carlos, or whatever. 498 00:20:50,220 --> 00:20:55,060 The truth is is that all of you that pray, all of you that encourage 499 00:20:55,300 --> 00:20:58,340 are part of the process of that message. 500 00:20:59,220 --> 00:21:02,580 And it's not like, oh, I'm using sermon analogies from people's 501 00:21:02,580 --> 00:21:02,860 lives. 502 00:21:02,860 --> 00:21:04,020 No, that's not what I'm talking about. 503 00:21:04,020 --> 00:21:07,020 I'm talking about the idea that every time we encourage another 504 00:21:07,020 --> 00:21:10,660 brother or sister in Christ to serve God, we are part of that as 505 00:21:10,660 --> 00:21:10,980 well. 506 00:21:11,620 --> 00:21:14,540 And likewise, people should help us, people should encourage 507 00:21:14,540 --> 00:21:14,740 us. 508 00:21:14,740 --> 00:21:15,900 And so what does he say here? 509 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:19,220 He says, Gaius is a good example of someone who is supporting 510 00:21:19,220 --> 00:21:21,140 other Christians for the sake of the Gospel. 511 00:21:21,590 --> 00:21:24,550 That would be a great message of why we should send money to missionaries. 512 00:21:25,270 --> 00:21:28,310 How many of you have the opportunity to go to 31 different 513 00:21:28,310 --> 00:21:28,990 mission fields? 514 00:21:28,990 --> 00:21:29,670 None of us. 515 00:21:30,710 --> 00:21:33,910 We could only go to one, maybe two if we split our time. 516 00:21:33,990 --> 00:21:36,950 But we have 31 missionaries at Middletown Baptist Church that we 517 00:21:36,950 --> 00:21:40,870 can directly support to be a part as a fellow helper to the ministry 518 00:21:41,030 --> 00:21:44,030 of the gospel being preached in Brazil, being preached in South 519 00:21:44,030 --> 00:21:47,310 America, being preached in South Africa, being preached all 520 00:21:47,310 --> 00:21:47,870 over the world. 521 00:21:47,870 --> 00:21:48,230 Right? 522 00:21:48,430 --> 00:21:51,310 So that's the exciting part of being a Christian, is that we're 523 00:21:51,310 --> 00:21:52,030 on the team. 524 00:21:52,430 --> 00:21:53,950 So it's not a one man show. 525 00:21:54,270 --> 00:22:00,510 If, if, if something in the church for the gospel becomes a one 526 00:22:00,510 --> 00:22:01,110 man show. 527 00:22:01,110 --> 00:22:02,350 It's a whole mistake. 528 00:22:03,710 --> 00:22:06,030 I should not be doing all the work at the church. 529 00:22:06,030 --> 00:22:08,110 I should not be the only one preaching the gospel. 530 00:22:08,750 --> 00:22:09,470 We, we should. 531 00:22:09,470 --> 00:22:12,190 You, you should not be the only person leading your ministry, 532 00:22:12,270 --> 00:22:14,960 even though you might be the direct point point person for that 533 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:15,480 ministry. 534 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:16,840 It's a team effort. 535 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:18,000 Why? 536 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,120 Because if we put all the weight on one person other than the 537 00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:24,680 Lord, there will be a failure, there will be a collapse. 538 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:26,040 There will be burnout. 539 00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:28,920 So what we need to do is we need to build up one another, and 540 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:29,960 that's what he's talking about here. 541 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,880 So part of discipleship is teaching the truth. 542 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:39,160 Part of discipleship is encouraging one another in the truth. 543 00:22:39,650 --> 00:22:43,450 But what we would say is this part of discipleship is lifting one 544 00:22:43,450 --> 00:22:47,210 another up in the midst of service, whether we know it or not. 545 00:22:47,210 --> 00:22:51,210 Sometimes we think of discipleship as we got a book and 546 00:22:51,210 --> 00:22:53,730 we're going to sit down at a table and pastor's going to teach 547 00:22:53,730 --> 00:22:54,290 us a class. 548 00:22:54,690 --> 00:22:56,930 Okay, that is a class. 549 00:22:58,050 --> 00:23:00,090 That is not discipleship. 550 00:23:00,090 --> 00:23:01,090 I'm just going to tell you that. 551 00:23:01,330 --> 00:23:03,610 That's teaching someone the truths of the Bible. 552 00:23:03,610 --> 00:23:05,250 But discipleship is more than that. 553 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:07,320 Discipleship is lifting up one another. 554 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,640 Discipleship is the call in the middle of the night when someone's 555 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:13,520 broken over something in their life and we get on the phone and 556 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:16,200 we talk through it, and we meet up for coffee first thing in 557 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:17,680 the morning and say, hey, we're going to deal with this. 558 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:19,000 We're going to walk through this together. 559 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,240 Discipleship is literally this doing life together. 560 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,640 And as Christians, we can't just sit here and go, well, we have 561 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,160 a Sunday school class offered for people to learn about the Bible. 562 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:30,320 That's enough discipleship. 563 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:31,970 No, it's got to be so much more. 564 00:23:32,370 --> 00:23:33,210 The early church. 565 00:23:33,210 --> 00:23:34,450 Think about the book of Acts. 566 00:23:35,010 --> 00:23:36,130 Acts, chapter two. 567 00:23:36,530 --> 00:23:39,050 They didn't say, like, okay, well, they had their, their monthly 568 00:23:39,050 --> 00:23:41,370 class that they went to and they met and they went home. 569 00:23:41,370 --> 00:23:42,570 No, it was dayto day. 570 00:23:42,570 --> 00:23:43,970 It was in the homes. 571 00:23:44,450 --> 00:23:46,690 And, and I know this is, this isn't common teaching. 572 00:23:46,690 --> 00:23:49,130 This isn't something that we're comfortable with in our society 573 00:23:49,130 --> 00:23:53,250 today because we've become a very segmented society. 574 00:23:53,650 --> 00:23:57,570 Christianity has become something of an individualistic effort. 575 00:23:58,140 --> 00:23:59,860 Like, you've heard people say this, right? 576 00:23:59,860 --> 00:24:02,060 Well, my religion is my personal thing. 577 00:24:02,380 --> 00:24:04,380 And like, I, I keep to myself on that. 578 00:24:04,940 --> 00:24:07,900 Well, that's really not anything in scripture. 579 00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:11,540 Scripture is all about sharing this experience together with one 580 00:24:11,540 --> 00:24:11,820 another. 581 00:24:12,380 --> 00:24:13,739 It's lifting each other up. 582 00:24:13,739 --> 00:24:15,580 It's, it's what Gaius did here. 583 00:24:15,580 --> 00:24:15,940 It's. 584 00:24:15,940 --> 00:24:17,900 He's providing hospitality for people. 585 00:24:18,140 --> 00:24:18,460 He. 586 00:24:18,460 --> 00:24:20,540 He's being a fellow helper to the truth. 587 00:24:21,660 --> 00:24:24,820 And so I think a lot of times what happens within our church culture 588 00:24:24,820 --> 00:24:28,300 is that we come in and we want to portray to everybody that, hey, 589 00:24:28,300 --> 00:24:28,980 I'm okay. 590 00:24:29,140 --> 00:24:30,340 I'm super spiritual. 591 00:24:30,500 --> 00:24:31,820 I'm, I'm, I'm great. 592 00:24:31,820 --> 00:24:32,820 I don't need any help. 593 00:24:32,820 --> 00:24:35,220 But at the end of the day, we're going, I, I'VE been here, guys. 594 00:24:35,540 --> 00:24:36,340 I've been here. 595 00:24:36,660 --> 00:24:40,780 I've come to church and smiled at everybody and I got in my car 596 00:24:40,780 --> 00:24:44,820 and I, I wept because I was, I was hurting for whatever reason, 597 00:24:45,940 --> 00:24:48,060 say, well, you do that. 598 00:24:48,060 --> 00:24:49,060 Yeah, I've done that before. 599 00:24:49,060 --> 00:24:50,500 I, I'm just going to be honest with you. 600 00:24:51,070 --> 00:24:53,590 Why, and why was I not willing to share that with someone? 601 00:24:53,590 --> 00:24:55,550 Because I don't want anyone to think that I have a weakness. 602 00:24:55,550 --> 00:24:57,230 I don't want anyone to think that I'm struggling. 603 00:24:57,310 --> 00:25:00,590 But the truth is, is that true biblical discipleship is coming alongside 604 00:25:00,590 --> 00:25:02,510 of one another and strengthening one another. 605 00:25:02,510 --> 00:25:04,910 And that's what we see here in the life of Gaius. 606 00:25:05,230 --> 00:25:09,430 His generosity is commended, his hospitality is commended. 607 00:25:09,430 --> 00:25:13,510 And ultimately we know that in the teachings of Matthew, chapter 608 00:25:13,510 --> 00:25:13,790 10. 609 00:25:14,190 --> 00:25:15,950 I think this is so interesting. 610 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:20,840 Matthew 10:40, 41 says, he that receiveth you, receiveth me. 611 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,360 And he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 612 00:25:24,360 --> 00:25:27,200 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of the prophet shall receive 613 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:28,120 a prophet's reward. 614 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,840 And he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of righteous 615 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,599 man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 616 00:25:32,599 --> 00:25:33,240 Meaning this. 617 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:37,360 We have these joint efforts that we come together with, and the 618 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:40,600 blessing can be bigger than just, hey, look, Pastor got up and 619 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:41,480 preached a message today. 620 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,450 Well, we can come together and we can say, no. 621 00:25:43,450 --> 00:25:45,010 I want to be a part of ministry. 622 00:25:45,250 --> 00:25:48,290 I want to find some avenue of service within the church. 623 00:25:48,450 --> 00:25:50,050 I want to lead someone to Christ. 624 00:25:50,610 --> 00:25:54,450 Folks, there, there, there isn't anything that holds back any 625 00:25:54,450 --> 00:25:57,050 church member from being a part of leading someone to Christ, 626 00:25:57,050 --> 00:26:00,890 teaching a class, doing church together with one another. 627 00:26:00,890 --> 00:26:02,530 And I encourage you to think about that. 628 00:26:02,610 --> 00:26:05,170 I encourage you to think about that from a serious perspective. 629 00:26:05,890 --> 00:26:07,650 How many, how many of us? 630 00:26:08,050 --> 00:26:08,530 I, I. 631 00:26:08,530 --> 00:26:09,250 You ever wonder? 632 00:26:10,610 --> 00:26:11,690 I do this all the time. 633 00:26:11,690 --> 00:26:13,170 Maybe I'm the only person that does this. 634 00:26:13,170 --> 00:26:16,530 You ever wonder what would happen if, like, Paul had a time 635 00:26:16,530 --> 00:26:19,890 machine and he could come back and see the church today? 636 00:26:20,530 --> 00:26:24,490 Or Peter or John, he could come back and he could look and see 637 00:26:24,490 --> 00:26:25,090 what we're doing? 638 00:26:25,410 --> 00:26:26,570 I've, I've thought about that. 639 00:26:26,570 --> 00:26:27,810 I've said, I wonder what he would say. 640 00:26:27,810 --> 00:26:31,890 I wonder, I wonder what aspects of the church today they 641 00:26:31,890 --> 00:26:32,850 would celebrate. 642 00:26:33,170 --> 00:26:35,610 And I wonder what aspects would they say, what are you guys 643 00:26:35,610 --> 00:26:35,890 doing? 644 00:26:36,910 --> 00:26:38,270 You guys, miss, are missing the point. 645 00:26:38,990 --> 00:26:41,150 And I'm not saying that anything we're doing is wrong. 646 00:26:41,390 --> 00:26:44,390 What I'm actually saying is I think that there is more that we 647 00:26:44,390 --> 00:26:46,110 can do when it comes to the church. 648 00:26:46,830 --> 00:26:48,950 And sometimes that's uncomfortable because it's like, 649 00:26:48,950 --> 00:26:49,230 don't. 650 00:26:49,230 --> 00:26:50,110 Don't pry into my life. 651 00:26:50,110 --> 00:26:51,390 I don't want you to know about me. 652 00:26:51,630 --> 00:26:55,870 But at the end of the day, we see that there is this total difference 653 00:26:55,950 --> 00:27:00,070 in this dichotomy of, well, I have church life and I have home 654 00:27:00,070 --> 00:27:01,230 life, and then I have work life. 655 00:27:01,230 --> 00:27:02,830 That's not what we see here in Scripture. 656 00:27:02,830 --> 00:27:05,920 We see that it's all church life and everything that I do, it's 657 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:06,720 all spiritual. 658 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:11,560 So then we go farther and we see this other guy and. 659 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,480 And he says, Verse 9, I wrote unto the church. 660 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:16,560 And then we see a transition. 661 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:17,920 We see a bad example. 662 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:19,760 He says, but diotrepies. 663 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,440 So he says, g, you are characterized by hospitality. 664 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:26,800 And with that hospice, you gotta be humble, right? 665 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:30,280 So he says, your humble hospitality characterizes you as 666 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:31,040 a good servant. 667 00:27:32,550 --> 00:27:33,910 But Diotrephes is different. 668 00:27:34,630 --> 00:27:39,670 He says, diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among 669 00:27:39,670 --> 00:27:41,590 them, receiveth us not. 670 00:27:42,070 --> 00:27:42,950 So Gaius. 671 00:27:42,950 --> 00:27:46,310 Gaius received them with humble hospitality. 672 00:27:47,750 --> 00:27:54,350 The Atrophies met them with pride and preeminence, and he did 673 00:27:54,350 --> 00:27:55,030 not receive them. 674 00:27:55,030 --> 00:27:56,870 Why did the atrophies not receive them? 675 00:27:57,130 --> 00:27:58,490 Because he wanted to be the man. 676 00:27:58,970 --> 00:28:00,250 He wanted to be the focus. 677 00:28:00,570 --> 00:28:03,490 And when people like the Apostle John and other folks came 678 00:28:03,490 --> 00:28:07,850 in, he was not willing to defer to their authority. 679 00:28:07,850 --> 00:28:09,050 He says, no, I'm the one. 680 00:28:09,050 --> 00:28:10,970 I'm the one that has the spotlight. 681 00:28:11,130 --> 00:28:14,010 And he says here that he received us not. 682 00:28:14,330 --> 00:28:15,890 So I want you to think about the comparison. 683 00:28:15,890 --> 00:28:20,090 Here you have Gaius, who is the humble, hospitable servant. 684 00:28:20,650 --> 00:28:25,330 Then you have Diotrephes, who is the prideful person with wanting 685 00:28:25,330 --> 00:28:26,050 preeminence. 686 00:28:26,530 --> 00:28:30,370 And so verse 10, it says, wherefore if I come, I will remember 687 00:28:30,370 --> 00:28:34,930 his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious 688 00:28:34,930 --> 00:28:39,250 words and not content therewith, Neither doth he himself 689 00:28:39,250 --> 00:28:42,930 receive the brethren and forbiddeth them that would and casteth 690 00:28:42,930 --> 00:28:43,890 them out of the church. 691 00:28:43,890 --> 00:28:47,290 Now, verse 10, this is, we're going to spend the rest of our time 692 00:28:47,290 --> 00:28:50,290 and where we're going to pick up next week because there is so 693 00:28:50,450 --> 00:28:56,610 much here in verse 10 that identifies to us Diotrephes problem. 694 00:28:57,410 --> 00:28:59,010 Now, at the core of it, it's pride. 695 00:28:59,650 --> 00:29:03,250 But I'm going to tell you this in love here this evening that we 696 00:29:03,250 --> 00:29:06,970 have many people within the church at large. 697 00:29:06,970 --> 00:29:11,290 I'm not saying our church, but I'm saying Christianity today that 698 00:29:11,290 --> 00:29:16,840 are displaying more of the example of diotropies instead of 699 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:17,360 Gaius. 700 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:22,080 It's the idea that, hey, we are first our needs are first. 701 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:24,000 My ego is first. 702 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,360 My reputation is the most important thing. 703 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:30,280 And he says here, wherefore I come, I will remember his deeds. 704 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,160 Now, what's the atre's deeds? 705 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:34,320 Well, what did he do? 706 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,080 It says here, praying against us with malicious words. 707 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,000 That's some strong language. 708 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:40,360 What is. 709 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:41,320 What is he saying here? 710 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:43,130 Well, he's saying this. 711 00:29:43,530 --> 00:29:49,690 The atrepies not only failed to receive John and the other apostles, 712 00:29:50,170 --> 00:29:52,170 but then he spoke against them. 713 00:29:52,170 --> 00:29:56,050 And it says here, parading against us with malicious words. 714 00:29:56,050 --> 00:29:56,250 The. 715 00:29:56,250 --> 00:29:58,570 The original Greek here means this. 716 00:29:58,570 --> 00:30:03,850 It's like destructive speech almost to the point of where it's. 717 00:30:03,930 --> 00:30:05,130 It's slanderous. 718 00:30:06,170 --> 00:30:07,930 Some would even say gossiping. 719 00:30:08,330 --> 00:30:09,370 So he says the atrophies. 720 00:30:09,370 --> 00:30:11,730 What happens is, is that the apostle John and some of the other 721 00:30:11,730 --> 00:30:14,450 apostles come in and diotrephy starts going, hey, you know, these 722 00:30:14,450 --> 00:30:15,930 guys aren't really who they say they are. 723 00:30:16,010 --> 00:30:17,530 They're probably hypocritical. 724 00:30:17,530 --> 00:30:21,130 Who, whatever it is, he's spreading malicious words, praying 725 00:30:21,130 --> 00:30:24,730 words that when we know what malice is, right? 726 00:30:25,130 --> 00:30:26,330 What, what is malice? 727 00:30:26,330 --> 00:30:27,850 Malice is more than hate. 728 00:30:28,570 --> 00:30:29,330 Hatred is. 729 00:30:29,330 --> 00:30:30,490 I just don't like that person. 730 00:30:31,210 --> 00:30:32,370 Malice is further. 731 00:30:32,370 --> 00:30:35,530 Malice is wishing evil on that person when I hate them. 732 00:30:36,140 --> 00:30:39,420 And so what's happening here is he's speaking evil words against 733 00:30:39,580 --> 00:30:42,220 a person that has good intentions. 734 00:30:43,580 --> 00:30:48,340 How often within the church do we see that someone trying to do 735 00:30:48,340 --> 00:30:50,020 what's right for the Lord, trying to be different. 736 00:30:50,020 --> 00:30:51,500 And someone speaks against that. 737 00:30:51,740 --> 00:30:53,420 And almost think about it. 738 00:30:53,420 --> 00:30:56,180 The picture that I have is someone's burning with fire for the 739 00:30:56,180 --> 00:30:56,420 Lord. 740 00:30:56,420 --> 00:30:59,420 The Bible says to be fervent in the spirit serving the Lord. 741 00:30:59,580 --> 00:31:03,210 That word fervent in the Bible says, speaks of a boiling. 742 00:31:03,530 --> 00:31:06,890 A boiling pot or a fire that's just out of control. 743 00:31:07,690 --> 00:31:09,890 We should be on fire for the Lord. 744 00:31:09,890 --> 00:31:12,370 But the picture that I see is that someone comes along like the 745 00:31:12,370 --> 00:31:16,410 atrophies and pours water on top of the fire and tries to squelch 746 00:31:16,410 --> 00:31:16,730 that. 747 00:31:16,890 --> 00:31:18,169 That excitement for the Lord. 748 00:31:18,169 --> 00:31:20,010 That's exactly what we see him doing here. 749 00:31:20,010 --> 00:31:23,810 Says he's doing this with malicious words and not content therewith. 750 00:31:23,810 --> 00:31:26,410 Meaning he's not going to ever be content with his life because 751 00:31:26,410 --> 00:31:29,210 of the place that he's there with the Lord in his pride. 752 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:30,960 And that's really the outcome of pride. 753 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:34,280 Pride leads to a place of discontentment because we're never 754 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:35,760 going to feel like we're getting enough. 755 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,480 We're never going to feel like people are honoring us enough. 756 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,880 If you think about it from that perspective, think about it 757 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:43,440 with someone who has a Heart of pride. 758 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:46,480 Let's say 20 people come up to them and give them a good word. 759 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:49,280 Why didn't 30 people come up to me? 760 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:49,680 Right. 761 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:52,960 Pride is a never ending pit that keeps taking away and keeps 762 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:56,180 taking away and will never satisfy the atrophies. 763 00:31:56,180 --> 00:31:58,620 Here is, it says here is not content therewith. 764 00:31:58,620 --> 00:32:01,100 Neither doth he himself receive the brethren. 765 00:32:01,100 --> 00:32:03,140 So he, he's not receiving other Christians. 766 00:32:04,020 --> 00:32:08,020 He's not receiving people that are coming in and needing hospitality. 767 00:32:08,500 --> 00:32:11,900 He not only failed to receive John and the other apostles, he speaks 768 00:32:11,900 --> 00:32:13,620 against them, he has malicious gossip. 769 00:32:13,780 --> 00:32:17,900 And ultimately what we can see here is that he rejects them and 770 00:32:17,900 --> 00:32:19,140 the opportunity for service. 771 00:32:19,140 --> 00:32:26,430 But then it says this is crazy and forbiddeth them that would meaning 772 00:32:26,430 --> 00:32:26,750 this. 773 00:32:27,310 --> 00:32:31,430 He gets mad at other people within the church that are being 774 00:32:31,430 --> 00:32:32,110 kind to other. 775 00:32:32,670 --> 00:32:35,470 So it's kind of like the guilty by association situation. 776 00:32:36,030 --> 00:32:39,190 Like I'm not mad at you, but you like someone that I'm mad at, 777 00:32:39,190 --> 00:32:40,150 so I'm going to be mad at you. 778 00:32:40,150 --> 00:32:42,670 Now you ever seen that happen within the church? 779 00:32:42,670 --> 00:32:45,630 Like I, I, I have no problem with you, but since you're close 780 00:32:45,630 --> 00:32:47,730 to this person, I, I can't talk to you anymore. 781 00:32:47,730 --> 00:32:49,210 That's what the Atre was doing. 782 00:32:49,210 --> 00:32:51,970 He was like, I'm not going to accept them and when you accept them, 783 00:32:51,970 --> 00:32:53,210 I'm going to reject you. 784 00:32:54,010 --> 00:32:58,010 And then he goes further and says this and cast and, and not even, 785 00:32:58,170 --> 00:32:58,970 not even that. 786 00:32:58,970 --> 00:33:01,050 He just doesn't like those people. 787 00:33:01,610 --> 00:33:06,330 But then it says and casteth them out of the church, which means 788 00:33:06,330 --> 00:33:07,610 he wanted to get rid of them. 789 00:33:08,410 --> 00:33:12,170 So, so he not only didn't like the people that wanted to be kind 790 00:33:12,170 --> 00:33:14,960 to other Christians, specifically the apostles, but then 791 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:18,520 at that point he wanted to reject them and then get rid of them. 792 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:20,440 And really that's what pride does. 793 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:22,680 Pride tries to get rid of anyone who gets in the way. 794 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,280 And we'll stop there because we're going to come back more next 795 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:31,160 week and we're going to look at what John's response is to these 796 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:31,880 examples. 797 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:34,360 He says, look, you've got the good example in Gaius. 798 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:37,480 Remember, Humbled, hospitable. 799 00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:40,480 And then you have on the other side the atrophes. 800 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:44,230 Who's as it says here, he was characterized by pride and preeminence, 801 00:33:44,230 --> 00:33:46,430 meaning he wanted to be the focus. 802 00:33:47,390 --> 00:33:52,830 And anytime we're serving in the ministry, if our desire, if our 803 00:33:52,830 --> 00:33:57,590 motivation is preeminence, we've got the wrong motivation and 804 00:33:57,590 --> 00:33:59,870 it eventually lead to the outcome here. 805 00:34:00,030 --> 00:34:04,550 And, and really what we see think about diotrephy as the Atrophies 806 00:34:04,550 --> 00:34:06,670 is division, right? 807 00:34:07,310 --> 00:34:09,870 He causes division because of his pride. 808 00:34:10,510 --> 00:34:12,670 And you see how man. 809 00:34:12,910 --> 00:34:14,990 This is just so it's jumping off the page. 810 00:34:15,230 --> 00:34:16,990 You see how diotrephy's here. 811 00:34:17,310 --> 00:34:22,510 His pride has now made him reject these Christians, get mad 812 00:34:22,510 --> 00:34:25,350 at these Christians that want to receive them, and then eventually 813 00:34:25,350 --> 00:34:25,990 kick them out. 814 00:34:25,990 --> 00:34:31,030 You see how just one man's pride has caused basically a bomb 815 00:34:31,030 --> 00:34:34,559 that's exploded within the church because of one man's pride 816 00:34:34,559 --> 00:34:35,759 that says, well, you know what? 817 00:34:35,759 --> 00:34:36,719 I want to be first. 818 00:34:36,879 --> 00:34:38,719 Well, now these people are affected. 819 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:41,999 Now, we don't know the amount of people that this affected, but 820 00:34:41,999 --> 00:34:44,319 it doesn't seem like it's just an isolated event. 821 00:34:44,319 --> 00:34:45,119 It sounds like this. 822 00:34:45,119 --> 00:34:47,559 Essentially, it sounds like this church is splitting because 823 00:34:47,559 --> 00:34:50,159 of the atrophies's decisions. 824 00:34:51,039 --> 00:34:55,199 And so he says in verse 11, beloved, follow, follow not that 825 00:34:55,199 --> 00:34:55,879 which is evil. 826 00:34:55,879 --> 00:34:57,639 He says, the atrophy's evil. 827 00:34:57,639 --> 00:35:00,880 Don't follow that example, but that which is good. 828 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:05,320 He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen 829 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:05,760 God. 830 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:07,360 So he says, you really have two options. 831 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:10,480 You can follow the path of Gaius, or you can follow the path 832 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:11,280 of diotropies. 833 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,000 He says, don't follow the path of the atrophies. 834 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:14,000 That's the path of evil. 835 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:15,840 Follow the path of God. 836 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:18,120 And essentially, what did he say here? 837 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:18,720 He says this. 838 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:23,760 If you've experienced God, he says, he that doeth good is of God, 839 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,240 and he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 840 00:35:26,240 --> 00:35:27,080 Meaning have not. 841 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:29,630 Has not experienced the grace of God. 842 00:35:31,150 --> 00:35:35,510 I'm not saying that someone who is prideful is not a Christian. 843 00:35:35,510 --> 00:35:40,430 But what I am saying is that somebody who cannot extend grace, 844 00:35:40,430 --> 00:35:44,150 cannot extend forgiveness, cannot extend hospitality, is not 845 00:35:44,150 --> 00:35:50,430 willing to, and is stuck in his or her pride, has not truly understood 846 00:35:50,430 --> 00:35:53,390 what God has done, or not willing to admit what God has done 847 00:35:53,390 --> 00:35:54,580 and willing to submit to that. 848 00:35:54,650 --> 00:35:54,890 That. 849 00:35:55,130 --> 00:35:57,250 And so what I would say is that that's something that I think 850 00:35:57,250 --> 00:36:00,250 all of us should inspect in our own lives is like, what. 851 00:36:00,250 --> 00:36:05,930 How far am I willing to go to get to a place where I can be focused 852 00:36:05,930 --> 00:36:06,730 on disciples? 853 00:36:07,210 --> 00:36:07,770 Well, I. 854 00:36:07,850 --> 00:36:08,330 This is. 855 00:36:08,330 --> 00:36:09,050 This is the American. 856 00:36:10,810 --> 00:36:13,050 Let's not say American, because I don't want to pound on 857 00:36:13,050 --> 00:36:15,850 America, but just kind of Western church is this. 858 00:36:17,050 --> 00:36:20,570 I will disciple when it's convenient for me, if it fits into 859 00:36:20,570 --> 00:36:24,800 my schedule, if it fits into my calendar, if it. 860 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:28,200 If it makes sense for me, if it doesn't drain my resources. 861 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:31,960 But that's not biblical discipleship. 862 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:37,479 Biblical discipleship is where Can I sacrifice to help someone else? 863 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:40,760 I'll leave you with one last verse. 864 00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:44,280 Jesus is our greatest example in everything. 865 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:45,400 Okay. 866 00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:48,960 Jesus is our greatest example in how to love, how to forgive, how 867 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:50,830 to serve, how to, how to disciple. 868 00:36:51,070 --> 00:36:53,070 And think about how Jesus came. 869 00:36:53,790 --> 00:36:57,310 Think about this from, from this perspective. 870 00:36:57,310 --> 00:36:58,470 Matthew, chapter 20. 871 00:36:58,470 --> 00:37:03,950 And I'm just going to read through Matthew, chapter 20, verse 872 00:37:04,030 --> 00:37:04,430 20. 873 00:37:05,310 --> 00:37:06,670 Let's see, verse 25. 874 00:37:07,310 --> 00:37:07,950 Okay. 875 00:37:08,110 --> 00:37:12,510 Now Jesus is going to explain how we deal with other people. 876 00:37:12,990 --> 00:37:15,150 And he says, how does the world deal with people? 877 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:19,680 So, so are we going to disciple from a worldly perspective? 878 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:22,480 Are we going to disciple from Jesus's perspective? 879 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:25,160 Well, here's the worldly perspective, verse 25 of Matthew 880 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:25,480 20. 881 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:29,560 But Jesus called them unto him and said, you know that the princes 882 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:33,040 of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, meaning control 883 00:37:33,040 --> 00:37:37,680 them, try to show their power, try to, try to get them to submit 884 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:38,120 to them. 885 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:41,520 He says, that's, that's the way the princes of the Gentiles exercise 886 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:42,360 their leadership. 887 00:37:42,910 --> 00:37:43,070 They. 888 00:37:43,070 --> 00:37:45,710 They exercise by the iron fist the power. 889 00:37:45,790 --> 00:37:48,590 And they that are great exercise authority upon them. 890 00:37:49,310 --> 00:37:51,070 But it shall not be so among you. 891 00:37:51,310 --> 00:37:54,830 But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. 892 00:37:56,270 --> 00:37:59,790 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant 893 00:38:00,190 --> 00:38:00,830 and his. 894 00:38:00,830 --> 00:38:01,790 This is verse 28. 895 00:38:01,790 --> 00:38:03,230 This is what I want you to see here. 896 00:38:03,630 --> 00:38:07,990 Even as the Son of man, that's Jesus came not to be ministered unto, 897 00:38:07,990 --> 00:38:10,310 meaning Jesus didn't come for people to serve him, even though 898 00:38:10,310 --> 00:38:11,070 that's what we think. 899 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:14,960 Ultimately we are supposed to serve Jesus, but his ultimate goal 900 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:16,040 was not to come for that. 901 00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:17,480 People would just keep serving him. 902 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:21,960 It says, but to minister, that's service, and to give his life 903 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:22,560 a ransom. 904 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:27,199 For many that sacrifice, the way that we do anything in the example 905 00:38:27,199 --> 00:38:29,240 of Jesus is service and sacrifice. 906 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:30,840 How can I serve? 907 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:32,280 How can I sacrifice? 908 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:34,400 That's discipleship. 909 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:37,080 That's evangelism, that's service within the church. 910 00:38:37,770 --> 00:38:38,530 How can I serve? 911 00:38:38,530 --> 00:38:39,450 How can I sacrifice? 912 00:38:39,450 --> 00:38:42,330 It's something that I'm working on in my life, something 913 00:38:42,330 --> 00:38:44,090 that I think about and I'm praying through. 914 00:38:44,090 --> 00:38:45,370 It's how, how can I. 915 00:38:45,690 --> 00:38:48,930 How can I deal with this relationship, whether it's husband 916 00:38:48,930 --> 00:38:53,370 and wife, father to child, worker to co worker, a neighbor to 917 00:38:53,370 --> 00:38:53,850 neighbor. 918 00:38:53,930 --> 00:38:59,210 How can I demonstrate Matthew 20, service and sacrifice? 919 00:39:00,250 --> 00:39:02,810 And I guarantee if that's, that's a prayer that you ask God 920 00:39:02,810 --> 00:39:05,530 to give new clarity on, he will give you clarity on that. 921 00:39:05,530 --> 00:39:07,610 It's kind of like the prayer of, lord, give me an opportunity 922 00:39:07,610 --> 00:39:10,610 to give the gospel out Today, that's one that he loves to answer. 923 00:39:11,890 --> 00:39:12,850 So if you. 924 00:39:12,850 --> 00:39:13,730 This is it. 925 00:39:13,730 --> 00:39:14,530 What's that one show? 926 00:39:14,530 --> 00:39:16,650 It's like, this is your mission, if you so choose to take 927 00:39:16,650 --> 00:39:16,850 it. 928 00:39:16,850 --> 00:39:18,890 I don't know how it goes, but like, basically this. 929 00:39:18,890 --> 00:39:20,450 Yeah, it's basically this. 930 00:39:21,410 --> 00:39:25,690 Are you ready to ask God, Lord, give me an opportunity where 931 00:39:25,690 --> 00:39:27,730 I can serve and sacrifice for somebody. 932 00:39:28,290 --> 00:39:29,410 He's going to give it to you. 933 00:39:30,270 --> 00:39:31,310 But are you willing to take it? 934 00:39:31,310 --> 00:39:32,030 That's the question. 935 00:39:32,350 --> 00:39:33,270 I know it's a tough. 936 00:39:33,270 --> 00:39:38,350 It's a tough commitment and I'm not saying to take it lightly, 937 00:39:38,350 --> 00:39:42,190 but what I am saying is make a desire in your heart to want that. 938 00:39:43,070 --> 00:39:44,270 That's my prayer right now. 939 00:39:44,270 --> 00:39:47,350 My prayer is to the Lord that Lord, just give me a desire to want 940 00:39:47,350 --> 00:39:48,190 to sacrifice. 941 00:39:48,670 --> 00:39:50,630 Because sometimes what happens now is we sacrifice. 942 00:39:50,630 --> 00:39:53,550 And it's like, I gotta be so inconvenienced to do this. 943 00:39:55,070 --> 00:39:56,670 I gotta go out of my way for this person. 944 00:39:56,950 --> 00:39:59,590 But like, may we ask the Lord to say, lord, give me a heart to 945 00:39:59,590 --> 00:39:59,830 be. 946 00:39:59,990 --> 00:40:01,990 Wake up in the morning, say, where can I serve? 947 00:40:02,230 --> 00:40:03,510 Who can I sacrifice? 948 00:40:04,150 --> 00:40:08,150 That's, that's, that's a change that I think all of us hopefully 949 00:40:08,550 --> 00:40:12,070 can, can desire in our life if God gives us the strength to do so. 950 00:40:12,470 --> 00:40:15,310 Well, we'll come back next week and we'll conclude, conclude 951 00:40:15,310 --> 00:40:15,910 Third John. 952 00:40:16,390 --> 00:40:18,390 It's a short book, but I think there's so much there. 953 00:40:18,390 --> 00:40:21,270 We'll conclude Third John and then we'll get right into our next 954 00:40:21,270 --> 00:40:24,640 Bible study, which many people are asking where we're going and 955 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:26,080 still praying about that. 956 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:27,520 But we're going to get there. 957 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:29,200 And I can guarantee you two things. 958 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:32,480 I can guarantee you that it'll be a book of the Bible and I can 959 00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:34,320 guarantee you we're going to go verse by verse through it. 960 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:36,960 It'll take some time, but we're going to do it. 961 00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:38,800 And I'm excited to do that with you. 962 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:39,640 Well, let's go ahead. 963 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:40,800 And I know that was long. 964 00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:44,240 I took so much of your time and I apologize for that. 965 00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:46,960 But Lord really pressed that upon my heart this evening. 966 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:50,480 Thank you again for listening to the Middletown Baptist Church 967 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:51,120 podcast. 968 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:53,780 I hope that this sermon has been a blessing for, for you. 969 00:40:54,340 --> 00:40:56,620 If you would like to find out more information about our church 970 00:40:56,620 --> 00:41:00,100 or this sermon, you can find us at middletownbaptistchurch.org 971 00:41:00,420 --> 00:41:02,980 or find us on Facebook or YouTube. 972 00:41:03,700 --> 00:41:08,660 You can also email me directly at Josh Massaro, Middletown BaptistChurch.com 973 00:41:09,139 --> 00:41:12,620 if you've enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and follow 974 00:41:12,620 --> 00:41:15,460 along for future podcast and updates. 975 00:41:16,100 --> 00:41:17,060 Thank you so much. 976 00:41:17,300 --> 00:41:18,020 God bless. 977 00:41:18,260 --> 00:41:19,540 Have a wonderful day.