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And we're going to get right
into the book of Romans.

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If you have your Bibles, turn
with me to Romans chapter 12.

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We're going to continue our do
that is to not be conformed to this

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world, but be transformed by
the renewing of our mind.

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So the Bible tells us that
it's about thinking the right thing.

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So we think the right things,
we believe the right things, and

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we get to a place in our life
where we begin to do the things that

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God has called us to do.

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And so he reminds us here that
there are these supernatural gifts

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given to us by way of grace.

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And he says that they're
different, some people have different

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gifts.

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And he lists those gifts
starting there in verse number six.

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And we've been going through
some of these.

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We saw the gift of prophecy.

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We talked about the gift of
ministry, the gift of teaching.

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And this week we're going to
be talking about the gift of exhortation.

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And so we're going to talk
about this word exhortation a lot

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here this morning.

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And I think it's important for
us to understand what that word means,

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because we can throw a word
around a lot, but if we don't know

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what that word means, it might
be confusing for the application.

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And hopefully all of this is
so that you can take this in, believe

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this in your heart, and apply
it to your lives.

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It is the role of the church
to equip the saints for the work

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of the ministry.

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You are the saints.

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And so it's not just about
getting head knowledge, but it's

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about getting the tools that
you need for your life so that you

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can go live the Christian
life, not just here on the Middletown

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Baptist Church campus, but
around the whole world.

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It might be for you in the
workplace, it might be for you in

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your home, it might be for
when you travel.

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But the Bible tells us very
clearly that we're to take these

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gifts and to show the world
the truth of Jesus Christ.

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And so every believer has been
gifted by God's grace to serve within

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the body of Christ.

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We are the body of Christ.

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And some might be the hands,
some might be the feet, but all of

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us are called to a specific
purpose within the body of Christ.

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And these gifts are not given
for our own personal recognition,

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but they're given to us so
that we can point people to Jesus.

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So they're not talents that we
just practice over and over again

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and get better at?

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No, they're something that God
has given us so that we can use them

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for the kingdom of God.

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So they're spirit given
motivations designed to strengthen

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the church and to ultimately
glorify God.

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And so as we continue here,
Romans chapter 12, we're going to

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come to one of the most
relational gifts.

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I believe in the body, and
that is the gift of exhortation.

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And so we have some believers
who are naturally gifted in proclaiming

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the truth.

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Those would be the ones that
are the, the proclaimers, the prophesiers,

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those that will tell people
what is the truth.

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And there's some that are
called to carefully explain the truth.

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That would be the teachers.

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And so we have someone that
says, this is right, this is wrong.

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We have someone explain how to
live that without in their life.

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And then we see the exhorter.

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The exhorter asks an entirely
different question.

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So, so the prophesier is
asking, what is true?

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The teacher is asking, you
know, why is it true?

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Or explaining some truths.

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The exhorter asks a different question.

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It's how do I help someone
live out this truth in their life?

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We need exhorters, we need
preachers, we need teachers, but

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we need exhorters because the
exhorter is someone who comes alongside

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of a believer and helps them
move forward in the knowledge of

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the Lord and hopefully and
ultimately the obedience to the Lord.

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And so the truth that God
gives us was never meant to remain

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in our minds.

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A lot of times that's what
Christianity looks like in America.

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It's a, it's a very, what we
would say is theoretical faith.

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We talk a lot about what we
believe, we talk about what we should

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do.

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But the Bible challenges us
not just to keep it in our minds,

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but, but to let it transform
our lives.

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And so in Romans 12, 8 it
says, or he that exhorteth on exhortation.

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And so it's all wrapped up
into the proportion of our Faith.

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What verse 6 says, the 1 who's
prophesying according to the proportion

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of faith.

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And I believe it's all tied to
how much faith we have and how we

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exhort.

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We should focus on that in our
lives, with faith and with exhortation.

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So Paul's command is simple.

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If God has gifted you to
encourage others spiritually, you

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should devote yourself to
encouraging others spiritually, right?

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It's very simple, it's very basic.

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But if God has called you to
exhortation, get busy exhorting.

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And so a lot of times what
happens is that we understand the

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gift, but oftentimes we don't
know how to have that manifested

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in the body of Christ.

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And so that's what this
study's all about understanding,

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number one, what the gift is,
number one.

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Number two, understanding what
gift that I have in my life that

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God has gifted me in.

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And then what does that look
like within the body of believers?

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So what I would say is this.

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Let's define what exhortation is.

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The Greek word is a word
called paraklesis.

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You don't need to know that
word, but what you do need to know

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is the meaning behind it.

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It literally means to call
someone to your side in order to

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help.

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I'm going to say that again
because there's a lot wrapped up

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in that definition.

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The word exhortation literally
means to call someone to your side

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in order to help them.

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It carries a lot within that definition.

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Yes, there's the idea of
encouragement, and we'll talk about

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that.

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But with encouragement comes comfort.

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With comfort comes strengthening.

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And with strengthening comes
challenging and urging someone toward

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spiritual maturity.

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So think about it this way.

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It's encouraging with a purpose.

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It's challenging with a purpose.

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It's comforting with a purpose.

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And the purpose is to move
people in spiritual maturity to be

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more like Christ.

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So it's more than saying
everything will be okay.

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So let's say there's someone
here and they're weeping and they're

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going through a difficulty in
their life, or maybe they're struggling

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with an addiction or a sin, and.

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And we come alongside of them
and say, hey, everything's going

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to be okay.

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Well, that would be, in our
system of thinking, an encouraging

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word.

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But exhortation is more than
just saying everything will be okay.

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Biblical exhortation doesn't
simply mean just to make someone

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feel better.

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It actually means to help
someone become better in the Lord.

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Meaning this.

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It might not be an okay
circumstance, but here's how we can

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walk together through a
difficulty and see the power of God

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working through this.

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And so it means this to
strengthen believers to continue

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following Christ.

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So.

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So we have to define this word
exhortation because we don't use

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it in our everyday language.

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And so the gift of exhortation
is coming along, someone coming alongside

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of someone with that spirit
given grace and to serve them in

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the body and.

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And applying the word of God
to their lives, stimulating their

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faith, calling them to
courage, calling them to decisive

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action, so that both the
believer and the ultimate church

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are strengthened for spiritual
service, all for the glory of God.

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So the idea would be this.

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I want to strengthen somebody
else so that they can serve the Lord,

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so that they can serve in
their gift.

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So it's similar to the Gift of
ministry in the fact that I want

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to help somebody.

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But with the gift of ministry,
sometimes the gift of ministry is

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behind the scenes, providing
resources for someone or doing something

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for someone where exhortation
is challenging them to take a step

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further.

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It's challenging them to trust
in the Lord, to walk in his word.

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And so the gift is focused on application.

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The prophet proclaims truth.

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The teacher explains truth.

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The exhorter applies truth.

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I want you to think about
that, the application of truth, and

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ultimately helping someone
else apply truth.

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So the exhorter constantly
asks these questions, what should

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we do now?

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Now that we've heard the
sermon, now that we've had the challenge,

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now that we've seen what the
ministry is supposed to be, what's

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next?

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Another question might be this.

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How does this change our lives?

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What the preacher just
preached, what the class just went

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over, how does this change us?

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What is the next step of obedience?

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How do we help someone grow in
our midst?

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So the exhorter understands
that information alone does not change

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lives.

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I think we can all understand
that within the church, information

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alone does not change lives.

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We could talk about the Bible,
we could memorize verses.

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We can know every Bible story.

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And some of you that grew up
in a Christian home and maybe went

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to Sunday school and went to
VBS's, you know, a lot of Bible stories.

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But the Bible stories in and
of themselves don't change our heart.

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It's the application of the
truth and it's belief in the truth.

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And so exhorters understand
that just facts don't change people.

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It's the application and the
faith behind it.

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So we think about verses like
James 1:22, but be doers of the word

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and not hearers.

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Only an exhorter stands on
that verse because an exhorter says,

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yes, we all know that this is
true, but how do we live this out?

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How do we help others live
that out?

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And so the, the theme verse
would be this.

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James 1:22, don't just be a
doer of the word, or excuse me, don't

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just be a hero of the word,
but be a doer.

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So the exhorter helps
believers become doers.

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And so we've looked at this
for the last three weeks and we're

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going to look at it again.

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What does a spirit filled
exhorter look like?

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And what does a flesh filled
exhorter look like?

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Because we know that we can
exercise in the Spirit and follow

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God's plan for our life in
this grace and, or we can walk in

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our own flesh in our own wisdom.

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And there's good sides to this
and then there's negative sides to

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this.

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And so let's look at the
Spirit filled exhorter.

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The Spirit filled exhorter is
empowered by the Holy Spirit.

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And when the exhorter is
powered by the Holy Spirit, it becomes

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one of the greatest sources of
spiritual growth within the church.

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So a Spirit filled exhorter
desires to help others reach their

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God given potential.

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They'll see potential in
somebody else and say, you know what?

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I see where God is working in
your life.

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I see where God has gifted you.

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Where can we go to focus on this?

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How can we take some time for
you to grow in your faith?

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We're going to look at some
examples of exhorters later, but

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this would be someone who sees
potential in someone else and doesn't

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just say, well, hopefully
someone works with them on that,

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but they take it upon
themselves to say, you know what,

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I'm going to go and help that
person take the next step in their

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faith.

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And so some people see weakness.

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An exhorter following the
Spirit sees strength in people.

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Another gift that they have is
that they naturally encourage people.

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Exhorters tend to be positive people.

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They tend to look into
someone's life and not see all the

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negatives and the flaws, but
they see hope, they see potential,

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and they ultimately invest
into that.

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So the Bible tells us that in
Proverbs 16:24, pleasant words are

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as a honeycomb, sweet to the
soul and health to the bones.

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We love encouragers because
encouragers are the ones that come

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alongside of us and give us
those words of confidence like, hey,

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you can do it.

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Hey, you know what?

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00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,360
I saw you do that yesterday
and that was a blessing for me.

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And I know it was a blessing
for other people.

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Folks, we're going to need
some encouragers and some exhorters

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this week at vbs because some
of you, including myself, might be

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tempted to quit.

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We might be tempted to get discouraged.

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And so we need those exhorters
to stand up and say, you know what?

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I'm going to see the need and
I'm going to help people by what

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00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:15,760
I say and also by what I do.

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So they understand that
there's a need for encouragement.

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And they're good encouragers.

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They discern spiritual growth.

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00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,520
They look in someone's life
and they say, wow, I've really seen

251
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you take steps in your Bible study.

252
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I've seen you take steps in
your service.

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00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,200
And growth excites them.

254
00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:31,880
They want to celebrate victories.

255
00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,920
They recognize spiritual
maturity, developing and they continue

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00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:39,080
to invest, they provide
practical steps, they're action oriented,

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00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:40,760
their counsel is practical.

258
00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,440
They're not just like, well,
hey, try to be better.

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They say, hey, here's your
five step process on how you can

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00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:46,600
read the Bible better.

261
00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,920
They give clear direction and
instead of just saying trust in God,

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they walk through what it
means to trust in God and come alongside

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00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,920
of people and show that
practical help that we all need in

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00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:58,400
our life.

265
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They prefer application over investigation.

266
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They might not be like the
teacher who loves to sit and read

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20 books and know all the
sources behind it and understand

268
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all the history behind it.

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No, an exhorter might say,
hey, you know what, I'll read one

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book about it, that's fine,
I'm ready to go, I'm ready to move.

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So, so they don't get as much
motivation maybe with the, the study,

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but now they're ready to move forward.

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They're ready.

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They're, they're people built
on action, so to speak.

275
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So we have the exhorter who is
like that.

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They focus on people, they
communicate clearly.

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00:12:29,390 --> 00:12:33,330
They see trials not as
problems, but as opportunities.

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00:12:34,370 --> 00:12:37,290
I know that for me, sometimes
I'll see a trial and I'll say, wow,

279
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that's a roadblock.

280
00:12:38,090 --> 00:12:39,410
Well, that, that's a problem.

281
00:12:39,570 --> 00:12:40,970
I don't know if I can overcome this.

282
00:12:40,970 --> 00:12:42,450
I don't know if the church can
overcome this.

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00:12:42,530 --> 00:12:45,610
But sometimes as an exhorter,
they come in the spirit and they

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00:12:45,610 --> 00:12:48,530
say this, hey, great, this is
just an opportunity to see God working

285
00:12:48,530 --> 00:12:49,170
in your life.

286
00:12:49,570 --> 00:12:50,970
And sometimes that frustrates us.

287
00:12:50,970 --> 00:12:53,810
If we're not exhorters, we're
like, how do you see the positive

288
00:12:53,810 --> 00:12:54,290
in this?

289
00:12:54,530 --> 00:12:59,010
How do you see the glass half
full when this situation comes up?

290
00:12:59,260 --> 00:13:01,820
But they are going to be
people who are going to see that

291
00:13:01,820 --> 00:13:02,940
as an opportunity.

292
00:13:03,020 --> 00:13:05,980
And so Romans 8:28 is more
than just a verse to them.

293
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It's a perspective.

294
00:13:07,100 --> 00:13:08,700
We know all things are going
to work together.

295
00:13:09,660 --> 00:13:11,580
We know that God is working in
your life.

296
00:13:11,580 --> 00:13:15,540
And so a hurting believer
needs to recognize how the truth

297
00:13:15,540 --> 00:13:17,780
of God does play a part in
their life.

298
00:13:17,780 --> 00:13:20,540
But an exhorter is there to
show them how that works.

299
00:13:20,620 --> 00:13:24,460
Other decision makers, they
usually finish what they begin.

300
00:13:25,390 --> 00:13:27,310
They're driven by spiritual growth.

301
00:13:27,870 --> 00:13:32,030
And so hopefully their goal,
their ultimate goal as spirit filled

302
00:13:32,030 --> 00:13:35,950
exhorters is to see more
people grow in the Lord.

303
00:13:36,030 --> 00:13:37,630
I think that's an awesome cause.

304
00:13:37,630 --> 00:13:39,470
I think that's the cause of
the church.

305
00:13:39,470 --> 00:13:41,550
I think we should be thinking
about this.

306
00:13:41,630 --> 00:13:44,830
I think that every single
thing that we do within the church

307
00:13:45,150 --> 00:13:48,670
should Be centered around
building disciples for Jesus Christ.

308
00:13:48,990 --> 00:13:50,990
Let's not get distracted from
the purpose.

309
00:13:51,250 --> 00:13:54,210
An exhorter who's walking in
the Spirit understands that everything

310
00:13:54,210 --> 00:13:57,730
that we're doing is built
around the idea of leading people

311
00:13:57,730 --> 00:14:00,610
to Jesus and having them grow
in their faith.

312
00:14:01,570 --> 00:14:03,850
So that's a spirit filled exhorter.

313
00:14:03,850 --> 00:14:05,250
What's a flesh filled exhorter?

314
00:14:05,250 --> 00:14:08,210
Someone who is expressing
their gift in the flesh.

315
00:14:08,770 --> 00:14:14,370
Well, it's encouragement apart
from humility, which quickly becomes

316
00:14:14,370 --> 00:14:14,650
what?

317
00:14:14,650 --> 00:14:15,250
Manipulation.

318
00:14:16,210 --> 00:14:20,620
So if I'm an exhorter and I
want to help people and I want to

319
00:14:20,620 --> 00:14:24,780
move people and I want to
challenge people, but my exhortation

320
00:14:24,780 --> 00:14:28,140
is not based in the Spirit,
it's based in my flesh, what does

321
00:14:28,140 --> 00:14:28,580
it become?

322
00:14:28,660 --> 00:14:31,300
Well, it doesn't become
encouragement, it becomes manipulation.

323
00:14:31,540 --> 00:14:34,580
I'm getting you to do what I
need you to do over here.

324
00:14:35,220 --> 00:14:39,540
I'm getting you as a resource
and I'm encouraging you to help me

325
00:14:39,620 --> 00:14:40,980
or help this cause.

326
00:14:41,140 --> 00:14:45,820
And so there is some danger in
this because an exhorter very easily,

327
00:14:45,820 --> 00:14:48,980
when turned to the flesh, can
be a manipulator.

328
00:14:49,300 --> 00:14:52,420
So a fleshly exhorter may seek
the praise of people.

329
00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:54,420
It's all about praising me.

330
00:14:54,740 --> 00:14:57,140
Look how many disciples that I
have made.

331
00:14:57,140 --> 00:14:59,020
Look how many people are in my ministry.

332
00:14:59,020 --> 00:14:59,340
Right?

333
00:14:59,340 --> 00:15:03,180
The exhorter just as much as
they're a magnetic person and an

334
00:15:03,180 --> 00:15:05,780
encouraging person, so they
can think about the praise being

335
00:15:05,780 --> 00:15:07,380
directed to them instead of Christ.

336
00:15:07,940 --> 00:15:12,840
A flesh filled exhorter also
can look inward instead of upward.

337
00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,720
They become dependent upon
people's responses rather than God's

338
00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:17,320
approval.

339
00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,440
Folks, I'm going to tell you,
that's a very dangerous place to

340
00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:21,160
be in your life.

341
00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,760
If what you are doing for the
Lord within the church is all about

342
00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,720
other people's approval and
their support of you, guess what?

343
00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,360
When people don't support you,
you're going to be very tempted to

344
00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,240
turn away from the things that
you know you should do to make people

345
00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:35,800
happy.

346
00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:39,940
I'm going to tell you, one of
the best things that I learned in

347
00:15:39,940 --> 00:15:42,980
my ministry was that I'm not
going to gauge my faithfulness to

348
00:15:42,980 --> 00:15:46,500
the Lord by what other people
say about my message or my ministry.

349
00:15:46,500 --> 00:15:50,060
Because just as much as
someone might enjoy your ministry,

350
00:15:50,220 --> 00:15:52,780
they might on the other side
of things, not enjoy your ministry.

351
00:15:52,940 --> 00:15:56,060
And if you say, well, you know
what, if that person isn't praising

352
00:15:56,060 --> 00:15:57,500
me, I'm not going to do that anymore.

353
00:15:57,500 --> 00:16:00,980
That's going to be a major
issue when it comes down to the motivation

354
00:16:00,980 --> 00:16:01,700
in my heart.

355
00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:05,020
So instead of looking inward,
an exhorter should look upward for

356
00:16:05,020 --> 00:16:05,900
God's approval.

357
00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:09,120
Sometimes exhorters fail to
hear the whole matter.

358
00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,000
They're just like, no, no, you
don't need to tell me the rest of

359
00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:12,400
the story.

360
00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:13,640
I know what your problem is.

361
00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:15,920
Let me just tell you the steps
that you need to fix this.

362
00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:17,400
And they don't hear the whole matter.

363
00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:21,200
They don't hear the answer of
the whole issue.

364
00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,520
They just go ahead and try to
figure it out.

365
00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:28,000
Sometimes an exhorter in the
flesh will use scripture out of context.

366
00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,800
They'll say, yeah, I know that
verse probably doesn't mean this,

367
00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:34,080
but that really preaches well.

368
00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:35,760
So we're just going to use
this verse, okay?

369
00:16:36,090 --> 00:16:38,490
Just going to apply this
because it's going to help that person,

370
00:16:38,490 --> 00:16:38,890
right?

371
00:16:38,890 --> 00:16:42,930
Their, their person that
they're dealing with is their number

372
00:16:42,930 --> 00:16:43,650
one priority.

373
00:16:43,650 --> 00:16:45,810
And they say, yeah, that's not
about that.

374
00:16:45,810 --> 00:16:48,410
But we're going to use it out
of context because the greater purpose,

375
00:16:48,650 --> 00:16:50,010
well, that's a danger, right?

376
00:16:50,330 --> 00:16:53,730
That, that is a, that is an
offense to a teacher or a prophet,

377
00:16:53,730 --> 00:16:53,890
right?

378
00:16:53,890 --> 00:16:55,930
We're like, no, you can't use
that out of context.

379
00:16:55,930 --> 00:16:58,450
But an exhorter says, hey, you
know, we're going to try to force

380
00:16:58,450 --> 00:17:02,050
a passage into a situation
that God never intended so that we

381
00:17:02,050 --> 00:17:04,440
can make that person believe a
certain thing.

382
00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:06,440
That's someone who's working
in the flesh.

383
00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,080
Maybe another way is that they
could apply one solution to everybody.

384
00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,720
Well, it worked with me over
here, so it's going to work with

385
00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:12,960
you.

386
00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,040
It worked with these people
over here, so it's going to work

387
00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:15,320
with you.

388
00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:17,880
No, there's different
situations and there's different

389
00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:18,680
circumstances.

390
00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,280
And though there's one truth,
there's different ways in which some

391
00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,320
people understand that and
need to hear that.

392
00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,640
Sometimes an exhorter,
ironically, will write people off

393
00:17:29,250 --> 00:17:30,570
because they're poured into someone.

394
00:17:30,570 --> 00:17:33,210
And when someone turns their
back on them, they go, they're dead

395
00:17:33,210 --> 00:17:33,810
to me now.

396
00:17:33,890 --> 00:17:35,170
I don't need them anymore.

397
00:17:35,410 --> 00:17:37,810
I need to invest in people who
care about me.

398
00:17:37,970 --> 00:17:41,570
I need to invest in people who
are going to help me out.

399
00:17:41,730 --> 00:17:45,050
And so a flesh filled exhorter
is going to look at a situation and

400
00:17:45,050 --> 00:17:47,250
see if there's value to that person.

401
00:17:47,570 --> 00:17:50,250
And then if there's not value
to that person, they might write

402
00:17:50,250 --> 00:17:51,010
that person off.

403
00:17:52,130 --> 00:17:53,890
Obviously, that's unbiblical.

404
00:17:54,580 --> 00:17:56,780
We're going to talk about
exhorters here in a few moments that

405
00:17:56,780 --> 00:17:57,860
we find in scripture.

406
00:17:58,020 --> 00:18:01,580
People like Barnabas, people
like Paul, people like ultimately

407
00:18:01,580 --> 00:18:03,780
Jesus, and we're going to see
that they don't write people off.

408
00:18:04,100 --> 00:18:08,180
We're going to see that
there's patience sometimes and this

409
00:18:08,180 --> 00:18:09,380
is going to be a tough truth.

410
00:18:10,340 --> 00:18:13,740
An exhorter who's walking in
the flesh will feel vindicated when

411
00:18:13,740 --> 00:18:17,780
people ignore their counsel,
like, well, told you so.

412
00:18:18,260 --> 00:18:20,180
I knew that was going to happen.

413
00:18:20,650 --> 00:18:22,690
I told you not to go that
route and you did.

414
00:18:22,690 --> 00:18:23,770
So you know what?

415
00:18:23,850 --> 00:18:24,730
I told you so.

416
00:18:24,730 --> 00:18:28,250
And they almost get a level of
joy when someone else falls if they

417
00:18:28,250 --> 00:18:29,370
don't listen to their advice.

418
00:18:29,770 --> 00:18:32,090
That's a flesh filled exhorter.

419
00:18:33,690 --> 00:18:37,930
And so they might take credit
for what grace has accomplished.

420
00:18:38,250 --> 00:18:42,610
Folks, may we never, in
whatever capacity we are in within

421
00:18:42,610 --> 00:18:46,810
the ministry, may we never
take the credit for what God's grace

422
00:18:46,810 --> 00:18:48,250
has accomplished in people's lives.

423
00:18:48,940 --> 00:18:51,020
I can't look and say, well,
look what I've done with that person.

424
00:18:51,180 --> 00:18:53,820
I've molded that person into
being a good Christian.

425
00:18:53,820 --> 00:18:57,140
No, it's the grace of God and
the forgiveness of Jesus Christ that's

426
00:18:57,140 --> 00:18:57,900
changed that person.

427
00:18:58,300 --> 00:18:59,020
Well, I've.

428
00:18:59,020 --> 00:18:59,980
You've heard people say this.

429
00:18:59,980 --> 00:19:01,900
I've grown this church to this size.

430
00:19:01,980 --> 00:19:04,100
This has been my plans, my
master plan.

431
00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:08,180
No, it is only by the grace of
God that anyone has what they have

432
00:19:08,180 --> 00:19:08,780
in their life.

433
00:19:08,780 --> 00:19:12,700
And so a flesh filled exhorter
might take credit for what God's

434
00:19:12,700 --> 00:19:14,080
grace has accomplished in.

435
00:19:14,150 --> 00:19:15,030
In someone's life.

436
00:19:15,510 --> 00:19:18,070
Growth always belongs to God.

437
00:19:18,550 --> 00:19:22,030
The exhorter is simply a
planter or a waterer, but it is God

438
00:19:22,030 --> 00:19:23,030
who gives the increase.

439
00:19:23,430 --> 00:19:25,670
That's what 1 Corinthians
chapter 3 tells us.

440
00:19:26,630 --> 00:19:29,750
Sometimes an exhorter might be
deceived by outward appearances.

441
00:19:30,149 --> 00:19:33,470
Maybe they become overly
opinionated because of their pride.

442
00:19:33,470 --> 00:19:36,870
Maybe they become restless and
need to take the next step in growth.

443
00:19:37,030 --> 00:19:39,310
Maybe sometimes they draw
people toward themselves.

444
00:19:39,310 --> 00:19:42,110
Instead of having people drawn
to the Lord, instead of bringing

445
00:19:42,110 --> 00:19:47,470
people to ourselves or to a
ministry or to a movement, we should

446
00:19:47,470 --> 00:19:50,870
be bringing people to Jesus
Christ because it is Jesus who changes

447
00:19:50,870 --> 00:19:51,190
people.

448
00:19:51,430 --> 00:19:51,750
Not.

449
00:19:51,750 --> 00:19:52,750
Not me, not a.

450
00:19:52,750 --> 00:19:53,750
Not a movement.

451
00:19:53,830 --> 00:19:56,870
And what we see here is that
we must always, when we're talking

452
00:19:56,870 --> 00:19:59,590
to children, when we're
talking to adults, when we're talking

453
00:19:59,590 --> 00:20:02,310
to the saved, when we're
talking to the unsaved, it's always

454
00:20:02,310 --> 00:20:03,350
about Jesus.

455
00:20:03,350 --> 00:20:06,630
Bring them back to the one who
died on the cross for their sins.

456
00:20:06,940 --> 00:20:09,260
Bring them back to the one who
sacrificed everything.

457
00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:11,420
That's what Romans chapter 12
is all about.

458
00:20:11,660 --> 00:20:15,900
He says, I beseech you by the
mercies of God, that you present

459
00:20:15,900 --> 00:20:18,660
your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto

460
00:20:18,660 --> 00:20:20,500
God, which is your reasonable service.

461
00:20:20,500 --> 00:20:21,580
What he's saying is this.

462
00:20:21,660 --> 00:20:23,420
It is Jesus who died for you.

463
00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:26,140
It is God who sent his only
begotten Son for you.

464
00:20:26,140 --> 00:20:29,580
So don't praise a man, don't
follow a man, don't.

465
00:20:29,580 --> 00:20:31,100
Don't draw people to you.

466
00:20:31,100 --> 00:20:32,220
Draw people to Christ.

467
00:20:32,220 --> 00:20:35,580
As even Paul says, follow me
as I follow Christ.

468
00:20:35,740 --> 00:20:37,980
It's always about him, folks.

469
00:20:37,980 --> 00:20:41,780
When we get our eyes set on
man, we can allow ourselves to get

470
00:20:41,780 --> 00:20:45,100
to such a place in our life
where if that man fell or that woman

471
00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:48,340
fell in sin, that we fall and
say, you know what, if God's not

472
00:20:48,340 --> 00:20:49,900
real to them, God's not real
to me.

473
00:20:49,900 --> 00:20:51,500
That's such a dangerous place
to be.

474
00:20:51,820 --> 00:20:53,420
Do not put your eyes on man.

475
00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:55,100
Put your eyes on the Lord.

476
00:20:55,500 --> 00:20:56,700
Man will fail.

477
00:20:57,980 --> 00:20:59,180
We pray that they don't.

478
00:20:59,790 --> 00:21:03,070
But the reality at the end of
the day is that all of us are fallible

479
00:21:03,070 --> 00:21:03,590
human beings.

480
00:21:03,590 --> 00:21:06,630
There's only one who does not
make any mistakes, and that is our

481
00:21:06,630 --> 00:21:07,790
Lord and Savior.

482
00:21:07,790 --> 00:21:10,270
And so we look to him, not the exhorter.

483
00:21:11,470 --> 00:21:14,750
Sometimes an exhorter elevates
experience over scripture.

484
00:21:15,310 --> 00:21:16,430
Well, I felt this way.

485
00:21:16,430 --> 00:21:17,350
This was a good moment.

486
00:21:17,350 --> 00:21:18,270
So everything's good.

487
00:21:18,910 --> 00:21:23,270
But hopefully we understand
that our feelings don't dictate our

488
00:21:23,270 --> 00:21:26,350
beliefs, our feelings don't
dictate scripture.

489
00:21:27,050 --> 00:21:28,490
Sometimes you've heard it said
this way.

490
00:21:28,650 --> 00:21:33,290
Well, I'm reading the Bible
and I know it says this, but because

491
00:21:33,290 --> 00:21:37,210
of what's going on in culture,
I feel like that doesn't mean what

492
00:21:37,210 --> 00:21:38,170
it means anymore.

493
00:21:38,730 --> 00:21:40,330
That's a very dangerous place
to be.

494
00:21:40,810 --> 00:21:44,610
Emotions and feelings are
wonderful things, but it cannot be

495
00:21:44,610 --> 00:21:46,050
dictating our truths.

496
00:21:46,050 --> 00:21:48,970
It's our truths in the word of
God that dictates our feelings.

497
00:21:48,970 --> 00:21:51,890
And so therefore there's
beauty in salvation, there's joy

498
00:21:51,890 --> 00:21:52,570
in salvation.

499
00:21:52,910 --> 00:21:55,590
But the joy and beauty in
salvation doesn't come from the circumstances

500
00:21:55,590 --> 00:21:56,670
that we face in our life.

501
00:21:56,830 --> 00:22:00,070
The joy and beauty of our
salvation comes from the fact that

502
00:22:00,070 --> 00:22:03,030
Jesus Christ died on the cross
for our sins and we don't deserve

503
00:22:03,030 --> 00:22:04,590
it, but he's given to us anyway.

504
00:22:04,910 --> 00:22:09,270
So that is a problem with many
flesh filled exhorters, is that it's

505
00:22:09,270 --> 00:22:12,430
a look at experience, not
about the Word.

506
00:22:12,430 --> 00:22:15,390
And then ultimately they
neglect their own spiritual condition

507
00:22:16,270 --> 00:22:18,150
sometimes because they're
helping other people.

508
00:22:18,150 --> 00:22:19,870
They think that they can do
what they want to do.

509
00:22:20,470 --> 00:22:23,110
And ultimately we know that we
need to take heed unto ourselves

510
00:22:24,470 --> 00:22:28,950
to not try to pick a piece of
dust or a piece of wood out of someone

511
00:22:28,950 --> 00:22:31,190
else's eye when we've got a
plank in our own eye.

512
00:22:31,350 --> 00:22:34,110
To be an exhorter, we need to
inspect our own lives to be where

513
00:22:34,110 --> 00:22:37,070
we need to be so that we can
help other people be where they need

514
00:22:37,070 --> 00:22:37,430
to be.

515
00:22:37,430 --> 00:22:40,270
So the question might be,
well, what are some biblical examples

516
00:22:40,270 --> 00:22:41,070
of an exhorter?

517
00:22:41,070 --> 00:22:44,070
Well, one that I think we
should spend some time on is a guy

518
00:22:44,070 --> 00:22:45,030
named Barnabas.

519
00:22:45,190 --> 00:22:48,920
If you turn with me to the
book of Acts, Acts chapter 4, verse

520
00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,920
36, we see that Barnabas, even
by his name, is called the son of

521
00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,400
consolation or the son of exhortation.

522
00:22:56,040 --> 00:23:00,720
And so Barnabas was living in
such a way that his testimony publicly

523
00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,440
to other people was that he
was known for his exhortation.

524
00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,600
He was known for encouraging others.

525
00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,760
And that tells us everything
about the ministry that he had in

526
00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:10,200
his life.

527
00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,240
He was a man who was focused
on exhortation.

528
00:23:13,870 --> 00:23:14,590
It was who he was.

529
00:23:14,590 --> 00:23:15,830
It wasn't just something that
he did.

530
00:23:15,830 --> 00:23:16,670
It was who he was.

531
00:23:16,990 --> 00:23:20,390
And so we're going to see in
Acts chapter 4 and other passages

532
00:23:20,390 --> 00:23:24,230
like Acts chapter 9 and Acts
chapter 11 that Barnabas had the

533
00:23:24,230 --> 00:23:27,390
characteristics of a godly encourager.

534
00:23:27,950 --> 00:23:30,910
Acts chapter 4, verse 36 says this.

535
00:23:31,310 --> 00:23:35,190
And Joses, who by the apostles
was surnamed Barnabas, his nickname

536
00:23:35,190 --> 00:23:39,550
was Barnabas, which is being
interpreted the son of Consolations,

537
00:23:39,550 --> 00:23:41,910
a Levite, and of the country
of Cyprus.

538
00:23:41,910 --> 00:23:45,550
And so the Bible tells us here
that he was surnamed, he was nicknamed

539
00:23:45,550 --> 00:23:49,310
Barnabas in the fact that he
was known for his consolation or

540
00:23:49,310 --> 00:23:51,510
his encouragement or his exhortation.

541
00:23:51,990 --> 00:23:55,030
Another passage of Scripture,
Acts chapter nine, if you turn a

542
00:23:55,030 --> 00:23:58,990
few pages over, Acts chapter
nine records after Saul's conversion

543
00:23:58,990 --> 00:24:01,310
that the church was afraid of Saul.

544
00:24:01,310 --> 00:24:03,430
If you remember, Saul was a persecutor.

545
00:24:03,670 --> 00:24:07,410
People knew that he was
killing Christians, that he was imprisoning

546
00:24:07,410 --> 00:24:07,850
Christians.

547
00:24:07,850 --> 00:24:10,690
He was actually on his way to
do that when he was on the road to

548
00:24:10,690 --> 00:24:11,450
Damascus.

549
00:24:11,690 --> 00:24:15,610
But everybody saw that there
was danger with Saul.

550
00:24:16,090 --> 00:24:18,610
But then we saw a guy named
Barnabas come on the scene.

551
00:24:18,610 --> 00:24:20,490
Barnabas saw the future apostle.

552
00:24:20,570 --> 00:24:24,170
He pursued Saul when no one
else would, and he introduced him

553
00:24:24,170 --> 00:24:28,530
to the other apostles and he
became a bridge for Saul and his

554
00:24:28,530 --> 00:24:32,170
past and then ultimately God's
future in the life of the Apostle

555
00:24:32,170 --> 00:24:32,570
Paul.

556
00:24:33,210 --> 00:24:36,490
And so Barnabas saw potential
in, in Paul.

557
00:24:36,490 --> 00:24:38,890
And we're going to look at
that here in Acts chapter 11.

558
00:24:39,050 --> 00:24:42,810
So we have Acts chapter 4, who
tells us who Barnabas is.

559
00:24:42,890 --> 00:24:46,810
Acts chapter 9, who tells us
who Saul is and who he has become.

560
00:24:47,050 --> 00:24:50,330
And now we see Acts chapter
11, how this all comes together.

561
00:24:50,970 --> 00:24:53,290
Acts chapter 11, verse 22.

562
00:24:54,250 --> 00:24:59,410
We see that there's news of
people getting saved in a place where

563
00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:00,680
called Antioch.

564
00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:04,400
The news reaches the church in
Jerusalem, that many people are getting

565
00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,640
saved in a place called Antioch.

566
00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:10,800
And the apostles decide we
need to send someone to investigate.

567
00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,400
They could have sent a lot of
different people, but they send a

568
00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:14,600
man named Barnabas.

569
00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,760
Verse 22 says, Then tidings of
these things came unto the ears of

570
00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:22,520
the church which was in
Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas

571
00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,050
that he should go as far as
Antioch and so say, we're going to

572
00:25:26,050 --> 00:25:26,690
send Barnabas.

573
00:25:26,690 --> 00:25:27,730
Why do they send Barnabas?

574
00:25:27,730 --> 00:25:31,370
Well, they send him because
he's not known for criticism, he's

575
00:25:31,370 --> 00:25:32,930
not known for creating division.

576
00:25:33,010 --> 00:25:37,650
He's known for being a man of
exhortation and encouragement.

577
00:25:37,650 --> 00:25:41,369
And they trusted that
Barnabas, because of who he was and

578
00:25:41,369 --> 00:25:44,450
because of how he was
following God, would strengthen the

579
00:25:44,450 --> 00:25:48,050
church and understand what
they're doing and not discourage

580
00:25:48,050 --> 00:25:48,370
them.

581
00:25:48,770 --> 00:25:54,210
Luke tells us in verse 23 who
when he came so, so when Barnabas

582
00:25:54,210 --> 00:25:58,050
makes it to Antioch and had
seen the grace of God, so he sees

583
00:25:58,050 --> 00:26:00,890
what God is doing there in
Antioch, what was the result?

584
00:26:00,970 --> 00:26:04,850
Instead of being jealous,
instead of being divisive, he was

585
00:26:04,850 --> 00:26:05,370
glad.

586
00:26:05,530 --> 00:26:06,570
And what did he do?

587
00:26:06,570 --> 00:26:10,810
And exhorted them all that
with purpose of heart they would

588
00:26:10,810 --> 00:26:12,090
cleave unto the Lord.

589
00:26:12,170 --> 00:26:13,890
So what does Barnabas see?

590
00:26:13,890 --> 00:26:15,290
Barnabas sees God working.

591
00:26:15,770 --> 00:26:18,090
The exhorter sees God working.

592
00:26:18,930 --> 00:26:20,130
He didn't examine their methods.

593
00:26:20,130 --> 00:26:22,610
He doesn't show up and say,
hey Antioch, this is what we're doing

594
00:26:22,610 --> 00:26:23,490
in Jerusalem.

595
00:26:23,570 --> 00:26:26,010
You guys are wrong, you guys
are inexperienced.

596
00:26:26,010 --> 00:26:27,730
We've got it all handled in Jerusalem.

597
00:26:27,730 --> 00:26:30,050
So let me just tell you the
church model that works.

598
00:26:30,050 --> 00:26:35,130
No, he comes and he sees them
already serving and worshiping the

599
00:26:35,130 --> 00:26:35,490
Lord.

600
00:26:35,490 --> 00:26:38,330
And so he doesn't examine
their methods, he doesn't look for

601
00:26:38,330 --> 00:26:41,650
their faults because that's
what, what some people might do,

602
00:26:42,290 --> 00:26:44,970
you know, someone might show
up to Antioch and they say, well

603
00:26:44,970 --> 00:26:47,130
you know what, I'm going to be
a church auditor.

604
00:26:47,130 --> 00:26:49,170
And these are some things that
you probably need to set up.

605
00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,960
No, he doesn't come and
squelch their excitement.

606
00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,280
He comes and he puts forth
love and he exhorts them.

607
00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,160
He recognizes God's grace
among them.

608
00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:02,080
And so spirit filled exhorters
are able to rejoice when they see

609
00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:03,800
God working in the lives of others.

610
00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:06,280
Folks, we should take that as
an example.

611
00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:10,040
When we see God working with
other people, we should be excited.

612
00:27:10,120 --> 00:27:12,360
It doesn't mean that they're
going to look exactly like us.

613
00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:14,440
It doesn't mean that they're
going to be right at the same pace

614
00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:14,920
we are.

615
00:27:15,170 --> 00:27:17,250
They might not even understand
all the things that we understand.

616
00:27:17,570 --> 00:27:21,130
But what we have to get to our
minds is that if God is working in

617
00:27:21,130 --> 00:27:22,610
their hearts, that is a good thing.

618
00:27:22,690 --> 00:27:25,170
We need to celebrate that, we
need to encourage that.

619
00:27:25,170 --> 00:27:28,610
We need to soak the fire that
is the Holy Spirit in their life.

620
00:27:28,610 --> 00:27:32,250
And so this doesn't mean that
we ignore doctrinal issues, but it

621
00:27:32,250 --> 00:27:35,090
does mean that we should
recognize God's hand working before

622
00:27:35,250 --> 00:27:37,570
we point out imperfections in
people's lives.

623
00:27:38,370 --> 00:27:40,630
So Luke tells Barnabas to.

624
00:27:40,780 --> 00:27:42,500
Tells us that Barnabas
exhorted them all.

625
00:27:42,500 --> 00:27:43,660
That's there in verse 23.

626
00:27:43,660 --> 00:27:45,180
Says he exhorted them all.

627
00:27:45,660 --> 00:27:46,940
And then he tells them the.

628
00:27:46,940 --> 00:27:50,260
He says, this is the purpose
that I'm exhorting you that the purpose

629
00:27:50,260 --> 00:27:52,300
of heart that they would
cleave unto the Lord.

630
00:27:52,300 --> 00:27:55,900
The whole purpose of
Barnabas's encouragement was this,

631
00:27:56,300 --> 00:27:58,780
to bring people more to
Christ, to.

632
00:27:58,780 --> 00:28:01,580
To bring people in a closer
relationship with the Lord.

633
00:28:01,660 --> 00:28:03,700
He didn't come in and say,
hey, you know what?

634
00:28:03,700 --> 00:28:05,260
I think you guys should be
giving more.

635
00:28:05,260 --> 00:28:07,180
I think you guys should be
sending more.

636
00:28:07,650 --> 00:28:09,850
Says the first step is just
getting close with the Lord.

637
00:28:09,850 --> 00:28:11,650
And that's really what the
church should be.

638
00:28:11,650 --> 00:28:14,410
The church should be a place
where people find a relationship

639
00:28:14,410 --> 00:28:17,450
with Jesus and grow closer to
him and all the other things are

640
00:28:17,450 --> 00:28:18,050
going to come about.

641
00:28:18,290 --> 00:28:20,610
And so this is exactly what
the exhorter does.

642
00:28:20,690 --> 00:28:24,610
The exhorter says, I want to
lead you to a better and more meaningful

643
00:28:24,610 --> 00:28:25,890
relationship with the Lord.

644
00:28:26,050 --> 00:28:28,370
He didn't just congratulate
them for doing well.

645
00:28:28,610 --> 00:28:32,250
He encourages them to be more
faithful, and he encourages them

646
00:28:32,250 --> 00:28:33,410
in that direction.

647
00:28:33,850 --> 00:28:36,330
His goal was that they would
persevere in the faith.

648
00:28:36,330 --> 00:28:39,290
He wanted believers not to
just make an emotional decision,

649
00:28:39,690 --> 00:28:42,090
but to stay steadfast in their
walk with Christ.

650
00:28:42,570 --> 00:28:46,490
And so great exhorters don't
simply inspire people for that very

651
00:28:46,490 --> 00:28:46,890
moment.

652
00:28:46,890 --> 00:28:47,610
What do they do?

653
00:28:47,610 --> 00:28:50,410
They strengthen people for a
lifetime of Christian service.

654
00:28:50,410 --> 00:28:51,730
And that's what he does here.

655
00:28:51,730 --> 00:28:55,610
Verse 24, it says a little bit
more of a description of Barnabas.

656
00:28:55,610 --> 00:28:56,730
For he was a good man.

657
00:28:56,810 --> 00:28:59,130
So he had good intentions, he
had good motivations.

658
00:28:59,750 --> 00:29:00,950
And here's the key.

659
00:29:01,110 --> 00:29:03,910
And full of the Holy Ghost and
of faith.

660
00:29:03,910 --> 00:29:07,430
He was a man of faith, and he
was a man that was led by the Holy

661
00:29:07,430 --> 00:29:07,910
Spirit.

662
00:29:08,390 --> 00:29:10,830
Folks, if we want to be the
right people that God has called

663
00:29:10,830 --> 00:29:14,230
us to be, if we're gifted in
the area of exhortation or gifted

664
00:29:14,230 --> 00:29:17,830
in whatever area, whether it
be teaching or prophecy or mercy

665
00:29:17,910 --> 00:29:20,790
or giving, whatever the gift
might be, the.

666
00:29:20,790 --> 00:29:24,950
The purpose is to be filled
with the Spirit and to Serve others

667
00:29:25,030 --> 00:29:26,390
as God has called us to serve.

668
00:29:26,390 --> 00:29:30,140
And it says because of him
being full of faith and of the Holy

669
00:29:30,140 --> 00:29:33,540
Ghost, what happens, the
result, verse 24, and much people

670
00:29:33,540 --> 00:29:35,700
was added unto the Lord.

671
00:29:35,860 --> 00:29:38,180
There's fruit when there's faithfulness.

672
00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:41,060
And so Barnabas was a godly man.

673
00:29:41,060 --> 00:29:43,540
We see that Barnabas loved the Lord.

674
00:29:43,540 --> 00:29:46,780
We see that Barnabas loved his
word and he pointed other people

675
00:29:46,780 --> 00:29:47,660
to do the same.

676
00:29:47,660 --> 00:29:50,780
He looked like Christ within
his lifestyle.

677
00:29:50,780 --> 00:29:53,300
And he made other people look
to Christ.

678
00:29:54,180 --> 00:29:56,420
Barnabas recognizes the needs
of others.

679
00:29:56,420 --> 00:29:58,420
Remember Saul that we talked
about before?

680
00:29:59,060 --> 00:30:01,660
It says in verse 25 that
Barnabas said, hey, I need to bring

681
00:30:01,660 --> 00:30:02,620
someone here with me.

682
00:30:02,620 --> 00:30:06,860
So then departed Barnabas to
Tarsus for to seek Saul.

683
00:30:06,860 --> 00:30:09,380
So it's not just like Saul
pops onto the scene and he goes,

684
00:30:09,380 --> 00:30:10,820
well, I gotta deal with Saul now.

685
00:30:10,980 --> 00:30:15,060
No, Barnabas goes looking for
this guy who is having really before

686
00:30:15,060 --> 00:30:18,020
this, a bad reputation, but
now Saul is in Christ.

687
00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:20,060
And so Barnabas says, hey, I
heard about this.

688
00:30:20,060 --> 00:30:21,960
I, I'm going to go seek after him.

689
00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:25,480
An exhorter seeks after new apprentices.

690
00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:29,800
An exhorter seeks after people
who they can help and they can encourage.

691
00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:34,120
And so what we see is that
fleshly leaders try to protect themselves.

692
00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:36,920
A spirit filled leader tries
to develop leaders.

693
00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:42,120
It's not all about insulating
you like, okay, now I've got a ministry.

694
00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:43,040
I got to protect this ministry.

695
00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:44,120
No one can take this ministry.

696
00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:44,880
This is mine.

697
00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:46,040
This is everything that I have.

698
00:30:46,330 --> 00:30:49,730
No, what biblical exhorters
must do, what biblical leaders must

699
00:30:49,730 --> 00:30:53,170
do, is to train up other
leaders and so pursue that as hard

700
00:30:53,170 --> 00:30:56,970
as it is, as as there might be
failures, there might be setbacks.

701
00:30:57,050 --> 00:31:02,170
And Paul is a guy here who was
probably a risky choice for the next

702
00:31:02,170 --> 00:31:03,050
step in ministry.

703
00:31:03,050 --> 00:31:05,330
But Barnabas says, no, it's
not about me.

704
00:31:05,330 --> 00:31:06,810
It's not about protecting myself.

705
00:31:06,810 --> 00:31:09,290
It's about training other
people with potential.

706
00:31:09,450 --> 00:31:13,800
So verse 26, and when he had
found him, he finds Saul.

707
00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:14,520
What does he do?

708
00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,080
He brought him unto Antioch,
he brings him back.

709
00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:19,480
He says, saul, come with me,
come with me.

710
00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:20,760
We're going to do this together.

711
00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:23,720
And it came to pass that a
whole year they assembled themselves

712
00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:25,560
with the church and taught
much people.

713
00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:29,120
And the disciples were called
Christians first at Antioch.

714
00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:30,200
And this says a lot here.

715
00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:31,520
What this says is this.

716
00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,600
Barnabas invests into people
long term.

717
00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:40,130
He invested in Paul, he
invested in the people there at Antioch.

718
00:31:40,130 --> 00:31:42,930
He stayed, he discipled, he taught.

719
00:31:43,010 --> 00:31:46,130
He patiently waited beside the
new believers as they matured.

720
00:31:46,130 --> 00:31:50,090
He patiently waited next to
Saul that time and said, saul or

721
00:31:50,090 --> 00:31:51,410
Paul Grow.

722
00:31:51,410 --> 00:31:53,090
I'm going to be here with you
while you grow.

723
00:31:53,250 --> 00:31:56,730
And so real encouragement, if
you can remember anything in the

724
00:31:56,730 --> 00:32:00,530
realm of exhortation, is this
real encouragement or.

725
00:32:00,530 --> 00:32:04,370
Exhortation requires a
relationship, it requires consistency,

726
00:32:04,970 --> 00:32:08,490
it requires the presence of
God to be in our midst.

727
00:32:08,650 --> 00:32:12,050
And many believers want to
inspire people, but many people are

728
00:32:12,050 --> 00:32:14,250
not willing to do the things
that need to be done.

729
00:32:14,250 --> 00:32:16,170
When it comes to the gift of exhortation.

730
00:32:16,410 --> 00:32:18,490
Barnabas was willing to invest
in people.

731
00:32:18,490 --> 00:32:22,050
He was willing to risk, he was
willing to pursue, he was willing

732
00:32:22,050 --> 00:32:22,730
to be patient.

733
00:32:22,730 --> 00:32:25,610
He was willing to stay and see
it through.

734
00:32:26,250 --> 00:32:28,010
And the fruit of that is verse 26.

735
00:32:28,010 --> 00:32:29,690
And the disciples were called Christians.

736
00:32:30,500 --> 00:32:31,220
What does that look like?

737
00:32:31,220 --> 00:32:35,140
Well, basically, Barnabas
exhortation led to a healthy church.

738
00:32:36,020 --> 00:32:39,540
What kind of church produces
believers who become more like Christ?

739
00:32:39,620 --> 00:32:42,780
A church that's grounded in
truth, A church that's spirit led

740
00:32:42,780 --> 00:32:43,780
in their encouragement.

741
00:32:43,860 --> 00:32:47,340
A church that is cultivating
the the truth of God in their midst.

742
00:32:47,340 --> 00:32:52,060
And so Barnabas encouragement,
his exhortation led to a church that

743
00:32:52,060 --> 00:32:55,340
was strong and grounded in the
truth so much that they were the

744
00:32:55,340 --> 00:32:58,260
first church that, that people
called Christians, which meant little

745
00:32:58,260 --> 00:33:00,540
Christ, it meant like
imitators of Christ.

746
00:33:00,540 --> 00:33:04,300
And so they were living so
boldly, so differently that people

747
00:33:04,380 --> 00:33:07,900
actually noticed that and was
calling them the name that we call

748
00:33:07,900 --> 00:33:11,100
today Christian, which is a
good thing, but back then was a derogatory

749
00:33:11,100 --> 00:33:13,820
term that basically said, oh,
you guys are just little imitators

750
00:33:13,820 --> 00:33:14,300
of Christ.

751
00:33:14,620 --> 00:33:17,820
And the idea would be this,
that we should be known as different.

752
00:33:18,140 --> 00:33:21,660
And being different means that
we're going to invest in other people

753
00:33:21,750 --> 00:33:23,140
who, like Barnabas did.

754
00:33:23,140 --> 00:33:26,620
And so as an exhorter, he
multiplied the ministry of God.

755
00:33:26,860 --> 00:33:30,740
Had he never encouraged Paul
and went and pursued Paul and brought

756
00:33:30,740 --> 00:33:34,420
him back, many, humanly
speaking, many people might not have

757
00:33:34,420 --> 00:33:35,260
heard the gospel.

758
00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:37,660
Paul's ministry might have
looked much different.

759
00:33:37,979 --> 00:33:41,860
But because Barnabas invested
in one man who eventually influenced

760
00:33:41,860 --> 00:33:45,700
millions, we see the fruit of
one step of encouragement with other

761
00:33:45,700 --> 00:33:47,180
people within the church.

762
00:33:47,590 --> 00:33:50,790
Encouragement and exhortation
always multiplies.

763
00:33:50,870 --> 00:33:54,230
And folks, I don't want to be
a church that's grounded and stuck

764
00:33:54,230 --> 00:33:55,390
and we can't do anything.

765
00:33:55,390 --> 00:33:57,190
The church is called to multiply.

766
00:33:57,190 --> 00:33:59,830
The way that we multiply is by exhortation.

767
00:33:59,910 --> 00:34:02,150
So there's some other biblical examples.

768
00:34:02,150 --> 00:34:05,110
We see the line of exhortation happening.

769
00:34:05,110 --> 00:34:07,270
Barnabas exhorts Paul.

770
00:34:07,590 --> 00:34:12,030
Paul exhorts many churches,
but we see individuals that he exhorts

771
00:34:12,030 --> 00:34:13,450
like Timothy, right?

772
00:34:13,450 --> 00:34:15,650
2Nd Timothy 4, 2, preach the word.

773
00:34:15,650 --> 00:34:20,410
And then he exhorts Timothy to
exhort preach the word exhort with

774
00:34:20,410 --> 00:34:22,090
all long suffering and doctrine.

775
00:34:22,090 --> 00:34:26,650
So what we see is that
Barnabas exhorts Paul, then Paul

776
00:34:26,650 --> 00:34:28,490
exhorts Timothy to exhort others.

777
00:34:28,570 --> 00:34:31,530
And we know that that line of
thinking goes on and on and on.

778
00:34:31,530 --> 00:34:35,850
And then we see that Paul also
exhorted Titus in Titus, chapter

779
00:34:35,850 --> 00:34:36,490
2, verse 15.

780
00:34:36,490 --> 00:34:38,850
He says these things speak,
and then he eventually tells him

781
00:34:38,850 --> 00:34:39,530
to exhort.

782
00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:43,960
And so because of Barnabas
faithful exhorting to Paul, Paul's

783
00:34:43,960 --> 00:34:46,800
able to exhort Timothy, Titus
and many, many others.

784
00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:51,920
And by way of extension in his
writings today exhorting us, we know

785
00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:54,720
that Peter was an exhorter.

786
00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:57,880
After experiencing Christ's
restoration, Peter spent the rest

787
00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:00,720
of his ministry strengthening
believers around him.

788
00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:04,840
And we know that Peter was one
who was restored to relationship

789
00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:05,440
with Jesus.

790
00:35:05,810 --> 00:35:09,370
And ultimately he preached
that restoration to others in his

791
00:35:09,370 --> 00:35:09,890
ministry.

792
00:35:10,050 --> 00:35:15,210
Other people like Silas in, in
the New Testament, Acts 15:32 says

793
00:35:15,210 --> 00:35:17,090
he exhorted the brethren with
many words.

794
00:35:17,170 --> 00:35:20,690
There's Old Testament examples
like Aaron, who exhorted Moses in

795
00:35:20,690 --> 00:35:21,530
times of weakness.

796
00:35:21,530 --> 00:35:23,410
And we see example after example.

797
00:35:23,490 --> 00:35:25,970
But I hope that you've been
seeing a theme throughout these past

798
00:35:25,970 --> 00:35:26,530
three weeks.

799
00:35:26,610 --> 00:35:29,130
We're going to get to the very
end and look at the perfect example.

800
00:35:29,130 --> 00:35:31,250
And the perfect example is Jesus.

801
00:35:31,580 --> 00:35:32,260
We always know that.

802
00:35:32,260 --> 00:35:34,820
And, and, and that's something
that we have to go back to because

803
00:35:34,820 --> 00:35:38,180
to be the type of exhorter
that God has called us to be, we

804
00:35:38,180 --> 00:35:39,700
have to look to the perfect example.

805
00:35:39,700 --> 00:35:41,340
And that is the example of
Jesus Christ.

806
00:35:41,660 --> 00:35:46,020
And throughout the Gospels, he
continuously came alongside and encouraged

807
00:35:46,020 --> 00:35:49,100
people who were broken and
fearful and hurting.

808
00:35:49,180 --> 00:35:52,420
And he encouraged people like
the woman at the well who was caught

809
00:35:52,420 --> 00:35:53,020
in her sin.

810
00:35:53,020 --> 00:35:55,580
But he encouraged her with
grace and with truth.

811
00:35:55,660 --> 00:35:59,160
He encouraged a guy named
Jairus, and he told him, don't fear,

812
00:35:59,160 --> 00:35:59,840
only believe.

813
00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:01,920
He encouraged Martha in her grief.

814
00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:04,120
He encouraged Thomas in his doubts.

815
00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:07,120
He encouraged the disciples in
the midst of the storm.

816
00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:10,320
And he encouraged two
disciples on the road to Emmaus that

817
00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:11,400
were hopeless.

818
00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,480
And he pointed them to
Scripture and basically told them

819
00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:15,840
all the scriptures point to
Jesus, who is me.

820
00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,960
And perhaps I think, like we
said before, the greatest example

821
00:36:19,120 --> 00:36:22,000
of Jesus's exhortation is with
a man named Peter.

822
00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:23,720
Think about what Peter did to Jesus.

823
00:36:23,720 --> 00:36:29,260
Peter denied Jesus three times
right there at the very end, his

824
00:36:29,260 --> 00:36:31,380
big test, Peter's big test.

825
00:36:31,460 --> 00:36:33,780
And if you remember, right
before that, what did Peter say?

826
00:36:33,780 --> 00:36:36,500
Jesus, I'll never deny you.

827
00:36:36,980 --> 00:36:38,420
I'll die for you.

828
00:36:38,580 --> 00:36:40,060
And this was Peter's big test.

829
00:36:40,060 --> 00:36:40,700
And what happened?

830
00:36:40,700 --> 00:36:41,620
Peter failed.

831
00:36:43,300 --> 00:36:46,820
Many would have considered
Peter a failure.

832
00:36:47,380 --> 00:36:50,500
Many people would have
disqualified Peter from ministry.

833
00:36:51,470 --> 00:36:54,550
If a church member came to me
and said, pastor, I'll never deny

834
00:36:54,550 --> 00:36:54,830
you.

835
00:36:54,830 --> 00:36:57,950
But yet, in the midst of the
battle, they turned their backs on

836
00:36:57,950 --> 00:36:58,190
me.

837
00:36:58,190 --> 00:37:00,830
I would be tempted to think,
well, I can never trust them again.

838
00:37:01,630 --> 00:37:03,310
And Jesus could have done that.

839
00:37:04,270 --> 00:37:06,310
But after the resurrection,
you know the story.

840
00:37:06,310 --> 00:37:12,510
Jesus sought after Peter, he
pursued him, and he restores him.

841
00:37:13,070 --> 00:37:14,910
Remember, he asked Peter three times.

842
00:37:14,910 --> 00:37:15,630
I think there's.

843
00:37:15,630 --> 00:37:18,710
Those three questions are
meaningful because of the three denials.

844
00:37:18,710 --> 00:37:20,430
He says, do you love me?

845
00:37:21,150 --> 00:37:23,550
And of course, Peter's answer
is that he does.

846
00:37:24,030 --> 00:37:27,390
And then Jesus says, well, if
you love me, he's going to then recommission

847
00:37:27,390 --> 00:37:28,430
him by saying this.

848
00:37:28,510 --> 00:37:28,870
What?

849
00:37:28,870 --> 00:37:29,790
Feed my sheep.

850
00:37:30,910 --> 00:37:34,190
Jesus basically says, you're
restored, you're forgiven.

851
00:37:34,350 --> 00:37:35,710
Now get back to work.

852
00:37:35,790 --> 00:37:36,750
You have a purpose.

853
00:37:36,750 --> 00:37:37,470
You have a job.

854
00:37:37,630 --> 00:37:39,470
Now, that's not a picture of exhortation.

855
00:37:39,470 --> 00:37:40,510
I don't know what is.

856
00:37:40,830 --> 00:37:43,190
Peter failed, and he could
have stayed in that failure.

857
00:37:43,190 --> 00:37:44,550
He says, I go back fishing.

858
00:37:44,550 --> 00:37:45,960
I. I can't do this anymore.

859
00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:47,880
Jesus pursues him and says,
come back.

860
00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:48,640
Do you love me?

861
00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:50,000
And Peter says, yes, I love you.

862
00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:51,240
And he says, okay, get to business.

863
00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:52,080
Go back.

864
00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:54,600
You're now recommissioned to
preach the gospel.

865
00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:59,080
So Jesus didn't ignore Peter's
failure, but what he did do is he

866
00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:02,680
didn't allow Peter's failure
to define his future.

867
00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:04,680
And that's what an exhorter does.

868
00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:07,280
An exhorter doesn't look at
someone's past and say, well, now,

869
00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:08,680
you can't do anything for the Lord.

870
00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:12,080
Now, though things in our past
can certainly hinder our ministry

871
00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:15,330
in the future, the Bible does
say that there is grace that can

872
00:38:15,330 --> 00:38:18,010
restore, and that's biblical exhortation.

873
00:38:18,010 --> 00:38:21,210
Biblical exhortation is coming
by someone and saying, look, your

874
00:38:21,210 --> 00:38:23,330
life might be different now
because of this pain.

875
00:38:23,410 --> 00:38:25,890
Your life might be different
now because of this failure.

876
00:38:25,890 --> 00:38:28,570
But now serve Jesus and how he
has gifted you.

877
00:38:28,570 --> 00:38:33,810
And so that kind of truth in
exhortation transforms lives, transforms

878
00:38:33,810 --> 00:38:37,970
ministries, and hopefully it
sends people back to faithful service.

879
00:38:38,130 --> 00:38:40,130
Because how many people have
walked away from God?

880
00:38:40,130 --> 00:38:40,300
How many.

881
00:38:40,370 --> 00:38:42,770
How many people have been
tempted to walk away from the church?

882
00:38:42,770 --> 00:38:44,930
How many people have been
tempted to quit their ministry?

883
00:38:44,930 --> 00:38:48,570
And it's only through godly
exhortation that we can see people

884
00:38:48,570 --> 00:38:51,930
being restored or renewed in
their service to the Lord.

885
00:38:51,930 --> 00:38:54,850
And so why does the church
need exhorters?

886
00:38:55,650 --> 00:38:58,930
Well, because we might have a
Peter out here who's made a big mistake,

887
00:38:59,650 --> 00:39:01,810
or we might have someone in
the church that maybe didn't make

888
00:39:01,810 --> 00:39:04,810
A mistake of denying the Lord,
but they're ready to quit because

889
00:39:04,810 --> 00:39:06,450
of many things that are going
on in their life.

890
00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:10,400
We need exhorters to come
alongside of people like Jesus did.

891
00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:13,520
Now, ultimately, we don't have
the authority of Jesus, but what

892
00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:15,720
Jesus did is he came along,
Peter, and said, yeah, you made a

893
00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:16,200
mistake.

894
00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:17,320
Yeah, you failed.

895
00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:20,200
But now I'm going to encourage
you back into serving me.

896
00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:22,719
Folks, what we can do is we
can come alongside of people and

897
00:39:22,719 --> 00:39:25,960
say this, yeah, I know you're
hurting, but God can still use you.

898
00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:29,360
We can still apply scripture
wisely to our lives.

899
00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:32,040
We can still encourage people
in their faith.

900
00:39:32,290 --> 00:39:35,010
We can still challenge
complacency within the church.

901
00:39:35,090 --> 00:39:36,930
We can still restore the fallen.

902
00:39:36,930 --> 00:39:38,850
We can still strengthen the weak.

903
00:39:38,850 --> 00:39:41,690
We can still help believers
take their next step in their walk

904
00:39:41,690 --> 00:39:42,210
with Christ.

905
00:39:42,210 --> 00:39:44,530
And so that's why we need encouragement.

906
00:39:44,610 --> 00:39:47,530
That's why we need the gift of
exhortation in the church, because

907
00:39:47,530 --> 00:39:51,170
we all are going to need that
step of rejuvenation in our life.

908
00:39:51,250 --> 00:39:54,290
We're all going to need to
have our focus realigned.

909
00:39:54,290 --> 00:39:57,170
We're all going to need to be
challenged in our complacency.

910
00:39:57,250 --> 00:40:01,210
And it's just as Jesus came
and pursued Peter, just as Barnabas

911
00:40:01,210 --> 00:40:05,330
pursued Paul, so we need to
pursue opportunities within the church

912
00:40:05,330 --> 00:40:07,930
to exhort other people in
their walk with Christ.

913
00:40:09,290 --> 00:40:11,290
So many times we can get so distracted.

914
00:40:11,610 --> 00:40:14,610
So many times we can just get
so busy and say, you know what?

915
00:40:14,610 --> 00:40:15,930
I don't have time for that, folks.

916
00:40:15,930 --> 00:40:17,290
What do we have time for then?

917
00:40:17,530 --> 00:40:19,970
If we don't have time for
exhortation, what do we have time

918
00:40:19,970 --> 00:40:20,130
for?

919
00:40:20,130 --> 00:40:21,050
Well, I have time for me.

920
00:40:22,250 --> 00:40:23,650
You know what the reality is?

921
00:40:23,650 --> 00:40:25,530
And I think I can speak freely
here this morning.

922
00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:26,640
I know I can.

923
00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:29,360
We make time for what we want.

924
00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:31,680
We make time for what we love.

925
00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:34,720
We make time for things that
are important to us.

926
00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:39,160
So if exhortation is not
important to us, if discipleship

927
00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:40,880
is not important to us, you
know what's going to happen?

928
00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:43,280
We're going to put everything
else in its place.

929
00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:45,360
Well, I can't help that person.

930
00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:46,640
I need help myself.

931
00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:49,040
You know, I can't even figure
out my own life.

932
00:40:49,600 --> 00:40:53,660
Well, biblically speaking, we
need to figure out our own life so

933
00:40:53,660 --> 00:40:56,540
that we can help other people
grow in their walk with Jesus Christ.

934
00:40:56,700 --> 00:41:01,820
It's not a if I get time for
it kind of ordeal.

935
00:41:02,940 --> 00:41:07,020
Matthew chapter 28 tells us
that we are to go and make disciples.

936
00:41:07,420 --> 00:41:08,220
That's the point.

937
00:41:08,540 --> 00:41:12,620
And with making disciples
comes encouragement, comes exhortation.

938
00:41:13,980 --> 00:41:16,620
So the church does not Just
grow through preaching.

939
00:41:16,620 --> 00:41:19,110
Even though church needs godly
preaching to grow.

940
00:41:19,350 --> 00:41:21,830
But it's not just godly
preaching that grows a church.

941
00:41:22,470 --> 00:41:24,830
You could have the greatest
preacher standing behind the pulpit

942
00:41:24,830 --> 00:41:29,110
and preaching a wonderful,
perfect message.

943
00:41:29,910 --> 00:41:32,230
But yet if there's no
exhortation, it's always going to

944
00:41:32,230 --> 00:41:32,790
fall short.

945
00:41:32,790 --> 00:41:33,670
Because why?

946
00:41:33,830 --> 00:41:37,430
Personal encouragement needs
to happen every day within the church.

947
00:41:37,590 --> 00:41:40,830
Some of the greatest sermons
are not preached from behind a pulpit.

948
00:41:40,830 --> 00:41:44,070
Some of the greatest sermons
are preached with a conversation,

949
00:41:44,070 --> 00:41:47,940
one at a time, behind
different places, in coffee shops,

950
00:41:47,940 --> 00:41:51,380
in people's homes, because
that's where the real problems sometimes

951
00:41:51,380 --> 00:41:53,660
happen, and we need to address
them in that way.

952
00:41:53,900 --> 00:41:58,460
So if God has given you the
gift of exhortation, use your words

953
00:41:58,460 --> 00:42:00,620
wisely for encouragement.

954
00:42:00,780 --> 00:42:03,100
Because we can use our words
for a lot of different things.

955
00:42:03,900 --> 00:42:08,260
I can use my words to build
somebody up, but I also can use words

956
00:42:08,260 --> 00:42:12,220
to tear other people down in
person, right?

957
00:42:12,220 --> 00:42:15,300
Like we all know, like
everyone probably in this room has

958
00:42:15,300 --> 00:42:17,380
had someone come up to them
and say something that has cut their

959
00:42:17,380 --> 00:42:18,940
heart and torn them down.

960
00:42:19,100 --> 00:42:21,700
My parents used to tell me,
sticks and stones may break my bones,

961
00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:22,780
but words will never hurt me.

962
00:42:22,780 --> 00:42:25,500
So don't let those kids, what
they say at school bother you.

963
00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:26,580
And I know what they're doing.

964
00:42:26,580 --> 00:42:27,660
They're trying to encourage me.

965
00:42:27,739 --> 00:42:29,340
But we all know that words hurt.

966
00:42:29,740 --> 00:42:30,660
Words can cut.

967
00:42:30,660 --> 00:42:32,700
The Bible says that words are
like a dagger.

968
00:42:33,420 --> 00:42:36,220
So we can use our words for
one thing, like, hey, I'm going to

969
00:42:36,220 --> 00:42:37,340
tear someone down to their face.

970
00:42:37,340 --> 00:42:38,620
I'm going to try to cut them down.

971
00:42:39,140 --> 00:42:41,180
But another way that we can
use our words to tear other people

972
00:42:41,180 --> 00:42:42,500
down is behind their backs.

973
00:42:42,500 --> 00:42:44,740
Because just because someone's
not there doesn't mean that it's

974
00:42:44,740 --> 00:42:49,420
not tearing down that person's
morale or maybe even tearing down

975
00:42:49,420 --> 00:42:51,380
that person's testimony to
somebody else.

976
00:42:52,260 --> 00:42:57,100
Folks, we can get into big
trouble by gossiping about other

977
00:42:57,100 --> 00:42:59,300
people, by saying, look, you
know what I heard?

978
00:42:59,300 --> 00:43:00,940
That person has this problem
in their life.

979
00:43:00,940 --> 00:43:01,700
Pray for them.

980
00:43:02,260 --> 00:43:04,780
Now what you've done is you've
introduced someone else into the

981
00:43:04,780 --> 00:43:06,580
equation that doesn't need to
be in the equation.

982
00:43:06,690 --> 00:43:09,960
And, and now their heart has
been stirred to a place of maybe

983
00:43:09,960 --> 00:43:11,160
bitterness towards that person.

984
00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:15,800
So we can tear people down by
what we say, but the Bible says something

985
00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:17,920
completely different because
of the gift of exhortation.

986
00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:20,760
What we're called to do is
build other people up with what we

987
00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:22,360
say, encourage them.

988
00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:24,160
You know what?

989
00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:25,840
My parents used to tell me the
same thing too.

990
00:43:25,840 --> 00:43:26,960
And I think this is a biblical truth.

991
00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:29,320
If you don't have Anything
good to say about somebody, don't

992
00:43:29,320 --> 00:43:30,120
say anything at all.

993
00:43:31,240 --> 00:43:32,120
Build them up.

994
00:43:33,170 --> 00:43:35,650
Look into your heart about why
you don't have something good to

995
00:43:35,650 --> 00:43:36,450
say about that person.

996
00:43:37,010 --> 00:43:39,690
Because the truth is that we
all should be gifted in some way

997
00:43:39,690 --> 00:43:42,250
to try to point out things in
people's life that we can encourage

998
00:43:42,250 --> 00:43:42,530
them.

999
00:43:42,530 --> 00:43:45,650
If we can't encourage them by
what they're doing, what can we do?

1000
00:43:45,650 --> 00:43:48,130
We can encourage people with
Scripture and point them to Christ.

1001
00:43:48,370 --> 00:43:50,250
You might look at someone's
life and say, well, there's no way

1002
00:43:50,250 --> 00:43:52,050
I can encourage them with what
they've got going on.

1003
00:43:52,210 --> 00:43:54,530
I mean, Pastor, you see it.

1004
00:43:54,690 --> 00:43:56,210
It's like, well, you know what?

1005
00:43:56,290 --> 00:43:58,770
Maybe you can't encourage them
by their circumstances, but you can

1006
00:43:58,770 --> 00:44:01,490
encourage them with what Jesus
Christ has told them in his Word,

1007
00:44:01,490 --> 00:44:03,450
that he's never going to leave
them nor forsake them.

1008
00:44:03,530 --> 00:44:06,050
You can encourage them with
your friendship, you encourage them

1009
00:44:06,050 --> 00:44:06,810
with your prayers.

1010
00:44:06,810 --> 00:44:10,490
And so the Bible says that we
can encourage through pointing people

1011
00:44:10,490 --> 00:44:11,210
to Scripture.

1012
00:44:11,210 --> 00:44:15,330
So call people towards
obedience, remain humble, stay dependent

1013
00:44:15,330 --> 00:44:18,450
upon the Holy Spirit, and
ultimately understand that people

1014
00:44:18,450 --> 00:44:21,690
may forget your advice, they
may forget your stories, they may

1015
00:44:21,690 --> 00:44:25,730
forget your ministry, but they
will never forget what God has done

1016
00:44:25,730 --> 00:44:27,290
in their life through your encouragement.

1017
00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:30,360
I can't tell you how many
people have encouraged me, and I'm

1018
00:44:30,360 --> 00:44:32,160
going to tell you I've
probably forgotten about people who've

1019
00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:32,800
encouraged me.

1020
00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:36,240
But I'm thankful for each and
every person who exhorted me in my

1021
00:44:36,240 --> 00:44:40,000
life by coming alongside of
and challenging me and praying for

1022
00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:42,200
me and giving me Bible verses.

1023
00:44:42,360 --> 00:44:44,760
And so we have to ask
ourselves this.

1024
00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:49,800
Am I using my words to
strengthen others or just express

1025
00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:50,680
my opinions?

1026
00:44:51,080 --> 00:44:54,040
Most of us are really
comfortable with expressing our opinions,

1027
00:44:54,990 --> 00:44:55,950
and that's okay.

1028
00:44:56,030 --> 00:44:56,670
That's good.

1029
00:44:57,070 --> 00:44:58,990
You know that God has given us
our opinions.

1030
00:44:59,390 --> 00:45:02,710
But in some ways, we need to
be careful that we're not just expressing

1031
00:45:02,710 --> 00:45:05,630
our opinions without building
other people up and strengthening

1032
00:45:05,630 --> 00:45:06,350
them in the Lord.

1033
00:45:06,830 --> 00:45:07,990
Another question might be this.

1034
00:45:07,990 --> 00:45:10,910
Do I point people to Christ or
do I point them to myself?

1035
00:45:12,750 --> 00:45:16,670
Is my encouragement rooted in
God's word or personal experience?

1036
00:45:16,830 --> 00:45:19,630
Am I faithfully walking
alongside others in their spiritual

1037
00:45:19,630 --> 00:45:22,750
journey, or am I just focused
on what I'm doing?

1038
00:45:24,030 --> 00:45:25,310
Another question might be this.

1039
00:45:26,030 --> 00:45:28,030
Who needs a Barnabas in their life?

1040
00:45:28,830 --> 00:45:30,470
You say, well, I need a
Barnabas right now.

1041
00:45:30,470 --> 00:45:33,990
Well, praise God, and maybe
God will send you a Barnabas very

1042
00:45:33,990 --> 00:45:34,270
soon.

1043
00:45:34,830 --> 00:45:36,550
But the question might be
asked a different way.

1044
00:45:36,550 --> 00:45:38,430
Who can I be a Barnabas to
this week?

1045
00:45:38,670 --> 00:45:38,990
Who.

1046
00:45:38,990 --> 00:45:41,870
Who can I encourage with what
I say and what I do this week.

1047
00:45:42,270 --> 00:45:45,550
Maybe God is calling you to be
that person in somebody's life.

1048
00:45:46,040 --> 00:45:50,040
Maybe God's calling you to
pursue somebody like Barnabas pursued

1049
00:45:50,040 --> 00:45:52,520
Saul or that Jesus pursued Peter.

1050
00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:55,520
Maybe you've seen someone,
they, they've been taking some steps

1051
00:45:55,520 --> 00:45:57,960
back in their faith, or maybe
they've been just really discouraged.

1052
00:45:58,120 --> 00:46:00,680
Maybe they've had a lot of
pain and suffering in their life.

1053
00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:04,120
Maybe come alongside of them
and encourage them with a kind word.

1054
00:46:04,120 --> 00:46:07,320
Encourage them with a
scripture verse, encourage them with

1055
00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:08,120
your prayers.

1056
00:46:08,120 --> 00:46:13,010
And so ultimately, the gift of
exhortation is a spirit given ability

1057
00:46:13,010 --> 00:46:18,250
to come alongside of others,
to faithfully apply God's word to

1058
00:46:18,250 --> 00:46:21,090
their life and encourage them
towards spiritual maturity.

1059
00:46:22,210 --> 00:46:26,290
So some proclaim the truth,
some teach the truth.

1060
00:46:26,610 --> 00:46:29,730
Exhorters lovingly help people
live the truth.

1061
00:46:30,290 --> 00:46:35,410
And so when exercised in the
spirit and in humility, this gift

1062
00:46:35,410 --> 00:46:39,570
strengthens individuals,
unites the church, and brings glory

1063
00:46:39,570 --> 00:46:42,330
to the Lord through having a
healthy body of Christ.

1064
00:46:42,890 --> 00:46:45,610
And so if you can think of
another picture here today, and then

1065
00:46:45,610 --> 00:46:46,810
this is where we're going to end.

1066
00:46:47,370 --> 00:46:50,850
Encouragement is not just me
yelling from across the room, hey,

1067
00:46:50,850 --> 00:46:51,530
you got it.

1068
00:46:51,530 --> 00:46:52,250
Keep going.

1069
00:46:53,210 --> 00:46:56,610
I know that that can be a way
that we can encourage.

1070
00:46:56,610 --> 00:46:59,930
That's, that's encouragement,
but that's not exhortation.

1071
00:47:00,250 --> 00:47:00,810
Okay?

1072
00:47:00,890 --> 00:47:02,250
So let me give you an example.

1073
00:47:02,730 --> 00:47:06,620
When I'm not doing this as
much anymore because of many reasons,

1074
00:47:06,620 --> 00:47:08,620
and I'm going to give you all
the excuses in the world, but I used

1075
00:47:08,620 --> 00:47:09,620
to run a lot, okay?

1076
00:47:09,700 --> 00:47:12,900
And I used to get in these
races and these races, like one race

1077
00:47:12,900 --> 00:47:14,500
I did was like 13 miles.

1078
00:47:15,460 --> 00:47:17,580
And that 13 mile race was a
long race.

1079
00:47:17,580 --> 00:47:19,780
And about three miles in, I
was like, I'm going to quit.

1080
00:47:19,939 --> 00:47:20,940
Why do I need to do this?

1081
00:47:20,940 --> 00:47:22,820
No one's here, no one's watching.

1082
00:47:22,980 --> 00:47:25,340
I could just quit and no one
would ever know and I could just

1083
00:47:25,340 --> 00:47:27,500
walk home and go grab a
cheeseburger and be done with it,

1084
00:47:27,500 --> 00:47:27,940
okay?

1085
00:47:28,100 --> 00:47:29,300
But I'm like, no, I'm going to
keep going.

1086
00:47:29,300 --> 00:47:29,940
I'm going to keep going.

1087
00:47:29,940 --> 00:47:32,680
And you know, every single
time that I would get to a place

1088
00:47:32,680 --> 00:47:35,160
where all the people were,
they'd start cheering and they didn't

1089
00:47:35,160 --> 00:47:36,400
know me, but they're like,
hey, you got it.

1090
00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:37,040
You got it, man.

1091
00:47:37,040 --> 00:47:38,800
And in my mind I'm like,
that's what I needed.

1092
00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:40,040
I needed their encouragement.

1093
00:47:40,040 --> 00:47:41,080
I'm going to get through it.

1094
00:47:41,080 --> 00:47:42,520
And so that would be encouragement.

1095
00:47:42,520 --> 00:47:45,360
And, and I would get to the
end of the race and I would see the,

1096
00:47:45,360 --> 00:47:48,200
the, the, you know, finish
line right there, and everyone would

1097
00:47:48,200 --> 00:47:50,200
be Cheering and all the energy
would come and I'd run.

1098
00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:51,120
I'm like, I'm going to finish this.

1099
00:47:51,120 --> 00:47:52,280
I'm not going to quit in front
of people.

1100
00:47:52,360 --> 00:47:53,560
That would be encouragement.

1101
00:47:53,640 --> 00:47:55,320
Exhortation would be this.

1102
00:47:56,570 --> 00:47:58,810
You guys came out to my race
and you said, okay.

1103
00:47:59,450 --> 00:48:02,450
They said, you see me
struggling about three miles left

1104
00:48:02,450 --> 00:48:03,370
and my knees hurting.

1105
00:48:03,370 --> 00:48:04,170
I'm wobbling.

1106
00:48:04,250 --> 00:48:06,650
Exhortation would be like, all
right, I'm gonna come.

1107
00:48:06,650 --> 00:48:07,610
I'm gonna do it with you.

1108
00:48:07,850 --> 00:48:09,970
I'm gonna put my arm around
you, and I'm gonna carry you through

1109
00:48:09,970 --> 00:48:12,530
this, and we're gonna talk it
through, and I'm gonna coach you

1110
00:48:12,530 --> 00:48:13,410
off and we're gonna get
through this.

1111
00:48:13,410 --> 00:48:15,770
Now, some of you say, well,
Pastor, I would have no capabilities

1112
00:48:15,770 --> 00:48:18,650
of doing that for you, and I
completely understand that, and I

1113
00:48:18,650 --> 00:48:20,090
would never expect you to do that.

1114
00:48:20,090 --> 00:48:24,440
But spiritually speaking, all
of us have the capabilities of coming

1115
00:48:24,440 --> 00:48:27,520
by someone who's in that race
and saying, you know what?

1116
00:48:27,520 --> 00:48:28,240
I've been there.

1117
00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:30,400
Come on, take your deep breath.

1118
00:48:30,640 --> 00:48:31,920
Ask the Lord for strength.

1119
00:48:31,920 --> 00:48:32,560
I'm here.

1120
00:48:32,560 --> 00:48:33,840
I'm going to do it with you.

1121
00:48:34,320 --> 00:48:38,439
And showing that the testimony
is this, that just as God has gotten

1122
00:48:38,439 --> 00:48:40,400
me through this, he can get
you through this.

1123
00:48:40,640 --> 00:48:43,760
Some of you have gone through
very, very hard times in your life,

1124
00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:47,400
and you might ask the
question, why did God allow me to

1125
00:48:47,400 --> 00:48:48,080
go through that?

1126
00:48:48,870 --> 00:48:51,350
I don't know all the answers
to everything that God does or everything

1127
00:48:51,350 --> 00:48:52,230
that God allows.

1128
00:48:52,230 --> 00:48:55,590
But it may just be that God
has allowed you to go through a difficulty

1129
00:48:55,590 --> 00:48:59,230
in your life so that you can
learn a lesson of his presence and

1130
00:48:59,230 --> 00:49:01,990
his power, so that you can
come along with someone else that's

1131
00:49:01,990 --> 00:49:03,390
going through that and say,
you know what?

1132
00:49:03,390 --> 00:49:05,990
God got me through this, and
he can get you through this.

1133
00:49:06,550 --> 00:49:07,910
And that's encouragement.

1134
00:49:08,150 --> 00:49:10,030
And that's even more than encouragement.

1135
00:49:10,030 --> 00:49:11,190
That's exhortation.

1136
00:49:11,510 --> 00:49:14,940
So literally, think about
coming alongside of somebody, and

1137
00:49:14,940 --> 00:49:19,140
that is what exhortation is,
to help them and to strengthen them

1138
00:49:19,140 --> 00:49:22,580
in the truth of who God is and
what he has done.

1139
00:49:23,140 --> 00:49:26,580
And so, church, may we be a
church that is desiring exhortation

1140
00:49:27,540 --> 00:49:30,699
to be the recipient of
exhortation and be the givers of

1141
00:49:30,699 --> 00:49:31,380
exhortation.

1142
00:49:31,460 --> 00:49:34,220
And ultimately understanding
that all of these things are exercised

1143
00:49:34,220 --> 00:49:36,180
through what God has exhorted
us in.

1144
00:49:37,140 --> 00:49:41,400
Folks, you might not be a
naturally gifted exhorter, but all

1145
00:49:41,400 --> 00:49:43,440
of us are called to some
degree to grow in that area in our

1146
00:49:43,440 --> 00:49:43,720
lives.

1147
00:49:44,360 --> 00:49:47,800
But if you are a gifted,
natural exhorter, make sure you understand

1148
00:49:47,800 --> 00:49:54,280
to exercise that in the spirit
without pride, clothed in humility

1149
00:49:54,760 --> 00:49:57,880
and pursue those that God is
putting on your heart.

1150
00:49:59,320 --> 00:50:03,120
So I would encourage you
today, I would exhort you today to,

1151
00:50:03,120 --> 00:50:05,960
number one, exercise the
natural gift that God has given you

1152
00:50:05,960 --> 00:50:10,460
in exhortation, or grow in
that area if it's not something that

1153
00:50:10,460 --> 00:50:11,820
you desire in your life.

1154
00:50:12,300 --> 00:50:13,180
Because why?

1155
00:50:13,340 --> 00:50:17,620
Because exhortation is an
essential part of a growing, healthy

1156
00:50:17,620 --> 00:50:17,980
church.

1157
00:50:18,620 --> 00:50:20,700
We must encourage, we must exhort.

1158
00:50:21,180 --> 00:50:24,500
And as Jesus is our great
example, we know that he came alongside

1159
00:50:24,500 --> 00:50:27,980
and he says, hey, take of my yoke.

1160
00:50:29,660 --> 00:50:33,580
Take, take of me all you that
are weary and heavy laden.

1161
00:50:34,000 --> 00:50:34,480
He says, why?

1162
00:50:34,480 --> 00:50:36,720
Because I will give you rest.

1163
00:50:37,680 --> 00:50:38,680
That's exhortation.

1164
00:50:38,680 --> 00:50:40,120
Jesus says, take up my yoke.

1165
00:50:40,120 --> 00:50:42,760
Because when you try to do
things in your own strength, it's

1166
00:50:42,760 --> 00:50:43,360
impossible.

1167
00:50:43,520 --> 00:50:46,400
But when you take on the yoke
of the Lord, guess what?

1168
00:50:46,400 --> 00:50:49,000
You're no longer having to do
the work because God's doing the

1169
00:50:49,000 --> 00:50:49,600
work for you.

1170
00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:52,080
God's the one carrying you through.

1171
00:50:52,240 --> 00:50:54,320
And that's biblical exhortation.

1172
00:50:54,720 --> 00:50:57,720
So if we can boil it down to
this, and I think that this is the

1173
00:50:57,720 --> 00:51:00,320
last verse that we will go to
here today.

1174
00:51:01,240 --> 00:51:02,640
I say I think because you
never know.

1175
00:51:02,640 --> 00:51:03,640
But let's see here.

1176
00:51:03,720 --> 00:51:05,520
Second Corinthians, chapter one.

1177
00:51:05,520 --> 00:51:09,360
I want you guys to see this,
because I think that when we are

1178
00:51:09,360 --> 00:51:10,760
tempted to think, well, you
know what?

1179
00:51:11,480 --> 00:51:13,000
Why should I encourage that person?

1180
00:51:14,680 --> 00:51:18,440
Why do I need to take a step
of faith to reach out to them?

1181
00:51:18,440 --> 00:51:22,440
And maybe they'll reject me,
maybe they'll not listen to my encouragement.

1182
00:51:22,440 --> 00:51:26,240
Well, Second Corinthians,
chapter one tells us that God is

1183
00:51:26,240 --> 00:51:28,520
a God of all comfort.

1184
00:51:29,250 --> 00:51:32,170
See it there in verse number
three says, blessed be God, even

1185
00:51:32,170 --> 00:51:36,450
the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies and

1186
00:51:36,450 --> 00:51:37,650
the God of all comfort.

1187
00:51:37,890 --> 00:51:40,530
So Second Corinthians, chapter
one, verse three tells us that number

1188
00:51:40,530 --> 00:51:44,050
one, God in his character is a
God of comfort and exhortation.

1189
00:51:44,530 --> 00:51:51,090
But then he says in verse
four, who comforteth us in all our

1190
00:51:51,090 --> 00:51:51,650
tribulation.

1191
00:51:52,210 --> 00:51:55,300
So if you're a believer, he
comforts you, he encourages you,

1192
00:51:55,300 --> 00:51:57,100
he exhorts you, why?

1193
00:51:57,500 --> 00:52:00,700
So that you can say, wow, man,
I feel at comfort.

1194
00:52:00,780 --> 00:52:01,740
I feel at peace.

1195
00:52:01,740 --> 00:52:02,940
Well, that's the starting place.

1196
00:52:03,180 --> 00:52:08,300
But he says there's something
more that we may be able to comfort

1197
00:52:08,300 --> 00:52:13,500
them which are in any trouble
by the comfort wherewith we ourselves

1198
00:52:13,500 --> 00:52:14,780
are comforted of God.

1199
00:52:14,860 --> 00:52:15,980
Did you see that there?

1200
00:52:16,300 --> 00:52:19,900
He says, you are comforted by
God, and that's a blessing.

1201
00:52:20,520 --> 00:52:24,200
But there's a purpose so that
I can reach out and comfort and encourage

1202
00:52:24,200 --> 00:52:24,920
those as well.

1203
00:52:25,400 --> 00:52:26,520
That's Exhortation.

1204
00:52:27,400 --> 00:52:32,640
So this morning, may we rest
in the exhortation of the Lord in

1205
00:52:32,640 --> 00:52:34,360
the presence of God in our life.

1206
00:52:34,520 --> 00:52:38,520
And may we exercise that
exhortation with others around us.

1207
00:52:38,680 --> 00:52:42,720
I know it's a big word, it's a
word with a lot of things tied to

1208
00:52:42,720 --> 00:52:43,000
it.

1209
00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:45,040
But may we think about that.

1210
00:52:45,040 --> 00:52:49,230
May we meditate upon that word
exhortation here this week and know

1211
00:52:49,230 --> 00:52:53,470
what we are called to do when
it comes to challenging and encouraging

1212
00:52:53,630 --> 00:52:54,910
and praying for one another.

1213
00:52:55,150 --> 00:52:57,270
I'm going to ask if you're
able to to stand with me, every head

1214
00:52:57,270 --> 00:52:59,990
bowed, every eye closed as the
music plays here this morning we

1215
00:52:59,990 --> 00:53:02,990
have an opportunity to respond
to the preaching of the Word of God.

1216
00:53:04,270 --> 00:53:06,590
We've heard a lot about
exhortation here today.

1217
00:53:08,270 --> 00:53:11,230
Don't need to say anymore.

1218
00:53:11,790 --> 00:53:14,110
God has said what he needs to
say here this morning.

1219
00:53:15,010 --> 00:53:17,130
But the question might be is
what am I going to do about it?

1220
00:53:17,130 --> 00:53:18,290
What are you going to do about it?

1221
00:53:18,610 --> 00:53:22,370
Am I going to act in the
challenge that God has called me

1222
00:53:22,370 --> 00:53:24,770
to do, to be the exhorter that
God has called me to be?

1223
00:53:24,930 --> 00:53:28,210
Folks, if number one, you need
the exhortation of the Lord this

1224
00:53:28,210 --> 00:53:30,410
morning, maybe you're like,
I'm broken right now.

1225
00:53:30,410 --> 00:53:32,290
I can't help anybody in my own life.

1226
00:53:33,330 --> 00:53:37,730
Come forward right now and get
the comfort of God in your life.

1227
00:53:37,970 --> 00:53:42,660
Get the exhortation that is
offered to all as he is the God of

1228
00:53:42,740 --> 00:53:43,940
all comforts.

1229
00:53:44,420 --> 00:53:46,740
Find that comfort and
encouragement in Him.

1230
00:53:46,820 --> 00:53:50,620
But then from there, from
there, understand that that's not

1231
00:53:50,620 --> 00:53:54,340
just for me to hold, but for
me to give and to share with others.

1232
00:53:54,340 --> 00:53:57,259
And so maybe you've been
comforted by God throughout your

1233
00:53:57,259 --> 00:53:57,460
life.

1234
00:53:57,460 --> 00:54:01,100
Maybe he has challenged you
and encouraged you and taught you

1235
00:54:01,100 --> 00:54:03,460
and discipled you throughout
all of your life.

1236
00:54:03,620 --> 00:54:04,940
Now it's time to say, you know what?

1237
00:54:04,940 --> 00:54:06,100
I need to do that for others.

1238
00:54:06,180 --> 00:54:07,780
I need to share that with
other people.

1239
00:54:08,300 --> 00:54:10,740
Maybe you've been the
beneficiary of God's comfort, but

1240
00:54:10,740 --> 00:54:12,780
you haven't shared it with
someone else.

1241
00:54:13,580 --> 00:54:15,460
Maybe today you could commit
yourself to that.

1242
00:54:15,460 --> 00:54:18,340
Or maybe you're doing all
these things, but you just need to

1243
00:54:18,340 --> 00:54:19,580
be encouraged in the Lord.

1244
00:54:19,820 --> 00:54:22,620
I'm going to tell you here
today, keep up the good work, fight

1245
00:54:22,620 --> 00:54:23,260
the good fight.

1246
00:54:23,340 --> 00:54:24,620
Contend for the faith.

1247
00:54:24,940 --> 00:54:26,460
Don't get weary and well doing.

1248
00:54:26,700 --> 00:54:29,780
For in due season we're going
to reap if we faint not so.

1249
00:54:29,780 --> 00:54:33,700
May we continue in the truth
of the exhortation of Jesus Christ.

1250
00:54:33,700 --> 00:54:37,030
If you need Jesus as your
Savior this morning, it might be

1251
00:54:37,030 --> 00:54:39,230
that you don't even know the
comfort of God or the presence of

1252
00:54:39,230 --> 00:54:43,070
God because you haven't
trusted in the truth of God in the

1253
00:54:43,070 --> 00:54:46,390
fact that Jesus came and died
on the cross for your sins that he

1254
00:54:46,390 --> 00:54:49,990
rose again on the third day
and that he is offering the gift

1255
00:54:49,990 --> 00:54:51,310
of salvation for you.

1256
00:54:51,790 --> 00:54:54,950
The Bible says as many as
received him they became the sons

1257
00:54:54,950 --> 00:54:58,510
or the children of God so may
we receive that gift of grace today.

1258
00:54:58,670 --> 00:55:01,230
If you need any of that help
today we've got some folks standing

1259
00:55:01,230 --> 00:55:03,720
up here that are willing to
help you and show you in the word

1260
00:55:03,720 --> 00:55:05,960
of God what it means to trust
in Jesus as your Savior.

1261
00:55:06,040 --> 00:55:08,400
Lord I pray that you be in
this time of invitation working hearts

1262
00:55:08,400 --> 00:55:11,880
and lives get us to a place in
our life where we understand the

1263
00:55:11,880 --> 00:55:15,120
gift of encouragement the gift
of exhortation and the challenge

1264
00:55:15,120 --> 00:55:16,680
thereof to share that with others.

1265
00:55:16,920 --> 00:55:18,600
Pray that you be in this time
of invitation.

1266
00:55:18,600 --> 00:55:21,220
We thank you for all that you
do in Jesus name amen.