WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Culture – Household of God Publishing Date: 2023-11-12T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/culture-household-of-god/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.840 kind of break from what we were doing and talk about culture and how it applies 00:00:05.840 --> 00:00:13.720 to the household of God and this is in continuation to what we ended up talking 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:18.320 about last week so I thought we need to clarify it further and culture anyways 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:22.920 is something that the people of God must possess and we might just focus on the 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:28.960 household of God and then go on to other parts of our lives that the culture of 00:00:29.840 --> 00:00:37.760 the King applies to so why do we need to talk about this because there is the 00:00:37.760 --> 00:00:45.800 spirit of this age there is the spirit of this age and so are you saying it's a 00:00:45.800 --> 00:00:51.320 demonic power or something let's just call it the prevalent nature of how 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:57.320 things are in the world there's a German word zeitgeist which talks about this 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:03.920 idea of the spirit that is prevalent in a place and it begins to affect 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:09.720 everything it does is like have you seen the movie matrix it's like that it's 00:01:09.720 --> 00:01:16.800 everywhere and so what happens is the spirit of this age always tries to fit 00:01:16.800 --> 00:01:23.680 you fits you into the mold of prevalent culture into the mold of prevalent 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:27.760 culture that's that's one of the things it does Paul talked about it he instead 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.640 of calling it the spirit of the age in Colossians he begins to talk about it as 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:35.280 the traditions of men the philosophies of the world and the elemental spirits 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:41.280 of the world he uses the word stoic here which means which scholars are still 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:47.480 debating but basically it is both the things that make up the prevalent 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:53.160 culture and that which is spiritual from the evil side so it tries to fit you 00:01:53.160 --> 00:01:58.880 into the mold of prevalent culture now what is one of two things that we can 00:01:58.880 --> 00:02:07.680 look at today that is so so easily identifiable in prevalent culture one it 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:23.240 exalts the individual it exalts the individual and two it elevates it 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:44.360 elevates majority opinion over truth and biblical patterns so you've got to be 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:53.040 aware of this a it exalts the individual and it elevates majority opinion over 00:02:53.040 --> 00:03:01.080 truth and over biblical patterns and both are diametrically opposed to what 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:08.880 God is building one of the things he did when he took our fragmented lives have 00:03:08.880 --> 00:03:14.720 baptized us into the body is to suddenly say to us that yes I created you and I 00:03:14.720 --> 00:03:19.760 have given you a personality and individuality that is so unique but I 00:03:19.760 --> 00:03:25.720 need you to know that it is no longer primary it is secondary to something 00:03:25.720 --> 00:03:31.840 called a new man or the body of Christ and when we still cause the individual 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:37.720 to be exalted be it a pastor or be it someone who's not doesn't matter it goes 00:03:37.720 --> 00:03:44.920 against what Christ is building on the earth and two it elevates majority 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:51.560 and biblical patterns well because a group of people say so it becomes say so 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:57.360 not true and this will if this is prevalent culture then know that it will 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:04.000 try to worm its way into the church and when things like this worm their way 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:07.960 into the church someone needs to take a stand and say that's far and no further 00:04:07.960 --> 00:04:14.120 and that someone must be you you think that that someone must be a pastor or 00:04:14.160 --> 00:04:18.760 someone must be a leader no that someone must be you 00:04:27.960 --> 00:04:34.120 it's also a culture the spirit of this age also castrates Kingdom potency it 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:45.160 castrates Kingdom potency it castrates Kingdom potency by valuing by one 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:59.760 valuing facts over truth valuing facts over truth by valuing common sense over 00:04:59.760 --> 00:05:10.480 power as in the power of God and valuing restrained free independence 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:31.440 restrained free free independence over dependence and order this then also 00:05:31.440 --> 00:05:34.600 should be countered because remember one of the things we are trying to create on 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:39.200 earth is a counterculture and if you're trying to create a cult counterculture 00:05:39.200 --> 00:05:45.000 you can't allow this to happen who can't allow this to happen the pastor no 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:53.800 yes the shepherd has a responsibility but so do you the powerful thing about 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:58.440 cultures once culture becomes dominant it becomes very hard to operate outside 00:05:58.440 --> 00:06:02.800 of it try going to Saudi Arabia and behaving as you want and see what 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:09.680 happens because the cultures become the dominant culture therefore you have to 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:17.880 begin to either adjust to it or decide that this is in the place and so when it 00:06:17.880 --> 00:06:23.400 comes to kingdom culture it castrates kingdom the prevalent spirit of the age 00:06:23.400 --> 00:06:29.600 castrates Kingdom potency by valuing facts over truth yeah that might be what 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:33.760 Jesus said but this is the fact and you might say that Jesus does it I haven't 00:06:33.760 --> 00:06:41.040 seen it done and this is the fact and so that's it not true it must be opposed 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:48.120 because it's only a matter of time before it'll undermine to common sense 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:54.480 overpower that it would make more sense if he did it this way true but if the 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:59.480 power of God wants to operate then we'll have to obey obedience always 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:09.160 releases power sacrifice always provokes fire Elijah obeyed power showed and then 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:15.080 the last one is restraint free independence versus dependence and 00:07:15.080 --> 00:07:21.080 order restraint free independence as in not only do I want to be independent 00:07:21.080 --> 00:07:24.360 it's the prevalent nature of the spirit of the world right now I want to be 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:28.040 independent you can't tell me what to do and I have to be restrained free you 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:33.120 cannot impose anything on me versus dependence and order because right from 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.360 the beginning God is an hour God of order and remember this we said this 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:43.040 long ago we must be God dependent and body reliant God dependent and body 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:50.960 reliant and when this is when this rises up its ugly head it must be stopped not 00:07:51.000 --> 00:08:02.280 chopped it must be stopped because this is the spirit of the age and to allow 00:08:02.280 --> 00:08:14.520 this into the bride dressed in blemish this silk white is evil 00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:24.840 said 00:08:27.080 --> 00:08:32.640 it's a spirit that contaminates make sure that this message if there are 00:08:32.640 --> 00:08:37.360 people here who are who aren't here to listen to this tell them to listen to 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:43.040 this because we all need to hear this this will be heard in Bahrain this will 00:08:43.040 --> 00:08:45.920 be heard in Australia this will be heard in different parts of the world but we 00:08:45.920 --> 00:08:50.000 may need to make sure that people here hear it too so Remy and Hamari are 00:08:50.000 --> 00:09:00.720 hearing it anyone else who is missing needs to hear this third it's a spirit 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:12.040 that contaminates it's a spirit that contaminates with this is from Colossians 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:25.200 with the philosophies of men with the traditions of men and with demonic 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:34.360 principles Paul says elemental spirits of the world these are the three 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:40.400 prevalent things from the spirit of the age and they must be countered and we 00:09:40.400 --> 00:09:45.720 will fail sometimes our present philosophy might be warped actually what 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:50.280 if what acts 29 presently believes is warped what if some of the things we 00:09:50.280 --> 00:09:55.200 practice other traditions of men but if we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit 00:09:55.200 --> 00:10:02.080 he will either send people or send the word or will send enough truth to come 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:06.880 out from within the body to say there's something wrong we need to fix it 00:10:10.400 --> 00:10:17.920 because what if we are already caught up in this what if some of the things I'm 00:10:17.920 --> 00:10:24.640 teaching our traditions of men or the philosophies of the world and if that is 00:10:24.640 --> 00:10:34.800 the case then we have to correct it this is not some decree from the top this is 00:10:34.880 --> 00:10:44.240 not a pastor trying to tell you to behave but if you want to create a counter 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:55.040 culture these things cannot be allowed and if we allow these things after God 00:10:55.040 --> 00:10:59.920 begins to bring up truth if we allow these things then when you don't believe 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:06.320 practice what God has said usually deception follows usually deception 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:12.720 follows it says so in second Thessalonians 2 10 how when truth is 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:18.720 refused deception follows and not only that once deception follows you begin 00:11:19.520 --> 00:11:22.880 to circulate falsehoods 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:34.080 if you go to numbers 14 36 in the message numbers 14 36 in the message you'll see 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:39.840 that when people don't believe or do what they're told by God then deception 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:45.520 follows and it's only a matter of time before they start circulating falsehoods 00:11:45.520 --> 00:11:48.160 numbers 14 verse 36 from the message 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:55.520 here's what it says so it happened that the men Moses sent to scout the land 00:11:55.520 --> 00:12:01.600 returned to circulate false rumors about the land causing the entire community to 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:07.520 grumble against Moses it's only natural these are just natural progressions when 00:12:07.520 --> 00:12:14.640 I decide that I am not going to subscribe to listen to or practice the truth of what 00:12:14.640 --> 00:12:21.040 God has said so that's a prevalent nature of the spirit of the age any 00:12:21.040 --> 00:12:23.040 questions before we go on to the culture of God 00:12:32.640 --> 00:12:34.240 Jeremy can I share where's Jeremy 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:39.200 Jeremy can I share what you said when you first came to this church about the 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:45.120 question spot yeah she had come to the church and she she was wondering why 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:49.440 people ask questions in the middle of the service so she called a friend of 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:54.320 hers and she said I think it's a Canadian thing sorry you called up your 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:59.040 brother and you said that this is it seems like a Canadian thing they ask 00:12:59.040 --> 00:13:04.240 questions in the middle of the service so till someone told you no it's not a 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:11.280 normal thing right yeah and so all to say why do we need to ask questions in 00:13:11.280 --> 00:13:16.800 the middle of a service because it is through debate argument discussion and 00:13:16.800 --> 00:13:22.400 bringing up counterpoints that the truth can be settled and so to take that away 00:13:22.400 --> 00:13:26.320 at any point it's not going to be happening in this church for a long time 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:32.080 because things must be challenged things must be challenged 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:40.880 pardon or clarified things must be challenged or clarified we'll talk about 00:13:40.880 --> 00:13:45.920 how it should be challenged and clarified we'll talk about that when I 00:13:45.920 --> 00:13:49.520 talk about challenge and clarify you will see in acts 15 how the word used in 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:56.320 acts 15 is and there was a debate but there is a there is an intent and a way 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:00.160 it should be done and we'll be talking about that today 00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:10.800 okay if there are no questions on the spirit of the age then let's talk about 00:14:10.800 --> 00:14:19.040 the culture of God culture if you want to define it is the collective mindset 00:14:19.040 --> 00:14:34.480 is the collective mindset of a people that one governs their conduct and 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:37.680 their conduct and response 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:45.200 two shapes their nature 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:48.800 and purpose 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:57.120 and three births their vision 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:00.640 and future 00:15:02.640 --> 00:15:10.000 culture is a collective mindset of a people where people collectively think a 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:16.640 certain way and in thinking that way they begin to it begins to govern their 00:15:16.640 --> 00:15:22.480 conduct and their response it begins to shape their nature and their purpose 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:28.800 it begins to shape their nature and their purpose and it begins to birth 00:15:28.800 --> 00:15:35.440 their vision and the future that's what culture does and so it's critical every 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:41.760 church must have God culture and then after that have traits that are from God 00:15:41.760 --> 00:15:44.000 that are given to them to hold on to 00:15:48.400 --> 00:15:49.920 everything okay Derek 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.880 any question on this definition 00:16:00.880 --> 00:16:06.240 if there is a law of the land then the if it if you're talking about the church 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:11.120 the church has to see if the law of the land contradicts the culture of the 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:18.080 kingdom and if it does then we will know whether culture is just a loosely held 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:22.000 belief or it's a conviction the difference between a belief and a 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.120 conviction is that beliefs can change convictions send you to prison 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:47.440 people of God have a culture too people of God have a culture 00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:57.120 people of God have a culture and it is a collective way of thinking 00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:04.640 a collective way of thinking like God a collective way of thinking like God 00:17:05.760 --> 00:17:07.900 that makes God visible 00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:15.040 a collective way of thinking like that God that makes God visible 00:17:15.040 --> 00:17:20.160 thinking like that, God that makes God visible. How you think will affect how 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:26.040 you function and therefore if a people called the people of God make it their 00:17:26.040 --> 00:17:33.040 aim that their culture will be based on how God thinks and how he thinks is 00:17:33.040 --> 00:17:38.960 clearly outlined. Paul goes into extremes to send letters to the church 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:43.280 saying this is how households are administrated, this is how fathers and 00:17:43.280 --> 00:17:47.240 mothers are, this is how children should be, this is how slaves are. He covers 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:51.440 everything that was societal but he tells them that this is a culture that 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:56.280 applies to your society. You cannot go to the Roman guilds even though you're a 00:17:56.280 --> 00:18:01.080 businessman. You cannot bow to Caesar. There are no two gods. You can't bow to 00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:05.160 Caesar and to God. You can't slum with the demons one day and then sit at the 00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:09.600 Lord's table. He goes out of his way to establish a culture in a society that 00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:19.240 was more corrupt, more permeating, more punishing than what we live in. And so if 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:24.160 we begin to think like God it's only then that God is made visible. Your culture 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:27.920 makes whatever you believe in visible. Why is it that I know certain people 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:31.440 come from India, certain people come from China, certain people come from the UK? 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:41.120 Their very culture is made evident. What they eat, how they talk, the way they 00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:45.000 dress, the way they react to weather. 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:08.720 This is culture is God's way, culture is God's way, culture is God's way of 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:21.000 claiming, of claiming his people to subscribe to a manner of living, to 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:28.200 subscribe to a manner of living. This is what he was trying to do with the slave 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:33.120 people that he delivered from Egypt. Let me get you out of there. Exodus was only 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:36.440 the beginning. Let me get you out of there. Then let me bring you to Mount 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:40.480 Sinai and in Mount Sinai let me give you a constitution to live by and that 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:43.800 constitution should make, become your culture because that constitution will 00:19:43.800 --> 00:19:48.480 make you different from every other nation in the world. And that is when 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:53.040 Israel begins to want to free itself of restraint. Every time you try to free 00:19:53.040 --> 00:19:57.280 yourself from the restraints and the order of God you will always end up with 00:19:57.280 --> 00:20:05.800 a tyrant. So Israel says we want a king like others. We don't want God as our 00:20:05.800 --> 00:20:11.680 ruler. We want a king like every other nation and Samuel is heartbroken. God 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:16.480 says Samuel stop crying. This is what they want. Give it to them but tell them 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:21.280 what will happen when they receive a king and he outlines what will happen 00:20:21.280 --> 00:20:25.720 when you get a king but Israel still wants a king. What is the plumb line 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:30.560 then guys? The plumb line is the word of God and the spirit of God and that is 00:20:30.560 --> 00:20:35.720 why we need debate and questions because you cannot arrive at a plumb line with 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:41.800 one man holding it and say this is how you should be because then that man 00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:47.000 becomes a tyrant. I become the bridegroom then if I'm to hold that 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:52.000 plumb line but in asking questions in arguing you can then arrive at the same 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:56.840 conclusion that they arrived in in Acts 15 where they say it felt good to us and 00:20:56.840 --> 00:21:01.320 to the Holy Spirit and then they propose what needs to be proposed but the plumb 00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:05.560 line must be derived from the word of God and the spirit of God and it is no 00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:14.920 one man's opinion or interpretation and that is why questions must be asked but 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:18.440 we'll talk about how it should be asked. Not how it should be asked. You can ask 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:22.160 any which way but the intent where are we heading with questions what is the 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:31.760 reason we should ask questions? There will always be an attempt guys there 00:21:31.760 --> 00:21:40.520 will always be an attempt to subvert culture there will always be an attempt 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:53.160 to subvert culture because it changes because it can change because it can 00:21:53.160 --> 00:22:05.160 change the course it can change the course of a people in one generation so 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:09.080 there'll always be an attempt there will always be an attempt. Satan will always 00:22:09.080 --> 00:22:18.240 attempt to subvert culture. In one generation you can lose culture. Judges 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:24.080 chapter 2 verse 10 and then there came a generation after Joshua who did not know 00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:28.640 the gods of their who did not know the God of their fathers. How in a matter of 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:35.160 35 to 40 years do children forget the God who brought them out of Egypt into 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:43.920 the promised land in one generation. Look at Daniel chapter 1 verse 3 or 6 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:50.200 and you see what Nebuchadnezzar did. He gathered to himself about 19,000 or 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:56.120 20,000 young men and women of high quality from Jerusalem and he brought 00:22:56.120 --> 00:23:02.360 them to Babylon and he said I will teach them the ways of Babylon and he changed 00:23:02.520 --> 00:23:06.800 their names these were Jewish boys and girls and he had them eat at his table 00:23:06.800 --> 00:23:12.720 kosher food was abandoned things were served on the table that a Jew does not 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:21.640 eat. Out of 20,000 that were carried to Israel four refused. 19,996 succumbed. 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:27.720 You're talking about 20,000 of the finest of Israel of the future 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:33.440 compromised at Nebuchadnezzar's table who completely indoctrinated them in the 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:38.600 ways of Babylon. He even changed the names of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:41.800 Abednego because you really don't know their real names which is Hananiah, 00:23:41.800 --> 00:23:50.840 Michelle and Azariah. This has been going on for thousands and thousands of years 00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:54.840 and it is going on even now and it will happen to us which is why I'm teaching 00:23:55.000 --> 00:24:06.960 this. Sometimes the way it works, Paul put it this way in Acts chapter 20 he 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:12.840 said after I leave savage wolves will come to ravish you from the outside and 00:24:12.840 --> 00:24:18.240 some from within will rise up and cause strife. I'm appointing you as shepherds 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:29.040 of the flock to guard the flock against the ravage. So it can happen from outside 00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:39.240 or it can happen from inside. When culture is subverted from within or 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:44.160 without what happens is the church is no longer a place. When culture is 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:49.360 subverted the church is no longer a place. Church is no longer a place of 00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:57.160 presence and it is no longer a pillar of truth. It is no longer a pillar of truth 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:12.240 that can combat heresy or the traditions of men. All the traditions of men. If 00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:16.320 culture gets subverted the church is no longer a place of presence and isn't 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:19.840 this a condition of thousands and thousands of churches and do you think 00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:23.600 anyone begins to build a church with the intent that I want to make sure that I'm 00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:27.360 a diluted adulterated contaminated church. Everyone starts with the best of 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:31.320 intentions like us but there are thousands and thousands of churches like 00:25:31.320 --> 00:25:35.800 us who at some point get subverted and the church is no longer a place of 00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:40.000 presence and it's no longer a pillar of truth that can combat the traditions of 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:45.720 men. Heresy is a little easier. Traditions of men is difficult. Jesus said 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:49.960 it very plainly. There is only one thing that opposes the word that is stronger 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:55.440 than the word. It's the traditions of men. The traditions of men can nullify the 00:25:55.440 --> 00:26:00.160 word of God. Crazy eh? That strong. 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:18.880 In 1st Timothy 3.15 we see Paul trying to establish household culture. When I say 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:22.160 household I'm not talking about house churches. Paul used to call every church 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:26.720 a household of God. Whether it would met in the house of Herod, whether it met in 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:31.360 the house of Phoebe, it didn't matter. He called them households. If you go to 1st 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:44.400 Timothy 3.15, 1st Timothy 3.15, reading from the NIV, 1st Timothy 3.15, it says 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:51.280 that although starting at verse 14, although I come I hope to come to you 00:26:51.280 --> 00:26:58.720 soon I'm writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed you will know 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:06.760 how people ought to. It's not even how people I suggest should. How people ought 00:27:06.760 --> 00:27:15.280 to. There is order. It's not a suggestion. God doesn't make suggestions. 00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:23.680 If I'm delayed you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:27.200 household. And then he tells you what God's household is. It is the church of 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:32.800 the living God as in the presence of God. The pillar and the foundation of truth. 00:27:34.800 --> 00:27:41.720 And so when you read the preceding passages that Paul writes to Timothy 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:44.960 with regard to how he needs to set up the household you'll find that some of 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:49.640 the things that come with a culture of a household or a church, culture of a 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:56.840 household, Paul defines in four broad categories. One is identity. The second 00:27:56.840 --> 00:28:06.960 one is relationships. The third one is authority. The fourth one is responsibility. 00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:15.440 Identity, relationships, authority, responsibilities. These are the four 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:20.880 different things that culture affects. Identity, relationship, authority, 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:25.840 responsibility. Culture affects all of this. What is our identity of the church? 00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:30.640 How do relationships function and what when relationships break? What when 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:35.840 relationships go wrong? What relationships need to be fixed? Authority, 00:28:35.840 --> 00:28:40.760 how should authority be exerted? How is it exerted wrongly? If it is exerted 00:28:40.760 --> 00:28:45.520 wrongly what do you do? And if authority is actually immoral or irresponsible 00:28:45.520 --> 00:28:48.800 what should you do? And finally responsibilities. What is our 00:28:48.800 --> 00:29:01.200 responsibility? All this is affected by culture. You know this is not new. As far 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:10.660 back as numbers or Exodus do you know what was in the ark? Do you know what 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:18.440 what was in the ark? You had the ark. The ark was made of wood. It was covered with 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:24.720 gold. On top was a cover. On the top of the cover was two angels with their wings 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:28.240 held out. It was called the mercy seat and the glory of God will literally 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:33.480 dwell between the two angels and where the mercy seat was. And the ark was 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:38.640 laid with gold. So we know the ark was the presence of God. What else was in the ark? 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:43.600 Tablets. So you had the Ten Commandments, the tablets that were placed inside the 00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:47.040 ark. Why were the tablets placed inside the ark? It was to show future 00:29:47.040 --> 00:29:52.160 generations that this is the moral excellence or the truth of God. It seemed 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:56.520 like laws that had to be followed and Jesus completely changed it. You may have 00:29:56.520 --> 00:30:01.480 heard it said that you should not murder. I say to you that do not even be angry. 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:06.120 You may have heard it said that do not commit adultery. I say to you that you 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:09.560 should not even look with lust at somebody. You may have heard it said 00:30:09.560 --> 00:30:13.400 that's an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I say to you that if your 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:34.400 neighbor slaps you on one cheek, give him the other cheek. He just ups the ante because he wants to show through the Old Testament that there is a moral excellence that I expect because I am your God. The tablets were supposed to display for generations this is who I am. It was the excellence of God. What else was there in the ark? 00:30:34.400 --> 00:31:04.400 Mana and Aaron's rod. Aaron's staff. You read about it in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 3 to 5. Paul is talking about the earthly sanctuary and he begins to describe it. Mana. What is mana? Deuteronomy 8.3. Why did he give mana? He said from now on I want you guys to know. Jesus repeated it later on. He said man shall not live by bread alone. You will not sustain your life by self-generated means of sustenance. You will live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:34.400 live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone 00:31:34.400 --> 00:32:04.400 You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:34.400 eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You will not live by eating bread alone. You 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:44.400 do not live by eating bread alone. You do not live by eating bread alone. You do not live 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:51.320 today in the congregation of Christ. So this is not something new, this has been going 00:32:51.320 --> 00:32:55.940 on for the last four thousand years. Both the human problems and God's solution have 00:32:55.940 --> 00:33:12.940 been consistent, unfortunately. Any questions? Any questions? 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:34.940 Okay. The stronger the permeation of culture, the stronger the permeation of culture through 00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:46.300 a people, the stronger the permeation of culture through a people, the easier it is to move 00:33:46.300 --> 00:33:59.860 in one-mindedness. The easier it is to move in one-mindedness. This is, once we move in 00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:05.740 one-mindedness, Psalm 133 happens. What happens in Psalm 133? Two things begin to flow. The 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:10.060 first thing that begins to flow is anointing, the oil that drips down Aaron's beard onto 00:34:10.060 --> 00:34:16.980 his robes. The second thing that begins to flow in verse three is blessing. An entire 00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:25.540 congregation or a people begin to experience these two things. This is not something, a 00:34:26.020 --> 00:34:30.580 culture is not created through a teaching like this. A culture has to be painstakingly chiseled 00:34:30.580 --> 00:34:37.780 because there are things in our culture at Acts 29 that are defective. There are things that I 00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:45.620 have taught that need to be reshaped. Culture evolves because God's truth keeps bringing to 00:34:45.620 --> 00:34:56.100 light newer things, newer things, newer things. So if we want the permeation of culture to affect 00:34:56.100 --> 00:35:00.660 us, we've got to make sure that whatever is permeating is really good stuff. This is why 00:35:00.660 --> 00:35:07.820 we need to look at stale stuff and say, out with this, bring in the refreshingly new from the 00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:15.700 spirit. It is important. What do you think is happening in the letters to the churches in the 00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:20.980 book of Revelation? What do you think is happening? These churches, most of them were established 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:28.100 by Paul. Paul built well. He builds all those churches. In fact, he was responsible for almost 00:35:28.100 --> 00:35:36.020 all those churches, Ephesus, Midna. And along comes Christ a few years later and he's sending 00:35:36.020 --> 00:35:42.500 letters to all the churches. Why? Because they had gone stale, things had fallen across. Look how 00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:51.180 far you have fallen from your first love. Each of those letters is a call back to get it right. 00:35:51.180 --> 00:35:57.500 Otherwise, I will come and snuff out your lampstand. What is snuffing out your lampstand? A whole lot 00:35:57.500 --> 00:36:04.300 of songs but no presence. Snuffing out of your lampstand is not the end of the church. The church 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:09.620 can continue. The building can last forever but you are partaking of the grace of dead people and 00:36:09.620 --> 00:36:19.900 an institution, not of the living Christ. There is a reason Sunday school needs to be retooled. It's 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:25.860 not Barry's fault or Videsha's fault. There is a reason the church needs to be retooled. It's not 00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:31.260 Jacob's fault or Derek's fault or Mae's fault. There is a reason house churches need to be retooled. 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:37.820 It's not the leaders fault. Everything must be retooled. Derek must be retooled. Mae must be 00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:48.540 retooled. I must be retooled. And so must you. But understand why the contents of the ark were the 00:36:48.540 --> 00:36:59.420 contents of the ark. And if it permeates, then look at the beautiful thing that happens and 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:05.100 everybody benefits. God is true. He does not lie. He does not exaggerate. He does not say things 00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:09.580 like a tease who makes you jump high and jump higher saying jump a little higher, jump a little 00:37:09.580 --> 00:37:17.180 higher. He doesn't do that. When he says something, he plans to deliver. In which case he's saying 00:37:17.180 --> 00:37:23.220 that if you begin to operate by the way I think, then here's what I'll do for you. You will be able 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:29.140 to move in one-mindedness. And the moment one-mindedness happens, two things begin to 00:37:29.140 --> 00:37:35.540 flow. Anointing, as in the anointing of the spirit and blessings. And who benefits? Everybody. 00:37:37.060 --> 00:37:45.220 Therefore, if you come up with something that is true, then I don't have a choice but to have 00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:49.220 the humility to match my mind to the truth you have brought up. 00:37:49.220 --> 00:37:54.420 The entire letter of Philippians is just about this. There were two women fighting, 00:37:54.420 --> 00:38:00.420 Yodia and Synteki. Both were Paul's friends. Paul is not laying the blame on anyone. But he says to 00:38:00.420 --> 00:38:07.860 both of them, listen, you need to fix this. You need to be one-minded. Then he goes on to say, 00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:14.740 look at Christ. He was equal to God, but he was humble enough to become a slave. Look at me. 00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:19.540 I have done whatever it needs to be one-minded. Look at Timothy. He's one-minded. Look at Epaphroditus. 00:38:19.540 --> 00:38:26.980 He's one-minded. Now, dear sisters, would you be one-minded too? As we retool, if things are 00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:32.180 brought to our attention that, okay, there's a problem with how Sheldon functions. He's the 00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:36.180 only one not in the room, right? So we can talk behind his back. So there is a way Sheldon 00:38:36.180 --> 00:38:42.420 functions. Then Sheldon does not have a choice but to be humble enough to tell you that he's 00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:48.980 a slave to his choice, but to be humble enough to change so that one-mindedness may prevail. 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:55.140 May none of us be caught resisting one-mindedness because of pride or because of an opinion or 00:38:55.140 --> 00:39:01.220 because of restraint-free independence or because of a lie, because it will be countered in this 00:39:01.220 --> 00:39:06.980 church because it should not be. You are not more important than what Christ wants, though you are 00:39:07.940 --> 00:39:11.540 not. Neither am I. 00:39:24.900 --> 00:39:30.340 Everything radiates from, everything radiates, everything radiates 00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:35.300 from God-crafted, 00:39:38.340 --> 00:39:41.780 everything must radiate or everything radiates from God-crafted 00:39:45.540 --> 00:39:47.540 biblical ways 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:52.980 of collective thinking. 00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:59.780 It must affect our theology, it must affect our practice, it must affect our mission, 00:40:01.220 --> 00:40:04.420 it must affect each person 00:40:07.380 --> 00:40:16.820 because God is creating a royal priesthood, a royal church, a royal church of the Lord. 00:40:17.620 --> 00:40:23.380 Because God is creating a royal priesthood 00:40:26.580 --> 00:40:31.220 and a royal priesthood with a peculiar culture 00:40:35.620 --> 00:40:37.060 that the world will oppose. 00:40:37.060 --> 00:40:44.180 Part of the reason we are not hated by the world and Jesus's words are not true for us is perhaps 00:40:44.180 --> 00:40:49.220 because our culture is not completely counter to the world. Jesus said it this way, 00:40:49.220 --> 00:40:53.940 if you begin to follow me and my words abide in you and you begin to follow my words, I want you to know 00:40:53.940 --> 00:41:00.260 that you will be hated by the world. Probably we are not counter-cultural enough. 00:41:00.260 --> 00:41:10.900 And if you resist or if I resist or you resist, isolate or rebel against 00:41:13.380 --> 00:41:14.900 God-crafted, 00:41:15.060 --> 00:41:24.340 biblical ways of collective thinking you will kick against the goads. 00:41:24.340 --> 00:41:35.140 and if you resist or if I resist or you resist, isolate or rebel against 00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:40.140 you will kick against the goats. 00:41:44.500 --> 00:41:47.220 I know that's not how we talk nowadays. 00:41:47.220 --> 00:41:50.320 In fact, NIV and ESV don't even use that word. 00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:53.300 So, in India you'll still see it, eh? 00:41:53.300 --> 00:41:56.780 You got these buffaloes that plow the field 00:41:56.780 --> 00:42:01.780 and the farmer who drives them has a stick 00:42:02.420 --> 00:42:04.360 with a very sharp end. 00:42:04.360 --> 00:42:08.080 And so, if the buffaloes start misbehaving, 00:42:08.080 --> 00:42:10.880 he won't poke them, he'll just hold the stick 00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:12.560 near their feet. 00:42:12.560 --> 00:42:17.360 So, every time they kick, it begins to come against 00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:19.620 the sharp point and they suddenly line up. 00:42:19.620 --> 00:42:21.280 This is what happened to Paul. 00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:23.320 At one point, Jesus says to Paul when he's on the road 00:42:23.320 --> 00:42:26.680 to Damascus, he says, Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me? 00:42:26.680 --> 00:42:28.360 It won't end well for you. 00:42:28.360 --> 00:42:30.000 Stop kicking against the goats. 00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:33.120 Meaning, if you rebel, if you isolate, 00:42:33.120 --> 00:42:37.680 if you resist the truth, it will hurt your feet. 00:42:37.680 --> 00:42:38.520 Don't. 00:42:41.320 --> 00:42:43.420 Goats, D-O-A-D-S. 00:42:44.600 --> 00:42:45.780 Just what I explained. 00:42:47.720 --> 00:42:49.880 The thing that pierces them. 00:42:51.240 --> 00:42:52.320 Yeah. 00:42:52.320 --> 00:42:55.160 Like I said, we don't need to use this language. 00:42:55.160 --> 00:42:56.840 They'll think you're calling someone a toad, 00:42:56.840 --> 00:42:59.040 so don't go down this road, eh? 00:42:59.040 --> 00:42:59.880 Yeah. 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:02.640 King James is even worse. 00:43:02.680 --> 00:43:05.240 It says, do not kick against the pricks. 00:43:06.520 --> 00:43:08.000 Yeah, so it gets worse. 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:10.960 Like in today's this thing, it would really mess up things. 00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:15.120 So, let's, I just used that phrase just to show you 00:43:15.120 --> 00:43:17.320 what happens when I resist the truth, 00:43:17.320 --> 00:43:18.880 when I rebel against the truth. 00:43:18.880 --> 00:43:21.220 What happens is it keeps doing this. 00:43:22.760 --> 00:43:24.640 It hurts you. 00:43:24.640 --> 00:43:25.460 It hurts you. 00:43:25.460 --> 00:43:27.680 That's what God was trying to say to Paul. 00:43:28.560 --> 00:43:29.400 Okay. 00:43:30.840 --> 00:43:32.760 So now, how do we debate? 00:43:32.760 --> 00:43:33.600 How do we discuss? 00:43:33.600 --> 00:43:34.440 How do we talk? 00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:35.960 There's a culture to that, too. 00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:38.360 Culture is not the interpretation of one man. 00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:40.920 Culture is not, and should not, 00:43:40.920 --> 00:43:42.960 be the interpretation of one man. 00:43:47.920 --> 00:43:51.320 Of one man trying to promote a doctrine, 00:43:51.320 --> 00:43:54.880 trying to promote a doctrine. 00:43:55.720 --> 00:44:00.720 The goal in all our discussions and debates 00:44:01.240 --> 00:44:03.960 and all that stuff, the goal, 00:44:03.960 --> 00:44:08.000 and even with culture, the goal of culture is to 00:44:08.800 --> 00:44:13.800 conform the body to the body. 00:44:16.240 --> 00:44:18.360 So, the body is the body. 00:44:18.360 --> 00:44:20.200 The body is the body. 00:44:20.200 --> 00:44:22.040 The body is the body. 00:44:23.040 --> 00:44:26.880 To the maturity 00:44:28.800 --> 00:44:33.800 or stature of Christ. 00:44:36.680 --> 00:44:38.320 That should be the goal. 00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:40.960 If that goalpost shifts, 00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:45.960 it becomes either ugly or personal or self-promoting 00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:48.800 or the self-promotion of a doctrine 00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:51.780 or a denomination or a pet theory. 00:44:53.040 --> 00:44:55.120 This has to be always central, 00:44:55.120 --> 00:44:58.120 that in everything we do to raise up a culture, 00:44:58.120 --> 00:45:01.040 why are we creating a culture so that people 00:45:01.040 --> 00:45:04.120 can be conformed to or made mature 00:45:04.120 --> 00:45:06.040 or conformed to the stature of Christ? 00:45:06.040 --> 00:45:09.200 If that is not the end goal, then it's pointless. 00:45:12.160 --> 00:45:13.000 What are we trying to do? 00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:16.640 To think like Christ so that we become like Christ. 00:45:18.080 --> 00:45:21.240 So, if that is not the aim of this teaching, 00:45:23.040 --> 00:45:25.480 then this teaching is worth nothing. 00:45:31.040 --> 00:45:34.080 And so, this is why, because it can't be 00:45:34.080 --> 00:45:36.640 one man's interpretation, because it can't be 00:45:36.640 --> 00:45:40.320 the promotion of some particular doctrine, 00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:41.680 culture must evolve. 00:45:41.680 --> 00:45:42.840 Culture must evolve. 00:45:42.840 --> 00:45:45.560 By that I mean, must evolve in the direction 00:45:45.560 --> 00:45:46.580 that Christ wants it to go. 00:45:46.580 --> 00:45:48.040 Culture must evolve. 00:45:48.920 --> 00:45:53.920 It must stand, it must stand the test 00:45:55.160 --> 00:45:59.160 of debate, questioning, discussions. 00:46:08.480 --> 00:46:13.480 If you go to Acts 15, verse six and seven, 00:46:18.840 --> 00:46:20.520 study it, verse five. 00:46:21.680 --> 00:46:23.440 Then some of the believers who belong to the party 00:46:23.440 --> 00:46:24.680 of the Pharisees stood up and said, 00:46:24.680 --> 00:46:26.640 the Gentiles must be circumcised 00:46:26.640 --> 00:46:28.960 and required to keep the law of Moses. 00:46:28.960 --> 00:46:33.080 The apostles and the elders met to consider this question. 00:46:33.080 --> 00:46:36.480 After much discussion, Peter микed up and addressed them. 00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:38.760 Brothers, you know that some time ago, 00:46:38.760 --> 00:46:41.120 God made a choice among you that the Gentiles 00:46:41.120 --> 00:46:44.440 might hear from the lips of the apostles. 00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:46.360 It was a very important choice. 00:46:46.480 --> 00:46:47.880 They might hear from the lips, 00:46:48.760 --> 00:46:51.440 from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 00:46:51.440 --> 00:46:54.000 God who knows the heart showed that he accepted them 00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:55.560 by giving the Holy Spirit to them. 00:46:55.560 --> 00:46:57.400 There was a debate or a discussion. 00:46:57.400 --> 00:47:01.560 If you go to the ESV, it says, Acts 15, verse seven, 00:47:01.560 --> 00:47:05.480 after, and after there had been much debate, 00:47:05.480 --> 00:47:07.680 Peter stood up and said to them, 00:47:07.680 --> 00:47:09.280 this was right off the bat, hey? 00:47:10.760 --> 00:47:12.600 And so there must be discussion and debate. 00:47:12.600 --> 00:47:14.840 Otherwise what happens is, it is possible 00:47:14.840 --> 00:47:17.240 for one man's interpretation to rule the roost. 00:47:19.960 --> 00:47:22.280 And some of the debates have to be one on one 00:47:22.280 --> 00:47:24.680 because you really wanna know what scriptures say. 00:47:24.680 --> 00:47:26.360 Some of the debates have to be open 00:47:26.360 --> 00:47:29.120 so that others hear and begin to think. 00:47:29.120 --> 00:47:30.920 Christians must be thinking people. 00:47:37.040 --> 00:47:40.480 And things that may have been important five years ago 00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:41.760 may not be important now 00:47:41.760 --> 00:47:44.120 because people have caught on to the principle. 00:47:45.080 --> 00:47:45.920 So, 00:47:51.520 --> 00:47:55.360 forms can change once the principle is caught. 00:48:07.880 --> 00:48:11.000 In our debates or discussions or questions 00:48:11.000 --> 00:48:12.720 or whatever you wanna call it, 00:48:12.720 --> 00:48:16.640 in our debates, this is super important, hey? 00:48:16.640 --> 00:48:19.600 In our debates, the intent 00:48:21.680 --> 00:48:22.760 is to arrive 00:48:27.160 --> 00:48:28.680 at the mind of Christ 00:48:33.400 --> 00:48:34.360 through the word 00:48:38.160 --> 00:48:39.000 and spirit. 00:48:39.680 --> 00:48:43.160 Please, I can't emphasize this enough. 00:48:43.160 --> 00:48:45.440 In our questioning, in our discussion, 00:48:45.440 --> 00:48:48.240 if this is not your intent, 00:48:48.240 --> 00:48:49.840 hold your peace and do not speak. 00:48:51.600 --> 00:48:53.520 If this is not your intent, 00:48:53.520 --> 00:48:54.920 if your intent is not, 00:48:54.920 --> 00:48:57.760 I must arrive at the mind of Christ. 00:48:57.760 --> 00:48:59.160 Therefore, I will ask questions 00:48:59.160 --> 00:49:01.400 because I must think like Christ. 00:49:01.400 --> 00:49:03.600 If that is not your intent, 00:49:03.600 --> 00:49:05.600 hold your peace and do not speak. 00:49:05.600 --> 00:49:07.600 Because this is not a forum like 00:49:08.280 --> 00:49:10.240 the Areopagus in Mars Hill 00:49:10.240 --> 00:49:12.520 where Paul turned up to speak to Greeks 00:49:12.520 --> 00:49:15.000 who wanted something trendy to talk about. 00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:16.600 This is not that kind of a forum. 00:49:18.640 --> 00:49:19.840 This must be the intent. 00:49:19.840 --> 00:49:21.600 And if you know this is the intent, 00:49:21.600 --> 00:49:23.840 then have the confidence to ask questions, discuss, 00:49:23.840 --> 00:49:25.000 and debate. 00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:27.280 Because that's the way that Jesus used to arrive 00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:29.200 at the truth when he used to teach 00:49:29.200 --> 00:49:31.800 and when he was 12 years old standing in the temple. 00:49:32.920 --> 00:49:34.680 That was the Jewish way of teaching. 00:49:34.680 --> 00:49:36.720 I'm not saying we need to go Jewish in anything. 00:49:36.920 --> 00:49:39.040 I'm just saying it was not abnormal. 00:49:42.600 --> 00:49:44.960 If that is your intent, great. 00:49:44.960 --> 00:49:47.120 But if the intent is not that, 00:49:47.120 --> 00:49:48.920 and it is any one of these things, 00:49:48.920 --> 00:49:53.040 one, brewing dissension. 00:49:56.560 --> 00:49:58.040 And if you don't understand any of it, 00:49:58.040 --> 00:50:00.200 I will explain brewing dissension. 00:50:00.200 --> 00:50:03.560 Two, exalting your experience 00:50:03.760 --> 00:50:05.680 exalting your experience 00:50:08.360 --> 00:50:11.360 as tragic or as deep as it might be. 00:50:11.360 --> 00:50:15.000 Exalting your experience over the word. 00:50:18.960 --> 00:50:23.120 Or if it is resisting inconvenient truth, 00:50:24.280 --> 00:50:25.640 because you don't like it, 00:50:25.640 --> 00:50:29.560 because you know what will happen if you agree to it. 00:50:29.560 --> 00:50:32.640 If it is any of these, then do not speak. 00:50:32.680 --> 00:50:34.120 This is not a forum for that. 00:50:36.160 --> 00:50:37.680 You can speak one on one. 00:50:42.400 --> 00:50:46.600 I appreciated the questions that Vivian asked last Sunday. 00:50:46.600 --> 00:50:49.840 They came from a place where she wanted to know things. 00:50:52.160 --> 00:50:53.320 Questions must be asked, 00:50:53.320 --> 00:50:56.240 but the intent should be to arrive at the mind of Christ. 00:50:57.360 --> 00:51:00.000 But if the intent is brewing dissension, 00:51:01.000 --> 00:51:04.080 or if the intent is exalting my own experience 00:51:04.080 --> 00:51:04.920 over the word saying, 00:51:04.920 --> 00:51:05.920 no, no, but this is true. 00:51:05.920 --> 00:51:07.320 This is what I have experienced. 00:51:07.320 --> 00:51:09.200 Well, Jacob, it might be your experience, 00:51:09.200 --> 00:51:10.400 but it's anecdotal, 00:51:10.400 --> 00:51:12.320 and it does not match up with the word, 00:51:12.320 --> 00:51:13.680 or does not confirm with the word, 00:51:13.680 --> 00:51:16.480 then Jacob, please hold your experience. 00:51:16.480 --> 00:51:17.320 Not important. 00:51:18.480 --> 00:51:21.440 And third, resisting inconvenient truths, 00:51:21.440 --> 00:51:22.600 where this is the truth, 00:51:22.600 --> 00:51:25.280 but it may be the truth, but no. 00:51:25.280 --> 00:51:28.880 If it's the truth, then work through the shades of truth 00:51:29.280 --> 00:51:33.440 that you need to work through to arrive at white or black. 00:51:33.440 --> 00:51:35.880 But we can't resist inconvenient truth 00:51:35.880 --> 00:51:37.920 in this forum through questions. 00:51:39.880 --> 00:51:41.120 Not done. 00:51:41.120 --> 00:51:44.080 This is not Mars Hill, and we are not Greeks. 00:51:46.520 --> 00:51:48.720 There is a Greek restaurant close by, though. 00:51:51.480 --> 00:51:53.080 Any questions before we move on? 00:51:53.080 --> 00:51:53.920 Any questions? 00:51:57.920 --> 00:51:58.760 Yep. 00:52:02.760 --> 00:52:03.600 Yeah. 00:52:05.600 --> 00:52:07.320 Privately, that's exactly what I said. 00:52:07.320 --> 00:52:08.520 Come and talk one on one. 00:52:13.520 --> 00:52:16.000 Yeah, I mean, that, guys, 00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:20.480 there is a lot of people who are not aware 00:52:20.760 --> 00:52:24.880 that, guys, there have been times where I know 00:52:24.880 --> 00:52:27.640 that I have been discussed over lunch in certain homes. 00:52:28.680 --> 00:52:30.160 It's called pastor roast. 00:52:30.160 --> 00:52:32.640 That's what people have had for lunch. 00:52:32.640 --> 00:52:33.560 Not pot roast. 00:52:36.680 --> 00:52:37.560 It happens. 00:52:39.640 --> 00:52:42.960 Once in a while, if it happens because I've hurt you, 00:52:42.960 --> 00:52:45.360 that's okay, but if it's a regular thing, 00:52:47.680 --> 00:52:49.520 do not kick against the goats, guys. 00:52:50.920 --> 00:52:52.720 I won't be hurt, sticks and stones, 00:52:54.720 --> 00:52:56.040 but your shin will pain. 00:52:58.120 --> 00:52:59.720 No, it hurts me, okay? 00:52:59.720 --> 00:53:02.080 I'm not impervious to it. 00:53:02.080 --> 00:53:04.400 When I hear about things that people say, 00:53:04.400 --> 00:53:05.480 yeah, it bothers me. 00:53:07.680 --> 00:53:10.680 But it's not so bothersome that it harms me a long time. 00:53:17.040 --> 00:53:20.360 Yeah, so conspiratorial whispering, 00:53:21.320 --> 00:53:24.480 without bringing it up when it is one of these three things, 00:53:24.480 --> 00:53:26.040 is not good. 00:53:26.040 --> 00:53:27.440 You will kick against the goats. 00:53:31.000 --> 00:53:33.760 We'll talk about how do we deal with then leaders 00:53:33.760 --> 00:53:35.000 that are not functioning well. 00:53:35.000 --> 00:53:37.680 What if Jacob is being a jerk? 00:53:37.680 --> 00:53:38.680 What do we do then? 00:53:40.640 --> 00:53:41.920 There's culture for that too. 00:53:51.200 --> 00:53:54.000 Kingdom culture has principles that are binding. 00:53:54.000 --> 00:53:57.720 Kingdom culture has, that's not Kansas City teeth, 00:53:57.720 --> 00:53:59.320 that's just kingdom culture. 00:53:59.320 --> 00:54:03.680 Kingdom culture has principles that are binding. 00:54:08.520 --> 00:54:11.320 When skirted or compromised, 00:54:11.320 --> 00:54:14.920 when skirted or compromised, 00:54:15.280 --> 00:54:17.480 when skirted or compromised, 00:54:17.480 --> 00:54:20.880 we lose our distinctiveness. 00:54:24.760 --> 00:54:26.760 We lose our distinctiveness 00:54:26.760 --> 00:54:31.760 and we become like movements in the world. 00:54:31.760 --> 00:54:34.720 We become like organizations or movements in the world. 00:54:40.000 --> 00:54:41.720 So these are binding principles. 00:54:41.720 --> 00:54:43.440 These are not just about the world. 00:54:43.600 --> 00:54:44.640 These are binding principles. 00:54:44.640 --> 00:54:46.160 These are not suggestions. 00:54:46.160 --> 00:54:48.560 These are not things that we can skirt around. 00:54:49.920 --> 00:54:52.000 I've seen people better than me, 00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:56.560 pastors that are more popular, more prominent, 00:54:56.560 --> 00:54:58.840 more powerful, more truthful than me 00:54:58.840 --> 00:55:02.120 skirt these principles to their demise. 00:55:03.840 --> 00:55:04.880 One of the things that happens 00:55:04.880 --> 00:55:08.000 when you skirt these principles is like David, 00:55:08.000 --> 00:55:13.000 you will have war follow your house till the day you die. 00:55:14.440 --> 00:55:16.600 You will live. 00:55:16.600 --> 00:55:18.440 You will write Psalm 51. 00:55:18.440 --> 00:55:20.160 You will write Psalm 139. 00:55:20.160 --> 00:55:23.080 You will write 40 other good Psalms. 00:55:24.600 --> 00:55:26.360 People will sing it, 00:55:26.360 --> 00:55:28.720 but the sword will never leave your house. 00:55:28.720 --> 00:55:30.000 That's what happened to David 00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:31.600 because of what he did to Uriah. 00:55:38.560 --> 00:55:39.640 These are binding. 00:55:39.640 --> 00:55:41.520 I pray God that I don't break them. 00:55:44.320 --> 00:55:45.640 The other thing is guys, 00:55:45.640 --> 00:55:47.760 when I teach this, it is very easy to think, 00:55:47.760 --> 00:55:48.600 but what about this? 00:55:48.600 --> 00:55:49.440 What about that? 00:55:49.440 --> 00:55:50.280 What about this? 00:55:50.280 --> 00:55:52.160 The reason we are teaching is so that 00:55:52.160 --> 00:55:53.600 the this and the that and the that 00:55:53.600 --> 00:55:56.120 that you're thinking about can be addressed. 00:55:56.120 --> 00:55:57.680 So instead of thinking, what about that guy? 00:55:57.680 --> 00:55:58.520 What about this guy? 00:55:58.520 --> 00:55:59.360 What about that that happened? 00:55:59.360 --> 00:56:00.200 What about this that happened? 00:56:00.200 --> 00:56:01.520 Stop! 00:56:01.520 --> 00:56:03.360 The very reason we are teaching it 00:56:03.360 --> 00:56:05.320 is so that we can correct ourselves. 00:56:06.080 --> 00:56:07.520 So correct your heart first. 00:56:13.800 --> 00:56:14.960 You think after teaching this, 00:56:14.960 --> 00:56:15.920 if I don't do this, 00:56:15.920 --> 00:56:17.160 you think I won't be judged? 00:56:17.160 --> 00:56:18.800 I'll be judged harsher than you, men. 00:56:18.800 --> 00:56:20.480 James chapter three, verse one. 00:56:24.800 --> 00:56:26.280 Think of yourself first 00:56:27.080 --> 00:56:28.480 before you think of an incident 00:56:28.480 --> 00:56:29.800 or think of something else. 00:56:32.360 --> 00:56:33.880 This is why anyone missing today 00:56:33.880 --> 00:56:35.400 needs to hear this message 00:56:35.400 --> 00:56:37.680 because this is for the entire Acts 29. 00:56:38.200 --> 00:56:40.520 Okay, so here are the principles 00:56:40.520 --> 00:56:41.440 that we need to apply. 00:56:41.440 --> 00:56:42.640 Apply these principles. 00:56:42.640 --> 00:56:45.000 What when a brother sins against you? 00:56:45.000 --> 00:56:47.200 Should a brother sin against you? 00:56:47.200 --> 00:56:50.920 Should a brother or a sister sin against you? 00:56:52.280 --> 00:56:53.120 What do we do? 00:56:55.240 --> 00:56:57.040 Let's go to math first. 00:56:57.040 --> 00:56:58.480 Let's think of a brother. 00:56:58.480 --> 00:56:59.280 Let's think of a sister. 00:56:59.280 --> 00:57:00.120 What do we do? 00:57:00.120 --> 00:57:00.960 What does a brother do? 00:57:00.960 --> 00:57:02.040 What do courting do? 00:57:02.040 --> 00:57:03.040 What does a sister do? 00:57:03.040 --> 00:57:03.880 What do we do? 00:57:03.880 --> 00:57:07.240 What do we do when a brother sins against you? 00:57:07.240 --> 00:57:12.240 Let's go to Matthew 18, 15 to 17. 00:57:12.840 --> 00:57:14.580 Matthew 18, 15 to 17. 00:57:21.080 --> 00:57:22.720 If your brother sins against you, 00:57:23.720 --> 00:57:25.040 go and tell him it's fault 00:57:27.840 --> 00:57:29.360 between you and him alone. 00:57:30.240 --> 00:57:33.560 If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 00:57:34.560 --> 00:57:36.560 But if he doesn't listen to you, 00:57:37.560 --> 00:57:39.560 take one or two others along with you. 00:57:40.560 --> 00:57:42.560 That every charge may be established 00:57:43.560 --> 00:57:45.560 by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 00:57:46.560 --> 00:57:48.560 If he refuses to listen to them, 00:57:48.560 --> 00:57:49.560 tell it to the church. 00:57:50.560 --> 00:57:52.560 And if he refuses to listen even to the church, 00:57:53.560 --> 00:57:54.560 let him to be to you, 00:57:55.560 --> 00:57:57.560 in our language it would be, 00:57:57.560 --> 00:57:59.560 let him be to you as a Maple Leaf fan 00:57:59.560 --> 00:58:01.560 or a Vegas Golden Knights fan. 00:58:02.560 --> 00:58:03.560 Yeah? 00:58:03.560 --> 00:58:05.560 So that's how it would translate. 00:58:05.560 --> 00:58:08.560 Meaning, let him be like pariahs to you. 00:58:10.560 --> 00:58:13.560 So, should a brother sin against you, 00:58:13.560 --> 00:58:15.560 the first thing is, and sometimes it is hard 00:58:15.560 --> 00:58:17.560 when the person is a person in authority. 00:58:17.560 --> 00:58:20.560 So let's assume that James has a problem with me, 00:58:20.560 --> 00:58:25.560 and he finds me overbearing and too intimidating. 00:58:25.560 --> 00:58:28.560 So for him it might be difficult to come to me 00:58:28.560 --> 00:58:30.560 and say, I see this fault in you. 00:58:31.560 --> 00:58:34.560 If that is the case, then James must try and see 00:58:34.560 --> 00:58:37.560 if he can convey that message to me 00:58:37.560 --> 00:58:39.560 through someone else who he knows, 00:58:40.560 --> 00:58:42.560 has my ear and can tell me 00:58:42.560 --> 00:58:45.560 that James has been done harm by me. 00:58:45.560 --> 00:58:47.560 But if that is not the situation, 00:58:47.560 --> 00:58:51.560 there is no fear of being overbearing or intimidating, 00:58:51.560 --> 00:58:53.560 then James, the first thing is James comes to me 00:58:53.560 --> 00:58:54.560 and talks to me about it. 00:58:54.560 --> 00:58:58.560 If that doesn't work, then he takes Nick and Matt with him, 00:58:58.560 --> 00:59:00.560 because Nick and Matt were there when the incident happened. 00:59:01.560 --> 00:59:03.560 And it must be established by two or three witnesses. 00:59:03.560 --> 00:59:05.560 And when that doesn't work, 00:59:05.560 --> 00:59:06.560 then you come and tell the church 00:59:06.560 --> 00:59:08.560 or some of the leaders of the church. 00:59:08.560 --> 00:59:10.560 And then if that doesn't work, 00:59:10.560 --> 00:59:13.560 then you should begin to treat Jacob 00:59:13.560 --> 00:59:16.560 as you would a Maple Leaf fan. 00:59:16.560 --> 00:59:17.560 What does that look like? 00:59:17.560 --> 00:59:19.560 Next Sunday when I turn up in church, nobody turns up. 00:59:25.560 --> 00:59:26.560 Please come. 00:59:32.560 --> 00:59:34.560 Let's look at another principle. 00:59:34.560 --> 00:59:35.560 What if a leader sins? 00:59:36.560 --> 00:59:37.560 What if a leader sins? 00:59:43.560 --> 00:59:45.560 What if a leader sins? 00:59:45.560 --> 00:59:47.560 Let's go to 1 Timothy 5. 00:59:48.560 --> 00:59:52.560 1 Timothy 5, 19. 00:59:52.560 --> 00:59:56.560 1 Timothy 5, 19 to 21. 00:59:56.560 --> 01:00:01.560 So the first step in the whole if a leader sins 01:00:01.560 --> 01:00:05.560 is do not entertain an accusation against an elder 01:00:05.560 --> 01:00:07.560 or a leader in our case, 01:00:07.560 --> 01:00:10.560 unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 01:00:10.560 --> 01:00:16.560 As in, just because one person says it is not enough. 01:00:16.560 --> 01:00:18.560 Have others experienced it? 01:00:18.560 --> 01:00:21.560 Okay, so nobody was there when this leader did what was wrong. 01:00:21.560 --> 01:00:24.560 Well then, let's look at another principle. 01:00:24.560 --> 01:00:28.560 Have you noticed the same thing happening with say, 01:00:28.560 --> 01:00:30.560 I did harm to Mark, 01:00:30.560 --> 01:00:32.560 and Mark is just by himself. 01:00:32.560 --> 01:00:34.560 There was no one around him when I did harm to him. 01:00:34.560 --> 01:00:35.560 So now what does he do? 01:00:35.560 --> 01:00:36.560 It cannot be entertained. 01:00:36.560 --> 01:00:39.560 So he finds out that Jagan went through the same experience 01:00:39.560 --> 01:00:41.560 and that Nick went through the same experience. 01:00:41.560 --> 01:00:44.560 Now something can be established by two or three witnesses. 01:00:45.560 --> 01:00:48.560 But Jacob has this consistent pattern of doing this. 01:00:49.560 --> 01:00:51.560 So that's the first step. 01:00:51.560 --> 01:00:54.560 And if you don't like this, it is binding. 01:00:57.560 --> 01:00:59.560 It has nothing to do with Acts 29. 01:01:04.560 --> 01:01:09.560 So do not entertain an accusation against an elder 01:01:09.560 --> 01:01:11.560 unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 01:01:11.560 --> 01:01:13.560 But those elders who are sinning, 01:01:13.560 --> 01:01:15.560 you are to reprove before everyone. 01:01:15.560 --> 01:01:18.560 As in, call them out publicly. 01:01:18.560 --> 01:01:20.560 This is what most churches avoid. 01:01:20.560 --> 01:01:25.560 They send you off to Dubai or to China for six months, 01:01:26.560 --> 01:01:28.560 and nobody knows what you really did here. 01:01:32.560 --> 01:01:33.560 Reprove them publicly. 01:01:39.560 --> 01:01:41.560 So what does this mean? 01:01:41.560 --> 01:01:43.560 It means that you have to be reprote. 01:01:43.560 --> 01:01:45.560 So that others may take warning. 01:01:46.560 --> 01:01:48.560 And then Paul puts in an extra line 01:01:48.560 --> 01:01:51.560 so that you don't escape the severity of it. 01:01:51.560 --> 01:01:54.560 And he says, I charge you in the sight of God 01:01:54.560 --> 01:01:57.560 and Christ Jesus and the elect angels 01:01:57.560 --> 01:02:00.560 to keep these instructions without partiality 01:02:00.560 --> 01:02:02.560 and to do nothing out of favoritism. 01:02:03.560 --> 01:02:05.560 That is what is expected of me. 01:02:06.560 --> 01:02:08.560 If you bring a charge against a leader, 01:02:08.560 --> 01:02:10.560 he will not be able to do anything. 01:02:10.560 --> 01:02:13.560 If you bring a charge against a leader here, 01:02:14.560 --> 01:02:18.560 and it is proven, and it's a habit, 01:02:18.560 --> 01:02:20.560 this is what is asked of. 01:02:20.560 --> 01:02:22.560 And the same applies to me. 01:02:28.560 --> 01:02:29.560 These are binding. 01:02:29.560 --> 01:02:31.560 This is part of culture. 01:02:34.560 --> 01:02:35.560 Let's look at another. 01:02:35.560 --> 01:02:40.560 How about if wholesome, straightforward teaching 01:02:40.560 --> 01:02:41.560 is contradicted? 01:02:42.560 --> 01:02:45.560 What if wholesome, straightforward teaching, 01:02:45.560 --> 01:02:48.560 as in there's no Greek and Hebrew necessary, 01:02:48.560 --> 01:02:49.560 straightforward teaching, 01:02:49.560 --> 01:02:55.560 what if it's being taught and it's being contradicted? 01:02:55.560 --> 01:02:56.560 What happens then? 01:02:57.560 --> 01:02:59.560 What happens if it's being taught 01:02:59.560 --> 01:03:01.560 and it's being contradicted? 01:03:01.560 --> 01:03:02.560 It's being contradicted. 01:03:03.560 --> 01:03:04.560 What happens then? 01:03:05.560 --> 01:03:06.560 Let's go to 1 Timothy 3, 01:03:07.560 --> 01:03:08.560 1 Timothy 3, 01:03:10.560 --> 01:03:11.560 3 to 6. 01:03:16.560 --> 01:03:18.560 No, not 1 Timothy 3. 01:03:18.560 --> 01:03:19.560 Yeah, 1 Timothy 3. 01:03:19.560 --> 01:03:20.560 Where am I? 01:03:27.560 --> 01:03:29.560 This is what if people don't listen 01:03:29.560 --> 01:03:31.560 to wholesome teaching, 01:03:31.560 --> 01:03:34.560 they want to contradict wholesome teaching. 01:03:39.560 --> 01:03:41.560 Okay, I'll have to find the scripture. 01:03:41.560 --> 01:03:44.560 I thought it was 1 Timothy 3, 3 to 6, but it's not. 01:03:44.560 --> 01:03:46.560 Okay, on the other hand, guys, 01:03:46.560 --> 01:03:47.560 since we are talking about leaders 01:03:47.560 --> 01:03:49.560 and talking about brothers or offenders, 01:03:49.560 --> 01:03:53.560 what about following Hebrews 13, 17? 01:03:53.560 --> 01:03:56.560 And this is a, if you're not leading a house church 01:03:56.560 --> 01:03:58.560 or something in this church, 01:03:58.560 --> 01:04:01.560 is this your attitude? 01:04:01.560 --> 01:04:04.560 Hebrews 13, Hebrews 13, 01:04:13.560 --> 01:04:15.560 verse 17, Hebrews 13, verse 17, 01:04:15.560 --> 01:04:17.560 is this how you are? 01:04:19.560 --> 01:04:21.560 Have confidence in your leaders 01:04:21.560 --> 01:04:22.560 and submit to their authority 01:04:22.560 --> 01:04:24.560 because they keep watch over you 01:04:24.560 --> 01:04:26.560 as those who must give an account. 01:04:26.560 --> 01:04:29.560 Do this so that their work will be a joy, 01:04:29.560 --> 01:04:30.560 not a burden, 01:04:30.560 --> 01:04:33.560 for that would be of no benefit to you. 01:04:33.560 --> 01:04:35.560 Let me read it from the message. 01:04:53.560 --> 01:04:54.560 Ask yourself that question. 01:04:55.560 --> 01:04:56.560 Do you make it harder? 01:04:56.560 --> 01:04:57.560 Do you bring them joy? 01:05:03.560 --> 01:05:05.560 Because as much as the leaders are responsible, 01:05:06.560 --> 01:05:08.560 our responsibility is also there. 01:05:14.560 --> 01:05:16.560 Or how about the other scripture, 01:05:16.560 --> 01:05:18.560 which we all know, 1 Timothy 5, 17, 01:05:18.560 --> 01:05:20.560 1 Timothy 5, 17, 01:05:20.560 --> 01:05:23.560 1 Timothy 5, 17, 01:05:24.560 --> 01:05:29.560 1 Timothy 5, 17, 01:05:29.560 --> 01:05:32.560 reading from the NIV. 01:05:32.560 --> 01:05:37.560 The leaders or elders who direct the affairs of the church well 01:05:37.560 --> 01:05:39.560 are worthy of double honor, 01:05:39.560 --> 01:05:42.560 especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 01:05:42.560 --> 01:05:47.560 So if your leader, the one in your house church or this leader, 01:05:47.560 --> 01:05:50.560 is doing his work well, 01:05:50.560 --> 01:05:52.560 then he is worthy of double honor. 01:05:52.560 --> 01:05:54.560 I'm not even talking about money, 01:05:54.560 --> 01:05:57.560 talking about the respect and the honor that must be given. 01:05:59.560 --> 01:06:01.560 Worthy of double honor, 01:06:02.560 --> 01:06:06.560 especially those who work in preaching and teaching. 01:06:09.560 --> 01:06:12.560 It requires humility from both sides, eh? 01:06:14.560 --> 01:06:16.560 And is that your heart condition? 01:06:16.560 --> 01:06:18.560 Is that my heart condition? 01:06:22.560 --> 01:06:25.560 And you thought the kingdom of God had no culture, 01:06:25.560 --> 01:06:30.560 my God, he's got a constitution full of how households must be administrated. 01:06:32.560 --> 01:06:34.560 And then if there are those that are floundering, 01:06:34.560 --> 01:06:37.560 go to Jude, and we'll end with that and go to something else. 01:06:37.560 --> 01:06:41.560 Jude, Jude 1, 17. 01:06:48.560 --> 01:06:50.560 Jude 1, 17. 01:06:51.560 --> 01:06:53.560 Jude 1, 17. 01:07:02.560 --> 01:07:04.560 But remember, dear friends, reading from the message, 01:07:04.560 --> 01:07:07.560 that the apostles of our master Jesus Christ told us this would happen. 01:07:07.560 --> 01:07:11.560 In the last days there will be people who don't take these things seriously anymore. 01:07:11.560 --> 01:07:15.560 They'll treat them like a joke and make a religion of their own whims and lusts. 01:07:15.560 --> 01:07:18.560 These are the ones who split churches, thinking only of themselves. 01:07:18.560 --> 01:07:20.560 There's nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit. 01:07:20.560 --> 01:07:24.560 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in the most holy faith 01:07:24.560 --> 01:07:27.560 by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, 01:07:27.560 --> 01:07:32.560 keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our master Jesus Christ. 01:07:32.560 --> 01:07:34.560 This is the unending life, the real life. 01:07:34.560 --> 01:07:37.560 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. 01:07:37.560 --> 01:07:39.560 Go after those who take the wrong way. 01:07:39.560 --> 01:07:42.560 Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. 01:07:42.560 --> 01:07:45.560 The sin itself stinks to high heaven. 01:07:48.560 --> 01:07:50.560 Thank you. 01:07:58.560 --> 01:08:02.560 Hopefully I'll be back next Sunday to continue with this. 01:08:02.560 --> 01:08:10.560 But two of the things I wanted to talk about is what must we expect of shepherds, 01:08:10.560 --> 01:08:12.560 and why do we need shepherds? 01:08:12.560 --> 01:08:17.560 What must we expect of shepherds, and why do we need shepherds? 01:08:18.560 --> 01:08:20.560 I wanted to read a certain passage. 01:08:20.560 --> 01:08:22.560 Go to Numbers 11. 01:08:23.560 --> 01:08:25.560 Numbers 11. 01:08:25.560 --> 01:08:27.560 Why do we need shepherds? 01:08:27.560 --> 01:08:29.560 Numbers 11. 01:08:40.560 --> 01:08:43.560 This is what Moses is expected to do, 01:08:43.560 --> 01:08:48.560 but because people were being difficult, he started whining about it. 01:08:48.560 --> 01:08:51.560 The process of shepherding is not easy. 01:08:51.560 --> 01:08:57.560 As wonderful as this church is, and I know I've said that many, many, many times, 01:08:57.560 --> 01:09:01.560 and I mean it, and sometimes thinking of it makes me weep, especially during Christmas, 01:09:01.560 --> 01:09:08.560 and it's coming soon, but here's what is expected of a shepherd, 01:09:08.560 --> 01:09:10.560 and you can read Ezekiel 34 and it'll say it again, 01:09:10.560 --> 01:09:14.560 but Moses started whining because it was getting really difficult for him. 01:09:16.560 --> 01:09:18.560 Let me read it from the NIV. 01:09:18.560 --> 01:09:24.560 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. 01:09:24.560 --> 01:09:28.560 The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 01:09:28.560 --> 01:09:30.560 Moses asked the Lord, 01:09:30.560 --> 01:09:32.560 Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? 01:09:32.560 --> 01:09:36.560 What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 01:09:36.560 --> 01:09:38.560 Did I conceive all these people? 01:09:38.560 --> 01:09:40.560 Did I give them birth? 01:09:40.560 --> 01:09:43.560 Why do you tell them to carry me in my arms as a nurse carries an infant 01:09:43.560 --> 01:09:46.560 to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 01:09:46.560 --> 01:09:48.560 Where can I get meat for all these people? 01:09:48.560 --> 01:09:50.560 They keep wailing to me, give us meat to eat. 01:09:50.560 --> 01:09:53.560 I cannot carry all these people by myself. 01:09:53.560 --> 01:09:55.560 The burden is too heavy for me. 01:09:55.560 --> 01:09:58.560 If this is how you're going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me 01:09:58.560 --> 01:10:00.560 if I have found favor in your eyes. 01:10:00.560 --> 01:10:02.560 Do not let me face my own ruin. 01:10:02.560 --> 01:10:03.560 That's when he's whining. 01:10:03.560 --> 01:10:05.560 Now let's turn it to the positive. 01:10:05.560 --> 01:10:10.560 Okay, this is what a shepherd beat in a house church with two people 01:10:10.560 --> 01:10:13.560 or in a church with 50 people is supposed to do. 01:10:13.560 --> 01:10:15.560 Here's what they're supposed to do. 01:10:17.560 --> 01:10:19.560 I conceived these people. 01:10:19.560 --> 01:10:20.560 I gave them birth. 01:10:20.560 --> 01:10:23.560 I will carry them in my arms as a nurse carries an infant 01:10:23.560 --> 01:10:25.560 to the land that you have promised them. 01:10:25.560 --> 01:10:28.560 I will find meat to feed all these people. 01:10:28.560 --> 01:10:30.560 When they wail, I'll find meat. 01:10:30.560 --> 01:10:32.560 I will carry these people by myself. 01:10:32.560 --> 01:10:35.560 The burden may be heavy, but I will continue going through it. 01:10:35.560 --> 01:10:37.560 Give me life so that I may continue with this. 01:10:37.560 --> 01:10:39.560 This is what you do with your children. 01:10:42.560 --> 01:10:45.560 Moses was whining because it got difficult. 01:10:45.560 --> 01:10:49.560 My hope is that every person in this church at some point will become a shepherd. 01:10:55.560 --> 01:10:57.560 Why do we need shepherds? 01:10:57.560 --> 01:11:00.560 Because if there aren't enough shepherds, there won't be enough sheep. 01:11:00.560 --> 01:11:02.560 Go to Matthew. 01:11:10.560 --> 01:11:13.560 Go to Matthew 9.35-38. 01:11:13.560 --> 01:11:15.560 Matthew 9.35-38. 01:11:15.560 --> 01:11:17.560 Matthew 9.35-38. 01:11:23.560 --> 01:11:25.560 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, 01:11:25.560 --> 01:11:28.560 teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, 01:11:28.560 --> 01:11:30.560 healing every disease and sickness. 01:11:30.560 --> 01:11:32.560 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them 01:11:32.560 --> 01:11:35.560 because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 01:11:35.560 --> 01:11:37.560 Then he said to his disciples, 01:11:37.560 --> 01:11:40.560 The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 01:11:40.560 --> 01:11:42.560 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, 01:11:42.560 --> 01:11:44.560 to send out workers into his harvest field. 01:11:44.560 --> 01:11:46.560 What was he praying? 01:11:46.560 --> 01:11:49.560 We think he was praying for missionaries. 01:11:49.560 --> 01:11:51.560 He was not praying for missionaries. 01:11:51.560 --> 01:11:54.560 He saw people and he saw that they were sheep without a shepherd. 01:11:54.560 --> 01:11:57.560 So he said, Ask for more. 01:11:57.560 --> 01:11:59.560 Ask for more what? 01:11:59.560 --> 01:12:00.560 Shepherds. Why? 01:12:00.560 --> 01:12:03.560 So that the sheep may not be shepherdess. 01:12:04.560 --> 01:12:05.560 So what does that mean? 01:12:05.560 --> 01:12:07.560 That means that at some point, 01:12:07.560 --> 01:12:13.560 Matt Dirtz and Vignesh and Vidisha and Sharon and Josh and Jonathan and James 01:12:13.560 --> 01:12:17.560 and anybody here should be able at one point to say, 01:12:17.560 --> 01:12:19.560 Aha, I have learnt enough. 01:12:19.560 --> 01:12:22.560 I can now begin to shepherd. 01:12:28.560 --> 01:12:30.560 But there are binding rules, there is order, 01:12:30.560 --> 01:12:33.560 and without it, it doesn't happen. 01:12:36.560 --> 01:12:39.560 That is what the harvest is requiring. 01:12:41.560 --> 01:12:45.560 But we'll talk about all that next week. 01:12:54.560 --> 01:12:56.560 In Ezekiel 34, 01:12:56.560 --> 01:12:59.560 it says, Shepherds bind the injured. 01:12:59.560 --> 01:13:01.560 Shepherds, 01:13:02.560 --> 01:13:04.560 Shepherds 01:13:06.560 --> 01:13:08.560 bind 01:13:08.560 --> 01:13:10.560 the injured. 01:13:13.560 --> 01:13:16.560 Shepherds carry the young. 01:13:20.560 --> 01:13:22.560 Shepherds feed. 01:13:23.560 --> 01:13:26.560 Shepherds search for strays. 01:13:29.560 --> 01:13:32.560 Shepherds lay down their lives. 01:13:36.560 --> 01:13:39.560 One of the things I want to do during our break from house churches 01:13:39.560 --> 01:13:42.560 is to gather the shepherds that lead house churches right now 01:13:42.560 --> 01:13:45.560 and say to them, These are the areas that you need to be better in. 01:13:45.560 --> 01:13:48.560 These are the areas that you need to pull up your socks in 01:13:48.560 --> 01:13:51.560 so that everybody has an experience next year 01:13:51.560 --> 01:13:54.560 of more of the Father through you 01:13:54.560 --> 01:13:57.560 than less of the Father through you. 01:13:57.560 --> 01:13:59.560 That's the intent. 01:13:59.560 --> 01:14:01.560 But these are some of the things shepherds do. 01:14:01.560 --> 01:14:03.560 The strange thing is, 01:14:03.560 --> 01:14:06.560 this is not advertised. 01:14:06.560 --> 01:14:08.560 Nobody is going around, 01:14:08.560 --> 01:14:10.560 Jane is not going around, 01:14:10.560 --> 01:14:13.560 or I'm not going around saying, This is what I did. 01:14:13.560 --> 01:14:16.560 So let me be foolish like Paul said. 01:14:16.560 --> 01:14:18.560 In 2 Corinthians 12, 01:14:18.560 --> 01:14:22.560 there are people in this church who WhatsApp Heidi and me 01:14:22.560 --> 01:14:24.560 at any time in the night, 01:14:24.560 --> 01:14:25.560 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock, 01:14:25.560 --> 01:14:28.560 it doesn't matter which country I am or Heidi is, 01:14:28.560 --> 01:14:30.560 2 o'clock, 01:14:30.560 --> 01:14:34.560 and either she or I will get up then and pray for that person. 01:14:36.560 --> 01:14:38.560 And this is not just one. 01:14:38.560 --> 01:14:39.560 I'm talking about this church, 01:14:39.560 --> 01:14:42.560 I'm not even talking about Bahrain or some other place. 01:14:42.560 --> 01:14:44.560 So when you sometimes hear stories of, 01:14:44.560 --> 01:14:46.560 Oh, doesn't look like this person is being taken care of, 01:14:46.560 --> 01:14:50.560 doesn't look like that person is being taken care of, 01:14:50.560 --> 01:14:53.560 don't believe everything. 01:14:53.560 --> 01:14:57.560 The ones you have in this church are better than me or Heidi. 01:15:01.560 --> 01:15:05.560 And they will be better coming January 2024. 01:15:05.560 --> 01:15:07.560 So don't believe everything. 01:15:07.560 --> 01:15:11.560 And they will be better coming January 2024. 01:15:13.560 --> 01:15:15.560 They'll pull themselves out even more 01:15:16.560 --> 01:15:20.560 because we want to create a culture that is counter to the world, 01:15:20.560 --> 01:15:23.560 counter to the best organizations in the world. 01:15:29.560 --> 01:15:32.560 The strange thing is some of you are already shepherds 01:15:32.560 --> 01:15:34.560 who can function really well. 01:15:34.560 --> 01:15:38.560 But if you are restrained free independent shepherds, 01:15:40.560 --> 01:15:42.560 you ain't a real shepherd. 01:15:44.560 --> 01:15:46.560 You're a hireling. 01:15:55.560 --> 01:15:57.560 Any questions? 01:15:57.560 --> 01:15:59.560 What's the difference between a hireling and a shepherd? 01:15:59.560 --> 01:16:00.560 Very simple. 01:16:00.560 --> 01:16:02.560 They come in through the gate. 01:16:04.560 --> 01:16:06.560 And the gate is the Spirit of God and Christ. 01:16:06.560 --> 01:16:08.560 And they come into the body. 01:16:09.560 --> 01:16:11.560 That's the difference between a hireling and a shepherd. 01:16:11.560 --> 01:16:15.560 Both can shepherd well, but one is a hireling, one is a shepherd. 01:16:15.560 --> 01:16:16.560 How do we know the difference? 01:16:16.560 --> 01:16:17.560 Jesus said it this way. 01:16:17.560 --> 01:16:21.560 The true shepherd is coming through the gate. 01:16:22.560 --> 01:16:25.560 That is how you distinguish between skilled shepherds, 01:16:25.560 --> 01:16:28.560 but one is a hireling, one is real. 01:16:34.560 --> 01:16:36.560 How do you know you're ready to be a shepherd? 01:16:37.560 --> 01:16:41.560 Are some of these things what you're already doing? 01:16:41.560 --> 01:16:43.560 Are you binding up the injured? 01:16:43.560 --> 01:16:44.560 Are you carrying the young? 01:16:44.560 --> 01:16:46.560 Are you feeding those that are hungry? 01:16:46.560 --> 01:16:48.560 Are you searching for strays? 01:16:48.560 --> 01:16:49.560 Are you laying down your life? 01:16:49.560 --> 01:16:53.560 But how would you know what to feed them if you haven't been fed? 01:16:53.560 --> 01:16:57.560 How would you know how to bind the injured if you haven't been taught? 01:16:57.560 --> 01:17:02.560 If I bind an injury and Rhonda or Heidi bind an injury, 01:17:02.560 --> 01:17:05.560 one will make it more septic, one will heal. 01:17:07.560 --> 01:17:10.560 Because I'll tear off a strip from my shirt, it won't help you. 01:17:11.560 --> 01:17:13.560 How does carrying the young look? 01:17:15.560 --> 01:17:19.560 So unless I learn it, how am I going to teach it? 01:17:19.560 --> 01:17:21.560 These are the things that are required. 01:17:21.560 --> 01:17:23.560 And the Spirit of God can teach us. 01:17:24.560 --> 01:17:26.560 And let there be no argument about this. 01:17:26.560 --> 01:17:30.560 The Spirit of God can teach us directly, but he reuses people to teach us. 01:17:30.560 --> 01:17:33.560 I've been through this argument so many times, I'm tired of it. 01:17:35.560 --> 01:17:37.560 Yes, the anointing is here to teach us, 01:17:37.560 --> 01:17:42.560 but the anointing is upon people to equip us to do exactly what the Spirit of God wants. 01:17:42.560 --> 01:17:44.560 It is not either or. 01:17:44.560 --> 01:17:45.560 So let's not go through that argument. 01:17:45.560 --> 01:17:49.560 Some things, like Paul says, let's not visit it over and over again. 01:17:49.560 --> 01:17:55.560 These are fundamental things that have been spoken about so many times, 01:17:55.560 --> 01:17:57.560 let's not waste time visiting it. 01:17:58.560 --> 01:18:02.560 Lying on our hands, whether the Spirit uses people, whether it does not. 01:18:02.560 --> 01:18:05.560 These have been spoken for the last seventeen years, let's move on. 01:18:12.560 --> 01:18:13.560 But that's the way we do it. 01:18:13.560 --> 01:18:17.560 And so, one should begin doing that anyways. 01:18:17.560 --> 01:18:19.560 One should have a desire to do it. 01:18:19.560 --> 01:18:21.560 Why? Because we want to be like our great shepherd. 01:18:22.560 --> 01:18:26.560 And then, when you learn to do this, and you show you're so faithful, 01:18:26.560 --> 01:18:30.560 first with one or two sheep, and then with fifty, and then with a hundred, 01:18:30.560 --> 01:18:33.560 and when you begin to lay down your life to go after that one sheep that has strayed, 01:18:33.560 --> 01:18:35.560 oh my God, you look like Christ. 01:18:39.560 --> 01:18:45.560 And during this process, guys, you will find a lot of defects and faults with the shepherds in this church. 01:18:45.560 --> 01:18:50.560 But I pray that every six months, you will see them getting better. 01:18:52.560 --> 01:18:54.560 That every six months, they will get better. 01:18:57.560 --> 01:19:01.560 And if they don't get better, then there's a problem. 01:19:03.560 --> 01:19:06.560 But then the same requirement is off you, right? 01:19:06.560 --> 01:19:10.560 If you're not a shepherd today, then the same requirement is off you. 01:19:10.560 --> 01:19:11.560 You must get better too. 01:19:14.560 --> 01:19:15.560 Let's pray. 01:19:19.560 --> 01:19:22.560 Jesus loved teaching on culture. 01:19:22.560 --> 01:19:24.560 You are a straight God. 01:19:25.560 --> 01:19:26.560 I love your straightness. 01:19:29.560 --> 01:19:31.560 You're not a God who suggests things. 01:19:32.560 --> 01:19:34.560 You are trying to create a kingdom. 01:19:34.560 --> 01:19:36.560 Kingdoms on earth? My God! 01:19:38.560 --> 01:19:40.560 They know how to make things work. 01:19:42.560 --> 01:19:45.560 Their kings are tyrants. You are benevolent. 01:19:45.560 --> 01:19:49.560 And yet the word Lord actually comes from a Greek word, Kyrios, 01:19:49.560 --> 01:19:53.560 which means absolute sovereign and almost tyrannical. 01:19:53.560 --> 01:19:54.560 Yet you are not. 01:19:57.560 --> 01:20:00.560 So we move from the idea of king to Lord right now, 01:20:00.560 --> 01:20:02.560 because we are not too used to kings. 01:20:02.560 --> 01:20:03.560 We don't know how that works. 01:20:03.560 --> 01:20:05.560 But we know masters. 01:20:05.560 --> 01:20:10.560 We know bosses that lay down a line saying, this is how this company works. 01:20:10.560 --> 01:20:14.560 We look at what you have spoken, what the word says. 01:20:14.560 --> 01:20:17.560 And you're laying down lines saying, I am a king. 01:20:17.560 --> 01:20:22.560 And you're laying down lines saying, I am wanting to create a counterculture with you. 01:20:24.560 --> 01:20:27.560 These are the things that I have established for that walk in them. 01:20:28.560 --> 01:20:30.560 It is not a suggestion, Jacob. 01:20:30.560 --> 01:20:33.560 You cannot mess around with this. 01:20:34.560 --> 01:20:36.560 So I take it to heart of God. 01:20:37.560 --> 01:20:42.560 I pray, Father, that I might not compromise your word to save someone's backside 01:20:42.560 --> 01:20:44.560 or to save mine own. 01:20:48.560 --> 01:20:52.560 That even after teaching like this with this kind of strength that I'm teaching with, 01:20:52.560 --> 01:20:56.560 that I will also have the humility to say, yeah, you're right, I'm wrong. 01:20:57.560 --> 01:21:03.560 Only you can do that, Father, because we as humans, sometimes our hearts are deceptive and proud. 01:21:05.560 --> 01:21:08.560 But Father, give us a new boldness in this church. 01:21:08.560 --> 01:21:12.560 Give a newness to the leaders in this church, the present shepherds. 01:21:12.560 --> 01:21:17.560 Give a desire to others in this church to say, I want to be this. I want to be this. 01:21:18.560 --> 01:21:23.560 Is there anyone here who was created a follower and not a leader, oh God? 01:21:23.560 --> 01:21:25.560 Do you create people like that? 01:21:25.560 --> 01:21:27.560 You only create sons and servants. 01:21:27.560 --> 01:21:29.560 You don't create leaders and followers. 01:21:29.560 --> 01:21:31.560 You want more shepherds. 01:21:31.560 --> 01:21:34.560 You said pray, ask the Holy Spirit to send more laborers. 01:21:34.560 --> 01:21:37.560 I pray, oh God, send more laborers. 01:21:37.560 --> 01:21:39.560 Raise from this church more shepherds. 01:21:39.560 --> 01:21:42.560 If there aren't enough shepherds, there can't be more sheep. 01:21:43.560 --> 01:21:49.560 And Father, to the ones that have the ability of shepherds but are not entering through the gate, 01:21:49.560 --> 01:21:54.560 Father, show them that they are hirelings and they will never qualify for shepherding 01:21:54.560 --> 01:21:56.560 unless they enter through the gate. 01:21:56.560 --> 01:21:59.560 If not in this church, then in some other church. 01:22:01.560 --> 01:22:05.560 Father, I thank you for the fire that you're putting in our belly 01:22:05.560 --> 01:22:10.560 to establish a culture that measures up to the plumb line of Christ. 01:22:10.560 --> 01:22:12.560 Nothing less. 01:22:13.560 --> 01:22:15.560 You deserve this, oh God. 01:22:15.560 --> 01:22:17.560 This is your bride. 01:22:17.560 --> 01:22:21.560 We cannot costume her in anything but what you have prescribed. 01:22:21.560 --> 01:22:24.560 She's too pure. You're waiting for her to be blemishless. 01:22:24.560 --> 01:22:27.560 Oh God, we come saying, please make us better. 01:22:27.560 --> 01:22:32.560 By January, let my heart be more compassionate, more shepherd-like. 01:22:32.560 --> 01:22:37.560 Let the hearts of the leaders here become hearts that pour out and do what Ezekiel 34 asks. 01:22:39.560 --> 01:22:46.560 This is my cry about for this church, for your sake, for the sake of the people here, for the sake of the leaders. 01:22:46.560 --> 01:22:52.560 Granted, Father, we thank you. In Jesus' name, Amen. 01:22:54.560 --> 01:22:58.560 Cool guys, if you need prayer, as usual, people will pray with you. 01:22:58.560 --> 01:23:01.560 And God is here and as usual, God will answer. 01:23:02.560 --> 01:23:07.560 Yeah, I'll see you next week. I hope to make it back by Sunday.