1 00:00:00,290 --> 00:00:01,250 Now what I want to speak to you 2 00:00:01,250 --> 00:00:04,010 about this afternoon, very briefly, I'm not here 3 00:00:04,010 --> 00:00:06,190 to occupy a lot of time, but I 4 00:00:06,190 --> 00:00:08,070 want to speak to you about faithfulness. 5 00:00:09,290 --> 00:00:10,650 And so I'm going to read one verse 6 00:00:10,650 --> 00:00:12,530 to lead off my message, and it is 7 00:00:12,530 --> 00:00:15,090 in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 1. 8 00:00:18,950 --> 00:00:21,350 I'm thankful for the Stout Assembly that still 9 00:00:21,350 --> 00:00:24,830 annually hosts their conference. 10 00:00:25,530 --> 00:00:27,070 There always seems to be many that enjoy 11 00:00:27,070 --> 00:00:27,770 coming here. 12 00:00:28,890 --> 00:00:30,410 So in the will of the Lord, keep 13 00:00:30,410 --> 00:00:31,130 up this work. 14 00:00:33,970 --> 00:00:38,050 Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 1. 15 00:00:39,230 --> 00:00:44,030 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the 16 00:00:44,030 --> 00:00:47,290 will of God, to the saints which are 17 00:00:47,290 --> 00:00:53,930 at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ 18 00:00:53,930 --> 00:00:54,390 Jesus. 19 00:00:54,730 --> 00:00:57,310 I assume that that is a term or 20 00:00:57,310 --> 00:00:59,410 a name given to the Lord Jesus, a 21 00:00:59,410 --> 00:01:01,970 way of speaking of him as the ascended 22 00:01:01,970 --> 00:01:02,730 Christ. 23 00:01:02,950 --> 00:01:06,350 If you were to go to another epistle 24 00:01:06,350 --> 00:01:08,790 that Paul wrote from prison, say the book 25 00:01:08,790 --> 00:01:10,710 of Colossians, you would find that he wrote 26 00:01:10,710 --> 00:01:14,210 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ. 27 00:01:15,790 --> 00:01:17,430 And I believe as I look at the 28 00:01:17,430 --> 00:01:19,910 book of Ephesians, the first three chapters is 29 00:01:19,910 --> 00:01:26,330 predominantly occupied with positional truth, what we are 30 00:01:26,330 --> 00:01:27,070 in Christ. 31 00:01:27,070 --> 00:01:29,930 Looking through the verses of the first three 32 00:01:29,930 --> 00:01:34,730 chapters, you will find in Christ, in Jesus 33 00:01:34,730 --> 00:01:41,150 Christ, in him, in himself, and also, you 34 00:01:41,150 --> 00:01:43,990 will find as these terms or this recognition 35 00:01:43,990 --> 00:01:46,170 is of the lovely person of the Lord 36 00:01:46,170 --> 00:01:49,210 Jesus Christ, when you come to verse 6, 37 00:01:49,530 --> 00:01:52,490 we are accepted in the beloved. 38 00:01:53,890 --> 00:01:56,110 And so when I think of us being 39 00:01:56,110 --> 00:02:00,950 positionally brought into alignment with God's will and 40 00:02:00,950 --> 00:02:04,610 God's purpose that you will find even mentioned 41 00:02:04,610 --> 00:02:07,530 in chapter 1, that it's a wonderful thing 42 00:02:07,530 --> 00:02:11,250 to be linked with Almighty God and come 43 00:02:11,250 --> 00:02:14,630 into a relationship with the Trinity and the 44 00:02:14,630 --> 00:02:17,370 members of the Godhead, to think that God 45 00:02:17,370 --> 00:02:20,250 is our Father, Jesus Christ is our Lord 46 00:02:20,250 --> 00:02:23,250 and Savior, our Advocate, our Great High Priest, 47 00:02:24,030 --> 00:02:25,070 our Intercessor. 48 00:02:26,190 --> 00:02:27,890 And furthermore, when it comes to the Spirit 49 00:02:27,890 --> 00:02:30,670 of God, as we'll notice, as we could 50 00:02:30,670 --> 00:02:33,150 be noticing in chapter 1 and in chapter 51 00:02:33,150 --> 00:02:36,150 4, the Holy Spirit of God has sealed 52 00:02:36,150 --> 00:02:37,630 us unto the day of redemption. 53 00:02:38,510 --> 00:02:41,370 And we are indwelt by the Spirit of 54 00:02:41,370 --> 00:02:41,670 God. 55 00:02:42,330 --> 00:02:43,750 And as there are so many young people 56 00:02:43,750 --> 00:02:46,510 here today and older ones as well as 57 00:02:46,510 --> 00:02:50,150 myself, listen, we need to have a fresh 58 00:02:50,150 --> 00:02:54,150 glimpse and a recognition and a reminding that 59 00:02:54,150 --> 00:02:57,230 we are linked by the Almighty power and 60 00:02:57,230 --> 00:03:00,490 the will and the purpose of God, linked 61 00:03:00,490 --> 00:03:01,610 to divine persons. 62 00:03:02,030 --> 00:03:03,710 We're just not a bunch of people here 63 00:03:03,710 --> 00:03:05,950 on earth wandering around aimlessly. 64 00:03:07,250 --> 00:03:10,350 We're not orphans in this world. 65 00:03:11,110 --> 00:03:13,250 We are linked with God and we have 66 00:03:13,250 --> 00:03:14,730 been blessed by him exceedingly. 67 00:03:15,670 --> 00:03:17,850 And so as I think of these here 68 00:03:17,850 --> 00:03:20,350 at Ephesus and what was written to them, 69 00:03:20,650 --> 00:03:24,430 I think of what is said in Acts 70 00:03:24,430 --> 00:03:29,590 chapter 18, 19, and 20 as Paul gives 71 00:03:30,350 --> 00:03:34,430 an update on his interaction with the assembly 72 00:03:34,430 --> 00:03:34,890 there. 73 00:03:35,670 --> 00:03:38,010 And it's very interesting that when you come 74 00:03:38,010 --> 00:03:42,030 to chapter 20 and verse 31, let me 75 00:03:42,030 --> 00:03:46,850 read it to you, therefore watch and remember 76 00:03:46,850 --> 00:03:50,730 by the space of three years, I cease 77 00:03:50,730 --> 00:03:55,270 not to warn everyone night and day with 78 00:03:55,270 --> 00:03:55,710 tears. 79 00:03:57,030 --> 00:03:58,510 Why did he say that? 80 00:03:58,730 --> 00:04:01,030 Why was he concerned about these that had 81 00:04:01,030 --> 00:04:04,190 been brought into this wonderful and positional relationship 82 00:04:04,190 --> 00:04:07,270 with our Lord Jesus Christ and recognized as 83 00:04:07,270 --> 00:04:08,110 faithful ones? 84 00:04:08,650 --> 00:04:10,710 Because up the chapter he is writing, and 85 00:04:10,710 --> 00:04:12,770 I think we've been reminded of this in 86 00:04:12,770 --> 00:04:15,810 the conference, that there were grievous wolves that 87 00:04:15,810 --> 00:04:18,170 were going to rise up from within and 88 00:04:18,170 --> 00:04:19,230 there were men that were going to come 89 00:04:19,230 --> 00:04:20,890 along and they were going to gather to 90 00:04:20,890 --> 00:04:24,830 themselves followers and there would be a tremendous 91 00:04:24,830 --> 00:04:27,450 distraction to the person of the Lord Jesus 92 00:04:27,450 --> 00:04:28,070 Christ. 93 00:04:29,110 --> 00:04:31,450 And so he was concerned about their faithfulness 94 00:04:31,450 --> 00:04:32,570 at that time. 95 00:04:33,390 --> 00:04:36,030 You know, after what was recorded in his 96 00:04:36,030 --> 00:04:38,670 interest in Ephesus that we have noticed from 97 00:04:38,670 --> 00:04:41,670 Acts, approximately four years later, I believe if 98 00:04:41,670 --> 00:04:45,430 I'm right, he writes this epistle to the 99 00:04:45,430 --> 00:04:48,870 Ephesian believers and right in the first verse 100 00:04:48,870 --> 00:04:52,410 he identifies them as those that are faithful 101 00:04:52,410 --> 00:04:53,930 in Christ Jesus. 102 00:04:54,390 --> 00:04:57,870 But keep in mind something, it was within 103 00:04:57,870 --> 00:05:04,320 about 26 years the church at Ephesus got 104 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:08,840 another communication and that communication was from the 105 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:11,900 Lord Jesus Christ Himself, as you're very familiar 106 00:05:11,900 --> 00:05:15,100 with Revelation chapter 2 and chapter 3. 107 00:05:15,380 --> 00:05:18,660 And in verse 4 of chapter 2, this 108 00:05:18,660 --> 00:05:21,480 is what he says, that they had left 109 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:22,920 their first love. 110 00:05:23,580 --> 00:05:24,320 There was a problem. 111 00:05:24,940 --> 00:05:27,500 There was a lack of faithfulness in their 112 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:27,940 lives. 113 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,780 And having left their first love, some have 114 00:05:30,780 --> 00:05:32,640 thought of it this way, they didn't have 115 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,080 the love and appreciation to the Lord Jesus 116 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,400 Christ that they had in the day when 117 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,020 they had trusted Christ or subsequent days and 118 00:05:40,020 --> 00:05:41,740 that which followed on as an assembly. 119 00:05:42,140 --> 00:05:43,400 Well, that may be true. 120 00:05:45,060 --> 00:05:46,760 But you know, I really think the Lord 121 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,520 had realized that he said to them after 122 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,540 he complimented them for so many things, you 123 00:05:52,540 --> 00:05:54,900 have left your first love, that the Lord 124 00:05:54,900 --> 00:05:58,660 Jesus Christ was not receiving from them the 125 00:05:58,660 --> 00:06:01,940 appreciation and the place and the glory and 126 00:06:01,940 --> 00:06:04,960 the honor that he was deserving of. 127 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,820 Maybe you have had that feeling yourself. 128 00:06:08,140 --> 00:06:10,160 Maybe you have been convicted of it yourself. 129 00:06:10,940 --> 00:06:14,460 That really, I do not display a faithfulness 130 00:06:14,460 --> 00:06:16,720 to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as 131 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:17,140 I ought. 132 00:06:19,140 --> 00:06:21,160 If that be the case, you know, we're 133 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:22,520 in the driver's seat of our life. 134 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:24,800 And so at this time I want to 135 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:29,900 go over to the third chapter four, five, 136 00:06:29,980 --> 00:06:33,140 and six and look at practical truth. 137 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,880 Listen, if we are in Christ and we 138 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,560 are positionally so, then those that are there 139 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,480 ought to have a willingness and a desire 140 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:47,420 on their part to practice truth as it 141 00:06:47,420 --> 00:06:48,800 is set before us. 142 00:06:50,340 --> 00:06:51,920 And I don't know what kind of excuse 143 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:53,940 we could ever give to the Lord when 144 00:06:53,940 --> 00:06:54,840 we fail in this. 145 00:06:56,380 --> 00:06:58,260 And I'm sure we all have a sense 146 00:06:58,260 --> 00:06:58,900 of failure. 147 00:07:01,570 --> 00:07:05,070 But notice here, I want to, I'm going 148 00:07:05,070 --> 00:07:06,850 to read here from chapter four, but before 149 00:07:06,850 --> 00:07:08,490 I do, I want to do something else. 150 00:07:09,170 --> 00:07:10,370 I want to think of some of the 151 00:07:10,370 --> 00:07:12,250 things that he set out in a practical 152 00:07:12,250 --> 00:07:15,330 way that they were expected to be faithful 153 00:07:15,330 --> 00:07:15,730 in. 154 00:07:17,130 --> 00:07:19,750 I think our brother Isaiah yesterday pointed out 155 00:07:19,750 --> 00:07:23,190 verses 19 and 20 of chapter 5, and 156 00:07:23,190 --> 00:07:24,210 it pertains to worship. 157 00:07:24,210 --> 00:07:28,030 And I'm just going to probe ourselves just 158 00:07:28,030 --> 00:07:29,010 a little bit today. 159 00:07:29,930 --> 00:07:32,770 Am I faithful as a worshiper? 160 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:38,760 Is it my burden? 161 00:07:39,580 --> 00:07:40,480 Is it my interest? 162 00:07:40,620 --> 00:07:44,520 Do I recognize that I have a responsibility 163 00:07:45,260 --> 00:07:49,380 out of love to Christ to worship God? 164 00:07:50,220 --> 00:07:51,700 I come down in the chapter a little 165 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:52,100 further. 166 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,920 And of course, we're reminded of the church, 167 00:07:57,060 --> 00:07:58,960 the body of Christ, of which Christ is 168 00:07:58,960 --> 00:07:59,360 the head. 169 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:06,200 But he weaves into that responsibility in a 170 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:07,660 marriage relationship. 171 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,280 Husbands should love their wives. 172 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,720 Wives should reverence or respect their husbands. 173 00:08:18,380 --> 00:08:20,240 And as done as that unto the Lord. 174 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:22,220 And the reason I bring this up is 175 00:08:22,220 --> 00:08:30,660 because strong marriages in God's assembly is a 176 00:08:30,660 --> 00:08:32,600 tremendous thing, and it's very beneficial. 177 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:34,799 You say, how would you prove that? 178 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:37,200 You come to the assembly, and if you 179 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,860 have one marriage that is not functioning as 180 00:08:40,860 --> 00:08:45,200 it should, it has a capability of making 181 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:50,420 party spirit and raising chaos in God's assembly. 182 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,140 So we need to be faithful if we're 183 00:08:53,140 --> 00:08:53,500 married. 184 00:08:53,660 --> 00:08:55,560 We need to be faithful in our marriage 185 00:08:55,560 --> 00:08:57,840 relationship to our spouse. 186 00:08:59,380 --> 00:09:01,980 It doesn't run around with our minds wandering 187 00:09:01,980 --> 00:09:07,620 and fantasizing in our mind about anything and 188 00:09:07,620 --> 00:09:08,000 everything. 189 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,060 We need to be loyal in our marriage 190 00:09:12,060 --> 00:09:12,820 relationship. 191 00:09:13,220 --> 00:09:14,400 And I want to say something to the 192 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:15,480 young folks here today. 193 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:18,200 The day will come when you will have 194 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,260 a desire for a spouse. 195 00:09:22,340 --> 00:09:24,860 Don't you be taken up with the handsomeness 196 00:09:24,860 --> 00:09:27,120 or the beauty of the individual. 197 00:09:28,500 --> 00:09:31,880 You pay very close attention to their spirituality 198 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,960 and their focus and their interest in spiritual 199 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:36,680 things. 200 00:09:37,580 --> 00:09:40,360 And make the right choice prayerfully before God. 201 00:09:40,660 --> 00:09:42,800 Now that has already been said in this 202 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:43,340 conference. 203 00:09:44,140 --> 00:09:47,220 But if you fail in that, you might 204 00:09:47,220 --> 00:09:48,920 find troubles in your marriage that you won't 205 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:50,220 like and you won't appreciate. 206 00:09:51,900 --> 00:09:54,560 I move over into then into chapter 6. 207 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:57,800 And the first thing it seems that comes 208 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,120 to our view is a faithfulness in relationship 209 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:02,040 to our children. 210 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:03,820 Have we heard that in the conference? 211 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:04,880 We have. 212 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,160 I'll just underscore it. 213 00:10:07,980 --> 00:10:09,740 We need to bring up our children in 214 00:10:09,740 --> 00:10:11,380 the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 215 00:10:14,940 --> 00:10:16,900 Fathers are not dictators and families. 216 00:10:18,260 --> 00:10:21,140 And children deserve an explanation as to what, 217 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,780 why, what is expected in the family to 218 00:10:25,780 --> 00:10:26,320 be done. 219 00:10:27,740 --> 00:10:29,720 We need to be faithful to our children. 220 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:32,760 Even comes in on the work in the 221 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:33,400 work area. 222 00:10:33,620 --> 00:10:37,860 He talks about a slaves and masters. 223 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,640 Today it's employers and employees. 224 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,580 Do we need to be careful about that? 225 00:10:43,580 --> 00:10:45,120 Do we need to be faithful in that? 226 00:10:45,300 --> 00:10:47,640 That there wouldn't be rumors that would circulate 227 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:48,000 around. 228 00:10:48,180 --> 00:10:50,140 That there wouldn't even be things said in 229 00:10:50,140 --> 00:10:53,940 an area that would be detrimental to assembly 230 00:10:53,940 --> 00:10:54,580 testimony. 231 00:10:56,140 --> 00:10:57,860 We need to be faithful how we run 232 00:10:57,860 --> 00:10:59,700 our business and do our things in this 233 00:10:59,700 --> 00:11:00,040 world. 234 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:02,660 It is to the glory of the Lord. 235 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:06,160 I come a little farther in and I 236 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:10,040 find out that we are exhorted to be 237 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,680 faithful in relationship to the Word of God. 238 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:15,040 Have we heard about that? 239 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:16,660 We certainly have. 240 00:11:17,460 --> 00:11:19,520 Are we all prepared to move and make 241 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,720 improvements in our life in that regard? 242 00:11:21,900 --> 00:11:22,820 I hope we are. 243 00:11:22,900 --> 00:11:23,480 I hope to. 244 00:11:24,860 --> 00:11:28,600 And then he talks about faithfulness to the 245 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:29,120 gospel. 246 00:11:31,860 --> 00:11:33,420 Are we faithful to the gospel? 247 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,300 We appreciate with the gospel the message that 248 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:37,900 has come to us and the blessings we 249 00:11:37,900 --> 00:11:38,560 have come into. 250 00:11:39,620 --> 00:11:41,400 But are we concerned about others? 251 00:11:43,140 --> 00:11:44,360 We've heard about that. 252 00:11:44,540 --> 00:11:47,040 Encouragement for young men to be out in 253 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,120 the work and to seek to win souls 254 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:49,860 to Christ. 255 00:11:51,020 --> 00:11:52,260 Faithfulness in the gospel. 256 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:54,260 And you know as you come right down 257 00:11:54,260 --> 00:11:57,000 to the end of the chapter, I told 258 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:58,660 you I'm going to get down from this 259 00:11:58,660 --> 00:11:59,920 place as quickly as I can. 260 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,640 It's not my comfort zone, but I find 261 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,780 a little statement here to be in prayer 262 00:12:06,780 --> 00:12:09,640 and supplication for all saints. 263 00:12:10,820 --> 00:12:12,260 Are we faithful in prayer? 264 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,440 If you haven't discovered it yet, prayer is 265 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:16,920 a work. 266 00:12:18,140 --> 00:12:21,280 And prayer is the result of an exercise. 267 00:12:22,340 --> 00:12:24,200 You know sometimes we pray for those that 268 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:24,640 are sick. 269 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,520 And we pray for those that are bereaved 270 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:28,940 because death has come in. 271 00:12:29,380 --> 00:12:31,060 And we pray for those that have lost 272 00:12:31,060 --> 00:12:34,440 jobs and financial resources have dwindled. 273 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:38,460 But I think of it this way sometimes. 274 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,720 Like Brother Stanley Wills would talk about people 275 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:43,140 that have their ducks in a row, whatever 276 00:12:43,140 --> 00:12:43,880 that means. 277 00:12:44,980 --> 00:12:47,980 You know sometimes there are believers and they 278 00:12:47,980 --> 00:12:50,160 seem that everything is going along smoothly. 279 00:12:50,340 --> 00:12:50,940 You know what? 280 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,000 We need to pray for one another and 281 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,440 for our preservation. 282 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,580 Sometimes things look on good on the exterior. 283 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:01,660 But we need to be praying for one 284 00:13:01,660 --> 00:13:04,360 another for our preservation and for help for 285 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,800 fellow believers that we might live for the 286 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,500 glory of Christ and for the prosperity of 287 00:13:09,500 --> 00:13:13,020 God's assemblies where Christians are gathered to the 288 00:13:13,020 --> 00:13:14,660 name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 289 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,380 After all, we go back to chapter 20. 290 00:13:18,560 --> 00:13:20,340 You know what Paul said to him as 291 00:13:20,340 --> 00:13:21,100 to the assembly? 292 00:13:21,620 --> 00:13:24,600 The assembly had been purchased for the blood 293 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,140 of his own, the blood of the Lord 294 00:13:26,140 --> 00:13:27,000 Jesus Christ. 295 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:29,580 What a place of dignity. 296 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,260 If there are those here today and you 297 00:13:32,260 --> 00:13:34,620 have been saved and haven't been baptized, you 298 00:13:34,620 --> 00:13:35,660 need to be baptized. 299 00:13:35,660 --> 00:13:38,000 If you're saved and baptized, you need to 300 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,320 be gathered to the name of the Lord 301 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,840 Jesus Christ if you are sound in doctrine. 302 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,280 Because that's where the Lord Jesus Christ would 303 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:44,800 have you. 304 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,720 Every assembly is purchased by the blood of 305 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:48,060 Christ. 306 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,440 But let me come to my final thought. 307 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:55,160 This is what I want to consider. 308 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:56,800 I don't know how much you think about 309 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:56,940 it. 310 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:58,680 I don't know how much we are exhorted 311 00:13:58,680 --> 00:13:59,900 in ministry about it. 312 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,580 But I'm back now to chapter 4 and 313 00:14:02,580 --> 00:14:03,120 verse 1. 314 00:14:09,330 --> 00:14:11,330 The rest of my comments I'm going to 315 00:14:13,030 --> 00:14:15,130 draw from chapter 4. 316 00:14:15,710 --> 00:14:16,910 Here we are at verse 1. 317 00:14:17,270 --> 00:14:20,330 I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech 318 00:14:20,330 --> 00:14:25,030 you that ye walk worthy of the vocation 319 00:14:25,030 --> 00:14:27,470 wherein ye have been called. 320 00:14:30,380 --> 00:14:31,520 Go back to the young people. 321 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:32,400 You have a profession? 322 00:14:35,050 --> 00:14:37,490 Are you excited about your link with the 323 00:14:37,490 --> 00:14:38,250 person of Christ? 324 00:14:39,390 --> 00:14:41,690 Are you interested in bearing testimony to his 325 00:14:41,690 --> 00:14:41,990 name? 326 00:14:43,290 --> 00:14:45,650 You know, I believe everyone that is saved 327 00:14:45,650 --> 00:14:49,510 would really God would want them to gather 328 00:14:49,510 --> 00:14:51,990 to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 329 00:14:53,410 --> 00:14:55,890 And so he's talking about here their walk. 330 00:14:56,030 --> 00:15:00,910 I'm walking worthy of the vocation wherein they 331 00:15:00,910 --> 00:15:01,850 are called. 332 00:15:02,470 --> 00:15:03,970 You come over to chapter 5. 333 00:15:04,090 --> 00:15:05,470 Sorry, I am deviating here. 334 00:15:05,650 --> 00:15:07,290 It says here walk in love. 335 00:15:09,230 --> 00:15:11,810 Then in verse 8, walk in light. 336 00:15:13,390 --> 00:15:16,110 In verse 15, walk circumspectly. 337 00:15:16,970 --> 00:15:19,810 And so it is important how we walk 338 00:15:19,810 --> 00:15:21,770 as far as God is concerned. 339 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:24,880 Come down to verse 2. 340 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:31,480 With all lowliness and meekness and long suffering 341 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:36,460 for bearing one another in love, endeavoring to 342 00:15:36,460 --> 00:15:40,080 keep the unity of the Spirit in the 343 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:41,340 bond of peace. 344 00:15:41,340 --> 00:15:43,060 There's my subject. 345 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:50,320 Faithfulness in relationship to the unity of the 346 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,520 Spirit of God. 347 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,680 You know, the Holy Spirit of God, as 348 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,360 we understand from the Scriptures, he is the 349 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:01,540 author of Holy Scripture. 350 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,540 I remember what the Lord Jesus Christ said, 351 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,660 as we have already reminded ourselves, that we 352 00:16:09,660 --> 00:16:11,000 have been sealed by the Spirit of God 353 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,560 and were indwelt by the Spirit of God. 354 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,560 But the Lord Jesus Christ said in his 355 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,500 ministry in the upper room, verses 14, 15, 356 00:16:17,620 --> 00:16:19,280 and 16, he talks about the coming of 357 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:19,860 the Comforter. 358 00:16:22,420 --> 00:16:24,100 And when he comes to chapter 16 and 359 00:16:24,100 --> 00:16:27,720 verses 13 and 14, he says the Holy 360 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,880 Spirit of God, when he is sent, and 361 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,320 he did come ten days after the Lord 362 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:38,440 ascended, the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit 363 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:42,200 of truth is come, he will guide you 364 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:43,280 into all truth. 365 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,660 He will show you things that are to 366 00:16:47,660 --> 00:16:48,020 come. 367 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:52,520 And I think of it as like frosting 368 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:53,460 on a big cake. 369 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,240 That's a poor analogy, but listen. 370 00:16:57,900 --> 00:17:00,060 He also says that the Spirit of God 371 00:17:00,060 --> 00:17:03,599 will take the things of mine and show 372 00:17:03,599 --> 00:17:05,160 them unto you. 373 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:11,550 So, the Spirit of God teaching us truth 374 00:17:11,550 --> 00:17:14,069 relative to the person of the Lord Jesus 375 00:17:14,069 --> 00:17:14,569 Christ. 376 00:17:15,270 --> 00:17:16,609 You know, dear Peter, as he comes to 377 00:17:16,609 --> 00:17:19,849 the end of his writing, as a restored 378 00:17:19,849 --> 00:17:22,790 man, he says, growing grace and in the 379 00:17:22,790 --> 00:17:24,910 knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 380 00:17:25,010 --> 00:17:27,349 to him be glory, both now and forever. 381 00:17:28,170 --> 00:17:28,590 Amen. 382 00:17:29,470 --> 00:17:30,770 That should be our focus. 383 00:17:30,890 --> 00:17:32,450 That should be our goal. 384 00:17:33,950 --> 00:17:38,650 To know more about him and to have 385 00:17:38,650 --> 00:17:40,590 that gentle movement of the Spirit of God 386 00:17:40,590 --> 00:17:42,630 toward us, to guide us into all truth 387 00:17:42,630 --> 00:17:44,630 and things that are coming and things relative 388 00:17:44,630 --> 00:17:46,690 to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. 389 00:17:48,350 --> 00:17:50,990 As I come to this verse, these three 390 00:17:50,990 --> 00:17:54,790 verses, I find out that the unity of 391 00:17:54,790 --> 00:17:57,010 the Spirit is not mine to make. 392 00:17:58,330 --> 00:18:00,510 It is made by the Spirit of God. 393 00:18:01,790 --> 00:18:04,090 And where is my responsibility in this? 394 00:18:04,270 --> 00:18:05,410 It is to keep it. 395 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:10,300 You say, well, what am I keeping? 396 00:18:10,360 --> 00:18:11,580 Keeping the unity of the Spirit. 397 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:13,920 Listen, I want to make a statement and 398 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,200 I hope you agree with it. 399 00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:19,120 The Spirit of God says the same thing 400 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:19,760 to you. 401 00:18:20,620 --> 00:18:22,260 He will say the same thing to me. 402 00:18:23,780 --> 00:18:26,800 He doesn't speak variable things to variable people. 403 00:18:28,500 --> 00:18:30,720 He says the same thing to everybody. 404 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,580 And so when I think of the deposit 405 00:18:33,580 --> 00:18:36,140 of truth and all that we are privileged 406 00:18:36,140 --> 00:18:39,120 to, and you know what, really, we're responsible 407 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:39,900 to know. 408 00:18:40,660 --> 00:18:42,920 We hang our heads how little sometimes we 409 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:43,380 do know. 410 00:18:43,660 --> 00:18:46,800 But we are responsible for the truth of 411 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,860 God, that the Spirit of God wants to 412 00:18:50,860 --> 00:18:52,780 teach us and wants us to know. 413 00:18:53,100 --> 00:18:55,120 And he has made a unity. 414 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,680 The unity of the Spirit of God, I 415 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:02,180 judge, from the truth of God that we 416 00:19:02,180 --> 00:19:05,540 have on the pages of Holy Scripture, that 417 00:19:05,540 --> 00:19:08,180 is taught to us and brought to us. 418 00:19:09,380 --> 00:19:10,860 We're glad you're at a conference. 419 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,840 But you know, in the quietness of your 420 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:18,040 little dwelling, you can, with a bowed and 421 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,280 open heart and prayerfully before God, the Spirit 422 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:22,460 of God will teach you. 423 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:25,400 He never confuses people. 424 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:29,600 And so I think of the Spirit of 425 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,980 truth, and I think of the unity of 426 00:19:32,980 --> 00:19:33,560 the Spirit. 427 00:19:33,740 --> 00:19:37,220 The Spirit brings into a unanimity, to a 428 00:19:37,220 --> 00:19:42,640 oneness, to a completeness to teach us the 429 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:42,860 truth. 430 00:19:42,940 --> 00:19:44,740 Now some would say, well, we're going to 431 00:19:44,740 --> 00:19:46,280 keep in the context of this epistle. 432 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:50,060 After all, the Apostle Paul, as he was 433 00:19:50,060 --> 00:19:51,940 speaking about the body of Christ, he was 434 00:19:51,940 --> 00:19:55,460 speaking about Jew and Gentile and brought into 435 00:19:55,460 --> 00:19:56,180 one body. 436 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:57,060 That's all right. 437 00:19:57,740 --> 00:20:00,800 We're on the practical side of this epistle. 438 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,860 And while that was true in early days, 439 00:20:04,980 --> 00:20:07,620 maybe we don't worry about ethnics and all 440 00:20:07,620 --> 00:20:10,180 that, as to people coming into God's assembly. 441 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:11,840 That really isn't a problem with us, is 442 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:11,980 it? 443 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,060 But I want to say this, that everyone 444 00:20:16,060 --> 00:20:19,500 in God's assembly should be in the enjoyment 445 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:23,340 of the unity of the Spirit of God. 446 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:24,600 He has made it. 447 00:20:25,660 --> 00:20:28,320 And the exhortation is to keep it. 448 00:20:32,420 --> 00:20:33,760 I like what is said in verse two. 449 00:20:33,860 --> 00:20:34,900 How do we keep it? 450 00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:37,760 With all loneliness. 451 00:20:39,890 --> 00:20:42,010 I was shocked when I really looked at 452 00:20:42,010 --> 00:20:42,490 the word. 453 00:20:45,940 --> 00:20:46,420 Loneliness. 454 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,500 To have a humble opinion of self. 455 00:20:51,460 --> 00:20:53,960 A display of modesty. 456 00:20:55,460 --> 00:20:59,020 And allowing our mind to be controlled by 457 00:20:59,020 --> 00:20:59,840 the Spirit of God. 458 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:02,160 Loneliness. 459 00:21:03,060 --> 00:21:04,620 You see, when it comes to the unity 460 00:21:04,620 --> 00:21:07,940 of the Spirit, it isn't something that someone 461 00:21:07,940 --> 00:21:12,660 that is headstrong, bullheaded, wanted to move in 462 00:21:12,660 --> 00:21:15,620 some kind of an authority of self-prescription 463 00:21:15,620 --> 00:21:17,480 or an egoistic way. 464 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,840 These people have a hard time coming into 465 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:22,780 an understanding of what the unity of the 466 00:21:22,780 --> 00:21:24,580 Spirit is about. 467 00:21:25,060 --> 00:21:26,380 That's too bad, isn't it? 468 00:21:26,460 --> 00:21:26,740 It's sad. 469 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,820 How many of us are able that we 470 00:21:30,820 --> 00:21:33,940 would sit on from time to time and 471 00:21:33,940 --> 00:21:37,280 evaluate ourselves and our own life with honesty 472 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:38,220 and integrity? 473 00:21:39,620 --> 00:21:40,560 Did you ever try that? 474 00:21:42,260 --> 00:21:44,040 Did you ever try to be honest before 475 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,260 God and to think about how am I 476 00:21:46,260 --> 00:21:49,760 personally doing in my Christian experience? 477 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:57,040 Well, we keep the unity of the Spirit 478 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:58,340 in loneliness. 479 00:21:59,900 --> 00:22:02,140 He goes on to say meekness. 480 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:04,240 You know what that is? 481 00:22:04,460 --> 00:22:05,620 That's gentleness. 482 00:22:05,620 --> 00:22:11,880 And modesty is a desire to put myself 483 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,220 to the side for the exaltation of the 484 00:22:15,220 --> 00:22:17,240 person of the Lord Jesus Christ. 485 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:18,520 Long-suffering. 486 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:19,460 What's that about? 487 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:20,440 Patience. 488 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,120 Slowness to avenge wrong when you think you 489 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:25,240 see it in others. 490 00:22:27,770 --> 00:22:28,810 Is that a help to us today? 491 00:22:29,750 --> 00:22:31,630 Is there something we need to adjust and 492 00:22:31,630 --> 00:22:32,150 change? 493 00:22:34,810 --> 00:22:35,410 Forbearing. 494 00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:45,580 How gentle and how willing to accept others 495 00:22:45,580 --> 00:22:46,520 for what they are. 496 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:50,540 When I think of meekness and loneliness, you 497 00:22:50,540 --> 00:22:51,120 know where I think? 498 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:54,220 My mind goes right away to Matthew chapter 499 00:22:54,220 --> 00:22:54,640 11. 500 00:22:58,350 --> 00:23:00,290 Come unto me, all ye that labor and 501 00:23:00,290 --> 00:23:01,590 are heavy laden, and I will give you 502 00:23:01,590 --> 00:23:01,830 rest. 503 00:23:01,910 --> 00:23:03,730 Take my yoke upon you and learn of 504 00:23:03,730 --> 00:23:05,370 me, for I am meek and lowly in 505 00:23:05,370 --> 00:23:07,070 heart, and ye shall find rest unto your 506 00:23:07,070 --> 00:23:07,390 souls. 507 00:23:07,910 --> 00:23:09,810 For my yoke is easy and my burden 508 00:23:09,810 --> 00:23:10,270 is light. 509 00:23:11,130 --> 00:23:12,690 What are we talking about here? 510 00:23:13,230 --> 00:23:15,150 You want to talk about meekness and loneliness? 511 00:23:15,370 --> 00:23:16,510 Take a look at the Lord Jesus. 512 00:23:17,770 --> 00:23:20,830 You want to imitate someone? 513 00:23:21,330 --> 00:23:22,110 Imitate Him. 514 00:23:23,710 --> 00:23:26,610 He was never anything other than meek and 515 00:23:26,610 --> 00:23:27,010 lowly. 516 00:23:27,650 --> 00:23:29,090 You look at the scriptures, you look at 517 00:23:29,090 --> 00:23:34,030 the gospels, and how He responded to the 518 00:23:34,030 --> 00:23:36,770 Pharisees and the scribes and the elders. 519 00:23:37,330 --> 00:23:40,230 How He responded to perishing people. 520 00:23:41,530 --> 00:23:44,170 How He responded to His disciples. 521 00:23:45,430 --> 00:23:47,270 It was in a faultless way. 522 00:23:49,610 --> 00:23:52,950 That is how we are to endeavor to 523 00:23:52,950 --> 00:23:54,750 diligently right now. 524 00:23:54,870 --> 00:23:55,910 It isn't something we're going to try to 525 00:23:55,910 --> 00:23:57,270 do sometime. 526 00:23:58,230 --> 00:23:59,450 It should be now. 527 00:23:59,650 --> 00:24:02,130 It should be our personal exercise as to 528 00:24:02,130 --> 00:24:03,010 a faithfulness. 529 00:24:04,710 --> 00:24:06,730 To keep the unity of the Spirit of 530 00:24:06,730 --> 00:24:07,190 God. 531 00:24:11,230 --> 00:24:13,330 The Lord Jesus promised rest, didn't He? 532 00:24:14,130 --> 00:24:15,130 And how true that is. 533 00:24:16,130 --> 00:24:18,910 So I come down to this verse here, 534 00:24:19,150 --> 00:24:24,590 and He says, To diligently keep the unity 535 00:24:24,590 --> 00:24:32,820 of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 536 00:24:35,230 --> 00:24:36,990 Do you ever find people moving around, they're 537 00:24:36,990 --> 00:24:39,150 very agitated and they're unhappy and they're grumpy? 538 00:24:40,090 --> 00:24:41,030 It happens. 539 00:24:47,340 --> 00:24:48,700 People are discontented. 540 00:24:51,870 --> 00:24:52,710 You know what the problem is? 541 00:24:56,140 --> 00:24:58,000 They do not know what it means to 542 00:24:58,000 --> 00:24:59,760 keep the unity of the Spirit of God 543 00:25:00,940 --> 00:25:02,000 in the bond of peace. 544 00:25:02,100 --> 00:25:04,340 And again, I find it very interesting that 545 00:25:04,340 --> 00:25:08,140 this word bond is actually the word ligament. 546 00:25:11,730 --> 00:25:13,390 So here's the unity of the Spirit of 547 00:25:13,390 --> 00:25:14,910 God and we are to keep it. 548 00:25:16,010 --> 00:25:17,690 We all know what a tendon is. 549 00:25:17,730 --> 00:25:20,390 It's a muscle that is connected to the 550 00:25:20,390 --> 00:25:20,770 tendon. 551 00:25:21,050 --> 00:25:22,290 It's connected to the bone. 552 00:25:23,010 --> 00:25:25,330 You see those charts sometimes in a doctor's 553 00:25:25,330 --> 00:25:25,610 office. 554 00:25:25,610 --> 00:25:30,680 I understand a ligament and a tendon are 555 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:34,080 pretty much of the same structure as far 556 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:35,600 as cells are concerned. 557 00:25:36,500 --> 00:25:38,020 I'm just going with what somebody recently told 558 00:25:38,020 --> 00:25:38,300 me. 559 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:43,100 But you see, a ligament holds bones together. 560 00:25:45,690 --> 00:25:47,870 And that is what the unity of the 561 00:25:47,870 --> 00:25:50,710 Spirit of God does if it is kept. 562 00:25:52,700 --> 00:25:53,240 What does it bring? 563 00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:54,100 It brings peace. 564 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:55,700 It brings tranquility. 565 00:25:58,680 --> 00:25:59,980 It brings calm. 566 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:08,920 It brings a condition that we all like. 567 00:26:10,020 --> 00:26:11,980 And if we deviate away and we go 568 00:26:11,980 --> 00:26:16,020 away from it, no interest in keeping the 569 00:26:16,020 --> 00:26:19,680 unity of the Spirit of God, we're in 570 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:20,100 big trouble. 571 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:22,900 You know, if I was standing here and 572 00:26:22,900 --> 00:26:26,300 all my ligaments failed me, I'm not much 573 00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:27,600 to look at right now, but I'd be 574 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:28,400 a whole lot less. 575 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,180 Do we not understand, here's the unity of 576 00:26:33,180 --> 00:26:36,420 the Spirit, and it is our personal responsibility 577 00:26:36,420 --> 00:26:37,460 to keep it. 578 00:26:38,360 --> 00:26:42,620 Will that have impact even in the domestic 579 00:26:42,620 --> 00:26:43,020 realm? 580 00:26:43,120 --> 00:26:43,560 It will. 581 00:26:46,850 --> 00:26:48,430 But primarily in God's assembly? 582 00:26:49,130 --> 00:26:50,610 You know, sometimes people leave an assembly. 583 00:26:50,690 --> 00:26:54,030 I'm not here to hang out filthy laundry. 584 00:26:54,170 --> 00:26:54,870 That isn't it. 585 00:26:55,590 --> 00:26:57,390 We can't deny reality either. 586 00:26:58,670 --> 00:26:59,990 Sometimes people leave. 587 00:27:01,410 --> 00:27:02,970 Sometimes people aren't happy. 588 00:27:04,630 --> 00:27:06,990 They go on their downward spiral. 589 00:27:07,170 --> 00:27:08,150 They leave the assembly. 590 00:27:09,250 --> 00:27:11,530 Because something there doesn't please them. 591 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,980 There's agitation and there's peace and there's a 592 00:27:16,980 --> 00:27:19,480 lack of peace and there's sorrow. 593 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:26,140 I'm just trying to open our eyes a 594 00:27:26,140 --> 00:27:26,760 little bit today. 595 00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:28,780 Maybe everybody knows much more about this than 596 00:27:28,780 --> 00:27:29,100 I do. 597 00:27:29,180 --> 00:27:29,880 I don't know. 598 00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:31,580 But it's been speaking to my soul. 599 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,780 To keep the unity of the Spirit in 600 00:27:35,780 --> 00:27:36,540 the bond of peace. 601 00:27:39,180 --> 00:27:40,100 And how do we do it? 602 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:42,720 Well, I'll tell you what, we've got to 603 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:43,620 have the right attitude. 604 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:46,360 We've got to have the right focus. 605 00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:51,940 And as Paul is saying here, with all 606 00:27:51,940 --> 00:27:57,640 lowliness and meekness and longsuffering, forbearing one another 607 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:58,660 in love. 608 00:28:01,010 --> 00:28:02,290 Let's go to the end of the chapter. 609 00:28:02,290 --> 00:28:10,470 I see in verse 20, that no communication 610 00:28:10,470 --> 00:28:17,030 or rotten or putrid words in communication come 611 00:28:17,030 --> 00:28:17,790 out of our mouth. 612 00:28:20,820 --> 00:28:29,440 Verse 30, Grieve not the Holy Spirit of 613 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:29,860 God. 614 00:28:30,300 --> 00:28:32,800 Don't bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit of 615 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:33,120 God. 616 00:28:33,500 --> 00:28:36,520 Don't bring heaviness to the Spirit of God. 617 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,560 There's no wisdom in quenching the Spirit of 618 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:40,900 God. 619 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:49,160 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 19, Grieve not the 620 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:51,660 Holy Spirit of God, whereby he is sealed 621 00:28:51,660 --> 00:28:53,440 unto the day of redemption. 622 00:28:53,580 --> 00:28:55,900 The second place in this epistle that Paul 623 00:28:55,900 --> 00:28:58,480 speaks about, having mentioned it in chapter 1 624 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,520 and verse 13. 625 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:04,620 Sealed unto the day of redemption. 626 00:29:04,620 --> 00:29:07,700 Sealed unto the day when we're at home 627 00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:09,740 with the Lord and our bodies are changed. 628 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:12,660 And there's a consummation of our salvation. 629 00:29:16,380 --> 00:29:23,740 Then he says, Let all bitterness and wrath 630 00:29:23,740 --> 00:29:29,860 and anger and clamor and evil speaking be 631 00:29:29,860 --> 00:29:33,920 put away from you with all malice. 632 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:39,200 Does that ever happen among Christians? 633 00:29:41,180 --> 00:29:42,800 All I'm going to say is it can. 634 00:29:43,940 --> 00:29:45,300 Now, I'm not going to go into the 635 00:29:45,300 --> 00:29:46,720 definition of those words. 636 00:29:48,020 --> 00:29:49,400 Maybe it would be profitable. 637 00:29:49,660 --> 00:29:51,500 But I know the malice is ill will 638 00:29:51,500 --> 00:29:54,680 and a desire to hurt. 639 00:29:58,530 --> 00:30:00,850 What we told yesterday about watching our tongue 640 00:30:00,850 --> 00:30:02,350 and what we have to say. 641 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:05,680 Right? 642 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:08,820 Let me wind this up. 643 00:30:10,020 --> 00:30:10,920 You're saying good. 644 00:30:11,020 --> 00:30:12,040 I'm glad you're about done. 645 00:30:12,750 --> 00:30:15,980 But anyhow, And be ye kind one to 646 00:30:15,980 --> 00:30:21,740 another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, 647 00:30:21,900 --> 00:30:23,860 for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. 648 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:26,620 I wonder if there's anybody here today and 649 00:30:26,620 --> 00:30:28,160 you have a grudge against somebody else. 650 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:31,220 You think you have been hurt. 651 00:30:36,810 --> 00:30:40,670 And consequently, you have ill feelings toward others. 652 00:30:42,810 --> 00:30:44,030 Do you know what forgiveness is? 653 00:30:44,870 --> 00:30:47,650 Forgiveness is taking someone you feel that has 654 00:30:47,650 --> 00:30:51,750 offended you and you pardon them. 655 00:30:51,970 --> 00:30:52,910 You drop. 656 00:30:53,850 --> 00:30:57,510 You just plain, flat out drop your feelings 657 00:30:57,510 --> 00:30:59,950 and your accusations against them. 658 00:31:02,270 --> 00:31:03,030 Add something to that. 659 00:31:03,870 --> 00:31:07,670 And then show them kindness on top of 660 00:31:07,670 --> 00:31:07,870 it. 661 00:31:11,190 --> 00:31:12,730 Why should we do that? 662 00:31:14,510 --> 00:31:19,730 Because God has forgiven us for Christ's sake. 663 00:31:23,030 --> 00:31:25,110 I am going to submit something to you 664 00:31:25,110 --> 00:31:26,530 today, whether you like it or not. 665 00:31:26,650 --> 00:31:28,830 You know, I've got to leave here pretty 666 00:31:28,830 --> 00:31:29,390 soon anyhow. 667 00:31:29,630 --> 00:31:31,190 So maybe you won't have anything to say 668 00:31:31,190 --> 00:31:31,510 to me. 669 00:31:31,930 --> 00:31:33,750 But I would say this. 670 00:31:34,690 --> 00:31:38,350 People that hold grudges and people that don't 671 00:31:38,350 --> 00:31:39,610 want to forgive other people. 672 00:31:40,410 --> 00:31:44,090 They don't have a clear understanding of that 673 00:31:44,090 --> 00:31:48,310 forgiveness that has come to them. 674 00:31:49,890 --> 00:31:52,590 From God to the Son of God, the 675 00:31:52,590 --> 00:31:54,650 Lord Jesus, and all that he passed through 676 00:31:54,650 --> 00:31:56,470 to forgive us of all our sins. 677 00:32:00,010 --> 00:32:00,970 You know, people that are bitter. 678 00:32:01,170 --> 00:32:03,270 You know, I was thinking of Hebrews chapter 679 00:32:03,270 --> 00:32:04,790 12, I think about verse 15. 680 00:32:04,890 --> 00:32:06,090 It talks about the root of bitterness. 681 00:32:07,650 --> 00:32:09,190 You know what the root of bitterness produces 682 00:32:09,190 --> 00:32:09,870 in anybody? 683 00:32:10,690 --> 00:32:12,170 The fruit of bitterness. 684 00:32:15,090 --> 00:32:17,070 And I have never met a bitter person 685 00:32:17,070 --> 00:32:22,570 yet that has profited one iota by holding 686 00:32:22,570 --> 00:32:24,930 that grudge, that bitterness. 687 00:32:26,550 --> 00:32:27,970 I never have. 688 00:32:28,970 --> 00:32:30,530 And who suffers from it most? 689 00:32:30,810 --> 00:32:33,330 The person that carries the bitterness. 690 00:32:39,950 --> 00:32:43,610 For Christ's sake, we should forgive one another. 691 00:32:47,050 --> 00:32:49,780 Being wound up and caught in a battlefield 692 00:32:49,780 --> 00:32:55,760 isn't a profitable place to make and have 693 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:56,520 prosperity. 694 00:32:57,720 --> 00:32:58,860 Spiritually speaking. 695 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:04,140 I don't know what you think about keeping 696 00:33:04,140 --> 00:33:06,340 the unity of the Spirit. 697 00:33:08,540 --> 00:33:10,460 But it's for the blessing of all who 698 00:33:10,460 --> 00:33:10,920 do it. 699 00:33:12,180 --> 00:33:15,960 It's for the blessing of every assembly to 700 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,500 have peace and tranquility. 701 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:23,360 By keeping the unity of the Spirit. 702 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:26,000 Dear Saint of God, I'm telling you something. 703 00:33:27,180 --> 00:33:29,600 If God's assembly is a place where Christ 704 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:34,060 is in full charge, and he has purchased 705 00:33:34,060 --> 00:33:38,790 it with his blood, God keeping the unity 706 00:33:38,790 --> 00:33:41,290 of the Spirit is to the glory of 707 00:33:41,290 --> 00:33:42,410 our Lord Jesus Christ.