1 00:00:01,350 --> 00:00:03,750 Brother Nelson Cooke, would you quote a little 2 00:00:03,750 --> 00:00:04,290 word of prayer? 3 00:00:06,290 --> 00:00:08,290 We won't be able to take much time 4 00:00:08,290 --> 00:00:09,910 tonight to review. 5 00:00:10,630 --> 00:00:13,010 We've been studying about the crowns of scriptures, 6 00:00:13,730 --> 00:00:16,690 the crowns in the scriptures, and we have 7 00:00:16,690 --> 00:00:21,350 thus far considered the incorruptible crown, the crown 8 00:00:21,350 --> 00:00:24,170 of rejoicing, and the crown of righteousness. 9 00:00:25,190 --> 00:00:27,830 We'd like to have before us tonight the 10 00:00:27,830 --> 00:00:30,770 crown of glory and the crown of life. 11 00:00:31,450 --> 00:00:33,490 We're going to try to budget our time 12 00:00:33,490 --> 00:00:35,170 a little better than we did last night, 13 00:00:35,270 --> 00:00:37,930 so we won't have that feeling of utter 14 00:00:37,930 --> 00:00:43,590 futility in touching so lightly upon the subject 15 00:00:43,590 --> 00:00:44,310 before us. 16 00:00:45,410 --> 00:00:49,090 We have much ground to cover, and in 17 00:00:49,090 --> 00:00:51,230 these crowns we have been seeking to show 18 00:00:51,230 --> 00:00:54,270 not only the crown, but how we may 19 00:00:54,270 --> 00:00:54,830 win them. 20 00:00:55,730 --> 00:01:00,170 These are crowns, these are distinguishing glories that 21 00:01:00,170 --> 00:01:01,890 the Lord is going to heap upon us, 22 00:01:01,910 --> 00:01:03,590 that the Lord is going to accord to 23 00:01:03,590 --> 00:01:06,850 us in His grace and in His mercy 24 00:01:06,850 --> 00:01:08,330 in the coming days. 25 00:01:09,170 --> 00:01:11,250 The crowns are compensatory. 26 00:01:12,150 --> 00:01:15,530 They are a reward for the things which 27 00:01:15,530 --> 00:01:18,090 we have endured down here. 28 00:01:18,090 --> 00:01:21,970 The Lord is going to compensate us by 29 00:01:21,970 --> 00:01:25,450 means of these crowns. 30 00:01:26,330 --> 00:01:28,630 We'd like to consider tonight, with the help 31 00:01:28,630 --> 00:01:30,810 of the Lord, the crown of glory. 32 00:01:31,550 --> 00:01:33,910 I want to refer you to the 5th 33 00:01:33,910 --> 00:01:38,370 chapter of 1 Peter, the only mention of 34 00:01:38,370 --> 00:01:41,210 this crown in the scriptures. 35 00:01:45,020 --> 00:01:48,860 Last night we considered the warrior's crown. 36 00:01:48,860 --> 00:01:51,800 Tonight we will consider the shepherd's crown. 37 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:56,460 This is a crown for shepherds only. 38 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,160 Last night we saw that the Christian, every 39 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:07,740 Christian, can be a warrior, and the reward 40 00:02:07,740 --> 00:02:11,100 for the warrior, the warrior's crown, is the 41 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:12,720 crown of righteousness. 42 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:19,300 And we noticed that righteousness, practical righteousness in 43 00:02:19,300 --> 00:02:22,120 our lives, will result from loving the Lord, 44 00:02:22,820 --> 00:02:26,080 and in a special way, from loving His 45 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,700 return, loving the appearing of our Lord Jesus 46 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:30,200 Christ. 47 00:02:31,180 --> 00:02:36,620 And then to active resistance against our enemies, 48 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:42,120 who would seek to destroy our personal righteousness, 49 00:02:42,980 --> 00:02:47,220 and thus discredit Christianity in general, and our 50 00:02:47,220 --> 00:02:48,980 Lord in particular. 51 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,100 And for those who will twice as good 52 00:02:53,100 --> 00:02:56,560 fight as Satan, resist this enemy, and who 53 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,940 out of love for the Lord Jesus, and 54 00:02:59,940 --> 00:03:02,440 adoration for Him, will live a life of 55 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,940 piety, a life of righteousness, the Lord has 56 00:03:05,940 --> 00:03:09,140 for them the crown of righteousness. 57 00:03:10,260 --> 00:03:12,860 But tonight this crown is a very specific 58 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:17,860 crown, limited to a smaller group of God's 59 00:03:17,860 --> 00:03:18,220 people. 60 00:03:18,820 --> 00:03:21,140 However, I think it will do us all 61 00:03:21,140 --> 00:03:22,160 well to consider it. 62 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,660 And then lastly, the crown of life, which 63 00:03:25,660 --> 00:03:28,200 I think is the martyr's crown. 64 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,340 But in a sense, we can all win 65 00:03:31,340 --> 00:03:36,880 that crown, because it's more than the martyr's 66 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:37,420 crown. 67 00:03:37,580 --> 00:03:41,080 Now in 1 Peter 5, the elders which 68 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:45,500 are among you, I exhort, who am also 69 00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:47,740 an elder, and a witness of the sufferings 70 00:03:47,740 --> 00:03:50,800 of Christ, and also a partaker of the 71 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,320 glory that shall be revealed. 72 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,900 Heed the flock of God which is among 73 00:03:56,900 --> 00:04:01,800 you, and taking the oversight thereof, not by 74 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:07,000 constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but 75 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:08,500 of a ready mind. 76 00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:13,540 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but 77 00:04:13,540 --> 00:04:15,480 being ensamples to the flock. 78 00:04:16,459 --> 00:04:20,399 And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye 79 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:25,000 shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth 80 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,460 not away. 81 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:32,940 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. 82 00:04:32,940 --> 00:04:35,620 Yea, all of you be subject one to 83 00:04:35,620 --> 00:04:39,640 another, and be clothed with humility, for God 84 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:44,360 resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the 85 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:44,680 humble. 86 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,560 Now we have seen already the Christian as 87 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:50,080 a runner. 88 00:04:51,540 --> 00:04:54,440 We have seen him as a messenger, as 89 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:55,080 an ambassador. 90 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:57,800 We have seen him as a warrior. 91 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,820 And now we want to look at a 92 00:05:00,820 --> 00:05:04,780 certain group of Christians as shepherds. 93 00:05:05,540 --> 00:05:07,940 Now Peter himself is the one who is 94 00:05:07,940 --> 00:05:10,800 giving the counsel, and well qualified he was 95 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,200 to be a shepherd. 96 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,700 He was given his commission by our Lord 97 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:20,320 Jesus Christ himself. 98 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,500 Now, let's notice that please, in John chapter 99 00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:24,140 21. 100 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,620 Because Peter is speaking out of the depths 101 00:05:27,620 --> 00:05:30,820 of his heart to those he wanted to 102 00:05:30,820 --> 00:05:34,040 see shepherd the people of God. 103 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:35,820 He's not alone in this. 104 00:05:36,900 --> 00:05:40,680 You will recall that Moses, when he was 105 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,540 told that he had to die, he pled 106 00:05:43,540 --> 00:05:44,220 with the Lord. 107 00:05:45,180 --> 00:05:49,140 Lord, he said, set a man over the 108 00:05:49,140 --> 00:05:53,080 children of Israel, lest they be as sheep 109 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,600 scattered, not having a shepherd. 110 00:05:56,220 --> 00:05:59,720 And at the same time, the Lord told 111 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,140 Moses to appoint Joshua to be a leader 112 00:06:03,140 --> 00:06:05,020 over his people. 113 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,240 Moses wanted to see, his shepherd heart led 114 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,480 him to see that there was a shepherd 115 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,540 over the people of God. 116 00:06:19,580 --> 00:06:24,020 Here, in this epistle of Peter, Peter knows 117 00:06:24,020 --> 00:06:25,960 that his time is at hand. 118 00:06:27,100 --> 00:06:33,040 And he wants God to indeed set shepherds 119 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:33,860 over the flock. 120 00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:36,720 He knows that he has much longer to 121 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,580 go, and he is concerned with the flock 122 00:06:39,580 --> 00:06:40,120 of God. 123 00:06:40,780 --> 00:06:43,580 The apostle Paul knew that he was going 124 00:06:43,580 --> 00:06:48,580 to die, and he wanted indeed Timothy and 125 00:06:48,580 --> 00:06:53,040 others to shepherd the flock of God. 126 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,500 And he called the elders of Ephesus to 127 00:06:56,500 --> 00:06:59,180 him and told them, warned them, of the 128 00:06:59,180 --> 00:07:01,080 dangers that would come upon the people of 129 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:01,400 God. 130 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,940 He had a concern for the sheep. 131 00:07:04,740 --> 00:07:07,620 And so Peter tells us, as a true 132 00:07:07,620 --> 00:07:10,940 shepherd he was, he tells of dangers ahead. 133 00:07:11,780 --> 00:07:15,520 And he wants them, after his decease, to 134 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,680 have these things always in remembrance. 135 00:07:18,340 --> 00:07:21,280 So there is much instruction in this portion 136 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,620 of scripture, for you and for me, whether 137 00:07:23,620 --> 00:07:26,000 we are younger, or whether we are the 138 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,460 ones being directly addressed as the shepherds. 139 00:07:29,460 --> 00:07:33,080 In John chapter 21, our Lord Jesus gives 140 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,280 Peter his commission as a shepherd. 141 00:07:37,140 --> 00:07:40,300 Verse 15 of that chapter, So when they 142 00:07:40,300 --> 00:07:44,000 had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon 143 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,400 son of Jonas, Lovest thou me more than 144 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:48,780 these? 145 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,840 He said unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest 146 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:53,880 that I love thee. 147 00:07:54,770 --> 00:07:59,080 He said unto him, Feed my lambs. 148 00:08:01,270 --> 00:08:03,930 He said unto him again, the second time, 149 00:08:04,190 --> 00:08:08,290 Simon son of Jonas, Lovest thou me? 150 00:08:09,410 --> 00:08:12,830 He said unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest 151 00:08:12,830 --> 00:08:14,770 that I love thee. 152 00:08:16,110 --> 00:08:20,030 He said unto him, Feed my sheep. 153 00:08:21,130 --> 00:08:24,050 He said unto him the third time, Simon 154 00:08:24,050 --> 00:08:27,910 son of Jonas, Lovest thou me? 155 00:08:29,650 --> 00:08:32,090 Peter was grieved because he said unto him 156 00:08:32,090 --> 00:08:33,690 the third time, Lovest thou me? 157 00:08:34,409 --> 00:08:37,730 He was grieved because the Lord stooped to 158 00:08:37,730 --> 00:08:40,309 use the same word that Peter was using. 159 00:08:41,110 --> 00:08:42,850 And the Lord asked him the first two 160 00:08:42,850 --> 00:08:46,250 times if he loved him, if Peter loved 161 00:08:46,250 --> 00:08:46,550 the Lord. 162 00:08:46,550 --> 00:08:48,370 He said, Do you deeply love me? 163 00:08:48,450 --> 00:08:51,250 The same kind of love that God has 164 00:08:51,250 --> 00:08:51,970 for this world. 165 00:08:52,970 --> 00:08:54,870 And Peter answered back, He couldn't boast of 166 00:08:54,870 --> 00:08:57,910 his love, not after denying his Lord. 167 00:08:58,750 --> 00:09:00,710 And he said something to the effect, Yes, 168 00:09:00,770 --> 00:09:01,910 Lord, I'm fond of you. 169 00:09:03,170 --> 00:09:06,390 Now the Lord stoops down and uses Peter's 170 00:09:06,390 --> 00:09:06,790 word. 171 00:09:07,390 --> 00:09:08,750 Peter, are you fond of me? 172 00:09:09,750 --> 00:09:12,690 And Peter was grieved that the Lord would 173 00:09:12,690 --> 00:09:16,770 lower that standard in condescension to meet his 174 00:09:16,770 --> 00:09:17,470 standard. 175 00:09:18,850 --> 00:09:22,930 And he says, Yes, Lord, thou knowest that 176 00:09:22,930 --> 00:09:23,690 I love thee. 177 00:09:24,570 --> 00:09:27,590 Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep. 178 00:09:28,170 --> 00:09:32,290 Here is another shepherd that is going away. 179 00:09:33,660 --> 00:09:38,160 Our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of 180 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:38,540 the sheep. 181 00:09:40,060 --> 00:09:43,120 Our Lord Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, the 182 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,560 great shepherd, and as we notice tonight, the 183 00:09:45,560 --> 00:09:46,100 chief shepherd. 184 00:09:47,540 --> 00:09:49,180 Yes, he's thinking of the sheep. 185 00:09:49,980 --> 00:09:51,800 Peter, do you really love me? 186 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:54,620 Peter, do you love me now? 187 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:57,620 Peter says, Yes, Lord. 188 00:09:58,660 --> 00:09:59,840 Feed my sheep. 189 00:10:01,780 --> 00:10:03,780 Peter, if you love me, take care of 190 00:10:03,780 --> 00:10:04,320 my sheep. 191 00:10:04,420 --> 00:10:05,660 I love my sheep. 192 00:10:08,100 --> 00:10:10,420 I want my sheep cared for. 193 00:10:11,980 --> 00:10:14,720 And he gives Peter this tender commission. 194 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,760 Another shepherd is going away. 195 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:21,800 Now there is a sense, of course, in 196 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,380 which the Lord Jesus is never separated from 197 00:10:24,380 --> 00:10:24,940 you and me. 198 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,100 He is, in that sense, the great shepherd 199 00:10:27,100 --> 00:10:27,640 of the sheep. 200 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:29,480 But you know there is a lot of 201 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,520 shepherding to be done that the Lord Jesus 202 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:33,520 leaves to us. 203 00:10:35,460 --> 00:10:39,500 Now Peter fulfills, indeed, his commission. 204 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,920 And if you want some precious reading, read 205 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:51,760 the epistle of Peter to those scattered abroad. 206 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:54,660 And you will find some of the best 207 00:10:54,660 --> 00:10:56,420 feeding in all the scriptures. 208 00:10:56,420 --> 00:11:01,040 It lacks, perhaps, some of the analysis, the 209 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:05,440 judicious structure of Paul's writings, and the sheer 210 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,000 force of spiritual logic. 211 00:11:07,980 --> 00:11:09,760 But I'll tell you, if your soul wants 212 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,560 to be fed, if you want your soul 213 00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:16,760 really fed, if your soul is languishing for 214 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:21,840 food, read the epistles of Peter, and your 215 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,700 soul will be fed. 216 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:27,640 He was a true shepherd, and he fed 217 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:29,980 the people of God. 218 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,640 And just as our blessed Lord provided for 219 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:36,940 the sheep after his departure, and Moses and 220 00:11:36,940 --> 00:11:40,820 Paul as well, so Peter, after his decease, 221 00:11:40,860 --> 00:11:42,660 he says, I want you to have these 222 00:11:42,660 --> 00:11:44,760 things in remembrance. 223 00:11:45,500 --> 00:11:48,020 So it's Peter that counsels the shepherds. 224 00:11:48,020 --> 00:11:52,660 Peter himself a shepherd, and he is so 225 00:11:52,660 --> 00:11:56,860 interested in those who will be left behind 226 00:11:56,860 --> 00:11:59,500 when he is with the Lord and beyond 227 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:02,780 the need of shepherding. 228 00:12:02,780 --> 00:12:10,060 Now, the word shepherd is an interesting word, 229 00:12:10,860 --> 00:12:14,000 and incidentally may I say that I believe 230 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:20,220 that the Lord himself is still commissioning shepherds. 231 00:12:20,680 --> 00:12:24,700 I believe that the Lord himself is still 232 00:12:24,700 --> 00:12:28,880 giving the gifts of the shepherds. 233 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,500 Let's notice that in Ephesians chapter 4. 234 00:12:40,010 --> 00:12:56,070 Ephesians chapter 4, well, 235 00:12:56,530 --> 00:12:58,130 let's begin in verse 7. 236 00:12:59,150 --> 00:13:02,070 But unto every one of us is given 237 00:13:02,070 --> 00:13:04,910 grace according to the measure of the gift 238 00:13:04,910 --> 00:13:05,450 of Christ. 239 00:13:05,770 --> 00:13:08,410 Each of us has been given something to 240 00:13:08,410 --> 00:13:10,570 do for the Lord, and he gives us 241 00:13:10,570 --> 00:13:11,530 the power to do it. 242 00:13:11,530 --> 00:13:15,650 He imparts that power to us, the gift 243 00:13:15,650 --> 00:13:17,990 and the power to perform it. 244 00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:22,100 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on 245 00:13:22,100 --> 00:13:25,000 high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts 246 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:25,600 unto men. 247 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,500 Now that he ascended, what is it but 248 00:13:29,500 --> 00:13:33,080 that he also descended first into the lower 249 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:34,120 parts of the earth? 250 00:13:34,950 --> 00:13:38,100 He that descended is the same also that 251 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:41,480 ascended up far above all heaven, that he 252 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:42,740 might steal all things. 253 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,200 And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, 254 00:13:47,940 --> 00:13:53,900 and some evangelists, and some pastors, and teachers. 255 00:13:55,140 --> 00:13:59,060 Now, the word pastors here is the same 256 00:13:59,060 --> 00:14:01,620 word in the Greek that is translated shepherd 257 00:14:01,620 --> 00:14:02,840 elsewhere. 258 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,900 I don't know why it was translated pastor 259 00:14:06,900 --> 00:14:08,200 here and shepherd elsewhere. 260 00:14:08,900 --> 00:14:10,920 As a matter of fact, it's a part 261 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:12,940 of the compound word that in our text 262 00:14:12,940 --> 00:14:16,020 in Peter 5 is translated the chief shepherd. 263 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:20,360 It's one word in the Greek, but it 264 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:21,040 means shepherd. 265 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,300 It's the archshepherd, it's the chief shepherd, but 266 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:25,760 it's the same word in the Greek. 267 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:29,140 And our Lord Jesus himself is the one 268 00:14:29,140 --> 00:14:32,340 who gives the shepherds for his people. 269 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,460 Only the Lord can make a shepherd. 270 00:14:36,860 --> 00:14:39,320 Only the Lord and the Spirit of God, 271 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:41,000 who of course is sovereign. 272 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,740 Let's notice in Acts chapter 20. 273 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:04,580 Acts chapter 20, verse 28. 274 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,520 Now, who takes heed of the flock? 275 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,520 Well, I think we will admit it is 276 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:18,900 the shepherds over which the Holy Ghost hath 277 00:15:18,900 --> 00:15:22,940 made you overseers, to feed the church of 278 00:15:22,940 --> 00:15:26,220 God which ye have purchased with his own 279 00:15:26,220 --> 00:15:26,540 blood. 280 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,280 Now, he's still furthering the thought of the 281 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:29,360 flock in the next verse. 282 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,100 For I know this, that after my departing 283 00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:37,600 shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not 284 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,780 fearing the flock. 285 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,220 Only God can make a shepherd. 286 00:15:44,300 --> 00:15:48,980 The Holy Ghost makes overseers over the flock 287 00:15:48,980 --> 00:15:49,720 of God. 288 00:15:51,780 --> 00:15:57,320 Now, the Lord Jesus has given up the 289 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:57,720 commission. 290 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,580 He has put that care for the people 291 00:16:00,580 --> 00:16:03,500 of God naturally in our hearts. 292 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:08,600 Now, the amazing thing is that Peter should 293 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,000 have to exhort shepherds at all. 294 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,740 And this is the thought that we want 295 00:16:15,740 --> 00:16:16,400 to explore. 296 00:16:17,620 --> 00:16:21,240 Why does Peter have to exhort certain men 297 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:26,400 to indeed fulfill their commission as shepherds? 298 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:29,540 Why does he have to do that? 299 00:16:30,740 --> 00:16:33,840 The Holy Ghost makes overseers for the flock 300 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,320 of God, that they might feed the flock 301 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:36,760 of God. 302 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,580 Now, why does Peter have to exhort such 303 00:16:39,580 --> 00:16:40,360 men as this? 304 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:42,700 To fulfill their duty. 305 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:46,840 Well, I think the reason for it is, 306 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:51,580 is because that calling of a shepherd is 307 00:16:51,580 --> 00:16:53,960 so difficult. 308 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,940 You know, we live in a day of 309 00:16:58,940 --> 00:17:00,780 fierce independence. 310 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:06,180 We value our independence in this country. 311 00:17:07,180 --> 00:17:10,099 Our liberty is an obsession to us. 312 00:17:10,819 --> 00:17:13,540 And it may be carried in Christian circles 313 00:17:13,540 --> 00:17:16,200 to the point of antinomianism. 314 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:21,940 I mean absolute rebellion against any restriction whatsoever. 315 00:17:23,460 --> 00:17:25,980 This personal, this business of personal liberty. 316 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:29,060 And we live in an age when people 317 00:17:29,060 --> 00:17:31,420 insist on their own personal liberty. 318 00:17:32,140 --> 00:17:34,720 We have a kind of an unwritten law 319 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:36,160 that goes something like this. 320 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:40,040 Now, you stay out of my private life, 321 00:17:40,620 --> 00:17:44,020 and I'll stay out of your private life. 322 00:17:46,180 --> 00:17:54,380 And that fierce independence of spirit, that craving 323 00:17:54,380 --> 00:17:58,100 for liberty, makes it very, very difficult for 324 00:17:58,100 --> 00:18:00,380 a shepherd to carry on his work. 325 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,860 Many, many times, young Christians especially, who need 326 00:18:05,860 --> 00:18:06,600 shepherd care. 327 00:18:07,340 --> 00:18:08,980 Those that are away from the Lord. 328 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,560 A shepherd will come along, and he'll try 329 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:13,120 to help. 330 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,520 And he's probably told, mind your own business. 331 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,100 Tend to your own business. 332 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:28,340 And it's quite unfortunate that sometimes that the 333 00:18:28,340 --> 00:18:33,860 devil sees to it that the shepherd may 334 00:18:33,860 --> 00:18:38,210 have enough in his own hunts to quiet 335 00:18:38,210 --> 00:18:38,470 him. 336 00:18:39,890 --> 00:18:43,150 I've seen that happen so many, many times. 337 00:18:44,610 --> 00:18:45,850 So many times. 338 00:18:47,110 --> 00:18:49,970 David was a shepherd, and he had sons 339 00:18:49,970 --> 00:18:51,170 that didn't do so well either. 340 00:18:51,170 --> 00:18:51,950 Adonijah. 341 00:18:52,710 --> 00:18:55,270 As a matter of fact, there was Samuel, 342 00:18:55,790 --> 00:18:58,390 and Adonijah, and Eli. 343 00:18:58,650 --> 00:19:00,550 All of them failed in the raising of 344 00:19:00,550 --> 00:19:01,130 their sons. 345 00:19:03,580 --> 00:19:06,300 Ah, how the devil is attacking the shepherd. 346 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,040 I heard a dear old woman say once, 347 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,680 in almost approaching 90, a spiritual school. 348 00:19:14,340 --> 00:19:16,840 And she says, Pray for the elders. 349 00:19:18,120 --> 00:19:20,800 Pray for the shepherds among God's people. 350 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:23,160 Pray for them. 351 00:19:23,740 --> 00:19:25,060 They need our prayers. 352 00:19:25,620 --> 00:19:29,280 Why should a shepherd, a man of this 353 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:33,380 caliber, have to be urged and exhorted indeed 354 00:19:33,380 --> 00:19:35,360 to feed the flock of God, taking the 355 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:39,460 oversight thereof, not by constraint, not having to 356 00:19:39,460 --> 00:19:41,660 be forced to do it, but willingly. 357 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,040 Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready 358 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:45,680 mind. 359 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:47,660 A readiness to obey. 360 00:19:50,530 --> 00:19:51,710 Strange, isn't it? 361 00:19:52,550 --> 00:19:55,270 But I tell you, you only have to 362 00:19:55,270 --> 00:19:57,430 be rebuffed about once or twice by the 363 00:19:57,430 --> 00:20:02,630 people of God until you do kind of 364 00:20:02,630 --> 00:20:08,690 retreat from your shepherd duties. 365 00:20:11,330 --> 00:20:14,130 But if there ever was a time in 366 00:20:14,130 --> 00:20:16,030 all the history of the Church of God 367 00:20:16,030 --> 00:20:20,470 where shepherding was needed and desperately needed, it's 368 00:20:20,470 --> 00:20:21,050 right now. 369 00:20:22,170 --> 00:20:26,110 Right now, among the people of God, a 370 00:20:26,110 --> 00:20:27,590 need for shepherding. 371 00:20:28,210 --> 00:20:29,530 They need to be fed. 372 00:20:29,890 --> 00:20:30,930 They need to be taught. 373 00:20:31,450 --> 00:20:34,490 They need to be warned of the pitfall 374 00:20:34,490 --> 00:20:38,350 that can come to the Christian. 375 00:20:39,790 --> 00:20:45,710 Now, the shepherd's duty seems to be threefold, 376 00:20:45,830 --> 00:20:47,350 as outlined here by Peter. 377 00:20:48,110 --> 00:20:51,910 First of all, he says, feed the flock. 378 00:20:52,250 --> 00:20:57,030 In verse 2 of 1 Peter 5, feed 379 00:20:57,030 --> 00:20:59,350 the flock of God which is among you, 380 00:21:00,230 --> 00:21:04,210 taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but 381 00:21:04,210 --> 00:21:04,690 willingly. 382 00:21:04,890 --> 00:21:06,850 The shepherd feeds. 383 00:21:07,070 --> 00:21:09,650 The pastor feeds. 384 00:21:11,830 --> 00:21:14,030 Somebody has asked me the question, are you 385 00:21:14,030 --> 00:21:15,410 against the local pastor? 386 00:21:17,130 --> 00:21:18,670 A local pastor? 387 00:21:19,310 --> 00:21:21,950 I say, of course I'm not against a 388 00:21:21,950 --> 00:21:22,750 local pastor. 389 00:21:23,390 --> 00:21:28,150 What I'm against is this, limiting that local 390 00:21:28,150 --> 00:21:29,530 pastor to one person. 391 00:21:30,370 --> 00:21:33,670 This is a gift that God gives, and 392 00:21:33,670 --> 00:21:35,530 it's not limited to one man. 393 00:21:36,590 --> 00:21:39,890 In many instances in prison and today, the 394 00:21:39,890 --> 00:21:42,150 pastor of a church, if I may refer 395 00:21:42,150 --> 00:21:44,390 to him that way, he takes that position, 396 00:21:45,050 --> 00:21:47,990 the pastor of a church may not have 397 00:21:47,990 --> 00:21:50,550 the gift of a shepherd at all. 398 00:21:51,230 --> 00:21:54,510 He goes into it with a thought of 399 00:21:54,510 --> 00:21:56,050 a profession to follow. 400 00:21:57,230 --> 00:22:01,750 Now, I know that even in the circles 401 00:22:01,750 --> 00:22:05,090 of the assemblies as we know them, there 402 00:22:05,090 --> 00:22:07,610 is a dearth of pastoring, and possibly even 403 00:22:07,610 --> 00:22:11,810 there is some benefit, some benefit by a 404 00:22:11,810 --> 00:22:13,770 man acting in that direction. 405 00:22:15,170 --> 00:22:17,790 And acting in that capacity, even though he 406 00:22:17,790 --> 00:22:20,370 may not be gifted particularly to do it, 407 00:22:20,370 --> 00:22:23,650 yet some benefit will result from it. 408 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,520 I think of those who really have the 409 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:40,900 gift, and yet less business, and family responsibilities, 410 00:22:41,580 --> 00:22:45,720 and many other responsibilities that interfere from performing 411 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,680 their duty, their God-given duty. 412 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,760 Now, it's a matter of feeding the flock 413 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:54,400 of God. 414 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,700 The shepherd must be able to feed. 415 00:23:01,350 --> 00:23:02,770 We need to be fed. 416 00:23:04,090 --> 00:23:06,890 Now, we don't all, all the food that 417 00:23:06,890 --> 00:23:09,310 we take is not from the shepherd. 418 00:23:10,310 --> 00:23:12,850 There are teachers, there are shepherds, there are 419 00:23:12,850 --> 00:23:14,550 pastors for God's people. 420 00:23:15,270 --> 00:23:16,870 Some of the things that we get, we 421 00:23:16,870 --> 00:23:18,250 get directly from the Lord. 422 00:23:18,430 --> 00:23:19,250 They're very good. 423 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,040 But you know, we need to be guided 424 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:23,760 and directed. 425 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,980 Now, let's don't lean over backwards against this 426 00:23:27,980 --> 00:23:28,240 thought. 427 00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:30,440 Now, we say that there's no such thing 428 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:31,780 as clergy and laity. 429 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:33,060 There isn't. 430 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:37,100 But there is such a thing as shepherds 431 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,600 and sheep. 432 00:23:41,060 --> 00:23:42,240 That's scriptural. 433 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:46,420 And sheep need to be fed. 434 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:51,560 Now, Christ is the food for the soul, 435 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:55,160 and Christ needs to be ministered. 436 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:57,940 He is pictured in the mammon. 437 00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:00,520 He is pictured in the old corn of 438 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:01,020 the land. 439 00:24:01,980 --> 00:24:03,340 He is pictured in the milk. 440 00:24:04,380 --> 00:24:06,720 He is pictured in the meat of the 441 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:07,140 scriptures. 442 00:24:08,020 --> 00:24:10,220 He's the food for the soul. 443 00:24:10,220 --> 00:24:14,740 And what is needed is the ministering of 444 00:24:14,740 --> 00:24:17,760 Christ himself. 445 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,820 He is food for the soul. 446 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:29,420 May God help us to have an exercise 447 00:24:29,420 --> 00:24:32,760 in regard to feeding the sheep of God, 448 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,340 to be sure that the glories of our 449 00:24:35,340 --> 00:24:41,660 Lord Jesus, his power to keep, to satisfy 450 00:24:41,660 --> 00:24:45,400 us, is kept before the people of God. 451 00:24:46,020 --> 00:24:49,400 And you out there who, in this audience, 452 00:24:50,940 --> 00:24:53,900 who minister the word of God, oh, that 453 00:24:53,900 --> 00:24:57,160 our hearts might be fed upon Christ. 454 00:24:58,120 --> 00:25:00,940 Now, I'm not saying that there isn't that 455 00:25:00,940 --> 00:25:04,320 kind of ministry in scripture that is not 456 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:04,940 practical. 457 00:25:05,660 --> 00:25:07,580 There is ministry that's practical. 458 00:25:08,500 --> 00:25:10,760 And there is ministry in which the word 459 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:12,520 don't is used. 460 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:13,780 I say don't. 461 00:25:15,540 --> 00:25:17,840 Do not, perhaps, is a better way of 462 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:18,240 putting it. 463 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:20,740 There is negative ministry. 464 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:24,200 There is such a thing in the scriptures. 465 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,420 And there is positive ministry. 466 00:25:27,580 --> 00:25:30,560 And there is the ministry that feeds us 467 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:34,200 upon our Lord Jesus Christ. 468 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,460 The sheep of God need to be fed. 469 00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:42,600 I heard of an old man say years 470 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,280 ago, he says, what the people of God 471 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:50,800 want, want, really want, really want, is, is, 472 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:51,980 is, is cake. 473 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,100 But when the Lord fed the multitude, he 474 00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:57,780 fed them with bread. 475 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,400 He, indeed, is the bread of life. 476 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:04,860 He says, I am the bread of life. 477 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,060 Let's notice that in John chapter 6, in 478 00:26:08,060 --> 00:26:08,980 this matter of feeding. 479 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:26,760 Verse 31 of John chapter 6. 480 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:30,760 Our fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, 481 00:26:30,980 --> 00:26:31,720 as it is written. 482 00:26:32,860 --> 00:26:34,860 He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 483 00:26:34,860 --> 00:26:38,760 Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily, I 484 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,760 say unto you, Moses gave you not that 485 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:44,240 bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you 486 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:47,120 the true bread from heaven. 487 00:26:48,380 --> 00:26:50,680 For the bread of God is he which 488 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,940 cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto 489 00:26:53,940 --> 00:26:54,460 the world. 490 00:26:56,740 --> 00:26:59,480 Then said they unto him, Lord evermore give 491 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:00,920 us this bread. 492 00:27:01,620 --> 00:27:04,680 Jesus said unto them, I am the bread 493 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:05,260 of life. 494 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:08,900 He that cometh to me shall never hunger, 495 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:13,360 and he that believeth on me shall never 496 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:14,040 thirst. 497 00:27:15,220 --> 00:27:17,580 But I say unto you that ye also 498 00:27:17,580 --> 00:27:20,600 have seen me, and believe not. 499 00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:23,180 All that the Father giveth me shall come 500 00:27:23,180 --> 00:27:25,800 to me, and him that cometh to me 501 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:29,560 I will in no wise cast out. 502 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:35,200 He says in verse 48, I am that 503 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:35,980 bread of life. 504 00:27:36,980 --> 00:27:39,240 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness 505 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:40,060 and are dead. 506 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,520 This is the bread which cometh down from 507 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:46,260 heaven that a man may eat thereof and 508 00:27:46,260 --> 00:27:47,660 not die. 509 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:54,560 I am the living bread which came down 510 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:55,080 from heaven. 511 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:58,320 If any man eat of this bread, he 512 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:00,480 shall live forever. 513 00:28:03,390 --> 00:28:05,810 Feeding is a very, very important thing. 514 00:28:06,610 --> 00:28:11,690 I recall Mr. Ian O'Brien telling a 515 00:28:11,690 --> 00:28:13,490 story a number of years ago, and I 516 00:28:13,490 --> 00:28:14,910 think I heard him tell it right here 517 00:28:14,910 --> 00:28:15,530 in this chapter. 518 00:28:17,790 --> 00:28:19,510 And he could tell stories so that you 519 00:28:19,510 --> 00:28:20,450 didn't forget them. 520 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:29,480 A certain true shepherd, who was more or 521 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,480 less isolated and seeking to feed the people 522 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:37,640 of God where he was, was having difficulty, 523 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,880 and there was a good deal of quarreling 524 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,600 among the people of God in this place. 525 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,700 And he sent a letter to another man 526 00:28:48,700 --> 00:28:49,140 of God. 527 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:50,680 I don't know whether that man of God 528 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:52,580 was Mr. O'Brien or not. 529 00:28:52,580 --> 00:28:53,480 I don't believe it was. 530 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,180 I believe he was telling a story about 531 00:28:55,180 --> 00:28:58,460 other people, other persons involved. 532 00:29:00,610 --> 00:29:01,510 And he sent a letter. 533 00:29:01,770 --> 00:29:06,430 He says, These Christians are fighting among themselves. 534 00:29:07,870 --> 00:29:09,010 What shall I do? 535 00:29:11,250 --> 00:29:14,890 This man of God sent back the instruction, 536 00:29:16,410 --> 00:29:20,270 Hungry children will fight over a straw. 537 00:29:21,030 --> 00:29:21,690 Feed them! 538 00:29:23,070 --> 00:29:25,210 And those were his instructions. 539 00:29:26,570 --> 00:29:27,210 Feed them! 540 00:29:29,070 --> 00:29:32,630 Oh, we need to be fed. 541 00:29:33,550 --> 00:29:36,810 And the assembly that is fed from the 542 00:29:36,810 --> 00:29:41,870 word of God will be a healthy assembly. 543 00:29:42,630 --> 00:29:45,770 I think that this is a very, very 544 00:29:45,770 --> 00:29:50,010 important duty of the shepherd, to feed the 545 00:29:50,010 --> 00:29:50,890 flock of God. 546 00:29:51,630 --> 00:29:53,290 Oh, how we need to be fed. 547 00:29:54,670 --> 00:29:58,790 Now there, we talk about being spoon-fed. 548 00:29:58,990 --> 00:30:01,050 Now this doesn't militate against that at all. 549 00:30:03,230 --> 00:30:06,430 God wants you and me, as sheep, to 550 00:30:06,430 --> 00:30:10,230 go into these green pastures and find food 551 00:30:10,230 --> 00:30:11,770 for ourselves. 552 00:30:11,770 --> 00:30:16,170 But then he gives us teachers as well. 553 00:30:16,910 --> 00:30:19,070 We can't learn everything out of this book. 554 00:30:20,370 --> 00:30:23,830 I owe so much to the men that 555 00:30:23,830 --> 00:30:26,930 I have heard minister the word of God. 556 00:30:27,070 --> 00:30:28,950 I can't tell you how much I owe 557 00:30:28,950 --> 00:30:30,570 to them. 558 00:30:30,950 --> 00:30:37,290 I can't even identify all my supposedly original 559 00:30:37,290 --> 00:30:37,870 thoughts. 560 00:30:38,570 --> 00:30:41,190 I wonder how much of them are original. 561 00:30:42,130 --> 00:30:43,850 I wonder sometimes. 562 00:30:45,410 --> 00:30:47,330 We owe much to these men. 563 00:30:47,710 --> 00:30:49,250 God gives you and me a little. 564 00:30:50,690 --> 00:30:53,190 And just to keep us from getting conceited, 565 00:30:54,010 --> 00:30:56,450 you know, we have to take from others 566 00:30:56,450 --> 00:30:57,030 as well. 567 00:30:57,590 --> 00:31:00,570 And shepherds can feed shepherds, believe me. 568 00:31:01,690 --> 00:31:03,310 They can feed shepherds. 569 00:31:03,910 --> 00:31:06,890 And you know, sometimes he'll give you things 570 00:31:06,890 --> 00:31:13,010 from a man whom you may not accept 571 00:31:13,010 --> 00:31:13,690 entirely. 572 00:31:16,390 --> 00:31:18,990 Perhaps he will resolve a question that has 573 00:31:18,990 --> 00:31:21,510 risen in your heart about the scriptures over 574 00:31:21,510 --> 00:31:24,330 which you have prayed and which you have 575 00:31:24,330 --> 00:31:26,790 sought to search out and you could not 576 00:31:26,790 --> 00:31:30,550 derive any satisfaction from your searching at all. 577 00:31:31,630 --> 00:31:35,070 God may send along another shepherd and he 578 00:31:35,070 --> 00:31:37,970 may resolve that question for you out of 579 00:31:37,970 --> 00:31:41,270 the scriptures just told that you will thank 580 00:31:41,270 --> 00:31:47,350 God, acknowledge his omniscience, learn his ways, and 581 00:31:47,350 --> 00:31:50,410 be reconciled to a brother who can feed 582 00:31:50,410 --> 00:31:51,070 your soul. 583 00:31:52,970 --> 00:31:54,750 Now, there's another duty, too. 584 00:31:55,490 --> 00:31:57,750 There's the exercise of oversight. 585 00:31:57,750 --> 00:32:00,450 Feed the flock of God which is among 586 00:32:00,450 --> 00:32:04,850 you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint 587 00:32:04,850 --> 00:32:08,250 but willingly, not for filthy looker, but of 588 00:32:08,250 --> 00:32:09,890 a readiness of mind. 589 00:32:11,290 --> 00:32:12,630 Taking the oversight. 590 00:32:14,170 --> 00:32:17,130 You know, those who are along the pathway 591 00:32:17,130 --> 00:32:20,050 of faith a little longer than the youngest 592 00:32:20,050 --> 00:32:24,750 Christian, that is, the younger Christian, he knows 593 00:32:24,750 --> 00:32:26,670 a little bit more about the pitfalls of 594 00:32:26,670 --> 00:32:27,210 this life. 595 00:32:28,850 --> 00:32:32,170 He knows a little bit more about God's 596 00:32:32,170 --> 00:32:36,970 given antidotes for the evils and the ills 597 00:32:36,970 --> 00:32:38,750 of this world. 598 00:32:39,610 --> 00:32:41,750 And he can help, we can help each 599 00:32:41,750 --> 00:32:41,990 other. 600 00:32:43,130 --> 00:32:47,010 Now, we're all helpers together, but there needs 601 00:32:47,010 --> 00:32:49,330 to be an oversight among God's people. 602 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:54,740 And the Spirit of God, the Lord Jesus, 603 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:55,580 gives the gifts. 604 00:32:56,940 --> 00:32:59,080 And the Spirit of God impresses those gifts 605 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:03,460 upon the oversight among his people. 606 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:04,980 And they are responsible to God. 607 00:33:05,060 --> 00:33:08,060 Let's turn to Peter chapter 13, if you 608 00:33:08,060 --> 00:33:08,360 please. 609 00:33:18,210 --> 00:33:19,550 What did I say? 610 00:33:20,210 --> 00:33:20,790 Oh, I'm sorry. 611 00:33:21,170 --> 00:33:21,530 Hebrews. 612 00:33:21,810 --> 00:33:24,390 You won't find Peter 13. 613 00:33:24,510 --> 00:33:25,370 Hebrews 13. 614 00:33:26,350 --> 00:33:27,010 Thank you, Willie. 615 00:33:27,010 --> 00:33:27,690 Hebrews. 616 00:33:27,770 --> 00:33:33,040 Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17. 617 00:33:35,790 --> 00:33:37,930 Obey them that have the rule over you, 618 00:33:38,150 --> 00:33:43,070 and submit yourselves, for they watch for your 619 00:33:43,070 --> 00:33:48,130 souls, as they that must give account, that 620 00:33:48,130 --> 00:33:50,290 they may do it with joy, and not 621 00:33:50,290 --> 00:33:55,490 with grief, for that is impossible for you. 622 00:33:56,670 --> 00:33:58,910 Obey them that have the rule over you, 623 00:33:59,270 --> 00:34:02,990 and submit yourselves, for they watch for your 624 00:34:02,990 --> 00:34:07,370 souls, as they that must give account. 625 00:34:08,370 --> 00:34:10,210 To whom must they give account? 626 00:34:10,870 --> 00:34:13,750 To the one who commissioned them, to the 627 00:34:13,750 --> 00:34:14,770 one who gifted them. 628 00:34:16,330 --> 00:34:20,090 They must give account. 629 00:34:23,659 --> 00:34:26,080 There is such a thing as godly rule 630 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:27,020 in an assembly. 631 00:34:29,219 --> 00:34:32,520 I know most people think that that's archaic 632 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:34,080 and outdated, but it isn't. 633 00:34:36,790 --> 00:34:38,969 A man once came into an assembly of 634 00:34:38,969 --> 00:34:42,250 God's people, and he says, my, oh, he 635 00:34:42,250 --> 00:34:44,230 felt the liberty, and he says, my, I'm 636 00:34:44,230 --> 00:34:47,110 glad to be in a place where I 637 00:34:47,110 --> 00:34:48,590 can do anything I want to do. 638 00:34:49,590 --> 00:34:51,969 Just about that time, a brother tapped him 639 00:34:51,969 --> 00:34:54,949 on his shoulder, and he says, brother, he 640 00:34:54,949 --> 00:34:58,070 says, here, you don't do anything that you 641 00:34:58,070 --> 00:34:59,350 just want to do. 642 00:35:00,470 --> 00:35:02,030 He'd run up against a shepherd. 643 00:35:03,770 --> 00:35:07,690 He'd run up against one who felt a 644 00:35:07,690 --> 00:35:10,810 responsibility for the people of God. 645 00:35:11,030 --> 00:35:15,290 There is such a thing as oversight in 646 00:35:15,290 --> 00:35:15,950 an assembly. 647 00:35:15,950 --> 00:35:18,430 And that's why at the end of this 648 00:35:18,430 --> 00:35:22,210 portion in 1 Peter 5, that he says, 649 00:35:22,470 --> 00:35:26,410 likewise ye younger, that's verse 5 of chapter 650 00:35:26,410 --> 00:35:30,170 5, likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the 651 00:35:30,170 --> 00:35:33,250 elder, yea, all of you be subject one 652 00:35:33,250 --> 00:35:37,190 to another, and be clothed with humility. 653 00:35:37,980 --> 00:35:41,290 Now, the third duty of a shepherd that 654 00:35:41,290 --> 00:35:45,450 Peter mentions here is that of being an 655 00:35:45,450 --> 00:35:48,770 example, leading by example among the people of 656 00:35:48,770 --> 00:35:49,070 God. 657 00:35:49,850 --> 00:35:52,390 He says in verse 3 of 1 Peter 658 00:35:52,390 --> 00:35:56,490 5, neither is being lord over God's heritage, 659 00:35:56,930 --> 00:36:00,790 but being in sample to the flock. 660 00:36:02,190 --> 00:36:06,030 The shepherd can be and should be an 661 00:36:06,030 --> 00:36:06,530 example. 662 00:36:06,530 --> 00:36:07,430 He leads. 663 00:36:07,750 --> 00:36:08,830 He does not drive. 664 00:36:09,450 --> 00:36:10,830 You don't drive sheep. 665 00:36:11,970 --> 00:36:14,890 Not in the eastern countries where our Lord 666 00:36:14,890 --> 00:36:17,430 is using these figures. 667 00:36:17,730 --> 00:36:19,250 We could turn to the 10th chapter of 668 00:36:19,250 --> 00:36:19,470 John. 669 00:36:19,550 --> 00:36:20,130 We won't do it. 670 00:36:20,910 --> 00:36:23,110 But the shepherd goes before his sheep, and 671 00:36:23,110 --> 00:36:24,770 he calls them by name, and they follow 672 00:36:24,770 --> 00:36:25,090 him. 673 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:32,180 Now, we need to be leaders by way 674 00:36:32,180 --> 00:36:34,020 of an example. 675 00:36:34,720 --> 00:36:36,420 And I'm including myself in this. 676 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:41,060 We need to be in sample to the 677 00:36:41,060 --> 00:36:41,420 flock. 678 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:44,960 We could say a lot about the power 679 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:45,960 of example. 680 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:50,240 It's the greatest power in all the world, 681 00:36:50,740 --> 00:36:53,380 just to be an example. 682 00:36:54,180 --> 00:36:57,200 I think I have learned more by following 683 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,760 the example of men that perhaps I have 684 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:02,660 the words of the men themselves. 685 00:37:03,820 --> 00:37:06,040 But he is to be an example. 686 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:08,260 He is to make straight paths for his 687 00:37:08,260 --> 00:37:11,100 sheep, lest that which is lame be turned 688 00:37:11,100 --> 00:37:11,840 out of the way. 689 00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:16,160 He is to be careful what he does. 690 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:22,660 Oh, the shepherd has such an important position. 691 00:37:26,140 --> 00:37:28,080 He must not lord it over God's people. 692 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:35,100 Peter is very, very plain about that. 693 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:38,240 He must not lord it over God's people. 694 00:37:38,240 --> 00:37:41,660 I have seen instances, and I'm thinking of 695 00:37:41,660 --> 00:37:44,940 a particular assembly hundreds of miles from here, 696 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:49,860 where a very godly man could not accept 697 00:37:49,860 --> 00:37:53,140 the fact that younger brethren in the assembly 698 00:37:53,140 --> 00:37:57,040 had grown up into a sphere of responsibility 699 00:37:57,040 --> 00:38:00,620 and had any right to say anything at 700 00:38:00,620 --> 00:38:00,960 all. 701 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:05,140 And he treated them as children all their 702 00:38:05,140 --> 00:38:06,060 spiritual lives. 703 00:38:06,980 --> 00:38:11,680 That condition didn't prevail too long until those 704 00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:14,060 younger brethren showed that they had a sense 705 00:38:14,060 --> 00:38:18,420 of responsibility, and they manifested it to the 706 00:38:18,420 --> 00:38:20,880 sorrow of this man. 707 00:38:21,020 --> 00:38:25,220 He had become a lord over God's heritage. 708 00:38:26,260 --> 00:38:27,300 Peter forbids it. 709 00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:28,740 He warns against it. 710 00:38:28,740 --> 00:38:32,660 Neither of being lords over God's heritage, but 711 00:38:32,660 --> 00:38:35,840 being ensampled to the flock. 712 00:38:37,420 --> 00:38:40,340 Now, I think sometimes that this is not 713 00:38:40,340 --> 00:38:44,720 altogether the fault of the man involved. 714 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:49,480 Many, many times that man is lionized. 715 00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:53,360 Many, many times he is exalted in the 716 00:38:53,360 --> 00:38:54,200 opinions of people. 717 00:38:55,900 --> 00:39:01,460 I have known instances in the ecclesiastical world 718 00:39:01,460 --> 00:39:05,280 where preachers, and it always happens to those 719 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:09,080 men, it seems, who were godly men and 720 00:39:09,080 --> 00:39:11,540 who were able to help the people of 721 00:39:11,540 --> 00:39:13,640 God in a wonderful way. 722 00:39:14,740 --> 00:39:19,000 They were so exalted in the minds of 723 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:24,140 their parishioners, those whom they served, that I 724 00:39:24,140 --> 00:39:29,860 actually think that those ministers received some of 725 00:39:29,860 --> 00:39:34,420 the worship that should have gone directly to 726 00:39:34,420 --> 00:39:35,580 the Lord Jesus Christ. 727 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:39,720 And the Lord will not permit that. 728 00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:43,260 He is jealous of his glory, and he 729 00:39:43,260 --> 00:39:45,860 is careful to see that we don't take 730 00:39:45,860 --> 00:39:47,620 his glory away. 731 00:39:48,340 --> 00:39:55,780 Now, what has been exaggerated in some ecclesiastical 732 00:39:55,780 --> 00:40:00,620 circles can even obtain in our assembly to 733 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:04,680 a modified degree, a greater or lesser degree. 734 00:40:05,980 --> 00:40:08,860 We must cease from man whose breath is 735 00:40:08,860 --> 00:40:09,760 in his nostrils. 736 00:40:11,180 --> 00:40:14,060 I feel like telling anybody, I feel like, 737 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:15,520 and I have told people. 738 00:40:16,420 --> 00:40:20,930 Now, if you get something from me, if 739 00:40:20,930 --> 00:40:25,210 I am able to help anybody, thank the 740 00:40:25,210 --> 00:40:25,970 Lord for it. 741 00:40:26,990 --> 00:40:28,670 But don't say too much to me. 742 00:40:31,180 --> 00:40:34,880 Because I think that we can tell when 743 00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:37,280 the Lord has helped us and when he 744 00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:37,620 hasn't. 745 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:38,580 I can, anyway. 746 00:40:38,900 --> 00:40:40,340 I can sure tell when he hasn't helped 747 00:40:40,340 --> 00:40:40,560 me. 748 00:40:41,300 --> 00:40:43,480 And I can tell quite plainly. 749 00:40:46,020 --> 00:40:48,900 But I don't mean that we don't appreciate 750 00:40:48,900 --> 00:40:50,560 people. 751 00:40:52,060 --> 00:40:55,180 But there is a snare, and a good 752 00:40:55,180 --> 00:40:58,400 many men of God have been ruined. 753 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:05,940 And may I warn you, sisters, especially in 754 00:41:05,940 --> 00:41:06,640 this regard. 755 00:41:08,550 --> 00:41:11,810 I know we feel kindly toward those who 756 00:41:11,810 --> 00:41:13,390 can help us in Christ. 757 00:41:14,830 --> 00:41:18,750 But let's be careful, ever and always. 758 00:41:20,110 --> 00:41:22,530 And after all, give the Lord all the 759 00:41:22,530 --> 00:41:24,790 glory that is his due. 760 00:41:24,890 --> 00:41:26,190 And if he gets all the glory that 761 00:41:26,190 --> 00:41:29,770 is his due, all the other problems will 762 00:41:29,770 --> 00:41:30,850 resolve themselves. 763 00:41:31,810 --> 00:41:33,450 Now, about the shepherd's crown. 764 00:41:33,790 --> 00:41:39,580 We talked about the shepherd's counsel from Peter 765 00:41:39,580 --> 00:41:41,020 and the shepherd's care. 766 00:41:41,140 --> 00:41:42,840 Now let's talk about the shepherd's crown. 767 00:41:43,460 --> 00:41:46,860 In verse 4, it's called a crown of 768 00:41:46,860 --> 00:41:47,220 glory. 769 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:52,160 When the chief shepherds shall appear, the ones 770 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:56,480 to whom the shepherds are responsible, ye shall 771 00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:59,200 receive a crown of glory, that feedeth not 772 00:41:59,200 --> 00:41:59,720 the weak. 773 00:41:59,940 --> 00:42:01,840 Why is it called a crown of glory? 774 00:42:04,700 --> 00:42:06,600 I think I know why it's called a 775 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:07,340 crown of glory. 776 00:42:10,250 --> 00:42:13,210 Because many, many times the shepherd who is 777 00:42:13,210 --> 00:42:16,450 godly and seeks to carry out his god 778 00:42:16,450 --> 00:42:21,090 -given charge from the Lord, he's crowned all 779 00:42:21,090 --> 00:42:21,370 right. 780 00:42:22,230 --> 00:42:23,550 But not with glory. 781 00:42:24,410 --> 00:42:25,950 He's crowned with infamy. 782 00:42:26,970 --> 00:42:30,230 And many, many times I have seen campaigns 783 00:42:30,230 --> 00:42:35,530 carried on against a godly man because he 784 00:42:35,530 --> 00:42:39,170 crossed the wrong brother or the wrong sister 785 00:42:39,170 --> 00:42:41,070 in the wrong way. 786 00:42:41,730 --> 00:42:45,710 By their estimates of things. 787 00:42:49,550 --> 00:42:50,530 It's a crown of glory. 788 00:42:52,130 --> 00:42:55,890 It's a thankless task done here, much of 789 00:42:55,890 --> 00:42:56,370 the time. 790 00:42:57,470 --> 00:43:00,350 And a task which is difficult to perform. 791 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:04,020 But the Lord is going to see to 792 00:43:04,020 --> 00:43:06,280 it that a compensating crown comes to that 793 00:43:06,280 --> 00:43:08,500 shepherd in the coming day. 794 00:43:08,980 --> 00:43:11,720 It's going to be a crown of glory. 795 00:43:11,720 --> 00:43:16,100 And the chief shepherd is the one who 796 00:43:16,100 --> 00:43:17,540 is going to give that crown. 797 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:20,200 What a crown it will be. 798 00:43:20,540 --> 00:43:22,060 It will distinguish that shepherd. 799 00:43:22,660 --> 00:43:25,620 It will make up to him for all 800 00:43:25,620 --> 00:43:29,020 that he has suffered by taking care of 801 00:43:29,020 --> 00:43:29,900 the people of God. 802 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:35,920 In many instances the care absolutely unappreciated. 803 00:43:36,520 --> 00:43:38,220 But the Lord is going to see to 804 00:43:38,220 --> 00:43:41,020 it that things are straightened out. 805 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:44,940 And now perhaps just for a few minutes, 806 00:43:45,640 --> 00:43:48,360 let's consider the crown of life. 807 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:52,600 I'm sorry if I even have to break 808 00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:54,200 your thoughts off from that, but I just 809 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:55,460 don't know of any other way of doing 810 00:43:55,460 --> 00:43:55,600 it. 811 00:43:57,380 --> 00:44:00,460 I think maybe we might accomplish this as 812 00:44:00,460 --> 00:44:03,180 much to close now in prayer, but we'll 813 00:44:03,180 --> 00:44:03,400 see. 814 00:44:04,200 --> 00:44:06,060 I'll give you this and you can think 815 00:44:06,060 --> 00:44:06,440 about it. 816 00:44:06,500 --> 00:44:09,220 I don't want to destroy or I don't 817 00:44:09,220 --> 00:44:11,460 want to obliterate from your mind that which 818 00:44:11,460 --> 00:44:12,280 has gone before. 819 00:44:13,040 --> 00:44:14,680 But I would like to notice the crown 820 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:16,440 of life, just a little. 821 00:44:16,640 --> 00:44:18,720 It's mentioned twice in the scriptures. 822 00:44:21,510 --> 00:44:25,810 Let's notice first of all Revelation chapter 2, 823 00:44:26,050 --> 00:44:31,770 and then we'll notice James chapter 1. 824 00:44:40,900 --> 00:44:43,420 Revelation chapter 2 and verse 8, And now 825 00:44:43,420 --> 00:44:45,040 that the angel of the church in Smyrna 826 00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:47,620 writes, These things saith the first and the 827 00:44:47,620 --> 00:44:50,320 last, which was dead, and is alive, I 828 00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:53,960 know thy works in tribulation and poverty, that 829 00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:54,640 thou art rich. 830 00:44:56,120 --> 00:44:58,180 And I know the blasphemy of them which 831 00:44:58,180 --> 00:44:59,880 say thee are Jews, and are not, but 832 00:44:59,880 --> 00:45:01,300 have the synagogue received. 833 00:45:03,220 --> 00:45:05,520 Fear none of those things which thou shalt 834 00:45:05,520 --> 00:45:05,940 suffer. 835 00:45:07,740 --> 00:45:10,140 Behold, the devil shall cast some of you 836 00:45:10,140 --> 00:45:13,700 into prison, that ye may be tried, and 837 00:45:13,700 --> 00:45:15,900 ye shall have tribulation ten days. 838 00:45:17,640 --> 00:45:20,960 Be thou faithful unto death, and I will 839 00:45:20,960 --> 00:45:23,460 give thee a crown of life. 840 00:45:24,740 --> 00:45:26,340 This is the martyr's crown. 841 00:45:27,140 --> 00:45:31,680 Smyrna was the period, or detects or brings 842 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:34,360 before us the period of the church's history 843 00:45:34,360 --> 00:45:38,260 from the end of the first century until 844 00:45:38,260 --> 00:45:41,720 about the time that the church was put 845 00:45:41,720 --> 00:45:46,480 in favor, supposedly by Constantine, seeing the sign 846 00:45:46,480 --> 00:45:50,000 of the cross, and installing the church in 847 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:51,760 favor in the world. 848 00:45:52,840 --> 00:45:55,640 Satan was one of Satan's cleverest devices, I 849 00:45:55,640 --> 00:45:55,900 believe. 850 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:58,740 He couldn't stamp out the church through the 851 00:45:58,740 --> 00:46:01,780 fierce persecutions that had gone upon the church, 852 00:46:01,780 --> 00:46:06,440 so he wedded the world and the church 853 00:46:06,440 --> 00:46:10,380 together to the destruction of the church. 854 00:46:12,620 --> 00:46:16,560 Now, in Smyrna, they were being terribly persecuted, 855 00:46:16,980 --> 00:46:20,360 and in those perhaps two centuries of time, 856 00:46:21,180 --> 00:46:24,900 there were many, many martyrs among the people 857 00:46:24,900 --> 00:46:25,320 of God. 858 00:46:27,820 --> 00:46:30,640 Smyrna and Philadelphia are two of the seven 859 00:46:30,640 --> 00:46:33,580 churches of Asia against which the Lord has 860 00:46:33,580 --> 00:46:35,380 no word of rebuke. 861 00:46:37,730 --> 00:46:39,170 They were going on for God. 862 00:46:39,290 --> 00:46:41,510 They were sealing their testimony with their blood, 863 00:46:42,130 --> 00:46:45,750 and the Lord tells these dear people, he 864 00:46:45,750 --> 00:46:48,530 says, you'll have tribulation ten days. 865 00:46:49,150 --> 00:46:51,970 Some have thought this to be the ten 866 00:46:51,970 --> 00:46:56,210 distinct periods of tribulation and persecution that came 867 00:46:56,210 --> 00:46:57,430 upon the church of God. 868 00:46:58,730 --> 00:47:01,850 What he says to them is tender admonition. 869 00:47:02,210 --> 00:47:06,150 Be thou faithful unto death, and I will 870 00:47:06,150 --> 00:47:09,490 give thee a crown of life. 871 00:47:10,810 --> 00:47:12,670 Now, this is a compensating crown. 872 00:47:13,230 --> 00:47:15,210 Be thou faithful unto death, and I will 873 00:47:15,210 --> 00:47:17,730 give thee the crown of life. 874 00:47:18,850 --> 00:47:22,510 You know, life is never so sweet as 875 00:47:22,510 --> 00:47:23,710 when we're facing death. 876 00:47:24,610 --> 00:47:26,510 It is never so sweet. 877 00:47:27,870 --> 00:47:30,350 And those who are willing to die for 878 00:47:30,350 --> 00:47:34,850 the Lord are going to enjoy life with 879 00:47:34,850 --> 00:47:38,430 him, I believe, as those who have not 880 00:47:38,430 --> 00:47:41,770 had to seal their testimony with their blood. 881 00:47:42,210 --> 00:47:46,690 There is a special recognition given to martyrs. 882 00:47:46,910 --> 00:47:49,410 In the scripture, those who loved the Lord, 883 00:47:49,610 --> 00:47:52,690 loved him unto death, loved him more than 884 00:47:52,690 --> 00:47:56,570 their own souls, their own lives, those people 885 00:47:56,570 --> 00:47:59,210 are going to be honored in a special 886 00:47:59,210 --> 00:48:01,170 way, and it's the crown of life. 887 00:48:02,070 --> 00:48:05,510 I think all that they had to face 888 00:48:05,510 --> 00:48:08,410 is going to come back by way of 889 00:48:08,410 --> 00:48:10,630 recognition from the Lord, which is called the 890 00:48:10,630 --> 00:48:13,790 crown of life, which indeed will make them 891 00:48:13,790 --> 00:48:15,630 forget all about the death that they ever 892 00:48:15,630 --> 00:48:16,250 had to face. 893 00:48:16,470 --> 00:48:17,950 As a matter of fact, I think that's 894 00:48:17,950 --> 00:48:21,190 true of all the tribulations that we are 895 00:48:21,190 --> 00:48:21,590 facing. 896 00:48:23,190 --> 00:48:25,650 But this in a very, very particular sense. 897 00:48:25,950 --> 00:48:29,470 They're going to receive the crown of life. 898 00:48:29,610 --> 00:48:32,810 But now there's a broader sense that I 899 00:48:32,810 --> 00:48:35,670 would like to apply this in James chapter 900 00:48:35,670 --> 00:48:36,110 1. 901 00:48:45,660 --> 00:48:48,240 James chapter 1, verse 12. 902 00:48:51,620 --> 00:48:55,260 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for 903 00:48:55,260 --> 00:48:58,540 when he is tried, he shall receive the 904 00:48:58,540 --> 00:48:59,800 crown of life. 905 00:49:00,960 --> 00:49:04,320 Which the Lord hath promised to them that 906 00:49:04,320 --> 00:49:05,160 love him. 907 00:49:06,100 --> 00:49:09,100 Here is the crown of life mentioned again, 908 00:49:09,900 --> 00:49:13,200 to be given to those that endure temptation. 909 00:49:14,320 --> 00:49:16,540 Now the crown of life in Revelation chapter 910 00:49:16,540 --> 00:49:20,120 2 is given to those who are willing 911 00:49:20,120 --> 00:49:21,520 to die entirely. 912 00:49:22,920 --> 00:49:25,520 And the crown of life here is given 913 00:49:25,520 --> 00:49:29,980 to those who are willing to die to 914 00:49:29,980 --> 00:49:30,820 the old man. 915 00:49:32,160 --> 00:49:35,540 It's death in both cases, and sometimes I 916 00:49:35,540 --> 00:49:37,340 think it's just about as hard to die 917 00:49:37,340 --> 00:49:39,740 to the flesh, to die to the old 918 00:49:39,740 --> 00:49:43,560 man, as it is to die entirely, the 919 00:49:43,560 --> 00:49:44,480 entire man. 920 00:49:46,160 --> 00:49:48,680 And thus he says, Blessed is the man 921 00:49:48,680 --> 00:49:51,280 that endures temptation, for when he is tried, 922 00:49:52,080 --> 00:49:56,360 he shall receive the crown of life. 923 00:49:57,220 --> 00:49:58,960 You know it's hard to take the place 924 00:49:58,960 --> 00:50:02,680 of death, but we have actually died. 925 00:50:03,440 --> 00:50:06,740 We died with Christ on the cross. 926 00:50:07,680 --> 00:50:09,840 We talk more about the death of Christ 927 00:50:09,840 --> 00:50:11,960 for us on the cross. 928 00:50:13,660 --> 00:50:15,600 That will save us from the penalty of 929 00:50:15,600 --> 00:50:15,920 sin. 930 00:50:16,820 --> 00:50:19,840 But foundation from the power of sin is 931 00:50:19,840 --> 00:50:22,000 gained through the knowledge of the fact that 932 00:50:22,000 --> 00:50:26,380 we died with Christ on the cross. 933 00:50:27,340 --> 00:50:29,600 Now there is a truth that we may 934 00:50:29,600 --> 00:50:33,680 not appreciate at all, which we may hold 935 00:50:33,680 --> 00:50:36,640 very lightly, of which we may think very, 936 00:50:36,980 --> 00:50:37,620 very little. 937 00:50:38,340 --> 00:50:40,900 Our death with Christ. 938 00:50:41,220 --> 00:50:57,890 Let's turn briefly to Romans chapter 6, verse 939 00:50:57,890 --> 00:50:58,430 5. 940 00:50:59,030 --> 00:51:00,970 For if we have been planted together in 941 00:51:00,970 --> 00:51:03,810 the likeness of his death, we shall be 942 00:51:03,810 --> 00:51:06,170 also in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing 943 00:51:06,170 --> 00:51:10,210 this, that our old man is, better still, 944 00:51:10,430 --> 00:51:13,450 was crucified with him, that the body of 945 00:51:13,450 --> 00:51:16,690 sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should 946 00:51:16,690 --> 00:51:19,690 not serve sin, for he that is dead 947 00:51:19,690 --> 00:51:21,750 is freed from sin as a master. 948 00:51:23,530 --> 00:51:26,050 Now if we be dead with Christ, we 949 00:51:26,050 --> 00:51:29,270 believe that we shall also live with him, 950 00:51:29,270 --> 00:51:31,590 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead 951 00:51:31,590 --> 00:51:34,770 dieth no more, death hath no more dominion 952 00:51:34,770 --> 00:51:35,430 over him. 953 00:51:36,290 --> 00:51:37,950 For in that he died, he died unto 954 00:51:37,950 --> 00:51:39,650 sin once, but in that he liveth, he 955 00:51:39,650 --> 00:51:40,450 liveth unto God. 956 00:51:40,550 --> 00:51:45,070 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead 957 00:51:45,070 --> 00:51:50,290 indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through 958 00:51:50,290 --> 00:51:53,430 Jesus Christ our Lord. 959 00:51:56,420 --> 00:51:59,620 Now this death we have to recognize and 960 00:51:59,620 --> 00:52:00,800 accept by faith. 961 00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:03,500 In the mind of God, you and I 962 00:52:03,500 --> 00:52:05,520 died with Christ on the cross. 963 00:52:06,960 --> 00:52:08,840 I know Christ was nailed to the cross, 964 00:52:08,980 --> 00:52:12,420 but we were so associated with Him that 965 00:52:12,420 --> 00:52:14,100 in the mind of God we died. 966 00:52:15,180 --> 00:52:17,620 Our old man was crucified with Christ. 967 00:52:18,000 --> 00:52:22,000 Paul says, I am crucified with Christ. 968 00:52:22,580 --> 00:52:23,880 Nevertheless I live. 969 00:52:24,500 --> 00:52:27,020 Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. 970 00:52:27,020 --> 00:52:29,240 The life that I now live in the 971 00:52:29,240 --> 00:52:30,860 flesh, I live by the faith of the 972 00:52:30,860 --> 00:52:34,940 Son of God, who loved me and gave 973 00:52:34,940 --> 00:52:37,400 himself for me. 974 00:52:41,160 --> 00:52:45,320 Now that old man doesn't die easily, believe 975 00:52:45,320 --> 00:52:45,880 me. 976 00:52:47,880 --> 00:52:50,480 And when he is tempted, he rises to 977 00:52:50,480 --> 00:52:51,100 the occasion. 978 00:52:53,320 --> 00:52:56,100 And we, you and I, have only one 979 00:52:56,100 --> 00:52:59,260 report, and that is to tell him that 980 00:52:59,260 --> 00:53:02,520 he's dead and give him the place of 981 00:53:02,520 --> 00:53:02,900 death. 982 00:53:04,500 --> 00:53:07,840 That is hard to do. 983 00:53:10,040 --> 00:53:13,760 It must be done by faith, and it 984 00:53:13,760 --> 00:53:16,000 is very, very difficult to do. 985 00:53:16,160 --> 00:53:18,860 Simply to turn your back, not argue with 986 00:53:18,860 --> 00:53:22,720 sin, not argue with temptation, simply turn your 987 00:53:22,720 --> 00:53:25,800 back upon it and say with God, as 988 00:53:25,800 --> 00:53:29,640 far as God is concerned, that old man 989 00:53:29,640 --> 00:53:30,960 is dead. 990 00:53:31,840 --> 00:53:34,860 And I say he is dead too. 991 00:53:36,020 --> 00:53:38,860 Now that's a struggle, and we die hard. 992 00:53:39,540 --> 00:53:43,060 Now if we know the resurrection power of 993 00:53:43,060 --> 00:53:45,460 our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, it's 994 00:53:45,460 --> 00:53:48,920 only in the same measure in which we 995 00:53:48,920 --> 00:53:50,760 can take the place of death. 996 00:53:51,600 --> 00:53:54,080 Now it doesn't seem that that should have 997 00:53:54,080 --> 00:53:57,320 to be stated, but it must be stated, 998 00:53:58,240 --> 00:54:01,300 only in the same measure that we can 999 00:54:01,300 --> 00:54:03,360 take the place and accept the place of 1000 00:54:03,360 --> 00:54:08,100 death as regards the flesh, in that same 1001 00:54:08,100 --> 00:54:13,300 measure, we know the resurrection power of our 1002 00:54:13,300 --> 00:54:14,440 Lord Jesus Christ. 1003 00:54:14,600 --> 00:54:17,720 Now time forbids me to go into some 1004 00:54:17,720 --> 00:54:20,820 scriptures to show that point, but if you 1005 00:54:20,820 --> 00:54:22,500 want to check on them, you might check 1006 00:54:22,500 --> 00:54:26,340 on Philippians 3 and 10, you might check 1007 00:54:26,340 --> 00:54:30,840 on 2 Corinthians 4, 10 and 11, and 1008 00:54:30,840 --> 00:54:31,940 you'll see what I mean. 1009 00:54:32,860 --> 00:54:35,180 That it's only as we reckon ourselves to 1010 00:54:35,180 --> 00:54:39,120 be dead that the resurrection power of Christ 1011 00:54:39,880 --> 00:54:41,640 is known in our lives. 1012 00:54:42,440 --> 00:54:45,240 Now we die very, very slowly. 1013 00:54:45,960 --> 00:54:47,160 We die a slow death. 1014 00:54:50,320 --> 00:54:53,700 This is a hard truth to preach, and 1015 00:54:53,700 --> 00:54:55,320 it's a harder truth to practice. 1016 00:54:57,710 --> 00:54:59,490 It's difficult to get across to us. 1017 00:54:59,570 --> 00:55:00,570 We don't want to learn it. 1018 00:55:01,270 --> 00:55:04,710 The flesh is of enmity with God, but 1019 00:55:04,710 --> 00:55:05,770 it's the truth. 1020 00:55:06,870 --> 00:55:08,470 The 6th chapter of Romans. 1021 00:55:08,990 --> 00:55:10,870 We could have well spent our entire evening 1022 00:55:10,870 --> 00:55:13,590 on the 6th chapter of Romans and know 1023 00:55:13,590 --> 00:55:17,410 what it means to be crucified with Christ. 1024 00:55:18,690 --> 00:55:22,930 But I think we've already considered enough that 1025 00:55:22,930 --> 00:55:25,230 our minds are tired and filled up with 1026 00:55:25,230 --> 00:55:27,590 things to consider in times to come. 1027 00:55:27,810 --> 00:55:30,870 But James says, Blessed is the man that 1028 00:55:30,870 --> 00:55:34,710 endureth temptation, for when he is tried, he 1029 00:55:34,710 --> 00:55:37,230 shall receive the crown of life which the 1030 00:55:37,230 --> 00:55:40,230 Lord hath promised to them that love him. 1031 00:55:40,710 --> 00:55:43,290 Do you notice here that it's to them 1032 00:55:43,290 --> 00:55:44,350 that love him? 1033 00:55:46,730 --> 00:55:49,170 All the love of the Lord Jesus Christ 1034 00:55:49,170 --> 00:55:52,230 in your heart and mind is the seed 1035 00:55:52,230 --> 00:55:55,870 and the spring of all our service to 1036 00:55:55,870 --> 00:55:59,070 him, of all our piety, of all our 1037 00:55:59,070 --> 00:56:02,950 devotion, of all our worship, of all our 1038 00:56:02,950 --> 00:56:03,350 service. 1039 00:56:03,830 --> 00:56:05,250 Love to the Lord Jesus. 1040 00:56:06,070 --> 00:56:08,070 And love to the Lord Jesus will help 1041 00:56:08,070 --> 00:56:11,510 us to count that old man dead and 1042 00:56:11,510 --> 00:56:14,190 to go on for him in days to 1043 00:56:14,190 --> 00:56:14,490 come. 1044 00:56:14,490 --> 00:56:17,530 May God give us that grace. 1045 00:56:18,690 --> 00:56:20,590 Brother Lyle, would you please close with a 1046 00:56:20,590 --> 00:56:21,410 word of prayer?