WEBVTT 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:07.759 If you have your Bibles this morning, I'd invite you to open them up to Acts chapter 19. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:09.839 Or we'll find our text this morning. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.759 I'll link to that in just a moment. 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:15.199 It's so good to be back with you all this morning. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:19.679 It's almost four years ago exactly that Ali and I moved from Lubbock. 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:23.920 And we're thankful to be back for being together today. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:33.119 Just about eight months ago, I started uh preaching full-time at the What Saint Church of Christ in Louisville, part of their preacher's trading program. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:43.280 And I had reached out to Nate and I told him a little bit about the program and the expectations of what I was to be doing in the program. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:49.600 And one of those was every month, uh, as you have opportunity, go somewhere else in free. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:55.039 So, for better or worse, this morning, y'all are just somewhere else in May. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:56.399 So thank you. 00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:58.560 I do appreciate you. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:05.840 The songs that we sang this morning are a wonderful reminder of the gods that we serve. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:09.519 They're motivating to want to follow. 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:21.439 The comment was made in the Bible thoughts this morning about moving from a fear-based system of serving God more to a love-based thought towards serving God. 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:26.480 And that's a comment that should resonate with all of us. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:35.120 A blessing it is to be known by God, that He's revealed Himself to us in such a way that we can know Him. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:38.480 We can also spend eternity with God. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:45.439 That's why we gather together with other people who are also known by God. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:56.159 To on this side of eternity be reminded of the love that God has for us and to express our love for us. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:02.079 But at the same time, there's a reality of life that we all have to acknowledge. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.879 And that's that there are these cycles and seasons of life. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:11.680 There are times of new birth, new life, growth, expansion. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:16.080 There's times of living on the high that those things. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:23.599 There's other times of loss and sorrow of pain and hardship and suffering. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:30.879 All things that we will go through in this life that we'll experience in this body individually. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:33.919 Maybe even this body is a church. 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:38.560 And that's something that's true of all kinds. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:51.280 If you think through your New Testament to the churches they are written to, there's not a single one of those left standing that we can go to and visit today. 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:03.599 And if the Lord wills, this congregation will be here for many, many more years. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:09.840 But it is a reality that it too could follow the cycle of life. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:23.199 But while we have life, while we have opportunity, we also have responsibility to serve and be effective in the work that we do together. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:36.560 When you think about aligning yourself with a church, with a group of Christians trying to serve God, if we were to pull the room this morning and ask, what are you looking for in that congregation? 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:39.039 We'll have a variety of answers. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:47.120 But if we all think deeply enough about that, we'll all think of things along the lines of we want a church that stands for the truth. 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:54.719 A church that loves God, that doesn't compromise on morality. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:00.879 That wants to see the light and love of Jesus spread to the community around them. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:06.719 I would suggest to you that scripture calls that a sound church. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:09.439 That is a healthy church. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:12.400 And it's something that we all want to be. 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.680 Some of that's because of the natural cycle. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:29.279 Others are not here anymore because they've simply fallen from the Lord. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:34.879 As you turn through your New Testament, you see hints of this in the various epistles. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:42.720 In Galatians chapter 1, there are your churches of Galatia, but Paul says, I am astounded that you are turning away so slow. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:50.000 But you have other churches that leave the Lord much more slowly. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:05:02.480 Churches that fundamentally looking in appear to be healthy because they stand for truth, because they worship God the way He's prescribed. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:08.639 But there's something missing underneath the facade of righteousness that we see. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:18.800 This morning I want us to think about the rise and fall of this church. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:25.439 In Revelation chapter 2, Jesus tells this church, remember from where you have fallen. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:28.560 They had left the roof. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:32.560 And I want us to consider this morning how that happened. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:38.560 Because like Ephesus, this congregation could be doctrinally right. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:52.800 We could take the right stance on issues, we could be morally strong, have lots of activity, which is obvious happens here, but we could still be separated from the Lord. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:54.879 How is that possible? 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:56.639 Ephesus helps us see that. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:03.839 When we think about the church in Ephesus, we're thinking about uh a church that began in Acts chapter 19. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:11.519 Paul makes his first visit to Ephesus in Acts chapter 18, and we see no conversion explicitly mentioned. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:14.800 He reads it with the Jews and he moves on. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:17.439 But he comes back in Acts chapter 19. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:22.560 I want you to imagine for a moment that you were an individual living in Ephesus. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:29.439 The center of Ephesus stands this marvelous temple, the temple of Artemis. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:36.160 This great vast temple, this this prominent display of religiosity. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:41.120 But it's a community filled with moral compromise. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:44.639 Idolatry uh fueled the economy. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:49.360 That's how they made their money, building idols to serve this this idolatrous God. 00:06:52.720 --> 00:07:00.480 To become a Christian in a place like this meant that you were denying the very identity of the culture, of the economy, of the people around you. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:20.079 When we think about the beginning of this church, we see a church that grows not simply because of excitement, not simply because there were vast numbers that made this church strong. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:26.480 This is a church that grew and became strong because there were people there who valued the church. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.519 Consider the beginning of Acts chapter 19. 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:36.560 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Epic. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:39.680 There he found some disciples. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:43.759 And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:47.759 And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:50.959 And he said, Into what then were you baptized? 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:53.439 They said, Into John's baptism. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:08:00.480 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after them. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:02.079 That is Jesus. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:06.079 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:11.680 If we pause and we hold our finger right here and we flip back to Acts chapter 18, you notice something. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:16.639 This this is the same pattern of Apollos, who was mentioned in 19 and verse 1. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:20.480 If you go back to Acts chapter 18, he had the same issue. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:26.240 But notice a few things about Apollos as we scroll scan through verse 24 through 28. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:42.240 This is a man in verse 24 who was described as eloquent, who was described as being competent in the scriptures, he was instructed in the way of the Lord, he was fervent in spirit, he spoke and he taught accurately. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:45.120 But there was an issue. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:53.840 A baptism that was insufficient to bring about salvation. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:09:03.360 And so Aquila and Priscilla go to him, and if the text says that they explained to him more accurately the way of God. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:09.360 That's the pattern we see of the brethren in Ephesus. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:14.720 They believed in God, they may have even had had an inclination of who Jesus is. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:16.480 That seems obvious. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:19.039 But they still needed salvation. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:23.039 When they were taught more fully, they desired to respond and they respond. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.159 There wasn't friction, there was immediate response. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.519 We're gonna go on in verse 8 of Acts chapter 19. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:36.159 We see that Paul entered the synagogue and for three months he spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:47.759 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with them, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:56.559 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:00.399 Their response to the gospel motivated action. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:03.360 They continued with Paul reasoning through these things. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:07.440 They wanted to know the truth and they wanted others to know about it as well. 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:12.879 All the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:21.759 This is important because strong churches are built of people who respond to the truth and who share that truth. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:30.639 As we think about what happens as we continue through the story, this is a strong church because this is a church filled of people who repented deeply. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:40.240 As you think about the culture and the things that were uh these people were engrossed in, one of the most common things was a magic art, superstition. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:43.600 Notice with me in verse 18 of Acts chapter 19. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:55.039 Many of those who were now believers came confessing and divulging their practices, and a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:11:00.000 And they counted the value of them and found it came to 50,000 pieces of silver. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:04.720 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:14.240 We talk about repentance today, and repentance is important, it's something that we're all called to do to turn from a pathway of life, to turn to God. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:21.919 But I want you to think about the value that this actually costs these people an emphasis. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:24.639 50,000 pieces of silver. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:30.559 If you think about 50,000 pieces of silver, each piece represents about one day's wage. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:36.000 That is 137 years worth of wages that were piled up at burn. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:38.159 Burn. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:40.399 We don't need that anymore. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.879 That is insufficient. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:43.759 That is wrong. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:45.759 That's not bringing us closer to the Lord. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:47.360 We give it up completely. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:55.919 They confessed and divulged their practices. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:01.919 We see a pattern of confession throughout the scripture because confession brings healing, confession brings forgiveness. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:10.080 These people are confessing their practices, they're not trying to hide who they were because they knew they weren't those things anymore. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:13.279 That's not who I am. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:16.799 I confess that, I turn from that and I turn to the Lord. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:18.320 I've given that up completely. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:25.919 Strong churches are built of people who don't just believe differently about the Lord, they live differently because of the Lord. 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:33.600 When you think about a strong church, you see a church here that is faithful and that had visible fruits. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:35.120 We've seen that in the text already. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:39.120 The word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:42.720 This was not a silent or quiet endeavor in Ephesus. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:49.679 In fact, starting in verse 23, we see the start of a riot, opposition arising to what's described as the way. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:56.000 There's opposition arising because their faith was visible, it was impactful, it was changing lives. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:13:01.039 And those who were resistant to that change did not like it. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:13.440 Strong churches are built of people who will get busy doing the work anyway, regardless of the cultural pressures, of the familial pressures that they might face. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.519 They want to do what's right and they'll be fruitful for it. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:27.200 I want to turn our attention to chapter 20 for just a moment as well, because this is a church who carefully heard the apostolic guidance of Paul. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:37.519 Paul's there with these brethren for three years, arguably more than any time he spent in any other place that we know about, except maybe Rome. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:48.879 He spends a lot of time with these brethren, and when he moves on at the beginning of Acts chapter 20, it's just a few verses later that he comes back through and he says, Gather the elder the Baptist to me. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.639 I'm going to talk to these guys. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:58.480 He cared about them, he had a relationship with them, and he's going to remind them of the time that he spent with them in verse 18 of Acts chapter 20. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:03.759 You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:11.600 He's going to remind them of the work that they accomplished together, of the outcome of the gospel, of the fact that the Lord prevailed in Ephesus. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:16.240 He's also going to let them know that I'm probably not coming back. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.399 I'm going to be arrested. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:22.000 I'm not coming back. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:34.639 So he's going to tell them in verse 28: pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseer to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:41.840 I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:48.960 And from among your own selves will the right men seeking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:51.440 Paul's warning them, I'm not coming back. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:56.480 I'm not going to be here much longer to help with the issues, and you need to know what's going to happen. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:04.320 You have been entrusted as an overseer of this church, but there's going to be influences coming into this church that you need to be aware of. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:09.679 More than that, brethren, there's going to be influences arising from among you. 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:15.919 That's not necessarily exclusive to those who are not within the elders. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:28.559 Paul could be telling these elders, those who are hearing him speak, from among you will arise those who will influence the church for all. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:34.559 But in verse 36, I want you to notice their response to this message. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:39.759 When Paul had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.159 And there was much weeping on the part of all. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:48.799 They embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful, most of all, because of the word he had spoken. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.639 They would not see his face. 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:57.759 Ultimately, there was the relational impact of this message that he was presenting to them. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.440 They were going to miss Paul. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:05.759 But there was much love on display here towards Paul. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:09.279 They cared about him, they cared about his message. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:12.960 This seems to be a church that wanted to do what was right. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:20.480 I want to suggest to you that strong churches are built of people who submit to the leadership that God has placed over them. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:26.960 They follow the guidance of the apostles, and that leadership carefully defends the flock against spiritual things. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:31.200 Following the guidance of the apostles. 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:38.000 As we think about just this snapshot image of the church in Ephesus, this is a strong church. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:43.919 This is a healthy church, a church that loved the Lord and was zealous for his work. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:51.519 As we move on in history just a few years later, Paul's gonna go back and write to these brethren. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:58.559 If you turn in your Bibles over to the book of Ephesians, Paul writes this letter just a few years after he left. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:05.599 And it's important to consider what Paul says here in this letter, because this is a church that began with love. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:10.640 And I believe the book of Ephesians is a book reminding them why they ought to keep loving God. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:15.599 If you go through this, you're gonna see several reminders that Paul gives them. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:18.880 He reminds them first of what God has done for them. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.960 Now we don't have time to comment on everything, so let's just pick up a few verses. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:26.480 In Ephesians chapter 1, beginning of verse 3. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:42.240 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:54.960 In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has blessed us in the beloved. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:18:20.720 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in heaven, things on earth. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:24.880 Notice the repetition in him, in him, in Christ. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:27.440 This is what Jesus has accomplished for them. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:30.240 This is about who God has made them. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:32.079 Paul, that's exactly what Paul said. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.240 Look what God has done for you. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:39.279 This language should produce gratitude, it should produce love. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:45.279 And Paul's lifting their eyes, reminding them ultimately you belong to God. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:19:11.839 He's gonna go on in his prayer, beginning in verse 15, and he's gonna be thankful to God for them, and he's gonna petition God on their behalf in verse 18, asking that they have the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great mind. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:17.200 It's his work, it's his work being accomplished within his people. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:20.319 This is what God is doing through the people that belong to him. 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:25.519 Paul reminds them of what they were before they were saved, what they were apart from God. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:50.160 In chapter 2 and verse 1, you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:52.160 But God. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:20:03.200 But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.960 By grace, you have been saved. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:14.319 Without God, without his grace, we're separated from him, we're dead, dead in our trespasses. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:17.200 We're without God and without hope. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:24.400 He's gonna go on in verse 11 and turn his attention directly to the Gentiles now, those who were called the uncircumcision. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:40.079 He says in verse 12, remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:46.880 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:50.559 Without Jesus, these people are still far off. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:56.079 Without Jesus, we are without Jesus is what brings us to God. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:59.039 Without Him, we are nothing, we have no sin. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:04.079 This ought to stir humility, gratitude, and devotion. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:07.440 This is love language that Paul's reminding them of. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:16.000 Ultimately, we've seen this through the text we've already read, but Paul's going to continue reminding them of what they have become in Christ. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:18.319 Look at chapter 2 and verse 18. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:22.559 For through him we both have access in one spirit to the Father. 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:33.359 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:41.359 Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:48.720 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:56.720 We are made into the household of God, into his holy temple, the place where his presence dwells. 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.759 It's according to this eternal purpose. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:09.039 As we see in verse 11, that he is realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:13.920 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I'm suffering for you, which is your glory. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:41.279 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being, to the Christ and dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth. 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:49.279 Know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:55.519 I think Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 17 is the emotional center of this book. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:57.440 It's the whole purpose. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:23:02.480 It's so that you may be rooted and grounded in love. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:05.839 Think about who you were without Christ. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:09.119 Think about who you've become because of Christ. 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:12.400 Say, rooted and grounded in that love. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:17.279 Love for Him, knowing the love that He has for you. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:25.039 Paul's going to remind them in chapter 4 and chapter 5 of how they ought to continue living in love, is going to be a theme. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:33.759 He talks about uh bearing with one another in love in chapter 4 and verse 2, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:46.559 In chapter 5 and verse 1, be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:52.000 Love and give of yourself the way Jesus loved and gave of himself. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:58.480 He's going to ultimately conclude the book reminding them of what they can accomplish because of this love. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:11.839 Because of what Christ has done for them, because of who Christ is calling them to be, even though there's spiritual warfare happening all around them, they can be equipped to stand firm. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:18.559 Stand firm, be rooted and grounded in love. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:26.880 Paul's reminding them to keep their love alive, reminding them everything that God has done for them. 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:31.279 Everything that they had become in Christ. 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:34.640 Turning your Bibles over to 1 Timothy. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.279 Paul's not done with this church. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:56.400 And now he's encouraging Timothy, who's been left behind, because something's changed. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:04.319 In 1 Timothy chapter 1 and verse 3, you see that Timothy is left behind in Ephesus to address problems. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:21.359 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:46.799 Certain persons by swerving from these have wandered away in the main discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:56.640 See, this was a church that began in Zill, but Paul's gonna have to remind Timothy, you gotta remember your charge because that's the charge that was given to the brethren. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:00.880 Our charge is love, and there are people departing from that. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:12.240 They are departing from love, they're leaving behind that pure heart, that good, clean conscience, and they're finding themselves desiring to be teachers of the law but lacking understanding. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:17.680 They're making confident assertions, but they really have no idea what they're talking about. 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:22.000 This is a church where knowledge is replacing devotion. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:25.519 They're called to love, but they're no longer motivated by love. 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:30.400 They want to sound intelligent, they want they want to be smart, they want to have the answers. 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:36.720 And that's something that I think we all ought to desire, but not at the cost of the motivation behind it. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:38.880 We should want to know God more. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:42.960 We want to be able to better explain them to those who are around us. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:51.519 But if we're improperly motivated, we're no better than somebody who's telling them about God's law. 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:58.480 Timothy has work to do here in Ephesus. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:16.720 Knowledge is certainly important, that's why throughout this letter, Paul's gonna write about many things: prayers for the people, order within the church, qualifications of overseers and deacons, godliness, instructions for the church regarding the treasury, particularly as it pertains to widows. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.559 He's gonna talk about false teachers. 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:22.079 All of these things are important, but without love. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:28:06.960 In chapter 4, in verse 1, he says, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the things by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the those who they've departed, they've devoted themselves to these unsound, unfaithful, unfruitful teachings. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:14.240 There are people who are going to depart, and they're gonna try to drag you along with them. 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:18.319 Paul's warning Timothy to be on guard. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:22.799 This is a church that has not yet fallen. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:26.960 But Paul says the pieces are there too far. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:32.559 This isn't a church that began with false doctrine. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:36.559 It's not unsound poor teaching happening yet. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:40.559 But Paul's reminding Timothy they bless love. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:43.359 That's not far behind. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:01.440 He does speak of those who are in Asia, though, where Ephesus is. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:19.200 And that strain, that strain against love is becoming more and more visible. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.519 Consider a few things here. 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:25.599 In 2 Timothy chapter 1, beginning in verse 5. 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:35.119 I'm reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and now I am sure dwells in you as well. 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:42.160 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hand. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:49.119 For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love, self-control. 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:59.440 I had the opportunity to go to a conference with a bunch of other preachers a couple of months ago. 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:05.440 Preachers that were new and preachers that were seasoned. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:14.640 One of the most prevalent topics that kept coming up was a conversation around burnout. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:18.160 What does a preacher do when he becomes a burnout? 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:25.359 There's like some real transparent talk happening in this conversation. 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:29.039 What's that look like? 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.880 What's it feel like? 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:32.799 How do you navigate that? 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:39.279 I'm sure he's talking to Nate, John, George. 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:41.920 We're gonna have some different insights on all. 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:52.400 But if you think what Paul's writing to Timothy here, it'd be like Nate being aware of what's happening with Brayden in the church where he's at. 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:57.519 Calls me, sends me a text, writes me a letter. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:59.519 I know what's going on. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:01.279 I know it's working. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:09.680 You don't be carried away with them. 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:13.440 Timothy's fire needs to be rekindled. 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:16.960 He's among people who are leaving. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:31.119 I want to suggest that it's probably hard to be a preacher experiencing burnout, or maybe you can speak for this, when you have a church who loves God and is zealous for him. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.759 I think that'd be fair. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:36.559 Probably fair. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:46.240 It's easy when the church starts leaving love, starts to party, feel like you're laboring, trying to motivate people to do what's right. 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:50.880 And I just won't just won't listen. 00:31:54.720 --> 00:32:01.680 Watch yourself, protect yourself, be on guard over yourself, or you're gonna be carried away with them. 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:05.599 But he's gonna give them particular work to do. 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:09.839 Timothy, you still have work to do in this church. 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:12.400 Look at verse 13. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:23.200 He tells them, follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:29.519 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit and trusted. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:38.240 Sound words have been proclaimed, follow them, guard the deposit. 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.359 You've been trying. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:43.279 You have worked to be protect the truth. 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:49.359 We see that in the very next verse. 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:56.880 You were aware that all who were in Asia turned away from people. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:11.200 You see, we saw knowledge was replacing their devotion, and now their devotion is gonna be thoroughly eroded through self-focus. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:18.319 As you continue through 2 Timothy, there's several things that we could know, but I want to turn our attention to chapter 3. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:22.960 This is a church who was told stay rooted and grounded in love. 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:51.599 But in chapter 3, in verse 2, Paul tells Timothy, people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 00:33:56.799 --> 00:34:01.440 Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.599 Avoid such people. 00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:14.079 The reality is that there could be people sitting in this room this morning who were described by these verses. 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:20.159 And maybe we don't see it because you have that appearance of godliness. 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:24.559 But God sees through that facade. 00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:30.159 It's no different than Timothy and Ephraim. 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:38.239 These people are going to be described as people who take advantage of the vulnerable, who capture them and take advantage of them. 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:43.679 To promote the sinship, this unity. 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:06.639 Ultimately, people here in 2 Timothy are walking away. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:20.480 In 2 Timothy chapter 4, Paul tells Timothy, I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and dead, and by his appearing in his kingdom, preach the word. 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:28.079 Be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:40.559 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to shoot their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into midst. 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:42.400 Notice verse 10. 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:47.280 He's going to write to Timothy that come to me. 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:50.320 And he says, Do your best at the end of this come before winter. 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:58.079 But in verse 10, he says, For demons, in love with this present world, has deserted me. 00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:05.760 These warnings, these people who are gonna leave, who are gonna become lovers of self, lovers of the world, it's happening. 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:09.199 This isn't some far-off reality, it's here. 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:12.480 It's among God's people in Ephesus. 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:15.119 It could be among God's people here. 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:20.480 But Jesus isn't done with this church. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:24.239 Turn over to Revelation chapter two as we conclude our thoughts. 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:31.440 Revelation chapter 2, we quoted from this at the beginning of our time together. 00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:40.719 He's gonna remind them of what they were doing well at first. 00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:58.079 In Revelation chapter 2 and verse 2, I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:05.280 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing them for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:12.639 You hate the works of the Nicolatians, which I also hate. 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:17.760 This is a church who hated and refused the things that were opposed to God. 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:25.920 They were uncompromising, they wanted to seek out the truth, they were doctrinally right, they did a lot of things well. 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:28.079 You want to know a Bible answer? 00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:35.679 Jesus is saying, these people know, they've got it figured out, but there's still a problem. 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:40.400 He says in verse 4, but I have this against you. 00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:45.360 You have abandoned the love you had at first. 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:50.480 You've abandoned the love, it's gone. 00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:53.679 You haven't just swerved from this, you've left it all together. 00:37:54.079 --> 00:38:04.719 The love that motivated them to pile up 137 years worth of wages and property and burn to spread the word mightily to all those around them. 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:07.920 That type of motivating love is gone. 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:13.280 And Jesus says, You need to remember from where you've fallen and repent. 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:15.519 Turn back. 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:17.280 That's the warning. 00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:23.519 Remember, therefore, in verse 5, from where you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. 00:38:24.320 --> 00:38:32.639 If not, I will come to you and remove your lamp sand from its place, unless you repent. 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:35.920 I want you to think about that warning for a moment. 00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:40.400 I will remove your lampstand. 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:45.519 There's some grace-filled implication even in this warning. 00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:51.679 The lampstand represented their standing among God's people. 00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:55.599 God looks at this church and no, they are abandoning him. 00:38:56.320 --> 00:38:59.360 So they are actively walking away from him. 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:02.239 He still has their lampstand. 00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:07.920 You are still my people, and I still want you to be my people. 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:10.400 That's what Jesus is telling them. 00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:15.840 But if you keep going down this path, I'm gonna have to let you go. 00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:18.880 And I will let you go. 00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:20.400 I don't want to. 00:39:25.679 --> 00:39:30.400 God's grace is still extending me, still giving them opportunity. 00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:35.360 He tells them, repent, turn from this path you've gone down, come back to me. 00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:37.679 Do the works that you did at first. 00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:40.719 It wasn't so hard to do it again. 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:49.119 He says in verse 7, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church. 00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:57.760 To the one who conquers, I will grant the either of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. 00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:01.599 Heaven's on the line. 00:40:02.800 --> 00:40:04.559 Eternity's waiting. 00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:09.440 Ephesus is not a church that fell because they abandoned truth. 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:11.840 They fell because they abandoned love. 00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:18.159 Unless their love stands, would also be removed. 00:40:20.880 --> 00:40:26.639 You already alluded to this at the beginning of where's the church in Ephesus today? 00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:28.400 What happened? 00:40:28.800 --> 00:40:33.440 Did they return and end up following the cycle of life? 00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:35.840 They rebel. 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:38.639 What did they do? 00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:42.880 Reality is we don't know. 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:45.199 And I think that's intentional. 00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:52.000 There's several stories in the Bible uh like this where the ending is left unfinished. 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:56.000 Because if we knew the ending, we might miss the point. 00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:00.239 The point is not about the church in Ephesus. 00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:03.519 The point is about the church here. 00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:07.440 What about Milwaukee Avenue? 00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:12.719 This is the rise of Milwaukee Avenue? 00:41:13.599 --> 00:41:14.639 Turn to the south like it. 00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:24.559 God forbid see the floor Milwaukee Avenue. 00:41:26.639 --> 00:41:31.119 But the same grace that God extended to his people in Ephesus. 00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:40.960 When you think about the church, it's not the building. 00:41:43.360 --> 00:41:44.480 It's the people. 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:47.199 It's you and I. 00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:53.119 Take this from this macro church level and bring it down to you and die. 00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:57.760 Your heart and my heart. 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:02.239 Do I care about truth? 00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:05.679 Do I care about what's right and what's wrong? 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:07.760 God certainly expects that. 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:15.679 But am I motivated by the love that God has shown me? 00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:20.159 Am I motivated out of a desire to love him? 00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:26.880 If that answer is no for you or for me, God's grace is for each one. 00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:30.000 He wants us back, he wants us among his people. 00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:35.039 And if we can help you make that right this time, let us know while together be safe.