WEBVTT 00:00:31.869 --> 00:00:34.030 As we open, would you mind opening us in prayer? 00:00:34.350 --> 00:00:34.670 Okay. 00:00:35.070 --> 00:00:45.070 Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us all your safety gay today, and we ask that you open up our hearts and minds to the word that you have for us today. 00:00:45.310 --> 00:00:45.629 Amen. 00:00:46.109 --> 00:00:46.750 Amen. 00:00:48.670 --> 00:01:02.030 Well, yeah, so we've just gotten out of the first three chapters, and we are now going out of the indicatives of who we are and who we once were and who we're not any longer. 00:01:02.269 --> 00:01:05.469 To now, uh, alright, well, what do we do with that? 00:01:05.949 --> 00:01:17.150 And Paul starts chapter four, you know, with a completely, with, you know, kind of just a new shit, a new lens. 00:01:17.229 --> 00:01:23.549 Uh maybe not a new lens, but um just a new portion of the of the letter here. 00:01:23.789 --> 00:01:25.949 Um I'll read it for us. 00:01:26.269 --> 00:01:30.269 We'll go through chapter 4 all the way to verse 16. 00:01:30.590 --> 00:01:32.590 Uh, one to sixteen. 00:01:33.549 --> 00:01:50.590 I, therefore, prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. 00:01:50.909 --> 00:02:05.069 There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father over all, who is over all and through all and in all. 00:02:05.789 --> 00:02:09.870 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:02:10.109 --> 00:02:16.590 Therefore it says, When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. 00:02:16.909 --> 00:02:23.310 In saying he ascended, what does it mean that he had also descended into the lower regions of the earth? 00:02:23.629 --> 00:02:32.509 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that we might fill all things, that he might fill all things. 00:02:32.750 --> 00:03:06.750 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness or deceitful in deceitful schemes. 00:03:06.989 --> 00:03:26.669 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:03:32.189 --> 00:03:44.750 So we start off and he Paul seems to is this the third or fourth time that he repeats that he is a reiterates that he is a prisoner of this right? 00:03:46.989 --> 00:03:48.669 The second two times. 00:03:48.989 --> 00:03:53.709 Because the first one's in uh chapter 3, verse 1. 00:03:53.870 --> 00:03:54.829 Oh, yeah. 00:03:56.509 --> 00:03:57.150 Yeah. 00:03:57.389 --> 00:04:03.069 But before he before he declares again that he's a prisoner, he says, I therefore. 00:04:03.949 --> 00:04:09.469 And we remember what we're supposed to ask about therefore, don't we? 00:04:09.870 --> 00:04:10.829 What's it there for? 00:04:11.549 --> 00:04:12.829 What's it there for? 00:04:13.870 --> 00:04:25.550 So this therefore goes back, and he's pointing back to all three verses, all three chapters of the uh, the first three chapters of the book. 00:04:25.790 --> 00:04:30.670 You know, looking at who we are, what we've what we've received in Christ. 00:04:31.389 --> 00:04:40.509 The um covenant of redemption in chapter one, where he talks about the um the work of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit in our salvation. 00:04:40.750 --> 00:04:54.510 And then in him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him, who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 00:04:54.590 --> 00:04:57.870 In him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel. 00:04:58.030 --> 00:05:15.230 And then in chapter two, we find out that we're it was by you know, God made us alive in Christ, together with Christ, and uh of his immeasurable riches of grace and kindness toward us, and then we're all united in Christ. 00:05:15.470 --> 00:05:46.590 And then in chapter three, he talks about the condition that we were in before before we were brought near, and um reminds them of the fact that they've they have been brought near, the Gentiles have been brought near to Christ, and he keeps repeating over and over what who we were before and who we are in Christ, because if we don't remember who we are in Christ, we we lose our way, we'll drift. 00:05:46.910 --> 00:06:01.550 But it's that memory of who we were before and that and that motivation to gratitude that leads to what I think he's talking about here, is that he urges them to walk in a manner. 00:06:01.870 --> 00:06:02.030 Right. 00:06:02.430 --> 00:06:02.990 Let me see. 00:06:04.189 --> 00:06:09.230 We are very forgetful people, but uh part of me wants to wonder why. 00:06:09.950 --> 00:06:13.950 So yeah, I would I guess I just asked why why do you guys think we're such a forgetful people? 00:06:14.110 --> 00:06:19.150 Because I I'm just generally am forgetful. 00:06:19.230 --> 00:06:20.590 Oh crap, forgot my keys. 00:06:20.830 --> 00:06:21.470 Where's my phone? 00:06:21.629 --> 00:06:28.430 You know, if I'm I'm forgetful in that way, but it's easy to forget things you rather not remember. 00:06:29.150 --> 00:06:30.510 But wouldn't I want to remember this? 00:06:30.670 --> 00:06:31.390 Yeah, you know what I mean? 00:06:31.550 --> 00:06:40.030 Yeah, well, in reading the Mosaic Law, God more than one occasion he tells the Israelites you are a stiff-necked people. 00:06:40.510 --> 00:06:42.430 And I think that me means us as well. 00:06:42.590 --> 00:06:46.910 And Jesus, like when it comes to communion, do this in remembrance of me. 00:06:46.990 --> 00:06:52.270 It's something that should consistently, constantly be done, because we are forgetful. 00:06:52.510 --> 00:06:56.110 We are stiff-necked, we constantly need to be held accountable in the faith. 00:06:56.189 --> 00:06:56.670 Yeah. 00:06:56.830 --> 00:06:57.150 Yeah. 00:06:57.310 --> 00:07:02.590 So it's does it have anything to do with the noetic effect of sin? 00:07:03.629 --> 00:07:11.710 The fact that we're fallen beings and uh we're bent toward doing things our own way. 00:07:11.790 --> 00:07:13.230 Well, yeah, that's what I meant. 00:07:13.310 --> 00:07:20.510 Yeah, and I think we're he's gonna get to that as we as we walk on through chapter verse one there. 00:07:20.990 --> 00:07:21.629 Yeah. 00:07:22.670 --> 00:07:29.230 I think it can be hard to focus on all of those things when you're focused on something that's right here. 00:07:29.629 --> 00:07:35.390 You know, it's it's easy to forget those things when you're just dealing with something right now. 00:07:36.030 --> 00:07:42.990 Yeah, kind of just you get in the minutiae and and you start to lean back on your laurels. 00:07:44.590 --> 00:07:44.910 Yeah. 00:07:45.230 --> 00:07:47.870 It's that old saying, out of sight, out of mind. 00:07:48.030 --> 00:07:48.350 Yeah. 00:07:48.510 --> 00:08:04.030 We've got to keep it, we have it's important, he's saying, to keep this top of mind so that we can be reminded who we are and that we can that we will act in a way that is fitting to that call. 00:08:04.350 --> 00:08:08.110 Yeah, well, and he doesn't just you know invite us to walk or encourage us. 00:08:08.189 --> 00:08:16.830 Hey, when you get around to it, yeah, he urges us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. 00:08:16.990 --> 00:08:28.270 You know, this calling of our of our salvation, um of what we've been what we've been called into, um, which is you know perfect union one day with the Lord. 00:08:28.510 --> 00:08:43.710 You know, back when the Israelites were in the wilderness and they saw, um, even in Egypt, they saw all these miracles and all these miracles, and then uh uh Moses gets them out and and I'm thinking how quickly they forgot. 00:08:43.789 --> 00:08:44.110 Yeah. 00:08:44.590 --> 00:08:51.549 And I could not understand how they could witness all these fabulous miracles and how they could forget. 00:08:51.629 --> 00:08:57.230 And I'm thinking, we do the same thing, you know, and we have more distractions. 00:08:57.389 --> 00:08:58.350 Well, I don't know. 00:08:58.590 --> 00:09:06.829 I'm saying, it's my opinion, we have more distractions of the internet and and you know, social medias and all that all that. 00:09:06.990 --> 00:09:10.509 We have so many distractions that it is easy for us to forget. 00:09:10.829 --> 00:09:12.110 Isn't that interesting though? 00:09:12.269 --> 00:09:19.549 They had less distractions, but they drifted away just like we can drift away if we forget. 00:09:19.789 --> 00:09:29.870 And there was a connection between forgetting and apostasy, you know, believing God, there was a connection between that and the Old Testament. 00:09:30.029 --> 00:09:30.509 Yeah. 00:09:30.750 --> 00:09:32.509 And there are miracles today. 00:09:32.669 --> 00:09:34.509 You know, I've seen miracles. 00:09:36.589 --> 00:09:37.870 And I forget. 00:09:38.269 --> 00:09:41.629 So that's why we have to be rooted in the Word every day. 00:09:41.789 --> 00:09:43.149 Every day is going on. 00:09:43.629 --> 00:09:46.990 I don't know if anybody's doing the year, the Bible in a year thing. 00:09:47.069 --> 00:09:47.709 I've been doing it. 00:09:47.870 --> 00:09:52.189 And you know, you it it focuses on Old Testament and then New Testament. 00:09:52.509 --> 00:09:59.309 And the Old Testament, it looks like a heartbeat if you think about Israel and God and away from God. 00:09:59.469 --> 00:10:00.829 To God, away from God. 00:10:00.909 --> 00:10:01.709 It just looks like this. 00:10:02.669 --> 00:10:04.029 Like an EKG or something. 00:10:07.789 --> 00:10:09.069 That's what it looks like to me. 00:10:09.230 --> 00:10:09.549 Yeah. 00:10:10.029 --> 00:10:10.189 Yeah. 00:10:10.349 --> 00:10:11.389 That's what we're talking about. 00:10:11.629 --> 00:10:12.189 Right. 00:10:13.149 --> 00:10:16.750 Well, that's try-off times the story of our lives. 00:10:17.230 --> 00:10:18.669 We're up, we're down, we're up, we're down. 00:10:19.149 --> 00:10:19.389 Travis? 00:10:19.549 --> 00:10:21.469 I gotta say the difference is Jesus. 00:10:21.549 --> 00:10:22.029 Yeah. 00:10:22.269 --> 00:10:22.589 Yeah. 00:10:22.829 --> 00:10:27.709 Back in the Old Testament, actually, he came and went. 00:10:28.349 --> 00:10:30.110 It wasn't until he was born. 00:10:30.269 --> 00:10:30.589 Yeah. 00:10:31.149 --> 00:10:34.029 They looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, though. 00:10:34.110 --> 00:10:34.269 Yeah. 00:10:34.349 --> 00:10:34.509 Right. 00:10:35.069 --> 00:10:37.469 That uh made the difference, really. 00:10:37.549 --> 00:10:44.509 That the difference they they really didn't, all they were told is what not to do. 00:10:44.669 --> 00:10:44.909 Yeah. 00:10:45.069 --> 00:10:45.389 Really. 00:10:45.709 --> 00:10:46.349 Of the law. 00:10:46.509 --> 00:10:48.029 This this the law. 00:10:48.189 --> 00:10:52.110 And the law has only one purpose, and that's to show you you're guilty. 00:10:52.909 --> 00:10:57.469 You know, and Jesus came to say, You're not guilty, you're mine. 00:10:57.709 --> 00:11:00.269 Well, we are guilty, but we can't be forgiven. 00:11:00.589 --> 00:11:03.709 But but we're forgiven because, like I said, you you are mine. 00:11:03.870 --> 00:11:04.429 Yeah. 00:11:04.829 --> 00:11:07.069 Well, then that's that's the difference. 00:11:07.389 --> 00:11:08.110 That's been paid. 00:11:08.429 --> 00:11:14.750 Is we have something to look forward to where all they had was condemnation. 00:11:15.069 --> 00:11:17.149 Well, they had something to look forward to as well. 00:11:17.309 --> 00:11:29.469 Yeah, it just wasn't, it wasn't as we have a fuller understanding with all of scripture where they had you know a shadow of what was to come. 00:11:29.789 --> 00:11:32.509 Yeah, they they looked forward to the coming of Christ. 00:11:32.669 --> 00:11:35.709 We can we have the luxury of looking back at what he has done. 00:11:35.789 --> 00:11:38.750 There, there's yeah, no, a Abraham was saved. 00:11:38.829 --> 00:11:39.309 He's saved. 00:11:39.389 --> 00:11:43.629 He had faith and was credited to credited to him as righteousness, not unlike us. 00:11:43.709 --> 00:11:45.949 Yeah, they looked forward to the coming of Christ. 00:11:46.029 --> 00:11:49.230 I think the sincere ones, their salvation was on credit. 00:11:49.469 --> 00:11:54.189 Christ came, the debts paid, and we have the luxury of looking back. 00:11:54.509 --> 00:11:57.230 And looking forward, looking forward to what he was coming back. 00:11:57.870 --> 00:12:01.870 So, and we're one body of Christ, contrary to what dispensationalists believe. 00:12:01.949 --> 00:12:03.149 There's well, we just read it here. 00:12:03.309 --> 00:12:04.429 There's one faith and one body. 00:12:04.669 --> 00:12:19.230 Well, and that's yeah, that's the great, you and that's um, I mean, we get that as early as Genesis 3 of a hope for a savior that you know that that He will um Crush the Serpent's head. 00:12:19.469 --> 00:12:22.669 Crush the serpent's head, and the serpent, you know, will bruise his heel. 00:12:23.389 --> 00:12:35.549 Um it's uh we they they had the and I would I'll say the benefit of anticipating Christ, looking forward to him. 00:12:36.110 --> 00:12:41.870 Um most probably live to not see that day, uh, but instead they got to meet him in heaven. 00:12:42.029 --> 00:12:44.189 So uh I take that trade off, I think. 00:12:44.349 --> 00:12:51.709 But um we are urged here in Ephesians to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. 00:12:51.870 --> 00:12:59.789 And the five um key traits that Paul uses here are humility and gentleness. 00:13:00.110 --> 00:13:04.909 Patience uh bearing with one another in love and peace. 00:13:06.189 --> 00:13:13.789 You think humility and gentleness are one unit or one thought with all humility and gentleness? 00:13:14.509 --> 00:13:15.469 It seems to be. 00:13:15.789 --> 00:13:23.149 And then with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the spirit in the bond of peace. 00:13:24.990 --> 00:13:35.069 Which makes you makes you conclude that humility uh produces gentleness. 00:13:36.029 --> 00:13:36.349 Yeah. 00:13:37.309 --> 00:13:37.949 You know. 00:13:38.589 --> 00:13:44.429 I think especially as a young guy, uh the idea of being gentle. 00:13:44.990 --> 00:13:46.189 What does that mean? 00:13:46.509 --> 00:13:47.389 What does that mean? 00:13:47.629 --> 00:13:53.469 Because I think I think I think I'm pr uh I think I know what humility is. 00:13:54.269 --> 00:14:12.909 Uh not because I'm good at it, but uh because I think I, you know, I know what humility is, I know I know the idea of patience, I know the idea of bearing with one another in love, you know, seeking to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace, but gentleness, meekness, meekness. 00:14:13.389 --> 00:14:18.269 Um I kind of attribute that as to interacting with others, how you treat others. 00:14:18.750 --> 00:14:18.990 No. 00:14:19.549 --> 00:14:22.509 It's a it's a disposition. 00:14:23.309 --> 00:14:26.429 The uh humility and gentleness is a disposition. 00:14:27.389 --> 00:14:33.230 And the scripture tells us to think more highly of others than we think of ourselves. 00:14:33.469 --> 00:14:40.269 And then it also, in doing that, is how we it says with patience, you know. 00:14:40.349 --> 00:14:44.589 We're supposed to be have humility and gentleness with patience. 00:14:44.909 --> 00:15:00.829 We run into some folks that and well some folks may run into us too, and we've we're not easy to deal with, or they're not easy to deal with, a follow believer, but the Lord is saying to maintain the unity we need to be humble and we need to be meek. 00:15:01.230 --> 00:15:02.829 So, what does that look like? 00:15:04.909 --> 00:15:08.990 That means putting other people first and not being so selfish. 00:15:10.029 --> 00:15:20.110 I think all these other things they come from humility, the gentleness, and well, does anybody what is the definition of gentleness or meekness? 00:15:25.389 --> 00:15:26.990 Jason Jason, you got it? 00:15:27.230 --> 00:15:31.069 Well, I mean, so I mean I think gentleness is the opposite of harshness. 00:15:31.709 --> 00:15:41.870 So it it it's I also think it's not by itself just kindness, which you know Jesus lists is a different fruit of the spirit. 00:15:42.349 --> 00:15:44.990 I I I I think more I can only do it like with an example. 00:15:45.069 --> 00:15:58.589 Like I think I had to get married, I think, to begin to really understand gentleness and realize that my ways of humor and sometimes saying things did not always work on other people. 00:16:01.069 --> 00:16:12.110 You know, um that also made me realize, I think also in the classroom as I teach, you know, I'm a I'm a sarcastic guy who sometimes likes good practical joke here and there. 00:16:12.349 --> 00:16:19.069 That doesn't work with all of my students, and a lot of them I realized looking back were just kind of putting up with me sometimes. 00:16:19.309 --> 00:16:22.669 But for some of the kids, it worked really well. 00:16:22.990 --> 00:16:55.870 They liked that a lot and they interacted with me, and it made me, I think, start paying attention more to kids who really were not open to having a teacher really joke with them or even in it, even a slightly openly needed something, and so to deal with them sometimes in a much more what I considered a gentle manner, sometimes even watching the things I said even a lot more carefully. 00:16:56.029 --> 00:17:26.589 And and they also I think sometimes would think they were being perhaps gentle with me, um sometimes just with putting up with me, and and so in that way I think gentleness is sometimes I think not tolerating sin, but also it's it's accompanied with kindness, also dealing with people on their terms, uh in a way that makes I think bearing with one another in a love in love possible. 00:17:26.990 --> 00:17:35.309 Uh it's not and that's but that part of humility, not always my preferences uh of for doing with things. 00:17:35.950 --> 00:17:40.109 Um I don't know, that's still not a definition. 00:17:40.349 --> 00:17:42.269 No, it it's it's hard to give one. 00:17:42.430 --> 00:17:42.750 Yeah. 00:17:43.789 --> 00:17:45.230 I like what this says. 00:17:45.549 --> 00:17:49.069 Uh well it also mentioned everything you said, but it says calm. 00:17:49.869 --> 00:17:51.069 There's a calmness too. 00:17:51.230 --> 00:17:55.149 But he said it says it's often misunderstood as a sign of weakness. 00:17:55.549 --> 00:17:57.950 It's actually strength under control. 00:17:58.430 --> 00:17:58.909 Exactly. 00:17:59.869 --> 00:18:00.269 Exactly. 00:18:00.750 --> 00:18:01.470 Strength control. 00:18:01.789 --> 00:18:03.950 Strength under control, that's good. 00:18:04.190 --> 00:18:04.829 That's good. 00:18:05.069 --> 00:18:05.309 Yes. 00:18:07.149 --> 00:18:16.190 I think of uh when I was a youth pastor, I had a student who's who's sixth grade, um, highly autistic. 00:18:17.069 --> 00:18:27.149 And through some of the studies and characteristics of his own unique form of autism, he was 12, but he was he acted half his age. 00:18:27.470 --> 00:18:33.710 He would show up to youth group, and he'd come into a room like this and play with those kid toys over there. 00:18:34.029 --> 00:18:45.710 You know, he wasn't he wasn't a 12-year-old boy outside, you know, playing, shooting hoops and running around and you know, poking girls, and you know, you know, at least that's what I did. 00:18:45.950 --> 00:18:52.670 But the he he was he liked to play with little little kid toys. 00:18:52.909 --> 00:19:00.509 And he um really liked sometimes a little too much, but something really liked physical touch and being like, hi Brennan, how are you? 00:19:01.389 --> 00:19:03.069 Good man, how how are you? 00:19:03.470 --> 00:19:08.109 But you know, and at first I I didn't know how I was gonna do it. 00:19:08.190 --> 00:19:11.470 I never worked with someone who had something like that. 00:19:11.950 --> 00:19:17.470 And it it uh at first I was like, you need to follow the rules. 00:19:17.629 --> 00:19:21.230 You know, I'm the first one, I'm the firstborn too, so I'm the firstborn son. 00:19:21.309 --> 00:19:22.990 You you gotta follow the rules now. 00:19:27.470 --> 00:19:27.950 Large? 00:19:28.349 --> 00:19:28.670 Yeah. 00:19:29.389 --> 00:19:41.149 Um but and and as I learned, I'm like, that one, it doesn't get to him, and two, like, it makes him scared. 00:19:41.549 --> 00:19:45.950 It made him scared, and it made him like a shell of himself. 00:19:46.190 --> 00:19:48.670 I'm like, let's try something else. 00:19:48.829 --> 00:19:50.349 And so the kids were like, Where's Avan? 00:19:50.509 --> 00:19:51.629 How he's playing over there. 00:19:51.869 --> 00:19:52.829 Why isn't he here? 00:19:53.149 --> 00:19:54.589 He's gonna do his own thing, guys. 00:19:54.750 --> 00:19:59.789 And it was like just kind of you know, let him go to the most I can. 00:20:00.589 --> 00:20:10.190 And uh that really taught me, God really taught me in that season, gentleness and me in that sense of. 00:20:10.589 --> 00:20:19.149 I don't know if I was strong and I don't think I was under control, but uh uh that it was still uh a way to be gentle. 00:20:20.029 --> 00:20:23.710 My God mates us where we are, and you met him where he was. 00:20:24.029 --> 00:20:27.309 Well, and and other people meet, you know, me where I'm at. 00:20:27.950 --> 00:20:49.470 And then my, you know, I I Lord willing, I'm gonna look back, you know, when I'm you know 35 and look back when I'm 27 now, like look at look at this idiot, you know, and like but yet someone or someone met with me then and saw me then, and um we're there just as Christ has done for for all of us. 00:20:49.710 --> 00:20:54.909 But uh but yeah, that that the definition of strength under control. 00:20:55.950 --> 00:21:05.710 Because strength without or not under control is is the harshness and the tearing down and and destroying relationships. 00:21:06.829 --> 00:21:08.509 Well, and it's it's also the pride. 00:21:08.670 --> 00:21:10.509 Yeah, pride leads into that, right? 00:21:10.670 --> 00:21:14.509 Right, which is why I think Paul ties in humility and gentleness together. 00:21:14.750 --> 00:21:14.909 Right. 00:21:17.869 --> 00:21:19.789 And you say pride. 00:21:19.950 --> 00:21:28.029 I mean, that's the thing about this too, is that we learn that grace leaves no room for pride. 00:21:28.269 --> 00:21:28.589 Yeah. 00:21:29.309 --> 00:21:33.789 That's one other thing that we have to remember is that it's by God's grace. 00:21:34.029 --> 00:21:35.629 So that no one may boast. 00:21:36.670 --> 00:21:51.149 Um so we're we're this this calling, we're called to walk in a manner that is that is um worthy of this calling that God has so graciously brought us into. 00:21:51.629 --> 00:22:04.029 And then verses four through six, we get a little bit more uh fleshed out from Ephesians 1, some more of the Trinitarian type language here. 00:22:05.149 --> 00:22:08.589 Um there is one body and one spirit. 00:22:08.829 --> 00:22:14.269 The word one is used seven times just in these just in these three verses. 00:22:14.589 --> 00:22:20.190 Three, uh, in reference to uh God the Father, Son, and Spirit. 00:22:20.430 --> 00:22:28.909 Um, and four, and other things of basically the the measures of grace on which God has given us. 00:22:29.309 --> 00:22:31.549 One body, one baptism, this unity. 00:22:32.109 --> 00:22:38.349 That we have through the Spirit, just as we were called to the hope that belongs, to your call. 00:22:38.509 --> 00:22:41.470 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. 00:22:42.430 --> 00:22:50.509 Right, and I think of, when I think of our faith in Christ and our baptism into Christ, I think of Romans 6. 00:22:52.670 --> 00:22:55.470 Paul starts out Romans 6, what shall we say then? 00:22:55.629 --> 00:22:58.509 Shall we go on sinning that grace may abound? 00:22:58.829 --> 00:22:59.869 By no means. 00:23:00.190 --> 00:23:08.909 He talks about how we were, you know, been in the death and a resurrection like his, and also a baptism. 00:23:09.389 --> 00:23:11.710 We have been baptized into Christ. 00:23:12.509 --> 00:23:21.230 And then one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, in all. 00:23:21.629 --> 00:23:22.990 And I think that encompasses everything. 00:23:23.230 --> 00:23:23.470 Everything. 00:23:23.710 --> 00:23:25.629 I think that encompasses everything. 00:23:26.990 --> 00:23:28.990 You have any thoughts on those? 00:23:29.869 --> 00:23:36.990 One body, that's Christ, the uniting, being united with Christ through the one spirit, through. 00:23:39.869 --> 00:23:48.829 Well, and I think that's why he gives later on speaks into verse 15 of chapter 4. 00:23:49.069 --> 00:23:59.549 We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together makes the body grow. 00:24:00.190 --> 00:24:07.389 So a great picture of the Trinity, I think, here as well. 00:24:07.710 --> 00:24:19.629 But therefore it is when it there it says in verse 7, but grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:24:20.750 --> 00:24:22.029 What does that mean? 00:24:23.069 --> 00:24:25.069 Any any any insights on that? 00:24:25.389 --> 00:24:26.990 Well, think of the parable of the talents. 00:24:28.109 --> 00:24:30.349 One's given, I think, five, one's given two, one's given one. 00:24:30.589 --> 00:24:41.149 And just because someone may have less less talents, like the one who's given two, well, that person still had to be a good steward of what he was supposed to do with it. 00:24:41.470 --> 00:24:42.670 And he was a good steward. 00:24:42.750 --> 00:24:43.069 Yeah. 00:24:43.470 --> 00:24:52.109 Um, even the if you want to call it interest that he had may not have been as great as the one that had five, but he still did what he did ultimately for the glory of God. 00:24:52.589 --> 00:24:52.909 Yeah. 00:24:54.829 --> 00:24:57.710 I've taught spiritual gifts for years. 00:24:58.430 --> 00:25:04.029 And each one of us has been given a major gift. 00:25:05.149 --> 00:25:16.190 Given a whole bunch of gifts, most of us, but there's always those prime ones, which is it's totally different between me and somebody else. 00:25:16.509 --> 00:25:18.990 But I am to use those gifts. 00:25:19.470 --> 00:25:31.230 I remember I was teaching in someplace, way too many churches, uh, that the guy was trying to do everything. 00:25:31.470 --> 00:25:39.629 And I got to talking with him about his spiritual gifts, and he realized that I'm not very good at those things, like I am. 00:25:39.789 --> 00:25:44.670 There's certain things I will not touch because those are not my gifts. 00:25:45.230 --> 00:25:56.990 And you know, I purposely stay away from them because I'm not good at them, and so I don't want to interfere, but I know my strength, and I'm gonna operate in my strength. 00:25:57.069 --> 00:26:01.789 Yeah, you guys know uh Ron Shagnan sits in the back. 00:26:02.829 --> 00:26:17.309 Um when I think of you know the spiritual gifts and things, he is someone who um just I think gives a lot of insight into my life. 00:26:17.389 --> 00:26:25.950 I mean he he and I meet every week and we we we grab we grab lunch and uh well kind of a kind of a linner, and it's like four o'clock. 00:26:26.190 --> 00:26:38.109 But um he has it is clear to me the the the the the spiritual gift and the desire to disciple young men. 00:26:39.230 --> 00:26:51.549 Um he knows that and I have the inclination more to go and evangelize and share the gospel with the lost. 00:26:51.950 --> 00:27:03.470 And I'm I don't think I have the wisdom or the insight to speak with a guy or a person one-on-one and be able to be like, you know, be able to disciple them like Ron does. 00:27:03.710 --> 00:27:04.909 But exactly right. 00:27:04.990 --> 00:27:14.430 We in and Ron's like, I'm not, I'm not uh I'm not a guy who's gonna go and you know preach on the corner of the street type deal. 00:27:14.750 --> 00:27:22.349 Uh he's just not, he's like, I want to build a relationship with this person and and uh and disciple them one-on-one, and that's just his passion. 00:27:22.509 --> 00:27:36.509 And um it's clear that the Lord is at work with him because that is a spiritual gift that he's been that he's been given in each to our gifts, uh, yet we are called to exercise them in fa in faith and trust that the Lord's gonna work through them. 00:27:36.670 --> 00:27:40.829 And he kind of elaborates on that, but yeah, go ahead. 00:27:41.230 --> 00:27:50.269 Um but yeah, therefore, so verse 7, but was but grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 00:27:50.430 --> 00:27:58.670 Therefore it says, when he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. 00:27:59.069 --> 00:28:02.670 Um that's quoted, I think, Psalm 68, I believe. 00:28:02.829 --> 00:28:07.230 I don't know if anyone can can I think I think that's what it was. 00:28:07.710 --> 00:28:08.190 68. 00:28:08.750 --> 00:28:10.909 I think it's Psalm 6818. 00:28:11.710 --> 00:28:12.750 What does that say? 00:28:12.990 --> 00:28:26.349 It's it says it a little bit different than it says you ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train, and receiving gift among uh gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. 00:28:28.670 --> 00:28:30.029 Can you say that again? 00:28:30.269 --> 00:28:41.149 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train, and receiving gifts among men, and even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. 00:28:41.389 --> 00:28:43.069 That the Lord God may dwell there. 00:28:43.789 --> 00:28:44.990 Even among the rebellious. 00:28:45.710 --> 00:28:46.589 I guess that's us. 00:28:46.909 --> 00:28:48.430 Common drop of grace. 00:28:48.990 --> 00:28:51.710 Well, the common the idea of common grace is there. 00:28:52.029 --> 00:28:54.750 The thing about spiritual gifts though, they're not for you. 00:28:55.069 --> 00:29:04.029 They're for that's why everybody has them, because we need one another to the gifts that you've given, they've been given, is your ability to reach someone else. 00:29:04.269 --> 00:29:07.069 Well, we'll Travis, you're getting ahead of me, man. 00:29:07.149 --> 00:29:08.349 Come on, you're getting ahead. 00:29:08.430 --> 00:29:10.269 You're rushing, you're getting ahead in the lesson. 00:29:10.509 --> 00:29:12.029 Verse 11, right? 00:29:12.269 --> 00:29:16.909 Yeah, and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and the teachers. 00:29:17.069 --> 00:29:17.629 Why? 00:29:17.869 --> 00:29:25.789 To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. 00:29:26.190 --> 00:29:29.710 So he did his homework. 00:29:30.430 --> 00:29:31.789 Travis did do his homework. 00:29:32.029 --> 00:29:32.509 Yes. 00:29:34.670 --> 00:29:36.990 I was gonna say he's a teacher, Travis is a teacher's pet. 00:29:38.190 --> 00:29:44.109 Um sometimes it's hard to know what your gifts are. 00:29:44.269 --> 00:29:44.430 Yeah. 00:29:44.670 --> 00:29:47.069 And sometimes other people see it when you don't. 00:29:47.309 --> 00:29:47.549 Yeah. 00:29:47.710 --> 00:29:50.029 And sometimes we think we have a gift and we really don't. 00:29:50.190 --> 00:29:50.430 Yeah. 00:29:50.509 --> 00:29:50.829 Yeah. 00:29:51.309 --> 00:29:52.990 That's what I was talking about with this one. 00:29:53.470 --> 00:29:54.509 What do you what do you think that is? 00:29:54.589 --> 00:29:58.589 When you when we think we have a gift but we don't, is that just I guess it's a pride thing? 00:29:58.909 --> 00:29:59.230 I don't know. 00:29:59.470 --> 00:30:02.029 It could be pride, but it could be desire. 00:30:02.430 --> 00:30:04.750 It's a desire to help and I wish I had that gift. 00:30:05.069 --> 00:30:06.750 I'm gonna pretend that I do, but I don't know. 00:30:07.309 --> 00:30:08.029 I wish I had the gift. 00:30:08.269 --> 00:30:10.269 Fake it till you make it type of gift for being. 00:30:10.509 --> 00:30:13.549 Yeah, I wish I had the gift of evangelism. 00:30:13.789 --> 00:30:14.430 Yeah, yeah. 00:30:14.589 --> 00:30:17.789 You know, because I would love to reach my daughter, you know. 00:30:18.430 --> 00:30:20.829 Julie says a lot, oh I don't, I'm not good at that. 00:30:20.990 --> 00:30:21.789 And she is. 00:30:21.950 --> 00:30:24.109 And I have to tell her, you can't encourage her. 00:30:24.430 --> 00:30:24.909 Yeah, yeah. 00:30:25.869 --> 00:30:28.109 Is that just you getting your brownie points as well? 00:30:29.710 --> 00:30:30.909 I guess it can't. 00:30:31.950 --> 00:30:38.509 Well, actually, the gifts are not are not permanent, they they do change. 00:30:39.069 --> 00:30:39.710 I agree. 00:30:40.109 --> 00:30:48.190 But I'm I'm teaching them, but you know, my three top gifts never have never changed, but the others have. 00:30:49.230 --> 00:30:53.549 And uh I sometimes I'm very effective at these things. 00:30:53.710 --> 00:31:01.389 If I try doing it again, I probably won't be uh noticed that's different gifts at different times as he needs me to use them. 00:31:02.190 --> 00:31:11.950 I I think Travis, I don't know if you have thoughts teaching us, like I've been in churches many times, I like to give people those shapes, those gift tests, you know, those top three. 00:31:12.029 --> 00:31:24.829 But but I think and this is more just personal experience, like when I take, I look at those things, like like my top and it's never like you know, like mercy, it's never like generosity when I do this. 00:31:25.389 --> 00:31:32.029 However, I find God also teaches you just like when you work in the church. 00:31:32.109 --> 00:31:40.909 I I find like when the more I practice being being merciful, God develops mercy in you. 00:31:41.470 --> 00:31:46.430 The more I practice being generous, like like we grow in these things. 00:31:46.750 --> 00:32:06.990 And I think um, you know, when he tells us, because I I think often it it's been missing, at least someone in my church background, like like, yes, we're given these things to equip the body, but he tells everybody here walk with humility, gentleness, and patience and bearing one another in love. 00:32:07.149 --> 00:32:18.909 That's not for everybody who's just been equipped to serve or have mercy or to be generous, like that's you know, that's everybody. 00:32:19.149 --> 00:32:19.389 Yeah. 00:32:19.710 --> 00:32:19.950 Yeah. 00:32:20.190 --> 00:32:24.349 Yeah, that's not just for the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and the teachers. 00:32:24.589 --> 00:32:28.190 It's for us, it's for the laity, it's for the layers. 00:32:32.990 --> 00:32:33.869 We're all to love. 00:32:34.670 --> 00:32:42.509 But notice too how the focus of this, the focus isn't, Paul's focus isn't necessarily outwardly, but it's inwardly. 00:32:43.629 --> 00:32:47.149 To equip the saints for the work of ministry. 00:32:47.309 --> 00:32:47.389 Right. 00:32:49.069 --> 00:32:52.349 For building up the body of Christ. 00:32:53.230 --> 00:33:00.109 And and of course we know, which is, you know, and then we go out for the, you know, as it says the work of ministry. 00:33:00.269 --> 00:33:03.470 But but first for this is for us. 00:33:03.629 --> 00:33:05.149 This is a gift to us. 00:33:05.230 --> 00:33:25.629 Uh uh just one of the many graces that God gives us is the you know, the the the pastors and the and the and the elders and the deacons and teachers, and and the and the volunteers, and you know, the the the Sunday school leaders, you know, the freak for kiddos and things. 00:33:25.710 --> 00:33:34.909 And it's like they were gifted these things by God for the building up of the body in Christ. 00:33:35.549 --> 00:33:59.869 Um and it's and it's when it and I think when a church does it well, when you when you start seeing people's gifts being brought to light and being put into motion in the church, that's when um uh I guess you could say the church can become can become dangerous uh in the world uh or to the world. 00:34:00.109 --> 00:34:05.230 And it's uh uh it's a it's a very strong, healthy body. 00:34:05.470 --> 00:34:07.389 And I think this church is good at it. 00:34:07.710 --> 00:34:08.349 I think so. 00:34:08.510 --> 00:34:10.110 Yeah, I'd like I'd like to think so. 00:34:11.789 --> 00:34:16.829 Any church that is healthy is full of people with their using their gifts. 00:34:17.630 --> 00:34:23.230 Yeah, and we're not all the same, unfortunately, because you're reaching different people. 00:34:23.309 --> 00:34:27.950 There's certain people I can relate to that you can't relate to, but I can't. 00:34:28.269 --> 00:34:34.670 I've started uh I've been doing a lot of reading on Islam recently for a handful of reasons. 00:34:34.909 --> 00:34:46.670 Part of it is that I think there's more folks in our areas uh in Davidson and Wilson County that believe in Islam than we think. 00:34:47.389 --> 00:35:01.869 And I've been um reading a book about like the history of the wars, um, but then also um picked up a book thanks to Alan and Longos, that bookstore, which again, oh my gosh. 00:35:02.029 --> 00:35:03.389 Um come check it out. 00:35:03.550 --> 00:35:10.429 Yeah, please, please, yeah, bring your checkbook and let me know what you find. 00:35:10.670 --> 00:35:21.230 Um the but I found a book there on just like learning how to connect with with Muslims and those within that community. 00:35:21.550 --> 00:35:31.869 And hopes that there'll be times when I get to engage with those folks and I know and I'm prepared and I'm ready. 00:35:32.110 --> 00:35:43.389 Um but even even then and just trying to, you know, like I know I I know there's like an Islamic center right there in the city, I think on that uh far south. 00:35:43.869 --> 00:35:47.550 Right next to another PCA church just down the street, Midtown. 00:35:47.789 --> 00:35:51.949 It's like, why don't I go say hey? 00:35:52.429 --> 00:35:53.869 Why don't I go say hello? 00:35:54.110 --> 00:36:10.029 Um but all of this, whether it's stuff, you know, it it's all for the building up of Christ's church, and then in verse 13, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. 00:36:10.429 --> 00:36:12.750 In other words, to mature manhood. 00:36:13.389 --> 00:36:21.309 Manhood, humanhood, uh to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 00:36:21.469 --> 00:36:23.309 What do you think that last phrase means? 00:36:23.389 --> 00:36:25.309 Uh that's that's the one that sticks out to me. 00:36:25.710 --> 00:36:26.429 Mature manhood? 00:36:26.590 --> 00:36:31.869 No, to the to no to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 00:36:32.509 --> 00:36:47.949 Well, I think helping uh understanding what mature manhood is, and one reference is Hebrews 5.14 when it comes to mature manhood, but solid food is for the mature. 00:36:48.509 --> 00:36:55.230 For those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 00:36:56.429 --> 00:37:07.469 So to be a full-grown man is a man who has grown, or woman has grown in their ability to discern good from evil. 00:37:08.029 --> 00:37:10.110 That's one aspect and right doctrine. 00:37:10.429 --> 00:37:13.150 And it says in 14, yeah, good and bad doctrine. 00:37:14.509 --> 00:37:16.829 Well, and that's what that's what chapter 6 I think starts. 00:37:16.909 --> 00:37:28.349 Right started with you know you know the teaching of of sound doctrine is that we are no longer children, tossed and tossed to and fro by the waves. 00:37:28.989 --> 00:37:35.710 Um I think this is a measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ is that's our sanctification. 00:37:35.869 --> 00:37:39.309 We're yeah, we're becoming more like Christ as we grow. 00:37:40.110 --> 00:37:40.750 Yeah. 00:37:41.070 --> 00:37:46.190 And then you know, glorification, and that is at full consummation. 00:37:46.829 --> 00:37:52.029 We just got done wrapping up teaching that in uh in uh youth group. 00:37:52.190 --> 00:37:54.349 So now we're going to the fruits of the Spirit. 00:37:54.509 --> 00:37:57.309 So should start that this week should be good. 00:37:57.550 --> 00:38:18.110 Um yeah, all of this is for the equipping of the saints, for the building up of the body of Christ, um, that we would continue on this pilgrimage, this pilgrims process, if you will, um, of uh mature manhood into the measure and stature of the fullness of Christ. 00:38:18.349 --> 00:38:33.150 And then I read verse 14, and then verse 14, so that we're not no longer to be children tossed to and fro by the waves, carried into every wind of doctrine, human cunning, craftiness, and deceitful schemes. 00:38:35.550 --> 00:38:50.110 I I have a um I have a friend who I know through work, and he goes to a church in Brentwood that is known as a cult. 00:38:50.670 --> 00:38:51.710 It's not really a church. 00:38:51.869 --> 00:38:54.590 Yes, he goes to Remnant Fellowship. 00:38:54.909 --> 00:38:56.349 He grew up there. 00:38:56.750 --> 00:39:05.469 Um his dad is like a I guess I don't know if they would call it deacon or a board member or something. 00:39:05.710 --> 00:39:06.829 And he's one as well. 00:39:06.909 --> 00:39:08.829 He's been going there for 20-something years. 00:39:09.070 --> 00:39:12.029 He's in his 30s, he's got a wife, three kids. 00:39:13.550 --> 00:39:18.989 And we were chatting, and I didn't know I don't know much about Remnant. 00:39:19.070 --> 00:39:23.550 I've I've heard stories, I know that there's a thing, I think there's like a documentary on them. 00:39:24.110 --> 00:39:26.909 Um so it's Win Shamlin Jordan. 00:39:27.230 --> 00:39:27.789 Yeah, yes. 00:39:28.110 --> 00:39:29.710 That's more of an expose, I think. 00:39:30.029 --> 00:39:30.349 Is it? 00:39:30.829 --> 00:39:32.829 That's I never saw it, but I heard about it. 00:39:32.989 --> 00:39:33.550 Yeah. 00:39:33.869 --> 00:39:40.509 And we were having lunch and we were talking, and it was just like, yeah, you know. 00:39:42.349 --> 00:39:46.190 Because I met I he said remnant, and I was like, Oh, I think I've heard about that church. 00:39:46.269 --> 00:39:52.750 It's like, yeah, some people don't like us because we have that, or or I think something, uh what did he say? 00:39:52.989 --> 00:39:58.590 Because we we have a woman pastor, and you know, yeah, some people don't like us that we because we don't believe in the Trinity. 00:39:58.750 --> 00:39:59.710 And I was like, oh. 00:40:02.269 --> 00:40:03.070 That is a big deal. 00:40:03.469 --> 00:40:08.670 And I told him, I and I said, I remember sitting there, I was like, yeah, it's a big deal. 00:40:08.829 --> 00:40:10.190 It's kind of a big deal. 00:40:10.269 --> 00:40:16.829 Uh and and he was like, he just kind of went like this, and and that was the first time we talked about it. 00:40:17.389 --> 00:40:20.110 So what do they believe in if they don't believe in the Trinity? 00:40:20.349 --> 00:40:29.949 I think I think it's a more of a of a Mormon type view, where where the father's Arian Yeah, very version, different version of Arian, isn't it? 00:40:30.190 --> 00:40:36.909 Yeah, where the father, son, and spirit are are three, not not one essence, but three distinct essences. 00:40:37.710 --> 00:40:45.230 And um, as a Mormon told me on a on a plane, uh, that they are only one in purpose, that they have the same goals. 00:40:46.029 --> 00:40:46.509 Sort of deal. 00:40:46.989 --> 00:40:48.110 Polytheistic, in a way. 00:40:48.509 --> 00:40:48.829 Kind of. 00:40:49.070 --> 00:40:49.389 Yeah. 00:40:49.550 --> 00:40:56.110 Yeah, I mean they I mean they're claiming to, you know, in reality to believe in three different gods, in their in their view, right? 00:40:56.670 --> 00:40:59.230 That church started out as the way down workshop. 00:40:59.469 --> 00:41:00.190 It did, yeah. 00:41:00.509 --> 00:41:04.509 I've worked with Gwen for about at a place that I worked. 00:41:04.590 --> 00:41:09.309 She came as a client and we edited the series, the Way Down Workshop series. 00:41:09.469 --> 00:41:15.230 I worked with her directly on that series, but this is kind of before the church had really gotten started. 00:41:15.550 --> 00:41:16.909 She's a nice person. 00:41:17.309 --> 00:41:19.469 Um, and it was an effective program. 00:41:19.710 --> 00:41:24.190 A lot of people lost weight because of that, because it was God-centered, you know. 00:41:24.590 --> 00:41:26.509 Um, but then all that stuff happened. 00:41:26.590 --> 00:41:27.389 I'm like, whoa. 00:41:27.469 --> 00:41:29.630 But she's she's a little, or she's dead now. 00:41:30.269 --> 00:41:32.110 So she she passed in the plane crash. 00:41:32.989 --> 00:41:38.110 Yeah, there were like five people from five leaders in the church were in a plane crash, and they all got killed. 00:41:40.190 --> 00:41:41.309 Wasn't that in Percy Priest? 00:41:41.710 --> 00:41:42.029 Yeah, yeah. 00:41:47.869 --> 00:41:49.469 Yeah, so five, yeah, five years ago. 00:41:50.269 --> 00:41:59.789 But he goes to the factory in Benton, Iowa, and uh where I was the plant manager and my chief engineer was a Mormon. 00:41:59.949 --> 00:42:00.590 Yeah. 00:42:00.909 --> 00:42:04.029 And we continue to try to convert each other. 00:42:06.349 --> 00:42:10.509 Well, I'm glad I'm glad he didn't convert successful, but I was born and raised in Iowa. 00:42:10.750 --> 00:42:13.469 Benton is the popcorn capital of the world. 00:42:14.989 --> 00:42:16.750 How does that relate to Mormonism? 00:42:17.070 --> 00:42:22.110 Well, pop Mormonism is heresy, but eating popcorn is good. 00:42:22.429 --> 00:42:23.630 Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:42:23.869 --> 00:42:29.789 It is I don't know if you know it, but Angel Studios is owned by three three Mormonists. 00:42:30.029 --> 00:42:30.429 Yeah, right. 00:42:30.909 --> 00:42:31.710 Yeah, Mormons. 00:42:32.029 --> 00:42:34.909 Which was my my daughter's boss for three years. 00:42:35.150 --> 00:42:35.309 Yeah. 00:42:35.630 --> 00:42:46.829 Well, and I and I but this this idea of just whether it's Mormonism or just like I see it, or you know, in or just any type of distortion of the gospel. 00:42:47.309 --> 00:42:52.989 Um and because we are all created to be worshiped, or not hold on. 00:42:53.070 --> 00:42:54.429 Let me let me back. 00:42:54.750 --> 00:42:56.190 Let me all create. 00:42:56.590 --> 00:42:59.389 We are all created to worship. 00:43:00.269 --> 00:43:08.670 Um it was uh Louis Burkhoff in his Manual of Christian Doctrine. 00:43:08.750 --> 00:43:10.590 It's a great, it's a great little book. 00:43:10.829 --> 00:43:16.110 And the first this first sentence is that man is incurably religious. 00:43:16.590 --> 00:43:18.029 Which I I love that word. 00:43:18.110 --> 00:43:19.389 I love that adjective. 00:43:19.710 --> 00:43:21.789 We are incurably religious. 00:43:22.029 --> 00:43:23.949 We can't help but worship. 00:43:24.190 --> 00:43:26.909 And so we can't something. 00:43:26.989 --> 00:43:28.269 Yes, we can't help but worship. 00:43:28.909 --> 00:43:30.509 Even secular humanists, they're not. 00:43:30.590 --> 00:43:31.789 Yes, they worship something. 00:43:32.029 --> 00:43:32.989 They're not all their secular. 00:43:33.230 --> 00:43:34.029 Whatever it is. 00:43:34.429 --> 00:43:35.389 We all have a whole thing. 00:43:35.550 --> 00:43:37.389 We all worship something. 00:43:37.550 --> 00:43:40.509 We are incurably worship beings. 00:43:42.989 --> 00:43:43.869 Idol factory. 00:43:44.190 --> 00:43:58.670 And so the and I like I have a friend who, you know, goes to one of these, you know, a friend and his wife, and you know, their their baby number two is coming soon, and they go to you know to one of these churches where it's it's all you know, pomp and circumstance. 00:43:58.829 --> 00:44:03.389 It's the dog and pony show, and you know, um we don't forget the fog. 00:44:03.949 --> 00:44:11.550 Yes, no, it's it's the fog, it's the loud music, it's the sermon, is a is a TED talk from a guy who has no seminary experience or no training. 00:44:11.789 --> 00:44:14.190 Um he's just kind of a charismatic leader. 00:44:14.429 --> 00:44:16.670 And you know, that's church to them. 00:44:17.710 --> 00:44:47.710 And it we I think even within and I think if we were honest, we you know, there's probably people even within our midst that maybe go to and fro, I and go to and fro from From doctrine to things, or or are we and we ourselves may even be too easily led into the craftiness of deceitful schemes from from other people, from heck, even our own hearts, from the devil. 00:44:48.750 --> 00:44:54.909 And we have to protect ourselves, as we'll get to later on in Ephesians 6. 00:44:55.070 --> 00:45:02.670 But especially in verse 11, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:45:02.829 --> 00:45:02.989 Yeah. 00:45:03.309 --> 00:45:04.509 As he mentions there. 00:45:04.829 --> 00:45:31.309 Yeah, but this, all of this, you know, again, specifically with Ephesians, these few verses, all of the gifts that God has given each of us, you know, the gift of, you know, whether it's prophecy or the, you know, for what he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangels, the shepherds and teachers to equip us, in order that when these crafty, deceitful things come our way, that we aren't blown to and fro. 00:45:31.550 --> 00:45:48.269 But that uh, as verse 15 says, that we are rooted, or going back actually to Ephesians 3, right, being rooted and grounded in love, and here rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head. 00:45:48.590 --> 00:45:55.469 And we need that humility and meekness with patience to be able to speak the truth in love. 00:45:58.590 --> 00:46:00.829 And we first do it to ourselves. 00:46:03.070 --> 00:46:10.509 And then we have the uh we have the ability to and the call to do it to others. 00:46:10.909 --> 00:46:33.630 The um so verses 15 and 16, built in every way into him who is the head into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 00:46:35.309 --> 00:46:48.110 And when each part is working properly, um, that kind of puts a responsibility on us, doesn't it? 00:46:48.349 --> 00:46:49.789 In some sort of way? 00:46:50.349 --> 00:46:59.469 Or um or a call then to you know so that uh this body is working properly, right? 00:47:00.029 --> 00:47:05.070 The call to you know uh to walk in this manner to maintain the unity. 00:47:05.389 --> 00:47:13.710 I think of um I think it was I think it was uh I think I heard it first from Louis Giglio. 00:47:14.829 --> 00:47:18.750 I think he's like a popular pastor in Atlanta somewhere. 00:47:20.269 --> 00:47:28.349 Um there's a there's like a protein, I think it's called a glycoprotein in the body. 00:47:28.509 --> 00:47:30.110 It's called laminin. 00:47:30.989 --> 00:47:37.550 And laminin basically holds other molecules, binds other proteins together. 00:47:38.029 --> 00:47:40.429 And um, well, what is it? 00:47:40.590 --> 00:47:41.309 What does it say? 00:47:42.829 --> 00:47:44.670 I want to get the term correctly. 00:47:44.829 --> 00:47:52.429 But it's it's it's quite interesting uh because of how it kind of how it kind of looks. 00:47:53.789 --> 00:48:00.029 It's a glycoprotein found in extracellular uh matrix of almost all of almost all tissues. 00:48:00.269 --> 00:48:14.670 It acts as a viral as a it as a vital molecule or sorry, molecular glue that structurally bridges the inside of cells to other out to the outside world, playing an essential role in tissue development, cell adhesion, and cell processing. 00:48:15.070 --> 00:48:16.349 Kind of shaped like a cross. 00:48:16.750 --> 00:48:19.550 And that's the picture of the molecule. 00:48:20.509 --> 00:48:21.550 How do you know that? 00:48:21.869 --> 00:48:38.349 I've heard I thought and you know, uh to those who say that God does not have a sense of humor or he's leaving evidence for what can be known about him as playing. 00:48:38.750 --> 00:48:39.630 And what's that called? 00:48:40.190 --> 00:48:40.989 Laminan. 00:48:41.949 --> 00:48:42.909 Laminan. 00:48:43.309 --> 00:48:55.789 And um we are being bound, binded together, knit together as one body in Christ, for Christ, um, and through him. 00:48:56.110 --> 00:49:27.070 And so um this unity that we have uh to each other in Christ, then I think I think the only response again is to seek to walk in this manner of humility and gentleness, of patience, of bearing with one another in love, of seeking peace as much as we can. 00:49:27.630 --> 00:49:36.190 Umes on these, I mean we're we're about at time. 00:49:36.750 --> 00:49:47.710 Um any other final notes or thoughts on these on these 16 verses that or anything else that kind of sticks out to anybody else before we before we close? 00:49:53.070 --> 00:49:55.469 I can tell you funny which amount story. 00:49:56.909 --> 00:49:58.110 Tell us after we close. 00:49:58.349 --> 00:49:59.230 Because I w I want to hear it. 00:49:59.389 --> 00:50:01.309 Oh yeah, my my ears want to be here. 00:50:01.550 --> 00:50:01.710 Yeah. 00:50:04.989 --> 00:50:05.550 Oh praying. 00:50:05.869 --> 00:50:06.909 Yeah, let's let's pray. 00:50:06.989 --> 00:50:10.909 Um, would you would you mind praying praying us out? 00:50:11.710 --> 00:50:13.710 You you you can say no, it's okay. 00:50:13.949 --> 00:50:14.750 If you if you want. 00:50:16.029 --> 00:50:18.110 It's not one of my gifts, but I'll do it. 00:50:18.429 --> 00:50:18.750 Thank you. 00:50:18.909 --> 00:50:19.710 I appreciate it. 00:50:22.029 --> 00:50:34.429 For this day, for our time together, for good teaching and good discussion, and and just pray that you'll be with each of us this week and um keep us safe and bless us all in Jesus' name. 00:50:35.389 --> 00:50:35.869 Amen.