WEBVTT 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.280 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:11.119 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:15.039 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.120 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:30.160 Take your Bibles again this morning and turn them to Romans chapter 15, if you hadn't already. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:31.920 Thank you for being here. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:35.359 I know that there I met several visitors today. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:39.200 And uh man, it's so good to see you. 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:45.600 And one good thing, Pastor Danny used to tell me that once school gets back in, people are done vacating. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:49.600 And man, it's good to see our seats filled up this morning. 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:50.880 And uh praise the Lord. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:52.399 Romans chapter 15. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:01:04.400 If you grew up like I did, maybe nothing scared you or bothered you more than hearing your full first and middle name married together. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:06.319 Anyone had this before? 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:07.040 Okay. 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:15.599 If my mom, my aunt, or my grandmother married those two names together, it was trouble. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:17.920 Richard Noel. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.319 For some of you, that's the first time you ever heard my middle name. 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:29.760 If I heard that, I would pretend in a corner somewhere that I lost all hearing. 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:36.159 I would pretend I couldn't hear it and hope for the best, but I really knew what it meant. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:39.519 And some of you, moms, practice that now, and your kids know it. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:41.840 That first and middle name. 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:43.760 I was thinking about that. 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:47.120 God still calls people today by name. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:52.640 And the thing about it is there's no pretending because he knows exactly where you are. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:54.159 He knows right where you are. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.400 You see it all through the pages of scripture. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.959 Noah was called in Genesis to build an ark and save a people. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.000 God told him to do this thing he'd never heard of. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:12.240 God called Abraham and he said, I need you to leave your country and go to a place of which I'm not telling you yet, to be determined. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:21.360 Moses, out of the fiery bush, heard the voice of God calling him to become the leader of the Israelites. 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:25.919 You see, the Spirit of God in Judges chapter 6 falls on Gideon. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:30.080 Gideon, a man who's hiding in a wine press, says, I'm the least. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:32.719 And God says, You're a man of valor. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:39.919 You see, in scripture, three times there's a voice that's calling out for Samuel. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:43.840 He's mistaken, doesn't understand, thinks it's Eli. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:48.479 And finally Eli says, If it happens again, tell him, Here am I. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:52.000 And Samuel hears and hearkens to the voice of God. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:56.319 Here I am, which is the right answer to the call of God. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:03.039 Isaiah 6, 8, it says, The voice of the Lord said, Who shall I send and who will go for us? 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:07.280 And Isaiah said, Here am I, send me. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:12.319 In the New Testament, the disciples were called to follow after Jesus Christ. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:16.240 And he said, In Mark, take up your cross and follow me. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:38.159 And so, like Amanda said, Rick Lance is our state director of the Board of Missions, and together with a man named Kevin Blackwell has put out an initiative over the state of Alabama stating that one of our most urgent tasks is to help equip those God has called to the mantle of leadership in churches. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:45.840 And that includes bivocational, co-vocational, and full-time ministry leaders needed. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.560 And this is what Kevin Blackwell said about it. 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:50.800 We want people to recognize the call. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:56.319 So I'm going to talk a little bit about that, accept the call of God and respond. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:58.560 Listen to a couple of statistics. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:04.240 Right now, there's approximately in the Southern Baptist churches, this is just posted. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:09.759 Okay, this is not, there's a lot of churches that won't have job needs posted. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:15.759 245 full-time pastors are needed currently for churches. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:21.600 There's nearly 200 youth and children positions open for pastors currently. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:26.319 900 Southern Baptist churches close every year. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:31.439 Now in 2023, 652 churches were planted. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:34.879 So we're trying to come up and meet that gap. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:39.519 But you see, like David once said, is there not a cause? 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:42.399 Is there not a cause? 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:48.000 I understand that today many here you're doing exactly what you've been made to do. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:53.040 But I wonder if there's some today who God is prompting. 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:56.480 And maybe he's been prompting for a long time. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.079 What about now? 00:04:58.319 --> 00:04:59.920 I want you to think about that question. 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:01.680 What about right now? 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:03.120 Turn Romans 15. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:07.040 We're going to look at verses 1 through 6 as we open. 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:15.759 By the way, you can see in chapter 15 and 16 a key correlating word. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:21.600 So when you do your Bible studies, look for words that pop out within a section. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:24.480 And usually there's a theme that we need to pay attention to. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:33.120 In Romans 15 and 16, the word ministry or service, which is the same word in the Greek, shows up five times. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:40.160 And so it says, We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:44.959 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:51.279 For even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:58.160 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:13.920 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may be, or that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:18.720 So the first point this morning is this a call to steer and to cheer. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:21.040 Now, this is about every member. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:26.399 Okay, I want you to know this first section that we're going to talk about, every member that we have ministry needs. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.279 You were saved to be a servant. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:35.120 You were equipped to be a person who is a minister. 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:36.800 And so that's what this is talking about. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:42.000 Letter A is we steer, we see in that first verse, steer the weaker in the faith. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:44.480 It says, bear with the weak. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:51.519 The same word in Galatians 6 2 is used when it says bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:53.199 Bearing, okay? 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:57.759 It is a charge to accept people, listen, for where they are. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:02.079 We're not out here in church trying to find somebody and make them something that they're not. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:08.399 It's accepting where they are and helping to carry the burden. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:11.199 Raise your hand this morning. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.160 If you think maybe you've got a burden. 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:17.920 Some of you don't. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.079 I'd like to meet you for lunch. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:21.279 Okay? 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:26.000 I have, as pastor of this church, I have a lot of burdens. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:27.040 I don't know if you know that. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:37.600 Some of you think it's we walk in, it's a worship service on Monday, and prayer meeting on Tuesday, and Dave preaches on Wednesday, and Eli on Thursday, and it's all glorious, right? 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:41.439 We baptize people all week long, right? 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:43.279 We have burdens. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:45.279 My wife has many burdens. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:46.639 I have many burdens. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:50.879 And this scripture says that we should bear one another's burdens. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:53.040 You know what helps a burden? 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:55.279 You. 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:58.079 You help a burden. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:00.160 You can ease a burden. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.680 And that's what the Bible calls. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:04.240 God has gifted each member. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:05.519 Hear that gifted. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:07.199 I'm not just saying it's a gift, a present. 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:07.839 He's gifted. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:19.279 He's spiritually gifted when you become a Christian with something special, something specific, that you can build the body of Christ and be a burden bearer. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:25.680 My son Wyatt is squatting about 375 pounds right now. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:31.279 And you know, like, that's hard for a man of my caliber to take. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:37.200 I want to be the strongest in my castle. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.120 And I am. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:52.960 But about two years ago, I played some church football, and my right knee got angry with me two years ago. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.519 And it's never stopped being angry. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:56.320 Never. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:58.960 And so I can't squat. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:07.440 I mean, I can squat my weight, but every time I do any kind of squatting, I hear some crunching that doesn't sound normal. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:09.759 And so I try not to push it. 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:17.840 But I thought about that, and the hard time that I have looking at what the coach told him at the end of last season, gained 35 pounds. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:19.440 I thought, that'll never happen. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:22.000 30 pounds later, I'm like, wow. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:28.399 Before my eyes, a man is growing in my house, and he's trying to be larger than me, and I don't need that. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.120 But God nonetheless is doing it. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.440 And here's what I thought about my not being able to squat. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:39.840 One body part will not do its part. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:41.360 And guess what? 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.360 I can't do something that I want to do, that I wish I could do. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:47.440 Just one body part. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:56.720 You may be the part, church, that bears the burden that somebody else right next to you cannot bear. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:58.639 You're the burden bearer. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:04.480 And if you don't do that part, that burden, I'm gonna tell you what, I don't squat. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.799 I just don't even mess with it. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:11.600 You know, and that affects the rest of my body that could be stronger. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:14.080 And so, doing your part. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:23.519 William Booth is the founder of the Salvation Army, and he was getting elderly, and he was called upon by one of the leaders. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:28.960 They were having a conference, and they called upon him asking if he would come and speak. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:34.240 And he shared back, um, you know, with my health and things failing. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:37.840 I just don't think that I'm going to be able to come to that meeting. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:45.840 So one of the leaders asked him, Well, do us this favor, would you just send us a telegram for the conference that we're having? 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:49.440 And William Booth sent a one-word telegram back. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.600 You know what that word was? 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:53.519 Others. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:55.759 One word telegram. 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:56.960 He said, Others. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:00.399 Listen, you want to tell anybody anything that really is important? 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:02.639 He says, it's about others. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:08.320 The Bible says there, the strong carry the weak. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:14.720 That word strong is do not test, and that is just this: the capability by virtue of experience. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:20.879 By virtue of experience, by what God has taught you, you're able to help those who are. 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:22.559 And here's the word for the weaker. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.480 It is, I do not test. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:26.240 And that is just a negator. 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.679 Those who cannot. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:32.399 It says those who can should help those who cannot yet. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.919 Are you helping those who cannot yet? 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:39.039 You see, verse 2, look at what it says. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:44.720 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good leading to edification. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:51.919 The word edification is building up, building up somebody who needs built. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.279 Adrian Rogers said, look closely to your church. 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:58.240 Everyone is hurting. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.759 He said, There is a tear in every heart. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.639 So put your arms around your brother. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:08.879 Put your arms around your sister and help them on. 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:17.440 I've said to my children often, with your words, you're either building up your siblings or you're tearing down. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.080 Okay. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:22.399 There is no such thing as an inactive church member. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:28.000 There are church members, and the Bible says in Matthew, you're either for me or you're against me. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:28.480 Okay? 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:31.919 You're building up or you're not. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.480 Which are you doing? 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:40.480 I hope and I pray every Sunday that I stand in this place that I can encourage you. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:44.240 I don't want to spin any wheels and I don't want to waste anybody's time. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:46.000 I hope that I encourage you. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:52.720 I hope that my audience, my Savior, is encouraged by what is happening in his church. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.879 But I hope to encourage you. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:57.519 Look at Ephesians chapter 4. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:07.200 Now, this could have been the whole passage here. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:10.720 There's a lot packed into a few verses. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:13.600 But here's this word again. 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:15.919 Look at verse 1 through 3. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:26.559 Paul said, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy, here's that word, of the calling with which you were called. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:39.440 With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing, here's that word, with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:42.399 He says, walk worthy of your calling. 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:46.480 The word calling is clasis, and that is invitation. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.960 We are invited by God. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:14:05.440 Certain people throughout the history of time have felt an impression, a feeling, and in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, that they have been invited, which it says, a calling which you are also so named. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:11.279 That word is Kaleo, invited by God and so named to bear one another. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:19.519 Verse 12, it says, equipping the saints and edifying, that your gifts have been given in Ephesians there, that you could build. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:24.720 If you're not building, you might be breaking or you might be broken. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:30.000 God never meant for you to be benched, meant for you to be active in ministry. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:31.840 God gifted you to edify. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:38.559 You're not saved to sit or to soak or to sour, but you're saved so that you will serve. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:50.080 Hebrews 10, 24 and 25, it's most pastors' favorite verse, at least a couple times a year, verse 25, and it says, not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of such is. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.919 He's telling you, hey, you gotta be in church. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.639 But the verse before says the point. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:59.840 And let us consider one another to stir up love and good works. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.600 That's talking about you. 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:03.120 Consider one another. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:09.600 It's not just talking about somebody preaching or somebody leading a worship song or giving of an offering. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:16.320 It's talking about every member's opportunity to stir one another to love and good works. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:19.039 Are you taking those opportunities? 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:27.519 Because you've been placist, invited by God, and named Christian because you've been called to it and answered it and repented of your sins. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:31.919 Jesus saved you that you'd build every day, every week. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:34.080 Are you building the body of Christ? 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:38.879 And he said, within that, let me tell you some, this is a little tough. 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:44.960 He said to build, he said, love your neighbor like you love you. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.399 Now I don't need to take a survey and ask you if you love you. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:48.960 Right? 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.559 I used to say this to teenagers all the time. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:57.600 You didn't get dressed this morning and put on the ugliest shirt and say, I'm gonna wear this today because I like how ugly I look in it. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.320 I like to look good. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.480 So I dressed in what I thought would look good. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:05.440 I didn't eat the nastiest thing that I could find this morning. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.000 Why? 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.279 Because I love me. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:09.759 He says, love your neighbor like you love you. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:11.759 And here, here's a harder one. 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:14.480 He said, love your enemy. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:18.159 We're told to love our enemy. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:23.679 So more certainly, then we should love the people left and right of us. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:29.679 Most certainly we should love our brothers and sisters in Christ and build them up. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:32.480 And so we are called to that ministry. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.480 Verse 4 is the how. 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.639 Okay, verse 4. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:45.120 He said, Whatsoever things were written before were written for our learning, that we, through the patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:45.679 Okay? 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:47.360 That we might have hope. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.679 Christians find strength in verse 4. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:57.360 How do we find strength to live in a way that we love our neighbors, to live in a way that we love even an enemy? 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.960 How do we find the strength to do that? 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:01.440 It says that we look to the Word of God. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.679 The Scriptures provide it. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:12.640 It's not that we go to the Scriptures and the Scriptures of themselves have hope and patience, but the fruit of reading the Scriptures is patience and hope. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:22.960 So when those other things are difficult and bearing burdens are difficult, then we have patience and hope through what God's Word says. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:30.640 Psalms 119, 165 says, Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing will offend them? 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.000 Do you have the peace of God because you're in his book? 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:36.400 Do you have the peace of God to bear others' burdens? 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.960 To love that person that's a little hard for you to love. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:45.519 Maybe you disagree with, is it because you're in his book and your the Spirit of God is falling on you? 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:47.440 Are you giving him that opportunity? 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:51.920 The fruit of reading gives patience and hope for others. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.839 Remember what I said last week? 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:56.240 Jesus saw you for what you could be. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.720 Do you? 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.079 Letter be. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:04.880 We see cheering on unity in the faith. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:06.640 Every member. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.559 Look at verse 5 and 6. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:18.000 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:27.039 According to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:32.240 A definition here of practice in spiritual unity. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:35.200 That point, if I didn't say, is cheer unity in the faith. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:38.559 But he says, being like-minded toward one another. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:43.599 If you skip to the end, the end goal of that scripture said, the goal is glorifying God. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:53.119 If the goal is for you to glorify God, if you say, My goal in my life, let it be said of me that I glorify God my Father. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:55.759 Most people say, I want that in my life. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.160 He says, then be of one mind. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.519 Be of unity. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:03.279 It says, one mind and one mouth. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:10.079 That word is autofren, and that means to mind the same thing or to be harmonious. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.960 That's hard because we're different, right? 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:18.160 That all occasions of differences be withstood. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:20.160 Matthew Henry commented. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:28.559 He said, It tends very much to the glory of God, who is one, and his name one when we are one. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:34.799 God will scarcely be glorified where there is not a sweet conjunction of mouth and mind. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:38.160 I want you to turn back to Ephesians again. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:40.559 Ephesians 4. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.839 Oneness. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:52.559 Ephesians 4, look at verse 3 through 5. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:57.680 Again, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:00.559 This is every member's ministry. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:14.799 There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope, there's that word, of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all and through you all. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:23.279 And then it goes on the rest of the chapter to talk about the reason for spiritual gifts, which is to build up the body and keep the body as one. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.920 As one. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:31.920 Look at verse 29 to 32 in Ephesians 4. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:37.920 It continues on, it talks about the new man, and then it gives some practical application. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.680 So how do we do this? 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:44.720 Say, Pastor, it is hard enough to have a few siblings to have one mind. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:48.960 It is hard in my household for me and my spouse to be of one mind. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:52.160 And you want me to be a one mind of other households. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:54.480 This is not easy. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:59.839 Here's some tips from the Apostle Paul to the church. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.160 He says, one thing, let it be your goal. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:13.119 Don't grieve the spirit, knowing that when you do, when you're in discord, when you're in disunity, it brings grief to the Spirit of God. 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:17.599 Jesus' words on the cross, or let them be as one. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:19.759 But here's a few practical tips. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:30.240 He says, let no corrupt, verse 29, let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.119 There's that word again. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:34.319 Building up, building up, using your words. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:38.799 So are we using, are we practicing using our words to build people up? 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.440 Alright. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:46.079 And verse 30, it says, And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:59.759 And here it gives a whole line Let all bitterness, let it fade, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:04.400 The consideration of something for harm. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:08.160 And then be kind one to another. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:15.279 Tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.680 Kindness, church. 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:24.160 You build people up through kindness, tenderness, seek in the spirit of unity. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:30.559 Well, second point this morning: a call to reaching and preaching. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.880 Romans back to Romans 15. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:41.359 Again, that first part is everyone. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:49.359 There are some specific things that happen in Scripture that I want to key in on in the call of reaching and preaching. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.519 Look at verse 14 through 16. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:23:02.480 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:22.559 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.759 So what's he saying? 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:26.559 First, letter A, reach boldly. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:32.480 Jesus was our first example, the first shepherd. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:37.920 Jesus said of himself, I am come to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:43.119 But Paul says here specifically about a calling, a moving of his heart. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:47.359 He says, I have been called to reach to the Gentiles. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:50.240 And I want you to see how Paul took his calling. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:52.240 Look at Acts chapter 16. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:24:00.400 Paul was not flippant about what he felt God was doing or the Holy Spirit was doing from moment to moment in his ministry. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.519 Look at one example. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.240 Acts 16, verse 6 through 10. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:13.440 Now when they had gone through Fergia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.559 You hear that? 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:16.799 He said, Not here, not now. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:19.519 After that, they had come to Mycia. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:23.920 They tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.119 Not here, not now. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:31.119 So passing by Mijah, they came down to Troaz, and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:35.759 A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:44.720 Now, after he had seen that, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:50.720 So walking in the Spirit, they were forbidden a couple of times. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:25:03.920 Paul was, uh he aspired to preach the gospel in places, but at least in Asia and Bythynia, the Holy Spirit said, No, not there, not now, but go to Macedonia. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:12.559 In Romans 1, he says, at least one time in the passage, I longed to see you, but have been prevented by the Holy Spirit. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:15.519 So how do you discern a call of God today? 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:19.680 And I want everybody to hear me, because it may not be you, but it could be your child. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:25.440 It could be someone in your family, and it could be very well that it's you. 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:33.039 We're gonna look at some more at that later, but here's some things that the folks from Nine Marks put out. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.720 To aspire to a call. 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.759 What does that mean? 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:37.039 What does that look like? 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:46.559 Number one, there's an ambition, there's an internal something in you that desires to reach people with the gospel. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:51.119 The second thing that they put out is the attributes, okay? 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:55.119 The ability to communicate the gospel. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:57.920 Now, hold on and don't count yourself out there just yet. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.839 Some of you say, well, that's where I'm done. 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:02.079 And I want to tell you, me too, I was. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:15.440 And the aptitude, and then the affirmation based on when you minister, are there other people around you, maybe other ministers, other people who affirm the ministry that you're doing? 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:25.839 And this is all based on 1 Timothy 3:1, which says, whoever aspires to be a pastor, which is the word elder, aspires a good thing. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:32.960 Pastors are called to shepherd, preach, pray, and protect, and prepare their flock for ministry. 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:38.559 I'm going to share just a little bit of the qualifications because you see it in Titus, you see it in 1 Timothy. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:45.039 And it says that it's necessary for them to be an overseer, that they be above reproach. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:50.799 Paul again in Timothy says, these are the qualifications for an overseer. 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:55.680 In 1 Peter chapter 4, Peter tells the elders to shepherd the flock of God. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:27:00.799 And we see every church has elders and overseers. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:07.519 So just understanding sort of the role, the leadership that's supposed to fall in a pastor. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:10.640 And you see the word elder, bishop, overseer. 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:21.039 Now I want to tell you, there is a greater and scary passage for all pastors or aspiring to be pastors that is difficult. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:28.799 James 3:1 says, brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a greater condemnation. 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:39.039 Hebrews 13, 7 says, Obey those who have the rule over you, be submissive, for they watch out for your souls as those who must give an account unto God. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:47.440 I want you to understand that this position is a position, yes, of leadership, of overseeing, of shepherding, of praying and preaching. 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:54.559 But we're going to be held accountable unto God for the way that we lead and the way that a church is led. 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:56.559 And I want you to understand that. 00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:59.359 That's heavy. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:05.839 So in my life, I wanted to share just a little bit of testimony. 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:08.960 I begin to feel something. 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:12.079 It sort of was like a sneak attack. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:15.519 Um, I began to have a thought sort of like this. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:25.920 If God would have me to be in ministry, and then God worked out every single door and made it abundantly clear, then maybe. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:27.680 Okay? 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:33.680 I aspired secretly inside, but very tentatively and absolutely scared. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:37.279 I started an internship at Middletown Baptist Church. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.920 My internship was for psychology. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:51.039 I was counseling some students, but in the meantime, me doing what was required of me for my internship, the church said, and yes, you're gonna do these other things. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:55.359 And everything from I took a tractor and mowed the lawn. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:57.839 I mean, all kinds of things, leading VBS. 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:04.240 But they had me my first week in my internship teaching an adult Sunday school class. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.960 And I'm like, this is awful. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.559 And I was awful. 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:22.720 Now I need you to understand this in God's shaping that all through high school and even into college, the very worst classes that for me that I just could not stand for anything to do was public speaking. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:28.559 I had to give an oral report, and I could not look at the people like they told me I was supposed to do to get a good grade. 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:30.720 I just wanted to live through the report. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:33.440 And so I stared at it until it was done. 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:36.000 I'm giving like two minutes on Michael Jordan. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.640 That's how smart of a reporter I was, right? 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:41.599 Like everyone else was gonna talk about Michael Jordan. 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:44.799 So I stared, I was done, and I wanted to die. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:52.319 When I got to college, literally the the teacher gave awards, and I'm just gonna say what I got, and y'all understand. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:55.200 I don't want to put nobody down, but I got most improved. 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:01.599 Which you know, man, at least at the beginning, I was the worst. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:18.319 And so I there was one time where I was sharing, and I went through everything, like hot sweats, cold sweats, uh, my stomach just a mess, and I began to share, my cheeks started to twitch as I was speaking. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:23.279 I'm like reading the thing, and this is what I'm like, do I smack it? 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.400 What do I do? 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:27.680 I couldn't control that. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:35.680 And so all of these things are happening, and the first week I'm at an internship, I'm teaching 50 and 60-year-old saints of the church. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:39.440 And I'm like, this has gotta be the most awful thing they've ever heard. 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:48.400 And so I get through that summer, and a really kind of miraculous thing happens in my life. 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:54.400 God made me or created in me a love for that ministry. 00:30:54.480 --> 00:31:00.720 I fell in love, probably in my mind then, I'd be in that church for the rest of my life. 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.640 I loved that summer. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:06.079 I loved mentoring and working with students. 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:15.920 I I can't say I love the speaking, but I fell in love with the ministry and thinking that I could have a part in helping someone like Jeff. 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:20.000 Jeff was here in his life, and I could help him with how I understood the Bible. 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:21.839