WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.720 This podcast is the ministry of Grand Parkway Baptist Church. 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:05.679 For more information on our church, please visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:06.160 Amen. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:10.320 You can have a seat if you've got a Bible and invite you to take it and open up to 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:11.679 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:14.880 And if you don't have a Bible, it's one in your role on page 995. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:16.239 995. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:24.559 We're in a series right now entitled Trustworthy Sayings, where we're just looking at the five different places in the Bible where the Apostle Paul says this is a trustworthy saying. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:36.560 We just thought it would be a good thing during this political season to kind of of political promises and doublespeak and this, that, and the other, just to say, hey, here's something that is true back then, it's true now, and will be true forever. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:40.880 And this morning, uh I'll start reading in 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 1. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:43.920 Uh, and uh I have a couple different titles for the sermon. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:52.159 If you don't if you don't need a title, uh one is called How to Suffer Well, one is uh How to Violate the Status Quo would probably be a more appropriate one. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:56.799 But you just, if you don't like either one of those, come up with your own title and share it with me after the service. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:57.439 Amen? 00:00:57.759 --> 00:00:59.359 I'll be down front and available. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:01.359 Second Timothy chapter 2, verse 1. 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:13.040 Paul says this, he says, You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, and trust of faithful men who'll be able to teach others also. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:16.319 Share in the suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:22.560 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:26.239 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:30.159 It is the hard working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:34.640 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:45.599 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound. 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:52.560 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.359 The saying is trustworthy, for if we have died with him, we will also live with him. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:00.400 If we endure, we will also reign with him. 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:04.000 If we deny him, he also will deny us. 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:09.599 If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:15.759 Paul is writing from a less than uh good circumstance, he's probably in prison, best we can tell. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:17.280 That's why he talks about chains. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:18.400 He's he's chained up. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:26.879 At one point he was in prison, and like every three or four hours he would be chained to a different guard, his arm to his arm, or his leg to his leg, so they can make sure he didn't go anywhere. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:31.439 And so when you find yourself in situations that aren't really good, what do you do? 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:35.759 The Bible says here's four or five things that you can do that are trustworthy. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:43.360 That Paul says this older Christian is saying to a younger Christian, I know everyone around you is doing this, but here's what you do, my man. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:44.560 Five things this morning. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:48.319 Number one, I want to say to you, first of all, the status quo is no excuse. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:50.240 The status quo is no excuse. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:51.199 You say, What do you mean? 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:52.639 Look at verse one. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:54.800 It's those first two words, you then. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:56.319 It's kind of a change of direction. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:01.759 Paul's kind of talking about some things in chapter one, and then he kind of shifts and he says, You then. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:02.879 What is he talking about? 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:06.479 Look back in chapter one at verse 15, and you'll see what he what he's talking about. 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:12.159 He says in verse 15, you are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:13.120 Stop right there. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:15.039 Anybody been to Asia lately? 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:17.439 You know how many people are in Asia right now? 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:18.879 That's a lot of people. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:29.039 I remember being in high school, and kind of the big thing was you'd be sliding your tray down the little silver rails, getting your food, and kind of thinking in the back of your mind, will there be a seat at the cool table when I get out there? 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:32.400 Because everyone in my school would run and put their stuff down and kind of claim seeds. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:42.479 There's only about ten seats at the really uber cool table, and if they were gone, you didn't get to sit there, or you'd walk out and kind of like, uh, uh, uh, and you were out. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:53.680 And Paul says, hey, when he because he says you then, the reason he says you then, Timothy, is because, hey, everybody in Asia, a whole country of people have turned their back on him. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:56.000 Paul comes out and there's nowhere to sit. 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:59.599 And so he says to Timothy, hey, by the way, you then, you this. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:05.039 See, what everybody else does is not an excuse for what you and I are free to do. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:06.800 Does that make sense today? 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:10.560 It doesn't matter if everybody else, the way they treat their marriage, the way they work. 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:19.199 You shouldn't get your work ethic from looking around your workplace and seeing just how hard everybody else works and doing just enough to fit in to the status quo. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:34.959 No, Paul says, you then, because everybody else in Asia has abandoned me, you then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus and what you've heard from me in the presence of many witnesses and trust of faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:38.720 He says, hey, listen, let's acknowledge everybody else is doing this. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:46.879 And here's what I think he's saying to us what you and I really believe is most on display when everybody else is doing something else. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:57.040 What you and I really believe, not what we say, but what we really in our gut believe, is most on display when everybody else is doing something else. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:00.959 And that's why Paul speaks to Timothy and says, hey, listen, don't freak out. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:01.839 Don't lose your head. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:05.600 Don't look around and kind of go, hey, wait a minute. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:07.199 He says, you then. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:10.480 Second thing he says to him is this suffering can be expected. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:11.839 Suffering can be expected. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:13.439 It's verses 3 to 7. 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:14.480 Look at verse 3. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:18.319 He says, Share in suffering is a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:19.759 Share in suffering. 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:23.199 We always say to our kids, hey, you need to be nice, you need to share. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:30.160 The hardest thing, but one of the most necessary things, mom and dad, is to teach your kids that they're gonna have to suffer in this world. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:31.839 Let me say that again. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:40.639 One of the hardest things, but the most necessary things that you and I have to teach our children is that they are going to suffer in this world. 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:45.600 I remember years ago being at a birthday party or some kind of celebration with our kids in Madison. 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:54.639 There's a group of kids there, they're about two or three older years older than her, and she kind of wanted to fit in with them and run around and do stuff with them, and she would try to keep up, and they would just run off and leave her. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:06:09.040 And finally she looked back at me kind of like, and I called her over to me, and I said, Hey, sweetie, those girls probably should be nice and kind of include you in what they're doing, but they don't want to be, and dad can't make them because if I could, I'd take my belt off and whip every one of them right here at this party, okay? 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:10.560 For being brats. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:18.160 But you need to kind of feel what this feels like because it'll keep you from needing them to accept you so much when you get older. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:20.879 And by the way, she was nine when I said that to her. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:30.079 And people standing around were like awkward, because I had the conversation out loud with my outside voice. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.160 I didn't lean over and whisper in her ear, hey sweetie, those girls just aren't being sweet. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:37.439 You be extra sweet. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.839 No, you learn from their example, okay? 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:45.120 This is this stings a little bit, but this might be a really, really good thing. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:53.199 And so now that she's 14, I watch her in different settings and she kind of looks around and sees the kid that's kind of on the fringes and walks over and says, Hi, my name's Madison. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:55.680 Because she knows what that feels like. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:58.480 What everybody else is doing is not an excuse. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:06:59.920 It doesn't make it okay. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.519 Paul says, Hey, suffering can be expected. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:11.279 Our hardest but most necessary thing is for us to understand that our kids, he says, share in the suffering of Christ Jesus. 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:15.839 Now, there's two one thing I need to do, I need to distinguish between consequences and suffering. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:19.839 Because people come to see me for counsel and they say, Well, you know, Pastor, I'm really suffering. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:23.360 You know, I did this, and I'm and and and some things happen. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:27.920 And here's the here's the simplest way to distinguish between consequences and suffering. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:34.639 If you and I sin and bad things happen as a result of our sin, that's not suffering, that's consequence. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:36.720 Do you hear that? 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:40.319 Suffering is, now stay with me. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:51.040 Suffering is sometimes you're gonna be in situations and you're gonna do nothing wrong, and a good and loving, sovereign God is gonna alter circumstances to where you and I endure hardship. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:57.279 I'll just check and see if you're still out there. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:59.360 Because that first part it was, amen, amen. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:04.639 Second time, crickets, hello, hello, this mic on, check one, two, one, two. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:06.399 Yes, let me say it again. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:17.199 And you're not doing anything wrong, and I'll prove it to you in the Bible in just a minute because you say that in America, and people are kind of like, eh, no, I come to church to get in good with God so I don't endure hardship. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:17.920 No, no, no. 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:21.759 The better you get in with God, the more he's gonna trust you to suffer. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:26.079 You're like, pinch the baby, we're going. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:26.959 Come on. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:29.839 I don't care if there's not a football game on, we're going. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:31.680 You say, What do you mean? 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:32.240 Look there. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.840 Verse 3, share in suffering is a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:43.519 And then Paul gives these three analogies to kind of the three word pictures to help you and I understand and share in suffering. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:50.559 Verse 4, he says, no soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:55.039 Don't get bogged down, he says, in these civilian pursuits, in these earthly matters. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:56.320 Don't get caught up in that. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:09:01.440 Verse 5, he says, an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:07.919 Verse 6, it is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:12.399 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:15.360 I don't have time to preach about this this morning, but let me just say it. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:21.519 Probably at least twice a week, you need to just carve out 15 minutes and think about your life and how it's being lived. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:23.279 Because Paul says a lot right there. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:26.879 He says, hey, you gotta be like a soldier, you've got to be like an athlete, you gotta be like a farmer. 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:30.639 And then he says, think about these things and God will make it make sense. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:35.120 One of the things I want you to do this week is I want you two different times to carve out 15 minutes. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.440 Set the timer on your iPhone, whatever you gotta do. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:45.360 And for 15 minutes, just think about your life, think about your marriage, think about your job, think about your summer vacation plans, whatever you're going to do. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:49.279 Think about your relationship with your kid that most needs your attention right now. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:53.120 Whatever, but for 15 minutes, just think about one thing. 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:54.799 Just sustain a thought. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:56.799 Paul says, think about these things. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:05.039 And when Timothy thinks about this analogy of this, you know, the this uh the soldier and the athlete and the farmer, it's like Paul saying three things. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.360 He's saying, first of all, stay focused. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.120 Stay focused. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:12.320 Hey, don't get entangled in civilian affairs. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.440 Be a good soldier of Christ Jesus, stay focused. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:18.000 He talks about the athlete, he's saying, stay obedient. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:22.240 He says, no, an athlete competes, he doesn't win unless he competes according to the rules. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:27.200 And here's the statement that may sound a little too big today, but I'm gonna say it because I believe it. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:34.080 One of the rules of Christianity is that we all get to participate, we all get to share in the suffering of Christ Jesus. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:36.159 You don't get exempt from that. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:46.399 Now, there's a lot of churches you can go to and they'll say, Oh, if you do the right things, if you give money to the church and you do good stuff and you help an old lady across the street, nothing bad's gonna happen to you. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:11:00.720 If you believe that, the hardest day of your life to reconcile your faith, quote unquote, which is really just preference with what the Bible teaches and what's really real, is the day when you do all the good things and bad things happen. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:08.159 Because then you're the person who has this low-grade, smoldering anger that won't go away inside of you. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.480 Paul says to Timothy, hey, stay focused. 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:14.799 Secondly, he says, Hey, stay obedient, compete according to the rules. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.879 Thirdly, he says, stay at it. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:22.159 It's the hardworking farmer who deserves the first share of the crops. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:29.279 It's the hardworking farm, stay at it, stay at it, stay at your marriage, stay at your relationship with your kids. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:32.480 Hey, when they're 14, they're not raised, okay? 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.919 They're not grown. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:38.799 Mine said the other day, just two more years, and I get a vehicle and I won't need you that much, dad. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:43.200 Come here, you stupid little child, let me whip you right now. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:49.759 And in that same conversation, she goes, Hey, at what age did you get too old for your dad to whip you? 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:55.039 I'm 47, and I go back to my see my dad, he still has the capacity to whip me. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:57.200 He's a bad man. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:09.360 She said, Well, mom said that every once in a while when you were growing up on your farm that Papa would unsnap his shirt because he wore those Wrangler denim, pearl snap, denim work shirts. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:13.759 He just unsnap that bad boy and drop it and go, You know, you boys want to run this farm? 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:17.120 And what he was saying was, You want a piece of your old man? 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:22.320 And I remember one day my brother kind of stood up and said, I think I can take you. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:28.240 I remember sitting there on my chair thinking, I wish I had popcorn. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:32.000 But it was a short movie that day. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:36.000 You ever seen a rock skip across a pond? 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.840 That was my brother's butt on the floor. 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:43.200 And my dad looked at me and said, You other two feeling that way? 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:46.559 No, sir. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:47.840 No, sir. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.960 Put your shirt back on. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:51.200 Put her shirt back on and said, You all right, son? 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.600 And my brother's like, Yeah, I'm fine. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.120 We went back to work. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.240 Not another word was said until that night. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.200 We were in our bunk beds. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:02.480 Me and my brother shared the bottom bunk, and my older brother's on the top. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:05.679 My brother leaned out and said, How's your face? 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:10.159 And from upstairs, my brother said, Shut up. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:14.399 Hey, you had a hard working for you. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.279 You just gotta stay at it. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:17.759 I said, I said, I'll always be your dad, babe. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:20.720 You're not grown at 14, you won't be grown at 16. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.080 Stay at it with your kids. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.440 Don't give up on them. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.559 Don't give up. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:26.639 Because they're gonna still need you when they're 22. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:30.159 And when they're 30, and when they're 47, they're still gonna need you. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.600 Stay at it. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.960 That's what he's saying. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:34.240 You just keep staying at it. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:38.399 Hey, they gotta, you're not responsible for them, you're a resource for them. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.080 You hear the difference? 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.679 You're not responsible for them. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:44.000 You shouldn't be paying their bills when they're 28. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.159 But you're a resource. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.320 And by the way, when I say you're a resource, I don't mean money. 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:53.759 Because your kids are like, I'm glad we're here today. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:56.159 The preacher said, You're a resource for me. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:00.320 We're not an ATM machine with feet, boys and girls. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:08.879 See, because just in the just because we're like a hardworking farmer, we're staying at it. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:10.480 You need to stay at it. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:14.639 This kid, this week I spoke at a men's retreat Friday and Saturday, and this kid's engaged. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.600 He goes, You got any advice for an engaged guy? 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:22.480 Silly rabbit tricks are for kids. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.600 And I told him, I said, Yeah. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:36.799 I said, you know, the Bible says, you know, in biblical times, when a person got married, a man was betrothed to a woman, kind of like being engaged, and then the man had to go and build a house and have a job. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.919 Crazy. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:42.320 You couldn't get married just because you couldn't stop sleeping together and live in your parents' basement. 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:47.519 You had to get a get build a place for them to stay, and then you'd come in the middle of the night and you would get her. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:52.399 You and your groomsmen would be like warring uh soldiers with fiery torches. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:15:02.240 That's why in the in the book of Song of Solomon it says that Solomon comes to get his wife, Shulamith, and he's got these 60 warriors with torches, each of them with a sword. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.440 Can you imagine, ladies? 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:04.399 Don't you want to be? 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:13.200 You ought to sit in high school class and just envision your husband coming for you, walking through your neighborhood, surrounded by fiery torches being carried on a sedan chair. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:27.440 And look at your friends that are they're living with their parents because you had to have a job, and he would come and get you, and he'd take you back to this place that he's worked hard and built with his own hands. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:38.639 It wasn't built in babysitting because you, you and your boyfriend got married and had a baby, and you're gonna get mom and dad to watch the baby while y'all go out and live your little irresponsible life. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.759 Oh no. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.480 Uh oh, we're hitting a cord here now. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:43.279 I can feel you. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:46.559 I can feel you trying to get away from me, but I got you. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.519 I ain't letting you go. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:49.919 I'm not mad at you, I'm just telling you. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.440 Hey, that's the way it's supposed to be. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:58.080 Men, God, young men, if you're single in this room, you should not think about asking a woman to marry you just because you want to sleep with her. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:02.320 You ask her to marry you because you're gonna prepare a place for her and come get her. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:08.240 That's what Jesus is talking about in John 14 when he says, if I go, I go to prepare a place for you, so that where I am, you may be also. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:10.879 And if I go, I'll come and receive you unto myself. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.240 Single men, look at me. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:16.320 Don't receive a woman unto yourself unless until you got a place to take her to. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.799 Because everybody wants to get married. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:24.159 Because you're thinking with the wrong part of your body. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:29.039 How about that for a Sunday morning? 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:33.120 I see y'all looking kind of like the visitors are kind of like. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:37.120 I'll tell you what. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:40.320 This boy needs decaf. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:54.320 No, I'm just trying to save you from having to come to me and say, when you're 23 and your sorry, lazy boyfriend who you married leaves you because he doesn't want to work hard like a hardworking farmer. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.679 Require boys to be men before you marry them, ladies. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.240 Because just marrying them ain't gonna make them men. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.559 It's just not. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.599 I'm asking the Holy Spirit if I got more on this. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.799 I don't think I do. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.680 I just had to pause. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.759 I was like, Lord, are we done there? 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.279 Yeah, I think we're done. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.960 Uh let me just say this. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.960 I just listened to the voices. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.480 I was like, I got a little excited there. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.400 I didn't simmer back down a little bit. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:31.359 Uh hey, he says, hey, suffering can be expected. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:36.000 Let me say, if you got your Bible, turn to the left to the to the book of Acts, Acts chapter 5. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.000 I'm gonna read a long passage of scripture. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:39.200 Is that okay with you? 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:43.920 Uh because I because I love the Bible and and I want you to see this. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:52.240 Uh, when I say suffering uh can be expected, suffering is what helped establish the church, and it's one of the things that's gonna distinguish the church in this day and age. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:18:00.160 Suffering is what established the church in the book of Acts, and it's one of the things that's gonna distinguish the church, and I don't mean building, I mean people. 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.599 You say, what do you mean? 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:04.559 Look, if you would, in uh uh Acts chapter 5. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:05.920 I'll start reading verse 17. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:11.359 Now, so far in the book of Acts, they've had Pentecost, the church is kind of born, 5,000 people come to faith in Christ. 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:15.039 Peter and John get arrested because they're doing things that religious people can't. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:19.200 You know that just being religious doesn't mean you have a relationship with Jesus. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:23.759 It's just religious people that were just a bunch of idiots, just kind of like politicians. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:28.079 They would just lie and cheat and they loved money, and the people were sick of them. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:32.319 So when authentic men of God showed up, the people were like tearing their clothes off. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:35.200 It was like being at a Who concert in 1979. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.960 They would go crazy. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.079 Anybody? 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:38.880 Anybody? 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:48.160 By the way, pray for your pastor because some dear member said, Oh, I got passes to the rodeo, so if you and your family want to go to a concert, uh we you you can go to any concert you want. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:52.079 And then they slipped and said, Kid Rock's gonna be there. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:55.359 Oh, sweet home Alabama, all night long. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.720 Are you kidding me? 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.599 Ba de bada bom da bom dide did. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:04.319 But my wife said no. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:10.559 She goes, I just think the redneck and you would take over. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:15.759 Somebody's gotta share Jesus with Bobby. 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:18.160 That's his real name, by the way. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:20.160 Kid Rock's real name is Bobby. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:24.480 And she goes, because I know you know a lot of the words to his songs. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:28.000 Oh, yeah, because I'm a cowboy, baby. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:35.680 Ananias, and you say, Why did I tell you that? 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.640 Because Jesus showed up. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.599 It was like, I mean, the disciples showed up, it's like Kid Rock. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:42.720 They're used to listening to Luciano Pavarotti. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.519 Ho, ho, ho. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:48.480 And he rolled in with a lime green fur coat on on a motorcycle. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:55.680 With a little bearded lady and the fire-eating midget, and people are like, What? 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:58.480 There's a little guy in the oven. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.920 What's going on here? 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:02.480 Acts chapter 5, verse 17. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:04.079 It says, But the high priest rose up. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.759 Look at, see, these are religious people. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:14.640 They rose up, and all who were with them, that is the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy, they arrested the apostles and put them in public prison. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:19.039 Religious people can never do what people with a relationship were commissioned to do. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.720 They put them in public prison. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:30.400 Verse 19, but during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:34.240 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:36.000 Notice that life is capitalized. 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.519 I ain't got time for that right now. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:46.160 But now when the high priest came and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the synod of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:49.440 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:57.200 So they returned and reported, We found the prison securely locked, and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:06.480 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priest heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what would what uh what this would come to. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:12.240 And someone came and told them, Look, the men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:18.720 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:31.599 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet you're here, you filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:35.599 But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:39.839 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:52.400 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins, and we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:55.759 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:22:04.720 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, Held up in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:08.799 And he said to them, Men of Israel, take care that what you're about to do to these men. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:15.519 For before these days Thadius rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:20.079 He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:25.599 After him, Judas and the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:29.359 He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.920 By the way, don't have time to preach this, but he's making a point about the resurrection. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.559 Verse 38. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:40.400 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:44.079 For if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:47.279 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:49.680 You might even be found opposing God. 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:53.680 So they took his advice, and when they called the apostles, they beat them. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:02.720 They beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:08.640 And they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:14.559 And every day in the temple and from house to house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus is the Christ. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:18.880 If beating these people would have worked, there'd only be five chapters in Acts. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:23.279 See, they don't know what to do with these people. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:23.839 Why? 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.839 Because they knew suffering can be expected. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:28.240 They've already warned them, by the way, back in chapter four. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:30.079 You guys quit it out right now. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.440 I'm going to count to three. 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.799 One, two. 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:41.279 They told them in chapter three, by the way, we recognize you're ignorant and uneducated men, but you've been with Jesus. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.000 See, being with Jesus prepares you. 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:45.440 Suffering can be expected. 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.599 Third thing he tells us, we're back in 2 Timothy. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.400 Are you still with me? 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:50.160 Can I just ask a practical question? 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.680 Is it cold in here to y'all? 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.319 No. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:56.559 All the women are like, uh-huh. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.160 No, it's not. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:00.799 I'm just checking because some of you are like, eh. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:04.799 Anyway, Lance will turn it off if it gets too cold, or somebody will. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:07.119 Thirdly, a big gospel is required. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.640 How do you escape? 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:10.400 How do you violate the status quo? 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.599 Well, you need a big gospel. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:14.160 Look at verse 8 of 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.640 He says, remember Jesus Christ. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:19.200 Who forgets Jesus? 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:21.279 Hello? 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:24.720 Remember Jesus Christ. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:38.559 Not only do I tell you you got to be a good soldier, you got to be an athlete, and you got to be like a hardworking farmer, you got to remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David as preached in my gospel for which I am suffering. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:44.160 See, a big gospel when he says remember Jesus, you say, Well, who forgets Jesus? 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.119 We do. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:48.960 I got two, I got an email and a text message this week. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:51.759 Somebody say, hey, this church in your city that's in the paper. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:55.119 They're in the Houston paper, they're in the Dallas paper, they're probably all over. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:57.119 They're really creative and blah, blah, blah. 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.720 And I just said the same thing I say. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:04.559 Anytime somebody tells me a church is getting notoriety, I say, is there any mention of Jesus? 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.200 No. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:07.680 No, they're giving out tattoos. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.119 That's news. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:17.839 If the only if the best thing we have to offer the world is that you can come get tattooed on a Sunday morning, and I'm not against that. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.400 We're going to have a booth next week right over here. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:24.640 I'm going to get a big eagle on my back. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:27.519 No, and I'm not against that church. 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:30.400 If you read the article, I'm not like, new that. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:37.359 I just think here, the church is willing to let the newspaper talk about us and never talk about Jesus. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:47.279 The church is willing to say, notice us and what we've done lately, instead of saying, Oh, by the way, the best thing about us is Jesus. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:53.279 Remember, that's why Paul says, remember Jesus, because we so easily forget. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:57.039 And then he speaks of Jesus in weird terms. 00:25:57.119 --> 00:26:00.640 Remember, I stopped a minute ago and said, he's making a point about the resurrection. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:04.559 He said, all these people thought they were something, but they died and everybody went away. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:07.359 Jesus died and the world was changed. 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:10.960 We've got to talk about the resurrection somewhere besides Easter. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:12.720 He says, remember Jesus. 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.839 And then he says two things. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:19.200 He says, verse 8, he says, risen from the dead, and the off, secondly, the offspring of David. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.960 Why is that such a big deal? 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:25.119 Look back in chapter 1, if you would, at verse 8 of 2 Timothy. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.759 Look what he says. 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:44.240 He says, Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.759 Look at verse 10. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:55.759 And which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:57.680 Who abolished death. 00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:59.519 How did he abolish death? 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:01.519 Not just by dying on the cross. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:04.160 Because if he just died on the cross, he didn't abolish death. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.759 He participated in death. 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:10.480 He abolished death when he rose from the dead, just like he said he would. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:15.279 That's why the Bible says crazy things like, oh, death, where's your sting? 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:19.039 Death no longer has a hold on us. 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:28.480 That's why if you go to some churches in the country that are little wooden clapboard painted white churches, they sing songs like, Ain't no grave gonna hold this body down. 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:29.920