2nd year Term 4 2 Week 2

0:05 the children manners now what Let's pray as we get into the word of God tonight. Father, thank you for the word of God. Father, we're excited. Say, "Father, I'm excited about your word. I'm excited about your deliverance. I'm excited about the breakthrough that you have for my life. Open my mind. Open my heart. Open my understanding that I would see out of your word what you want me to see in Jesus' name. Amen. Psalm 119 verse number 18 says this, "Open my eyes that I may be able to see wondrous things

0:52 out of your word." Tonight, I want to talk to you about something that will help you to not only make decisions and to really go places in your life. It brings changes with you. I was just on the phone with someone on the way over to church tonight and we were talking about that what's happening in in the church world by and large is that at best what we're doing is that we're now beginning to take the place of parents and being able to teach the children manners. And in teaching the children manners now what we do is we call that spirituality. Please remember that manners and spirituality are two different things, but yet at the same

1:39 time without manners it will it will not necessarily a person will not necessarily be able to enter the spirituality that they need. And so tonight I want to talk to you about the ingredients that make up excellence inside of our lives. Rarely, I mean it almost seems like it's one of those subjects that you talk about all the time and so you don't really ever want to talk about it at all. But I want to talk to you about this tonight because I believe it's going to make a difference in your life. What I want to do is I want to address an idea. I want to address the opportunity or the idea of walking in excellence while at the same time what you're doing is that you're facing great mediocrity.

2:26 How in the world do I walk in excellence while at the same time that I'm mediocre? Well, one of the things that I learned about you know, unless you suit up for the game and unless you go to the game, you can't win. Unless you prepare to be able to take that class and to take that exam, you'll never pass it. There are things that you've got to do in order to be able to be ready for the next stage in your life. It's like somebody said, "Well, you know, I what I want to do is I want to be the CEO of this corporation." Well, first you've got to be able to get a job there. The second thing that you need to do is you need to be able to make sure that

3:12 you are the best maintenance person that they have. After you're the best maintenance person, then what you need to do is that you need to make sure that you are the best person in the mailroom. After you're the best person in the mailroom, then what you need to do is you need to be the best clerk. After you're the best clerk, then you go from the best clerk and maybe you get a job working on the sales staff and then you you need to be able to ascend through that area and become the best salesperson on that sales staff that could be that could have ever been at that company. Then, somehow, some way you found your way through that.

3:58 Someone recognized how you're walking in the excellence of life, and you've come to a place to where people are beginning to to ask you to be or considered to be in management. After you considered to be in management, then what they want you to do is that they want you to actually consider being a a supervisor in a department. From that supervisor in a department, what you do is you become a manager. From that manager, all of a sudden, what happens is is that the person that you thought was going to be there forever now has retired unexpectedly and by surprise, and the lot has now fallen to you. Winston Churchill said from the time that he was 11 years old, he said that

4:43 there will be a day there will be a day when the British Empire is in need of being set free. They will have a need because of a crisis. And I will be the person that will see them delivered. From the time that he was 11 years old. So, how do we get to that place where what we do is that we go through all of these different things? So, now how do we continue to fight because when the bell rings at the end of the game, how do we continue to fight that at the end we'll be on top? I want to give you just six things that I think will be helpful to

5:28 you, things that I found to be helpful to me in in different areas of my life. The first thing is determination. And what I found was this is that a life of excellence just use the word excellence with the idea that excellence really talks about a person who is progressing and becoming better at doing what they do every day. So, a life or a of excellence is achieved only by those who are willing to fight for it. They're willing to fight for it. I'm willing to fight for it. The reason why that some of you in this room, and I know you well enough to say this, the only reason why that you were

6:14 able to be able to get the job that you have right now was because of the excellence that you walked in when you wanted to walk in it. Sometimes what happens is that people don't really think about it after they achieve what they think that they should. But, it's continuing to fight for excellence at every turn in your life. I want to continue to excel. In 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse number 24, the Apostle Paul writing and he says, "Does not everyone in a race don't they all run?" He said, "And only one receives the prize?" He said, "Run in such a way

7:00 that you'll be the one who attains it." It's funny people talk about that as Christians we don't really need to have any type of competition. But, what does this say? He says, "Doesn't everyone in a race, all of them run, but only one receives the prize?" That means that there were other people that were running and you actually by a goal that you had determined that you were going to come out on top. Now, people don't want to talk about that, but that's absolutely the truth. You run in such a way that you may obtain it. Our next scripture that we have there, let's take a look at that. In 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse number 12, it says, "Fight the good fight of faith." Fight the good fight of faith. Now, we

7:45 know and this needs to be at the root of our lives. This particular verse, I want you to see everything from this particular verse. In the book of Romans chapter 4 verse number 16, the Bible says "Therefore it is of faith that it might be by what? Grace. It is of faith that it might be by It is of what? That it might be by You see, understand this that it is of faith that it might be by grace. You mean to tell me that the grace of God is what I'm fighting for?

8:30 I thought that the grace of God comes on your life just because. Well, no, it doesn't. It is of faith. It's not a I didn't work for it. I didn't earn it. I can't I don't deserve it. It's not anything that I could ever achieve on my own. He said, "Now, fight for that." Fight the good fight of faith. He said, "Lay hold on eternal life where into you are also called." He said, "And what you did was you continued to tell everyone how that God has delivered you. You made this You made this confession in front of many witnesses. Psalm 107 verse number two, a scripture that we use. The The Bible

9:16 tells us interestingly enough, he said this. He said, "Now, let the redeemed of the Lord say what?" Let them say what? Let them tell people. Let them declare to others. Let them say what God has done for them and then let others talk about what you have done. But first, you talk about what God has done, and you let others talk about what you have done. Don't ever get to a place where you talk about what you have done. You only talk about what God has done. First Corinthians chapter 1 verse number 31, the Bible says this. It says, "And let him that glories glory only in the Lord." So it is a faith that it might be

10:04 by grace. Seven times in the book of Revelation, the Bible tells us this. Now, we're talking about determination. Seven times in the book of Revelation, Jesus said in in two chapters and seven times, he said this. He said, "To him who overcomes will I grant." To him who overcomes. Now, interestingly enough, what we want to do is we want to take to him who overcomes out of the equation. But it is of faith. You lay hold on eternal life. You fight the good fight of faith. I fight for this. This is who I am. My mind tells me something different. I'm

10:50 struggling with certain things. Yet at the same time, he said, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." Have you been purchased by Jesus? Has he paid the price for you? Has he actually paid the price for your body? Has he paid the price for your soul? Has he paid the price for your prosperity? And if he did, THEN TALK ABOUT IT. Stop thinking that you're the one that produced it because you didn't. What's really interesting uh for us as Christians is that we can't get to the place to where we get excited about what happens in our lives. Because whatever good that has ever happened was the Lord.

11:36 Jesus did it. That's the reason why it is of what? Faith that it might be by I didn't work for it. I didn't earn it. I didn't deserve this deserve any of that. Number two. Number two, the second thing I learned about excellence was this. Character. This is interesting. A compromise in character gives birth to a life of mediocrity. I was thinking this on my way here tonight. I was thinking that people are willing to accept anything in order to be accepted.

12:24 People accept in order to be accepted. They accept things in order to just be accepted. I just want to be accepted. And because I want to be accepted, then what I do is I just accept anything. We must never or or let's say it like this. We must We must never compromise the principles that we've come to live by. Here is what the word compromise just means. The word compromise means to trade it off. Don't trade your principles in order to be accepted. Never get yourself to that

13:10 place. Means to trade trade off or to sell out or don't come to terms with other issues so that you can be accepted. Don't make concessions to principle because those principles are not yours. If you're living by a principle that you have, it's like I find it interesting when people say, "Well, you know what? I'm just going to live by these standards." And I think to myself, "You're going to live by these stand- whose standards are those? Are they my standards? Or are they God's standards? If they're God's standards and they're

13:55 not mine, then hey, it's really simple for me to be able to deal with this cuz they're not my standards. They're God's standards. That's what makes life simple for me. The simplest part of my life is when God says something. If you ever want or if someone questions you about something that you let's say stand for. If someone questions you about it, the Bible first 1 Peter chapter 2 says that "Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within you with meekness and fear." Always be ready to do so. Always be ready to give an answer. Give an answer to people who ask you. And really, if there is a Let's say that

14:42 there is a person of standard or principles before you, and if you're kind of upset about their standards, ask them about them. Be curious about them. See, you know, why do you believe this? Why do you hold on to this? What is really important to you concerning this? Why do you stand for this? Because everyone has to have a reason for the hope that's within them. So, I have a reason for why I believe what I believe. I don't just believe what I believe cuz I think it's really fun. As a matter of fact, if I would have known I'm I'm sure glad God never Let me Let me say it like that. I'm sure glad God

15:27 never showed me the rejection that I would have to put up with. Because if I would have known I would have never stood for them. Neither would you. But doesn't it feel sometimes like what happens is is that God gets you into that place and then all of a sudden what he does is he shuts the door and it's almost like he chuckles at you. It's like now okay, you you you signed on. Now that you signed on, okay, we're going to have to deal with this thing all the way to the end now. You know, we got to put up with this. We've got to do this. And so here we have just a couple of things that have to do with character that I think are really kind of important to you. Here's what character is. Character is the values and principles that are

16:14 instilled within your life that govern your decisions. What governs my decisions? What is the reason why that I make the decisions that I make? Why do you make the decisions that you make? Do you make the decisions that you make based upon the culture in which you live in or do you make the decisions that you make based upon the biblical culture that God has called you to? Why do you make the decisions that you make? The next thing is this. It's that character is the mental and moral attributes that define who a person is. That's what character is. Character character is what is defined by the mental and the moral attributes that you

17:01 have. Those moral attributes are the most difficult things to ever tolerate and the reason why that those things are tolerate or difficult to tolerate is because in most cases many of us would never have made the decisions in in our character that we we have made if in fact that we knew that culture was going to move so far away from them. This is interesting. You know, when when we were growing up, when we were growing up, if a if a young lady in her

17:46 you know, in her in her teens, if she if she actually fell pregnant, if she fell pregnant, um then what would happen would be is that she would go and visit her Aunt Joan in Atlanta. Now, how many of you remember that? You remember that? That's what would happen. She'd go visit her Aunt Joan, and she would have the the baby, then she would come back, and she would have the baby with her when she came back. Now, uh and because because of the the culture where people really prized and celebrated celibacy before marriage.

18:35 They believed so deeply in the sanctity of marriage. I was talking to a fellow this morning here after after church, and and we were talking about him getting married. And you know what he's struggling with, girls? He's struggling with marrying anybody who's been with a number of partners. He doesn't want it. He doesn't want to wrestle with a ghost. >> Oops.

19:20 So, culturally culturally, the truth of the situation still remains. But, externally, what we do is that we actually say to society, "Society, you compromise the truth of your character in order to make the person who did that which will hurt them, that that did that thing that they did, we don't want to make them feel bad. So, what we're going to do is we are going to crucify your character in order to be able to make sure they don't feel bad while they continue to do those very things which will destroy them and destroy everyone else around them."

20:06 Now, is that the truth or not? >> That's the truth. >> All right. All right. I mean, that's So, here's this young fellow we're talking about being married, and he just says, "You know, I I don't mind Pastor, I don't want to do this." I said, "You got no issues with me. You want to know where you're going." So, just remember, and 65% of the church around the world is single. Many of them have been married before. But, one of the things like a guy gets married seven times, you know, or or something like that. A guy that gets married seven times, you got to hand it to him. I mean, he believes in it.

20:54 You know, I mean, he really believes in it. I mean, and some and some of you I love you so much, but let me help you. Some of you are way too picky. You're way too picky. Because if if the the person that you want to marry had the same standards for the person they wanted to marry as you did, would they marry you? Amen. Sometimes we just need a checkup from the neck >> up. >> See, good character refers to virtue,

21:40 self-discipline, and the honorable constitution that a person possesses. Character also denotes moral strength. In Proverbs chapter 10, verse number 9, the Bible says, "He that walks with integrity walks securely." Proverbs 11:3 says that the integrity of the upright the integrity, the moral strength of the upright will deliver them. Why is it they won't fold? Because they refuse to compromise. Refuse it. But you'll be taken to the brink. Character.

22:26 What is it that you want to produce in your life? Number three, the next thing that I found out about the ingredients that really make up the successful Christian is this, it's self-control. Now, here's a trick. Don't keep lowering the standards so that everyone possesses self-control. You can't keep lowering standards so that everybody looks like they're good. Because remember, you and I were never were never ever ever given the right to determine the standards.

23:12 Somebody said, "Well, you know, we're not under the law." You know, I I um I understand that. But let me ask you. Which person would you trust? Would you trust the person who you knew inside their life, they never needed to say it to you, but you knew that that was an individual who was actually they had the reins on their life internally? Or would you actually trust a person that at every turn they just compromised? Which one would you trust? So, why would we think that God was any different?

23:57 Now, I'm not talking about forgiveness at all. I'm not talking about forgiveness. That's the reason why that you see people coming out of the church world now that are that are greatly part of the pop culture, and they can become successful in the pop culture, but they can't become successful in the world because they're not being taught strong business principles. They're not actually being a person that will not break their word based upon their relationship with God, but they know they're not going to go out there and commit adultery because of their relationship with God. A number of years ago, it was kind of interesting, but a number of years ago,

24:44 um I was actually accused of committing adultery a number of years ago, and I I remember Linda and I lived in the um last house that we lived in. We lived there in and um it was pretty interesting because you know when somebody says that when someone says you're committing adultery but they never produce the person that you are supposedly committing adultery with, the problem that you have with that is that everything is a rumor. And and rumors are as bad or actually even worse than truth because if you've got a guy that commits adultery, he can always be forgiven. But if you got a guy who says he never did and you can't produce the person, people still think that he

25:29 did it. So I just remember we were sitting there one night and and um actually we weren't we were we were going to sleep. And Linda said, I know that you didn't commit adultery. She said, and it's not because of me. She said, your relationship with God would not allow you to. Ladies, that's the guy you want. You don't want the guy who won't commit adultery cuz you're such a fox. That is not what you want. You want the guy that won't because have you looked in the mirror? As each and every day you go from fox to

26:14 fa to Stuff is happening in there. It's so funny how people want to race how kids are really looking so forward to being able to get their driver's license. But then after they get to be about 28 29, they're starting to hit the big three they call it the big three-oh big three-oh. Are you kidding me? That was a That was That wasn't a big three-oh. That was a You know, it was a It was just a It's but after that what they start trying to do is start to put on the brakes of something.

27:00 They don't. They're trying to stop things. And so ladies, you don't want a man that doesn't commit adultery because of you, although it fulfills a particular need with you. You want a man that is faithful because of his relationship with God. Because then you never have to go I don't think he I don't think he loves me cuz I'm fat. How many of you ever saw that movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? You remember when Kate Hudson said that? She They're sitting at this this vegan restaurant and as they're sitting in this vegan restaurant, she turns around and she says to the waitress cuz she's trying to

27:46 lose this guy, right? So she is She says to this guy, she goes, "My boyfriend thinks I'm fat." And once you put out there that your boyfriend thinks that you're fat, it's out there. Because there isn't one girl here even if she's 15 lb underweight who thinks that she's not fat. We live in a culture that teaches you that you're chubby. Well, let's just say you're fluffy. How's that? You're just fluffy You're fluffy.

28:33 That's what you are. You're fluffy. Number three, self-control. In the book of In order to achieve the future that you aspire, I thought I'd make this rhyme just for you guys. In order to achieve the future you aspire, you must be willing to walk away from the present that you desire. I cannot achieve the future I aspire to unless I'm willing to give up the things that I desire right now. In Judges chapter 14, it gives us the story of Samson. He came back and he told his parents. He said, "The I went down to Timnah." His father goes, "What in the world are you doing down there? Don't go there."

29:22 Don't go there. Don't do that. Why? Because once you go down there, there's going to be stuff that you desire from there. Don't go there. Just don't do it. No, no, I would never do that. No, that's not true. You need to understand who you're not. Don't think that you are something, Adam. If we really were who we thought that we were, Adam never would have had the problem. Isn't that true? He never would have had the problem. So, that's number three.

30:09 Number four. Sound thinking. I found that if I was ever going to achieve anything, it was going to be sound thinking. I was going to have to think correctly, and that was a big thing for me. Here's our principle. It is in the arena of thought where excellence or mediocrity becomes our way of life. I've noticed this >> [clears throat] >> and and I um I understand that everyone in life is passing by the grandstands of in the body of Christ. Everyone passes by the grandstands. You come you're on your way up or you actually

30:54 you're on your way out. You don't You're either on your way up or you're on your way out. It doesn't It just happens. It's the same thing in in in life. You always have to prepare for either being on your way up or being on your way out in everything that you do. You know it You really takes all of those kinds of of thoughts. And I found out there this and and I've already determined this for me. I can't tell you about anybody else, but I can tell you about myself. And that is that I never want to be unfaithful to God. And I never want to be unfaithful to you. I won't be unfaithful to my wife, to my family.

31:39 I won't be unfaithful. You might not like me, but you can rest assured that I won't be unfaithful to you. See, I can handle someone like that. I can handle someone I don't like as long as I know they're not lying. Because if a guy's a jerk, at least he's an honest one. He's an honest jerk. I'll be an honest jerk in people's eyes. But I found out that as time goes on, stru- the the ways that people move begin to split.

32:27 One person goes the route that Jesus went. The other person goes the way that the Pharisees went. Now, here's the understanding that you need to realize about this. Cuz a lot of times people, when they talk about Pharisees, are really talking about people that were word bound. People think that they're a word bound. So, they think that, you know, that's what the Pharisees did. But, on the contrary, what really what it was was that there was a day that the Pharisees and the Sadducees actually gave up believing God. They still had

33:14 They still had all of the ornaments on the Christmas tree. The only problem was was that the Christmas tree was cut down. But, they still had the ornaments. I still believe God. I still think that I need to go to go to temple. I still think I need to do all this. I still think I need to do all that. And, that's really what happens. Is that people go through their life. They come to a place. Remember, you're either going up or you're going out. You're one or the other. And, what happens in the lives of individuals, and this is where continual consecration and dedication to that which is written is imperative to the life of the believer. Because

34:00 because friends because what happens is is that there will be a day when you will choose to embrace mediocrity or you will choose having a smaller audience. Happens on your job. Happens with your wife. Happens with your husband, with your kids, with your friends. You have a smaller audience all the time. Do you understand that? The more that you go on, if you won't compromise, you don't need to be a a a stooge when you don't compromise. You just need to be a person who

34:45 swears to his own hurt and he doesn't change. Psalm 15 tells us that that's the righteous man in God's eyes. That guy who will swear to his own hurt, but he will change not. He's not going to change. Now, Job had a problem. Here was Job's problem. Because people misunderstand him. Job's issues was not the fact that Job did not learn character. Job had it together in the arena of character. He had it together in external righteousness. Those were all of the things that Job got while he was

35:30 believing God. But Job got to the place to where he stopped believing God and started getting into fear about losing everything that he had. When he got into fear about losing everything that he had, all of a sudden, he still had everything externally that looked right, but the problem was was that inside things weren't right. And so when evil came to finally test him or to tempt him off of things. In God's testing, God said to him, he says, "Were you there when I made the serpent? Were you there when I wrote the ABCs? Were you there when I brought all the animals? Were you there? Were Were you there, Job?" He

36:17 goes, "Up until now, I just heard about you with the hearing of my ears, but now my eyes see you. I know you now. I know who you are. You don't change. You never changed even when I felt forsaken. You never changed when I thought that I had lost it all. You never changed You never changed the way you looked at me when all of my external blessings were gone, but you still remained and you are the only thing that I want. You're the only one that I need. You are all that and then all of a sudden Job starts praying for his friends and the Bible says that God doubled everything he had. Now, what happens in the life of the believer is this.

37:02 Is that you start off in a life of faith. And as you start off in this life of faith, all of a sudden what happens is you get to the point to where things begin a little bit to be too difficult. You don't want to be rejected by anybody. You still want to be cool. And so because of that, what it is is that you give up your faith in God. And how you do it is you just start You read the Bible and yet at the same time it's not anything except God's speaking to you about your blessings. He's not talking to you anymore about your sacrifice. He's not talking to you anymore about the cross.

37:49 All it is is he's talking to you about the resurrection. And then you discover grace. And when you discover grace, now you are down a road that you will you probably will not be able to return from. That happened to Job. It happens to Christians. Why? Because when In John chapter 6, when Jesus actually had now entered not only his third year, but he was almost finished with his ministry. Please remember, Jesus went up and then he went out. That's what happened to him.

38:35 He went up and went out. How did he do it? He came to the disciples. There were 500 and 12 people that were still following him and John chapter 6. Jesus turns to them and says, "Unless you eat my flesh and you drink my blood, you have no part with me." And the Bible says that 500 people left him. There were 12 left and Jesus said, "Are you going to go, too?" And they said, "Where are we going to go?

39:20 You know, we we sold our boats. That's that's gone. And plus at the same time, you have actually brought us into a life that we never would have had if in fact that we never even walked with you in the beginning. We we now are enjoying a whole bunch more than we could have ever enjoyed on our own and that's what happens to people. And so people begin to turn to a place to where what they want to do is that they want to hold on to what they've got instead of hold instead of holding on to the one who gave it to them. So, in the arena of thought, that's where excellence or mediocrity becomes a person's choice in the way of life. Number five. Number five.

40:06 Positive relationships. This is the downfall. Who in your life is taking you up? I already know who's taking you down. Who's taking you up? I already know the ones that are burning up your money. I already know that. What I want to know is what are you doing in order to be able to get where you can replace it.

40:51 That's what's important. Can you replace it? How much time are you spending there? Because that's where your kids will go. Your kids will go Your kids will go to the level of where your friends are financially. Where your friends financially. Your kids begin to think that that's the way that they deserve to live life with the people that you know. Not even with you. With whom you know. Who do you know? Who do you know? That's where they begin to think that they are. Now, with that is that I can accurately predict the man's future if you can show me where he spends his time. All the time. Now, people love this kind of stuff

41:38 in the in the secular arena. They love this stuff man. They eat it up. They talk about relationships all the time. Now, Christians are the opposite to that. They believe They believe that compassion must be greater than obedience. Never believe that compassion is greater than obedience. To obey is better than sacrifice. And to heed than the fat of rams. So, remember that. Remember that the people that you're with are all taking you somewhere. Some you can't even get rid of when you want to.

42:27 You can't get rid of them. It's like they're Siamese twins. They want to kind of join at the hip. They you you can't you cannot discard them because they need your help. And so, what you want to do is you want to help them. Now, what you need to know is that you need to be spending enough time somewhere else to be able to to have people who have compassion on you. So, you can go somewhere. But, they might just say to you something like you know, are you really sure that you haven't deposited enough in that relationship yet? And then, you'll make that decision. Cuz remember, anyone that you get with can see things better than you can. They see things.

43:13 There are times when someone speaks to me, even recently, to where I have nothing to say in response. But, I'm like a deaf man that does not hear. And like a mute that does not open his mouth. Thus, I'm like a man who does not hear and in whose mouth is no response. Psalm 38:14. Now, with that, notice know this that this is really really really important. You cannot go any higher than your relationships.

43:58 There is a lid that's placed upon you with the people that you know. You cannot be given any new business opportunities unless what you do is that you're you're actually with someone who knows how to give them to you. Unless you're there with an individual who can really care about what happens to you. John 15:14, take a look at this verse. It says this, and then he said, "You're my friends." Jesus said this. This is what's so funny. Jesus said that you are my friends if you do those things which I've commanded to you. And then lastly, number six is this.

44:44 Number six consistent sowing being consistent in your sowing. Consistent in my sowing. I want to encourage you guys about this. About being consistent in the things that you sow. Be consistent all the time. The seeds that you plant today are no less than the undeveloped photos in your future scrapbook. What you plant today is undeveloped. It's not underdeveloped. It's undeveloped. That's where consistency comes in.

45:30 If you were developing some photos in a darkroom and you open the door and you shut the door and you open the door and you shut the door guess what would happen? They would be under developed. If what happens is that you don't have consistency in your life and in what you do you can never expect to develop those things which God wants for your future. Let's bow our heads and pray. Father, thank you that for our time together today. Father, you are so good to us. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Say this after me. In the name of Jesus. >> In the name of Jesus. >> Father, thank you for your word.

46:15 >> Father, thank you for your >> I'm so grateful >> for your word. >> The entrance of your word >> gives me light. >> It brings me understanding. >> Thank you, Lord Jesus. >> understanding >> for understanding >> of the word of God. >> In Jesus' name. >> Amen. Amen.

47:37 >> All right, good evening, everybody. I trust that you are all doing well. Just want to get my notes in front of me. I did post the 13 letters of Paul's writings. And if I can just ask Pastor Jacques to put my sound a bit lower in the lounge. I can hear myself. All right. So, this evening, I just want to get to where we stopped off last week. I hope that you have your Bibles with you because I am definitely going to let we we voted on the pirates, right? I we didn't vote if it was male or female.

48:24 Um so, I think we'll do male for this week. And I'm going to play Ephesians chapter 4 until chapter 6 and then Philippians chapter 1 and chapter 2. I'm just using the singing Bible cuz it's humorous. But, here's what I want you to do. Please do not sit back and just be entertained by the fun voice that's reading. It's I want you actually to pay attention and to take out because I am going to ask you um you know, what you took out of that specific piece. All right. So, let's go chapter by chapter. I'm going to pick up like I said, I just want to make my notes in front of me. I'm going to pick up in Ephesians chapter 4 first. And I'm going to get ready to share my

49:10 screen in just a minute. All right. I think I'm going to do it collectively 4 5 and 6. So, write in your notes that scripture that when I ask you, you can just reflect on it and tell me. So, as something strikes up or just touches your heart a little bit or speaks to you, then I want you just to write down those verses. So, Ephesians chapter 4 to chapter 6, here we go.

49:57 >> As a prisoner in the Lord then I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received with all humility and gentleness [music] with patience bearing with one another in love and with diligence to preserve the unity [music] of the spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit just as you were called to one hope [music] when you [singing] were called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Now to each one of us grace has been given [music] according to the measure of the gift of Christ. This is why it says when he

50:44 ascended on high he led captives away and gave [music] gifts to men. What does he ascended mean except that he also descended [music] to the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is the very one who ascended [music] [singing] above all the heavens in order to fill all things and it was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and [music] some to be pastors and teachers to equip the saints for works [music] of ministry and to build up the body of Christ until we all reach unity in [music] the faith and in the knowledge of the son of God. As we mature to the full measure of the

51:29 stature [music] of Christ then we will no longer be infants tossed about [music] by the waves and carried [singing] around by every wind of teaching and by the clever [music] cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love we will in all things grow up into Christ [music] himself, who is the head. From him the whole body, fitted [music] and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds [singing] itself up in love through the work of each individual part. So I tell you this and [music] insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles [music] do in the futility of [singing] their thinking. They are darkened in their

52:14 understanding [music] and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to [music] the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality [music] for the practice of every kind of impurity with the craving for more. But this is not the [music] way you came to know Christ. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in keeping with the truth [music] that is in Jesus, to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, [music] to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like [music] God in true

53:02 righteousness and holiness. Therefore, each of you must put off [music] falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor [singing] for we are all members of one another. [music] Be angry, yet do not sin. Do not let the sun set [music] upon your anger and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work doing good with his own hands [music] that he may have something to share with the one in need. Let no one wholesome talk [music] come out of your [singing] mouth, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. [music] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [singing] in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

53:48 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, out cry, and slander, along with every [music] form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another. Forgiving each other [music] just as in [singing] Christ God forgave you. >> Be imitators [music] of God. >> Be imitators of God. Therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,

54:34 or of any kind of impurity, or of [music] greed. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure, no immoral, impure, or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no [music] one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers [music] with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord walk as children of light. For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

55:22 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes the light itself. So it is said, >> Wake [music] up, oh sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on [music] you. >> Pay careful attention then to how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are [music] evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand [singing] what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to

56:07 reckless indiscretion. Instead, [music] be filled with the spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual [music] songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord. Always giving thanks to God the [music] Father for everything in the name [singing] of our Lord Jesus Christ. >> [music] >> Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the savior. Now, as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their

56:55 husbands in everything. Husbands, love your [music] wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with [music] water through the word, and to present her to himself as a glorious church [music] without stain or wrinkle [singing] or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way, >> [music] >> husbands ought to love their [singing] wives as their own bodies. He who loves [music] his wife loves himself. Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes just as Christ does [music] the church, for we are members of his body.

57:41 >> [music] >> For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am speaking [music] about Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his [music] wife as he loves himself, and the [music] wife must respect her husband. Children, obey your >> Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with

58:27 you, and that you may have a long life on the earth. Fathers, do not [music] provoke your children to wrath. Instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. [music] And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but [music and singing] as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. >> Serve with good will as to the Lord and not to men, because you know that the Lord will reward each [music] one for

59:13 whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that [music] he who is both their master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,

59:59 >> [music] >> against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand [music] your ground, and having done everything to stand. [music] Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness [music] arrayed, and with your feet fitted [singing] with the readiness of the gospel [music] of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of

1:00:46 [music] the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of [music] God. Pray in the spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and petition to [music] the send. Stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all [music] the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, >> [music] >> words may be given me, >> [singing] >> so that I will boldly make [music] known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray [music] that I may proclaim it fearlessly as I

1:01:32 should. Tychicus, [music] the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything so that you also may know about [music] me and what I am doing. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace to the brothers and love [music] with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus [music] Christ with an undying love. >> Paul and Timothy, >> Right. We are going to stop there with our first set of letters that we are looking

1:02:20 at. All right. Please make sure that you are able to unmute your mic. So, I'm just quickly looking who's on the call. If you jump off the call now, it wasn't signal that put you off. It's because you knew I'm going to ask you to unmute. So, I unmute. I can see you, right? I see you. The Lord sees you as well. All right. I'm going to ask I'm going to assign you already so you can already look at your notes. Uh right. So, I'm going to ask the following people who haven't put somebody on. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Okay. I'm going to ask for Ephesians 4. I'm going to ask Uncle Charles and Georgia

1:03:08 to tell me about Ephesians chapter 4. For the first piece of chapter 5 up until married couples, I'm going to ask Andrew to tell me about that. I'm going to ask Pastor Marco and Morena and Notili to tell me about the married couples. If you want to include a little bit about further or before Ephesians 5 before we get to married couples, you may. And then Ephesians chapter 6, Daniela and Edith. I want you and if John Michael you want to jump in, I can always assign one to you. But I know that you're just listening. You didn't do the class quite the same way. All right. So, before I go into letting you all loose, here's what I want to say to you. I'm letting you listen to the Bible because it's a little bit fun.

1:03:54 All right, John Michael. I'm going to let you also then go after Georgia. But I'm hoping that instead of just boringly listening to me rabble off three chapters of the Bible, that you're following and looking and that something is dropping in your spirit. So, this is just a fun way to listen to the word of God. It is pretty cool because it's really close to the translations, meaning that there is it's really presented in a well well-mannered way. So, I'm going to let the three of you loose. Uncle Charles, Georgia and John Michael. Go Ephesians chapter 4. You have a minute to a minute and a half. What stood out for you and why? >> Uh greetings everyone.

1:04:39 What stood out for me in Ephesians 4 is from verse 29. Where it says, do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other just as Christ God forgave us. What I pick up here is this what is happening in our day-to-day lives these

1:05:25 days is that the we we we we lost respect for each other. We we talk with disrespect to any other person and we do not watch our mouths on how we speak to other people instead of giving them the good news we hurt people along the way. And that is what was so outstanding for me and then it warned us to not to do that but rather stay on the holy side of life and listen to the word of the law of God and then uh and do not grieve the Holy Spirit because of once we do all these wrong things when I club them together that the Holy Spirit is not happy with what we are doing. We grieve the Holy Spirit and that is not a good sign. Yeah, that is what I picked up

1:06:10 Teacher T from all those services about it. Yeah. >> Awesome. Thank you, Georgia. >> Teacher T, you're putting us on the spot. I don't like this. So, what stood out to me was um I definitely found in verse 14 to 15 where I can read the verse to you. Um so that we are no longer children spiritually immature tossed back and forth like ships on stormy seas. That really stood out to me because many times we can listen to false doctrines, you know, and be deceived by the lies of the enemy and we need to grow in the things of God and honestly just mature and it's it's

1:06:55 literally like living. That's how I see it, you know. At at one stage there's there's a time, there's a season, there's a place for everything, you know, just as Ecclesiastes says. But it really stood out to me because we we need to grow. We need to be able to understand and develop and it's a journey, but it's a beautiful journey. And then the other thing that stood out to me was verse 22 to 24 which says that regarding your previous ways of life, you put off your old self, completely [clears throat] discard your former nature which is being corrupted through deceitful desires. And like like I said, you know, it's a journey. It's

1:07:41 it's like a flower it's like a flower that grows, that dies, that has a whole journey, you know, even a butterfly. And that's something that really stood out to me that we need to grow, we need to change and we need to have our eyes and our mind constantly fixed on God, renewing our mind, renewing our ways in the ways and the things of the Lord. >> Amen. Thank you, John Michael. >> Uh good day, everybody. Uh evening. Um so, to me this passage is also about being holy um because the Lord said, "I called you holy because I am holy." Um it is very profound in Exodus 33 where it says, "I you have found favor in my

1:08:29 sight and I know you by name." So, that means through direct salvation of Jesus Christ, we became holy again and we should step into that authority to become holy in Jesus Christ, in the Lord Almighty. So, that's always to me is a profound way of looking at being holy because we are called to be holy because God is holy and we can't enter his righteousness if we not holy ourselves. >> Amen. Now, look at that, students. I know chapter five and chapter six I'm still coming to you. I don't have Alzheimer's. So I will come back to you. But look at that. You all literally just did hermeneutics. And I thought you hated hermeneutics

1:09:14 everybody. I just presented it in a different way. So this is literally what I did, right? Uh you're not going to be able to see me. There we go. Right? I sit with a piece of paper and I scribble and I write. So let me quickly tell you exegesis wise what this passage is about. It is about the believers conduct and their calling. Which all three of you confirmed. Wow, second year Bible hermeneutics students, right? So it really is about that. It is about being able to walk worthy as you have said. Interesting in between verses one and verses six you're going to find seven things. And they call it this unity they they

1:10:00 call it the built on seven ones. One body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. If you can build those seven areas in unity, you will become unshakable. All right? And so the things that I also wrote down and that I wanted to to talk about was it speaks about walking as a gentile. There's a way to walk as a gentile. And we shouldn't be walking in that way. We should be putting off. And that putting off interestingly enough in the Greek means to remove dirty garments. Now I don't know about you, but if you have Sorry guys, if you haven't eaten yet, I do apologize. But if you've run through

1:10:47 the sewage, how were you going to take those dirty garments off? Are you going to stay in those dirty garments? Or are you going to make sure those dirty garments come off as fast as possible. Right? You are going to be disgusted at those dirty garments. And that is exactly I mean, if you think of a child that has a teething diaper and they've gone all over their clothing, you are disgusted at that garment. It can be a name brand. It can be a Gucci baby grower. I'm telling you you will still look at it with disgust. And this is what the Greek is telling us to put off, to lay aside, to remove, to to put off is like to to just get rid of or dispose of those dirty garments. And then to put on that new man.

1:11:34 To step into the new man. We've done the subject new creation realities with me. So, you know what I'm talking about where it is getting into the truth, into the new creation, into what God has purposed and planned for you. And then I also just made a few notes about, you know, not to grieve the Holy Spirit, not to to find ourselves in rage and anger, deceit, and and Paul writes a whole bunch of scenarios, but Uncle Charles said it so well and I wrote it also down to be kind and tender towards one another. And so this whole letter has literally just got to do with how we should behave as Christians. So, well done. 10 out of 10 for every single one of you. Right, chapter number five. Let's hear.

1:12:21 Uh past or let's go Andrew you first followed by Pastor Marco Moraina followed by Nutile. >> Hi everyone. Can you hear me? Good. Um what stood out for me was um from verse 8 to 14 and then also verse 21. So, from verse 8 to 14 it speaks about um we was in the darkness and now um he was and you walk into the light and that you don't So the word says that you don't have to go back to the darkness. You don't have to keep your old friends that that that you met when you were in the world. So

1:13:07 you need to let go of those because you can't have one feet in the light and one feet in the darkness. So either you choose one. So what what this tells me is that we need to move out of the darkness, stay in the light and then the fruit of the Holy Spirit will come with within us and then it will live. So kindness um love, care, all of those things will come to light and when that comes to light you you can't listen to your friends, your old friends anymore where they do things in secret and in the darkness. So what it says is it will come to light um what you do in the dark, it will come in out.

1:13:53 So don't live in the secret anymore. Rather live in the light where everything is truthful, where you live righteous, where you honor God and where you you expose what is wrong not to to damn them but to show them a better way. And then verse 21, submit to one another in the fear of God. That is powerful for me because it it doesn't speak to being afraid but it speaks to being afraid of being not of not being truthful, not being a child of God, not doing the right thing and and that is

1:14:41 what the fear is there. It's it's not about being afraid of God, it's rather being afraid of doing what is not of God and and and that is the most fearful thing that that the Christian should fear when they say fear of God. It is what you do and yeah, that's it. >> Yeah, thank you so much, apostles. >> Uh good evening. I must say that part of uh song of God there but >> [laughter] >> All right, um well, look, there's I think this past weekend we actually dived into Ephesians uh chapter 5, but obviously from 21 onwards or 20 onwards.

1:15:27 Um yeah, I think it's a what we've taken a lot from this is um you know, the mutual respect um I think first and that's to come from both sides. And um you know, it's it definitely shows that there's a deeper spiritual aspect and revelation that comes from being married. Um especially when it comes to ministry. Um and uh the level that two can achieve in Christ and the mission that obviously follows. Um you know, and um I think it also with scripture uh put down here. Yeah, uh Ephesians what's the what stands out for us is Ephesians 5:26-27. Um where it talks about uh the spiritual growth um of uh the couple.

1:16:14 And um you know, how each one can also encourage each other to uplift uh each other up on a different level. Um you know, and mature each other and uh you know, push each other forward. And um yeah, to love your spouse as you love yourself. Um that is in 28 and 29. Uh you know, just as a reminder. Um you know, so yeah, I think the main thing is to really love uh your husband and your wife or vice versa as as you love yourself and to uplift and to really cleave and you know uh really I think relying on each other in the Lord as the main uh you know, foundation of of your marriage. Uh so mainly the most important thing is what we've picked up from from this whole this whole portion

1:17:01 is you know, the the spiritual growth that one is growing to as a couple. It's very different walking ministry alone and different walking in ministry with your husband and wife. There are different challenges that do come your way and most especially in ministry there are things you can that you can only achieve together as one in Christ, you know, and I think once you can see and respect each other and see the value in each other and see Christ in each other because you love each other as Christ loved the church. I would say even though it's men loving the wife as Christ loved the church, but but yeah, I think that's um yeah, that's just the main thing and becoming one in in unity in the vision that God has placed um in in our I'll say calling or anyone's calling if I could say that. So so yeah.

1:17:51 >> All right. All right, good. Nathalie Sure. Did I have to go after pastors? Okay, for me from 25 to 29 what I picked up is that um Christ was comparing uh the way the husbands are supposed to love their wives to the way he loves his church. So and the way Christ loves his church, he loves it with imperfections. So it really means that you know what? You love beyond even what you see because it's not easy to love someone because no one is perfect.

1:18:37 So what I picked up here is when he says he loves um He says in 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by by the word. So, it means that he loves the church that is not clean and is not perfect, but then he perfects it and then he cleanses it and then he says he present so that uh in verse 27 it says that he might present her to himself as a glorious church. So, this one I'm taking it to husbands to say, "When you are loving, you are loving someone that is not perfect as Christ is loving the church that is not perfect. And he works on the church by washing it

1:19:22 by by washing it with his word. So, that's how husbands must not give up upon their wives. They must love them and wash them and continue to correct them. So, that's what I'm taking I'm taking from from this. Yeah amen. >> I mean, very interesting note to you that you picked it there because if you look right before all of that, it's all about walking in love and walking in the light. And so, it's interesting that you pulled that to be its its biggest theme, which is absolutely beautiful. All right. So, again, I thought you all didn't like hermeneutics. I had I had almost no hope and then tonight happened and now I have hope again.

1:20:08 You see, what I've done in prison epistles, and this is why Paul's letters are so important for me, is because how many of you could preach on this? Right? You didn't even have to do 65 hours of exegesis. You were just literally listening to the letters that Paul has spoken. And I've asked you in 2 minutes to put something together without even preparation and there you are bubbling. Right? And that's what I try to bring across. So, Paul's letters are literally preaching pieces. So, if you ever run out of something to say, just go look at the letters because they will touch and they will speak and they will bring really just a whole bunch of things to the surface. So, I want to say with that absolutely,

1:20:55 the word of God says that we should become the imitators. In other words, we are to mirror the father's character. We need to walk in love, which is sacrifice. We need to walk in light, which is the truth. And we need to walk in wisdom, which is discernment. These are the three things that the Lord lays out before he even speaks about relationships. He says, "Number one, walk in life." in love, that's sacrifice. Walk in light, that's the truth. And walk in wisdom, that is discernment. So, one thing that that Paul mentions before we even get in to all of that when and and the thing that sort of stood out a little bit to me was that they will be sons of disobedience and we'll know them by their fruits. Right? But, it says this and this is

1:21:42 what kind of triggered me a little bit this evening. It says that when that fruit is seen, we should expose it. So many times it's easy to see the person's an alcoholic. And when I mean expose, I don't mean go post it on social media and condemn the person. Sorry. Um what I mean by that is to expose, to cover them in pray, to speak light and love into that situation. I think Andrew mentioned something a bit earlier on about it. But, really to to uplift them, to put out the negative and to speak into their life. It's so easy to go, "Mhm, that that that that brother's lost." "That brother's going through divorce." "That person deserves it, but actually we should

1:22:29 really come to that place that we are really when we say exposing the negative or seeing the negative that we do something about it. Right? And then I just want to explain something. Um you know, my my parents fell pregnant out of wedlock and so my dad always said, you know, if you come home pregnant, we'll have a conversation about it. But I had two things for my dad. I had fear because he was Greek and his hands were kind of large. And I had reverence because he was my dad, all right? And so I never ever came home pregnant. One, because I was fearful. I mean, there would be consequences, but more importantly because of reverence. Reverence is the kind of fear that you

1:23:15 have that when when if I had to picture the disappointment my dad would have if I to be a a teenage pregnant coming home and if you've been in that situation, if it's I don't speak any condemnation, but I would see my dad looking disappointed and because of my fear, which causes me

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