["Pomp and Circumstance"]
You
Good evening and welcome to Verity Baptist Church
Can I please have everyone find their seats and grab their song books and turn to page number?
196
We're gonna start the service off singing. I will sing the wondrous story
So, please find a seat and grab your song books and turn to page number 196
That's page number
196 and let's go ahead and sing it out on the first I will sing
The wondrous story of the Christ who died for me
For the cross of Calvary
Yes, I'll sing
Wondrous story of the Christ who died for me
sing it with
the Saints in glory
gathered by
the Crystal Sea
Now it's good singing. Let's sing it on the second page number 196 on
The second I was lost but Jesus found me found the sheep that went astray
Through his loving arms around me drew me back into his way. Yes, I'll sing
Wondrous story of the Christ who died for me
sing it with
the Saints in glory
gathered by
the Crystal Sea
I was bruised but Jesus he'll be faint was I from any of fall
So I was gone and fears possessed me, but he freed me from them all. Yes, I'll sing
the wondrous story
of the Christ
who died for me
sing it with
the Saints in glory
gathered by
the Crystal Sea
Days of darkness still come for me sorrows paths
I often dread but the Savior still is with me by his hand. I'm safely wet
Yes, I'll sing
Wondrous story of the Christ who died for me
sing it with
the Saints in glory
gathered by
the Crystal Sea
Now you guys been singing good, but let's sing it a little bit better on the last
He will keep me till the river rolls its waters at my feet
Then her blare me safely over where the loved ones I shall meet. Yes, I'll sing
Wondrous story of the Christ who died for me
The Saints in glory gathered by the Crystal Sea
Great singing. Welcome to Verde Baptist Church and the Wednesday evening Bible study. Let's open up in a word of prayer
Father God, thank you so much for this church Lord
Thank you for these people who are coming out here on a Wednesday evening to serve you
I pray that our singing would glorify you Lord
I pray that you'd bless the preaching and the service to come in Jesus name. I pray amen
Please enter song books page number three hundred and forty three
Page number three four three. We're gonna sing a revive us again
Now this is a song that you have to sing with a little bit of hump
So make sure you sing it out and let's sing it out on the first we praise thee. Oh God
for the son of
For Jesus who died and is now gone
Hallelujah by the glory
Hallelujah
Amen
Hallelujah by the glory
Revive us again
On the second we praise thee. Oh God
for thy spirit of light
Who have shown us our Savior and scattered our night?
Hallelujah by the glory
Hallelujah
Amen
Hallelujah by the glory
Revive us again
on the third all glory and praise all glory and praise
To the lamb that was slain
Who has borne all our sins and has cleansed every stain
Hallelujah by the glory
Hallelujah, Amen
Hallelujah by the glory
Revive us again
on the last
Revive us again
Fill each heart with thy love
May each soul be rekindled
with fire from above
Hallelujah by the glory Hallelujah, Amen
Hallelujah by the glory
Revive us again
Great singing
Amen all right we want to welcome you to the midweek service here at Verity Baptist Church
We call it the most encouraging service of the week, and we're glad that you're here with us
Let's go ahead and take some we'll take our bullets as look some announcements real quickly if you do not have a bulletin
Just raise your hand and never mind. They're telling me
They're either threatening my life, or they're telling me that we don't have
Bulletins, but maybe you can share with somebody if you need a bulletin you can put your hand up
And we will and I'm don't put your hand up just share with someone
That's what we want you to do I see a 26 verse 3 is the verse this week that will keep him in
Perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusted in thee and that's a good verse there
We like that if you open up your bulletin. You'll see our service time Sunday morning service 10 30 a.m.
We do invite you to be with us of course on Sunday morning on the Lord's Day for Church Sunday evening service 6 p.m.
And then we're glad you're here for our Wednesday evening Bible study if you look at our soul winning times our main soul winning times
On Saturday mornings at 10 a.m.
And then we have additional sewing times on Thursdays and Fridays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
So if you'd like to go soul winning tomorrow, there'll be an opportunity for you to do that at 2 p.m.
We do want you to know that
Friday the soul winning time is going to be cancelled there will be no soul winning at 2 p.m.
On Friday, of course, that's due to the funeral. So we'll be having a funeral at that time
So there will be no Friday soul winning there will be soul winning on Thursday and Saturday, of course, but not on
Friday if you are a first-time guest if it's your first time here at ready Baptist Church. We're glad you're with us
We have a gift
We'd like to give you as you walk out of the church building tonight if you got our main foyer
Or if you got our secondary foyer, you'll see a little table set up and on that table
You'll see these little gift bags
Please grab one on your way out as a gift from us to you for being our guest tonight
There are several resources in this bag that we'd like you to have
The one I like to highlight is this documentary that our church made it's called being Baptist. It's very well made very interesting
We think you'll like it and want to give this to you as a gift
So, please make sure you do not leave here this evening without grabbing one of these gift bags on your way out
And if you are a guest we'd ask that you please take a moment to fill out the communication card
Which is inserted in your bulletin
If you need a pen just raise your hand and one of our ushers can bring you by a Verity Baptist Church pen
You're welcome to keep the pen as a gift from us as well. We're not gonna do anything odd with your info
We would just like a record of your attendance
We actually would like to send you a little gift, but we need your information to do that
So, please take a moment to fill the card out and when we're done with the announcement
We're gonna sing a song when we're done singing
We're gonna receive the offering and as the offering plate goes by you can drop this card in the offering plate
Or you can hand it to me after the service
I'll be standing at the main door greeting people on the way out. If you notice there in our bulletin
We of course are a family integrated church. What that means is that children and infants are always welcomed in the church service
We do not separate children from their parents for any reason
We do have mother baby rooms and daddy rooms available for your convenience
All of the rooms have comfortable seating that monitor set up so you can watch the service and listen to it
so if you have a child that's been distracting during the service or if you need some privacy would encourage you to use those rooms as
Needed if you're not sure where those rooms are at you can look at the back of the bulletin
You'll see a layout of our church building. It'll show you where the restrooms are
It'll show you where the mother baby rooms are and where the daddy room is
If you need to be baptized, please let us know we'd love to baptize you and you can let us know on your communication card
on the back just check off that you'd like information about baptism and we'll follow up with you in regards to that if you notice there
The announcements and upcoming events, of course
We were supposed to have a cleaning crew appreciation dinner and training this Friday
And I apologize about the short notice, but we're moving that one week over to August the 25th
So if you had already RSVP, I think we had like 65 people or something like that RSVP for this dinner
All right, we have a big
multiple teams that clean around here and of course all their families were invited but
We we have to move that because of the funeral so not this Friday, August 18th
But next Friday, August 25th, and we apologize for the inconvenience there
I think all of you who RSVP you should have got a text letting you know that if you could RSVP
If you could RSVP back to that text letting us know if the 25th is gonna work for you
We would appreciate that and we apologize again for that inconvenience
Want to invite you to our family and friend day is on Sunday, September 10th at 10 30 a.m
And we're gonna be celebrating our church's 13 year anniversary
You should have a card in your bulletin that you can use as an invitation to invite
We call it our family and friend day and this is an opportunity for you to invite your family your friends co-worker a neighbor
We're going to have free lunch after the service. We'll be grilling after the service
We have of course the anniversary mugs that we give out every year
There's gonna be candy suckers for all of the kids special music from the BBC Choir and Orchestra
So I want to encourage you to be here for that and I want you to start thinking about someone that you could invite
To church on that day and then of course, we're having our family friend a soul winning push on
Thursday Friday and Saturday before family and friend date
So on Thursday, September 7th at 6 p.m. Friday, September 8th at 6 p.m
And on Saturday, September 9th at 10 a.m
I want you to be aware that we'll have a special three day push a soul winning push before family friend day
We'd love for you to make it to one of those two of those all of those if you're able to
BBC choir they're practicing at 5 p.m. On Sunday nights for family and friend day
We have a ladies weight loss accountability group
They meet every Wednesday at 615 in the mother-baby room closest to the foyer
So you're welcome to be a part of that ladies if you'd like discipleship class
They've got class at 5 p.m. On Sunday night
Other things there for you to look at please don't forget to turn your cell phones off or place them on silent during the service
So they're not a distraction to anybody if you look at the back of the bulletin birthdays and anniversaries
For this week, we have brother Joe and miss Kathy Maples
Anniversary was on the 14th and brother Vladi and miss Antonina vocal chick had an anniversary on the 14th as well
Praise report money matters all of those things are there for you to look at and I just got have a few things to go
Over I think most of you if you're part of our BBC family text group
Which if you're not you need to be this
These are the reasons you need to be and you can just sign up on your communication card
So I think most of you should have got this information already, but I'll go ahead and announce it
We're having the funeral service, of course for baby John Cyrus radari on Friday
August 18th here in at the church building in the auditorium at 11 a.m
So if you are able to make it I realize that maybe some of you are not able to make it
But if you're able to make it
I would encourage you to
Put in the effort and this is what being part of a church family is about and it's we want to rejoice together
We want to mourn together
So I want to encourage you to be here at 11 a.m. On Friday morning for the funeral
There is going to be a graveside service as well at 1 p.m. And that'll be at the east lawn mortuary and
Off a greenback and we texted you the address. We'll give you the address on the day of as well
There'll be a short graveside service at 1 p.m
And then we'll be back here at the church building at 2 p.m
In our fellowship hall for a reception for a time of just food and fellowship
So just want to invite you to all that if you're able to the reception is a potluck
so if you can please bring a dish to share and
We will be live-streaming the service as well
I know that there's a lot of friends out and the new IFP that have been praying for the radari family. I'm sure
some of them would like to
Watch so if anybody asks let them know we'll be live-streaming the service
But we will have the funeral service 11 a.m. Here at Verde Baptist Church 1 p.m. Graveside service 2 p.m
Fellowship and just so you're aware the staff guys are gonna be cleaning the building tonight after the evening service tonight
We don't normally do that. They're gonna be cleaning
For the funeral. So if you could help us just maybe clear out
As quickly as possible, you know as quickly as possible
We're not trying to run you out
But it it once you start cleaning if you could get out of their way or even better if you could help them
That'd be great
and if you're able to help if you're able to help honestly and stick around and help them and that would be
Good as well. I think that's
It for all of the announcements. So we're gonna go ahead and sing page number
129 page number 1 to 9
As we prepare to receive the offering this evening and we're gonna sing rock of ages cleft for me
129 and let's go ahead and sing it out on the first rock of ages
For me
Myself
Water and the blood from my womb
Me of sin
double cure
Stay from breath and make me
129 sing it out on the second could my tears
Good my zeal no anger. No these for sin could not a tone
Thou must save and thou alone in my hand. No eyes I pray
simply
While I draw
When my eyes shall close in that
When I rise to worlds unknown and behold
me on my
Myself in me
Amen good singing. We'll have the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time
And let's go ahead and bow our heads and have a word of prayer family father loaded
We do thank you for allowing us to gather together tonight Lord
We pray that you bless the offering the gift and the giver
We ask that you would meet with us tonight as we of course pray and as we study the Bible together in Jesus name we pray
Amen
You
Amen all right well
I've got a couple of baptism certificates to hand out tonight
And then we'll get into our prayer time, and I'll go ahead and read this we have two of these. I'll read one
It says certificate of baptism this certificate is awarded to Christa Ersin in recognition of her baptism on the sixth day of August of
the year 2023
presented by Verity Baptist Church with the verse therefore we are buried with him by baptism into that that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we should walk in units of life and we have some
pictures here for Miss Christa to remember the day of her baptism, and then we also have a
Baptism certificate for Brett Tolson and it reads the same thing
And we've got pictures here for Brett to remember the day of his baptism as well
So let's go ahead and give them a round of applause
All right
Let's go ahead and take our prayer sheets tonight
And if you did not get a prayer sheet on your way in just raise your hand one of our ushers get will get one
For you if you need a prayer sheet just put your hand up, and we will get one for you
And of course I want to remind you that the way you add a request to the prayer sheet is through your
Communication card on the back of the card there's a place for you to write down a request
Make sure you mark whether it's private or public if it's private only I will see it if it's public
We'll post it. We'll put it on the prayer sheet if you don't mark it
We'll do our best to figure it out, but we normally don't put those on there. They are added in the order
They are received and they are removed after a couple of weeks
And if you would I would like you to write in a couple of requests that didn't make it in
Before printing and one is to pray for brother Ron. He's in the hospital
I was told just before the service that he's in the hospital, so
Let's be praying for him, and then also if you could write in a prayer for a young lady
from faithful Baptist Church her name is Caitlin Furbe and
She is missing and we are praying for her safe return home
So Caitlin Furbe if you wouldn't mind writing her in and let's go ahead and take these requests the Lord
I'll pray out loud, and I ask that you would follow along in your mind in your heart, and let's pray together
Heavenly Father Lord we come to you tonight asking for these prayer requests from our church family and Lord
we begin with these requests dealing with health and
We want to start with brother Ron and Lord. We pray that you'd be with him at this time
He's in the hospital. We ask that you would help him Lord and help him to be able to recover get better Lord
We ask that you help the doctors nurses dealing with them give them wisdom Lord
We thank you for Miss Edith surgery that she had today
And we got a good a good report that everything went well
And we pray that you would just be with Miss Edith help her as she recovers and help her to get better
We pray for Dylan miss Brandy Barrett's
Brother and praying for his continuing recovery from back surgery asking that he would get fully
Better soon we pray for miss Christine Ortiz for her health
Miss dogma for her pain asking that you'd relieve her pain pray for brother Salvador for his health
And then of course we continue to pray for their Edgar and miss Alina praying for a little urezi that she would continue to be
healthy and
Happy despite having cystic fibrosis Lord
We just pray that you would keep her healthy as well and Lord we pray for our missionary Dave come and tell his wife miss angel
Who's undergoing chemotherapy?
Lord we ask for all these individuals. We pray that you would put your healing hand over them Lord
We pray that you would recover them relief pain and that you would help them to get better if it's your will Lord
We pray that you'd give
Discernment to the doctors and the nurses that are dealing with with them Lord
We pray that all of them would be able to get better soon
Also pray for the ladies in our church that are expecting miss Rebecca miss Selena miss melody and miss Victoria Lord
We ask for all these ladies that you would give them healthy pregnancies with no issues and no complications
And Lord we also pray
For these that have salvation requests. We're praying for miss Amy Cortez
Who's praying for her daughter crystal and her son Joselito and her grandson Alexander praying for all of their?
Salvations and we pray for brother Ron who's praying for his mom and his family's salvation miss dogma praying for her daughter
And her family's salvation Lord we ask for all these individuals
We pray Lord that your Holy Spirit would work in their hearts
We pray that you would change
Circumstances in their lives to bring them to the place where they'd be willing and able to hear the gospel
We pray that a soul winner would communicate in the gospel clearly to them or we ask that whatever can be done would be done
That they might come to the place of salvation
We also pray for these that are asking for their family members miss Nicole Johnson praying for her family her mom her aunt Jeannie
her husband and her children brother Alan praying for his brother to be transferred closer to Sacramento and
miss Christine Ortiz praying for her family and
For the Salvador praying for his family as well Lord. We pray that you would
Help all these individuals Lord that you would bless all these individuals and we pray especially for brother
Howland's brother that you would just work it out Lord
with the system there that he would be able to get transferred here and we ask that that
Your will be done in these individuals lives then Lord
We pray for these that are having requests regarding their walk with you and miss brandy praying for her brother
Dylan not only for his recovery from back surgery
But also for the spiritual life Lord praying for his flesh that it would not hinder the spirit
Then he would be able to overcome his struggles with depression and anxiety and addictions Lord
We ask that you would help him and strengthen them Lord
We pray for brother Salvador for his faith and his walk with you as well
We pray that you would strengthen these individuals. We also pray for these that have
requests regarding
their finances and regarding their their living situation for the Darryl praying for his housing needs and for
And for his transition brother Ron praying for work to pick up miss Christine praying to find a place
To live brother Salvador praying for his finances and work as well and Lord we ask for all these individuals
We pray that you would
Give them help and that you would show them
The solutions to the questions they have and the things that they're praying for then Lord
We have a couple of special requests. Of course, we pray for brother Sean. Miss Ava during this time
Lord we pray that you strengthen them. We pray that you would comfort them Lord
We know that you are the God of all comfort
Pray that they would know that they have a church family here that loves them and cares for them and Lord
We ask for the funeral this Friday that everything that's done would bring honor and glory to your name
But we also pray for this young lady Caitlin Furbe and Lord
We ask that you would please help her to be found help her to be able to come home
Soon to return home and and and to be safe Lord we we pray that you would just
Help her Lord and make sure that she's safe that she would not come across
Anyone that would hurt her Lord and we ask that she would be home soon with her family
But we also pray for traveling mercies to miss Doc my praying for her trip to Germany
For safety as she travels at the 26th of August through the 13th of September
We pray that you would help her and bless her with that and we pray for these that have unspoken requests. Mr. Nicole
Having an unspoken request for their Allen having an unspoken unspoken request for their Nate having an unspoken request
Miss dogma having an unspoken request for the Salvador having an unspoken request Lord, you know what their petitions are
You know what they're asking for Lord
We pray that you'd answer according to their work to your will and that you would make it clear to them when you've answered
Their prayer and of course we pray for our church and different ministries here. We pray for the prison ministry
That's currently on hold but Lord
I pray that you would just
Minister to those individuals and help us to be able to get back to that soon Lord
We pray for the purchase of the future building Lord
We thank you that everything's going smoothly there and there's no hiccups
We pray that you would just continue to keep things on schedule and maybe even
Sooner Lord if it's your will that we could close sooner and get access to the property sooner Lord
We pray for our church plants in Manila from Pong to be cold
We pray for our evangelist for the stucky and for his family
Keep them safe and strengthen them help them to continue to grow there
And then of course we pray for our church here in Sacramento
That you would help us Lord and be with our church help us as we continue to grow and learn we ask that you'd meet
With us tonight as we open up your ward and study the Bible together that we might grow closer to you
We love you in the matchless name of Christ. We pray amen
Please open up to Galatians 6
Galatians chapter 6
If you do not have a Bible, please put your hand up and I shall come I bring your Bible
Galatians chapter 6
Just keep your head up us. We'll come by
Galatians 6 we were with the entire chapter as our custom
Galatians 6 being a verse number one
Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault he which was spiritual
restores such in one in the spirit of meekness
Considering thyself lest thou also be tempted
Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ
For for man think think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself
But let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another
For every man shall bear his own burden
But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth at all good things
And be not deceived. God is not mocked for what sober man soweth that shall he also reap
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption
But he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting
And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season. We shall reap if we faint not
As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men
Especially unto them who are of the household of faith
You see how large a letter I've written unto you with mine own hand as
Many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh. They constrain you to be circumcised
Only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ
For neither they themselves are who are circumcised keep the law but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh
But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
By whom the world is crucified unto me and I into the world
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision
but a new creature and
As many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God
From henceforth let no man trouble me if I bury in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus
Brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Let's pray Heavenly Father. Thank you for this evening
God, I thank you for your word and for our church from this here
As he please give us all 10 heart to the message as to be other pastor to strengthen him and film her spirit
We love you in Jesus name pray. Amen
Amen
All right. Well, we're there in Galatians chapter number six and of course on Wednesday nights
we've been making our way through the book of Galatians in a study going verse by verse chapter by chapter and
We're almost done with this book of the Bible tonight
We begin the last chapter of the book of Galatians. We'll spend a couple of weeks in this last chapter
So we'll get through Galatians chapter chapter 6 verses 1 through 10 tonight
and then we'll finish up the book of Galatians the next time we're together in the book of Galatians and
This passage of Scripture that is before us in my opinion deals extensively
with the principles of personal responsibility and
Years ago back in
2018 I preached a three-part sermon series on the subject of personal responsibility
If you were here, you may remember it. We called it the buck. And if you remember we talked about
passing the buck and the buck stops here and and
We we delve extensively into this portion of Scripture here in Galatians chapter number six
So we're gonna look at that tonight this idea of personal responsibility
And I'd like to give you three principles from this passage regarding
Personal responsibility and of course on the back of your course of the week
There's a place for you to write down notes and I would encourage you to maybe jot some of these things down
In Galatians chapter 6 and verse 1 the Bible says this brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault
Ye which are spiritual restore such in one in the spirit of meekness considering their considering thyself
Lest thou also be tempted bear ye one another's burden and so fulfill the law of Christ
I want you to notice that in verses 1 & 2
We deal with and the Apostle Paul is teaching the church in Galatia that there is a responsibility
To care for others. There's a responsibility that they have to care for other individuals
But then I want you to notice in verse 3
He shifts gears and then he begins to talk a little bit about personal responsibility in verse 3
He says for if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceived himself
but let every man prove his own work and then shall he have
Rejoicing in himself alone and not in another for every man shall bear his own
Burden and then these few verses we see the first principle that I'd like to share with you tonight
And I'd like for you to maybe jot this down and it is this I want to give you three thoughts
Regarding personal responsibility and the first one is this responsible people
We're going to talk about responsible people and what it is that responsible people do and if you are responsible people
Or you are a responsible person then then this will resonate with you
And if you this doesn't resonate with you, and maybe you're not so responsible and want to help you become responsible
All right
And here's the statement the first statement responsible people realize that they have to deal with the problem
Responsible people realize that they have to deal with the problem or with the problems and what I want you to notice with the
Apostle Paul highlights here for us is that there is a communal responsibility
There is a responsibility as a Christian and you tonight you're here tonight. You're saved if you're a Christian you have a
Responsibility to those around you to help them deal with their problems. Look at it again verse 1
Brethren, he's not only
talking to pastors or spiritual leadership here
Although of course that applies but he's talking to the the brethren in general
He says brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault and the word fault here is
Of course talking about sin, but it's a little different than sin
It's it encompasses more than sin and of course includes sin
But it encompasses more than sin because of the fact that a fault is a weakness or a struggle
it's more of a
An area in which someone may struggle which has to do with sin
And this is why James says that we should confess our faults one to another
We're not Catholic priests around here and you don't have to go up to me and confess any specific sins
But if you have a struggle in a certain area
Maybe you struggle with certain things
Then those are things that you can confess one to another and ask for prayer and here the Bible says that if a man is
overtaken in a fault
Maybe there's an area of weakness a sin that they struggle with Hebrews talks about the sin
Which that so easily beset us when a man is overtaken in a fault notice what it says
It says ye which are spiritual and I want you to notice that the emphasis or the direction of the communication
By Paul here is not to the man that is overtaken in the fault
But it is to the man or to the persons which are spiritual. This would be the mature
Grown strong this would be the responsible individual and he tells them ye which are spiritual
Restore such and one in the spirit of meekness. He says you are to restore
Others in the spirit of meekness, of course the spirit of meekness is a reference to humility
Why considering thyself lest thou also be tempted and the idea is this that we should always treat people the way we'd like to be
Treated is what the Bible teaches and if you were to
Be overtaken in a fault if you were to find yourself in a low place in life
Or maybe you were struggling with something and and you weren't living the victorious Christian life
What you would need is someone who is mature and someone who is spiritual someone who is
Stronger in the faith to come alongside you not not just to criticize you not just to judge you not just to to belittle you
Although of course we understand that part of this process may require rebuking and may require correcting some things
but the purpose is to restore such in one in the spirit of meekness the the the the idea notice there in verse 2 is
Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ if we are to fulfill the law of Christ
What is the law of Christ?
the law of Christ is to love the Lord thy God with all thy might with all thy soul with all thy heart with all
Your strength with everything you are we are to love the Lord thy God and to love thy neighbor as thyself
We are to be looking out not just for ourselves
But for others we should be looking at the things of others not not not in a in a coveted
Covetous type way but but looking for their well-being
Esteeming others and we see here that there is a communal responsibility
There is a responsibility that you have as a Christian
The Christian life is not a life that is meant to be lived on an island somewhere by yourself worried only about yourself
But you are to enter into a community where you have some responsibility to look out for the well-being of others
Now keep your place there in Galatians 6 and I'm gonna reach you from Genesis and I don't need you to turn there
I'd like you to turn to Hebrews if you would Hebrews chapter 10 if you start at the book of Revelation and go backwards
You have the book of Jude then third second and first John second and first Peter James and then the book of Hebrews
get to Hebrews if you would and
chapter 10 and when you get there do me a favor put a ribbon or a bookmark or something there because we're
Gonna leave it and we're gonna come back to it and I'd like you to be able to get to it quickly Hebrews chapter 10
While you turn there
Let me read to you from Genesis chapter 4 and in Genesis chapter 4 you have the famous story of Cain and Abel, of course
and and if you remember Cain, these were two brothers two twin brothers one killed the other and
And and and of course God was looking out
For Abel in Genesis chapter 4 verse 9 Bible says and the Lord said unto Cain
Where is Abel thy brother and he said I know not and of course Cain makes this famous statement
Which is often quoted and said about Cain when he made the statement
He said am I my brother's keeper and he of course asked Cain asked God this question in a very critical and
Sarcastic type way when asked where is thy brother Abel thy brother?
He asked the question am I my brother's keeper?
But the answer that Paul would give to that question am I my brother's keeper the answer that question is yes
You are your brother's keeper. I am my brother's keeper and when you and I got saved we became
The children of God we became I became a son of God you became a son of God a daughter of God
God became your Heavenly Father, but along with that Heavenly Father came a heavenly family
Came a family of believers and if you God brought you to a church like our church
And you are a member of this church you have a spiritual family you have brothers and sisters in Christ and you have a
responsibility like we've been talking about if you're able to come to the funeral you say why would I
make the why should I make the effort to come to the funeral because you have a
Responsibility as a brother and sister in Christ like Paul said here in Galatians 6 to to bear ye one another's burdens
To be there for your brothers and sisters in Christ when it's sin when when it's just
the result of
Just trials and tribulations in people's life
We are to rejoice with them which rejoice and we are to weep with them that weep where there is a communal
Responsibility the Christian life cannot be a selfish life
It has to be a life that is lived
With others and for the benefit of others, so we see that as a Christian you have a
responsibility to those that are around you
But I want you to notice
That you need to be careful about
Because Paul after making those statements in verses 1 & 2 then in verse 3
He says this he says and it might seem odd to you like why would you say this next?
What does this have to do with what you just got them saying verse 3?
He says for a man think himself to be something when he has nothing he deceiveth himself
and the idea is this that as a Christian you have a need as a
Christian you you not only have a responsibility
For to care for those around you which also have a need
To be and to be ministered to by those around you and the idea here in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 3
When he says of a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself
The idea is that you and I are not to get this thought and say well, I don't need anybody
I'm fine. I can you know, don't ever get to the place you say well
I can just listen to preaching online, but I don't need to be part of a church a community
I don't need to be part of a church family. I'm fine
I'm strong by myself Paul would say if a man think himself to be something
When he is nothing he deceiveth himself and you are deceiving yourself when you don't realize that not only do others need you
But you need others
Others need you to be in their lives, but you also need others to be in your life
Notice there in Hebrews chapter number 10 if you would I think I asked you to keep your place there in Hebrews chapter 10
Look at verse number 24
Hebrews chapter 10 in verse 24
The Bible says and let us consider
One another why don't you notice that phrase one another one of these Sunday nights sometime
I don't know when but sometime at some point. I'm gonna preach a
Sunday night series, maybe I'll do it on Sunday mornings
But I'm gonna preach a series on all the one and others
All the times of the Bible tells us to one another
To pray for one another to be there for one another and here he says let us consider
One another you should be thinking about your brothers and sisters in Christ. You should be considering them
You should be thinking about them
You should be con you should be concerned with them
when maybe their attendance is not like it used to be or maybe you know that they're going through a
Difficult time the Bible says let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
See there is a ministry that is to be done amongst believers by just living and living the Christian life together
Well, we provoke our one another unto love and good works look at verse 25, of course not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and
So much the more as you see the day approaching
So we are to exhort one another the word exhort means to advise to admonish look you need
people you cannot go and this is I guess this is the point that I want to get across and
And and I'm praying the Lord helps me to communicate this properly you cannot live your life in such a way where nobody can correct you
You cannot live your life in such a way where there's nobody no one in your life
No one within your sphere of influence that can kind of call you on the carpet and say no
That's not right. You know, that's not right
You know better than that and
See people often do everything their power to make sure that they position themselves in such a way
They position themselves in their neighborhood or at work or whatever social atmosphere
They find themselves in to make sure that they never get close enough to anyone for anyone to be able to say anything to them
and sometimes people come to a church like this and you start getting close to somebody and and a brother or sister in Christ kind of
calls you out and
says no, I
Know that's what you're saying to me. But but you don't actually believe that right cuz I can tell you right now
I don't believe that I
Think you're smarter than that and then people get offended like I can't believe you're talking to me
Hey
If you've got someone in your life that cares enough about you to tell you the truth
Even when it hurts a little bit you got to thank God for that
Because we are to exhort one another we are to consider one another we are to look at each other and say hey, I know
I'm not if you're gonna go out. I'm gonna let you go out like that
You need someone in your life and let me say this
others need you
We are to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together
But exhort one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching so we see this idea of communal responsibility
There is a responsibility that we have to each other
to commune
To live the Christian life together, but then in verse 4 we see personal responsibility
And I think what Paul is trying to show us here is that communal responsibility does not negate personal responsibility
You cannot come to a church like this and say well, I'm a failure, but the church let me down
now the church may have let you down or the church maybe did everything to help you and and and and you let yourself down but
the point is this that though there is a
communal obligation a
responsibility to each other the truth of matter is this that oftentimes it is only those who are spiritual that can
Fulfill that obligation. That's why he said he that are spiritual and unfortunately in the world
We live in there are very few people that are spiritual enough to be able to walk into somebody else's life and help them
So Paul says look there's a communal responsibility, but there's also a personal responsibility
The communal responsibility does not negate your personal responsibility notice there in verse 4
He says but let every man prove
The word prove means to examine or to test let every man prove his own work
You say nobody in my life tests me
Nobody in my life calls me out on my
Silliness
Well, that's not a good thing
You need to you need to have some people in your life that are able that are close enough to you and love you enough
And are spiritual enough to be able to do that, but you know at the end of the day you you
The person that stares at you in the mirror is to prove his own work
You should call yourself out
I always tell people you gotta ask the question when you say I'm gonna do X Y & Z or I do X Y & Z
You gotta ask yourself
You know when I do that. Why do I do that really?
What's the real reason because we like to lie to ourselves in fact. We're the best at lying to ourselves
But when you can prove your own work when you can say here's what I'm doing this. I'm making this choice
I'm making this move. I'm going in this direction, and and then there's what I'm telling everyone
But then there's the real reason can you at least be honest with yourself?
About the real reason
Because we like to spiritualize also because we we're we're the greatest salesman to ourselves right we can make everything be the will of God
Maybe shocked how many conversations I have people telling me like
you know God wants me to buy a
Boat I'm like
You know God's not against boats I
Mean there's a story in the Bible about a boat. I don't think God's against boats
But if you want to buy a boat just say you want my boat
Well you understand because I can have this boat and and I realized that I might miss Sundays
But I might be able to save somebody out there. You know throw out the lifeline. I'm like that's not what we're thinking about
When we think about going out the lifeline well, we're not talking about you at at the river
And here's all I'm saying is we have this amazing ability to
spiritualize and justify make all sorts of bad decisions, but a
Responsible person realizes that they need to prove his own work
Examine and test themselves and
Then shall he have rejoicing look if you just bought a little boat. I don't know it. Okay. Somebody's gonna
Email me you. I just bought a boat. You're pretty look. I don't if you and I'm not against boats
And
Then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and
Not in another and again
This this is not taken away from the fact that there is a communal responsibility
This does not take away from the fact that Paul just told us brethren if a man be overtaken to default ye
Which are spiritual resources one in the spirit of meekness, but what he's saying is this that you cannot wait for somebody to bail
You out you cannot wait for someone to come alongside now someone should come alongside
And if someone has not come alongside to help you then how about you become strong enough so that you can come alongside someone
But
at the end of the day
You should stand rejoicing in himself alone and not in another
You need to here's what he's saying. Here's what he's telling us. He's telling us you need to worry about yourself
And and we're not saying that in the American type of like look out for number one. That's that's not the idea
We are to esteem others better than ourselves
But the idea is this that you've got to care for and worry about yourself
Because you will never be able to help someone else
If you yourself are a mess
He says worry about yourself
Let every man prove his own work and then shall he have
Rejoicing in himself alone and not in another loaners verse 5. He says for every man shall bear his own burden
He tells us you need to worry about yourself
You say why do I need to worry about myself? Here's why because you will bear your own consequences
Isn't that true and this way and this is why I tell people
Look we can sit here and throw a pity party
We can sit here and make all sorts of excuses
We can say why I didn't do this and why I didn't accomplish that and why I
Failed here and why I fail there and we can do all of those things
But isn't it true at the end of the day no matter what excuses you come up with no matter what?
Story you come up with to explain why it is that you did not do that
You were not responsible that you did not accomplish what you were supposed to accomplish at the end of the day
You still have to live with those consequences
so no matter how good your story is and
Even if your story is a legit story and somebody you can stand up here
We handed you the mic you could tell your story and we would all say yeah, I get it
I understand if I would have grown up with that mother if I would have grown up with that father if I would have married
Individual or if I would have had that if I would have entered into that career and then had that company do look I get
It maybe it's true. Maybe all of that is true. But at the end of the day every man shall bear his own burden
So personal responsibility says that even if I have a good excuse and even if I have a
Legitimate excuse for whatever it is that I'm failing in
How about I don't pass the buck?
And take personal responsibility
Because at the end of the day
No matter how good my excuse is for how much debt I'm in I'm still in debt
No matter how good my excuse is for being unemployed. I'm still unemployed
No matter how good my excuse is for why my marriage ended at the end of day my marriage still ended
So even if you have a good reason why
Personal responsibility says why don't you stop making excuses? I know pity parties are fun. I get it
But how about you worry about yourself because at the end of the day every man shall bear his own burden
Let me quickly read to you this was from
Several years ago when I preached on personal responsibility and we went with that theme of the buck
I just think it's interesting. Let me read this to you real quickly the history of that phrase pass the buck
It says this to pass the buck today means to evade or avoid responsibility
By shifting it to another person the term comes from the game of poker as played in the 19th century
America where players took turns acting as the dealer to keep track a marker known as the buck often a knife with a handle made
of buck horn was placed on the table in front of the dealer and the
And the knife was passed to the next player before each round by the early 20th century
passed the buck had spread from meaning to transfer the
Responsibility from one poker player to another to meaning to ship responsibility from it for anything to another person
Which is the sense in which we use it today and look you can pass the buck
You can say no. No, it's not my fault
Someone said to to err is human and to shift the blame is even more human
And you can pass the buck and you can say no it's not my fault
And here's the reason why I'm not responsible, and it's not me, but at the end of the day
You're still gonna live your life
And look when it comes to responsibility, and here's the thing and here's kind of the catalyst that what you need to understand
About responsibility is this
That we cannot get rid of responsibility, and this is what I would I would I would teach
Young people if you're a young person here tonight. I want you to really
understand this our
irresponsibility
because becomes somebody else's
responsibility
You understand what I just said?
our
irresponsibility
because some becomes somebody else's
responsibility
when a teenager decides that they're going to shower and
Grab a towel and use it and dry themselves, and then they decide to be
Irresponsible and throw that towel on the ground and walk away
That towel doesn't disintegrate. I don't know if you know that
It doesn't magically get washed and folded and back in the the shelf that you grabbed it from
Somebody somebody actually has to come and usually it's mom
somebody has to come alongside behind you and pick that towel up and
Put it in the dirty hamper wash it and dry it and fold it and here's what I'm saying our
Irresponsibility does not just hurt us our
Irresponsibility
becomes somebody else's
responsibility
Now you say well, I understand that with the towel. Let me tell you something is the same thing at your job is
The same thing with the economy is the same thing at work you can say well
I was on drugs, and I did this and I did that and it caused this
But I don't have the money and the government well look just because you don't pay just because the government gives you something for free
Doesn't mean that somebody didn't pay for it
You understand that?
our
Irresponsibility does not magically just fold itself and get itself where it's supposed to go your
Irresponsibility becomes somebody else's responsibility that burdens somebody else
So how about you pick up your own towel?
We see
That the responsible person realizes that they have to deal with the problem
Well pastor you understand. You know I'm just I'm just poor I get that and
I grew up in this bad neighborhood
And I get that and I just I didn't my parents were on drugs and my parents were this my and look and I get
That I'm not minimizing any of that
But at the end at the end they no matter why you're poor you're still poor
So responsible person says I'm not gonna make excuses. I'm gonna figure out how to fix this
Because I'm the one that has to live with it and though
I might have a good excuse and I might have a good story and there might be a good reason
I'm still the one that has to live with the consequences every man shall bear his own burden
So responsible people realize this that they have to deal with the problem
You know what some people do is they run from problems
They run from problems, but a responsible person walks towards one of my biggest pet peeves in
The world and this happens a lot because I'm a pastor and I get that and if you've done this
I'm not mad at you look. I'm just
Okay, I am at it
My personal pet peeve you know what what irritates me the most is when people just bring me a problem no solution
Just
Like here's the problem, and I think this is what I always think myself when somebody brings me a problem
I think to myself. I just heard about this like I literally like the words just came out of your mouth
entered into my ear and
We're processed in that brain up there like I literally just heard of this and I've already brainstormed three possible solutions
What does that tell me it tells me you are not a responsible person
It tells me you have not even thought about this
Or you don't care about this because I literally just heard about this 30 seconds ago, and I'm already like well
You could have done this well. How about this? How about that? I know it's hard
But a responsible person realizes that they have to deal with the wrongs and look in your life
you've got some problems, and it may not be your fault and
I'm not saying it is your fault
But a responsible person says it doesn't matter whose fault is it doesn't matter where the buck can go
Let's deal with the problem
Number one we see that responsible people realize that they have to deal with the problem
No matter where it came from the responsible person realizes that if the towel is on the ground
Whether I put it there or not someone's got to pick it up
That's what a responsible person realizes here's number two
Notice the Galatians chapter 6 look at verse 6
Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things
And then in verses 7 8 and 9 and 10
We have a very well-known passage of Scripture
Regarding reaping and sowing notice verse 7 be not deceived
Remember Galatians 6 3 he that deceives himself
The Bible says be not deceived
God is not mocked
For whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap is a very famous
Principle taught throughout the Bible and it is the principle of reaping and sowing
When you sow something you will reap something when you put a seed in the ground. It's going to produce
Something as a result be not deceived
God is not mocked for what's where a man soweth that shall he also reap
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting and
Let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season. We shall reap if we faint not I
Said number one this evening
Responsible people realize that they have to deal with the problem. Here's number two
Responsible people realize that their future state is the result of their current choices. I
Hope you understood what I just said
Responsible people because pose he's not just randomly giving us these verses
He's saying look you have a responsibility to those around you communal responsibility, but that does not negate personal responsibility
You have a responsibility to prove your own self and and and and and test yourself and make sure you're doing the right thing
For the right reason in the right way
Why because you're gonna have to deal with those consequences and then he jumps into this idea of reaping and sowing and he's not just
Randomly saying that he's not just like I gotta I gotta say something, you know
This book needs six chapters and I ran out of material
So let me pull some stuff from the Old Testament about reaping and sowing no
No, he brings this up for a reason man
He brings it up because of the fact that a responsible person realizes that their future
State is a result of their current choices
By the way, let me say it this way your current state is a result of your prior choices
This
Is the idea of reaping and sowing sowing and reaping look at it again verse 7 be not deceived
God is not mugged for whatsoever a man. So if that shall he also reap this is a promise from God
Let me give you several principles regarding this idea of sowing and reaping number one
Sowing and reaping always produces something
This is a promise from God if you sow you will reap every time you sow you will produce something
God is not mugged for whatsoever man. So that's why they also reap
Keep your place there in Galatians go to Proverbs real quickly Proverbs chapter
11 if you would if you open your Bible just right in the center
You're more than likely following the book of Psalms right after Psalms you have the book of Proverbs Proverbs chapter number 11
Look at verse 18 Proverbs 11 18
You can lose your place in Hebrews, but I'd like you to keep your place in Proverbs we're gonna leave it
We're gonna come back to it Proverbs chapter 11 verse 18
Notice what the Bible says the wicked worketh a deceitful work, but to him that soweth righteousness
Why don't you notice these words to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward
It is a sure reward that word sure means. It's reliable. It's trustworthy
Look you can count on this promise
This is a promise throughout the entire Bible and it is this the promise of
sowing and reaping and the Bible teaches that when you sow and you reap you will the
Process of sowing and reaping always produces something it will produce something. It's a sure thing you can bank on it
Now look that should be that should be a blessing that that should be an encouragement to you
If you're starting a business
And you're like I'm not sure how this is gonna work out or if you're starting a church
And you're like I'm not sure how it's gonna work out doesn't seem like it's going that great
Doesn't seem like I'm getting a lot of traction. You know what the Bible teaches that
That that what so ever man soweth that shall he also reap and if you get a lot of sowing in and you get enough
Sowing and I can promise you from the Bible that you will reap
The problem with a lot of people is that they're hoping for a whole lot of reaping and they're not doing a whole lot of sowing
And they're like well God isn't meeting me and God isn't helping me and God isn't what God is gonna
God is going to meet you on the other side and help you he's gonna give you the momentum that you need
But you need to do your part
You need to get out there and you need to work hard every day
You need to get up and work hard every day. You don't just go start a church somewhere
And decide you're gonna work one day a week
That's the joke that people always make about pastor. Oh, you just work one day a week on Sundays
I can't even tell you last time. I took a day off
I'm just saying you sow and you sow and you sow and eventually you'll reap
It's a biblical principle you can bake on it. You can count on it
So you say about things aren't going well things aren't going well with my finances things aren't going well with my health things aren't going
Well with my children things aren't going well in my marriage things aren't going well in my life
Whatever area it is you figure out how to sow properly into that area
And you just consistently sow and do the right thing over and over and over again, and I promise you you will reap
It's a sure reward
Sowing and reaping always produces something
But please understand this keep your place in Proverbs go to the book of Hosea if you're in Proverbs you're gonna go past
Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea, okay Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah
Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea keep your place in Proverbs also keep your place in Hosea
We're gonna go back and forth for a little bit. I want you to get to it quickly Hosea chapter number eight
Here's another promise regarding sowing and reaping first of all sowing and reaping always produces something
Secondly sowing and reaping always produces more
This is a promise in the Bible Hebrews 8 verse 7
For they have sown the wind and they shall reap the whirlwind you see that
Now what's more a whirlwind the wind or a whirlwind?
Here's what God says you sow the wind you reap the whirlwind and that shouldn't that make sense sowing and reaping
You sow one seed into the ground and it produces fruit that has a lot more than that one seed
So here though here's what you need to understand regarding sowing and reaping
sowing and reaping always produces something and
sowing and reaping always produces more you sow the wind if you'll reap the whirlwind you will
You will produce more
leveraging and utilizing the
principle of sowing and reaping
You say well this sounds good. It sounds good. It sounds good up to this point
And here's the point you have to remember
Keep your place there in Proverbs key your place there in Hosea go back to Galatians chapter 6 look at verse 8
the problem with the idea of sowing and reaping is
That it is a law it is a law of the universe
It is that a law that God put in this universe, but like the laws of the universe it is an a moral law
It's neither good or bad. It's like gravity
It just is it is what it is
Gravity can hurt you gravity can help you
It's not right or wrong
It just it is what it is and here's what you need to understand
Regarding sowing and reaping Galatians chapter 6 verse 8 for he that soweth to his flesh
Because remember
sowing and reaping always produces something and
Sowing and reaping always produces more you say that sounds good. Yeah, if you're sowing in the right place
but
What if you're sowing in the wrong place?
Well, this isn't a blessing
This is a curse because sowing and reaping always produces something and sowing and reaping always produces more
So he that sowed to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption
This might answer the question for some of you why it is that I am in the place that I am right now
You are where you are. Your life is the sum total of the choices you have made
Your future state is will be the result of your current choices and your current state is the result of your prior
Choices and if you sow to the flesh you will reap corruption
But he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting
And when it says reap reap life everlasting, I was saying you're gonna get
Everlasting life if you're saved you have everlasting life. The idea is that you're going to reap in the spiritual realm
And look I want to be reaping in such a way
See when you sow
When you sow to that which is carnal it stays here
But when you sow to that which is spiritual it impacts heaven and earth
So the problem with the sowing and reaping is
That it always produces something that's a good thing could be a good thing. It always produces more
That's a good thing could be a good thing. The problem with sowing and reaping is that it always produces similarly
Everything brings forth after its own kind
So if you're sowing laziness laziness laziness laziness
And you're like all I'm reaping is you're reaping what laziness produces
Do you understand that?
If you're sowing lying lying
Deceptiveness deceptiveness and you're like my life is I'm a you're reaping what that produces
But if you're sowing honesty integrity hard work
You're saying that
He that saw it to his flesh all the flesh reap corruption, but he had saw it to the spirit
She'll have the spirit reap life everlasting
Go back to Hosea chapter 10 look at verse 12 if you kept replacing Hosea go back to chapter 10 Hosea 10 12 notice
What he says Hosea 10 12 so to yourselves in righteousness
reap and mercy
See not only does sowing and reaping always produce something it always produces more and it always produces similarly when you sow
righteousness you reap mercy
and
Look, I'm just go to Proverbs real quickly Proverbs 22 look at verse 8. Let's see it on the opposite end Proverbs 22 verse 8
He that soweth iniquity
Shall reap vanity
So look when you sow righteousness you reap mercy when you show so iniquity you reap vanity
And look here here's the point here's what you need to understand you cannot sow a bunch of wickedness and then pray for a crop
failure
It doesn't work that way
You will reap what you sow
your current state is a result of your prior choices, but
a responsible person a
Responsible person understands that the future state is a result of their current choices and a responsible person understands that maybe I'm in a bad
Place right now, and I'm a bad place right now
I'm reaping some bad things as I've been sowing some bad things, but going forward. How about I start sowing some good things
And it might take some time and I might take a little bit of time and it might take a while
But eventually if I start sowing some good things and look whatever area it is
It doesn't matter what area of your life you want to apply this in whatever area that God is
Telling you in your mind in your heart start sowing in that thing the right things and you'll reap
But here's the here's the here's the last principle for sowing and reaping go back to Galatians 6 verse 9
First of all I said sowing reaping always produces something secondly
I said sowing reaping always produces more thirdly I said sowing reaping always produces similar
Here's the last principle regarding sowing and reaping sowing and reaping always produces eventually
You don't put a seed in the ground and the next day. It's an apple tree
It takes time
Galatians chapter 6 verse 9 and let us not be weary in well-doing
Why for in due season we shall reap if we faint not?
And here's what responsible person understands they understand that their future state is a result of their current choices
they understand
That if they start sowing in the right direction sowing the right things doing the right things today
They will eventually reap the right things because the Bible says be not deceived God is not mocked for what so ever man soweth
That shall they also reap
At the red hot preaching conference. I was having a conversation with
Pastor Shelley and he was asking me about our building situation of course
I preached about it at the conference
He was talking to me about the story that I told about
How it all kind of worked out all these different things how I was barely even trying to try to get this
Four acre 400 seat auditorium and it's just like God's just like opening the doors and pushing me along
You know and just getting me in that direction. He's talking about how amazing was and then and then he said this to me
He said I don't think it's a coincidence that your church gave us a hundred thousand for a building and
then and then God just like
And what he was saying was this you reap what you sow
you know God, you know, we God just God could took care of it and praise the Lord for it and here's all I'm telling you a
responsible person realizes a
Responsible person realizes that their future state is a result of their current
choices a
Responsible person realizes that they have to deal with the problems. They can't pass the buck
They can't make excuses for it. And look this idea of reaping and sowing this idea of you deciding
Okay, I'm gonna take responsibility starting now things have haven't gone the way I wanted them to they haven't gone the way
They should have gone but starting today. I'm gonna start moving in the right direction
I'm gonna start investing in the right direction. I'm gonna start doing the right things. I'm gonna start getting up early
I'm gonna start praying. I'm gonna start reading the Bible. I'm gonna show up to work on time
I'm gonna work hard and stop being lazy and I'm gonna invest the time and the energy I'm gonna do these things
I'm gonna start sowing now so that I can reap in the future
That's what a responsible person understands and look, how do you get there?
You have to get to the place where you realize if it's going to be it's up to me and God. I
Got to do it
It's not just enough to say I'm not gonna pass the buck
You also my other little phrase regarding responsibility is you've got to adopt this phrase the buck stops here
Let me just read to you where that little phrase came from
The buck stops here is a phrase that was popularized by US President Harry S
Truman
We kept a sign with the phrase on his desk in the Oval Office
The phrase refers to the notion that the president has to make the decision accept the ultimate responsibility for those decisions
And in your life and in my life, it's not enough to just say I'm not gonna pass the buck
You also have to take the responsibility to say the buck stops here
If it's gonna get done, I'm gonna have to do it. I'm gonna have to co-labor with God
I need to just start sewing in the right direction
Number one responsible people realize that they have to deal with the problem number two
Responsible people realize that their future state is the result of their current choices and then let me give you the third one real quickly
Tonight will be done soon
Look at Galatians chapter 6 verses 9 and 10
He says and let us not be weary I want you to notice this little phrase in well doing
Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not verse 10 as
We have therefore opportunity
Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Here's statement number three
Responsible people realize that they must position themselves to help others
You know what your goal should be in life
Your goal should in life should be to be so mature to be so responsible to be so successful
Not that it goes to your head because pride goes before destruction
but to be so mature and so successful in life that you
Have the freedom and the ability and the capability to help others
That should be your goal. That's what Paul says
He says hey, let us not be weary in well doing as we have therefore opportunity
Let us do good unto all men, you know, we need to be looking for opportunities to help others
But here's here's the part
Where responsibility kicks in?
Go to Luke if you would Matthew Mark Luke, we're gonna look at one passage one quick famous story out of Luke chapter 10
And it is this not only do we need to be looking for opportunities to help others
but
We also need to be ready for the opportunities to help others
Do you understand that?
See being responsible means you're not only looking for the opportunities, but you have the ability you have the resources you have the capability a
Responsible person positions themselves in such a way not just to say oh man I can identify the problem
I can see the issue here. I can see what's wrong. I wish I could help. Sorry. I'm broke. I
Wish I could help. Sorry. I'm immature. I wish I could help. Sorry. I've got so many problems in my own life
I can't even think to no no see a responsible person
Realizes that they must because they realize that they need to not pass the book. They need to solve problems
They need to run towards problems
They need to help others solve problems because they realize that and they realize that their future state is a result of their current choices
Then they also position themselves in such a way to help others
Yeah, I don't understand. Well, look at Luke 10. This is the most famous story of somebody helping somebody in the Bible
Luke chapter 10 verse 30
Jesus answering said a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves
Which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed leaving him half dead
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way and when he saw him he passed by on the other side
Likewise a Levi when he saw when he when he was at that place came and looked on him and passed by on the other
side
But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed came where he was and when he saw him once you knows a lot part of verse 33
Hey, he the Bible says he had compassion on him
That's a good thing
We see that these other
Individuals mentioned in this story the priest and the Levi they saw the problem, but they were callous. They had no empathy
They didn't care. They just crossed the street and walked on the other side. This guy had good intentions
He saw the problem and the Bible says that he had compassion on him
Bible says about our Savior that he was moved with compassion. This is a good thing. He identified the problem
But I want you to notice that this man did not only identify the problem and was not only moved
to
Solve the problem
He didn't just have compassion on him verse 34, but he shrugged his shoulders and said what can I do?
Is that what it says?
Look verse 34 and went to him and bound up his wounds
Pouring in oil and wine and
Set him on his own beast and brought him to the inn and took care of him
And on the morrow when he departed he took out two pence a pence in the Bible was a day's wages
He took two pence and gave them to the host and said unto him take care of him and whatsoever thou spendest more
When I come again, I will repay thee
There's a famous quote by Margaret Thatcher. I'm not
endorsing her but she has a famous quote that says this
No one in the world would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions. He had money as well
And look in verse 33 he had compassion good intentions
But in verse 34 he had resources
Do you understand what I just said?
He bound up his wounds pouring in oil and wine set him on his own beast. He had his own beast
Brought him to the inn
Took care of him took out two pence. He had two pence
To be able to do this and gave them to the host and whatsoever thou spendest more
He said when I come again, I will repay thee verse 36 which which now of these thinkest thou
This is Jesus speaking was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves and he said he that showed mercy on him
Then said Jesus unto him. Here's what Jesus says. Here's what he wants us to take away from this parable go and do thou likewise
See being responsible is not enough to be looking or observing
Opportunities to help it also requires that you be ready
for those opportunities to help
So when there's a struggling marriage and maybe you could be of assistance it doesn't help if your marriage is struggling too
You understand that?
We need you to be responsible enough and mature enough and spiritual enough
To be able to not only observe when there's a need
But also have the beast to put someone on
Also have the two pence in your pocket
to take care of someone
Also have the oil and the wine and here's what I'm saying. Here's all I'm saying is a responsible people realize
They have to deal with the problems
That they can't just live their life passing the buck and saying well
It's not my fault and here's the reason why and maybe if you told us your reason we would all agree with you and we
Would say yeah, I'm with you and I agree
But at the end of the day a responsible person realizes I still have to live with those consequences
So, how about I stop passing the buck and I decide that the buck stops here and here's what I know the Bible promises
That if I show in the right direction
I will reap in the right direction and a responsible person realizes that their future state is a result of their current choices
so you're gonna start making the right choices today and
Position themselves in such a way
So that when they come across
That
Poor soul
On the side of the street half dead maybe physically maybe spiritually
Instead of just hoping they could help and wishing they could open up move with compassion
They can see the need and
They can meet the need
Because they position themselves in such a way
Where they are if we turn it all the way around and make full circle verse 1
Where they are the spiritual person
Who can restore such a one?
in the spirit of me this
It's called personal responsibility
Do you have it?
If not, you should get it
Spot had to know what a prayer Heavenly Father
What are we thinking for your word? We're thinking for this portion of Scripture
We thank you for these principles
Lord I pray you'd help us to apply them in our lives
Lord I pray you'd help us to be responsible people
Many things that we deal with are self-inflicted wounds. They are our own doing but not everything
We live in a sinful world in a sinful state
Sometimes things happen
And they may not be our fault
But a responsible person does not worry about whose fault it is they worry about what they can do about it
Lord I pray you'd help us to be that person
Help us to become the spiritual mature individual that when needed is able and capable to help others also
We love you
Match this name of Christ we pray
Amen
We're never the Moses come up and lead us in a final song just want to remind you a couple of things first of all
Don't forget if you're part of the cleaning crew
We apologize, but we are moving the dinner and training from this Friday to next Friday
So it's not on August 18th. It'll be on August 25th. That's due to the funeral. We apologize for the inconvenience there
Please respond to the text and RSVP if you're able to make it to the 25th date
Also, don't forget that this Friday soul winning is canceled. No soul winning on Friday at 2 p.m
There will be soul winning on Thursday at 2 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. Of course Saturday morning at 10 a.m
But on Friday it is canceled due to the funeral and then of course want to remind you that we're having the funeral for baby
John Cyrus radari
Here Friday, August 18th 11 a.m. Here at the church building
There'll be a gravesite service at 1 p.m. And then we'll have a reception at 2 p.m. In our fellowship
Hall, it will be live streamed if you're not able to make it
You can watch the live stream if you'd like if you're coming there will be a potluck
So if you can please bring a dish to share and also if you could help us if you can just look around
Your area and kind of put everything back make sure the himba gets back kind of pick up whatever mess your kids might have made
We'd appreciate that the staff guys
They're not gonna start immediately after service, but they're gonna be cleaning the building tonight in preparation for the Friday service
So it once they start cleaning if you could kind of clear
The way get the kids out of the way so they can do what they got to do
And if you're able to help if you're a cleaner and you're able to help we would appreciate your help tonight with all of that
There's anything we can do for you. Please. Let us know we'll have brother Moses come up and lead us in a final song
Please
Center your songbooks page number three hundred and seventy-two
Page three seven two
We're gonna finish off singing and let the lower lights be burning
page
372 on the furs
Brightly beams our father's mercy
from his
lighthouse evermore
But to us he gives the keeping of the lights along the shore
Let the lower lights be burning
Santa clean
across the way
some poor
Fainting struggling seamen you may rescue you may save
dark the nights of sin has settled out the
Angry billows roar
Eager eyes are watching longing for the lights along the shore
Let the lower lights be burning
Across the way some poor fainting struggling seamen
May rescue you may save on the last
trim your
People and my brother some poor sailor tempest sauce
Trying now to make the harbor in the darkness may be lost
Some poor fainting struggling seamen you may rescue you may save
Great singing can I please have with RJ close this in a word prayer?
Amen
You