You
Grab a hymnal turn to song number 191 in my heart there brings a melody
Let's all stand together for this first song if you will which will be song number
191 in my heart there brings a melody. I have a song that Jesus gave me all together nice and strong in that first verse
I have a song that
Jesus gave me
Oh
Dear Lord God Heavenly Father, I thank you for this day Lord
Thank you for the service this morning
And I thank you for the souls that were saved this afternoon
And I just ask that you please bless this service
Bless the singing and most of all bless the preaching of your word in Jesus name. I pray Amen
Go ahead and turn to song number 87
Song number 87 just when I need him most
Song number 87 all together nice and strong in that first verse just when I need
Jesus is me
Just when I falter
Just when I fear
Jesus is
And she just when I need
Just when I need
For safety
Just when I need
Just
Fearing my burdens all the day long
Just when I need him most
For all my sorrow giving a song
Just when I need him most
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer
Just when I need him most
Just when I need him, he is my own.
Answering when upon him I call, tenderly watching,
lest I should fall.
Just when I need him most.
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer.
Just when I need him most.
Alright, great singing. Thank you so much for being here this evening.
Welcome to First Works Baptist Church.
Just a few announcements. If you did not get a bulletin this morning,
you want to raise your hand to get one. One of the ushers can get one to you.
Our services are as follows. Sunday morning is at 10.30.
Sunday evening is at 5 p.m.
And then we have our Thursday night Bible study at 7 o'clock.
And you see the so many times and teams there as well.
The list of expecting mothers.
Of course as we mentioned in prior services,
the important reminder is regarding supervising your children in the building.
No children should be in the mother baby room alone
without their parents or any room in this building for that matter.
And so please keep that in mind.
And obviously no men allowed in the mother baby room.
If dads, you need to watch over your children,
and you want to take them out of the service,
you can go into the fellowship hall. So just keep that in mind.
You see the church announcements there.
We had the March birthday breakfast.
And so happy birthday to you all who have a birthday in March.
Pastor Roger Jimenez is preaching for us on Thursday, March 25th.
He'll be here with his family.
So that's going to be exciting.
Invite your friends, family to be a part of that.
And then we do have a zoning marathon in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 27th.
And so looking forward to that.
We'll give you more information as we approach that day.
But I'm foreseeing that the areas that are near here are going to be really receptive.
I know Anaheim is going to be receptive.
I know Santa Ana is going to be receptive.
All these areas.
And even Fullerton, right, is pretty receptive.
What are some other surrounding cities?
Buena Park is receptive.
You know, it's going to be great.
And then we have a special Easter service and breakfast coming up on Sunday, April 4th.
There will be an Easter egg hunt for the kids as well.
And so invite your family, friends, cousins to that service, especially if they're not saved.
You know, you can invite them.
The message obviously will be geared towards the resurrection.
And then, you know, Lord Willem will have an opportunity to give them the gospel,
have soul owners ready to talk to them after the service.
But there will be an Easter egg hunt.
And so if you have a hard time in getting your family here,
you can kind of motivate them by letting them know that there will be an Easter egg hunt after the service for their children.
And so looking forward for that day.
And then, of course, there's going to be special music as well.
And then the quiet time from 3 to 4.15 p.m. in the main auditorium and mother baby room.
So just keep that in mind.
And of course, no food or drink allowed in the main auditorium except for water and coffee.
And then, of course, please silence your phones during the preaching so as to not be a distraction during the service.
And that's pretty much it.
Let's go ahead and take some soul winning numbers from last week.
Salvations from Monday up until Thursday.
Any salvations from Monday to Thursday?
Yes. Two. Okay.
Anybody else from Monday to Thursday?
How about Friday and Saturday?
Friday and Saturday?
Yes.
Three. Okay.
Three for Friday and Saturday.
Anybody else?
All right.
How about this afternoon?
This afternoon?
Yes.
Two.
Okay.
Brother Mark had two.
Brother Paul?
Three.
All right.
Brother Jacob?
One from last Sunday.
Okay.
One from last Sunday from Jacob.
So count that.
Yes.
One for today?
Two?
I'm sorry?
Two today.
Two today. Okay.
Don't say too many twos.
Anybody else for this afternoon?
Going once, twice, thrice.
All right.
Keep up the great work on soul winning.
Let's go ahead and sing our next song.
Song number 247.
247 in your song books.
Save, save.
Lift it up together on that first verse.
I found a friend who is all to me.
His love is ever true.
I love to tell how he lifted me.
And what his grace can do for you.
Saved by his fiery might.
Saved to you I'm so blind.
Life now is sweet and my joy is complete.
For I'm saved, saved, saved.
On that second, he saves me from every sin and harm.
Secure my soul each day.
I'm leaning strong on his mighty arms.
I know he'll guide me all the way.
Saved by his fiery might.
Saved to you I'm so blind.
Life now is sweet and my joy is complete.
For I'm saved, saved, saved.
On that last nice and strong, when
He opened me and all alone.
In love he said to me,
Come unto me and I'll lead you home.
To live with me eternally.
Saved by his fiery might.
Saved to you I'm so blind.
Life now is sweet and my joy is complete.
For I'm saved, saved, saved.
Great singing.
At this time the ushers are going to take the offering.
Go ahead and take your Bibles and open them up to James chapter 3.
James chapter 3.
James number 3.
James 3.
James chapter 3.
The mercy would say they don't have genuine love for people.
Now here's the reality. It's all those.
Right?
If we were to just look at it from an overview
an overview perspective of what's wrong with churches
we would say well it's all of those.
But from the perspective of each gift
we would probably give that first answer.
You understand?
That kind of will help you to gear you
or point you in the right direction.
Now I will say this is that as we go through this series
the tendency for people
is to reject what their real spiritual gift is
and try to become what they would want to be.
Okay?
Well no, I don't want to be a prophet.
You know, prophets are mean.
I'm more of a mercy servant.
Because that sounds very graceful.
It sounds like a very noble gift to have.
But let me just say this.
Just embrace whatever gift you have.
It's the one that God gave you.
It's how you're wired.
Learn other qualities because if we're supposed to
it just means that this is how you're naturally wired.
The reason I make that statement is because
I remember even at my old church
they would teach this concept
and the prophets were the most looked down upon.
They're just like, oh yeah he's a prophet.
They're just mean people.
Everything is gloom and doom for them.
And it was almost like a curse
to discover that you're a prophet.
When the ladies would find out that they were prophets
they would go into depression or something.
Because they're just like, I don't want to be a prophet.
I'm a mercy servant giver.
Everything else that sounds good or something.
But they would find out that they're a prophet
and they would just be in denial.
But it's because the culture was
well prophets are always bad.
Prophets are always just mean spirited.
They just preach on sin
and they're just gloom and doom.
All these things.
We should never have that attitude obviously
when it comes to how we're wired.
Embrace it.
Love it.
Develop it.
And seek to develop the other areas in your life
that are lacking.
Other spiritual gifts.
And again Jesus Christ exemplifies every single one of these.
So if we're like Christ
we are going to develop these areas as well.
And so we talked about the last couple of weeks
what spiritual gifts are available.
You have the gift of prophecy.
The person with the gift of prophecy
possesses the ability to speak in God's stead
with accuracy, authority, and power.
The gift of ministry or the servant.
This is the person who
has
possesses the ability to see a need
and fulfill it.
This evening we're going to talk about the teacher.
The gift of teaching.
Now the gift of teaching
Let me lower this a little bit.
The person with the gift of teaching
possesses the desire to prove all things
and hold fast that which is good.
Look down at your Bibles at Romans chapter 12
and verse 6
Having then gifts
deferring according to the grace that is given to us
whether prophecy let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith
or ministry let us wait on our ministering
or he that teacheth on teaching.
So a lot of times people
will get this confused and say
well you know
I'm not really good at teaching people though.
You know I'm not really
I'm not very gifted at putting the cookie on the bottom shelf
and being able to explain doctrines well
you know and so therefore I'm not a teacher.
But a teacher isn't necessarily the person
who is able to explain things in layman's terms.
They just are able to give you
a lot of information.
Okay.
And here's one thing that I've learned.
Now let me just say this is that a lot of what I'm preaching tonight
and teaching in regards to the teacher
and all these other spiritual gifts
we're going to give biblical proofs of these things and principles
but let me just say this is that a lot of this is just things that I've
learned over experience of dealing with people
who have these spiritual gifts.
And one thing I've learned about the teacher
is that they're just a well of knowledge.
Okay.
They know a lot about different subjects.
And obviously in different arenas.
Okay.
You think of an individual who
you know is a doctor for example
and they're a teacher
you know they're going to be able to expound upon
their area of expertise
you know regardless of what their occupation is
maybe their occupation is structural engineering
they're able to talk a lot about that
even when it comes to the Bible
a lot of different things they're just a well of knowledge.
Now go to Acts chapter 17 if you would
Acts chapter 17
Now why is it important to have teachers in the church?
Well because of the fact that they want to prove
all things hold fast that which is good.
They want to make sure that the doctrine is pure in the church.
Now look all of us want that
but they're more naturally inclined
to think that way.
Okay.
The mercy is not necessarily inclined to think that way.
But they know it's important.
The prophet not necessarily inclined to think that way
but they know it's important.
Okay.
The teacher on the other hand
that's exactly how they think.
They base what church they're going to go to based upon
how's the doctrine.
You know.
Is it pure?
Is it right?
Is it correct?
It's very important to them
and that's good.
And let me just say this is that
if you're going to hear some things about the teacher tonight
that you may think to yourself
well I don't really have that
well you have to develop that.
We have to develop the strengths of a teacher.
Just like we have to develop the strengths of a servant
the strengths of a prophet
but the teacher these things kind of come naturally to them.
Now look at Acts chapter 17 in verse number 10
it says
And that they received the word with all readiness of mind
and searched the scriptures daily
whether those things were so
so we obviously understand that the Bereans were not saved at this point
they ended up getting saved
but I will say this is that I'm sure after they got saved
they're still searching the scriptures daily to see if those things are so.
It's part of who they are.
Right.
Well in like manner this is how the teacher operates.
The teacher loves to study.
The teacher loves to investigate.
Okay.
They are investigators.
They like to search diligently to see if the teaching
if the doctrine matches up with the Bible.
And you can see why that's important in church.
Right.
You know a lot of churches that have gone apostate
they get off doctrinally
don't have enough teachers in the church.
And sometimes the teachers keep the pastor accountable.
You know.
And you know what a lot of pastors today
would do well to have teachers in their church
to make sure you know so they
so he knows like hey I got to make sure my doctrine is right
because the teacher is listening.
Because you know the pastor is not above that.
Right.
You know the pastor is preaching obviously he's the leader
he's the pastor
but it's important that you open up the Bible to see if these things are so.
And the teacher is more naturally inclined to lean that way
and to investigate whereas others
may not necessarily pay attention
some things may go over their head.
The teacher is keenly paying attention
to what is being taught from the Bible
and that is important.
Now we'll get into that a little more later
but go with me if you would to
go to Proverbs chapter 17.
So number one let me give you some things about the teacher.
Number one
there often as I mentioned a well of knowledge.
The Bible says in Proverbs 1 5
a wise man will hear will increase in learning
and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel.
The teachers that I've met in my personal life
whether in our church or in other places
I've learned that they are very interesting people.
And what makes them interesting is the knowledge that they carry.
Okay.
They seem to know a lot about different subjects.
Now they may not be able to express it eloquently
or even with simplicity
but you know a man of understanding will draw it out.
And you know some people don't like talking to teachers
because sometimes what the teachers say
just kind of goes over their head
but you know what if you learn to just
draw out from that well of knowledge
you could actually benefit a lot from a conversation with the teacher
because they have some good stuff.
And I'll be honest with you like the teachers in our church
I like talking to them.
I just don't like talking to a teacher
if a teacher is talking to another teacher.
If two teachers are talking together
I'm like I just stay away from that conversation
because it becomes like a vortex
in a black hole of just knowledge
and it's just like I'd rather just not deal with that.
I'd rather just talk to a teacher by himself you know.
And so teachers
and let me say this most teachers
in my experience
how can I put this nicely?
I don't want to say they're antisocial
but that's really what I want to say.
They're not very social.
Or they're very shy.
Very quiet.
And just observe it.
If you know a teacher in our church you know that's true.
And why are they shy?
Or why are they quiet?
Why aren't they you know
loud or just always expressing an opinion
because they're always analyzing everything that's being said.
They're analyzing everything
and here's the thing is that
even though they don't speak a whole lot
when they do and if you allow
that individual to talk for too long
whatever they're saying becomes complex
and no one understands what they're talking about.
Let me just say this.
Teachers are not the best at telling jokes.
Because it's too smart.
It's too complex.
A joke's not supposed to be smart necessarily you know.
I mean it can be.
But when it becomes too complex
but that's how that's you know
and I'm just going to be honest with you.
Moses is an example of this okay.
Moses comes with a joke
and the joke lasts for like two minutes.
Like the explanation of the joke is like two minutes long.
And we're just kind of waiting for the punchline
and before we know it the punchline
has already come and gone and we missed it.
The cadence of the joke just kind of goes.
Now here's the thing.
At the end of the joke
no one's laughing but he is.
And you know why he's the only one laughing?
He's the only one smart enough to understand what the joke was about.
Okay.
Now if permitted to speak for too long
you know if you talk to a teacher for too long
they could often perplex you, confuse you, like
what are you talking about?
But let me say this.
The teachers are actually great one-liners though.
They're great at giving you like one line.
Okay.
And it reminds me of this verse
in Proverbs 15 23.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth
and a word spoken in due season how good it is.
I've heard some teachers in our church
they don't pipe up much
but when they do it's like oh man that was good.
That was like a good way of phrasing him
that was good wisdom
that's good knowledge.
So they hold it all in
for that one moment of glory kind of thing you know.
But then it's like yeah exactly.
And you know I like having teachers around me
because sometimes I have trouble
you know putting into words something that I'm thinking
but they're like listening
and then they kind of finish the sentence
like that's exactly what I was thinking right there.
They're able to speak a word in due season
and it is good okay.
Now look at Proverbs 17 verse 27.
Why is it that the teacher is so quiet?
Well look what it says in verse 27 in Proverbs 17.
It says he that hath knowledge
spareth his words.
The man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
So typically the person who knows a lot
doesn't say a lot.
Because they don't need to.
They already know like I already know
I already know what I'm talking about.
Okay.
The person who's typically talking the most
is typically the one who doesn't know much.
Okay.
Right?
The person who's constantly just
just spouting off information
maybe that they don't know what they're talking about.
You know most people will understand okay
they don't know what they're talking about.
But the teacher on the other hand
often does
and you know by that one-liner.
Okay this guy's catching on.
He knows what's up.
He has knowledge.
He has wisdom.
He knows what he's talking about.
Okay.
Even a fool the Bible says
when he holdeth his peace is counted wise
and he that shutteth his lips is esteem
a man of understanding.
So when we look at an individual
who brings that one-liner
we think to ourselves
this person has understanding.
Okay.
They have wisdom.
They have understanding.
But
the teacher needs to make sure
that they just cut it off
at that one-liner sometimes.
Okay.
Because then it's just like
that was good
and then they just keep going
it's like okay you just killed it.
Now you just lost everyone.
Okay.
Go back to James chapter 3.
James chapter 3.
I'm not saying that
you know people who are teachers
automatically come with knowledge built in.
But their their natural propensity
is to investigate, to study
and they often retain quite a bit
of information
large chunks of information
they're able to retain it.
And it's pretty interesting
because I've talked to some teachers
and it almost seems as though
like when you ask them a question
about their area of expertise
they almost have like a mental Rolodex
or a filing cabinet
where they're able to just
kind of like go through it
pull out that file
and just give it to you.
I'm serious.
You know.
Some of us like me for example
you tell me something I'm like
oh man I got to think about that
for a while.
Like I haven't taught I haven't preached
on that in a while
I haven't talked about that in a while
but teachers on the other hand
they have this ability
where they're able to recall
dates, facts, information
they're wired to memorize
large portions of information
in whatever area that they see
is interesting to them.
But here's number two
so they're a well of knowledge
but because of this
what's the natural tendency?
To be puffed up.
And not easily entreated.
So look if you have knowledge
that's great but you know
what knowledge does?
It puffs up.
Because you're like
you're Mr. Know-It-All
you're Mrs. Know-It-All
you think you're just
God's gift to the church
I mean the teacher is like the best one
because you have all this knowledge.
Well look what James 3 verse 13 says
Who is a wise man
and endued with knowledge among you?
Who is it?
Let him show out of a good conversation
his works with meekness
of wisdom.
So what does it say?
Look if you have knowledge
that's great but be humble about it.
Be humble.
Verse 14 says
But if you have bitter envying
and strife in your hearts
glory not
and lie not against the truth.
This wisdom descendeth
not from above
but is earthly
sensual
devilish
for where envying and strife is
there is confusion
and every evil work
but the wisdom that is from above
is first pure
then peaceable
gentle
look what it says
easy to be entreated
full of mercy
and good fruits
without partiality
without hypocrisy
and the fruit of the righteous
is sown in peace
of them that make peace.
So if the teacher's not careful
because he has so much knowledge
he can become so proud
that he feels like he or she feels that
they don't need to learn anything else from you.
And if someone
and if a person comes to them
correcting them
trying to teach them something
if they feel like they already
have made up their minds in that area
they're not easily entreated.
They will not be convinced.
So the strength of the teacher
is that he just has
loads of information
he knows a lot
the weakness that comes along with that
is that he can't learn anything else from you.
Understand?
Or if he's already convinced about a specific subject
he's not going to relearn it from you.
Now here's the thing
obviously that's not biblical, right?
Because we should be people who are constantly learning.
We are students of God's word
we're students of life.
And we should never have an attitude
that just because we have knowledge
no one else can teach us.
You understand?
Be easily entreated
have peace
be gentle
be full of mercy and good fruits
without partiality
and without hypocrisy.
Now look, teachers
we want your knowledge.
I want your knowledge.
People want knowledge.
People want to speak to people who know what they're talking about.
But they won't want it
if you're not easily to be entreated
if you're not easily to be entreated.
They will actually resist
who you are
resist your knowledge
resist your gift
if you're proud and puffed up.
You see we want people
if, you know, if we have knowledge
we want people to search us out for knowledge.
We want people to ask us questions
and ask our advice and ask our counsel
but they will not
if they sense that you are a prideful
arrogant individual who's just a know-it-all.
You got to have a balance of having knowledge
but have meekness of wisdom
have humility
recognize that you can still learn from others
recognize that even though
you may know more than this individual
they probably still have something that they can teach you out of life.
And be willing to learn things
and let me just say this
be willing to unlearn
certain things as well.
Because the reality is
we not only have to learn things in life
we have to learn the Bible
but you know there's things that we have to unlearn as well.
There's certain ways of thinking
cultural things
or bad doctrine
whatever it may be
that we have to actually renew our minds
change our minds about
and we have to be willing to be a student of other individuals.
There's Brother House who said this
you know, every man is my teacher
and this man was the man who had the biggest church in America for quite some time
you know, he was the pastor of the biggest church
in America for a while
and yet he said every man is my teacher
I can learn something from everyone.
Okay.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 8 verse 1
Now as touching things offered unto idols
we know that we all have knowledge
knowledge puffeth up
but charity edifieth.
So the teacher needs to make sure that
if he knows something
if he has knowledge that's great
but you better couple that with a little bit of love
not a little bit of love
a lot of love
and have charity
because if your knowledge is going to be effective in this world
or even if it's going to be effective in the church
it needs to be propelled by love
you know if you want to give someone knowledge
and have them learn from you
they need to know that you love them
right?
It's often said
let me see if I get this quote right
people don't care how much you know
until they know how much you care
that's true isn't it?
they don't really care how much you know
unless they know that you care
you know if you come and correct an individual
and the individual thinks that you're just doing it out of spite
they're going to resist you
but if they know that you're doing it out of love
you have genuine charity and love towards them
they'll accept that correction
I'll be honest I have a hard time accepting correction
from someone who I think doesn't love me
right?
now I know there's always a little bit of truth in each correction
but you know I'll readily receive more correction
from an individual who I know
loves me
because you know they're not doing it out of malice
you know they're not doing it out of envy
or strife
they're doing it because they are
they are esteeming you as a brother or as a sister in Christ
ok?
and so it's important that if you have knowledge
amen
but you need to temper that and it needs to be wrapped up in charity
have charity
be easily entreated
be peaceable
be willing to learn
be humble, be meek
have the
the sincere love that says
you know I know a lot of things
by the way don't say you know a lot of things
but you know in your mind you know
I know a lot of things
but I can still learn from others
ok?
never get to a point in your life where you feel like you just know everything already
you need to
get to a point where you're saying well
I need to keep growing, I need to keep learning
every person is my teacher
and there are certain things in this world
that I just don't know about
and you know maybe you've had some experiences
well you need to realize that
other people have had experiences, they've been around the block too
and they can teach you something ok?
and so
they are a well of knowledge
it's important to have them because they want doctrinal purity
they're very interesting people
to talk to
um
but not only that we see that
they want facts
they don't want experience
so the teacher when they heard me
right now say I'm going to talk to you from my experience
they kind of like
they don't really like that too much
like just give me the vibe
just give us the facts
where are you getting this information from?
fact check you!
ok?
yeah fact checkers are teachers
who are just not saved and wicked
on facebook
right
so they want facts
not someone's experience
the bible says
study to show thyself approve them to God a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed
rightly dividing the word of truth
but shun profane and vain babblings
for they will increase unto more ungodliness
so for the teacher it's important
that they, you give them the sources
they want to know the source
they like the bibliography
they want to know where you're getting this from
ok? how'd you get that from?
how'd you come to that conclusion?
where'd you learn that from?
that's what they want to know
they don't care about the experiences
but here's the thing, experience is important
and sometimes God allows us to experience
things that are not necessarily found in the bible
but still holds water
ok? you know we gain
knowledge and wisdom by experience
go with me if you would to
Ecclesiastes chapter number 12 if you would
Ecclesiastes chapter number 12
now obviously there's churches out there
that are kind of like the opposite
they don't give any doctrine
they don't give any verses
they don't teach anything of the bible
and all it is is just like a motivational
Joel Osteen type speech
and that's wrong
you know everything should be saturated with the bible
we should have
biblical references
to whatever we're talking about
but even if it's something of experience
we should have some sort of biblical principle
that we can pull from that
what'd I have you turn?
Ecclesiastes 12
but not only that
they possess an inquisitive nature
ok?
now what do I mean by that?
they question everything
everything
now this is good
right?
to a certain extent
because it's just like where is that from?
you know
and you know they don't necessarily believe
every conspiracy theory that's out there
because they question everything
even if the majority of people
believe it
they're still like I don't believe it
I want to see facts
I want to see if this is true
where are they getting it from?
so they have an inquisitive nature and that's great
because of the fact that we need inquisitive people
not just people who are simple
and believe every word
the simple believe every word and are punished
the simple just believe every word
they just take it at face value
and they don't question anything
you know we live in a society today
that just believes everything that they hear
they read Fox News
they watch CNN
and they look at all these
media outlets
and they just believe everything that they say
they read the LA Times about our church
and just believe everything that they say
they don't put nothing to the test
they just believe
everything and you know what?
the teacher is the exact opposite of that
which is good
they're not just going to believe every rumor
they're not going to believe every conspiracy theory
and you know there's some
there's some conspiracy theories out there that are not true
like the flat earth
it's not true
ok
you know there's other conspiracies out there
and you know
oh man
I don't even want to get into this
because I just might divide the church right now
no I won't divide the church
I like having the teacher around
because the teacher is not just going to
blindly believe everything
doesn't matter how many YouTube videos there are out there
about it
doesn't matter how many views that YouTube video has
they're more like
I want the facts
ok
now
look what it says in Ecclesiastes 12 verse 8
vanity of vanity saith the preacher
all is vanity and moreover because the
preacher was wise he still taught the people
knowledge yea he gave good heed
and sought out and set in
order many proverbs
the preacher sought to find out
acceptable words and that which
was written was upright
even words of truth
so the preacher seeks out wisdom
he seeks out the truth he investigates
to see if these things are so
and you know for example
let me say this is that the vast majority
of people who are
truthers
who are against vaccines
I guarantee a whole mess of them
are teachers
started off as teachers
investigating whether these things were so
like hey maybe we need to start
looking into what's found within these vaccines
before we just blindly accept
everything ok
and you know what I know some
anti-vaxxers out there who do their
due diligence they have
wells of information
about vaccines and how
wicked they really are
and all the harmful substances that are found
there in but you know someone did all that
homework and I guarantee you as a teacher
someone who investigated and thrives
on that there's entire
social media
accounts dedicated to just
exposing
the lies doing their
homework investigating
etc now how
can this become detrimental
so the teacher is
very inquisitive they question everything
but you know what sometimes they even question
authority
so that's where it becomes detrimental
to the point where
they question so much that even
like your pastor is not even right
your church members aren't even
no one's right
and they can get to a point where it's just like
hey dude you need to chill
out like does everything
really need to be questioned like do we really need to
question this is it that important
because they can get to a point where it's just
like well no conspiracy theory is true
you know no
conspiracy is true I don't believe
in any of this because this is
wrong therefore these must be wrong as well
I don't believe at all and
that's a wrong attitude to have
because we obviously
understand there's things that are not true there's things that are
false there's things that are wrong but not everything
okay
and I'll give you an example
of this okay
the flat earth is wrong
okay the moon landing
is right
but you
know what I
guarantee there's a lot of people
who because they question whether the earth is
flat they also question whether
someone landed on the moon
even though there's a lot of evidence to show
that we did land on the moon not we I didn't
land on the moon but
I'm getting quiet in here
dang
you
know
that inquisitive nature
it needs to be balanced
and when
sometimes you can show facts to someone
they're just like nah I still don't believe it
because they're so inquisitive they question
everything and
even within the spiritual realm in the church
people can get to a point where
a teacher just questions the
pastor on everything you know
and look this happens sometimes
in the new IFB I guarantee
you there's new IFBers who go to old IFB
churches and they just they just scrutinize
the pastor on everything
everything
oh you know I don't know he just doesn't
you know he does this or he says
something a little different it's like yeah he's old IFB
what do you expect
you're not going to find yourself
a leather lung 100%
doctrinally sound just
old IFB
pastor they're not built that way anymore
but the
but the teachers it will scrutinize
and tear that person down
and just question everything that they're doing
and say everything's wrong now
go to uh
go with me if you would to 1 Corinthians chapter 7
hey it's good
to inquire
it's good to have an inquisitive
attitude but you need to temper that a little
bit okay
you need to temper that and
recognize that not everything is a conspiracy
not everything is is is
that's considered a conspiracy is a lie
or it's truth you need to be
tempered and balanced in all these areas
okay
and look you have some some truthers
out there
they're on the opposite side of that spectrum
that are teachers
and they believe in the flat earth
right they believe in the
flat earth they think there's all kinds of evidence for it
and therefore they deny everything else
as well
flat earth is real
moon landing is fake
and reptilians are real
hauler earth is real
it's all real
nephilims
nephilims are real
and they just go off the deep end
but most of those people are not even saved
amen
okay
and so we need to make sure we never have
this attitude where you just go overboard
on being inquisitive to the point where you just question
even God's word
right
cause you are questioning God's word when you believe in the flat earth
amen
cause it says the circle of the earth
and the circle is not referring to a two dimensional
object cause two dimensional objects don't exist
in the real world
right
you know in the Hebrew I don't speak Hebrew but I'll tell you
what the Hebrew says it says globe and you know what
if you don't accept that you're like well give me your source
well I'll tell you what the Spanish Bible says
Spanish Bible says global
thank you my Mexican friend
amen
it says global
in every Spanish edition
from 1569
even to the 1960
can you believe that
they all say global
okay
amen
now look
there's times even here where
maybe an individual will come to me and they'll question me on something
and I have
zero issue with that
you know I'm very comfortable
in my
position of authority as a pastor
I'm not like well you don't question me
don't correct me
if I'm wrong about something come tell me and I'll fix it
amen
but here's what I do have a problem with
the attitude that you come with
right
what does the Bible say rebuke not an elder
but entreat him as a father
and the younger men as
brethren now brother Cody he was messing around earlier
and I know that was a joke
but just in case it wasn't I'm calling you out
I'm just kidding
no I'm just joking
he wasn't rebuking me he was entreating me
and you know and it wasn't
on some majorly doctrinal issue or anything like that
but what I'm saying is you know there are people like that though
we're like
uh you said
believe it says believeth
uh you said
eternal says everlasting
oh I'm sorry
you know they
strain and enact
and they swallow a camel
okay and then look if
even if that were to bug someone let's say that
I did that let's say I said eternal instead of everlasting
or vice versa and that really bothers someone
if they come in and say hey pastor
you said eternal but it actually says everlasting
I noticed that you did that
but I know they're the same thing
see that wouldn't even bother me
but the person who says uh pastor I need to talk to you
you're
so you got ordained by pastor Anderson right
so you've read the Bible
multiple times okay
well can you read this for me please
read that right
there
I'm exaggerating but you know what
it's out there
where they strain
and enact and they swallow a camel
and they almost to a certain extent
want to embarrass you and
and you said what do you do at that point
I embarrass them right back I'll just rebuke that person to their face
I won't even
answer their question I'll say that was a stupid question
stop being
stupid
because if they want to make me look stupid
I'll make them look stupid too
you know rebuking an elder
is not biblical folks and look I've had
pastors that I disagree with
when I was under their leadership I never rebuked them
never
I've always entreated my pastors as
a father when I went to them
even when we disagreed on
major things they felt was major
I still with meekness
intrigued them and they had
to like pull out of me what I believed
I'm just like well
you know I'm just like yeah I don't
believe the Jews I gotta show some people
I believe they're the sons of the devil
I had to like with meekness
because I don't want beef with my pastor
Amen
and you shouldn't either okay
well yeah but I'm a teacher though
I'm trying to keep the doctrine of purity in here
now
sometimes when I get up
and I preach
I'll give you my opinion
what I expect
even as a standard I won't teach her
as a doctrine because obviously at that
point it becomes wrong
but I will tell you what I think
and I will tell you this is how we're going to run our church
you know
this is how we're going to do our services
this is how we're going to do it
and if you come to me and say well where is that in the Bible
well if it's a preference it's not in the Bible
it's a preference
but you know what the difference is
I think I have the spirit of God
look what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 7 verse 5
regarding marriage
and even
some of this referring to divorce as well
look what it says in verse 5
defraud ye not one another
except to be with the consent for a time
that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer
and come together again that Satan tempt you
not for your incontinency
but I speak this by permission
and not of commandment
now we know that this is the word of God
right
this is the word of God
and it's in our Bibles
but here he specifically says
I'm giving you this by permission
and this is not a commandment
but you know what it would be wise if we follow that
who's going to tell Paul
I don't know Paul
I think you're getting out of line there
if any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God
only give me the Bible Paul
well here's the thing
Paul had the spirit of God
skip down to verse 7
for I would that all men were even
as I myself
but every man hath his proper gift of God
one after this manner and another after that
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows
it is good for them if they abide even as I
but if they cannot contain
let them marry
for it is better to marry than to burn
and unto the married I command
yet not I but the Lord
so he's saying look I'm going to give you my opinion
it's better if you remain
even as I
because he's unmarried
he doesn't have children
he doesn't have a wife
and in his opinion it's better
and you know what he's right it is better
because at that point he can do more for the Lord
but look that doesn't mean we can't disagree with Paul
right?
because I disagree with them apparently
I got married I have kids
I don't want to burn
I want to have children I like having a wife
you know it's great
but here's the thing
I guarantee the curriculum is like oh man
give us only the Bible Paul
I only want to hear what the Bible has to say
skip down to verse 37
verse 39 excuse me
the wife is bound by the law
as long as her husband liveth but if her husband be dead
she is at liberty to be married to whom she will
only in the Lord
but she is happier if she so
abide after my judgment
and I think also that I have the spirit
of God
hmm
see what this tells me
is that men of God
pastors, leaders who have the
spirit of God are able to make proper
judgments
and you know what Paul's expecting?
he's not expecting them to obey what he's saying
he's expecting for them to respect it
that if he has a preference
or he is you know
showing a little bit of wisdom
a little bit of judgment because he is a man of God
he's a servant of the Lord
people are not going to despise him for that
and the reason I want to make this
this point here
is because
obviously when I get up I'm going to be preaching doctrine
giving you verses and proving things
when it comes to doctrinal issues
but you know what sometimes I am going to give you my judgment
I'm going to give you my judgment
and here's the thing
the wrong attitude is this
where is that in the Bible?
this is what I'm going to tell you
it's not
but I'm the pastor here
and in the gray areas where God is not explicitly clear
I make a judgment call and you know what
if it's bound here, it's bound up there
there you have it
and as the leader here
I've been ordained
to make certain decisions
to make certain judgment calls
to lead the church in a specific way
and God has given me the liberty to do that
what we don't need is
carnal teachers
right?
say no, no, no, we need to go by the letter of the law
let's study how they
operated in church
in the book of Acts
I want to see every new
ushers are not biblical
this is not biblical, where's that in the Bible?
where's offering place in the Bible?
where's ties in the Bible?
where's the suit code in the Bible?
it's not!
I speak by permission
I'm giving you my judgment
because along with being a pastor
I'm not only supposed to preach the word of God
I'm giving you my judgment as well
because a pastor comes with experience
a pastor comes with
wisdom and judgment
and that's what we're supposed to impart
there's certain things in the Bible that are
black and white, other things are not
it's a gray area
and at that point
God gives us the liberty to choose
what kind of rule to make in that area
okay?
go to 1 Corinthians 12
let me read to you from 2 Thessalonians 2
therefore, brethren, stand fast
and hold the traditions
which ye have been taught
whether by word or by our epistle
a tradition is something
that's kind of passed on from one person
to another, it's not necessarily the word of God
now in some aspects he's said by our epistles
but in other parts he's said by our word
so it's like this is the way we do things here
and so follow that
and you know what?
First Works Baptist Church has traditions now
quiet time between 3 and 4.15
tradition
show me where there's a quiet time in the Bible
I want to see quiet time in the Bible
I don't believe this is biblical to do this
show me a quiet time in the Bible
okay, how about eudicates or something?
I'll just throw out eudicates, alright?
there's your quiet time there
there's something like that in the Bible and I never said there was
it's a judgment that I've made as the leader of the church
look what it says in 1 Corinthians 12 verse 3
wherefore I give you to understand that no man
speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus
a curse and that no man
can say that Jesus is the Lord
but by the Holy Ghost
now, there are diversities of gifts
but the same Spirit
there are differences
of administrations
but the same Lord
there are diversities
of operations
but it is the same God which worketh
all in all but the manifestation
of the Spirit is given to every man
to profit with all
so what is Paul saying? hey, some people
operate church differently than others
some people administer things
differently than others, just know this
it's the same Spirit
now, I'm not saying it's like the same
between us and the Pentecostal church down the road
because obviously our spirit is of God
and their spirit is of the devil
I'm talking about independent
fundamental Baptist churches
Baptist churches or just biblical
churches that are preaching the right doctrine
you know, how come we don't do things
the way they're doing over there? well, because of the fact that they have a different
administration over there
they have a different operation over there
okay
they have a different operation, a diversity
of administrations but it's the same Lord
well, which administration? I want to follow God's
administration, what does God
say about that? well, he didn't say
anything specifically about this so
you know, I'm just going to go ahead and make a call here
hey, there's nowhere in the Bible we should have a pulpit
I'm still going to have it though
show me a mic in the Bible
and you can see how this can get, people can get carried away
with this type of spirit
it's good to be inquisitive
it's good to inquire
and not just blindly believe everything
but it can go overboard to the point
where it's just like, well, I want specific
proof for everything that we do in our church
and don't come
at me with that attitude
you know, I'm very, I try to be very
gracious and merciful
you know, and patient, but here's the
thing, with people who don't come at me with the wrong
attitude
okay, you know, the right
attitude, you receive grace
and peace and mercy
and kindness
but if you come at me with an ugly attitude
and just try to come at me like you're rebuking me
and you know, it's not happening
I'm just saying, this is preventative
you know, I don't tolerate that
and so
go to James chapter 3 once again
and we'll finish there
so back to the
the sermon here on teachers
hey, I'm thankful that teachers
are in our church, I think more
churches need to have teachers
you know, I don't think churches
should be a stupid place to be
I think people should be intelligent
in the local New Testament church
you know what helps that intelligence
is having intelligent people
you know, go and talk to some of the teachers
in our church, go ask them questions
inquire, let them teach you
something, let them impart knowledge onto you
you'll benefit from it
but teachers, you know, know
understand that though you have knowledge, you need to have
charity, though it's good to inquire
you need to have it with the right spirit
and then lastly, teachers
need to develop the practicality of doctrine
and not just the knowledge
so it's not just about knowing
the right things, it's about putting it into
practice too
of course we know what
James chapter 1 says
be a doer of the word and not a hero only
but look at James chapter 3 again, verse 13 says
who is a wise man and a dude with knowledge
among you
let him show out of a good conversation
works with meekness
of wisdom
you know the temptation sometimes for teachers is
why I just know a lot so I don't have to do a lot
I know a lot so I don't
really have to do a lot
I'm just, you know,
a Google search
you know, a walking Google search or whatever
or my walking Wikipedia, you know
I don't really have to do a lot, but teachers need to recognize
that it's not just about the knowledge that you have
you got to put it into practice
whether that's soul winning, whether that's love
yeah, tell me what the Bible says about love
that's great, but show me better
what the Bible says about love
yeah, tell me what the Bible says
about the Gospel, why don't you show me
though, how to preach the Gospel
tell me what the Bible says about doctrine
that's great, but why don't you just show me
about your life
what the Bible says about doctrine
it says, but if you have bitter envy and strife in your hearts
glory not, and lie not against the truth
this wisdom descended not from above but is
earthly, sensual, devilish
envy and strife is there is confusion
and every evil work
Romans 12 verse 11
when talking about the teacher
says to be not
slothful in
business
fervent in spirit
serving
the Lord
so teacher needs to take that knowledge
and make sure they're not slothful
make sure that they're fervent
and make sure, am I serving God
am I serving God today
and look, obviously God has commanded us
to study His word and understand knowledge
and love knowledge, but it never
stops there
we need to take it and put it
into practice
and so I hope you learned something
about the teacher
I think, obviously
all these spiritual gifts are great
and I think every single spiritual gift
has a specific unique
attribute that people can appreciate
when I look at the teacher, I'm like
I really appreciate their knowledge
I like the fact that you can just ask them
a question about a specific area
and they just vomit all this information
thank you, I'll pick some of that up
I don't know how you retain
all that
and I think it's important to have
teachers in the church because of the fact
that they will keep the church pure
now obviously it's my job to keep the church pure
but they're like my ears
and my eyes to help me realize
that every person is teaching a weird doctrine here
or they're saying this is not correct
they scrutinize the doctrine
that's great, but they need to make sure
that they do it with meekness of wisdom
Amen?
Father we thank you so much for the spiritual gifts
and I'm thankful for the teachers in our church
Lord
and I pray God that you'd continue to fill in
with your power and your spirit
to profit with all
and a lot of churches today in America
are lacking, not just prophets in my opinion
but teachers
and it's for that reason that they're off doctrinally
they're teaching weird stuff
Lord there's people
some of these dispensational churches
need teachers
these fund centers need teachers
because they need to scrutinize the doctrine
and the pastor needs to allow them to do so
and keep an ear to the ground in that regard
and I pray God, Lord
that you'd help us
to hone in on our spiritual gifts
and develop them
and capitalize on the strengths and develop our weaknesses
we love you so much and we thank you
we pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen
75, all together on that first verse