WEBVTT 26:02.500 --> 26:05.200 Six Christ Arrows. 26:11.100 --> 26:14.620 page number 36 Christ's Arose 26:17.000 --> 26:20.000 We'll sing it out on the first. 26:20.000 --> 26:21.300 Low. 26:26.300 --> 26:27.700 What's my say? 27:13.400 --> 27:18.400 Jesus my Savior 27:24.700 --> 27:29.400 my Lord up from the grave 27:33.500 --> 27:35.500 The triumphal response 27:39.500 --> 27:47.780 dark domain lives forever with his saints to reign. 27:47.780 --> 27:48.780 He erodes the world. 27:59.600 --> 28:18.160 cannot keep his pray Jesus my Savior he tore the bars away Jesus my Lord up from 28:18.160 --> 28:20.800 the grave he wrote 28:23.900 --> 28:37.180 He arose a victor from the dark domain, And he lives forever with his saints to reign. 28:37.180 --> 28:38.500 He arose! 28:48.000 --> 28:51.640 everybody. Brother Ryan, you 28:49.600 --> 28:52.640 please open us up in order to 28:51.700 --> 28:54.000 prayer. Dear heavenly father, 28:52.700 --> 28:55.540 thank you god for this church 28:54.060 --> 28:57.540 and everybody here lord. I pray 28:55.600 --> 28:59.380 god that you will fill us with 28:57.600 --> 29:00.940 your holy spirit now as we uh 28:59.440 --> 29:02.540 sing praises unto you and bless 29:01.000 --> 29:05.340 the rest of the servants of 29:02.600 --> 29:06.380 Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Alright, 29:05.420 --> 29:09.020 if you wanna take your 29:06.440 --> 29:10.200 hymnals, turn to page number 29:09.080 --> 29:10.200 two. 29:12.300 --> 29:14.300 page number two. 29:17.300 --> 29:19.300 Glory to His name. 29:23.300 --> 29:26.800 That's page number two. 29:26.800 --> 29:27.960 Sing it out on first. 29:29.700 --> 29:34.380 Down at the cross where my Savior died, 29:34.380 --> 29:39.100 Down where for cleansing from sin I cried, 29:39.100 --> 29:43.860 There to my heart was the blood applied, 29:43.860 --> 29:48.420 Glory to His name, 29:48.420 --> 29:53.140 Glory to His name, 29:53.140 --> 29:57.620 Glory to His name. 29:57.700 --> 30:02.460 There to my heart was the blood applied, 30:02.460 --> 30:06.200 Glory to His name. 30:07.200 --> 30:16.760 I am so wondrously saved from sin, Jesus so sweetly abides within, 30:16.760 --> 30:21.340 there at the cross where He took me in. 30:21.340 --> 30:33.840 Glory to His name! Glory to His name! Glory to His name! 30:36.000 --> 30:44.840 to my heart was the blood applied, glory to his name. 30:44.840 --> 30:49.560 Oh precious fountain that saves from sin, 30:49.560 --> 30:54.000 I am so glad I have entered in. 30:54.100 --> 30:58.600 There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean. 30:58.600 --> 31:03.100 Glory to His name. 31:03.100 --> 31:07.500 Glory to His name. 31:14.000 --> 31:21.100 my heart was the blood applied, glory to his name. 31:23.700 --> 31:27.260 Let fountains so rich and sweet 31:27.260 --> 31:31.980 Cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet 31:31.980 --> 31:36.700 Plunge in today and be made complete 31:36.700 --> 31:41.140 Glory to His name 31:41.140 --> 31:45.860 Glory to His name 31:45.860 --> 31:49.540 Glory to His name 31:50.500 --> 31:59.500 There to my heart was the blood applied, glory to His name. 31:59.500 --> 32:01.500 All right, excellent singing, everybody. 32:01.500 --> 32:03.500 At this time, we will have our announcement. 32:08.300 --> 32:16.300 Good morning everyone. The verse of the week is Proverbs 16 verse 2. Proverbs 16 verse 2. 32:16.300 --> 32:22.300 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weath the spirits. 32:22.300 --> 32:26.200 That's Proverbs 16 verse 2. 32:26.800 --> 32:32.240 All right service times are 10 30 this morning 3 30 this afternoon 6 30 on Wednesday. 32:32.240 --> 32:39.120 Solve any times for yesterday at 12 30 and today will be at 1 p.m. So far for July we have a total 32:39.120 --> 32:48.240 of seven in June we had 15 for a total of 108 for the year so far. The next coming up event here in 32:49.360 --> 32:51.600 just one week I believe or coming no. 32:52.100 --> 32:56.040 a little over one week is the homeschool day, 32:56.040 --> 32:59.000 which will be here at the church building on the 28th. 32:59.000 --> 33:00.400 That's at 11 a.m. 33:00.400 --> 33:03.520 And please RSVP if you have not already. 33:03.520 --> 33:06.600 Right now we're in the middle of the July and August 33:06.600 --> 33:08.280 Soul Winning Awareness Challenge, 33:08.280 --> 33:11.320 to where you invite 25 people outside of soul winning time. 33:11.320 --> 33:13.120 So hopefully you've started. 33:13.120 --> 33:14.040 If not, don't worry. 33:14.040 --> 33:16.900 You still have plenty of time to complete the challenge. 33:18.100 --> 33:24.260 And the rewards for those who have done the memories challenges are here. If you have not received it already, please just 33:24.980 --> 33:26.980 Get with Remy and he will 33:27.420 --> 33:29.200 Provide those to you 33:29.500 --> 33:35.660 Alright, the memory verse right now is Galatians 2 verse... for the children is Galatians 2 verse 21. 33:35.660 --> 33:41.660 If you can memorize this and recite it to Miss Kylie, you will receive a reward of a piece of candy. 33:41.660 --> 33:49.420 I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 33:49.420 --> 33:51.900 That's Galatians 2 verse 21. 33:51.900 --> 33:54.860 Title information rules are down below. 33:55.400 --> 33:59.560 Um, anniversaries are done, but we do have a birthday this morning. 34:00.600 --> 34:09.160 And so, uh, let's see here. Oh, she's standing already. She's like, I know. So this is for 34:09.880 --> 34:18.120 little Miss Abby. She is turning 14, I believe she said this morning, but I believe it's four. 34:18.120 --> 34:20.840 Right. All right. Well, if you join me. 34:21.800 --> 34:26.040 With music, we'll sing Happy Birthday, Miss Abby. 34:33.300 --> 34:36.300 Happy birthday to you! 34:36.300 --> 34:41.300 Happy birthday to you! 34:41.300 --> 34:45.300 Happy birthday, God bless you! 34:54.500 --> 34:57.380 Happy birthday, little Abby. 34:57.380 --> 34:58.900 All right, if you have any other prayer requests, 34:58.900 --> 35:00.020 please let the tops of the stone. 35:00.020 --> 35:01.700 They will put it into the bulletin. 35:01.700 --> 35:03.780 But with that, let's turn to the Lord in prayer. 35:03.780 --> 35:05.060 Holy Father, thanks for today. 35:05.060 --> 35:06.580 Thank you for allowing. 36:33.800 --> 36:35.800 Psalm number eleven. 36:40.700 --> 36:42.700 Psalm number 11. 36:53.500 --> 36:58.780 Psalm number 11. Sing it out on the first. 36:58.780 --> 37:04.460 In the Lord put I my trust, how say ye to my soul, 37:04.460 --> 37:12.060 flee as a bird to your mountain, for lo the wicked bend their bow, 37:12.060 --> 37:17.400 they make ready their arrow upon the string. 37:17.500 --> 37:23.900 That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart 37:23.900 --> 37:29.800 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 37:29.800 --> 37:33.800 The Lord is in His holy temple 37:33.800 --> 37:36.800 The Lord's throne is in heaven 37:36.800 --> 37:39.500 His eyes behold 37:39.500 --> 37:45.500 His eyelids try the children of men 37:45.500 --> 38:00.500 The Lord trieth the righteous, but the wicked, Him that loveth violence, His soul hateth, His soul hateth, 38:00.500 --> 38:06.000 Upon the wicked, He shall reign snares. 38:06.100 --> 38:12.500 Fire and brimstone and horrible tempest, 38:12.500 --> 38:18.060 This shall be the portion of their cup, 38:18.060 --> 38:24.220 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, 38:24.220 --> 38:29.780 His countenance doth behold, 38:29.780 --> 38:33.220 Doth behold the upright. 38:33.300 --> 38:36.020 the Lord put I my trust 38:38.020 --> 38:42.620 All right, excellent sing everybody with apologies, please pray for the offering 39:51.800 --> 39:56.680 Good morning everybody. Welcome to Sher Foundation Baptist Church. If you can take your Bibles in 39:56.680 --> 40:03.400 turn to Acts chapter 1. Acts chapter 1 is our text this morning and as always here at our church we 40:03.400 --> 40:10.200 read the entire chapter before the preaching. Acts chapter 1 the Bible reads. 40:10.600 --> 40:17.240 The former treaties have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 40:17.240 --> 40:26.160 until the day in which he was taken up, after that he, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen, 40:26.160 --> 40:32.600 to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, 40:32.600 --> 40:38.600 being seen of them forty days, and speaking the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 40:38.600 --> 40:45.400 and being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, 40:45.400 --> 40:52.000 but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, Ye have heard of me. 40:52.000 --> 41:00.000 For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 41:00.100 --> 41:10.100 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 41:10.300 --> 41:18.060 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power, 41:18.620 --> 41:26.540 but ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in 41:26.920 --> 41:33.840 Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. 41:34.300 --> 41:41.740 And when he had spoken these things while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 41:41.900 --> 41:55.900 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 41:55.900 --> 42:05.900 This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go up or go into heaven. 42:06.500 --> 42:12.500 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem, 42:12.500 --> 42:19.060 a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room, 42:19.060 --> 42:26.180 where abode both Peter and James and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, 42:26.180 --> 42:31.860 James the son of Altheus, and Simon Zalots and Judas the brother of James. 42:32.400 --> 42:39.120 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother 42:39.120 --> 42:45.920 of Jesus and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and 42:45.920 --> 42:48.300 said the number of 42:48.800 --> 42:53.440 Names together were about 120 men and brethren. 42:53.440 --> 42:56.560 This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, 42:56.560 --> 43:02.080 which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, 43:02.080 --> 43:04.640 which was guide to them that took Jesus. 43:05.280 --> 43:10.080 For he was numbered with us and had obtained part of this ministry. 43:10.600 --> 43:21.100 Now this man purchased the field with the reward of iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 43:21.100 --> 43:33.900 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem, insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, As-sal-ah-da-ma, that is to say, the field of blood. 43:34.100 --> 43:41.460 for it is written in the book of Psalms, let his habitation be desolate and let no man dwell therein, 43:41.460 --> 43:44.260 and his bishopric let another take. 43:44.500 --> 43:52.500 Wherefore, of these men which have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 43:52.500 --> 43:59.000 beginning from the baptism of John unto that same day that he was taken up from us, 43:59.000 --> 44:03.900 must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 44:04.200 --> 44:08.680 and they appointed two, Joseph, called Barassabas, 44:08.680 --> 44:12.240 who was surname Justice, and Mathias. 44:12.240 --> 44:14.240 And they prayed and said, 44:14.240 --> 44:18.160 Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, 44:18.160 --> 44:21.360 show whether of these two thou hast chosen. 44:21.600 --> 44:28.000 that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, 44:28.000 --> 44:34.640 that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots, and the lot fell upon 44:34.640 --> 44:42.440 Matthias and he was numbered with the 11 apostles. Brother Paul could you pray for the service 44:42.440 --> 44:42.680 please? 44:45.400 --> 44:49.080 As we've just read the chapter of the start of the ministry of the post-Christ, 44:49.080 --> 44:51.640 please have to be very careful of the message you're carrying. 44:56.200 --> 45:00.600 Amen. You guys are there in Acts. We're going to look in at verse number 13 of this chapter 45:00.600 --> 45:06.440 where it says, and when they were come in, they went up into an upper room where abode 45:06.440 --> 45:11.160 both Peter and James and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew 45:11.160 --> 45:16.720 James the son of Alpheus and Simon Zalotes and Judas the brother of James. These all 45:16.720 --> 45:19.200 continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. 45:19.600 --> 45:23.840 with the women and marry the mother of Jesus and with his brethren. 45:23.840 --> 45:27.040 The thought of my sermon this morning is unity. Let's pray. 45:27.040 --> 45:30.180 Dear Father God, thank you for this wonderful day. Thank you so much for everything you do for us God. 45:30.180 --> 45:33.560 As a church, thank you so much for everybody that came to church to hear your word preach this morning. 45:33.560 --> 45:35.920 I just pray for that reason. You help me to be filled with the Holy Spirit, God. 45:35.920 --> 45:37.840 Help me to preach words that identify the people in this room. 45:37.840 --> 45:39.840 I just pray that this sermon would... 45:40.000 --> 45:44.160 help us as a church to have unity and to understand the subject of unity 45:44.160 --> 45:48.720 better and I just pray that you would help there be no distractions during the service 45:48.720 --> 45:52.400 and I pray that you'd help me to say what you want me to say and keep me from saying what you would not like me to say 45:52.400 --> 45:54.800 I ask all these things in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 45:55.000 --> 46:01.580 So much like I said again is unity we're here in acts chapter number one and today as you can guess from the title 46:01.580 --> 46:08.320 Okay, I'm gonna be speaking about the subject of unity what actually brought me to even consider doing this sermon at first was ironically enough 46:08.320 --> 46:12.360 I've been learning a lot about the Crusades lately because we're have like a 46:12.960 --> 46:18.540 Kind of a gap in my knowledge from when I had gotten pulled out of high school to be homeschooled 46:18.540 --> 46:23.000 I kind of like we still did class and stuff like that, but we kind of had a section where we made 46:23.000 --> 46:25.240 where I have like a little gap in my history. 46:25.240 --> 46:28.360 So like the Crusades we never really learned about 46:28.360 --> 46:31.480 and because I was, because of how I got moved 46:31.480 --> 46:32.680 into homeschooling. 46:32.680 --> 46:34.760 So there's like a big old gap in history that I have, 46:34.760 --> 46:35.600 you know. 46:35.800 --> 46:41.760 Lack of knowledge in like Charlemagne like I thought that this dude was a rapper and I'm like, oh no, that's actually a 46:42.280 --> 46:45.480 King from the Franks or whatever. Okay, so I'm learning lots of 46:46.240 --> 46:51.080 interesting stuff during this but when I was learning about the Crusades because I always hear people bring up this crusades and they 46:51.080 --> 46:53.200 Use it to condemn Christianity and they're like, oh 46:53.880 --> 47:00.740 We know how bad Christians are because just look at the Crusades and then they have these movies where they'll paint the 47:00.840 --> 47:03.800 Christians in the worst light ever in these movies and make 47:03.800 --> 47:06.800 the Muslims just seem like they're the best thing ever. 47:06.800 --> 47:11.120 But it's like, first of all, these are Catholics, not Christians anyways, they're doing the 47:11.120 --> 47:13.880 crusades so we wouldn't subscribe to the crusades. 47:13.880 --> 47:17.320 The Bible says that we'd wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities 47:17.320 --> 47:18.440 and powers. 47:18.440 --> 47:22.280 So why are they going over starting a holy war with the Muslims to go and get Jerusalem? 47:22.280 --> 47:23.400 That doesn't make sense. 47:23.400 --> 47:24.520 I missed that in the Bible. 47:24.520 --> 47:27.480 I thought that we were supposed to go into all the world and preach the gospel, not go 47:27.480 --> 47:30.280 and try to conquer the world for Jesus Christ. 47:30.280 --> 47:31.760 Jesus Christ is going to conquer this world. 47:31.800 --> 47:36.680 world for us some days, what the Bible says in the book of Revelation. So why would we 47:36.680 --> 47:40.760 try to put forth our efforts to do that right now? We should go and wage a spiritual war, 47:40.760 --> 47:45.780 which is done through the preaching of the gospel. But anyways, I was just fascinated 47:45.780 --> 47:48.920 with the Crusades in the worst of senses. Like the first thing that blew me away was 47:48.920 --> 47:53.080 the fact that the Pope promised these people that would go and fight for him eternal life 47:53.080 --> 47:56.960 if they died. He said, if you go, he said, not even if you just die in battle, but if 47:56.960 --> 47:59.800 If you're going there on ship or if you're trying to get... 47:59.800 --> 48:04.980 there by wagon or whatever and you die in the process he says you get insta eternal 48:04.980 --> 48:10.320 life a full remission of your sins which is just unbelievable blasphemy to the highest 48:10.320 --> 48:14.380 degree like the Catholic Church wants us to take them serious as a spiritual authority 48:14.380 --> 48:18.140 when they're doing crap like that throughout history no I don't think so pal that is like 48:18.140 --> 48:23.220 the most blasphemous thing I've ever heard unbelievable and it's just Bible 101 that 48:23.220 --> 48:26.940 you don't give your life for Jesus Christ Jesus Christ gave his life so that we could 48:26.940 --> 48:27.800 be safe. 48:27.800 --> 48:30.680 And Jesus Christ is the one who determines who goes to heaven. 48:30.680 --> 48:32.400 And it's not by the works that we've done. 48:32.400 --> 48:35.520 It's not by going and fighting in the Catholic holy war. 48:35.520 --> 48:39.280 It's by our belief in the death, bail, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 48:39.280 --> 48:43.960 So I just, unbelievable, I just thought that that was unbelievably fascinating to me 48:43.960 --> 48:47.120 that not only did he have the audacity to go up and say that, 48:47.400 --> 48:50.440 but that people actually went and died for that cause. How sad is that? 48:50.440 --> 48:53.400 That people were thinking just being deceived by that pope, 48:53.400 --> 48:56.920 that they're getting eternal life and they're getting eternal damnation 48:57.360 --> 48:58.800 because they're not trusting in Jesus Christ. 48:59.200 --> 49:05.200 But the second thing that I was going to point out about the crusades and why I picked this sermon topic anyways, 49:05.200 --> 49:09.700 was because a big theme throughout the first and second crusade, which is what I've been learning about lately, 49:09.700 --> 49:20.700 was that the reason why it was a back and forth affair was because the Catholics and the Muslims could not find unity within themselves to just drive the other one out. 49:20.700 --> 49:26.700 Like, when the crusaders first get there, if the Muslims in that area would have all banded together and pushed them out, 49:26.700 --> 49:27.200 It would have been a- 49:27.200 --> 49:30.360 easy war because they were outnumbered and they didn't know the land like the 49:30.360 --> 49:34.600 Muslims had a huge huge advantage over the Catholics but because they can't 49:34.600 --> 49:38.120 unite with each other they're not able to drive the Catholics out of the land 49:38.120 --> 49:42.080 and then the Catholics once they get control of the land the reason why they 49:42.080 --> 49:46.160 keep losing it and they can't just hold it firm is because they can't band 49:46.160 --> 49:49.640 together with the eastern part of Christianity which would be Orthodox 49:49.640 --> 49:53.400 Church okay with John come them not and all that kind of stuff the reason why 49:53.400 --> 49:55.200 they can't just utterly vanquish 49:55.200 --> 49:58.200 the Muslims either though is because they just can't find unity. 49:58.200 --> 50:01.680 And it just made me realize as I was listening to this, like if any of, if the Muslims at 50:01.680 --> 50:05.600 any time or the Catholics at any time during this war would have just, you know, united 50:05.600 --> 50:08.480 under the cause of just getting the threat out of the land first. 50:08.800 --> 50:12.800 They'd have been the easy victor. It would have been an easy push for them. 50:12.800 --> 50:17.360 But this is not the case. And it just made me realize how important unity is through this lens. 50:17.360 --> 50:21.120 That obviously the Bible talks a lot about unity too as they're going to see in this sermon. 50:21.120 --> 50:27.280 But it really, the moral of the story was that you have to be united in one cause if you're going to 50:27.280 --> 50:31.920 accomplish things. Not just for God, but just for anything in this life. If a company is going to go 50:31.920 --> 50:36.000 and you know take the world by storm with their technology, with their inventions, they have to be 50:36.000 --> 50:36.560 the United. 50:36.800 --> 50:41.700 If you're going to go get a construction job done in a proper amount of time and do a good job at it, you have to be united. 50:41.700 --> 50:44.660 And if we as a church want to do great works for God... 50:44.900 --> 50:48.900 we also have to be united. So this is going to be the focus of the sermon. 50:48.900 --> 50:51.900 And the inspiration came from the crusade, which I think is kind of funny. 50:51.900 --> 50:55.900 But go to, you guys are there in Acts 1, we're going to look at verse number 14 one more time. 50:55.900 --> 50:58.900 It says this, because how do we get unity? Why is unity important in the first place? 50:58.900 --> 51:03.900 It says, these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women 51:03.900 --> 51:06.900 and marry the mother of Jesus and with his brethren. 51:06.900 --> 51:11.900 So there's obviously the very famous cornball old IFB joke right here in this passage. 51:11.900 --> 51:12.900 in this passage you're like. 51:12.900 --> 51:20.900 The pastors that I always hear, they'd be like, you know, this verse is telling us that there is a certain car brand that is the most righteous over all the rest of them. 51:20.900 --> 51:24.900 And it's Honda, because the Bible says that the disciples were in one accord right here. 51:24.900 --> 51:27.900 So that's super cornball. 51:27.900 --> 51:29.900 Here all those ones are like the shortest man in the Bible. 51:29.900 --> 51:32.900 Bill Dad, the shoe height and stuff like that. 51:32.900 --> 51:33.900 That's not my thing. 51:33.900 --> 51:35.900 That's part of Jason's thing though, the dad jokes. 51:35.900 --> 51:36.900 Okay, so I'm going to leave that to him. 51:36.900 --> 51:39.900 He's a professional in that area. 51:39.900 --> 51:40.900 But um 51:40.900 --> 51:41.300 Thank you. 51:41.600 --> 51:52.000 In all seriousness, no, okay. When it comes to the subject of unity, the Bible says that the disciples, the apostles, after the death of Jesus Christ were in one accord. 51:52.000 --> 51:58.000 What does that mean? It means that they were of one mind. They were of one spirit. They were of one goal together. 51:58.000 --> 52:08.200 That is what the Bible is saying right here. Together in prayer, with supplication, with the women, and with Mary, and with the brethren of Jesus Christ, this is unity. 52:08.200 --> 52:09.600 Not that they all 52:09.600 --> 52:14.980 believe the exact same thing about every single aspect of life or politics or 52:14.980 --> 52:19.400 religion or whatever but that they all were united under the banner of going 52:19.400 --> 52:22.760 into all the world and preaching the gospel this is why it says that there are 52:22.760 --> 52:28.080 one accord there of one mind and so why is this so important as Christians even 52:28.080 --> 52:32.280 have unity in the first place okay go to mark 3 verse number 22 if you would mark 52:32.280 --> 52:34.900 3 verse number 22 52:34.900 --> 52:44.900 Obviously, I'd point out that it's important to have unity because that's what we see from the example of the disciples who go in and flip the world upside down with being in one accord and with one spirit and one mind. 52:48.800 --> 52:56.500 But here in Mark 322, unity is important first of all because being divided is the antithesis of progress. 52:56.500 --> 52:58.700 Mark 3 verse number 22 it says this, it says, 53:16.800 --> 53:19.800 be divided against itself that house cannot stand. 53:19.800 --> 53:25.520 So Jesus Christ here is being accused of casting out devils by the Prince of Devils Beelzebub 53:25.520 --> 53:28.620 which is blasphemy again to the highest degree. 53:28.620 --> 53:32.020 It's actually so blasphemous, this is the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost that because they 53:32.020 --> 53:35.500 accuse Jesus of this right here these specific people are damned forever to hell and they 53:35.500 --> 53:38.020 have no shot at salvation. 53:38.020 --> 53:38.700 So 53:38.900 --> 53:43.220 That's pretty crazy off the bat, but I want you to notice here that Jesus Christ says 53:43.220 --> 53:48.020 to the scribes and Pharisees in this story that Satan's not divided. 53:48.020 --> 53:49.820 So it made me kind of think when I was reading this sermon, it's like, what does that mean? 53:49.820 --> 53:53.700 It means that Satan and his minions have unity amongst themselves. 53:53.700 --> 53:57.220 They're united in doing evil works, obviously, yeah? 53:57.400 --> 54:00.840 But it kind of made me it was kind of like it's sad that the devil can be united. 54:00.840 --> 54:06.040 But sometimes we as Christians can struggle so greatly to be united amongst ourselves. 54:06.040 --> 54:11.240 And that's again as I was kind of drawing analogies from the back and forth war, if you will, 54:11.240 --> 54:15.560 with the Catholics and the Muslims. This is like a problem that happens. But because the enemy is 54:15.560 --> 54:20.680 united, it puts us at a disadvantage when we're fighting this spiritual war if we're not united 54:20.680 --> 54:25.320 as Christians. So we should realize the importance of this, how crucial it is because as a church, 54:25.400 --> 54:32.540 You know, we need to be united because if a kingdom is divided against itself can't stand and a house divided against itself cannot stand 54:32.600 --> 54:39.220 Then we as a church if we're divided against ourselves, then we also cannot stand and we also see this in the book of 1st Corinthians 54:39.740 --> 54:43.340 Paul that's like the first thing he addresses at that church. He's like why is there contentions? 54:43.340 --> 54:46.060 He's like you guys are fighting and some of you were saying I'm a Paulist. I'm of Peter 54:46.180 --> 54:50.700 I'm of this and he's like hey you guys are getting this all wrong. We're all of Jesus Christ 54:50.700 --> 54:52.900 We're all one body on the same team 54:53.500 --> 54:58.900 And when we lose sight of that as Christians, we have discord, we have division and not unity. 54:58.900 --> 55:03.100 So I point this out to you with the devils though to encourage you that if our enemy is united, 55:03.100 --> 55:08.900 we also need to be united if we're going to make progress in this spiritual war of life as Christians. 55:08.900 --> 55:12.900 Go to Ecclesiastes 4 verse number 9. Ecclesiastes 4 verse number 9. 55:13.200 --> 55:17.360 Because we know a hundred percent while you're turning there that the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church 55:17.480 --> 55:21.680 So we truly need to focus on not tearing each other apart and not tiring 55:21.680 --> 55:25.100 You know like-minded believers apart that are also going out and preaching the gospel 55:25.560 --> 55:31.760 Because we need unity this world needs more unity amongst real Christians. Okay, and 55:32.320 --> 55:33.440 I'm gonna get ahead of myself 55:33.440 --> 55:36.640 So I'm not gonna touch on that but just know that I'm gonna caveat this in a second 55:36.640 --> 55:40.720 Okay with with unity, but the second reason why unity is important is because we can get more 55:41.200 --> 55:46.380 work done when we're united. In Ecclesiastes 4 verse number 9 it says there are two or 55:46.380 --> 55:50.140 better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. And in verse number 12 it 55:50.140 --> 55:55.620 says and if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him and a three-fold court is not 55:55.620 --> 56:00.120 quickly broken. So the Bible says here, hey two is better than one and three is even better 56:00.120 --> 56:05.260 than two. And so the idea that God is bringing forth right here is that when you have more 56:05.260 --> 56:09.200 numbers of people you can do more work for him because they have a good reward. 56:09.200 --> 56:14.240 reward for their labor and a three-fold court is not quickly broken. However, this is what 56:14.240 --> 56:19.200 we need to understand about numbers in general. Numbers are great, but you cannot sacrifice 56:19.200 --> 56:23.880 unity for the sake of numbers. I mean, our church should know that well because the reality 56:23.880 --> 56:28.360 is that if we wanted to have like a mega church like everybody else did in Spokane or not 56:28.360 --> 56:32.960 all of them, but if we just wanted to really boost our numbers, we could do it just like 56:32.960 --> 56:37.000 that. Get the purple lights going, get the big dumb signs, you could send out the track 56:37.200 --> 56:39.840 and be like, what are you looking for in a church? 56:39.840 --> 56:41.560 And just mail them to people's houses. 56:41.560 --> 56:43.080 I could change the way we're preaching sermons. 56:43.080 --> 56:44.800 Hey, Romans 1's off limits. 56:44.800 --> 56:46.680 Anything from the Old Testament's off limits. 56:46.680 --> 56:49.200 We're just going to talk about love, OK? 56:49.200 --> 56:51.400 Exclusively just the charity series, OK? 56:51.400 --> 56:53.400 And we'd have to make some edits to that, too, 56:53.400 --> 56:55.720 because some of those sermons would not 56:55.720 --> 56:58.840 be considered love to some people, I guess you'd say. 56:58.840 --> 57:00.000 But we could do that. 57:00.000 --> 57:01.840 But the thing is, is that there's some things 57:01.840 --> 57:04.280 that you cannot and should not sacrifice. 57:05.200 --> 57:12.160 Unity or for a yeah unity for and one of these things is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Okay, so go if you would 57:13.400 --> 57:20.600 Go if you would to, good night, Ephesians 4 verse number 4, Ephesians 4 verse number 4. 57:20.600 --> 57:24.600 And while you're turning now, I just say this, that the idea of this that I'm having in mind 57:24.600 --> 57:31.600 when I was reading Ecclesiastes 4 verse number 12 is the fact that, you know, numbers are 57:31.600 --> 57:37.920 powerful but you need to be united within those numbers to take full advantage of them. 57:37.920 --> 57:41.400 it's it having like the base of the say this okay 57:41.400 --> 57:46.140 Having a hundred people that are united with one mind and one accord is way better than 57:46.140 --> 57:51.520 having five hundred people that are just divided amongst themselves and don't have one central 57:51.520 --> 57:53.300 goal in mind. 57:53.300 --> 57:59.240 And this is exactly what Jesus Christ is saying and this in Mark chapter number five, and 57:59.240 --> 58:01.200 this is also just what we see throughout history. 58:01.200 --> 58:03.200 Because going back to the crusades, because I'll just talk about that, okay? 58:03.700 --> 58:08.580 This was crazy in one of the stories that I was reading about for the taking of Antioch the Antioch that we see in the bible 58:08.580 --> 58:09.300 Okay 58:09.300 --> 58:15.140 The catholics have this big push and they have this siege and they siege the muslims and it's a really long siege and 58:15.460 --> 58:17.540 They basically outlast the muslims 58:17.540 --> 58:22.420 They get someone in there to open the gates and they just kill all of them basically is is what happens in the story 58:23.140 --> 58:29.540 But the day after I believe it is with two days after the they took the the castle okay of Antioch or whatever 58:30.200 --> 58:38.200 The Muslim relief force showed up and they have 40,000 strong that are not exhausted from war but have just marks there. 58:38.200 --> 58:39.200 It's the relief force. 58:39.200 --> 58:46.200 So then after they just siege the Muslims, the Catholics did, they get put into a siege because they just retreat into the city and then the Muslims come against them. 58:46.200 --> 58:51.200 But the Catholics at that time had 15,000 men and the Muslims had 40,000 men. 58:51.200 --> 58:55.200 So the Muslims have double the men that the Catholics do and they do a little siege game. 58:55.200 --> 58:58.160 But what ends up basically happening is that the Catholics are going to 58:58.200 --> 59:01.560 like, well, if we're just gonna sit in here, we're just gonna die anyway. 59:01.560 --> 59:04.360 So they're like, we might as well, you know, do the last hurrah and go and charge 59:04.360 --> 59:08.200 them. And how the Muslims have set up their forces that one camp was kind of 59:08.200 --> 59:11.720 over this mountain. So it took a little bit of time to get over to the actual 59:12.200 --> 59:16.480 siege location, which is bizarre. That's being divided, right? And the 59:16.480 --> 59:19.440 Catholics just come out storm and they're not expecting it. And they 59:19.600 --> 59:23.980 basically, uh, they route the Muslims. And even though they had double the 59:23.980 --> 59:26.200 people that the Catholics have, they get the victory right there. 59:26.200 --> 59:36.200 But I'm bringing that out example that show you again that numbers are not everything because if your numbers are divided like they were in that story that you have the one part of the camp over the hill and the next part doing the siege, then you're not powerful. 59:36.200 --> 59:44.200 But because the Catholics in that story were united in their goal to break that siege right they're able to overcome the Muslims in that moment. 59:44.200 --> 59:50.200 And so what I'm trying to get you to understand from that is that numbers are not everything that you need unity to take advantage 59:50.200 --> 59:54.100 of your numbers because this is true of many wars throughout history if you think 59:54.200 --> 59:58.520 this it's not just that one example that numbers are not everything when it comes to warfare i 59:58.520 --> 01:00:03.720 mean there's a lot of things that go into it but a big cause for winning a war has always been 01:00:03.720 --> 01:00:09.160 being united and why you're fighting in the first place because if you're not united then the numbers 01:00:09.160 --> 01:00:14.440 don't mean that much because if you're not united and your your uh your army gets routed then it 01:00:14.440 --> 01:00:19.160 screws everybody over okay i'm not going to go into the specifics of uh all that warfare kind 01:00:19.160 --> 01:00:22.040 of stuff or whatever but just know that you're kind of supposed to stand your ground 01:00:22.200 --> 01:00:24.840 Even when you're you know, that's just how it is like in warfare 01:00:24.840 --> 01:00:28.700 You got to stand your ground because when you turn around and run you guys just lose automatically is the idea 01:00:28.940 --> 01:00:32.560 So again, that's showing like not being united. You guys are there in Ephesians for 01:00:33.100 --> 01:00:38.220 Verse number four, the reason I say this is because again, I would rather have a hundred strong people 01:00:38.380 --> 01:00:43.180 I'd rather have 30 strong people that are united under one cause with one purpose in mind 01:00:43.420 --> 01:00:48.380 Than to have a thousand people at this church that are just all over the place that don't understand what aphesians four is saying here 01:00:48.380 --> 01:00:54.620 Which says there is one body one spirit even as you're called in one hope of your calling one lord one faith one 01:00:54.760 --> 01:01:00.940 Baptism one god and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all I'd rather 01:01:01.100 --> 01:01:06.620 people that are one in purpose, one in doctrine, one in charity of one accord 01:01:06.620 --> 01:01:10.580 like we did to see the disciples were, than to have a thousand people that are 01:01:10.580 --> 01:01:14.180 divided amongst themselves. Because sometimes, this is what I draw you to, 01:01:14.180 --> 01:01:20.060 sometimes the bigger number is truly one. That you know like one purpose, one mind 01:01:20.060 --> 01:01:25.420 is greater than having you know multiple groups of people but that are divided in 01:01:25.420 --> 01:01:29.100 their own thoughts and their own opinions and their own doctrine. 01:01:29.100 --> 01:01:30.860 This is what we see from mega churches, 01:01:30.860 --> 01:01:32.260 or don't we, a lot of times we see this, 01:01:32.260 --> 01:01:33.380 like you go and meet these people 01:01:33.380 --> 01:01:35.060 and they don't ever agree on the same thing. 01:01:35.060 --> 01:01:36.660 You're like, does this church, 01:01:36.660 --> 01:01:39.460 this giant mega church have the right gospel? 01:01:39.460 --> 01:01:41.220 And you can't even tell sometimes when we're out souling 01:01:41.220 --> 01:01:43.660 because every member will say something different. 01:01:43.660 --> 01:01:45.220 Because they're not of one mind, 01:01:45.220 --> 01:01:46.560 they're not of one purpose. 01:01:46.560 --> 01:01:49.220 They just like the numbers of the church. 01:01:49.220 --> 01:01:51.600 That's really why these mega churches boom like they do. 01:01:51.800 --> 01:01:57.080 You guys are there in Ephesians 4 though we're going to look at verse number one of this passage 01:01:57.640 --> 01:02:01.240 Ephesians 4 verse number one because the third thing I wanted to talk about concerning unity 01:02:01.240 --> 01:02:05.720 is that it's the reason why it's important to have it is because it's a commandment of God to 01:02:05.720 --> 01:02:11.400 strive for unity. Ephesians 4 one it says this, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you 01:02:11.400 --> 01:02:16.440 that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called with all lowliness and meekness 01:02:16.440 --> 01:02:19.720 with long suffering for bearing one another in love. Look what he says here 01:02:19.800 --> 01:02:24.120 though, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit 01:02:24.120 --> 01:02:25.560 in the bond of peace. 01:02:25.560 --> 01:02:27.060 I want you to understand from these verses 01:02:27.060 --> 01:02:29.480 that it is a commandment from God 01:02:29.480 --> 01:02:32.320 to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit 01:02:32.320 --> 01:02:33.100 in the bond of peace. 01:02:33.100 --> 01:02:34.280 This is not a suggestion. 01:02:34.280 --> 01:02:37.400 This is not just like, hey, kind of try to do this 01:02:37.400 --> 01:02:38.040 if you want to. 01:02:38.040 --> 01:02:40.240 No, it is a command from God right here. 01:02:40.240 --> 01:02:44.720 You need to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit. 01:02:44.720 --> 01:02:46.160 What does it mean to endeavor, though? 01:02:46.160 --> 01:02:47.760 It means to strive for something, right? 01:02:47.800 --> 01:02:52.580 to fight for something. It means to put forth your best effort. That's what Paul is telling 01:02:52.580 --> 01:02:58.120 the Ephesian church right here. So we as Christians can't just be like, Oh, we're going to, I 01:02:58.120 --> 01:03:03.420 guess, try to get along. It's like, no, you're supposed to be striving to get along and striving 01:03:03.420 --> 01:03:09.080 to keep unity in the church is what Paul is saying right here to put forth your best effort 01:03:09.080 --> 01:03:14.720 so that we can be united. Go to, um, where am I having you guys go? Go to a Jude one 01:03:14.720 --> 01:03:15.800 verse number three, Jude one. 01:03:15.800 --> 01:03:18.800 verse number three 01:03:20.600 --> 01:03:25.720 Paul is telling us specifically here by using the word endeavoring that we're supposed to be 01:03:25.720 --> 01:03:30.600 fighting for unity, we're supposed to be striving for unity, or as Romans 12 says, 01:03:30.600 --> 01:03:38.680 if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. As much as lieth within you, 01:03:38.680 --> 01:03:42.840 to the best of your ability, he says right there, we're supposed to live peaceably with all men. 01:03:42.840 --> 01:03:47.320 And that includes people that are unsaved, obviously, but especially people that are saved. 01:03:47.320 --> 01:03:48.600 So, that would apply to this so 01:03:48.600 --> 01:03:53.240 to as well. Doing our best to get along with people. This is not an option, excuse me, 01:03:53.240 --> 01:03:58.240 this is not optional. This is a commandment from God. And so before I get into the whole 01:03:58.240 --> 01:04:01.680 idea of this sermon though real quick, okay? You guys are there in Jude 1 verse number 01:04:01.680 --> 01:04:02.300 3. 01:04:02.600 --> 01:04:06.200 I do want to point out a couple of things to this right because I want to make sure I'm balancing this 01:04:06.200 --> 01:04:11.000 that there does come a point with some people where fellowship is just not possible with them. 01:04:11.000 --> 01:04:14.680 We understand this from just obviously the kickout sins from first Corinthians chapter number five 01:04:14.680 --> 01:04:19.960 but also there just comes a point with you know fellowship where if someone just has first of all 01:04:19.960 --> 01:04:23.720 Dan will heresy obviously we can't have fellowship with them or when people just have too many weird 01:04:23.720 --> 01:04:28.520 beliefs we just can't have fellowship with them. You guys are there in Jude 1 3 and Amos 3 3 it says 01:04:28.520 --> 01:04:30.600 Can two walk together except 01:04:30.600 --> 01:04:36.200 they be agreed and the answer to that is no right can't walk together if you're not agreed and 01:04:36.400 --> 01:04:41.760 Like something I like I'm telling you I want to make sure that I clarify this sermon is that we should not strive for 01:04:41.840 --> 01:04:47.000 Unity at all cost in the sense where you just start compromising things for the sake of unity 01:04:47.000 --> 01:04:49.020 That is not what the Bible is talking about here 01:04:49.020 --> 01:04:52.480 That's why in Ephesians like we just saw he's clarifying that it's like hey 01:04:52.480 --> 01:04:58.240 It's not just unity of everything all religions all opinions all whatever you think it's like hey 01:04:58.240 --> 01:05:04.300 It's all being united in the doctrine of Jesus Christ in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is why I have you guys there 01:05:04.400 --> 01:05:10.240 in Jude 1-3 because some things cannot and should not be sacrificed for unity 01:05:10.240 --> 01:05:13.360 and the gospel is the chiefest of these. Jude 1-3 it says, 01:05:13.360 --> 01:05:17.080 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you the common salvation, 01:05:17.080 --> 01:05:20.000 it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should 01:05:20.000 --> 01:05:24.880 earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 01:05:24.880 --> 01:05:30.000 Like we can get along with Christians, you know, that are, that, uh, on a law, 01:05:30.000 --> 01:05:32.400 on a, on a, I just say this, we can get along with... 01:05:32.400 --> 01:05:37.200 of Christians that believe a lot of wide variety of things, you know, as long as it's not the gospel 01:05:37.200 --> 01:05:41.600 because the gospel is something that you cannot compromise over. And I'm not saying that something 01:05:41.600 --> 01:05:45.520 has to be the gospel for you to not fellowship with someone because I'll clarify this in a second, 01:05:45.520 --> 01:05:50.080 but I'm just saying like I can find Baptists that disagree with me about a lot of things, 01:05:50.080 --> 01:05:54.560 about a lot of doctrines, but salvation cannot be one of them. I can't have fellowship with 01:05:54.560 --> 01:05:58.560 someone that won't acknowledge that you don't have to repent of your sins to be saved. I can't have 01:05:58.560 --> 01:06:00.400 fellowship with someone that won't admit. 01:06:00.400 --> 01:06:04.040 that the Trinity is true. I can't have fellowship with someone that doesn't believe that Jesus 01:06:04.040 --> 01:06:09.440 Christ is God. We can't have fellowship with people that don't believe the doctrines of 01:06:09.440 --> 01:06:13.960 faith alone for salvation and once saved, always saved. If they don't believe this, 01:06:13.960 --> 01:06:17.360 the fellowship is off the table with them. That you just can't have it. Because how am 01:06:17.360 --> 01:06:21.280 I supposed to walk together with someone and be agreed with someone who won't admit that 01:06:21.280 --> 01:06:24.660 the Bible says that Jesus Christ is God? How am I supposed to walk together with someone 01:06:24.660 --> 01:06:28.340 and be agreed with someone and speak peaceably with someone at church that 01:06:28.400 --> 01:06:34.860 Doesn't even believe that Jesus Christ's how sacrifice on the cross was enough for our sins can't do it, right? 01:06:34.920 --> 01:06:41.420 There are just some things where it's just like a deal breaker completely if it like obviously we're trying to preach the gospel 01:06:41.420 --> 01:06:47.200 Someone that's not saved but if someone was gonna be a member at this church permanently, you could not just not believe eternal security 01:06:47.200 --> 01:06:50.360 That would be a no fellowship kind of doctrine. Okay 01:06:52.300 --> 01:06:58.540 You guys are there in Jude 1, so go to Romans 16 verse number 17. Romans 16 verse number 17. 01:07:02.500 --> 01:07:07.500 Because the only way that you could have fellowship with people that don't agree with you on those kind of things is by compromising. 01:07:07.500 --> 01:07:12.500 And we're not about to start compromising on damnable heresy here at Sure Foundation Baptist Church. 01:07:12.800 --> 01:07:17.200 But even if a heresy isn't damnable, this can still be cause for breaking fellowship. 01:07:17.200 --> 01:07:21.100 If it's large enough, or if it's weird enough, or if it's just too many of them, okay? 01:07:21.100 --> 01:07:24.300 Now this is obviously somewhat subjective because the Bible doesn't list off... 01:07:24.300 --> 01:07:27.100 I mean, the Bible doesn't list off specific doctors to break fellowship over, but... 01:07:27.100 --> 01:07:31.400 When we're getting to this kind of, like, nuanced subject, people are gonna have different opinions about things. 01:07:31.400 --> 01:07:35.700 But that's why we would appeal to the decision of our pastor in these kind of situations. 01:07:35.700 --> 01:07:37.300 And just realize that... 01:07:37.300 --> 01:07:40.800 Even if there's a doctrine that someone believes that's just too weird... 01:07:40.800 --> 01:07:42.360 and it has nothing to do with salvation, 01:07:42.360 --> 01:07:44.020 it can still be caused to break fellowship. 01:07:44.020 --> 01:07:45.640 Because look at Mark, or not Mark, 01:07:45.640 --> 01:07:47.700 Romans 16 verses number 17, it says, 01:07:47.700 --> 01:07:49.900 "'Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them 01:07:49.900 --> 01:07:51.560 "'which cause divisions and offenses 01:07:51.560 --> 01:07:52.900 "'contrary to the doctrine which you have learned 01:07:52.900 --> 01:07:55.420 "'and avoid them, for they that are such 01:07:55.420 --> 01:07:59.360 "'serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, 01:07:59.360 --> 01:08:01.120 "'and by good words and fair speeches 01:08:01.120 --> 01:08:03.380 "'deceive the hearts of the simple.'" 01:08:03.380 --> 01:08:04.940 Now, obviously again, like I said, 01:08:04.940 --> 01:08:06.860 Paul doesn't tell us what specific doctrines 01:08:06.860 --> 01:08:08.800 everything is right here, but we know it's not. 01:08:08.800 --> 01:08:12.280 every doctrine because in Romans chapter number 14 he just got done explaining 01:08:12.280 --> 01:08:15.520 like hey don't tear someone's head off for not understanding the meats thing 01:08:15.520 --> 01:08:18.720 don't tear someone's head off for you know celebrating a holiday or not 01:08:18.720 --> 01:08:22.360 selling a celebrating a holy day so it's not all doctrine so what we would 01:08:22.360 --> 01:08:26.000 clearly take from this is that it's damnable heresies and then it would just 01:08:26.000 --> 01:08:29.680 be like major doctrines that would cause you to even question someone's salvation 01:08:29.680 --> 01:08:33.280 if they didn't believe it or didn't understand it like the fact that if 01:08:33.280 --> 01:08:36.800 someone is telling me that they're praying to Saints okay 01:08:36.800 --> 01:08:38.720 I'm in doubt of them, okay? 01:08:38.720 --> 01:08:40.440 Because, I mean, there could be exceptions to that. 01:08:40.440 --> 01:08:42.760 Like if someone just got saved and they were Catholic, 01:08:42.760 --> 01:08:44.760 they didn't know, okay, I understand. 01:08:44.760 --> 01:08:45.600 You know, but on the other hand, 01:08:45.600 --> 01:08:47.400 if someone's like a Christian for 20 years 01:08:47.400 --> 01:08:48.560 or a Baptist for 20 years, 01:08:48.560 --> 01:08:49.920 and they're just all of a sudden like, 01:08:49.920 --> 01:08:50.880 oh yeah, I just, you know, 01:08:50.880 --> 01:08:52.520 thought I'd start praying to the saints, 01:08:52.520 --> 01:08:53.400 I'm in doubt of you. 01:08:53.400 --> 01:08:54.480 I'm scared of you at that point. 01:08:54.480 --> 01:08:55.680 Like Paul says in Galatians, 01:08:55.680 --> 01:08:57.840 I am like, I have high suspicions of you. 01:08:57.840 --> 01:08:59.600 You are highly suspect, okay? 01:08:59.600 --> 01:09:01.720 At that point, same thing with women pastors. 01:09:01.720 --> 01:09:02.560 That's another thing. 01:09:02.560 --> 01:09:04.800 It's just like, if someone is that blatantly dis- 01:09:04.800 --> 01:09:07.000 honest with the scripture, how can I fellowship with them? How can I trust 01:09:07.000 --> 01:09:09.980 anything that they say or anything that they interpret from the Bible? Because 01:09:09.980 --> 01:09:14.240 the Bible is so clear on the issue that not only are women not supposed to be 01:09:14.240 --> 01:09:17.640 pastors, but they're supposed to be silent in the church is what we learn 01:09:17.640 --> 01:09:21.000 in 1st Corinthians 14. But I want to spoil you for the sermon that will be 01:09:21.000 --> 01:09:23.880 on on on Wednesday concerning that. Um, 01:09:24.400 --> 01:09:26.400 What is another doctrine of these kind of things? 01:09:26.400 --> 01:09:31.000 Oh, like someone saying husbands aren't really the head of their wives or that wives don't 01:09:31.000 --> 01:09:32.000 really have to submit to their husbands. 01:09:32.000 --> 01:09:34.720 If someone was teaching that, you just can't have fellowship because that would be the 01:09:34.720 --> 01:09:36.960 leaven that leavens the lump too much at a church. 01:09:36.960 --> 01:09:41.660 It's too dangerous to deal with and even though it's not a salvation issue, it's just a big 01:09:41.660 --> 01:09:42.800 issue in general. 01:09:43.200 --> 01:09:46.800 So there are other things to take into mind. 01:09:46.800 --> 01:09:49.300 It's not just damnable heresies, okay? 01:09:49.300 --> 01:09:50.900 And not all heresies are damnable. 01:09:50.900 --> 01:09:54.200 Damnable heresies are if you don't believe them, you die and go to hell. 01:09:54.200 --> 01:09:55.700 If you don't believe Jesus is God, 01:09:55.700 --> 01:09:57.700 if you don't believe that Jesus Christ was the perfect person, 01:09:57.700 --> 01:10:00.800 if you don't believe in the Trinity, you're gonna go to hell when you die. 01:10:00.800 --> 01:10:02.100 Because you don't believe in the God from the Bible. 01:10:02.100 --> 01:10:04.300 You don't believe in the Jesus of the gospel. 01:10:05.000 --> 01:10:10.500 But then there's other heresies, like if you were to say women can be pastors, that's a heresy, but it's not damnable heresy. 01:10:10.500 --> 01:10:13.500 But it is a dumb heresy. It's a damnable heresy. Good night. 01:10:15.000 --> 01:10:17.500 Where are you guys at? Go to Romans 14, verse number 4. 01:10:18.400 --> 01:10:23.080 Okay, because I like I was saying, I'll be clear again, God is not calling us to be Unitarians. 01:10:23.080 --> 01:10:25.400 Like the Unitarian Church in Spokane. 01:10:25.400 --> 01:10:28.660 And I looked at one of the sermons on there just because I was curious. 01:10:28.660 --> 01:10:30.160 And I was like, what are they gonna what are they gonna teach? 01:10:30.160 --> 01:10:31.920 Because if you don't know, they basically believe everything is right. 01:10:31.920 --> 01:10:33.360 They're just like a free for all. 01:10:33.360 --> 01:10:34.600 Oh, everything is right. 01:10:34.600 --> 01:10:35.600 Whatever we think is right. 01:10:35.600 --> 01:10:36.600 It's right. 01:10:36.600 --> 01:10:37.600 Every religion is valid. 01:10:37.600 --> 01:10:39.900 And I clicked on like the first sermon and the first thing he reads is something out 01:10:39.900 --> 01:10:42.920 of like Hindu or not Hindu is Buddhist scriptures. 01:10:42.920 --> 01:10:44.520 And I was like, all right, that's a wrap. 01:10:44.520 --> 01:10:45.520 Okay, I'm done already. 01:10:45.520 --> 01:10:46.400 I'm 01:10:46.400 --> 01:10:52.280 Imagine being in a church and then they're reading Hindu or Buddhist or like Muslim scriptures. 01:10:52.280 --> 01:10:53.280 That is unbelievable. 01:10:53.280 --> 01:10:54.280 Okay. 01:10:54.280 --> 01:10:55.280 That's, that's just crazy. 01:10:55.280 --> 01:10:56.280 Okay. 01:10:56.280 --> 01:10:59.360 Uh, and I'm not taking advice from someone who abandoned their child anyways, like Siddhartha 01:10:59.360 --> 01:11:02.760 did who they say is the first Buddha or whatever. 01:11:02.760 --> 01:11:04.280 He just left his child with his wife. 01:11:04.280 --> 01:11:07.520 He's just like, ah, I don't want to be a bound to this world. 01:11:07.520 --> 01:11:09.360 So catch you later after the wife just gave birth. 01:11:09.360 --> 01:11:10.800 It's like, wow, what a guy. 01:11:10.800 --> 01:11:12.360 I want to follow that guy in my religion. 01:11:12.360 --> 01:11:13.100 Okay. 01:11:13.700 --> 01:11:17.300 I might look like the statue a little bit, but I'm not following that religion. 01:11:19.700 --> 01:11:24.500 But here's the thing though, how is it possible to have unity amongst Baptists? How is it possible 01:11:24.500 --> 01:11:30.260 to have unity in this church? Because even by our name alone, you think, how is it possible? 01:11:30.260 --> 01:11:35.700 Because we're independent, fundamental Baptists, right? Independent. How do we have unity amongst 01:11:35.700 --> 01:11:40.740 each other? How do we have unity even through our disagreements with each other? This is what I want 01:11:40.740 --> 01:11:41.700 I want to focus the rest. 01:11:41.700 --> 01:11:47.220 of the sermon on how do we have unity with people that have different cultures and backgrounds 01:11:47.220 --> 01:11:49.820 and upbringings and that have so many different kinds of personalities. 01:11:49.820 --> 01:11:50.820 How is it possible to have unity? 01:11:50.820 --> 01:11:54.020 These are the three points I want to give you for this sermon. 01:11:54.020 --> 01:11:56.400 one is that you should realize that 01:11:56.700 --> 01:12:02.700 Not every belief that someone has, not every doctrine that someone has, not every interpretation that someone has is the end all be all. 01:12:02.700 --> 01:12:06.700 I just kind of hinted at this in Romans 14, but look at this verse number four. It says this, it says, 01:12:06.700 --> 01:12:10.700 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant to his own master he standeth or followeth? 01:12:10.700 --> 01:12:14.700 Yea, he shall be holding up, for God is able to make him stand. 01:12:14.700 --> 01:12:20.700 So notice right there what the Bible is saying. Who is responsible for judging the servants of God? 01:12:20.700 --> 01:12:24.700 It is God Almighty that is responsible for judging 01:12:24.700 --> 01:12:29.300 his servants. So as a Christian, we should learn to focus on our own lives, 01:12:29.420 --> 01:12:30.980 focus on our own church, 01:12:31.060 --> 01:12:35.380 focus on our own beliefs and what's going on here and not what's happening all 01:12:35.380 --> 01:12:39.540 around the world. And even within here, you should focus on yourself in here. 01:12:39.540 --> 01:12:40.140 Okay. 01:12:40.140 --> 01:12:42.860 And not just looking down at people and thinking that you're better than people 01:12:42.860 --> 01:12:45.620 because with that kind of attitude, surely you'll fall. 01:12:45.780 --> 01:12:50.300 Surely you'll get puffed up. Surely God will knock you down a notch or two. 01:12:50.700 --> 01:12:52.660 So you should just realize that, but keep going in that, in that. 01:12:52.700 --> 01:12:54.200 Verse number five it says, 01:12:54.200 --> 01:12:56.240 one man esteemeth one day above another, 01:12:56.240 --> 01:12:57.420 another esteemeth every day alike, 01:12:57.420 --> 01:13:01.340 let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 01:13:02.300 --> 01:13:07.780 Want you to understand from these verses that there are beliefs that we can have that are different from each other 01:13:07.940 --> 01:13:11.280 That are not the end-all be-all because we agree as Baptist 01:13:11.280 --> 01:13:16.180 That's why you come to this church on so many things like 99% of things if not like 98% of things 01:13:16.180 --> 01:13:19.780 Okay, whatever it's like we agree on the main things the big things 01:13:20.100 --> 01:13:24.200 Once saved always saved the salvation being by faith in Jesus Christ 01:13:24.300 --> 01:13:29.340 You know the Trinity all these big doctrines the King James Bible being perfect. We agree on the big thing 01:13:29.340 --> 01:13:30.300 so the differences 01:13:30.300 --> 01:13:33.140 we're going to have are usually going to be very small. 01:13:33.140 --> 01:13:35.020 And I gave you the caveat that there can be some wiggle room 01:13:35.020 --> 01:13:35.620 in this, OK? 01:13:35.620 --> 01:13:38.260 So understand that, that there are some things that I didn't 01:13:38.260 --> 01:13:40.620 just list right there that would still be important to believe. 01:13:40.620 --> 01:13:42.700 But by and large, the reason why you come to this church, 01:13:42.700 --> 01:13:44.500 why we fell so together, is because we 01:13:44.500 --> 01:13:45.900 agree on the main things. 01:13:45.900 --> 01:13:48.100 We agree on the big things from scripture. 01:13:48.100 --> 01:13:50.940 And so we should realize if we want to have unity then 01:13:50.940 --> 01:13:53.500 in the church, we should focus on the big things, 01:13:53.500 --> 01:13:56.380 the big agreements that we have, and ignore the smaller things 01:13:56.380 --> 01:13:57.460 that we disagree about. 01:13:57.460 --> 01:13:58.300 the smaller inter 01:13:58.300 --> 01:14:01.180 that we disagree about, things that are irrelevant 01:14:01.180 --> 01:14:03.980 when it comes to furthering the kingdom of heaven. 01:14:03.980 --> 01:14:06.040 We should just look past these things and ignore them 01:14:06.040 --> 01:14:08.260 or just not make them the end all be all. 01:14:08.260 --> 01:14:10.200 Because if we don't grasp this concept. 01:14:10.400 --> 01:14:15.080 end up like a lot of the old life be churches out there that like they basically will you'll come to a church and they'll 01:14:15.080 --> 01:14:17.080 Be like what's your view on? 01:14:17.560 --> 01:14:20.160 Eschatology which is like your view of the end times 01:14:20.160 --> 01:14:25.080 Okay, if you needed the interpretation there because that might as well be a foreign language good night the eschatology 01:14:25.080 --> 01:14:26.520 What's your view on the end times on? 01:14:26.520 --> 01:14:31.500 The book of Revelation basically and there are really churches out there that if you don't agree with the pre chip rapture 01:14:31.500 --> 01:14:34.200 They will kick you out of the church. They will throw you out of the church 01:14:34.240 --> 01:14:38.400 That is unbelievable to me like this is a big deal to you like it 01:14:38.400 --> 01:14:43.060 If someone came here and they were pre-trived, they could be here 100 years and be just fine. 01:14:43.060 --> 01:14:46.840 As long as they're not trying to cause division over that doctrine, of course, right? 01:14:46.840 --> 01:14:49.880 I mean, like, same thing with the replacement theology. 01:14:49.880 --> 01:14:50.880 That's even worse. 01:14:50.880 --> 01:14:53.640 If you don't believe that, they'll just boot you out the door. 01:14:53.640 --> 01:14:56.480 But it's like, I think that they get that story wrong in the Bible. 01:14:56.480 --> 01:15:00.200 Because the last time I checked the Galatians, it says to cast out the bond woman and her 01:15:00.200 --> 01:15:06.320 son not to cast out the son of the free woman, which we are if we believe on Jesus Christ. 01:15:06.400 --> 01:15:09.000 That's what he clearly says in Galatians. They had this all backwards though. 01:15:09.000 --> 01:15:12.800 That they're like, if you don't even believe that the Jews are chosen, you're cast out. 01:15:12.800 --> 01:15:16.700 We are the free women. We're the son of the free women in that analogy. 01:15:16.700 --> 01:15:18.500 What in the world? Bizarre. 01:15:18.500 --> 01:15:21.100 But they make a big deal about this and they'll keep people out of a church about it, 01:15:21.100 --> 01:15:25.000 but I've always found this bizarre because if someone came to our church, I was just saying... 01:15:25.500 --> 01:15:28.940 and they didn't agree with on those things, I'm sure we could get along just fine. Okay? 01:15:29.820 --> 01:15:33.260 Like again, they wouldn't be allowed to come up and preach that from behind the pulpit because 01:15:33.260 --> 01:15:36.700 that's not what we believe is a church. That's not what a pastor believes. And those are big enough 01:15:36.700 --> 01:15:40.860 things where you can't just have the wiggle room there. But they're not so big that I just can't 01:15:40.860 --> 01:15:45.580 even have fellowship with someone over it. You follow what I'm saying? I just follow, I find it 01:15:45.580 --> 01:15:51.500 so bizarre that we go to a IFB church in the area on Thursdays every once in a while. It's not like 01:15:51.500 --> 01:15:53.000 like every week or anything like that. 01:15:53.200 --> 01:15:59.120 But we get along just fine because it's like these things are not the biggest deal in the world because we're united on what? 01:15:59.120 --> 01:16:05.520 On salvation, on the King James Bible, on faith alone, in the Trinity, in you know many other things. 01:16:05.520 --> 01:16:11.600 So why would we focus on the tiny things that we disagree on or the the shmedium the shmedium things that we disagree on? 01:16:11.600 --> 01:16:15.520 Okay, what would be the point when we agree with with the main things on each other? 01:16:15.520 --> 01:16:17.520 Okay, but 01:16:17.700 --> 01:16:20.580 The thing about why I'm bringing this up, okay, with someone coming to our church, for example, 01:16:20.580 --> 01:16:23.380 is that I would expect the same treatment if I was going to another church as well. 01:16:23.380 --> 01:16:28.820 Like if I go to an old IFB church in my area, I would, you know, first of all, like I'd say this, 01:16:28.820 --> 01:16:32.180 okay, say an old IFB church in the area invited me to preach at their church or that I'm just 01:16:32.180 --> 01:16:37.220 going over there for fellowship or whatever, okay? First of all, I would not go up and purposely 01:16:37.220 --> 01:16:41.940 preach a doctrine that I know that the pastor disagrees with or that I could even think that 01:16:41.940 --> 01:16:45.460 the pastor disagrees with. It's disrespectful. Behind his pulpit at... 01:16:45.700 --> 01:16:49.060 his church to his congregation, that's just disrespectful. 01:16:49.060 --> 01:16:51.220 And also besides it just being disrespectful, 01:16:51.220 --> 01:16:54.900 it's also just not profitable for unity. 01:16:54.900 --> 01:16:57.920 Because if I just go up and attack a pastor's doctrine 01:16:57.920 --> 01:17:00.380 at his own church, that is just by definition 01:17:00.380 --> 01:17:02.660 gonna cause chaos, it's gonna cause disorder, 01:17:02.660 --> 01:17:04.620 it's gonna cause division amongst brethren. 01:17:04.620 --> 01:17:07.140 There's no way that that's gonna be profitable 01:17:07.140 --> 01:17:08.620 in that situation. 01:17:08.620 --> 01:17:10.400 The same thing is true that even outside of the church, 01:17:10.400 --> 01:17:12.400 I wouldn't go to the church members and just be like. 01:17:12.400 --> 01:17:16.960 Oh, you ever heard of the post-trip pre-wrath rafting before? 01:17:16.960 --> 01:17:18.480 It's like, why would I do that? 01:17:18.480 --> 01:17:20.280 Now, if someone asks me a question about that, 01:17:20.280 --> 01:17:21.280 I'll give an honest answer. 01:17:21.280 --> 01:17:23.680 So don't ask questions you don't want the answer to. 01:17:23.680 --> 01:17:25.720 That should be a lesson you learn. 01:17:25.720 --> 01:17:27.880 But I'm not going to go out of my way 01:17:27.880 --> 01:17:29.800 to try to enlighten someone about that. 01:17:29.800 --> 01:17:30.480 Why would I? 01:17:30.480 --> 01:17:31.160 That's Weasley. 01:17:31.160 --> 01:17:32.320 I wouldn't want someone doing that here. 01:17:32.320 --> 01:17:34.080 So why would I go and do that in another church? 01:17:34.080 --> 01:17:35.440 You follow what I'm saying? 01:17:35.440 --> 01:17:37.240 Like, you've got to really like doing it to others 01:17:37.240 --> 01:17:39.000 as you have them to do it to you. 01:17:39.000 --> 01:17:40.400 The golden rule, that is. 01:17:40.400 --> 01:17:45.280 scripture okay go to Ephesians 4 verse number 29 Ephesians 4 verse 29 because I 01:17:45.280 --> 01:17:48.000 think you guys are in Romans right now 01:17:48.500 --> 01:17:50.840 And like I said, I practice what I preach in this one. 01:17:50.840 --> 01:17:53.340 Whenever we go to this church, I'm just trying to focus on, 01:17:53.340 --> 01:17:55.260 you know, being edifying to the people there, 01:17:55.260 --> 01:17:56.960 because they're like-minded believers. 01:17:56.960 --> 01:17:58.560 Even if we don't agree on all these other things, 01:17:58.560 --> 01:18:00.880 I'm just like, hey, if they're brothers and sisters in Christ, 01:18:00.880 --> 01:18:02.520 if they preach the right gospel, 01:18:02.520 --> 01:18:04.680 I'm going to try to get along with them and edify them 01:18:04.680 --> 01:18:06.940 and be edified by them to the best of my ability. 01:18:06.940 --> 01:18:07.940 Why wouldn't I? 01:18:07.940 --> 01:18:09.940 Why would I go there and try to cause disorder 01:18:09.940 --> 01:18:12.640 or cause division or cause chaos when the Bible says 01:18:12.640 --> 01:18:16.320 that God hates when people cause discord among the brethren? 01:18:16.320 --> 01:18:16.500 So 01:18:16.500 --> 01:18:18.420 It's not a good quality. 01:18:18.420 --> 01:18:21.300 And we have so many things to talk about anyways that have nothing to do with the Jews or nothing 01:18:21.300 --> 01:18:22.300 to do with the rapture. 01:18:22.300 --> 01:18:25.780 And I've never asked them opinion about this, but I mean, it's just like a, it's kind of 01:18:25.780 --> 01:18:27.060 a given usually for the whole life. 01:18:27.060 --> 01:18:28.060 Maybe I'm wrong. 01:18:28.060 --> 01:18:31.780 Maybe I'm judging before I would think so, but I would just like, I wouldn't even put 01:18:31.780 --> 01:18:34.020 it out there because it's a controversial subject. 01:18:34.800 --> 01:18:39.120 Which would be a good kind of tip to think about, okay? 01:18:39.120 --> 01:18:41.120 That when it comes to the subject of unity, 01:18:41.120 --> 01:18:43.200 and when it comes to the subject of division, 01:18:43.200 --> 01:18:48.160 that you would be wise not to bring up things that you know are going to be controversial 01:18:48.160 --> 01:18:50.880 amongst everybody that you're fellowshiping with, okay? 01:18:50.880 --> 01:18:54.320 This is just wisdom. This just makes sense because why would you do that? 01:18:54.320 --> 01:18:55.920 If you know that whatever you're going to bring up, 01:18:55.920 --> 01:19:00.400 if it's a doctrine from the Bible, if it's your opinion, even if it's politics, if it's anything, 01:19:00.960 --> 01:19:02.640 why would you bring it up if you know that it's... 01:19:02.800 --> 01:19:06.000 to cause an argument if you know it's going to cause a fight. That's not according to the spirit 01:19:06.000 --> 01:19:10.640 of God. That's our flesh that wants to do that. It's our flesh that loves to fight with people. 01:19:10.640 --> 01:19:14.960 It's our flesh that loves to go to bat and just try to attack people on the smallest things. 01:19:14.960 --> 01:19:19.040 That's not of God though. God wants unity. He says we're supposed to be striving. We're supposed to 01:19:19.040 --> 01:19:25.120 be endeavoring for. We're supposed to be trying our best to have unity at the church is what the 01:19:25.120 --> 01:19:27.040 The Bible clearly says in these passages. 01:19:27.040 --> 01:19:28.040 So to have that... 01:19:28.600 --> 01:19:33.240 Ignore the smaller things ignore the things that aren't that big of a deal and even things that are you know? 01:19:33.720 --> 01:19:39.160 Even still annoying to you. It's just like learn because here's why I even brought this up. Okay, because when I was younger 01:19:39.900 --> 01:19:43.900 Basically my family, my dad is the only conservative in the family. 01:19:43.900 --> 01:19:47.420 Everyone else whenever we go to family Christmas or go to family Thanksgiving with our outside 01:19:47.420 --> 01:19:49.860 relatives everyone's liberal. 01:19:49.860 --> 01:19:52.300 Everyone's mega liberal. 01:19:52.300 --> 01:19:58.340 It's not even just like, oh, like a little bit of liberal, major. 01:19:58.340 --> 01:20:02.060 So like most of the time at Christmas and Thanksgiving we didn't bring up politics or 01:20:02.060 --> 01:20:04.660 we didn't bring up religion or do whatever. 01:20:04.660 --> 01:20:06.900 It just like kind of was an unspoken rule. 01:20:07.000 --> 01:20:15.000 But then like there's a couple years where I would remember, I don't remember, you know, if it'd be my dad that would bring it up or if you know they would because it happened multiple times. Okay. 01:20:15.000 --> 01:20:20.000 But then it would just like Thanksgiving and Christmas would just turn into just a big brawl about stupid politics. 01:20:20.000 --> 01:20:26.000 Like, oh, what do you think about the border control and you know what about the welfare and what about the minimum wage. 01:20:26.000 --> 01:20:27.000 That's so crazy. 01:20:27.000 --> 01:20:31.000 And I'm like, why are we arguing about this at Christmas at Thanksgiving of all times? 01:20:31.000 --> 01:20:35.000 Is this the time and place to do this when you're supposed to have unity in a time of silence? 01:20:35.000 --> 01:20:38.900 Celebration with your family. It just always bizarre to me. Okay, it's just like why? 01:20:39.320 --> 01:20:43.840 Why would we bring these topics up when we know we're never gonna agree because that's the reality too 01:20:43.840 --> 01:20:47.400 It's not like at the family gatherings. They would like sway each other 01:20:48.100 --> 01:20:52.260 People just are set in their ways and whatever they believe they're gonna believe so what profit is it 01:20:52.660 --> 01:20:57.060 To just bring it up and just get into an altercation about it and just fight about it doesn't make sense 01:20:57.140 --> 01:20:59.860 It's not profitable. It is not good for 01:21:00.740 --> 01:21:03.620 Increasing the spirit of unity and having the bond of peace at church 01:21:04.180 --> 01:21:07.860 What did the bible say? Okay, let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind 01:21:08.020 --> 01:21:12.820 Just let that be the case when it has to do with things that are not the biggest deal in the world 01:21:14.600 --> 01:21:19.520 And as Christians you should also just kind of you guys are going to Ephesians 4 verse number 29 01:21:19.760 --> 01:21:24.840 Okay, this I would just want you to understand that this is wisdom that and again 01:21:24.840 --> 01:21:28.280 I give you the caveat as well. It's about people bringing up things, you know 01:21:29.000 --> 01:21:33.760 You can give an honest answer if you ask my opinion about anything. I'm gonna give you the answer about it 01:21:33.760 --> 01:21:36.520 Okay, unless there's like some crazy situation where like, you know 01:21:36.520 --> 01:21:38.620 I just can't say whatever I really want to say 01:21:38.720 --> 01:21:42.240 If you ask me about a belief if you ask me about a doctrine if you ask me about a situation 01:21:42.240 --> 01:21:42.600 I'm gonna give 01:21:42.600 --> 01:21:45.180 you my opinion so don't come up and ask me something if you don't want to know 01:21:45.180 --> 01:21:49.120 the answer to it okay as I said earlier seriously I'm not joking like if you 01:21:49.120 --> 01:21:51.000 want to know what I think about something 01:21:51.000 --> 01:21:53.800 Come up, but just know that I'm going to tell you what I think about something. 01:21:53.800 --> 01:21:57.000 And probably in a lot of words. And probably in a very fast speech I'm going to do right now, okay? 01:21:58.200 --> 01:22:02.360 But just like we should realize this is a Christian. Because look what it says in Ephesians 429. It says, 01:22:03.000 --> 01:22:07.960 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, 01:22:07.960 --> 01:22:12.280 that it may minister grace unto the hearers. This is the speech we should be focused on in church. 01:22:12.280 --> 01:22:18.680 Speech that builds one another up, not that divides each other. Speech that helps us in our day-to-day life. 01:22:19.000 --> 01:22:20.880 that helps us to understand something better, 01:22:20.880 --> 01:22:23.740 not that just causes division, not that causes chaos. 01:22:23.740 --> 01:22:24.700 This is not good. 01:22:25.500 --> 01:22:27.800 So don't ask questions you don't want the answer to as well. 01:22:27.800 --> 01:22:29.700 Like I said, that's like the women that do this a lot, yeah? 01:22:29.700 --> 01:22:31.900 Like they'll be like, does this dress maybe look fat? 01:22:31.900 --> 01:22:35.600 It's like, I can neither confirm nor deny, okay? 01:22:35.600 --> 01:22:36.200 Not really. 01:22:36.200 --> 01:22:39.100 But again, isn't that kind of a silly question though 01:22:39.100 --> 01:22:40.000 when you think about it? 01:22:40.000 --> 01:22:41.300 It's like, why are you asking me this? 01:22:41.300 --> 01:22:43.100 Like you want me to tell you to look fat or something like that? 01:22:43.100 --> 01:22:44.200 You wouldn't want the real answer. 01:22:44.200 --> 01:22:46.900 So why don't you just say like, I look good in this dress, right? 01:22:46.900 --> 01:22:48.600 Yes, okay, there we go. 01:22:48.900 --> 01:22:53.780 That's the play that's the way to do it. Okay, go to Matthew 5 verse number 43 01:22:54.800 --> 01:22:56.800 Matthew 5 verse number 43 01:23:00.000 --> 01:23:01.440 Why is this all important though? 01:23:01.440 --> 01:23:05.240 Because like I was telling you that even what we saw in Romans 14, 01:23:05.240 --> 01:23:06.320 if you weren't here for that sermon, 01:23:06.320 --> 01:23:07.640 it was kind of a long time ago. 01:23:07.640 --> 01:23:10.080 But the whole theme in that passage is just like, hey, 01:23:10.080 --> 01:23:13.720 you can be so right about something that you actually become wrong about it. 01:23:13.720 --> 01:23:17.300 The way that you treat people is as important, 01:23:17.300 --> 01:23:22.040 if not more important than just the petty little minor things, 01:23:22.040 --> 01:23:25.600 the little random squabblings that you'd have about the law, 01:23:25.600 --> 01:23:28.000 is what he displays for us in that passage. 01:23:28.000 --> 01:23:32.620 And it's like there can come a point where it's like you if you're winning an argument, okay 01:23:33.040 --> 01:23:38.520 But it's at the sake of causing division or causing discord. Then you didn't win anything. You just you won in the flesh 01:23:38.520 --> 01:23:46.040 That's it because that's what debating that's what arguing that's what all these things do it fulfills the lust of your flesh 01:23:46.720 --> 01:23:53.000 But we should realize as Christians that we may be doing things that are for the edification of the church. Okay 01:23:55.400 --> 01:23:59.640 Where are you guys at? You guys are at Matthew 5 verse number 43. 01:24:02.100 --> 01:24:06.260 I'd also just bring this a point of as well when it comes to unity. You should also just be okay 01:24:06.820 --> 01:24:11.060 with people not agreeing with your interpretation of things as well. Okay, just learn to be like 01:24:11.060 --> 01:24:14.900 this. Learn to just like, hey, you know, because this is what I growing up in baptist churches. 01:24:14.900 --> 01:24:20.100 Okay. I've seen this where people sometimes will freak out about something that is really not the 01:24:20.100 --> 01:24:23.140 biggest doctrine from the Bible. They'll like kind of like hold it to themselves like it is like, 01:24:23.140 --> 01:24:27.460 they'll be like, this is like foundational and it'll be just something super, you know, 01:24:28.260 --> 01:24:29.940 mid, okay, it'll be something just super not that. 01:24:30.100 --> 01:24:34.800 a big deal and be like, well, we believe this and it's been passed down to me and 01:24:34.800 --> 01:24:37.920 this is what my pastor always taught me about these things. But it's like, okay, 01:24:37.920 --> 01:24:40.840 but who cares? Does that really make it that big of a deal? How do you balance 01:24:40.840 --> 01:24:44.880 these things out? It has to do with, you know, heresy that's dandable, obviously, 01:24:44.880 --> 01:24:49.320 and then the issues that are going to cause destruction to the church is what 01:24:49.320 --> 01:24:52.320 you should weigh these things. What you think about the two witnesses? What you 01:24:52.320 --> 01:24:55.360 think about the little the little horn and Daniel? What you think about, you 01:24:55.360 --> 01:24:58.100 know, who it is that, uh, you know, when Paul 01:24:58.100 --> 01:25:00.980 whether he was in the body or whether he was out of the body, he cannot tell. 01:25:01.300 --> 01:25:02.940 Whatever you think about that, it's not that big of a deal. 01:25:02.940 --> 01:25:04.820 OK, those are examples that you understand. 01:25:04.940 --> 01:25:07.340 But there's other doctrines that people believe that I won't even name 01:25:07.340 --> 01:25:09.100 just because I would think it would cause division. 01:25:09.100 --> 01:25:11.740 I think it would cause I think it would cause discord 01:25:12.100 --> 01:25:15.380 that people hold these things up like they're so important and they're really not. 01:25:15.660 --> 01:25:18.660 Or they have these opinions that they think are so important that they're really not 01:25:18.940 --> 01:25:23.220 to the furthering of the gospel, which is the main purpose of why we even meet 01:25:23.220 --> 01:25:26.060 as a church in the first place, because some like in Matthew. 01:25:26.100 --> 01:25:30.060 543 what says it says he have heard that it's been said thou shalt love thy 01:25:30.060 --> 01:25:33.660 neighbor and hate thine enemy just because you've heard something taught 01:25:33.660 --> 01:25:36.220 your whole life that doesn't make it true okay so does people equate these 01:25:36.220 --> 01:25:39.740 things like I just always heard this but doesn't make it true though okay what 01:25:39.740 --> 01:25:42.700 matters at the end of the day is what the Bible says that's always what we have 01:25:42.700 --> 01:25:46.500 to fall back to because they had heard that had been said you can love your 01:25:46.500 --> 01:25:50.180 neighbor and hate your enemy but what was the real truth from the Bible you 01:25:50.180 --> 01:25:54.100 were supposed to love your neighbor and you're supposed to definitely love your 01:25:54.100 --> 01:25:57.500 enemy is what we saw even in the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. So you 01:25:57.500 --> 01:25:59.900 might have heard it has been said but you might have heard wrong. So look at 01:25:59.900 --> 01:26:02.860 what the Bible says instead that's what's always important. Okay go to 01:26:02.860 --> 01:26:10.180 Ephesians 4 verse number two one more time and believe me that this topic hits 01:26:10.180 --> 01:26:14.200 close to home to me okay especially because 01:26:14.300 --> 01:26:19.820 Not latching onto things like arguments that I think are bad like a pit bull is contrary to my personality 01:26:19.820 --> 01:26:23.780 I really like to argue with people. I really like to go around in circles with people 01:26:23.780 --> 01:26:30.060 I really like to just like think about things and try to bring up an argument that I think just completely shred someone else's opinion 01:26:30.060 --> 01:26:31.600 I love to do it. Okay 01:26:31.700 --> 01:26:34.100 But I just learned as a Christian that it's just not always the best to do. 01:26:34.100 --> 01:26:37.060 It's just not always edifying. And all things are supposed to be done 01:26:37.060 --> 01:26:42.100 unto edification in the body of Christ, okay? And if you don't believe me, I'll just tell you this. 01:26:42.100 --> 01:26:46.180 Multiple times in my life, my dad has pulled me to the side at church even and been like, 01:26:46.740 --> 01:26:49.220 I know what you think about this. Stop talking about it. 01:26:50.000 --> 01:26:53.480 Okay, and then sometimes I would you know, I would try to always listen 01:26:53.480 --> 01:26:57.360 But sometimes sometimes you're so hobby-horst on something that you don't want to stop talking about it 01:26:57.360 --> 01:27:01.720 So if anybody brings it up a little bit you jump on it. I know that I'm telling you right now 01:27:01.720 --> 01:27:03.920 It is my personality. I love to do it 01:27:03.920 --> 01:27:04.480 Okay 01:27:04.480 --> 01:27:09.640 But multiple times my dad's corrected me on it and I try my best to follow that because it's like, you know to this day 01:27:09.640 --> 01:27:11.640 Where I'm still not gonna come up and try to preach a sermon 01:27:12.000 --> 01:27:17.920 About something that I disagree with him on or that you know that I think would be like just super omega controversial when it's not 01:27:18.000 --> 01:27:21.280 edifying or when it's not that beneficial okay you just got to put all 01:27:21.280 --> 01:27:25.800 things in perspective on these things but multiple times my dad and his 01:27:25.800 --> 01:27:29.880 preach sermons even about when I know I'm the person in the sermon okay it's 01:27:29.880 --> 01:27:35.040 my personality I love it I love to fight I love to argue it is it is a hobby of 01:27:35.040 --> 01:27:37.760 mine it's right up there with rage baiting Kylie okay these things are very 01:27:37.760 --> 01:27:38.900 close okay 01:27:39.000 --> 01:27:43.640 But, you know, what you like in the flesh is not always what's good for the spirit, 01:27:43.640 --> 01:27:46.760 though. That's what I'd submit to you, okay? So the first thing we learn in the sermon is that, 01:27:46.760 --> 01:27:51.560 you know, we should realize that not every belief, not every doctrine, not every interpretation is 01:27:51.560 --> 01:27:56.520 the end-all be-all. So learn to disagree with people, learn to talk about something, and just 01:27:56.520 --> 01:28:01.320 agree to disagree. This is how we have unity as a church. As independent Baptists, they're supposed 01:28:01.320 --> 01:28:04.040 to be free thinkers, they're supposed to have their own opinions about the text. 01:28:04.800 --> 01:28:08.320 The second thing I bring up is learning to forbear one another in love. Okay, it says that in verse number two 01:28:08.320 --> 01:28:13.200 It says with all lowliness and meekness with long suffering forbearing one another in love 01:28:13.820 --> 01:28:19.780 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace as we learn in first Corinthians 13 01:28:20.400 --> 01:28:26.800 Forbearing means to put up with or to endure something and Paul is saying that this is a key for unity to endure 01:28:27.200 --> 01:28:29.200 to forbear one another 01:28:29.280 --> 01:28:30.400 in love 01:28:30.400 --> 01:28:32.080 with the purpose of 01:28:32.080 --> 01:28:37.360 Endeavoring to keep the spirit of unity and the bond of peace go to matthew 18 verse number 21 01:28:37.840 --> 01:28:40.320 Matthew verse 8 or chapter 18 verse number 21 01:28:40.720 --> 01:28:47.300 Because again like i was saying earlier god calls us from all different walks of life all different backgrounds all different cultures all different personalities 01:28:47.840 --> 01:28:48.400 and he 01:28:48.400 --> 01:28:54.640 brings us into one body, one place, one building, and he expects us to try to get along with each 01:28:54.640 --> 01:28:59.760 other to the best of our ability. But we should realize, and what God knows and what Paul knows, 01:28:59.760 --> 01:29:03.600 is why he writes this in the Bible, is that because we're so different, there is going to be times 01:29:03.600 --> 01:29:07.360 where we, you know, butt heads a little bit. There's going to be times where we don't get 01:29:07.360 --> 01:29:09.520 along with each other. There's going to be times where... 01:29:10.300 --> 01:29:24.300 You know, we, you know, think someone owes us apology and they don't think so or that you didn't mean anything by something and they took something the wrong way or that they don't like your interpretation here, they don't like your opinion there, they don't like whatever. 01:29:24.300 --> 01:29:29.300 I mean, as, as human beings, we're just always going to fight with each other because we still have this simple flesh. Okay. 01:29:29.900 --> 01:29:35.420 But that doesn't mean that we can't have unity because despite that God calls us to strive to endeavor for unity 01:29:35.420 --> 01:29:40.140 Which means it is possible. So how do we do that? We forbear one another we 01:29:40.680 --> 01:29:43.500 Endure what things like to put up with each other. Okay, it's kind of what he's saying 01:29:43.500 --> 01:29:47.260 Okay, put up with each other. Okay and put up with me because I know that I can be annoying 01:29:47.260 --> 01:29:50.060 I know that um, I mean everybody's personality can be annoying 01:29:50.060 --> 01:29:54.460 I mean like that's just the reality we're gonna get annoyed with each other because if we spend enough time with each other 01:29:54.460 --> 01:29:57.840 Which we should be doing because we're a church, right? We should be fellowship 01:29:57.900 --> 01:29:59.520 We're gonna get out of shape with each other 01:29:59.520 --> 01:30:04.040 I mean you think the disciples when they were fellowship with each other there wasn't times that they got in arguments or they got I 01:30:04.040 --> 01:30:07.880 Mean we see this when they're walking with Jesus. They're like who's gonna be the greatest the king of heaven 01:30:07.880 --> 01:30:12.940 They're like, of course me right? He's like what I'm gonna be the greatest the king of heaven, right? They argue with each other 01:30:12.940 --> 01:30:16.240 Okay, but yet they still are in one accord and we see in the book of Acts 01:30:16.280 --> 01:30:23.000 Which means that we can overcome our differences we can overcome the differences opinions that we have we can overcome the arguments that we have 01:30:23.200 --> 01:30:24.800 How do we do this? 01:30:25.200 --> 01:30:30.000 By forbearing one another in love is what the bible is saying right here. By just learning to let things go and realizing 01:30:30.640 --> 01:30:35.360 What our goal is as a church and uniting under that banner, which i'll get to in a second 01:30:35.920 --> 01:30:38.960 But that's why i have you guys here in matthew 18 because this is uh good for unity 01:30:39.200 --> 01:30:44.560 Says then came peter to him and said lord how off shall i my brother sin against me and i forgive him until seven times 01:30:44.640 --> 01:30:48.720 Jesus said unto him i said unto thee until seven times but until 70 01:30:49.280 --> 01:30:53.140 Times seven. I think that this is like the best example ever 01:30:53.200 --> 01:30:58.000 of the difference between our flesh and spirit because when someone does us 01:30:58.000 --> 01:31:01.380 wrong there's nothing that we would rather do more most of time than just be 01:31:01.380 --> 01:31:04.200 bitter about it be upset just hold a grudge about it 01:31:04.500 --> 01:31:09.300 but the Bible command is here that even till 70 times, seven times you're supposed to forgive 01:31:09.300 --> 01:31:13.060 your brother if he does you wrong. And that's probably a pretty high number for what we would 01:31:13.060 --> 01:31:17.540 do each other wrong in church. Okay. But if you measured over years, you know, we might get close 01:31:17.540 --> 01:31:22.100 to that number eventually. Okay. But nevertheless, okay. Hey, when your brother apologized, you should 01:31:22.100 --> 01:31:26.740 forgive them and forgive them fully for what they apologize for. This is good for your marriage as 01:31:26.740 --> 01:31:30.100 well, by the way, that when your spouse apologize to you, I told you guys this before, but it's very 01:31:30.100 --> 01:31:32.420 important that when your spouse apologize. 01:31:32.500 --> 01:31:35.980 you should forgive them and accept the apology that's how you don't get better 01:31:35.980 --> 01:31:38.300 with each other that's how you don't get angry with each other that's how you 01:31:38.300 --> 01:31:42.460 learn to dwell with unity and with knowledge with each other okay as 01:31:42.460 --> 01:31:46.660 right Smith you and I had that mic to get there good Romans 15 verse number 01:31:46.660 --> 01:31:49.100 one Romans 15 verse number one 01:31:50.200 --> 01:31:52.600 It's true with your kids too and with your parents, okay? 01:31:52.600 --> 01:31:55.560 As a kid, you should learn not to hold a grudge against your parents. 01:31:55.560 --> 01:31:58.360 As a parent, you should learn not to hold grudges against your kid because we do. 01:31:58.360 --> 01:32:00.920 And we get upset about things and we get angry about things. 01:32:00.920 --> 01:32:04.520 But when they come to you and ask you to forgive them, you should forgive them. 01:32:04.520 --> 01:32:08.680 Anybody that asks you to forgive them, it is a commandment of God that you actually forgive them. 01:32:09.960 --> 01:32:11.480 Romans 15 verse number one. 01:32:13.080 --> 01:32:14.440 Look what the Bible says there. 01:32:14.440 --> 01:32:15.240 It says... 01:32:15.400 --> 01:32:43.400 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. Notice what he says there not to please ourselves. Okay, which is what everyone wants to do. They want to make themselves happy. But this is a claim of God. Like don't only focus by yourself. Okay. Look at verse number two. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. We're supposed to be at church focusing on the edification of our fellow man of our fellow brother and sister in Christ. Verse number five of this, it says now the God of patience and consolation. 01:32:43.400 --> 01:32:57.400 grant ye to be like-minded one to another according to Jesus Christ, that ye may be with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God." 01:32:57.400 --> 01:33:02.100 And think about this, look at that verse. How does Christ receive us into the glory of God? 01:33:02.700 --> 01:33:07.180 Perfectly right without like bringing up all the past things that we've done without bringing up all of our past sins without 01:33:07.420 --> 01:33:09.800 Throwing things in our face when Christ receives us into glory 01:33:10.120 --> 01:33:13.400 He receives us perfectly right in his full righteousness 01:33:13.400 --> 01:33:18.860 And so Paul in this chapter is saying to do the same thing that when it comes to your brother's decision Christ 01:33:18.860 --> 01:33:23.520 We are gonna wrong each other. We are gonna take each other off. We are gonna make each other salty 01:33:23.520 --> 01:33:26.160 We are gonna really just get under each other's skin sometimes 01:33:26.160 --> 01:33:30.480 But what God wants us to do anyways is that when that happens you? 01:33:30.700 --> 01:33:34.500 knowledge that happens, you bite your tongue, you resist in the flesh what you 01:33:34.500 --> 01:33:37.540 want to do, which is just doubling down into holding a grudge or being bitter, 01:33:37.780 --> 01:33:41.140 and you go and you reconcile with your brother or sister in Christ. This is how 01:33:41.140 --> 01:33:44.740 we have unity as a church, not by being perfect because we're not perfect 01:33:44.740 --> 01:33:49.500 people, but by forgiving each other and receiving each other as Christ 01:33:49.500 --> 01:33:53.140 receives us in the glory of God. Think about that, that God sees us as 01:33:53.140 --> 01:33:57.780 perfect, even though we know that it's not true, that even though we're not 01:33:57.780 --> 01:33:58.700 perfect people, that's how he receives us. 01:33:58.700 --> 01:34:01.700 that's how he wants us to treat our brothers and sisters of Christ as well. 01:34:01.700 --> 01:34:04.700 That when they ask for forgiveness, you forgive them and not only do you forgive them, 01:34:04.700 --> 01:34:08.700 you act like it never happened ever again. You just let it go, just completely, 01:34:08.700 --> 01:34:12.700 that it's no longer there, it's not even in your mind, and you don't throw it up in their face 01:34:12.700 --> 01:34:17.700 years later or weeks later or an hour later or anything like that, okay? 01:34:17.700 --> 01:34:21.700 Go to Philippians 1 verse number 27. I think... 01:34:22.200 --> 01:34:25.720 What do we got here? I think I got two places left to turn. So you guys are in a 01:34:26.280 --> 01:34:31.640 Being good spirits. Okay for a little bit only two places left to turn aphesians 127 is where you guys are going to 01:34:32.900 --> 01:34:38.900 There's something I think we forget sometimes as a church, you know, we say brother brother Paul brother Remy brother Jason brother 01:34:39.220 --> 01:34:45.300 Ryan brother whoever sister, you know, whoever we we say this but why it's because we truly are a family 01:34:45.380 --> 01:34:50.340 Is what the bible is telling us we are a spiritual family and the reality is that sometimes families fight 01:34:50.420 --> 01:34:55.540 Okay, me and my brothers and sisters have fun a lot in our life. Okay, even into our adult life 01:34:55.620 --> 01:34:59.140 You know what like that's the truth, but you know what always happens at the end of the day 01:34:59.460 --> 01:35:00.900 We always go to each other 01:35:00.900 --> 01:35:05.540 We say sorry and we're reconciled so that we can be even stronger than we were before 01:35:05.540 --> 01:35:08.420 and that we can have even more love for each other than we did before. 01:35:08.420 --> 01:35:12.940 This is how we have to be as Christians, that when we wrong each other, we have to still 01:35:12.940 --> 01:35:14.700 realize we're a family. 01:35:14.700 --> 01:35:19.060 We're one family in the body of Christ and Lord willing, we're going to know each other 01:35:19.060 --> 01:35:20.060 for a long time. 01:35:20.060 --> 01:35:24.780 So make the best and be in good terms with your family and be reconciled with your family 01:35:24.780 --> 01:35:26.580 and don't hold a grudge against your family. 01:35:28.200 --> 01:35:30.920 Philippians 127, okay, this is the last point of the sermon. 01:35:30.920 --> 01:35:32.640 The first point though was that we should realize 01:35:32.640 --> 01:35:35.280 that not every belief, not every doctrine, 01:35:35.280 --> 01:35:36.920 not every interpretation is the end all be all, 01:35:36.920 --> 01:35:38.120 this is how we can have unity. 01:35:38.120 --> 01:35:40.140 We should learn to forbear one another in love 01:35:40.140 --> 01:35:42.520 and forgive each other and put up with each other. 01:35:42.520 --> 01:35:44.880 And the last thing is that we should realize 01:35:44.880 --> 01:35:47.920 what our central goal is in order to have unity. 01:35:47.920 --> 01:35:49.640 And this should be no marvel to you. 01:35:49.640 --> 01:35:52.480 First, Philippians 127, look at it says, 01:35:52.480 --> 01:35:56.080 only let your conversation, which means your lifestyle, okay? 01:35:56.200 --> 01:35:59.660 be as it becometh the gospel of Christ, 01:35:59.660 --> 01:36:03.380 that whether I come and see you or else be absent, 01:36:03.380 --> 01:36:04.460 I may hear of your affairs, 01:36:04.460 --> 01:36:07.860 that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind 01:36:07.860 --> 01:36:11.580 striving together for the faith of the gospel. 01:36:11.580 --> 01:36:13.260 There's two things I wanna point out to you 01:36:13.260 --> 01:36:14.100 from these verses. 01:36:14.100 --> 01:36:15.540 I wanna point them out, go to 1 Corinthians 15, 01:36:15.540 --> 01:36:17.020 verse number 32. 01:36:17.020 --> 01:36:17.980 That number one, 01:36:18.300 --> 01:36:20.800 Our conversation is supposed to be as, 01:36:20.800 --> 01:36:22.800 Becometh the gospel of Jesus Christ. 01:36:22.800 --> 01:36:23.800 What does that mean? 01:36:23.800 --> 01:36:27.100 It means that our lifestyle should be appropriate, 01:36:27.100 --> 01:36:29.700 should be fitting for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 01:36:29.700 --> 01:36:32.100 What he's basically trying to say in my opinion then, 01:36:32.100 --> 01:36:36.000 is that the reason why, or at least one of the main reasons why, 01:36:36.000 --> 01:36:38.500 we should have a holy and righteous life, 01:36:38.500 --> 01:36:41.300 and why we should first strive to achieve, 01:36:41.300 --> 01:36:44.000 you know, the mastery like the Bible talks about, 01:36:44.000 --> 01:36:45.700 is for the sake of the gospel. 01:36:45.700 --> 01:36:46.300 Is what he's saying right here. 01:36:46.300 --> 01:36:50.300 there. That's what your lifestyle should be focused on. It should be centered on 01:36:50.300 --> 01:36:55.660 the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because if we do this as a church it'll allow us to 01:36:55.660 --> 01:36:59.860 have unity because that is the big key. In order to have unity there's so many other 01:36:59.860 --> 01:37:03.540 things I could bring up but you really have to have one mind and one purpose 01:37:03.540 --> 01:37:09.140 and one overarching goal to really stay banded together. And at this church, at 01:37:09.140 --> 01:37:11.740 your foundation Baptist Church, we know that that's the gospel of Jesus Christ. 01:37:11.740 --> 01:37:14.300 Yeah because life can get busy. 01:37:14.300 --> 01:37:17.140 We can kind of get lost in why we're doing what we're doing. 01:37:17.140 --> 01:37:18.820 Like, you know, why am I going to church? 01:37:18.820 --> 01:37:19.900 Why am I praying? 01:37:19.900 --> 01:37:23.660 Why am I going out and knocking doors in the blazing sun every week? 01:37:23.660 --> 01:37:25.140 Why am I forgiving people? 01:37:25.140 --> 01:37:28.860 Why am I going to church and dealing with these people when I could just be chill at home? 01:37:28.860 --> 01:37:30.580 Why do we do all these things? 01:37:30.580 --> 01:37:34.540 Paul says because our conversation is supposed to be becoming, 01:37:34.540 --> 01:37:37.420 as become at the gospel of Jesus Christ, right? 01:37:37.420 --> 01:37:39.220 So it's for the gospel. 01:37:39.220 --> 01:37:42.260 Like almost everything that we do as Christians relates back to 01:37:42.300 --> 01:37:46.580 to the gospel. Like we come to church and we're edified at church obviously right? But 01:37:46.580 --> 01:37:50.560 why are you edified? So that you can go out and preach the gospel right? It's like everything 01:37:50.560 --> 01:37:55.360 ties back to the gospel of Jesus Christ because that's why he left us on the earth was to 01:37:55.360 --> 01:37:59.060 go and preach the gospel. You guys know this though I've preached it many times so why 01:37:59.060 --> 01:38:03.080 am I bringing it up in this sermon? Because I want you to understand that what should 01:38:03.080 --> 01:38:08.020 unite us at the end of the day, what should always you know reel us back in, what should 01:38:08.020 --> 01:38:10.300 always make us be try to be 01:38:10.300 --> 01:38:15.580 long-suffering and forgiving, what should always help us to look past each other's flaws 01:38:15.580 --> 01:38:20.860 and to look past each other's weaknesses is the fact that we're united for the gospel of Jesus 01:38:20.860 --> 01:38:26.860 Christ. That we're united to get this world saved because if we just get lost in our petty 01:38:26.860 --> 01:38:32.380 squabblings and our petty arguments, then what that results in for this area is less people getting 01:38:32.380 --> 01:38:37.340 saved and less people going to heaven when they die and more people dying and going to hell. 01:38:37.340 --> 01:38:38.300 because the Bible says... 01:38:38.300 --> 01:38:41.740 that when we go out and preach the gospel we make a difference in this world. 01:38:42.380 --> 01:38:46.060 And again I'm bringing that up not because we don't preach the gospel because we do preach the 01:38:46.060 --> 01:38:50.220 gospel at this church but because it's not the only thing that we do at this church though. 01:38:50.220 --> 01:38:54.300 But what happens outside of preaching the gospel can certainly affect 01:38:54.600 --> 01:38:58.760 who is preaching the gospel and with what attitude you're preaching the gospel and how often you're 01:38:58.760 --> 01:39:04.280 preaching the gospel. So it's important to realize in all these things that you know why we have to 01:39:04.280 --> 01:39:09.800 focus and endeavor on unity is because there's a bigger picture at play and and it's the gospel of 01:39:09.800 --> 01:39:13.960 Jesus Christ. That's why it's so important. Why do we come to this church? Why we fellowship with 01:39:13.960 --> 01:39:18.040 each other? Why we put up with each other? Why do you sit here and listen to me for an hour yapping 01:39:18.040 --> 01:39:22.440 for a sermon? It's all for or at least it all should be for because we 01:39:22.600 --> 01:39:23.900 want to get this area saved. 01:39:24.000 --> 01:39:25.600 Why do we choose this church of all churches? 01:39:25.600 --> 01:39:26.560 There's many churches in Spokane. 01:39:26.560 --> 01:39:28.320 Why do we choose this church to go to? 01:39:28.320 --> 01:39:31.840 It's because we want to reach this area with the gospel. 01:39:31.840 --> 01:39:32.360 That's all. 01:39:32.360 --> 01:39:33.680 You always have to keep that in mind. 01:39:33.680 --> 01:39:35.200 Because if you lose sight of that, 01:39:35.200 --> 01:39:36.240 you can get bitter with someone. 01:39:36.240 --> 01:39:37.240 You can get mad with someone. 01:39:37.240 --> 01:39:39.200 You can get angry and hold a grudge with them 01:39:39.200 --> 01:39:40.280 and just leave the church. 01:39:40.280 --> 01:39:42.680 Or you could just have a division 01:39:42.680 --> 01:39:44.040 that it causes in the church. 01:39:44.040 --> 01:39:46.840 But all this does is it hinders the gospel of Jesus Christ. 01:39:46.840 --> 01:39:48.880 It hinders the work that we can do as Christians. 01:39:48.880 --> 01:39:51.640 Because a house divided itself against itself cannot stand. 01:39:51.640 --> 01:39:52.000 is what 01:39:52.000 --> 01:39:56.480 Jesus Christ said. So always go back to the gospel and make sure that your life 01:39:56.480 --> 01:40:01.040 is focused on the gospel because everything we do here is for the 01:40:01.040 --> 01:40:05.560 edification of us and for the Lord willing the salvation of people that are 01:40:05.560 --> 01:40:09.000 without this church. So always keep that in mind okay? 01:40:09.300 --> 01:40:19.540 This is the main thing at this church and Lord willing it always will be the main thing and Lord willing it will always you know be something that we lay on our hearts and and I know we bring it up a lot but we have to bring it up a lot. 01:40:19.540 --> 01:40:23.380 I mean the Bible brings up the word gospel a lot the Bible brings up soul winning a lot right. 01:40:24.100 --> 01:40:28.980 So we always have to remind ourselves of these things that at the end of the day. 01:40:29.700 --> 01:40:31.940 The most important thing is the gospel of Jesus Christ, okay? 01:40:31.940 --> 01:40:33.380 So get along for that reason. 01:40:33.380 --> 01:40:36.100 So endeavor to have unity for that reason. 01:40:36.100 --> 01:40:39.060 So learn to not hold grudges for that reason. 01:40:39.060 --> 01:40:42.340 And learn to suffer yourself to be defrauded for that reason, 01:40:42.340 --> 01:40:43.540 is what I would submit to you. 01:40:43.800 --> 01:40:48.120 that we may stand, it says, in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the 01:40:48.120 --> 01:40:53.400 gospel so that we can strive together in preaching the gospel, not be striving against each other. 01:40:53.400 --> 01:40:57.080 Okay, so that means that let's pray. Dear brother God, thank you so much for everything you do for 01:40:57.080 --> 01:41:00.840 us, God. Thank you so much for this church, God, and for people that I know that love to preach the 01:41:00.840 --> 01:41:03.880 gospel, God. I just pray that you'd always keep this spirit within us, God. I just pray that you 01:41:03.880 --> 01:41:07.640 would help us to center our lives around you truly, God. I know that 01:41:08.200 --> 01:41:11.480 Life can be so stressful sometimes and life can be hard and life can be 01:41:12.240 --> 01:41:14.480 full of distractions and full of things that 01:41:15.120 --> 01:41:17.680 Catch our attention God, but I just pray that you'd always help us to 01:41:18.320 --> 01:41:23.220 Realize that our main purpose on this earth is to preach the gospel and anything that's hindering that 01:41:23.220 --> 01:41:26.280 I just pray that you get it out of our lives and I pray that we could 01:41:26.720 --> 01:41:31.960 Put our full effort into that as a church and do that throughout the years to come Lord willing God 01:41:31.960 --> 01:41:33.960 We have prayed all these things that you say pray, amen 01:41:40.600 --> 01:41:43.480 All right, if you want to go ahead and take your hymnals, 01:41:43.480 --> 01:41:45.800 we're going to turn to page number 22. 01:41:52.200 --> 01:41:59.600 page number 22 are you washed in blood 01:42:02.100 --> 01:42:04.100 page number 22. 01:42:04.100 --> 01:42:06.100 Sing it out on the first. 01:42:06.100 --> 01:42:12.100 Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? 01:42:12.100 --> 01:42:16.100 Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? 01:42:16.100 --> 01:42:22.100 Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? 01:42:22.100 --> 01:42:26.100 Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? 01:42:26.800 --> 01:42:31.800 Are you washed in the blood? 01:42:31.800 --> 01:42:36.800 In the soul cleansing blood of the lamb? 01:42:36.800 --> 01:42:39.800 Are your garments spotless? 01:42:39.800 --> 01:42:42.800 Are they white as snow? 01:42:42.800 --> 01:42:47.600 Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? 01:42:47.600 --> 01:42:52.800 Are you walking daily by the Savior's side? 01:42:52.800 --> 01:42:57.800 Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? 01:42:57.800 --> 01:43:03.000 Do you rest each moment in the Crucified? 01:43:03.000 --> 01:43:08.000 Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? 01:43:08.000 --> 01:43:12.800 Are you washed in the blood? 01:43:13.300 --> 01:43:18.300 In the soul cleansing blood of the lamb 01:43:18.300 --> 01:43:23.300 Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? 01:43:23.300 --> 01:43:28.300 Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? 01:43:28.300 --> 01:43:34.300 When the bridegroom cometh, will your robes be white? 01:43:34.300 --> 01:43:38.300 Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? 01:43:39.300 --> 01:43:44.500 Will your soul be ready for the mansion's bright? 01:43:44.500 --> 01:43:49.700 Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? 01:43:49.700 --> 01:43:55.100 Are you washed in the blood, 01:43:55.100 --> 01:43:59.700 in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? 01:44:00.300 --> 01:44:05.740 Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? 01:44:05.740 --> 01:44:10.980 Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? 01:44:10.980 --> 01:44:16.420 Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin 01:44:16.420 --> 01:44:21.540 And be washed in the blood of the Lamb 01:44:21.540 --> 01:44:25.220 There's a fountain flowing for the... 01:44:25.700 --> 01:44:32.340 Unclean, oh, be washed in the blood of the lamb. 01:44:32.340 --> 01:44:40.540 Are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood 01:44:40.540 --> 01:44:43.140 of the lamb? 01:44:43.140 --> 01:44:45.900 Are your garments spotless? 01:44:45.900 --> 01:44:48.540 Are they white as snow? 01:44:48.540 --> 01:44:52.220 Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? 01:44:53.500 --> 01:44:56.860 Alright, excellent singing everybody, but the apologize please close us in one prayer. 01:44:56.860 --> 01:44:59.660 Heavenly Father, thank you so much for today, for allowing us to hear this message. 01:44:59.660 --> 01:45:04.140 To remind ourselves, Lord, we can make, pick, and find fault in every single person, 01:45:04.140 --> 01:45:06.860 in every single movement, in every single organization. 01:45:06.860 --> 01:45:10.540 We can make it the center of our point to draw those cracks and divisions out. 01:45:10.540 --> 01:45:15.660 The Lord is Christians, we are commanded to smooth over all those that is not necessary to the Bible. 01:45:15.660 --> 01:45:17.020 In Jesus' name, Amen. 01:45:17.020 --> 01:45:17.660 Amen.