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you you you you Well good morning everyone welcome to Mountain Baptist Church Take your Mountain Baptist Psalms hymns and spiritual psalm books the blue folders and Turn to the very last page page number 53 And we'll sing angels we have heard on high and if you would stand We'll sing song number 53 Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o'er the plain and Mountains and reply echoing their joyous strains Oh Rhea and excelsius Deo Rhea and excelsius Deo Oh Shepherds why this Jubilee why your joyous strains prolong? What a glad some tidings be? Which inspire your heavenly song? Oh Rhea and excelsius Deo Rhea and excelsius Deo Oh Come to Bethlehem And see him whose birth the angels sing come Ador on bended knee Christ the Lord the newborn King Gloria Excelsius Deo Rhea and excelsius Deo See him and a manger laid Whom the chords of angels prayed Mary Joseph Lenya While our hearts and love we raise Rhea and excelsius Deo Gloria and excelsius Deo All right, let's pray Heavenly Father Lord again, we just want to thank you God for just Another Sunday that we get to gather and to hear your word preached I pray Lord that you would just be with our pastor film with film with your power and spirit We love you for it's in Jesus name we ask all but Amen. All right, maybe seated and in your mountain Baptist Song books turn to page number three Page number three in your mountain Baptist Psalms hymns and spiritual songbooks will sing Psalm 24 page number three The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof the world and they that dwell therein For he had founded it upon the sea and Established it upon the floods Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shall stand in his holy? Place he that hath clean hands and up your heart Lifted up his soul on to vanity nor sworn deceitfully He shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness From the God of his salvation This is the generation of them that seek him that seek the face. Oh Jacob Selah Lift up your hands Oh ye gates and be lived up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory Shall come in Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty The Lord mighty and Battle Lift up your hands. Oh ye gates even lift them up ye everlasting doors and The King of glory shall come in who is this King of glory? The Lord Ah He is the king of glory see Amen so welcome to Mount Baptist Church on this Sunday morning and just some announcements here Our service times today should be normal. So we'll have our afternoon service at 4 p.m. Before that We're gonna have our soul winning time at 1 p.m. And I know it's going to be it's a rainy day So we're gonna be trying to pick places that are we have places picked out that are covered so we won't get all drenched but But we will have our soul winning time. So if you want to meet up here a little before 1 o'clock Then you can go out soul winning with us this afternoon. Also, there's regional soul winning times on here Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Saturday So just give it the guys that lead up those times We are playing on having a baptism so we actually have a brother from down from Canada Brother Tim Tim, right? Yeah, so That it's gonna be getting baptized. And so we're gonna plan on doing it after the service this morning. So So yeah, if you want to stick around for that We'll basically do that right after the service. So And then as far as upcoming events, we have the prayer meeting So the women's prayer meeting on the 22nd the men's prayer meeting on the 29th We do have the soul winning marathon coming up this Saturday in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and so if you want to be a part of that definitely get with brother Matt and Brother Matt Racine on that and I know there's a church group already set up for that as well. So But if you can't go to that be a prayer for it that many souls are saved and Then as far as our chapter memory for the month, we have Luke chapter 2, which is a long chapter But if you at least start memorizing it you can at least get through the Christmas story then You know, that's kind of the goal there. But hey, if you memorize the whole chapter, that's great but chapter one and two of Luke are really long obviously, so but But yeah that first portion definitely Would be good during this time or we're celebrating Christmas and then our memory verse for the week is Isaiah 9 6 also a Christmas Verse there as well for unto us a child is born unto us The son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder. His name shall be called wonderful counselor the mighty God the everlasting father of the Prince of Peace, so That's our memory verse for the week and then birthdays What is today the 10th so Did we miss anyone last week By chance Oh When so we'll get when how old is she now or so we'll get Gwen Hyles and then I Don't think anybody else is this week on the list anyway, so Lance is on the 21st So we have some that'll be coming up the next week. So So Yeah, we'll sing happy birthday to go in there and then As far as anniversaries So the Murphy's which I don't see them. They're not here this morning. So we'll get them next week. So and then pregnancies So pregnancies We have Alyssa Anastasia and Tabby on the list there So be a prayer for them and then be a prayer for everybody that's not feeling well. I know that For family their kids are not feeling well. And so it's probably the case in a lot of families. So just be a prayer there That especially through this season that we stay healthy and get her get over any sicknesses and all that I Think it's about all I have for announcements. We're gonna The offering box in the back there if you want to give a tithe or an offering and then the mother baby rooms for the mothers babies only Who's reading brother? Bro, Shane the reading. Yes, so bro. She's gonna be reading Philippians chapter 2 for us after we do the birthday song and one more song after that You All right, take your song books and turn to song 422 Song 422 in your song books will sing thou dost leave thy throne But before we do that we need to sing happy birthday to Quinn Quinn Yeah, yeah, she's she's the shy one for sure Quinn we gotta sing happy birthday to you You should have saw her on Friday when we did the birthday over there my mother-in-law she was like standing up like that's my turn That's right Quinn all right. We're gonna sing happy birthday to you. You're four four years old Yeah, okay great awesome you want to stand up No, okay. All right. All right. No other birthdays Brother Justin we get your birthday last week, brother You sure? Somebody's got to replace Jacob. So we I'm looking I'm always looking for somebody If you want to be that guy until Jacob comes back. Anyway, all right. We'll sing. Happy birthday to Quinn Here we go ready Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday God bless you Happy birthday to you Well, happy birthday to you and we will sing song 422 Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown, when thou camest to earth for me, but in Bethlehem's home was there fount no room for thy holy nativity. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee. Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming thy royal decree. But of holy birth didst thou come to earth, and in great humility. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee. The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest in the shade of the forest tree. But thy couch was the sun, O thou Son of God, in the deserts of Galilee. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee. Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word that should set thy people free. But with mocking scorn and the crown thorn they bore thee to Calvary. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee. When the heavens rang and the angels sang, and thy coming to victory. Let thy voice call me home, saying, Yet there is room, there is room at my side for thee. My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, when thou comest and callest for me. If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings, that ye may be blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. Yea, if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy and rejoice with me. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state. For I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ. But ye know the proof of him, that as a son with the Father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphrodis, my brother and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants, for he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore, that more carefully when ye see him again ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in reputation. Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you to be gathered in your house this morning. I pray that you just fill your spirit with pastor, and help us to be edified this beautiful morning. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. So you're there in Philippians chapter 2, and I'm going to be preaching a sermon entitled Work Out Your Own Salvation, but it's also going to go into bearing your own burden. But I preached the sermon, I preached the sermon as far as this passage about working out your own salvation over five years ago. It's not up on our YouTube channel. It might be in the archives somewhere, but who knows. But it's been over five years, so I'm going to preach on it again here. Maybe with a little, not a different twist, but maybe a different perspective as far as looking at it. But same teaching, all of that. Now there's two places that basically everybody that believes in work salvation or tries to defend work salvation will go to. There's James chapter 2, Faith Without Works is Dead, and then there's this passage where they'll say, well you need to work out your own salvation. In both those cases, it's not talking about eternal salvation, it's not talking about heaven and hell, and really what they miss is the whole context in all of these cases. So when it comes to this passage, what they'll do is they'll go to verse 12 here and just rip this out of context, not look at anything else in the passage, but in verse 12 it says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And they just automatically insert, well we're talking about salvation from hell, and you need to work it out. Meaning you need to do good works. Even though the Bible says over and over again that it's by grace you're saved, it says, for by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, not of works, lest any man should boast. And just over and over again, that we're redeemed not by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. So, context matters here. You can't just pull this out of context and just start making it say whatever you want it to say. So let's pull context in here, and let's go back to chapter 1 and see what the premise is here as far as why Paul is even bringing this up to them. So he's talking to the Philippians, he's specifically talking to the bishops and deacons that are in Philippi, but to all the saints that are there, but he brings up something in verse 12 here as far as what's going on with him. So, you know, salvation is the big key term that's used in chapter 2 that everybody wants to say, hey this is talking about eternal salvation. Well, let's look at another place where it talks about salvation in chapter 1, and let's see if we're talking about heaven and hell. Now, in verse 12 here, it says, but I would you should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. What happened to him? It says, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places. So he's literally bound up in some palace, and he's stating that this has actually furthered the gospel, and he's going to explain why, but he's basically in bonds as he's writing this, which actually a lot of times, that's where Paul's writing his letters, is from jail, and, I mean, it's kind of like you've got some down time, right, you can't really do much, you're in jail, you're in prison, time to write some epistles, right? But he's writing to them, he's in bonds, and he's basically saying, but this has actually worked out for the better. You know, the gospel's actually going out further because of this thing that's happened to him, because it says in verse 14, and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. So he's basically saying, there's a lot of people that have seen me basically being put in prison, I'm in bonds, but they're just like, hey, it's time to get serious about the things of God. Paul's over here in prison, it's time for us to get serious, and we're going to start preaching the gospel, right? So he's provoking people to be zealous for the Lord and preach the gospel. And then he says in verse 15, some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some also of good will. And you say, well, what in the world? Preaching Christ of envy and strife. There's basically two groups here. There's ones that love Paul and are doing it because they want to be, you know, basically be fellow, like, basically suffer with him, right? And then there's others that don't like Paul, and they want him to suffer more, right? Because what does it say here? It says in verse 16, the one preached Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. So there's only people that are like, I'm going to preach the gospel because maybe they'll get more angry about Paul, and they'll add some affliction to him, right? But then it goes on to say, but the other of love, knowing that I'm set for the defense of the gospel. There's two groups of people here, and notice Paul's reaction to this. It says what then? Notwithstanding every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ has preached and I therein do rejoice. Yea and woe rejoice. It's kind of like this, you know, for example, let's say there was a Baptist church out there that just hates our ever living guts because of our stance on certain doctrines, right? But they know we go soul winning, and they're like, you know what? We're going to up the ante and we're going to outdo them in soul winning. Then how great we rejoice, right? They're doing it because they want to show us up, they want to, you know, basically somehow try to discredit our doctrine or something like that because they're doing great things for God. You know what I would say to that? Praise the Lord. The gospel's being preached. You could hate my ever living guts until the day you die, but if you're going to go out and preach the gospel to the people of Christ, I say amen. You know, we don't have to be friends, but as long as the gospel's being preached and people are getting saved, and you know, you do your thing, we'll do our thing, and we'll, if we're all getting people saved, then so be it, right? And that's kind of Paul's attitude here. He's like, hey, they're preaching the gospel. Does it really matter whether they're doing it for the right reasons, right? I mean, it's kind of like, if you get someone saved, think about this, if you do it out of duty or you do it willingly, is that person any less saved when you win them to Christ? You're like, I didn't really feel like going. I didn't really want to go, but I did it because the Bible tells me to, and I did it out of duty. Well, they still got saved, so does it really matter which way it goes? But obviously, you would want people to like you, you know? We'd want everybody to be of one accord, of one mind, but in the end, when it comes to preaching the gospel, if a church is just trying to show us up, so be it. Hopefully we can provoke people to that kind of zeal to where they would want to show us up and be like, hey, we're going to prove that our doctrine's right by here's how many people were winning to Christ. It's like, well, go for it. Of course, it's not a competition, but in the end, you know what? I want people to get saved. I want more people to get saved, not less. I want more people to go out soul-wanting, not less. And whether they like us or not, even the apostles, John told Jesus that they were forbidding people that were casting out devils in the name of Jesus, and he said, forbid them not, because they didn't follow with them. So, that being said, we see here, what's the premise? He's in bonds, and it's furthering the gospel because he's in bonds, whether the people hate him or like him, right? He's kind of like, if they love me, they're doing it for this reason. If they hate me, they're doing it for this reason, but either way, Christ is preached, and I thereon will rejoice. Basically, I'm going to rejoice over that. Notice in verse 19, for I know that this shall turn to my salvation. Now, do you think he's talking about going to heaven? Do you think he's talking about like, hey, I might actually get saved. I might actually go to heaven now. No, what is he talking about? Being in bonds. He's in bonds right now. He's suffering affliction for Christ, and some are basically looking at his bonds and they're getting emboldened by it. But he's saying, he's like, I know that this shall turn to my salvation. Notice this, through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Now, unless you're Catholic and think that the prayer of the saints is going to get you into heaven, this is clearly talking about physical salvation from bonds. Notice what it says here in verse 20. According to my earnest expectation of my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, notice this, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my what? Body, whether it be by life or by death. So are we talking about physical salvation or spiritual salvation? Physical bodily salvation, and he's saying, I'm going to be magnified, however this goes, I'm going to magnify the Lord in my body, whether it be by life or by death. And then obviously he gets into, for it to meet to live is Christ and to die is gain, and he gets into that as well. So what's the premise? Because you say, well, what's before this in chapter one? Well, I mean, chapter one is kind of an introduction, talking about the Philippians and how God has worked through them. And then he gets into, hey, here's my situation, here's where I'm at, but the gospel's being furthered. And he's basically saying, you know, I want to depart and be with Christ, but dividing the flesh is more needful for you. Because obviously if Paul's there in the flesh, he can help them out. But notice down in verse 28, verse 28, talking to the Philippians, because the question is, okay, that's Paul's salvation, right? Talking about Paul hoping to be delivered from bonds, right? Well, how does this turn to him talking about the Philippians, right? Notice what it says in verse, here's your pivot point, verse 28, it says, and then nothing terrified by your adversaries. So did the Philippians that he's writing to have adversaries? If they didn't, that didn't make any sense, right? Here's the thing, yea, and all that will live godly in Christ, ye shall suffer persecution. I mean, you're going to have adversaries if you serve the Lord and if you go preach the gospel. But it says, and in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation and that of God. For unto you it is given to behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to what? Suffer for his sake. Notice in verse 30, having the same conflict. So, what is Paul doing? He's basically saying, you're in the same situation I'm in. You have adversaries, you're in the same conflict I'm in. He's in bonds at the moment and he's saying, you know, I know this is going to turn to my salvation. But he's saying, you have the same conflict. You all have the same conflict and it says, which you saw in me and now here to be in me. Now here to be in me is what he's just said. Does that make sense? The same conflict, which you now hear to be in me, they're dealing with. They're suffering for Christ, they're suffering afflictions. We don't know exactly if it's exactly like that. Maybe there's some people in bonds that are in Philippi. He's talking to all the bishops and deacons and all the saints in Philippi. So obviously, not everybody he's addressing is in bonds necessarily, but there may be some that are. Now let's keep going, keep context here, right? So in chapter two, chapter two and verse five, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Now the question you have to ask yourself is why he's saying that, okay? Why is he saying let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus? He just got done saying that, you know, I know this is going to turn to my salvation. But to me to live is Christ and to die is gain, you know, whatever happens in my body. You have the same conflict, which you saw in me and now here to be in me. And then he goes on to talk about the fact that let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. By the way, that means he's God. It wasn't robbery for him to be equal with God and consider himself equal with God. That's why he said God was his father. And even the Pharisees knew that when he said that, it says because you called God your father, you're making yourself equal with God. And you know what? That wasn't robbery. Because it's true. Because it's fact. Because he is equal with God. Because he is God. You have the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, these three are one. Now, so it's talking about Jesus, but the thing is the mind of Christ, right? Is that we're trying to get to. And specifically dealing with the fact that he became a servant. And he basically put off his glory. He's God, right? The whole point here is that he's God, but this is what he did. This is what he did for us, okay? He came off his throne. Obviously, God manifests in the flesh. But in this passage, it's kind of telling us that in a different manner as far as explaining that. God manifests in the flesh. Because it says, but made himself of no reputation. So, you say, well, why is it talking about him being equal with God? Because he's making a point is that God became a man, right? Is that Christ, who is God, became a man. And it says in verse 7, but made himself of no reputation. It took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. The whole point, right, is that he's God. He's equal with God, but he became a man. He was made, the Bible says in Romans 8, he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. Which meant he was tempted at all points, like as we are, but here's the difference, yet without sin. So, Jesus never sinned, but yet he was tempted just like any other man. But then it goes on to say in verse 8 here, and this is what I want you to see. In being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. I want you to remember that line, obedient unto death. Obedient unto death. And you say, why is this being brought up? Why is Jesus as the example? Because he is our example to walk in his steps and to do as he does. And here's the thing, if God, you know, if Jesus is obedient unto death, you know what? We need to be obedient unto death. Paul is already stating that he will be obedient unto death. Meaning that whether it's by life or by death, he's going to be magnified in his body on what he does for the Lord. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. That's what he's stating. And he's saying, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Even though he's God, he became one of us and was obedient unto death. Now that's important, because obviously we know that he was highly exalted, and now he's sitting on the right hand of the Father, and he's no longer dealing with sin. Obviously he's victorious over all of that, right? But now let's go back to the passage that people pull out of context, right? Remember, Jesus was obedient unto death. Paul is saying that he, you know, he's ready to basically offer his body up, whether it's by life or by death, to magnify the Lord. In verse 12 here, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed? Now, think about it. What was the last mention of obedience? Jesus. Being obedient unto what? Unto death. What's Paul talking about with his salvation? Life and death. Physical life and death. And he's stating here that, you know, Christ was obedient unto death. We need to have that same mind in ourselves to be obedient unto death. And Hebrews talks about this as well. The fact that how the Son was obedient even unto death, and that through sufferings he was made the author of eternal salvation, right? And obviously we're not Jesus. We're not the Son of God, right? But he's our example. He said we should be trying to be like him and follow his steps and have that same type of obedience. As the Son does with the Father, we need to have with God. You know, with the Son, right? So, but keep reading there. It says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Now, think about that in all the context, right? Paul is saying, I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, right? What's he talking about? Being delivered from bonds. And he even clarifies and says, hey, you know, whether, according to my earnest hope and expectation, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, even so now also, shall Christ be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death, for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. What's he talking about? He's talking about physical salvation, but he's stating whether I die, if I die, then great. If I live, great. But he's gonna basically hold out faithful unto death, right? And then he's stating to them, don't be terrified by your adversaries because it's given on behalf of you to not only believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. And it says, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now here to be in me. He's stating you have the same problem, right? You have the same thing that's going on with you here in Philippi. I mean, listen, where was Paul and Silas in jail at the famous Philippian jailer story? Philippi. So, I mean, it's kind of like you kind of know about this. You're hearing about what's going on with me. You've already seen it happen with Paul and Silas back when he went to Philippi in Acts chapter 16. And he's stating that you deal with it. You have the same thing. And what he's stating here is that I'm basically dealing with my own salvation physically as far as getting out of these bonds and you're gonna have to deal with your own. And you deal with it by having the mind of Christ and by doing it with fear and trembling and submitting yourself unto the Lord. Commit your soul unto him that is unto a faithful creator. Commit your soul unto him as unto well-doing, as unto a faithful creator. So that's what this passage is talking about. I mean, that's as simple as it gets. Context. It's not talking about hell. It's not talking about, well, you need to work on getting saved. No, work on your own salvation when it comes to the what? The conflict. That's what you're dealing with. The same conflict Paul's dealing with. He says that he knows it's gonna turn to his salvation. You need to work out your own salvation where you're at. So now we can close our Bible and go home because I just answered that passage and that's what we came for. Actually, I'm gonna go into something. I want to show you a couple passages of showing other places where saved is talking about physical salvation. Go to Matthew chapter 24. Matthew chapter 24. And there's something that just kind of sticks out to me in this passage too that I'm gonna kind of look at a different angle at it, right? So I just kind of want to lay that groundwork. We're talking about physical salvation. And this isn't the only place that physical salvation is talked about. James chapter 2 is talking about physical salvation dealing with judgment without mercy on God's people if you don't show your brother and sister mercy. Point blank, that's what that passage is talking about. It's not talking about like eternal salvation. But that's another sermon for another day on James chapter 2. But let me show you another place where a lot of people will just cherry pick a verse and say, well this is talking about eternal salvation. But yet the answer is in the same chapter. You ever notice that when I show you a passage that people take out, that people use as a false doctrine how the answer is in the same passage? Isn't that interesting how context matters? Who's talking? Who are you talking to? What are you talking about? It matters. You know, pulling stuff out of context is the reason that a lot of people get wrong doctrine. Matthew 24 and verse 13 says, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Now if you just pull that out and you're like, that's talking about eternal salvation, then you're going to be like, I've got to endure unto the end to be saved? I thought it was just believing that the Lord Jesus Christ now shall be saved. Well the whole premise of the chapter is the great tribulation, right? Tribulation on Christians. So in context, just knowing that, you should know that we're talking about physical salvation. But the Bible actually defines it. Go down to verse 21. So Matthew 24 and verse 21. Verse 21, it says, for then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time. No, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should know what? Flesh be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. Why? The electorate is saved and he's stating here that those days are shortened so that not every single Christian is completely killed. And he's saying if those days weren't shortened, every Christian would die. Every saint would die physically. But since those days are shortened, that's why if you endure unto the end, you endure through that tribulation, you endure through those persecutions, the saints shall be saved. And that's another sermon for another day dealing with that, being ready and being watchful and being sober and obviously the promises that God gives to those on the fact that he'll keep you from that hour of temptation and he'll deliver you out of that. So go to Acts, chapter 27, Acts, chapter 27. This one's also a clear one that we're talking about, physical salvation. This is where we had that dinosaur storm, Euryocleodon. Who hasn't read that and thought of a dinosaur, right? No one? Everybody's just like, you're out of the lunch. Just a cool name. So anyway, so this is where they had that big storm. Obviously, they're like rolling, they're trying to get out of the storm and the ship and everything. But notice what it says here in verse 30. So Acts, chapter 27, verse 30, it says, And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea under color, as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion, to the soldiers, except these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved. Now, is he talking about hell here? No, because you remember that Paul was talking about, like, basically, stay in the ship and that's how, basically, God's going to save every single person here. He says, not one of your hares are going to perish. Basically, you're all, he's going to deliver everybody off this ship. He's not talking about eternal salvation. He's talking about physical salvation so they don't drown. And then they're like, they're basically going to get into these little boats and he's saying, except you stay in this ship, you're going to die, basically. Like, you cannot be saved. Meaning, like, you're going to die if you go out into those little boats. So this is clearly talking about physical salvation. Now, for sake of time, I could show you other places in the Bible, but just because you see saved or salvation, it doesn't necessarily mean we're talking about eternal salvation or salvation from hell. Obviously, there are places where it's talking about that. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ now shall be saved is clearly talking about being saved from hell, from that eternal punishment, being saved and getting your sins blotted out. I mean, obviously, that's true. Now, the thing that sticks out to me in this passage is where it says work out your own salvation. And that's what I really kind of want to stick on the rest of the sermon is the idea of how it's personalized. Right? I'm talking about you're going through tribulations, you're going through persecutions. It's between you and the Lord when it comes to getting through that. Notice how it's personal. I mean, you could say, well, this is talking about, like, Philippians need to work out their own salvation and the idea of, like, collectively. But I look at this as being, like, each individual Philippian needs to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling to the Lord. Right? And how there's this personal walk with the Lord. There's this personal, basically, where it's going to depend on what you do and how you deal with that on how it turns out for you. Okay? And so, I think about this when it comes to just serving the Lord in general and the idea of how personalized that is. Meaning that what I do isn't... Basically, I can't just piggyback off someone else for everything that I do in the Lord. I need to do it myself. I need to read myself. I need to study myself. I need to, you know, go out and do works for the Lord myself. Like, there's this idea of me doing it myself and the works by myself. And I'm getting into the idea of bearing your own burden and the idea of that concept. So, but in Romans chapter 14, Romans chapter 14 and verse 4, and I just kind of want to hit on this, is the idea that really what it comes down to, this could get into minding your own business, you know, the idea of not being a busybody in other men's matters, but just kind of focusing on yourself and what you're doing, right? But when it comes to getting through tribulations and trials, in the end, I think about David and the fact that everybody wanted to kill him. When all the wives and children were stolen away, if you remember, even all his men wanted to... They were talking about stoning him. And you know what he had to do? Encourage himself in the Lord. I'm not saying there aren't times where we can obviously edify each other and come together, and obviously the fellowship is there. That's another sermon for another day. But ultimately, there needs to be this personal walk with the Lord, this personal, you know, and I know this idea of relationship gets completely tainted by these liberal Christians out there, but there does need to be this personal relationship with you and the Holy Ghost while you're reading the Bible and you and the Lord and prayer and in everything that you do to where, when you get into trials and tribulations, it's really... In a lot of these cases, there's not much someone else can do for you between you and the Lord and that trial and tribulation that you're going through. And so, when I read this, I think about that. I think about, hey, when everything falls apart, ultimately, I need to work it out, right? And you know what, I think this applies in a lot of different manners, especially if you think about our country and how everybody's entitled that other people work out their problems, right? It's like someone else's problem, someone else needs to fix my problem. It's like, no, maybe try fixing your own problem. And not saying that others can't help you, but in the end, I see this with tribulations and everything and the fact that, hey, I need to get with the Lord. I need to strengthen myself in the Lord. I need to encourage myself in the Lord. I need to be fearing and trembling before the Lord. I need to have this mind in me like Christ to be faithful unto death, right? So, Romans chapter 14, verse 4 says, To who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or followeth. Yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. And these are obviously talking about doubtful disputations. These are things that a lot of times that aren't like clear cut, like here, you must do this, you must do that. It's just the fact that in some cases, we have liberty in Christ and it may be an area where you think it's wrong but there's not an explicit statement or commandment saying it's wrong and we may differ on that. But in the end, you know what? Let that person that wants to just eat herbs, let the vegetarian do his thing. He's serving, you know, it's his walk with the Lord. He wants to be weak and do that and not get protein like he should. You're like, oh, you're being mean. The Bible says that. It calls him weak, okay? That's why I like meat and potatoes. But I'm not gonna, you know, like obviously, I'm not gonna just like rag on that person as far as like, hey, they can't do as much for the Lord as I can. You know, if you got a couple sirloins in his belly, really be able to do something for the Lord. Listen, God's able to make that person stand as much as me, okay? And the idea there is that basically worry about your own self and what you're doing for the Lord and how you're dealing with that, right? And not focusing on what other people are doing and maybe you disagree. Maybe you think that's not the best route. Well, good for you. Do what you think is the best route. As long as someone's not completely just blatantly, you know, disregarding commandments of the Lord, right? This isn't talking about like adultery or murder, right? Well, you know, you got to be fully persuaded in your mind, in your own mind whether murder is right. No, that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about eating meat or eating vegetables. We're talking about a steaming one day above another. You know what? Some people may not celebrate Christmas. Fine. But don't judge me for celebrating it, right? Does that make sense? Like that's where you get into those type of arguments. And that's what we're dealing with here. And the idea of kind of minding your own business. Do what, you know, you follow the Lord. He's your master. He's your Lord. And you know what? Have that personal responsibility there. 1 Corinthians chapter 4, 1 Corinthians chapter 4. This gets into a lot too when some people may look at it and say, Hey, that person over there is going to have all the rewards in heaven, right? You start wondering who is like the best Christian out there. Who's like, who's going to be really, like who's going to be set over like a thousand people, right? Who's going to be, you know, who's going to be the centurion, right? Who's going to be the court tourneian, you know? Like who's going to be, like who's going to be in this position? You know what the Bible says? To not think about that, not judge those matters. Dealing with the judgment seat of Christ in chapter 3, well in chapter 4, notice what it says here in verse 1. Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the ministries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of man's judgment, yea, I judge not mine own self. He's basically saying, I don't want to hear what your judgment is against me. I don't judge my own self on these matters. Talking about what? The things dealing with the judgment seat of Christ as far as like rewards and how you're going to be rewarded in the end. Notice what it says in verse 4. For I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified. But he that judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then shall every man have praise of God. He's not talking about judge no man. You know, someone's committing murder and you're like, I can't judge that. Bible says judge nothing before the time. No, listen, if someone's breaking a commandment, you can say, that's sin. Right, we can judge that because it says in righteousness thou shalt judge thy neighbor. But specifically in context, it's talking about judging, not judging other people as far as how they're going to be rewarded. You know, what's their position in heaven going to be? Well, let me ask you a question. Do you know what your position is going to be? Do you know how many rewards you have? If you don't know how many rewards and what position you're going to have or where you're going to land and all this, then how can you judge what other people are going to have? And it's just a foolish thing to even think about. You know what, you know what you should do? Just serve the Lord, you know, fear God, keep his commandments. This is the whole duty of man. You know what, in the end we'll find out. In the end, when we're all standing, we all have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and in the end, you know what, that person has said, hey, that's not the best way, this is the best way. At that point I can say, you were right, you had a better route. You were doing things in a better manner. Oh, you shouldn't watch that program, you know, you shouldn't watch that movie, or you shouldn't watch this thing, you shouldn't watch anything, right? And you can have those type of rules and standards, great. You know what, maybe the person that has different standards, maybe you all meet the same spot. Now, comparing yourselves among yourselves is not wise, the Bible says. And go to John chapter 21. So think about this one, Paul had these bonds, and you know what a lot of people, we have this sometimes where churches that are maybe all the way across America, that are going through some kind of tribulation or trial, and that church is more focused on their problem than their own. It's not wrong to like, you know, pray for a church, or pray for someone that's going through something hard, right? Or maybe they're having some kind of like, let's say a church is like dealing with a split or something like that, it's like, well that sucks, right? But in the end, I'm not gonna, I may pray for them, you know, hopefully things will work out, but in the end, you know what I'm gonna worry about? The things here. Our own problems, right? Our own situation. And I believe this is what this is dealing with, and the fact that hey, you know what? Whatever happens to them, that's between, they have to work that out. They have to work out their own problems, their own burdens, their own, you know, issues. Let's focus on ourselves, let's focus on what we have here. John chapter 21, and I'll give you an example of this, with Peter, when Peter and Jesus are talking here, in verse 20, it says, So imagine, you know, this is where Jesus is saying, love us thou and me more than these, you know, feed my lambs, feed my sheep, feed my sheep, right? And then Peter, after that discourse there, is saying, hey, he looks over at John, the disciple whom Jesus loves, and says, what's this guy, you know, it's kind of like, what's he gonna do? What does Jesus say to him? Jesus says unto him, Now John's a good guy, right? It's not like we're talking about a bad guy here. I mean, the apostle John, who's leaning on Jesus' bosom, right? He's in the top three, and Peter's in there with him, but he's basically looking at him like, what's he gonna do though? And Jesus says, what is that to thee? Meaning like, don't worry about what he's doing, you follow me. And so, that idea of working out your own salvation, right? Let's say our church has tribulations or afflictions that will come upon it, right? We gotta work that out ourselves, right? I can't just be leaning on pastor friends and be like, hey, come help me deal with this. No, we gotta work it out ourselves. It's our own problem. It's our own burden. Now, if other churches say, hey, we want to help you, great, but in the end, it's our problem. We gotta deal with it. And this gets into Galatians chapter 6. Galatians chapter 6. Galatians chapter 6. And the last point that this kind of turns into burdens, bearing your own burdens, okay? And you're like, man pastor, you just don't want to deal with anybody's problems. The thing that you gotta understand is that you gotta deal with your own problems, and then if you have extra time, deal with other people's problems. But what a lot of people do is they just worry about other people's problems and they don't deal with their own. Or they put their head into other people's business they didn't ask for their help. You know, unsought advice is rarely heeded. If someone's not asking your advice or opinion on something, they probably didn't, they don't want it. So, if you notice sometimes, you know, like people will talk about things and I just, I have an opinion. And I don't just insert my opinion in it and be like, you should do it this way, you should do it this way. This is the way I do it, you know, do it this way. Now if someone comes up and says, hey pastor, how would you deal with this situation? Well, now you've asked. And if you get offended at what I say, that's your problem. Right? But at the same time, and I'm, listen, I'm not against giving advice, but I'm not just gonna like throw it out to people that don't want to hear it. And that's what a lot of people, I feel like, and we're all guilty of it, okay, of trying to force your advice or opinions on other people that don't want to hear it. Even out soul winning, we don't force that on people, right? We ask them, would you like to know how you can 100% sure you won't have it? And if they're like, no, I don't want to know. Be like, well I'm telling you anyway. You know that's not gonna work out well. You know that they're just, they're gonna tune you out or slam the door in your face or something, right? So, in Galatians chapter 6 in verse 1, and I believe that a lot of times one of these verses is actually used in a wrong manner, okay? In verse 1 it says, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such in one, such in one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. And this is very good wisdom here in the idea that, hey, if someone has fallen into something, and you're wanting to go help them, you be careful that you don't fall into it, right? The idea of wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Don't think that yourself is above any type of temptation or sin that's out there, right? But it says in verse 2, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Now, there's people out there that'll say this is a contradiction in the Bible. They're like, well, are you supposed to bear your own burden, or bear one another's burden? And the answer's both! Why are you making an A-B situation here? Right, I gotta pick one? Here's what it comes down to. We're to try to bear one another's burdens, but don't ever think into yourself that anybody owes you to bear their burden, okay? To bear your burden. Right? Don't have this mentality to think, you know what? That person owes it to me that they take my burden. That's hogwash. You should never have that mentality. You should always have the mentality, I have to bear my own burden, and maybe someone will help me out with this. Maybe you'll reach out for help. That's fine. I'm not saying don't reach out for help if you have a burden that you're just struggling with. But don't expect it. You say, well, then you're not fulfilling the law of Christ. No, that's a commandment to the person to bear one another's burdens. But you know what? It's just like charity, right? As soon as you make it mandatory, it's no longer charity. Like when people say, well, taxes, you know. What's the difference between taxes and charity? One's theft and one you freely give out of your own good heart. There is a big difference, right? So, when it comes to this, that we are to bear one another's burdens, but notice that it's even saying like when you're going to bear this person's burden, it's like take heed, you know. So listen, if someone, and I'll just give this as an example, is like suffering with alcoholism, right? They're suffering with drinking or something like that, right? And they're trying to get out of it. They're asking for help. Well, if you're a former alcoholic, you're not the man for the job. Just point blank. You should stay away from that situation completely. Don't get involved, right? Because if you're to take heed that you don't basically fall into the same thing, why would you have someone that has a proclivity to drink be the one to try to help somebody that's drinking, right? Why don't you get the person that has never drank or someone that never had a problem with that, get that person, but they should still take heed to deal with that problem. So, don't take this too far to think that, hey, you know what, the church owes me that they bear my burden. The pastor owes me that I bear, that he bears my burden. Listen, obviously I'm your pastor and I'm here to help as much as I can, but to try to put that on me, to say, and I'm not saying anybody's, don't get me wrong, this is not, this is precautionary. I'm not like here to complain and be like, you guys, keep your own burdens, get them off me, right? This is basically just saying like, hey, I'm here and I'll help as much as I can, but to like put everybody's burdens on me when I have my own burdens, I'm just a man like you, right? That's not fair to expect that out of leadership or out of anybody, right? I mean, think about it. Would you expect that out of anybody to just say, hey, you must take the burden of a hundred and some people and it's your, and if you don't, you're not right with God. I mean, that's insane, right? But, here's what we're supposed to do. Bear our own burdens and if we can help someone else's burden, you know what, that's fulfilling the law of Christ because, you know what, the fulfilling of the law of Christ is? Loving your neighbor. Love is the fulfilling of the law. The law is fulfilled in one word even in this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. O no man anything but to love one another, right? The idea there is that, yes, I am to love you and I'm, but here's the thing. There's levels on dealing with someone else's burden. I mean, one could just be praying for them. Others could be financial help, other things could be physical help, right? There could be a lot of different ways to deal with that burden and maybe in some cases, you know, that person can only, they're like, I'll pray for you. You know, I got so much other stuff I gotta deal with. I don't have time to deal with all this. I don't have the money to deal with all this. I don't, whatever, right? So, don't expect people to deal with your, let's put it in modern vernacular, problems. Here's the thing. The more that you don't expect that, one, there's this entitlement mentality, right? This entitlement that you owe me something. And that's what that produces, is the idea of like, hey, you know the Bible says you need to bear my burden. You know what that is? Entitlement. You should assume that no one owes you anything. When you're out in the workforce, out in life, no one owes you a thing. And just have that mentality and you'll be better for it. Now, what a lot of people do when they do this is they murmur and complain. And think about this. When it says work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, what's the next thing it says? It says do all things without murmurings and disputings. That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God. And it says without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom you shine as lights in the world. Meaning that you're going through, let's say, a tribulation or a trial, don't just murmur and complain about it and dispute about it. You're going through a burden, you know what? Just bear it. No one likes to hear a complainer. You know the Eeyores, the Debbie Downers, the woe is me type of thing. And I'm not here to diminish anybody's burdens or their problems. But in the end you know what? We need to bear it, go through it, and hey listen, I'm not saying to not get help from other people. I mean that's, we should all be willing to help each other out as much as possible. But don't expect it. There's a big difference between expecting it and getting it. If someone gives you a, don't expect a Christmas gift. Don't expect a birthday gift. Don't expect a happy birthday. Don't expect you know, like a like on a social media post. Don't expect you know, like don't expect these things. And when they come, you know what? It'll actually mean more to you. You'll be like, oh that's cool, it's bonus. If someone's going to help you out, consider that bonus. Consider that a blessing. Consider that out of their own good heart and hey, they didn't have to do that, but praise the Lord they helped me out with that. And you know what? That'll get rid of that entitlement stuff. And go to Matthew chapter 23. What ends up happening with a lot of these cases, is that there's people that want to throw all this burden on you. Like deal with my problems. It's like, well have you tried doing this? No, you deal with it. You know it turns into like hey, I need you to basically carry this load, but I'm not going to lift it with one of my fingers. Right? Now I'll use this as an example. I don't think I've ever had this happen, but someone asking about a passage, will be like, well have you read the passage? No. Can you tell me the answer though? Do you see how ridiculous that would be? It's like you haven't even read it. And you're going to like come to me and like want me to explain it to you? It's like do some kind of legwork before you come to me with that, right? Now, that's just kind of a silly example. But you can see how that would apply in a lot of cases, right? Where it's like hey, I need you to help me with this. It's like well, have you tried doing it? No, I want you to do it. You know that's basically what they're saying in so many words. But in Matthew 23 and verse 1 it says, Then spake Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that, observe and do, but do not ye after their works. For they say and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. So think about it. I mean these are like teachers that are like hey, you know, do all this. It'd be like if I said hey, go out there and go soul winning. Go out soul winning. Preach the gospel to every creature. But then I don't like ever do it. It'd be kind of like that, right? I think that's called a hypocrite, right? It's like you owe me to bear my burden. I'm not going to do it myself, but you owe me to do it. You need to do it for me. It's like well, whose burden are you bearing? So, but here's the truth of the matter. I remember there was a preacher that told me the story and who knows who started this story, okay? It's one of those IFB stories, you know, like IFB stories that they tell the stories if it's like theirs. But you've heard it like in multiple churches. You're like who originated this thing, right? Either way, it's an illustration, okay? Is that someone was like, they were basically very depressed or, you know, basically they're like hey pastor, I need you to help me with this. You know, I'm just like really, I'm lonely, I'm depressed, I'm dealing with this or whatever. And the pastor says hey, I need you to go bake a pie for this family over here. And she's like what, you know, I'm depressed. You know, like you want me to do something for someone else and I'm dealing with this? He's like listen, I need you to make that pie for that family. And so she does it and comes back and basically same kind of story, I'm dealing with this and they're like hey, I need you to make a pie for this family. And eventually she doesn't come back to the pastor and the pastor comes up and says hey, so how's that problem going? You know, dealing with loneliness and being depressed, she's like I don't have time to even think about that because I have so many pies to make for all the church members. Here's the truth of the matter. You start helping other people out and you start helping other people with their problems, you stop thinking about your own. Think about what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 11. If anybody wants to make me a pie, they're more than welcome, just so you know. Matthew chapter 11 verse 28. Matthew chapter 11 verse 28. Come unto me, all ye that labor are heavy laden. So are we dealing with people with burdens? For sure. And I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Sounds counterproductive on the surface, doesn't it? You're thinking like, oh man, I thought you were going to give me rest, you're putting a burden on me. But the idea here is that you do the burden of the Lord as far as what his burden is, which is what? The souls of men. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Who out here has ever been in a place where you're just like, you're angry, you're upset, you're depressed or whatever, you go out and you win someone to Christ and that just turns like that. And you're just like, man. Makes you feel good, doesn't it? Takes away a lot of that burden, doesn't it? And so when it comes to working out your own salvation when it comes to trials and tribulations, you need to personalize it. You say, hey, this is my trial and tribulation, I need to get through it. You know what? And here's the thing, you know what the Bible teaches is that then, in Galatians chapter 4, but let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. Listen, when you go through that trial and tribulation and you work out your own salvation through that trial and tribulation, then guess what? Your own self is going to be coming out purified as gold. You know, the reward to dealing with it yourself is immense. And so, and I think here's the thing, if everybody in our church were to focus on dealing with their own problems, then, you know, basically it makes it that much easier when someone says, hey, let me help you with that. You're already basically doing like 85% of what you gotta do to get this accomplished, so let me get you the rest of the way there, right? That's where we should be. And not like, hey, I don't want to deal with this myself, I'm gonna let someone else deal with it, right? And again, I'm not saying like this, oh man, our church has a problem with this. Not at all. I'm just saying that do you see how much better that'll work? And the more that you're focused on helping others that may need help, the less you'll probably worry about your own problem, and it'll probably work itself out as you're dealing with that. But also, you know what, if you help someone else with their problem, that person's probably more likely, hey, let me help you out with your problem. Right? And the idea that, hey, you know, I'll just use brother Anthony as an example, you know, I'm just gonna, so let's say brother Anthony was like just helping other people out all the time, right? I'll use him as an example because he was like, when I moved, and I was like having this like probably the worst week of my life. When we moved from my last house to our new house, basically I got sick, or I got this like stomach type thing, and then my whole family got it. Right before we're supposed to move. And then not only that, but then the person that's moving into our old house was moving in like that weekend that we were supposed to be out. So I had no choice but to do this while my wife and all the kids are sick, and like all of this, right? So anyway, get the moving truck all that, and we're moving all this stuff. But anyway, brother Anthony was like the Tetris king. Like, you wanna, I probably shouldn't say this because everybody's gonna be calling you up now. They're like, I'm moving, I need brother Anthony. But basically, I'm like trying to get this, all this stuff out of my house. Right? And I got this moving truck, and he's over there just like taking stuff, he's like no, this needs to go in first, this needs to go here, I mean we Tetris that thing in there, right? And just crammed it in there. And, but all I have to say is that he's, you know, he's helped other people out when it comes to moving. Let me ask you a question, if brother Anthony has to move, I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot of people gonna be like, yeah we're gonna help him out with that. Right? Just know that if I'm not working or I'm not dying, you know, and you gotta move somewhere, I'll be there. Right? And not to say I won't be there for other people that are moving and all that, but the idea there is that those that help other people out a lot, it's kinda like he that has friends must show himself friendly, how much more are people gonna wanna help you with what you gotta deal with? But you know what, I don't think brother Anthony is gonna ever expect it. You know, he's not gonna be like, you owe me. He calls me up often and be like, remember that time I moved you? You owe me brother. It's like, I'm gonna ask a favorite one day and you gotta do what no questions asked. He's Italian. It's that mafia comes up every once in a while, you know. I'm joking. But I'm just using an example. Obviously I can say it about a lot of people in the church. You know, there's a lot of people, you know, time would fail for me to talk about the people that have helped other people out and done other things for others and all of that. We just have to have the right mindset that hey, we gotta deal with our own problems and yes, we should try to help other people out. We should bear other people's burdens. But not at the expense of basically forgetting your own and not expecting others to bear your own. So when it comes to working out your own salvation honestly, I probably could explain that in five minutes. It's physical salvation. It's being delivered from afflictions, bonds, all of that. But it's personal meaning that Paul had to work his out. The Philippians needed to work theirs out. We need to work ours out. Each church needs to work their own through their own trials and tribulations and each person individually needs to as well. And yes if a church is hurting somewhere we may try to help them. Nothing wrong with that. But it's not mandatory and it's not owed to them. Same thing with the other way around. No church owes us anything. Manual Baptist Church doesn't owe us anything. If we were to need help financially or if we needed help mentally, spiritually they don't owe us a thing. And if they never helped us, praise the Lord. It's not like I look at them and be like, you owe me. You know, you sent me out. So let's end with a word of prayer. Heavenly Father we thank you for today. Thank you for your word. Thank you for these passages and Lord just help us to take responsibility for our burdens take responsibility for our own tribulations and trials that we're going through but on the same token Lord help us to help others out as much as we can. And Lord give us that opportunity to help others out in their burdens and Lord ultimately help us to bear your yoke and Lord to do the work that you've called us to do and Lord just pray that you'd help us to do that and thank you for all the rest and the peace that you've given us through that and Lord we love you and pray all this in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. Come and sing one more song and then we'll be dismissed. Alright take your song books and turn to song 429. Song 429 in your song books we'll sing Hark the Herald Angels sing if you would stand. We'll sing song 429. Hark the herald angels sing. Glory to the newborn king. Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled joyful all ye nations rise. Join the triumph of the skies with angelic hosts proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king Christ by highest heaven adored. Christ the everlasting born. Late in time behold him come. Offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate deity pleased as men with men to dwell. Jesus our Emmanuel hark the herald angels sing. Glory to the newborn king. Hail the heaven born prince of peace. Hail the son of righteousness.