Sermon
Introduction to 1st 2nd & 3rd John - Frank Brancato 4/11/07
Publisher transcript
Transcript
-
It certainly is good to be home and to be back with you.
-
And we have an excellent crowd here this evening, and we're
-
grateful for that. And we're grateful that you've
-
come to be with us and worship. God tonight, I stand before you
-
in this format because I never thought that we would finish the
-
questions. In fact, before I left, I
-
thought, I wonder if I ought to get the next chapter completed
-
and then I thought, well, there's no way they'll finish,
-
but they did. So I was asked to give Victory
-
overview of all three of these books and we're not going to go
-
into a study of the verses, specifically in these three
-
chapters. But there are some historical
-
circumstances and there are some things that were going on around
-
the time of the Apostle, John and that's who we believe to
-
write these three Epistles. And there were some
-
circumstances and some things going on that are really
-
significant, when we understand the writings of the Apostle,
-
John A long time ago. And so we want to talk about
-
these things for a little while tonight.
-
Some things that we can glean from it.
-
First of all, the general characteristic and I realize
-
we've already gone through one chapter of the book of First
-
John. But let me just say this though
-
with regards to further proof that the Apostle John was the
-
author divinely-inspired. Obviously by the Holy Spirit but
-
was the author of this epistle. We find a great similarity.
-
Clarity that exists between the first Epistle of John and the
-
gospel that bears, his name. And we find that those
-
similarities are striking, and those similarities are obvious.
-
One scholar said, the likeness extends to style vocabulary,
-
form, and content, and it is of such nature as to convince the
-
most casual reader, that both writings are from the same hand,
-
the epistle places great emphasis on love.
-
In fact, some even called it the Epistle of love and the word
-
love or its derivatives occur. Some 51 times in this first
-
epistle also, various forms of the verb to know occur in its
-
vocabulary as well. In fact, the idea of knowing or
-
to know seems to be a favorite term of John, possibly in
-
refuting, various theories of the gnostics who boasted about
-
their Superior. Knowledge.
-
You know, there are many things that we can look in here.
-
There are many assurances that I found in the first Epistle of
-
John. And, you know, I'll tell you
-
something, I think it's important for you.
-
And I to realize that living the Christian life, there are
-
assurances. We can be sure about things.
-
We don't have to wonder whether we are saved or not, we don't
-
have to wonder whether we are walking in the truth or we are
-
following that which is truth. We can know these things in the
-
scriptures and so John says in First John 3 and 14 he gives one
-
assurance and this is it. We know that we have passed out
-
of death unto life You know, I'll tell you this Galen has a
-
sermon and I know Terry has heard because I've heard it but
-
Galen has a sermon on things we can know and it's rather
-
interesting. The points that we can actually
-
know when we talk about the idea of passing from Death unto life.
-
When we talked about the idea of actually being in a safe
-
condition, I believe, as I've just mentioned a moment ago that
-
we can know with great Assurance.
-
Now I'm not saying That by audacity or reverence in any
-
way. But we can have greater
-
assurance that if we are following the things that are
-
outlined in God's word that have us leave death to life than we
-
can pillow, our heads at night, and we can thank the great God
-
Of Heaven for the Salvation that would await us.
-
And if the Lord would come back that night or we would lose our
-
life in that day, then we can have a greater assurance that we
-
have passed from Death unto life.
-
Secondly, in the third chapter in the 19th, verse John gives
-
another Assurance. He said we know that we are of
-
the truth. How many times have you heard?
-
Somebody asked you? How do you know if you have the
-
truth? I had a Bible study with the
-
young lady earlier, this week when I got home from Idaho.
-
And she asked me, she said, no wait a minute.
-
How do you know for certain that you have the truth?
-
You know, we don't have to be bashful about the truth and we
-
don't have to wonder if we have the truth.
-
John says we can know if we have the truth.
-
That is an assurance. He said we know that we are
-
walking or abiding in truth and I'll tell you this to folks,
-
what's buried Sad is sometimes not only people in the world.
-
Questioning the child of God about this very thing about the
-
truth but very sadly. What happens sometimes is even
-
the child of God from time to time will question whether we
-
have the truth, I'm reminded of a family that had a young that
-
had a son that was, I guess he's probably close to 30 now but I
-
remember a number of years ago when I was talking to her
-
Parents and and they said this to me, they said, you know, he's
-
really questioning his faith and how great that is.
-
He's really questioning the things that we believe thinking
-
that that was a good thing. Well I guarantee you they don't
-
think that now and he no longer stands among the faithful.
-
If it says it in the Bible and if it says it is truth, we need
-
to accept it and never questioned it.
-
When we find the truth that is found in the word of God.
-
And we can know that we have the truth and we can know that we're
-
right if we are following what the word says and thirdly
-
another assurance and chapter 3 and verse 24, John says we know
-
that he abideth in us. This first epistle is one of
-
fellowship. And what we find is we find that
-
there are two conditions and they are righteousness and love.
-
I understand that, as you finished the latter part of
-
chapter 1, You went over this, but I'll just read these
-
beginning in verse 7 really quickly.
-
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have
-
Fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ.
-
His son cleanseth us from all sin.
-
If we say that, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the
-
truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is
-
faithful. And just to forgive us, our sins
-
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
-
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and
-
his word is not enough. Is it is an Epistle of
-
Fellowship based upon two conditions and they are
-
righteousness and love. And I'll tell you this folks,
-
sometimes people think that we're being harsh when we say
-
whether we're in fellowship with someone or we might speak of
-
someone that is not following the same pattern but we are
-
following. And we make the statement that
-
were not in fellowship with them, but it's quite simple.
-
If I am walking in the light, as he is in the light and terius,
-
Walking in the light as he is in the light.
-
Then I have fellowship with the Lord and he has fellowship with
-
the Lord and because of that, we both have Fellowship one with
-
the other. But say, for example, that I
-
decide to digress from that which is right?
-
And I go off and do anything. That is not right, whatever that
-
might be. And I do something that's going
-
to cause myself to stop walking in the light and Terry continues
-
to walk in the light. He Is in fellowship with the
-
Lord. I am not.
-
Therefore, we are not in fellowship with each other.
-
That's how we know whether we're in fellowship with each other.
-
Is if we are both in fellowship with the Lord, but in the fourth
-
chapter, in the fourth verse, we find that this is an Epistle of
-
Victory. The Bible says, you are, you are
-
of God little children and have overcome them.
-
Because greater is he, that is in you that he that is in the
-
world. In the first chapter, we have
-
the way to Victory is pointed out in the second chapter.
-
We find declared victory over the evil one, the third chapter
-
proclaims victory over righteousness, the fourth
-
chapter of shows that we have the victory of love.
-
And finally, in the fifth chapter, we are shown a glorious
-
demonstration of the victory of Faith.
-
You know the design of the epistle is like this that we
-
gather that in a general sense, the Purpose was to supply
-
incredible fashion. The evidence is essential to
-
Faith and to encourage, or Inspire readers to Greater
-
activity in their service of the Lord.
-
Now, that's really the point, the point wasn't to be
-
complacent when they were encouraged.
-
The point was to look at that encouragement and calls us to do
-
more. Let me ask you this.
-
If you're working for somebody in a job, And they praise you
-
and encourage you. And if they give you words of
-
inspiration, does it? Cause you to be complacent and
-
sit back or does it cause you to want to do more?
-
These things were written in a form or a fashion to cause
-
people, to want to do more for the cause of Christ and to
-
provide Assurance of God's approval, upon all, those that
-
are faithful. Now, in doing all of this, we
-
find John in order to accomplish these objectives found it
-
necessary to combat in. Vigorous fashion, the various
-
forms of evil that was prevailing in the world and to
-
warn Christians of their deadly nature.
-
For example, there were pernicious teaching regarding a,
-
the person of Christ, there were those in the church that carried
-
such Notions and had apostatize from the faith.
-
In first, John chapter 2 and verse 19, it says they went out
John 2 chapter mention
-
from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us, they
-
would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that
-
they might be manifest that they were not.
-
All of us. Notice what he says that some of
-
these erroneous teachings that were to talk about in just a
-
moment. Had entered in and infiltrated
-
inside the body of Christ and some of the The members of the
-
body of Christ carried out, such erroneous teachings, that were
-
false. And because of that, John says
-
they have left the faith. But very interesting.
-
He says they left us but they really weren't of us for.
-
If they were of us, they would still be with us now.
-
What is he talking about? Folks, have you ever heard
-
somebody say, you never lost what you didn't have?
-
You know, I think that happens from time to time.
-
I think there are times when people are really do believe the
-
rice to believe that every time somebody obeys the gospel and
-
then quickly Falls it's because they weren't converted.
-
I'm not convinced about anymore. That is true.
-
That can happen. Absolutely.
-
Can happen. And we find that in the
-
teachings, in The Parables of Jesus.
-
But I also think sometimes the devil just come He's in and
-
temps them and they might have been converted the day that they
-
obeyed, the gospel and they had a heart change and they had a
-
life change and they had a relationship change with the
-
Lord, but then they fell away because of the Temptations of
-
the devil and that can happen. But I also know this too.
-
Sometimes people get carried away with their own emotions and
-
make decisions, and it appears like they're standing with us
-
and pretty soon, they no longer are.
-
Sometimes those folks, we never had and those folks that go
-
after into fast teachings and so on with regards to this one
-
example, John says they came from us but they really weren't
-
with us because if they were with us, it would still be here
-
and they were Departed, interesting point of
-
perspective. Now, what they were talking
-
about is this some denied? The deity of the Lord While
-
others denied, his Humanity, for example, the former said that
-
Jesus was not the Christ, the latter said that Christ was not
-
Jesus. In other words, the unbelieving
-
Jews were among those who recognize that there was a man,
-
and his name was Jesus. He was the car, Commander son,
-
he was Jesus of Nazareth, and he walked on this Earth.
-
And probably was a very good man.
-
Many Jews regard. Jesus as that, but they don't
-
recognize his deity. They don't recognize that he is
-
deity, and that he was in heaven, and that he is the
-
Messiah, and that he came down to this low ground of sin,
-
sickness and sorrow, to be the Lamb of God.
-
But on the other, Hand. There were the gnostics and the
-
gnostics questioned his Humanity you know the word Gnostic is
-
derived from the Greek word no Seas Or Nah seas and it's where
-
we get the word knowledge and they were so designated because
-
of their claims to Superior knowledge.
-
The gnostics or gnosticism was an admixture of paganism and
-
corrupt Christianity, basically the theories this, the theory
-
regarding Guarded evil as an ever-present characteristic of
-
matter and its Advocates were therefore unable to accept that.
-
Jesus Christ was actually in the flesh.
-
There for denying that deity ever lived in the flesh.
-
In this life, it goes further. Their belief was also based on
-
the fact that they believe that it was absolutely impossible for
-
sinless deity to occupy. Material body.
-
And because of that, they argued that the body of Jesus was not
-
real, but simply an illusion. And that the sufferings on the
-
cross were apparent and not actual.
-
But this Theory and its practical aspects, LED its
-
devotees in the course of conduct.
-
That was essentially Wicked and vile.
-
And in this much as they regarded their bodies as evil,
-
They concluded that their It's were independent of them and
-
thus undefiled by them. Stay with me.
-
We're going to wrap this up and you're going to see how
-
convenient it is to follow such teachings.
-
They contended that warrants regenerated, they were pure in
-
spirit and so it didn't matter what the body did since it's
-
inherently evil anyway, they live lives as a result of
-
unrestrained indulgence on the ground and on the King and on
-
the basis that a jewel can come from a manure pile and be just
-
as much of a gym as if it was in the most costly box case that
-
money could buy, they believed that it was inevitable that
-
their bodies would sin and therefore they argued that that
-
a thorough understanding of all of these matters.
-
Left them free to indulge in any course of action, which they
-
preferred now. Other words, they could live any
-
way that they wanted to. Oh how convenient that is.
-
First of all, that was based on this erroneous teaching that
-
there's no possible way that Jesus Christ, the anointed ruler
-
deity in heaven, could have possibly come down in a fleshly
-
body. And why is that?
-
Because the fleshly body is inherently evil and corrupt.
-
So how convenient was it for them?
-
They extended such teaching into their personal life.
-
He said this the spirit is going to be inherently good anyway and
-
the French is going to be inherently back anyway, so
-
here's the point. I'll just live anywhere that I
-
want to do. I will indulge myself in every
-
way. I will live an immoral in Pure
-
Life. I will be Wicked and cruel to
-
others. I'll do whatever I wrecked
-
because it's really not going to matter when the spirit is
-
separated from the body, the spirit.
-
It's still going to be pure, it's still going to be, holy is
-
still going to be clean. That was the doctrine that was
-
pushed and pursued by the gnostics.
-
And these gnostics were those that considered themselves as
-
those that had greater knowledge and therefore members of the
-
Lord's Church, some not all John said, the ones that really went
-
with us, they followed some of these pernicious ways and they
-
followed Some of these doctrines and teachings in their life as
-
well. Therefore, it was alleged that
-
the gnostics had Superior knowledge which prompted them to
-
styled himself as the gnostics. But you know what, further proof
-
of the reality of the Lord's fleshly body.
-
John offers a testimony involving three of his five
-
senses. First of all, when we go back to
-
the Gospel of John, we all know, in the very beginning, part of
-
the Gospel of John, he establishes, that there was
-
deity in the beginning, and he establishes that Jesus Christ
-
was the deity, and he was in the beginning.
-
And the one that came here was the very same Rarity.
-
That was being Patty in the beginning in heaven, when he
-
said this, in the beginning was the word and the Word was with
-
God. And the Word was God, the same
-
was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and
-
without him was not anything made, that was made dropping
-
down to verse 14 and the word became flesh and dwelt among us
-
and we beheld, his glory, the glory, as of the only begotten
-
of the father full of grace, And Truth, what'd the Gospel of John
-
planned out, but tool. That's a separate riding than
-
this. The DP just in the beginning and
-
that was Jesus Christ called the word that he became flesh and he
-
dwelt Among Us. So he did live in a fleshly body
-
here on Earth saying I love that notice what he says.
-
Now, in the first epistle he uses or proves the testimony
-
that Jesus Christ. I was in the flesh by three of
-
the five senses. He says, he heard he had seen
-
and His Hands had handled the Word of Life.
-
Jesus Christ, the lord 1st John, 1 and verses 1 through 3.
-
And in further refutation of these Wicked theories of the
-
gnostics, John pointed out that the in this epistle that only
-
those who do righteousness are going to be righteous.
-
Only those that are pure are going to have hope only those
-
and those that habitually sin their of the devil First John 3
-
1 through 9 time will not permit us to go into that.
-
Any further that's the first epistle and I like spend the
-
rest of my time on the second and the third and I'm going to
-
look at those basically together the Third writings of John are
-
so closely associated so similar in structure and form so much
-
alike and purpose and design that they may be best considered
-
together in both letters. The same general outline is
-
followed and much of the same phraseology occurs the purpose
-
for, which they were written. Seems to be something that we do
-
today. In our teaching number one to
-
strengthen Faith. Number two to give encouragement
-
under trials. And number 3, 2 1 Warn against
-
false teachers second. And third, John Doe brief are a
-
much value to us today because they give they give us intimate
-
glimpses into the Affairs of the early church.
-
And also revealed that that was not that there was a not always
-
harmonious times even in Apostolic age and that human
-
nature in its dark reforms carried over into the church and
-
influenced at the actions of men, even As they do now, they
-
contain warning sorely needed in our time, which should not be
-
ignored or disregarded. We see in these writings, the
-
danger of denying Christ, we see the danger of failing in
-
genuine, love of the brethren. We see the danger of not keeping
-
the Commandments that are given in God's word.
-
These Whiting Supply us with the demonstration of the Christian
-
Spirit. One scholar said that the
-
writings our brief If they're to the point, they're courteous
-
sympathetic and they're true. And we certainly would do well
-
as our letter writing to mimic the writing of the Apostle.
-
John so said when Skyler. Now, The Second Epistle the
-
purpose and design was written as a result of information,
-
which had come to the Apostle, John regarding the children of a
-
faithful sister. That are addressed in it.
-
You know, I know there are a lot of parents here tonight.
-
Most of the time. You don't hear about your
-
children until they do something bad.
-
Until they do something wrong or until they're struggling a
-
little bit. That's usually when we find,
-
when we speak of children, and when we talk to parents about
-
their children, but I think there's a great example here
-
that he points out. He's going to recognize to this,
-
dear sister, he's going to recognize that the children, but
-
our workers are faithful, and he's going to complement her and
-
commend her and commend them. And praise them for living a
-
faithful life for Walking In Truth, as John puts it.
-
And he wrote to Rejoice with her in this and admonish her to
-
persist in the same manner of life and avoid the seductions of
-
false teachers regularly coming her way.
-
You don't take some folks, the church The church has the
-
responsibility of encouraging each other.
-
To not ever give up. Oh, that's not the duty or the
-
responsibility of any agent, a organized group outside of the
-
body of Christ, but encouraging, one another, to keep the fight
-
and encouraging those that are kind of falling down from time
-
to time. And helping those that stumbled
-
here and there that is the responsibility that we have as
-
members of the body of Christ. Now, what about teachers?
-
Teachers need to do many things there's more to teaching than
-
just being and happiness. Be Christian, but as a fact, but
-
that's part of it teaching people and instructing people
-
encouraging people to never give up and praising them.
-
When Praise is due is very important what if the only thing
-
you ever heard as a child growing up in your house was how
-
long you were all the things you did, that were bad, how you come
-
short here and there and so lat it will be discouraging as you
-
lived in that existence. But folks we do need correction.
-
Absolutely, and we need the word of God to correct us when we
-
derail our self from the path of that which is right, but we also
-
need the other out. So we need a balance in our
-
teaching and that is to encourage those that are a
-
little bit weak and to praise those that are doing that which
-
is right and do. So in such a way, like John did
-
to encourage them and Inspire them to do even move, I want to
-
ask Ryan and a couple of guys that work for me, I asked a
-
little talking about various ways of coaching, and I know
-
there are various ways and I know the old ways of coaching
-
was just a blister him and that's just the way that it was
-
and, and back, that's where I was coached.
-
But I asked them, I said Fellas on.
-
So let me ask you this, what's going to make you work harder
-
for me? When I turn my back and leave if
-
I come in and scream at you or if I come in and thank you for
-
what you've done, appreciate what you've done and ask you to
-
do more, and I think it's pretty obvious, but most people will do
-
more when they're treated like that.
-
Now, there's a difference between correcting and there are
-
times when we need to correct, we need to correct those that
-
are subordinate to us. We need to Correct our children.
-
We need to correct members of the body of Christ that needed
-
to, but we need both and we need to encourage others that are
-
members of the body of Christ to never give up and keep the faith
-
and do even more with their life.
-
Third John was addressed to Gaius.
-
This is a name that was a frequent mentioned in the New
-
Testament and therefore, not possible, really to identify
-
with certainty. We find that that name is found
-
in Acts, 19 and 29. Acts 20, and verse 4, Romans,
-
16, and 23. And First Corinthians, 1 and
-
verse 14. Whether one of these men named
-
Gaius or a man, by this name, not mentioned over 42, in the
-
New Testament. We have no means of knowing for
-
sure he appears to have neither been an elder nor Deacon in the
-
congregation where he worshipped.
-
But a man obviously of benevolence Financial standing
-
and greatly devoted to the the truth.
-
Third John was written for three purposes.
-
Number one, for the purpose of commending Gaius for his
-
faithfulness Fidelity and Hospitality shown to
-
missionaries, which had come his way and to encourage him to
-
continue in this grace and not be deterred by the opposition.
-
Which had risen second purpose to rebuke diotrephes for his
-
arrogance for his love of preeminence and for his
-
perverseness And thirdly to commend Demetrius.
-
A faithful disciple, who Gaius is admonished to imitate imitate
-
in summary, three persons are dealt with.
-
In third, John Gaius Dependable, a disciple of Our Lord liberal,
-
and giving hospitable and devoted diotrephes.
-
He was a church boss, dominating boastful and proud, and
-
Demetrius commended by us Humber kindly and Worthy. you know,
-
these were three actual men Much like the writings of the seven
-
churches of Asia. Terry caught those here, those
-
were actual places, but they are also representative types of
-
various states that the church can be in today.
-
These three men were specific real individuals.
-
These were real cases that he's referring to.
-
They also represent though representative types of various
-
people in the body of Christ. Now, To talk about one thing
-
here about what he says about imitating.
-
Sometimes we think that imitating someone else is
-
unoriginal and imitating. Somebody else is not a good
-
thing. That is not true.
-
Imitating in itself, is not wrong, imitating someone that is
-
good is right. And let me just say this, I
-
believe that Satan Works in a couple of ways in the body of
-
Christ. Let me just do this.
-
This is as good as it gets when it comes to Art when with me
-
just bear with me. And I'll try to illustrate
-
something here. Let's just say that this circle
-
represented a Congregation of the body of Christ.
-
And let's just say, for sake of a better way of putting it, but
-
the centering here represented, the leadership of the
-
congregation leadership is important.
-
Leadership is imperative, in fact, if we don't have good and
-
proper leadership, Then the convert, the congregation can
-
not be strong, that is a fact. But notice how the devil Works
-
notice how he worked on this man named biographies.
-
This church boss, but love to have the preeminence.
-
He was Vain and proud and boastful.
-
He was arrogant and conceited. Little notice what happens.
-
The devil got to him in the leadership and that sometimes
-
happens and I am grateful. Here comes the becomes the
-
positive. I'm grateful Don't have it here.
-
I'm going to say some folks, we're not perfect.
-
We are not. We are all human beings and we
-
all make mistakes. But I've been out a little bit.
-
I'ma tell you something. The congregation here is strong.
-
The congregation here. Has strong leaders.
-
And we perfect. No, but we stumble.
-
Yes. Do we make mistakes?
-
Yes, we do. Do we sometimes?
-
Do and say things, we wish we could take back.
-
Yes, myself included, I love us. We found into that category.
-
I'll tell you something, folks, we genuinely have men, but lead
-
here, that have the proper heart, the proper desire for
-
that, which is good, and that which is right.
-
And I'll tell you something, if Satan can't get to the
-
leadership of a congregation, he cannot tear us down, but there's
-
another place and you know, why he tells Gaius to imitate
-
something good by this man named Demetrius because there are
-
other people in a congregation to isn't there?
-
And let's just say for sake of a better way to put it on the
-
outer Fringe of the congregation.
-
I'm only saying that because I'm talking about those that are
-
weaker. I'm talking about though.
-
That are barely hanging on. What is something that happens?
-
When somebody's barely hanging on?
-
What are we do? Sometimes work is a, what is up?
-
Seems like a regular occurrence with those that are barely
-
hanging on. What they do, is they migrate
-
toward others that are barely hanging on?
-
Let me get a straight up this way.
-
If you're hanging on the side of the cliffs like this, and right
-
next to you is your brother and he's hanging to your in exactly
-
the same position or he A slightly worse off than you and
-
you're sitting there hanging there and you know, you have to
-
do something. You have to let go of what
-
you're holding onto and you got to grab something else or you
-
are going to fire and if you serve you're going to die.
-
What are you going to do? Why Frank that's obvious.
-
That's obvious when we find that there's a strong one standing
-
over the cliff like this and he's braced, and he reaches down
-
and gives you the opportunity to grab his hand.
-
He standing on firm, ground on Solid Ground.
-
Who you going to grab? You're going to grab his hand,
-
or you going to grab the other one.
-
That's barely hanging on. in the cliff, you're going to grab the
-
solid hand but what we do spiritually is we grab on to the
-
weaker one and you both fall and that's the problem.
-
Find somebody in the congregation.
-
That is stronger than you are, but has more knowledge than you
-
do and imitate them. Maybe you have a lot of
-
knowledge. Maybe you have a lot of strength
-
and maybe there's nothing in this world that would be real.
-
You and living the Christian life but the fact but say you
-
didn't have all the patients that you probably should have
-
find somebody that's got that and imitate it seek after the
-
people that are stronger and more knowledgeable than you are.
-
Don't just find somebody that has the same weaknesses you do
-
or is weaker than you are. Because Like our illustration on
-
as I pointed out, you're both going to fall and imitate that
-
which is good. You know, sometimes we say well,
-
you know, I'm My Own man. I'm not an imitator now.
-
I'm just talking about the world in general.
-
Oh, yes, you are. And it all starts when you're
-
born and you start imitating those that are in authority over
-
you and that your parents are the greatest influence that you
-
ever have. But isn't it kind of strange,
-
how all of a sudden parents after a certain amount of time,
-
they stopped having the same clout with children that they
-
once had, and All of a sudden there's somebody else in the
-
world that has more clout than your parents.
-
There are more alluring and it seems as though they have more
-
wisdom and more knowledge than your parents have.
-
And that's your friends. You will imitate your friends.
-
You will imitate Role Models athletes.
-
And so on, we do that, that's what we do.
-
We are imitators. Nothing wrong with that.
-
Just imitate the good. Remember when the Bible talks
-
about Satan as a, Terry preaches on this, from time to time when
-
Satan is walking about like a roaring lion seeking those that
-
he may devour. No, I was talking to a fellow
-
this last week about this very thing.
-
He pointed this out, I'll share it with you.
-
And as I've said before, I will stand on the shoulders of
-
successful, man, and use whatever it is that I learn from
-
them. And I will share it with others.
-
Absolutely. And I don't mind when others do
-
it from me. But he thought something he made
-
a point that was rather interesting.
-
He said you ever seen a nature show you ever seen like a lion,
-
a pack of lions and when they left him in their habitat and
-
when they whacked him out there running around.
-
And and when they go after prey, he said, you ever notice who
-
they go after they go after the little crippled sick animal,
-
that's in the pack. They don't go after the big one.
-
In fact, I was watching one of the other day.
-
When these cats, these leopards were following different.
-
They were starving to death. In fact, they wouldn't go after
-
the big one until there were so starving that they had.
-
No other choice interesting, isn't it?
-
And the Bible speaks of Satan as a lion that is going to devour
-
or seeking those that he may devour, you know what he's doing
-
folks? He's working not only in the in
-
here and he can't get us if we won't let him.
-
But he's also working out here, The little crippled.
-
The week one, the sickly one. The Devils doing exactly what
-
Lions do. So if you're out here look to
-
someone that stronger than you are and imitate them.
-
You know, living the Christian Life is something we can do.
-
We truly can live the Christian Life and be successful doing it.
-
God has not given me something that is not possible for me to
-
do, he is giving me everything that I need in order to do it.
-
But the question is, we have to follow his plan and get this
-
surround ourselves with people that are going to help me be
-
successful in doing it. That's what we got to do.
-
And just about the time when we compare ourselves, I remember,
-
I'm almost through, but I remember in high school, I
-
remember my dad was saying, I went to a small high school, and
-
I remember that when I was about in about going into the 10th
-
grade, I remember that without a little high school of 900,
-
students, little tiny High School.
-
I remember that I was comparing myself athletically against
-
those that were are in that school.
-
And you look, Most people have done pretty good, I'm stronger
-
than they are. I'm faster than they are and I
-
remember that my dad used to say no way.
-
Do you see? What do you see when you compare
-
yourself with real athletes? Well, that just insulted me
-
completely Then all of a sudden I got exposed to it, I got
-
exposed to real athletes, athletes that went to five and
-
six, a schools. I made some real guys.
-
And man, I was a little tiny fish in a very big pond.
-
You know, what happened though? You start raising the bar, you
-
raise the standard you quit. Looking at the little fella that
-
each twinkies and doesn't work out.
-
And then you start looking to the guy that's really training
-
and you look at the real athlete and you follow him and you get
-
better than you ever would have been.
-
That's the point. You get better than you ever
-
would have. Been, we thank you for listening
-
to our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
-
Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional
-
information or you would like to receive a free Bible
-
correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True
-
Church of Christ. Bakersfield.com.
-
Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and
-
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. please, make plans to join us.
-
We would love for you to be our honored guest