Sermon
Christ Central Work
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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You may be seated, kids, you now may be excused to your King's Kids class, and if you would,
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please open up your Bibles to Colossians chapter 3.
Colossians 3 chapter mention
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I'm going to read 3.22 through 4.1.
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We've come to the end of this section in Colossians that's called kind of the household code or
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the household rules, and we've seen Paul time and again instructing on these sets of relationships,
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wives and husbands, children and parents, and now bond slaves and their masters.
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Hear God's Word.
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Bond servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye service
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as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
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Lord, whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men.
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Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward, you are serving
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the Lord Christ.
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For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
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Masters, treat your bond servants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a master
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in heaven.
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May God bless the reading of his Word.
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Name that tune.
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Name that movie.
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Snow White.
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Hi-ho!
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Hi-ho!
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It's?
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Name that movie.
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Snow White, 1937 Disney classic.
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We got a bunch of happy dwarves going to work.
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And then later on, in the same movie, we have an interesting situation with Snow White.
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She's confronted with this cluttered house.
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Oh, no, what is she going to do?
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She needs to clean it up.
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How is she going to clean it up?
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She's going to whistle while she works.
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Whistle while you work.
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And she enlists these creatures from the forest to help her clean her house.
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Could you imagine Snow White working for you?
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That would be great.
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Man, she would make a great employee, wouldn't she?
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But brothers and sisters, here I am right now to tell you we can do far better than whistle
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while we work.
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Because Jesus is the controlling center of our lives.
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We worship while we work.
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Christian, who do you work for?
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You work for Jesus.
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We work for Jesus.
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Now, if you are a Christian, also known as a saint, a holy one.
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If you're a saint, you know what?
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You're going to have to work like the majority of the 8.1 billion people on the planet.
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We've got to work.
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We've got to work to make a living.
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God has given us good things.
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If you want a 30-second theology of work, here it is.
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God created work.
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It is good.
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Sin distorts work.
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Now it can be a toil.
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But Christ redeems our work so that now we can take joy in working for Him.
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And then at the final consummation, when we're all in glory together,
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we get to work some more for the glory of His name.
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Brothers and sisters, we don't get a pass when it comes to work.
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Rather, we are to work a certain way and for a certain who.
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We are to work for Jesus.
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So if you're a subordinate worker in the room,
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or if you're a supervisor in the room at work,
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we are to work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Christ, we can do far better than whistle while you work.
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We get to worship while you work.
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This section that we're in right now,
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Paul has addressed wives and husbands.
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With Christ as their controlling centers,
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wives are to submit to their husbands.
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Husbands are to lead their wives.
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And it's to be good.
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Children are to obey their parents.
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Parents, dads, you are to lead your children.
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Children are to lead their children.
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And it is good.
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And here we are talking about bond servants and masters.
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Does anybody have slaves in the house?
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No.
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Does anybody feel enslaved?
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Well, don't answer that one.
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Don't want you to answer that one.
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Now, if you're interested in the New Testament,
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when it talks about slavery,
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what is meant by slavery,
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and how that differs from the chattel slavery of Africans in our country,
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that's a blight on our history.
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If you want to know the difference between that.
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Or you're wondering as you're reading through this,
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why doesn't Paul just tell these masters to let their slaves free?
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I want you to grab this article.
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Does the New Testament support slavery?
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It is on the Connect desk in the vestibule on your way out.
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But here's how I'm going to proceed this morning.
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Given that this particular relationship is having to do with work,
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I'm going to move forward applying this passage
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to those who are in a subordinate role of work
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and those who are in a supervising role at work.
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And I think we're going to capture the intent of what God is saying.
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Brothers and sisters,
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whether you're a subordinate or a supervisor,
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you work for the Lord Jesus.
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And so here is how we're going to proceed.
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Brothers and sisters,
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you need a reminder.
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We are saints who work.
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And then I want to help you think,
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how does a saint who is a subordinate work?
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That's two.
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And then number three is,
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how does a saint who is a supervisor work?
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Whether you're a subordinate or a supervisor,
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if Christ is the controlling center of your life,
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you are a saint and you work for Jesus,
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changes the way you work.
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We are saints who work.
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You've probably noticed I've been using the word saint a lot.
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If you flip back in Colossians 1,
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verse 2,
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Paul is writing these Christians in Colossae,
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this church,
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and he says in verse 2,
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to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.
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Saint is just a word that means holy one.
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And if you look at 312,
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do you remember when I preached this weeks ago?
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We are told,
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put on then as God's chosen ones,
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holy and beloved,
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beloved saints chosen by God's grace.
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Do you know who's going to work tomorrow?
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Raise your hand.
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Man, you walk into work.
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Do you know who's walking into work?
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A saint of the living God.
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A beloved saint.
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There are such a variety of occupations represented in this room.
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And every one of us who've been flipped by the grace of God,
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we enter our workplaces as holy ones,
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as saints.
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So let me just kind of unpack that for you,
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just to convince you,
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remind you of who you are.
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Remember chapter 1, verse 13,
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we have been delivered from the domain of darkness
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and transferred into the kingdom of the beloved son.
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You're a saint because you've got a new king
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and a new kingdom.
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And Jesus has become the controlling center of your life.
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He's no ordinary king.
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In 115, he is the firstborn of creation.
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The king of creation.
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And in 118, he is the firstborn from the dead.
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He's the king of the new creation.
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Do you know what kind of kingdom we're a part of?
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We're part of a new creation kingdom.
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And you're a new creation in that kingdom, brother, sister.
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You're a saint.
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You got flipped by Jesus.
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You've been repoed by Jesus Christ.
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And you've also been given a new ID,
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a new identification.
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It's a holy ID.
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In 2.20, we read this.
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If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world.
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And then 3.1, we read, if you've been raised with Christ.
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If you've died with Christ, if you've been raised with Christ,
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means you've been united with Christ in his death and resurrection.
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You're a new creation.
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The old is gone.
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The new has come.
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Changes everything.
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We're talking about your union with Christ.
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And because you've been united with Christ in his death and resurrection,
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you're dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
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It changes everything.
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You're a saint who's walking into your workplace tomorrow, brother, sister.
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We're not done.
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It changes your aim.
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3.1, we're to seek the things that are above,
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where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
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Jesus is reigning on high over all things.
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Ephesians 1.22 says,
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all things have been put under his feet.
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So when you go into your workplace and you're thinking,
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everything's a mess here,
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Jesus is reigning over it all.
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Even your CEO.
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All things are under his feet.
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And we work for him.
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He is our greatest aim.
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He's the one in whom we're looking to please above all else.
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And we're on a new time frame.
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Church, what time is it?
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It's Christ time.
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We live in between the first coming and the second coming of Jesus.
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And when he comes back, he's going to judge it all, even you.
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So you know what that means?
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You walk into work,
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and you might think I'm on company time,
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and you are on company time,
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but you're also on Christ time.
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And it matters to him.
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Your aim is Christ,
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and you will one day give an account for your work life.
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We're on Christ time.
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We live in light of the eternity
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that Christ has rescued us for in our daily working.
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But you also have new work wear.
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We have new wardrobe.
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Before you put on your work outfit tomorrow morning,
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you've got to put on your Christ wear.
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You've got to put off the grave clothes of the old self
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that used to live under the dominion of darkness.
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And you're to put on as chosen,
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God's chosen, holy, and beloved,
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things like compassionate hearts,
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meekness, kindness, humility,
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patience.
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You put that on first,
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and then you put your work outfit on over that.
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So you walk into your workplace tomorrow,
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and you've got Christ wear on
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underneath your business attire.
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It's Christ likeness
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that we're aiming at,
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that we're living for.
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Hey, who's walking into the workplace tomorrow?
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A saint!
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I went to high school outside of Chicago,
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and I grew up in a suburb called St. Charles,
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and our mascot, well, they were the fighting saints.
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And on our football team,
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I don't think there were any kind of biblical saints.
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But do you know what our school song was?
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Oh, when the saints come marching in,
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oh, when the saints come marching in,
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tomorrow morning,
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when you walk into your workplace,
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you can be singing this song.
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Oh, when this saint
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comes walking in
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to this workplace,
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oh, when this saint comes walking in,
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I'm going to work
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for King Jesus.
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Oh, when this saint comes walking in,
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do you know who's walking into work tomorrow, brother?
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A holy one of God.
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That's who you are.
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Don't forget it.
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Remember who you are.
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You've got a new kingdom,
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a new ID,
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a new aim,
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a new time frame.
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You've got a new wardrobe,
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and that's who's walking in
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because Jesus is the controlling center
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of your life.
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When you go to work tomorrow,
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you can worship him
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while you work.
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That's who you are.
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We are saints who work.
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It's the intersection of two kingdoms
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in the workplace.
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Now, if you are a saint
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and you're a subordinate,
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point two,
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how do you go about your work
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as a subordinate for Jesus?
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And we see this in chapter 3,
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verses 22 through 25.
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Now, remember,
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Paul is originally addressing bond slaves,
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and I'm going to apply
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what Paul instructs here
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to work subordinates,
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and you are a work subordinate
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if you report to someone above you.
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If someone has a responsibility
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and authority over you
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in terms of your work performance,
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then you are a subordinate.
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You might be a supervisor too,
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but you are a subordinate.
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In this passage,
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in 322 through 25,
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when Paul addresses subordinates,
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we see a what,
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a how,
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and a why.
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The what.
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Verse 22,
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we read this.
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Bond servants,
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obey in everything
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those who are your earthly masters.
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The what is obey.
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If you are work subordinate,
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you are to obey
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your work supervisor.
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It's the same word used
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earlier in verse 20
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when talking about children,
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obey your parents.
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It's the same word.
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It's the same exhortation.
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Obey.
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Obey in everything
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your earthly masters,
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your earthly supervisors.
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Obey in everything.
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It's like God is addressing you,
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brother, sister,
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in a subordinate role.
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He's addressing you
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and saying,
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here's how I want you
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to live for me
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in your workplace.
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I want you to be known
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for your obedience
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to your supervisors.
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I want you to be known for that.
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Now, when you read the words
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in everything,
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maybe you start getting
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a little nervous.
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Well, there's two qualifications
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with this.
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If you're a subordinate,
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you are to obey
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your supervisor
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in everything
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with two qualifications.
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First one is this.
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You are to obey them
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in everything
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insofar as what they are
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requiring of you
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pleases the Lord.
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So if your supervisor
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is asking you to lie,
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you need to say,
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sorry, boss,
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I can't do that
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for the glory of Jesus.
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If your supervisor
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is asking you
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to look the other way
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because there's something
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going on
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that he doesn't want to be
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or she doesn't want
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to be held accountable for,
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you can't go along
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with that.
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If you are being told
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to treat someone
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in a way that is grievous
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in God's sight,
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you can't do that.
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If you're told
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to kind of make
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some numbers change,
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you can't do that.
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because you are working
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for Jesus
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in your workplace.
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And so you are to obey
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your boss in everything
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insofar as it pleases
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the Lord.
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Secondly,
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you are to obey
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your supervisor
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in everything
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so long as it pertains
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to work.
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So if your supervisor
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is insisting
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that you take
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her marriage advice,
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you don't have to
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because she's
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out of her lane.
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She doesn't have
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authority over you
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for that.
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She doesn't have
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responsibility for you
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in that.
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If your supervisor
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is telling you
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how to invest
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your money,
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you can take
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that with a grain of salt
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but you don't need
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to do that.
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You don't need
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to obey them in that.
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They don't have
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responsibility for you
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in that.
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So insofar
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as it's pleasing
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to the Lord
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and it pertains
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to work,
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you are to obey
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your supervisors
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and everything
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and you are to
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obey them
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quickly
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and you are to
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obey them well
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and you are to do it
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with all of your heart
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which brings me
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to not just
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the what
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of obeying
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but the how
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we are to obey.
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And we see this
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in verses 22,
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all the way
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down into 24
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but what
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the apostle Paul
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does here
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is he sets up
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a really interesting
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contrast.
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He wants us
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to obey
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our supervisors
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but he goes
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in to say
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don't obey
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them this way,
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obey them
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this way.
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Look at the passage.
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On servants
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obey in everything
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those who are
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your earthly masters
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not by way
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of eye service
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as people
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pleasers
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how not
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to obey them.
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But here's how
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you obey them
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but with sincerity
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of heart
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fearing the Lord
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whatever you do
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work heartily
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as for the Lord
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and not for men.
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So how are we
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to obey
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our supervisors?
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Well in everything
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as to the Lord.
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this idea
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of eye service
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as people pleasers
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means you're
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more concerned
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with what
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your earthly
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supervisor
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thinks
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than what
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your eternal
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king thinks
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and that you're
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willing
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to do
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eye service.
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It's this
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extrinsic
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outside
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kind of
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motivation
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that you're
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doing something
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like for your boss.
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Classic example
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it's summertime
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if there are
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people who work
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for the
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Wisconsin Department
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of Transportation
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this is nothing
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against you
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but let's say
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you're driving
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on the highway
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there's a work
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crew working
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and you're
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at a crawl
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and you're
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watching these
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guys lollygagging
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you know
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talking it up
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leaning on
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their shovels
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and then you
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watch their
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supervisor
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shows up
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and then
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shovel starts
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flying.
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That is
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eye service
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people pleasing.
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They start
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working because
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they see
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and want to
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impress a
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human being
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but
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contrast
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this
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eye service
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people pleasers
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with this
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internal
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sincerity of
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heart
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fearing the
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Lord.
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Whatever you do
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work heartily
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internally
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as for the
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Lord.
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Not for
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men.
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This is
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intrinsic
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motivation.
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This is
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you work
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hard and
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you work
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well
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for
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anybody
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because
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you serve
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the Lord
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in this.
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The best
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workers
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in town
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should be
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followers
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of Jesus.
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Sincerity
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of heart.
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We do
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things with
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excellence.
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We do
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things well
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and we
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follow through
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on it.
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We work
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hard.
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The object
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of course
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is
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Jesus.
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We're
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working for
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Him.
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Aimed at
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Him.
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Now you
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tell me
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who would
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you want
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working for
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you?
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I
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service
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people
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pleaser?
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I
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work
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or
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working
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heartily for
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the Lord.
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Come on.
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That's the
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how.
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And now
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the why.
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In
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verses
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24 and
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25,
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24 you
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see this
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word
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knowing?
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That's
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going to
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show up
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again in
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4.1 but
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that word
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knowing is
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to tell you
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something.
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If you're a
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subordinate
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who is
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working in
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a place,
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you need
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to know
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something.
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And it's
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going to
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inform,
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motivate you
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in order to
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work heartily
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for the
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Lord,
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not for
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men.
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And what
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is it?
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Knowing that
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from the
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Lord you
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will receive
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the inheritance
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as a reward.
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You are
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serving the
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Lord Christ.
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If you
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are a
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saint who's
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working as
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a subordinate,
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you must
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know that
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your reward
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is coming
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from the
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Lord Jesus.
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your bonus
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is not
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based upon
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your work
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performance.
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Did you see
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the word
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inheritance?
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Do you know
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what that's
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for?
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That's for
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someone who
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is a
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son or
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a daughter.
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It's not
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based on
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performance.
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It's based
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on grace.
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Your reward
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is the
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salvation
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that will
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come
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fully
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realized.
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realized.
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That's
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knowing
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that
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is why
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we work
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heartily for
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the Lord.
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We're being
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aimed here.
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It's
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Christ the
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Lord who
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rewards us
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at the
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judgment,
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of course.
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It's a
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promise.
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Full
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and final
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salvation
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to be
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realized
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and enjoyed.
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It's the
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reward of
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our
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inheritance.
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We work
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hard because
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God in
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His grace
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has poured
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out His
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grace upon
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us and
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will continue
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to all the
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way through.
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But we
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also have
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something of
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a warning
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in verse
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25.
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For the
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wrongdoer
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will be
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paid back
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for the
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wrong he
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has done.
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Know that.
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There's no
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partiality.
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You've got to
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know that.
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And if you
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are a
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worker in
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the room,
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if you
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are a
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saint,
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a subordinate,
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and you
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are doing
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what is
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wrong,
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and you
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know it,
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you're wearing
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grave clothes
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at work,
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you're
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deceiving
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your
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supervisors,
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you're being
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lazy,
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you're not
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trustworthy,
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if you're
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doing these
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things,
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that needs
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to stop
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because the
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Lord sees
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it.
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But there's
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another reason
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why this is
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here.
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let's say
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that you
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have a
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supervisor
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who's
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wronging
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you.
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Isn't it
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good to
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know
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that the
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Lord Jesus
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will hand
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out
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consequences
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to your
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supervisor?
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No
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partiality.
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Doesn't mean
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you need to
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stay at your
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place of
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employment,
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commitment,
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but what it
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does mean
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is like,
-
okay,
-
I don't
-
need to
-
take this
-
into my
-
own hands
-
necessarily.
-
I know
-
the Lord
-
is seeing
-
this and
-
He will
-
act.
-
Did you
-
notice all
-
the references
-
to the
-
Lord?
-
Fearing the
-
Lord,
-
work
-
heartily as
-
for the
-
Lord,
-
knowing that
-
from the
-
Lord you
-
will receive
-
the inheritance,
-
you are
-
serving the
-
Lord
-
Christ.
-
The
-
emphasis
-
is loud
-
and clear
-
if you are
-
a subordinate.
-
You work
-
for the
-
Lord Jesus.
-
Do I
-
have an
-
amen?
-
Okay,
-
let's do
-
some
-
assessment.
-
If you're
-
a subordinate,
-
I want to
-
help you to
-
assess
-
yourself.
-
Brother,
-
sister,
-
what is your
-
aim at
-
work?
-
work?
-
Who are
-
you working
-
for?
-
You've got to
-
remind yourself
-
of who you
-
are before
-
you walk
-
into your
-
place of
-
employment.
-
Whether that's
-
a work site,
-
that's an
-
actual building,
-
whether that
-
is some
-
kind of
-
home office,
-
or you're
-
visiting a
-
client,
-
whatever you're
-
doing,
-
you need to
-
remember first
-
and foremost
-
that you're
-
a saint who
-
works and
-
your aim is
-
the Lord
-
Jesus.
-
You're going
-
to work for
-
Him.
-
Brother,
-
sister,
-
what's your
-
attitude like
-
at work?
-
Do you
-
have a
-
grave clothes
-
attitude?
-
Let me point
-
you to some.
-
Verse 8 and
-
9.
-
Anger,
-
wrath,
-
malice,
-
slander,
-
obscene talk
-
from your
-
mouth,
-
lying to
-
one another.
-
Is that
-
what's
-
characterizing
-
you at
-
work?
-
That attitude
-
is to go.
-
That's grave
-
clothes.
-
We're to be
-
marked by the
-
312,
-
compassionate
-
hearts,
-
kindness,
-
humility,
-
meekness,
-
and patience.
-
Putting on
-
the love,
-
verse 14.
-
It's
-
attitude.
-
That's what
-
you bring to
-
your place
-
of employment
-
and action.
-
Brother and
-
sister,
-
are you
-
working as to
-
the Lord with
-
sincerity of
-
heart?
-
Are you
-
working hard?
-
Are you
-
working well?
-
Are you
-
pursuing excellence?
-
Or are you
-
being prodded?
-
if you are
-
known to be
-
a Christian
-
at your
-
workplace,
-
but you
-
show up
-
late,
-
you do
-
shoddy work,
-
and you're
-
continually being
-
prodded to
-
work harder
-
and faster,
-
something needs
-
to change.
-
These are just
-
standards for
-
everybody.
-
You work for
-
the Lord,
-
and so what
-
will happen
-
is if you're
-
saying you're
-
a Christian,
-
but you're
-
living like
-
that,
-
it undermines
-
your witness.
-
And the way
-
that you
-
regain your
-
witness is by
-
working heartily
-
unto the
-
Lord.
-
One final
-
question before
-
we move on
-
to supervisors.
-
Just a
-
self-reflective
-
question.
-
Subordinate,
-
would you
-
want to be
-
your
-
supervisor?
-
Would you
-
want you
-
working for
-
you?
-
You get
-
it?
-
And if you
-
wouldn't,
-
why not?
-
We work for
-
the Lord,
-
intrinsically
-
motivated from
-
the heart.
-
Now let's
-
say that you're
-
a saint who
-
is in a
-
supervisory role.
-
We see this
-
in 4.1.
-
Now you
-
may be
-
reporting to
-
someone above
-
you, which
-
makes you a
-
subordinate, but
-
you have at
-
least one
-
person's
-
reporting to
-
you.
-
You have
-
responsibility for
-
the work
-
performance of
-
somebody else,
-
and therefore
-
you have
-
authority in
-
order to help
-
them work
-
better.
-
Now I just
-
want to remind
-
you of the
-
nature of
-
authority.
-
I've been
-
trying to
-
make this
-
case with
-
each of
-
these pairings,
-
with wives
-
and husbands
-
and children
-
and parents,
-
and here with
-
workers and
-
supervisors.
-
Remember,
-
authority is
-
an outworking
-
of responsibility.
-
If you have
-
responsibility for
-
someone, God
-
gives you
-
authority to
-
act on their
-
behalf.
-
And it's
-
true of the
-
workplace.
-
So supervisors
-
have the
-
distinct
-
responsibility to
-
make sure that
-
his or her
-
subordinates are
-
doing what
-
they've been
-
hired to do.
-
So as a
-
supervisor, you
-
have authority
-
over a
-
subordinate as
-
far as it
-
relates to
-
their work.
-
So if you're
-
a saint who's
-
supervising at
-
least one
-
subordinate, God
-
requires something
-
of you.
-
He's saying,
-
okay, here's how
-
I want you to
-
do your work,
-
supervisor.
-
And just like we
-
saw with
-
subordinates,
-
there is a
-
what, there is a
-
how, and there
-
is a why.
-
You ready?
-
The what?
-
4.1.
-
Masters, treat
-
your bond
-
servants.
-
He's not saying
-
treat them with
-
candy.
-
That word is
-
more like direct
-
them, manage
-
them.
-
All I want to
-
put into place
-
here is dignify
-
them.
-
You treat your
-
subordinates with
-
dignity.
-
dignity.
-
Because they
-
are either
-
full-on image
-
bearers or
-
they're blood-bought
-
image bearers.
-
Treat them with
-
dignity.
-
And the
-
you're in this
-
is that you
-
don't own
-
them.
-
But you do
-
have responsibility
-
for them at
-
work.
-
So you want to
-
take this
-
exhortation to
-
our heart.
-
There is a
-
way in which
-
you as a
-
supervisor treat
-
your subordinates.
-
And now let's
-
look at the
-
manner of that,
-
the way of
-
that, how that
-
actually looks
-
like.
-
We see that.
-
Masters, treat
-
your bond
-
servants, two
-
words, justly
-
and fairly.
-
Justly and
-
fairly.
-
That word
-
justly, here's
-
how you need to
-
think about it.
-
It's biblically
-
speaking, it's
-
doing your
-
subordinates
-
right.
-
You do them
-
right.
-
And that
-
starts with
-
being very
-
clear with
-
them what's
-
expected of
-
them.
-
So if you're
-
a supervisor
-
in the room
-
and you're not
-
using some
-
kind of job
-
description,
-
you need to.
-
To be just.
-
To be clear.
-
To help them
-
know what
-
they're supposed
-
to do.
-
Clear on
-
what's expected.
-
And make sure
-
that thing's
-
updated.
-
And you
-
want to be
-
consistent with
-
consequences.
-
That's being
-
just.
-
You want to
-
help them
-
understand what's
-
expected of
-
them.
-
And when they
-
fall short, you
-
can reprimand
-
them.
-
And when they
-
do well, you
-
reward them.
-
But you're
-
consistent.
-
And it's all
-
based upon this
-
objective realities
-
laid out for
-
them in their
-
job description.
-
You are to be
-
honest and
-
helpful in
-
instructing how
-
they are to do
-
their jobs
-
well.
-
You're to be
-
impartial in
-
all of it.
-
Not showing
-
favorites.
-
You don't want
-
to be accused
-
if you're a
-
Christian supervisor
-
showing favor to
-
a Christian
-
subordinate,
-
especially if
-
they're not
-
performing well.
-
one of the
-
other ways that
-
we are just is
-
making sure those
-
who are our
-
subordinates are
-
rightly compensated
-
for their time
-
and labor.
-
And we
-
never,
-
never give
-
them reason to
-
sin against God.
-
Never.
-
Justly.
-
We dignify
-
people that way.
-
And then we
-
treat them
-
fairly.
-
It's not just
-
doing one of
-
your subordinates
-
right.
-
It's doing all
-
of your subordinates
-
right.
-
It's equity.
-
It's fairness
-
across the board.
-
That you're
-
consistent in
-
your treatment of
-
all the
-
subordinates that
-
you're responsible
-
for.
-
No partiality.
-
No favoritism.
-
No
-
I think what
-
Paul is getting
-
at here is
-
what's shown up
-
in this household
-
code.
-
It shows up
-
between wives
-
and husbands.
-
He says to
-
husbands,
-
don't be harsh
-
with your wives.
-
And then he
-
says to fathers,
-
hey, don't
-
discourage your
-
children.
-
I think what's
-
getting at here
-
with just and
-
fair is
-
excluding harsh
-
treatment of
-
your subordinates.
-
If you're being
-
harsh and
-
unpredictable,
-
do you know
-
what it does?
-
It destabilizes
-
the work
-
environment.
-
But if you're
-
being just
-
and fair,
-
it stabilizes
-
your work
-
environment.
-
All for Jesus.
-
Now why?
-
We've seen the
-
what?
-
Treat them with
-
dignity.
-
The how?
-
Justly and
-
fairly.
-
Now the why.
-
Again, it's
-
queued up with
-
the word
-
knowing.
-
Knowing that
-
you also have
-
a master in
-
heaven.
-
If you're a
-
supervisor in
-
the room,
-
you don't get
-
to do whatever
-
you want with
-
your subordinates
-
because you have
-
a heavenly
-
supervisor that
-
you're accountable
-
to.
-
He'll hold you
-
accountable.
-
by the way
-
you treat
-
your subordinates.
-
You work for
-
the Lord,
-
supervisor.
-
You work for
-
him.
-
And if he's
-
the controlling
-
center of your
-
life,
-
it will show up
-
in the way
-
that you treat
-
those you're
-
responsible for
-
in the workplace.
-
So let's do
-
some self-assessment,
-
supervisor.
-
You go into
-
work tomorrow.
-
what is your
-
aim?
-
Who are you
-
working for?
-
Who are you
-
supervising for?
-
Not for the
-
eyes of man.
-
Not to impress
-
your subordinates,
-
but for the
-
Lord Jesus.
-
What kind of
-
attitude are you
-
to bring as a
-
supervisor?
-
Are you to be
-
unjust,
-
unfair,
-
unpredictable,
-
and harsh?
-
That does not
-
line up with
-
the Christ wear
-
that you were
-
to be putting
-
on that morning.
-
No.
-
We are to live
-
out Christ's
-
likeness.
-
That doesn't
-
mean you're a
-
pushover.
-
That means you
-
are just and
-
fair to all
-
of your
-
subordinates.
-
What kind of
-
action?
-
It's that just
-
and fairness,
-
consistent and
-
clear.
-
you do all
-
of your
-
subordinates
-
right.
-
Because you're
-
worshiping while
-
you work.
-
Now, if you
-
are a
-
supervisor and
-
people know
-
you as a
-
Christian and
-
you are being
-
unjust and
-
unfair, you're
-
being harsh,
-
impatient, you
-
might get
-
results, but
-
are you
-
pleasing Jesus?
-
And the answer
-
is no, you're
-
not.
-
That needs to
-
change for the
-
glory of Jesus.
-
So, supervisor,
-
here's the
-
question for you.
-
Would you
-
want to be your
-
subordinate?
-
Would you
-
want to be
-
reporting to
-
you?
-
Whether you
-
are a
-
subordinate
-
or supervisor
-
or both,
-
work life?
-
If you're a
-
saint, you
-
work for
-
Jesus.
-
Your work
-
life is to
-
magnify Christ,
-
to telescope
-
him so that
-
other people can
-
see how wonderful
-
he is.
-
It shows up in
-
the way you
-
work, how you
-
interact with
-
fellow workmates,
-
to work in a
-
manner worthy
-
of the Lord.
-
I started this
-
sermon talking
-
about snow
-
white, whistling
-
while you work.
-
Brothers and
-
sisters, we can
-
do far better
-
than whistle
-
while you work
-
because Christ
-
is the controlling
-
center of our
-
lives.
-
I mean, he's the
-
king of creation.
-
He is the king
-
of the new
-
creation.
-
He is full
-
reign of every
-
area of our
-
lives.
-
Because he's the
-
controlling center,
-
we worship him
-
while we work.
-
Remember
-
chapter 3, 17,
-
in whatever you
-
do, whatever you
-
do in word or
-
deed, do
-
everything in the
-
name of the
-
Lord Jesus,
-
giving thanks to
-
God the Father
-
through him.
-
If you're a
-
wife, do
-
everything in the
-
name of the
-
Lord Jesus,
-
word or deed.
-
If you're a
-
husband, do
-
everything, word
-
or deed.
-
If you're a
-
child or parent,
-
everything, word
-
or deed.
-
Subordinate,
-
everything, word
-
and deed.
-
Supervisor,
-
everything, word
-
and deed.
-
Do everything in
-
the name of the
-
Lord Jesus Christ.
-
He's your
-
controlling center.
-
Brothers and
-
sisters,
-
saints of the
-
living God,
-
God, when you
-
go in to work
-
tomorrow, you
-
can go in
-
singing, oh,
-
when the
-
saint comes
-
walking in, oh,
-
when this saint
-
comes walking
-
in, I'm doing
-
all my work for
-
my King Jesus.
-
Oh, when the
-
saint comes walking
-
in, walking out,
-
we work for
-
Jesus, therefore,
-
we worship him
-
while we work,
-
and it is a
-
witness to him
-
while we work.
-
Let me pray.
-
Lord Jesus, we are
-
so thankful that
-
you call us
-
out.
-
you call us
-
out of the
-
worldly grime
-
of work,
-
and you call
-
us to do
-
our work from
-
our hearts
-
for you with
-
all that we
-
got.
-
Lord Jesus,
-
you're worthy.
-
Would you,
-
Father, do a
-
work by your
-
spirit in which
-
we, this
-
week, even
-
tomorrow, we
-
work aimed
-
at Jesus on
-
Christ's time
-
because you
-
have wonderfully
-
changed us.
-
Lord Jesus,
-
you are worthy.
-
It's your name
-
we pray.
-
Amen.