The Danger of Fear-Based Evangelism

• Unity in the Church [00:46:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor discusses the theological foundation of unity between Jew and Gentile believers established in Ephesians chapters 1-3, moving from the basis of unity to its practical profile.
• Christian Conduct [00:50:28 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor outlines specific virtues required for church unity: humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love, based on Ephesians 4:1-6.
• Jew-Gentile Reconciliation [00:47:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains how Gentile believers were grafted into the Jewish root, becoming fellow heirs and citizens with the original covenant people.
• Unity of the Spirit [00:50:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines unity as maintaining the bond of peace among believers, grounded in the 'ones' (one body, one Spirit, one Lord, etc.) and the common confession of one God.
• The Worthy Walk [00:51:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > Described as living with humility, gentleness, and patience, specifically bearing with one another in love and being zealous to maintain unity.
• Definitive Sanctification [01:00:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > Explained as the 'once for all metamorphosis' at conversion where the old self is put to death and the new self is created, enabling the believer to work out their salvation.
• Progressive Sanctification (Put Off/Put On) [01:03:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > The ongoing process of mortifying sin (falsehood, stealing, bitterness) and putting on virtues (truth, sharing, forgiveness, love) to build up the body of Christ.
• Purity and Holiness [01:05:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor emphasizes that walking in love includes walking in purity, requiring believers to put off sexual immorality, impurity, and crude joking, and instead walk as children of light.
• Purity and Mortification of Sin [01:06:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that preserving unity requires putting off sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, and crude joking, noting that Gentile converts came from a 'fornication city' culture and needed explicit instruction to abandon these practices.
• Walking in Wisdom vs. Folly [01:09:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts being filled with wine (the mark of folly/scoffing in Proverbs) with being filled with the Spirit (the sign of wisdom), urging believers to redeem the time because the days are evil.
• The Meaning of Being 'Filled with the Spirit' [01:11:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that the Spirit is the 'content' of the filling, not just the means or sphere, citing God as a 'filling God' and drawing parallels to being filled with the Word in Colossians, while clarifying this is an ongoing progressive sanctification rather than a 'second blessing.'
• Spiritual Warfare and Corporate Armor [01:17:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor interprets the armor of God as a corporate metaphor for the local church to stand against spiritual forces of evil, emphasizing that the battle is not against flesh and blood but against division, protected through prayer and unity.
• Prayer and Spiritual Armor [01:21:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that the church puts on spiritual armor collectively through prayer in the Spirit to resist division and maintain unity.
• Praise and Grace [01:23:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor urges believers to praise God for their salvation and fellow-citizen status, using the story of the woman in Luke 7 to illustrate tears of joy rather than just repentance.
• Evangelism and Judgment [01:26:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor challenges unbelievers to face their deserved judgment and the reality of God's wrath, urging them to trust Christ before it is too late.
• Unity and Self-Denial [01:29:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that church tensions are often matters of preference rather than doctrine, and that preserving unity requires self-denial and letting go of personal preferences.

• Sermon Illustration [00:44:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about growing up in a liberal Presbyterian church with a booming organ and 'seven-fold amen' to draw a parallel to the current church's music.
• Sermon Illustration [00:48:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy comparing the hostility between Jew and Gentile cultures to modern divisions like North/South, black/white, or political parties, noting that those are 'bosom buddies' compared to the ancient divide.
• Sermon Illustration [00:49:18 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of marriage to explain the difference between the status of being 'one flesh' and the daily actions required to live out that unity in harmony.
• Sermon Illustration [00:53:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares an anecdote about meeting a man on a red-eye flight from the West Coast who was 'zealous for license plates,' using it to illustrate how easy it is to be zealous for weird things, contrasting this with the need to be zealous for the unity of the Spirit.
• Sermon Illustration [01:07:06 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy: 'just because you're in the garage doesn't mean you're a car and just because you're in the church doesn't mean you're a Christian' to illustrate that presence in the church does not guarantee genuine salvation or purity.
• Sermon Illustration [01:16:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references a bad joke: 'I love the church, it's just the people,' to acknowledge that discord and disunity are universal problems in all churches because they are made of people.
• Sermon Illustration [01:20:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor mentions his children's Halloween costumes, where kids could dress up as 'valiant for truth' soldiers, to contrast individualistic imagery with the corporate nature of the armor of God.
• Sermon Illustration [01:23:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the story of the woman in Luke 7 who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair, interpreting her actions as tears of joy and praise for being forgiven much.
• Sermon Illustration [01:30:02 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his neighbor (his son-in-law) asking to drive a forklift through his lawn to deliver pavers, illustrating his reluctance to forego his preference for a pristine lawn.

• Pastoral Charge [00:50:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > Take Bibles and turn to Ephesians chapter 4
• Pastoral Charge [01:02:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > Speak truth, resolve anger quickly, stop stealing and labor honestly, use edifying speech, remove bitterness/slander, be kind/forgiving, and imitate God by walking in love
• Pastoral Charge [01:05:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > Walk as children of light, discern what pleases the Lord, and expose the unfruitful works of darkness
• Pastoral Charge [01:17:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > To spiritually equip themselves with God's armor to withstand spiritual attacks and stand firm.
• Pastoral Charge [01:22:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > To engage in prayer, asking God for protection against the devil's schemes to divide the church.
• Pastoral Charge [01:28:04 ▶️ 📄]
  > Come to Christ and trust Him immediately for salvation.
• Pastoral Charge [01:33:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > Identify and put to death personal preferences that threaten church unity.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:00] Good morning and welcome to the King's Chapel. I hope you're doing well this morning. I just want to start our time this morning with Habakkuk 3, 17 through 18. Now you might struggle to find the book of Habakkuk. It's not widely read or widely preached on.
[00:08:45] Habakkuk writes words that, through the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, have guided believers for thousands of years.
[00:08:58] Some of the most important words, and I hope in your Bible they're underlined, highlighted, that there's a mark around these words, because he said this, though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no produce on the vines, though the yield of the olive shall fail,
[00:09:20] and the fields yield no food.
[00:09:24] Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls.
[00:09:31] Yet, I will exalt in Yahweh.
[00:09:35] I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
[00:09:42] Amazing words.
[00:09:45] When everything has been erased from your life, will you still exalt in Yahweh?
[00:09:53] and rejoice in the God of your salvation.
[00:09:58] Let's bow our heads as we pray.
[00:10:07] Thomas Brooks said, but you are a portion that the fire cannot burn, that the floods cannot drown, that the thief cannot steal, that the enemy cannot commandeer, that the soldier cannot plunder.
[00:10:23] Someone may take my gold from me, but no one can take you from me until weakness can make a breach upon strength, impotence upon omnipotence, the pitcher upon the potter, and the crawling worm upon you,
[00:10:41] the Lord of hosts.
[00:10:43] A saint's portion is safe and secure.
[00:10:49] Father, almighty God, we come recognizing that you are the God of our salvation.
[00:10:57] You are our strength.
[00:10:58] You are our portion that cannot be taken, stolen, or hidden from us.
[00:11:05] We are ever in your care.
[00:11:08] So this morning, may what comes forth from our hearts and from our lips be filled with gratitude, be filled with honor, be filled with adoration and praise that you alone would be magnified and glorified for your great name.
[00:11:24] And we ask this in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
[00:11:29] Amen.
[00:11:30] Well, let's join together and sing the hymn, How Great Thou Art, number six in your hymnal.
[00:11:35] Let's stand together as we worship.

[00:11:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:11:48] Together singing.
[00:11:49] Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power ensings my soul, your God How great that sings my soul, your God
[00:12:37] Through the woods, pains I walk That sings my soul, how great that sings my soul, your God And taking that I'll be better Then sing to my soul, Savior God, to Thee, make the world sing to my soul, Savior God.

[00:16:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:16:06] If you would turn and greet one another in the name of Christ.

[00:17:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:17:02] Good morning.
[00:17:22] Today we'll consider the Heidelberg Catechism, question number 77.
[00:17:28] For those who haven't memorized it yet, it'll appear on the screens behind me and as an insert in your bulletin.
[00:17:38] I'll read the question, and then I'll ask you to respond with me.
[00:17:43] Where does Christ promise to nourish and refresh believers with his body and blood as surely as they eat this broken bread and drink this cup?
[00:17:55] In the institution of the Lord's Supper, the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you.
[00:18:13] Do this in remembrance of me.
[00:18:15] In the same way, also took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
[00:18:26] Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
[00:18:31] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
[00:18:41] This promise is repeated by all these words.
[00:18:45] The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?
[00:18:53] For the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
[00:18:59] Because there is one bread, who of our many are one body, for we all partake of the one.
[00:19:08] Thank you.

[00:19:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:19:09] Thank you, Mark.
[00:19:18] Good morning.
[00:19:19] Welcome to the King's Chapel. It's great to have you here. Those of you joining us at home, we're thankful for you as well. I just wanted to welcome you this morning and tell you what a joy it is to look out and see everyone out there this morning. This is the last Sunday
[00:19:36] in July. Where did summer go? If you're at all like me, I still get a twinge in my stomach when I see one of those back-to-school commercials on television. Just know that summer is slipping
[00:19:50] away. But now, as a mature believer, as you are as well, I get excited about the fact that we're about to start a new ministry season. So stay tuned. There's fun stuff coming. I would like to
[00:20:06] ask you to pull out your bulletin, if you will. But as you're pulling that out, let me just again welcome you if you're visiting with us this morning. In your pew before you, there's a blue
[00:20:17] and white card. We call it the Connect Card. If you would, please take that card out here in the next few moments and just fill out the information there. We'd love to know a little bit about you.
[00:20:28] We'd love to follow up with you in the days to come. So if you'll do that and just place that in the offering plate as it comes around, that would be a real blessing to us. On the back of
[00:20:40] that for all of you here today. There's a prayer request form, so if you would fill that out, if you'd have something that you would like us to pray about, our elders and deacons and our prayer
[00:20:52] team would be honored to pray for you in the week ahead. But while you have your bulletin out, I do want to direct your attention to a few important announcements.
[00:21:05] As I said, we're in the midst of our summer schedule. It's about to change over here in a few weeks to our normal schedule. But on Sunday mornings, there is no life group with two
[00:21:17] exceptions. We have Joe Knott's group. Joe is leading his group through the Gospel of Mark, and Sam Bailey is also leading his group through 1 Corinthians. So if you are interested in tasting a life group or if you're just itching for a life group, we'd invite you to come and
[00:21:38] enjoy those. They're back in the D and A wings of our church at nine o'clock. Now I will tell you there's no child care and no child ministries right now at the nine o'clock hour. Those will
[00:21:49] come back here on August the 16th for all of us. So please take advantage of those two wonderful groups right now while you have the opportunity. I do want to, if you've got your pen sharpened or
[00:22:03] pencil sharpened, make a note of the retirement reception that is scheduled for Sunday, August 23rd. This is a big day in the life of our church. We are going to celebrate over 33 years of
[00:22:17] ministry for Pastor Kim Fawcett, and we're excited about this new chapter in his life and Sandra as they step away from full-time ministry. I heard somebody ask him what he's going to do once he
[00:22:30] retires from ministry, and he very quickly said, well, I'm going to continue to do ministry.
[00:22:35] So that's the way we should all be as we near retirement or if we're in retirement, that there's some way that God is going to continue to use us. But if you will, make that note in your calendar
[00:22:47] to come join us on August the 23rd as we celebrate Kim and Sandra in retirement.
[00:22:56] Operation Christmas Child. Well, it's Christmas in July. We've often heard about it. We talk about it. This is a great way for you to go ahead and help us get a jump on Operation Christmas Child.
[00:23:06] Last year, we collected about 500 boxes to send to those around the globe and presented the best gift of all, which is the gift of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. But you'll find a table
[00:23:19] in the gathering hall. You can bring toys and donate those between now and August. And you can also make a financial contribution to that wonderful ministry. And then finally, be praying for Michael Palavo. He's back with us this week as he leads our children, or our students rather,
[00:23:40] middle school and high school students through our student summer camp right here at the King's Chapel. So be praying for them this week, July 29th through the 31st. Well, that's what's going on. You can find out a little bit more about other things that are happening at the church,
[00:23:57] both in your bulletin and on our website. If you go to our website at thekingschapel.com, you'll find more information about these and many more events that are scheduled to occur in the near future. Well, if you will, I do want to direct your attention over to my left,
[00:24:16] your right. We are welcoming back to the podium today, Wes Pastor. Wes and Sue have spent a week here with us in North Carolina enjoying this wonderful North Carolina weather this week.
[00:24:30] But we're glad to have them back. Of course, Wes is the founder and president of one of our ministry partners, NETS, NETS Center for Church Planning and Revitalization up in Vermont. I'm not sure how they're getting along without them. Not so much NETS, but the fact that Sue and Wes
[00:24:48] have over 20, well, 20 grandchildren right now. And somebody, I don't know who's filling that role while the grandparents are away, but we wish them well on their trip back. You remember last week, Wes walked us through Ephesians 1 through 3, and he's going to finish up today with the
[00:25:07] profile of unity. And we look forward to that and thankful that you're here with us again this morning. Well, as our ushers come forward to receive our tithes and offerings, I would ask that you would pray with me as we continue to pray for our worship today. And again, welcome.
[00:25:26] Glad to have you here. Well, Heavenly Father, we do just give you praise. We give you all glory and honor because you alone are worthy of it. We thank you that we can come to this place by your
[00:25:39] grace this morning to worship you in spirit and in truth. Father, thank you for the great blessing and the gift that it is that we have through your son Jesus Christ that we can pray
[00:25:51] for and with and over one another. Father, we pray for our time this morning that as we lift up our voices in song, that as we pray and as we hear your word preached in a few moments, Lord, we pray
[00:26:04] that you continue the good work that you have already started in many of us here this morning and that you continue to transform us to be more and more like your son Jesus Christ. We also pray
[00:26:14] that during this time, if there's anyone here that still has doubts or has not come to the saving faith that they can find in your son, Jesus Christ, we pray that this would be the day.
[00:26:25] Lord, we pray for all of these things, that your name would be magnified, that you would be glorified in our worship and in our praise. Lord, we ask all of this in Jesus' name. Amen.

[00:26:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:26:37] Thank you, Bill. It is well with our souls because we walk by faith and not by sight.
[00:31:02] So let's stand together as we sing, by faith, standing together.

[00:31:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:31:53] hearts of a holy city built by god's own hand a place where peace and justice reign we will stand as children of the promise we will fix our eyes on him our souls till the grace is been the word is done by faith i had not my prophet song when the longed-for
[00:32:38] messiah would appear to break the chains of sin i strive and from the grave faith the church by faith the church was called to go in the power of the spirit to the law This is my faith, this mountain shall be new, the gospel shall prevail, for we know Christ, all things are possible.
[00:33:57] All upon, we will stand, finish that, by faith and not by sight.
[00:34:24] We will stand, finish that, by faith and not by sight.
[00:34:50] Remain standing and turn to the book of Jude as Jim comes.

[00:35:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:35:03] If you go all the way to the end of the Bible to Revelation and then turn left, it's the first book that you will come to.
[00:35:17] It's located at page 1027, I believe, in your pew Bible.
[00:35:23] As you're turning there, Jude is the younger brother of Jesus and James.
[00:35:27] And you'll find it interesting that he did not believe that Jesus was the Christ during Jesus' ministry and life, but came to a saving faith afterwards.
[00:35:38] He's writing to a church now that he's warning them about people that have crept into the church, and he warns them with several examples about the perils, the great judgment that faces unbelievers.
[00:35:52] But he also exhorts them to contend for the faith and to continue in it.
[00:35:57] So if you would read along with me, starting in verse 1 of Jude.
[00:36:02] Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.
[00:36:10] To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ, may mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
[00:36:23] Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
[00:36:35] for certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation ungodly people who pervert the grace of our god into sensuality and deny our only master and lord jesus christ now i want to remind you although you once fully knew it that jesus who saved a
[00:36:59] people out of the land of Egypt afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in
[00:37:15] eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day. Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
[00:37:37] Yet in like manner, these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous
[00:37:59] judgment, but said, the Lord rebuke you. But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake
[00:38:24] of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feast as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves, waterless clouds swept along by winds, fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted, wild waves of the sea
[00:38:48] throwing up, casting up the foam of their own shame, wandering stars for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones
[00:39:12] to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires.
[00:39:34] They are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you in the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these people who cause divisions,
[00:39:56] worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt.
[00:40:16] save others by snatching them out of the fire to others show mercy with fear hating even the garment stained by flesh now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you
[00:40:31] blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy to the only god our savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now

[00:40:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:40:48] and forever. Amen. You may be seated. If you would take from your bulletin the song sheet,

[00:40:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:40:59] the song Almost Home, and let's join together in singing. Drop a single anchor, we're almost home.
[00:41:25] through every toil and danger we're almost home how many pilgrim saints have before us gone no stopping now we're almost home that promised land is calling we're almost home not a tear shall fall then we're almost home make ready now your soul for the kingdom
[00:42:02] coming back we're almost home press on toward that blessed shore oh praise the lord we're almost home together do that great forever we're all what song we're all that blessed shore Oh, praise the Lord
[00:43:01] This life is just a vapor We're almost home That sun is setting yonder We're almost home Take courage for this darkness Shall break to dawn Oh, lift your eyes We're almost home Oh, that blessed shore
[00:44:00] Oh, praise the Lord Almost home, press on toward that blessed shore, oh praise the Lord, we're almost home.

[00:44:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:44:20] Good morning again. Good morning. I grew up in a very large and very liberal Presbyterian church and we had an organist like Keith and being in this church is reminding me of those days that
[00:45:27] organ booming, those bass pedals vibrating your rump as you sat in the pews, and the seven-fold amen at the end of every service. It's really glorious. Keith, thank you, enjoying that very much, enjoying all the music. Thank you very much. Well, may I open up in a word of prayer,
[00:45:47] and then we'll get into the last three chapters of the book of Ephesians. Pray with me, please.
[00:45:52] father we thank you for this day we thank you for your grace we thank you for your son we know father that if the son has set us free we are free indeed to obey what the spirit is telling us to do
[00:46:08] and so we come this morning to this portion of Ephesians asking you to help us to obey what you've told us to do and to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace we give it all to
[00:46:21] you now in Jesus' name. Amen. Now, last week we tried to lay a foundation for unity, or more accurately, we tried to understand what the great apostle Paul felt was critical to understand if they were to live in peace with their Jewish brethren. Paul reduced it to two things, I think.
[00:46:46] First, from chapter 1, he said Gentiles needed to understand that they'd been given the same salvific blessings in Messiah by God the Father as the Jewish believers who were the first to hope in Messiah. Those blessings in Christ were anchored in the Father's election before the
[00:47:06] foundation of the world, resulting in their redemption and inheritance through the Son, all of which was guaranteed and sealed for them in God's Spirit until that inheritance should be acquired. And second, from chapters 2 and 3, Gentiles needed to be clear that they had been
[00:47:25] made fellow citizens with their Jewish brethren in the church, which is the new and permanent dwelling place of God. It's the true temple, the true tabernacle. And though they were formally separated from Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the
[00:47:43] covenants of promise, thus having no hope and without God in the world, now they were fellow heirs with God's chosen people. The Gentile wild olive branch had been grafted into the Jewish root and through the cross, Gentile believers were now the apple of God's eye. Well, this basis for unity,
[00:48:11] this foundation had to be strong enough to unite two of the most hostile cultures that have ever existed in the history of humanity. I mean, North and South, black and white, Democrats and Republicans, contemporary and traditional worship advocates, North Carolina and North Carolina
[00:48:30] state supporters, those are all bosom buddies compared to Jew and Gentile. And thus, this foundation that Paul laid for us in chapters 1 to 3 is more than sufficient to produce unity here at TKC. And so this morning, we want to move from the basis of unity to its profile. That is,
[00:49:02] what must a church do if it's to be characterized by unity? If there's to be a true culture of unity in the local church. It's kind of like marriage, isn't it? The question is, what must
[00:49:18] that couple do to live as a one-flesh entity? I mean, the day after the ceremony, that is what they are. They're a one-flesh entity. That's their status. The question is, what must they do to live
[00:49:34] it out and to live out that entity, that one-flesh relationship in harmony? So too the church.
[00:49:41] The two have become one, Jew, Gentile.
[00:49:46] What must they do to live in harmony as a new covenant community?
[00:49:52] That leads us to our text this morning.
[00:49:56] Now, first, we need to be clear, broadly speaking, regarding what's required of us to preserve the unity in the church.
[00:50:03] Second, we must understand Christ's gracious provision for building and maintaining that unity in the church. And finally, we must drill down into the specific day-to-day behaviors of a church and each of its members if it's to be characterized by peace and unity. So if you will,
[00:50:21] take your Bibles with me and turn to Ephesians chapter 4. I'll read the first six verses.
[00:50:28] Ephesians 4, 1 to 6. I therefore, prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you've been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[00:50:51] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all
[00:51:03] and in all. But great, let me stop there. Let me stop there. So what does Paul exhort these Gentiles to do in order to preserve the unity? In light of their calling as fellow heirs with their Jewish
[00:51:21] brethren, Paul exhorts them to walk or to live in a manner worthy of that high calling. And broadly speaking, he describes that walk sort of a 30,000-foot view, if you will. Two general characteristics. First, the worthy walk is done with all humility and gentleness. Well, that's
[00:51:45] intuitive, isn't it? Humility and gentleness always improves relationships. And second, it's done with patience. And specifically, he says two things about that. We live patiently with one another when we bear with one another in love. Oh my goodness. We could spend the next
[00:52:09] month of Sundays on this, couldn't we? Forbearing and putting up with one another, stepping over not only one's sins, but our irritating idiosyncrasies, giving up our preferences.
[00:52:24] Of course, Paul is not speaking to you this morning when it comes to those irritating idiosyncrasies. He's talking to your spouse. He's talking to your children. He's talking to your roommate. He's especially talking to those in the pews next to you. But we must move on. And second,
[00:52:45] we live patiently with one another by being eager, by being zealous to maintain that unity which is ours in the sphere of the Spirit. Let me ask you a question, King's Chapel. Do you view yourself
[00:52:59] as zealous for unity. You know, I met a man one day on a flight, a red-eye flight from the West Coast, who turned out to be zealous for license plates. In fact, for about two hours on that
[00:53:20] flight, he pulled out his iPad and he showed me license plate after license plate after license played. It was his business. I mean, it's easy to be zealous. No critique of this particular fellow, though I thought it was an odd business. It's easy to be zealous for all sorts of weird things,
[00:53:41] isn't it? But God wants you and I to be zealous for the unity of the Spirit in our local church.
[00:53:51] And this unity of the Spirit exhortation becomes the springboard for the rest of Ephesians, starting with verses 4 to 6 which gives us the composition of that unity and that composition we might say is the ones it's one church I think one body one spirit one hope points in that
[00:54:12] direction and it's one way to associate with that church through one Lord one faith one baptism and finally the greatest one of all one God and father of all who was over all and through all
[00:54:27] and in all, that is, who fills all. Now, I want to remind you of the Shema, the hearing from the Old Testament. That's Deuteronomy 6. Remember what it said? It was a centerpiece of Jewish
[00:54:42] worship. Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. The Lord is one, one God and Father over all. So what is Paul saying? Gentiles have been included in the commonwealth of
[00:54:57] believing Israel, so that now at the base of this profound unity is a new Shema, a common confession by Jew and Gentile alike that God is one. He's the God of the Jew. He's the God of the
[00:55:13] Gentile. And thus these Gentiles are to be zealous to preserve the unity of the Spirit, that is to preserve all the ones. But how are they to do that? Or to ask it another way, what provision
[00:55:27] has Jesus Christ made so that they might do that. Let's pick it up in verse 7, Ephesians 4, verse 7.
[00:55:41] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
[00:55:46] Therefore, it says, when he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.
[00:55:53] In saying he ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth. He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all heavens that he might fill
[00:56:05] all things. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to mature manhood
[00:56:21] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried away by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning,
[00:56:32] by craftiness and deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together
[00:56:44] by every joint with which it is equipped when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Those are some sentences, aren't they?
[00:56:58] What is Paul saying? He's saying when Christ ascended, as it was predicted in the Old Testament, and we won't get into this as a Septuagint version versus the Hebrew version. We just don't have time for all that. When Christ ascended, He gave grace gifts to the church,
[00:57:16] first to every individual but more importantly I think in terms of this passage to the gifted ministers of the word in verse 11. Now while apostles and prophets I believe are no more they were the foundation stones of the church according to Ephesians 2 20 evangelists pastors
[00:57:41] and teachers are still in play. Particularly pastors and teachers, their role is to build up the body into Christ-likeness through sound teaching so that the church will be protected from devilish false teaching. And instead, the church, based on that sound teaching, is able to
[00:58:02] build itself up in love, even as the human body builds itself up by the proper working of all of its members. Now having given the command initially to preserve the unity of the Spirit, the ones of the church, and having made clear Christ's gifting to build up the church accordingly,
[00:58:22] Paul is now ready to drill down on the specifics of the unity walk. So let's pick it up in verse 17. Now this I say and testify in the Lord that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do in
[00:58:35] the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to their hardness of heart. They've become callous and have given themselves to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not
[00:58:54] the way you learned Christ, assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self which belongs to your former manner of life
[00:59:07] and it's corrupt and is corrupt through deceitful desires and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and
[00:59:19] holiness. These Gentile believers in order to preserve the unity of the spirit must no longer walk in the feudal manner of Gentiles, the way they used to walk. Instead, they must remember how they learned Christ. Now, that's an interesting phrase. They must remember how they learned
[00:59:43] Christ. What does Paul mean by that? I think all he means is they must remember what change occurred when they were converted. Something happened to them when they were converted.
[00:59:54] They must remember what happened when they came to Christ.
[01:00:00] The old self was put off.
[01:00:03] It was put to death.
[01:00:05] It was mortified.
[01:00:07] And the new self was put on, which is being renewed according to the image of God in true righteousness and holiness.
[01:00:16] Now, you know what we call this theologically?
[01:00:20] We call this definitive sanctification.
[01:00:23] When you hear the word sanctification, my guess is that most of the time you think of it progressively, the ongoing process of change.
[01:00:31] You'd be interested to know that most of the occurrences of that word in the New Testament actually refer to definitive sanctification.
[01:00:41] It's the once for all metamorphosis producing a new creation in Christ who is no longer a slave to sin, but now a slave to righteousness.
[01:00:51] Do you know that's what happened to you and to me when we came to Christ?
[01:00:56] There was this profound change.
[01:00:58] We became new creations in Christ.
[01:01:01] That foreskin of sin was circumcised.
[01:01:04] The law of God was inscribed upon our hearts.
[01:01:09] We're now new creations, no longer enslaved to sin nor death.
[01:01:16] We're now enslaved to God, enslaved to righteousness.
[01:01:20] that's the idea of definitive sanctification and Paul says I want you to remember that I want you to remember when you learned Christ when you got converted to Christ when you came to Christ and it's this definitive change that then enables a believer to work out his salvation
[01:01:41] progressively continually putting off mortifying sin and continually putting on love which as Paul is going to lay it out, includes purity and wisdom, all of which are critical for preserving the unity in the church. So, let's jump into those three, which is really an outworking of love.
[01:02:09] Ephesians 4, I'll pick it up in verse 25. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we're members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Do not let
[01:02:23] the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something
[01:02:34] to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve
[01:02:47] the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice. Be kind to one
[01:02:58] another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God and Christ forgave you. Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, of fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. We could spend the rest of the time right here,
[01:03:24] couldn't we? For obedience to the commands in this section would move any church significantly forward in resisting the devil and his discordant designs. Did you notice the put-off, put-on formula in this passage? So there's a definitive putting-off and putting-on,
[01:03:46] definitive sanctification, and there's a progressive putting off and putting on, progressive sanctification. God wants us, for instance, to put off falsehood, or actually he said because you've already put off falsehood, and in its place put on truth. He wants us to put
[01:04:07] off things like stealing and corrupt speech and bitterness, and instead in their place put on sharing and edifying speech and forgiveness. We could say this in summary. He wants us to put off sin and to put on love as Christ loved us. In other words, based on that definitive work earlier
[01:04:33] in the chapter, we now have the power, we have the freedom to do just that, continually mortify sin, put off sin and put on love. For to walk in love is to not only do what we normally think in walking
[01:04:54] with love, but it also includes walking in purity as children of light. Let's pick it up in verse three. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you as
[01:05:08] is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talk, nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure or who is covetous, that is an idolater, has no
[01:05:30] inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not become partners with them. For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
[01:05:49] Walk as children of light, for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.
[01:05:55] And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
[01:06:08] But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. What we're doing right now is we're getting down to the nitty-gritty of what
[01:06:29] must be done if we're to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We must walk in love, put off sin, put on love, and I believe under that, subsumed under love, is this idea
[01:06:44] of purity. You see, these Gentiles are called upon to mortify all sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, filthy and foolish talk, and crude joking. In essence, put off all the unfruitful deeds of darkness since by the way did you notice all who practice those things shall not inherit
[01:07:06] the kingdom of God you know just because you're in the garage doesn't mean you're a car and just because you're in the church doesn't mean you're a Christian and so Paul is warning them to put all
[01:07:24] these things off now by the way when you read that list are you a little troubled to think that he had to tell them to do this, to mortify, to put off sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness,
[01:07:39] filthy and foolish talk, crude joking. I mean, that kind of seems a little over the top, doesn't it? Like, were they really struggling with these things? Yes, they were Gentiles.
[01:07:53] They came out of an utterly pagan culture. I mean, do you remember when James wrote that letter in Acts 15? The letter to try to unify the churches? I find that letter very intriguing because he
[01:08:08] tells them to do things that you would say, okay, that makes sense to me. You're a Gentile, so don't eat the food that has the blood still in it. Don't eat an animal that's been strangled.
[01:08:19] These were things from the Jewish law that would have offended a Jew, and then it has one more prohibition. Do you remember what it is? It says stop fornicating. That kind of seems like a whole
[01:08:32] different category, but not if you're a Gentile. See, the Gentiles came out of fornication city.
[01:08:40] Everything they did was sensual. Everything they did was sexually immoral. So Paul is having to be very pointed and say, look, you need to stop all sexual immorality, all impurity, all covetousness, all filthy and foolish talk, all crude joking. Essentially, you need to walk away from your
[01:09:00] former lives and instead put on light and walk as children of light, even exposing those who continue to walk in darkness. So Paul is saying, if you're going to preserve the unity of the Spirit, you can't live like that. You have to walk in love, and that includes walking
[01:09:27] impurity and it also includes walking in wisdom pick it up in verse 15 look carefully then how you walk not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time because the days are evil
[01:09:45] therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not get drunk with wine for that is debauchery but be filled with the spirit addressing one another in psalms and
[01:09:57] hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord and with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. These Gentiles are to walk in love.
[01:10:22] That includes walking in purity and walking in wisdom. They're to walk as those who are wise.
[01:10:28] there to be people that redeem the time and there to be people that are filled not with wine which is the mark of folly Paul is alluding to Proverbs in this passage and drunkenness would be a chief
[01:10:45] mark in the book of Proverbs of the fool of the scoffer there to walk in a way that is not filled with wine, the mark of folly, but with the Spirit, which is the sign of wisdom. Now, there's much
[01:11:05] debate as to the meaning of that phrase, to be filled with or in or by. There's even translational differences. To be filled with or in or by the Spirit. And here's the question. Is the Spirit
[01:11:23] the means of filling or is it the sphere or realm in which the filling takes place or is it the actual content of the filling now we don't have time to go into those details we've
[01:11:43] still got another chapter to cover but I opt for content I think we're being commanded to be filled with the person of the spirit and that for a couple of reasons first God is a filling God
[01:11:59] is he not I mean think about it he filled the earth at creation commanded Adam and Eve to do likewise he filled the wilderness tabernacle and Solomon's temple and he filled the first disciples at Pentecost with his spirit and Paul's prayer at the end of chapter three we saw last
[01:12:20] week culminated with the purpose that God might fully fill believers with himself God is a filling God. A day is going to come when His glory is going to fill the earth like what? Like the waters
[01:12:36] cover, like the waters fill the sea. He's a filling God, and we're commanded to be filled with God the Spirit. But secondly, I believe that the Spirit is the content because of the parallel passage in Colossians where we're commanded to be filled with what? With the Word,
[01:12:56] with similar outcomes in both passages. The Word is the content of the filling in Colossians, and I believe the Spirit is the content of the filling here. So you might ask, well, haven't we already been filled with the Spirit? Are you getting into some kind of second blessing work,
[01:13:15] some sort of higher life or pseudo-Pentecostal charismatic kind of thinking? I don't think so.
[01:13:21] Yes, we have already been filled with the Spirit. The moment we believed, we were filled with God's Spirit. But that doesn't necessarily preclude an ongoing filling. I mean, we've been saved and we're being saved. We've been sanctified definitively, and we're being sanctified
[01:13:51] progressively. We've been forgiven, and we're being forgiven. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. We've put off the old self definitively, and we're putting off the old self day by day. We've been filled with the Spirit, and we're being filled with the Spirit
[01:14:20] until finally we're filled up with God Himself. That's the process of sanctification.
[01:14:26] And what's the result of that filling? There's at least three manifestations. Singing, singing to God and to each other, thanking, thanking God for everything through Christ, and submitting, verse 21, submitting to proper God-ordained authorities, wives to husbands,
[01:14:54] children to parents, slaves to masters. Now, I need to say a word about verse 21.
[01:14:59] verse 21 is not commanding everyone to submit to everyone else that's not what that is saying submission is a one-way street rather it's the topic sentence for the household code dealing with husbands and wives parents and children and slaves and masters now to be sure though the thrust
[01:15:22] of 521 through 6-9, his submission, Paul gives a strong word to those in authority. Husbands, parents, masters. He gives a strong word not to abuse that authority. And the operative word is nurture. The operative word is nurture. Husbands are to nurture and cherish their wives.
[01:15:50] parents or fathers are to nurture their children in the gospel, and masters were to treat their slaves with respect, ceasing all threatening. So what do we have? These Gentiles and all believers, including TKC believers by extrapolation, are to walk in a manner worthy of their calling
[01:16:17] as God's holy dwelling, specifically by walking in love, which includes the walk of purity and wisdom. This, my friends, is the antidote to discord and disunity. And again, I'm not up here on the assumption that we have discord and disunity of any special nature in TKC, but all
[01:16:42] churches have it, don't they? You know why? Because all churches have people. Like the minister said one time, I love the church, it's just the people. It's a bad joke, I'm sorry. Now Paul closes this
[01:16:58] section by employing a warfare metaphor to summarize the worthy walk. Let's pick it up, verse 10, and we'll go to verse 20, chapter 6. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole army of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of
[01:17:19] the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able
[01:17:35] to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness and as shoes for your feet having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace in all circumstances take up
[01:17:52] the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying at all
[01:18:05] times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication to that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador
[01:18:21] in chains, that I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak. Paul concludes this practical exhortation to unity by commanding the church to protect itself from the devil's schemes. And how do they do that? Well, by putting on God's armor. That's how they do it. And though we've not time
[01:18:45] to delve in deeply, a few things must be mentioned. First of all, the spiritual warfare imagery is the only proper way to close out a treatise on unity for the simple reason that we're not
[01:19:01] fighting against each other. Our war is not against flesh and blood. We're fighting against the spiritual forces of darkness in the heavenly places. That's where the real battle line is.
[01:19:20] Second, this armor imagery that's employed comes initially from Isaiah and pertains to our all conquering Messiah. Isaiah 11, Isaiah 59, those are places where you'll find this armor mentioned.
[01:19:35] but this armor imagery pivots off various imperatives in Ephesians related to the devil for instance the first one the belt of truth that flows from Ephesians 4 25 where we were told to put off falsehood and to put on truth we were to speak truth to one another and in the context
[01:19:58] not let the sun go down on our anger giving the devil an opportunity you ever noticed by the way how that works? You go to bed and you're angry at somebody. You don't wake up the next morning
[01:20:12] feeling all hunky-dory about that person. Now it's had a chance to fester overnight, hasn't it?
[01:20:19] But that's the devil working. And so he's giving us imperatives using this armor so that we'll fight spiritually against the devil's attempts to divide us. And then finally, this armor is corporate armor. We're not really talking a valiant for truth kind of image. You know,
[01:20:44] the individual used to have Halloween costumes when my kids were little. You could dress your kids up as valiant for truth soldiers. But this is a corporate armor. The local church is to don this armor as a body, and each member is to work within the community to keep this corporate armor
[01:21:03] in place lest the devil succeed with his schemes. This is all second-person plural verbs in this passage. So we're talking about what we do as a church to insulate ourselves against the devil's fiery darts. That's what we're talking about. So the question is, well, how do you put on this
[01:21:25] armor? How do we do it so that we'll be able to effectively resist the devil as he seeks to divide us? Paul's answer in verse 18, through prayer. In essence, we're praying in the realm of the
[01:21:43] Spirit, in the realm of that new reality for the church, we're praying that God might help us to be unified, giving us grace to walk in love, a love which includes purity, a love that includes
[01:22:03] wisdom, for this is what the armor protects. It's protecting our unity, and we're asking God to help us to don this armor, really to help us to obey the injunctions in the second half of this
[01:22:19] book. That's what we're asking. We could say it this way, based on the unifying indicatives of Ephesians 1 to 3, God has commanded and equipped us to obey the exhortation to walk in unity, resisting the devil's schemes by partitioning our Heavenly Father to help us do that. That's what
[01:22:40] we're doing. Kind of simple. We're back to basics, aren't we? We're on our knees asking God to protect us from the devil's division. We need his help, don't we? So there you have it. The book of Ephesians
[01:22:57] in just two weeks. It's not even noon yet. So what's the cash value of our speed walk through this wonderful little book, let me close with two things. First, praise. Praise that you and I
[01:23:19] are fellow citizens. As we're praying and asking God to protect us, don't forget to praise God that he's made us fellow heirs with the Jewish saints. You know what I think of? I think of that
[01:23:36] woman in Luke chapter 7. We don't know for sure that she was a prostitute, but probably she was.
[01:23:42] And you remember what she did to Jesus as Jesus reclined at dinner at Simon's house, the Pharisee's house? It was kind of an open invitation system. And she comes in, not welcomed, but she came in, and she begins to wash his feet, which Simon failed to do,
[01:24:02] wash his feet with her tears. And then she bowed down and dried his feet with her hair.
[01:24:14] Remember that? Remember that story? Now those tears, those really weren't tears of repentance.
[01:24:22] As I read the story, Jesus makes it clear, the one who's forgiven much loves much. Those are tears of joy because this woman again probably a prostitute this woman has been forgiven much and she's praising her Savior she's lavishing praise on her
[01:24:44] Savior kissing his feet she anoints his head with expensive alabaster perfume you and I we should be over the moon when we think about our salvation I mean we were children of wrath, and God would have been entirely just and eternally glorified to
[01:25:18] have sent each and every one of us straight to hell. Do you understand that you didn't even deserve a chance to hear the gospel, that that was a grace in and of itself, that you heard the gospel?
[01:25:41] Millions die and never hear the gospel.
[01:25:45] And God allowed you to hear the gospel.
[01:25:49] And he diffused that quickening ray.
[01:25:53] And you woke.
[01:25:55] The dungeon flamed with light.
[01:25:57] Your chains fell off.
[01:25:59] Your heart was free.
[01:26:00] You rose, went forth, and followed thee.
[01:26:02] That's all grace.
[01:26:04] That's God's grace to us.
[01:26:09] And then he placed us by his Spirit in the church.
[01:26:13] we're now christ's body he's brought men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation and of course we must sing and can it be that i should gain an interest in the savior's blood
[01:26:33] can that really be died he for me who caused his pain for me for you to to to death pursued is that possible that he could have loved us? I'm wondering this morning if you, unbeliever,
[01:26:53] or you who are not sure that you're in Christ, have you ever really faced what you deserve?
[01:27:02] Or have you bought the American drivel that wants to tell you that you're really a pretty good person? You're not. Not in God's eyes. He's the only one that really matters. He's the only one
[01:27:15] whose score counts? Have you faced what you deserve? Do you understand that Jesus Christ had to die to satisfy God's fierce and just wrath because of how much you had offended him? And now through this lisping voice, he's offering you life. He's offering you life. He's bidding you come
[01:27:47] and find rest for your weary sinful soul. I want to say to you if you're here and you don't know Christ what are you waiting for? What are you waiting for? Do you want to really play Russian
[01:28:04] roulette with end times? We don't know when Christ is going to come back. We can't boast about tomorrow. We're not in any position to do that. I'm not trying to scare you but if you're hearing
[01:28:18] what I'm saying, you should get scared. Come to Christ. Trust Christ. Why would you wait? Why would you want to sow more to the flesh so that when you come to Christ, it's a much harder rehab?
[01:28:36] Come to Christ now. Experience life now. And dear believer, let me ask you, are you filled with praise for what God has already done for you? When was the last time you cried tears of joy?
[01:28:53] as you just considered your forgiveness, as you rejoiced over being included in Christ's body, the church. Oh, let the weeping TKC begin. And second, zeal for unity. I asked you in the intro if you were eager, if you were zealous to preserve the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.
[01:29:23] So I'm asking you again, are you? Are you eager? Are you zealous to preserve the unity at all costs save forgoing the truth? You know, there's a lot of inferior, might I say even stupid things to
[01:29:44] be zealous for, aren't there? I confess I'm a little zealous for my lawn. There's a stupid thing to be zealous for. I carefully mow it. I weed it. I make sure it's watered. We don't have
[01:30:02] to water much up in Vermont. It's pretty green. I pay to have it fertilized. So when my neighbor, who happens to be my son-in-law, recently asked me if I would mind if a forklift carrying a pallet of pavers for his new backyard patio could go through my yard.
[01:30:29] I said yes on the outside, but inside I balked. It was clearly not my preference for some forklift to tear up my lawn as it lumbered down the hill to my neighbor's daughter's son-in-law's yard. Now why do I tell you this story? Because if we're to be zealous
[01:31:05] for unity in the church, you and I must be willing to forego our preferences. Now, based on my 35 years in the pastorate and 25 years as the president of NETS, planting and revitalizing in churches in New England and beyond, I've concluded that tensions in the church are largely,
[01:31:27] largely not matters of doctrine. Now, to be sure, we try to make our preferences doctrinal issues, But largely, the problems in the church are not matters of doctrine, but matters of preference.
[01:31:46] Things like worship music, child care policies, decorating the church.
[01:31:59] These far too often become sticking points that can cause disunity.
[01:32:06] So what's the antidote?
[01:32:09] What does a real zeal for unity produce?
[01:32:12] I think it produces self-denial.
[01:32:15] Jesus said, if anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. That's the lubricant. Self-denial is a lubricant that minimizes friction in the church when each member is willing to deny his or her preferences in order to keep the peace.
[01:32:34] We're not talking about foregoing biblical mandates. I'm talking preferences. I mean, husbands, wives, you know how this works. You know how this works. No happy marriage exists where there's not a lot of that going on. The same is true in the church. Unity is greatly
[01:32:58] facilitated by self-denial, letting go of my preferences to prefer the other in order to preserve the peace. You know what they are here, TKC. And I say to you, identify in your own personal life what those preferences are that might threaten the unity of the church. And let
[01:33:23] us be willing to put them to death, even those that are near and dear to our hearts, in order to see God glorified by this unified new man, the church. Would you pray with me, please?
[01:33:39] father we thank you for your grace we thank you for this word out of Ephesians we thank you Father how we are helped to live for your glory and for the church to be seen as the place where God dwells through following its admonitions we
[01:34:16] pray that you would give us grace that you would help us that you would enable us to put on the full armor of God that is to obey the injunctions that you give us in your word to walk in love which includes purity it includes wisdom so
[01:34:39] that the church might be seen as the ultimate display of your wonderful glory here on earth we committed all to you now in Jesus name Amen

[01:34:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:34:52] Singing together now.

[01:35:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:35:03] Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
[01:35:10] There is no shadow of turning with thee.
[01:35:20] Thou changest not thy compassions.
[01:35:25] As thou hast been, thou forever will Great is thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed thy hand hath provided, great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto winter and springtime and harvest.
[01:36:25] Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness Faithfulness, mercy, and love Great is thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have did thy hope I did
[01:37:14] Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me Would you stand together as we sing this last verse?
[01:37:29] Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth Thy dear presence to God Strength for tomorrow Blessings of with ten thousand Beside faithfulness Is thy faithfulness Lord, is thy Provided Is the fullness

[01:38:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:38:32] Put your hands together as we sing Praise God from whom

[01:38:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:38:52] all blessings flow praise him all creatures here below praise him above ye heavenly host father son and Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.

[01:39:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:39:44] The Lord be with you all.